When it comes to choosing a book for your next meeting, there's really no better recommendation than one from another reader or book club member. Here's what people are saying about Evening by Susan Minot:
  • "Minot grasped my attention from the start as 'skeletons handing things to each other' to 'He did not come again.' It conveys the passion that every human being desires to feel -- indeed, deserves to feel -- at least once!" --Joyce B., Albemarle, NC

  • "This book was fascinating yet heartwrenching, learning about Ann's life in bits and pieces, so much like real memory." --Marcia L., Cedar Rapids, IA

  • "After spending a month watching my own mother die, I was drawn to this book. Despite being unable to focus enough to read anything else. An excellent book with great insight into the process of death, memory, hopes, dreams, regrets and reality." --Christine C., Lexington, MA

  • "I'd heard this book was sad, but I didn't find it so. A woman found solace on her deathbed from a memory that wasn't sullied by time or reality. Who could ask for more?" --Laurel C., Minneapolis, MN

  • "Evening is evocative of times spent in the company of friends and events long past. Weddings are particularly powerful collections of people and promise. Minot's careful expression of vivid longings for persons briefly--yet deeply--experienced, help to carve our own initials in the tree of life. Susan Minot's images weave a challenge to embrace life fully and without regretÉ" --Rebecca P., Woodland Hills, CA

  • "A fascinating depiction of the "life review" process people experience as life comes to an end. I liked the honesty in this book -- about life, about memories, about feelings." --Tricia S., Omaha, NE

  • "This book is an excellent choice for book discussion group! We talked about choices we make--how different alternatives taken can result in entirely different outcomes and how we can make the choice of not making decisions for ourselves--like Ann does, allowing the men in her life to take control over her life or at least to steer her life in the directions it takes. Ann's thinking that 'Harris would have someoneÉ she would have it worse' led to a discussion of how we deal with upsetting events--we can choose to submit to negative thinking as Ann does, or try to improve things, both of which impact our lives and those near us. Are we unhappy or happy simply because we think we are?" --Diana L., Brighton, MA

  • "A beautiful book about the 'evening' of a woman's life -- she is reliving a momentous weekend of her youth and finds solace in reviewing her life with this lover in imaginary conversations." --Leigh G., Oak Hill, VA

  • "Evening leaves much to the imagination. While imagining what happened to Harris, you'll find yourself musing about people you've had brief but significant encounters with in your own life. The book is full of "what ifs" and roads not taken." --Gerri V., Leawood, KS

  • "I really enjoyed the premise of the book and felt that the whole device of a woman looking back on her life from her deathbed was very effective." --Janet W., St. Louis, MO

  • "The book was extremely good--very detailed in descriptions of where they were--foods, surroundings, etc. Characters were beautiful, amazing and such depth. More than I have read in other books--I would recommend this!" --Robin B., New York, NY

  • "I found Evening to be a credible relating of a woman's review, reliving and retelling of a lifetime. The author's manner of interweaving the 'braids' (timelines) of the story was well-executed. I was drawn into the settings as a result of her vivid narration." --Carol Z., Encino, CA

  • "As a hospice volunteer, I especially enjoyed the perspective of reliving life's highlights and the reality of the dying process on the mind and body. It gave me greater insight to the plight of my patients." --Kim H., Tulsa, OK

  • "After four pages, I knew I would have to ration myself. For two months, I held back, reading just a couple of pages at a time to make the newness last. Knowing I could reread these lyrical lines was some comfort, but also knowing these curiosities would be answered made me covet this first reading even more. Intrigue . . . wonder . . . poetic prose . . . captivating characters . . . oblique foreshadowing . . . all lead to my personal introspection." --Charlotte C., Long Beach, CA

  • "I enjoyed both the story and the writing style very much. Nice descriptive passages without going on and on James Michener-way." --Karen W.

  • "This book is beautifully written -- it's about connectedness between oneself and one's past, between man and woman, between parent and child, and it's also about what separates us from others and from our 'true' selves." --Carol C., New Hartford, NY

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