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Publisher:
Little, Brown and Co. |
Release
Date: September 15, 2003 |
ISBN:
0316786098 |
Awards:
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Format
Reviewed: Advanced Review Copy |
Buy
it at Amazon |
Read
an Excerpt |
Genre:
Fiction - General |
Reviewed:
2003 |
Reviewer:
Sheila Griffin |
Reviewer
Notes: Profane language is used heavily throughout this
book.
Review
Two |
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She
is Me
By Cathleen
Schine
Elizabeth
is an assistant professor who's been living with Brett for three
years. They have a son together. As much as Elizabeth loves Brett,
she still can't bring herself to marry him. Her life has been dealt
a double blow. Her grandmother, Lotte, has cancer. Now she learns
that her mother, Greta, has it as well.
In the
midst of her shock and sadness, Elizabeth is offered the career
opportunity of a lifetime. Leaving behind the stuffy halls of East
Coast academia, Elizabeth moves to California. She's going to write
a screenplay and take care of her loved ones.
Elizabeth is stretched to the limit. She has new surroundings, and
new professional obligations. She's also taking care of her mother,
her grandmother, Brett and their son. As she becomes overwhelmed
with stress, Elizabeth finds herself fantasizing about her boss
as well as her brother's best friend, Tim.
Greta
has been a wife and mother for 32 years. Suddenly she finds herself
entertaining fantasies about her daughter's friend, Daisy. She knows
it would turn her family life upside down, but she has always lived
her life for others. Now she may be dying. It's time she did something
just for herself.
Lotte's
pride and joy has always been her lovely complexion. Now she has
a nasty tumor on her face. Not only is it sapping her life energy,
but it's also destroying her appearance.
All three women are confused. They love each other, but are sick
and tired of each other as well.
This
book could have used a stronger plot. There was too much introspection.
Fewer literary references would improve the readability. The best
part of the book was Lotte. She's a cranky old firecracker of a
woman with the vocabulary of a sailor.
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