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30 March 2012

Clair de Lune, by Jetta Carleton


When we are young, particularly when young and lonely, we imagine a future and dwell in it, as later we dwell in a past we also have imagined. So, on those fall nights, she dreamed herself forward into Italy as she knew it from the English poets, and the Paris of Hemingway, and the New York City of Katherine Anne Porter. It was a rich improbable future, made up of other people's pasts. Such fantasies were her entertainment, the pageants of a thoroughgoing romantic, and she invented within them, projected and plotted course, until the steeple clock, striking the late hour, brought her back to reality and the grudging acknowledgement that, far as she was from Paris or New York, she had a job and she could damn well be contented. As Mother said, she was lucky.
Uncovered fifty years later and published twenty years after the author's death, Clair de Lune is an absolutely gorgeous piece of writing, and it's the kind of book that made me wish I was back in college again, selecting this book to read for my thesis instead of what I did pick.

Jetta Carleton was the bestselling author of The Moonflower Vine in the early 1960s, which captured readers instantly. At some point, history seemed to forget all about this, and it was a book only found in used book stores, but Harper Perennial decided to republish that book as part of their "Rediscovered Classics" series. And thank goodness! Carleton's Clair de Lune subsequently made its way to print as well, and I'm a better reader for it. At the risk of astonishing Carleton and Hemingway fans, hers is a sweet and simplistic style of writing which reminds me just a little bit of him.

The early 1940s is a time of innocence, the pre-war era shielding Americans from the realities of war. I'm an avid fan of films from that time, and while I know it's the movies, it still seemed there was a gentle naivete represented that now has become this glamorous example of a vintage era. I enjoy diving into it, reading about a "simpler time."

Young Barbara Allen Liles, known as Allen, has just secured a position as a teacher at a small college. While dreaming of eventually seeing the world, moving to New York, and becoming a writer, Allen spends each day teaching the stories she loves with her students. Since she's much closer in age with her students than her colleagues, Allen is a little out of place between what she's supposed to be as a figure of authority, and a young woman who wants a little adventure. The close friendship which forms between her and two students becomes a small scandal, one that places the job she's come to love in jeopardy.
He stood outside the screen door, and for a moment there wasn't another word out of either of them. Then he took the mask off. It was ---'s face, all right, but this was not the same boy who, moments ago, had sat at her table. He was not quite the same, but she recognized him. She knew him at once. She had been looking for him all spring, in the night, through the alleys and into the park all over town, drawing closer and closer, never knowing that this was the one - not the other, but this one - nor that he would stand at her door with his heart in his mouth and a crooked green face in his hand. It hit her like a ton of bricks. "Come in!" she said. (p.108)
After all, this is not a time when friendships like this don't come with rumor, gossip, and innuendo, and when it goes a little bit further, it's even tougher to rein back in. But it's not the whole of this story. There is so much more movement and beauty to it. At the heart of it all, the story is about love: love of books and literature, dreams of the road not taken in life, and the strong fresh love of the very first time, whether it's love with another, or in realizing one's own independence. Both can be heady and overpowering, and Allen experiences this unconventional romance, one that might change the future she's planned for herself. It's the fact that she can make choices without needing anyone's approval that give her strength. It's this empowerment, and feminism encapsulated in a book written more than forty years ago that is absolutely amazing.

Jetta Carleton crafted a brilliantly sweet and sad story of the slow budding of independence for a young woman in an innocent time. I must admit, it's a perfect companion story to recent books I've read such as Jennifer Haigh's Baker Towers and even Stephen King's 11/22/63. It just feels like there is a little bit of magic in the pre-war era. Maybe it's because when you are sheltered from all the things that could break innocence, things really do feel so much easier. I might be swept up in it all, in the powerful honesty of the times, the simple expectations and high standards of a bygone era (or as King calls it, the Land of Ago). I loved everything about this story.

This is what I so enjoy about reading a book that was considered "modern" during its time. We have a pure and perfect glance at what life was like in this "simpler" era, with love, dreams, hope, and regrets filling each long day and quiet night, before a country grew up and learned that innocence, while strong and sheltering, was no longer.
There's always something else we think we want to do, at some stage in our lives. But we get over it, we outgrow it. And after a while we realize that where we are is where we are meant to be. (p.244)
About the Author
Jetta Carleton was born in 1913 in Holden, Missouri, and earned a Master's degree at the University of Missouri. She worked as a schoolteacher, a radio copywriter in Kansas City, and a television advertising copywriter in New York City. She and her husband settled in Santa Fe, New Mexico where they ran a small publishing house, The Lightning Tree. She died in 1999. The Moonflower Vine was, until now, her only published novel.












