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Read advance reader review of Her by Harriet Lane, page 3 of 7

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Her by Harriet Lane

Her

by Harriet Lane

  • Critics' Consensus (1):
  • Published:
  • Jan 2015, 320 pages
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  • Susan B. (Coventry, RI)
    Her, A Novel
    I was puzzled by the book Her. The alternating chapters, about one character and then the next were confusing at first. But once I got into the rhythm of that pattern, I began to enjoy the book. Of course once I got into the body of the book, I began to wonder why Nina is making such an effort to befriend Emma. They have almost nothing in common; Nina's daughter is finishing high school and Emma has two young children that she struggles with. Nina begins to make serious efforts to arrange circumstances that involve Emma. So there was an air of mystery that moved the story along and I got caught up with it. I enjoyed the book very much but when I got to the end, I found it hard to believe the direction it headed in. I thought it a little far-fetched. Despite this, I recommend this book and give it four stars.
  • Susan M. (New Holland, PA)
    Her
    The first chapter of Her immediately draws you into this suspenseful story of two very different women with a connection that goes back to their teenage years.

    Nina, a local painter and Emma, a pregnant mother of a 2 year old, meet one another and ostensibly become friends but this is not a true friendship.

    Nina recognizes Emma but because Emma has no clue who Nina is, Nina is able to work her way back into Emma's life and begins a series of cruel actions toward her former "friend" and her family.

    There's an air of mystery throughout the story that keeps you reading to find out what happens next and why.

    Unfortunately, at least for me, the ending leaves you hanging, wondering why the author didn't choose to come up with a better, more conclusive ending.

    Thus, I enjoyed reading Her until the final paragraph. If you can accept the "write your own ending" aspect of Her, you will most likely enjoy this book.
  • Daryl B. (Poolesville, MD)
    Fascinating?
    I was intrigued by Nina's obsession with Emma. What could possibly have happened to make her such a sick individual? Harriet Lane keeps the reader guessing for most of the book. As a mother and grandmother, I was dreading the ending. The author did a good job of developing her characters. It would make for a good book club discussion.
  • Iris F. (West Bloomfield, MI)
    Her
    Through two incidents which should have appeared to Emma to have been too unlikely to be a coincidence, Emma and Nina become friends. The cause of Nina's obsession,when it is finally revealed, doesn't seem significant enough to have warranted her actions. At times I found Emma's discontent cloying, and the plot was somewhat flawed, but I enjoyed the English expressions and found them amusing. Ultimately, this was a fun read that held my interest from beginning to end
  • Terry D., Long Island NY
    A Bit Confusing
    I was really thrown off by the title, "Her" since there had recently been a movie by that name. But I quickly discovered that this was a very different and unique tale. The style was a bit confusing - each chapter has the voice of one of the two main characters, Nina and Emma. They have a chance meeting but very quickly Nina recalls that they had known each other before. Fortunately, she does not disclose their history, which makes the rest of the book very suspenseful.
    Besides the narrative, there is a subtle discussion of the role of mothers and their place in society. Are stay-at-home mothers really content?. Do we reward them for putting their careers on hold? Does Nina seem more fulfilled because her nurturing days are coming to an end?
  • Dawn C. (Meridian, ID)
    Her
    This was a very not put down able book! There are two women who become friends, Emma & Nina. One is from a privileged life, the other is not. One has a total agenda of revenge, the other is clueless. It is interesting as you read each chapter from Nina or Emma's perspective. I found this very fascinating, but was disappointed with the ending.
  • Susan H. (Chappaqua, NY)
    hell hath no fury like a woman ….
    I couldn't put this book down . . . a strange friendship blooms between two unlikely women and it is clear from the beginning that Nina has an agenda … and it's not simply for tea and crumpets with Emma. I was on the edge of my seat until the end … when I said … no, no we need more information. If this were a play I would hope it was in previews and the author needed more time to finish up …. please give us more info!!!

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