Customer Reviews

Redemption

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

 

 

Thanks Howard Fast for a great read! I was very moved by the May-December love story of Ike Goldman, a 78 year old widower, and 47 year old divorcee Elizabeth Hopper. When he saves her from suicide on the George Washington Bridge their lives are both changed forever.I found their relationship very moving and believable as they each fulfill a great need for one another. When Eliabeth is accused of the murder of her abusive ex-husband and put on trial the plot becomes very suspenseful and gripping. I enjoyed this book thoroughly, found it very thought-provoking and did not want to put it down until the very last page. I recommend Redemption to one and all......

I was disappointed in this book by Howard Fast, yet found myself finishing it. His lack of imagination in vocabulary matched his lack of imagination in the courtroom scene. I was hoping not to have to read another "wonderful" or "sweet" or "too old" or "I love you so much". Even the proofreader needed help --- missing quotation marks for instance. Yet, perhaps for people in their seventies who hope for true love and a return to a zest for life, this would be a good book.

I must have been having a nostalgic moment, trying to recapture the enjoyment I felt reading The Immigrants back in the 70's, when I purchased Howard Fast's latest book Redemption. It was NO Immigrants and I wasn't able to capture much enjoyment. The one redeeming thing about Redemption is that it's a quick read.

Ike Goldman is a 78 year old widow who was once a law professor at Columbia University. Riding home one night from an engagement, he sees a young woman who he believes is getting ready to jump off the George Washington Bridge. He, of course, convinces her not to jump and, as a result, feels responsible for her. She is Elizabeth Hopper, ex-wife of wealthy investment executive William Sedgwick Hopper. When he is found dead in his office, all fingers are pointed at Elizabeth. By this time, Ike has fallen for 45 year old Elizabeth and uses all his connections to have her represented in the best way possible. While this May to December romance was sweet in some ways, it bordered on the unbelievable -- older man saves younger woman's life and the result is they fall in love. It should only be so easy.

I guess you could categorize this book as romantic suspense. While Ike is having his own doubts about whether or not Elizabeth is guilty, so is the reader. Fast is definitely a skilled writer but this book is nothing compared to those generational sagas that made his name so synonomous with that genre many years ago.

This writer is coasting on his reputation. Where was his editor? Repetition and lack of imagination fill every page. And if you are Catholic, Irish, female, Caucasion, don't have liberal views, and alot more, you may want to skip this boring read. He seemed just way to "perfect" for my liking.

I hate to sound like an echo but I have to agree with the previous reviewer who found the book to be rather unimaginative but finished it anyway. I felt the same way. It was entertaining and kept me turning pages but all the while I was cringing at the unoriginal and unrealistic dialogue and waiting for a surprise twist of some kind. The best way to describe this book was as a light, easy read that was interesting but not truly memorable.

Howard Fast was obviously fullfilling a publishers committment. This was the most inane, painful book I have ever read. The author should be ashamed to put his name on this book. I bought the book because of the author's name, feeling I would have a good read - wrong! I am disgusted.

I read this book in one sitting. I liked all the characters, especially the saucy Sarah, who ultimately "saves" Elizabeth Hopper from a prison sentence.

I liked the courtroom scenes and I liked the romance. I agree with other reviewers that the language, proofing, and editing could have been better, but it was, for me at least, a good night's read.