The Secret Life of Violet Grant
by Beatriz Williams
Narrated by Kathleen McInerney
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Publish Date: May 27, 2014
Format: Audio, 14 hours | 42 minutes
Audio Listening Level: Easy
Rating: 3½ of 5
From the Publisher:
Passion, redemption, and a battered suitcase full of secrets: the New York Times-bestselling author of A Hundred Summers returns with another engrossing tale.
Manhattan, 1964: Vivian Schuyler, newly graduated from Bryn Mawr College, has recently defied the privilege of her storied old Fifth Avenue family to do the unthinkable for a budding Kennedy-era socialite: break into the Mad Men world of razor-stylish Metropolitan magazine.
Berlin, 1914: Violet Schuyler Grant endures her marriage to the philandering and decades-older scientist Dr. Walter Grant for one reason: for all his faults, he provides the necessary support to her liminal position as a young American female physicist in prewar Germany.
My Thoughts:
Vivian was unaware that she had a great-aunt Violet until a mysterious old suitcase turns up and is mailed to her attention. She quickly discovers that no one likes to talk about Violet. According to family legend, Violet, a scientist working in Germany, murdered her husband and ran off with her lover shortly before the beginning of World War I. What happened to Violet? Vivian is determined to find the answers.
There are two story lines moving back and forth in time – Violet in 1964 and Vivian in 1914. Vivian is fun, flirty and aggressive. She wants a career in journalism and an exciting social life; her mother wants her to settle down and marry a proper young man. Violet is an aspiring scientist in an era when independence and ambition in women was frowned on; she allows herself to be seduced by her mentor, an older professor.
I wasn’t expecting to like this book as much as I did, but once I began listening I was immediately swept up in the mystery, intrigue and romance. As we alternate between 1964 and 1914, the two stories are woven together – the fun of the 1960s in America (think Mad Men, drinking, smoking, sex) and the historical turn of the century in pre-war Europe.
Filled with snappy dialog and engaging, although sometimes soap-opera-ish, characters, I was hooked enough to overlook some of the things that usually annoy me. Vivian was over-the-top flirtatious with a new boyfriend and used lots of corny clichés. And Violet, for being a highly educated woman, exhibited periods of what I can only describe as dumbness. And Vivian’s new boyfriend, Dr. Paul, would never exist in real life!
Despite my quibbles, I enjoyed the book. The story intensifies near the finish with a few unexpected plot twists. Loose ends come together a little too neatly but will provide satisfaction to readers that enjoy tidy endings.
Audio Production
The audio production was performed by Kathleen McInerney in a smooth, pleasant voice. Although the story moved back and forth in time, and Vivian and Violet sounded the similar, I had no problem following the narration. With different characters in each time line, it was clear what year we were in. One warning about the audio, there is one chapter towards the end with some rather salty language – I’m not easily offended, but I was glad I was listening through headphones – sensitive ears be warned.
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Source: Review copy provided by Penguin Audio.
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Almost wordless: Verbascum blattaria. A non-native wildflower considered a weed by some. This plant was along a path in the forest preserve – that’s a wild rose on its left.
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More Wordless Wednesday. © 2014 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
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Spotlight On…
by Chevy Stevens
St. Martin’s Press | June 17, 2014 | Hardcover • eBook 384 pages
1st Paragraph:
Rockland Penitentiary, Vancouver
March 2012I followed the escorting officer over to Admissions and Discharge, carrying my belongings in a cardboard box – a couple pairs of jeans, some worn-out T-shirts, the few things I’d gathered over the years, some treasured books, my CD player. The rest, anything I had in storage, would be waiting for me. The release officer went through the round of documents. My hand shook as I signed the discharge papers, the words blurred. But I knew what they meant.
What do you think? Would you keep reading?
I’ll be reading That Night later this summer.
