Archive for July, 2010

100 Fan Book Give-A-Way #5

July 31st, 2010

Hello All! Well, it’s been a long 5 weeks, and Bookapaloosa is finally coming to an end, but before me move on let’s give a great big congrats to Rick Wise who won last weeks give-a-way, lets hope he learns from his new books advice, but never has to actually use it.

Now, on to the good stuff. Since this is the final week I decided to shake things up.  Several of you (shakes head in shame) have let it slip that you haven’t read the classic “Pride & Prejudice” and while I refuse to give away my copy (it’s kinda falling apart anyways) I decided to share my love with you in a new medium.  Recently Marvel has started adapting classic novels into GRAPHIC novels and they are FANTASTIC!! So in order to spread the comic book love I am giving 1 lucky winner the trade paperback version of P&P (aka… all five issues, beautifully hardbound and ready for reading.) All you need to do to be qualified is comment below and viola’

Happy reading!! :-) Misty

 

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife… Tailored from the adored Jane Austen classic, Marvel Comics is proud to present Pride & Prejudice! Two-time Rita Award-Winner Nancy Butler and fan-favorite Hugo Petras faithfully adapt the whimsical tale of Lizzy Bennet and her lovable-if-eccentric family, as they navigate through tricky British social circles. Will Lizzy’s father manage to marry off her five daughters, despite his wife’s incessant nagging? And will Lizzy’s beautiful sister Jane marry the handsome, wealthy Mr. Bingley, or will his brooding friend Mr. Darcy stand between their happiness? Collects Pride & Prejudice #1-5.


 

 

Here are a few examples of the Art Work

(Click to enlarge)

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Did Someone Say Free Downloads?

July 30th, 2010

Well since so many of y’all seemed to LOVE the instant access to Free Kindle Downloads the last time I did it,  I figured… WHY NOT… so here are the most recent that I found. (Well… at least the ones that look worth the effort.)  Happy Free Reading!

(Click the Image to get more details!)


Brown, author of the Navy Justice Series and a former U.S. Navy lawyer, has written a book destined to top Christian fiction lists. A rogue Indonesian general and his army of terrorists attack oil tankers in the Strait of Malacca in order to profit from oil futures and buy nuclear weapons to establish an Islamic superpower. Navy JAG officers Zack Brewer and Diane Colcernian race against the odds and a 24-hour deadline before nuclear attacks hit the United States. Departing from the sea of books barely better than soap opera romance and using the frantic pacing of suspense fiction, Brown glides flawlessly among global hotspots of terrorism–including the United States–and the book’s principal settings in Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The plot surges headlong with energy; characters–from various cultures–are both believable and accessible; rich dialogue flows. A Bible-quoting evangelical Christian president in the war room is over the top, and while evangelical hot-button issues may please some readers and turn others off, Brown has penned another winner.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


From an extraordinary new voice in fiction comes a haunting, powerful novel about mothers and daughters, choice and regret, the mistakes we make and the ones we hope we can correct before it’s too late.

Nothing much ever happens in Falling Rock, Kentucky. So when Virginia Lemmons’ husband takes off in his Trans Am to take up with a beautician, there’s not much to do but what people in rural Kentucky have always done–get on with it. Now, overwhelmed and unsure, Virginia’s got her hands full trying to keep it together, body and soul, while raising her two teenage kids–eighteen-year-old son, Will, and her spirited fourteen-year-old daughter, Shannon.

But Shannon has her own ideas for breaking free of Falling Rock, and in her reckless, wild-child daughter, Virginia sees echoes of herself and her own painful past. She’ll do whatever it takes to keep her daughter from making the same tragic mistakes, and saving what’s left of her fragile family just may be the biggest fight of Virginia’s life.

In this compelling, heartbreaking first novel, Janna McMahan brings to authentic life the dreams, passions, and troubles of one southern town, where choice isn’t always easy to come by, and living the hand you’re dealt with is a grace all its own.

