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There are currently 24 member reviews
for Indiscretion
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Beth (USA)
Simply wonderful
This is what reading is all about for me -- an absorbing story, beautifully written, with characters that seem so real I know I will miss them when I am done.
Dubow has taken what should be an ordinary, time worn story -- a man's adulterous affair -- and turned it into something riveting. The device he employs of having the narrator recount the story by looking back on events only adds to the tension. I am in awe of this author's ability to capture so authentically the shifting feelings of the players involved, and in doing so to evoke sympathy for all the players involved. Is Claire, the other woman, to be loathed, feared, pitied? And what of Harry, is he weak...a fool...deserving of forgiveness? So too, the narrator, the affable family friend Walter, an echo of Nick from The Great Gatsby, who is hopelessly in love with the wife, is a man of many shades.
Top it all off with a quiet and gut-wrenching ending that does not resort to tricks or big fireworks for impact, but instead, packs its punch through sheer brilliance of feeling and emotion .
I cannot wait to see what this author does next.
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Kristen K. (Atlanta, Georgia)
The Unfolding of a Modern Day Tragedy
The story that unfolds in this book is not an unfamiliar one. A couple appears to have the perfect life and be each others soul mates. He is a prize winning writer and she is independently wealthy. They summer in the Hamptons and live in NYC during the year. He is even sent to Rome for a year to write. A young woman enters their group and she seems likable as well. If everyone remained content with the status quo there would be no story. The story comes about because some aren't satisfied with just being happy and seem driven to seek something else. The reader knows that things will not end well although I never guessed how tragically events would unfold. No one escapes the consequences of the "Indiscretion". I enjoyed reading this and believe it would be a great springboard for discussion in book groups.
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Kate G. (City Island, NY)
An excellent debut novel...
While this debut novel has some commonality with "The Great Gatsby" (and the narrator acknowledges as much early on), this is a very different story. Taking place in modern day New York City and its environs, Indiscretion is the story of a successful author and his almost perfect life. When he behaves indiscreetly, a chain of events is set in motion. Well-written, with fully realized characters, this story is compellingly readable. The characters will stay with you for days after you have finished reading about them. Book clubs will enjoy this book, parsing out the motivations and actions of the different characters.
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Debra L. (Deerfield, IL)
A good read!
I couldn't put this book down! The characters were interesting and well developed. I was completely absorbed in the plot. The storyline was engaging and moved along. The descriptions of the settings were thorough. I would recommend this book to women of all ages.
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Laura G. (Buffalo, NY)
Indescretion is a perfect title
This book was a captivating read. There are so many likable characters brought together and then torn apart. It's hard to know for whom you should be rooting because, before the "indiscretion", you like each person. It's an interesting take on an age old scenario. I really liked the third person, omniscient observer. It made the whole situation important to him and therefore to the reader. I will definitely recommend this book to friends.
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Rebecca R. (Las Vegas, NV)
The Story Felt Familiar
I enjoyed this book but didn't feel compelled to read it as fast as possible -thus my rating of 4 and not 5. Right away it had an aura of THE GREAT GATSBY to it (even before I turned to the back cover and saw that this comparison was being made.) There are people with lots of money suffering from ennui and a young, naive girl who gets sucked into their world. At first the third person narration seemed a bit stilted, as though it were directions for a movie, and then the narration switched to the first person. I liked it better after that.
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Donna T. (Tacoma, WA)
Most improbable situations
Indiscretion is a book that I enjoyed but found some of the plot (especially toward the end) to be most improbable. The three quarters of the book kept me reading, even though I felt the story was mostly predictable. The characters were generally well developed and mostly believable. My biggest quibble is with the individual that was telling the story. I found him weak, at times unpassionate and I just don't believe the situation as it fully played out was realistic.
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