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Split-Level: A Novel

par Sande Boritz Berger

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In Split-Level, set as the nation recoils from Nixon, Alex Pearl is about to commit the first major transgression of her life. But why shouldn't she remain an officially contented, soon-to-turn-thirty wife? She's got a lovely home in an upscale Jersey suburb, two precocious daughters, and a charming husband, Donny. But Alex can no longer deny she craves more--some infusion of passion into the cul-de-sac world she inhabits. After she receives a phone call from her babysitter's mother reporting that Donny took the teen for a midnight ride, promising he'd teach her how to drive, Alex insists they attend Marriage Mountain, the quintessential 1970s "healing couples sanctuary." Donny accedes--but soon becomes obsessed with the manifesto A Different Proposition and its vision of how multiple couples can live together in spouse-swapping bliss. At first Alex scoffs, but soon she gives Donny much more than he bargained for. After he targets the perfect couple to collude in his fantasy, Alex discovers her desire for love escalating to new heights--along with a willingness to risk everything. Split-Level evokes a pivotal moment in the story of American matrimony, a time when it seemed as if an open marriage might open hearts as well.… (plus d'informations)
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Affichage de 1-5 de 7 (suivant | tout afficher)
It's the 1970s, post-Nixon, and Alex and Donny Pearl appear to have the typical marriage, complete with two darling little girls. Alex is a devoted wife and mother, but also feels stifled by society's expectations of her in those roles. A friendship with another couple offers something new and different, but will test her marriage and her loyalties, while also giving her room to explore and develop who she is regardless of what society dictates.

Split-Level is set in 1970s New Jersey, but it also felt like it could be anywhere, any time. The words and phrases placed this book in the 1970s (though there's almost no mention of Nixon or what life is like post his presidency) and the location is clearly stated as New Jersey. The societal ideals are also squarely in that time period, where women were more often teachers than doctors and their most likely place was married and at home with the kids. At the same time, it also felt like it stretched a little to encompass a wider time period and could take place anywhere in the country. Every point in time has its ideas of what women should and shouldn't do, even our current one. And, at every point, there are women who struggle against it, who fight it and try to make their own way. While it might not necessarily be married with kids, the core struggle of woman against society's standards is still present. This book presented an intriguing story of one woman struggling between conforming to society and being true to herself, something women across generations can identify with. It may be set in the 1970s, but it could be thought of as taking place at any point in time.

I appreciated the story the author was telling, could identify with Alex's struggles, but really struggled with the characters. Alex really bothered me. She came off as naive, a little slow, and self-serving. She went with the flow and, when it came crashing down, just wanted to maintain her innocence in it all. As a mother, I was mostly irritated with her lack of responsibility for her daughters. Throughout the book, she maintained she was a devoted mother, but there were few interactions between her and her daughters and she was always willing to let someone else take care of them while she went traveling or just wanted to paint. The other characters, as seen through Alex's eyes as she was the narrator, all fell incredibly flat. They were one note and served their purpose in the story and Alex's narrative. I suppose she didn't find any of them to be exceptionally interesting? I'm not sure, but the only character I really liked was Gussie, Alex's in-laws' housekeeper, who came off as both droll and caring.

As much as I disliked Alex, though, I also thought it was smart to see her in conflict with just about every other character. It served to highlight how she was and felt different from everyone else around her, especially the women, and most especially the women who seemed to have it all together. Her interactions helped her craft a sense of who she was and what society demanded she be, and, when we're in her head, we get the collision between the two as she struggled to make her place in society while also longing for something more and different.

What I found most interesting was how the story was laid out. It takes place over about a year and each chapter explores, more or less, a particular segment of time. With each chapter, the story moves along and provides a new story within the greater story. It was almost episodic, and I was a little dissatisfied when it seemed to leave off on a cliffhanger, though it was resolved in the next few pages. But it was also nice that it was laid out this way. It prevented the story from becoming bogged down in any point in time and kept it moving at a nice clip.

Overall, this was both annoying and satisfying. There were parts of it that annoyed and frustrated me, but, given time to think about it, I also developed an appreciation for the story the author wove. At its heart, it's about about a woman (any woman) who wants something other than what society dictates.


Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own. ( )
  The_Lily_Cafe | Jun 28, 2020 |
When you’re going through life on autopilot and wake up to what you have, instead of what you had actually wanted, it can be a bit jarring. This journey from a bored, lonely and loveless marriage through a maelstrom of emotions eventually start to reveal a life wanted.
The characters are well developed, Alex’s voice is so Jersey and relatable, and the plot is everything but predictable!
*I received an arc from the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review ( )
  KimMcReads | Oct 7, 2019 |
What an absolutely beautiful cover…

The 70s atmosphere and the suburban setting were excellently depicted. The character of Alex had some potential but the marital issues of a couple facing a thing called ‘’7-year-itch’’ and the swingers ‘’aesthetic’’ are NOT Literature. I don’t read these…’’books’’ so I dare say I was slightly deceived by the blurb. Atrocious dialogue, zero character development. It’s a pity, really, because the prose and the setting were really promising. Had the direction of the story been different, I would have enjoyed this one. As it stands...

Excuse me, but no.

Many thanks to She Writes Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. ( )
  AmaliaGavea | Jun 26, 2019 |
I was given the opportunity to review Split-Level by Sande Boritz Berger and found the description to be interesting as I was newly married in the early '70s. I did not live in a split-level house but I know the kind of house it is. It is the kind of house that Alex Pearl and her family live in in the New Jersey suburbs.

Alex feels that she is missing passion in her life and marriage, she is happily married though with two daughters and a charming husband. She receives a call from her babysitter's mom that Donny has taken her daughter on a midnight ride. Alex is upset by this even though Donny says he was teaching the girl how to drive. Not sure whether to believe him or not she insists that they go to Marriage Mountain, a couples healing sanctuary.

Donny at first is reluctant but once they started going but learns the 'manifesto' a spouse-swapping idea that at first Alex does not want to do but eventually capitulates and they meet a couple that they do the 'swap' with. As you can imagine, this is not always what it is cracked up to be. Problems emerge that can put their marriage at risk.

Like I said, I was newly married in the early '70s and among the free love and smoking pot, a lot of things happened that probably would not happen today. I am sure that there are still couples that 'swap' but you just don't hear about it. This book was not only about marriage but of a woman coming into her own, finding out what she wanted out of life and a dull marriage was not one of the things. She finally came to realize what she wanted and went after it.

At first, I thought I would be bored with the story but that was not the case. I totally enjoyed it. Something a bit different from what I typically read and I really liked it. The author's writing was easy to follow, writing about an open marriage I imagine can be challenging! ( )
  celticlady53 | Jun 11, 2019 |
I was drawn to this book because of the time period of the seventies, but also because I wanted to read the story about a marriage that changes when one spouse suggests they attempt sharing partners with another married couple.
Alex and Donny have been married 7 years, live in suburbia NJ and have two young daughters. Alex is a stay at home mom and Donny, who used to be a musician is now working with his dad in a company making bras for women.
After attending a seminar called Marriage Mountain, Donny is given a book by another member there with his spouse on the benefits of co-existing in spouse swapping. Eventually Alex and Donny meet Charles and Paula Bell. There is a mutual attraction between all four couples and a sexual relationship begins with each others spouses. This book was definitely not a trashy erotic novel. Instead it delved into the psychological changes each character experienced, mainly focusing on Alex. Very well written and insightful. I received a complimentary ebook via Netgalley.com in exchange for a review. ( )
  melaniehope | May 28, 2019 |
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In Split-Level, set as the nation recoils from Nixon, Alex Pearl is about to commit the first major transgression of her life. But why shouldn't she remain an officially contented, soon-to-turn-thirty wife? She's got a lovely home in an upscale Jersey suburb, two precocious daughters, and a charming husband, Donny. But Alex can no longer deny she craves more--some infusion of passion into the cul-de-sac world she inhabits. After she receives a phone call from her babysitter's mother reporting that Donny took the teen for a midnight ride, promising he'd teach her how to drive, Alex insists they attend Marriage Mountain, the quintessential 1970s "healing couples sanctuary." Donny accedes--but soon becomes obsessed with the manifesto A Different Proposition and its vision of how multiple couples can live together in spouse-swapping bliss. At first Alex scoffs, but soon she gives Donny much more than he bargained for. After he targets the perfect couple to collude in his fantasy, Alex discovers her desire for love escalating to new heights--along with a willingness to risk everything. Split-Level evokes a pivotal moment in the story of American matrimony, a time when it seemed as if an open marriage might open hearts as well.

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