Random Hearts

In a perfect world, people like Edward Davis and Vivien Simpson would never have met. He's a happily married man; an ambitious aide to an important Congressman who loves his wife. She's a happily married woman; a housewife with a young son and a dog who absolutely adores her lawyer husband. They are each living the good life - or so they believe.

There is absolutely no earthly reason why they should ever meet...

Until a commercial airliner crashes into the Potomac River with eighty-four souls on board. Two of the victims are linked by a clue that at first stuns and baffles, then draws together their surviving spouses; and sends them on a dizzying exploration of their loved ones private lives. The secrets that they uncover about the show more people that they loved are totally unexpected.

The explosive discovery leads Edward and Vivien on a journey that ultimately forces them to confront the mysterious and random nature of love - and the transforming power it wields over the men and women caught up in its relentless maelstrom.

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. In my opinion, this was an emotional and very human story. It showed me how the consequences of a single action can ultimately tear apart a person's life - the feelings of hurt and betrayal, anger and confusion that can potentially ruin someone's happiness and contentment with life.

This was the first book by Warren Adler that I've ever read and I give it an A+! Although Mareena has seen the 1999 movie adaptation of this book - starring Harrison Ford and Kristin Scott Thomas - at least once with a friend of hers; she and I have only ever seen portions of the movie together. Maybe the next time it comes on television, we'll watch the entire movie. However, in my personal opinion, the book is better than the movie; so watching the movie isn't all that imperative to me. show less

Originally published in 1982

Vivien Simpson and Edward Davis came together after a tragic air disaster. They discovered during the investigation that their loving spouses were entangled in a love affair and was on a tryst to Florida when the plane went down, the two paramours died on impact. Vivien and Edward were determined to pick up the piece and embark on a hunt for the truth behind their spouses’ infidelity.

Mr. Adler wrote the novel after being moved by the 1982 Air Florida Flight 90 disaster. In 1999, the novel was made into a motion picture directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Harrison Ford and Kristin Scott Thomas. The author tells us in a note that the movie although good was far from the story he wrote.

Vivien and Edward show more explore their marriages as a way to discover why their spouses cheated on them. As they dig deeper into the stories they find themselves attracted to one another and the relationship between them grows.....As I was reading I kept visualizing Harrison Ford and Kristin Scott in the roles of Vivien and Edward

What an interesting premise two people having a discreet affair and not a soul knows about them, nor even suspects. As I was reading, one page lead to another I was so involved in the characters and their emotions I had to see how it would end. They author’s word strikes so deep with the sense of betrayal and leads us to the core of relationship and love....Some may question themselves.....just a basic need to know...

Although I enjoyed this book it wasn’t anything out of the extraordinaire. A bit slow at times and ended abruptly. The story is not deep and the language is ordinary but the emotions are lasting...

‘Random Heart” is quick and moody story I enjoyed passing time with.

I received this book from The Book Whisperer for my thoughts. show less