Your Oasis on Flame Lake

Rating:
Summary: OK, not great
Review: This book is a good read, although to me it was a little disappointing. After reading "Patty Jane's House of Curl," I expected a quirkier book, but built on the same bedrock of real life experiences and emotions as "Patty Jane." Don't get me wrong--"Your Oasis on Flame Lake" is not a bad book. It's well written and moving in spots. The characters have the ring of truth to them. Unlike a number of other reviewers, I didn't find the alternating narrative perspectives confusing. But "Your Oasis" lacks the occasional outlandishness that made Landvik's first work so enjoyable. Where "Patty Jane's" sparkles, this book merely glimmers.

Rating:
Summary: OK, not great
Review: This book is a good read, although to me it was a little disappointing. After reading "Patty Jane's House of Curl," I expected a quirkier book, but built on the same bedrock of real life experiences and emotions as "Patty Jane." Don't get me wrong--"Your Oasis on Flame Lake" is not a bad book. It's well written and moving in spots. The characters have the ring of truth to them. Unlike a number of other reviewers, I didn't find the alternating narrative perspectives confusing. But "Your Oasis" lacks the occasional outlandishness that made Landvik's first work so enjoyable. Where "Patty Jane's" sparkles, this book merely glimmers.

Rating:
Summary: Excellant Follow Up Book to Patty Jane's House of Curl
Review: This book was so good, I hated for it to end. I was afraid that it wouldn't be live up to Patty Jane, being a second novel, but it is truly great. The characters are so well drawn, so believable, you just don't want to let go at the end of the book. What a wonderful sense of nuance Laura Landvik has in these characters. This is a good, satisfying book, and I urge everyone to read it.

Rating:
Summary: Nordic Ya-Ya's !
Review: This is a story of 2 families--Devera,Dick and their families and BiDi,Sergio and their family. Devera and BiDi go way back to school days together and have been voted "The Girls who have changed the least" -a title which pleases neither of them.Terrible events occur which upset the even tenor of their story book lives and while things sort themselves out eventually,I can't really understand how a nice woman like Devera ( the fact that she went off the rails briefly notwithstanding)can STAND that totally self absorbed,cruel tongued and completely nasty piece of work--BiDi!

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Soap Opera!
Review: This is a very well-written saga of two families who have grown up in the same small town where everybody knows everybody and their business too! Written through the narratives of 5 of the central characters we learn about their pasts and accompany them through their current travails. It is the stuff of good soap operas but so well written that it is a pleasure to read. I enjoyed this book more than "Patty Jane's House of Curl" (which I did enjoy very much). I am just sorry that it sat for so long on my bedside table before I eventually got to it.

Rating:
Summary: Refreshing read!
Review: You can find a little of yourself in each of the characters in this book. The book written from the perspective of several characters, is refreshing.

Rating:
Summary: Life in White Falls Minnesota
Review: Your Oasis on Flame Lake is the story of two families, the Lindstroms and the Herreras, living out the American dream in White Falls, Minnesota. Except, the dream is going over a few mid-life bumps in the road, leaving family members dissatisfied, hurt and confused. That is, until a catastrophic event in the Herrera family, brings all their lives back down to earth. This story is narrated by different family members and each brings a different perspective to the turbulent happenings surrounding them. Though never maudlin or overly emotional, Ms Landvik tells a strong, powerful story of love, loss, betrayal and forgiveness. Her writing is funny and witty with great incite and wisdom. Her characters, interesting and true to life, speak from the heart. This is a story that pulls you into the lives of these people and keeps you rooting for them until the climax and very satisfying end of the book. A story about the strong bonds of friendship and a wonderful slice of midwestern life.

Rating:
Summary: What Life Presents
Review: Your Oasis on Flame Lake was a engaging read. It is the story of families, dreams and tragedy. The story is narrated by a cast of characters. Initially, the narration is hard to follow, but once you grasp it, each of the characters has their own distinct voice. The characters are lively, and sometimes quirky, but one can eaisly relate to their struggles in life. Your Oasis on Flame Lake deals with relationships ~ sibling marital, and friendships. It also examines infidelity, addictions, and violence. Landvick, does an excellent job of allowing the reader to experience the tragedy through the characrters eyes. It was reedeming to learn how each reconciles their difficulties. This was an excellent book, I will be seeking further titles by Landvick. The issues presented would easily lend themselves to a lively book-club discussion.