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Book Reviews of August

August
August
Author: Judith Rossner
ISBN-13: 9780395339701
ISBN-10: 0395339707
Publication Date: 8/1983
Pages: 376
Rating:
  • Currently 3.2/5 Stars.
 8

3.2 stars, based on 8 ratings
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Book Type: Hardcover
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

4 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed August on + 37 more book reviews
This novel tells two parallel stories: that of psychotherapist LuLu Shinefeld, embrioled in a mid-life crisis, and one of her clients, Dawn, a young artist and college students who is in a constant state of crisis. The stories of these two women are played out in a series of chapters which alternate between Dawn's therapy sessions and Lulu's life, which consisits of a recently broken marriage and an attempt to make an old fling into something more permanent. Both women find their lives unravelling, and men are at the center of both women's problems. Lulu is having trouble negotiating the dating world, and Dawn is trying to deal with her obsessions for various men, including her former (male) psychotherapist. Both women struggle with family issues, too, as Dawn tries to reconcile her feelings about her adoptive and biological parents, and Lulu tries to deal with her children's unhappiness with their mother's new life. Overall, this was an engaging book. Rossner is an able storyteller, and I found myself drawn back to find out where the plot would go. But as many storytellers do, Rossner's characters seem to stray from the believeable at times. Dawn is now what one might call a cympathetic character. I'd call her whiny, annoying, and sometimes scary in her obsessions. The title, August, comes from the month each year that Lulu takes off for vacation, and this is when much of both characters' development happens. It's when Lulu takes off to the Hamptons, and is forced to think about her relationships and personal life. It's also the time each year that Dawn dreads; she believes herself to be unable of coping without a therapist nearby (and she's probably right). Desptie the issues previously mentioned, this was still an enjoyable read, and it easily kept my attention.
reviewed August on + 14 more book reviews
Psychological thriller by the author of Looking For Mr Goodbar.
reviewed August on + 36 more book reviews
This is a great book! You really learn about the process and art of psychotherapy. A wonderful story.
reviewed August on
The cover of this book is a little ragged but all pages are intact.