Labor Day: A Novel

By Joyce Maynard

“Joyce Maynard is in top-notch form with Labor Day. Simply a novel you cannot miss.” —Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of My Sister’s Keeper and Keeping Faith

In a manner evoking Ian McEwan's Atonementand Nick Hornby's About a Boy, acclaimed author Joyce Maynard weaves a beautiful, poignant tale of love, sex, adolescence, and devastating treachery as seen through the eyes of a young teenage boy—and the man he later becomes—looking back at an unexpected encounter that begins one single long, hot, life-altering weekend.

With the end of summer closing in and a steamy Labor Day weekend looming in the town of Holton Mills, New Hampshire, thirteen-year-old Henry—lonely, friendless, not too good at sports—spends most of his time watching television, reading, and daydreaming about the soft skin and budding bodies of his female classmates. For company Henry has his long-divorced mother, Adele—a onetime dancer whose summer project was to teach him how to foxtrot; his hamster, Joe; and awkward Saturday-night outings to Friendly's with his estranged father and new stepfamily. As much as he tries, Henry knows that even with his jokes and his "Husband for a Day" coupon, he still can't make his emotionally fragile mother happy. Adele has a secret that makes it hard for her to leave their house, and seems to possess an irreparably broken heart.

But all that changes on the Thursday before Labor Day, when a mysterious bleeding man named Frank approaches Henry and asks for a hand. Over the next five days, Henry will learn some of life's most valuable lessons: how to throw a baseball, the secret to perfect piecrust, the breathless pain of jealousy, the power of betrayal, and the importance of putting others—especially those we love—above ourselves. And the knowledge that real love is worth waiting for.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Jul 28, 2009
• ISBN: 9780061957659

Joyce Maynard

Joyce Maynard is the author of twelve previous novels and five books of nonfiction, as well as the syndicated column, “Domestic Affairs.” Her bestselling memoir, At Home in the World, has been translated into sixteen languages. Her novels To Die For and Labor Day were both adapted for film. Maynard divides her time between homes in California, New Hampshire, and Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.

Reviews for Labor Day

[thoughtsofjoylibrary · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As an adult, Henry tells his story beginning at the age of 13. Henry lives with his divorced mom and barely tolerates his visits with his father and his new family. Trying to figure life out as he's muddling through adolescence, he meets a man in need of help during a trip to the grocery store with his mom. His mother decides to help the man out and life then becomes even more difficult for Henry to figure out.This book carried an off kilter vibe for me, but I think that was part of the charm. Explaining details about it to someone else makes it sound a little preposterous, but I was too drawn into the characters to even care. What made the book for me was hearing it from Henry's perspective. I thought that was done very well and totally believable.This was my first encounter with Joyce Maynard, and I have already acquired another one (Where Love Goes) since reading this book. I'm looking forward to reading her work again. I like her style.Originally posted on: Thoughts of Joy

[mhanover10 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This story is told through the eyes of 13-year-old Henry about his hermit mom Adele and escaped convict Frank. This is a sad story and also a love story. Frank spends 6 days with Henry and Adele and changes their lives forever. This was a quick read, barely over 200 pages. I liked Frank and Adele together yet she and Henry were making me mad that they didn't turn Frank in. This book has a sweet ending and I did enjoy learning about the different characters.

[heatherlinc · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was a gentle love story narrated by Adele's thirteen-year-old son who observes the budding romance between his fragile mother and an escaped convict over a Labor Day weekend. The thing I found most frustrating was the lack of quotation marks which made the book hard to follow at times, but I did like Henry's voice.

[pegmcdaniel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've had this novel on my 'to-be-read' shelf for quite a while. I'm glad I finally got a chance to read it. I have always known that Joyce Maynard was a talented author and 'Labor Day' did not disappoint. It held my interest from the start and I just went along with the story. After all, it is fiction!As the story progressed, I found myself cheering for Frank even though he was a felon. Who could not love a felon when he teaches a 13-year-old boy how to make a peach pie? I hope this scene is as good in the movie as it was in the book!Maynard's characters are well-developed, they draw you in and make you like them. I am looking forward to reading more of her works.

