A Tale of Two Sisters

by Anna Maxted

Book Overview

Cassie is slender, clever, charismatic, successful. The one flaw in her perfect life may be her marriage. Her sister Lizbet is plumper, plainer, dreamier. An aspiring journalist, she's stuck writing... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0525949739
• ISBN13: 9780525949732
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Dutton Books
• Length: 356 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.1"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Another Hit by Maxted

I fell in love with Anna Maxted novels after reading Getting Over it, Running in Heels, and Behaving Like Adults. A Tale of Two Sisters is a novel about two Jewish sisters Lizbet and Cassie growing up in London and dealing problems related to trying to get pregnant. The main plot of this book is about about pregnancy,adoption, the people you will always love, and those you fall out of love with. I started this book on a Saturday morning and didn't put it down until that night, a definite read!

Better than chick lit

I really enjoyed this book - usually I like Anna Maxted's book for the character's wit and sarcastic style. These characters were less funny, but more human. The two main characters, Cassie and Lizbet are sisters, and the book delves into their relationship with each other, their partners, inlaws, neighbors and friends and extended family, and their parents. The book really examines what "family" is, when you get out of the "made for TV" definition. If you are looking for fluff chick lit, a book to pass a weekend with, it's not for you. If you're looking for a really good book on a par with, say, Lolly Winston's "Good Grief", this is for you.

An interesting tale

I actually liked this the best of Maxted's books. I've always read her before, but found her a little too sarcastic or something. This book, however, was funny but also warm; she turns an unsentimental yet insightful eye toward family politics. Lizbet and Cassie are sisters, with the usual rivalries; Lizbet is cute and cozy, Cassie is sharp and sophisticated. What makes the story interesting is how much they don't know about each other. When they seem to be cruel to each other, they are acting on hidden pain. Their mother and father are also expertly drawn. Like her other books, there are some unlikely plot mechanics, with as many turns and twists as an episode of Desperate Housewives. However, I think this is her smartest book in terms of insights into human nature and family life, and you should read it if you liked her other books.

Loved it!

This book was another great hit by Maxted. As a mom, and a pregnant woman, I really identified with the main characters. Maxted touches on sensitive issues such as adoption, miscarraige, and love. A real page turned, I thouroughly enjoyed the book and completed it in one day.

so much more than chick lit

This book is hilarious, funny, and clever and sad - I really loved it. It's a good read, but it has emotional depth, and the characters are very entertaining - I am in love with both the heroes, especially Tim! The stuff about Lisbet writing for the mens' magazine made me laugh out loud - and her story, the sad bits, made me cry. This is a lot more than chick lit - it is meaty writing for grown up girls - it's about family, babies, love, marriage, it's just all so TRUE! - a brilliant juicy read.