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kb_hg's review against another edition
1.0
Dnf @ 30% the narrator is to scatter brained even I couldn’t follow along
hectaizani's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed listening to this book during my daily commute. There are some books that just lend themselves to the audio format, and this was one of those books. I'm sure if I sat down and read the print version I wouldn't have found it nearly as entertaining.
somanybookstoread's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this a lot! The Breakdown Lane earns bonus points in my book because it does an interesting thing with genre. I would call this a medical fiction book, if such a genre exists. I learned not only about the plight of one family, I also learned about MS. The MS was the "something extra" in this book that leaves me so satisfied. I love to learn and I love fiction. I love little more than when a writer can weave educational information into a good story, as is often seen in historical fiction. This medical information as part of a novel was new to me, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Mitchard's character development was also well done. My only complaint was that the ending was a bit too much of a happily-ever-after and tied up too nicely. It didn't feel realistic. Otherwise, this was a solid read.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
3 STARS
"Every family has its catastrophes . . .
Julieanne Gillis's family collects them. An advice columnist for a local newspaper, Julie dispenses wisdom to her readers, but somehow missed the signs that something was wrong in her own home. Devoted to being a good mother and keeping her twenty-year marriage fresh and exciting, she is shocked by her husband's surprise announcement that he needs a "sabbatical" from their life together -- and devastated when he disappears, leaving Julie with no funds to raise two teenagers and a small daughter alone. But it is the discovery that Julieanne suffers from a serious illness that truly crumbles her family's foundation -- setting her children on a dangerous, quixotic journey to locate their missing father . . . before it's too late." (From Amazon)
I liked this well-written novel.
"Every family has its catastrophes . . .
Julieanne Gillis's family collects them. An advice columnist for a local newspaper, Julie dispenses wisdom to her readers, but somehow missed the signs that something was wrong in her own home. Devoted to being a good mother and keeping her twenty-year marriage fresh and exciting, she is shocked by her husband's surprise announcement that he needs a "sabbatical" from their life together -- and devastated when he disappears, leaving Julie with no funds to raise two teenagers and a small daughter alone. But it is the discovery that Julieanne suffers from a serious illness that truly crumbles her family's foundation -- setting her children on a dangerous, quixotic journey to locate their missing father . . . before it's too late." (From Amazon)
I liked this well-written novel.
robinsease's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
pattieod's review against another edition
4.0
Jacquelyn Mitchard is a favorite writer, and I loved 4/5 of this book.
I have to agree with some other reviewers here that the Leo character is just too 100% lousy, and the end is (spoiler) a bit much. Couldn't he have been only moderately successful? Still short? More deeply flawed?
I have to agree with some other reviewers here that the Leo character is just too 100% lousy, and the end is (spoiler) a bit much. Couldn't he have been only moderately successful? Still short? More deeply flawed?
ericaram9's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
carrolk3's review against another edition
5.0
I very much enjoyed "Breakdown Lane". Jacquelyn Mitchard is a local author. I first read her columns in the local papers many years ago and then have read several of her novels. She hit the national spotlight as Oprah's first bookclub choice with her first novel, "Deep End of the Ocean". Over time, some of her books have been very good and some only so-so. I thought this one was one of her best. Her main character, Julieanne, is left with 3 children when her middle age lawyer husband decides he needs to "find himself". She soon discovers that not only is she a single mom of 2 teenagers and a toddler, she also has MS. There is plenty of anger to go around with her situation and that of her teenagers but there is also lots of humor. The story is told from her point of view alternating with her 15 year old son's "journal". I think most of the characters are well developed. I'm sure Mitchard drew from her own experiences. Her first husband died of cancer in his 40's leaving her with several children. She struggled as a single mom, has since re-married and had a couple more kids but has seen highs and lows in her life. I thought the book was a bit slow at the start but by the end, I found myself pulling for most of the characters. Not always an easy book to read but there's enough humor - especially dealing with the teenagers and the runaway "husband" to keep it from being depressing.
knitter22's review against another edition
2.0
This book began as an average, if a bit disjointed and rambling, story, but devolved into a maddening and unrealistic read, due in large part to the ludicrous ending. It was bad enough that I preferred listening to staticky radio on some recent long drives in frustrating traffic rather than plug my ipod in to listen to this.