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The Wonder Spot
Six years after her amazingly successful debut, The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing, Melissa Bank rewards her fans for their patience with The Wonder Spot, a refreshingly honest interpretation of one young woman's journey into adulthood. As we follow heroine Sophie Applebaum through a comfortable, yet awkward childhood in suburban Pennsylvania to the challenges of finding love and a career in midtown Manhattan, The Wonder Spot is never guilty of the self-indulgent traps set by other members of the Chick Lit genre Bank helped launch.
We first meet the Applebaum clan on their way to cousin Rebecca's bat mitzvah in Chappaqua, New York, where Sophie ends up sneaking cigarettes in the woods with a handsome eighth grader one year her senior. Yet even this minor rebellion is more charming than anything else; as with most of her future transgressions, Sophie is less the instigator than the innocent witness. Defining moments in Sophie's life are revealed through her relationships: an almost mythical college roommate named Venice; her charismatic yet capricious older brother; her brilliant younger brother; her unpenetrable father; and her hilarious grandmother, who takes it upon herself to save her "Sophila" from "impending spinsterhood."
Of course, no real journey into young womanhood is complete without a series of committment phobic, potentially delinquent, overly nice men whose appearances seem less about love than about demonstrating our heroine's inability to ever truly be comfortable with herself. As Sophie observes during a seventh grade skating party, "I felt sure that everyone was looking at me and then realized that no one was, and I experienced the distinct shame of each.
Undeniably clever, occasionally hilarious, and often poignant, The Wonder Spot is captivating enough for readers to forgive Sophie's indecisive, self-destructive tendancies and simply bask in her sincerity. --Gisele Toueg
We first meet the Applebaum clan on their way to cousin Rebecca's bat mitzvah in Chappaqua, New York, where Sophie ends up sneaking cigarettes in the woods with a handsome eighth grader one year her senior. Yet even this minor rebellion is more charming than anything else; as with most of her future transgressions, Sophie is less the instigator than the innocent witness. Defining moments in Sophie's life are revealed through her relationships: an almost mythical college roommate named Venice; her charismatic yet capricious older brother; her brilliant younger brother; her unpenetrable father; and her hilarious grandmother, who takes it upon herself to save her "Sophila" from "impending spinsterhood."
Of course, no real journey into young womanhood is complete without a series of committment phobic, potentially delinquent, overly nice men whose appearances seem less about love than about demonstrating our heroine's inability to ever truly be comfortable with herself. As Sophie observes during a seventh grade skating party, "I felt sure that everyone was looking at me and then realized that no one was, and I experienced the distinct shame of each.
Undeniably clever, occasionally hilarious, and often poignant, The Wonder Spot is captivating enough for readers to forgive Sophie's indecisive, self-destructive tendancies and simply bask in her sincerity. --Gisele Toueg
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
Melissa Bank
5 books362 followersMelissa Bank was an American author. She published two books, "The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing," a volume of short stories, and "The Wonder Spot," a novel, which have been translated into over thirty languages. Bank was the winner of the 1993 Nelson Algren Award for short fiction. She taught in the MFA program at Stony Brook Southampton.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 912 reviews
August 17, 2007
The pointless ending made me realize how pointless Sophie's life is. I felt disappointed for her. She seems unable to love, or unable to commit. Is it that hard to fall in love with one of her many boyfriends? No one is perfect, but that doesn't mean no one is worth your love. I think Sophie is typical of many people in our culture, which makes me sad. The writing is not bad (despite its many similarities to The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing); if you're a mediocre, middle class person, you might like it.
Look at Melissa Bank sneering on the dust jacket--this should have been a sign to me--it doesn't hurt to smile.
Another note about the dust jacket: it begins, "Nothing comes easily to Sophie Applebaum." I have a problem with this statement. People whose families have houses on the Jersey shore, whose fathers are judges, who grow up in the upper-middle-class suburbs have plenty of things that come easy to them. She doesn't discover that sometimes you have to work hard in life until she finishes college. Here is one of her few actual epiphanies in the book: "I would have to work harder."
Look at Melissa Bank sneering on the dust jacket--this should have been a sign to me--it doesn't hurt to smile.
Another note about the dust jacket: it begins, "Nothing comes easily to Sophie Applebaum." I have a problem with this statement. People whose families have houses on the Jersey shore, whose fathers are judges, who grow up in the upper-middle-class suburbs have plenty of things that come easy to them. She doesn't discover that sometimes you have to work hard in life until she finishes college. Here is one of her few actual epiphanies in the book: "I would have to work harder."
April 18, 2007
Melissa Bank is not Chick-Lit.
And why is that?
Because her heroines never fixate on their weight, their clothing, their hairstyle, their men.
Bank has this way of skimming over all of those, and while the men are still existing (especially in Wonder Spot), her heroine Sophie is analyzing more why she needs them than the fact that she DOES need them.
Sophie can't commit. She doesn't order for herself in restaurants or at bars. She has no ambition or ideals for what she wants to do. Every relationship seems to be "the one" but a few pages into it, both she and the reader know that he won't be "the one" because she's so lost, because she has absolutely no idea who she is and what she wants. Everybody looks like "the one" to her--it's hard to know what she wants from a lover when she can't make a decision on a beer without a significant other's input.
Sophie has a teenager mentality. She hasn't evolved.
Which is, oddly, why many adult women love her. Because we pretend like we know what we want in relationships, but half the time, we're just looking for somebody to tell us what we want. And this is why she'll never be Chick Lit. She looks at the big picture, asks the pertinent questions, points out things about the female gender that we don't want to admit. She doesn't succumb to her character calling herself fat when she's a size six, or the random hot guy that will validate her when he admits (because he always admits) that he likes her. In essence, she's not predictable. And thank God for it.
