NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Intimate and illuminating and, as is true of most anything Quindlen writes, well worth the read.”—PeopleFor eighteen years Fran Benedetto kept her secret, hid her bruises. She stayed with Bobby because she wanted her son to have a father, and because, in spite of everything, she loved him. Then one night, when she saw the look on her ten-year-old son’s face, Fran … her ten-year-old son’s face, Fran finally made a choice—and ran for both their lives.
Now she is starting over in a city far from home, far from Bobby. In this place she uses a name that isn’t hers, watches over her son, and tries to forget. For the woman who now calls herself Beth, every day is a chance to heal, to put together the pieces of her shattered self. And every day she waits for Bobby to catch up to her. Bobby always said he would never let her go, and despite the ingenuity of her escape, Fran Benedetto is certain of one thing: It is only a matter of time.
Praise for Black and Blue
“Heartbreaking.”—Time
“Beautifully paced—keeps the reader anxiously turning the pages.”—New York Times Book Review
“A gut-wrencher—another stunner.”—Denver Post
“Impossible to put down—the tension is both awful and mesmerizing.”—St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“Engrossing—compassionate and tense.”—New York Times
“Her best novel yet.”—Publishers Weekly
“Absolutely believable—Quindlen writes with power and grace.”—Boston Globe
“A moving masterpiece.”—Lexington Herald-Leader
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Anna Q always nails it. I will reread this one. Lots of content.
good subject. not a great flow
I love this author, she always keeps me reading and intrigued by her story.
Very realistic.
Well-written and plotted.
I only gave it four stars because, although it is a wonderful, well told tale it has virtually no ending. I was surprised and shocked that this fine author would quit too soon. I think she has it in her dig deeper and give us some kind of ending.
I read this at least 15 years ago and I thought it was a very impactful book. I found it so relevant that it was one of the few books I took with me when we moved, Good portrayal of what the abused need to endure.
Not the typical book I choose to read. Sad to read how abuse affects the family.
I read this book in a day because I kept wanting to know how it ended but it was very disappointing to me that the woman in this story was so utterly impractical and dense. It is a good, realistic view of what some women may go through, but it was hard for me to see the main character act and think so childishly. I must admit that I find it difficult to read about a woman being so ignorant and make such stupid choices because the book felt so anti-feminist and anti-female in general.
One of the best books I have recently read.
Wonderful read, but the ending leaves you wanting more.
Just a little disappointed in the end.