Aug 2, 2010

Book Review: The Season of Second Chances by Diane Meier

The Season of Second Chances

The Season of Second Chances: A Novel by Diane Meier




Synopsis: After 15 years teaching among dry, competitive, and unfeeling academics at Columbia University in New York, Joy Harkness leaves for Amherst College in Massachusetts, where she finds warm hearted people, friends, the perfect house to refurbish for her own, and a lover. Divorced, she is given a second chance at life.

My comments: Friendship and community in a small city are balanced against hard driving ambition, competition and the fast life of a big city. I liked the theme of the benefits of a less complicated life among friends at work and at home. The novel was well written, the characters engaging.

However, I found the character of the handyman/lover of Joy's somewhat inconsistent. Teddy appears very capable and sensitive to adults and children and yet has an overpowering weakness that seems out of character with the smart person he is. Joy however is the likeable and consistent person to follow in this "season of second chances." Anyone interested in reading contemporary women's fiction should enjoy this novel.

Author: Diane Meier
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.; 1 edition (March 30, 2010)
Genre: Women's fiction
Source: ARC from publisher
My objective rating: 3.75 to 4

6 comments:

  1. Might be something to try soon -- I like the idea of the title and the opportunity to try life again. So hopeful, don't you think?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds like a nice light hearted read, yet nothing too sappy. Thanks for the review :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. This review is exactly what I'm looking for in a book review...short, concise, and to the point...thanks so much!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Huh. Thanks for your thoughts on this. I've seen it around and it looked appealing- beautiful cover, and that kind of thing always sucks me in. Sounds like a good beach book.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I do like contemporary women's fiction in small doses. Sounds interesting.

    P.S. I agree with Staci. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm looking forward to this one.

    ReplyDelete

I appreciate your comments and thoughts...

Three Novels: Japanese Mystery; Family Drama; Ecuadorian

  Books in the mail The Night of Baba Yaga  by Akira Otani (translated from the Japanese). July 2, 2024, Soho Crime This is an unusual novel...