Little Earthquakes [Import] [Paperback]

Dr.; Weiner, Jennifer N; A (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2005

Fiction Novel

Product Details

• Paperback: 417 pages
• Publisher: Washington Square Pr (2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743468945
• ISBN-13: 978-0743468947
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (284 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,712,843 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

JENNIFER WEINER is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of seven books, including Best Friends Forever, Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, which was made into a major motion picture, and Certain Girls. A graduate of Princeton University, Weiner lives in Philadelphia with her family.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars well...it certainly makes motherhood depressing, July 5, 2005

By 

Movie Watcher "MW" (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Little Earthquakes: A Novel (Washington Square Press) (Paperback)

I am a bit surprised by the amount of reviewers who feel this book would be perfect for new mothers. While it was realistic in the sense that motherhood isn't easy or fun ALL OF THE TIME, it certainly makes becoming a mother seem like one of the most miserable, marriage-wrecking experiences a woman can find herself in.

I just found all of the women EXTREMELY unrealistic. Kelly is a materialistic complainer, and can't even have a rational discussion with her husband? Instead, she gets bent out of shape because he gets laid off, and basically considers him one step above fungus? Please! No man (or woman) would stand around while their mate chastised them. The explanation of her "awful" childhood is supposed to make us understand, but instead, it made me sick to my stomach whenever it was her turn to speak in the book.

Becky, supposedly the funny one since she threw out the most sarcastic comments of the group, all of a SUDDEN changes her heart about her psychotic mother-in-law? Honestly, I was suffocating in the sugary-sweet sap this author was gagging me with here. Plus, she lets some freaky, creepy stranger into her home, etc? Way to watch out, Becky. How about we let the stalker babysit?

Ayinde....obvious character....takes her cheating husband back. I can't begin to tell you how realistic it is that she would want the other woman's phone number...sure, let's be a happy family after my husband nationally embarasses me.

Lia...ok, because so many men would just take their wives back after she ditches them for a year? Oh, and the mother is waiting with open arms after Lia selfishly leaves her for 11 years?

None of these characters were sympathetic or likeable. They complained constantly, and magically everything pulls itself together in the end. I would never recommend this book to a new mother...it would probably depress her too much.

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Highly overrated, November 7, 2005

By 

Winkie (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Little Earthquakes: A Novel (Washington Square Press) (Paperback)

This book had great potential and at first I couldn't put it down. Unfortunately, the characters never developed and by the end I was sick and tired of their whining. The characters were very stereotypical and while much was made of the trials of motherhood, the author never really showed us the joys that make it all worthwhile. I'm a working mom who's also experienced the pain of losing a baby and I was extremely disappointed in the storyline for Lia. There was a better story there than the one that was written.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good writing style, but didn't spin a good story, October 12, 2005

By 

mysty72 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Little Earthquakes (Hardcover)

I loved In Her Shoes, but was disappointed with Little Earthquakes. Weiner's writing style and wit were on the mark. But I felt that the characters were one-dimensional, not very sympathetic, and in ways not even likable. There was so much focus on the negative of early motherhood that you never got the sense there was any joy as well. This is especially true of how the husbands are portrayed.

I also felt that some of the plotlines were not plausible. Why would these three girls suddenly become so close so quickly just because they took a yoga class together? Also, if a woman loses her child, would she really find solace in OTHER people's children? Not only does it seem creepy that she comes across as a bit of a stalker, but I just don't buy that this is how a woman deals with this kind of pain.

Eventually the story started to drag. I began to care less and less what happened to these glum women, just the opposite of how I felt about Maggie and Rose Feller of In Her Shoes.