I ended up getting this from the library because I forgot to check whether any copies of the Emperor's Clothes were on the shelf before I went. (They were not.)
I feel like I've heard that each of her successive novels gets a lot better, so this was definitely good enough for me to keep the Emperor's Clothes on my "to read list."

I found this, Claire Messud's first novel, a bit depressing, hoping as I was for a happier resolution between the sisters. Still, the ending was completely realistic, as was the portrayal of familial relationships throughout the novel.

I myself, really like Claire Messud's books. I think her books have a lot of tongue in cheek humor. Her characters are not likable in the normal sense, but if you can see that she is making them that way to let you see your own foibles, and again can laugh at them, you will "get" her. The ending let me down a bit in this one. But I guess the point is that the sisters will never change.

If I could give this book less than 1 star I think I would

I like to wait until I finish a book to read other's reviews. I was surprised to learn that this book, though I knew it was 'old' (from 1994), was the author's debut novel. I was also very surprised that it got so few reviews on Amazon and that many were not good ones. Although, I have to vent for a moment here. How helpful is a one-line review, anyway? I say, pshaw on them.

I enjoyed this tale of the diverged lives of two middle-aged sisters very much. I was entranced by Emmy's experiences in Bali, which is how the book starts off. When it switched to Virginia's story, in England, I felt a bit disappointed for a few pages, partly because I wanted to continue the adventure in Bali with Emmy, and partly because I just didn't connect with 'old maid' staunchly religious Virginia. However, both sisters experience revelations as the story continues, and Virginia's are the deepest and the most unexpected.

I was just as drawn into Virginia & her mother's adventure to Skye, in Scotland, as I was to the happenings in Bali. Written in exquisite prose, I was reminded of why I have fallen in love with this author's work.

I was not thrilled with the anti-climactic nature of the ending, although, really, that is life sometimes. We are changed by our experiences outside of our 'normal' lives, yet that rarely leads to a drastic change in trajectory, in most cases. Sometimes, it's the small things that get rearranged within us as we grow and go on with life.

Wonderful book. I just learned this was her first which makes it really extraordinary.
The story of two sisters who are not close, one in England and the other in Australia. Told is separate chapters until the end. It is really about, love, family, finding yourself as a person as an individual and not in relation to a husband or other family member. It really hit home with me. I have enjoyed some of her other books.

This is a story of two sisters both struggling with their own identities at crisis points in their lives. After their father's early death, they are raised in London by a rather nonnurturing mother who definitely favored her younger daughter Emmy, but in later life is cared for by her oldest, Virginia. As children the more serious Virginia resents her sister, Emmy who seems to fare better in most situations and Emmy resents that she can never seem to please her sister.

Emmy's release from this somewhat dysfunctional family seemed to occur with her marriage to a wealthy Australian businessman. Her life of ease is suddenly disrupted when her husband announces that he wants to divorce her. She escapes to Bali, and island in Indonesia where she lives for awhile in the household of "Buddy" whose lifestyle is a little over the border of honesty and morals. However, the difference from what she has known fascinates Emmy and she stays on for sometime hoping to figure out what she should do.

Virginia, meanwhile is living in London and caring for her mostly unappreciative mother. An earlier emotional breakdown was resolved, much to her mother's scorn, by her having discovered God and friends in a church. Virginia has a crush on her boss, and when he puts her on a forced vacation time that has the feeling of being fired, Virginia again crashes. Her mother Melody thinks this is an opportunity to have Virginia take her to her mother's childhood home on the island of Skye in Scotland where she thinks she will die.

The book alters between the sisters somewhat parallel struggle for identity. One could hope that their resolution of their own issues would bring them back together. Indeed in the epilogue they are together at the wedding of Emmy's daughter, but the reader is left with the feeling that while they both are somewhat stronger than they were at the beginning of the book and want to reconnect, most likely they will not.

Usually in fiction books, I find characters with whom I identify, but that was not the case in this book. However, Claire Messud does do an excellent job of developing the characters in the book and through them gives some insightful conclusions about life.

Beautiful writing. She could write about anything and it would be worth reading for the pleasure of the prose.

This was the story of two middle-aged sisters, one who was getting over her divorce in Indonesia, and one who was living with her mother and involved in a Bible study group. These are two completely different stories for the vast majority of the book. Made me want to visit Indonesia

The writing in this novel was superb and the characters so well developed. Might have given it more stars, but it had such a melancholic undertone that I was saddened often. That alone made it hard to "love" it. But, a worthy read nonetheless.

Two sisters make very different choices in their lives. This is explored in alternating chapters, and is insightful in helping the reader understand that there is no way that leads to ultimate fulfillment, just different ways to make it through life. Refreshingly honest.

I don't know what to make of this. I feel it was written over a three week manic episode. Messud keeps you at such a distance from the characters and the story unfolds at such a rapid pace that it's a chaotic read. I don't know if that's intentional and brilliant or just very poor character development and lack of a complete plot. Certain characters and plotlines are introduced only to be seemingly forgotten about. I certainly won't be recommending this novel any time soon.