- Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
- Publisher: HarperTorch; Reprint edition (Jun 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0061031372
- ISBN-13: 978-0061031373
- Product Dimensions: 17.3 x 11.4 x 2.5 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 5,408,402 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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First Sentence
It began as it always began-he called from the car. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
It began as it always began-he called from the car. Read the first page
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5 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Likes and Dislikes
7 Mar 2003
Format:Hardcover
There were a lot of things that I didn't like about this book. I hated Rachel and Linda's codependency. I hated Jack's disappearing act. I hated Grace's continuing to take her husband back after his affairs ended. But the very things I hated are what made the book so true-to-life.
Let's face it, despit the fact that we are now living in the 21st century, many women lives still revolve around their men. The opportunities available to women are limitless and yet, we are still functioning as if it were 1950 when it comes to our relationships. Elaine Kagan understands this and her characters are maddening in their codependency. When Jack leaves Linda for his monthly visits to LA, her life slows down almost to a halt. She wanders aimlessly around the house, listening for the phone or his car in the driveway. Yet when he returns, she says nothing about his disappearance and life goes on until his next "trip". At the other end of the journey is Rachel. When Jack is scheduled for a visit her life stops as well. Her every move centers on his arrival and everything else including her children, grandchildren and poor beleagured friend Grace becomes unimportant. She thinks only of Jack and getting ready for him.
It is obvious, then, that when he disappears mid-trip, both women find their lives suspended. Rachel takes to her bed. Linda continues to wander around. When they find out that he is dead, they are both shattered and their grief is equally overwhelming.
I liked that this book featured older women. Personally, I am getting tired of reading books about 30-somethings and their problems. The population is aging and it is about time writers begin to address the lives of those of us who are creeping up on the big FIVE OH. Older women have a whole different set of life challenges and fiction needs to get with it.
The ending of this book was slightly dissatisfying to me. I suppose Linda needed to believe that Jack was coming home to her but somehow I just don't quite buy it. Otherwise, I felt that Kagan really got it right. I have been in that place of pain when a relationship ends and her descriptions of those feelings reminded me just how far down the emotional slide I can get.
I look forward to reading more of Ms. Kagan's work.
Not her best work
12 Sep 2003
Format:Hardcover
I'm a huge fan of Elaine Kagan's work, have bought and read, then shared all of her books so that others might discover her work, too. The premise of LOSING MR. NORTH is interesting, but ultimately, I didn't like it as well as her other work. The reason is, I found it unbelieveable that both women--wife and mistress--enabled Jack North to behave so badly for so long. This made me impatient with them, and that lessened my enjoyment of the book. I really need someone to root for when I read and I wasn't in the mood to root for either one of these women. I could understand any wife forgiving a transgression if the husband seems really sorry and doesn't stray again (especially when there are children involved). But to go year after year after year pretending not to notice that he simply disappears for periods of time? To know he's had affairs all through their marriage and to never confront him? How could I have any sympathy for a woman who lays down on the floor and allows someone to walk over them again and again? And Rachel? Let's not even go there. Why was she so weak that she'd settle for so little? Oh, well. An author is not going to please every reader every time. I'll just have to look forward to Ms. Kagan's next book and hope it compares to her others that I loved.
Kagan has done it again!
7 Sep 2003
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Just spellbinding. I was enthralled and could not put this one down. Kagan creates characters that are so human. This subject is a very hard one and she handles it with grace.
Can't wait for her next book! Keep up the good work.
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