When Tara and Emerson’s long time friend Noelle commits suicide the two women are left with many questions. Noelle never showed any sign of depression or had any reason to commit suicide. Noelle was always pleasant and happy. She had been a midwife and loved what she did. Yet when Tara and Emerson start cleaning up Noelle’s things they find a shocking letter.
Dear Anna, What I have to tell you is difficult to write, but I know it will be far more difficult for you to hear, and I’m so sorry.
Suddenly Tara and Emerson are thrust into a situation where they need to make hard ethical choices. It turns out, they really did not know their friend at all.
It was just a week or so ago I stumbled across this amazing author when I listened to The Silent Sister and was blown away by the totally engaging read. Seriously, The audio was amazing to listen to and Diane Chamberlain was suddenly an author I wanted to listen to more of.
Yet I had to wonder, was Silent Sister a one hit wonder?
No. A resounding no. Diane Chamberlain nails it again with The Midwife’s Confession. Right from the start I found both Emerson and Tara to be likable people. Through them and their memories as well as flash backs, I was able to get to know Noelle as well.
Beautifully told, Noelle’s story is a great addition to filling in the holes of what her friends did not know. Another mind-blowing listen that had me guessing what the outcome would be… and when I knew… I was shocked again.
Narrated by a wonderful cast: Angela Dawe (Narrator), Cassandra Campbell (Narrator), Abby Craden (Narrator), Xe Sands (Narrator),and Cris Dukehart (Narrator). Distinctive voices, perfect pitch… I am usually not a fan of multiple narrators in a book as it can feel choppy but this was not the case at all. The story line flowed smoothly through the entire listen and I was so immersed that I could not tell you where one narrator stopped and another started. Seamless.
If you have not read Diane Chamberlain I highly recommend you do. The two books I have listened on audio to in this short amount of time have been amazing and I look forward to my next adventure with this author.
I saw this one on another blog and can not recall where but knew I had to listen to it! ~Sheila
Tess Thorne is the author of a series of cozy type mysteries and has quite the following of her books by the older generation as her books are about a knitting club. When Tess is invited to speak at a Library a distance away from her home, she agrees. The Librarian Ramona Norville gives Tess directions to a father way home after her engagement and Tess happily agrees to take the route as it will cut ten miles off her drive time.
While on the darkened back road short cut Tess experiences a tire blow out. The large man who stops to assist her winds up assaulting her and leaving her for dead… and in a way he does; as the old Tess is gone and this new Tess is a harder version of herself. A version that is no longer the meek and passive person she once was. This new Tess is harder. Stripped of her dignity, her old self is gone and the new Tess is about to seek justice.
It is interesting that King and I parted ways years ago but these past few years I have approached his writing again when I hear about something he has written that I think I may enjoy. Big Driver was originally published in King’s book, Full Dark, No Stars, a book I have never read, but now have read two of the stories that have recently been republished as stand alone, this one as well as Good Marriage.
Big Driver is a dark telling of a horrible crime committed on an innocent woman, Tess Thorne. What makes this is read interesting is how what happens to Tessa changes her into this stronger version of herself that knows what involving the police will do to herself as well as her career. Right or wrong on her assumptions, Tess goes forward with her own plan.
I did enjoy this short read on audio with narrator Jessica Hecht (who also narrated Good Marriage). Jessica’s narration was spot on. She had an excellent voice for both Tess before and Tess after, as well as her handling of the voices for the other cast of characters.
I did mention that Big Driver is dark which should come as no surprise as it is a King book. There is pretty strong language throughout this book, in this case it did not bother me much as the book really calls for it. The book is also pretty descriptive on what happens to Tess.
I do like the cover which surprised me as I normally do not like pictures of people on covers as they then put that image in my head for the characters. This one however fits the description of Tess, a petite woman. I imagine this is Tess after the assault as she looks pretty bad ass here. Broken in some ways but ready to do what it takes.
Note: This is also a Lifetime movie starring Maria Bello (who I love!). One I would like to see.
In Port Manitou Michigan , Running Coach and Teacher Neil Kazenzakis carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. An accident many years previously has left his wife on life support, never waking up. Since that time he has taken on full responsibility for his then young son Chris, who is now a teenager. Neil has also been seeing his mother in laws caregiver in secret for the past two years and feels he is i love but has no idea how to share this news with Chris.
