Body Surfing (Paperback)

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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'

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23 Reviews 5 star:  (4) 4 star:  (12) 3 star:  (2) 2 star:  (3) 1 star:  (2)           Average Customer Review 3.6 out of 5 stars (23 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   55 of 56 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars A welcome return to form, 12 April 2007 By  kimbofo (London, UK) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    This review is from: Body Surfing (Hardcover) I am an Anita Shreve fan. Not only does this American author produce quality fiction, she's not afraid to experiment and go off in different directions without losing the very essence of what makes her a great writer: she knows how to spin an entertaining, often emotional, yarn without sacrificing plot or character. Body Surfing is a welcome return to form after the disappointment of her previous novel, A Wedding in December, in which the pacing was thrown off kilter by two narratives that did not particularly compliment one another. But in this latest addition to Shreve's ever-expanding body of work (this is her 13th novel) the author has ditched her preference for dual narratives and stuck to one simple, and very solid, storyline. Set on the New Hampshire coast (a favourite, if somewhat predictable, Shreve setting) over the space of three years, Body Surfing is told through the eyes of 29-year-old Sydney, who has already been once divorced and once widowed. In a seaside cottage (the same one that features in The Pilot's Wife and Sea Glass) owned by the well-heeled Mr and Mrs Edwards she takes a summer job as a tutor to their "slow" 18-year-old daughter, Julie. When the Edwards' two 30-something sons, Ben and Jeff, drop by for a weekend escape, Sydney feels that she has upset the family's equilibrium. Is she a maid, a tutor or a friend? She suspects that both sons have romantic feelings for her, but because she is still grieving for her second husband, she is not particularly keen on pursuing a third marriage... or is she? To say anything else would spoil the twists and turns and unexpected heart-in-the-mouth surprises that this book dishes up. As ever, the language is smooth and lyrical, although I tend to think Shreve is a little heavy-handed when it comes to sub-clauses -- she has a penchant for riddling her sentences with them. But this, fortunately, does not detract from the story, nor the wonderful characterisation, and the extraordinary feel of time and place that Body Surfing evokes. Fans of Shreve's work will not be disappointed with this one, and I rather suspect that she will acquire a whole host of new ones to boot. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   9 of 10 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars A book that leaves questions unanswered, 6 Oct 2007 By  Linda Bulger (Avon, Maine) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: Body Surfing (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. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   12 of 14 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Another great novel from Anita Shreve, 25 Mar 2008 By  Clare Swindlehurst "Mrs S" (UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    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. Comment Comment (1) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 23 customer reviews...		Most Recent Customer Reviews 1.0 out of 5 stars 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 1 day ago by booklover 2.0 out of 5 stars 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 4 days ago by A reader 5.0 out of 5 stars 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 1 month ago by Ondine 4.0 out of 5 stars 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 4 months ago by Avid Reader 2.0 out of 5 stars Nothing exciting 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... Read more Published 5 months ago by Catherine 4.0 out of 5 stars 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 Published 5 months ago by A. B. Taylor 3.0 out of 5 stars 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 6 months ago by I LOVE BOOKS 4.0 out of 5 stars Captivating - again yet again Shreve has produced a truly captivating novel - I find myself taking weeks to read most books as I'm so busy and yet somoehow this one was devoured in three days. Read more Published 8 months ago by J. Knightsmith 5.0 out of 5 stars Absorbing Bodysurfing tells the story of Sydney Sklar who at 29 has been once divorced & once widowed. Not quite sure where her life is heading after her recent bereavement she decides to... Read more Published 11 months ago by Rachelm 4.0 out of 5 stars An engrossing read After having been disappointed with A Wedding in December I approached this with a little caution. However I was delighted to find that with this novel Anita Shreve has returned... Read more Published 11 months ago by A. 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