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lovesresqdogs's review against another edition
4.0
This one was not my favourite for this author, it took me some time to get into it. Very interesting and different story.
prairiecult's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
3.0
judithdcollins's review against another edition
4.0
"Fantastic! One of the first of her books I have read; THUMBS UP! I look forward to her older works. A mixture of generations, hidden secrets, summer love, revisiting the past...setting in Buckhead area Atlanta and Alabama...a must read - highly recommend as hard to put down! "
sunshine608's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoyed the Southern/Atlanta element of the book and even the Civil Rights aspect that was thrown in but the "twist" just seem so unrealistic and anti-climatic to me. I was expecting so much more- a real secret.
Also the "dying" marriage story line didn't ring true to me either. It seemed to be more of a abusive relationship than anything.
This book just dins't seem to come fully together. I did enjoy the writing and reading about my city but other than that, this one fell a little flat to me.
Also the "dying" marriage story line didn't ring true to me either. It seemed to be more of a abusive relationship than anything.
This book just dins't seem to come fully together. I did enjoy the writing and reading about my city but other than that, this one fell a little flat to me.
jbarr5's review against another edition
4.0
Coming Up For Air by Patti Callahan Henry
Story starts out with Elle and she's very busy even with her daughter now in college, her husband busy at work and golfing with her dad.
Her mother keeps her busy with committees, etc til the day she just dies. Story goes back in time where we learn of her mother's younger years.
Another story that comes to light is that of the artists in the family and names given to each of the only girl child of each generation.
She finds it hard once she discovers her mother's journals and she strives to find out the truth. She had left her true love to marry another and Elle is at a loss as to who it is.
She travels with her friend Sadie back to the summer house to find more clues and answers. Like where all the artistry talk is about, gardens and flowers also.
I received this book from a contest I won.
Story starts out with Elle and she's very busy even with her daughter now in college, her husband busy at work and golfing with her dad.
Her mother keeps her busy with committees, etc til the day she just dies. Story goes back in time where we learn of her mother's younger years.
Another story that comes to light is that of the artists in the family and names given to each of the only girl child of each generation.
She finds it hard once she discovers her mother's journals and she strives to find out the truth. She had left her true love to marry another and Elle is at a loss as to who it is.
She travels with her friend Sadie back to the summer house to find more clues and answers. Like where all the artistry talk is about, gardens and flowers also.
I received this book from a contest I won.
susanthebookbag's review against another edition
4.0
What a wonderful story - very well written and the characters are very likable. The search for her mother's past made me wonder about what my mother might have done as a young woman. We never talked about things like that. So did I really know her? How sad. But this book is not sad - it is a great story!
purrfectpages's review against another edition
3.0
I received an advanced copy of this book from Good Reads giveaways. It's the story of a daughter who learns to understand her mother better after her death. The evolution of who her mom grew to become reveals itself in a series of hidden letters written by her mother in a secret journal, every year on New Years Eve. Life most novels along these lines, the daughter starts to see how her mother's past mirrors her own present and how the choices one makes shapes who they become in life.
There were many quotable bits of dialogue throughout the book that rung true for me. I found myself nodding in agreement many times because of this. I liked the premise, but as other reviews have stated the characters themselves were a bit one-dimensional. It was clear whose "side" the reader should be on. Also the main character somehow didn't come across as a woman of 48, but rather a woman much younger. If the history, motivation and character development had been fleshed out a little more, I would have given this novel higher marks.
There were many quotable bits of dialogue throughout the book that rung true for me. I found myself nodding in agreement many times because of this. I liked the premise, but as other reviews have stated the characters themselves were a bit one-dimensional. It was clear whose "side" the reader should be on. Also the main character somehow didn't come across as a woman of 48, but rather a woman much younger. If the history, motivation and character development had been fleshed out a little more, I would have given this novel higher marks.
the_happy_reader's review against another edition
4.0
I won a copy of this through the first-reads giveaway. I began reading this book as soon as I received it. After I started reading it I found it hard to put it down. I love the way the author tells her stories, the way she makes you imagine the setting in detail. It feels as if you are sitting in the house with the characters as you read. This book stirs up your emotions pretty good all the way through it. I also like the real life factor that this book has. Comparing this book to other books written by Patti Callahan Henry I believe it has the best ending. I have read three of her books and I believe this is her best work that I've read.
I am glad to have had the opportunity to have received an advanced edition copy.
I am glad to have had the opportunity to have received an advanced edition copy.
thegeekyblogger's review against another edition
4.0
Bought for Myself
Overall Rating 4.25
Character Rating 4.25
Story Rating 4.25
NOTE: I admit I picked up this book because I met Patti Callahan Henry at a Book Signing. She was funny, genuine, and personable---all attributes that come across in her writing. It was a great venture outside my normal reading comforts!
