While I Was Gone (Abridged): A Novel Audiobook

" Not what I was expecting at all. Very disappointed in the ending. Very wordy book and did not like the main character. "

" Tries to come across as more substantial than it really is...starts off well but ends up as a trite romance novel-ish type of read. "

" I read this book for a book club. I probably would not have finished it otherwise. The main character is needy and self indulgent. She spends an inordinate amount of time analyzing conversations, looks, gestures, expressions, and on and on in a pointless search for deeper meaning in plain, ordinary, everyday events. She has a nice life and she's hell bent on ruining it. "

" Wow!! I love this writers style. Jo has a life as a vetranarian, a minister husband and three grown daughters....and shes at the point of her life where the nest is empty and she keeps thinking back to a devastating moment she had in her twenties during the 60s. Then a house member from that time enters her life and starts things in motion that she may end up to regret, along with a monumentous revelation that lead her to make choices she'll come to regret...but Jo was prime for this to happen, it seems to be what she does best in life. Very powerful novel. "

" Just OK book. Very slow moving; the author bounced around too much and spent too long describing phases of characters life. "

" After I read this I went to read everything ue Miller has written.... "

" This was a quick read, but entertaining enough. I got a little frustrated with the main character a bit, but you'll have that every now and then. "

" I struggled through this book. Very slow moving. "

" I hated this book. I despised the main character. It was a complete waste of my time "

" A solid 7/10. Good beginning, bogged down somewhere in the middle, then 2 good twists. However, the ending left me a little unsatisfied. As for characters, I didn't really like Jo, but maybe that is an indication that she was well developed - as unlikeable ? "

" I give this book 3 1/2 stars. It was a page turner. Very Dark! Not really keen on any of the characters. "

" Perfect "summer read" - not much to talk about but it is a page turner and I found myself looking forward to the story everynight when I opened up the book. More interesting mother/daughter relationships. "

" I bought this because of the Oprah Book Club endorsement. Without all the extra junk the author randomly talks about, this book could easily boil down to 3 good chapters. It does have an interesting twist, but you have to skim -- fast -- to get to it. "

" Read this a few years ago. My book club read it. Good one "

" This is too much of the 60's lifestyle, too much "me" stuff, and too much of a waste of my time! I can't bring myself to finish reading it. "

" Refreshingly, the characters are flawed to the point of seeming quite real and ordinary. This was a well told story centered around secrets, betrayal and forgiveness, and I stayed engaged throughout, wanting to know what was going to happen next. "

" Second book I've read by this author, and I won't likely read any others. Both stories were fairly interesting, but no redeeming, very likeable characters. "

" It's been awhile but I remember the feeling of seeking out a book after having read a review and, rather than being disappointed (as I often am) feeling rewarded, lucky at the depth and breadth and emotion of this book. "

" Tale about a middle-aged woman's wild past catching up to her. She never stops wondering how she ended up living such an ordinary life. Intriguing at times, but at times she seems too self-absorbed, and I wanted to shake her and say "be thankful for your happy life and kind husband!" "

" Incredibly boring with unsympathetic characters. Very slow pace. I would not have read as far as I did if we had another computer in our house. "

" This was pretty good; easy, fast read. "

" Interesting read, although I was always waiting for SOMETHING to happen. While the ending was "correct" it was also disappointing, but that's the way life is sometimes. "

" Enjoyed it. Would read more of Miller's work. "

" A different book then I usually read. It was ok. "

" Very boring and not at all worth the time. It's always sad when an Oprah book is so disappointingly awful. "

" Kind of a sad book I have to say. "

" just ok, kept my attention but predictable at times. "

" One of my very favorite Oprah books. A very suspenseful novel. "

" What a mistake. Can't believe I wasted my time with this one. Had to FORCE myself to finish it. "

" This was an Oprah recommendation and was just okay for me. It was one of those books that you just keep waiting for something to happen but it never does. It had it's moments of interesting events but just was not that interesting. I wouldn't recommend spending any time with this book. "

" I know better than to read a book that was on Oprah's list. Tedious, completely predictable plot, full of unnecessary prosaic passages (which makes for quick reading because I can skim the long, boring parts about doing chores or going to church) and unlikeable, underdeveloped characters. "

" Ok book. I had a hard time investing in, or even liking, the main character. "

" I read this a long time ago but recall being captivated. Engaging story. "

" This book is definitely low on action. I found Joey to be self-indulgent and a little pathetic and couldn't identify with her at all. I didn't develop much feeling for anybody in the book come to think of it. "

" I got very involved with the characters. I felt like i was in the book. It also poses an intriguing moral dilemna for the main character. "

" I bought this because of the Oprah Book Club endorsement. Without all the extra junk the author randomly talks about, this book could easily boil down to 3 good chapters. It does have an interesting twist, but you have to skim -- fast -- to get to it. "

" I'm not in a book reviewing mood. This was just OK. You are welcome. "

" I listened to this one on tape. I had a tough time getting through it, thinking about quitting several times. Characters were not very likable. Poorly developed relationships. Rather abrupt ending. I've liked many Oprah Book Club reads but this was unfortunately not one of them. "

" This is one of those books you cannot put down. Because much of it takes place in and around Boston, it was more interesting to me. It was unsettling - a murder finally solved in a very unexpected way. Explores why people lie - everyone does - still no answers for me. "

" Read twice for book club. Inspired very good discussions. "

" I couldn't decide between three or four stars. Some parts of this book I liked, some parts didn't make sense. Overall a good book. No real surprises, but interesting "

" Oddly familiar not because I had read it before but because I had lived/experienced/shared many of her words..... "