Open House by Elizabeth Berg
Title: Open House
Author: Elizabeth Berg
Genre: Romance Fiction / Chick Lit
Pages: 241
Summary: Samantha's husband has left her, and after a spree of overcharging at Tiffany's, she settles down to reconstruct a life for herself and her eleven-year-old son. Her eccentric mother tries to help by fixing her up with dates, but a more pressing problem is money. To meet her mortgage payments, Sam decides to take in boarders. The first is an older woman who offers sage advice and sorely needed comfort; the second, a maladjusted student, is not quite so helpful. A new friend, King, an untraditional man, suggests that Samantha get out, get going, get work. But her real work is this: In order to emerge from grief and the past, she has to learn how to make her own happiness. In order to really see people, she has to look within her heart. And in order to know who she is, she has to remember - and reclaim - the person she used to be, long before she became someone else in an effort to save her marriage. Open House is a love story about what can blossom between a man and a woman, and within a woman herself.
My Review: Overall, the book was amazing. It’s definitely interesting to enter the life of a middle age soon-to-be-divorcee. What are her thoughts and feelings etc? Berg does an excellent job with this. She brings up important points, such as money, and addresses them in a unique fashion. It’s simply a special book; like nothing written before. The prose and description are lovely. Although the book seemed to move a tad quickly, and some, what seemed to me, major events were left almost untouched and unelaborated, the surprise and suspense needed to keep the reader was there. I think Berg had plenty of time to elaborate during certain parts and possibly cut out some elaboration in others. Maybe an extra two weeks would have polished it off just a tad better. But as they say, nothing is truly ever finished, and in its current state OPEN HOUSE is still truly magnificent. It was also remarkably funny. The Martha Stewart anecdotes were extremely enjoyed, and the continuity throughout the story was immensely appreciated.
CHARACTERS
Samantha Marrow - The heroine. I think I drew a special connection to her. Of course authors strive to make you feel for the characters, the hero or heroine especially, it seemed as though Berg did it effortlessly. Sam felt more than human to me. She, like countless women no doubt, thought her marriage was perfect. Or maybe she just wanted to think it was perfect. Nonetheless, she was relatable and likeable. Of course she thought she want David, her husband, back. But then again, she didn’t. The constant internal struggles were amazing. Samantha was beautifully characterized and the hard work Berg spent creating such a lively person is no doubt evident. No one event of mischaracterization sticks out in a mind; a truly amazing feat.
David Marrow - The “villain”. It almost seems like Berg took the easy way out with David. He wanted a divorce. He left and moved out. Samantha, most of the time, made him out to be wonderful, but selfish. Overall, I got a horrible vibe from him. There is nothing wrong with that, but in the context of the book, it was cliché. I think it might have been better if Berg added an endearing quality to make David more appealing, even in the least. Simply making him out to be a selfish bastard doesn’t do any good to the reader. Honestly, Berg didn’t give all too many reasons to really hate him besides the fact of hurting Sam.
Rita - the heroine’s friend. I’ve always loved friendships that were brutally honest. In my experience, they’re the ones that last ‘til the end. Berg made this clear. Rita was so honest that it hurt some of the time, but it’s what you needed. Although Rita makes little lasting impression in the long run, she was imperative to the story.
King - the knight in shining armor. His subtle entrance was amazing. The whole concept of the book is that Samantha opens her house to help pay the bills. How inventive to introduce him while one of the renters is moving in. I immediately like King - for his simplicity and kindness. Sure, he wasn’t superlatively attractive, but he was there. He listened. He cared. He wasn’t shallow or selfish. He was just King. And you can’t ask for more.
Travis - the kid. I think I would have aged him a bit more. Eleven seemed a little too young. I think maybe twelve would have been better. You’re a tad bit mature, not as much as a few years later, but it would have made his behavior a little more understandable. At eleven, you still want to be with your mother. You just started junior high and everything is changing. Despite the fact it’s not “cool” to be close to your mother at that age, secretly, I assume, every boy wants to be. I suppose it’s not a stretch, but it still bugged me. A lot.
Veronica - the mother. I loved her and her quirkiness. She wasn’t the perfect mother, but she did the best she could and still came out pretty close to amazing. I think that Veronica is one of those mothers you hate to admit you have, but cherish her nonetheless. You love to hate her. But as a character, she’s appealing. Not perfectly characterized, I saw the stretch of some qualities that you have to make as a writer and she could have been cleaned up a bit. But still a great character.
THEMES
Finding yourself - Who doesn’t go through that time in their lives when they don’t know what the hell they’re doing? After such a major event in your life, of course you’re going to be confused and messed up and crazy as hell. Sure, I bet billions of books touch base with this subject, but there’s something about reading the contemporary middle aged woman go through it that’s appealing. Berg did a great job harnessing it and making it her own.
There are other themes, but those are the main ones and I’ll leave it at that.
Grade: A-
Should you go out and buy it?: If you like chick lit, yes. If not, you should still read it.
