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Showing posts with label Fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fiction. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Audible Book Review: Christmas Eve, 1914 by Charles Olivier

This is heart-wrenching.
Christmas Eve, 1914
By: Charles Olivier
Narrated by: Cameron Daddo, Xander Berkeley, Cody Fern, Damon Herriman, James Scott, John Beck, Lance Guest, Gabe Greenspan, Nate Jones
Christmas Eve, 1914 audiobook cover art
Length: 1 hr and 13 mins
Performance
Release date: 12-16-14
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Categories: Fiction, Historical
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 5.0; Narration 5.0.


About This Audible Original
"Gentlemen, maybe war takes a holiday today."
This mesmerizing audio drama takes you to the dismal trenches of World War I. It is here, under the constant threat of exploding shells and artillery, that British and German soldiers live in deplorable conditions. Braving the merciless cold and crushing exhaustion and hunger, the men conduct patrols and fight, often to the death, to advance mere inches in the frozen No Man’s Land that lies between them.
But on Christmas Eve, the Western Front gives way to a miracle of grace, as soldiers from both sides emerge from their trenches to greet each other, share their meager rations, and bury the dead for an unofficial and temporary truce. Drawing upon the unforgettable true story of history’s most transcendent ceasefire, this Audible Original, a finalist for the 2016 Audie Award for Best Audio Drama, commemorates an astonishing moment of peace—and celebration of man’s capacity for kindness—in the midst of total war. A full cast performance of a heart-wrenching script written by Emmy Award-winner Charles Olivier and produced by Dawn Prestwich (The Killing), Christmas Eve, 1914 is the perfect reminder of how holiday hope can be found in the unlikeliest of places. At the story’s end, listeners will also enjoy a performance of the classic carol, "Il Est Ne" by Tom Tom Club.
The ensemble cast includes Damon Herriman, Cameron Daddo, Xander Berkeley, James Scott, Lance Guest, Nate Jones, Cody Fern, John Beck, Gabe Greenspan, and Heiko Obermoeller.
©2014 Audible Inc. (P)2014 Audible Inc.


Review:
This story is set up as a letter from a field officer to a mother of a very young soldier who died ten years earlier. The officer describes the events surrounding the soldier’s arrival at the front, leading to his death and a moving impact resulting in his burial and a day of truce on the battlefield. The officer clearly expresses his emotions of regret, heartbreak, and humility based on the bravery of the young man who stepped forward to fight for his country and to encourage the other soldiers.

This is a full-cast dramatization that puts the listener at the front with the mud, the grit, the stink, the hunger, the exhaustion, the sounds of bombing, the fear, and even the dysfunction – all expressing the horror of war. The lack of integrity and the incompetence of the officers is disturbing as are the sometimes nonsensical orders. The conditions that all of the soldiers faced on the front line are gut-wrenching.

I think that I had heard about this cessation of hostilities for Christmas before, but this story brings it alive. I loved the addition of the singing by the young man and the echoes that bring the sides to the point of truce and allow them to move out to “No Man Lands” to bury the dead. My heart was soon hurting as I listened and by the end tears were running into my ears (I was lying down).

This is beautifully written on a very tough subject. I hope to get my children and grandchildren to listen to this and to recognize how human we are and how horrible war is. The Audible is moving and I highly recommend it.

#HoHoHoRat.
Source: December 2018 Free Audible Original. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook goals.

Friday, January 5, 2018

Audible Book Review: Saving Grace by Lee Smith

This is an unusual, unhappy character portrayal.
By: Lee Smith
Narrated by: Christina Moore

Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins
Unabridged
Release date: 04-08-04
Language: English
Publisher: Recorded Books
Genre: Family Drama, Fiction
My Rating: 2.5 of 5.0


Publisher's Summary
Having justly earned her reputation as a master storyteller, Lee Smith's name evokes images of authentic country folk struggling through some of life's most arduous tests. Saving Grace adds a stunning spiritual dimension. The daughter of a snake-handling preacher who ignores the needs of his destitute family, Florida Grace doesn't think much of Jesus. He's the reason she's lived in squalor most of her life. He certainly doesn't keep her womanizing zealot of a father on the straight and narrow. In fact, Jesus hasn't been there for her through her failed marriage, or the death of her son. But in one shining moment everything changes when He calls out to her, and she returns to her roots to heed His call.
Narrator Christina Moore gives perfect voice to the vulnerability and wisdom of a young woman on a turbulent spiritual journey.
©1995 Lee Smith; (P)2003 Recorded Books


Review:
Florida Grace is the eleventh child of a snake handling, revival preacher. Her mother, (her father’s third wife) has a loving spirit while her father is a bit too busy to pay much attention to the young’uns. Grace feels out of step for most of her young life. While her parents are busy ministering she is partially raised by a warm, neighbor family.

While Grace is a young teen, an older teen boy shows up claiming a connection with her father. He wrangles a spot in the household and uses his charm to twist his relationship with Grace and others. When Grace’s mother dies, her father takes Grace and sets out on the road to continue his preaching. After a time Grace is abandoned and ends up taken in by the church’s strict pastor. The pastor lives with an equally strict and dour sister who isn’t thrilled to have Grace become part of the family.

Live brings some moments of joy to Grace but more times of trouble, confusion and heartache. Some of the further troubles are brought about by Grace’s own actions which ultimately bring her full circle to her childhood home where she must face herself and the God who has long pursued her.

The story setting is bleak, although the history is eccentrically fascinating. I was glad that Grace is a strong character, at times even vibrant through her struggles. I felt sorrow at the failings in her childhood and in her adult life. I could understand her anger and bitterness and resistance to a God whose truths were so twisted by her father and others close to him.

The major tone of the story is hopelessness. I am not a fan of depressing, family dramas. The blurb gave me hope that there was a revelation in Grace’s story. I trudged through the sadness looking and hoping for the light. The revelation doesn’t come until the very end and I was disappointed by what I found to be a very weak concluding scene.

This is well written with a wonderful depth of description and emotion. Still, I can’t say that I enjoyed the story. It is not really a Christian novel but more an expose of a sad, twisted history of a small religious sect. Readers who like drama, history and in depth character portrayal might find this an interesting read or listen.

Audio Notes: Christina Moore does a good job with the narration which gives extra to my rating. She conveys the appropriate tone of Grace’s emotions throughout the story. I am glad (I think) I listened to this in audio as I am pretty sure I would have skipped to the end if I had a print/ebook version.

This is another Audible TBR from 2010 which qualified for my 2017 Audiobook Challenge.

Monday, April 3, 2017

Audible Book Review: We Like You so Much and Want to Know You Better by Dave Eggers

This is an introduction to the book The Circle which will be released as a movie this month.
We Like You so Much and Want to Know You Better
Written by: Dave Eggers
Narrated by: Dion Graham
We Like You so Much and Want to Know You Better Audiobook
Length: 47 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:09-27-13
Publisher: The New York Times
Genre: Fiction, Preview
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0


Publisher's Summary
A million people, a billion, wanted to be where Mae was at this moment, entering this atrium, 30 feet high and shot through with California light, on her first day working for the only company that really mattered at all.
A story from The New York Times Magazine, adapted from The Circle, a new novel by Dave Eggers.
Listen to the rest of The Circle and listen to more from The New York Times.
©2013 The New York Times Company (P)2013 The New York Times Company


Review:
Mae, with the help of a friend, got invited to interview for a job at the prestigious company known as The Circle. She is thrilled to get the position and is promptly pulled into training. She is provided with the latest technology phone and tablet and a helpful coworker immediately sets them up so that everything is interactive with the company. As a new employee she is soon provided with clothes, shown all the onsite store and facilities that are available, and introduced to her onsite lodgings, so she doesn’t have to go home for anything.

