The Dive From Clausen's Pier: A Novel by Ann Packer
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Book Reviews of The Dive From Clausen's Pier: A Novel
Book Review: The Dive From Clausen's Pier
Summary: 5 Stars
Ann Packer's The Dive from Clausen's Pier takes the reader's heart and places it straight into the story. This book called me to take the character's life my own hands. The situations described in this novel explains a complicated issue of love and lose. Carrie and Mike's high school sweetheart relationship is faltering because Carrie does not feel comfortable within the relationship anymore. During a Memorial Day trip, Mike dives off of Clausen's Pier, and he breaks his neck. This accident causes Mike to stay in a coma for a long period of time, and as he awakens it is learned that he is paralyzed. Carrie has to take herself away from the situation in Wisconsin so she headed to New York. Carrie struggles with her heart becasue she was finding herself falling in love with Kilroy. She starts a new life, studying for fashion design in New York, while Mike and friends are back in Wisconsin. After a terrible situation with Carrie's best friend's sister, Carrie decides to return home to Wisconsin. Her return brings about change in her relationship with Mike. She takes off her engagement ring and she places it on her right hand ,symbolizing their forever lasting friendship.
This book took me through every type of emotion there is. Great change was made among the characters. It was a book that all would enjoy.
Book Review: I never would've guessed I'd be giving this 5 stars...
Summary: 5 Stars
...when I was halfway through this book. In fact, I almost abandoned it several times, thinking, "Why am I still reading this? Nothing's going on. Every one of the characters is just stuck, treading water." But, thank goodness, I did go on and finish it. Now I realize that this is part of Packer's craft--her exceptional craft. I felt stuck with this novel as Carrie felt stuck with her life. She had to get out, HAD to...and did, but something kept her hanging on to her old life, her home, her friends. I don't know what managed to keep me hanging onto this story, but I'm glad I read on. I feel like I was more involved with this novel than I have been in a long, long time. I thought I had been reading some good novels lately, but no, I wasn't. Not til this one.
Packer does something beyond character development here. Or, she does it in a different way. I don't have a clear picture of Carrie in my mind, I don't know everything that makes her tick. But I feel like I was the character for a while, like I felt everything she felt about the whole terrible saga. I was bored, frustrated, angry, on the verge of abandonment, then back in the thick of it, then loyal, then relieved. I was having a great time reading this even when I was so mad at the characters I could've slapped them. What a gift.
Book Review: Wonderfully captivating
Summary: 5 Stars
Carrie has lived her entire life in the same small town, surrounded by the same friends, and dating the same guy for 8 years. Suddenly, she finds her life stifling, and wonders if there's something more. When her fiancée has a horrible accident and becomes paralyzed, Carrie finds herself unable to cope. The book deals with the question of how much we owe those we love... and whether we should sacrifice ourselves for them.There were so many reasons I loved this book. Simply put, though, I loved Carrie. I put myself in her shoes throughout the entire book. It was hard not to think of myself as her as I read. I also loved the writing style - simple, yet beautiful. The descriptions were artful and captivating.
To be honest, the only thing I disliked about this beautiful novel was the ending. I felt frustrated by Carrie's choice at the end of the novel, and that's the only thing keeping me from giving this book a perfect score and adding it to my permanent collection. Every now and again I also found myself a little annoyed by the abrupt endings in chapter sections. I wanted to know more about a specific dinner party, or class Carrie was taking, or lovemaking session, and they'd often be cut short.
Overall, this is a wonderfully captivating book. It pulls you in from the first few pages and never lets go.
Book Review: Wonderful story and characters
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the tale of small-town girl Carrie Bell, who has had the same friends and boyfriend since she was in high school. At 23, this no longer seems like such a good thing, and she longs for a change of pace. She is contemplating leaving her fiance, but tragedy strikes, and he becomes a quadrepalegic after a silly diving accident. She must decide whether to do the right thing, and stay with him, or be true to herself, and leave.This story revolved around this complicated question. I have read several reviews where Carrie is torn to shreds for what readers have characterized as her coldness and selfishness. To me, this quality is not descriptive of Carrie. She makes some choices that hurt people, but I viewed her as the most troubled character in the novel.
Also, I disagree with reviewers who said the dialogue was poorly written. As I read, I was thinking just the opposite: the dialogue sounded so authentic that I could imagine talking with my friends that way. I thought this novel was beautifully written all the way around, from dialogue to descriptions to the richly-developed characters of Carrie and her acquaintances. I also loved the sewing metaphors.
This is a fast-paced but thought-provoking story that I simply couldn't put down. I am eagerly awaiting the next novel from this author.
Book Review: Couldn't put it down!
Summary: 5 Stars
The Dive actually moved me to tears. I enjoyed it so much, I'd read it again. It's one of few books I've ever read that I HAD to finish, once it got to a certain point. I could not put it down.
Some reviewers mention their dislike of the characters. While I agree that Kilroy was not likable (what good was he to Carrie?), I have to disagree about Carrie -- she is likable, complex, and realistic. She was confused, wandering, exploring, at times not knowing what she was doing or why, but I never felt that her character was shallow. How many people in real life are easy to pinpoint? I found all the characters to be complex and believable.
I loved this book. It really made me think and touched me. It implies tough questions ("what is the right thing to do?" "what do I want to do?" "can I deviate from what everyone expects from me?").
Many friends recommended The Dive to me, and I avoided it because I thought it sounded depressing, just based on the basic plot (boyfriend breaks his neck, girlfriend tries to cope). I am so glad I finally read it. Sometimes depressing things happen. We cope, we learn, we grow, we adapt. And life is goooood.