Life on the Refrigerator Door: Notes Between a Mother and Daughter, a novel (Hardcover)

by Alice Kuipers (Author)
Key Phrases: Hey Claire-Bear

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Kuipers's haunting debut unfolds like a flip book of half-drawn images too swiftly ended, a compilation of tantalizing notes posted on a refrigerator by a single working mom and Claire-bear, her wistful teen daughter. Bittersweet, funny and achingly real, the nameless mother (an overworked obstetrician) and bubbly Claire communicate through these notes instead of talking, e-mailing or text messaging. Missives range from the daughter's plainly impassioned (Hi MOM! (Who I never see anymore EVER!)) to her mother's soothing, tough-upper-lip responses written during her breast cancer treatment. Kuipers captures the anxiety surrounding tragedy and conveys the importance of fully experiencing life. Although the format has its limits (notably in character development and narrative momentum), Kuipers delivers a strong, emotional reminder about the importance of loved ones, even through times of unceasing complications and challenges. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
"Very original and touching" -- Joanne Harris

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Harper (August 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061370495
• ISBN-13: 978-0061370496
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #377,764 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Emotional, August 27, 2007

By	Helen Simpson (Leeds, England) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I wasn't sure I was going to like the note style of writing but it was actually very easy to read. Because you can read the book in 20 minutes it almost doesn't feel like a 'proper' book. However it has both a story and characters who I found engaging.

It gives an insight into a relationship between a mother and her 15 year old daughter, not just a glimpse of their everyday lives but their worries and concerns when the mother has a health scare. The author captures the confusing and conflicting emotions both of them experience and although short, it's to the point and gets across what I feel was intended; Not only to appreciate and enjoy those we sometimes take for granted but also to communicate with each other. That doesn't mean just telling someone we love them but appreciating that we need to share our happiness and our inner worries with them too sometimes.

It made me cry (I think you'd have to be made of stone not to be moved by it), but maybe the last couple of pages were over too quickly because I would have liked to have felt more uplifted by it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Open Door , October 23, 2007

By	night.prose (Lake Co., IL) - See all my reviews

We have all heard of open door communication, and that it is so important to keep lines of communication open. We have all jotted down notes to our moms, and other loved ones. All of us women have been daughters, and many of us go on to have daughters.
This novel could have been lived by many of us. For all of these reasons this book should be read, kept, reread, passed along and cherished by generations of mothers and daughters everywhere. It is one of the most simplistic yet creative books that I have read in quite sometime.It is not only meaningful, but important. I highly recommend it.
I will look for more from this author. However, whether she writes another book or not remains to be seen...but she has done her job beautifully in this book.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Glad I didn't pay full price for it, October 21, 2007

By	Dumb Blonde Reviewing "I'm A Lonely Angel Stu... (In my bed) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I finished this while having my breakfast one morning, and it only took me 20 minutes. There's 240 pages, but each page has a note on it. Which can sometimes only be a line or two, occasionally, a paragraph.

The story's about a mother and daughter, who never see each other, they're like ships in the night, they pass each other. The mother's a busy doctor, the daughter's busy at school and her social life.

The mother discovers she has breast cancer, and suddenly, the relationship between the two changes. It's painstakingly honest, but too brief. You're made to feel like the daughter's selfish and doesn't care. Which didn't feel quite right.

The note style of the book is quite original, much like Cecelia Aherne's Where Rainbows End, but it does feel you leaving empty afterwards. And by the time you get to the last page, and keep turning, and there's no more, it's even worse. I did actually start crying, which wasn't pleasant (soggy cornflakes lovely), but at least I hadn't my face on for work yet. It was twice in twelve hours I'd cried, so don't read this book if you're already feeling emotional. I'm definitely going to pass this book onto my mum to read, and then onto a couple of my friends, as it's an excellent read, just too short.