Pleasant book. Easy to read.
Book is removed from Paperback swap list.
This book has some very believable characters and beautiful language. Then, it has some totally unrealistic developments & actions by people who I felt were stuck in the plot to make a point. Overall, although it had a bit of a romance novel feel in spots, it was a feel-good, act-nice bit of fiction. It made me want to read more by the author. And it left me with a rosy glow that the leading lady had become truly a leading lady within her own life. She's had a dull time, served others as a nurse, never felt desirable, and suddenly a dying patient who went to school with her clings to her in a romantic love situation as he slips from life. While that may seem implausible, we never know what's ahead in life. This was a short and comforting read.
Oprah author Berg (her Open House was a 2000 Book Club selection) turns in another sweet, unprepossessing and reassuringly predictable novel whose characters experience loneliness, loss and healing. "Odd-shaped," and with an "unfortunate" face, Myra Lipinski has been lonely all her life; she trained as a nurse "because I knew it would be a way for people to love me." Now 51, she lives alone with her dog and works as a visiting nurse in Boston, caring for an array of eccentrics that includes the feuding Schwartz couple, the feisty DeWitt Washington and the anxious teenage mother Grace. Resigned to spinsterhood, Myra is secretly thrilled when her agency assigns her to care for a former crush, Chip Reardon, who has returned to his parents' home with end-stage brain cancer. In high school, Chip was a golden boy, athletic and clever, out of ugly duckling Myra's league. Now, though, he and Myra strike up a friendship based on their mutual loneliness and on Chip's resistance to his parents, who want him to pursue aggressive treatment for his cancer. Chip prefers to die peacefully, a decision that only Myra seems to understand. Chip and Myra become inseparable: he tags along on her patient visits and eventually moves into her house, where their budding friendship takes a romantic turn. On the brink of death, Chip helps Myra to realize that her isolation is as much self-induced as fated; throughout their lives, both he and Myra have shied away from human closeness. In an inspiring, well-deserved denouement, Chip's inevitable death forces Myra to embrace the world in all its bittersweet complexity. Berg's fans will be grateful for the same gift: a novel that serves as a gentle, if unambitious, reminder to "only connect."
This is the sixth Elizabeth Berg book I've read (others are Durable Goods, Joy School, True to Form, Range of Motion, and Talk Before Sleep). I liked the first three (main character is Katie, a teen). Never Change, like Talk Before Sleep, has a rather unlikeable central character. In Never Change, Myra, the protagonist, is a home health RN in her early 50s. She loves her job and over the years has bought a house and a nice car. In spite of her success, she has serious self-esteem issues (although there doesn't seem to be much of a basis for that other than her parents weren't real affectionate).
She didn't appear to have any friends of siblings (don't recall if the book stated she was an only child or if it was a logical conclusion because Myra never mentioned siblings). Myra also considered herself to be unattractive although I don't recall the author ever really describing Myra.
Anyway, one of Myra's new clients is a former high school classmate of hers--Chip, who had been a good looking star athlete in high school. Myra apparently had a crush on him. Even though it's now 30+ years later, Myra is like a smitten teenager at the prospect of seeing Chip. I found that hard to believe. I graduated from high school decades ago and if I ran into my high school crush 30+ years later, I wouldn't be tongue-tied, nervous, etc.
Diann had been Chip's girlfriend in high school (and, of course, she was a cheerleader). She and Chip had split years earlier although they still stayed in touch periodically.
Of the three central characters--Myra, Chip, and Diann--I liked Diann, disliked Myra, and was ambivalent about Chip.
Some of the Amazon reviewers who worked in health care noted that Myra broke many boundaries during her home visits. I don't work in health care but I also thought some things (i.e., bringing her dog into her patients' homes; bringing Chip along occasionally) were inappropriate and likely could result in disciplinary action. Myra loved her job and thought she was good at it so it's astounding that she would so easily ignore some pretty clear boundaries.
If we could give half stars, I would have rated this book 2.5 stars. Not sure I'll continue to read Elizabeth Berg since this is now "strike three."
I have never read a Berg book i did not like. I have some that i liked better than others. This is one of them. This is a lovely story about a man who has an illness and chooses to not persue treetment. His visiting nurse, Myra is someone i came to care about as a beautiful lonely kind heart. This story is so well written it flows...making it feel like it is over before i wanted it to be. Ms Berg writes like life is sometimes or could very well be at any moment. Read just one of her books in your persuit of tasteing authors, her novels are treasures in your hand that creeps into the mind & heart.
Another great read from Elizabeth Berg. I loved the role reversal of the two main characters as they adjust to their new roles in each other's lives.
Elizabeth Berg is a wonderful writer. I've ready many of her books and am always pleased.
