Customer Reviews

An American Love Story

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

"An American Love Story" probably isn't one of Jaffe's best - she doesn't delve into some of the characters & they come off sort of cartoon-y. Nor does the relationship between Susan, a brilliant, free-thinking, kindly writer and Clay, a lying, self-centered jackass have any sort of reality to it. But I was hooked. The story is typically breezy & fast-paced, peopled with characters you love to hate & people you wish you knew in real life. It's also a fascinating condemnation of Hollywood in all its soul-destroying, middle-age-hating, superficial glory.

No Nobel Prizes here, but a wonderfully escapist few hours are available for those who indulge. Lots of fun.

I finished the book over a week ago. I took my time, but then, toward the end, I couldn't help myself. I just had to reach that climax! (That skeezer, Clay. He really got what he deserved!) Meanwhile, the book was fun to read, and I loved how the plot ended up reaching its conclusion. I felt so satisfied -- so at peace -- when it was all finished.

I really enjoyed this book. It's your typical Rona Jaffe formula, but she does it so well.

There are many characters in this book, but it's not too hard to keep them straight. The story centers around Clay Bowen and the women in his life. Clay's a successful Hollywood bigwig who commutes back and forth between NYC and Hollywood. His wife Laura, a former star ballerina, and daughter Nina live in NYC, and as the years go by, he begins to look at them as a drain on his life. So enter Susan Joseph, a very intelligent writer who Clay starts an affair with that lasts many, many years. Well, Clay, being the lying, cheating, schemer that he is, also takes up with a very young Bambi Green much later in life. This relationship proves to be much different then his previous two because he no longer seems to be in control.

Overall, I liked the story. It kept me turning the pages, wanting to see what would happen next. However there were many times I would get SOOOO frustrated with the shallowness of some of the characters, and the total despicability of Clay's actions. Without giving it away, I was very glad to see what became of him in the end. Of course I recommend this, as I do most all the Rona Jaffe books I've read. If you like the whole soap opera-type storyline, then you'll really like this book!

I bought this book at used book sale for 25 cents...I was attracted because I'd read "Class Reunion" and "After the Reunion" and "Mazes and Monsters" and I enjoyed them all, especially the "Reunion" books.

This was a much slower go for me, it was not compelling reading...interesting yes...but there were points in the book where it was easy to stop for awhile. All in all I read it in 5 days. Usually if it's good I won't be able to put it down.

The characters were interesting...I too pictured myself as Susan and felt her joy and pain. We never see much from Clay's point of view and I think it might have been more compelling reading if we would have.

All in all Rona Jaffe does a great job of telling stories that appeal to women, especially me.

I'm in the middle of this book, and I love it so much, I want to write in an excellent recommendation. I'll let you know how it turns out. P.S. You can find some of Rona's books in hardcover at the Strand, which is where I'm replacing my softcovers with hardcovers. I love the Strand!

I read this while visiting a sick relative. I was basically housebound and a captive audience. This book was cliche, long-winded, and depressing. The only reason I didn't put it down after the first 50 pages was there was basically nothing else for me to do. So I read on, and on... There are too many characters, too may side stories--all boring, too many plots that go nowhere. The only single character that is fleshed out is Susan, the writer. I imagine Rona Jaffee put something of herself into that portrayal. Other than that the Hollywood producer with an anorexic wife and a lover on the side--it was like a bad Lifetime movie. Yuck! Don't waste your time!!!

The story came into my bones. So romantic, in a way I felt just like Susan, independent but romantic. I really want to know why Clay had to go with Bamby. I still don't understand.

I was given this book by a female relative who told me it was a fine read...I'm seriously considering dropping her from my will. The characters (far too many, even for a well written book, which this is not) are unbelievable shallow and have the emotional reaction time of a sloth on Rufinol. Why I spent so much of my valuable time struggling to get through the first hundred pages, I'll never know. This book is now under a short table leg serving what I believe to be its best purpose.