Body Surfing: A Novel
by Anita Shreve
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Book Summary Information
Author: Anita ShreveEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-01-15
ISBN: 0316067334
Number of pages: 320
Publisher: Back Bay Books
Book Reviews of Body Surfing: A Novel
Book Review: A remarkable read...
Summary: 5 Stars
At the age of 29, Sydney had faced adversity in her relationships. She had married twice, divorced once, and widowed once. In the summer of 2002, she took a position as a tutor to Julie, the daughter of affluent parents. They owned a cottage on the New Hampshire shore. Each day she walks along the beach or floats on the waves, allowing them to bring relaxation. The atmosphere was bringing about a healing in her life. Sydney finds continuity in the Edwards household. When the Edward's sons arrived, they turn Sydney's life in a different direction.
Body Surfing by Anita Shreve is a multifaceted tale. The plot is well-written and flows effortlessly. The characters have depth. Julie is a very complex. Her family sees her as slow and attempts to push her toward their desire for her life. Sydney sees potential in her creativity and works to develop it. The family stifled Julie's growth and vibrancy. The relationship between brothers, Ben and Jeff, was competitive. The Edward's, like many couples, are opposites, yet it is obvious they married for love. Mr. Edwards was a favorite; he cared for Sydney and made her part of the family. It was easy to get into Sydney's character. She is three-dimensional. It was as though I became her. I found myself in tears more than once before I finished reading the book. My one criticism was the conclusion. I wanted more: more Ben, more Sydney, more Julie; the story was incomplete. However, that did not stop me from liking this book. I was drawn-in by the characters. I felt that I was leaving friends. Body Surfing was a remarkable read. There are twists and turns that keep the reader involved. Fans of fiction and romance will not want to miss Body Surfing.
Summary of Body Surfing: A Novel
"Always readable-sometimes compulsively so-Shreve's novels are typically emotionally resonant, nicely paced, and populated by memorable characters." -PeopleAt the age of 29,
But when the Edwardses' two grown sons arrive at the beach house,
With the subtle wit, lyrical language, and brilliant insight into the human heart that has led her to be called "an author at one with her métier" (Miami Herald), Shreve weaves a novel about marriage, family, and the supreme courage it takes to love.
"Shreve excels at nuance and detail. She skillfully illuminates the tiniest of moments, offering readers a peek at the complex undertones coursing through the characters throughout the story." -Rocky Mountain News
"There is something satisfyingly clean, well functioning, pale, and delicious about an Anita Shreve novel. . . . Shreve's characters, grappling with desire, juggling their shame against their regret, are entirely welcome." -
"Shreve's writing is textured, reflective, and generally flows with ease, to the point where the reader may be surprised at how quickly the pages turn." -Newsday
The beach house in New Hampshire which figured in Anita Shreve's The Pilot's Wife, Fortune's Rocks, and Sea Glass is once again featured in Body Surfing. This time, it is the summer home of the Edwards family, Anna and Mark and daughter Julie. Mrs. Edwards has great hopes for Julie, who is "slow," so she hires Sydney to tutor her, in preparation for her senior year. There are two older brothers, Jeff and Ben, whose arrival changes the household dynamic considerably.
Once again, Shreve revisits the minefield of love and betrayal that she has explored so well in her best novels. Sydney is 29, twice married, once divorced, and once a widow. She is floundering, not sure she wants to go back to school, accepting whatever job comes along and then moving on. She answers the ad for a tutor and finds herself in the Edwards household, where she discovers that Julie has undiscovered artistic talent. Mrs. Edwards dislikes her instantly, is dismissive, and treats her like a servant. Mr. Edwards befriends her, shows her his roses and talks to her about the history of the house, giving the reader a rundown of the role the house has played in prior novels.
Sydney, Jeff, and Ben go body surfing late one night and Sydney is sure that Ben has tried to grope her underwater. She takes immediate umbrage at this and treats him coldly thereafter. Shreve's other work has a steady narrative flow, but this novel is episodic and disjointed. There is the the arrival of Jeff's girlfriend, her departure, an evening when Julie comes home drunk and won't talk about it, and a liaison between Sydney and Jeff which leads to the complications that eventually define the novel. There is a twist at the end, involving the brothers, that is divisive, destructive and rather hard to believe.
While this is not Shreve's best effort, because the characters are not well-defined, it is worth reading her take on what happens to people when they compete for love. --Valerie Ryan
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