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What are readers saying about The Dive From Clausen's Pier: A Novel?
| Reviews of The Dive From Clausen's Pier: A Novel - Page 1 of 4 |
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-01-19 08:38:04.
(Language: English)
 
I have mixed feelings about this book. Too many unanswered questions. The main character was way too dependent on men. I couldn't put the book down though.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-07-17 06:07:20.
(Language: English)
really liked this one
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-11-03 08:31:12.
(Language: English)
What can I say? This book helped me pass the time during my commute home on the California 1BX. It was somewhat cliche and predictable, but definitely entertaining. The plot was interesting as it involves one of those "what would you do if one of your worst nightmares came true?" scenarios. Not the greatest work of literature, but worth reading as an escape from it all.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-01-15 04:05:41.
(Language: English)
My introduction to Ann's work. Read it shortly after my friend read it - and it was amazing how we related to the book so differently - but I believe that is where Ann's true gift lies - in being able to capture characters in such depth but still allowing the reader to connect in their own way. GREAT read.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-05-05 07:46:55.
(Language: English)
I liked this book better than I thought I would. I typically prefer books with more action rather than character studies, but I changed my mind for this one. The main character, Carrie, is very carefully written. She tells the story from the first person, and we are able to "hear" her thoughts. At various times throughout the book, I identified with her feelings, and at other times, I got frustrated with her - this made her character seem very real to me. I was almost sad when the book ended because I wanted more. I'm not giving it 5 stars - despite the fact that I found it a great read, I didn't think it was profound.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-08-21 07:34:30.
(Language: English)
This one really makes you think about what you would do if....
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-06-12 08:09:52.
(Language: English)
I found this to be a remarkable book; mostly because Ms. Packer had the ability to make flawed characters appealling and identifiable. Although the protaganist leaves her newly parapalegic fiance and moves to New York; I had to ask myself "is'nt that what I would most likely do (and loathe myself for) if I were a 26 year old girl?
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-09-29 08:14:35.
(Language: English)
I was actually kind of disappointed in this book, i thought it would end much better than it did. there was no happy ending and no sad ending. the main character was seemingly indecisive and that got very annoying.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-11-03 05:35:27.
(Language: English)
Read it twice. Will probably read again sometime. Characters are amazingly well developed. This book will make you feel and make you think, can't ask for much more.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-08-22 08:04:47.
(Language: English)
What would you do?
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-08-10 07:42:07.
(Language: English)
I don't usually do this but about half way through, I skipped to the end to see what happenned and then put the book down for a few days. I then picked it back up and finished it. I found the young woman's dilemma fascinating and the author's writing superb.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-11-09 11:00:30.
(Language: English)
I love this book, and I relate to the main character perhaps more than any other. She is not the most likable character by far, and her choices throughout the book frustrate me again and again....but it is easy to understand where she is coming from and why she makes the decisions she does, though they are often viewed as selfish and extremely hurtful to those she loves the most.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-07 08:28:14.
(Language: English)
The prose is careful and thoughtful; the dialogue natural. The problem was that all of the main characters were bland and predictable until over half-way through the book. All the main characters were in their early 20's and were a little too realistic in accordance with that age group - predictable and self-involved. The last half of the book was much more interesting, as the characters took more risks and a mysterious, older man was introduced (though there were some strange incongruities about his character). A little disappointing but I'd like to try another book by Packer.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-07-31 06:27:28.
(Language: English)
Watertown Summer Reading, Part II. If you think that coming of age needs to involve the pursuit of self-actualization above all else, than perhaps this is the book for you. But the protagonist's journey - fostering a sort of lilting self-centeredness - is missing commitment, character, and love. And as far as summer reading, well if graphic sex scenes and only token, marginally offensive references to non-white cultures (gangster rap, a single gay African fashion student, and the mention of "ethnic foods" [meaning enchiladas and pag-Thai, grr...]) feels appropriate, ....
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-07-31 04:07:13.
