Customer Reviews

Spin Doctor

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

 

 

Too many characters with too many problems. Like another reviewer mentioned, I was confused as to who had what problem because there was too much going on.

I wanted so bad to really enjoy the book but I couldn't. The premise seemed like a fun story. I was very excited to read it but then I started and it dragged. Characters weren't developed and Susan's problems with her husband seemed to be added at the last minute for character development that never happened.

I did not expect it to be literature (checked it out of the library randomly to take it with me on vacation). But wow it was bad! I skipped ahead a lot to "finish" it. I think the main reason I read it was because I became intrigued by how bad it was. It was not so bad it was good. It was plain and simple bad. I kept thinking how is it that someone wrote this, editors read it, various people decided it was a finished product, and it got published? I suppose it is possible there are other books as poorly written as this, but I am not used to reading them.

The book failed primarily due to poor writing. Though the events were far-fetched, the basic premise and plot could have worked in the hands of a good writer. The main character was neither believable, nor likable. Sadly, the other women were not interesting either. They were supposed to be, but none of the voices felt genuine. Especially the teenage daughter and the gypsy fortune teller! The story attempted to cover a lot of important issues in the women's lives (grief, motherhood, adoption, gay marriage, teenage ennui, betrayal, anorexia, interracial relations, illness, you name it) but everything was so poorly executed, it all ended up in a mess and I could not care about any of it. There were also numerous spelling mistakes, and factual errors that could've been averted with a quick wikipedia search (e.g., endomitriosis (sic) does not mean you throw your hands up and declare infertility!).

I would not recommend this book.

Leslie Carroll has done it again! She's written a charming and insightful story about a group of women living in an Upper West Side (of Manhattan) apartment building who've found their salvation in the laundry room. They let their emotions tumble, airing their dirty laundry both literally and figuratively, as they wash their clothes. They've all found a sympathetic ear in the person of psychologist Susan Lederer, their pro bono therapist. Listening to their woes and advising them has a cathartic effect on her as she realizes that she, too, has benefitted from the creation of this impromptu, offbeat "office". The characters are an assortment of diverse women old, young, married, single, upper and lower class all brought together because they need to talk to someone who can sort out their problems. Its one of those unique "only in New York" stories...and it's wonderful. It's a quick read...for the subway, for the beach or relaxing by the fire with a glass of wine. You'll want to tell your friends about it.

I found the premise of the novel very interesting, but Carroll just tried to tell too many stories in this book. I felt like I didn't really get to know the main character, so when her life started to fall apart, I didn't really care.

Thanks to Ms. Carroll I've nearly missed my stop on the train twice! Her new book draws you in immediately and makes it almost impossible to put down. Witty and sweet--i really enjoyed it!

Leslie Carroll's "Spin Doctor" revolved aroud Susan, a therapist, who gave free counselling sessions to the tenants of her apartment building. The counselling sessions were held in the laundry room of the building where Susan's "patients" were more comfortable to share their problems while at the same time, doing their laundry. Even though Susan seemed to be able to her the tenants, she was unable to solve the problems in her life. Her relationship with her husband seemed stagnant, and her daughter, Molly seemed doomed for a career at McDonald's.

I didn't enjoy this book at all as the author provided many stories which was a bit confusing as I cannot remember who has what problems. The storyline in general was weak and not very engaging. The main character, Susan, was not well-developed and the supporting characters were not very interesting either. This was a rather weak chick-lit book. Nothing worth wasting your money.

Amy the new mother, Meriel the bored West-Indian housekeeper, Naomi part of a different lifestyle couple with Claude (though they each clean the dirty linen), Faith the new widow, Talia the injured ballerina, and Susan the therapist all live in the same Manhattan apartment house. At the laundry room Susan listens to their individual woes and offers sage advice to help each one cope with their personal crisis.

However, no one is there for Susan. She believes her once picture perfect family is near collapse. Her spouse spends way too much time in the office as if he needs to avoid her or has something better there to occupy his time; her daughter is a rebel with a fast food cause; finally her son is on the verge of puberty, but each step forward leads to two steps back as she thinks he will be eligible for Medicare by the time his body changes. Susan needs a psychiatrist, but what she has is friends willing to listen to her woes and advise her now how to clean the dirty laundry.

SPIN DOCTOR contains an intriguing premise as the audience sees the woes of the apartment six and a half (Naomi and Claude get one and a half) mostly through the eyes of Susan, the professional member of the rinse cycle club. The story line shifts focus from one of the sextet to another though Susan remains the glue that holds the plot together. Leslie Carroll deftly insure her ensemble has differing personalities and tsuras, but there are too many to keep score of and that shrinks the shrink's effectiveness. Still this is a fine Manhattan character driven drama that uses laundry vernacular to clean away one's troubles.

Harriet Klausner