Firstly, I must warn potential readers that the blurb is very misleading. Zoey and Nick together do NOT find anything in the attic. Nor, does Zoey aloFirstly, I must warn potential readers that the blurb is very misleading. Zoey and Nick together do NOT find anything in the attic. Nor, does Zoey alone find anything of interest in the attic. Did the person who wrote the blurb actually read the book? OR, was the book edited since the blurb was written?
The setting was sublime. An island off the coast of Rhode Island with few year-round residents, but many seasonal property owners. Ivy's house was situated on a hill over-looking the harbor.
The characters were portrayed in a genuine way, so were easy to relate to.
The plot was a tad predictable, but when you read a book in this genre, you come to expect that - and perhaps welcome it.
This is women's fiction with more than a dash of romance. It is a story of family allegiances, family secrets, and inter-generational relationships that culminate in a 'happy ever after' ending. Recommended!
3.5 stars rounded up
Merged review:
Firstly, I must warn potential readers that the blurb is very misleading. Zoey and Nick together do NOT find anything in the attic. Nor, does Zoey alone find anything of interest in the attic. Did the person who wrote the blurb actually read the book? OR, was the book edited since the blurb was written?
The setting was sublime. An island off the coast of Rhode Island with few year-round residents, but many seasonal property owners. Ivy's house was situated on a hill over-looking the harbor.
The characters were portrayed in a genuine way, so were easy to relate to.
The plot was a tad predictable, but when you read a book in this genre, you come to expect that - and perhaps welcome it.
This is women's fiction with more than a dash of romance. It is a story of family allegiances, family secrets, and inter-generational relationships that culminate in a 'happy ever after' ending. Recommended!
"Shared Sorrows" is a thoughtful and engrossing work of literary fiction. Fitting, because the protagonist, Frank DioGuardia, is a professor of litera"Shared Sorrows" is a thoughtful and engrossing work of literary fiction. Fitting, because the protagonist, Frank DioGuardia, is a professor of literature.
Frank, who is in late middle age, is approaching the anniversary of his father's death that will signify that he has outlived his father. This has always been a milestone for him, a goal... But this year events conspire to change Frank's mindset dramatically. He takes part in the annual NYC Columbus Day Parade in his Knights of Columbus attire. To prevent a criminal act he uses his ceremonial sword and injures a man. A life changing event that precedes an enlightening and introspective look at his life and his beliefs.
Integral to his life-altering experience is Dr. Laurie McDevitt, the physician who treats him in the ER after the incident. They form an instant rapport due to their 'shared sorrows'. She lost her father on the same date that he did. Frank is married and the father of three adult children. Don't be mislead, this is not a story of infidelity. Rather it is a story of one man's epiphany - when he discovers his life to be fraudulent. A personality crisis of gigantic proportions.
The media jump upon Frank and create a frenzy that impacts his life and the lives of those who care for him. One pivotal event follows another...
"Shared Sorrows" is an eloquently written novel that touches upon several serious subjects. The mystery of marital relationships, faith and religion, politics and totalitarianism, perception generated by media, and corruption within the Catholic Church. Republicans be warned... there is even some Trump bashing (which I personally appreciated).
I would recommend this novel to readers who like measured, introspective, literary fiction.
Merged review:
"Shared Sorrows" is a thoughtful and engrossing work of literary fiction. Fitting, because the protagonist, Frank DioGuardia, is a professor of literature.
Frank, who is in late middle age, is approaching the anniversary of his father's death that will signify that he has outlived his father. This has always been a milestone for him, a goal... But this year events conspire to change Frank's mindset dramatically. He takes part in the annual NYC Columbus Day Parade in his Knights of Columbus attire. To prevent a criminal act he uses his ceremonial sword and injures a man. A life changing event that precedes an enlightening and introspective look at his life and his beliefs.
