Gloria-C

I read Gloria while on my honeymoon, and could not put it down. When not reading it, I found myself thinking about Gloria and her experiences, tribulations, and revelations. Gloria is an intense, complex and amazing character. As I read this book, I found myself identifying with her in many ways, and trying to stop her from certain decisions she would come to regret as well. She is a brilliant, compassionate young woman who grows and develops more and more as you turn the pages. Maillard's talent is indisputable -- he weaves in poetry and literature emphasizing Gloria's search for life, truth and insight through poetry. The other characters in this book areequally as complex -- and amazingly developed. Primarily, people weave in and out of Gloria's life and are all an integral part of who she is and how she develops as a person. The reader watches her growth and development as she interacts with various people differently, and more assertively throughout the book. Words cannot do justice to the beauty, poeticism, and intelligence mastered in this novel. Already, I believe I will read it again, and will definitely recommend it highly.

I also picked this book for the beautiful cover and was not at all disappointed with the story inside. While reading I realized that, although this novel is set in a time way before mine, I could completely relate to what Gloria has to go through in order to find herself. I loved the refrences to the fashions of the time and the outfits that Maillard uses to costume this cast of privledged characters made my imagaination sparkle. This is the perfect gift to give to those women who have graduated from college and don't really know what to do with their lives (it is also a perfect read for the mothers of said women). "Gloria" was a wonderful, beautiful, and compelling story and I can't wait to read this book again!

I admit, I picked this book because of the cover. I loved the photo! But after reading about 50 pages, I realized sometimes you really can pick a book for its cover (albeit very rarely). This is the story of Gloria, a recent college graduate and member of a country club family. During the summer after graduation, she relives her experiences from a tortuous time at boarding school to successfully pledging her sorority at school. Nestled between her remembrances are Gloria's summer existence including spending time with her family and some potentially dangerous interactions with her father's old war buddy. Although this sounds pretty tame, wait until you read the book. Gloria is a master at acting the part of the society daughter, but underneath, she is just like the rest of us, dealing with her sexuality, her need to be accepted and loved. I completely loved this novel, both for its highly detailed descriptions of the time period and setting and for the author's talent in developing such a sympathetic, realistic main character. I can't wait for another book from Mr. Maillard!

this is a wild book, so over the top it'll make you laugh out loud for sheer amazement. hard to believe a man wrote it, since it's loaded with details on 1950's women's clothes, makeup, and sex. gloria is a little rich girl in the 1950's. they pretend she's oppressed, but nothing gets her down; she wins beauty contests and gets straight a's in college, she has boy friends til hell won't have 'em and clothes like princess diana, and the final sequence is as satisfying a piece of role-reversal revenge as anything i've ever read. not great literature, maybe, but a wonderful read.

What a trip this book was! I found myself thinking about Gloria at work, and wanted to be home, finding out more about her. I resented any interruptions while reading, and found myself slowing down my reading, because I didn't want it to end. Gloria is a fabulous character, and the time so well researched. Maillard demonstrates an incredible knowledge of college women in the 50's... and everything that went along with that time. You must read this book!