Open-book

Characterization is definitely one of this author's strengths. I've read three of her books ("Range of Motion" most recently) and have been able to identify with one or more characters in all of them. Friendships must be important to Elizabeth Berg because that theme is always strong and always well developed.

If you haven't read any of her books yet, "Open House" would be a good one to start with. While it deals with serious issues, it also is a bit "lighter" than the others I've read. Her books are easy to read because: they aren't real long, they don't get bogged down with details, and they are so darn compelling! Berg manages to tell a really good story in the time it takes some authors to get started.

I don't always agree with Oprah's choices, but this is one book she and I are seeing eye to eye about. Enjoy!

When David, (a wealthy Paul Newman look-alike) tells his wife that he is moving out, Samantha displays emotions that, while are sometimes beyond belief, you can see yourself doing. She goes on a shopping spree at Tiffanys, decides to take in boarders to supplement her income and signs up with a temporary agency in an effort to find a job. In the suspending belief department, each boarder she takes in immediately becomes a family member, King, an MIT graduate who majored in astrophysics, is working at menial jobs and Sam, who is separated from a "wealthy" husband, finds herself counting change in a laundromat as one of her part time jobs.

While I had a problem with the time frame -- never quite knowing how much time had passed from chapter to chapter -- I felt that the succession of events were true to form. David leaves Sam; Travis, her son, gives her a hard time; her best friend Rita arrives from California to help Sam get through this hard time; her mother Veronica starts setting her up on blind dates and Sam starts to realize that there is "light at the end of the tunnel." Reading about Sam arrive at this point was quite refreshing.

As much as we complain about Oprah's picks, I thank her for introducing me to this "new for me" author. From what I've read in the other reviews, she's obviously written books that her readers have enjoyed more than this one. Since I enjoyed this one, I can now look forward to some of her previous and perhaps better books.

Meet Ms. Daisy Miner, the librarian in a small town. She's in her late thirties, lives with her mom and aunt, dresses like an old maid, and is pretty much considered "on the shelf" in her mind and in the town's mind too. Daisy has finally decided that instead of giving up, she is going after what she wants, and what she wants is a man, and not just any man, but the marrying kind. Daisy is on the hunt for a husband! First Daisy has to figure out how to accomplish this. She realizes that first she needs to change her image, her "old fashioned" clothes are not going to cut it. With the advice of her mom and aunt, Daisy obtains the help of a friend who helps to whip her into shape in terms of her hair, makeup and clothes. Now, the hunt and the fun begins. Daisy decides that if you want to meet a man you have to go where the men will be, and that's the neighborhood bars and dance clubs. Now throw into this mix, tough ex city cop Chief Russo who is now the small time sheriff in this town. These two keep bumping into each other in town and the results are hilarious. All of Chief Russo's city experience has not prepared him for the small town innocence of Daisy. The dialogue is witty, and you can't help but fall in love with Daisy's innocence, and Chief Russo's interaction with her. I do not want to give this story away, but it truly is a cute fun novel that will keep you chuckling until the end. I would highly recommend.