Integral to his life-altering experience is Dr. Laurie McDevitt, the physician who treats him in the ER after the incident. They form an instant rapport due to their 'shared sorrows'. She lost her father on the same date that he did. Frank is married and the father of three adult children. Don't be mislead, this is not a story of infidelity. Rather it is a story of one man's epiphany - when he discovers his life to be fraudulent. A personality crisis of gigantic proportions.
The media jump upon Frank and create a frenzy that impacts his life and the lives of those who care for him. One pivotal event follows another...
"Shared Sorrows" is an eloquently written novel that touches upon several serious subjects. The mystery of marital relationships, faith and religion, politics and totalitarianism, perception generated by media, and corruption within the Catholic Church. Republicans be warned... there is even some Trump bashing (which I personally appreciated).
I would recommend this novel to readers who like measured, introspective, literary fiction....more
Always eager to discover new authors, I was excited to learn that "The Astrology House" was Carinn Jade's debut novel.
A group of four couples convergeAlways eager to discover new authors, I was excited to learn that "The Astrology House" was Carinn Jade's debut novel.
A group of four couples converge on Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat, where they seek a rest from their busy lives. They are all in their late 30s and early 40s.
Margot is a lawyer who is married to Ted. After years of trying to conceive, they remain childless, which is deeply troubling to Margot who longs for a family.
Adam, a novelist, is Margot's brother and he has come to Stars Harbor with his wife Aimee, a social media influencer. They have three young girls at home and Aimee has agreed to this weekend away to rekindle her relationship with her husband. Meanwhile, Adam feels that Aimee puts all her effort and love into their daughters which leaves none left for him - so he has an affair with...
Eden who is married to Rick.
Also present are Farah, an obstetrician, and her politician husband Joe. They have two young sons at home. Farah is Aimee's best friend, though recently she has wanted to be more...
All the weekend guests are flawed and in their own ways, deceptive. They all seemed to drink an exorbitant amount, have deeply defective marriages, and I found it hard to relate to any of them.
The host of the weekend, and the owner of the Astrology House is Rini. She inherited the house and combined her love of astrology with a money-making venture to earn a living by taking in paying guests. This weekend, Rini manipulates her guests to ensure their secrets and resentments are laid bare so as to bring everyone's relationships to a head. She is working to her own agenda, and is ruthless in her aim.
The book was well-researched as far as the astrological aspect goes. The author's love of the subject is apparent. The writing was polished and the plot flowed well. The debate over fate vs. free will permeates the plot and the denouement was suspenseful, dare I say exciting.
The setting was indeed idyllic. A Victorian mansion on the Long Island shore. However, the idyll is marred by a severe tropical storm.
The plot though, was ever so slightly implausible, and I had to suspend my disbelief on several occasions.
I did enjoy the read, but found the number of characters detracted from the plot somewhat. All in all, this was a promising debut from a talented writer....more
I had very high expectations of this debut novel because of all the hype surrounding it. Many of my favourite book bloggers loved it AND it was a JimmI had very high expectations of this debut novel because of all the hype surrounding it. Many of my favourite book bloggers loved it AND it was a Jimmy Fallon Book Club pick! Alas... this time, it just did not tick the boxes for me...
A young mother is home alone with her two young children, aged eight and five. They live in a centuries old colonial in rural New England and there is a raging blizzard outside.
The first part of the book grabbed me for sure. A man is in their house... she quickly hides herself and her children in a secret compartment beside the central chimney. Here she is in anguish, trying valiantly to keep her children quiet so as not to alert the intruder to their location in the house.
Thankfully, there were alternate scenes where the mother recounts events from her past. These somewhat alleviate the gut-clenching tension of the present day ordeal. During this first part of the book, I wondered where her husband was...
Some parts of this novel were very well executed, while others read like a debut novel -which in fact, it is.
Then, around half-way through the novel, things went south for me. The misogyny of the police and the doctors, the way the woman was patronized, denigrated, not believed - well that just grated with me. I think the author was trying to write a thriller that spoke to a woman who was denied agency. The way she went about it caused the reader to doubt her as a narrator. The plot strayed into victim blaming and gas-lighting. Topics I'm usually a fan of, yet this time the narrative didn't deliver, in my opinion. The 'villain' reveal was unconvincing to me. I felt frustrated while reading, wanting the story to come to an end sooner. I kept wondering, am I reading the same book that garnered so many glowing reviews?
