While I Was Gone (Oprah's Book Club)

While I was Gone by Sue Miller was a difficult book to enjoy. I found that the book was written well, but it was hard for me to have any sympathy for the main character, Jo Becker: a 50-ish woman, married, three daughters, and had a thriving career as a veterinarian.But despite the good things in her life, she is drawn to her distant past that she had kept secret from her children for decades. She meets and reacquaints herself, through one daughter's professor in college, with a man she hadn't seen since the 1960's, a man whom she shares a terrible secret.The book is written in the present, but takes a u-turn into Jo's past when she meets this old acquaintance, Eli, and then relives the rather bohemian lifestyle when she lived with a number of housemates a year or two after leaving her first husband, a college sweetheart. The past reveals a different side of Jo, a side that her daughters are not aware of, and a side that her current husband, the father of her daughters, cannot comprehend, but had accepted, or so Jo thought.What I didnt' like about Jo was that it seemed that throughout her life, she was running away from her problems. She ran away from her first husband by joining a group of people and living a bohemian life. Even as an adult she was running away, if not physically, at least mentally and emotionally. I find that distasteful in a person, and therefore I had a very hard time liking Jo.Despite this fact, I enjoyed the story for what it was: a psychological look into a person and how tragedies in this person's past shaped her and changed her to what she became in the present. Despite the many negative aspects of the story (dont' expect a happy ending), I found this book to be very enjoyable on a different level. I didnt' like Jo, but I found myself very interested in what happens to her, and what happened to her in her past. For this reason, it didnt' take me long to finish this book. I almost couldn't put it down.I recommend this book, but with a warning - you will probably not like Jo Becker. Be prepared for that!

Usually Oprah books are decent reads. I hated the main character so much, and I never understood why she did what she did. I had to read the whole thing because it was a book club read. Otherwise, I would have given up after a few chapters.

While I Was Gone is a superbly suspenseful novel about how quickly a marriage can be ruined, how a devoted wife finds herself putting at risk all she holds dear. Sue Miller encapsulates the instability of even the strongest bonds, the carelessness with which we use to abandon each other, leaving us the need to be forgiven. An extraordinary book.

A literate, well-written book that flows smoothly, is interesting, and makes you think. It is very much a woman's book -- a lot of emphasis on intra-family relationships, cooking, holiday times, seasonal changes, aging -- rather than a bam/bang mystery story. (I get the distinct imporession that all the other reviewers to date are women). Not my usual cup of tea, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author's prose style is clear and flows so smoothly...I have also enjoyed her earlier work. Buy this book whether you are a man or a woman if you appreciate excellent writing. Stronger on characterization and description than on plot, but so what? Only 4 stars because the ending sort of trails off rather than resolving much of anything, but up to then it is a very nice read.

I have to admit, I read this book in two days. I couldn't put it down. The author weaves two time periods together into one amazing story. The main character's previous 1960's life, merges with today's middle-age life. The only thing that troubled me throughout the book, was the main character's relationship with her current husband. The way she described him, the adjectives she used, and her general tone, almost left me feeling like she was married to an up-tight, priss of a man. Then, when she almost destroys her marriage by getting cozy with a man from her past, she is suddenly dying to be near this cold, aloof man again. It drove me nuts - but it kept me turing the pages didn't it?I really enjoyed this book, and the only problem I had with it was some of the editing. There were descriptive segments that sometimes went on far too long, and I found myself skimming, or forcing myself to pay attention. But that was only in a few places. Overall, a good read.

I enjoy listening to audiobooks while I drive and oftentimes (unless read by the author), I find the reader's voice irritating. This reader (Blair Brown) was very good and easy to listen to. Moreover, the story was wonderful.Beyond this, While You Were Gone is also a morality tale about telling and secrets and forgiveness. Miller subtly draws in the ethical conflicts with Jo's husband Daniel, a minister, as the foil.While You Were Gone gave me a rich new outlook on long-time relationships and family shaping them. This is my first Sue Miller and I will definitely read more.

I liked this book, especially how Miller created intrigue and kept me from putting the book down. I don't think the author has a beautiful or compelling style, but she sprinkles insights throughout the story that surprise and please me. Unique tale structured in an interesting way. You definitely haven't been told this story before!

This was one of my favorite Sue Miller books long before Oprah added it on her Book Club list. You will love it too!