Thank you so very much to TLC Book Tours for inviting me to this. I'm so excited to now read The Moonflower Vine, and I think I might just go ahead and download it this evening. For all the tour stops of this amazing book, click here.

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27 March 2012

It's Time: Once Upon a Time VI


I've really enjoyed the challenges Carl hosts and just recently, I concluded the Science Fiction Experience, which I loved. It motivated me to try books I never thought I'd dive into, even though I loosely played with the genre every now and again. It was great to explore my previous limits and try something new, which is what I wanted 2012 to be.

Now, I'm motivated again, as Carl is hosting the sixth annual Once Upon a Time Challenge, a celebration of experiencing four categories: Fairy Tale, Folklore, Fantasy, and Mythology, "including the seemingly countless sub-genres and blending of genres that fall within this spectrum," as Carl writes. The challenge runs from now until Tuesday, June 19th.

I'll be digging my toes into the sand with The Journey, which means I'm committing to read at least one book from now until June 19th. I hope to read more, but work is busy now, so I want my experiences to be fun and stress-free.

The rules are pretty simple: have fun, more fun, don't be afraid by the word "challenge," and share your journey with others.

Here are my options, and I think I'm going to dive into the fantasy and fairy tale:
  • The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss (because I have heard this is ah.may.zing)
  • The Dark Tower, by Stephen King (which also continues my year-long The Stephen King Project co-hosted with Kathleen and also fulfills my first step at Leighanne's Dark Tower Reading Challenge)
  • The Complete Fairy Tales, by George MacDonald (Victorian fairy tales)
And as always, Carl has fantastic artwork to select from. While I'm going to use the adorable fox button, I wanted to include the other options below so you can see artist Melissa Nucera's insanely kick-ass artwork for this challenge. Her Etsy shop absolutely rocks.



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22 March 2012

What the... why did I wait this long to read Susan Gregg Gilmore after winning Bermuda Onion's giveaway in 2010? The author will be at the Virginia Festival of the Book this weekend so it finally gave me the deadline I needed to put it to the top of the list. Again, why did I wait?

This heartwarming tale of Catherine Grace in the 1970s in Ringgold, Georgia was a sweetheart read and I enjoyed the evolution of one young girl wanting more out of life. Dreaming about bigger and better beyond her town while spending every Saturday sitting at the Dairy Queen picnic table eating her favorite Dilly Bars, Catherine Grace never knew that by the time she was eighteen, she would learn leaving home doesn't always work the way you want it to, and it certainly isn't always the answer to fulfilling your dreams.

At the young ages of six and four, Catherine Grace and younger sister Martha Ann lost their mother in a fluke accident when she was picking blueberries by the river. Without their mother, they are raised under the compassionate eye of their father, Ringgold's favorite preacher (third in the family line of watching over the town's flock) and Gloria Jean, the next-door neighbor who becomes their surrogate mother. It's Gloria Jean who actually becomes my favorite character, the firecracker who doesn't go to church, has been married five times, and always knows just the right shade of nail polish to wear for every event. For Catherine Grace and Martha Ann, she is their guide for all things young women need to learn.

At once sweet, insightful, and forgiving, Susan Gregg Gilmore's debut novel genuinely tugged at my heartstrings, and just like *that* (snaps fingers), I was tearing up. I was touched by the heartfelt writing and Gilmore's knack to believably grow Catherine Grace's perspective from a young girl to her teen years and finally, the blessed adulthood she's been waiting for. With eclectic and quirky characters throughout town representing every spectrum of any town in America, Ringgold humorously becomes representative not just of towns in the South, but most importantly of people everywhere. Ranging from gossipy and spiteful to loving and thoughtful, Ringgold has it all. The ending certainly tied everything in a perfect bow, but each endearing moment Catherine Grace experienced made me absolutely fine with it.

Susan Gregg Gilmore's debut was a sweet delight to read and I'm looking forward to the next book from her on my shelf. I can't wait to her speak at the Virginia Festival of the Book!

