Customer Reviews

Crazy in Love

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I read this after reading some of her newest novels - which I have loved. This one, however, is similar to a couple others of her older ones that lack substance. It is more difficult to connect with these characters, showing us that writers do indeed improve with experience, as we all do.

The main character here is a woman named Georgie, who is "crazy in love' with her husband - to the point of obsession, and the poor guy, who is in love with her, can't seem to convince her that she doesn't have to be insecure about their relationship or be jealous... yet she hates to see him go to work each time he has to leave. She wants to follow him around, and does sometimes.

Georgie was driving me up the wall, just reading about it, and I am a woman. She gets funding for a research project about Human Nature where she interviews people and tells their stories about events in their lives, but even that doesn't get the reader involved ... I didn't find it very enjoyable and had to skim through a lot of parts of this book to get it finished.
If you haven't read her before, start with "Follow the Stars Home,"
"Home Fires" or "Summer Light." She is a great writer, but don't start with this one.

This novel reads like a letter from your best girlfriend: it describes the ins and outs of one couple's life as they navigate marriage and their respective needs.The narrator, a woman whose purpose in life might be defined as mastering the art of the relationship, is in love with her own husband--but must find a way to balance that love with the realities of his (and her) life.

Let me start off by saying that I would recommend this book only to hard-core Luanne Rice readers. If you're like me and have read every one of her newer books, and enjoyed them all tremendously and you're looking for more...her earlier works are worth reading. Obviously with the knowledge in your mind that usually an author's earlier works are not as polished. Now that I have read ALL of her books, I can say I did enjoy her earlier works, although not as much as her newer.

This book is almost like an anatomy of a marriage. We see the things that can drive people crazy, the feelings they don't talk about, the things they keep inside. It's also an anatomy of a family, it's structure and the roles each person fufills. While the marriage of Georgie and Nick is at the center of this book and we watch the two try to keep their marriage close while Nick works ungodly hours- it's about so much more. It's about Georgie trying to find a bit of her own independence and her beginning to examine what is it that drives her to be a jealous, worrysome person. It's about the tight-knit relationships she has with her sister, mother and senile grandmother. At the heart of the book you have a woman searching to find peace and happiness within herself.

Again, I did enjoy this book. The beginning was a bit slow, however the story and the character development really picked up about half way through the novel. I am glad that I've had a chance to read all of Rice's books, seeing how she really polished her writing ability into the dynamite author she is now. If you haven't read anything by her before, I would recommend starting at one of her newer books like Dream Country, Perfect Summer or True Blue.

Crazy in Love is the story of three generations of women, and the way love has effected each of them. Set in costal Conneticut, this charming novel deftly illustrates the many dimensions of love.

Pem is the fading matriarch. Still strong in body, her mind is betraying her. She often can not remember if she had breakfast, or the names of her granddaughters. Once a formidable woman, she is now becoming child like and dependent. Determined to live out her life in the home she and her husband built, Pem becomes a larger burden to her daughter every day.


Honora is quickly becoming the head of the family, now that her own mother Pem has started to sucumb to alzheimers. Strong and independent, she is a closet worrier. Will her daughter's marriages fail? Will the plane her son in laws commute in daily land safely? What will become of Pem as her mind deteriorates further every day?


Clare, the eldest sister is a devoted wife and mother. Serene, calm and in control, she stubbonrly refuses to show her art work, or use any of her advanced degrees, and spends her days on the family property, looking after her brood, and painting.. The secret she reveals to her sister is at once shocking and expected.


Georgie, the youngest sister is obsessed with her husband, Nick, having an affair. She goes with him on business trips, stays overnight with him in the city when he has to work late, and worries every moment they are apart that he is with another woman. The strain of constant suspicion is becoming too much for Nick to bear. Georgie will need to find her own way before she can heal her marriage, if it isn't too late.


This novel was sweet and poignant, I came to care about the characters, and by the end of the book, I was holding my breath and wishing the best for them. It's a quick, easy read, perfect to take on vacation, or to read while waiting in a doctor's office.

First off, if this is the first Luanne Rice book you've picked up, STOP. Go back and get Summer Lights, Blue Moon, or Home Fires, then come back to this selection. Georgie needs the therapists couch and quick, or Nick will be looking for greener pastures. There were many sections when I'd just shake my head and think, "If this were my husband, and I was this neurotic, he wouldn't want to put up with me!" What's with cutting the cake during the Fireworks display on the 4th of July?? These women need to get a grasp on reality and learn to deal with change.
Now, after writing all that as though these characters were real people (ha) the book had a pretty good flow and kept me reading. I guess I thought something major was going to happen, and it never did. Like I said at the beginning, pick up some of LR's other selections, you'll be glad you didn't waste your weekend on this one!

I can't help myself. I had to give this four stars because of Rice's writing skills. I didn't care for the book at first but kept reading and somewhere around page 60 or so I was drawn into the characters and had to hang on. When the book came to an end I did not want them to go away. There is just something about LuAnn Rice's writing that keeps me coming back for more stories. A sequel to Crazy In Love would be nice. I want to know Tia and Helen and dear Nick a little more. What happens when Pem finally passes and how the sisters carry on. Do Nick and Donald change jobs? Maybe you have to be of a certain age to like this book as much as I did. I have two sisters and an aging mother in law. I know worry and love and jealous thoughts too and since moving my home three times in ten years have learned to become an observer too. I enjoyed the homebody spirit and fierce determination in Georgie's personality to protect the homes and family created by her people. This struggle does go on more than we know. Look around and become an observer yourself. I bet you can find a Georgie and Nick among you!

CRAZY IN LOVE was an enjoyable read. If you like the slight wackiness and comforting domesticity of the late Laurie Colwin's novels, you'll enjoy CRAZY IN LOVE. This was my introduction to Luanne Rice, and I am looking forward to reading her other novels.

These women are so dependant upon each other, it makes me wonder why the girls ever got married in the first place. I would hate to be married to someone who has to be so close to her family. What is the point in marriage, no wonder she was so worried about her husband leaving her she has no idea on how to be a wife. These girls need to grow up and move on with life "Leave and Cleve". The fact that the men were so willing to give up their own families, and become dependant on their wives family is totally unbelievable, and also have dinner together all the time come on how stupid. I did read the entire book however, because I do like Luanne Rice and I guess I figured that there would be more coming. Well I do recommend the author, but not this book don't waste your time!

I like Luanne Rice and have enjoyed her books. This book simply wasn't believable. Yes, you can love your family, but her portrayal of this family was over the top. My mother has dementia and is in an assisted living home. It is a wonderful, compassionate place. Georgie's obsession with her husband and family just got sickening as the book went on. Rushing home from Nick's family to be there to cut some cake wasn't fair to his family. Her other books are much better. I wasted my money on this one.

Gave up on reading this book -- a big disappointment since I do usually enjoy
reading Luanne Rice.