Silver Girl
by Elin Hilderbrand
Narrated by: Janet Metzger and Marianne Fraulo
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Publisher: Hachette Audio (a Reagan Arthur Book)
Publish Date: June 21, 2011
Format: Audio CD | 14 hours and 28 minutes
Rating: 3½ of 5
A story that could be ripped from the headlines of the recent Bernie Madoff scandal, Silver Girl tells the tale of
Meredith Delinn, a woman whose lavish, extravagant lifestyle comes crashing down when her husband, Freddy, is arrested for cheating investors out of billions of dollars. Meredith and her sons are now under investigation; she’s lost her home, her possessions, her friends and her place in society.
In desperation Meredith turns to her childhood best friend, Connie, who is about to depart for her summer home in Nantucket. In spite of a falling out the two had a few years ago, Connie opens her home as refuge to Meredith. Connie isn’t without her own problems and she is still grieving over the recent death of her husband from cancer and the subsequent estrangement of her daughter.
The narrative alternates between Connie and Meredith with the story going back and forth between the past, where we learn more of their early relationship, and the present in Nantucket. Despite delving into sometimes heavy subject matter and complex issues, I found the book to be engaging and straightforward. The story flows nicely and the writing style made it easy to listen to, complimented by a nice audio production. It was much more than the “beach read” I was expecting.
From the novel’s description I thought Meredith would be one of those whiny and demanding rich women and I was prepared to dislike her from the start, but often she seemed human and vulnerable and I liked her. As the story progresses we see that both women have problems, both are flawed and together they help each other learn and grow stronger.
At times the story got a little predictable, like when Connie’s house is vandalized because she lets Meredith stay with her and of course Connie won’t let Meredith move out because she’s just too nice and is the perfect friend. And there is a happy ending where all the pieces suddenly fall together. But overall it was an enjoyable story about friendship, love, loss, and forgiveness and I would recommend this to readers who enjoy the genre.
“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.
One of my favorite authors is Connie Willis. I was excited to find she has a new book to be published by Subterranean Press, a specialty publisher of genre fiction, primarily horror, suspense and dark mystery, fantasy, and scifi.
I’m one of those readers that’s attracted by a great cover and I’m not particularly fond of this one. Books published by Subterranean Press usually have gorgeous covers and artwork so I was surprised that this was so unappealing. Am I alone? Anyone else think they could have done better? Science fiction does offer endless possibilities.
All About Emily
by Connie Willis
To be Published: December 28th 2011
Subterranean Press
With this long, 17,000 word novelette, acclaimed author Connie Willis combines the glamour of old Hollywood and the eternal allure of Broadway to explore the cutting edge robotics of a richly-imagined near future.
Theater legend Claire Havilland fears she might be entering the Sunset Boulevard phase of her career. That is, until her manager arranges a media appearance with her biggest fan—a famous artificial intelligence pioneer’s teenage niece. After precocious Emily’s backstage visit, Claire decides she’s in a different classic film altogether. While unnaturally charming Emily swears she harbors no desire for the spotlight, Claire wonders if she hasn’t met her very own Eve Harrington from All About Eve. But the story becomes more complex as dreams of fame give way to concerns about choice, free will, and identity.
Mailbox Monday was created by The Printed Page. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their home last week.
Mailbox Monday is currently on tour, hosted by a different blog each month. The December host is Let Them Read Books.
The past few weeks I haven’t had much time to just sit down and read, but I have been listening to audiobooks. So, I was thrilled when two audiobook CDs showed up in my mailbox last week. These are both books by authors I have read in the past but not recently and I’m looking forward to getting reacquainted with them.
Two audiobooks for review from the publisher:
Death Benefit
by Robin Cook
Pia Grazdani is an exceptional yet aloof medical student working closely with Columbia University Medical Center’s premier scientist on cutting edge research that could revolutionize health care by creating replacement organs for critically-ill patients. But when tragedy strikes in the lab, Pia, with the help of infatuated classmate George Wilson, launches an investigation into the unforeseen calamity in the hospital’s supposedly secure biosafety lab.
Red Mist
by Patricia Cornwell
Determined to find out what happened to her former deputy chief, Jack Fielding, murdered six months earlier, Kay Scarpetta travels to the Georgia Prison for Women, where an inmate has information not only on Fielding, but also on a string of grisly killings. The murder of an Atlanta family years ago, a young woman on death row, and the inexplicable deaths of homeless people as far away as California seem unrelated. But Scarpetta discovers connections that compel her to conclude that what she thought ended with Fielding’s death and an attempt on her own life is only the beginning of something far more destructive: a terrifying terrain of conspiracy and potential terrorism on an international scale. And she is the only one who can stop it.
The American Tree Sparrow spends it’s summers in far northern Canada and migrates to southern Canada and the northern two thirds of the US for the winter. While many migratory birds are leaving Chicago and the cold weather, this one is arriving.
Last weekend I spotted one in my backyard. I usually see them when I walk the trails in the park. They are known to frequent backyards but this was the first time one of them paid me a visit. It was a cold and windy day and the bird was fluffed up to stay warm.