Passages of Note (an example of an unexpected chuckle while reading):
"Lord, thank you for bringing your children together tonight for fellowship. We praise you for all you've given us, and please guide us as we prepare for our Christmas pageant. Touch Jimmy Blanchard with your healing power 'cause his mama says he has mono, and uh, you better go ahead and touch Lucy Mills while you're at it. And, one more thing, we know you have the weight of the world on your shoulders, but if you could lead the Ringgold Tigers to victory Friday night, well, we'd love to win one before the end of the season. In your name we pray, Amen." (p.104)
Others said (I know there are more out there! Let me know so I can add your link.):
Bermuda Onion

FTC Disclosure: I received this copy autographed by the author from blogger Bermuda Onion in her giveaway in 2010.

Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Release Date: 6/9/2009
Pages: 304

About the Author
Susan Gregg Gilmore is the author of Looking for Salvation at the Diary Queen and The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, she attended the University of Virginia and graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin. She has chaired book fairs, taught Vacation Bible School, while also writing for the Los Angeles Times, The Christian Science Monitor, and the Chattanooga News-Free Press. She lives in Nashville with her husband and has three daughters.

Follow the author:

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19 March 2012

Lisey's Story, by Stephen King


Typical Stephen King, but I sure don't mean horror. Of course, it's got some of that in here, but the one thing King is a master at is telling a painful story through a child's eyes. Breaks your heart and chokes you up. Stephen King can write emotion you'll feel for days, and he can write it like no other.

Scott Landon is a famous horror writer and for more than twenty years, he has delighted and scared his fans with book after book after book. He is in the forefront, the center of attention, and like an extremely loyal politician's wife, Lisey is always in the background clapping, cheering, and holding onto the gifts her husband receives while he does a reading or shakes hands and autographs books for his fans. Lisey's name might be spelled wrong in articles, or simply identified as Scott's "gal pal" and that's all there is to it. And she's always been okay with it.

But this time, the story is about, and also for, Lisey. Two years after she has lost Scott when he collapsed at a reading in Bowling Green, the loss is still a gaping hole in her world. In order to move on, she begins the slow process of going through Scott's office, uncovering items and papers that at times mean nothing, but have become a source of the vultures of colleges who want to secure his writing in their archives, possibly looking for that unpublished and finished (or almost) novel. Simultaneously fending off the vultures and investigating her husband's notes, she is reminded of different parts of their twenty-some years together, including when she visited a Nashville library commencement. The silver shovel that was given to Scott was also the same shovel she used to hit an attempted assassin who shot Scott. She has been there for Scott through it all and defended him, even saving his life...more than once. Even now, as she pores over his files, she is threatened with death and mutilation from a man who she cannot stop and it becomes time for her to save Scott again, and also save her own.

At the heart of this is a love story, one so pure I finally understood why Nicholas Sparks blurbed it on the back. (I must admit, I didn't think it was a favorable indication, but it did pique my interest.)

And while there is a tad bit of horror and gore, I'd hasten to say it's more magical realism than anything else. It can be scary, but I wouldn't compare this to the fear I felt as I read 'Salem's Lot last year. Here's the reason why: since Scott was a little boy, he's been able to travel to a far-off world called Boo'ya Moon, one that at daylight is safe, but at night becomes frightening and dangerous, filled with laughers and a horrible being that can haunt your real world in any place a reflection can be found. But the daytime world is so magical, so safe, and so healing, that it's worth the risk to get there and get back before the sun sets in Boo'ya Moon. It's a place to disappear to after his father hurts him and his older brother, Paul, a place he will still visit later as an adult. And it's the place that Lisey has to visit now, to confront the past in order to move on, and to ultimately be safe.

There is sadness, loss, abuse, cutting, deranged obsessive stalking, torture, and a whole host of issues and challenges that became extremely sad to read. How could a little kid go through the things Scott did and still make it out (somewhat) all right? Or did he?

While not my favorite Stephen King novel, and I feel bad for writing that, as it's considered his most personal novel, (it was tough to get through the first 150 pages especially with all of the breaks in the passages because of inner dialogues Lisey had with her husband), I'd still rank it up there as absorbing, a little freaky, and so much, much more than a horror story. There is no doubt I'm pleased to call myself a new student of Stephen King, and I am excited to continue to read more from him.

