The Beach House
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Review
'A corker of a story, sharply and elegantly told' Heat 'Fizzing with fast-and-furious dialogue, this is vintage Green' Eve
Product Description
One summer a group of strangers - each with their own reason for wanting to step out of their busy life - meet at rented beachouse in sunny Nantucket. There's Daniel, who's causing heartbreak for his wife Bee; recently divorced Daff, who feels she's lost touch with her daughter Jess; and Michael - son of the house's mischievous , free-spirited owner Nan - who is having an ill-advised fling with his boss.
With so many lost souls gathered under one roof, very soon there are tears and laughter, friendship and - for some - even love. Each one of them is hoping for a new beginning. But will any of them find it?
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
46 of 53 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book opens with a scene female readers of a certain age will adore: Nan Powell, 65, stops for a skinny dip in her absent neighbor's pool, then cycles into a local village smoking all the way, scandalizing a family of tourists.
"What has happened to people?" Nan thinks, as she traverses the cobblestones. "When did we become so precious?" A family of six passes her, father, mother, then four little ones, like four little ducklings with sparkly aerodynamic helmets on. "When did our children have to wear helmets, When did we all become so scared?"
Nan Powell's great virtue is that she doesn't become scared easily, even after her financial adviser tells her she's in dire straits. After her husband committed suicide, drowning himself one morning, Nan grew tough, raising her son Michael on her own, living her life on her own terms. Now she's become the resident eccentric in a town of tourists, known for her beauty and her trademark red lipstick.
Facing the new challenge, Nan turns her home into a summer bed and breakfast, and draws a circle of new friends around her, all come to the beach to heal themselves -- a divorcee still recovering from her husband's infidelity, a young father of two girls struggling with his sexual orientation, and Nan's son Michael, on the rebound after a disastrous love affair of his own. Soon the rambling old house has come to life with the sound of children laughing, life streaming all around.
The plot takes some unexpected twists and turns -- there are some nasty developers on the scene, naturally -- but this is a sweetly memorable summer story, capturing the relaxing, renewing quality of life at the shore, when we find ourselves on the edge of something new.
"What has happened to people?" Nan thinks, as she traverses the cobblestones. "When did we become so precious?" A family of six passes her, father, mother, then four little ones, like four little ducklings with sparkly aerodynamic helmets on. "When did our children have to wear helmets, When did we all become so scared?"
Nan Powell's great virtue is that she doesn't become scared easily, even after her financial adviser tells her she's in dire straits. After her husband committed suicide, drowning himself one morning, Nan grew tough, raising her son Michael on her own, living her life on her own terms. Now she's become the resident eccentric in a town of tourists, known for her beauty and her trademark red lipstick.
Facing the new challenge, Nan turns her home into a summer bed and breakfast, and draws a circle of new friends around her, all come to the beach to heal themselves -- a divorcee still recovering from her husband's infidelity, a young father of two girls struggling with his sexual orientation, and Nan's son Michael, on the rebound after a disastrous love affair of his own. Soon the rambling old house has come to life with the sound of children laughing, life streaming all around.
The plot takes some unexpected twists and turns -- there are some nasty developers on the scene, naturally -- but this is a sweetly memorable summer story, capturing the relaxing, renewing quality of life at the shore, when we find ourselves on the edge of something new.
37 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
First thing that needs to be said is this is better than Second Chance. It really is better. The only problem is this isn't very good, either. I really think Green has just run out of ideas, or inspiration, because one of the characters in this book is a 37-year old woman called Carrie... who happens to be a writer. Are we directly ripping characters off tv shows now? Another character is called Matt; a gay man who is every woeful stereotype you could possibly imagine. Amongst others, he calls people "honey", calls his gay friends "the girls" while discussing his numerous flings.
Also, it's not very well written. For example, there are a couple of phrases used again, and again, and again. The most annoying is how the characters "feel they've come home" when they kiss their new person; running a close second is how half of the characters at various points eventually feel "comfortable in their own skin". Both of these phrases are used at least 4 or 5 times throughout and by halfway through, I was rolling my eyes.
Am so worried that sounds mean, but this book is pretty much the final straw for me when it comes to reading any more Green. Parts of it did make me genuinely quite cross. In it, we're told that a particular character - "like all women" - is a chameleon when it comes to men; willing to change on a whim to please the new man. I think that's insulting, and a little arrogant. Are you so desperate for a man you're willing to compromise who you are? *Are* all women that way? I'm saying no.
Similarly, 9/11 is once again referred to. A character compares the events of 9/11 to their life being a little topsy turvy suddenly, and I actually had to put the book down for a day or so upon reading that. Citing terrorism - yet again - is just reprehensible.
