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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?.
…more Do we reward them for putting their careers on hold? Does Nina seem more fulfilled because her nurturing days are coming to an end? (less)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!!!
Arden A. (Longboat Key, FL)
Revenge is Sweet....or is it?
Emma is a new mother, an "elderly primagravida," one of the many words and phrases in this book that turned me to my dictionary. She is overwhelmed with motherhood and "the tyranny of domesticity," and she laments that she is "lonely, but never, ever alone." Nina on the other hand, is the sophisticated, well-known artist and mother of a teenage girl, whose deviousness contrasts sharply with Emma's naivete. The novel alternates chapters written by each character, so the reader can see the events of their unlikely friendship from each perspective. The climax, or rather anti-climax, is the result of a perceived
…more injustice, but disappointingly, the author leaves the ending vague. Perhaps the author has left it open for a sequel. Except for the ending, I enjoyed this well-written novel. (less)
Dorothy L. (Manalapan, NJ)
Page Turner with Flaws
Her is a gripping read from the first page. I thought the characters were all fleshed out and there was a realistic sense of aspects of current London life. I liked the alternating chapters with different perspectives. Throughout the book I was wondering WHY and this was even when I wasn't reading the book. It kept me eager to return to the novel. There are two major flaws. One is the "leave it in the air" conclusion which made me feel cheated at the end. There was foreshadowing so I was not totally surprised but think a definitive statement might have been better. The author should have done the work. And the
…more second flaw is the disappointment I felt at the end with the rationale for Nina's actions throughout. Her revenge I think was unrealistic and there could have been better motivation for her behavior. There is a sense of evil which permeates the book and a creepiness which is disturbing. It is one book I will remember. (less)Suspense creating a mystery starts on the first page and continues until the last page! The book is easy to read and hard to put down!
The opening chapter is a bit confusing and in general the narrative contains too many adjectives.
It is also hard to believe that Emma is does not understand what is happening and that Nina takes 23 years to extract he revenge.
I enjoyed the book but believe it would appeal to women rather than men.
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