Customer Reviews

Vinegar Hill: A Novel

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(71)
3 star:		(46)
2 star:		(50)
1 star:		(68)

 

 

Before purchasing this book, I read a number of customer reviews on Amazon.com. The recurring theme was that the book was depressing and that the main character was weak. Notwithstanding a vast number of 'negative' reviews, I purchased the book and was pleasantly surprised. I found that the only way to fully appreciate the story was to view the situation from the standpoint of a 30 something year old woman, living in a small Mid-western farming town, conservative Catholic during the early 1970's. Essentially, I viewed the book as a story about the struggle of a woman to establish and preserve her own identity in the face of outside forces i.e., family, religion, in-laws, expectations etc. I basically saw is as a conflict between what she should do as a good "Christian wife and mother" and what she needed to do as a person and how she ultimately resolved that conflict. I also saw Ellen as a woman who was trapped by those outside forces and expections. Although many reviewers of this book thought that Ellen was somewhat weak and spineless, I felt that she had an enormous amount of strength to do what she needed to do in light of the pressures of outside expectations. I think that the base example was when she went to talk to her sister about leaving James. Her sisters response was one of shock and disbelief and her sisters advice was to have another child. I think that Ellen would truly have been weak if she were not aware that her life was not right and changes needed to be made. However, since she was aware of the problems in her life/marriage and decided to take steps, particularly at a time when leaving your husband (in the Catholic religion) was something that women did not do, showed a great deal of strength. She knew that if she left her husband, she would have absolutely no support or understanding from either her family, church, friends, etc. Her desire to make a better life for herself and her children resulted in her taking measures such that she and she alone was in control of her life and destiny as opposed to outside circumstances. Another point that was interesting was her realization that the killing of the twins was Ann's way of making sure that Mary Margaret was not trapped. It was with that realization that Ellen realized that she was not alone and did not have to be trappped. All in all, good book.

Kinda wicked, kinda crazy, but definitely a good read. The writing was clear, the story moving. I view this novel as a reflection of how blind faith can lead one astray. Although an excellent tale of one's ability to endure and overcome, I was slightly disappointed that Ansay didn't expose us to the new Ellen, strong and confident, sturdy and assured. Even though most of Oprah's book seem to have a similar theme (struggle, oppression, eventual self-actualization), she does an excellent job of selecting novels that cover the theme creatively, and realistically.

A beautifully written book that draws you into the story of a couple moved by circumstances to live with the husband's parents. Stingy with both affection and money, the man's parents provide a home as cold and austere as the Wisconsin winter in which the novel begins. Ansay balances the precision of style of a true wordsmith with the compassionate perceptions of a skilled observer as she explores the ways Ellen, the young wife, finds the strength to deal with her increasingly distressing situation. This book looks at relationships, control, and dirty family secrets in ways that may make you wince in empathy if not recognition. But it also considers resilience and inner spirit, and in the end leaves you with hope. Read this book, then read the others she's written. No doubt about it, Manette Ansay is a fine writer.

I bought this book in spite of it being an Oprah pick, and I was very satisfied with it. The characters are so richly drawn, and after reading this, I very much appreciate what my mother's generation went through (I am in my early 30's). I saw alot of the women of my mother's generation in Ellen and Barb (characters in the book), and now have a new appreciation for them. This book was hard to put down--you really want to see what happens to everyone.

I read several reviews on this book and wasn't sure I wanted to read it. But my husband gave it to me for Christmas. I admit, I am drawn to books that are uplifting, entertaining, and funny. I like a nice escape. But I also appreciate good, descriptive writing. This book has fine writing. The author has you right there on Vinegar Hill with Ellen and James. You really get to know the family, even if you, like me, are shocked by the secrets it holds. I learned a lot of what it must have been for women in the 70's, and a lot about the place religion held in their lives. As a working mother of two, it made me realize how easy we have it today. We have so many more choices than the women even a generation before us. Most married young women today are equal partners with their husbands. Ellen was not treated as an equal partner and it was a real eye opener for me. Ms. Ansay does a beautiful job of pulling you into Ellen's world, feeling her pain, loneliness, and despair. I really recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good writing, even if it is a bit depressing at times.

Although this book carries on the tiresome theme of abuse that is a staple of Oprah's choices, at least we are treated to writing that is much superior to her usual choices. The prose is beautiful, the characters are well-drawn, and the plot is very easy to get caught up in; you can easily read it in one evening. The writing contained a lot of beautiful imagery. I did think the family's "secret" was too obvious and easy to figure out; it took me only a few pages and I am usually pretty dense when it comes to that. The book seemed similar to some of Anne Tyler's works, but in addition to the usual cast of eccentric characters, there are a few really mean and vicious ones. Overall the book is much better than most new ficiton, and I hope the author will be giving us more.

I read VINEGAR HILL before the Oprah success in the summer of 1998. It was a particular busy summer of teaching and mothering, so whenever possible, I would escape into Ellen's world. I soon found I couldn't put the book down as I read late into the night. I found myself so drawn into these characters. I loved the courage of Ellen, how she begins to take the first steps away from her family. I also loved the children and found them to be so authentic and believable. I especially loved the relationship between Ellen and her daughter. It's always stunning to read how cruel family members can be, (the spoken and unspoken criticism) but Ansay tells the story with such grace, humor, and love. There is a darkness in this midwestern family, but it's a darkness that so many families will relate to. I gave it to my mother to read, and she loved it too. Bravo for Ansay for creating a world of rich, three-dimensional characters with real problems and real courage. It made me read her other books...RIVER ANGEL still haunts me with the boy, Gabriel, being so loathed by the people of the town. The chapter from the teacher's POV gave me chills. MIDNIGHT CHAMPAGNE, her latest, made me laugh out loud in so many places...She gets into all the heads of characters so completely that as the reader, I know I am along for a great ride. I can't wait for her next one. Her collection of stories, READ THIS AND TELL ME WHAT IT SAYS is also terrific as is SISTER, her novel about a lost brother (and sister). Each of her books is a rich canvas of fascinating worlds filled with real people with all their pain, joy, wit - she writes of the human condition, and she's a master.

Manette Ansay has created a masterpiece of characters so real I could feel, through them, the terror, the tension, and the love that bind us all to each other and make life-changes so difficult. This is a beautiful story of a woman's courage to rethink the rules that define her and, ultimately, her daughter.

If you are someone who enjoys the literary equivalent of a TV sit com, stick to the fluff--you will hate this book. But if you're an avid reader of good literature (Jane Hamilton, Dorothy Allison, Michael Ondaatje, Margaret Atwood) you will find Vinegar Hill to be one of those stories that stays with you. All of us know that woman who, for whatever reason, can't/doesn't/won't leave a marriage, hoping against hope things will get better. Here is a chance to get inside her head, and the heads of a family immersed in old-school Catholicism. This book contains some of the most beautiful writing I've read, and while it has its dark moments, the language of its telling, and its hard-won conclusion, make it a terrific read. I read it in one sitting. For another Wisconsin chiller, check out Stewart O'Nan's A Prayer for the Dying. Ansay's new book, Midnight Champagne, is very different, but also recommended.

It's of little importance whether you agree with Ellen's decision at the end of the book, or if the family's "secret" was easily discernible. Read VINEGAR HILL for its elegant writing style and carefully developed characters. Prepare yourself for a disturbing, sometimes shocking story that speaks to the long range, often generational effects of physical and verbal abuse. An evocative account of domestic discord at its worst. One of the better Oprah picks. Don't miss it.