But I felt like Joey never actually grew out of that phase, and while it was charming when she was 23, it was completely annoying to me when she was about 52 or however old she was. Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2013. We hope they will aid your understanding of the many themes and issues that underlie Miller's powerfully moving story of a middle-aged woman who, drawn by the currents of passion, grief, and nostalgia, puts at risk everything she has always held dear. Although very impressed at the time, a not very good movie version of that book had the effect, I think, of causing to me to rethink how good the book had been. I usually try very hard not to spoil a book but this one is very hard to discuss without doing so. I expect every Oprah's book club pick to get 3 stars (unless the book's by Toni Morrison). I empathized with Jo, the main character, as she looked back on running away from an unsatisfying relationship. Make a marriage work? I loved Joey's past story, when she was living in the house with the others. This story of a wife and mother suddenly revisiting her past had great moments and held my attention. . . Jo Becker has every reason to be content. I never thought I'd find the hippie-esque lifestyle very appealing. Three young adult daughters more or less succeeding in the real world, a successful work life, a wonderful husband, happy marriage, cute dogs, adorable house. The New York Times Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. Write your own review of While I Was Gone by Sue Miller, read other people's reviews and browse a book excerpt from While I Was Gone. I expect every Oprah's book club pick to get 3 stars (unless the book's by. If there was a half star, I'd give it another half, but giving it 3 seems slightly too generous for a book that left me so annoyed. Amy Reilly reviews While I Was Gone: As for Sue Miller, I wasn't wild about it. . With Kirstie Alley, Bill Smitrovich, Janaya Stephens, Peter Horton. One that struck me as very profoun. Joey Becker, Eli Mayhew, Daniel Becker, Jean Bennett, Dana Jablonski, Joey Becker, Eli Mayhew, Daniel Becker, Jean Bennett, Dana Jablonski, Cass Becker, Sadie Becker. I knew I'd want to reread this one. Published May 12th 2000 by Ballantine Books (first published January 1st 1999. Because the minute I closed this book (in fact, a few pages from the end even), I was torn by a desperate desire to discuss this book in depth with someone! An extraordinary book. Read 48 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. She has three dynamic daughters, a loving marriage, and a rewarding career. Beth Wolfensberger Singer reviews 'While I Was Gone' by Sue Miller. Buy this book whether you are a man or a woman if you appreciate excellent writing. Her whole life has been a striving. How to raise the children well? and not a very climactic one at that. Still it had long, boring passages. A well written, and spoken, story about a female veterinarian. While I was Gone by Sue Miller was a difficult book to enjoy. . Reviews New Reviews Check out our recent audiobook reviews. While I Was Gone by Sue Miller About the Book The questions, discussion topics, and author biography that follow are intended to enhance your group's reading of Sue Miller's€While I Was Gone… 4.0 out of 5 starsA tough book to like. And once she got everything squared away, instead of being content and happy, she is restless and discontented. While I was Gone by Sue Miller was a difficult book to enjoy. And of course her 3 daughters were becoming just like her. Editorial Reviews "Riveting . Can we say Boring? While I Was Gone is an exquisitely suspenseful novel about how quickly and casually a marriage can be destroyed, how a good wife can find herself placing all she holds dear at risk. Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2003. In … WHILE I WAS GONE by Sue Miller ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 1, 1999 Now, in a richly textured but emotionally cool novel, Miller ( The Distinguished Guest , 1995, etc. ) Search Reviews Find a pick by author, narrator or title. While I was Gone by Sue Miller was a difficult book to enjoy. Jo Becker has built a wonderful life for herself in central Massachusetts, as she balances her life and career as mother, wife, and veterinarian. Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2015. It turns out that the animal belongs to an old college friend of hers, prompting her evaluate the life she had back then with the one she has now. Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 1999. While You Were Gone book. While I Was Gone is that special breed of book that plummeted to 2- and 1-star territory after chapter 10. While I Was Gone is an exquisitely suspenseful novel about how quickly and casually a marriage can be destroyed, how a good wife can find herself placing all she holds dear at risk. About While I Was Gone Perhaps it's best to live with the possibility that around any corner, at any time, may come the person who reminds you of your own capacity to surprise yourself, to put at risk everything that's Seems like it, but then a funny thing happens. I couldn't put it down. While I Was Gone is a superbly suspenseful novel about how quickly a marriage can be ruined, how a devoted wife finds herself putting at risk all she holds dear. I don't think the author has a beautiful or compelling style, but she sprinkles insights throughout the story that surprise and please me. To see what your friends thought of this book, A literate, well-written book that flows smoothly, is interesting, and makes you think. In expert strokes, Sue Miller captures the precariousness of even the strongest ties, the ease with which we abandon each other, and our need to be forgiven. Is every emotion and plot development going to be given a long windup before the pitch? Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2018. . It is very much a woman's book -- a lot of emphasis on intra-family relationships, cooking, holiday times, seasonal changes, aging -- rather than a bam/bang mystery story. As she is pulled farther from her present life, her husband, and her world, Jo struggles against becoming enveloped by her past and its dark secret. To open her own practice? What kind of daughter hears from her mother that her beloved professor's husband is a murderer, and gets angry at her mother for ruining her college life??? I mean yes there was an issue that was solved but it just didn't say much about the story. Alan Cheuse reviews While I Was Gone by Sue Miller. Sue Miller's WHILE I WAS GONE is a compelling story filled with emotion, suspense, and an overwhelming sense of nostalgia that promises to keep the reader engaged until the very end. The questions, discussion topics, and author biography that follow are intended to enhance your group's reading of Sue Miller's While I Was Gone. I happened on to Miller quite a few years ago when she wrote her first novel, The Good Mother . Need another excuse to treat yourself to a new book this week? So many intriguing topics and issues she brings up. To create our... Jo Becker has every reason to be content. One of the benefits to reading So Damn Much is I often forget what I've consumed, allowing me to discover it all over again. (I get the distinct imporession that all the other reviewers to date are women). Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for While I Was Gone (Abridged) at Amazon.com. While I Was Gone might be described as the story of a midlife crisis. While I Was Gone celebrate[s] what is impulsive in human nature." idk. please sign up It drove me nuts - but it kept me turing the pages didn't it? You can still see all customer reviews for the product. Unique tale structured in an interesting way. I suppose that's how books in a series are supposed to be but I just wanted a bit more closure on some of the issues that Kayla was going through. While I Was Gone is a superbly suspenseful novel about how quickly a marriage can be ruined, how a devoted wife finds herself putting at risk all she holds dear. Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2018. but that's me. But there is something charming about a group of 20 somethings trying to find out who they are and what they'll be, and having some fun in the process. I first read this book 10+ years ago when it was chosen as an Oprah's Book Club pick. The impossibility of the old versions vanishing" (11). The narrative pacing is masterly, building tension even in the most psychologically subtle passages. Thank God book club is tonight. Joey is dismayed by "the impossibility of accepting the new versions of oneself that life kept offering. While I Was Gone by Sue Miller A decade ago she put a face on every mother's worst nightmare with her phenomenal best-seller The Good Mother. Drawn deeper into her memories of that fateful summer in 1968, Jo begins to obsess about the person she once was. While I Was Gone (2004 TV Movie) User Reviews Review this title 2 Reviews Hide Spoilers Sort by: Filter by Rating: Not a bad TV movie hholtz 11 October 2004 As far as TV movies go, this is … . Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. You will love it too! I liked it well enough then to hang on to my copy; I don't keep every book, because I just don't have the space, so I'm very choosy about what I do keep. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. So many intriguing topics and issues she brings up. This page works best with JavaScript. In expert strokes, Sue Miller captures the Oh it really was...She jumped from her current life to her teenage years back and forth like a ping pong ball..And when I finished the book I sat there question what was the whole point of reading it? You definitely haven't been told this story before! After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. And I worry - is that the fate we all end up with? I found that the book was written well, but it was hard for me to have any sympathy for the main character, Jo Becker: a 50-ish woman, married, three daughters, and had a While I Was Gone might be described as the story of a midlife crisis. it's going along and then BAM! I hated the main character so much, and I never understood why she did what she did. She is a veterinarian in her early 50s and in a strong marriage to Daniel, a minister. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. I mean yes there was an issue that was solved but it ju, Can we say Boring? i did not like this book. Thirty years ago Jo Becker ran out on her marriage, assumed a new identity, moved into a group house, and lived a … Sue Miller encapsulates the instability of even the strongest bonds Stronger on characterization and description than on plot, but so what? I loved Joey's past story, when she was living in the house with the others. Do people create chaos in our lives in order to feel alive?