Although she picks the work up quickly, at the end of the week she is approached by some of her ‘support group’ who express concerns about her lack of socializing with her “team”. She changes her online socializing to spend hours online to increase her socializing ratings.

I didn’t realize as I listened to this that it is just the introduction to the full novel. The author quickly sets the stage for a creepy situation where Mae’s life is immersed in, and manipulated by, The Circle. This clearly raises issues of giving up control and privacy. I found the premise interesting and am curious to know where the story goes and what creates the suspense/thriller elements. On the other hand, I was not so pulled in that I wanted to push through over 500 pages. There was some unnecessary bad language liberally used by Mae’s friend. I liked getting a glimpse of the setting and Mae’s character. I will be waiting for the movie.

Audio Notes: Dion Graham's narration fits well with the high tech sort of energy of the story. He reads at a quick, sharp pace that captures the 20 something excitement of the protagonist. He manages to capture the variety of male and female voices with youthful enthusiasm. The narration is definitely a good fit for the book.

This was from my Audible TBR shelves (2013). It qualifies for 2017 Audiobook and Mount TBR Challenges.

Thursday, March 23, 2017

Book Feature and Tour Giveaway: Ashes by Steven Manchester

Ashes
by Steven Manchester
on Tour February 19 - April 21, 2017

Please see my review post HERE.

Ashes by Steven Manchester
Book Details
Genre: Fiction

Published by: The Story Plant
Publication Date: February 21st 2017
Number of Pages: 260

Purchase Links:

Synopsis:

Middle-aged brothers Jason and Tom Prendergast thought they were completely done with each other. Perceived betrayal had burned the bridge between them, tossing them into the icy river of estrangement. But life – and death – has a robust sense of irony, and when they learn that their cruel father has died and made his final request that they travel together across the country to spread his ashes, they have no choice but to spend a long, long car trip in each other's company. It's either that or lose out on the contents of the envelope he's left with his lawyer. The trip will be as gut-wrenching as each expects it to be . . . and revealing in ways neither of them is prepared for.

At turns humorous, biting, poignant, and surprisingly tender, Ashes puts a new spin on family and dysfunction with a story that is at once fresh and timelessly universal.

Read an excerpt:


Tom wheeled his late-model, platinum-colored BMW into Attorney Russell Norman’s freshly paved lot and parked between a brand new Lexus—sporting the license plate JUSTIS4U—and a custom pickup truck. Looks like I’m going after the hillbilly, he thought when he spotted the faded Massachusetts Department of Correction sticker in the rear window. His blood turned cold. “It must be Jason,” he thought aloud. I didn’t think he’d come.

Tom took a few deep breaths, not because he was nervous about his father’s death or talking to any lawyer but because he hadn’t seen his Neanderthal brother—for fifteen years, I think. He paused for a moment to give it more thought. Although their relationship had essentially vaporized in their late teens—the result of a fall out that still haunted his dreams—they’d occasionally wound up in each other’s orbits; weddings, funerals, and the like, enough to remain familiar with each other’s career choices, wives, and children. But even that came to an end fifteen years ago, he confirmed in his aching head before opening the door. While his toothache-induced migraine threatened to blind him, he took one step into the oak-paneled waiting room. His and Jason’s eyes met for the briefest moment. As though they were complete strangers, they both looked away. And here he is, Tom thought, disappointed. This is just great.

Through peripheral vision, Tom noticed that his older brother now wore a scar over his right eye, just above a bushy eyebrow that could have easily belonged to a homeless Scotsman. A jagged ear lobe, a piece clearly torn away, pointed to a crooked nose that sat sideways on his face—all of it rearranged since birth. What a big tub of shit he’s turned into, Tom thought, struggling to ignore his throbbing face and head. He’s as fat as a wood tick now, he thought, grinning, and he looks like he’s ready to pop. Jason looked straight at him, as if reading his mind. Tom immediately looked away, his rapid heartbeat starting to pound in his ears, intensifying his physical pain. Unbelievable, he thought. After all the years and all the distance, his elder brother—by only two years—still scared the hell out of him. He’s just a big asshole, that’s all, he told himself, but he still couldn’t bring himself to rejoin his brother’s penetrating gaze.

The secretary answered her phone before calling out, “Mr. Prendergast . . .”

Both brothers stood.

“Attorney Norman will see you now.”

Tom walked in first, letting the door close behind him—right in Jason’s face.

“Still a weasel,” Jason muttered, loud enough for all to hear.

“What was that?” Tom asked just inside the door.

“Don’t even think about playing with me,” Jason warned as he reopened the door and entered the room, “’cause I have no problem throwing you over my knee and spanking you right in front of this guy.”

I’m fifty years old, for God’s sake, Tom thought, and he thinks he’s going to spank me? I’m surprised the prison even let him out.

The attorney—his hand extended for anyone willing to give it a shake—looked mortified by the childish exchange.

Tom shook the man’s hand before settling into a soft leather wing chair. Jason followed suit.

The room was framed in rich mahogany paneling. The desk could have belonged in the oval office. Beneath a green-glassed banker’s lamp, stacks of file folders took up most of the vast desktop. An American flag stood in one corner, while framed diplomas and certificates, bearing witness to the man’s intelligence and vast education, covered the brown walls.

Attorney Norman wore a pinstriped shirt and pleated, charcoal-colored slacks held up by a pair of black suspenders. He had a bow tie, a receding hairline that begged to be shaved bald, and a pair of eyeglasses that John Lennon would have been proud to call his own. There’s no denying it, Tom thought, trying to ignore his brother’s wheezing beside him, he’s either a lawyer or a banker. He couldn’t be anything else.

While Jason squirmed in his seat, visibly uncomfortable to be sitting in a lawyer’s office, his hands squeezed the arms of the chair. What a chicken shit, Tom thought, trying to make himself feel better. Peering sideways, he noticed that his brother’s knuckles were so swollen with scar tissue they could have belonged to a man who made his living as a bare-knuckle brawler. He’s still an animal too, he decided.

Attorney Norman took a seat, grabbed a manila file from atop the deep stack and cleared his throat. “The reason you’re both here . . .”

“. . . is to make sure the old man’s really dead,” Jason interrupted.

In spite of himself and his harsh feelings for his brother, Tom chuckled—drawing looks from both men.

“The reason we’re all here,” Attorney Norman repeated, “is to read Stuart Prendergast’s last will and testament.” He flipped open the folder.

This ought to be good, Tom thought, while Jason took a deep breath and sighed heavily. Both brothers sat erect in their plush chairs, waiting to hear more.

As if he were Stuart Prendergast sitting there in the flesh, the mouthpiece read, “My final wish is that my two sons, Jason and Thomas, bring my final remains to 1165 Milford Road in Seattle, Washington, where they will spread my ashes.”

“Seattle?” Tom blurted, his wagging tongue catching his tooth, making him wince in pain. Quickly concealing his weakness, he slid to the edge of his seat. “Oh, I don’t think so,” he mumbled, careful not to touch the tooth again.

Jason was shaking his head. “Hell no,” he said.

