Looking for Mr. Goodbar

sad and disturbing. This book really made me think. What was it that led Theresa to make such poor choices in men? Several times she feels fearful of the men she is with but then feels sexual arousal. Why does James' clean cut persona cause her to feel disdain ... even revulsion? She feels empowered by the freedom to sleep with men she picks up for one night stands, yet these lead to loneliness and more self destructive choices. In the end it wasn't her promiscuity which led to her demise but her unexplainable attraction to dangerous men that did. She ignored warning signs that some of the men she brought home could harm her. This book has many interesting layers to it, and is thought provoking. It would make a great choice for a show more woman's book club... even 40 years after publication. show less

Sexy but depressing account of a lonely NYC teacher who frequents local bars and takes home men she doesn't know, which eventually leads to her grisly murder. The book isn't a mystery, though. It's all about Theresa Dunn and why she does what she does. I've read Rossner based this novel on the true story of Rosanna Quinn, who really was a NYC teacher, and was murdered by a man she took home from a bar. Some of Theresa's thoughts and feelings in this book hit a little too close to home, and I found myself haunted by Theresa for a few days after finishing it.

This is the second time I've read this novel and while I'd like to give it five stars because of its excellent characters and page turning plot, I couldn't because I didn't like the message the story was saying, to me anyway, about the main character. Yes, the main character, Theresa Dunn, was a misguided and damaged young woman in many ways, but I don't think she had to die because of her addiction to going to bars and picking up strange men. After finding out that this novel was inspired by a true story, I believe the author, [a:Judith Rossner|97157|Judith Rossner|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/authors/1341177071p2/97157.jpg] was trying to figure out why the young woman, who seemed to have everything going for her, would engage show more in such dangerous behavior. I also didn't like suggestion that something had to be wrong with her because she went to bars and picked up strange men. This is a reactionary novel and sends the old message that a young woman, wanting to be free sexually, has to have something wrong with her and has to be punished for daring to do engage in the kind of behavior that men have been doing since the dawn of history. show less

An Oldy-but-goody, “Looking For Mr. Goodbar” was hard to put down from the first page. I suppose the sex was heavy for the seventies, but it’s near trite by today’s standards when youth novels are written with more gratuitousness. I enjoyed the author’s delve into the psyche of Terry, the main character. The peek inside the mind of a newly liberated, yet confused young woman helps to explain why so many woman, even today, allow themselves to be sexually degraded and defiled by men (especially strangers/one night stands).

Not great, but very good for what it is -- indeed better than one expects. Almost old-fashioned in its overall morality. I was more than once moved by this tale of modern lust and loneliness,

A good solid book about the potential consequences of promiscuity before the age of AIDS.

People who live in this generation might not understand or appreciate this book. After all, we are living in a world without boundaries where sexting happens with people you've never met as easily as it does with someone you know, married people are fair game in the dating arena, and senior citizens are the fastest growing population to contract HIV.

Does anyone know of a book that speaks to this generation about the relational consequences between men and women?

I bought this at a used book sale just because I had heard of the name before. I'm glad I did, because this was an amazing book.

The lead character is interesting, different, and relatable despite it being an novel set decades agos. She sounded realistic.

I didn't really like the first chapter, but it go soooo much better after that, an intertesting read right up till the end.