[ccayne_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is our final book for the library book discussion group and I loved it. It's a very odd love story and coming of age story - how Maynard conceived this book would be interesting. Frank is an escaped convict who spends Labor Day weekend with Adele and her 13 year old son Henry. Needless to say, Frank was not invited. Adele and Henry go by their own rules - both misfits - and Maynard makes these qualities shining gifts - allowing the three of them to connect in almost unimaginable ways. It's a touching tale of what it means to be human

[y2ash · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is a 2.67 review.

My feelings are very mixed about Joyce Maynard's Labor Day. I partially liked it; I partially didn't. Labor Day primarily takes place in the 1970's. Henry is the 13 year old narrator describing a pivotal Labor Day weekend.

While in a discount store with his damaged agoraphobic mother, Adele, an escaped convict named Frank approaches Henry asking him for a place to lie low. Frank's injured with a broken leg. Adele and Henry sneak him out with no questions asked. Thus begins a weekend where Henry gains self-confidence and Adele and Frank fall in love.

I am very picky about my love stories. I hate overly mushy, Harlequin types, and utterly stupid. The love story between Adele and Frank wasn't any of these but it was highly improbable. I know that Frank was not a true bad guy, just a victim of circumstance. However, he was still a convict and still very sketchy. Frank just kind of imposed himself in their lives offering life lessons. That just didn't sit right with me.

Perhaps because it was narrated from Henry's point of view, that I felt this way about Frank. It sure helped with me feeling sympathetic toward Henry and hiss feelings of abandonment toward Adele and Frank. It was also understandable on how Eleanor was influential on his thoughts regarding Frank trying to steal Adele away from Henry.

I felt that there were two brainwashing going on. Eleanor on Henry. She manipulating him as seeing Frank's good deeds as steps for stealing Adele. Eleanor was an immoral opportunist and Henry was naïve enough not to see it. Frank brainwashed Adele. I know this is the minority but when a man showers a fragile woman with enough attention, she'll be malleable. Frank did need a place to stay.

I think I liked the idea of Labor Day than the actual execution. Joyce Maynard's writing was very good. I liked that the characters had tragic pasts. Maynard is effective in making the mundane interesting.

[eadieb-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Book Description:
As the end of summer approaches and a long, hot Labor Day weekend looms, the life of lonely thirteen-year-old Henry Wheeler is irrevocably changed when he and his emotionally fragile mother show kindness to a stranger with a terrible secret. Now a major motion picture starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin, Labor Day is a poignant story of love, sex, adolescence, and devastating treachery.

Labor Day is a very touching and page turning story with very unforgettable characters. Never read Joyce Maynard before but I will be seeking out some of her other novels!

[melissarochelle_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Read from February 05 to 06, 2014I read this because of the movie trailer. I had little interest before the trailer came out, but they made it look riveting. Because of the trailer I expected a love story...you know, these two people coming together against all odds. There is some of that here, but more than anything this is a coming-of-story.The story of the fated Labor Day weekend is told to us as many coming-of-age stories are -- Henry, Adele's son, is older and wiser and he is recounting to us this life-changing weekend when he was 13. Henry and Adele have a close relationship, she's divorced from his father and Henry doesn't have many friends. Adele doesn't leave the house often. Then one day they go to the store and end up bringing an escaped convict home with them. Frank is a nice fellow and needs a place to lay low while they're looking for him. Adele is a woman that follows her gut more than her head so she agrees. So while there is a love story, we only get the part seen through the eyes of a 13-year-old boy. It isn't at all the same as a LOVE story, but I didn't hate it. Once I got over the initial surprise, I liked the story (I do love a good coming-of-age tale). The ebook formatting was annoying though -- if a paragraph is starting, it should be MORE indented than it was here. Plus there were no quotation marks which I find incredibly annoying...what is it with that choice? I guess it's supposed to say something to me about memory and style, but it's incredibly annoying.

[maloney1951 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Joyce Maynard presents an inside view of life from the mind of an adolescent boy. He is on the verge of so many things yet not quite there. He stills sees much of life simplistically but is asute enough to know he must keep his mother's slipping grip on reality a secret from his divorced father. When summer brings a new man into his and his mother's lives there are new secrets to keep: from the police, his father and the neighbors. There are also new pleasures: attention from a male figure, seeing his mother grower more confident, and being attracted and repelled by a young girl. We see his immediate future quite clearly but he does not yet have the wisdom and experience to interpret what he sees. His innocence is beautiful and heart-breaking.