The attorney read on. “I’ve always been afraid to fly, so I’m asking that I not be transported by airplane but driven by car.”

“No way,” Tom instinctively sputtered.

Jason laughed aloud. “This is just great. The old bastard’s dead and he’s still screwing with us.”

The less-than-amused attorney revealed a sealed envelope and continued on. “As my final gift to my sons . . .”

“Only gift,” Tom muttered, feeling a cauldron of bad feelings bubbling in his gut.

“I’m leaving this sealed envelope for them to share, once and only once they’ve taken me to my final resting place.”

“What the ****!” Jason blurted.

Every cell in Tom’s overloaded brain flashed red. Don’t do it, he thought. You don’t owe that old man a damned thing. But every cell in his body was flooded with curiosity. He looked at Jason, who was no longer shaking his fat head.

“Maybe the bastard finally hit it big at the dog track?” Jason suggested.

Tom nodded in agreement but secretly wondered, Could it be the deed to the land Pop bragged about owning in Maine? He stared at the envelope. For as long as I can remember, he claimed to own forty-plus acres with a brook running straight through it. He stared harder. Could it be? he wondered, wishing he had X-ray vision. A parcel of land in Maine sure would make a nice retirement . . .

“How ’bout we travel separately and meet in Seattle to spread the ashes?” Jason said, interrupting his thoughts.

“Great idea,” Tom said, hoping against all hope that the idea would fly with their father’s lawyer.

Attorney Norman shook his head. “I’m sorry, gentlemen, but your father specifically requested that you travel together with his remains to Seattle. Any deviation from this can and will prohibit you from attaining the sealed envelope.”

There was a long pause, the room blanketed in a heavy silence. Son of a bitch, Tom thought, this couldn’t have come at a worse time. He turned to Jason, who was already looking at him. “What do you say?” he asked, already cursing his inability to curb his curiosity.

Jason shook his head in disgust. “The last thing I want to do is to go on some stupid road trip with you.”

“Trust me, that’s a mutual feeling,” Tom shot back.

“But I don’t think we have a choice,” Jason added. “Our f***ed-up father wants to play one last game with us, so to hell with it—let’s play.”

This is insane, but he’s right, Tom thought. With a single nod, Tom stood. “Okay, let’s have the ashes then,” he told the lawyer.

The attorney shook his head. “I don’t have them. They’re currently at a funeral home in Salem.”

“Salem?” Tom squeaked, unhappy that his tone betrayed his distress.

“That’s right. You have to take custody of your father’s remains from the Buffington Funeral Home in Salem, Massachusetts.”

“You must be shitting me.” Jason said.

The attorney smirked. “I shit you not,” he said, throwing the letter onto his desk.

Salem? Tom repeated in his head. Just when I thought Pop couldn’t be a bigger prick . . . The migraine knocked even harder from the inside of his skull, making him feel nauseous. Amid the pain, his synapses fired wildly, considering all this would mean: I’ll have to take bereavement leave from school and find someone to cover my classes. I should probably double my treatment with Dr. Baxter tomorrow. And what about Caleb and Caroline? he asked himself, quickly deciding, They’ll be fine without me for a few days. Then he pictured his wife’s face. And Carmen, she’ll be fine without me for a lot longer than that. The nausea increased. Screw her.

“Are we done here?” Jason asked, obviously itching to leave.

The lawyer nodded. “I’ll need proof in the form of a video or a series of photos that you’ve deposited your father’s remains where he wished. Once I have that, the letter’s all yours.”

“How wonderful,” Jason said sarcastically. He stood, turned on his heels, and headed for the door.

Tom also got to his feet. He looked at the lawyer and, trying to ignore his physical discomfort, he smiled. “Don’t mind him,” he said, shrugging. “That imbecile is exactly what our father trained him to be.”

Author Bio:

Steven ManchesterSteven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestsellers Twelve Months, The Rockin’ Chair, Pressed Pennies, and Gooseberry Island as well as the novels Goodnight, Brian and The Changing Season. His work has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, CBS’s The Early Show, CNN’s American Morning, and BET’s Nightly News. Recently, three of Manchester’s short stories were selected “101 Best” for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

Find Steven on his Website, on Twitter, & on Facebook!


Tour Host Participants:

Don't miss your chance to learn more about Steven Manchester & his book, Ashes! Visit the tour stops for interviews, guest posts, and lots of reviews!



Don't Miss Your Chance to WIN Ashes!

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Providence Book Promotions for Steven Manchester and The Story Plant. There will be 5 US winners of one (1) PRINT copy of Ashes by Steven Manchester. The giveaway begins on February 18th and runs through April 23rd, 2017.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Visit Providence Book Promotions for more great reads!

Friday, August 26, 2016

Book Review: Quiet As They Come by Angie Chau

This is a remarkably engaging quick read.
Quiet As They Come (Free Story for Kindle)
Angie Chau

File Size: 469 KB
Print Length: 202 pages
Publisher: Ig Publishing (August 17, 2010)
ASIN: B0042FZRD4
Genre: Asian American, Fiction
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0


Quiet As They Come is a beautiful and at times brutal portrait of a people caught between two cultures. Set in San Francisco from the 1980s to the present day, this debut collection explores the lives of several families of Vietnamese immigrants as they struggle to adjust to life in their new country, often haunted by the memories and customs of their old lives in Vietnam. While some are able to survive and assimilate, others are crushed by the promise of the "American Dream." No matter their fate, you will never be able to forget the people you meet in this remarkable collection.


Review:
Viet Tran was known by his friends in Vietnam as a quiet man of letters; co-workers consider him a hard worker and great listener. Viet is a slight, unimposing figure who prefers to maintain a low profile. Viet works through tai chi to help control his emotions. But behind his quiet façade are roiling emotions with memories he tries to forget. When a co-worker shows disrespect towards Viet's young daughter the man has no idea what demons he may awaken.

Quiet As They Come is just one short story from the collection of stories about the lives of Vietnamese immigrants trying to adjust in San Francisco in the 1980s. This was a pleasant surprise! It is just a short story but packed with a lot of life experience and emotional depth. Chau portrays her character with depth and dignity. Based on the surprising smoothness and depth of this one book, I expect that the full collection would be wonderfully engaging and insightful.

This was a free Kindle story on my TBR shelf from 2010 so it qualifies for Mount TBR Challenge.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Audio Review: Unwritten: A Novel by Charles Martin

If I gushed, I would gush over this audio book.
Unwritten: A Novel
Charles Martin (Author)
Kevin Stillwell (Narrator)

· Listening Length: 10 hours and 24 minutes
· Program Type: Audiobook
· Version: Unabridged
· Publisher: Hachette Audio
· Audible.com Release Date: July 9, 2013
· ASIN: B00DUHT9WK
Genre: Fiction, Inspirational
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0


Book Description
Publication Date: May 7, 2013
An actress running from her past finds escape with a man hiding from his future.
When someone wants to be lost, a home tucked among the Ten Thousand Islands off the Florida coast is a good place to live. A couple decent boats, and a deep knowledge of fishing and a man can get by without ever having to talk to another soul. It's a nice enough existence, until the one person who ties him to the world of the living, the reason he's still among them even if only on the fringes, asks him for help.

Father Steady Capri knows quite a bit about helping others. But he is afraid Katie Quinn's problems may be beyond his abilities. Katie is a world-famous actress with an all too familiar story. Fame seems to have driven her to self-destruct. Steady knows the true cause of her desire to end her life is buried too deeply for him to reach. But there is one person who still may be able to save her from herself.

