Customer Reviews

Open House: A Novel (Oprah's Book Club)

5 star:		(117)
4 star:		(93)
3 star:		(62)
2 star:		(31)
1 star:		(34)

 

 

Elizabeth Berg has done it again---told the story of Everywoman, or at the least, a story every woman can identify with. This moving book, about the disintegration of a marriage and its aftermath, will touch all who read it.

Sam deals with the end of her marriage in a scattershot way: looking for reasons, spending lots of money, trying to figure out what to do, and generally flailing about, emotionally. But the reader comes to understand why, thanks to Berg's wonderful writing. This was the reaction of a woman has no idea what will happen next, when all the things she has thought would come to pass suddenly are no longer a part of her future.

The reader observes Sam as she takes in boarders to help pay the mortgage, has a succession of temp jobs, and begins dating again. At the same time, Sam is going through the grief process, trying to heal herself emotionally in order to get herself to a better place.

I found Berg's humor much more apparent in this book than in any of her others. I laughed out loud when Sam sat down at her sewing machine and sewed up the fly on every one of her husband's boxer shorts! Her characterizations -- of her son, her mother, and the boarders -- were excellent.

Had I not read any other Berg books, I probably would have given this a "5" but I don't think it was quite as good, nor as moving, as "Talk Before Sleep" or "Pull of the Moon".

I enjoyed 'Open House', don't get me wrong. I have read several of Elizabeth Berg's works, and am used to her simple style. It's quite easy to sit down with one of her books and finish it in a few hours. In other words, it keeps you engrossed, but doesn't ask much more from you.

Berg's strong point is making you care for her characters, as much as she can from how little she gives you. Sam seems to be a bit needy, pathetic and lost at the beginning, but soon learns and finds strength and resilience where she least expects it. She has her son, growing older and away from her; her best friend, so close at heart but so far away; her new friend, King, who we all have to adore; her new housemates, who open her up to the world. Reading through their lives for a short time is interesting and enjoyable.

That said, I don't see why this was picked as an Oprah Book Club selection. I'm glad to see Elizabeth Berg getting more attention, since her past works certainly deserve it. But this novel is sparse and light; it is not one of her best. It is worth a read, but not the accolades. While I sped through it quickly and couldn't put it down for a few hours, once it was through it didn't linger much in my mind. Read this, and then go read more of her older novels. Many of them are much better.

I loved reading this book just as I have loved reading all of Berg's other books (I was especially moved by Talk Before Sleep). Berg creates characters who are loveable and real, but in Open House, I was disappointed by the lack of depth she allowed her heroine and her compatriots. That aside, there are genuinely poignant moments in the novel that capture your heart as well as moments that are so amusing you'll laugh out loud. I was especially appreciative of Berg's easy, straight-forward writing style - I read Open House start to finish in one evening over a cafe latte. In a complex world, it's a complete delight to have the opportunity to drop into someone else's world for an evening and then leave it feeling satiated. I would highly recommend Open House as a "feel good" read.

PS. I'll never think of Martha Stewart in the same way ever again! Thank you Elizabeth Berg.

Once again Elizabeth Berg has created a woman I want to meet, I love this woman! Samantha holds her own while struggling to maintain a normal life and provide a loving home for her son Travis in the midst of recovering from having the rug pulled out from under her feet and figuring out where to go from here. These characters are so real it's amazing, what a talent Ms. Berg has! Samantha manages to make me laugh with her "so very real" internal dialogue even as she is on the edge of utter despair. . . I can't say enough good things about this writer!

What could be better? A favorite author and a subject matter close to my heart. I opened the pages of "Open House" all set for an emotional ride that I have experienced through Ms. Berg's other work. I was sadly disappointed.

There simply wasn't anything to hang onto in this book. I found the characters fragmented and fractured. I wanted to like Sam. I wanted to take her into my heart as kin. But the harder I tried the more she annoyed me. From beginning to end I saw someone who was clueless, selfish and immature. It was especially difficult having been in a simular situation myself.

If Sam had been reading this book she would have given up half-way through. I stuck it out to the end...hoping for some glimmer of reality...emotion or attachment to something or someone.

It never showed up. Skip this one inspite of it being an Oprah selection. And if you do read it, don't judge all of Elizabeth Berg's work by this one.

