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There are currently 33 member reviews
for And When She Was Good
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Judy K. (Conroe, TX)
Highly Recommended!
This book grabbed me by the throat from the jump. This was a story about a young girl growing up in a constantly shifting environment, struggling to stay on her feet, struggling to rise above the abuse and neglect heaped on her at home, the very place she was supposed to be assured of stability and protection. More than that, however, it’s the place she should have been assured of unconditional love and acceptance.
Helen never was accepted, by her parents or her peers. She never fit in, no matter how hard she tried, so when she was thrown out into the world, she wasn’t prepared to make good decisions about men or her future. I could see it coming! “DON”T DO IT!” I wanted to scream, but she did it anyway and therein lies the story, a fascinating tale of digging a hole for herself at a very young, too-young, age and spending the rest of her life trying to dig her way out.
The fact that Helen becomes a prostitute and, eventually, a madam gives the story a gossipy, voyeuristic feel. Who doesn’t want to peer inside that industry? Who isn’t curious about what goes on between whores and their pimps? Why would a woman settle for such a life and, in Helen’s case, perpetuate it? Laura Lippman takes a long, hard, intelligent look at these questions and provides logical, entertaining answers. What more can you ask from a book?
The book alternates chapters between Helen’s younger life and her current one bringing the two together in a gripping page-turner at the end. The story is a captivating one, the characters totally believable, some likeable, some un-likeable, and Ms. Lippman’s observations of suburban life, astute. I loved Reverend Frida, the cheerful, self-centered pastor of the twinkle-doo church Helen feels compelled to frequent, not because she has a religious nature, but because “some kind of organized religion is good for kids”. It’s comments like this and the nicely plotted, tightly drawn story of a woman trying her damnedest to overcome one obstacle after another in order to provide a future for her child, that makes this such a compelling read.
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Barbie R. (Jamestown, PA)
And When She was Good
Laura Lippman never fails to deliver. Suburban Madame may seem and over done plot line but not from the perspective of the woman. Helen is not just a prostitute or madame. She is an estranged daughter, an single mother, and an uneducated woman with all the doubts and emotional upset of each. She is human and a thoroughly enjoyable character. Book clubs will find many lingering questions. What choice would you make? Moral, legal, and domestic issues are a maze Helen tries to work through and I loved being along.
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Shelly B. (STATEN ISLAND, NY)
And When She Was Good
Overall I enjoyed the book, with some reservations. I found Heloise to be somewhat condradictory. On the one hand, she ran a very successful "business", but on the other hand she was sometimes childlike, and made very poor decisions. On some levels I found her characterization to be less than believable.
Overall though, I found the story interesting. I liked the going back and forth with the timeline. I would rate this book between average and good, therefore a 3.5, I felt it was better than just average.
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Marybeth T. (Bellingham, WA)
and when she was good
I did like this book after I finished it. During the reading of it I just wasn't sure. I really didn't care for Heloise. I felt she was flat, emotionless and she really was, but I liked her at the end. It did have a few twists that I enjoy in books. I am glad I stuck it out and finished. Laura Lippman does not disappoint!
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Kathleen S. (St Louis, MO)
A Different But Interesting Heroine, of Sorts
Having read Laura Lippman's works before, I was interested in seeing what form her creativity would take with her next book, since her novels are all compelling yet very different. This one was no exception.
The unlikely protagonist of this work, Heloise, is a prostitute/madam in the suburbs of Baltimore. At first, the topic and "career" of this woman put me off, but as I kept reading I became aware that I was liking her more and more. She is trying to change her life and do the right thing by her employees and her son. Of course, this journey is never easy, especially when the career is such a dubious one, and she is in danger. How Heloise makes this journey and the choices she makes are the theme of this book.
Lippman's prose flow to create the tone and set the pace of this novel. This work would be suitable for book clubs.
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Karla M. (Sicklerville, NJ)
Good Read
The book was really easy to read and I really enjoyed the story line. I liked how the story went between the current time and Heloise/Helen's past from chapter to chapter, it helped to explain what was going on and to develop the characters nicely. I also really enjoyed that the author didn't immediately start in with the murder mystery part of the book; most books of this genre have already started the suspenseful parts by the first or second chapter and by the end of the book you feel like the climax was over a few chapters back.
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Diane D. (Cape Elizabeth, ME)
Lippman is good!
Lippman has a great way with characters. In this latest novel, she delves into the life of a suburban madam and the circumstances that led her to this life. Her characters have a richness that really make them jump off the page and come to life. And When She Was Good was a quick, satisfying read!
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