He will show her an alternate escape, a way to write a new life. But Katie still must confront her past before she can find peace. Ultimately, he will need to leave his secluded home and sacrifice the serenity he's found to help her. From the Florida coast, they will travel to the French countryside where they will discover the unwritten story of both their pasts and their future.


Review:
Katie is a world famous actress sometimes known as the “ice queen”. She has many fans but few real friends. Father Steady, a Catholic Priest, became her true friend when she was a lonely teen newly arrived in America. Now he is not sure how to help her when he suspects that she has reached a point of no return.

Another of Father Steady’s lonely friends is ‘Sunday’. Sunday dropped out of society nearly ten years before after a shattering loss. He has been living a secluded life on his boats, fishing in the Florida Keys and Everglades. Father Steady hopes that this pair of broken souls might find a way to help each other pull out of their own despairs and return to live productive lives.

Sunday arrives on the scene just in time to help Father Steady ‘rescue’ a reluctant Katie. Sunday offers her the choice of disappearing from society as he did. She accepts but then insists on traveling to her homeland in France. Although Katie is not the easiest person to like, Sunday reluctantly travels with Katie and becomes her support for the ordeal she faces as she tries to make peace with her past.

At first Sunday thinks he has helped pull Katie from the worst of her depression, but when he fears she is still on the edge he realizes he will have to give up his own secrets. Then Sunday will have to face his own demons as well and hope that both he and Katie can return to share peace with their staunch friend, Father Steady, if not to completely release their self-imposed isolations.

The story is a beautifully woven mix of human emotions. The author, Mr. Martin, had me wrapped into the emotions as the painful pasts of these characters is revealed. I found myself sharing the sorrow and small joys but mostly wishing for their recovery as the pair struggle to find meaning in the pain they have experienced. Although most of us will never know the fame that Katie deals with, most readers can relate to a time when we wonder about the purpose of our life. The story also makes us realize how intertwined our lives can be with those we come in contact with, sometimes intimately and sometimes casually without even knowing the impact made.

The writing is wonderfully descriptive with prose that flows and breathes. (I did love the Florida descriptions of areas somewhat familiar to me.) This is one of those stories where I wanted to reach the ending but didn’t really want the story to end. It was the first I have read by this author but will not be the last.

Audio Notes: The narration by Kevin Stillwell was remarkable. He managed the character inflections so well I had to look to make sure there was not a female narrator too. More impressively, he conveyed the emotional depths of the characters with appropriate whispers and sometimes wrenching pain. The narration enhanced an already awesome read.

I feel blessed to have received this audiobook as a free download through NoiseTrade.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Audio Book Review: Greenwillow by B.J. Chute

This is a beautifully written, charming story. I have to agree with the comment: "Everyone needs to visit Greenwillow..."
Audio Book: Greenwillow
by B.J. Chute
Narrator: Ann M. Richardson
Audio Book Length: 6 hrs 44 mins
# of Audio CD's: 6
Audio CD ISBN: 978-1-927817-34-6
Genre: Classic Fiction
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0


"Everyone needs to visit Greenwillow and meet its wonderful inhabitants - from the two reverends with their 'two ways of walking before the Lord' to the irrepressible Micah who braves the devil."
A lyrical and timeless fable of the small country village Greenwlllow and its unforgettable inhabitants, and the poignant romance between young Gideon Briggs, who lives in the shadow of a family curse and is determined never to marry, and Dorrie, the orphan girl he loves. Perhaps B.J. Chute's best-known novel, a critic described Greenwillow as "a deeply moving, gently humorous and serenely wise story of young love and self-discovery." Greenwillow was brought to the Broadway stage in 1960, starring Anthony Perkins, with book by Lesser Samuels and Frank Loesser, and music and lyrics by Frank Loesser.
A bit of trivia. Anthony Perkins was simultaneously filming Alfred Hitchcock's classic shocker Psycho while rehearsing Greenwillow. Over the years, Perkins, in interviews, always said that his stand-in was used in the filming of the infamous shower scene, because he was rehearsing a Broadway show. Greenwillow was that show.


Review:
The village of Greenwillow is a sweet, pastoral place where everyone knows each other. The villagers have forgotten the name of the river that flows by, so they call it The Meander. The sweet, steepled church houses the lean, stern Reverend Lapp who lives in the village with his equally stern and snobby mother. It is a bit of a surprise when another preacher, the robust, cheerful Reverend Birdsong, appears to share the pulpit. Now the two men of God have to cope with each other, Lapp preaching against hell and demons, and Birdsong soothing and comforting the flock with a gentler message.

Out beyond the fork of the river a small cabin contains the household of Amos Briggs. Amos himself is a wandering man who was gone when his first wife died giving birth to his eldest son, Gideon. Amos has visited his second wife, Martha, often enough to leave five more children in her care, along with Granmma Briggs who is not afraid to voice her opinion on things in the house and village.

Gideon has grown strong and responsible, taking care of the farm and heading the house in the absence of his father. All his life Gideon has been led to expect to receive the cursed wandering call that falls on all the first born Brigg’s sons. Gideon is diligently preparing everything to be in good shape to turn over to his half brother, Micah.

Dorrie, a young orphan girl, lives in the village taking care of two elderly spinsters. She is known for her sweet, kind spirit as well as her delicious baking. Dorrie has a fondness for Gideon but he refuses to encourage her affections as he knows he will be leaving in the next year when his call comes. Gideon has vowed to never marry so that he won’t leave a woman behind to birth his children alone.

Micah is a bold, outspoken and brave child. Since Reverend Lapp preaches that Gideon will be called off by the devil if he doesn’t resist, Micah decides to face the devil himself to try to make him leave Gideon alone so he will stay in the village with his family.

This story is absolutely delightful with its stage-full of unique and precocious characters, from the youngest child, Jabez, to old Granmma. There is a wonderful contrast between the two preachers, both offering different strengths and carrying different weaknesses. The lovely prose and mystical story made me think of the ethereal Brigadoon. I had never heard of this story but I am so glad I was offered the chance to listen and review it. I highly recommend this gem to those who are ready for a lyrical tale to take them away from the stress of the world for an idyllic, gentle adventure.

Audio Notes: I think it would be difficult to find a more perfect reading than this one by Ann M. Richardson. Her soft lyrical narration, and the portrayal of the different characters, made Greenwillow come alive in my mind. I am sure the written text is lovely but the audio is a true delight.

I received this download from Post Hypnotic Press Books for an honest review.

Please follow this link to enjoy an audio sample.
(Also available at Audible.)

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Audible Book Review: Major Pettigrew's Last Stand: A Novel By Helen Simonson

This starts as a bit of drama but becomes a surprising charmer.
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand: A Novel
By Helen Simonson
Narrated By Peter Altschuler

    LENGTH    13 hrs and 8 mins
    RELEASE DATE    03-02-10
    PUBLISHER    Random House Audio
Genre: Drama, Fiction, Contemporary
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0


Publisher's Summary
You are about to travel to Edgecombe St. Mary, a small village in the English countryside filled with rolling hills, thatched cottages, and a cast of characters both hilariously original and as familiar as the members of your own family. Among them is Major Ernest Pettigrew (retired), the unlikely hero of Helen Simonson's wondrous debut. Wry, courtly, opinionated, and completely endearing, Major Pettigrew is one of the most indelible characters in contemporary fiction, and from the very first page of this remarkable novel he will steal your heart.

