Beaches: A Novel [Paperback]

Iris R. Dart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 2004

Loudmouthed, redheaded Cee Cee Bloom has her sights set on Hollywood. Bertie White, quiet and conservative, dreams of getting married and having children. In 1951, their childhood worlds collide in Atlantic City. Keeping in touch as pen pals, they reunite over the years ... always near the ocean.

Powerful and moving, this novel follows Cee Cee and Bertie's extraordinary friendship over the course of thirty years as they transform from adolescents into adults. A bestselling novel that became a hugely successful film, Beaches is funny, heartbreaking, and a tale that should be a part of every woman's library.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA A touching story of the friendship between two very different women. Cee Cee Bloom, with her loud mouth, loud personality and flaming red hair, is determined to become a Hollywood star. Bertie White, delicate and conservative, hopes for a loving husband and family. They meet as children in 1951 in Atlantic City, and, as pen pals, keep in touch with each other. Their reunions through the years always occur at or near the beach, whether in Sarasota, Malibu or Hawaii. Their story jumps back and forth between past and present. Cee Cee and Bertie are genuine, and readers will like them and understand why they are friends. Both characters suffer much, particularly Bertie, whose life seems most unjust. Young adults will be pulled into their lives, caring greatly about them and the steady stream of tragedies that befall them. In a particularly moving ending, Cee Cee leaves a show in the middle of production to care for Bertie, who is dying of cancer. YAs will enjoy this emotional tale, but they'll need to have plenty of tissues handy. Elizabeth Thurston, Baltimore County Pub . Lib .
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

“Dart created a character who is hard to resist.” (Kirkus Reviews )

“The author’s ironic sense of humor is evident even in her choice of titles.” (Chicago Tribune )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (June 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060594772
• ISBN-13: 978-0060594770
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #158,198 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very moving book!, February 20, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Glasgow, Scotland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beaches (Mass Market Paperback)

Well 10 years on since the great movie came out based on the wonderful book "Beaches" I just had to read the book... And i am so glad that I did, this is a must read if you liked the movie. You'll laugh, you'll cry and share all the emotions of these wonderful characters! My Favourite!! Loan it to your best friend!

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The fastest book I've ever read and the most touching., February 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Beaches (Hardcover)

Beaches is a novel that will make you laugh, cry, and fill you up with love. It shows that opposites do attract and can stay connected through thick and thin. When Cee Cee Bloom- a marvolous singer - meets Hillary Whitney, they become two peas in a pod. Though they are not right there by each other all the time, they write each other letters trying to keep the other one in touch. When Hillary comes down with a disease, she asks Cee Cee to go along to watch her and her daughter at their summer beach house. The ending will make you cry and that's where I end. If you've seen th emovie "Beaches", you'll absolutely love the novel by Iris Rainer Dart.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Less similar to the film than I'd expected, April 4, 2011

By 

E. S. Charpentier (Brainerd, MN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beaches: A Novel (Paperback)

The first and last chapters mirror the film almost precisely, but everything in between is incredibly divergent. I'm having a hard time reviewing the book as an entity of it's own without comparing it to the film. I kept hearing Bette Midler's voice in my head while reading it. I have to go watch it again, I think. I did enjoy reading it. I can't really even say which is better. I sort of wish I'd read the book first. Ah, well. Even if you've seen the film a thousand times, this is worth your time.