Elizabeth Berg is my favorite author, and I buy all of her books sight unseen. In Open House she once again displays her remarkable talent of knowing women so well. She is so adept at expressing the thousands of emotions women go through dealing with relationships as a daughter, wife, mother, and friend. I pace myself reading all her books--to make them last. This was slightly disappointing because it was over too soon! Some parts are loaded with detail, and others are brushed over a bit too quickly. I found myself wishing that I could have stayed in Sam's life a little bit longer! Also, I noticed a slight change in her style--it was almost as if her editor advised her to spice it up a bit, because a couple of scenes seemed a bit more graphic than her usual style and almost like they were added in after the fact.

I have always enjoyed reading anything by Elizabeth Berg -- she is a wonderful writer who has an amazing ability to capture emotions in such a way that you know EXACTLY what the characters are feeling. And this book is no exception -- it was fantastic! I just read it straight through, and as is the case with all her books, I was sad when it ended! There were many places throughout the book where I was laughing out loud and re-read certain passages over and over because they were so well-written! I'm thrilled for Ms. Berg that this is an Oprah selection, so that she will get the attention she deserves for her gift of writing! I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Elizabeth Berg, and anyone who isn't yet will be after this (and then you can go back and discover all her other gems!)

Yes, I love how Elizabeth Berg writes. Yes, I would love to BE Elizabeth Berg. But this novel really got on my nerves. First of all, Sam is so clueless you want to shake a stick in front of her and yell, "Hello, Wake up woman." In today's world, women don't get to live in la la land...or they shouldn't be heroines if they do. The ex-husband is without redeeming value which makes you wonder both about Sam and somehow question the veracity of her point of view. The, sex scene that wasn't, was beyond humiliating. This is a woman in need of some girlfriends. I yelled out loud for her to just quit it already...

Finally, the hero. Okay, all was well until he had to have graduated from MIT. When will someone write a hero who is just a dang bum but has a good heart? And his almost virginal background. Interesting concept but again, this rocket scientist paired with the clueless chick, just doesn't cut it for me.

Her relationship with her son was a little off as was the eccentric but lovable boarders. Oh puh-lease. But, I will grant Ms. Berg this, I read the whole thing in one night so she can obviously spin a yarn. What's surprising is that it doesn't sound like Madame O's typical cuppa tea. Oh yeah, and the Martha Cameo, it would have only been worse if it was a Kathy Lee Gifford cameo, enuff said. Send the asassins.

OPEN HOUSE is a story of a 40-something woman going through divorce. Sam (Samantha) and her young son Travis learn to deal with life without David and they dont' find it easy. Travis seems to do ok but doesnt' quite adjust to living with new roommates. And Sam is always thinking about David, either hating him or missing him. Between bouts of crying and feeling lonely, Sam learns to survive emotionally (and financially) without the man she had depended on for almost 20 years.

Sam learns to cope with divorce with the help of some new friends - Lydia, an elderly lady who becomes her first new boarder; King, a large over weight but gentle man who becomes her best friend; and Edward, her third boarder who happens to be gay and helps Sam with one final push towards happiness and new found love.

I enjoyed this book, which was the second Elizabeth Berg novel I've read so far. Despite the theme of divorce, I felt it was a much lighter book than the first book of hers I read, WHAT WE KEEP. Ms Berg knows how to bring alive her characters, and she makes me care about what happens to each of them. I would definitely recommend this book.

Elizabeth Berg is my favorite author, hands down. I don't think there is anyone more talented at putting words together to form the most breathtaking sentences. Her latest book is no different.

However, "Open House" also has to be one of the funniest books I have ever read! I never pegged Berg as a humorist, even though there are a lot of ironic moments in her writing. But this book made me laugh so hard I almost peed in my pants. I found the chapter on Thanksgiving especially funny- I laughed for a half an hour, cracking up so hard I was crying. And there is a special treat for martha Stewart fans in the book, as well :).

You have to be a talented writer to mix comedy and heartbreak as well as Berg does. For those worried about this being another woman-as-victim book (man leaves woman after several years of marriage, woman survives shame and loss of identity, finds new love with strapping, younger man who also happens to be her gardener, etc)- fear not. There is not an ounce of that in this book. "Open House" is funny, insightful, and will not leave you putting the book down in disgust.

I really thought Elizabeth Berg may have lost her touch with "Until the Real Thing Comes Along" (her last book) but I have regained my faith in her. She's such an amazing writer. While "Pull of the Moon" and "Range of Motion" are my all-time favorites, this book is one I will be sending to friends and family- male and female alike.

Buy it- you'll love it in every way.