Good Faith

Great read

Really enjoyed this book. Good for the beach.

Good read

Jane Smiley tells an interesting story in Good Faith, moving solidly from start to finish. Her character development is strong, and I bonded with not only the main characters, but also the secondary personalities. This was a book I looked forward to getting back to when other things demanded my attenion. I've read other works by Smiley, and I will be looking for more to enjoy.

If I could rate this book less than 1...I would

I couldn't get through it. I read 4-5 books a month...I couldn't suffer through this one. I'm glad 'Good Faith' wasn't required reading. This is the only book I can recall giving up on.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A wonderful tale of Real Estate!

I liked the book, Good Faith,and I love the author called Jane Smiley. This tale is quite simply a fortunate tale of real estate, and I being so profounldy deepened to the subject of real estate, established this book is the very best book of 2004. I call Jane Smiley the 'Best Author in the World.' Claps and Snaps if you agree! Email me so we may have the fortunate way of discussing this god given author. Thanks and Be Merry!

A disapointment, could not get through this book

Jane Smiley is a wonderful author. I have thoroughly enjoyed all the previous books, but this was a real disappointment. Perhaps it was simply that I do not have much interest in the real estate business. However, I could not find much to enjoy in these characters either. I will, however, look forward to her next book, and will no doubt still be a fan of her writing.

First time Smiley reader

Interesting subject, charming character studies, and very readable. Having lived through the period this book describes, its outcome is predictable and given the pace of the book, quite abrupt. The out-of-control S&L in the background of this story could have been better developed but would have been beyond the narrator's depth. As a case of people caught up in events that drive them to actions that are out of character, it is well-done.

An unfortunate choice

I consider Jane Smiley a great writer, which made Good Faith all the more disappointing. It's not that the author doesn't have a decent story going, or a solid look at the strange morality of the Reagan era. She does. What she doesn't have here is a good choice of narration style. Joe Stratford, a New Jersey real estate agent with one year of college narrates this story in the vocabulary of a boring Ivy League (and female)English professor. He uses the word 'ebulient' twice (just as one example) and lacks any form of male motivation or style. Though the other characters are often well-drawn, the unbelievability of the main character sunk this book for me.

Hard to put this one down

Although I first thought the subject matter held little chance for interesting fiction, Ms. Smiley quickly proved my first impression wrong. The characters in this book are fresh and as real as can be, which easily pull the reader into their schemes and plans. A very good book that makes me want to go back and read previous books by the author.

Felt like Anything Irving, or Updike's Rabbit

Great to see Jane Smiley back. An enjoyable read. It felt like life. Likable characters. Funny. Witty. Haven't read her since Thousand Acres. Couldn't get thru Moo. Decided to give her another go and was delighted.

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