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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Very real. Hard to put down
Of course, any thing Anna Quindlen writes is an exceptional read. At the end her real husband made the remark that people would think it was an autobiograpy. And I’m sure some will think she had lived the story. She wrote in such great depth and with such feeling. She is an excellent writer!
I read it a few years ago. I remember it as one of my all-time favorite books. I just purchased it for my Nook so I can read it again.
don”t start
Would I recommend this book??? I guess only if it was for a reading group for discussion. Quindlin is graphic and accurate in her description of spousal abuse. It’s hard to read.
Not her best, but good read
Well written!
Great writer
I could not put it down.
Ms. Quinlan can write about anything.
A hard subject to deal with but very realistic. Sad but like a train wreck you can’t stop reading it.
Black and Blue follows a woman who makes the hard decision to take her young son and leave an abusive husband. The story follows the main character has she attempts to hide in plain sight, but that’s not what hooked me. The depth in which Ms. Quindlen wrote took me into the MC’s mind and I felt what she felt: fear, worry, angst, sadness. Not a lighthearted read but worth your time.
Any book by Anna Quindlen is a winner.
I really enjoyed this book but thinking the author should do a sequel. Too many questions left to be answered.
This was a good read, it kept u waiting for the inevitable to happen but hoping it would not. I did not like that she lost one thing that was important to her at the end and we did not find if they were ever reunited. Overall a great book!
fascinating – I couldn’t put it down.
I read this book so many years ago when it was first published. Anna Quindlen told the story keeping this victim and so many others in the hearts and minds of her readers. An enlightening read!!!!
To all of the victims of domestic violence, especially women and children, SAY SOMETHING, HELP IS OUT THERE!!!! Nobody deserves to be battered and beaten like the woman in this story, and others that we hear of on a daily basis. Women and babies, toddlers, adolescents are being beaten, tortured, murdered EVERYDAY. SPEAK OUT, SAVE YOURSELF OR SOMEONE YOU MAY KNOW THAT IS SUFFERING.
Too wordy. Left you hanging.
Very haunting. You will not be able to put this one down.
I didn’t enjoy this book.