Life on the Refrigerator Door: Notes Between a Mother and Daughter, a Novel

by Alice Kuipers

Book Overview

Claire and her mother are running out of time, but they don't know it. Not yet. Claire is wrapped up with the difficulties of her bourgeoning adulthood--boys, school, friends, identity; Claire's mother, a single mom, is rushed off her feet both at work and at home. They rarely find themselves in the same room at the same time, and it often seems that the only thing they can count on are notes to each other on the refrigerator door. When home is threatened...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061370495
• ISBN13: 9780061370496
• Release Date: August 2007
• Publisher: Harper
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.71 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.0" x 7.1"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

Life on the refrigerator door- review

One of my friends lent me this book 'Life On The Refrigerator Door', when I was in 4th grade. I absolutely loved it. I felt that it was such a touching, original story. Though some people flip through the book and say, "What is this? It's just a couple sentences on each page." That may be true, but some people look at it as a couple sentences, and some people feel these couple sentencs are so deep, that you appreciate the ability to read. I still remeber every page and word, and still thank my friend for lending it to me. I think though you also need to buy or rent this book with a box of tissues, it's truely a beautiful book.

A Really Quick Read

This is a super-quick, engaging read that had me crying like a baby towards the end. It's a story told in literal notes left on a refrigerator between a mother and daughter -- a really unique premise. It's not a totally deep, meaningful read, but it's a good one!

Mothers and Daughters

Mother and daughter relationships are so different from anything else. I loved this book. I loved the note type style it was written. It was VERY quick but got the point across. We have a mother who is a doctor. We have a 15 year old daughter who is left alone quite a bit because of the mother's work schedule. She does the shopping, cooking quite a bit and comes and goes as she pleases. The mother gets bad news that she has breast cancer. From there it goes on -- Being a mother, I think the notes imply that you always "think" you have more time. The only thing I didn't enjoy is Claire seemed to come and go as she pleased. That wouldn't work for me. She had to grow up quick. I did really love this little book. I wouldn't consider it a novel at all either. But then again I am not a writer or know what would constitute it a novel. I think this would be a good book to give for Mother's Day. Enjoy!

A wonderful original book about teens & parents

I was shocked to find that this book had only received an average of 3 stars from the people who have previously reviewed it. To me it's a gem! It's worthy of 5 stars! I read a copy from my local library & I'm buying it as gifts for friends. K. Sweeny gave this book a one star rating. Sweeny has to be one massively cynical person. I've read all the customer reviews & all the 3 star reviews seem so positive that I don't know why the reviewers only gave the book 3 stars. Some of them cried at the ending. Some spoke of giving the book to their Mom & others to read. Most spoke that it ended too soon & they wanted more. How is a book like that just 3 stars? If leaving the reader wanting more is a negative in those reviewer's minds, I'm speechless. I always thought that was a positive trait. Many said they read the book in 20 minutes. Whoopee, you can read fast. Why? You need to savor the words & emotions on the pages of this book. This book definitely deserves 5 stars. I wonder how many of the customers who have published reviews have raised or are raising teenagers. I'm helping raise a 15-year old teenage girl. I thought I was reading her notes. This book is so realistic. Single working Moms can see themselves reflected in the notes left by the Mom. So many families leave post-it notes on the fridge for each other. As far as I know this is the first time an author has written a book solely using notes posted on a fridge. Even with her hands tied behind her back because of the technique she has chosen, the author was able to develop characters, make the reader care about her characters, write a tight plot, & maintain a flowing narrative. Not only does this author deal very realistically with the interactions between a 15-year old teenage girl & her Mom ( & her Dad) - but the author adds a terminal disease for the Mom. Somehow she knows how a young mother facing this crisis feels like. Somehow she is honest enough to include spats & conflicts even during this time of crisis between Mom & daughter. I loved this book. It can only help parents & teenagers who read it have an even closer relationship. If they are having troubles, perhaps reading this book can help smooth the way to recovery. How this author can touch so many actual emotions is amazing to me. I applaud her. I applaud her with 5 stars. I put a pox on cynics & naysayers. As for those readers complaining about wanting more . . . how is that bad? This is the author's debut novel. Wow! What a triumph! Cynics should stay away from this book. Curmudgeons need not open its covers. Speedreaders should slow down to savor the words & the emotions the book will bring out in the reader.

Refreshing

A real page-turner. Especially when there's only one sentence on a page. This is why the book is cheaper than other hardbacks of the same size. Some thoughts about it: -- A modern drama written on a typical medium of our time, the fridge note. -- The story unfolds partly in the reader: the fragmentary input makes a continuum in the reader. -- It has a rhythm and theme you can easily connect to. -- Actually, you could also use the text to teach English as a foreign language. -- A modern version of the epistolary. -- A small book so you can take it with yourself and read it anywhere and whenever you have some time to spare. The main topic is nothing special. You might even say that it was probably financed by the health department to warn women to take regular medical check-ups seriously. Another trite theme is the relationship between a teenage daughter and a single overworked mother, which carries no novelty either. However, the way the threads of the story are woven, does not let you see it that way while you are imbued in the tale and until the magic effect have worn out, which in my case took quite some time. Yet, I still like it.