[knittingmomof3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

From My Blog...Thirteen-year-old Henry and his mother Adele meet Frank Chambers in Pricemart and bring him back to their home, beginning 6 days that change the course of several lives in the novel Labor Day by Joyce Maynard. Henry narrates the story giving the reader insights into his life prior to meeting Frank, the life changing six days of Labor Day weekend of his 13th year and then Henry jumps forward in time eventually bringing the reader to present day, two decades later with the lessons he has learned and . The characters are richly detailed from Henry’s eccentric and possibly unbalanced mother Adele, his remarried father Richard, his step-mother Marjorie, his half-sister Chloe, Eleanor, and naturally Frank. While the story line may appear far-fetched, it is after all a story and quite a loving, heart-warming and endearing one. Frank worked his way into my heart, even if he was an escaped convict. Maynard takes the reader into the life of a thirteen-year-old boy living in Holton Mills, New Hampshire and shares what has to be one of the most circumstantially bizarre yet wonderfully profound holiday weekends I have ever read about. Labor Day is a quick read filled with hope, family and love and one I enjoyed and would recommend to others looking for a light yet beautiful novel of how one act could impact the lives of so many people.

[jo3jo_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've always loved Labor Day weekend-being the weekend that we say goodbye to summer, so I think that was part of the attraction for me with this book. This story takes us into the lives of a young boy and his divorced mom as it covers the events that take place over a Labor Day weekend many years ago. Henry is an adult now and he is basically retelling how the series of events that took place that weekend many years ago changed and reshaped his life.As a young boy Henry watched his mother change from a vibrant and loving woman to someone that was basically afraid to interact with people or leave her home. When his father left and remarried, started a new family, things only became worse at home for Henry and his mother. The Thursday before Labor Day everything changed for Henry and his mother when they walked into the hardware store. They bumped into Frank, who appeared to be wounded and trying to hide. Before you know it they are driving home with Frank in the car, offering to give him somewhere to rest for the weekend. This is the part of the novel that I know many people did have a problem with, indicating that no-one would willingly invite a stranger into their home. I do agree with this in most cases, but it is important to realize that at this point Adele, Henry's mother, was obviously mentally unstable and was not able to make rational decisions.The atmosphere within Henry's home changes throughout the weekend as he sees a sense of normalcy slowly creeping back into their daily routines. Rather than opening their usual can of Campbell's soup for dinner, Frank cooks them a meal of the best chili they have ever had. Frank even teaches Henry the proper way to make a pie crust so they can make a homemade peach pie. Henry gets a glimpse over this weekend of some regular family interaction and realizes how much he craves this lifestyle. I thought the writing in this book was wonderful and I just found myself loving the story. As I was nearing the end I found myself flipping the pages to find out how many pages I had left because I didn't want it to end! There are some parts of this book that some of you may not enjoy, as Henry is a thirteen year old boy during this time and there are physical changes happening to him that he is trying to learn to accept. This didn't take away from my enjoyment of the novel as I found the writing beautiful. I think this would make a great book club selection with themes of coming of age, acceptance, love, and secrets.

[reviewsinapinch · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Have you ever done a double take? The answer is probably yes. Labor Day was what I like to refer to as a reading double take. Meaning, I would read something. Stop. And my response was usually, “Wtf? Did I read that correctly?”I’m going to be very honest here. I don’t really know what to make of Labor Day. I waited a few days to write the review in the hopes that I’d be able to nail down my exacts thoughts, but I’m still stumped. This is a rare occurrence for me and I don’t like it. Anyway, on to the review.The writing was good. The perspective was odd and unexpected. The entire story is told from Henry’s point of view and he’s 13 years old when the book starts. I thought that was a strange choice given the subject matter (love, sex and treachery), but it did make Labor Day stand out in my mind.The characters were fairly unique. I liked Henry, but he was way more obsessed with sex than what I thought was normal. I did not like his mom, Adele. I thought she could’ve and should’ve been much stronger for her son and a better example. When you look at it from a black or white perspective (which a lot of people do when kids are involved), then she never should have allowed an escaped convict into her house. She definitely should not have made it seem like what was going on was okay(aka harboring a fugitive).When it comes down to it, I liked Labor Day. I just couldn’t get over how strange it was. It’s definitely not a normal, run of the mill storyline. It is without a doubt a coming of age story that mainly focus on the sexual aspects of growing up. So the big question, would I recommend it? Alas, I would not recommend Labor Day (except maybe on a case-by-case basis).For more reviews, check out reviewsinapinch.wordpress.com today!

