Description:
Editorial Reviews
Review
"As she dependably has for some 35 years now, Minot once again uses her sharp fiction as a vehicle to explore female desire, staging a romantic collision between a divorced mother and a much younger musician. Rather than a book you 'can’t put down,' it’s one you might pause from precisely to prolong its mild suspense and poetic pleasures." —The New York Times Book Review
“Minot exquisitely explores desire and denial, intimacy and illusion in a ravishing, haunting, and insightful tale of sexual ecstasy and emotional torment, integrity and creativity, self and motherhood.” —Booklist (starred review)
“Spare and polished. . . . Minot is an elegant writer, her sentences and paragraphs stylishly cropped, her dialogue quotation mark–free, her epigraphs chosen from classic sources: Rilke, Emerson, Lao Tzu, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, Rumi. In pellucid prose she captures each of the emotional states Ivy cycles through on the roller coaster of erotic fascination, delusion, bliss, mania, devastation—while also buffeted by the emotions and responsibilities of motherhood and of a career as a writer.” —Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars fabulous writing really enjoyed this read
Extremely well written and completely engaging. A story about a modern, spirited, woman in mid age truly and thoughtfully embracing her life. The main character feels so real that I almost felt this was a memoir or an autobiography. I really connected with Ivy (main character) and wanted to meet her! I suppose this is really a testament to Susan Minot’s superb writing skills. Stayed up a few nights really later because I couldn’t put it down. brava!
4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Good book. Sad ending. Not what I expected or wanted, but, hey, it kept me reading until the end.
3.0 out of 5 stars good read bad ending
Was a really good read but hate the ending it offered no resolution or finalized how she ended up except for back to where she had started. Was expecting and hoping for a different ending the ending wax sad and mundane.
5.0 out of 5 stars Yes. Going through a divorce? Read this.
I read a review of this in Vogue magazine a few months ago, and it spoke to me, so I ordered it. Not at all what I was expecting. In fact, it was better. Once I finished it, I went out and bought everything she’d ever written.
2.0 out of 5 stars Enough Already, Ivy!
After hearing so many rave reviews of this book, it seemed like time to read it (via my library - I don’t tend to buy fiction). I was hate reading it after about 50 pages, skim-reading after 100. Ivy, the central character, was so very…predictable. She seemed to latch on to the younger man she’d chosen to sleep with, and the ‘latch’ became ‘grabby and obsessive’ pretty quickly. I couldn’t relate to Ivy in large part because I kept thinking, ‘why are you obsessed with Ansel?’ The sexual connection was coyly rendered and it seemed as if Ivy became obsessed simply because she was…a woman with a certain attachment need and she enjoyed the fantasies she’d created about this guy. The story felt very much like a novelized version of someone’s real life, from Ivy’s vaguely rendered “writing career” to her divorce to the thing with Ansel. If this was based on lived experiences, it might explain Ivy’s lack of introspection. Whatever indulgent spell Minot might have cast was shattered by my wondering things like, ‘how does Ivy pay her Brooklyn bills? Why does she keep getting back into bed with this dude? How much self-loathing does she have?’ Perhaps I’m not New York City enough, independently wealthy enough, and “mom” enough to appreciate the main character, but…she was a real drag.
1.0 out of 5 stars A complete waste of time
Can a work of fiction be described "navel gazing" I kept asking myself, what on earth is the point of this? (I seriously considered skipping ahead to the last chapter). This book was repetitive, boring, and frankly, I was embarrassed to have read the whole book.
4.0 out of 5 stars Spineless main character
Minot is a very good author, and I was engaged but totally exasperated by the main character and plot of the novel. Ivy is a divorced mother with a son with a decent relationship with her ex. She meets and is smitten by a man (Ansel) who will plague her from the moment she meets him. You just want to slap Ivy and tell her to get over him as he teats her with total indifference but she never truly moves past him. Nut!
3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointment
Too much about a writer who never seems to write. And we never learn what she has written or his trying to write. Very NY and east coast focused. The love or sex affair with the age differences is boring. Ivy should've grown up in the first third of this novel.
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Don't Be a Stranger: A Novel
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Visit the Knopf Store
Don't Be a Stranger: A Novel
AED14718
Quantity:
Order today to get by 7-14 business days
Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.
Imported From: United States
At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.
BOLO is not an authorized or official retailer for most brands, nor are we affiliated with manufacturers unless specifically stated on a product page. Instead, we source verified sellers, authorized distributors or directly from the manufacturer.
Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.
If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support. We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.
Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.
