To view it, click here. What kept me reading is that the author used interesting historical references and many not often used words, and I love to learn new vocabulary It is like a long ass rambling life story that bounces between decades without connection. One page you are in the 80s, the next she is asking you a rhetorical question, back to the 00s, back to the 50s and so on. I finished it, but it was a chore.
Would no What kept me reading is that the author used interesting historical references and many not often used words, and I love to learn new vocabulary Would not recommend this book. Mar 06, Jael rated it really liked it. Ever read a book and thought, "It's ok, but not great. You start thinking deeper about everything you just read. Gossip, what does it really mean? I always thought it was a rumor spread by a bunch of spiteful and nosy people. I still think that, but the original meaning was talk between two people who are the godparents of the same child.
Interestin Ever read a book and thought, "It's ok, but not great. How did this word get so far away from it's original intent? Gossip these days can make or break your career, destroy friendships, destroy families, or like all of these hack reality stars it can make you famous. In the case of this book, it can cloud your judgment. Loviah "Lovie" French has always been stuck in the middle. As the owner of a small dress shop, Lovie is privy to a lot of secrets and gossip.
Who is marrying who? Who is cheating with who? Who is getting a divorce? The list could go on. People feel they can talk to Lovie. They know Lovie will keep their secret. They know she won't pass judgment. There are times when Lovie wants to say more during these exchanges. If they're bashing one of her friends, Lovie is tempted to speak up but sometimes it just isn't worth it to get in a fight over gossip. When it's her turn and she needs a shoulder to lean on, Lovie turns to her long-time lover, Gil, who also happens to be married.
In private, Gil and Lovie can be themselves in private but in public they have to tone it down, otherwise people might spread "gossip. Her personality is very in your face. She loves to talk. She wants to be your friend. She has two sons, but to hear her speak you would think Dinah has only one child.
RJ is settled in his life with a wife and kids, but Nicky is the one she worries the most about. She wants badly to see him succeed. Avis Metcalf is the total opposite of Dinah. Avis is quieter and more reserved. She's more obsessed with her career than forming a bond with her only daughter, Grace. But Avis' friendship with Lovie is extremely strong. It is put to the test when Grace and Nicky get married. Lovie is like the middle man. It must be daunting to people who are really in this situation.
You have to watch what you say around one friend. What one friend might find funny, the other won't.
It doesn't help matters when Grace and Nicky's marriage takes a drastic turn. I can't say what it is read the book to find out , but I will say I wasn't expecting it. Towards the end of the book I was in totally shock. I'm thinking, "did she just write that? By the end, it was very thought-provoking. It doesn't hurt you to spread gossip, but what about the person you're talking about? Did you ruin their life? How will it effect that person's career? What satisfaction do you get by talking about a person?
His personal relationship — as brief as it was — suddenly takes on a rather seedy and murky appearance when the newspapers get hold of it. It was just a bunch of blah blah blah to me. The novel follows them throughout their lives but the focus is mostly on Lovinia, Dinah and Avis. Want to Read Currently Reading Read. An eye-opening, philosophical look at the true price of income inequality.
This book was a little slow to start, but by the end it was a very worthy read. I received a copy of the book from FSB Associates in exchange for an honest review. Mar 13, Sandie rated it liked it Shelves: How tenacious is that inborn instinct to know all there is to know about other human beings and to distribute our knowledge to those around us.
Most of us prefer to think gossip is just a "sharing" of information, but often this sharing is destructive and occasionally even deadly.
GOSSIP is the new offering by Beth Gutcheon that relates the story of Dinah, Avis and Loviah "Lovie", three women from diverse backgrounds who form an unlikely bond while at boarding school, and follows their relationsh How tenacious is that inborn instinct to know all there is to know about other human beings and to distribute our knowledge to those around us.
GOSSIP is the new offering by Beth Gutcheon that relates the story of Dinah, Avis and Loviah "Lovie", three women from diverse backgrounds who form an unlikely bond while at boarding school, and follows their relationship through years of life's highs and lows as each confronts the subjects of divorce, companionship, motherhood, friendship, jealousy, and ultimately examines the various aspects of love.
We see love, some nurturing - some destructive, in its many incarnations as it is experienced by and between men and women, parents and children, and friends and "frien-enemies". Told entirely from the perspective of Lovie French, owner of a small women's boutique that caters to the who's who of Manhattans Upper East side, the reader only gets her single point of view as it relates to others who inhabit her world. It is only Lovie's convictions and sentiments, Lovie's impressions and judgements, and Lovie's perception of others feelings that the reader is privy to.
This could be a positive or a negative for the reader since you can accept Lovie's rather myopic views and insights about the other characters in the story or use those observations to form your own opinion. For example, Lovie appears to be the "sounding board" her friends use to vent their personal life traumas and frustrations. Her apparent admiration of Dinah is difficult to understand since to this reader the Dinah character was over-bearing, self-absorbed and vindictive while Lovie came across as nothing more than a passive, often gullible and less than objective observer of even her own life.
The people in this narrative were primarily one dimensional with an occasional second dimension popping up here and there. As a text-book lesson in the destructiveness of rumor, innuendo and gossip as well as a vehicle lending veracity to the old saw that "life goes on" the book achieves some measure of success, however, in the realm of well developed, multi faceted characters it leaves much to be desired.
