I read this book last week. It had been sitting on my kindle since Christmas, but somehow I forgot about it even though Anita Shreve has always been one of my very favorite authors. I loved, loved, LOVED The Pilot’s Wife and Fortune’s Rocks (highly recommend this if you haven’t read it yet–you’re in for a treat; it’s one of my favorite books ever!) and assumed I would really love her newest novel just as much.
Well, I’m here to report that Rescue was good…but not great. It was a quick read and kept my attention but didn’t grasp me like her previous books. The characters actually mad and at times I wanted to shake some sense into them. I probably could have put the book down and not picked it back up, but since I really like the author I kept going.
Moral of the story: if you like Anita Shreve’s other books, this is worth a read. However, I recommend Fortune’s Rocks because, unlike this novel, it will keep you up reading all night long and is a book you will want to read over and over again (I’ve read it three times).
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
I felt the same exact way about that book when I finished! Now I am reading Pictures of You, per your recommendation, and I am loving it so far.
Isn’t it a bummer when a good author puts out a not so good book?
I’ve been wanting to read The Pilot’s Wife – I will check it out as soon as I get my new library card!
I love the book reviews!
I also loved Fortune’s Rocks!
And I just saw this book that’s coming out in a couple of weeks and thought of you: The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie. It looks like a good one!
I’ll have to check out Fortune’s Rocks! You haven’t let me astray yet.
Just requested Fortune’s Rocks from my library. Thanks Jenna! I love how we’re on the same page with our tastes in books. (Ha..corny joke done.)
I think I’ve read Fortune’s Rocks just as many times! I grabbed all of my mom’s Anita Shreve books when my parents got rid of a lot of theirs and sadly haven’t touched them since. I should fix that!
Jenna you are a reading machine! I can’t wait until I’m done with classes so I can start on my list. Thanks for the suggestion!
I love when you do these book reviews. I find them very helpful. Especially since this book was on my possible-to-reads list. Now I may have to rethink it. Appreciate the feedback.
I love your book suggestions! I just finished reading Changes in Altitude by AS and really enjoyed it but hated that it was left open ended. Rescure has been on my list for some time. I am currently reading Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet and love it so far!
I’m going to have to get Fortune’s Rocks asap! I read Testimony about a year ago and really enjoyed it. I tried reading Body Surfing but had a hard time reading it for some reason and put it down. Have you read it?
I really liked Testimony and was considering buying this book… maybe I’ll check out Fortune’s Rocks instead.
I haven’t read any of her books.
Tuesday again already?! Oh my God…time flys…
I read “Rescue” after I noticed you mentioned it in the past. It wasn’t really my “thing”, but I finished it because it was a quick, easy read…
Jeesh…the days go by and I swear I get nothing, absolutely nothing, accomplished! I need to at least try to read I think. Do Archie comics count?
I have such a hard time stopping a book. I have read a couple of Anita Shreve’s and enjoyed them…will check this one out for a quick read! Love finding others who love to read like I do
I went to Borders the other day and saw a lot of copies on the shelf of this book. I debated whether to buy or not for a while since there were so many copies and it was 60% off. Now I’m kinda glad I didn’t. I did buy The Paris Wife on Amazon and look forward to reading that suggestion!
Thanks for all of the recs! I’m almost done with Little Bee (SO good, btw) and need another read
I love your book reviews!
My mom said the same thing about this book so I haven’t started it yet. But I am a fan of this author and will definitely check out Fortune’s Rocks
I couldn’t put down ‘Pilot’s Wife’ her style reminded me a bit of Susan Minot’s in ‘Evening.’ Met Susan Minot….very interesting. She was one of Caroline Kennedy’s (who also met) bridesmaids, and said that she travels around to friend’s places in Africa, Martha’s Vineyard, etc, writing on yellow tablets & then transposes everything later into word processor. They have a certain ambience in common. Both won the O Henry Prize.
‘The Last Time They Met’ is also a great Shreve novel. Very sad but well written and the type of book that you’ll still be thinking about weeks later.
Fortune’s Rocks is my all time favorite too! I agree with you about this one but love most of her books
I LOVE Anita Shreve and use her as my ‘go to’ author when looking for a book and don’t have anything in mind. I totally agree with your review of Rescue. It was a quick read, but nothing spectacular. Have you read her book, Testimony? I got lost in that book!
I love your book review posts, Jenna! Thank you for opening my eyes to all these books that otherwise..I’d have no idea about
Thanks for the review! I’ve heard similar comments about this book – that it’s not Anita Shreve’s best. I still might pick it up though!
I have always been a huge shreve fan. I had not read any of her new ones other than Testimony, which I enjoyed. Last week I finished Change in Altitude and was pretty disappointed…i felt the same way you did about this book i could have put it down and not picked it up again…but i hate doing that. Such a strange book. I was going to pick up Rescue but now I doubt I will.
Never heard of this author
I’m intrigued. Thank you!
If your looking for a GREAT book that you cannot put down I suggest Kristen Hannah’s “Firefly Lane”. You seriously will not be able to put it down and if your like me and my girlfriends you will be sobbing by the books end and wanting more!
So I have to admit, although I read your book reviews, I have never gone out to get any of the books because as a mom of 4, I really don’t have much time to read anything other than magazines
However, when I saw the Fortunes Rocks reference, I was intrigued as I live in Maine and the town I grew up in has a beach called Fortunes Rocks. I clicked your link and read about the book. Imagine my surprise when I see that the main characters name is Olympia Biddeford…..Biddeford, Maine is the town where Fortunes Rocks is located! 
I just ordered the book.
I just finished this also! I agree, the story and characters were pretty forgettable, but I’m going to get Fortune’s Rocks to try!
funny, I had very similar thoughts on this book. At times I wanted to tell the characters to just get a life!
love,
cathy b.