Fault Lines

Rating:
Summary: Trash
Review: A very disappointing offering full of romantic cliches and untruths. Since when does a woman need an adulterous affair to be complete? Since when does living in the "here and now" not lead to consequences to pay later? Hmm...perhaps if an earthquake strikes and places the "heroine" in danger...

Rating:
Summary: once again, the author does not disappoint
Review: I began this book on a Saturday, when my weekend company was out during the day. I think their early departure on Sunday was, in part, due to my picking-up and putting-down the book quite often! I am, once again a redevoted fan; my last ARS book being Outer Banks... which exhausted and frightened me. This one delights and redefines "steel magnolias".

Rating:
Summary: Wise and Worthwhile
Review: I found this to be a wise and healing book. In many ways I think it is a 5 star book. It is full of beautiful images, great metaphors,fine humor, and a vast amount of emotional truth. Perhaps the emotional truths house the author's intent and purpose. The rats were great in this book!

Rating:
Summary: Had me crying and wishing it wouldn't end
Review: I made the mistake of trying to read this as a "distraction" during finals week my sophmore year of college. In the end, my finals, my packing, and even sleeping became secondary to finishing "Fault Lines". Possibly, I was simply homesick for my own hills in Washington, but I fell in love with the forested California setting and the thought of running away from it all to hide in the forest. I cried at least three times, causing my roommate, who thought I was immune to emotion, to decide that I had finally gone off the deep end from stress. Later that summer, when I was coming to terms with breaking up with a boyfried who never quite was one, I was hearing, in the back of my head, "Be my same stars, Gavin," and it seemed that Merritt and TJ were splitting alongside Gavin and I.
I've been a fan of Anne Rivers Siddons ever since I stumbled across "Heartbreak Hotel" in the public library, but this has got to be the most engrossing book of hers that I've ever read. I read it again, when finals were over and I didn't have to deal with classes and my roommate, and I loved it just as much the second time. I don't often gush about books (or anything) but this definitely deserves it.

Rating:
Summary: Had me crying and wishing it wouldn't end
Review: I made the mistake of trying to read this as a "distraction" during finals week my sophmore year of college. In the end, my finals, my packing, and even sleeping became secondary to finishing "Fault Lines". Possibly, I was simply homesick for my own hills in Washington, but I fell in love with the forested California setting and the thought of running away from it all to hide in the forest. I cried at least three times, causing my roommate, who thought I was immune to emotion, to decide that I had finally gone off the deep end from stress. Later that summer, when I was coming to terms with breaking up with a boyfried who never quite was one, I was hearing, in the back of my head, "Be my same stars, Gavin," and it seemed that Merritt and TJ were splitting alongside Gavin and I.
I've been a fan of Anne Rivers Siddons ever since I stumbled across "Heartbreak Hotel" in the public library, but this has got to be the most engrossing book of hers that I've ever read. I read it again, when finals were over and I didn't have to deal with classes and my roommate, and I loved it just as much the second time. I don't often gush about books (or anything) but this definitely deserves it.

Rating:
Summary: Dumb ending, trashy love story
Review: I've enjoyed a number of other books by Siddons, but found myself very disappointed by Fault Lines. The book started out great but slowly moved downhill to a dismal ending. It read like Siddons was placed on a tight deadline to finish the book and was forced to whip out anything in order to meet the deadline. The ending was predictable and just plain dumb. The so-called "love story" was trashy and read like a cheap grocery store romance novel. Yuck. I haven't been able to pick up another one of her books since.

Rating:
Summary: This was two books -- one good and one bad
Review: I've enjoyed other books by this author but I thought much of Fault Lines was a waste of time. It was as though she had ideas for two books and thought she could get away with combining them. The story line about her mother-in-law, daughter, husband and sister was warm, funny and moving (book one). But she interrupted the story with (book two) a melodramatic, romance-novel, Bridges-of-Madison-County interlude that inspired me to roll my eyes and flip pages until I could find a plot again. The only reason I bothered to finish the story was because I cared about the original characters. If you like romance novels, you'll love this book. Otherwise, don't invest the time in it (or just skip the pages with the romance in it -- you won't miss much.)

Rating:
Summary: A great rainy day book.
Review: Just a good book, not trash like Steele, but intelligent and thoughtful

Rating:
Summary: Personally I thought it was a great novel.
Review: One of my favorites of Ms. Siddons. I have read all but two of her novels, and I found this one to be as good if not better than most of her books. I loved the characters immediately. I love Anne Rivers Siddons.

Rating:
Summary: This is my favorite book from this author.
Review: Siddons really outdid herself with this one. If you are a Californian that loves California no matter what, you will love this book. It turns an earthquake into an incredible positive life-changing experience that only a real lover of California could appreciate. Those who think we're all crazy for living here, but secretly wish they could, will love it for the real-life drama and proof that earthquakes aren't all THAT bad.