What I Loved: This book was written for every daughter that isn't/wasn't/can't be sure they have/are/could live up the perceived expectations of their mothers. Even though this book is set in the south, I think everyone who has been a daughter and/or has a daughter could identify with the story. The most wonderful thing in Coming Up for Air is the connection formed through a few journal entries that Ellie finds in a journal that her mother Lillian kept. Even though there is only one entry a year (every New Years Eve), the story that unfolds is richly told and very emotional. Grab a hanky, you will need it at points. I don't want to give away any plot points but there are several interactions that tugged at my heart.
What I Liked: So many of the questions that Coming Up for Air asks are built to make you think! I don't think it was probably done on purpose but the story is a good catalyst for remembering to live your life fully and truly.
Complaints: None
Why I Gave it a 4.25: Contemporary Fiction is not something that general lands on my reading radar. I am glad that this book did because it was fantastically written.
Overall Rating 4.25
Character Rating 4.25
Story Rating 4.25
NOTE: I admit I picked up this book because I met Patti Callahan Henry at a Book Signing. She was funny, genuine, and personable---all attributes that come across in her writing. It was a great venture outside my normal reading comforts!
What I Loved: This book was written for every daughter that isn't/wasn't/can't be sure they have/are/could live up the perceived expectations of their mothers. Even though this book is set in the south, I think everyone who has been a daughter and/or has a daughter could identify with the story. The most wonderful thing in Coming Up for Air is the connection formed through a few journal entries that Ellie finds in a journal that her mother Lillian kept. Even though there is only one entry a year (every New Years Eve), the story that unfolds is richly told and very emotional. Grab a hanky, you will need it at points. I don't want to give away any plot points but there are several interactions that tugged at my heart.
What I Liked: So many of the questions that Coming Up for Air asks are built to make you think! I don't think it was probably done on purpose but the story is a good catalyst for remembering to live your life fully and truly.
Complaints: None
Why I Gave it a 4.25: Contemporary Fiction is not something that general lands on my reading radar. I am glad that this book did because it was fantastically written.
cupcakegirly's review against another edition
4.0
A beautifully written story about love - having it, losing it, rediscovering it and the lengths we'll go to for those we love. The book opens at the funeral of Ellie's mother, Lillian, who we find out was a prominent member of Atlanta society, adored by many but with whom Ellie felt very detached. We also learn that Ellie's marriage to Rusty is a troubled one even though he refuses to acknowledge it (Rusty has him some issues) and that all of the first born women in the family are named "Lillian" (they have a thing for the flower) but go by some variation of Lil, Lillian, Ellie, etc. It's the female version of "This is my brother Larry and my other brother Larry and my other brother Larry." (you get the point)
Ellie's old boyfriend, Hutch shows up at the funeral claiming to have been in the middle of working on an exhibit that involved Lillian and he asks Ellie if she'd be willing to help him finish it. She agrees, much to the chagrin of Rusty but then again, unless it was something Rusty wanted to do he's be chagrinned anyway. Let's talk about our boy Rusty for a minute, shall we? Rusty is a self centered, egotysitcal, controlling ignoramus. He just doesn't have a clue when it comes to anyone but good 'ole Rusty. He has some serious anger management issues too that he uses to control Ellie. ("Hot and Cold" by Katy Perry could be his theme song) His only concern is about whether or not their life "looks" good and whether or not something makes sense to him. And golf. Ellie is an artist and he can't understand why she gets consumed sometimes when she's working on a project. He'd rather she be a good little wifey and make sure the maintenance guy can get in the house while he's playing golf and fix whatever is broken. When she tries to talk to him about what's wrong in their marriage, he thinks buying her jewelry will fix it. This is after he screams at her or throws something at the wall or hangs up on her and then gets all sweet and apologizes. He sounds like a keeper doesn't he?
Enough about Rusty, let's focus on Hutch... Hutch was Ellie's college boyfriend and the guy she thought she'd spend forever with but unfortunately, Lillian didn't think he was good enough for her. He didn't come from "good people" and Lillian tried her best to drive a wedge between Ellie and Hutch. Hutch is kind and caring and he appreciates Ellie and her art. He's just an all around good person. Unfortunately, Ellie learned (too late) that we all make choices and sometimes it isn't just one that changes the direction of our lives forever but a serious of choices. Still after 20 years, and spending time together working on the project together, Ellie realizes that her love for Hutch never died. She gave him up to be with Rusty because Rusty was "safe" but she realizes that living a safe life isn't always the best choice.
Ellie's research takes her to Alabama coast to stay at the Summer House of her mother's best friend, Birdie. Birdie is full of love and grace and opens her home to whoever needs to come and stay. There is a legend about her family's Summer House and that's - when people come and stay, they discover the truth about their lives. It may not always be what they want to learn but it's the truth. Sometimes when a friend asks me a question, before I give them an answer, I'll say to them, "Do you want me to tell you the truth or do you want me to tell you what you want to hear?" This is how it is at Summer House. Birdie is helpful in answering some of Ellie's questions about her mother but she doesn't answer them all because she says sometimes, you have to be okay with "just enough."