And why is that?
Because her heroines never fixate on their weight, their clothing, their hairstyle, their men.
Bank has this way of skimming over all of those, and while the men are still existing (especially in Wonder Spot), her heroine Sophie is analyzing more why she needs them than the fact that she DOES need them.
Sophie can't commit. She doesn't order for herself in restaurants or at bars. She has no ambition or ideals for what she wants to do. Every relationship seems to be "the one" but a few pages into it, both she and the reader know that he won't be "the one" because she's so lost, because she has absolutely no idea who she is and what she wants. Everybody looks like "the one" to her--it's hard to know what she wants from a lover when she can't make a decision on a beer without a significant other's input.
Sophie has a teenager mentality. She hasn't evolved.
Which is, oddly, why many adult women love her. Because we pretend like we know what we want in relationships, but half the time, we're just looking for somebody to tell us what we want. And this is why she'll never be Chick Lit. She looks at the big picture, asks the pertinent questions, points out things about the female gender that we don't want to admit. She doesn't succumb to her character calling herself fat when she's a size six, or the random hot guy that will validate her when he admits (because he always admits) that he likes her. In essence, she's not predictable. And thank God for it.
November 7, 2010
I liked (not loved) this book. I found myself not wanting to put it down, but mostly out of hope. Hope that the main character Sophie would soon have some breakthrough towards maturity. Throughout the book, and especially toward the end, I alternated between hopeful expectation and frustration. There were times that I found myself nodding and thinking "I've done that / felt that / wished I was or wasn't that". However, there were more times I felt myself getting frustrated with Sophie's seemingly inability to commit to a job or relationship. The lack of committment in Sophie was very hard for me to personally relate to. On the other hand, I appreciate reading about a character who is not a super-hero; rather, an average girl who makes mistakes and isn't always the smartest, most talented, or at-all the most disciplined person. I also admit that I enjoyed the author's sense of humor. There were quite a few places that I lauhed out loud. This was the first novel by Melissa Bank I've read. On the whole, I enjoyed her wrting syle. It was a bit unusual to me to skip decades between chapters. I do understand now, having finished the book that Banks' purpose here was to focus on "moments" or "wonder spots" in Sophie's life that were pivotal character-building points. It's pretty interesting to take a spy-glass approach to one's life and zero-in on the most significant lesson-moments. It makes me want to step back and really think about what those "wonder spots" have been in my own life and how it has made me what I am today. Admittedly, the end of the book left me dangling on the edge of a cliff, hoping - but not convinced - that Sophie had found contentment, purpose and meaning in her life. I'm a hopeful person, and I always hope for a happy ending, so I assume she did.
August 27, 2007
“I hesitated, but when she handed the cigarette to me I took it, and when she lit the match I leaned forward. I imitated my mother accepting a light from my father and exhaled as she did, ceiling-ward.
Margie held her own cigarette between her teeth like a killer; she was imitating someone, too - maybe the Penguin from Batman.”
“Up until that moment, I’d been at the earliest stage of love, when you feel it will turn you into the person you want to be. Now, his gentle voice and sage advice took me to a later stage: I felt I needed to pretend to be a better person than I was so he’d keep loving me. This was hard because it made me hate him.”
This book was a lot better than I thought it would be, yet it wasn’t as good as it could have been. The writer has an ability to make regular things seem like not a waste of time to be reading. Sophie, the main character was very likable, and realistic. Also, the story had a real-life aspect that a lot of novels miss completely.
Mostly it was a book about relationships, love and loss. I liked it while I was reading it, but now I can’t come up with anything that makes it either especially good, or especially bad
Margie held her own cigarette between her teeth like a killer; she was imitating someone, too - maybe the Penguin from Batman.”
“Up until that moment, I’d been at the earliest stage of love, when you feel it will turn you into the person you want to be. Now, his gentle voice and sage advice took me to a later stage: I felt I needed to pretend to be a better person than I was so he’d keep loving me. This was hard because it made me hate him.”
This book was a lot better than I thought it would be, yet it wasn’t as good as it could have been. The writer has an ability to make regular things seem like not a waste of time to be reading. Sophie, the main character was very likable, and realistic. Also, the story had a real-life aspect that a lot of novels miss completely.
Mostly it was a book about relationships, love and loss. I liked it while I was reading it, but now I can’t come up with anything that makes it either especially good, or especially bad
November 12, 2009
I saw Melissa Bank speak while I was still in college in 2005, when she had finished "The Wonder Spot" but had not yet published it. I really liked "The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing," so when I saw this book at the Dollar Store (for a dollar!), I just couldn't pass it up.
"The Wonder Spot" follows Sophia Applebaum from late adolescence to adulthood and chronicles events & feelings that many of us experience: loss of a loved one, the disappointment of a failed romance, and anxiety over one's career. Each chapter in the book represents a different vignette, but it is not a continuous novel. The stories relate to one another thematically, but can be viewed as short stories in and of themselves.
I did not strongly dislike nor strongly like this novel. There were some beautiful moments and passages, but not enough to make me recommend this read to others beyond the quick read in the airport (which is when I read this).
As I glance through my most recent reads, it seems I have read a lot of books as of late that have focused on the development of the female character...and while I hate to say this, all of these reads have left me feeling a little stale. The jacket of my copy of "The Wonder Spot" speaks about Sophie "finding herself," and I was really hoping I could experience that vicariously. However, at the end of this read, I'm not really sure I could say that this book was that transformative, and it left me disappointed.
"The Wonder Spot" follows Sophia Applebaum from late adolescence to adulthood and chronicles events & feelings that many of us experience: loss of a loved one, the disappointment of a failed romance, and anxiety over one's career. Each chapter in the book represents a different vignette, but it is not a continuous novel. The stories relate to one another thematically, but can be viewed as short stories in and of themselves.
