Customer Reviews

Moment to Moment

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I read Barbara Delinsky's books as my "light" reading. I read them to relax, to be taken adrift - away - to unwind. I finished Moment to Moment because I thought, with every turn of a page, that a story would develop, that the "plot" would evolve, that it would be worthy of status along with other more recent works that I've read. As I neared the end of the book, i could not believe how trite it was. However, it did take only a few hours to read. I felt totally disengaged from the characters in the novel. I saw them as very unidimensional. One struggled with asthma. In actuality, the author took almost no time whatsoever to delve into the reality of living with this disorder. Nor did Delinsky delve much into anything. The book was pure formula. Perhaps that is why it was originally published under the name of Bonnie Drake? Was it only after other books became hits that this book was "revived?" I finished this book, with its totally predictable ending, because I could not believe what I was reading. Pass on this one.

MOMENT TO MOMENT by Barbara Delinsky
December 29, 2004

MOMENT TO MOMENT, I have to say, was not one of my favorite Delinsky books. I've enjoyed most of her books that I've read so far, but I am finding I do not enjoy her straight romances that she wrote prior to some of her more recent books, which tend to be more "women's lit" than just a pure romance. I think I was spoiled, having discovered the author's books by starting with her more recent novels and working my way backward. Knowing that, the quality of these earlier books is not as good as her more recent novels. Although it is a good thing to know she is improving with age, even without comparing the different types of novels that Delinsky has written, I wouldn't have become such a big fan if it had only to do with these earlier romances.

In MOMENT TO MOMENT, a young woman, Dana Madison battles asthma and the right to have a normal healthy adult life, while Russ Ettinger deals with the loss of a possible sports career when he injures his knee. The two meet by accident, while Dana is fighting an asthma attack. Fate seems to pull the two together, and soon they embark on a relationship. Dana's asthma is at the heart of her personality, but she refrains to tell Russ about her health problems. However, because of this medical issue, their relationship becomes strained. It's a matter of misunderstandings and withholding the truth, but Dana is very afraid of having any serious relationship with any man, even if it IS with Russ, whom she thinks she can trust.

I wish I could give this book a higher rating, but MOMENT TO MOMENT is definitely not one of my favorite Delinsky books. I have to admit it was well written in some ways, but I didn't feel any sympathy for the characters and couldn't care less what happened to them. Anyone that reads this book should know that MOMENT TO MOMENT is not indicative of the style of books Delinsky writes today. On the other hand, many readers have told me that they would rather read her older novels than her more recent ones. It's a matter of taste. As for me, I will eventually read all her books, as I am a big fan, but I prefer her current style of writing and am happy that I had discovered her books. MOMENT TO MOMENT gets three stars from the Ratmammy.

I never realized how some people have to live with severe asthma, it was an eye-opener for me. Great, sweet story- one that I sincerely enjoyed. Guess I was in the mood for a simple love story because I enjoyed this one. After years of struggling and fighting with her family for control, Dana Mason is living on her own and working at the local library- she is doing something she has been told all her life that wasn't possible- living her own life. Since a little girl, Dana has been sheltered by her family unable to live a complete life. Finally she realized she was going to have to get control of her own life or she would have no life. So she moved into an apartment of her own, found a job, and learned to cope with her health one day at a time. Little by little she started exercising and running only to learn that it helped her handle stress and her asthma. But there were times that would set her back, like going to family gatherings and getting uptight. That's what happened the night she was running and had to stop unable to get her breath. And that's when Russ Ettinger (with his own health / life problems to deal with) run up on her only to realize that she was in trouble and couldn't breath. Have your ever met someone that in just a short time captured your attention / heart? Well, that's what happened to Russ with Dana. Dana ended up running on before Russ to return to help her and from then on Russ was like the "prince with the glass slipper looking for cinderella" - only Russ didn't have a slipper or tennis shoe. It really is a sweet story and one to enjoy.

I got hooked on Barbara Delinsky books after reading "Coast Road" and "Three Wishes". I loved both of them. So I decided to go back and read some of her older ones. This one was very weak. She seemed more interested in telling the story of a runner rather than the relationship between two characters. I suggest passing on this one and reading one of the other two I mentioned which were excellent.

I'm very disappointed. After enjoying Delinsky's books so far, this one was a complete bore. No plot, no climax. I skipped paragraphs. I finished reading just for the sake of finishing. I regret not reading the reviews here before getting this book.

Our hero is a control freak with psychopathic tendencies. He begins the relationship by confiscating our heroine's car keys and refusing to give them back unless she removed them from a pocket where she would be unable to avoid also stimulating him sexually (false imprisonment and sexual harassment). Next he stalks her, showing up at her house without invitation and constantly showing up uninvited at her place of employment(stalking). Knowing that she is terrified of sexual contact, he nevertheless sexually harasses her constantly in the firm belief that he is the answer to this maiden's prayers. Finally he erupts into a jealous rage in a doctor's office(never mind that the "relationship" is still all in his head)and drags her off against her will, not permitting her to drive her own car or protect her safety in any way, takes her to his residence and orders her to enter and remove her coat(kidnapping). Does she do what any right-thinking self respecting woman would do--call 911, press charges, obtain a restraining order?? Noooooo. She tumbles into bed with him and he becomes the love of her life. The author should start buying up and destroying all existing copies of this book, because it detracts from her more recent and generally excellent novels which contain great portrayals of strong complex women.

This is a review of BOOK ON CASSETTE. The story itself is nothing special. It isn't clear why Dana is so afraid to let her new lover in on her terrible secret --...she has asthma. Everything else comes down to a "nice" story, perhaps worth listening to on your way to work in the morning. The acting of the performer, J. Smith-Cameron is what livens up this story. She reads sensuously, beautifully, perfectly matching the voices of each of the characters, making a clear distinction between them. It's a pleasure to listen to.

This was a nice story. Everyone was nice. THere was not much conflict at all.

tho one of her earlier shallower works, i liked her characters, the varied storylines, and the theme of overcoming thru persistance.