Body Surfing
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Review
'As usual, Shreve's powerful storytelling pulls you in like a rip tide' MARIE CLAIRE 'Relationships in all their guises are Shreve's thing; she fascinated by what binds us together and flings us apart . . . Like all Shreve's novels, BODY SURFING examines not only the creation but the breakdown of numerous relationships in their different forms . . . This is undoubtedly one of Shreve's finest works yet' GLAMOUR 'More heart-wrenching from the queen of the emotional rollercoaster' DAILY MIRROR 'Shreve writes about emotional dramas and she writes about them well . . . [she has] a talent for intense and catastrophic moments . . . If you have to brand something as the perfect beach or comfort read, then this would be it' EVENING STANDARD 'Because it's Anita Shreve you know there will be emotional upheavals, shifts of loyalty and painful revelations about the past before the book is over, and so it proves - the Shreve hallmarks are all over this warm, satisfying novel' THE TIMES 'Shreve stipples her prose with detail, portraying one woman's sense of dislocation with perspicacity and great compassion' DAILY MAIL 'Nobody does emotional intensity quite like Anita Shreve, as this beautifully written story of destructive relationships proves' BELLA 'Intricately crafted . . . Shreve's depiction of how the tensions that simmer below the surface of this family eventually burst to the surface is gut-wrenching, and - as you would be entitled to expect from this master of the human drama - utterly gripping' SUNDAY BUSINESS POST 'Shreve evokes the feel and sensation of an exclusive summer beach house and the family that owns it . . . [This book] won't let you go until you've reached the last page' SUNDAY TRIBUNE 'Shreve's talent lies in writing very absorbing prose, drawing the reader in . . . perfect holiday reading' IRISH INDEPENDENT '"Love is the central drama of all our lives," says Shreve, who as usual writes like a dream' SAINSBURY'S MAGAZINE 'Written with her characteristic lightness of touch and usual perceptive characterisation, Anita Shreve's new book explores the endless complexities of family relationships, the nature of heartache and most importantly of all, the courage needed to love in the face of tough odds' WATERSTONE'S BOOKS QUARTERLY 'The story drew me along so easily . . . This is the first Anita Shreve book I've read - and I'll definitely come back for more' WOMAN'S OWN 'Her characters are emotionally complex, and their social status and interaction sharply observed. The storytelling seems leisurely, due to the vivid but condensed descriptions, yet events move quickly, with unexpected plot turns . . . Definitely a book for the sun-lounger' IRISH EXAMINER 'Elegant, suspenseful and brilliantly depicted' WOMAN & HOME
THE TIMES
'Emotional upheavals, shifts of loyalty and painful revelations
about the past . . . the Shreve hallmarks are all over this warm,
satisfying novel' --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
about the past . . . the Shreve hallmarks are all over this warm,
satisfying novel' --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
It's always a thrill to start reading a book by Anita Shreve. Her writing has a refreshing astringency, like tart lemon sherbet after one scoop too many of rocky road. Every sentence is weighted, and the reader joins the writer in observing and interpreting the action.
BODY SURFING is the story of Sydney Sklar, recently widowed, who is tutoring eighteen-year-old Julie Edwards at a beach house in New Hampshire. Julie's older brothers visit and sparks ignite between Sydney and Jeff.
Now comes the trouble with spare writing: the reader SEES the various love affairs unfolding, but they're hard to fathom. The chemistry has to be taken on faith. The drawing of a finger along a thigh inspires sensual longing? An underwater touch in the dark is received with intractable revulsion? A distant swimmer in a wetsuit arouses a young girl's first sexual passion? We know it because the author tells us so, but it's all a bit abstract. Lives are changed by these minimal encounters but the reader doesn't feel the heat; the plot seems somehow under-explained.
The characters, too, are described by their actions, with interpretation laid on. Somehow you know they're as complex as anyone else but the narrative doesn't quite do that complexity justice. We might wonder why Mrs. Edwards ever thought a summer of tutoring would get her "slow" daughter into a Seven Sisters college; how an architect never came to discover that his daughter is gifted with artistic talent; why neither of them ever noticed that she was a lesbian. And as for Sydney, she seems strong, smart and kind, is already twice-married, yet she can't spot a cad when she sees one and instantly agrees to marry him, apparently because of the thigh-stroking mentioned above.
There's nothing awful about this book; the writing itself is a treat, though maybe better suited to stories with a period setting like SEA GLASS or FORTUNE'S ROCKS. However it's not Anita Shreve's best. If you haven't read her, don't start here. But if you love her style, you'll probably find this book a passable read.
BODY SURFING is the story of Sydney Sklar, recently widowed, who is tutoring eighteen-year-old Julie Edwards at a beach house in New Hampshire. Julie's older brothers visit and sparks ignite between Sydney and Jeff.
Now comes the trouble with spare writing: the reader SEES the various love affairs unfolding, but they're hard to fathom. The chemistry has to be taken on faith. The drawing of a finger along a thigh inspires sensual longing? An underwater touch in the dark is received with intractable revulsion? A distant swimmer in a wetsuit arouses a young girl's first sexual passion? We know it because the author tells us so, but it's all a bit abstract. Lives are changed by these minimal encounters but the reader doesn't feel the heat; the plot seems somehow under-explained.
The characters, too, are described by their actions, with interpretation laid on. Somehow you know they're as complex as anyone else but the narrative doesn't quite do that complexity justice. We might wonder why Mrs. Edwards ever thought a summer of tutoring would get her "slow" daughter into a Seven Sisters college; how an architect never came to discover that his daughter is gifted with artistic talent; why neither of them ever noticed that she was a lesbian. And as for Sydney, she seems strong, smart and kind, is already twice-married, yet she can't spot a cad when she sees one and instantly agrees to marry him, apparently because of the thigh-stroking mentioned above.