Author: Elizabeth Berg
Genre: Romance Fiction / Chick Lit
Pages: 241
Summary: Samantha's husband has left her, and after a spree of overcharging at Tiffany's, she settles down to reconstruct a life for herself and her eleven-year-old son. Her eccentric mother tries to help by fixing her up with dates, but a more pressing problem is money. To meet her mortgage payments, Sam decides to take in boarders. The first is an older woman who offers sage advice and sorely needed comfort; the second, a maladjusted student, is not quite so helpful. A new friend, King, an untraditional man, suggests that Samantha get out, get going, get work. But her real work is this: In order to emerge from grief and the past, she has to learn how to make her own happiness. In order to really see people, she has to look within her heart. And in order to know who she is, she has to remember - and reclaim - the person she used to be, long before she became someone else in an effort to save her marriage. Open House is a love story about what can blossom between a man and a woman, and within a woman herself.
My Review: Overall, the book was amazing. It’s definitely interesting to enter the life of a middle age soon-to-be-divorcee. What are her thoughts and feelings etc? Berg does an excellent job with this. She brings up important points, such as money, and addresses them in a unique fashion. It’s simply a special book; like nothing written before. The prose and description are lovely. Although the book seemed to move a tad quickly, and some, what seemed to me, major events were left almost untouched and unelaborated, the surprise and suspense needed to keep the reader was there. I think Berg had plenty of time to elaborate during certain parts and possibly cut out some elaboration in others. Maybe an extra two weeks would have polished it off just a tad better. But as they say, nothing is truly ever finished, and in its current state OPEN HOUSE is still truly magnificent. It was also remarkably funny. The Martha Stewart anecdotes were extremely enjoyed, and the continuity throughout the story was immensely appreciated.
CHARACTERS
Samantha Marrow - The heroine. I think I drew a special connection to her. Of course authors strive to make you feel for the characters, the hero or heroine especially, it seemed as though Berg did it effortlessly. Sam felt more than human to me. She, like countless women no doubt, thought her marriage was perfect. Or maybe she just wanted to think it was perfect. Nonetheless, she was relatable and likeable. Of course she thought she want David, her husband, back. But then again, she didn’t. The constant internal struggles were amazing. Samantha was beautifully characterized and the hard work Berg spent creating such a lively person is no doubt evident. No one event of mischaracterization sticks out in a mind; a truly amazing feat.
David Marrow - The “villain”. It almost seems like Berg took the easy way out with David. He wanted a divorce. He left and moved out. Samantha, most of the time, made him out to be wonderful, but selfish. Overall, I got a horrible vibe from him. There is nothing wrong with that, but in the context of the book, it was cliché. I think it might have been better if Berg added an endearing quality to make David more appealing, even in the least. Simply making him out to be a selfish bastard doesn’t do any good to the reader. Honestly, Berg didn’t give all too many reasons to really hate him besides the fact of hurting Sam.
Rita - the heroine’s friend. I’ve always loved friendships that were brutally honest. In my experience, they’re the ones that last ‘til the end. Berg made this clear. Rita was so honest that it hurt some of the time, but it’s what you needed. Although Rita makes little lasting impression in the long run, she was imperative to the story.
King - the knight in shining armor. His subtle entrance was amazing. The whole concept of the book is that Samantha opens her house to help pay the bills. How inventive to introduce him while one of the renters is moving in. I immediately like King - for his simplicity and kindness. Sure, he wasn’t superlatively attractive, but he was there. He listened. He cared. He wasn’t shallow or selfish. He was just King. And you can’t ask for more.
Travis - the kid. I think I would have aged him a bit more. Eleven seemed a little too young. I think maybe twelve would have been better. You’re a tad bit mature, not as much as a few years later, but it would have made his behavior a little more understandable. At eleven, you still want to be with your mother. You just started junior high and everything is changing. Despite the fact it’s not “cool” to be close to your mother at that age, secretly, I assume, every boy wants to be. I suppose it’s not a stretch, but it still bugged me. A lot.
Veronica - the mother. I loved her and her quirkiness. She wasn’t the perfect mother, but she did the best she could and still came out pretty close to amazing. I think that Veronica is one of those mothers you hate to admit you have, but cherish her nonetheless. You love to hate her. But as a character, she’s appealing. Not perfectly characterized, I saw the stretch of some qualities that you have to make as a writer and she could have been cleaned up a bit. But still a great character.
THEMES
Finding yourself - Who doesn’t go through that time in their lives when they don’t know what the hell they’re doing? After such a major event in your life, of course you’re going to be confused and messed up and crazy as hell. Sure, I bet billions of books touch base with this subject, but there’s something about reading the contemporary middle aged woman go through it that’s appealing. Berg did a great job harnessing it and making it her own.
There are other themes, but those are the main ones and I’ll leave it at that.
Grade: A-
Should you go out and buy it?: If you like chick lit, yes. If not, you should still read it.