The Major leads a quiet life valuing the proper things that Englishmen have lived by for generations: honor, duty, decorum, and a properly brewed cup of tea. But then his brother's death sparks an unexpected friendship with Mrs. Jasmina Ali, the Pakistani shopkeeper from the village. Drawn together by their shared love of literature and the loss of their respective spouses, the Major and Mrs. Ali soon find their friendship blossoming into something more. But village society insists on embracing him as the quintessential local and her as the permanent foreigner. Can their relationship survive the risks one takes when pursuing happiness in the face of culture and tradition?
©2010 Helen Simonson (P)2010 Random House


Review:
Major Pettigrew is a retired English officer, living a quiet life as a widower in a small English village. He has settled into his routines, including maintaining some distance from the local women who would fuss over a well settled widower. Pettigrew is all that one thinks of in a proper, honorable, wry English gentleman. Life is pretty humdrum with the town struggling to remain cheerful and friendly as they cope with economic downturns and racial tensions.

Major Pettigrew gets a call that his younger brother has died unexpectedly and he finds himself in shock. He is upset when his ambitious son, Roger, claims he has an appointment but will try to make it to the funeral. Pettigrew is disturbed when Roger arrives late with a seemingly forward, young American woman.

Another serious issue strikes Pettigrew as he prepares to face his sister-in-law and her daughter at the funeral. When their father was dying he presented the boys with his treasured Churchill rifles. One was given to each with the verbal understanding that if anything happened to either brother the pair would be reunited and be held for the next generation. Pettigrew has always cherished the guns and tried to purchase the second gun from his brother a few times but was always refused. Although he is distressed at the loss of his brother he is anticipating reuniting the pair of guns until his son and his niece make it clear they want the pair sold for the highest price as quickly as possible.

While coping with the fog of grief Pettigrew finds a growing, gentle friendship with Mrs. Jasmina Ali, the widowed Pakistani shopkeeper. Mrs. Ali was actually born in England and has never been to Pakistan but she is clearly treated as a foreigner. Pettigrew begins to see that Mrs. Ali struggles with the restrictive expectations of her Pakistan in-laws as well as the prejudices that keep her set apart in the village. Pettigrew resents this on her behalf and begins to champion her situation.

When I started listening to this I wasn’t sure it was a book for me since I am not a big fan of family drama. However I am quite glad I pushed along because there is an irrepressible charm that infuses the Major and has the reader pulling for him and Jasmina to make things work out. The author manages to handle with dignity issues of family jealousies, and prejudice of race and age. She presents a charming story of older people falling in love and overcoming objections of family and outsiders.

There is warmth in description, a good flow and humor to the story. All little side currents are tied up nicely in the end. The story might not be for all readers but for those who enjoy a warm drama with life issues and humor, it should be a charming, enjoyable read or listen.

Audio Notes: I enjoyed the primary British accent that perfectly suited the story. Peter Altschuler did a good job of presenting the various accents of the characters, not only nationalities (British, Pakistani and American) but conveying consequence and position too. I delighted in his ability to insert snorts and chuckles as fitted in the story.

This book was from my Audible Library. I had purchased it because of the charming cover and because I had read several positive reviews on other blogs.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Book Review: Godspeed: a Love Story by Dan Chabot

This story is rich with sorrow survived by uplifting encouragement. Well worth reading!
by Dan Chabot
  • File Size: 419 KB
  • Print Length: 307 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1477435360
  • Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
  • Publisher: Babop/Dan Chabot; 1 edition (September 28, 2012)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Genre: Inspirational Fiction
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: September 28, 2012
How far will a man go to atone for guilt?
When Derry and Amedee meet during her first day on the job at the Milwaukee Ledger, it is a collision of destinies. Their love affair is so intense and perfect and pure that they are certain it will be eternal. But when it ends in heartbreak, compounded by the ignominy of a disastrously mismanaged funeral service, Derry descends into an abyss of devastation and remorse and despair.

In his overpowering grief this tormented newspaperman embarks on an obsessive crusade for redemption, an astonishing twist that will leave readers tearful yet smiling in sympathetic admiration. His improbable, tender quest eventually will lead him to peace of mind, and to someone who will help him build a new life from the ashes of the past.

"Godspeed" is a bittersweet story of laughter and tears, irrepressible humor, reckless devotion, the value of true friendship, and unimaginable longing for the "forever" that can no longer be. And as the story and its astonishing twists unfold, a poignant question lingers: How can a lie be wrong if it makes so many people feel so good?


Review:
The story begins with a prologue set in 2012 and then flashes back in time to tell “how it all happened."  The first Chapter presents a view of a funeral in 1974. Other chapters of vignettes covering funerals are scattered through the story of Derry and his romance.  Each one the funeral services is winding down when an older gentleman stands up and shares some remarkable things that the deceased did that encouraged or helped others. These special deeds were not known by the community, the closest friends or even the family. After several of these testimonies it is clear that each life had a tragic error or wrong in the past but there was a later heroic behavior or good, kind deeds that made a difference and redeemed the past.  Each family was left with a wonderful, warm memory of their loved one.

Between the funeral eulogies we meet Derry, a younger newspaperman surrounded by other eccentric newspeople, consisting of some unique friends and a few curmudgeon and not so nice co-workers.  One day a beautiful young woman walks in as the new copy editor and Derry falls in love. The romance between Derry and Amedee is passionately and wonderfully developed with humor and warmth.  They share the joys of new love, new passion, comfortable companionship, and the excitement and anticipation of a wedding and birth. Then tragedy strikes.

The reader is swept along with Derry’s sorrow, grief, dark depression and guilt.  Derry is so devastated by Amedee’s death that he is unable to properly plan her funeral which turns out to be a disaster. It takes some time, but finally Derry discovers a way to begin to pull himself from the bleakness of his despair and guilt.  It still takes a confrontation by a stranger and the support of family and friends to push Derry beyond his grief and by then the reader realizes “how it all happened.”

This is an emotional love story that experiences great, happy highs and a deep, sad low. But it is also a story that affirms love and life for 'ordinary', every-day people. Although there is tragedy and sadness the author entertains with passion, humor and a very uplifting and positive message. The story is very well written with good characters, strong descriptions and great empathy shared in the funeral testimonies. I especially enjoyed the newsroom input since I have a journalism degree.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes warm emotional stories and especially to anyone who might need encouragement. If you think that your life, or others around you, are not each of great individual worth and importance, please read this book.

I loved this closing phrase that is perfect:
“A pebble, once cast into the pond, cannot be retrieved. The ripples spread ever outward.”
My note thoughts: Beautiful, touching, poignant.

I received this from the Author for an honest review.
This is set in Milwaukee for my Where Are You Reading Challenge and I will also add it to my New Author challenge list.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Audio Book Review: The Magician's Apprentice by Kate Banks

WOW - this little story is remarkable - truly more than I expected!
The Magician's Apprentice
Author: Kate Banks; Narrator: Charlie Thurston

  • Type: Unabridged
  •  ISBN-13: 978-0-7927-8948-2 
  • Package: 3 CD Audiobook 
  • Length:  3 Hr 33 Min
  • Publisher: AudioGO (December 11, 2012)
Genre: Fiction, Middle Grader Fiction (?)
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: August 7, 2012 | Age Level: 10 and up
Baz has always dreamed about leaving his dusty little town, so when a stranger comes to his family's home and asks him to be a weaver's apprentice, Baz is eager to start his journey. He and the stranger travel for several sunrises and sunsets until they reach the land of Kallah, where Baz starts his apprenticeship—and soon learns that his master is very cruel. Baz is disheartened, and when the master trades Baz for a sword to a magician, Baz expects no better from his new owner. But as Baz travels further into the depths of the desert with this kind-hearted and wise magician, he learns to re-examine his beliefs about people, the world, and himself, discovering that everything is connected in a continuous journey toward destiny and that no person or thing can ever really be owned.