When Neil breaks up a fight one day at the school, Neil thinks it is just standard teenage stuff… but when a video shows up on-line of the fight making it look like Neil actually assaulted one of the students, things plummet fast. Now he is suspended from his job during the investigation while he tries to hang on to everything in his life – his son, his girlfriend, his job, and his sanity.
The Banks Of Certain Rivers is an amazing read. You receive a lot of information in the beginning including what happened to Neil’s wife Wendy. The book goes on with much detail into Neil and Chris’s way of living and it is not until after the first 100 pages that the book really seems to take off.
Normally, a slow start to a book like this makes me a bit antsy wanting to get to the plot, yet author Jon Harrison writes this out in such a way that as the reader I found myself fully invested in the back story and the unique way that Neil communicates with his wife. When the book does take off, hang on. It has a crazy real feeling to it and runs ahead quickly and you just need to hang on.
I was blown away by this remarkable read and thank author Catherine McKenzie for encouraging a group of is to read and chat up this book. I am so glad I read Banks Of Certain Rivers. It has an excellent movie feel to it, one that I would definitely go see.
Family dynamics and current issues from schools play starring roles in this book. I would recommend you take the time to give this one a definite try. I would love to hear other thoughts on it.
Paperback: 366 pages
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (September 23, 2014)
Fog Island Mountains (Kirishima mountain range) are located beneath the volcanic area in Southern Japan. As a big typhoon is preparing to roll in the residents of Komachi prepare for the storm as well. Alec Chester is one of these residents. He has lived in this area for 40 years and has recently been diagnosed with a terminal cancer. With the storm on the verge of erupting, Alec’s wife Kanae disappears into the stormy weather struggling with the realities of her husbands diagnosis.
Narrated by Komachi’s oldest resident and told in Japanese kitsune folktale tradition; Fog Island Mountains is a story of grief, acceptance and healing.
Fog Island Mountain is an interesting read involving a couple (Alec and Kanae) as they deal with the approaching storm in their area as well as the approaching storm in their life. The story is told by an outside narrator, which was not totally new for me, but not usual so this took me awhile to get into the flow of this writing style.
Beautifully written, narrator Jennifer Ikeda was a smooth narrator to listen to. I enjoyed the feeling of Japan that surrounded the book giving me a bonus dose of the culture as well as an interesting read.
This is the cover of the book I read from. This is the 20 year anniversary edition of The Sorcerer’s Stone. I picked this one up in New York at the Harry Potter Exhibit
I wish I could remember exactly when I read this book for the first time. I believe it was sometime around when the first movie came out in 2001. I remember wanting to know what my sons were reading. Little did I know that I was about to read the book that would set off something in me that would lead to:
1. Owning all the books in paperback and hardcover
2. Owning all the books in audio (fantastic by the way – both narrators Jim Dale and Stephen Fry – wow!)
3. Owning several Harry Potter Board Games including HP Scene It
4. Going to the Harry Potter Exhibit with Reagan (Miss Remmer’s Reviews) while in New York
5. A different year dragging Cindy from Cindy’s Love Of Books to Potted Potter in New York. (For the record she had not read the books which made her even more of a trooper to attend with me and she loved it!)
6. Going to Harry Potter World at Universal Studios three times in the past three years with my son who is into it just as much as I am.
My ticket to the HP Exhibit which I keep in my book as a book mark
I love this first book. There is so much going on here not only within the book but the fact that the book exists at all. If you have ever read or listened to anything about JK Rowlings start with this book it is fascinating stuff. She was turned down again and again publishing houses stating that no one would want to read about children that had magic skills and misbehaved in school. Bloomsbury was the publisher that said yes (hazah to them!!!) and this book – opened up doors to change the publishing world forever…
HP and The Sorcerer’s Stone is fun to re-read as there is so much I pick up on now that I have read all the books. I feel like I pick up something new each time I read it and I have to smile at the sheer brilliance of how the books tie in so well together. JK did not know at the point of book one that there would be seven books – but they sure read like she knew exactly where she was going.
