Customer Reviews

Reinventing The Woman: A Novel

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read some of those other reviews where some people weren't satisfied, and it is unreal. Why are we ashamed of a character like Camille when there are women out here like her? She has low self-esteem, she makes some courageous decisions, and she starts to get her stuff together. No, this book isn't like Somethin' Extra. Camille isn't tough and foul-mouthed like Genie. But I get what Ms. Rice was doing here. The reinventing rules are motivational and the story had me in tears because on the real, every woman out here is not cussing men out and being tough. Truth be told, some of us have been a fool for love sometimes. This book did wonders for me and showed me that you don't have to stay with the same bad man out of fear. You can set your own goals and play by your own rules. Thank you, Patty Rice. I bet you are helping women all over the country with this fine book that speaks to the heart.

OK I know this is fiction, and this was a fairly good book, but it left me wanting more and with a lot of unanswered questions. It read like a soap opera towards the end which felt abrubt to me. Some of the characters seemed to "perfect" - especially Greg. Overall I would recommend it as a good read, but don't expect to come out of it feeling empowered by the main character. The story was just not developed enough.

This book had a lot of potential, but lacked overall direction and focus. The overall message was a good one, however the characters were not explored in enough detail. You are never quite sure exactly what drives the character's motivations. Camille lacked self-esteem because of the treatment she received from her mother as a child. When Camille returns home she begins to uncover and deal with the root of her pain, which allowed her to endure the abuse she suffered at the hands of her boyfriend for seven years. Yet- throughout the novel- you are never really certain if Camille understands herself. Camille never fully evolves and realizes her own self worth. I was left at the end with the feeling that she was just as mixed up in the end as she was in the beginning. In addition the ending of the novel justs drops off. After 300 some odd pages the reader is left with a twisted and rushed ending. It was like a bad movie. I literally wanted to throw the book down. I had to go back and read it again to even understand the ending. What a disappointing and lightly threaded ending. I understand that Rice was trying to add an innovative twist, but in attempting to do so she left this reader extremely frustrated. This novel had so much potential. There is a good messages throughout, but the novel never quite makes it there.

Reinventing The Woman was really a great read. Like others wrote, I also couldn't put the book down, but it was more because I wanted to see the conclusion of the whole matter rather than because it kept me engrossed. Don't get me wrong, the book was great, the characters were real and I really got into it, but the end just left too many unaswered questions. Maybe Ms. Rice was leaving room for a sequal.

The book started with the heroin leaving her abusive boyfriend of seven years and returning to her home and her older sister. She was never really close to her family and so returning home was a desparate last resort. Her mother who she hates and vowed never to see again comes to visit when she hears that Camille (the heroin) is there. Now here is where I feel some progress could have been made. Although I won't give away the plot, it just seems that maybe Ms. Rice could have concentrated more on the relationship between Camille and her mother.

I don't know, the book just didn't leave me satisfied although while I was reading, I did enjoy it. Try it for yourself!!

I brought this book totally on my love for 'Somethin Extra'. This wasn't exactly what I expected. Sudden marriages and pregnancies, men who are too quick to fix things are all just too much for me. But I must admit, I didn't expect this to be filled with so much drama. Everyone has some secret agenda in this book. Of course I think the ending is incomplete and I was forced to read it (the ending) about 3 different times before I completely understood. It seemed like Ms. Rice was in a bit of a rush to finish. The book seemed to end suddenly. I'm anxiously awaiting a follow-up (possible trilogy) to this due to the sudden ending. But all together, it was a good book. But her first was definately better!

I just received this book last weekend from a family friend for my birthday. Normally, I can read a book I'm interested in in a few hours, but I've been trying something new lately, and that's to take my time with it. All that went out the window with this story. Granted, I did start out reading bit by bit, but this past Friday night, it was out the window. I was laying in bed turning pages continuously, occasionally glancing up to see the time. Imagine my shock when I closed the book the final time to notice that the clock said 5:04 a.m.!

But that's the type of story this is. I was hooked and couldn't wait to see what happened next. I'll try not to give away the story, but it starts out with a young woman leaving her abusive live-in love of several years, and going back home. Along the way to finding herself again, she meets many new people, and learns many shocking secrets about her family and herself, though perhaps the most shocking one of all she never learns. Definitely a page-turner in every sense of the word. I've already told my mother and the family friend who gave me this that they must read it. Can't wait to see what else Ms. Patty Rice has for me to read. You'll love it!!! :)

I thought the book was great.. Until the end! What happened? I was so disappointed at the end. It seems as if the book was incomplete. I had to check my copy to see if some pages were missing. Great characters, great story, but not so great ending. If you want to call it that. This book needs closure or a follow up or something. But other than that it was a great read.

The title of this novel is perfect for a story of an abuse victim finding herself after such a devestating period in her life. Camille the main character suffered at the hands of her boyfriend Evan for many years and in the process losing her self worth and self-esteem. The reader journeys with the victim on her quest to regain herself. However, the abuse was only one issue the victim was dealing with.

Returning home after the last physical confrontation with Evan, Camille reacquaints herself with her family. During her return a family secret is revealed. With the revelation, months of personal growth and realizing she was not ready for a permanent relationship with Greg our story ends. The author leaves us with a resolution but more questions. The end just was not complete.

I appreciated the Rules at the beginning of the Chapters as well as the raw emotion the author was able to give to Camille. Ms. Rice eloquently put into words the depth of emotions victims of domestic violence experience.

This latest self-help fiction novel by Patty Rice, tells the story of how Camille Foster finds strength to survive in spite of the physical abuse she endures from her live-in boyfriend, Evan, and the rejection she receives for years from her parents. Even though Camille vowed never to return to her family's house after she finished college, she finds she literally has no place to go after escaping another violent night with Evan. In spite of her feelings about being home again, it seems coming home was the best decision she ever made. At home, she slowly begins to "reinvent" herself and chip away at all the problems that have contributed to her low self-esteem and feelings of loneliness. At home is where she comes face to face with some disturbing family lies and secrets that ultimately cause her to re-evaluate her life and try to start over with a newfound hope for the future.

For a 368-page novel, this one moves rather quickly. Some readers will find the 12 Reinventing Rules which leads each chapter and serves as an outline for the book, helpful in observing Camille's growth from a battered woman to one who realizes that loving oneself is the way to finding inner peace and happiness. Camille is a complex character whose very existence hangs in the balance. The surprise twists and turns that occur throughout the story will leave readers, I'm sure, desperately needing some questions answered by the end of the book. But in view of how the book abruptly ends, one can only expect Ms. Rice to masterfully write a sequel that will bring closure to what in essence is a very interesting book.

This woman sure knows how to write. I'm about to reinvent myself now that I've read this story. There was nothing like the experience of reading it. I kept stopping to get myself together 'cause I have been there. It cut me deep and I am proud to say that I broke off that relationship after I read it. I'm by myself now, but I'm not scared now. Camille gave me strength. You know, I loved Nora to death. Greg was there to show me I'm worth better and I can have a better man. Thanks to Patty Rice this is one woman who won't be hit ever again! I am serious about that. If you are in that mess, READ THIS BOOK. It will change your life.