Heart Conditions [Paperback]

Sara Lewis (Author)

Book Description

Series: Harvest American Writing | Publication Date: July 3, 1997

A young woman, pregnant and between relationships, suddenly decides to keep her baby in this “funny and assured” first novel-”a journey of quiet surprises” (New Yorker) that’s “very, very good on the business of falling in and out of love” (Boston Globe).

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Lewis's ( Trying to Smile ) first novel is a graceful, deft and at times wryly comic portrait of a young woman in transition. At 33, Alice Hammond is an editorial assistant at a New York publishing house. Insecure, eager to please, she almost unconsciously allows herself to be used by just about everyone: her editors cajole her into working late and on weekends; her egocentric 89-year-old grandmother seems intent on turning her into an unpaid companion; and her live-in boyfriend Nick, an actor with a promising career, has just dumped her for another woman. As luck and plot would have it, that's when Alice finds she is pregnant with his child. Needing a place to stay, Alice hides her condition and moves in with Gram, who beguiles her with frequent and mesmerizing tales of her own astonishing past. An uneasy rapprochement sets in. When Nick and Dan, an admiring co-worker, turn up simultaneously after the baby is born, Gram proves to be uncannily astute. An ambivalent sister, loathsome cousins, and an editor from hell round out the sharply realistic cast of characters. In spite of lengthy introspection and some tedious dialogue, this remains a brisk and engrossing novel. Author tour.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Alice Hammond, underpaid publishing researcher, has just been dumped by her live-in actor boyfriend (that cad), who (to her surprise) has left her pregnant. As Alice calmly makes plans for her abortion, her aunt requests that she be live-in caretaker for her demanding, 89-year-old, former-Hollywood-starlet grandmother. With merely six weeks to find another affordable apartment in New York City, Alice moves in with Gram. Amid the complications of living with and coming to understand her cranky relative (and vice versa), she decides to have and keep her baby, acknowledges her real feelings about her ex-lover, and allows herself to have a new love. In an understated, matter-of-fact, first-person narrative, first novelist Lewis, whose short stories have appeared in Redbook, Mademoiselle, and Seventeen and in the collection Trying To Smile (Harcourt, 1992), delivers a humorous salvo at contemporary life, which in its concern with young/old relationships goes beyond the confines of most current popular fiction. Recommended for public libraries.
- Francine Fialkoff, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books; Second Edition edition (July 3, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0156004992
• ISBN-13: 978-0156004992
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,299,323 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars No Emotional Punch, October 14, 2000

By 

"noznabuk" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heart Conditions (Paperback)

The pretty blah story of Alice Hammond, ordinary 33-year-old SWF. Upon breaking up with her live-in actor boyfriend, Nick, Alice discovers she's pregnant. Abortion seems to be the one practical decision she can make in her messed-up life. But at the clinic she changes her mind. She accepts her situation and the baby.

At the time of this decision she moves in with her aging, failing, and crotchety grandmother. It is far from a loving home. In fact when she reveals the pregnancy, Alice receives no support from anyone--except the nice "nerdy" guy from work, the guy who would treat her well and raise her child. But does she let him into her life? No--he's just not Nick. And when Alice does marry Nick, she discovers he's really not so great.

This book left me glad to be finished with it. I developed no feelings (well, maybe anger) for the characters. When I got to the last page I thought, "Who cares?"

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A true gem of a book!!, August 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Heart Conditions (Paperback)

Alice is like every other girl with big problems and uncertianty in having faith in one's capabilities. I read this book in 2 day's. As much as I wanted to yell and scream at Alice' grandmother and "the jerk", Nick, I must admit, they really had me going. I think this book should be read by all women that come upon struggles with having an abortion and scared to death to raise a child alone.This book is not a "woe is me" type, but much less a good triumph novel. It especially keeps your attention and you feel as if you personally know Alice. I am a neurotic about suggesting books to people because I don't want people to not be able to trust my suggestions, but this book is definitley a book I'd suggest!!!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I only wish she wrote more fiction, January 20, 2000

By 

"msgranddame" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heart Conditions (Paperback)

This is my second Sara Lewis novel. The first was the excellent I Love You Anyway. I can't wait to read The Answer is Yes, and I hope she will write more soon. Her characters are so lovable! I find myself out with people looking forward to going home to be with the characters.