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More Information
Book Description:
As a teenager, Toni Murphy had a life full of typical adolescent complications: a boyfriend she adored, a younger sister she couldn’t relate to, a strained relationship with her parents, and classmates who seemed hell-bent on making her life miserable. Things weren’t easy, but Toni could never have predicted how horrific they would become until her younger sister was brutally murdered one summer night.
Toni and her boyfriend, Ryan, were convicted of the murder and sent to prison.
Now thirty-four, Toni, is out on parole and back in her hometown, struggling to adjust to a new life on the outside. Prison changed her, hardened her, and she’s doing everything in her power to avoid violating her parole and going back. This means having absolutely no contact with Ryan, avoiding fellow parolees looking to pick fights, and steering clear of trouble in all its forms. But nothing is making that easy—not Ryan, who is convinced he can figure out the truth; not her mother, who doubts Toni’s innocence; and certainly not the group of women who made Toni’s life hell in high school and may have darker secrets than anyone realizes. No matter how hard she tries, ignoring her old life to start a new one is impossible. Before Toni can truly move on, she must risk everything to find out what really happened that night.
But in That Night by Chevy Stevens, the truth might be the most terrifying thing of all.
Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Author’s Webpage
First Chapter Tuesday is hosted by Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea. Join us by visiting Diane and linking your own First Chapter post or to find out what others plan to read this week.
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Source: Review copy provided by St. Martin’s Press.
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Welcome to Mailbox Monday, created by Marcia of To Be Continued, a place where readers share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week.
After several years of being on tour with different blogs as the monthly host, the Mailbox Monday Blog is now the permanent home for the meme.
Here’s what arrived last week:
New Arrivals
Robogenesis by Daniel H. Wilson from Random House Audio.
Daniel H. Wilson makes a triumphant return to the apocalyptic world he created, for an action-filled, raucous, very smart thrill ride about humanity and technology pushed to the tipping point.
Gemini by Carol Cassella, a win from Simon & Schuster through Dewey’s Readathon.
Filled with intricate medical detail and set in the breathtaking Pacific Northwest, Gemini is a riveting and heartbreaking novel of moral complexity and emotional depth.
Evergreen by Rebecca Rasmussen from Knopf.
From the celebrated author of The Bird Sisters, a gorgeously rendered and emotionally charged novel that spans generations, telling the story of two siblings, raised apart, attempting to share a life.
How was your week?
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© 2014 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
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The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry
by Gabrielle Zevin
Narrated by Scott Brick
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Highbridge
Publish Date: April 1, 2014
Format: Audio, 7 hours | 2 minutes
Audio Listening Level: Easy
Rating: 4 of 5
Publisher’s Synopsis:
With his wife gone, a rare book stolen, and both his bookstore and love of life in serious decline, only something extraordinary could alter the sagging fortunes of A. J. Fikry and Island Books. What he discovers one night among the children’s books, however, could change everything.
My Thoughts:
After A. J. Fikry’s wife dies in a car accident, he becomes cranky, cynical and set in his curmudgeonly ways. Together, they had opened Island Books, but now he is running the shop by himself. After a rare book is stolen, a book that he intended to use to fund his retirement, he sinks further into despair. And then the most wonderful transformation happens to A. J. when he discovers a precocious toddler – named Maya according to a note left with her – abandoned in his bookstore.
This is a short book and to give away much more of the plot would ruin the delight in experiencing the story unfold. Avid readers and those in the book selling and publishing industry will enjoy the many book references. While I was listening I was smiling and nodding and laughing. The story is charming, the writing is clever and the characters are endearing.
Audio Production:
Another wonderful performance by Scott Brick. His expert narration brought the irascible A.J. to life, his voice mellowing as A.J.’s temperment begins to change and he realizes there is a lot more to life than the way he has been living. This is an engaging novel and the audio version was a delight to listen to.
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Source: Review copy
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A couple of weeks ago I was out searching for a Snowy Egret that had been sighted along the river where I monitor birds for the forest preserve. After several hours and no sign of the bird, I gave up. As I was walking along the trail back to my car, I heard a male Scarlet Tanager singing directly above me.
