- Paperback: 752 pages
- Publisher: Ballantine Books; 2 Bks in 1 edition (Oct 4 2005)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0345487664
- ISBN-13: 978-0345487667
- Product Dimensions: 20.8 x 12.7 x 4.6 cm
- Shipping Weight: 476 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Library Journal
A varied cast of characters takes turns narrating this ultimately upbeat tale of friendship, tears, and laughter from the author of Patty Jane's House of Curl (LJ 8/95). Devera Lindstrom and BiDi Herrera, best friends since high school, are on the cusp of 40. While Devera has an affair with a pretentious college instructor, BiDi uses diet pills to keep her gorgeous body in shape and tries to hide her dissatisfaction with Franny, her athletic teenage daughter. Dick Lindstrom works for his father-in-law and dreams of opening a nightclub in his basement. BiDi's husband, Sergio, adores his hockey-playing stepdaughter but wants to have another child. Dick learns of Devera's affair, Franny is mysteriously beaten up one evening, and BiDi and Sergio's new baby is born prematurely. Yet in the end nearly everyone is happy and fulfilled. Close scrutiny reveals any number of weaknesses, including the overly busy, rather unbelievable plot; the pedestrian writing; and the less-than-three-dimensional characters. But why complain? Read it for what it is: a perfect purchase for popular fiction collections.?Nancy Pearl, Washington Ctr. for the Book, Seattle
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From AudioFile
Many aficionados prefer to hear authors, not actors, recite their own work, being willing to endure performance flaws for the sake of getting it from the horse's mouth. No one need indulge novelists Lorna Landvik she is a fine reader indeed. In this selection, she's written about an ordinary, likeable person who learns through trial and error how to live life. The story has a gentle, bucolic atmosphere despite violent, shattering events. It also tastes of political correctness. As narrator, Landvik seems to lisp, but not consistently. It's only a slight irritation, Oasis is set in rural Minnesota, where the 30-some-things and their kids take turns giving eyewitness accounts of their adventures. and she excels at impersonating her characters. Y.R. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most helpful customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
OK, not great,
By abt1950 "abt1950" (usa) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Your Oasis on Flame Lake (Paperback)
This book is a good read, although to me it was a little disappointing. After reading "Patty Jane's House of Curl," I expected a quirkier book, but built on the same bedrock of real life experiences and emotions as "Patty Jane." Don't get me wrong--"Your Oasis on Flame Lake" is not a bad book. It's well written and moving in spots. The characters have the ring of truth to them. Unlike a number of other reviewers, I didn't find the alternating narrative perspectives confusing. But "Your Oasis" lacks the occasional outlandishness that made Landvik's first work so enjoyable. Where "Patty Jane's" sparkles, this book merely glimmers.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lessons in Perspective?,
By Mamalinde "mamalinde" (Dallas) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Your Oasis on Flame Lake (Paperback)
A startling look into the lives of two couples and their children, and the "me me me" that infects most of our lives. Beautifully set on Flame Lake in Minnesota, with the four adults and one child alternating narration, this is a peek into how very different things look to each person involved. The reader is introduced to the incredible ego of BiDi; 12 year old Darcy, who "plans on being a world traveler someday, mostly for the experience but partly for the hats" (can you tell she was my favorite character?); the philandering but deeply committed family man Sergio (the "Ricky Ricardo of Minnesota); the lovable/irritating car salesman/wannabe lounge lizard Dick; and his wife Devera, who is going through plenty of internal crises - the narration really makes the story of the repercussions of a terrible attack in the small town of Flame Lake. Ms. Landvik gently unveils the characters, creates a believable story line, and treats us to a lovely and ultimately hopeful visit to the North Woods.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Read Patty Jane's House of Curl instead,
By
This review is from: Your Oasis on Flame Lake (Paperback)
Oasis at Flame Lake is okay, but if you're expecting a book as wonderful as House of Curl, you'll be disappointed. There's just too much going on in this book for it to hang together; I felt as though I ought to take notes or draw up an outline to keep all the plot threads from getting tangled. In some books, multiple points of view work well, but in this case, it might have made the reading easier if Landvik had simplified, stayed inside one character's head, and cut out lots of the side stories. In the case of this book, less would have been more.Perhaps pass on this one - but DON'T MISS Patty Jane yada-yada...
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