Tree Sparrows are about the same size as the common House Sparrow and similar in coloring but have several distinct characteristics to set them apart. They have a rusty cap and eye stripe, long tail and bicolored bill. They are often confused with the Chipping Sparrow which is seen throughout the US and Canada in the summer, but migrates to the far southern US and Mexico for the winter.
This is the same bird on the right but not fluffed up. He was foraging for seeds under the feeder. (Click for sharper image).
Interesting Facts:
- Tree Sparrows are actually ground birds despite their name. They forage on the ground and build their nests in scrubby areas.
- European settlers called them Tree Sparrows because they reminded them of Eurasian Tree Sparrows back home.
- During the winter months they need to consume up to 30% of their body weight each day to keep their body temperature up.
- They will use their wings to knock the snow off weeds and wildflowers to get to the seeds.
I link up my bird photos on Saturday Snapshot hosted by Alyce at At Home With Books. Visit her blog to see more great photos or add your own.
Last week I reviewed See Mix Drink, a new concept in cocktail guide books, by Brian D. Murphy. I was impressed with the layout, color graphics and simplified instructions, which make drink mixing fun and easy. Click the browse button below if you’d like to take a look inside the book or click on the link above to read my review.
Now, thanks to Anna at Hachette Books, I have two copies of See Mix Drink to give away to my readers.
Description from the publisher:
See Mix Drink
by Brian D. Murphy
Genre: Food & Drinks
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Publish Date: October 19th 2011
Format: Hardcover | 232 pages
This unique, illustrated guide graphically demonstrates how to make 100 of today’s most popular cocktails. For each drink, color-coded ingredients are displayed in a line drawing of the appropriate glassware, alongside a pie chart that spells out the drink’s composition by volume for intuitive mixing. No other cocktail book is this easy or fun. Instantly understandable 1-2-3 steps show exactly how each drink is prepared, and anecdotes, pronunciation guides, and photographs of the finished drinks will turn newbie bartenders into instant mixologists.
Read more…
When Elves Attack
by Tim Dorsey
Narrated by: Oliver Wyman
Genre: Black Humor
Publisher: Harper Audio
Publish Date: October 25th 2011
Format: Audio CD | 5 Hours
Rating: 3 of 5
Serge A. Storms and his stoner sidekick Coleman lead readers on a twisted Christmas tale spreading their special brand of holiday cheer.
This is the opposite of the happy Christmas story; think instead, Bad Santa or Dexter giving someone their fondest Christmas wish. Serge is a psychopath and thrill killer, but with a big heart, at least where his friends are concerned. Dressed as elves, Serge and Colman terrorize a nasty Mall Manager and Mall Cop plus engage in an assortment of madcap activities including a few explosions, a murder or two, a lot of sarcasm and a little profanity, all in good black comedy fun.
The story moved along at a fast pace. The dialog was sharp and the writing quick and snappy. The audio production was good. At only five hours this was more like a novella than a novel. The narrator, Oliver Wyman, was able to create many different voices so I was always able to distinguish who was speaking. However, I still had a few problems following the story and it was probably more my fault than that of the book.
This is an established series that has been around for more than a few years and I probably should not have tried to pick it up at book #14. Without the benefit of knowing the character’s background and the inside jokes, the book missed the mark for me. I think I would have liked it a lot more if I was familiar with the cast of characters. If you are new to the series I would recommend starting with a few of the earlier books. If you already are acquainted with Serge and the gang, jump right in and enjoy the holiday romp.
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Source: Audiobook provided by the publisher for review
Thanks to Doubleday Books, I have two copies of In Other Worlds by Margaret Atwood to give away to my readers.
The book gives a lot of insight into the mind of Margaret Atwood. She tackles the definition of science fiction and how her writing fits into the genre. It’s presented in three sections as a series of essays, short stories and book reviews. I’m reading it now while also reading a few other books. It’s the type of book that does not need to be read in linear order. I actually started in the middle with her thoughts on George Orwell’s Animal Farm and then jumped back to the beginning.
Description from the publisher:
In Other Worlds
SF and the Human Imagination
by Margaret Atwood
Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher: Doubleday
Publish Date: October 11, 2011
Format: Hardcover | 272 pages
At a time when speculative fiction seems less and less far-fetched, Margaret Atwood lends her distinctive voice and singular point of view to the genre in a series of essays that brilliantly illuminates the essential truths about the modern world. This is an exploration of her relationship with the literary form we have come to know as “science fiction,” a relationship that has been lifelong, stretching from her days as a child reader in the 1940s, through her time as a graduate student at Harvard, where she worked on the Victorian ancestor of the form, and continuing as a writer and reviewer.
About The Author
Margaret Atwood is the author of more than forty books — novels, short stories, poetry, literary criticism, social history, and books for children. Atwood’s work is acclaimed internationally and has been published around the world. Her novels include The Handmaid’s Tale,Cat’s Eye, The Robber Bride, The Blind Assassin, and Oryx and Crake to name but a few. more.
Giveaway Information
- Contest is open to US addresses only, no PO Boxes.
- To enter fill out the Entry Form. One entry per person.
- You are not required to be a follower to enter although new subscribers are always appreciated.
- The deadline for entry is Sunday, December 11th. I will draw 2 winners using random.org. Winners will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond with a mailing address.
The book will be shipped by the publisher.
Under My Apple Tree 