This book was so good, I waited a few months and read it all over again. Originally I borrowed it from the library, but after I read it I had to go out and buy it. It's simply the kind of book you can't put down.

Jennie Fields is the author of one of my favorite books, Crossing Brooklyn Ferry. As soon as I finished that book, I checked to see if she had written anything else and came upon this title. The jacket cover didn't exactly scream for me to read this book as it describes "how it takes place in the '60's and Lily has discovered that sex is a Pandora's box" but I wanted to see if Fields was a one-book wonder or if I had truly found another author that I would loyally follow.

From the first page until the last, I loved everything about this book. Fields' portrayal of Lily as a brooding, gifted, Bohemian artist draws the reader into her life where women are not her friends but men are unexplicably drawn to her. It follows Lily's life through her marriage, motherhood and what finally frees her from the secrets she has lived with. All the characters in this book are richly depicted. You will fall in love with Lily Beach and root for her to find that place within herself where she can find happiness. Jennie Fields is definitely the author to take you there. I can't wait for her to come out with another book.

Lily Beach is a novel that has something for everyone. It is a book with a truly great story. If you enjoy romance novels this book is one of the best. The story draws you in to the point where you miss the characters when you put it down. You feel yourself becoming Lily, feeling her joy and pain. When the book if finally over it is as though you are saying goodbye to a friend. It is a perfect mix of love, action, romance. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading- love stories or otherwise. It is a compelling, addictive novel. You feel yourself wrapped up in the characters, the setting, the life of the story. You will find yourself thinking about it even after you have finished reading it

I bought this book for a friend for Christmas on a whim. When I previewed it, I decided that I needed a copy as well. This is a fantastic book.

What a fabulous book! It's a collection of writings by women about their experiences in the outdoors...ranging from a terrifying night skate down the hills of San Francisco to a swim with wild dolphins to ice climbing to a walk in the forest. Every story is wonderfully written and inspires me to experience life to the fullest.

I loved this book - it's SO nice to have a great women's fiction choice where the main character is over 35 and not 26 and dying to get married- -and really is starting over, has real problems, hang ups,etc. Great read. well written too~

Jennie Fields, author of the wonderful "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry," has scored again with her touching novel, "The Middle Ages." Jane Larson is a forty-six year old architect, living in New York City with her rambunctious fifteen-year old twin daughters. She is a divorced single mom who is bored with her routine job, which consists mostly of designing banks and assisted living facilities. She longs to go out on her own and create beautiful houses, but she lacks the courage to try something new after eighteen years with the same firm.

Although she is still attractive, Jane is no longer the lithe beauty that she was in her twenties. She huffs and puffs going up staircases, and the days when she attracted wolf whistles are a distant memory. She dates infrequently and has little expectation of meeting a wonderful man at her age.

Jane's life is shaken up when her job situation suddenly changes drastically. Her personal life also takes an interesting turn, when she decides to e-mail her old college flame, Jack, supposedly to catch up on old times. Suddenly, the old feelings are rekindled, even though Jack is living far away, in Nashville, Tennessee.

With gentle humor and compassion that is rare in novels these days, Fields explores the territory of the "middle ages," which is often marked by fear, insecurity, loss and pain. Jack and Jane have both been battered by life. Are they ready to plunge into a risky relationship that could potentially bring them more heartache? Should middle-aged people have the confidence to try new things when the very thought of change is so terrifying? Fields's straightforward style is heartfelt and honest, and she writes as if she understands the territory of middle age very well from personal experience. A few overly sentimental touches here and there do little to detract from this warm novel about real people hoping for a second chance at happiness.

It is often fun to read and book and try to figure out how the author came up with the title. In the case of The Middle Ages by Jennie Fields, this is a most appropriate title since it describes the main character's place in life.

Jane Larsen is in her middle ages or as we say middle aged. She is divorced from her husband who she remains on good terms with and is the mother of two teenage twin girls going through their own turbulent years. She is also an architect frustrated with her job. As Jane describes herself she is a dumpy woman surrounded by young and beautiful woman. And added to all of her insecure feelings is the thought that despite fix ups for dinner parties and blind date drinks, she may never meet another man who will mean something to her during her middle ages.

Then just as Jane thinks life is running at a dull speed, she is fired from her boring job. Now she can finally do what she always wanted, build homes for clients. And then Jane becomes very bold and decides to look up her college boyfriend Jack Craskin using the Internet. After all of these years Jane suddenly wants to know how his life turned out. And we as readers are along for the ride as we watch the perils and joys of being in one's middle ages.

This is a fast paced book which asks and then answers the questions, "What if I had married my old sweetheart, or at the very least, "Is love really lovelier the second time around." With a quick wit and good sense of humor, Ms. Fields does a fine job of presenting he characters. At times she is reminiscent of Jeanne Ray, author of Step - Ball Change and Susan Isaacs, author of Lily White. She is also wonderful at describing the tree lined brownstone streets of Brooklyn and the hectic working pace of Manhattan. I did enjoy this book and look forward to reading more books by Jennie Fields in the future.

I bought this book for all the wrong reasons. #1. Because my best friend from high school lived in Park Slope, the setting of this book. #2. Because it had Brooklyn in the title. #3. I felt nostalgic just looking at the cover. What a surprise it was to me when I finally got around to reading it. A thoroughly enjoyable love story (not gushy at all) with terrific descriptions of living in a "neighborhood" and all that that brings with it. It ended up to be one of my top 10 picks in '98.

Crossing Brooklyn Ferry is a great book for anyone who cares about neighborhood and continuity. It is set in Park Slope in Brooklyn, but its theme is universal. Jennie Fields has the knack for capturing the beauty of the neighborhood and the importance of its history. There is also some pretty sexy writing-- it is a love story, too.

I have to admit that I purchased this book 1) because my best friend from high school lived in Park Slope 2)because it has Brooklyn in the title and that's where I grew up 3) I felt nostalgic just looking at the cover. What a surprise it was to me when I finally got around to reading it. A thoroughly enjoyable love story with terrific descriptions of living in a "neighborhood" and all that that brings with it. It ended up to be one of my top 10 picks of the year.