The short synopsis (just because I like writing about it)… Harry Potter is raised by his aunt and uncle after being left in their care upon the death of his parents. Harry is treated very poorly as an unwanted intruder in their lives and sleeps in a small space under the staircase. As he approaches his eleventh birthday he finds out that things are not exactly as he had been told all of these years. His parents actually come from a magical background and Harry is about to be introduced to his first year of school at Hogwarts.
Harry can not believe his luck as of which he had none before. He has a little help from Hagrid in picking up the supplies he will need and then he is on the train to Hogwarts where he meets Ron Weasly and Hermione Granger, two students who little does Harry know – will become lifelong friends, something he has not had before.
Of course all is not smooth sailing for our young Harry. We also learn about he-who-shall-not-be-named (Good old Volde!) and his role in Harry’s parents deaths as well as Harry’s scar. For years no one has heard from him but things are about to change and of course Harry would be the main focus of HWSNBN return.
This is the original drawing of Snape as JK first pictures him. This picture is in my book.
I am going to believe that most of you reading this post have read this book or at the very least, have heard of the Harry Potter phenomenon. I seriously have to smile when I think of how this series has held on – now being one of the biggest attractions at Universal Studios Orlando, so big in fact they just added on in 2014 a whole new amazing section that actually goes into the next park! I wrote about that here.
I adore this amazing book filled with magic and messages of good… just listen to Dumbledore’s quotes throughout the book and the series – these are amazing life lessons:
“Let me explain. The happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror, that is, he would look into it and see himself exactly as he is. Does that help.” Harry thought. Then he said slowly, “It shows us what we want… whatever we want…” “Yes and no,” said Dumbledore quietly. “It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. You, who have never known your family, see them standing around you. Ronald Weasley, who has always been overshadowed by his brothers, sees himself standing alone, the best of all of them. However, this mirror will give us neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible.
“To the well-organised mind, death is but the next great adventure’.”
Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone is just the beginning. If you have never read the series, I invite you to join our group now. If you have read it many years ago, you are also welcome to join in the fun. The giveaways are available to those signed up for the readalong, so come on in. In fact out first giveaway is posted by Donna at Writer’s Side Up for a set of cool bookmarks.
I am looking forward to the next book!
Justin at 9 3/4
*Readalongers be sure to link up your Sorcerer’s Stone post here. House points for participants comments on HP posts that are linked as well as the post itself.
Dani Keller wakes up on her houseboat with a wine hangover from the previous nights get together with her husband. When she reaches over the bed for her husband Ian, she finds he is not there. When she looks around she finds he is nowhere in the houseboat but his car is still parked out on the landing. Feeling he may has went out for coffee and scones she awaits his return. When day turns to night and Ian is not answering his cell phone her annoyance turns to worry. As the days start to pass and the police become involved Dani searches her foggy memory of the night of the party. Did something happen she can not recall? Is there something in their life together that has led up to this?
I love the synopsis of this book. Coming off of The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain I was geared up for more like that. There are things that I did enjoy about this read but some I found not fitting as well. Lets start with what I liked. The characters are well developed. I liked Dani and I enjoyed the background story of her relationship with Ian, how it began and what they did to be together as well as the complications of that decision. It felt like there was almost a life lesson in there. I enjoyed her daughter and her mother (who on audio reminded me a lot of Grandma Mazur from the Stephanie Plum series… just a funny older lady). These two characters provided a level ground for Dani.
What I didn’t like is what actually happened felt obvious to me from the beginning even though the author gives us plenty of venues to create doubt and possibilities. There seemed to be a lot of things that should have been done in an investigation such as this but were not.
If you can let go of reality, the book is a fine read. I don’t mean to sound harsh as I did enjoy it and was curious as to what had actually happened all the way through the read. Author Deb Caletti creates a mystery around love and betrayal that will keep you guessing.
Ok seriously… how have I missed out on this amazing author? ~Sheila
Riley MacPherson was only two years only when her older teenage sister Lisa committed suicide. Although Riley was too young to really remember Lisa, who was on her way to Julliard as a very gifted musician, Riley does know this was about the time her family fell apart. Her mother battled with depression and eventually cancer takes her from them. Her father acts as though nothing has happened at all and refuses to discuss it. Riley’s older brother Danny begins to pull away from the family and continues to be estranged even into his adult life.
Riley, now in her 20’s returns to her childhood home after her father’s passing to take care of the family properties. Through encounters with different local people and finding in her father’s home – evidence leads to the fact that Lisa may not have committed suicide after all…
and if that is true….
