Customer Reviews

Your Oasis on Flame Lake

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Your Oasis on Flame Lake is the story of two families, the Lindstroms and the Herreras, living out the American dream in White Falls, Minnesota. Except, the dream is going over a few mid-life bumps in the road, leaving family members dissatisfied, hurt and confused. That is, until a catastrophic event in the Herrera family, brings all their lives back down to earth. This story is narrated by different family members and each brings a different perspective to the turbulent happenings surrounding them. Though never maudlin or overly emotional, Ms Landvik tells a strong, powerful story of love, loss, betrayal and forgiveness. Her writing is funny and witty with great incite and wisdom. Her characters, interesting and true to life, speak from the heart. This is a story that pulls you into the lives of these people and keeps you rooting for them until the climax and very satisfying end of the book. A story about the strong bonds of friendship and a wonderful slice of midwestern life.

I liked Lorna Landvik's first book, "Patty Jane's House of Curl," but "Your Oasis on Flame Lake" is even better. BiDi and Dev have been friends since high school; now they are married, with kids, and still living in their small Minnesota hometown. "Your Oasis" tells of the crises each faces within the short frame of a year or so: infidelity, a violent attack on BiDi's daughter, an addiction to pills, and more (I don't want to spoil the plot). There's a lot packed into the book, but Landvik skillfully shows the emotional impact of these events on both families. Landvik states in the reader's guide (at the back of the book) that she considers this a more thoughtful and less emotion-driven book than "Patty Jane"; but I think "Your Oasis" also benefits from its contemporary setting and the more compressed time period ("Patty Jane" takes place over a much longer period of years). The characters are believable and very real, like people you know. The dialogue is particularly well-done and rings true. Once you get a few pages in, it's a hard book to put down: smart, funny, touching "chick lit" that is a refreshing change from the urban professional scene of the post-Bridget-Jones genre.

I really really REALLY liked this book. Lorna Landvik is incredibly funny and talented and this book is her monument. I loved her quirky and endearing characters, especially Dick and Darcy--they cracked me up! YOUR OASIS was a better read for me than PATTY JANE, although the latter was a great book as well. I can't wait for her next release in September. I will be the first in line.

I picked this up for a book group and was delighted. I have not yet read Patty Jane's House of Curl but definitely will after this warm and genuine book. The story line is sparse but the characters draw you into the story. I loved the Sergio character and especially appreciated how each character spoke from their own unique perspective. I didn't want the book to end. An excellent read that I would highly recommend.

This book is a good read, although to me it was a little disappointing. After reading "Patty Jane's House of Curl," I expected a quirkier book, but built on the same bedrock of real life experiences and emotions as "Patty Jane." Don't get me wrong--"Your Oasis on Flame Lake" is not a bad book. It's well written and moving in spots. The characters have the ring of truth to them. Unlike a number of other reviewers, I didn't find the alternating narrative perspectives confusing. But "Your Oasis" lacks the occasional outlandishness that made Landvik's first work so enjoyable. Where "Patty Jane's" sparkles, this book merely glimmers.

I have been really disappointed in several books amazon recommended, I was getting stuck in a rut! But your Oasis pulled me out of the rut and into the Oasis. Though there were turbentlant times it wasn't depressing. I couldn't put it down. If my boss only knew what I did while sitting on hold.

This is a very well-written saga of two families who have grown up in the same small town where everybody knows everybody and their business too! Written through the narratives of 5 of the central characters we learn about their pasts and accompany them through their current travails. It is the stuff of good soap operas but so well written that it is a pleasure to read. I enjoyed this book more than "Patty Jane's House of Curl" (which I did enjoy very much). I am just sorry that it sat for so long on my bedside table before I eventually got to it.

Ms.Landvik confused the heck out of me at first, as I'd don't remember reading a novel, where the story is narrated by so many characters. However, once I got into the story, I was looking forward, eagerly, to see how Sergio felt, or Franny was coping as the story progresses. My favorite character is Franny, who does not do any of the narrating! This story may not have a "fairy-tale-ending" for everyone, but what is does have is a typical, brilliantly written, slice of Americana going into the new year 2000. I found this book hard to put down. It's full of sadness, laughter, and life in general.

This is a story of 2 families--Devera,Dick and their families and BiDi,Sergio and their family. Devera and BiDi go way back to school days together and have been voted "The Girls who have changed the least" -a title which pleases neither of them.Terrible events occur which upset the even tenor of their story book lives and while things sort themselves out eventually,I can't really understand how a nice woman like Devera ( the fact that she went off the rails briefly notwithstanding)can STAND that totally self absorbed,cruel tongued and completely nasty piece of work--BiDi!

Received this book from my daughter on Mother's Day---she loves reading as much as I. This book was enchanting, captivating and difficult to put down! The characters are so real and the story is something everyone with a family can relate to. I would highly recommend it to everyone! Also read "Patty Jane's House of Curl" and loved that, too. Lorna Landvik, keep it coming!!