Rating:  Summary: My First Adult Judy Blume Book Review: "Smart Women" was the first adult book I ever read by Judy Blume. It takes place in Boulder, Colorado, where two 40-something-year-old friends, Margo and B.B. (aka Francine Eloise Brady), deal with the aftermath of their divorces, while at the same time trying to raise teenagers, find decent men to date, and better their professional careers. However, neither one expected Margo to fall for B.B.'s ex-husband, Andrew Broder, who also happens to be Margo's current next-door neighbor. Needless to say, there's some friction between the three friends regarding this new love triangle, and one of these individuals suffers a complete nervous breakdown and has to be hospitalized.The results consequently affect their two daughters: Sara (B.B.'s 12-year-old daughter), who becomes a nervous wreck because of her mother's emotional abuse, and Michelle (Margo's hostile 16-year-old daughter), who gets involved with one of her mother's ex-lovers. (Obviously, boyfriend/husband swamping doesn't end with just the parents.) Even though he was a little older than Michelle, I was still shocked and thought the mother should have been more forceful in separating them. Overall, I thought "Smart Women" was a terrific book. Most of the characters were easy to empathize with, and the writing was superb. I had read many of Judy Blume's earlier children's books (like "Starring Sally J. Freedman As Herself", "Tiger Eyes", and "Just As Long As We're Together"), but I hadn't known Judy was such a talented adult writer as well. Now that I'm older and have somewhat outgrown her younger books, I wish she would write more adult contemporary novels, like "Wifey" and "Summer Sisters". Judy Blume is a fantastic writer--and still one of my favorites. I highly recommend this book, along with all of her others--adult and juvenile.
Rating:  Summary: Much better... Review: After getting over my distress from reading Wifey, which creeped me out more than any other book ever, this helped me feel more sane again. This book was much better than Wifey in my opinion. It's fast moving and the characters are well developed and the story seems realistic. There's no second guessing as to whether the story could possible occur. You can accept what is written at face value.
Rating:  Summary: Much better... Review: After getting over my distress from reading Wifey, which creeped me out more than any other book ever, this helped me feel more sane again. This book was much better than Wifey in my opinion. It's fast moving and the characters are well developed and the story seems realistic. There's no second guessing as to whether the story could possible occur. You can accept what is written at face value.
Rating:  Summary: Smart Women Review: After reading Summer Sisters I expected this book to be as good because I fel in love with Summer Sisters, however it wasn't as good. It was a bit long and dragged on. Although not horrible its not one of my favorites.
Rating:  Summary: Not one of Blume's Finest Novels Review: Although I enjoyed Summer Sisters, I was completely disappointed in this particular book by Ms. Blume. All the characters were disfunctional and not very appealing. If you must read this book, save your money and check it out from the library.
Rating:  Summary: Good for a summer read Review: Although it lacks the deep emotions and characters of her young adult novels, and the steamy scenes of Wifey, this was a great read for a summer weekend. I was sorry to see it end.
Rating:  Summary: Not one of Blume's Finest Novels Review: Although this book is enjoyable, the women in it definitely aren't very smart. They are way too concerned about finding a man and not concerned enough about raising their children. Margo, for example, asks her boyfriend- who also happens to be the ex of one of her friends and has a daughter of his own- to move in with her after only a few months of dating! Even without all the extra complications it is not very "smart" to move in with someone after so short a period of time. And meanwhile, her teenage daughter Michelle is getting involved with one of her many no-good ex-flings- right under her own roof (literally)- and she does almost nothing to intervene. Meanwhile, the another "smart" woman, B.B., marries a guy she is only lukewarm about, while our third Mensa candidate Clare takes back her ex, the jerk who left her to run off with a "donut". Better to be in a bad relationship than to be alone? I don't mean to sound too harsh- this book is actually entertaining- the women just aren't smart. The author was very successful in writing about the same situation from different characters' points of view.
Rating:  Summary: Smart women? Review: Although this book is enjoyable, the women in it definitely aren't very smart. They are way too concerned about finding a man and not concerned enough about raising their children. Margo, for example, asks her boyfriend- who also happens to be the ex of one of her friends and has a daughter of his own- to move in with her after only a few months of dating! Even without all the extra complications it is not very "smart" to move in with someone after so short a period of time. And meanwhile, her teenage daughter Michelle is getting involved with one of her many no-good ex-flings- right under her own roof (literally)- and she does almost nothing to intervene. Meanwhile, the another "smart" woman, B.B., marries a guy she is only lukewarm about, while our third Mensa candidate Clare takes back her ex, the jerk who left her to run off with a "donut". Better to be in a bad relationship than to be alone? I don't mean to sound too harsh- this book is actually entertaining- the women just aren't smart. The author was very successful in writing about the same situation from different characters' points of view.
Rating:  Summary: Smart Women Review: Could you ever imagine falling in love with your best friend's ex-husband? This would be a very weird situation. The weirdest part is if you have teenage children to deal with. After all the drama of divorce and then love again, it's very difficult to keep a family together. Margo is a woman that has many men in her life, which is in a way normal since she has been divorced for a while now. She thinks she doesn't have any luck in love. She knows it's very hard to start new relationships, as you get older. Her best friend B.B. also goes through many problems in her life just like Margo. They are both very confused women who want to live a better life. This is not a book that everybody will like. It targets women that are older and have been through divorces, and children that have parents that have been or going to be divorced. The emotions that it goes through not everybody will be able to relate to. It was very hard for me to get into the book and relate to these things since I have never been through anything like this. If you can relate to these things it would be an excellent book to read. You would be able to agree with the emotions it brings, which would cause you to stay focused on what is going on. If you are a women who has been through a lot with relationships, this will probably be the best book you ever read.
Rating:  Summary: A Page Turner Review: I am only 14 years old and I totally understood this book. It was such a page turner. The relationship between all of these women is fanominal and I would request this book to anyone over the age of 12 or 13. The way that the whole book is from different women's perspectives was kind of confusing but it all came together in the end. This is one of the best books and I am looking forward to reading "Wifey" and "Forever"
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