Bonnie S. (Bonnie) - reviewed on 8/17/2007 + 422 more book reviews

This story, the reading of it, is haunting me. When first I got it I thought, been there, done that...another woman runs from an abusive husband, with the kid, and the husband is a cop. I think it was only because Lili Taylor is the reader that I went with this. I am so glad. Yes, the theme is well-overdone, but this is done so well, no gore, and absolute beauty in the emotions and words of the heroine Fran/Beth. Others have said it, and I've found it myself, the reader makes or breaks the book, and I cannot imagine feeling this story as much if not for the soft, almost breathless snap Taylor puts to the words, just the right touch of that Brooklyn accent to keep it from being clichéd; a hint of Southern drawl for Cindy. I can't emphasize enough how I believe Taylor made this book. An unexpected twist for an ending, one that leaves us yearning along with Beth, and saddened me that the story was over. This book and the characters pulled me so strongly that for the very first time EVER, I brought the tapes into the house and popped them into a cassette and "read" in the dark. My first Quindlen, but NOT my last.

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