Beaches: A Novel [BARGAIN PRICE] (Paperback)

by Iris R. Dart (Author) "The dancers were holding Cee Cee above their heads..." (more)
Key Phrases: cast house, Cee Cee, Arthur Wechsler, John Perry (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
YA A touching story of the friendship between two very different women. Cee Cee Bloom, with her loud mouth, loud personality and flaming red hair, is determined to become a Hollywood star. Bertie White, delicate and conservative, hopes for a loving husband and family. They meet as children in 1951 in Atlantic City, and, as pen pals, keep in touch with each other. Their reunions through the years always occur at or near the beach, whether in Sarasota, Malibu or Hawaii. Their story jumps back and forth between past and present. Cee Cee and Bertie are genuine, and readers will like them and understand why they are friends. Both characters suffer much, particularly Bertie, whose life seems most unjust. Young adults will be pulled into their lives, caring greatly about them and the steady stream of tragedies that befall them. In a particularly moving ending, Cee Cee leaves a show in the middle of production to care for Bertie, who is dying of cancer. YAs will enjoy this emotional tale, but they'll need to have plenty of tissues handy. Elizabeth Thurston, Baltimore County Pub . Lib .
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
"Dart created a character who is hard to resist." (Kirkus Reviews )

"The author's ironic sense of humor is evident even in her choice of titles." (Chicago Tribune ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• ISBN-10: 0060594772
• ASIN: B000ECXDU8
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,339,470 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very moving book!, February 20, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Glasgow, Scotland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beaches (Mass Market Paperback)

Well 10 years on since the great movie came out based on the wonderful book "Beaches" I just had to read the book... And i am so glad that I did, this is a must read if you liked the movie. You'll laugh, you'll cry and share all the emotions of these wonderful characters! My Favourite!! Loan it to your best friend!

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The fastest book I've ever read and the most touching., February 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Beaches (Hardcover)

Beaches is a novel that will make you laugh, cry, and fill you up with love. It shows that opposites do attract and can stay connected through thick and thin. When Cee Cee Bloom- a marvolous singer - meets Hillary Whitney, they become two peas in a pod. Though they are not right there by each other all the time, they write each other letters trying to keep the other one in touch. When Hillary comes down with a disease, she asks Cee Cee to go along to watch her and her daughter at their summer beach house. The ending will make you cry and that's where I end. If you've seen th emovie "Beaches", you'll absolutely love the novel by Iris Rainer Dart.

3.0 out of 5 stars Okay book- but the movie was better, February 21, 2009

By	Linda A. Slott "Ladyslott" (Oceanside, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Beaches: A Novel (Paperback)

Having seen the movie Beaches more times than I can count, I was looking forward to the book. I am therefore sorry to say that I didn't like it that much, and that is a rarity for me I generally like the book more.

The basic story stays the same: Cee Cee Bloom and Bertie White (Hillary in the movie) form an unlikely friendship when they are 10 and 7 years old (respectively). Through many years and personal hardships they remain friends, until a tragic illness brings them together.

What didn't I like about this book? Cee Cee Bloom is not a very nice person in this book, and I found it hard to really care for her. In the movie Bette Midler gives her a clear vulnerability that wasn't apparent in the book. It also seemed to me that the author had Bette specifically in mind while writing the story, as if it were already a screenplay in her head. The character of Bertie was whiny and sad. I wanted more than once to say: Come on woman get on with your life!!, but it never seemed to happen. The clichéd fate of one of the male characters was kind of `been there done that' and I expected more from the author.
Nevertheless, because of fond movie memories the book scored extra points, that's why it gets a high 3***.