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Almost Paradise (2000)

Almost Paradise (2000)

Book Info

Author
Rating
3.67 of 5 Votes: 3
Your rating
ISBN
0061014656 (ISBN13: 9780061014659)
Language
English
Publisher
harpertorch

About book Almost Paradise (2000)

Susan Isaacs is one of my all-time favorite authors. The Isaacs givens: snapping hilarious dialogue, spot-on descriptions, the x-factor that makes reading her stories as absorbing as being under hypnosis are all there. I re-read Almost Paradise recently and was struck by how creative Isaac's structure is. She spends time setting up the background of the two main characters by focusing on generations prior and only then focuses on the two mains, giving each equal time. By the time we get to Nick and Jane and their relationship, we have context—a sense of their genetic gifts and challenges. We are sensitive to the notion that life is fluid and short (one of the main themes of the book) and that there are stories before us and after us. The book has a very bold, punch-packing ending. I could see where some readers would be frustrated, but—without giving too much away—I also respect the reasoning behind it.

I didn't like this book. I didn't like the verbose narrative that plodded out a miserable history for two human beings. I didn't like the decisions that were made. There was only one character that I enjoyed and she was a whore and her replacement was even worse. It's a very long, sad, novel. It is about Jane and her husband whose name escapes me right this minute and their life and love. It also feels the need to tell you their entire histories up to and including past generations. Jane is a poor girl from Cinncinati. He is a rich heir to old money. They meet in college and fall in love. He tries and succeeds being an actor. She is the lonely housewife who develops agoraphobia. They start affairs. They drift apart. Will they ever come to love each other again? Who cares. I didn't get invested in this almost 500 page train wreck.

Do You like book Almost Paradise (2000)?

The ending had me bawling my eyes out and screaming "WTF" in my head for about a couple of minutes before I let it all sink in. This book proves to show that Susan Isaacs could let her characters charm you, peel off all your layers and hook your heart. And when she has it, you have to ready your tear ducts because ,one way or the other, it's gonna be a whip-splash drama. I'm typing this raw. Fresh off from this book so excuse me for being overly attached and dramatic. Despite that and the alliteration, I'm still giving it a 5-star review because it kept me on my toes at 3 AM and ... I just love it so much I'm willing to overlook the horrid that is the ending.
—Wen

Never have I given a Susan Isaacs book a bad review. But I just finished this and (SPOILER ALERT! STOP READING NOW IF YOU PLAN TO READ THIS BOOK!) I am just so annoyed and disappointed with the ending. Not only that, but I came very close to giving up on this book in the beginning, but stuck with it, and, until I got to the ending, was glad I did. After the first chapter, the book goes into flashback, giving the family history of the two main characters, husband and wife Nicholas and Jane Coblei
—Fkellysun

I learned that you can't hit one out of the park every time. For all the detail, and the back story, and the excruciating detail, the ending sucked.I think I was so mad at the end of this book that I threw it away. I couldn't believe I had read thru what amounted to 500 years of personal stories and trials and tribulations, and that was the ending I got.Read Shining Through instead. Shoot, I was so mad at this one, I'd say if you're tempted to read it, just go do some volunteer work instead. That way you've accomplished something at the end of 8 hours you can't get back.
—Robin

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