About this title: The bestselling author of "The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted" and "The Year of Pleasure" returns with a wonderful novel about a woman, a daughter, and a surprising change in life.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Description: Good. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Very Good. Former Library book. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Random House Large Print
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780739328415ISBN:0739328417
Description: Very Good. Paperback, Very Good, clean, tight, unmarked, some light cover edge wear, some light back cover creases, All orders are shipped by kbooks every business day. read more
Edition: Book Club Edition.
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Random House
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9781400065110ISBN:1400065119
Description: Fine in fine dust jacket. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. With dust jacket. 260 p. Audience: General/trade. Excellent condition read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780345487551ISBN:0345487559
Description: New. Brand New! Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
Description: New. AUDIOBOOK. NOT A BOOK! Please order accordingly! All Audiobooks are in the original factory sealed shrinkwrap box! Box may show signs of dents, etc. All CD's Are guaranteed to play! Audio CD, New, 2009, read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Random House Inc
Date Published: 2009-04-28
ISBN-13:9781400065110ISBN:1400065119
Description: NEW. Hardcover. From an inventory that is 100% brand-new, 100% direct from the publishers' distribution channel. We carry NO pre-owned, NO remaindered. We pack in CARDBOARD to ensure the pristine quality is maintained. (Bubble-wrap alone is NOT sufficient to protect from USPS equipment. ) Guaranteed brand-NEW, protected with CARDBOARD, your satisfaction is guaranteed. BKLUVID: 9781400065110. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Random House Large Print
Date Published: 2009-04-28
ISBN-13:9780739328415ISBN:0739328417
Description: NEW. Softcover. From an inventory that is 100% brand-new, 100% direct from the publishers' distribution channel. We carry NO pre-owned, NO remaindered. We pack in CARDBOARD to ensure the pristine quality is maintained. (Bubble-wrap alone is NOT sufficient to protect from USPS equipment. ) Guaranteed brand-NEW, protected with CARDBOARD, your satisfaction is guaranteed. BKLUVID: 9780739328415. read more
"This was my first Elizabeth Berg novel and while I enjoyed much of it, I can't say I was captivated. I'd heard such good things about the author's work, that I can only assume Home Safe wasn't her best?
When Helen's husband suddenly dies, the 59 year old writer finds herself ill-equipped to cope with day-to-day life; she has been completely dependent on Dan for everything from paying bills to changing a lightbulb and her writing has ground to a halt while she deals with her grief. Helen's relationship with her daughter Tessa is not one I can identify with but it was nice to see the growth and change in both these characters by the end of the novel. The character I liked the most was actually Helen's best friend Midge, her insight and honesty with Helen was a refreshing and necessary inclusion, providing some comic relief.
When Helen takes a job teaching a writing class to a diverse group of people, her sense of helplessness begins to subside (making her a little more likeable) and via her students the reader experiences the interesting stories within this story. This is actually the part of the book I enjoyed the most. My observations here may seem a little harsh, I certainly understand grief on a personal level and how incapacitating it can be, but when the 'successful writer' calls police for a leak in her ceiling, empathy for the character dissolved along with plausability.
This was certainly a quick, easy read and I'm not adverse to trying another book by this author, any suggestions? There were some lovely quotes about books, like this one "Books don't take time away from us, ... they give it back" and a particularly beautiful paragraph that will stay with me. I might leave you with it:
She sits down and puts her hand to her chest and rocks. Thinks of all she has lost and will lose. All she has had and will have. It seems to her that life is like gathering berries into an apron with a hole. Why do we keep on? Because the berries are beautiful, and we must eat to survive. We catch what we can. We walk past what we lose for the promise of more, just ahead."
"A book about a widow who has a lot to learn about herself, her deceased husband, her daughter.
Helen is an author who has written since childhood. It was a natural ability that allowed her to express herself effortlessly and obviously well since she became a top selling author.
Then her husband dies and suddenly she has no words left. Try as she might and this scares her. Where have the words gone and how can she get them back.
The very things that might help her are what she runs from. But in the midst of her grief she finds what a control freak she really is. She has to learn to let go and venture from her protected existence.
My favorite part of the book is the sweet gift her husband leaves her. It is beautifully told. But what really left me cold was Helen's reaction to it and the final decision she made about it.
I'm not sure that I like Helen as a person. She does try to reach beyond herself but in the end you always know she never really understands why she must in the first place. She seems to be a resentful, self-centered person who only wants what is easy."
"I enjoy Elizabeth Berg as an author and this book is no exception. Helen Ames is 59 years old, a recent widow, and she is driving her 27 year old daughter, Tessa, crazy with her unwanted advice and constant clinging. I can identify somewhat with Helen. Although I'm not a widow, I'm sure that I constantly drive both of my children crazy. Batten down the hatches if Dad dies, kids. There will be no controlling me then. But back to the book. Helen was completely dependent on her husband, Dan, and now finds that she has no idea about finances, home repair, or anything else that many women routinely deal with in their daily lives. Then she finds out that Dan withdrew three-quarters of their retirement fund in the year before his sudden death and she has no idea why. What's up with that? Well, this book is what's up with that. An easy, enjoyable read that speaks to the emotional and financial turmoil that many middle aged women face after the death of their spouse."
"This is my first Elizabeth Berg novel, and since I've heard so many good things about her other books, I'm going to assume this isn't one of her best.
Home Safe is the story of Helen, a writer whose husband of 30+ years drops dead suddenly. They are well off and Helen assumes that she is set financially, until a call from the accountant surprises her with this: over $800,000 was removed from their retirement account by her husband. What did he do with the money? Gambling? Does he have another family somewhere?
Helen seems like a nice woman, if not a little scatter-brained. I know some women are dependent on their husbands for bill paying and home repairs, but this chick has to call her 27-year-old daughter to change a light bulb on her front porch! And she's a little blase about her financial woes.
And speaking of her daughter, Tessa. She is one of the most annoying daughters I've ever met in a novel. She is selfish and annoying with her constant berating of her mother--"Mom! Mom! Mom!...insert insult here." Yes, Helen can be a little overbearing, but that's still no reason for the harsh treatment she receives by her daughter every time she enters a scene.
I was hoping for another Anne Tyler or Alice Hoffman, but she falls short of their quality. But hopefully it's just this book that doesn't live up to the hype."
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