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Strange Fits of Passion
Anita Shreve Book Review

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Plot Summary of Strange Fits of Passion
"There are two stories going on in this book at once. One is that of a reporter. How do assuage the guilt of a horrible mistake, a mistake which cost someone else everything? How can you ever make up for that, or look yourself in the mirror again?

The other is the story of Maureen and Harrold, her abusive husband. Shreve does a good job of developing the relationship and making us understand how Maureen, an intelligent woman, finds herself in this abusive marriage.

After Maureen escapes, she falls in love with a married man in a small town. Eventually, she must pay the price for all of her choices and the outcome is devastating to everyone involved.

There are some subtle things going on in this story as well. The idea that a witness' statements can be motivated by something they themselves are not even aware of. The idea that the circumstances of a crime can seem very different depending upon which angle you look at them from. A well done story."

Alicia Cathers, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of Strange Fits of Passion
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - 1960's-1970's
Romance/Romance Problems Yes
Kind of romance: - playing footsy while inconveniently married
Family, struggle with Yes
Struggle with: - Husband
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - writer
Age: - 20's-30's

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - writer
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 5 (an average amount)
United States Yes
The US: - Northeast
City? Yes
City: - New York

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references
Unusual Style: - a lot of flashback and forwards
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Most similar books to Strange Fits of Passion
The Year of the Lucy by Anne McCaffrey
Wintering by Kate Moses
They Whisper by Robert Olen Butler
Fallen Hearts by V.C. Andrews
Fear of Flying by Erica Jong


Click here for more information about this book


Anita Shreve Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Jaime  

SCHOLARS:
Jessica  fran laniado  Alicia Cathers  Julie L.  


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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