Passages of note:
She hadn't planned what she was going to say. This was in accordance with another of Landon's Rules: you only planned out what you were going to say for disagreements. When you were really angry - when you wanted to tear someone a new asshole, as the saying was - it was usually best to just rare back and let it rip.
The last word might be Canada, probably is, but there's no way to tell for sure because by then she's lost in the land of sleep and he is too, and when they go there they never go together, and she is afraid that is also a preview of death, a place where there may be dreams but never love, never home, never a hand to hold yours when squadrons of birds flock across the burnt-orange sun at the close of the day. (p. 264)
 Lisey opens her arms and lets it fall. The sound it makes is only the softest sigh (like the arguments against insanity falling into some ultimate basement), but the long boy hears it. She feels a shift in the rowing direction of its unknowable thoughts; feels the hideous pressure of its insane regard. One of the trees snaps with an explosive rending noise as the thing over there begins to turn, and she closes her eyes again and sees the guest room as clearly as she has ever seen anything in her life, sees it with desperate intensity, and through a perfect magnifying lens of terror.
Others said (if I've missed your review, let me know):

Publisher: Scribner (Simon & Schuster)
Release Date: 2006
Pages: 509

FTC Disclosure: I checked this book out of my local Virginia Beach Public Library. My copy does not reflect the cover above, but I couldn't locate that book cover online. The above cover is from Pocket Books' Mass Market Paperback.

About the Author
Stephen King is the author of more than fifty novels, including The Stand, The Dark Tower series, It, The Shining, oh...what more can be written that one doesn't already know. So here you go, click here to visit this wicked cool author's official website.








The Stephen King Project. My education (and others') continues! Lisey's Story is another selection for the challenge Kathleen and I are hosting. The site can be found (with other participants' reviews) here.

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14 March 2012

The Virginia Festival of the Book Is...


...next week, the Virginia Festival of the Book is throwin' down in Charlottesville. As I'm only a few hours away in Virginia Beach, you can best believe I'm going to head on out there for the weekend events, particularly as the following authors will be there:

  • Susan Gregg Gilmore (The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove)
  • Robert Goolrick (A Reliable Wife)
  • Margot Livesey (The Flight of Gemma Hardy)
  • Sarah Pekkanen (Skipping a Beat)
  • Jael McHenry (The Kitchen Daughter)

One session will also be moderated by fellow blogger Rebecca from The Book Lady's Blog.

So...who's in Virginia? Let me know if you are planning to go and let's grab some coffee.

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Strictly because anything and everything you can think of is on Facebook, so too is The Stephen King Project, lovingly nurtured and hosted by me from Coffee and a Book Chick and Kathleen at Boarding In My Forties. Why not like it? It was created only today, but ya know.

Click here to become a fan...

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13 March 2012

Stiff, by Mary Roach (Audio Review)


People. I am not kidding when I tell you that I LOVED this audio book.

Hailed by Burkhard Bilger of the New Yorker as the "funniest science writer in the country," Mary Roach delivers a fascinating, engrossing, and shockingly delightful account of the "life" of the human cadaver. A history of everything from body-snatching, public autopsies, crash test dummies, crucifixion experiments, and...medicinal cannibalism, this will absolutely make my list of Top Books of 2012. Written in 2003, the hilariously brilliant and easy-to-understand approach of Mary Roach's writing, combined with the stellar narration of Shelly Frasier, was unquestionably a grand slam listening experience for me.

The full title is Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. And curious, it is. Non-fiction at its finest, Mary Roach has done what most authors may not be able to make a reader feel: take the emotion out of death and look at it clinically; even sometimes, laugh at it. Other than watching shows like The First 48 on A&E, I don't know what happens to bodies once the person is no longer alive, nor am I aware of the good our bodies can provide for science. I also had no idea that there were so many people in the world who were experimenting with creative and alternative ways for body disposal (note: only in legitimate and natural circumstances, not in a Mafia-esque type of way) that are outside of the "standard" options like cremation and casket burial (how about composting your body and being used as fertilizer? That's one way to "recycle" yourself). While some sections made me cringe and I made a note to stop eating any food right before, during, or right after listening to my copy, I loved every single second of this experience, and cannot imagine anyone not enjoying it.

