Customer Reviews

Planning to Live

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

While I think that Heather Wardell is a talented author, having read most of her other works, I must admit that this story was a total failure for me.

SPOILERS AHEAD

This whole book was so depressing, I don't even know how to write this review. The main character is pinned in her car after crashing it in a snow storm. She is unable to free herself or reach for her cell phone to get help and she begins to reflect on her life for the past 2 years, a life which has had some absolutely horrible experiences in it.

I understand the author's premise of wanting to get people to think about living their lives to the fullest, but based on the tragedy that Rhiannon had suffered and then - at least in my opinion - had finally started to believe in herself and live again, the ending is so totally wrong that I even can't believe it.

This book was so depressing all the way through that the only way I could continue to the end was to convince myself that as it was in 1st person, all things would be resolved well. Not.

Perhaps I'm in the minority, but I don't want to read a book to feel so horrible afterward, no matter how much it's supposed to make me appreciate life. I would still have gotten the message if Rhiannon had survived to show how she had learned her lesson by actually accomplishing something instead of leaving letters telling others to carry out her unfulfilled wishes.

I wish that I had never read this book.

*Spoiler Alert*

There are not enough words to express how much I disliked this book. I commend the author for her artfully crafted tale but the last third of the book was awful. I had a hard time building a rapport with Rhiannon and failed. Who has the time for people with that much self distain? When she drowned in her self pity and turned to Joel, I lost interest. I also have a hard time understanding why other reviews found her insights on life so great. Do you seriously need to be told to take time to enjoy life? And what is the point in her realising it when its too late?

It's ironic the author is trying to pass this message on through a story filled with sadness. I didn't come away thinking, oh gee I'm going to look at life differently now, I just felt that she didn't deserve the great people in her life. They were the ones I felt bad for. They love and support this person who doesn't really take the time to realise it until she's been trapped in a car! I think the worst thing is I walked away feeling more sad for the cat than I did for Rhiannon.

I wish I had read a review that hinted at the sad ending as I wouldn't have bothered. I try to make a point never to read books designed to leave you feeling sad, there's enough tragedy in life without looking for it in books, a pursuit that should bring pleasure.


Although I have read another book by this author that I enjoyed, I won't be going out of my way to read any more. She has left me feeling distrustful of her work, especially seeing as this book was listed as a romance. People read romance for happy endings!!!!

This is probably another spoiler but it was hard to deal with the ending considering I've just had some terrible things happen in my family. It was a good story up until the ending. Since there wasn't actually an ending maybe the author will have another book that continues the story with, well, you figure it out after you read it. I have to give it only two stars because of the ending.

*****SPOILER ALERT******

This is a well-written story but not the typical "chick lit" I was looking for. One reviewer called the message of the book "cumbersome" and it is. We've all heard it before: "Stop and smell the roses". We get that. The main character of this book, Rhiannon, doesn't figure it out until she's ten minutes away from death and when you get to the last sentence and realize that the author has killed her off, it's a punch to the gut. I wrote to the author and begged her to publish an alternate ending (she could do it on her website) and she replied that the way it ended pains her also. But she could see no way for Rhiannon to save herself and she didn't want a "passive rescue", meaning that someone would get to her in time. Interesting. Because Rhiannon's whole issue is about control, so why not let her be rescued, thereby proving that other people are capable and can be trusted and that she doesn't have to do it all herself? There are about three scenes where the poor girl thinks she has figured out a way to free herself and once, the police pass right by her. You just know that she'll figure it out. But she doesn't. As another reviewer wrote, there's enough sadness in this world. The readers, and Rhiannon, deserved a happier ending.

This was such a powerful read. I wasn't expecting to be so moved, or to take the book's message to heart like I have. This book reminded me in such a good way of how I felt reading Gayle Forman's If I Stay.

Rhiannon is a thirty-something perfectionist. She holds herself to unattainable standards and is always beating herself up about her weight and not being good enough at every part of her life. She has a tragic past, which is revealed little by little as she reflects on her life throughout the story. Rhiannon gets in a car wreck on the way home from her parents' house on Christmas Day. The whole reason why she's driving home in a blizzard is so ironic, because she's trying to escape the temptation of fattening foods at her parents' house.