[cmartlib · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I just finished this book in a marathon of reading. Could not put it down, the characters (and their flaws) are compelling. Telling the story through the eyes of a pre-teen boy lent the narrative a sense of innocence that was disarming. I think Ms. Maynard has a real talent for searing right to the souls of her characters. Very enjoyable read.

[demonite93 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Labor Day is a strangely realistic, while still being rather out of the ordinary, story of a boy and his somewhat distorted family. The whole story revolves around a teenage boy names Henry, his slightly insane mother Adele, and a stranger named Frank. The story is told through the main character Henry as he deals with all of the moral and problematic situations that arise from first his parent’s separation, then the arrival of Frank into Henry's life and home. The story is simple yet very dynamic and delves into some serious life issues. It's vaguely reminiscent of the childhood story part of the book "Choke". Henry's mom isn't quite as "out there" but it has the same feel to it. I enjoyed the book it kept me interested for the most part. It's an easy read so if you have a free afternoon I would recommend checking it out.

[jolerie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An ordinary day before the Labor Day long weekend becomes something extraordinary as Henry and his mother end up meeting an injured stranger at the store. The events that unfold over the short couple of days will forever change both of their lives. A story about love, being in love, and being in love with love is all part of Maynard's novel. A story about a young boy coming to understand how love can destroy, but also how love can heal. There was definitely a point in the book where I was wondering where the book was going and was worried that it was becoming stagnant, but the ending was enough to leave me with a smile on my face. An enjoyable story with a resolution that provides both comfort and closure.

[kitchenwitch04 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In the beginning I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one or not, but after only a couple chapters in, I was hooked. Labor Day by Joyce Maynard is a book that I couldn't wait to pick up before I went to bed to see what was happening next. It was not only a poignant coming-of-age story of a young boy, it also portrayed his mother who was struggling with her own demons as well. I found myself wanting to hug this boy and it really made me think about how sometimes the things we think we know about a person can be totally off. It is a story about love and the strange ways it can be found.
I love the way the book ended as well. Instead of being tragic like I actually expected, it instead made me feel good and showed that sometimes good things come out of bad situations. It shows the power of love as well as the power of forgiveness. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a book that makes you smile as you close the back cover.

[tela1226 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When I started reading "Labor Day", I quickly began preparing for the worst possible outcomes for the characters. Adele, an unstable mother, and her 13-year-old son Henry willingly take in an escaped murdered. How can this possibly end well? As the story unfolded, I was forced to reconsider my assumptions. Adele was not a bad mother; just doing the best that she could with the tragic hand she had been dealt. Frank was not a brutal murderer; rather a lost soul trying to make his way in a world gone awry. Joyce Maynard tells a beautiful story of love, forgiveness, and acceptance. I enjoyed and was moved by this novel.

[yvonne.sevignykaiser · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This one was on my books to read before movie comes out list.

"But there was something about the way Frank fed my mother that made the whole thing almost beautiful, like he was a jeweler or a scientist, or one of those old Japanese men who work all day on a single bonsai." What a great image! The story takes place over 6 days then jumps ahead in the last few pages 18 years later.

Hope the movie does not ruin what the author has created. I will say from the previews I like the casting with Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin (sp)

[icedream_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This is the story of thirteen year old Henry and the few days of the labor day holiday that changed his and his mothers life forever when an escaped convict enters their lives. What could be a really contrived mess was told with deep emotional depth, I could feel Henry's loneliness and his mothers depression. The jealously and joy were genuine, I was so impressed with Maynard's skill at expressing the human condition. Labor Day was a book I couldn't put down and one I would easily recommend.

[abshepherd · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I give this 3 1/2 stars. I found this novel on a list of novels you should read before they become movies. I think this novel will translate to the movie version nicely, if casted and adapted properly.

Labor Day is a rather simple story that explores rather complicated emotions. It is the story of Henry, an isolated teenaged misfit, his loving but odd relationship with his hermit of a mother with whom he lives, and his distant relationship with his remarried father. It is the story of the stranger that spends an extended holiday weekend with Henry and his mother and changes both their lives forever.

