Customer Reviews

Through Thick and Thin

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

 

 

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!

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.

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.

Once again Ms Pace produces a most enjoyable read. How does she come up with the great names for her little doggie characters??

Whilst being a yet another fun read, this book also deals with present day issues such as the nightmare of trying to lose weight, relationships and prescription drug addiction. I am sure most can relate in some way to at least one of the situations.

Here's hoping for a 4th masterpiece and hoping it's not too long in coming!

I bought this book because I read another of this author's books, finding it silly, entertaining, and laugh-out-loud funny. The author writes well, and her characters come across as very genuine. This is the 2nd one I've read (although I ordered a couple more) and I'm in the process of reading it and another book at the same time. This is a "you-don't-have-to-concentrate-too-hard-to-enjoy-it" book; the author is very funny and loving in her depiction of a dog (and other dogs) in this story, and I find that storyline both funny and heartwarming. I'm glad that I discovered this author, and will definitely read (and I'm sure, enjoy) more of her novels.

This was a pretty cute book - I mean, chick lit, plus weight loss plus a new dog is bound to be entertaining. It wasn't great though - I just felt like there was something missing... I don't know if it was the presentation of the plot, or the characters but there was something... lacking. It was still a pretty fun way to pass the evening. I think maybe the problem was more of a pet peeve of mine - I just find it off-putting to read about someone's iPod...

As a sister myself, I always enjoy reading books that center on sister relationships. Stephanie and Meredith are two likable sisters who are leading two very different lives. They come together to try and diet and lose a few pounds, but by the end of the book they've gained the wisdom to love themselves and they learn that no matter where life takes you, you're never alone if you have a sister. Ms. Pace's writing is witty and charming as always, this one is definitely a keeper!

Manhattan resident Meredith would argue she is the exception to the swinging single rule as she has not had a date in a couple of years. She loves her job as a restaurant critic, but the food does not do her waistline any good although she admits to herself she always had a weight issue even as a child.

In Ridgewood, New Jersey Meredith's sister, Stephanie is a married stay at home mother of a six month old with a spousal problem involving abuse of painkillers. Unlike "Meres" she was always skinny as a child, but the weight gain from her pregnancy has not gone away. Although she belongs to a mommy group, she feels lonely and finds food as a solace.

When Meres and Steph talk, they form a pact to form a sister diet group to lose the excess weight. However, as each begins to be there for the other like they somewhat did as kids, they find the weight hard to lose but the renewed sibling friendship worth the price of dieting.

This interesting contemporary tale stars two likable sisters who learn life lessons about the need of balance between one's personal and professional lives. The entertaining story line contains an underlying perception about the negative correlation between aging and weight loss; once the duet understand how much more difficult it gets and will get, the real reason they made their pact is a deep need for camaraderie. THROUGH THICK AND THIN is a well written look at the pressures of work vs. that of family.

Harriet Klausner

I guess I was in an outlier here. I did not like this book at all, unlike previous reviewers. I thought the characters were boring and I could not relate to them at all. The book is about two sisters - Stephanie and Meredith. Stephanie is a new Mom who moved to the 'burbs, quit her job, and is ignored by her husband. She is also struggling with her baby weight. Meredith is a single restaurant critic in Manhattan with a low self esteem. She is fat and ambivalent about it. The sisters feel they are growing apart. Meredith is jealous of Stephanie's seemingly perfect life and Stephanie is melancholic because she is not happy in her marriage but has not admitted it to anyone but herself. To regain their relationship, they decide to lose weight together. Of course, if you're a restaurant critic that's hard to do. Half way through the book the sisters stop speaking. Meredith gets a dog and takes these dopy doggy yoga classes and throws out her scale. Stephanie realizes the cause of her husband's coldness. The sisters reconcile. The end.

The writing was slow and plodding, written in the present tense with many repetitive thoughts by the sisters. I liked Meredith's sections more than Stephanie's sections. At least I enjoyed reading about Meredith's job. Stephanie was so whiny, even after we learn the surprise (what is wrong with her husband) I still found her annoying and insipid. I just couldn't relate to the characters and really didn't care what happened to them in the end. I only finished the book because it was my last unread book at home and I read on my commute. I cannot recommend it, however. It is one of the worst books I have read in a while.

I bought this book after reading several good reviews. Unfortunately, it is easily put down and forgotten about. I had a hard time caring about the characters until at least half way through the book. Also, the author has an annoying writing style of constantly inserting commentary within sentences.