Perhaps the author's true intent was to show her audience via these cardboard characters that those whose lives are devoted to the propagation of gossip possess no genuine depth. May 11, Patty rated it it was amazing. Girls from various backgrounds attend Miss Pratt's Boarding School. The novel follows them throughout their lives but the focus is mostly on Lovinia, Dinah and Avis.
You can tell from their names that it is sort of the olden days. I really did love this book. From the girls first meetings I was into this book. It mostly takes place in New York And the frocks were usually expensive designer ones. But aside from the clothing this book was like stepping back into that time Some of them seemed to last for years.
Lovinia has a dress shop. Avis works as an art buyer and Dinah was a writer, then a mother and then a foodie. And although the women live during what I call "Mad Men" time Lovinia is the narrator and the glue There is true lovely joy within this book and a bit of sadness. I loved the roses in the garden of the little house that Lovinia loved.
I loved the fun food descriptions. I loved the fussiness of that era. I loved how tea and cookies could soothe things sometimes. I loved all the dressing up and the carrying of favorite books around. I loved all the lunch dates and the theatre events. What you might love? The way this novel unfolds. The characters are amazing. Mar 12, Karen rated it did not like it Shelves: I've read all of Beth Gutcheon's books years ago. I love how each chapter usually deals with a separate character in the book and then later on in the book it all comes together.
It was too scatter-brained for me to really follow the story line without getting annoyed with some other non-necessary tid-bit of information on someone that just didn't seem to fit the mood of the page I was on. Halfway into the I've read all of Beth Gutcheon's books years ago. Halfway into the book I just want to get it over with.
I am so bored with the characters pathetic boring lives I feel this is their own complaint from reading their stories too. Of course, cancer has to be thrown in to add effect or drama, but it's just not needed to be the main upset of every book now a days no matter how all our lives are actually affected by it.
Pathetic ending that I guess was supposed to shock but was like " yeah whatever Out of all the other books of Beth's that I've loved and recommended, this along with the 2 before this one will not be one of them. This is a weird book. Ending and dramatic occurrence was very odd. Beth Gutheon is a very good writer but reading this book you wonder what's the point. She had a potential for an award-winning great novel, but this is just rambling, disjointed almost a collection of short stories about New York. I enjoyed the characters and the stories but there is no point or theme, it sort of just rambles on.
You read it hoping that you will discover what it is about. Gossip really isn't an appropriate title This is a weird book. Gossip really isn't an appropriate title for the book, because the book isn't titillating, there's no juice - there is loose talk throughout the book but it isn't the controlling thesis at all. Lovie the all-knowing first person narrator lets life happen to her instead of seizing the day. She keeps up with her boarding school friends and the book is a synopsis of American pop culture history from to present day.
The chapter about tragedy was particularly poignant. Then all of sudden there is a bam moment and then the book is done. Feb 14, Elizabeth rated it it was amazing. Gossip is a meandering murder mystery, cynical and suspenseless, with a ridiculous ending. It is kind of interesting to see an example of how much has changed in the last 20 years, politically and for gay men, but that doesn't make up for the novel's I read Bram's first three books as they came out - I was searching out a lot of books by out gay authors at the time - but then we drifted apart.
It is kind of interesting to see an example of how much has changed in the last 20 years, politically and for gay men, but that doesn't make up for the novel's shortcomings.
Jul 19, Mark Hiser rated it liked it Shelves: Too long; too disjointed. A disappointing book after having read a couple others by the author. May 06, Rod rated it liked it. Bram writes unique stories as a platform for his thoughtful perception of the human condition. I am always surprised and delighted with his books. Nov 03, Tim rated it liked it.
This is my third Christopher Bram book, and though he's completely readable, I still haven't been taken with his writing like so many other people. They always end up disappointing me. Matthew rated it really liked it Aug 08, Matthew Rettenmund rated it liked it Jan 18, Jack Brown rated it really liked it Aug 26, Reed rated it it was ok Sep 18, Vinton Rafe rated it liked it Jul 26, Parker rated it really liked it Oct 08, Brian rated it it was amazing Jun 07, Ric Reily rated it really liked it May 13, Smondo rated it liked it Jan 12, Bryan rated it it was ok Dec 06, Abeck01 rated it liked it Feb 09, Rick rated it it was amazing Aug 20, Mike rated it really liked it Aug 18, Brett Stevens rated it liked it Feb 01, Christoaugust rated it really liked it Mar 15, Steven rated it liked it Oct 31, Sarah rated it liked it Feb 15, Notcathy J rated it liked it Jun 14, William Daniels rated it liked it Apr 13, Philip rated it it was amazing Jun 18, There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Bram grew up in Kempsville, Virginia. After graduating from the College of William and Mary in B. There, he met his lifelong partner, documentary filmmaker Draper Shreeve. After moving on from Mme. P and a stint at Saks as an appointment-only salesperson, Lovie opens her own salon. But this is only peripherally a story about Lovie, who is the onlooker, the reluctant eavesdropper. Dinah is a natural leader, vivacious, attractive, energetic. She is a talented writer who lands a job writing about the rich, connected and influential. A hint from her in print can destroy or enhance a reputation.
She lives the glamorous life of the nighttime. She is unlucky in love but she marries, has two boys, and names Lovie as the godmother of her second son, Nick.
Lovie loves and wishes to protect Nick, who is perhaps too boyishly attractive and has been spoiled by the people around him, especially Dinah. Avis, angular, aristocratic and introspective, becomes an art expert whose opinion is sought by moneyed collectors.