Good novel of personal reform and spiritual power. I was quite involved with it when I read it back then. Maybe a little soap-opera-like but I loved the mystic or magical-seeming part. ( )

I first became acquainted with this story in my Rock Hudson phase. The film was glossy, predictable, and gave him plenty of time to brood with that classy face of his. Jane Wyman was a little too old for him but it added validity to the relationship she had with Joyce and her first husband.

The original (this book) was better in several ways. Joyce was much less of a wannabe movie star, Tom existed for much more than legalities, and Nancy's devotion to the family made more sense.

But Helen! I never could quite believe she loved her first husband and that is crucial to the whole story.

Merrick was a little bit more human than in the movie and that I enjoyed. But they insisted on calling him Bobby... so I always thought of him as a child (when he's probably one of the more mature characters).

And there was no end to the ellipses. Granted, I have a certain fondness for them myself but not to that extent. They made the text seem disjointed. ( )

Another of the tattered old books we had when I was young. A story of perceived guilt maybe as I remember — to me now maybe an example of pay-it-forward. Written fairly well I imagine as I read it several times. ( )

X-4

An inspiring story...a bit difficult to get into at first, and a bit dated. ( )