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| Little Earthquakes | 
 enlarge | Author: Jennifer Weiner
Publisher: Pocket Star
Category: Book
List Price: $7.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  246 reviews
Sales Rank: 82432
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 608
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.6
ISBN: 1416528636
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9781416528630
ASIN: 1416528636
Publication Date: September 26, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More.
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Amazon.com Review
Jennifer Weiner, whose novels Good in Bed and In Her Shoes earned her a place among women's book club aficionados everywhere, proves she still has the touch with Little Earthquakes, a tale of love, heartbreak, redemption, and friendship. Weiner's novel centers around four new mothers, all of whom must learn to adjust their lives and their marriages to deal with the challenges of raising children. Ayinde is a beautiful, biracial newscaster who moves to Philadelphia after her husband, a star player for the NBA, is traded to the 76ers. She meets Becky, an overweight chef who plays the "pregnant or just fat" game every time she passes a mirror, and Kelly, an overachieving event planner who has her whole life mapped out down to the most minute details, after going into labor at a prenatal yoga class. The three become fast friends, and come to rely on each other for everything from burping techniques to intense emotional support. The group grows to include Lia, a semi-famous Hollywood starlet who leaves her husband and returns to Philly after a sudden tragedy. While Little Earthquakes may leave little to the imagination, and some of the characters are laughably stereotypical (the Mama's boy Jewish doctor and the cheating ball player, to name a few), it is Weiner's gift for creating compelling characters with whom her readers can identify that make her such a successful storyteller. --Gisele Toueg
Product Description
Jennifer Weiner's rich, witty, true-to-life New York Times bestselling novel tells the story of three very different women as they navigate one of life's most wonderful and perilous transitions: the journey of new motherhood.Becky is a plump, sexy chef who has a wonderful husband and baby girl, a restaurant that's received citywide acclaim -- and the mother-in-law from hell. Kelly is an event planner who's struggling to balance work and motherhood while dealing with an unemployed husband who seems content to channel-surf for eight hours a day. And Ayinde's basketball superstar husband breaks her trust at her most vulnerable moment, putting their new family even more in the public eye. Then there's Lia, a Philadelphia native who has left her Hollywood career behind, along with her husband and a tragic secret, to start her life all over again. From prenatal yoga to postbirth sex, Little Earthquakes is a frank, funny, fiercely perceptive take on the comedies and tragedies of love and marriage.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 241 more reviews...
 Girl, You Just Have to Read this Book! September 23, 2004
36 out of 39 found this review helpful
"Little Earthquakes" was the latest selection in my book group. I wasn't sure what to expect, but after checking out the cover, I had a feeling I was going to enjoy it. And enjoy it I did!
What we have are four friends that seriously bond during their pregnancies. Our main leading lady is Becky, who is married to a doctor and somewhat overweight. The other three women are Ayinde, who is married to a famous basketball player; Kelly the requisite perky blonde and Lia, an actress who has left Hollywood.
The characters were so well developed that I was able to identify with them and feel their pain, so to speak. "Little Earthquakes" shows the women in all their not-so-perfect glory. We experience the birth of their children, see first hand their lack of sleep and the struggles they face while adjusting to motherhood. All the while, we are laughing along with them, at them and for them.
I can't wait to discuss this book with my book group and see how much the other girls enjoyed it. I am going to thoroughly sing its praises to anyone who will listen. This is one great story!
Review for audio CD version - an enjoyable and emotionally engaging listen November 9, 2004
25 out of 31 found this review helpful
This book was read by the author, and she did a beautiful job. She intoned all the subtle jokes and really gave life to the emotions each character was feeling. Her voice is low, gentle and soft but very clear and audible, and portrays emotions well. So thumbs up for the reading.
The book itself started out a bit slowly to me, since I like action a bit more than emotions, but by the second CD I was hooked and truly cared about each of the characters. It is definitely women's fiction, it deals a ton with emotions, babies, relationships, and a good portion of the book is women talking about these things with other women.
