I feel about Anita Shreve the same way I do about Jody Picoult. I want to like her books because they're so terribly popular. But after reading two or three, I just can't pick another one up. The reading experience is just so- dull. Sea Glass is a novel about a newly married couple in an old beach house on the New England Coast, and several of their friends and acquaintances. It switches viewpoints often. It's set in the 1920's, during the stock market crash and a strike among local mill workers. At first these events seem far from the beach house's quiet interior and its occupants, but soon it is right in their living room. The novel explores how all the characters are affected and struggle together with change. I could not come to know or care about any of them. Even with the pathetic love story included. I wanted the book to be beautiful, to glow like sea glass does under water with the light shining on it. But unfortunately, it's as dull as the pieces still lying undiscovered on the beach, barely discernible from their neighboring stones. Disappointing.Rating: 2/5 ........ 376 pages, 2002
I actually read "The Pilot's Wife" by Shreve a LONG time ago and fell completely in love with that book. Then, when I went on to read more of her stuff, thinking it would be equally beautiful and haunting, it sucked. Every book I tried was boring and blah and I did not enjoy. So, I completely get where you're coming from with this, and if I were you, I wouldn't try another one. Though I still stick by the fact that "The Pilot's Wife" was a good read. :)
ReplyDeleteI liked The Pilot's Wife better, too.
ReplyDeleteOh sad! Anita Shreve is one of my favorite authors! I've read about 4-5 and enjoyed them all and have about 4-5 more waiting for me. I haven't read this particular one although I do own it. I did let my mother-in-law borrow one (I can't remember which) and she did not like it at all. So you're not alone.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read an Anita Shreve book, but I think I own A Wedding in December. It's too bad this one was so disappointing. I love reading about that time period!
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog.
ReplyDeleteI have not read Sea glass but read The pilots wife and thought it was decent. But I agree about trying to like authors that everyone else loves. I feel that way about that book "Five people you meet in heaven." Couldnt get into it.
I've read one Shreve book, The Last Time They Met. I felt like I'd been played with, but not in a clever way.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of that book is the first chapter of Sea Glass, which made my eyes glassy with boredom.
I'm done with Anita Shreve.
I'm so sorry you didn't enjoy this - I'm a big Shreve fan and have read all of her books - the only one I didn't enjoy was A Wedding in December. I like the way the Beach House and some of the characters appear in the different novels. It just shows that we are a diverse bunch of readers - life wouldn't be interesting if we all loved the same books!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you and heatherlo!! The Pilot's Wife was so good that I wanted to get hooked on Shreve. No dice. I've picked up countless books by her since and put them back down after a few chapters. And after reading My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult, I wanted to love her writing too. She frustrates me!! Too much going on in her books and not enough to care about. I give up on both; mainly because I have Ann Patchett :)
ReplyDeleteI get bored reading the back of her books, so I've never bothered reading any! Your post makes me so glad I haven't!!! thanks :-)
ReplyDeleteI liked this book as well but the only book I've really really liked by Shreve is Weight of Water. I have one more on my shelf to try out and then that's probably it for me. Picoult doesn't really bother me much but then again I haven't read anything by her in a while and haven't been rushing to pick anything up (have a few unread on my shelf).
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