There's nothing awful about this book; the writing itself is a treat, though maybe better suited to stories with a period setting like SEA GLASS or FORTUNE'S ROCKS. However it's not Anita Shreve's best. If you haven't read her, don't start here. But if you love her style, you'll probably find this book a passable read.
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was happy to see the Beach House that has been a theme of Sheve's earlier novels make another appearance - it's interesting to read about the history of a house and the people who lived there lives within it in such different ways.
This particular tale revolves around Sydney, a woman twice married, once divorced and once widowed - who spends the summer at the Summer House tutoring the Edwardses teenage daughter.
The themes of the novel are family dynamics and secrets, love, marriage and deceit - and all are thrown together in a novel made up of broken paragraphs containing disjointed snippets of information, conversations, feelings and beautiful descriptions of Sydney's thoughts and surroundings.
The novel explores Sydney's relationship with Mrs Edwards - an awkward one - and the love that develops with Mr Edwards and Julie - as they welcome her into their family. And then of course their are the sons, Ben and Jeff who between them weave a web in which Sydney becomes entangled.
It's hard to review this novel without giving away the story line - and there are so many twists and turns along the way I'd hate to reveal any secrets. It's a beautiful book, well written and thought provoking - but one which can be devoured in a couple of sittings. Buy yourself a copy - you won't be disappointed.
The Beach House
Some fellow readers have asked which Anita Shreve novels I'd recommend and in which order they should be read. Personally I've enjoyed all of them, although A Wedding in December is my least favourite. The Beach House that is owned by the Edwards family in Body Surfing also makes an appearance in the following novels:
1. Fortune's Rocks
2. Sea Glass
3. The Pilot's Wife
4. Body Surfing
I'd suggest starting with Fortune's Rocks and reading on from there - and then visiting some of her other novels.
This particular tale revolves around Sydney, a woman twice married, once divorced and once widowed - who spends the summer at the Summer House tutoring the Edwardses teenage daughter.
The themes of the novel are family dynamics and secrets, love, marriage and deceit - and all are thrown together in a novel made up of broken paragraphs containing disjointed snippets of information, conversations, feelings and beautiful descriptions of Sydney's thoughts and surroundings.
The novel explores Sydney's relationship with Mrs Edwards - an awkward one - and the love that develops with Mr Edwards and Julie - as they welcome her into their family. And then of course their are the sons, Ben and Jeff who between them weave a web in which Sydney becomes entangled.
It's hard to review this novel without giving away the story line - and there are so many twists and turns along the way I'd hate to reveal any secrets. It's a beautiful book, well written and thought provoking - but one which can be devoured in a couple of sittings. Buy yourself a copy - you won't be disappointed.
The Beach House
Some fellow readers have asked which Anita Shreve novels I'd recommend and in which order they should be read. Personally I've enjoyed all of them, although A Wedding in December is my least favourite. The Beach House that is owned by the Edwards family in Body Surfing also makes an appearance in the following novels:
1. Fortune's Rocks
2. Sea Glass
3. The Pilot's Wife
4. Body Surfing
I'd suggest starting with Fortune's Rocks and reading on from there - and then visiting some of her other novels.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the first (and last) Anita Shreve book I will read - I am very disappointed with this book - the story just seems to plod along with no excitement or something of the unexpected thrown to the reader. I have read just over half of the book and still waiting for something to happen. I also find the short paragraphs very annoying and disjointed from time to time. But, each to their own.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Steve finds his usual comfort...
Bodysurfing isn't the sort of book I'd normally read, but believe me I'm so glad I did. It's very well written, not-too long (too short in fact), captivating, exciting and... Read more
Published 7 days ago by Hoverfly
WELCOME TO THE DARK SIDE...
Written in spare, staccato prose, this is another novel by the author that touches upon the universal themes of love and betrayal, tantalizing the reader with its abstract... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Lawyeraau
Enjoyable enough
I have read five other novels written by Anita Shreve since 2003 when I first discovered I liked this authors descriptive style of writing. Read more
Published 16 months ago by LindyLouMac
Not my favourite novel by Anita Shreve
It took me a while to get into this novel - the writing was sparse, comprising short, brief paragraphs. Read more
Published on 18 Feb 2010 by DubaiReader
disappointing...
This story plods along nicely, if not mind numbingly dreary. It is the story of Sydney Sklar who spends the summer with the Edwards family at their summer home on the beach. Read more
Published on 9 July 2009 by booklover
Anita can do it better
Definitely not her best book in my opinion. The subtelness she practises so well in other works is missing, here everything is so on the surface that is totally predictable and... Read more
Published on 5 July 2009 by A reader
An intriguing and beautifully written story
I really really enjoyed reading this. The story kept me gripped right up until the very end, and I could never quite predict which way it was going to go. Read more
Published on 9 Jun 2009 by Ondine
A great read
When I first picked up Body Surfing I didn't think I was going to enjoy it, but before I knew it I was half way through the book! Read more
Published on 26 Feb 2009 by Avid Reader
Like a relaxing bath ...
... was how I felt this novel affected me.
Very gentle and evocative, Anita Shreve has painted a picture of a New England family as seen through the eyes of Sydney. Read more
Very gentle and evocative, Anita Shreve has painted a picture of a New England family as seen through the eyes of Sydney. Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2009 by A. B. Taylor
Disappointing
This is the first time I'm disappointed with one of Ms. Shreve's books. My true vote would be 2 ½ stars but another half star is added simply because I've read and liked almost... Read more
Published on 17 Dec 2008 by I LOVE BOOKS
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