Even with all the talking about feelings, this book managed to be a real hit with me, just because of the author's talent at writing believable characters into believable situations. I cried a few times through the book, and truly cared about what happened.
The abridgement was unobtrusive - I wouldn't have known it was abridged if the audiobook hadn't been labeled as such.
Fans of her previous books won't be disappointed.
This should be given to all women considering motherhood! March 29, 2005
16 out of 19 found this review helpful
Honestly...reading this book really made me think long and hard about being a wife and having children. It reads like the harsh truth. The best part of all, it shows that even in trying times there can be a happy ending.
The book tells the stories of 4 women (3 whom are pregnant), each of different lives and circumstances who happen to become friends when one of them goes into labor after a yoga class. One after another they give birth and their lives are never the same. From dealing with husbands to mothers-in-law to the babies themselves; life is anything but picture perfect or happily ever after. However, the power of friendship succeeds it all.
I have enjoyed all of Weiner's books, this one included. It was quite different from the others, which was nice as well. Her characters quickly endear themselves to you, making it hard to put the book down. If you haven't read her before definitely get Good In Bed, as that is my favorite so far!
strong insightful character study September 16, 2004
13 out of 19 found this review helpful
Lia thought she had it all with Sam, but tragedy has sent her fleeing Hollywood and him. Popular Chef Becky loves her husband Andrew, but detests her interfering nasty mother-in-law. Kelly works hard so that she and her spouse can live a better life than she did as a kid, but her husband Steve lost his job and seems not to care about anything even her. Reporter Ayinde is married to a basketball superstar Richard who she though was faithful to her, but now knows he is just like every other jock, using the wrong head to break his vows.
Lia meets the other three women, who already are friends and pregnant. She joins their circle as she sees sisters with spousal troubles. Can this quartet provide the safety net and support that each one desperately needs at a critical time in their prospective lives?
LITTLE EARTHQUAKES is a strong insightful character study that runs along four subplots that rotate between the women, but intersects as each tries to be there for the others. The story line hooks family drama readers from the start as the tales seem real, touching, and somewhat amusing though serious. The key cast comes across as friends and neighbors helping one another cope. Jennifer Weiner furbishes a deep look at varying relationships, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Harriet Klausner
 well...it certainly makes motherhood depressing July 5, 2005
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
I am a bit surprised by the amount of reviewers who feel this book would be perfect for new mothers. While it was realistic in the sense that motherhood isn't easy or fun ALL OF THE TIME, it certainly makes becoming a mother seem like one of the most miserable, marriage-wrecking experiences a woman can find herself in.
I just found all of the women EXTREMELY unrealistic. Kelly is a materialistic complainer, and can't even have a rational discussion with her husband? Instead, she gets bent out of shape because he gets laid off, and basically considers him one step above fungus? Please! No man (or woman) would stand around while their mate chastised them. The explanation of her "awful" childhood is supposed to make us understand, but instead, it made me sick to my stomach whenever it was her turn to speak in the book.
Becky, supposedly the funny one since she threw out the most sarcastic comments of the group, all of a SUDDEN changes her heart about her psychotic mother-in-law? Honestly, I was suffocating in the sugary-sweet sap this author was gagging me with here. Plus, she lets some freaky, creepy stranger into her home, etc? Way to watch out, Becky. How about we let the stalker babysit?
Ayinde....obvious character....takes her cheating husband back. I can't begin to tell you how realistic it is that she would want the other woman's phone number...sure, let's be a happy family after my husband nationally embarasses me.
Lia...ok, because so many men would just take their wives back after she ditches them for a year? Oh, and the mother is waiting with open arms after Lia selfishly leaves her for 11 years?
None of these characters were sympathetic or likeable. They complained constantly, and magically everything pulls itself together in the end. I would never recommend this book to a new mother...it would probably depress her too much.
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