Reviews:
Baz is a young man ready to journey from home to be apprenticed for a new career.  He has no idea what the career will be but he anticipates the adventure. When the day finally arrives a stranger takes him away to deliver him to be a weaver’s apprentice. Baz is willing to do the job but his master is cruel; he takes the possessions of the students and practically starves them to death. After losing a friend and his small dog to the brutality of the master Baz plans an escape. Baz takes with him a small key he has treasured and hidden since he found it, but before he can succeed in his plans Baz is traded to another stranger.

Although Baz expects cruelty from his new master he soon learns that the old man is a gentle-hearted, philosophizing, wise magician.  They travel together through villages, across the desert and into the mountains where it is rumored no one ever returns. Along the way the magician shares and explains riddles of life and wisdom with Baz.

Ms. Bates is apparently an author of many children's books but I really hesitate to classify this as a Middle Grader genre.  The tale may appeal to a younger audience but it is much more than an interesting adventure. I found this story to be profound and wonderfully expressed. The writing is lyrical and the views on the meaning of life are thought provoking. The view encompasses a oneness of all beings and creation. Although that is not necessarily consistent with my Christian beliefs there is a part of me that can see all souls and physical elements of the world as being connected parts of God’s creation. There are many tidbits of wisdom that I found marvelous. These include recognition of the illusions of life, the idea of change being continuous and truth usually being broader than what a person first sees through their limited perception. These insights on the meaning of life are beautifully woven and shared through the journey and the friendship of Baz and his mentor.

AUDIO Observations:  The narration is exquisite. Absolutely perfect for the rhythm, mystery and unique synchronicity of the story. I am likely to look for more books narrated by Mr. Thurston as he did such a masterful job on this one.

This is a story I may want to get in print and it apparently has some simple drawings that add to the text. But, whether in print or audio, this is a keeper that I plan to enjoy again. I highly recommend this story and audio.

Words I noted while listening:
      Lyrical, riddles, profound, change, truth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quotes I noted:
(From Track 27)
“No,” said Todas. “Intention does not come from the mind, although the mind thinks it does. Intention comes from here.” Todas pointed to his heart again then closed his hands in prayer.
Baz asks
“Where do you come from?”
“Where we come from is not important,” said Todas. “It is where we are going that matters.
(From Chapter 7 Track 29)
Baz questions if magic is deception and dishonest; Todas replies:
“That's not how I see it. I am simply showing my audience that not all is as it seems.  The world is bigger, its secrets  greater. True magic is not just to amuse it's to bring people closer to the truth, to reality. The magician’s task is not to show power, but to dispel illusion. Power is nothing but an illusion. Magic represents the capacity for transformation and change inside all of us.  Is that lesson not worth something?"
Audiobook JukeboxI am thankful I had the opportunity to review this for AudioGo through AudioBook Jukebox.
I will add this to my New Author and Audio Challenge lists.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Book Review: Miss Buncle's Book by D.E. Stevenson

This is a charming, old fashion tale of characters in an English village.
Miss Buncle's Book
by D.E. Stevenson

  • File Size: 923 KB
  • Print Length: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (September 1, 2012)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B007ZI00BO
Genre: Novel
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: September 1, 2012

Who Knew One Book Could Cause So Much Chaos?

Barbara Bunde is in a bind. Times are harsh, and Barbara's bank account has seen better days. Maybe she could sell a novel ... if she knew any stories. Stumped for ideas, Barbara draws inspiration from her fellow residents of Silverstream, the little English village she knows inside and out.

To her surprise, the novel is a smash. It's a good thing she wrote under a pseudonym, because the folks of Silverstream are in an uproar. But what really turns Miss Bunde's world around is this: what happens to the characters in her book starts happening to their real-life counterparts. Does life really imitate art?

A beloved author who has sold more than seven million books, D. E. Stevenson is at her best with Miss Buncle's Book, crafting a highly original and charming tale about what happens when people see themselves through someone else's eyes.

"Love it, love it, love it"

"There are no vampires, no faeries, no weird creatures, just a sweet story about real people living in a world I've always dreamed of."—Reader Review


Review:

Miss Buncle is a unremarkable young woman who lives in a quiet little English village.  Times are hard and her small dividends have dwindled so that she doesn’t have enough to cover bills. The only choices she thinks she has are to raise hens or write and sell a book.  She doesn’t know anything about chickens so she writes what she knows – she writes about the people in her village.

The first part of the book describes the day to day life of the village named Copperfield instead of its real name, Silverstream. She portrays the neighbors fairly accurately with foibles and quirks although she does give them different names that play on their true names.  The second half of the book she becomes creative and allows for fantasy to devise a future for several characters.  Miss Buncle submits the book as John Smith and is happily surprised when a publisher agrees to publish it. He doesn’t know if the book is simple or satiric but he found it engaging.

Miss Buncle is thrilled to get an advance and is cheered until her neighbors start to read the book. Some find it charming and laughable but certain ladies in the community become upset by their honest, but not always kind, portrayal.  They gather the neighbors together to try to figure out who the author is so they can chase him down and ‘horse whip’ him.  While she decides whether to reveal that she is the author, Miss Buncle watches as her neighbors begin to do things depicted in the book.

I’m not quite certain what year this is set in -- there are cars and phones -- but the book was originally published in 1936. So it is apparently a cozy, slower village time.  It isn’t a fast read but it is sweet and engaging and I loved some of the phrasing (see quotes below). It is enjoyable to follow the gentle Doctor and his wife, the new Vicar and the women who pursue him; it is fun to watch the cranky, snobbish women who don’t want to recognize who they really are and it is particularly lovely to watch Miss Buncle’s own transformation.

If you like a cozy warm caricature of life, try this sweet, easy story!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here are examples of the laid back, charming phrases I liked:
“Lawks!” she exclaimed suddenly, looking up at the clock. “Look at the time, and the drawing room to be done yet—I’m behind , like a cow’s tail.”  Location 53.
“Dorcas, I could never give up writing now,” she said, incredulously (nor could she, the vice had got her firmly in its grip, as well ask a morphinomaniac to give up drugs). “You don’t know how exciting it is, Dorcas. It just sweeps you along and you’ve no idea of the time--” Location 2057.
 I received this through NetGalley to review for Sourcebooks.
I will add this to my New Author Challenge List.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Book Review and Giveaway: Henny on the Couch by Rebecca Land Soodak

This is a well written, intense story, and I recommend it especially for those who enjoy real to life drama that might make you ponder about your own life.


by Rebecca Land Soodak
  • Paperback: 304 pages
  • Publisher: 5 Spot; Original edition (March 27, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0446574260
  • ISBN-13: 978-0446574266
Genre: Women's Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: March 27, 2012
Kara Caine Lawson has worked hard to become the woman she is-wife, mother and successful shop owner. Having survived a turbulent childhood, Kara understands that life could've just as easily gone another way . . . and even if she isn't gliding through the trials of lost library books, entitled customers and routine date nights, at least she's not sipping a Dewar's all day like her mother did.