All product information, images, descriptions, and reviews originate from the manufacturer or from trusted sellers overseas. BOLO is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an authorized retailer for most brands listed on our website unless stated otherwise.
While we strive to display accurate information, variations in packaging, labeling, instructions, or formulation may occasionally occur due to regional differences or supplier updates. For detailed or manufacturer-specific information, please contact the brand directly or reach out to BOLO Support for assistance.
Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.
BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.
All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.
All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.
Description:
Editorial Reviews
Review
"As she dependably has for some 35 years now, Minot once again uses her sharp fiction as a vehicle to explore female desire, staging a romantic collision between a divorced mother and a much younger musician. Rather than a book you 'can’t put down,' it’s one you might pause from precisely to prolong its mild suspense and poetic pleasures." —The New York Times Book Review
“Minot exquisitely explores desire and denial, intimacy and illusion in a ravishing, haunting, and insightful tale of sexual ecstasy and emotional torment, integrity and creativity, self and motherhood.” —Booklist (starred review)
“Spare and polished. . . . Minot is an elegant writer, her sentences and paragraphs stylishly cropped, her dialogue quotation mark–free, her epigraphs chosen from classic sources: Rilke, Emerson, Lao Tzu, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, Rumi. In pellucid prose she captures each of the emotional states Ivy cycles through on the roller coaster of erotic fascination, delusion, bliss, mania, devastation—while also buffeted by the emotions and responsibilities of motherhood and of a career as a writer.” —Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars fabulous writing really enjoyed this read
Extremely well written and completely engaging. A story about a modern, spirited, woman in mid age truly and thoughtfully embracing her life. The main character feels so real that I almost felt this was a memoir or an autobiography. I really connected with Ivy (main character) and wanted to meet her! I suppose this is really a testament to Susan Minot’s superb writing skills. Stayed up a few nights really later because I couldn’t put it down. brava!
4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Good book. Sad ending. Not what I expected or wanted, but, hey, it kept me reading until the end.
3.0 out of 5 stars good read bad ending
Was a really good read but hate the ending it offered no resolution or finalized how she ended up except for back to where she had started. Was expecting and hoping for a different ending the ending wax sad and mundane.
5.0 out of 5 stars Yes. Going through a divorce? Read this.
I read a review of this in Vogue magazine a few months ago, and it spoke to me, so I ordered it. Not at all what I was expecting. In fact, it was better. Once I finished it, I went out and bought everything she’d ever written.
2.0 out of 5 stars Enough Already, Ivy!
After hearing so many rave reviews of this book, it seemed like time to read it (via my library - I don’t tend to buy fiction). I was hate reading it after about 50 pages, skim-reading after 100. Ivy, the central character, was so very…predictable. She seemed to latch on to the younger man she’d chosen to sleep with, and the ‘latch’ became ‘grabby and obsessive’ pretty quickly. I couldn’t relate to Ivy in large part because I kept thinking, ‘why are you obsessed with Ansel?’ The sexual connection was coyly rendered and it seemed as if Ivy became obsessed simply because she was…a woman with a certain attachment need and she enjoyed the fantasies she’d created about this guy. The story felt very much like a novelized version of someone’s real life, from Ivy’s vaguely rendered “writing career” to her divorce to the thing with Ansel. If this was based on lived experiences, it might explain Ivy’s lack of introspection. Whatever indulgent spell Minot might have cast was shattered by my wondering things like, ‘how does Ivy pay her Brooklyn bills? Why does she keep getting back into bed with this dude? How much self-loathing does she have?’ Perhaps I’m not New York City enough, independently wealthy enough, and “mom” enough to appreciate the main character, but…she was a real drag.
1.0 out of 5 stars A complete waste of time
Can a work of fiction be described "navel gazing" I kept asking myself, what on earth is the point of this? (I seriously considered skipping ahead to the last chapter). This book was repetitive, boring, and frankly, I was embarrassed to have read the whole book.
4.0 out of 5 stars Spineless main character
Minot is a very good author, and I was engaged but totally exasperated by the main character and plot of the novel. Ivy is a divorced mother with a son with a decent relationship with her ex. She meets and is smitten by a man (Ansel) who will plague her from the moment she meets him. You just want to slap Ivy and tell her to get over him as he teats her with total indifference but she never truly moves past him. Nut!
3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointment
Too much about a writer who never seems to write. And we never learn what she has written or his trying to write. Very NY and east coast focused. The love or sex affair with the age differences is boring. Ivy should've grown up in the first third of this novel.
More from this brand
Similar items from “Family Life”
Share with
Or share with link
https://www.bolo.ae/products/U0593802446