(Language: English)
"Carrie Bell and her fiance, Mike Mayer, drive out to Clausen's Pier for a picnic with their friends, a trip they make the way a middle-aged couple might, in grudging silence. Before their resentments can be aired, Mike dives into too shallow water, suffering injuries that change their lives. If Mike survives, he will survive as a quadriplegic, and Carrie faces unexpected responsibilities. Ultimately, Carrie does what is both understandable and unthinkable. She leaves her hometown of Madison, Wis., and shows up on the doorstep of a friend in New York City. There she discovers a different world, different friends and a different self. The hovering question--what will Carrie do? Abandon Mike or return to him?" (amazon.com plot summary) This book was pretty good, although I think it could have been better. It was a bit longer than it needed to be (408 pages) and the character of Carrie was not developed as well as I would have liked. The most interesting aspect of this book is the philosophical questions it asks: Are we all put on this earth to be kind to others or kind to ourselves? Are we expected to sacrifice our happiness for others? The book is worth reading just to explore your own answers to these questions. This would be a great book for a book club. It would definitely inspire debate.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-02-20 01:23:57.
(Language: English)
I did like this book-read on airplane-kept my attention
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-10-26 08:44:15.
(Language: English)
Great novel. Tension throughout. COuldn't decide if I liked or hated her, then decided that I understood her dilemma and then got frustrated because I couldn't RESOLVE her dilemma for her (I'm a fixer/helper) THEN at the end, was just a bit let down that she did finallly decide, but was still so unsure about the decision. SIGH. A sequel would be nice, but understanding that life often leaves us with this exact kind of indecisive tension, I see that a sequel may be ...unrealistic.
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Raeanne posted a review at 2012-02-23 12:25:49.
(Language: English)
Could have been alot better. She made the decision to to move back, but just leave her new friends. I think it was like if she would have gone back to NY to get her things there, she would have wanted to stay. It was depressing and I think that Mike deserved more. I thought the story was as if she was trying to find her self. She wanted to before the accident, but than that happened and she ran. I would have liked it better if she wouldn't have had a b/f in NY and than her and Mike could have gotten back together when she found out what she really wanted in life. I do agree, it was as if they were married, but than so what. Is that so bad.....
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-05-18 01:33:52.
(Language: English)
I would have never purchased this book but since it was given to me I figured why not. I have to say, there were some pretty cheesy sex bits but all-in-all the book was not half bad. Don't run out and buy it but if it gets passed on to you - go for it.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-07-27 03:19:22.
(Language: English)
An interesting dilemma for this book's protagist -- How can you break up with someone after they've broken their neck?
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-11-08 06:17:05.
(Language: English)
Well written and well developed characters, but it left me wishing for so much more. SPOILERS AHEAD......I was so involved and as it got to the last five chapters I was devouring it, hopeful for the moment when Carrie would turn around and sieze her life. If it were the same conclusion, but with a more visceral letting go of the NY Carrie, more of a ripping apart, I might have accepted it more. I do not see how she could have chosen the man she doesn't love, to just be friends with, accident or not, and life in the slow-moving, if friendly, Wisconsin town over her NY family, her noted future at Parsons, and her LOVE with Kilroy, damaged as he may have been in other ways than Mike. I don't know. I could go on, but it is sad to say that this very good book dissapointed me. And so, Carrie dissapointed me. ::shrug::
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-09-04 01:34:48.
(Language: English)
Talk about depressing! I could not even finish this.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-03-10 08:01:42.
(Language: English)
This book was so amazingly bland that I can’t accurately describe my feelings for it. Through the entire book I found myself hoping to finish it so that I could put it aside and start another, more interesting book. I have never in my life disliked a main character as much as I disliked Carrie Bell.She was selfish, pure and simple. When her best friend and fiance broke his neck in a diving accident, she ran off to New York and began making something of her life. She began following her dreams and exploring her emotions. In New York, unlike her hometown of Madison, Wisconsin, she was known to care about people every now and then. Be happy every now and then. In Madison, she cared about no one, least of all herself. She abandoned her friends and her fiance.I have absolutely no idea how she could feel so numb towards someone who was not only her lover, but her friend. The whole book amazed me. There were no surpises. No plot twists. No caring for the character. I was more interested in the tale of her friends than her own tale. It’s like watching an interesting movie through a very bland character’s eyes.The third book on my new reading plan and I hated it. I can only hope few books like this follow. I will never again trust the New York Times Bestseller list.
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Tanya posted a review at 2009-12-11 05:14:27.
(Language: English)
I'm afraid I didn't enjoy this like I expected to. I got about 50 pages in and really wasn't interested at that point. Looked ahead to get a bit of a feel for how the rest of the book was going to pan out, and just didn't really think it was going to grab me. I know lots of people have enjoyed this book, but it wasn't for me.
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| Reviews of The Dive From Clausen's Pier: A Novel - Page 1 of 4 |
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