Like most people, I'm humbled by the experience of dealing with the aftermath once someone we care about passes away. With this book, I got a chance to take the emotional aspect out of it, and was able to reflect on moments in my own life dealing with death. For example, my mother passed away after complications from a heart transplant eight years ago, and those last few weeks were painful. In listening to this audio, though, I removed quite a bit of the sad memories and ultimately was absorbed in several chapters, particularly by the theories presented later on as to "where" in the body the soul may reside, either the brain or the heart. Mesmerized, I was.

This is exactly what this book is: an experience. It's such a completely insightful snapshot of the history of a cadaver that I was disappointed when it came to an end. While I giggled, cringed, and gasped through chapters, it gave me quite a bit to think about, even so much as changing my own opinion on my plans for when my time comes (provided there are no available organs that are usable for donation). Maybe I will have to donate my body to science. I can't imagine not. At least right now.

As I mentioned earlier, this will make my Top Books List for 2012. Mary Roach delivers successfully an engrossing, hilarious, and humbling account of all the many things a cadaver can do, and you may recognize her most recent book making the blogging rounds, Packing for Mars. I cannot wait to snag that one next. She's got a bunch of other books out there, even one about sex called Bonk. I think I might get that one first. (After all, one of the questions presented in that book is whether or not one can "think" themselves to org*sm.)

What are you planning on doing when the time comes? Are you like me and just thought a standard burial or cremation would be the way to go?

Audio Notes: The narrator was spectacular! Shelly Frasier is a new-to-me narrator and my goodness, she delivered the humor remarkably. Her voice perfectly resonated, even through a few of the later squeamish discussions on "medicinal cannibalism." Click here to go to the Audible.com page and click the play button below the book cover for a five-minute sample. 

Others said (let me know if I missed your review):

Publisher: Tantor Media
Release Date: 9/28/2003
Audio Time: 7 hours, 59 minutes
Narrator: Shelly Frasier

About the Author
Journalist and former Salon.com columnist Mary Roach didn't leave readers and critics cold with her first book, Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. In fact, the comical-yet-scientific look at the "life" of the dead body throughout history earned her a spot in the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Program. She is also the author of Spook, Bonk, and Packing for Mars.

Follow the author:

This is another selection for the 2012 Audio Book Challenge hosted by Teresa.

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11 March 2012

The Sunday Salon: Catching Up


Well, I'm back from Puerto Rico, and I'm recovering from the work sessions and beautiful sun and water by peeling off a pretty mean sunburn. I didn't read anything while I was there, or listen to an audio book. I simply relaxed.

So the only thing I want to share with you is The Stephen King Project, which is going wonderfully! Tia won for January 2012's reviews, and I'm mailing her my copy of The Lantern, by Deboarh Lawrensen. February only had two reviews, so both reviewers should be excited to potentially win, since the odds are so good. I hope you'll join me and Kathleen throughout the year and post your reviews of any Stephen King books you've read or listened to, and any film adaptations or shows you may have watched that are King-inspired. He is quite the fantastic storyteller, and he is not all horror.

I'll be catching up on everyone's reviews and also catching up on Clair de Lune by Jetta Carleton, which I was supposed to have read and reviewed this past week for TLC Book Tours...it's the first time I've ever delayed in posting a review, so I feel horrible. But, the book is beautiful and I'm loving it so far.

I'm still thinking about Puerto Rico.

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04 March 2012

The Sunday Salon: Behold. I am in Puerto Rico.


A few things to share with you:
  • Science fiction rocks. Give it a shot.
  • Stephen King rocks. Try one book, it will blow your mind. (Pick a popular one, though, not Cell, or anything like that.) The Stephen King Project has been a blast reading everyone's reviews and I can't wait to read more.
  • Work is busy (I've been bad on visiting all of your posts). But... who would have thought I would secure a coveted spot at my company's performance forum in...PUERTO RICO. And as of today, I am here. like. right. NOW. Which means I'll continue to be an infrequent visitor to everyone's blogs for a little while longer. But, it also means that I'll probably have a ton of pictures.
More to come.

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03 March 2012

Saturday Snapshot: Where the Heck Am I


I'm using BlogPress on my iPhone, so I have no idea what this will end up looking like. Details tomorrow, but here's a picture. Suffice if to say that after the whirlwind of work in the past year, I get to celebrate here

For more of this week's Saturday Snapshots, please visit Alyce with www.athomewithbooks.net.

