Just, kinda not fussed by this. I think it lacked Etna's voice too much, which, of course, it was Nicholas' journal. But yeah, did not love it.

Very well written - to sustain interest in such a 'dull' protagonist takes skill. Afterwards I was left feeling more judgemental towards the era and its restrictions and prejudices, than ill feeling towards the flawed Van Tassel. I did not feel that he was madly in love as some other readers have, rather that for all involved it was more a case of latching on to whatever came your way. Van Tassel was not spoilt for choice. Having agreed to marriage, and from what we are told, Van Tassel being a caring husband and enthusiastic father, Etna's deceit enabled me to feel some sympathy for Nicholas. Etna was a shadow figure - more a representation of a repressed gender than a fully formed character - but that is exactly what she was to her unfortunate husband.
Good show Anita! Can't wait for more.

I stopped reading this one --- could not get into it at all. Oh well.

rather forgettable - can't even really remember the plot now except overall the book felt dull.

I wanted to like this book. I tried to like this book, but it was all futile. I found this book to be a complete waste of my time. The writing style was not enjoyable to me and the story was even worse. It was a trial just to get through this book. The characters are very unlikeable throughout.

draws you in, it was not a favorite but I had to finish it to find out where it was going, and in the end well worth it.

I was not very impressed by "All He Ever Wanted" by Anita Shreve.
The protagonist Nicholas Van Tassel is completely obsessed with his wife Etna, deluding himself into thinking that what he feels is love.
It is not only Etna, that Nicholas Van Tassel obsesses over, but also the particular job he wants, both, at all costs.
His view of himself, of his morals and intentions is completely warped.
Though you at first feel sympathy for him, you very quickly grow to despise him, and instead feel sorry for Etna, who, as a typical woman of the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, cannot choose to live independently, and instead ends up marrying a guy she never had feelings for.
I felt rather depressed when I finished reading Shreve's novel, depressed and disappointed, and confused. Cause what does love really boil down to, at the end of the day?

ugh. it took me FOREVER to finish this book. about five months, actually. I started it last fall, but had a hard time getting into it and would put it aside for more interesting books (The Help, the Hunger Games Trilogy). I don't know why I didn't just ditch it - probably because I bought the book and I feel like if I paid for it, I damn well better finish it. but for the first 200 pages I just didn't like it. I hated the main character, Nicholas, and didn't particularly like his wife, Etna either. but I hung on to see if she would end up doing anything worthwhile. well, she almost did.

I did like the writing style, and have always liked Anita Shreve (probably why I bought the book instead of getting it at the library). I will still go on to read more of her books, even though this one left a bad taste in my mouth.

Beautifully written.