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kmcneil's review against another edition
1.0
Another klunker for me. Returned it to the library without finishing it.
Sounds interesting ... we'll see!!
The pleasures, intimacies, tensions and failures of female friendship frame this subtle, psychologically rich novel, which chronicles the volatile relationship between two women and highlights issues of loyalty, sacrifice and guilt. In brisk, energetic prose, Mattison (Hilda and Pearl) investigates the prickly territory between affection and unconscious jealousy, avowals of devotion and secret betrayals, commitment and selfishness. On the day in 1975 when they meet in a Boynton, Mass., playground with their respective young children, Deborah Laidlaw loans Toby Ruben Trolley Girl, a book about a tragic trolley-car accident that occurred in the town in 1920. Ample, embracing, generous Deborah is a Catholic earth mother. Ruben (she thinks of herself only by her surname) is a harder person, Brooklyn-born, rough-edged, subconsciously resentful, Jewish. Despite their apparent incompatibility and Ruben's competitive streak, the two women sustain a deep attachment over two decades, interrupted twice when Ruben causes Deborah grief (and her job) by denigrating her teaching ability (a profession they both share). But an essential affinity always draws them back together, and they debate existential questions in a quirky sort of verbal shorthand, until the day when Deborah declares to Ruben: "You have a kindness defect," and admits she's frightened of Ruben's harsh assessment of herself and others. Suddenly, Deborah's death in an auto accident and the reappearance of the book Ruben borrowed long ago (passages from which have been interspersed in the narrative) connect. Trolley Girl's protagonistAan unrepentant anarchist who caused the deadly accident when she was youngAturns out to be an elderly sculptor already entwined in Ruben's life. Through her, Ruben achieves insights into the insidious ways unconscious anger can undermine relationships. Mattison constructs her layered plot with the skill of a gem-setter, showing small facets of Ruben's growing understanding of her own failings as a friend and human being, and as she finally understands Deborah's legacy of tolerance and hope. Agent, Zoe Pagnamenta, Wylie. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title
Sounds interesting ... we'll see!!
The pleasures, intimacies, tensions and failures of female friendship frame this subtle, psychologically rich novel, which chronicles the volatile relationship between two women and highlights issues of loyalty, sacrifice and guilt. In brisk, energetic prose, Mattison (Hilda and Pearl) investigates the prickly territory between affection and unconscious jealousy, avowals of devotion and secret betrayals, commitment and selfishness. On the day in 1975 when they meet in a Boynton, Mass., playground with their respective young children, Deborah Laidlaw loans Toby Ruben Trolley Girl, a book about a tragic trolley-car accident that occurred in the town in 1920. Ample, embracing, generous Deborah is a Catholic earth mother. Ruben (she thinks of herself only by her surname) is a harder person, Brooklyn-born, rough-edged, subconsciously resentful, Jewish. Despite their apparent incompatibility and Ruben's competitive streak, the two women sustain a deep attachment over two decades, interrupted twice when Ruben causes Deborah grief (and her job) by denigrating her teaching ability (a profession they both share). But an essential affinity always draws them back together, and they debate existential questions in a quirky sort of verbal shorthand, until the day when Deborah declares to Ruben: "You have a kindness defect," and admits she's frightened of Ruben's harsh assessment of herself and others. Suddenly, Deborah's death in an auto accident and the reappearance of the book Ruben borrowed long ago (passages from which have been interspersed in the narrative) connect. Trolley Girl's protagonistAan unrepentant anarchist who caused the deadly accident when she was youngAturns out to be an elderly sculptor already entwined in Ruben's life. Through her, Ruben achieves insights into the insidious ways unconscious anger can undermine relationships. Mattison constructs her layered plot with the skill of a gem-setter, showing small facets of Ruben's growing understanding of her own failings as a friend and human being, and as she finally understands Deborah's legacy of tolerance and hope. Agent, Zoe Pagnamenta, Wylie. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title
emilyjoy828's review against another edition
1.0
1.5 stars. What was this story about, you may ask? Who knows. The author is actually a very good writer, so I hope her other books are a bit more exciting/have more of a plot. I just didn’t like the story or the characters or the way the author described everything (sculptures, old women, driving, fire hydrants!) in a sexual way. Also, what do people have against quotation marks? Use them! Trust me, they are great. It’s like this magic symbol that lets your reader know when someone is talking. Pretty revolutionary.
shenerlau's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
carrieliza's review against another edition
1.0
I fully admit to not finishing this book. Didn't like it at all. The book within the book was horribly boring, and I didn't like any of the first circle characters anyway.
damarisr's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
kp68's review against another edition
2.0
50%, I'm calling it, not invested enough in the story to finish it, other books are waiting.
sejacks86's review against another edition
1.0
Found it too confusing - it was too much work. Too many great books waiting to be read to struggle through this one. Had a lot of trouble following the story and abandoned after 20 minutes.
allieeveryday's review against another edition
1.0
I'll admit, I really did not like this book from the get-go. But one of my book club friends kept telling me she LOVED it, and that it took a while to get into but it would get better. She was right; it started getting more interesting around page 80, though I still didn't think it was that exciting a book. It's a story of two women, Toby and Deborah, who have built a friendship over the years. When they first meet, Deborah lends Toby her husband's favorite book, Trolley Girl, about the trolley strike in the 1920s and the resulting accident that ended both the strike and one little girl's life. Over the decades, the book is long forgotten, but the two women must learn to deal with other losses as well.