I did enjoy this story, although I felt in parts that it was a little too descriptive and repetitive. It is a good fable about how instincts are sometimes more important than facts, and how easy it is to make a mistake that can affect not only your life but those around you.

[libsue · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really good, surprisingly so, book. I have never read Joyce Maynard before, but may pick up another of her books after reading this. Seeing the events that transpired through Henry's eyes made the book all that much more interesting. Had Maynard followed the "typical" love story line this would not have had the emotional impact that it did. Well done.

[terribooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. As 13-year-old Henry lived through six days that changed how he saw his family and himself, I became drawn into the characters, even the ones I didn't want to like. The author was adept at creating a sense of building tension; I think the structure of narrating day by day through the extended Labor Day weekend added to this: when would it end? I'm not sure I want to see the movie, even though I read it because I saw the movie advertised. I think it's a lovely story as it is.

[ecataldi-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I soo longed for this to be a romance. After I saw this book featured on Buzzfeed's list of books getting turned into movies and saw the movie trailer, I knew I had to read it. The trailer with Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin looked beautiful and haunting and romantic. Which is what the book is, only... less on the romance.The story is told through the eyes of thirteen year old Henry Wheeler, and explores one life changing labor day weekend that he spent with his mother and an escaped convict. He comes into their life by accident, but it appears that the escaped convict, Frank, is anything but what the newspapers make him out to be. He is thoughtful, handy, and considerate, and quickly steals Henry's fragile mother's heart.This is more of a coming of age story then a romance, and it won't end the way you expect it to. But that's no reason for you not to read it. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I can't wait to see the movie!

[thebookjunkie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Labor Day by Joyce Maynard was such a slow read for me. This coming of age tale, about a boy Henry and the pain of adolescence, was sad, depressing and boring to me. The unstable mother Adele and the escaped convict Frank fall desperately in love and seem to only see each other throughout most of the book. Although, you cannot help but fall in love with Frank too. Frank is a kind, gentle man that teaches Henry many life lessons and skills during his short stay. Henry sees how happy his crazy mother has become since Frank has come into their lives. He is relieved but jealous at the same time. The pressure that his mother has put upon him has been such a heavy load, but he fears that Frank will take her away from him.Even though the tale was not one of my favorites, the characters were believable, as well as the story. I think my favorite part of the book is how it ends. The author does not leave us with a fairy tail happy ever after. I appreciated the honesty of the story and was satisfied with the outcome.Overall the book was well written and easy to read. I would definitely suggest this book to others.

[oldblack-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Quite a readable, pleasant story, perhaps really a Young Adult book. I didn't strongly engage with the character of the boy who narrates it.. The escaped criminal was painted as "too good to be true" and I thought that detracted from the story. My first Joyce Maynard book - and will probably be my last because I don't have that much reading time left and I'd rather read books which are closer to my core interests.

[micahmom2002 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The events of Labor Day weekend change the course of the lives of a 13 yr old boy and his single mother when they decide to help a man with a tragic past.

[rainpebble_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Labor Day by Joyce Maynard; (4*)I found Labor Day to be a very well written book. It illustrated the danger of writing people off because of past mistakes or because they have been put into a particular box. I thought the author did a great job of presenting this complex situation to us through the eyes of a youthful boy named Henry. Henry has both misgivings and love for his mother which color his response to this unknown man's entrance into their lives. It is a heart rendering story about family dynamics. A boy's coming of age, a mother's depression, a stepfamily and a convict. They are all thrown together, making for a touching read. I was captivated from the start.

[abrown119 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Over a long, Labor Day weekend, Henry and his mother, Adele, unecpectedly harbor a fugitive. Henry's mother has basically shut herself off from the world, leaving Henry to help his mother stock-pile food and generally help take care of household responsibilities and his mother. When the escaped convict comes into the home, Adele and Frank quickly develop romantic feelings towards each other. The weekend progresses with Henry struggling with his feelings of jealousy and resentment towards Frank and feelings of gratitude for bringing his mother back into the "real world". Will the police find Frank? Will they run off together and be a real family? Or will Henry turn Frank in thinking that they're going to leave him behind. This book kept my interest but I found it very unbelievable how quickly Frank and Adele fell in love.

