Sunday, October 24, 2010

The Dive From Clausen's Pier

A friend from work that is getting back into reading after a lapse, recommended this book to me. It was written by Ann Packer. This was such an interesting book to read. I loved the writing style. I felt like I was a part of the story, along for the ride. I could not see where it was going to go. A very "in the moment" book.
Carrie Bell has spent her entire life in Madison, WI. She has the same best friend she has always had. She is still with her high school sweetheart. They are engaged, and she knows it is not what she wants. She has been drifting a way from him. Mike is paralyzed in a diving accident. It seems completely wrong for Carrie to leave him now, but she feels like now is the time she has to leave.
Mike being paralyzed seems like it should be such a huge part of the story. When I was reading the story, I felt like it was really about Carrie. About being someone for a long time and knowing she wanted to be someone else. I think that can so easily happen in a small town. Carrie was so brave to leave and yet leaving the way she did showed her weaknesses.
The is a story about Carrie. About the twist and turns in her life. Carrie is trying to figure out who she is, where she belongs. What she should do with her life. I think she had to leave the role she was type cast in to find her true self.
I really enjoyed this read. Even when I disagreed with choices she was making, I enjoyed the story. When I finished it I felt like I had just been on a long trip. It was a good feeling. It was a ride to somewhere unknown and such a great surprise!

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