Best-selling author Elizabeth Berg has published fiction and nonfiction in The New York Times Magazine, Ladies' Home Journal, and New Woman. She has been nominated for a National Magazine Award for her graceful, witty writing. In The Pull of the Moon, she alternates letters and journal entries to trace a middle-aged woman's impulsive, and solitary, drive across country. Can the middle age years still hold as much promise as the full moon of youth? Nan has no answer to that question, but she knows that the moon of her life is on the wane. As she drives away from home, turning the wheel toward an uncertain future, Nan begins to contemplate her relationships with her husband and her daughter. Slowly, over nights spent in highway motels, and meals eaten in booth-lined diners, she regains a focus in her life that she had given up for lost. Funny, poignant, and often dazzling, Elizabeth Berg's novel will instantly appeal to women of all ages. From the moments spent studying the time lines of her body to Nan's re-examination of what keeps her in her marriage, each word resonates with gentle honesty and growing strength.
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"Berg's book "Pull of the Moon" is about a woman who desides to take a break from her life. She goes off on an adventure and leaves her husband and teenage son on her own. She reconnects with the self she's lost in her constant giving to her family without refilling herself. This is a fun book and a good read. Makes me wonder what I would do if I took off from my life for awhile!"
— Leslie (4 out of 5 stars)
“Berg’s gift as a storyteller lies most powerfully in her ability to find the extraordinary in the ordinary, the remarkable in the everyday.”
— Boston Globe“Reading The Pull of the Moon is like sitting down for a long, satisfying chat with a best girlfriend…[It] pleasantly encourages readers to recover a little life-embracing enthusiasm themselves.”
— Orlando Sentinel“Breathtaking…[Berg] writes with wry wit and aching lyricism, painting her characters as vividly as anyone writing today.”
— Charlotte Observer“When was the last time you thought about running away? In The Pull of the Moon, Berg shares her strength, the wonderful widening of her soul so that we, too, can take the journey in the ease of our chair.”
— Greensboro News & Record" Written as alternating letters and journal entries, this book resonated with me even though I am several years younger than Nan. "
— Carrie, 2/16/2014" Usually I love anything Elizabeth Berg writes. Not this one. Maybe because the woman in this book had feelings so foreign to my own. "
— Joan, 2/10/2014" Elizabeth Berg understands the female being in such an incredible way. This book reads more like a diary...one woman who must leave the past forever or for a time (only reading it will answer that) to find her heart, her soul, her identity once again. Every woman will identify with the deep emotions laid bare in this book. One of her early works, but one of her best. "
— Suzyberry, 1/31/2014" Always been a big fan of Elizabeth Berg. This book was really relevant 10 years ago when I first read it. Ten years later, while it might not be as relevant, it still had an emotional pull on me. Definitely more of a chic book. "
— Deborah, 1/21/2014" "Well, most women are full to the brim...I think we are most of us ready to explode..." (p. 35) "
— Helen, 1/19/2014" A light read, a woman redefining her relationship with her husband by taking a solo road trip to redefine herself. "
— CarolB, 1/16/2014" I think every woman should read this book. An amazing book loved every page of it. "
— Annette, 1/11/2014" Re-reading this wonderful novel. I think this is my very favorite first person narrative novel. Normally, I prefer third person, but the main character Nan jumped out at me and I immediately loved her and all of her feelings. m "
— Machel, 1/1/2014" Woman going through menopause runs away from her husband and goes on a road-trip. I rolled my eyes a lot as I read this. "In the bathroom...there will be a claw-footed tub, and in the summer, I will paint its toenails, and in the winter I'll knit slippers for it." [roll eyes] "
— Cathie, 12/26/2013" This is definitely a book I would recommend to those women who have a sense of longing to just get away from life for a little while. It's funny, authentic, and at a time or two brutally honest. "
— Rebecca, 12/12/2013" This is my favorite book by Elizabeth Berg. Tightly written, never misses a beat, and leaves you wanting to know the big...what next. I loved it. "
— Lynn, 12/1/2013" i read this book in my 20s and didn't realize how much I didn't understand it. Now I get more of the transitions, but will need to read it again in 20 years when I will be in my 60s. "
— Bridget, 11/26/2013" Good summer reading. Running away from home at age 50. Also trying to run away from aging. Has a nice thoughtful and thought provoking finish. "
— Nancy, 11/11/2013" I have sympathy for Martin. "
— Elmira, 11/8/2013" For anyone who ever felt like running away. "
