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A Ship Made of Paper
 
 
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A Ship Made of Paper [Kindle Edition]

Scott Spencer (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews) |
Print List Price: £10.99
Kindle Price: £6.49 includes VAT* & free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet
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Product Description

Book Description

'Scott Spencer is a wonderful writer.' Anne TylerA riveting and unflinching novel of an interracial love affair that threatens to destroy two families and injure everyone close to them. Devastating. Comparable to Andre Dubus III's House of Sand and Fog in its power.

Product Description

Daniel Emerson lives with Kate Ellis, and he is like a father to her daughter, Ruby. But he cannot control his desire for Iris Davenport, the African-American woman whose son is Ruby's best friend. During a freak October blizzard, Daniel is stranded at Iris's house, and they begin a sexual liaison that eventually imperils all their relationships, Daniel's profession, their children's well-being, their own race-blindness, and their view of themselves as essentially good people.

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Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 580 KB
  • Print Length: 368 pages
  • Publisher: HarperCollins e-books (13 Oct 2009)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language English
  • ASIN: B000FC1RDM
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #188,445 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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More About the Author

Scott Spencer
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Interesting..but 30 Jun 2011
Format:Paperback
I have never read a book when I ended up not liking any of the characters: Sorry, from now on there are some bits of information which will spoil it for you if you wish to read the book.

Daniel, even though it was clear he loved Iris and the little girl Ruby. I found him indecisive, weak and culturally lacking in terms of African Americans.

Iris, yes she wanted to be with Daniel, but her own weakness and inability to take control of her life I found sad. Her unhappiness at being an African American was also sad.

Hampton, lived a life of wanting to meet every one else's expectation; socially and culturally. A sad man.

As for Kate, lonely, insecure and unable in my view to love a man. She also clearly has some bitterness about African American.

I cannot say I enjoyed this novel. I found the premise interesting and at least wanted to see what happened. When i did reach the end, it was a mixture of relief and well it is over. However, to anyone, its probably worth a read, but I doubt you will enjoy it.

As for the writer Scott Spencer, I will look in the future as to what he he writes, but whether I buy it......
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Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed reading this novel. Daniel Emerson a lawyer, is obsessed with a married Iris Davenport, his non-stop pursuit of her ended in the beginning of a perilous and torrid affair.

This story takes place in a small town in America, between a white male and a black female. The writer tackles intelligently the subject of racism. This is no flimsy, spindless romance novel. The writers methaphoric description of most of the characters, had me laughing profusely,the descriptions were so funny,yet so true(having lived in the USA for many years)........

I don't know how to feel about the character Daniel, he appears to be compassionate and caring, with his undying love and affection for his girlfriend's daughter Rudy. Yet i'm indecisive,is he a wholesome person?

i kept asking myself (sigh). I often times felt sorry for the 2 main characters, yet angry at their wayward and deceptive behaviour, in this destructive affair. I sometimes see Daniel as being selfish and pathetic, yet caring and empathising. Iris i see as some what clinical, yet her being with Daniel revealed a totally different side of her personality. Gripping and intelligently written story. a must read.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:  70 reviews
19 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Endless Lust? 6 Jun 2003
By H. F. Corbin - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
I read several years ago ENDLESS LOVE, a novel I liked immensely and was therefore eager to start this one. The novel is certainly an easy read. You can race right through it. It's all about Daniel Emerson's obsession with Iris Davenport and his pursuit of her come hell or high water as he rides out his passion in a fragile "paper boat," if you want to mix your metaphors. The characters for the most part are well developed although I thought Iris's husband may have been almost a stereotype. Spencer tackles head-on the dicey subject of an affair between a black woman and white man, certainly an area not every writer is willing to explore.

Having finished the novel, I was troubled by the character Daniel, however. Although his lover Kate continuously describes him as a good man, I'm not at all sure he is. I believe the moral question is this: does anyone have a right to insist on getting whatever he thinks he wants, no matter who gets hurt or destroyed along the way, in order that he can have an all consuming affair? There are of course similarities in Daniel and the young man in ENDLESS LOVE who, as I recall, in a fit of passionate love, burns down the home the young girl he's crazy about lives in. We may be able to forgive youth their folly. I'm not sure we can overlook as easily the sins of people entering middle age.

Having said that, if you accept the premise that everyone here gets hurt or destroyed, you'll find this compelling reading.

23 of 29 people found the following review helpful
I totally disagree with some of the other reviewers. 4 Jun 2003
By M. J Leonard - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
This is a fabulous read, and a gorgeous, sexy, lusty and insightful story. A Ship Made of Paper is an important book, not just for its comments about race in modern day America, but also for its sly depiction of modern day love. I've never read any Scott Spencer before A Ship Made of Paper, but I can assure you that I was just "blown away" by this story. This story doesn't have any pretensions, but it can't help being an absolutely sensational melodrama. I thought the characterizations of all four characters - Iris, Daniel, Hampton, and Kate were spot on. He is such an honest writer in the way he exemplifies all their insecurities on sex, race, family, and infidelity.

Spencer shows that is affairs of the heart there are no easy answers, which is why I think the book ended as it did. Iris and Daniel just couldn't stop loving each other. But of course, the real irony of the story was the totally innocent relationship between the two children, Ruby and Nelson - one black, one white. This is a haunting and intelligent love story, that is sly, cynical and yet at the same time an incredibly astute character study of middle class American life. I also thought the story provided an interesting depiction of small town American life, and it was somewhat debunking the myth that "safety" lies in small towns. Of course, the title "A Ship Made of Paper" is totally symbolic of the fragility of human relationships, and how they can so easily be destroyed by the pursuit reckless romantic love.

Wickedly insightful and passionate - this is a must read.

Michael

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
A beautiful read 30 Sep 2006
By Book lover in NYC - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
This is my first Scott Spencer book, and I will definitely seek out his previous works. I loved this book, and could identify with many of the characters. Mr. Spencer writes beautifully, his decriptions of people, places and situations are unconventional and startling. The book's main theme is obsession, and how it can destroy the lives of many. It doens't have the happiest of endings, but it was extremely well-written and enjoyable.
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