I did not strongly dislike nor strongly like this novel. There were some beautiful moments and passages, but not enough to make me recommend this read to others beyond the quick read in the airport (which is when I read this).
As I glance through my most recent reads, it seems I have read a lot of books as of late that have focused on the development of the female character...and while I hate to say this, all of these reads have left me feeling a little stale. The jacket of my copy of "The Wonder Spot" speaks about Sophie "finding herself," and I was really hoping I could experience that vicariously. However, at the end of this read, I'm not really sure I could say that this book was that transformative, and it left me disappointed.
January 20, 2021
he was the kind of man who might've fished zelda fitzgerald out of the fountain at the plaza, draped his cashmere coat around her shoulders, never asked for it back, and never told anyone the story.
melissa bank has something magical here and virtually no one knows about it. a writing style that is beautifully and masterfully calculated, think hemingway or sally rooney. a deadpan humor that is actually funny instead of eye roll inducing. superb characterization as seen in the brief snippet above.
i really think this book has it all and if it were given the same cool-girl literature treatment as sally rooney, this book would take bookstagram by storm. if this book were turned into a screenplay and directed by someone like greta gerwig, noah baumbach, richard linklater, either of the coppola sisters, etc. it would be a hit sitting comfortably alongside films such as ladybird, the before trilogy, lost in translation, etc. again.
who knows, maybe i'm crazy but i think if this book got a little face lift (both the hardcover and paperback version is... not good. the picture i've used here on goodreads is not the edition i read.) it would be sitting on the popular shelf of your local target alongside other popular millennial fiction. melissa bank is not a millennial and our protagonist is more of a gen x cusp but her plights and her disposition are similar to those i've read in "millennial" novels.
there isn't much to this book; a single jewish girl grows up before our eyes and navigates jobs, lack of jobs, familial relationships, and romantic relationships. but the tenderness and the craft on each page is truly a delight. if i were a popular influencer (yikes, i'm sorry i said the word influencer) i would hype this book so everyone would read it. but since i am not and only have this small little corner of goodreads in which i use to shout into the void, i recommend this treat of a book to you, dear reader, if you have found yourself here. this book fished zelda fitzgerald out of the fountain at the plaza and didn't even tell anyone the story.
melissa bank has something magical here and virtually no one knows about it. a writing style that is beautifully and masterfully calculated, think hemingway or sally rooney. a deadpan humor that is actually funny instead of eye roll inducing. superb characterization as seen in the brief snippet above.
i really think this book has it all and if it were given the same cool-girl literature treatment as sally rooney, this book would take bookstagram by storm. if this book were turned into a screenplay and directed by someone like greta gerwig, noah baumbach, richard linklater, either of the coppola sisters, etc. it would be a hit sitting comfortably alongside films such as ladybird, the before trilogy, lost in translation, etc. again.
who knows, maybe i'm crazy but i think if this book got a little face lift (both the hardcover and paperback version is... not good. the picture i've used here on goodreads is not the edition i read.) it would be sitting on the popular shelf of your local target alongside other popular millennial fiction. melissa bank is not a millennial and our protagonist is more of a gen x cusp but her plights and her disposition are similar to those i've read in "millennial" novels.
there isn't much to this book; a single jewish girl grows up before our eyes and navigates jobs, lack of jobs, familial relationships, and romantic relationships. but the tenderness and the craft on each page is truly a delight. if i were a popular influencer (yikes, i'm sorry i said the word influencer) i would hype this book so everyone would read it. but since i am not and only have this small little corner of goodreads in which i use to shout into the void, i recommend this treat of a book to you, dear reader, if you have found yourself here. this book fished zelda fitzgerald out of the fountain at the plaza and didn't even tell anyone the story.
October 31, 2014
I'm so-so about this book. I found it very uneven. There's a clear division here - childhood, relationships - both of which can be interesting in the hands of the right writer. It's obvious that she writes well, and this has its magical moments, but overall it wasn't quite what I was hoping for. As she gets more and more into the relationships, she speaks less on her life outside of them and jumps from one to the other, without transitioning very effectively. The ending also feels like a huge cop-out.
I read it in Europe, and I leant it to another girl on my Europe trip, and she basically felt the same way about it, though she wanted to hear more about her childhood, whereas I thought there was plenty (although I don't like many childhood stories, so maybe that's just me.)
I read it in Europe, and I leant it to another girl on my Europe trip, and she basically felt the same way about it, though she wanted to hear more about her childhood, whereas I thought there was plenty (although I don't like many childhood stories, so maybe that's just me.)
August 11, 2008
Whoever said those who were mediocre and middle class might like this was apparently right. I'm presumed to be both, and I think Melissa Bank has the best handle on the three-dimensional reality of being a single woman of anyone writing about "bachelorettes" today. Her protagonist has strong family relationships, complex friendships, moves through serious career changes, goes to school more than once, and gets beyond herself to examine others who have the same set of life's trials and tribulations. All without any mention of Bloomingdales, Manolo Blahnik or any of the other cliches of normal chick-lit set in Manhattan. She even gets her character to exotic locales like Williamsburg (VA, even, beyond Brooklyn!) and Pennsylvania. Well worth the backache of 10.5 hours in the studio listening to the author read this.
July 2, 2016
I really enjoyed reading this book. It follows the early to adult life of Sophie Applebaum, a rebellious girl and then woman who questions Jewish tradition, love, and friendship. She's funny and sarcastic, but not in a snarky or mean way so the story feels upbeat overall. Sophie struggles with her own lack of ambition and direction, as well as the men who end up leading her own and dropping her. It's a good look at what dating can really be like, but told in a serious, sensitive way that is funny, as opposed to dramatic. The author Melissa Bank also wrote "The Girls' Guide to hunting and Fishing," which I haven't read but plan to. I found "The Wonder Spot" easy to read, and I looked forward to finding out what would happen next. It's what some might call "a quiet novel," which to me means great character development with action that centers around human relationships.
