32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful page turner, a great look at a Mother's love!, March 20, 2010
I absolutely loved this book and disagree with other reviews that suggest Ellen should have simply called the birth parents and tried to work something out with them. That would likely never happened with the exception of a brief period of transition. This book portrayed a mother's love regardless of how you became a parent. Not only that, it had you asking yourself, would you, could you, make that call? There is a real emotional pull between doing what is right and NEVER wanting to give away your own child. I think that the way she goes about finding out the truth is a very real look at not wanting to show all your cards until you absolutely have to. Her reasons weren't completely selfish either, she clearly had the best interest of her child at heart or else she would have taken the advice of those telling her to just forget it. She knew it would haunt her always. Then you have to consider the fiction angle of a great writer. We wouldn't read the book if the story was sweet and simple and it wouldn't be a page turner without the drama and suspense of Ellen working the story through to find the truth and even when you think the truth is not in her favor, you are surprised to find you can't put this book down until you know the "truth". To me this book was so good, it stayed with me. I found I couldn't simply finish the book and move on to my next book. It was an emotional journey that had me just needing to take it all in and ask myself what I would do in the characters position's. My husband wouldn't even have to conversation with me when I tried to ask him what he or we would do. Just an impossible situation to ever have to consider. Loved it! Loved it!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
(3.5 stars) Baby Mama Drama, April 14, 2009
This review is from: Look Again (Hardcover)
Most people throw away fliers that say "Have you seen this child?" Features writer Ellen Gleeson doesn't- she stares at the image of Timothy Braverman wondering if her adopted son has a twin. As a reporter, it is in Ellen's DNA to question, so it isn't remarkable that the picture of the child continues to trouble her. And even though her newspaper is instigating cutbacks as a response to hard economic realities, Ellen remains obsessed with the face of the missing child. Juggling a jealous coworker, an intriguing boss who looks like Antonio Banderas and an important newspaper deadline, Ellen finds it impossible to turn away from the fear that has invaded every aspect of her life. As wound up and anxious as an overly-stimulated three-year-old, Ellen spends her off hours researching her adoption and tracking persons involved. No matter the answer, Ellen can't stop asking the questions.
"Ellen spent the afternoon in Quality Time Frenzy." Whatever else, Scottoline can write circles around her contemporaries on the pandemonium created by small children. Much of the energy in the book is frantic, at least a third of the books eighty-one chapters devoted to Ellen's interaction with her son. Whether it's a screaming tantrum or a mother-son conversation, Will literally jumps off the page (he has the right name). I desperately wanted this kid to take a long nap. A nap wouldn't have hurt his mother, either. In the context of the story, I found this hopping from intimate child care to serious issues disconcerting. Add in Ellen's crush on her boss and the story gets a bit off balance. I don't know when to be anxious or amused. Then there are the throwaway lines, like, "Time to start stalking."
The thriller is energetic and entertaining, but the uneven emotional tenor keeps the reader off balance until Ellen finally faces the wrong end of a loaded gun, a criminal's plan gone awry. If you are a fan of James Patterson, this novel will please; for anyone wanting more nuanced treatment of character and plot, this author's flashy prose and impulsive quips may not satisfy. Scottoline has an impressive list of thrillers and a loyal fan base. Look Again, for all its scattered energy is a tale of an adoptive mother's worst nightmare come true, morphing into a particular threat with lots of mama-drama. New mother Ellen Gleeson is faced with an uncommon dilemma. At least she has an Antonio Banderas look-alike for comfort. Luan Gaines/2009.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
23 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
I Hated This Novel So Much!!, May 7, 2009
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I don't even know where to begin with this thing! First, let me say I'm basing my review on the audio book version of "Look Again", while I don't think it would make much of a difference, Mary Stuart Masterson's monotone narration sure didn't help the tale at all.
I was going to compare this story to one of those lousy, awful Lifetime Network Movies, one of those flicks starring Victoria Principal or Loni Anderson, but "Look Again" even makes those stories seem like high art.
The basic storyline as outlined in every other review posted, is that a reporter gets one of those "Have You Seen Me?" postcards that feature missing kids on them. She thinks the boy on the postcard looks like her adopted son and begins to investigate. Fair enough, a basic idea that could be interesting.
Unfortunately Lisa Scottoline populates her novel with the most unappealing and unlikable characters imaginable. I can't remember the last time I've read a novel where I actually came to loathe the protagonist of the story as much as I hated Ellen. Her character was astoundingly stupid.She is supposed to be a "working Mom" and yet fails utterly in both catagories. She is a working reporter, that is sent by her editor to work a specific story, which she blows off, lies about and just generally disregards. She is a "loving Mom" supposedly, but seems to leave the kid with a babysitter at the drop of a hat, seeing him briefly in the morning, usually arriving home after the kid is asleep? She has no problem running down to Florida for a few days, again leaving her "son" in the care of a nanny, and worst of all, when she suspects that she and her son's life may be in danger, she rushes right home.....well make that, she rushes right home after deciding it would be a good idea to stop off and have a quickie with boss first?! Wow, what a mom.
To top it off, Scottoline just continues to introduce one vile character after another. The jealous co-worker, the un-involved father, the angry ghetto resident. Evey male in the novel is either mean, vindictive, dumber than a bag of hammers, easily manipulated or one-dimensional heels.
I could go on and on, but to be honest, it's not worth the time. Just avoid this thing, and instead look for a Torrie Spelling movie instead.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192250339_.gif){kind=small}
