Diana Lively Is Falling Down

by Sheila Curran

Like the legendary London Bridge, Diana Lively has been transplanted from England to the Arizona desert. Trained as an architect and top in her class, she makes dollhouses. Widowed at a young age, she distrusted people who were kind to her, and married Ted, the one man who wasn't. Maybe it's a good thing that Diana Lively's life is suddenly out of her control. A brash American billionaire wants to put up a King Arthur Theme Park smack in the middle of the Arizona desert. With dollar signs dancing in its head, Oxford University is only too happy to send Ted Lively, their resident Arthurian expert, to consult on the project. There, in the most unlikely place, in the most surprising ways, Diana is about to discover that the happiness she thought was lost forever can shower down on her again, can flood her dry life like a lake in the desert, and make it bloom. Oh, and Ted. Ted is about to discover that there is justice in the world...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425202429
• ISBN13: 9780425202425
• Release Date: July 2005
• Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 8.89 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 7.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

The Best Book I've Read in a Long Time!

I just finished this book and enjoyed it so much that I searched for more books by Curran! To my great disappointment, I found none. I am an avid reader of all sorts of fiction but am really drawn to books about relationships, and especially the not-quite-right ones. Specifically, what I most appreciated about this book was: A) The author subtly revealed the true heart of each character, rather than make it glaringly obvious from page 1 B) The love the characters have for each other, which included sibling love & rivalry, but always loyalty C) Sexual preferences which were not always what we assumed them to be and were treated with the utmost respect, not judgmentally D) The way every "good" character in the book came upon information about the "bad" character bit by bit, but never passed on in a hurtful manner to the other "good" characters E) How it all came together in the end, so that everyone really gets what they deserve. I had to re-read the last several chapters because I flew through them so quickly the first time, impatient for more drama! I took the book once more and really took my time to get all the details which led to this book's most satisfying ending.

Funny and poignant

This is a wonderful read. I'll miss these sharply-drawn and entirely sympathetic characters now that I have finished this book. Now all we need is a cookbook to accompany detailing all of the wonderful food described within "Diana Lively's" pages!

Delightful

I'm struck by how rare it is for anyone to be able to write about all the kinds of characters that people this book without reducing them to caricature, and managing to be funny AND lyrical at the same time. "Diana Lively" ought to get the readership of "Bridget Jones's Diary" and the critical acclaim of "Three Junes." Every page is a wonder and a delight. > <br />

witty and touching

Diana Lively is such a different character--so original. I love her quiet daring, and the sense of adventure that surrounds her in this book. And the other characters pack just as much of a punch as Diana does--the men especially had depth in ways that surprised. Sharp humor, a smart plot, and a cast that has you by the teeth from the start.

Wonderful story, characters, and writing - it has it all.

I've been trying to figure out exactly how to convey to other people what a wonderful experience this book is, what a truly extraordinary find it is. So I guess here goes: it's truly extraordinary. I was so moved by it, and I laughed out loud, and I hated that vile husband of hers so much, and his comeuppance was so satisfying, and I was astounded by Curran's grasp of weblike business dealings that prove delightful twists and turns, and I miss the characters so much now that I've finished. The last few paragraphs are simply exquisite -- the sentiment, yes, but also just the sheer beauty of the language brought tears to my eyes. Really uncommonly beautiful. I hope Curran will soon be discovered and recognized widely for being one of the best writers around. She's the real deal.