April 1, 2008
I was completely disappointed with this book. Although some parts were funny, I thought that author Melissa Bank kept the reader too much at bay by jumping from one time frame to another, choosing to tell readers some of the mundane events of her protagonist's (Sophie Appelbaum) life, and in some cases, refusing to elaborate about some of the most important events of her life (her father's death, for instance).
I didn't feel too close to Sophie, which unfortunately, means that I couldn't care less what happens to her throughout the book.
Perhaps this stand-offish writing style and plot structure might have been intentional. A technique used by Bank to enforce the unreliable narrator. But it didn't work for me.
Yes, there were some enlightenment, "aha" moments, for Sophie Appelbaum, but the reader (or I did at least) already got what the Aha moment was long before Sophie ever got to it. Critics say that these Aha moments are what makes you keep reading the book. But I thought that most of these moments were cliched or non-earth-shattering. If Bank kept the reader more engaged, "gave" Sophie's story more to the reader, or allowed the reader to really get to know Sophie in all her ups and downs--not just a collection of stories that reinforces the unreliable narrator (a technique that, when properly used, actually really works and won't disappoint the reader)--then this book would have been a bit more enjoyable to read and readers would have empathized a bit more with Sophie.
The ending was quite disappointing too. Felt how useless and pointless life was... I know this wasn't intentional, especially when Sophie mentions to live in the moment/present, etc. but the reader, I think, won't get that positive tone because they never got to empathize or got to really know the true Sophie. I felt that Sophie was just stuck in life. Felt she never really matured--which, for me, is the whole point/one of the main thrusts of writing a novel.
I didn't feel too close to Sophie, which unfortunately, means that I couldn't care less what happens to her throughout the book.
Perhaps this stand-offish writing style and plot structure might have been intentional. A technique used by Bank to enforce the unreliable narrator. But it didn't work for me.
Yes, there were some enlightenment, "aha" moments, for Sophie Appelbaum, but the reader (or I did at least) already got what the Aha moment was long before Sophie ever got to it. Critics say that these Aha moments are what makes you keep reading the book. But I thought that most of these moments were cliched or non-earth-shattering. If Bank kept the reader more engaged, "gave" Sophie's story more to the reader, or allowed the reader to really get to know Sophie in all her ups and downs--not just a collection of stories that reinforces the unreliable narrator (a technique that, when properly used, actually really works and won't disappoint the reader)--then this book would have been a bit more enjoyable to read and readers would have empathized a bit more with Sophie.
The ending was quite disappointing too. Felt how useless and pointless life was... I know this wasn't intentional, especially when Sophie mentions to live in the moment/present, etc. but the reader, I think, won't get that positive tone because they never got to empathize or got to really know the true Sophie. I felt that Sophie was just stuck in life. Felt she never really matured--which, for me, is the whole point/one of the main thrusts of writing a novel.
March 8, 2010
This book sucked. I like the statement in the review that a woman named Kate left about this book-Sophie's life is pointless. And since the book is centered around her-thus the book is pointless. Sophie is not likeable-she's a train wreck, which is fine to be a train wreck and to center a book about a train wreck but there is nothing redemptive about this character. Sophie never learns anything, her life never improves, she never learns anything about herself and relationships, it is just a blah book about a character who's life is not extraordinary. I know some people really like books that are "real" and have "real" characters and "real" storylines,, but I don't when the real storyline is boring and unimaginative. Also, I will admit I listened to this in my car on a trip and it was read by Melissa Bank-usually I like it when the author reads the book because you get their intention of the characters better, but her voice was monotone and made the book even more painful. And that's no crack on her voice-you could tell she was trying to have zero emotion or inflection in her voice.
December 1, 2007
Confusing. Inconsistent. Boring. Not the best three adjectives in the world if you're looking for the next great read.
After a terrific debut with "Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing" (which I loved), Bank came out with this...a series of short stories following the life and loves of Sophie Applebaum as she matures from an insecure pre-teen to an insecure teen, to -- guess what? -- an insecure adult.
The problem is not Bank's writing, which is clear and filled with clever descriptions and turns-of-phrase. The problem is the subject matter. I never grew to know exactly who this person was, or why I should care about her. I cared more -- and was more interested by -- the minor characters than I was by Sophie herself, who I wanted to give a good slap and tell to grow up (you're going to get fired because you're always late to work? Why not buy an alarm clock?). And by jumping around in the chronology, skipping years and important events, I was lost.
A disappointing followup to a wonderful first book.
After a terrific debut with "Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing" (which I loved), Bank came out with this...a series of short stories following the life and loves of Sophie Applebaum as she matures from an insecure pre-teen to an insecure teen, to -- guess what? -- an insecure adult.
The problem is not Bank's writing, which is clear and filled with clever descriptions and turns-of-phrase. The problem is the subject matter. I never grew to know exactly who this person was, or why I should care about her. I cared more -- and was more interested by -- the minor characters than I was by Sophie herself, who I wanted to give a good slap and tell to grow up (you're going to get fired because you're always late to work? Why not buy an alarm clock?). And by jumping around in the chronology, skipping years and important events, I was lost.
A disappointing followup to a wonderful first book.
January 16, 2013
i am in love with melissa banks' writing. the wonder spot is just as enjoyable a read as her girl's guide was. the razor sharp wit and concise observations abound, all wrapped up in a truly good story. in her late thirties, sohpie finds herself at a hip party in brooklyn (and i find my favorite quote):
"The women are young, young, young, liquidy and sweet-looking; they are the batter, and i am the sponge cake they don't know they'll become. I stand here, a lone loaf, stuck to the pan."