Male Scarlet Tanager
During the breeding season, adult males are a gorgeous bright red with black wings and tail. They are slightly smaller than a Cardinal. The females and youngsters are olive-yellow. After breeding, adult males molt to an olive color but retain their black wings and tail.
Singing a lovely song
The Scarlet Tanager is usually difficult to find. They prefer to stay high up in the forest canopy, hidden by the leaves. Sometimes I’ll see a flash of red or hear the male’s robin-like song. With a little patience I can usually get a look at the bird, but rarely a photo.
Checking me out
This bird wasn’t the most cooperative and kept moving around between the leaves and branches. At one point he twirled upside down and I swear he was looking right at me.
Just as he emerged from the leaves and on to an open branch, he was startled away by noisy people walking along the path. I got the last photo as he flew off into the forest.
Flying away
The Scarlet Tanager is a summer resident in the eastern portion of North America. They are long-distance migrants and spend the winter in South America flying at night across the Gulf of Mexico. There they join in a mixed flock of other foraging species and resident tropical tanagers.
Saturday Snapshot was originated by Alyce at At Home With Books. It is now hosted by Melinda of West Metro Mommy. Visit her blog to see more great photos or add your own.
© 2014 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
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The Painter
by Peter Heller
Narrated by Mark Deakins
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publisher: Random House Audio
Publish Date: May 6, 2014
Format: Audio, 11 hours | 26 minutes
Audio Listening Level: Easy – Intermediate
Rating: 3½ of 5
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Jim Stegner has seen his share of violence and loss. Years ago he shot a man in a bar. His marriage disintegrated. He grieved the one thing he loved. In the wake of tragedy, Jim, a well-known expressionist painter, abandoned the art scene of Santa Fe to start fresh in the valleys of rural Colorado. Now he spends his days painting and fly-fishing, trying to find a way to live with the dark impulses that sometimes overtake him. He works with a lovely model. His paintings fetch excellent prices. But one afternoon, on a dirt road, Jim comes across a man beating a small horse, and a brutal encounter rips his quiet life wide open. Fleeing Colorado, chased by men set on retribution, Jim returns to New Mexico, tormented by his own relentless conscience.
My Thoughts:
Jim is a troubled man. He spends his days painting and fishing and trying to move beyond the pain of losing his wife and daughter. He’s done things he’s not proud of, he’s spent time in jail for almost killing a man and lives by his own moral code. When he intervenes and stops a man from beating a horse, he sets in motion an unstoppable chain of events.
I enjoyed the setting – the wilderness and nature. The prose is beautiful and descriptive, and the image of the landscape comes to life. But as much as I loved the scenery and the surroundings, I couldn’t warm up to most of the characters. Except for Jim’s neighbor, Willy, who seemed like a decent guy, these were not endearing individuals.
While I did like the story, I didn’t always like the way it unfolded. There was a lot of violence and actions that made me cringe. When a story begins with animal abuse (not a spoiler, it’s in the publisher’s synopsis), it makes me uneasy. And I suppose that was the point. This was a very character driven novel with many flawed and a few very repugnant characters. The pacing was uneven, at times slow and plodding, as we would listen to Jim’s lengthy meditation while fly fishing, and then a quick shift to intense action and violence.
I thoroughly enjoyed Heller’s first novel, The Dog Stars, and jumped at a chance to read an early copy of The Painter. And while I did like parts of the story and the wonderful writing, it bordered on being a little too depressing for my tastes. For those who savor a somber character with questionable morals, it will be a satisfying read.
Audio Production:
The book was narrated by Mark Deakins who did a superb job keeping the story moving and holding my attention. He expertly relayed the emotion and angst that Jim was feeling. I read some of the book in print, but I preferred listening as Deakins’ narration and voice for Jim made the story come alive.
Audio sample:
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Source: Review copy provided by the publisher.
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