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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Touching, Funny and Beautifully Written, August 31, 2007
This review is from: Through Thick and Thin (Paperback)
I'm an Alison Pace fan, I have been since the "Andy Warhol" days. But "Through Thick and Thin" is a tour de force novel of a different nature. Pace's wit, attention to detail, and warmth are still hallmarks of her writing, but the stakes here have changed. This is a book concerned with the relationships between women and sisters, and they're presented in a true, deep and complex way. The resolutions she finds are neither pat nor easy. That said, she also finds the moments of hilarity in the lives of her characters and lets us laugh along with them.
If Pace fundamentally sees life's complications, writing about them in a way that shows her ability to relate to her characters, she also manages to convey a sense of hope for them as well.
It's ultimately that feeling of hopefulness that one walks away with at the conclusion of this novel. Though she doesn't shy away from the hard stuff in this book, Pace leaves us nodding, laughing and feeling inspired in the end. Does it get better than that? I suppose I'll have to wait until her next novel appears to find out.
This is a great read pure and simple. Do yourself a favor and buy this book!
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
lonliness, love and yoga, September 4, 2007
This review is from: Through Thick and Thin (Paperback)
Last year I read and reviewed Alison Pace's novel "Pug Hill," a book which I adored. I was thrilled to receive a copy of her new novel, "Through Thick and Thin," in my mailbox. Again, Pace didn't disappoint. From the first chapter I was connected to the characters, and was invested in the story through the duration.
The story is that of two sisters. Meredith is a successful NYC restauant critic while her older sister Stephanie lives her picture perfect life; the nice house, the perfect husband, the beautiful new baby. The sisters have always been close, but lately Meredith is starting to fear that they have little to nothing in common anymore.
Unbeknownst to Meredith, Stephanie's life is far from perfect--while Meredith struggles with some self confidence issues, Stephanie is battling several demons of her own. Both are a long way from being content with their lives. On an afternoon visit, Stephanie explains to Meredith that she is about to start a new diet, an effort to rid herself of those unwanted pregnancy pounds. In an effort to forge a connection of any sort with her sister, Meredith decides to try the diet as well.
The story has a little bit of everything thrown in: diets, a wire haired daschund, yoga, drug addicts, lonliness, love and a journey of inner growth. It can all be found in the pages of "Through Thick and Thin." As with "Pug Hill," Alison Pace writes with wit and humor; I chuckled several times as I read the story. Her characters are endearing, and you find yourself rooting for their success...whether it be in losing a few pounds, or figuring out how to be happy in their own skin--you want to see them get there.
I really enjoyed it. Alison Pace has a very promising career ahead of her.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
from the Daily Buzz's Lit Chick: great novel!, September 8, 2007
This review is from: Through Thick and Thin (Paperback)
August '07 pick: THROUGH THICK AND THIN
Alison Pace (Pug Hill) is back with another clever novel that is as soul-searching as it is entertaining. Her latest, THROUGH THICK AND THIN, is the story of two sisters, Meredith and Stephanie, who are growing apart as their lives take off in different directions. Stephanie is a stay-at-home mom dealing with a new baby, an increasingly distant husband and the up-and-down social politics of the suburbs. Meredith is a single city girl who reviews New York restaurants for a prestigious magazine and wonders why she has trouble connecting with men.
The sisters decide to go on a diet together -- Stephanie to lose her baby weight and Meredith to lose the inevitable food critic pounds -- but at the same time, life's getting a lot more complicated for both women. The distance between them is starting to feel like an unbridgeable gap, and after a blowup, they go their separate ways to lick their wounds.
An intriguing look at the directions our lives can take as we grow up, THROUGH THICK AND THIN is populated with loveable characters and even a yoga-doing dog, which should charm anyone who became a fan of Pace after reading last year's PUG HILL. Pace is a master at handling the two different viewpoints of Meredith and Stephanie, and readers are sure to walk away with a deeper understanding of what makes us all tick.
The book is even more charming because Pace doesn't shy away from tackling weighty issues; the characters' pain, confusion and angst are often remarkably tangible. The lighter comedic scenes are just as heartwarming.
Check out Alison Pace's web site at www.AlisonPace.com.
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