Good Harbor

OK as a beach book. Begins by introducing 2 women in alternating chapters.,They meet and develop a develop friendship over the summer, slowly building trust enough to confide some of the secrets in their lives which they can't share with their husbands. Kathleen is dealing with breast cancer and memory of the accidental death of one of her children who was disabled. Joyce is struggling with a young teen daughter, distant husband, and writer's block. By the end, I realize that part of the purpose of writing this story was as a chance for Diamant to "explore her relationship with her own daughter", as Kathleen suggests Joyce might do in her proposed novel. I have to say, I felt like retching every time Patrick said "Joycey"--that sounded show more like such a patronizing nickname. show less

I enjoyed this book about a friendship between two women very much, despite the fact that the plot was not a new one. I knew in advance that it was completely different than the Red Tent, so I did not try to compare it. I identified with both women at certain points, and I think many women older than 45 will agree with me. The book was very spiritual in how the characters understand each other and respect the others faith. The only thing that bothered me slightly is that everything gets tied up too fast and too neatly in the end to be realistic. Otherwise it is a very entertaining and relaxing read.

Pleasant book about 2 women, one about 15 years older, who form a bond of friendship 1 summer in Gloucester. Kate is a year-round resident, a children's librarian with early stage breast cancer & a long-dead child (plus 2 grown ones); Joyce buys a summer house, has a 12-year old daughter & a distant husband.

This definitely falls into the "chick lit" genre which usually is not my thing, but my Mom recommended this one, so I decided to give it a chance. It ended up being a pretty nice friendship story between two women who meet later in life (Joyce is 42, Kathleen is 59) while they are both at various crossroads in their lives. Kathleen has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is undergoing radiation. I thought that part was extremely well done, the fears, the treatment, the daily grind of radiation side effects, etc. Joyce was a bit more implausible, an incognito romance writer in a stale marriage and has a bratty daughter. But what I liked is the reality of how difficult it is to make easy, true friendships after your 20s or so. This show more novel captures the wonder of when that magic happens when you least expect it. The end wraps up a little goofy-perfect, but still it is a nice, easy beach read and not quite as fluffy, and a bit more well written, than most chick lit. show less

Good Harbor by Anita Diamant is the story of the friendship between two women living in Gloucester. One is a children's librarian who was recently diagnosed with cancer. The other is a freelance writer who has come to write a novel.

I read the book for a combination of the location and the basic character descriptions. I'm a librarian and would like to be a children's librarian. I also want to a writer and I've had fun doing Nanowrimo. I'm also a woman of similar age to these two protagonists.

At first, there's not much to this plot. It starts off as a quiet book with the librarian doing everything in her power to not obsess over her breast cancer, and the other one doing everything possible to procrastinate with her writing. And then show more just to force a cinematic second act, a random dude on the beach is introduced and of course, he becomes the other man. Because nothing says edgy women's fiction like an extra marital affair.

I could have let the affair thing go except that the "hot" sex scenes were just so silly and not in a good way. I ended up having to stop reading because I just couldn't take the book seriously any more. show less

Joyce is a romance writer who recently purchased a vacation home near Good Harbor, Massachusetts. Kathleen is a children's librarian living in the area who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. The two meet at Synagogue one week (both are Jewish, though Kathleen converted from Catholicism before getting married) and become fast friends. Together they journey through many changes in their marriages, children, and selves. It's beautifully written, and has instilled in me a desire to see this magical place called Good Harbor. It sounds just lovely. I was also a little spooked by this book, because some of the details hit pretty close to home. Kathleen's experiences with breast cancer, for example, are almost identical to my mother's - show more who also used to work in an elementary school. The details of a child's death described later in the book is eerily similar to a friend's child who recently died. But despite some chills that aren't really related to the story itself, this was a very pleasant little journey through two women's lives. It's not exciting or suspenseful, but it would make a good beach read. show less

Kathleen and Joyce - two women who meet one summer on the New England coast. Each is going through a crossroads in her life. Kathleen has been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer and Joyce is dealing with an unhappy marriage and a rocky relationship with a young teenage daughter. They find eachother when each most needs a friend.

Plenty of parts in this book are really good. The women and their friendship with eachother was beautifully described. Kathleen's radiation treatments rang true to me. Joyce's struggles to understand how her marriage was failing - that rang true to me as well as did the descriptions of the two women and their friendship. Some parts - not so much. The failing marriage, the rebellious daughter, the completely show more unbelievable affair, the son (is he gay? Is he straight?) - everything was wrapped up and resolved so neatly in just a few pages.

I'll tell you what this book did make me want to do though - I would love to go to a New England coastal town and walk on the beach for a long, long time! show less