The Breakdown Lane audiobook

Review originally published July 2005 Jacquelyn Mitchard again highlights love, marriage, parenting, and life in her newest novel, The Breakdown Lane. It’s always interesting to read a book that takes place in your home state, seeing familiar town names in print, but the author did change some school names.Julieanne writes an advice column for her local Wisconsin paper, but seems to have missed some clues when it comes to her own life. During her twenty-year marriage to Leo, she has tried to keep things fresh. She is caught completely by surprise when Leo tells her he needs to go on a “sabbatical” from their life together. When it becomes evident that this separation is meant to be permanent, the succeeding months are filled with sadness, frustration, confusion, and financial difficulties. Things become worse when Julieanne is diagnosed with a serious illness and her two older children embark on a dangerous journey.Julieanne and her son Gabe tell the story. His journal sounds exactly like a teenage boy would talk. He speaks so honestly, and from his gut. All of the teen angst and feelings about his family and his own school-related troubles come pouring out in his journal. Supporting characters also greatly contribute to the story. Leo’s parents and Julie’s best friend, Cathy, are strong and memorable while helping Julie with life’s events.Jacquelyn Mitchard always has characters in her books that are so well-developed you can picture them and The Breakdown Lane (perfect title) is no exception. The novel is written with humor and poignancy, causing me to both chuckle and almost cry while reading on the same page.Two other of Mitchard’s books that I especially liked are Twelve Times Blessed and A Theory of Relativity. These are all available at one or more of the County Library branches.Find these books and other titles within our catalog.

I mostly liked this. It does lose it right at the end with the appearance of Matt. Just way too convenient. Before that, was a very good book similar to a Jodi Picoult. I have to admit, I could kind of understand why Leo left. He had been trying to tell Julianne how unhappy he was with his lifestyle and over working, so she pulls an "oops, pregnant " on him to make him stay. I could never have too much sympathy for a woman who intentionally does that. However, what happened to Julianne with the MS was horrible. Very compelling reading, though. I did feel sorry for her trying to deal with her illness, and thankfully she does grow as a person. Gabe is a good character, as is Carolyn. Typically self absorbed for a young girl her age! I also liked the Inlaws and Cathy. It's worth reading, but the twist at the end is unnecessary and I think I would have liked it more if Matt hadn't come to save the day. It's not overly realistic, and it would have been more inspiring for Julianne to find her own strength.

I thought the story was captivating. It was so realistic that you wanted to know how JulieAnne would come to terms with her illness (MS) and her husband Leo who walked out on her. You just wanted to shake Leo for being so insensitive by disrupting the family unity to embark on his idealistic and unbelievable trek into a commune lifestyle. It was pure escapism from responsibility! The stress JulieAnne endured acerbated the MS symptoms. Not only does she have to deal with the grief of a husband leaving and the progression of MS she has the burden to take care of two teenage children and a baby. Her son Gabe has severe learning disabilities and her daughter, Caroline is running away from the realities of home by becoming involved with a young man who does not have Caroline's best interest in mind. On top of this JulieAnne is a newspaper columnist who has to work to provide for her family since Leo is not interested in working anymore. JulieAnne is a strong minded woman, but she is truly being tested. All she wants is her dignity and is amazed that another man can love her as a woman with MS. You can not help celebrate her marriage to Matthew. This marriage does not have a fairy tale end, as Matthew has his love of drink, but he is a good man, who JulieAnne can rest in comfort that he is and will be with her to the end.

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.

Reading Jacquelyn Mitchard is always an escape for me. Her writing is simple, somewhat predictable, but still keeps me turning the page. I know it will have a happy ending and not stress me out too much which is a comfort. I do find myself saying to myself, "like that would really happen..." in a very sarcastic silent voice, but yet I read everything she writes. Go figure.

I have this book for ten years, only just read it and was expecting a hard time to read through it, because the subjects in it, but turned out an easy read, mostly were the humor from Gabe's Journal, which I enjoy the most.Needless to say, Gabe is the character I like most, although it's hard to imagine how a teenager who has learning disability can help hold down the fort--of course, Cathy is probably a bigger help--when the mother is out in bed and the father is out of that same bed while dealing his own legitimate teenage life.Caro, I meant Cat, is definitely the daughter of Leo and Julie, she is like made out of half Leo's nuts and half Julie's pride. Crazy enough to take brother on an adventure. Gramp and Gram are the kindest parents, although I have reminded myself, they are Leo's parents not Julie's, not biologically, anyway.An easy read, but unfortunately, the ending is an easy ending, too easy, almost like a fairy tale. All problems are sorted out by themselves, well, by the one of critical element that was lacking during belt-tightening period.

I was surprised at how much this book got to me sometimes-I share some similar experiences with Julianne, having a husband you love ( and who you thought loved you) up and leave one day -and it feels like a switch has been flipped for him, all the love, support, companionship is just suddenly gone-and you are left to figure out being single parent, and you have to get a job and suddenly EVERYTHING is your responsibility-cooking, cleaning, going to work, taking care of sick kids, homework-it is overwhelming, especially if you throw in a health scare along with it. I was up way too late reading it last night (4 am) because I just could not stop reading. However the ending is just a little too happy, not as realistic-that lost it a star for me, as much as I was happy for a happy ending.

A marriage gone wrong is the beginning of the plot. How the two older children cope with their father taking a "sabbatical" from the family, but abandoning them for a younger woman pregnant with his child. The wife, in the meantime, develops an illness that makes her incapable of taking care of herself much less her two teenaged children and her toddler. Her job as an advice columnist seems ironic in light of what is happening in her own family. Very interesting story with perspectives from her point of view as well as her son's and how he tries to help and how he tries to cope with the breakdown.

Her husband leaves her just as Julieanne is diagnosed with a life-changing illness. This tale weaves together incredibly complex events with grace, wit, and honesty. The author does a wonderful job of finding humor in heartbreak while exposing the developing inner strength of her heroine. Great read.

Great story about a woman with three kids whose husband takes a turn from a conventional to an unconventional life and leaves his family behind. I particularly liked the two teenaged characters and their struggles in the aftermath, along with their adjustment to their mother’s health crisis.

Loved