Posted Jun 21 2012, 5:26 pm in Book Hungry, What I'm Reading
June’s Bookhungry pick was PARADISE by Judith McNaught and let met just say, WOW.
I hadn’t read any of Judith’s work and so, had no idea what to expect. This is NOT light reading. It’s intense — emotionally, and physically simply because the book is so long.
Here’s the summary:
Ruthless corporate raider Matthew Farrell was poised to move in on the legendary department store empire owned by Chicago’s renowned Bancroft family. In the glare of the media spotlight, it was a stunning takeover that overshadowed the electric chemistry between Matt, once a scruffy kid from steel town Indiana, and cool, sophisticated Meredith Bancroft. Their brief, ill-fated marriage sparked with thrilling sensuality — he was the outsider who dared to rock her country club world — and ended with a bitter betrayal. Now, locked in a battle that should be all business, dangerous temptations and bittersweet memories are stirring their hearts. Will they risk everything on a passion too bold to be denied?
What I Thought: (CONTAINS SPOILERS!)
At first, I struggled to understand why McNaught devoted so many pages to Meredith as a child. I knew the book was a romance and I just wanted to get to the good stuff (Blame 50 Shades for that.) But when we at last meet Matt, it was instantly clear that all that back story was essential for us to understand Meredith’s decision to seduce him. We know what kind of childhood she had, we know her father is just beastly, we know she is a strong-minded, intelligent person just dying to succeed.
Well, the predictable consequences to Meredith’s seduction are indeed put in motion. Meredith finds herself pregnant. But to Matt’s credit, he offers marriage to eighteen-year-old Meredith. And, also predictably, her father does his utmost to break them up.
Here’s where it gets good. Despite the predictability of the plot up until this point, McNaught takes us on an emotional rollercoaster of a ride as Meredith and Matt find their way back to each other. One of the most gorgeous scenes in the story is when Meredith tells Matt about their daughter. Beautifully written, so easy to imagine.
Yes, the novel is hefty and a bit slow in the beginning, but it all has a purpose.
But don’t take my word for it! See what Abby Mumford thought.
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Yeah, I’m definitely going to have to dig this one back out of my basement book stash. It’s been years since I read it. I think it might bear a reread.
kelly did very good with this pick. it’s one of the few where we’ve ALL really enjoyed it.
Love Judith McNaught. I haven’t read her in years, so this was a good push to do so. :)