Then, near the end of the book, it seemed to turn around. The denouement tied up all the loose threads and was satisfying.
I'm sorry that I didn't enjoy this novel more. It had great potential, but sadly it does not stand among my favorites. As reading experiences are subjective, I've no doubt that I am in the minority as this was an intense thriller with a claustrophobic feel....more
In a word....FABULOUS! This novel will definitely appear on my best of 2024 list!
How can a novel that begins with the protagonist in such a depressed In a word....FABULOUS! This novel will definitely appear on my best of 2024 list!
How can a novel that begins with the protagonist in such a depressed state that she intends to commit suicide - turn out to be.... uplifting? Well I don't know how the author managed it, but she did.
This novel walks a fine line between literary fiction, women's fiction, and love story. The plot was riddled with wise insights about life, about relationships, about change, and about being true to yourself.
The Rhode Island setting, in an elegant hotel which is situated so that it has ocean views, marked a stark contrast to the bleakness, and despondency of the main character, Phoebe. A university literature professor from Missouri, she is very intelligent and knowledgeable, especially about all things from the 19th century. However, she has lost her passion for teaching and her personal life has hit an all time low. Her loneliness is palpable. Her husband left her for her best friend, she is childless even after myriad rounds of IVF, and, the straw that broke the camel's back... her cat Harry has just died. She goes to the hotel for one last decadent night before killing herself.
Then... she meets the bride. Lila is somewhat of a 'bride-zilla'. She has spent a million dollars on this week-long wedding at this posh hotel. She wants everything to go just as she has planned. However, she didn't plan on Phoebe.
In a roundabout way, her decision to end her life causes Phoebe to come to the realization that she is free. Free to say what she thinks, do what she wants, when she wants to do it. This freedom is intoxicating and begins, slowly, to heal her depression. Her burgeoning friendship with the dreadful Lila also makes her see life through a different lens. Phoebe realizes that to be truly brave, you have to break free from the habits, the 'ruts', that you let rule your existence.
"Phoebe is starting to understand that on some nights, Lila is probably the loneliest girl in the world, just like Phoebe. And maybe they're all lonely. Maybe this is just what it means to be a person."
Written with skill, great insight into human nature, and also some moments of quiet hilarity, this novel is a 'must read'.
It was the reference to "Gaslight" starring Ingrid Bergman that originally attracted me to this novel.
The early 1900s were a scary time if you were a It was the reference to "Gaslight" starring Ingrid Bergman that originally attracted me to this novel.
The early 1900s were a scary time if you were a woman... Wives were considered to be the 'chattel' of their husbands with few rights of any description. Even wealth could not spare a woman if her husband seeks to rid of her, as our protagonist, Millie Turner, soon discovers.
Born into wealth, spoiled, entitled, and very naive, Millie is ill equipped to fight the confines of her marriage. She has few life skills, and the laws of the time are not on her side.
Set on Long Island's North Shore, when the area was considered remote. Millie lives in a grand mansion called Rose Briar Hall. A house with over twenty servants, she wants for nothing. She and her new husband are planning a lavish party to celebrate the final touches on their mansion and Millie has it all in hand. Then, weeks later, she awakens to a cold, dark, house. The servants have all been let go, with the exception of three or four that were chosen (and are loyal to) her husband Charles. At the tender age of twenty-four, Millie is faced with an impossible dilemma. She is told that she has murdered a woman who attended her party, a woman that had designs on Charles. With no memory of the party, Millie is told that she has been shunned by all of her society friends. Even her parents are not there for her in her time of need... Drugged, and misinformed, Millie struggles to escape Charles' clutches. He is determined that she is 'hysterical' and that she must be institutionalized!