"The women are young, young, young, liquidy and sweet-looking; they are the batter, and i am the sponge cake they don't know they'll become. I stand here, a lone loaf, stuck to the pan."
July 15, 2019
hmm
a good one thought i got little bit angry while reading it but i liked it
i felt my self living in Sophie’s thoughts . experiencing what she is doing . movin from the past to the present
a good one thought i got little bit angry while reading it but i liked it
i felt my self living in Sophie’s thoughts . experiencing what she is doing . movin from the past to the present
May 10, 2010
I really like Melissa Bank as an observer, and this book has a lot of passages that take her out of the realm of "chick-lit" (if she ever was in it) and into the category of writer who wastes her talents on talking about the same people in every book. I really connect to her descriptions of the places she sets this book's stories in, and to certain aspects of her protagonist's character and story arc, but ultimately I think Bank falls short of drawing a complete or compelling human being in Sophie Applebaum. I'm sure she had her reasons for not giving a physical description of Sophie, but when your main character is defined only by what she is not - driven, passionate, committed, or focused, to start - rather than by what she is, the lack of superficial detail makes it all the more difficult to envision the character. This is especially baffling given how rich Bank's descriptions are of other characters' physicality -- one boyfriend's deep set eyes, for example, remind Sophie of a painting of a child (which helps to convey his earnestness). I mean, I guess Bank was trying to make Sophie an every-woman, but there's nothing ordinary about having a judge for a dad, a doctor for a brother, another brother who works as a production assistant while living in the West Village and driving a convertible, and a mother who never has to work even after the judge dies. Which also helps explain why Sophie's life, in which "nothing comes easy," is so frustrating to watch unfold -- here's someone who seems listless precisely because she doesn't have to be anything but. No job? She can stay with her brothers until they tire of her, then she can stay with her grandmother, then she can move in rent-free with her best friend whose dad bought her a place overlooking Gramercy park. She also seems to stumble into jobs thanks to having the right connections, which, again, not all that common. So to see someone so fortunate struggle to find happiness, all I can think is that she needs meds. In fact, for most of the story I found myself wondering if all the references to psychologists (one brother married one, another almost did) were going to build up to Sophie actually finding one of her own.
May 27, 2016
I'm not sure how Melissa Bank got pegged as chick lit, but it's unfortunate. Her characters are real people, and her dialogue is outstanding. In this book, she follows the life of Sophie Applebaum over a twenty year period, in vignettes - a similar format to her other excellent book, The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing. I came to know and love Sophie, and would easily have kept reading if the book didn't end. A light read, I suppose, but thought provoking on why we enter and end the relationships we do, and how our family impacts that.
April 3, 2007
This is Banks' followup to A Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing. She follows a young Jewish woman from girlhood to adulthood through relationship after relationship, each one seeming like the end all at the time. It's interesting to see the character's point of view change over time, as well as to witness the changing/maturing of her familial relationships.
January 23, 2008
"It is a strange thing to end a friendship, even if you know it's what you want. It's like a death; all of a sudden your experience of a person becomes finite."
On being in love: "The world's most coveted state is characterized by unrelieved insecurity and almost constant pain."
"The good thing about being nowhere in your career is that you can do it anywhere."
On being in love: "The world's most coveted state is characterized by unrelieved insecurity and almost constant pain."
"The good thing about being nowhere in your career is that you can do it anywhere."
May 11, 2008
I first heard of Ms. Bank last fall when our Sunday paper ran an advance on her appearance at a local college. In the article she resisted being called a writer of chick lit, noting the media's tendency to lump all women authors of a certain age together as chick lit writers.
Now that I have read both her books, The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing being her first, I understand why Ms. Bank doesn't like the categorization.
Nor is she that handily categorized.
Not that I'm too high-brow for chick lit, trust me. Chick lit certainly has its place in the literary world.
But her work is too well crafted to be pigeonholed as chick lit. And, frankly, Ms. Bank isn't a chick. She's a fortysomething woman, both sensitive and observant.
Nor are her observations written in that youthful or frivolous mindset one expects from chick lit authors.
The Wonder Spot's protagonist, Sophie Applebaum, is barely-a-teenager at the beginning of the book. But Sophie is a soul wise beyond her years, a refined soul, to use a little reincarnation lingo.
Because Ms. Bank uses first-person narration, the reader watches Sophie's world unfold around her. At the same time it is a treat for the reader to be in Sophie's head throughout the book, one keenly empathizes with Sophie, who is more observer than participant in her own life.
The Wonder Spot is not a conventional novel, so don't expect one from it. It is more a story cycle book or what is sometimes called a novel-in-stories that fast-forwards with Sophie to key points in her life--from her teenage years to the present day.
Each chapter can stand on its own as a piece of short fiction. In each she dangles a theme, threads it throughout the piece, and ties in up in a bow by the end of the story, so skillfully, you can only say, "Ahhh." And then ask, "How'd she do that?"
Women of a certain age can relate to young Sophie as she comes of age in the 70s. Married and mommied women and those who have never lived in a big city will appreciate the chance to live along with Sophie as a single woman living in Manhattan, working in the publishing industry.
But this book is much more than a nostalgic lift or a chance to live vicariously in someone else's pumps.
The Wonder Spot is insightful, graceful prose that gently asks the reader to resist the temptation to read for plot because if she does, she'll miss the glow that warms her from the inside as she lingers and subsequently basks in Ms. Bank's realizations.
Sophie's experiences are interesting but not out of the ordinary. It's the unique way Ms. Bank tells of them that makes this book resonate.
