In The Opposite of Love, Emily Haxby breaks up with her boyfriend just as she thinks he's about to propose. However, after awhile, she begins to think she's made a mistake. It doesn't take long for other things in her life to start falling apart and Emily must face her fears, rejection and the loss of Grandpa Jack before things can turn around for her. I admit I let this book sit on my bookshelf because I thought it was going to be another bubbly chick-lit book with a heroine who's her own worst enemy in the shopping/dating/marriage/work world. I was so wrong. It was great! I enjoyed every minute of it. All of my preconceived (and incorrect) notions were thrown out the window after the first chapter or two. I'm glad something finally spurred me to pick this one up.
There was an overall sense of sadness to the book, but I didn't find it depressing. I worried about Emily when I wasn't reading the book. It didn't seem like anything was going to go her way and I kept hoping for a glimmer of hope or something to keep her going. Of course, the ending had me in tears, but I wouldn't have wanted to see it end any other way.
As for characters, I liked them all, but I loved both Grandpa Jack and ever-so-lively Ruth. I could see why they were friends. I could also see why Emily cared deeply for Grandpa Jack and eventually for Ruth.
My favourite quote from this book appears on page 57, when Emily lists the things she's learned from Grandpa Jack:
To tie my shoes, to always carry a book, to say please and thank you and follow up with a card, to daydream as a hobby, to tip big, to question the existence of God, to grin through pain. To show up.
Recommended. I can't wait to read After You which has also been sitting on my bookshelf. I hope to get to it sooner rather than later.
Want to see what others have said about this book? Here's one from Jonita at The Book Chick.
For more information about this book, please visit the Penguin website.
For more information about the author or her other book, please visit Julie Buxbaum's website.
I'd like to thank those nice people at Penguin Canada for this review copy.
The Opposite of Love by Julie Buxbaum, Penguin, ©2009. ISBN 9780143054795(Paperback), 303p.
Thanks so much for the lovely and thoughtful review! I am so glad that you enjoyed THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE, and am very much looking forward to hearing what you think of AFTER YOU. If you do read it, you'll have to drop me a line and let me know what you think.
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Julie Buxbaum
Thanks for dropping by Julie. It's always nice to hear from authors. I'll be sure to let you know when I've posted the review for AFTER YOU. :)
ReplyDeleteFrom that quote it sure sounds like Grandpa Jack is a great guy and role model :)
ReplyDeleteI just caught a typo in the quote. Was "care" should have been "card". Sorry about that Julie.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I found a stray word, "hilarious", after Julie's website. I have no clue how that word got in there, but I've now removed it and meant no disrespect. Again, sorry Julie.
Maybe I should make it a New Year's resolution to triple check my posts for typos.
[I wonder how many typos are in this comment. :(]