Monday, September 13, 2010

Book Review - The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg


From Amazon.com:

From the beloved bestselling author of Home Safe and The Year of Pleasures, comes a wonderful new novel about women and men reconnecting with one another—and themselves—at their fortieth high school reunion. To each of the men and women in The Last Time I Saw You, this reunion means something different—a last opportunity to say something long left unsaid, an escape from the bleaker realities of everyday life, a means to save a marriage on the rocks, or an opportunity to bond with a slightly estranged daughter, if only over what her mother should wear. As the onetime classmates meet up over the course of a weekend, they discover things that will irrevocably affect the rest of their lives. For newly divorced Dorothy Shauman, the reunion brings with it the possibility of finally attracting the attention of the class heartthrob, Pete Decker. For the ever self-reliant, ever left-out Mary Alice Mayhew, it’s a chance to reexamine a painful past. For Lester Hesennpfeffer, a veterinarian and widower, it is the hope of talking shop with a fellow vet—or at least that’s what he tells himself. For Candy Armstrong, the class beauty, it’s the hope of finding friendship before it is too late. As Dorothy, Mary Alice, Lester, Candy, and the other classmates converge for the reunion dinner, four decades melt away: Desires and personalities from their youth reemerge, and new discoveries are made. For so much has happened to them all. And so much can still happen. In this beautiful novel, Elizabeth Berg deftly weaves together stories of roads taken and not taken, choices made and opportunities missed, and the possibilities of second chances

My Thoughts:

Loved it! I read this book in an evening, and enjoyed every minute of it. I love Elizabeth Berg's writing style, and her characters are easy to relate to. I liked how she had a cast of different characters narrate each chapter of the story, so I felt that I knew each one of them intimately. There were some I felt sorry for, some I just couldn't like, and one who I fell in love with. I think that I especially enjoyed this because I have yet to go to one of my class reunions, and this story painted a perfect picture of what it would be like to actually attend one... how even though it's been 40 years since graduation, some people just never change. Great read!
Photobucket Outstanding!

  • Hardcover: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Random House (April 6, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1400068649
  • ISBN-13: 978-1400068647



6 comments:

Jenny said...

I've only read two Elizabeth Bergs but loved them both... this one sounds really great too!! I have a 10 year reunion coming up, but even though I had a great high school experience, I just don't think I want to go.. I'm back and forth. Maybe reading this will push me more in one direction or another!

Melissa (i swim for oceans) said...

Great review, Missy! This book sounds really sweet and easy to read :)

Julie P said...

I love this author! Thanks for sharing....

Wall-to-wall books said...

Oh I LOVE Eliz. Berg!!! I have read most of her books. Haven't read this one yet! Glad to see that you loved it. This will definitely go on my
TBR list!

Beth(bookaholicmom) said...

I enjoy Berg's Open House. I will have to put this book on my list too. It sounds like another great read from her. Nice review!

Priya Parmar said...

i keep meaning to read this author. everyone speaks so highly of her. great review! i will read her next!

LinkWithin

Blog Widget by LinkWithin
 
Blog Design by Use Your Imagination Designs Enchanted Neighborhood kit by Irene Alexeeva