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8 Works 323 Members 12 Reviews

About the Author

Susan K. Perry, Ph.D., is a social psychologist and an award-winning writer. She has written more than 700 articles for publications such as Seventeen, Teen, USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, Child, and Parenting, and she writes a nationally syndicated book review column for L.A. Parent. She show more teaches writing through the extension departments of UCLA, UC Irvine, California State University Fullerton, and others, as well as online for Writer's Digest. She also teaches psychology at Woodbury University. She lives in Los Angeles show less
Image credit: Author Susan Perry from Humanist Press

Works by Susan K. Perry

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Common Knowledge

Birthdate
1946
Gender
female

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Reviews

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
What happens when everything that is meaningful to you disappears? Most of us would be devastated and depressed and suicidal. That’s exactly how Kylie Moran felt in this book. I found it a very accurate portrayal of her emotions.
Kylie is on her second marriage and her son, Dorian, is graduating from high school. Kylie is a writer but her writing doesn’t bring in a lot of money and she keeps telling herself she should get a “real job”. First, though, she wants to spend Dorian’s last summer doing things with him and then when he goes off to university she will start looking for a job. Then Dorian breaks the news that he is going to go to Africa to work with a mission that Kylie’s twin sister, Phoebe, is involved with. Kylie protests that it isn’t safe but everyone else, including her husband, Flann, tells her that it will be a great experience.
Although Phoebe and Kylie are twins they are not identical and, in fact, they are as different emotionally as can be. Kylie is an atheist and very practical. Phoebe belongs to an evangelical church and doesn’t worry about material things. When their grandfather died and left them an inheritance Phoebe spent it on a fast car and a spiritual quest. Kylie finished university and then bought a house that had rental properties adjoining it. Kylie writes an advice column called A Rational Woman. Examples of the column punctuate the book.
I don’t want to spoil the narrative but suffice it to say that Kylie’s life falls to pieces. How she handles it is perhaps not rational but it is human. This is a first novel for Perry but I found it well-constructed and well-edited, something that escapes a lot of first timers. I would certainly read something by Perry again.
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gypsysmom | 8 other reviews | Sep 7, 2013 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
This story is about loss from beginning to end. Whether it is the protagonist's first marriage, son, home, neighbors, everything is imbued with sadness because some sort of loss, big or small, has happened. While certainly that is a part of life, reading through this character's depression isn't especially compelling.

I did enjoy the point of view that Kylie wasn't a part of some particular philosophy that would give her some outside source of strength to rely on through her difficult times.

All in all, the events and narration just seemed uneven, and I didn't particularly enjoy the characters enough to become emotionally involved in the story.
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kcaroth1 | 8 other reviews | Aug 7, 2013 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
It took me some time to get into the story. Though it was well written, the initial pace just felt slow. By part two, however, it had picked up and I found it to be a more enjoyable read. Kylie is a relatable character, faced with a series of misfortunes. I feel this is a good book to take to the beach or to enjoy while waiting to see the doctor. Though it was a good story, at no point was I ever on the edge of my seat, having to keep reading to find out what happens next.
 
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Mrs.Scholey | 8 other reviews | Jul 15, 2013 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
I found this book to be extremely depressing, it's well written, but one that made me very sad.
 
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vlathim | 8 other reviews | Jul 13, 2013 |

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Works
8
Members
323
Popularity
#73,309
Rating
3.1
Reviews
12
ISBNs
9

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