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There are currently 22 member reviews
for The Stuff That Never Happened
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Linda M. (Three Oaks, MI)
Stuff Never Happens
Annabelle married Grant McKay when she was so very young and still had so much to learn about herself and her new husband. But like any journey, the road is fraught with obstacles and detours. Annabelle’s side trip was an extramarital affair that defined both her and Grant’s existence over the next 30 years. Grant’s way of dealing with it was to put his head in the sand like an ostrich pretending that it never happened. For Annabelle, it was an itch that when scratched was never satisfied. This story is told from Annabelle’s perspective and deftly navigates between the past and the present. I confess there were moments when I didn’t particularly like Annabelle and even wanted to throttle Grant a few times but that’s what made this novel work so well. I thought this was a pretty good debut for this new author.
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Barbara C. (Orchard Park, NY)
The Stuff That Never Happened
A really good read that will resonate with older women readers who have lived through the times that shaped Annabelle. I was surprised that I ended up liking it as much as I did as I seemed to know how it would end, but the characters were well defined and their relationships interesting. A good book club choice especially if all ages are represented in the group - lots of interesting discussion, I would think.
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Diane D. (Blairstown, NJ)
Bumpy Ride
The book held my attention, but it was upsetting at times...probably because the whole sexual revolution thing always bothered me. I think those, who went through that, would be more likely to understand what Annabelle was going through than I was. I could never imagine living in a situation like she was, either. I did like the book, but it had it's ups & downs for me.
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June A. (Randallstown, Maryland)
The Stuff That Never Happened
This is a good read with more depth than I had expected. Great use of humor. I especially liked the views of the different generations of women. Definitely a book for women, probably the "over 40" crowd.
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Aprile G. (Northampton, Massachusetts)
The Stuff That Never Happened
'The Stuff That Never Happened' turned out to be a much better book than I initially thought it would be. The first few chapters were unpromising; the characters seemed one-dimensional and thinly written, but luckily it turned a corner, and developed into an engaging read. In retrospect, the initial flatness of the characters turned into a well-thought out technique--capturing the way people who know each other over a long period of time can reduce each other to well-worn tics and mannerisms. This book might provide interesting fodder for book groups as it nicely probes different relationships and the expectations that come with them.
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Carrie D-L. (Albany, NY)
A thoughtful, but uneven, look at a modern marriage
"The Stuff That Never Happened" starts off well. I adored the first chapter; it was smart, funny and a good introduction to the character. Then the novel begins flipping back and forth between 2005, when Anabelle and Grant's marriage is floundering with their children now grown, and 1977, when they met. Initially, this alternation helps build suspense and provide an interesting take on the characters. As the novel progresses, however, it starts to fall flat because it becomes more obvious what must happen. The characters begin to fall flat as suspense evaporates.
There are strengths to this novel. Dawson writes conversation quite well, and it is a fast read. I imagine fans of women's fiction will enjoy this thoughtful, but uneven, take on a modern marriage.
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Ariel F. (Madison, WI)
The Stuff That Never Happened
I had a hard time getting into the novel. The book went back and forth between the present and the past, from the time Annabelle met her husband and then married him etc.
I found the relationships between Annabelle, her mother and her daughter interesting. These relationships touched on the dimensions of relationships that women have over the years and how some things change and some things remain the same.
I feel that it takes a mature person to understand the decisions that Annabelle made and why she might have made them.
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