But then Kara unexpectedly encounters paintings by her now-famous college boyfriend just as she's beginning to suspect that her daughter Henny's difficulties may be the sign of something serious, and all of her past decisions are thrown into dramatic relief.

Kara's narration, at turns heartbreaking and hilarious, captures the imperfect thoughts we have about ourselves and those around us. Rebecca Land Soodak's debut novel asks the difficult questions about the choices we make while revealing the minute details that end up defining our lives.


Review:
This story is told in first person by Kara, a forty-ish wife and mother of three children, Adam, aged 10, Henny age 7, and Max a 3 year old toddler.  Kara is part owner in a successful children’s hair salon, Little Scissors, located in Upper East Side, New York.

When Kara sees a gallery show of art from her college boyfriend, Oliver, she becomes conflicted. What if she had pursued her own painting desires instead of marrying, having children and opening the salon with Willa?  Are the nannys she hires good for her children and is she being a good mother providing a nanny as well as dividing her time between the children and her business?

Her business partner, Willa, with the help of Willa’s new personal partner, Victoria, a Public Relations specialist, is looking to move the shop location and expand the business. Kara’s comfortable husband of many years, Michael, is a successful architect and his business is also looking to grow and expand to global customers. Kara is resistant to Willa’s ideas for expansion and she is even more resistant when Michael proposes that they move to Los Angeles. What direction does Kara want for her life now that she is being pulled in so many directions?

Kara’s dilemma is really the story but Henny’s behavior brings to focus some issues that were never known or recognized for Kara. When Henny shows difficulty in reading and keeping up with other children of her age Kara becomes concerned and finally seeks evaluation that reveals a learning disorder.

Kara’s close friend Morgan adds to Kara’s confusion as Morgan pursues a growing affair because of the excitement she finds. Kara doesn’t approve even though she has some admiration for Morgan’s confidence and vitality. Morgan is the one who encourages Kara to take a deeper look at her own dreams and desires.

The story rocks in time from Kara’s current day conflicts in 2007-2008, her college affair from 1982 to 1987 and her childhood years in the '70s when she struggled growing up with a “has been” starlet mother who spirals down into alcoholism. Each chapter announces the year so the reader can easily identify the time-line and characters for that period. I enjoyed this method of developing Kara’s character by showing her difficult childhood that carried into her shyness and neediness in the college affair, as well as her doubts and conflicting emotions in her current circumstances.

Although I thought the book started a little slowly, after passing the mid point I was anxious to read on to learn what would happen. The story is very well written and easy to read.  I like to stretch my reading to include fiction that I might not otherwise read. Choosing this book was one of those stretches as it is not a genre I read a lot.  I found it interesting but I have to acknowledge that, for entertainment and relaxation, I prefer fantasy fiction to real life drama fiction. Those who appreciate the internal struggles of artists would enjoy Ms. Soodak's emotional debut.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kara's thoughts to consider:
Comments on Oliver:
...Being around him alters me. It doesn’t matter if this monumental change is microscopic, invisible to the human eye....I’m no longer the same. I always wanted to be...no longer the same. Page 27.
Early wisdom -viewing life as a movie at age 10:
Without even trying, I realize something about my movie. It doesn’t matter if I’m moving toward something or trying to get away. I may only be ten years old, but I’m suddenly aware that there’s little difference between the two. Page 67
Talking to Morgan about current day, grown up stuff:
“...You’d think I’d be used to it by now. Husband. Three kids. Businesses. Partners. Mortgages. Homes. It’s all so...substantial. Very high-stakes, grown-up decisions.” Page 199
Thank you to Hachette for providing this book for review.
This is set in New York for my Where Are You Reading Challenge. I will also add it to the ARC and New Author challenge lists.
TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the Review Copy:
1. Visit the author's website and tell me something of interest you find there.  This is required for entry.

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower on any media (GFC, Twitter @MSEREADS, Facebook fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/ReviewsByMarthasBookshelf , Goodreads or Linky - links on right sidebar) or tell me if you are already a follower.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Two total entries possible.)


* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on June 8, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
The WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on June 9. 
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Book Review and Giveaway: The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

This a beautifully written and haunting story. 
by Eowyn Ivey

  • Hardcover: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books (February 1, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0316175676
  • ISBN-13: 978-0316175678
     Genre:  Fiction
     My Rating:  4.5 of 5.0


Book Description
Publication Date: February 1, 2012
Alaska, 1920: a brutal place to homestead, and especially tough for recent arrivals Jack and Mabel. Childless, they are drifting apart--he breaking under the weight of the work of the farm; she crumbling from loneliness and despair. In a moment of levity during the season's first snowfall, they build a child out of snow. The next morning the snow child is gone--but they glimpse a young, blonde-haired girl running through the trees.

This little girl, who calls herself Faina, seems to be a child of the woods. She hunts with a red fox at her side, skims lightly across the snow, and somehow survives alone in the Alaskan wilderness. As Jack and Mabel struggle to understand this child who could have stepped from the pages of a fairy tale, they come to love her as their own daughter. But in this beautiful, violent place things are rarely as they appear, and what they eventually learn about Faina will transform all of them.. 


Review:
This tale starts slowly but ends wonderfully. At midway I was actually thinking of stopping. I am sincerely glad I did not as from that point on the tale was captivating and I didn’t want to put the book down.

The story starts by introducing Mabel and Jack: a couple in mid life who are struggling to survive a new life they have chosen in the brutal, harsh land of Alaska. Their nearest neighbors are miles away and Jack is barely able to get enough crop to see them through winter. They are together but separated by unshared grief at the loss of their only child who died at birth.  Jack was unable at the time to comfort Mabel and she drew into herself so they became disconnected as a couple. They moved to Alaska so that Mabel could be away from her family and all the reminders of what she lost and does not have. The depression, sorrow and life struggles, though poignantly written, made the story difficult at that point.

One evening Jack and Mabel have an unexpected frolic in the new snow.  They join in making a little snow girl. It is the first time in a long time that they have shared some happiness together. The next morning when they look out the scarf and mittens are missing and there are footprints leading away into the woods. They begin to see a child, who wears the scarf and mittens, peeking out from the trees. But is it just a dream?  At first Jack barely acknowledges the presence and allows their new “neighbor” friends to think that Mabel has suffered from snow madness. Yet slowly the child begins to show herself and finally comes into their home. But when summer comes Faina disappears and they, and the reader, are left wondering if she was real.

Mabel had a fairy tale story as a child about a snow child. Is this all a creation from her childhood memories?  And how did that story end? Was there a happy ending or only tragedy?

Over the next years Jack and Mabel watch over the wild child, Faina, as she visits in winter and disappears each summer. She becomes a daughter to them. Their neighbor’s son, Garrett, who loves hunting and trapping, has become an invaluable help to Jack on the farm.  They have to be careful that Garrett doesn’t shoot Faina’s companion, a red fox, but, in truth, that will not be their only worry.

It became fascinating to share the joy and pain of Mabel and Jack as they watch their “child” come and go...and grow. They have no way to hold her wild spirit, and no way to protect her.  The writing is beautifully rich and haunting.  I am not certain if there are real fairy tales of a snow child but this one certainly brings the idea alive. Although you may want to be prepared for a slower pacing in the beginning, I do recommend this as a wonderfully enchanting story full of rich human emotion.


