- Paperback: 368 pages
- Publisher: William Heinemann Ltd (6 Nov 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0965725979
- ISBN-13: 978-0434012213
- ASIN: 0434012211
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.2 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,603,561 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
A Ship Made of Paper
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
In this novel, Daniel Paris has returned to the Hudson River town where he grew up. Living with Kate and her daughter Ruby, he settles into the kind of secure family life he missed as a child. Falling in love with Iris, a black woman whose son is a friend of Ruby's, their affair imperils many relationships.
About the Author
Scott Spencer is the author of seven previous novels, including the international bestseller Endless Love, which sold more than 2 million copies. He lives in Rhinebeck, NY.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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......
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......
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.
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.
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
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
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
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.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
