its not that it wasnt well written but rather I was disappointed at the way the main character chose to be in her life choices. "She" disappointed me. Initially it was compelling, or she was I should say, but she began to get irritating to me. It seems like this one will be a huge hit with the Oprah crowd, I just dont happen to fall into that category. If you want something with a little more "bite" to it, try "Thw Womans Room" bu marilyn french. I liked those characters better. I would love to read more by meg wolitzer but I want to see her characters in a little differant light. more gimption to them, if you would. keep plugginh Meg, youre talented, I just didnt care for the characters, but I like your wit!

Meg Wolitzer's "The Wife" is like sitting down to the best meal of your life. The longer you can make it last, the better. This is the wittiest, deepest novel I have read in years. I knew the book would be crawling with genius when the reviews praised her sharp humor. Women who can make readers laugh aloud are especially talented and smart. Her humor is blunt and her depth is universally appealing.

The WIFE surely contains some of the most delectable prose to be seen in print in recent years; but it is not because of the wonderful writing that this novel demands a second reading. No, it is that the surprise ending of the book needs to spend its awesome power in order to set us free to thoroughly enjoy the subtext and underlying structures of the book; for these can only be seen and felt once we know how the novel ends. A second reading is just as delightful, and perhaps more rewarding, than the first one.

The book's layering of thought and emotion is so deftly rendered that on its surface it appears to be another in the genre that deals with the tensions between an older, prestigious, male and the younger pretty female dilettante, who in time becomes an acolyte to the man's talent; but all along we sense that under the surface there is much more than that, as, indeed, there certainly is. The author is an irrepressible humorist of the type that is funny especially when she is trying not to be. It is a book about the sweet and deadly revenge of the weak against an oppressor; it is a sociology about how a human relationship can evolve from symbiosis to parasitic exploitation, from sharing to taking to grabbing; and if Meg Wolitzer borrows some of the techniques of police novels, she rewards the reader by serving up the Holy Grail of detective books: a truly perfect crime. An extraordinary book that is likely to become a minor classic.

This book has many fine qualities. The author's tone is friendly and laid back; she offers a lot of encouraging words while also remaining consummately professional. Most of the important topics are covered, and in good detail--it's almost like having a conversation with her at your side. Obviously, Dr. Brasner is a skilled and compassionate physician, and it was really interesting to hear her describe her own care (as she had twins with a c-section). However, if you want 1) complete details on all aspects of pregnancy and childbirth (both pleasant and unpleasant), 2) solid information on a more natural, family-centered childbirth or a birth with minimal intervention, 3) complete information on epidurals, induction, continous monitoring, and other interventions, you will not want to rely solely on this text. Granted, Dr. Brasner is very honest and upfront about her opinion on the topic of medical intervention; there is nothing hidden. For example, she clearly feels that epidurals are a great thing, spending minimal time addressing any possible negatives of an epidural (and they do exist). I am very glad I read this book, for it offered me a new perspective. However, for the more "complete" picture, I feel there are better choices (i.e. The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby, or A Good Birth, A Safe Birth, or one of Henci Goer's works). This is a decent "supplemental" reading to add to your shelf, but I urge all moms-to-be, even those who don't aim for unmedicated childbirth, to not let this be the only book and perspective they use.

This book is excellent, especially for 1st-time parents-to-be! It is easy to read, flows well, and gives valuable information about what to expect at all the various stages of pregnancy. It is very in-depth without scaring the "patient." The advice and guidlelines are very practical. This is the only book I have found that is written from the standpoint of OB and patient.

While purists might find Brasner's opinion that epidural anesthesia is "God's gift to pregnant women," many women who had epidurals would probably agree! Brasner offers a lot of practical information about nutrition, fetal testing, labor and delivery and a host of other concerns that pregnant women have. She is a breath of fresh air as well from the many often guilt-inducing books that encourage women to give birth "naturally," as if that were the only legitimate way to do it, or to think about every bite of food that they take during the entire 9 months of pregnancy.

Wolitzer's book describes the changes in relationships caused by the death of a group of friends' close friend, Sara. The book follows the lives of four thirty-somethings and Sara's mother through a period of a month immediately following the death. In these trying times, there is a mass of sexual tension, sexual frustration, professional jealousy and general apathy to the world outside their own summer house. In relaying this interplay, however, Wolitzer fails to fully develop her characters. Everyone exists solely in relationship to someone else and does not have the presence to exist singly. While this does underscore their closeness to Sara and her former position as the nexus of their relationships, it leaves the characters flat and unfulfilling. Even the tensions within the group exist more academically than actually; Wolitzer fails to convey the deep emotions caused by Sara's death or the explosive emotions that (should have) followed. She also clutters the book by throwing in numerous other issues wholly unrelated to the central theme. Shawn's fear of AIDS, Nathalie's reunion with an old high school friend and Peter's guilt concerning his infidelity do more to add to the comic nature of the story and improve its likelihood of becoming a series of scenes for a soap opera than further along the central theme: coping with the loss of a loved one.

