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An advice columnist for a local newspaper, Julieanne Gillis dispenses wisdom to her readers, but somehow missed the signs that something was amiss in her own home. Devoted to being a good mother and keeping her twenty-year marriage fresh and exciting, she is shocked by her husband's surprise announcement that he needs a “sabbatical” from their life together—and devastated when he disappears, leaving Julie with no funds to raise two teenagers and a small daughter alone. But it is the discovery that Julieanne suffers from a serious illness that truly crumbles her family's foundation—setting her children on a dangerous, quixotic journey to locate their missing father before it's too late.
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By Jodi-Hummingbird
About half-way through this book, I thought it was one of the best books I had ever read and certainly one of the best where a main character has a serious chronic illness.
There was a bit of insight into what it's like to suddenly have your body change and not be able to do things you've done so easily many many times before. How surreal that is. How unbelievable at first, and how easy to try to, and want to, explain away as nothing serious. There was also a short bit about how you can't live in crisis so you have to kind of accept what is happening but live somewhat in denial to get by (in order not to burn out or to be in a constant state of immobilising self-pity).
I have a severe chronic neurological illness myself (similar to MS, but more chronically severe than this case of relapsing and remitting MS), so I could relate well to both of these descriptions.
Also good were the examples of how kind people can be, and how cruel, despite or even because of illness. Including close family members.
At first I thought the description of MS quite good, and I liked how the author really seemed to be showing how severe it could be (and to my mind, how severe some illnesses can be generally; something many people have no idea about). The description of the stress of knowing you have an unpredictable course of the disease and that your future could be much worse was well-done too.
Perhaps it was just in order to not make the novel too 'depressing' but by the end of it...the facts of MS seemed to be being minimised a bit (via the miraculous interferon treatment mostly I suppose) ....in order to facilitate the happy ending I guess. You can see why it might annoy some MSers reading it (as some reviews have stated).
The ending though, did let the book down enormously. As one reviewer said so perfectly: "It's almost like she got tired of the book and gave it to Danielle Steele to finish." There was also: "The happy ending was just plain unbelievable--the odds of something like that happening in real life are incredible. Seems to me that Mitchard couldn't figure out how to end the book, so she just tied a pretty bow on it and hoped for the best."
I'd have given the book 5 stars until I read the last quarter of the book. Although having said that, I wish, so much, that everyone I know that is so very ill and vulnerable (and alone) could also have such a perfect knight in shining armour...or even, a not so completely perfect approximation therof! Not necessarily to save the day all by himself...but some companionship and support for the very ill among us might be nice, in an ideal world...
So I can see why the author did it, but...it is still a bit unsatisfying.
I did like the way the main character was, as the main review said: "neither a long-suffering martyr nor a whining, clueless cliché" as those are the two usual options in this type of book and it's so maddening! But for me, a tiny bit more of her `saving herself' via personal growth (being grateful for what she does have) and finding her own strength rather than being saved almost completely by the man, would be even better.
A really great book overall though, especially for readers living with chronic illness. Some gritty realism and drama balanced with a fairytale ending...but, it is a novel I suppose, not a documentary and people are looking for happy endings and escapism largely. So fair enough probably, in all fairness!
I liked the poetry throughout the book too, reminded me of the way Peggy Munson writes about her chronic neurological illness in `Pathogenesis' to some extent.
By Angela Linton (Manchester)
I notice that JM says in her blog that she loves doing research and prefers it to writing - TBH I think she could have done a little more research into MS before writing this book - I've never heard of anyone anyone in the UK undergoing the kind of monthly chemo type treatments that Julie does in the novel - but I sort of let her off with that thinking - well maybe in America - who knows ...
Other than that it's a great book - well written with believable well-rounded characters - the character of Leo in particular is a great depiction of a man looking for a sneaky getout clause from his marriage - Julie seem a believable enough, sometimes irritating, sometimes lovable heroine and I loved the chapters narrated by her son Gabe (I'm also glad that the author had the sense to keep the narrators down to two characters - Jodi Picoult could take a leaf out of her book).
I'm only sorry that she chose such a weak copout (to say nothing of extremely unlikely) ending when Julie is rescued from her financial worries by a new Prince Charming - (a tall rich handsome surgeon, no less). It's almost like she got tired of the book and gave it to Danielle Steele to finish. Or maybe some editor told her to tag on a good old fashioned romantic ending after all the doom and gloom as female readers would feel cheated without it. I'm sure that some readers will love the romance but personally - though I did want things to work out for Julie and her family -I'd rather have seen a more believable ending that would have seen this sister doing for herself instead of placing her happiness in the hands of a man (again). Still a great read that I'd recommend to anyone ...
By Theresa W (mi, usa)
While Breakdown Lane was not as good as I was anticipating, especially after really enjoying books like Cage of Stars, The Most Wanted and Deep End of the Ocean, it was still a good read.
This book was a little slow at the beginning for me, I didn't immediately feel drawn to the characters like I normally do in a good book. But, it picked up a little ways in and the storyline kept me reading and wanting to know what was going to happen. At the same time I began to appreciate the characters in this book and their situation. (Even if a few of them I couldn't relate to or to a point makes the reader despise them.)
Over-all, I liked the book and have Now You See Her on my to-read list. I think Mitchard is a unique, creative writer and would recommend her.
By BeachReader (Delaware)
I always have to have an audio book in the car...but I wish the covers carried a warning that said "Narrators speak in voices". GRRRR If I had seen such a warning on this audio, I never would have gotten it.
I really dislike the voices in which this narrator speaks. Gabe sounds strange and the little girl, Aurora, sounds like an elf. Julieanne's voice is fine.
Why do narrators feel the need to do speak in voices??? The average listenter is smart enough to figure out when the narrative changes to another character.
This spoiled a good book. By the way, clever title. Perfect!
By Jennifer Wardrip (Central Illinois, USA)
I actually picked up this book on the recommendation of--don't laugh!--Stephen King. As one of the ten books he recommended for late summer reads in an issue of Entertainment Weekly Magazine, the premise hooked me.
The book centers around a woman who not only loses her husband to a wacky desire to live a simpler and more-fulfilling life, but has to single-handedly raise two teenagers and a young daughter by herself, all while dealing with her diagnosis of MS.
THE BREAKDOWN LANE is women's fiction at its best. I actually enjoyed the two first-person accounts that make up the book (it's in the form of a journal belonging to the mother and one written by the son). Although it does end up with a rather happily-ever-after ending, this book details life in all its ups and downs--and you'll appreciate being along for the ride.
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