[literaryfeline · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Labor Day by Joyce MaynardWilliam Morrow, 2009Fiction; 244 pgsYears ago, I read The Usual Rules by Joyce Maynard, which dealt with the 9/11 terror attack. It was a story about grief and learning to move on, and it was one that touched my heart. Joyce Maynard is one of those authors I always meant to return to, but never managed to. Until now. In part, that is due to the recent release of the movie. I wanted to see the movie, but, like so many others, had this burning desire to read the book first.Labor Day takes place in Holton Hills, New Hampshire. For the young narrator and his mother, life is mostly about getting through each day. Henry is thirteen years old, and in many ways typical. He has wet dreams and is fascinated by the opposite sex, but is also confused by his feelings and thoughts. He loves his mother fiercely, however, has spent most of his life trying to make her happy. She's always so sad and doesn't have much interest in life outside her own house. She rarely goes out, and does what she can to avoid it as often as possible. His mother, Adele, hadn't always been depressed. She once had been a dancer, full of dreams and of life. He loved listening to his mother's stories about her younger days. Henry has no friends and escapes often in books and television. His mother and father divorced years before, his father remarrying and starting a new family. The weekend before school is to start, Labor Day weekend, on a rare excursion to the store, Henry and his mother are approached by a man looking for a ride, preferably to their house where he can tend to his wounds and clean himself up. Instinctively trusting the man, they allow him to come home with them. Frank is a convicted murderer who has just escaped from custody. He is upfront about who he is and his intentions, promising he means Adele and Henry no harm.The novel takes place over the course of a week, the week in which Frank is with the family. Frank reawakens something long lost in both Henry and Adele, and none of their lives will be the same after.There is nothing rushed about this novel. At least in terms of the writing or story. There is great sadness in the novel, and my heart ached for Henry and his mother, Adele. Perhaps because of what I do for a living, I was less inclined to buy Frank's story at face value. I wanted to trust him and like him just as Adele and Henry did, but I was always wary of him. It is clear that Adele is deeply troubled. What kind of mother brings a convicted murderer into her home willingly? The way Maynard built her characters and her story, I almost believed it could happen. But only just almost.I loved Maynard's writing in The Usual Rules and I love it in Labor Day. I also liked the care she took in crafting her characters, how real they became as I read the novel, and how much reflection went into their thoughts and actions. Henry, as the narrator, of course, is at the heart of the novel and he definitely stole mine. I could feel is uncertainty and frustration throughout the novel, and also his joy at having someone take such an interest in him--and not having to care for his mother for a short while. What a relief that must have been.After reading the book, I was excited about seeing the movie. Kate Winslet was a wonderful choice to play Adele. She was very believable as a woman suffering from Depression and social anxiety. I enjoyed the movie for the most part. The pacing seemed in line with the book. It isn't a fast paced story, even given the subject matter. It's less a suspense novel/movie as it is a more character driven one. That isn't to say there is no suspense, however. There's always that concern that Frank's hiding place will be discovered.I liked that the movie built in more a sense of menace at the beginning of the film, making it more believable that Adele and Henry would take someone like Frank home. There's an implied threat that I did not get from Frank's character in the book. What I did not like about the movie, however, were the flashback scenes. Frank's story is mostly told in flashbacks, and for some reason, the movie makers decided to break those flashbacks into fragments, not necessarily revealing those fragments in order. It made it confusing, even to someone who had read the book before hand. I also felt not enough emphasis was given to Adele's past, the reason she was the way she was. It's mentioned in the movie, but it seemed more like an after thought.I am still glad I went to see the film, and even more so that I read the book.

[caslater83 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is my first Joyce Maynard book. The synopsis sounded intriguing. The story of Adele is a sad one, indeed. But Frank's presence seems to bring some life back to her. She needed love and affection. She needed positive attention. Thirteen-year-old Henry has been the "man" of the house for so long, yet he can't make his mother happy. Not in the way that Frank can.

Frank isn't really as awful as the media portrays him to be. He's a human being with flaws and still possesses some good qualities.

The story is sad while still clinging to hope and love. It is generously insightful, sharing the why's of Adele's unhappiness and depression. While Joyce is a fair storyteller, this book is not one that I would re-read.