— Jean, 10/26/2013" Enjoyable story about finding yourself. Inspiring. "
— Thauna, 8/30/2013" Fab book for anyone turning 50 - or not turning 50! This author knows exactly how to write what women feel. She's an amazing writer ... draws you in and hold you through the entire book. Many of my friends would love, love this book. "
— Sue, 8/3/2013" 1st edition, signed by author "
— Beth, 5/27/2013" This is my least favorite of all of Berg's books thus far "
— Frandy, 4/25/2013" I could not put this one down. Felt like I was reading something I shouldn't. It always made me look at a few things in my own life and take the time to really examine them. "
— Elessa, 4/16/2013" Didn't get much reading time on vacation & wasted some on this. Passages that were the berg I enjoy but a foolish, idiotic, rich, spoiled woman character I wanted to get hit by a bus. "
— Pam, 2/3/2013" I think all women should read this book. It was one woman's journey to discover herself. "
— Rebecca, 10/23/2012" I have really liked some of this author's books. This was my least favorite ever--and that includes books I didn't finish. The narrator/protagonist suffers from 'first world problems'. I might feel differently if I were 50 or menopausal, but her issues ring pretty hollow to me. "
— Carrieuoregon, 9/20/2012" i enjoyed this one. elizabeth berg typically writes about women and our complicated ways. i relate to much of her writing. clearly she's famous for her good, quick-reading, fictitious content. "
— Jean, 8/29/2012" This is another book that I listened to, and I liked it so much I bought the book so I could re-read on occasion. It's about a woman I have nothing in common with, yet I really felt like I understood her, and more importantly I really liked her. "
— Robin, 7/12/2012" I've read this multiple times. I love everything by Elizabeth Berg. "
— Webajeb, 3/23/2012" Meh. This story wasn't for me. Wealthy, self-indulgent, 50 yr old woman leaves her husband in Boston for a cross county adventure, writing daily letters to him describing her self revelations. "
— Tracy, 2/11/2012" While I could relate to this character on more than once occasion, I found the entire adventure for the main character was just thin. Good prose...just not a great story. "
— Jane, 12/26/2011" Rather compelling, often humurous journal of a middle-age woman taking stock of her marriage. "
— Jane, 7/18/2011" Found at a Fijian hostel book exchange. It really moved me and I took it home for rereading. "
— K, 7/4/2011" A woman abruptly leaves her husband to travel around the country. Her ruminations are engaging and painfully honest. I'm always drawn to novels that tell the story of a marriage -- this is well done and original. "
— Mary, 6/25/2011" Made myself finish this book. Which seems odd to me as I identify with the main character(life stage, feeling trapped/bound). I would love to have the freedom and liberty she takes. But this book was drudgery. Seriously...gag. "
— Jan, 5/12/2011" I wonder if I would ever have the guts to run away and come back! "
— Annie, 2/25/2011" I liked the story and the ending. Although nothing happened, the question of whether she would return or not kept me interested. I liked the idea of their marriage evolving because of her leaving for a bit. I'll read some more Elizabeth Berg I think. "
— Laurie, 2/24/2011" The thought I'd like this one a lot more...quick read but did nothing for me. "
— Heidi, 2/1/2011" There are books that have something to tell you and something to say and find you at the precise right time or they may have not had the impact. This was one of those books. "
— Sheila, 1/29/2011" I enjoyed this book. It was the second book of Elizabeth Berg I read and will go on to read more. She writes with so much honesty I love and believe in her. She's a gem. The story and plot was like a real life possibility. She took us on a very good ride. "
— Barbara, 1/28/2011" Started very slow for me. I didn't like her at all. But then I grew to understand and identify with her. "
— Jonlyn, 1/7/2011Elizabeth Berg is the author of many bestselling novels, including Open House, an Oprah’s Book Club selection. Durable Goods and Joy School were selected as ALA Best Books of the Year. She adapted The Pull of the Moon into a play that enjoyed sold-out performances in Chicago and Indianapolis. Her work has been translated into twenty-seven languages, and three of her novels have been turned into television movies. She is the founder of Writing Matters, a quality reading series dedicated to serving author, audience, and community.
Barbara Caruso, winner of numerous Earphones Awards for narration, is an accomplished actress. A graduate of London’s prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she was a featured player in the Royal Shakespeare Company. She has played starring roles on Broadway and in theaters across the country. She won the Alexander Scourby Reader of the Year Award for her performances of young adult fiction and has more than one hundred audiobook narrations to her credit.