What follows is how Millie strove to become independent of Charles. With doctors, police, and the very law in her husband's favour, it is no easy task. Her eyes are opened to her own snobbery and pampered lifestyle as she finds herself outside her usual social circle. She is tested to her very limits.
As a female reader, I found myself seething at the injustices of the time.
Though the bones of the story were eminently readable, I found the overall feel of the novel to be rather traditional in its predictability. However, that being said, I did enjoy the read even though it didn't blow me away....more
This is my second time reading the work of Ethan Joella and I've come to regard him as a favorite author after only two books. Why? Because he has theThis is my second time reading the work of Ethan Joella and I've come to regard him as a favorite author after only two books. Why? Because he has the ability to illuminate the exceptional nature of ordinary lives.
Jack Schmidt is in his early fifties. He runs a family-owned restaurant in Southern Delaware - and that is the sum of his life. The restaurant, which has been in his family since 1954, takes up every bit of his mental and physical energy. He works long days, and he cares for his staff. However, Jack is tired, so tired. And lonely. He lives alone with only his cat Harry for company.
The restaurant business is dependent on so many variables that Jack's life is precarious and he often feels like it is out of his control.
When the DelDine Group approaches him with a more than generous offer for his restaurant, at first he is reluctant. Will they honor his legacy? Will they keep his staff on? Then, the more he thinks about it, he is sorely tempted. Perhaps this is his one and only opportunity to 'have a life'. Forge new relationships and have some precious time to himself.
This novel really struck a chord with me. It spoke to the scary concept of change. How we all would sometimes stay in our 'ruts' rather than make a drastic step to change the comfortable pattern of our lives.
"Change is never the natural thing. We'd rather keep doing the shit that wears us out than move on to something new."
When Jack learns about a secret that has been kept from him for decades, his life is turned on its head. He begins to question his life, and its meaning...
Commonplace, unremarkable lives are given credence and somehow the reader feels heavily invested in Joella's characters.
The book is set in Southern Delaware's Rehoboth Beach, where the author himself lives. This novel, in addition to being a literary, character-rich read, is also an ode to the author's hometown, and his obvious fondness for the town shows.
Highly, highly, recommended! All the bright stars!...more
"No matter how much you wish it, time marches on, minute by minute, day by day, leaving you stumbling on with it, along with every regret and mistake "No matter how much you wish it, time marches on, minute by minute, day by day, leaving you stumbling on with it, along with every regret and mistake you've ever made."
Although this author has written six novels, this is the first time I've read her work. Now her backlist is going on my TBR!
The setting was bucolic, and the characters fully fleshed out. With themes of loss, guilt, regret, justice, and learning what is important in life, this was didactic without being preachy.
The loss of an eight year old child in a tragic swimming pool accident spurs the Egide family to move away from the Connecticut home where the tragedy occurred. They go to New Hampshire, to Marie Egide's family home where she spent her summers as a child. The aim is to get the house ready to sell, so that they can relocate to another, more upscale address. The remaining children all take the move in different ways. Teenage Hannah copes well, mostly because of a local teenager to whom she is attracted. Adolescent Brendon hates the place. No internet, no friends, he cannot imagine any place worse. Eight year old Penelope misses her twin dreadfully, but is enamoured of this new life in the country.
"It's a huge thing to be understood."
Shortly after they move in they discover that a woman named Davinia is living in an A-frame cottage on the property near the river. She was a trauma nurse in the army, and now is retired due to a devastating event that left her permanently disfigured.
Marie and Davina lock heads. Davina has lived in her cabin for over two decades and loves it there. Marie wants her out so that she can sell the property. Their situation escalates when the local people side with Davina... Things spiral and people are outraged.
"In the end, we are the sum of our deeds".
"Where Butterflies Wander" was everything a novel should be in that it made you feel every emotion, while telling a story that made you think. What is really important in life? What does it take to be truly happy?
The prose was almost lyrical. The topics were profound and thought-provoking. The story was poignant and moving. I loved it!...more
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