The story starts with Rhiannon stuck in her car, just off the road, and she can't reach her phone to call for help. While she waits to be rescued, she thinks back on her life. The entire book alternates between Rhiannon in her car in the present day and flashbacks. Sometimes this kind of writing style can be choppy, but it works well here and keeps the story moving at a fast pace. I found this book impossible to put down. Wardell grabbed me right from the beginning and I finished this book really quickly because I couldn't wait to find out if Rhiannon gets her happily ever after or not.

Just One Gripe:
Don't judge this book by its cover. The cookies actually play a large role in the story, and have a special meaning.

The Best Thing About This Book:
The best thing about Planning to Live is the positive message. You'll feel better about yourself and will appreciate your life more after reading this book. How many books can you honestly say that about?

Appropriate for a younger audience:
Yes

Score:
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Setting/Imagery: 5/5
Originality: 4/5
Ending: 4/5
Total Score: 23/25

"Planning to Live" is a simple concept, leading to the exploration of complex emotions. While driving home from her parents' home on Christmas, Rhiannon Taylor loses control of her car in the snow and crashes into a tree. She quickly realizes that her leg is trapped and she cannot get free from the car. Her cell phone is out of reach - all she can get to is her laptop. As the reality of the situation starts to sink in with Rhiannon, she starts to think back over recent events in her life.

As the evening wears on, Rhiannon begins to realize that she might not escape from the car and decides to leave messages for her loved ones on her laptop - just in case. Through these messages and the memories that they bring up, Rhiannon is able to take stock of her life, understand what's really important, and come to a sense of peace with herself. At the end of the story...well, just go read it for yourself and see how it ends. You didn't think I would actually spell it all out, did you?

I enjoyed this book far more that I anticipated. I loved the central premise of the story. What would you do if you where trapped, with little hope of escape - but with the means to leave a message for your loved ones? Who would you leave a message for? What would you say? Would you find that you had lived your life in such a way that you could say what you needed to, leaving no regrets, in a minute of two? It's something to consider. I also loved the central message of the story - don't forget to live your life. One of the messages that Rhiannon leaves for her friends and family is:


"It's not the destination, it's the journey." People say it all the time and don't think about it. Well, think. Forget about the destination, just for a second (and I know this is hard, but do it anyhow) - are you enjoying your journey?

Make sure you do. Because right now, I'm not thinking about my deadlines at work or how many minutes I clocked on the treadmill this week. I'm thinking about you guys. You're all part of my journey, just like I'm part of yours. We're so interconnected and it's important to really live.


It's great advice. Rhiannon was lucky (if you can use that word in this situation). I'm a procrastinator by nature, but this book reminded me that some things really can't wait until the last moment. Rhiannon didn't appreciate the journey until the very end, but she was afforded the chance to examine her life and say some of the things she had put off over the years. Are you confident that you will have the same opportunity, when the time comes? For me, waiting to find out seems like a big chance to take. Go live your life; say the things that need to be said. Life's too short to wait until tomorrow.

I was so disappointed in the ending....I just knew that someone would find her and that she would live. I was so sad at the end and sad that her friends and loved ones had to find out how she felt thru her death. How sad is that???? Why couldn't she have lived? Why couldn't you have ended with her wedding to Alex or her walking down the aisle at Sandra's wedding? Too Sad!!!!

This book was really wonderful up until the end. If you are looking for a sweet chick lit book this is not it. I LOVE all her books until this one.

I have read several of your books and loved them all until I read this one. I feel like you just gave up on Rhiannon in the end !!! Almost like you got bored with her. I get the point of the story but I also believe that it could have ended differently. She was finally getting it and you let her down...You could have given her a chance to show everyone what she learned. Yea I know she is fictional, but I really get into the characters I read about. I will think twice before purchasing again. Sorry !!!! But this book kinda ruined your stories for me.....

What an emotional story. So well-written! The ending left me so emotional that I cried. There is a valuable lesson to be learned. It is truly the journey in life that has the most meaning. I would recommend that this book be read by everyone, but especially by those who are driven to a finish line without checking on the scenery along the way.

Rhiannon's car goes off the road during a snow storm and she is unable to get out of the car to get help. While she is stuck in the car she reflects upon her life. At first, only her mistakes and her accomplishments, but the longer she sits trapped in her car, she begins to focus on the little joys she experienced during her journeys to her destinations. The last two chapters are unforgettable. This is a must read.

Carole McKee, Author