This is the view yesterday with a cool rainstorm coming towards us:



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

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02 March 2012

Divergent, by Veronica Roth (Audio Review)


I was hesitant. This book was marketed for The Hunger Games fans. Was it possible there was another book out there that I would enjoy as much as The Hunger Games? After my disappointment with Wither, I wasn't sure if I should pick up another YA dystopian book for a couple months, but this one did not let me down at all.

Years ago, it was deemed there were certain actions that without them, would cause ultimate chaos in society. Because of this belief, five factions were created and while the Chicago residents in Divergent work and go to school with other factions, they are fiercely segregated. The five factions are Abnegation, selflessness; Amity, peacefulness; Erudite, intelligence; Abnegation, selflessness; and Candor, honesty.

Beatrice and her family are part of Abnegation. She has known nothing but sacrifice for others, whether for her family or for strangers. It's Abnegation's belief that selflessness is the most important quality and without it, society will break down. Although other factions ridicule the Abnegation, deeming them weak, it's the only life Beatrice has ever known.

At the annual Choosing Ceremony, sixteen-year-olds from each faction will make a life decision to either stay within the faction they were raised in (and ultimately stay with their family), or to choose another and forget everything they ever knew before. In this world, faction comes before blood. When Beatrice uncovers a secret about herself, she daringly chooses to leave her family behind and join the courageous Dauntless, and endures a difficult initiation under the watchful eye of Four, the enigmatic and cryptic training coach, in order to prove that she is brave. Now known as Tris, what she uncovers about herself, her "friends," and the world in which they live, is daring, secretive, and surprising.

Marketed for readers who loved The Hunger Games, I was skeptical. After all, I thought there couldn't possibly be another book that would rival my affection for the crazy nonsense I loved so much in the world of Katniss, Peeta, and Gale and the Districts. But Divergent was surprising and, I freely admit, it convinced me to stick with the audio versions of these thrill-ride dystopian novels (provided the narrator is spot on amazing). The audio kept me rapt with attention: I was loyal to it and didn't stray to any other audios or to my regular book to give myself a break; instead, I was turning Divergent on every chance I got. It sort of makes me think what The Hunger Games may have been like in audio. Anyone out there listen to it?

Veronica Roth created a wonderfully odd world of the future in which people segregate themselves into five factions and strive to be the best examples of it; the Dauntless throw caution to the wind and do everything they can to prove how unafraid they are, wildly dare-devilish actions that made my fear of heights even more pronounced. The Candor are honest to the point of being rude and inappropriate, and the Erudite wax philosophic and snobbishly exert their intelligence over others. It's a creative and eclectic order and in this story, works extremely well.

Events and characters were fully established and I had a clear picture of it all, along with their personalities. It wasn't hard to root Tris on in everything, and while I was a bit frustrated with her family (well, they were the selfless Abnegation), I did enjoy Four's hard edge and gritty approach to situations. Tris' friends in Dauntless were also surprisingly multi-layered and it was a positively challenging experience to know if they were truly friends, or if there were deeper secrets that questioned credibility. Perfect for this dystopian landscape!

I'd highly recommend Divergent to anyone interested in dystopian fiction. Veronica Roth created an extremely fun ride that was difficult to put down, and I eagerly await Insurgent in just a few months.

Audio Notes: Emma Galvin was remarkable. She had the perfect voice for the character of Tris and had just enough of a tone variance to distinguish other characters. As Tris began to grow from innocence in Abnegation to unabashed fearlessness in the Dauntless group, so too did Emma Galvin's voice successfully project this evolution. I will definitely pick up Insurgent in audio when it's released, especially if Emma Galvin is at the helm. Click here, and then click on the play button underneath the Divergent picture, to listen to the five-minute sample on Audible.com (you might need a membership, so if you do, head to iTunes to listen).

Others said (If I missed your review, don't be shy! Let me know so I can add it here):

Publisher: Harper Audio
Release Date: 5/3/2011
Audio Time: 11 hours, 11 minutes
Narrator: Emma Galvin

About the Author
Veronica Roth is the twenty-three-year-old New York Times best-selling debut author of Divergent, the first in a trilogy. The second book, Insurgent is expected to be released in May 2012. She lives in Chicago with her husband.

Follow the author:


Although the Science Fiction Experience hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings has concluded, I had to include this book and one more I still need to write up. So, this is my fourth selection for the event. All reviews from Experience participants can be found here.






Another audio selection for the 2012 Audio Book Challenge hosted by Teresa.

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