Body Surfing: A Novel
Shreve, Anita
From Infinity Books Japan, Tokyo, TKY, Japan
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
AbeBooks Seller since August 8, 2003
From Infinity Books Japan, Tokyo, TKY, Japan
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
AbeBooks Seller since August 8, 2003
About this Item
A copy that has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. "Always readable-sometimes compulsively so-Shreve's novels are typically em otionally resonant, nicely paced, and populated by memorable characters." - People At the age of 29, Sydney has already been once divorced and once widowed. T rying to regain her footing, she has signed on to tutor the teenage daughte r of a well-to-do couple as they spend a sultry summer in their oceanfront New Hampshire cottage. But when the Edwardses' two grown sons arrive at the beach house, Sydney fi nds herself caught up in a destructive web of old tensions and bitter divis ions. As the brothers vie for her affections, the fragile existence Sydney has rebuilt is threatened. With the subtle wit, lyrical language, and brilliant insight into the human heart that has led her to be called "an author at one with her métier" (Mi ami Herald), Shreve weaves a novel about marriage, family, and the supreme courage it takes to love. 'shreve excels at nuance and detail. She skillfully illuminates the tiniest of moments, offering readers a peek at the complex undertones coursing thr ough the characters throughout the story." -Rocky Mountain News "There is something satisfyingly clean, well functioning, pale, and delicio us about an Anita Shreve novel. . . . Shreve's characters, grappling with d esire, juggling their shame against their regret, are entirely welcome." -B oston Globe 'shreve's writing is textured, reflective, and generally flows with ease, to the point where the reader may be surprised at how quickly the. Seller Inventory # RWARE0000037179
Bibliographic Details
Title: Body Surfing: A Novel
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Publication Date: 2008
Binding: Soft cover
Condition: Very Good
Signed: Signed by Author(s)
About this title
Once again, Shreve revisits the minefield of love and betrayal that she has explored so well in her best novels. Sydney is 29, twice married, once divorced, and once a widow. She is floundering, not sure she wants to go back to school, accepting whatever job comes along and then moving on. She answers the ad for a tutor and finds herself in the Edwards household, where she discovers that Julie has undiscovered artistic talent. Mrs. Edwards dislikes her instantly, is dismissive, and treats her like a servant. Mr. Edwards befriends her, shows her his roses and talks to her about the history of the house, giving the reader a rundown of the role the house has played in prior novels.
Sydney, Jeff, and Ben go body surfing late one night and Sydney is sure that Ben has tried to grope her underwater. She takes immediate umbrage at this and treats him coldly thereafter. Shreve's other work has a steady narrative flow, but this novel is episodic and disjointed. There is the the arrival of Jeff's girlfriend, her departure, an evening when Julie comes home drunk and won't talk about it, and a liaison between Sydney and Jeff which leads to the complications that eventually define the novel. There is a twist at the end, involving the brothers, that is divisive, destructive and rather hard to believe.
While this is not Shreve's best effort, because the characters are not well-defined, it is worth reading her take on what happens to people when they compete for love. --Valerie Ryan
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