Book reviews

Say When
Elizabeth Berg Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography Video
Elizabeth Berg Books
New book search
Elizabeth Berg Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of Say When
"Ellen and Griffin are married with one child, Zoe. Griffin is told one day that Ellen is no longer happy and has been having an affair. Ellen wants out. Although Griffin is devastated, he and Ellen try to remain cordial for the sake of Zoe. They are unable to live apart because of financial circumstances. Once Ellen is able to live on her own financially, she does leave and moves into an apartment. This book gives an accounting of what it is like to be inside a ‘perfect marriage', what it is like to emotionally ‘stay friends' for the sake of a child, the toll divorce takes on our young and how difficult it is to let go whether you are leaving or being left."
Jody T. Bixby, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Say When
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - 1980's-1999
Romance/Romance Problems Yes
Kind of romance: - marriage/relationship going to pieces
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - business executive
Age: - 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
Ethnicity/Nationality - White (American)
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - homemaker
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - throughout most of the book.
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 4 ()
United States Yes

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references - descript of kissing
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
Most similar books to Say When
Six Rainier Drive by Debbie Macomber
The Men and the Girls by Joanna Trollope
A Passionate Man by Joanna Trollope
Step Ball Change by Jeanne Ray
Jephte's Daughter by Naomi Ragen


Click here for more information about this book


Elizabeth Berg Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Jody T. Bixby  

SCHOLARS:
Alicia Cathers  Linda Napikoski  Judy Delaney  Paula  


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Literature books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Animal story

Crime & Police story

Ethnic/regional/gender life

Exploring into the wild

Family, caring for ill

Family, loving relations

Family, struggle with

Internal struggle/realization?

Job/Profession/Status story

Kids growing up/acting up?

Political/social activism

Poverty, surviving

Pregnancy/Child rearing

Religion theme?

Romance/Romance Problems

Sports Story?

War/Revolt/Disaster on civilians



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
17 FREE Sci-Fi Ebooks!
FREE "How to be happy" Ebook!
Funny Videos
Feedback


Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
George W. Bush 1:43:53 AM
Robert Segarra 5:13:47 PM
Deric Longden 3:49:15 PM
Slavomir Rawicz 10:00:34 AM
Karen Armstrong 10:51:40 AM
Anonymous 1:39:52 PM
Suzanne Weyn 6:24:19 PM
Colin Forbes 12:23:54 PM
John Christopher 5:12:45 AM
Tom Clancy 2:19:45 AM
Margaret Peterson Haddix 5:36:55 PM
Nikolai Tolstoy 7:46:16 AM
J.K. Rowling 11:40:22 PM
Jack Higgins 4:54:08 PM
Eloise Jarvis McGraw 12:51:17 PM
Jane Rubino 1:21:00 PM
Lori Wick 2:11:45 AM
Betty Mahmoody 5:57:33 PM
Patricia Cornwell 2:48:17 PM
Andrew Clements 9:13:44 PM

Silicon Valley
More message boards