Ms. Bank doesn't hammer you with her humor. But there is humor in nearly every line, wry and comfortable asides, and just when you've come to expect you can settle into her book like a pair of comfy slippers, she surprises you with a wistful or tender revelation and jostles you out of your complacency.
I read a lot of books. Okay maybe not as many as my husband, but then he's not a writer. But this book was one that I'll never forget.
If you like character-driven fiction and can appreciate well-crafted writing, try The Wonder Spot.
Now that I have read both her books, The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing being her first, I understand why Ms. Bank doesn't like the categorization.
Nor is she that handily categorized.
Not that I'm too high-brow for chick lit, trust me. Chick lit certainly has its place in the literary world.
But her work is too well crafted to be pigeonholed as chick lit. And, frankly, Ms. Bank isn't a chick. She's a fortysomething woman, both sensitive and observant.
Nor are her observations written in that youthful or frivolous mindset one expects from chick lit authors.
The Wonder Spot's protagonist, Sophie Applebaum, is barely-a-teenager at the beginning of the book. But Sophie is a soul wise beyond her years, a refined soul, to use a little reincarnation lingo.
Because Ms. Bank uses first-person narration, the reader watches Sophie's world unfold around her. At the same time it is a treat for the reader to be in Sophie's head throughout the book, one keenly empathizes with Sophie, who is more observer than participant in her own life.
The Wonder Spot is not a conventional novel, so don't expect one from it. It is more a story cycle book or what is sometimes called a novel-in-stories that fast-forwards with Sophie to key points in her life--from her teenage years to the present day.
Each chapter can stand on its own as a piece of short fiction. In each she dangles a theme, threads it throughout the piece, and ties in up in a bow by the end of the story, so skillfully, you can only say, "Ahhh." And then ask, "How'd she do that?"
Women of a certain age can relate to young Sophie as she comes of age in the 70s. Married and mommied women and those who have never lived in a big city will appreciate the chance to live along with Sophie as a single woman living in Manhattan, working in the publishing industry.
But this book is much more than a nostalgic lift or a chance to live vicariously in someone else's pumps.
The Wonder Spot is insightful, graceful prose that gently asks the reader to resist the temptation to read for plot because if she does, she'll miss the glow that warms her from the inside as she lingers and subsequently basks in Ms. Bank's realizations.
Sophie's experiences are interesting but not out of the ordinary. It's the unique way Ms. Bank tells of them that makes this book resonate.
Ms. Bank doesn't hammer you with her humor. But there is humor in nearly every line, wry and comfortable asides, and just when you've come to expect you can settle into her book like a pair of comfy slippers, she surprises you with a wistful or tender revelation and jostles you out of your complacency.
I read a lot of books. Okay maybe not as many as my husband, but then he's not a writer. But this book was one that I'll never forget.
If you like character-driven fiction and can appreciate well-crafted writing, try The Wonder Spot.
July 8, 2013
The Wonder Spot was a mostly enjoyable read. It was full of humor and captivating characters that drew me in and made it difficult to put down.
The book highlights a series of memorable, character-shaping experiences throughout the life of Sophie Applebaum. Through these snippets, the reader follows Sophie on her quest to discover her place in the world and find contentment in her career and love life. Sophie is a very relatable character: she experiences awkward moments, friction between herself and friends and family, and frustration in her attempts to find a job she loves and a man that is right for her. All throughout, she manages to maintain a wonderful sense of humor (there are quite a few laugh-out-loud moments in here), and inner strength as she stands up to people and situations that hold her back. The ending was a little disappointing, as it seemed vague and abrupt, but I still get the sense that Sophie had matured and and found contentment through learning to enjoy the moment that she is in.
My major complaint with the book was that it was choppy. I feel the author's idea was to present short stories of Sophie's critical life experiences, which I liked, but for me, it lacked a little bit of necessary segue. New characters would appear suddenly, and other characters would disappear, leaving me wondering what had become of them. At other times, the author would try to tie in a reference from an earlier chapter to a later chapter, but rather than providing context, these references just seemed clumsy. I would have liked if each chapter came together a little more concisely, so that I knew which people were gone from Sophie's life, and which remained. It would have been helpful to have a little clearer idea of how much time had passed in between chapters, as well.
The Wonder Spot is definitely not a fairy tale. Sophie doesn't end up having everything she wants come to her. This is a point that she herself makes late in the book- happiness doesn't fall in her lap, and she doesn't have any grand revelations of what or who she should "be". To me, that is exactly what made it so compelling. Sophie seems like she could be a real person, facing real uncertainties, and I believe many readers can find something about her with which they can identify.
The book highlights a series of memorable, character-shaping experiences throughout the life of Sophie Applebaum. Through these snippets, the reader follows Sophie on her quest to discover her place in the world and find contentment in her career and love life. Sophie is a very relatable character: she experiences awkward moments, friction between herself and friends and family, and frustration in her attempts to find a job she loves and a man that is right for her. All throughout, she manages to maintain a wonderful sense of humor (there are quite a few laugh-out-loud moments in here), and inner strength as she stands up to people and situations that hold her back. The ending was a little disappointing, as it seemed vague and abrupt, but I still get the sense that Sophie had matured and and found contentment through learning to enjoy the moment that she is in.
My major complaint with the book was that it was choppy. I feel the author's idea was to present short stories of Sophie's critical life experiences, which I liked, but for me, it lacked a little bit of necessary segue. New characters would appear suddenly, and other characters would disappear, leaving me wondering what had become of them. At other times, the author would try to tie in a reference from an earlier chapter to a later chapter, but rather than providing context, these references just seemed clumsy. I would have liked if each chapter came together a little more concisely, so that I knew which people were gone from Sophie's life, and which remained. It would have been helpful to have a little clearer idea of how much time had passed in between chapters, as well.