Few of the characters are very kind. They all seem to cheat on people, or go after married people... what's more, the plot is really, truly predictable. You'll know what's coming within 10 pages. You'll know who ends up with who, and you'll know exactly who *is* who.
On the plus side, the descriptions of Nantucket are wonderful. They'll make you want to be there; to uproot and live there peacefully for the rest of your life... and I think that may be the problem in some ways. Green used to be a single gal around London. Her writing was real, and earthy and beautiful. Now, though, it's a little smug, and disassociated and, truthfully, it's mundane.
I wanted to love Beach House, because Straight Talking and Jemima J are remarkable, and Second Chance was such a let down, so a lot was riding on this one. I tried to love it, but everything I've mentioned combined just got too much and this is the last Green book I'll be reading.
Also, it's not very well written. For example, there are a couple of phrases used again, and again, and again. The most annoying is how the characters "feel they've come home" when they kiss their new person; running a close second is how half of the characters at various points eventually feel "comfortable in their own skin". Both of these phrases are used at least 4 or 5 times throughout and by halfway through, I was rolling my eyes.
Am so worried that sounds mean, but this book is pretty much the final straw for me when it comes to reading any more Green. Parts of it did make me genuinely quite cross. In it, we're told that a particular character - "like all women" - is a chameleon when it comes to men; willing to change on a whim to please the new man. I think that's insulting, and a little arrogant. Are you so desperate for a man you're willing to compromise who you are? *Are* all women that way? I'm saying no.
Similarly, 9/11 is once again referred to. A character compares the events of 9/11 to their life being a little topsy turvy suddenly, and I actually had to put the book down for a day or so upon reading that. Citing terrorism - yet again - is just reprehensible.
Few of the characters are very kind. They all seem to cheat on people, or go after married people... what's more, the plot is really, truly predictable. You'll know what's coming within 10 pages. You'll know who ends up with who, and you'll know exactly who *is* who.
On the plus side, the descriptions of Nantucket are wonderful. They'll make you want to be there; to uproot and live there peacefully for the rest of your life... and I think that may be the problem in some ways. Green used to be a single gal around London. Her writing was real, and earthy and beautiful. Now, though, it's a little smug, and disassociated and, truthfully, it's mundane.
I wanted to love Beach House, because Straight Talking and Jemima J are remarkable, and Second Chance was such a let down, so a lot was riding on this one. I tried to love it, but everything I've mentioned combined just got too much and this is the last Green book I'll be reading.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have read most of Jane Green's novels and loved every one, finding the characters empathetic and interesting. This book is light and easy reading but also irritating at times. The characters are mostly too good to be true - although their behaviour is not always good, inside they are sentimental to the point of being sickly. Nan is so perfect that to me it does not make her a believeable character, and the book is full of amazing coincidences that also defy belief. It doesn't matter if all you want is escapism, but it does make it a little hard to relate to.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
easy reading
This will not tax your brain too much. It is light easy reading although from quite early on you can guess the outcome. Read more
Published 1 month ago by bookworm
enjoyable!
I loved this book! It was one of those perfect beach reads, no pun intended. I wasn't at the beach, but on my couch here in rainy Scotland. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mary-The Sweet Bookshelf
Broken lives made good
I enjoyed reading this book and was going to say it was just a gentle beach read. That's the surface. Read more
Published 9 months ago by kevinlindar
Didn't want it to finish
I haven't read a Jane Green book for years. I borrowed this from a friend who said she had enjoyed it. She was right. I read it in two days, I couldn't put it down. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Dawn
Dreaming of Summer
Nan is a rather eccentric old lady who lives in a delightful but run-down property called Windermere in the exclusive beach island area of Nantucket. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Meggysmum
The Beach House
I have now read a few books by Jane Green and I did not enjoy this one very much. It's very hard going, book starts of ok but the just loses itself. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Karen Gooderham
Great for a first timer reader or Jane Green
I picked this book up in an apartment in Spain and for 4 days couldnt put it down, i instantly loved the characters and their individual stories. Read more
Published 20 months ago by kate dabell
A Good Beach Read
I read this by the pool - the perfect place to read it I'd say. I dont think it's anywhere near as good as Jemina J or Bookends but once I'd got into it and worked out who was... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Lincs Reader
Good holiday read
Dont like anything too heavy for a holiday read. Picked this up from the shelves in the holiday apartments, and found it an ideal read for lazing by the pool soaking up the sun. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Cool Tracey
Reasonable read but not great
Ok book to read if you do not want to be challenged. The pages move along swiftly enough and reading it is a fairly pleasant way of spending a few hours but I wouldn't recommend it... Read more
Published on 23 Dec 2009 by Janie U
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