"Surrender, Dorothy" is worth reading, and worth finishing. The prose is lyrical, there are mesmerizing individual images, and the characters live lives that are spiritually bereft -- even before the central character dies unexpectedly -- which makes them unusual in this type of story. I can't remember the last time I read a book about death that didn't involve religion or faith on some level -- it is refreshing that these characters deal with grief without delving into that.

I would compare the author to Elizabeth Berg and Ann Hood -- all three are good writers who have a tendency to keep their readers at an arm's length from the characters. I never fully connected with the story, but I could appreciate it.

A solid effort,though I'm not sure I would read this author again. She's good, but not entirely distinct.

This is the first book I've read by Meg Wolitzer, and overall, I enjoyed it. The plot brings three just-turned-thirty friends into close and prolonged contact with the 50-something mother of their recently deceased friend. Wolitzer is able to pull this off because she obviously likes all of her characters, their various flaws notwithstanding. She also has the type of sense of humor that allows her to ligthen things up when emotions and events threaten to drag things down too much. The strongest character is the Mother, Natalie, who is one of the more appealing baby boomers in recent fiction, and by no means a mere caricature. My only objection is that several secondary characters are not as clearly drawn as the main ones. But in fairness to Wolitzer, in most novels the reader would not even care about knowing more about such relatively minor characters, and it's only her gift for making you care that makes this an issue at all.

Three childhood friends manage to maintain their relationship into adulthood, and by the time they are thirtyish, they are still meeting every Monday night at the Lucky Wok restaurant.

The three Manhattanites are: Meredith, the stunning-but-shallow beauty, Lisa, the brainy-but-wallflower doctor, and Ann--she's the one with all the personality.

Sound familar? That's because it is. This has been done before, and this is certainly not the best "gal pal" book I've ever read. To say the characters and the "plot" are shallow is putting it mildly! Ms Wolitzer does provide the occasional giggle, but that's about the extent of it--it was a relief to get to the last page.

While I can't recommend this book, I can heartily recommend "Surrender, Dorothy" by the same author. It's difficult to believe these 2 books were written by the same person.

I picked up a copy of `Friends for Life' a few years ago after hearing Ms. Wolitzer interviewed on NPR's `Fresh Air.' It's a terrific read, one that really resonated with this child of suburbia. Ever since then I've been waiting for the author's encore. How about it, Meg?

Just what the doctor ordered to start off the summer. . . while I can't say this is a literary masterpiece, it is definitely entertaining, enjoyable, and a fast read. Treat yourself!

Hidden Pictures is okay, I guess. Nothing about the plot, the prose, or the characters jumps out to recommend the book. The protagonist, Laura, is passive and bewildered; it's hard to care about a story driven by such a nonentity. Laura's relationship with Jane might have been able to liven things up, but the whole process of courtship is skimmed over in favor of descriptions of PTA meetings. Instead of building to a finish, the book tapers off sleepily. The ending is rather nice, but it feels more like the end of a chapter than of a book. Overall, Hidden Pictures isn't terrible, but it isn't great, either.

This book is good for girls because it's something that some girls do, or at least think of doing. Its's what I call "relaxation reading" because it's an easy, fun book, that you can enjoy, instead of struggling with hard words.

The information in this book is the same stale stuff a reader can find in every other screenwriting book. What disturbs me, though, is that some information Wolitzer provides is contradictory to what any person with an intermediate knowledge of screenwriting already knows. Based on Wolitzer's recommendations and writing samples, I conclude that she knows very little about screenwriting. I am glad this is not the first/only screenwriting book I ever read, because I fear I would have been misinformed about the craft.

An intermediate or advanced student of screenwriting will find little or nothing of note in this book, and will probably come away with the same impression I had: that the average reader knows more about the subject than the author.

A beginning screenwriter would be better off reading any number of decent texts: Robert McKee's "Story," or books by David Trottier, Christopher Keane, Syd Field, Jennifer Lerch, etc. I've read about 25 screenwriting books, and Wolitzer's is the only one I felt had not one useful suggestion or new insight.

Here is an amusing bit, taken from page 54 of "Fitgerald Did It," about Wolitzer's "screenwriting process." Perhaps it will illustrate the kind of information (or lack thereof) that this book contains:

"I usually gather various snack foods around me when I'm beginning something, knowing that I'll be there for a while and will need sustenance, but also because I want to give myself a little illicit treat to mark the pleasurable starting moments of a new project. When I begin writing, I like to feel happy but disciplined; the goal is a contented Zenlike state achieved through small indulgences . . ."

The author does not know how to craft screenplays, so she should not be writing a book on how to write and sell them. This book offers very little useful information. You're better off getting any other guide.

This book is perfect for people who already have a lot of experience writing stories, but who now want to try their hand at the screenplay form. There is none of the boring, basic stuff about how to define a character or what a story arc is; instead Wolitzer focuses on translating the skills you already have to the specifics of the screenplay. Very helpful to aspiring screenwriters!

This is a great book!I must have read it 3 times! It is simply amazing! I promise that if you read this book, you will love it! It is about 2 girls that somewhere in their mixed - and - matched dreams was a message that spelled adventure. I definetely reccomend this book!