The Wonder Spot is definitely not a fairy tale. Sophie doesn't end up having everything she wants come to her. This is a point that she herself makes late in the book- happiness doesn't fall in her lap, and she doesn't have any grand revelations of what or who she should "be". To me, that is exactly what made it so compelling. Sophie seems like she could be a real person, facing real uncertainties, and I believe many readers can find something about her with which they can identify.
May 28, 2008
I thought the book was well-written and perceptive but I got tired of Sophie's passivity and her inability to commit to a relationship or a career. And as so many other readers have commented, I thought the ending was contrived. My favorite part of the book is actually the chapter in which her sharp-tongued grandmother has a stroke and becomes sweet--if only it weren't combined with a description of an annoying doctor Sophie is dating. Although each chapter can stand alone, Bank makes desultory attempts to connect the chapters by reminding us of certain characters, but they drop in and out of Sophie's life in a disconcerting way. Bank is a talented writer, and this book does aim higher than chick lit, but the book is too detached to engage my empathy.
January 24, 2011
I really enjoyed this. I took a break from fiction for a while by and large and realized after reading this that I shouldn't, especially if I'm a fiction writer. I love that Bank can write fiction for/about women without it being chick litty. She's funny and sad and insightful and her characters don't have to be SATC cutouts without being "women characters." I want another book from her soon.
August 12, 2023
Contender for fav book of the year👀
December 15, 2012
I wanted to give Melissa Bank a second chance after being underwhelmed with her debut novel, but I found her follow-up, "The Wonder Spot" to be equally underwhelming. This is not to say that the novel is without merit, as there are things that Bank does very well.
She doesn't write plot, she write slice of life and character sketches. This entire book comprised of slices of the main character, Sophie Applebaums, life. It's an examination of how a woman grows (or is stuck) as she develops relationships in her life. Again, this book doesn't have a big plot. It's almost like little short stories revolving around the same person. The lack of a forward plot or over-all arc, is a bit maddening and maybe if the character was more interesting, it would be forgivable.
Bank writes characters. She write real people. Sophie is entirely relatable, even if she isn't very likable. Unfortunately, I recognized much of myself in her character. The problem with making her so real, is it made the book a bit dull. This is not even remotely escapist literature or chick-lit. It's a character study. Sophie may feel real, but she is also not a very interesting person.
Neither are the other characters in the story. I kept getting them confused with one another, none of them made an impression. This was the major fault of the story. I can handle the lack of plot and realism, if the characters give me a reason to care. Unfortunately, I just didn't care about any of them.
I want to like Bank, as she has a way of writing that is authentic. I just desperately want her writing to be more interesting.
http://www.alwayspackedforadventure.com
She doesn't write plot, she write slice of life and character sketches. This entire book comprised of slices of the main character, Sophie Applebaums, life. It's an examination of how a woman grows (or is stuck) as she develops relationships in her life. Again, this book doesn't have a big plot. It's almost like little short stories revolving around the same person. The lack of a forward plot or over-all arc, is a bit maddening and maybe if the character was more interesting, it would be forgivable.
Bank writes characters. She write real people. Sophie is entirely relatable, even if she isn't very likable. Unfortunately, I recognized much of myself in her character. The problem with making her so real, is it made the book a bit dull. This is not even remotely escapist literature or chick-lit. It's a character study. Sophie may feel real, but she is also not a very interesting person.
Neither are the other characters in the story. I kept getting them confused with one another, none of them made an impression. This was the major fault of the story. I can handle the lack of plot and realism, if the characters give me a reason to care. Unfortunately, I just didn't care about any of them.
I want to like Bank, as she has a way of writing that is authentic. I just desperately want her writing to be more interesting.
http://www.alwayspackedforadventure.com
June 22, 2013
I read this book for my monthly book club. I admittedly had never heard of Melissa Bank, which is probably one of my favorite aspects of being in a book club. It exposes me to new authors!
After taking an unfortunate significant hiatus from leisurely reading as a result of a chaotic spring, Bank's The Wonder Spot was a good book to get me back into reading. I liked the unique structure of her book. Rather than traditional chapters, this book had several sections chronicling different points of Sophie's life. However, one flaw to this structure was that because the sections were snapshots in Sophie's life, it left a lot of unanswered questions (e.g. What made her decide to switch jobs? Why did she break up with that boyfriend? Whatever happened to that character?).
I was also disappointed with the end of the book. I'm of the mindset that I like to feel that the characters I devote time getting to know through novels are going to "be okay" once the book ends. While I am sure Sophie ended up being okay, I felt it was a bit abrupt and unsatisfying as a result.
I probably enjoyed the book a bit more than the others in my book club, though I recognize that it might be due to enjoying getting back into the act of reading itself. I remarked that I enjoyed her use of semicolons, which resulted in a lively conversation, too! Those who had read this and The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing preferred the latter over The Wonder Spot. Given I appreciated the structure of this book, which sounds like her typical organizational style, I am sure I will pick up The Girls' Guide... in the future.
After taking an unfortunate significant hiatus from leisurely reading as a result of a chaotic spring, Bank's The Wonder Spot was a good book to get me back into reading. I liked the unique structure of her book. Rather than traditional chapters, this book had several sections chronicling different points of Sophie's life. However, one flaw to this structure was that because the sections were snapshots in Sophie's life, it left a lot of unanswered questions (e.g. What made her decide to switch jobs? Why did she break up with that boyfriend? Whatever happened to that character?).
I was also disappointed with the end of the book. I'm of the mindset that I like to feel that the characters I devote time getting to know through novels are going to "be okay" once the book ends. While I am sure Sophie ended up being okay, I felt it was a bit abrupt and unsatisfying as a result.
