Home Safe

Elizabeth Berg is a writer whose new books this reviewer picks up unconditionally. Why? Quite simply, she writes stories from her heart and soul about women and their lives. Berg always has something important to say about their circumstances and experiences. Best of all, her quality stories and writing always deliver a wonderful reading experience. HOME SAFE, her latest novel, is no exception. Helen Ames measures the passing of time in days without Dan. Her husband died suddenly and has been gone 11 months and three days. He was the kind of guy who, according to Helen, handled "the practical side of their life together," while she brought her imagination to the relationship. And with the loss of her husband, her writing, the other anchor in her life, has suddenly taken a hiatus. Even when she gets a fan letter that would make any successful writer furious enough to think to herself, "I'll show you what writing is all about," she still can't write. Her doubts worsen after she flubs a public speaking performance. With so much changed, what is her life all about now? As Helen reacts to her grief, she turns to her daughter Tessa for help with the practical side of life. It would be easy for Tessa to become the fix-it person, just like her father. Except that Tessa is 27 years old with her own life to grow into --- which Helen hopes is marriage to a nice man. As if she didn't have enough to deal with, surprises are still in store for Helen. She learns that Dan, who took care of their finances, withdrew a large amount of their retirement money. She does not know why this happened or where it went, but now she worries she needs to replace it, so she takes a position teaching a creative writing workshop. Her students, who are from various ages and professions, meet and share their work, learning to understand another person's point of view. At their graduation they will be asked to read their material to the audience in an auditorium. Meanwhile, another workshop class is being taught by a writer whose view of writing and publishing is contrary to Helen's. When an editor and agent decide to attend the graduation of the two classes, Helen and the other instructor wonder whose students will attract more attention. Helen still is not writing but finds satisfaction teaching writing and helping her students. This sub-plot is especially appealing on its own for anyone involved in the writing life. When Helen eventually does discover where the retirement money has gone, her life and her relationship with her daughter become open to new perspectives and healing. And, as her personal life circumstances continue to parallel her writing career, Helen is able to reclaim herself and her creativity. HOME SAFE is one of those books that will remain on this reader's shelf to be read again and again. The journey that Helen Ames takes is rich with Elizabeth Berg's expert touch, showing us a heartfelt perspective on loss and renewal. Along with Helen, we experience

After reading all the negative reviews, I was pleasantly surprised at how good this book really was! I love her writing style and I couldn't put it down. I just bought Open House at a used book store and I can't wait to read it.

Yes, the main character was wildly dependent on her husband -- but I have known women exactly like this. It is far more common than it should be. I found the main character very appealing and likable, and the book did a nice job of chronicling her growth. I don't know the author's other works, but if this is her worst as some reviewers have said, then I'm going to check out the rest of her collection, that's for sure.

I'll read (and have read) most anything Elizabeth Berg writes. But HOME SAFE really hit home with me, as it circles around so many issues I can relate to. Berg has a way of writing intelligently -- yet with heart -- about middle-aged women. In this book, her treatment of widowhood, writer's block, career change, and empty nesting is spot on. Though I am not widowed or divorced, I'm a professional writer who's battling serious changes in her own career -- right after launching her beloved only child into the real world. I can't tell you how many times I saw myself reflected in the pages of this lovely book, or gasped aloud while reading it. It's as though Berg is holding up a mirror to my life, and showing me how to see it more clearly and with compassion.

First off, I must admit that I'm a huge fan of Elizabeth Berg's writing. I have read most of Ms. Berg's books except a few of her earlier works. I find that Ms. Berg connects to the heart of a reader by touching on topics that we can relate to. She has a skill in her writing from creating characters that a reader connects to and she uses words and phrases that are heartfelt and realistic. That is why I am such a fan of Ms. Berg's books. In reading Home Safe, the characters as well as the story all touched me and I felt such a connection to the honest emotions and feelings expressed throughout the book. In Home Safe, we meet Helen, a recent widow and writer. She is trying to adjust to the sudden death of her husband Dan, her struggling relationship with her adult daughter Tessa and her parents aging and declining health. Helen was a successful and independent writer and already had several novels published. She finds herself struggling to write again and we follow her along this journey as she works through all of the recent changes in her life. Helen's husband Dan tended to shelter her from life's difficulties and Helen now has to learn how to resolve simple household repairs along with managing their finances and other day to day issues. She discovers that there are some mysteries related to their finances and an expense that her husband did not share with her before his death. Helen is forced to take charge of her life and make decisions that allow her to get to know herself, her daughter and these decisions change the course of her life. Helen's character narrates the story and it is written in a a style that is typical of Elizabeth Berg. It's such an honest, open style that you almost feel as if you know Helen. There is a familiarity to the storytelling that is comforting and for me pulls me right into the book. We walk along the path with Helen and through her anecdotes are charmed and challenged just a bit to think how these ideas apply so aptly to life. Home Safe would make a wonderful book club discussion book as there is a lot to discuss about this book including identity issues, marriage, mother-daughter issues, friendships, aging, widowhood, love and death.