What happened? And where is she now? Is she alive?
The Silent Sister absolutely blew me away. So good in fact that I flipped through web pages of this authors other books and while I recognized covers, I feel as though I have read none of her other books. BIG MISTAKE on my part.
The Silent Sister is an excellent take on how far a family will actually go to protect one of their own. While perhaps well-meaning – the MacPherson’s are the definition of dysfunctional. Hidden agendas and secrets from one another leave the two remaining MacPherson children (Riley and Danny) left with a twisted mess that only tangles more as the story goes on. While one might say the plot is too entangled, too messed up – it is that what takes this read to the next level. Let’s face it – we live in a twisted messed up world.
When we practice to deceive…
I loved this book! I listened to it on audio and the amazing Susan Bennett narrated very well. Alternating chapters come in to play as you start to fill in the whole twisted tale.
Absolutely read or listen to this one. This book rates as one of the best I have read in 2014.
Susan and Alex Wendt believe they found the perfect apartment. Top floor, two bedroom brownstone recently renovated. It is close to a park for their daughter Emma and the price is one they can not pass up. The old widowed landlady is short of a full deck but harmless.
Shortly after moving in Susan starts to notice that some things are just not right. First it is the mysterious lifted floor board that they did not notice when they moved in… then it is the strange smell in the spare room… then it is the bites. Susan wakes up with bite marks on her that are consistent with bedbugs… oddly it is only Susan that is being bitten. Alex and Emma are fine. The house is checked twice by an exterminator with no finding…
so if not bed bugs what is it?
I have wanted to read this book since it came out in 2011. I liked the mysterious cover, and the fact that author Ben Winters also wrote Sense & Sensibility & Sea Monsters, this seemed like it could be a fun read.
It was.
And creepy too.
I enjoyed this read! I learned a bit about bedbugs and while the book is a bit creepy it is leveled out with other interactions to keep it from going full on itchy!
The narration of Elisabeth Rodgers is good. She does a great Emma! You route for this family while at the same time there is enough suspicion to go around to keep you guessing as to what is really happening. I am glad I finally fit this one in!
Like a little creepy? A little edgy? Something that would make a good movie? Give Bedbugs a try!
I posted a couple of days ago that I was reading this book.I signed up as one of 75 blogs to chat up this book. If you know me (and I hope if you read Book Journey you feel as though you do 😉 ) you know that if I can find a way to make something fun – that is the way I am going to go.
Today, November 11th, if you order the book you will receive a $15 ecard which will cover more than the cost of the book. Use this link to learn more about that! There is also a quiz you can take on that page to see
The 75 techniques in this book will guide you to be more playful and productive as you move through three vital phases of the manifestation process: dreaming (Hop), experimenting (Skip), and taking action (Jump). Discover your Play Personality and learn how to use it to create more experiences in which work feels like play, and struggle gives way to momentum, ease, and joy.
Includes a FREE downloadable Productivity Pack
Read it and want to chat about it?
Twitter: @hopskipjumpbook as well as @ArtellaLand.
Aasif Mandvi and his family moved to America mainly because his father was fascinated with an incredible United States tradition…
BRUNCH!
You may know his from his work on The Daily Show, or in movies such as Die Hard With a Vengeance, Analyxe This, and Spider Man 2…even a Domino’s Pizza commercial.
Aasif narrates this incredibly funny audio from his early years of dancing to Michael Jackson to his first kiss; to later when he screws up Brook Shields party to receiving tv and movie rolls beyond “here, wear this turban,” and “”get on this flying carpet.” Aasif shares his lifes ups and downs of being an Indo-Muslim-British-American actor.
.
This audio was a lot of fun to listen to. I always enjoy actors and tv personalities that narrate their own audio books. It only seems right that they should be telling their story. Aasif narrates with a high energy and fast talking manner that you think he is hopped up on coffee (or perhaps that brownie he mentions along the way…).
Honesty, I did not know much about Aasif going into the read, but after listening to this book I have a whole new appreciation for the talent of this man who never stopped doing what he loved and made his way to who he is today.
Highly enjoyable! Fans of Aasif are not going to want to miss out on this up close and personal look of his life.
Book Journey 