Examples of the beautiful writing:
Mabel's depression:
Fear of the gray, not just in the strands of her hair and her wilting cheeks, but the gray that ran deeper, to the bone, so that she thought she might turn into a fine dust and simply sift away in the wind. P32
Motherly love:
Love and devotion, the devastating hope and fear contained in a woman’s swelling womb—these were left unspoken. P338


Thank you to  Little Brown & Co. (Reagan Arthur Books) for providing this book for review.
This story is set in Alaska for the Where you are Reading Challenge. I will add this to my ARC and New Authors challenges too.
TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the hardcover review copy:

1. Please visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest there OR follow the book link at the title above, watch the video trailer and comment on that.   One of these is required for entry. 

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower (GFC, Twitter, FB, email) or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For two more entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(four total entries possible.)


THERE WILL BE ONE WINNER.
* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.
* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on March 30, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries and announced on March 31 with 72 hours to complete the winners form.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Book Review: The Second Sonata by Nathan Patrick Hardt

This is a very different story that left me pondering.

by Nathan Patrick Hardt

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 552 KB
  • Print Length: 396 pages
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B004FEFB9W
     Genre: Contemporary Fiction
     My Rating:  4.25 of 5.0

Product Description
Awake? Asleep?
Living, breathing, dreaming?
After crawling miraculously unscathed from a pulverizing car accident, Nicholas returns to his life to find that little is as it had been and even less is what it seems. With a newfound appreciation for life and an insatiable thirst to discover all it has to offer, he wastes no time beginning to mend damaged relationships and reconcile so much time squandered and forfeit.
At the behest of a charismatic but cryptic stranger, Nicholas takes every opportunity to seize upon his borrowed time, reuniting with loves long since lost. But even as his life is shaping to become everything it always could and should have been, Nicholas is increasingly certain that something is dreadfully amiss, uncovering mysteries lurking within every shadow and secrets behind each blessing.
Unsure of whether his journey of sudden self-awareness is being aided or daunted by this enigmatic chaperone, Nicholas must face the raw and painful truths creeping just beyond his senses, make decisions of dire and mortal consequence, and confront his most haunting of judgments before at last discovering the horrifying fate buried deep within the gathering darkness that has always been awaiting his return.
Painted within these pages is a simple reflecting pool of each of our lives and loves, our most joyous celebrations and mournful regrets, and a journey upon which we must all one day embark.

Review:  
Nicholas is a bitter, resentful and defeated man who has allowed his life to spiral down into the bottle. He is a man ‘alone, desperate and drowning.’  Life has battered him down and finally his wife divorced him and moved away with their son, Ashton, his “blue and gold”, sky and sun.

The story begins one night as Nicholas is racing against closing time for one more drink. Instead of reaching the pub he slams into a tree. Thoughts of his son and a strange voice calling him “Jack” force him out of the wreckage to get away before the car explodes.  Suddenly things begin to change around him as he thinks he has gained a second chance to make something of his life.

Nicholas visits the pub a night or so later and is warmly welcomed by a friendly bartender and buddies whom he doesn’t remember but he is happy to be part of this group. Nicholas says goodbye to a lover as, even though they have good times when drinking, he knows they are not good for each other.  He realizes that he must ‘get his act together’ so he can begin a new relationship with his distant son.

Things are working out positively for Nicholas.  He has talked to his ex-wife and is excited about visiting with his son. A dog just like the one he had as a youngster has adopted him and he has renewed a friendship with his college sweetheart. Nicholas continues to have visits with a strange man/friend, Bradley, who seems almost like an angel. He also has strange dreams about destruction of his home and a rebirth. When Ashton comes to visit they plant a young tree but it just doesn’t seen to thrive in spite of all the care he gives it.

As a slow metamorphose takes place it is not altogether clear if this is real or a dream. The story is full of inner contemplation and ideas that provoke thought about alcoholism, creation, angels, purpose, free will, love, struggles and lives that are individual yet interconnected.

This did not read quickly although, or perhaps because, the writing is full of rich descriptions that had me making many notes. There is a fine mixture of “showing” and “telling” between the portrayal of Nicholas’ current doings and the narration of his past and his dreams and unconscious thoughts.

This is not a book for light reading or easy entertainment but when you want a change of pace to make you think a bit about our lives in this world this would be an interesting book to read. I think it was a suitable (ironically) book to start the new year with.

Two phrases I particularly liked and noted:
“Some people come into our lives, if only for fleeting moments, to make dramatic differences for the better.”
“...[T]he legacy left when you are gone is the only testimony to the life you led.”

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: The Christmas Wedding

This is an easy read with lots of Christmas cheer and love, with the fun of a little mystery.
by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo
  • Hardcover: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (October 17, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 031609739X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0316097390
     Genre: Fiction
     My Rating:  4.5 of 5.0
Product Description:
The tree is decorated, the cookies are baked, and the packages are wrapped, but the biggest celebration this Christmas is Gaby Summerhill's wedding. Since her husband died three years ago, Gaby's four children have drifted apart, each consumed by the turbulence of their own lives. They haven't celebrated Christmas together since their father's death, but when Gaby announces that she's getting married--and that the groom will remain a secret until the wedding day--she may finally be able to bring them home for the holidays.

But the wedding isn't Gaby's only surprise--she has one more gift for her children, and it could change all their lives forever. With deeply affecting characters and the emotional twists of a James Patterson thriller, The Christmas Wedding is a fresh look at family and the magic of the season.
Review: This is an absolutely delightful read!

I know we usually think of James Patterson as an author of mystery/thrillers.  This story may not be exactly a thriller but it does have a mystery. And it has warm family and friend relationships.

Gaby is an exuberant widow with four adult children. Her husband died three years ago and the family hasn’t celebrated Christmas together since his death.  Gaby communicates to her children through video and the opening video tells everyone that they must come home to Vermont to celebrate not only Christmas but a wedding - Gaby’s wedding! The kink is she doesn’t identify the groom!

The chapters reveal each of the children, their spouses and family circumstances and struggles - highs and lows.  You get a sense that each child has inherited some of Gaby’s joie de vivre, strength and generosity.

Through subsequent videos to the children the reader also learns of the three main candidates for the position of the groom. There is Tom, the handsome former hockey player who grew up with Gaby; the quiet yet impassioned local Rabbi, Jacob; and Gaby’s brother-in-law, (her husband’s younger brother), Marty, who has always had a crush on Gaby.  All of the men work with Gaby and her best friend to serve breakfast to the poor each morning.

As usual the book has the short chapters that I really like in Patterson’s books. The characters are developed sufficiently so that you can relate to some or be angry at others.  The mystery is just plain fun. The love between mother and children is warm and cozy and the warmth extends to the friends and the groom. I found this to be a quick and delightful read. If you are looking for a quick “feel good” family story, this fits the bill!

Thank you to Little Brown and Company for providing this book for review.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the book copy:
1. We've visited this author's website before so I will give you a choice: visit the author's website and tell me something of interest you found there; OR share a Christmas story that you recommend! One or the other is required for entry.

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3.  For two entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Four total entries possible.)

* Open to the US & Canada only.
* No PO boxes, please.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on November 4, 2011.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
The WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on November 5. 
CymLowell Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

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