Customer Reviews

One for Sorrow, Two for Joy

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you don't already know about Elise Juska, I urge you to get familiar with her books! If you like Ireland, this is a good book with which to start. In One for Sorrow, Two for Joy, we learn about Claire who is in an unhappy marriage and out of character takes her sister Noelle up on her offer to visit her in Ireland - immediately. Claire does everything right and Noelle is the screw up - but is that necessarily so?

I was hesitant to read this book because I love Elise Juska for her tender portrayals of both inhibited and spirited characters (the latter of whom aren't just plopped in because there's a need for shock value and juiciness) and the backdrops of college juxtaposed with the suburbs. I was concerned that moving the action to Ireland as the blurb described it was a departure that would take away from the characters and their stories that I loved. But in the end, this wasn't an advertisement for Ireland and Juska proved once again why she is a cut above other women writing popular novels today and she doesn't fit neatly into the genre of the week.

my first book by Ms. Juska and was really pleasantly surprised . I used some of the reviews on here to make up my mind and then purchased it and am happy to be saying I have ordered via Amazon " The Hazards Of Sleeping Alone ", as that seems to fit my likes more then the " The Getting Over Jack Wagner " genre type soap opera " 80's " stuff. I supppose it's because I never watch them and haven't a clue who Jack Wagner is ???

Here's hoping when Ms. Juska's next book arrives I enjoy it as much as this first venture . I too love the idea of the origin of words . also the lite travelogue feel of the old Sod , the superstitions of Ireland , as my family came from Sligo. The palm each Irishman knows of having in their home from one year to the next . rosary beads round the bedpost : ) etc. By the way, the Magpie tale well, that worked in Ireland but, most people who came from the Isle were hard pressed to find one in the asphalt jungles of America ...sooo, now when we see the unusual event of a lone pigeon sitting on or by our windows or property and staying....bad sign . Ergo, One Is For Sorrow .we just changed from magpie to pigeon : )
Of course I too enjoyed the entire storyline and the beginings of tying up of old family wounds & estrangements which happens in many families sooner or later . usually after a death .

cruciverbalist ...aaahhh, now there's a word to defy & mystify your friends with : )

The linguistics were exquisite and often witty, the content sophisticated, the character development very good. Good insights and expressions. But. I didn't really like it. One reader said it was blah and that's how it came across--proving that the parts do not equal the sum. Basically a blah and depressing-type (not really depressing) book with a negative outlook and uninspired message. The book was as dreary as the main character's marriage and the rainy Ireland landscape--this time proving, I suppose, that you can't write about drab experiences and expect to have a satisfying book. The one set of interactions I continually appreciated was with the Dad, who was thoughtful, kind and loving. The sister also had her moments.

I picked this book up from a "Take one, leave one" book rack on vacation and read it in 3 days. The entire story takes place over less than two weeks, however the author intersperses memories to provide context for the actions and choices of the main character, Claire. I felt that the character development was weak, and I sympathized more with Bob- Claire's soon to be ex- than Claire. It also seemed like there were some inconsistencies with the ages of Claire and Noelle in the memory sequences which distracted me from the story. Overall, the writing style had good flow and the descriptions of places and people were very well written, but I would have liked more substance.

A fresh style, targeted straight for the heart, taking the reader to their own past, swirling with memories, closing the book with the knowledge that life is still good, even with the bad moments.~Affaire de Coeur

Ths book was suggested by members of my reading group. We are only four and three of them are Irish. It was a quick read and somewhat interesting. The crossword puzzle bit got tiring, and I wished there was more development of characters, especially Bob. Seemed like it was a quick write.

This book was different. Once I start a book I have to FINISH - if I weren't one of those people I may have stopped reading before the end. However, I DID want to finish reading the book - just because I wanted to see how it ended - but I wasn't really sure how it ended after it did END. IS there going to be a SEQUEL? Maybe I'm just not a fan of the writing style? I'm NOT seeking out other books written by JUSKA. Sorry Elise!

Juska is very good with character development. I almost gave up on it because in the first half I found Claire to be the most boring, uptight, and stuck up character but as she looks back on her past and learns some important "life lessons" in Ireland her personality improves and she becomes more likeable. However, I liked her previous book "The Hazards of Sleeping Alone" much better.

I know I'm always in for a great read when I sit down to one of Juska's novels. This one in particular kept me glued to the pages. I really enjoyed getting to know Claire (main character) through her relationships with her husband, sister and mother. Juska's descriptions are vivid and often humorous. I loved the entertaining way that she punctuated a moment with various definitions of a word. I really truly enjoyed this book and want to offer my congratulations to the author on a beautifully written story.