Hutch comes to Alabama too (he stays with a friend) and during their research, he and Ellie discover that Lillian played an active role in the Alabama civil rights movements in the 60's, including participating in Freedom bus rides, sit-ins and marches. This is shocking to Ellie because this is not the same woman that she grew up with for a mother. Ellie also discovers that Lillian had a love affair with a man over the course of two years. Lillian recorded all that happened between them and the heartbreaking end to their relationship but she never mentioned him by name. Ellie begins asking around but no one will give her the name of this man. Through her search for more information about who this person was she starts to understand just how devastating this loss was for her mother. She also learns that Lillian was trying to prevent Ellie from experiencing the same kind of loss with Hutch only to be the catalyst for it which is in the end a sad irony.
In the end, Ellie realizes that she's been living a parallel life to her mothers which really isn't living at all. She is faced with making more choices, ones that she didn't plan on having to make but ones that will either bring her closer to the life she wants or continue in the life of false safety she's been living.
If you've ever suffered a major heartbreak, and seriously, if you're past puberty, you probably have, then this book may hit a nerve. One of the major lessons learned is that you can't make someone love you, know matter how hard you try, will it or want them too, you just can't. The other lesson is that your life is your story and you have to live it. If you come to point in your story and it takes a turn you didn't expect, well, then sometimes you need to rewrite the ending. While we all play a part in other people's stories, only our own story is uniquely ours...don't let anyone else tell you how to live it.
Ellie's old boyfriend, Hutch shows up at the funeral claiming to have been in the middle of working on an exhibit that involved Lillian and he asks Ellie if she'd be willing to help him finish it. She agrees, much to the chagrin of Rusty but then again, unless it was something Rusty wanted to do he's be chagrinned anyway. Let's talk about our boy Rusty for a minute, shall we? Rusty is a self centered, egotysitcal, controlling ignoramus. He just doesn't have a clue when it comes to anyone but good 'ole Rusty. He has some serious anger management issues too that he uses to control Ellie. ("Hot and Cold" by Katy Perry could be his theme song) His only concern is about whether or not their life "looks" good and whether or not something makes sense to him. And golf. Ellie is an artist and he can't understand why she gets consumed sometimes when she's working on a project. He'd rather she be a good little wifey and make sure the maintenance guy can get in the house while he's playing golf and fix whatever is broken. When she tries to talk to him about what's wrong in their marriage, he thinks buying her jewelry will fix it. This is after he screams at her or throws something at the wall or hangs up on her and then gets all sweet and apologizes. He sounds like a keeper doesn't he?
Enough about Rusty, let's focus on Hutch... Hutch was Ellie's college boyfriend and the guy she thought she'd spend forever with but unfortunately, Lillian didn't think he was good enough for her. He didn't come from "good people" and Lillian tried her best to drive a wedge between Ellie and Hutch. Hutch is kind and caring and he appreciates Ellie and her art. He's just an all around good person. Unfortunately, Ellie learned (too late) that we all make choices and sometimes it isn't just one that changes the direction of our lives forever but a serious of choices. Still after 20 years, and spending time together working on the project together, Ellie realizes that her love for Hutch never died. She gave him up to be with Rusty because Rusty was "safe" but she realizes that living a safe life isn't always the best choice.
Ellie's research takes her to Alabama coast to stay at the Summer House of her mother's best friend, Birdie. Birdie is full of love and grace and opens her home to whoever needs to come and stay. There is a legend about her family's Summer House and that's - when people come and stay, they discover the truth about their lives. It may not always be what they want to learn but it's the truth. Sometimes when a friend asks me a question, before I give them an answer, I'll say to them, "Do you want me to tell you the truth or do you want me to tell you what you want to hear?" This is how it is at Summer House. Birdie is helpful in answering some of Ellie's questions about her mother but she doesn't answer them all because she says sometimes, you have to be okay with "just enough."
Hutch comes to Alabama too (he stays with a friend) and during their research, he and Ellie discover that Lillian played an active role in the Alabama civil rights movements in the 60's, including participating in Freedom bus rides, sit-ins and marches. This is shocking to Ellie because this is not the same woman that she grew up with for a mother. Ellie also discovers that Lillian had a love affair with a man over the course of two years. Lillian recorded all that happened between them and the heartbreaking end to their relationship but she never mentioned him by name. Ellie begins asking around but no one will give her the name of this man. Through her search for more information about who this person was she starts to understand just how devastating this loss was for her mother. She also learns that Lillian was trying to prevent Ellie from experiencing the same kind of loss with Hutch only to be the catalyst for it which is in the end a sad irony.
In the end, Ellie realizes that she's been living a parallel life to her mothers which really isn't living at all. She is faced with making more choices, ones that she didn't plan on having to make but ones that will either bring her closer to the life she wants or continue in the life of false safety she's been living.
If you've ever suffered a major heartbreak, and seriously, if you're past puberty, you probably have, then this book may hit a nerve. One of the major lessons learned is that you can't make someone love you, know matter how hard you try, will it or want them too, you just can't. The other lesson is that your life is your story and you have to live it. If you come to point in your story and it takes a turn you didn't expect, well, then sometimes you need to rewrite the ending. While we all play a part in other people's stories, only our own story is uniquely ours...don't let anyone else tell you how to live it.