Elizabeth Berg's Latest Book, Tapestry of Fortunes, Delivered, As Usual

I finished reading Elizabeth Berg's latest novel Tapestry of Fortunes night before last, but I was still enjoying the characters and the story so put off writing this blog post. I get to live in the book a tad longer that way.

Are you a fan of Elizabeth Berg? She is such a good, organic writer. I've read most of her books and would recommend any to any one. She really can take a simple story and bring out a few salient points that make such good sense. 

In Tapestry of Fortune, I was so happy when I read this passage:

"But from the time I was a little kid, I was a loner:  I never liked recess. My favorite teacher in elementary school let me stay in from it; I always wanted to stay in. It's not that I'm antisocial; it's that I care too much, and so I have a lot of fears. It takes a lot for me to really get close to someone in an honest and undefended way."

Yep, the staying in at recess part rang true for me. I had a teacher who let me stay in many days. She sat at her desk doing whatever she did (enjoying the peace and quiet, I think) and I sat at my desk and usually wrote my mom a letter because I missed her. I was in second grade.

But this book is about so much more, of course. Are you a fan of Berg's writing?

Book Read:  Tapestry of Fortunes
Author:  Elizabeth Berg 

Once Upon a Time, There Was You by Elizabeth Berg

I've read all of Elizabeth Berg's books, and this latest one, Once Upon a Time, There Was You, was not my favorite. It seemed a little heavy on food allusions, discussion, etc., and I wonder if these are all the author's preferences that she just wanted to write about. Hmmm.

As with the rest of her books, I liked this book for the storyline and her handling of the characters. I really liked that Irene wasn't perfect and Sadie, her daughter, found her mother to be a pain in the ass. Because she really was.

Have you read any of Elizabeth Berg's books?

Book Read: Once Upon a Time, There Was You

Author:  Elizabeth Berg

ISBN:  978-1-4000-6865-4

The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg

I just finished reading Elizabeth Berg's lastest book, The Last Time I Saw You. This one is about a group of people debating going to their fortieth high school reunion, their last reunion. For some reason it's their last, like why bother having a fiftieth--everyone will be dead by then or something.

Anyhoo, as someone who's never attended a high school reunion and has no plans to, I read The Last Time I Saw You with mixed feelings:  "why would anyone go to one of those" to "it would be interesting to see some people" to "I wonder who would recognize me with my teeth straightened?" But Berg does a good job of featuring most of the key players from high school, you know the ones; they were in every class:  the popular jock, the cheerleaders, the nerds and dweebs (raising my hand), the people who died in car wrecks, wars, and illnesses, and some truly forgettable people that no one remembers at all.

But near the end of the book, what Berg is famous for, drawing the reader in, the story gels and the feeling of being wrapped in a cozy blanket emerges without any fluff.


Book Read:  The Last Time I Saw You
Author:  Elizabeth Berg
ISBN:  978-1-4000-686-7

Elinor Lipman and Elizabeth Berg Articles

I just finished writing articles for Suite 101 about two of my favorite authors:  Elinor Lipman and Elizabeth Berg. The only problem with having favorite authors is having read all of their books. Could they write a little quicker? Please?

Who are some of your favorite authors?