66 Laps

by Leslie Lehr Spirson and Leslie Lehr

Book Overview

Thirty-two-year-old Audrey Hastings swims a mile each day in her backyard pool: sixty-six laps. These meticulously counted crossings are the balm for her frustrations as a new mother, and her hedge... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375503846
• ISBN13: 9780375503849
• Release Date: March 2000
• Publisher: Villard Books
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Enjoyable!

I very much enjoyed this novel. The author was able to draw me into the world of the characters be a part of their thoughts and experiences. The character were well developed and I could understand Audrey's thinking, her motivations, and what drove her to her point of destruction. The writing in this novel was supberb. I kept turning pages until I realized I finished half the novel in a day. I was compelled to keep reading to find out what happens next. I love when a writer is able to make me do this.

A gripping first novel

I was gripped by this excellent first novel, and moved by its unexpected ending. Read it! 66 Laps was well-paced, with just the right amount of action to keep readers hooked. I liked the short, sharp chapters -- which would have made the book easy to put down if you needed to, but I was too curious to find out what was going to happen next. The author achieves many high points with her vivid prose. Having moved away from my hometown after high school, I related closely to the author's descriptions of going back home to visit. I loved the main character's eclectic family - the jocky, eternally youthful father; the yakky shrink Mom; the newscaster sister. The depiction of modern-day motherhood was on the mark (if a little short on the quiet desperation, boredom and fatigue many mothers experience), especially Audrey's secret yearning for the power job while she tells her friends how much she loves being a stay-at-home mom. I was particularly enchanted by the way Spirson crafted Audrey's daily swimming routine into the theme of the book, used it as her therapy and safe haven, and ultimately turned it into her downfall. Any swimmer or runner will relate to that rhythm that Audrey sometimes found doing exercise, and that all-powerful feeling it occasionally produced, as well as the frustration of not finding it. As for the plot, Spirson convincingly shows how jealousy and insecurity can cause people to ruin those things they love most. I was shocked and disturbed by the ending, and mulled over the book and its characters days after I finished reading it.

Delighted to have read this novel

66 Laps captures the emotions and conflicts of a 30-something new mother and wife. It's a terrific easy to read novel. Leslie's voice has depth and detail that present concise and carefully chosen descriptions, and insightful dialogue. She has crafted a stylized novel that subtilely mirrors the main characters, their lifestyles and their choices. The lead character, Audrey's, inner turmoil and fantastic imagination combine taking her on a journey of impulsive twists and turns to disasterous results that will forever change her reality. As breezy a read as it really is, the realities will keep you thinking about the novel for a long time. You should buy a copy and read it.

wow.....captivating

Things aren't always what they seem to be and this was a great example of that. I loved the way Ms. Spirson put everything together and kept my attention. It was short but sweet and I hope to see more from her in the future. The ending really caught me off guard........

66 Laps

Once in a great while, a book comes along that touches your every feeling and emotion. Ms. Spirson has managed to make a believable and worth reding book. I felt Audrey's confusion of whether her husband was unfaithful. And when the "younger" man showed her interest, I knew that millions of woman could relate. It all comes down to whether or not we would actually let things escalate from there. A recommended read for everyone who enjoys to escape the normalties of daily living. I would sell this to all.