I probably enjoyed the book a bit more than the others in my book club, though I recognize that it might be due to enjoying getting back into the act of reading itself. I remarked that I enjoyed her use of semicolons, which resulted in a lively conversation, too! Those who had read this and The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing preferred the latter over The Wonder Spot. Given I appreciated the structure of this book, which sounds like her typical organizational style, I am sure I will pick up The Girls' Guide... in the future.
August 11, 2016
If you enjoyed reading the Bridget Jones´ novels, then you will enjoy this novel. The difference is that the main character, Sophie Applebaum, is a Jewish New Yorker. However, she is still trying to find her place in this world. As she puts it, she{s a "solid trying to do a liquid´s job."
The book is divided into sections describing events in a specific time of her life. The first section is obviously when she is a young girl in school. I wanted to laugh when there was a discussion at the family dinner table but you could not be excused from the table until you specifically asked "May I please be excused." There was also a mention of reading Highlights magazine. Ahh, the memories.
She´s at college, a small no-name college in upstate New York. As in high school, her collegiate scholastics is wanting. She "gets by" but that´s it. After college she finally finds work as an assistant editor for a publishing form in New York. It takes a while, but she realizes that she "lacks substance." As far as a career goes, this is what she has to say: "few are called. Almost nobody was.... I was like everyone else, I fell into a job, and I worked at it."
Throughout each section she falls in love and falls out of love. She gains friends, but also loses friends along the way. She´s looking for her Wonder Spot.
The book is divided into sections describing events in a specific time of her life. The first section is obviously when she is a young girl in school. I wanted to laugh when there was a discussion at the family dinner table but you could not be excused from the table until you specifically asked "May I please be excused." There was also a mention of reading Highlights magazine. Ahh, the memories.
She´s at college, a small no-name college in upstate New York. As in high school, her collegiate scholastics is wanting. She "gets by" but that´s it. After college she finally finds work as an assistant editor for a publishing form in New York. It takes a while, but she realizes that she "lacks substance." As far as a career goes, this is what she has to say: "few are called. Almost nobody was.... I was like everyone else, I fell into a job, and I worked at it."
Throughout each section she falls in love and falls out of love. She gains friends, but also loses friends along the way. She´s looking for her Wonder Spot.
January 3, 2009
This book was terrible! Several years ago I read "The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing." And was excited when this one came out.
Our protagonist is a girl named Sophie who is in BAD need of anti-depressants or a therapist or something. Everything she does is sad and depressing, and everyone around her is sad and depressing. She is good and nothing, appreciates nothing and no one. Also, the story is told in little vignettes...so nothing is ever finished. She's having problems at work, awe, but the the next stage is introduced to her life and that's over. How did it end? Too bad? You'll never know.
At some point, her beloved father dies. How did that affect her? Who knows? It's mentioned only in irritated passing.
Yuck, yuck and yuck! If I could give it less then a star I would. I gave up after 200 some pages knowing it just wasn't going to turn around. I am only alive for so long on this planet...
Our protagonist is a girl named Sophie who is in BAD need of anti-depressants or a therapist or something. Everything she does is sad and depressing, and everyone around her is sad and depressing. She is good and nothing, appreciates nothing and no one. Also, the story is told in little vignettes...so nothing is ever finished. She's having problems at work, awe, but the the next stage is introduced to her life and that's over. How did it end? Too bad? You'll never know.
At some point, her beloved father dies. How did that affect her? Who knows? It's mentioned only in irritated passing.
Yuck, yuck and yuck! If I could give it less then a star I would. I gave up after 200 some pages knowing it just wasn't going to turn around. I am only alive for so long on this planet...
December 31, 2008
Yet another $2 book from Goodwill. I remember vaguely liking Melissa Bank's first book, but I also remember feeling some ambivalence about it, which I also feel here. While it's an engrossing book - I stayed up late reading it - the main character is just sort of a sad sack. She's non-committal, lazy, passive, and not particularly intelligent, and at one point I just wanted to smack her and yell at her that her problems were of her own making and to stop whining about it. But I suppose lots of people are really like that, so maybe it is a relatable book. I enjoyed the chapter about her grandmother, and I enjoyed the suburban New York Jewish culture she describes (because I grew up in Westchester County), and I enjoyed Bank's writing style, which is clear and effective. But this is ultimately a lightweight book.
May 11, 2020
I've always wanted to be Jewish or Greek or some culture that thrives on tradition. It's always been fascinating to me, as much of The Wonder Spot was. Melissa Bank was literally spot-on and it was hard for me to put the book down. I was absorbed into Sophie Applebaum's crazy, hectic life and her interesting group of friends and stories. The Wonder Spot is more than just the life of Sophie, it's the telling of the world around her. She fights her way through life, unhappy in her job, moving from guy to guy, friend to friend. She's heartbreaking and hilarious at the same time. I wanted to be Sophie Applebaum. I wanted to have the life experiences that she had. I wanted to grow up with her family and be a little piece of that world.
November 30, 2016
I think Melissa Bank is a great writer, but I think she could work on her story telling. I loved Sophie and all of her stories individually-- some more than others, but that's just personal preference. I felt there was a disconnect between the chapters-- I couldn't remember characters and I felt like I was jumping through time with no backstory. I'm not in favor of novels like this, as it isn't actually a novel, but short stories about the same character. If the stories had been more connected and chronological, it would have been a perfect novel.
The prose was wonderful, though, and Sophie realistic. She was poor in Manhattan, like the majority, and lost in love in life, like everyone. Would definitely recommend, but it seems it's not for everyone.
The prose was wonderful, though, and Sophie realistic. She was poor in Manhattan, like the majority, and lost in love in life, like everyone. Would definitely recommend, but it seems it's not for everyone.
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