The English Teacher Audiobook

" I most agree with a previous review. It took me a while to care about the main character. I felt sorry for her and mad at her at the same time. But it was a good book. "

" This is absolutely one one of my favorite novels of all time. It is usually very difficult to qualify any of the books I've read as "favorites." But for its beautiful use of literature as a tool to hint at, (therby encapsulating) old secrets and pain, I will proudly declare this amazing novel as being in my top ten. Underneath it all, a tremendous love story of mother and son, and husband and wife. "

" This was a letdown after Father of the Rain, which was so vivid and heart-wrenching. This novel also had deep angst and dysfunctional families, but it came across as muted somehow. Perhaps since the main character worked so hard to be distant, the storytelling was as well? "

" Interesting read, although I did not get very interested until the last few chapters. Then it all came together for me and was quite good. "

" Although I didn't like this nearly as much as Father of the Rain -- and was periodically maddened and vexed by the protagonist -- I ultimately came to enjoy it quite a bit. A smart novel about the aftermath of trauma and the limited ways people have to deal with it. Not a perfect book by any means, but worth a read. "

" I found this so tedious that I resorted to my childhood habit of skipping to read the last chapter and closing the book. "

" Some aspects of this book are wonderful, I think. The two main characters are very interesting. First of all, there's the mother who thinks she's in control of a life that she compartmentalizes to the point of neglecting her son and her own psychological health. She's out of touch with her feelings and needs, owing to a traumatic experience that remains undisclosed until the end (except for hints). Consequently, her actions sometimes result from unconscious impulses she's clueless about. King does a good job of balancing the woman's flawed consciousness with that of the son Peter, who has been stunted by his mother's lack of nurturing. Peter is a very likable character, and thus his affability balances his mother's sometimes monstrous, self-destructive behavior. A few other characters in the novel are engaging, and the parallel plot of the stepfather's children, whose mother has died suddenly, balances well with the story of Peter and the mother (I'm blanking out on her name). Yet King's plotting gets in the way of the character arcs. "

" This book was decent. The title character lives in the books she teaches more than in real life. A tragic experience in her past has seemingly made her afraid of reality. Worth the read, but not one of my favorites. "

" I know this author, my mom nannies for her kids. so I had to read her stuff. Great page by page, interesting way of putting things, but overall story was a bit slow & it had a weird ending. "

" I loved this book. Full of angst and quirky characters, it reminded me of the writings of Ann Tyler or early John Irving. I wish I had read Tess of the D'Urbervilles before reading this book. "

" Sort of a domestic fiction with a predictable surprise. The only suspense was wondering when the author was finally going to reveal it. "

" I loved this book! The characters were so human: frail, strong, foolish, wise, cowardly and brave, sometimes all within the same scene. The writing is delightful, and I'm eager to read more of King's work. "

" I read the book too long ago to remember what the "secret" was. I remember getting caught up in the story, but I really remember thinking I needed to read Tess of the D'Urbevilles (sp?) again since this fictional English teacher taught it to her 10th graders. "

" impressively written story about secrets, choices and redemption. "

" Finishing the last of Lily King's works...I will be counting the time until she releases her next masterpiece. "

" This author really brings characters to life and examines how secrets can destroy relationships between mother, son and husband. Very well written. "

" Interesting read on an English teacher whose fears get in the way of real life, but allow her to perseverate about fiction books like Tess of the D'Urbervilles,etc. "

" SUMMER READING CLUB: "Best parts are scenes of the main character teaching English to unruly and uninterested high schoolers. Rest was hard to swallow with an improbable ending." -Alice Kintisch "

" Not nearly the dramatic thriller it promises to be, but I really liked how it ended. "

" It was a quick read and it was on a recommended list. That's about all I can say about it. It did not engage me. "

" Book Club recommendation. Month 1. Read Tess and watch the the movie version. Discuss differences. Month 2. Read The English Teacher by Lily King. "

" I wasn't sure when I began this book if I would like it. The book ended up being really enjoyable and very hard to put down at the end. "

" I started this over christmas break and haven't finished it yet...Ok finally got around to finishing this. It wasn't good and I didn't like the protagonist and honestly I contemplated not even finishing. "

" Interesting read, although I did not get very interested until the last few chapters. Then it all came together for me and was quite good. "

" A little gimmicky, and thus predictable, with the whole Tess thing. "

" This author really brings characters to life and examines how secrets can destroy relationships between mother, son and husband. Very well written. "

" Finishing the last of Lily King's works...I will be counting the time until she releases her next masterpiece. "

" Really good story, well written. I have not read Tess of the d'Ubervilles, whichi probably would have further enhanced my reading experience here. I read it right after reading King's other book, the Pleasing Hour. "

" SUMMER READING CLUB: "Best parts are scenes of the main character teaching English to unruly and uninterested high schoolers. Rest was hard to swallow with an improbable ending." -Alice Kintisch "

" Two single parents marry, try to make a family but with disastrous results for her son, Peter. "

" Single mother...complicated relationship with her son and further complications when she marries and the resulting blended family. I enjoyed this book... "

" I most agree with a previous review. It took me a while to care about the main character. I felt sorry for her and mad at her at the same time. But it was a good book. "