Good Harbor

by Anita Diamant and Anita Daimant

Book Overview

Anita Diamant, whose rich portrayal of the biblical world of women illuminated her acclaimed international bestseller The Red Tent, now crafts a moving novel of contemporary female friendship. Good... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743225325
• ISBN13: 9780743225328
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Scribner Book Company
• Length: 255 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Good Harbor/Safe Harbor

I purchased this book solely because I was so moved by Diamant's The Red Tent. Good Harbor did not disappoint and I found myself greedily devouring each page well into the wee hours on the am. High praise for any book that can keep my sleep deprieved self awake. For women in my age group (not tellin') the value of the company of women was never appreciated. Always on the go, trying to be superwomen, the luxury of cultivating these relationships was not an option. Only later did these friendships receive the importance that they deserved. Like a beacon in choppy seas, Diamant's good harbor reminds us the safe harbor one finds in the arms of a friend.

An Excellent Book - highly underrated

This book was an excellent, beautiful read. Yes, it was a surprise because it was *very* different than "The Red Tent" (Anita Diamant's first work of fiction). Sometimes readers buy follow up books by authors they like expecting the same style and type of storytelling and are disappointed when the book is unlike the first. If the book were *worse* than "The Red Tent", I could see the criticism. But, it's not. It's just a different type of writing, a different type of story. "Good Harbor" is a lovely story about two different women who come together and form a strong friendship in the midst of health problems, marital issues, and personal challenges. The setting is so beautiful that I wanted to travel to this sea-side town and try and find some of what the women found in the course of the book. I can't stress how much I enjoyed this book- and how I wish it didn't end."Good Harbor" reminds me a lot of Elizabeth Berg's books (my favorite author)- well written, poetic, heart-breaking, but not saccharine. If you want another "Red Tent", skip this. But if you are open to a new experience by an excellent writer, read this book.

Insight into Modern Women's lives

After worrying that Anita Diamant's latest book would only be for women, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself (a male) being drawn in right off the bat. Good Harbor offers a peek into the lives of two modern women who meet by chance in a small town in Massachusetts. We are privlidged to watch their friendship grow as they reveal to us and each other, the joys and pains of life in modern America The minor characters are also interesting and I am hoping that a followup novel will continue the women's story as they deal with life in modern USA.I heard the book on tape and recommend it hightly to those, like me, spend too much time in a car. It got to where I looked forward to going for a drive, so I could hear more of Good Harbor.

The older you get, the harder to find a new friend.

Like other readers, I found Anita Diamant's more well known The Red Tent very hard to get through. Good Harbour was the opposite.The two main characters are NORMAL women who each have their own issues to deal with, but who share a need for a woman friend, as many of us in our 40's do. They stumble upon each other at a chance meeting in the temple and immediately begin to run into each other; crossing paths and becoming more and more interested in each other. Like girls in their twenties, they find they want a friendship and begin to unveil their lives to each other, but only to a certain point. The author lets us in on a little of what is being held back but not all, which kept me interested and curious. Although their paths cross often, they each have different lives, and issues and are at different phases of their lives, but they share a love of the harbour, and of reading. The author has woven in some outlandish sidelines that kept me chuckling; one had a sister who was a nun, the new rabbi in town is a 30ish female, a colorful local priest needs to exorcise a lawn ornament of the virgin Mary....these make this a funny and light read. While both women feel the chemistry of their sameness and interests, they shy away from what they consider their own Private sins; only to learn that they are just seeking what everyone else does, especially at this age and in this time in our society. I cried on the train while finishing it. The ending was satisfying. I hope Ms. Diamant writes another fictional story soon. I'll pick it up in a heartbeat.

Wonderful

This book was wonderful. I loved the Red Tent for its wonderful insights into women's issues, but Good Harbor related to modern day women's issues, cancer, loss, guilt and redemption. The characters were wonderful, I would love to meet Kathleen, Joyce and Buddy in person. Anyone who values a true friend will enjoy and treasure this book.