Eden Close

There is much very beautiful prose in this book but I found the characters predictable and even stereotyped. I much preferred the female protagonist when she was young and feisty, not broken and reliant on Andrew, her lover, or Edith her stepmother.The central crime to the plot, I worked out immediately so there was no really big reveal at the end.I enjoyed the delicate interludes of Eden speaking inserted into the text. Those did give insight and illumination.There was also a few things that jarred with me. The fact that Eden had to be rescued when she had been such a fighter.The fact that Edenvs almost catatonic vulnerability was attractive to Andrew. That he awakens her through sex. And a scene where he forces her to have sex when she is clearly traumatised and does not want to.Also the fact that she condones the abuse she suffered as not being all that bad.These are quite major things to get over in a narrative.It made me hate Andrew and also rather dislike the author in creating a scenario in which a woman us saved by someone who is essentially rather controlling.I found these issues to jar and rankle.

A slow unfurling tale of a group of youngsters and the tragedy that touches all of them which is exquisitely shocking, moving and mysterious in turns. A truly absorbing engrossing read. Shreve’s depictions of love in all its forms is sheer magic. Highly recommende

This was one of those books that I simply could not put down once I'd started reading it. The emotions, the characters and the relationships that are covered in this relatively short book leave you gasping for more. The story is constantly driven by a curiosity to find out more, to find out exactly what happened to Eden that night so long ago. At the same time it moves on because you want to find out what's going to happen to Eden in the future. Although she's not the main character she's the one who carries the story into the past and back to the future, she's the central figure and at times it's frustrating that Ms Shreve doesn't really let us inside her head, but we're forced to get to know her through the much less interesting Andrew. If you're already a fan of Anita Shreve you're going to love this book. If you've never read another Anita Shreve book this is the one I'd recommend for you to start with as it shows off the true potential of the woman who later produced the masterpieces Fortune's Rock and Strange Fits of Passion.

This is the stifling story of Eden and her mother living with the legacy of an horrific night 19 years before, in which her father was killed.Andy, her childhood sweetheart, comes back home from the city to sell his mother's house after her death, and finds the vulnerable Eden silently pleading to be saved from her oppresive half-life.The writing is powerful, sparse and intense - you can really feel the torment of a record-breaking August heatwave and the anguish that is intrinsic to the lives of the characters.

So well written you forgive the flawed characters she creates. Had to keep reading till the end, even though I had guessed the story.

She is such a brilliant writer and I have loved all her books. Her descriptions of nature are beautifully interwoven and unselfconscious. A good narrative which intrigued and keeps the pages turning.

This is the first novel by Anita Shreve. It is also my favourite. Not sure why it is not as highly rated as some of her later books, certainly not as widely read. The story revolves around the story teller returning to his childhood home on the death of his mother so as to clear up family effects. This leads into the mystery of a shooting in the neighbour's house when he was a boy. My daughter thinks it is too sentimental - but, that's fine with me. Gripping. Recommend!

Again although I'd guessed what happened to Eden on the fateful day and who had actually pulled the trigger it's a decent read.

At first I was annoyed with all her words. Paragraph after paragraph, chapter after chapter. Hard to get thru. Then things started to happen but only small pieces at a time.I did skim thru some paragraphs and it didn’t really matter. I was not shocked by the final explanation of what happened but it still gave me chills.Anita Shreveport is good.

Beautifully written,slowly unfolding truth. We are introduced to the main characters like a progression of Spring flowers. At the denouement, shocking truth emerges but there remains hope for the two main characters. A very good read!

I read it for book club

Book was in a bit rougher shape than I expected

Loved this book. I collect Anita Shreve and this book does not disappoint. A page turner to the end!