Open House: A Novel (Oprah's Book Club)

Elizabeth Berg is my favorite author, hands down. I don't think there is anyone more talented at putting words together to form the most breathtaking sentences. Her latest book is no different.However, "Open House" also has to be one of the funniest books I have ever read! I never pegged Berg as a humorist, even though there are a lot of ironic moments in her writing. But this book made me laugh so hard I almost peed in my pants. I found the chapter on Thanksgiving especially funny- I laughed for a half an hour, cracking up so hard I was crying. And there is a special treat for martha Stewart fans in the book, as well :).You have to be a talented writer to mix comedy and heartbreak as well as Berg does. For those worried about this being another woman-as-victim book (man leaves woman after several years of marriage, woman survives shame and loss of identity, finds new love with strapping, younger man who also happens to be her gardener, etc)- fear not. There is not an ounce of that in this book. "Open House" is funny, insightful, and will not leave you putting the book down in disgust.I really thought Elizabeth Berg may have lost her touch with "Until the Real Thing Comes Along" (her last book) but I have regained my faith in her. She's such an amazing writer. While "Pull of the Moon" and "Range of Motion" are my all-time favorites, this book is one I will be sending to friends and family- male and female alike.Buy it- you'll love it in every way.

OPEN HOUSE is a story of a 40-something woman going through divorce. Sam (Samantha) and her young son Travis learn to deal with life without David and they dont' find it easy. Travis seems to do ok but doesnt' quite adjust to living with new roommates. And Sam is always thinking about David, either hating him or missing him. Between bouts of crying and feeling lonely, Sam learns to survive emotionally (and financially) without the man she had depended on for almost 20 years.Sam learns to cope with divorce with the help of some new friends - Lydia, an elderly lady who becomes her first new boarder; King, a large over weight but gentle man who becomes her best friend; and Edward, her third boarder who happens to be gay and helps Sam with one final push towards happiness and new found love.I enjoyed this book, which was the second Elizabeth Berg novel I've read so far. Despite the theme of divorce, I felt it was a much lighter book than the first book of hers I read, WHAT WE KEEP. Ms Berg knows how to bring alive her characters, and she makes me care about what happens to each of them. I would definitely recommend this book.

A beautiful story of how out of the ashes can come something real and new. Of how love is still there even when we don't go looking for it. The author is very candid about the new life she unexpectedly awoke to and her path to happiness.I am from the Caribbean and may not be familiar with issues surrounding persons of color in the USA, but I wondered why each time the author interacted with an African American she metioned that the person was black. Why the not see a human being as a human being. I must note that author's interactions were not negative.

Elizabeth Berg is my favorite author, hands down. I don't think there is anyone more talented at putting words together to form the most breathtaking sentences. Her latest book is no different.However, "Open House" also has to be one of the funniest books I have ever read! I never pegged Berg as a humorist, even though there are a lot of ironic moments in her writing. But this book made me laugh so hard I almost peed in my pants. I found the chapter on Thanksgiving especially funny- I laughed for a half an hour, cracking up so hard I was crying. And there is a special treat for martha Stewart fans in the book, as well :).You have to be a talented writer to mix comedy and heartbreak as well as Berg does. For those worried about this being another woman-as-victim book (man leaves woman after several years of marriage, woman survives shame and loss of identity, finds new love with strapping, younger man who also happens to be her gardener, etc)- fear not. There is not an ounce of that in this book. "Open House" is funny, insightful, and will not leave you putting the book down in disgust.I really thought Elizabeth Berg may have lost her touch with "Until the Real Thing Comes Along" (her last book) but I have regained my faith in her. She's such an amazing writer. While "Pull of the Moon" and "Range of Motion" are my all-time favorites, this book is one I will be sending to friends and family- male and female alike.Buy it- you'll love it in every way.

When Sam's husband leaves her after nearly twenty years of marriage, she wonders how she will ever survive. Sam's friend, Rita, wonders how she stayed with her husband all those years. Rita doesn't like David and tells her friend all of the reasons why. Sam's son, Travis, is at the tender age of eleven and is confused and just a little upset about the sudden, glacial changes in his young boy life. Everything is a bit of a mess until King wanders in and changes all of their lives in a big way.

This was another pleasant surprise for me. I found this book in a Little Free Library kiosk. It was the only one that looked as if it might be readable. I picked it up and then put it back. I continued on my neighborhood walk. When I returned, I reluctantly took it with me; I simply needed a book to read before my next order would arrive. From the moment I began, I couldn't put it down. I so enjoyed the characters and their descriptions, as well as the honesty that was portrayed. As the story unfolded, I didn't want to be disturbed. I didn't even want another sale to handle at my husband's art fair -- I only wanted to see if Samantha would finally realize that King is absolutely perfect for her. What a delightful book! I've added other Elizabeth Berg books to my wish list.

Bought this as it was an Oprah booklist title - it was a good read but it didn't change my life. It did introduce me to a new (to me) author with a large back catalogue though and I always appreciate that.

Got right into this book until about the middle when it became inevitable what the outcome was going to be. Still enjoyed it though.

Great read

A women who cannot see that her comfortable life is about to explode. It is a story often in society. Sam through these new circumstances learns that life and happiness is all in how you choose to see each experience. Growth within your own circumstances, teaches you to see yourself and the world around you in a different light. The story has Sam learning through the people she meets how our lives are often looked at through our own man-made tunnel.

This is one of my favourite novels by my favourite author. I lent my first copy to someone and never got it back so I ordered myself a hardcover replacement. The book I received had a dust jacket that did not properly fit the book. It was a cm or so too short for the book. The front flap was also creased so that it would fit inside the book.