“A beautifully wrought novel populated by a vivid cast of characters. . .Janna McMahan takes us completely into the lives of these people and their small town, presenting this world with authenticity and dignity. I absolutely loved this book and will carry it with me for a long time.” –Silas House


Sixteen-year-old Nathan Shepherd has a great life traveling where the careers of his father, an investigator, and mother, a renowned violinist, take him … until his parents are found murdered. Left with only a mirror and notes from his father’s last case, Nathan goes into hiding at the remote country home of Tony, his father’s college buddy, and Tony’s teenage daughter, Kelly. The mysterious mirror must be a clue to what happened to his parents, and when images appear in it—people and things that don’t exist—Nathan and Kelly painstakingly gather evidence. But the killers want the mirror too, and danger threatens the teens at every turn. As it becomes evident that Nathan’s father had stumbled upon dark forces at work in the world, several questions arise. Could it be that the mirror is a portal to a parallel world? Could this technology be used for evil purposes? And could his parents still be alive, trapped in another dimension? Nathan and Kelly struggle to solve the mystery before they too become victims. This chilling, hair-raising adventure is jam-packed with action in a fantastical world where nothing is as it seems, and even mirrors tell lies.


Grief. Hope. Love. Sword fights. And the crisp glory of fried okra. Ex-cocktail waitress and “convenience story professional” Eudora “Pea” O’Brien is filled with grief and regret, low on cash and all alone. Headed down the hot, dusty back roads of central Texas, Pea is convinced she’ll find a sign leading her to the reincarnated soul of the sister who raised her. A sign that she’s found her place in the world of the living again. At least that’s what the psychic promised. In an unforgettably funny and poignant journey, Pea collects an unlikely family of strays-a starving kitten, a pregnant teenager, a sexy con man trying to go straight, and a ferocious gun dealer named Glory, who introduces Pea to the amazing, sword-wielding warrior goddesses of Texas author Robert E. Howard-creator of the Conan the Barbarian novels-and celebrated in festival every year. Six foot tall, red-headed Pea looks good with a sword in her hand. Glory, the goddesses, and a grandmotherly café owner become Pea’s unlikely gurus as she struggles to learn swordplay and the art of perfect fried okra. She’ll have to master both if she’s going to find what matters most-her own lost soul. “Jean Brashear writes with warmth and emotion truth. The depth of her understanding of human nature marks her as a writer to watch, a writer to read and a writer to enjoy.” –Debbie Macomber, #1 NY Times Bestselling Author “THE GODDESS OF FRIED OKRA is a fabulous read. Riveting. Original. Those characters grabbed my imagination and didn’t let go.” –Cathy Maxwell, NY Times Bestselling Author

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The Truth Will Set You Free

July 29th, 2010

I wish I had a witty way to start this review. Some sort of statistic, or life experience I could compare the content to, but this time… I’m at a loss. This was probably one of the weirdest books I have read in quite some time, but regardless of the odd physical portrayal of anxiety, or the awkward and eclectic list of characters, I still found that I couldn’t put it down.

Sophia is a small town girl, but only at heart. In reality she’s a high-powered criminal lawyer living in New York with her equally as brilliant fiance Stephen. In other words, life is good, well… WAS good, until one night at dinner she suddenly develops this “fist-sized” ball (that she lovingly names FB) in the base of her throat. With no medical explanation for her sudden predicament, and a shrink that is as much help at a paper-weight Sophia is on her own, but when her mysterious psychological condition starts to wreck havoc on her life, and her health something has to give. Will Sophie finally give in to her inner self and become her own woman, or will the anxiety stuck inside her eat her alive?

Like I said before, this novel was a little odd, but for all of its quirky dialogue, and flamboyant situations (hello penis lamp) the story was surprisingly profound. Here was a woman that was so stunted by the pressures, and societal expectations of her life that she created a mental condition that eventually started to affect her physically. The sheer fact that Tonya Plank could even think this concept up is astounding, and to put it down (successfully) onto paper is even more noteworthy. Her characters were unlike any I’ve ever read before, ranging from the pornographic to the demure and about 50% of the way in (shockingly) I found myself genuinely caring about their welfare, however, great characters, and an interesting plot do not always mean perfection. There were several moments in which the plot seemed stunted, repeating itself, and even forcing what seemed like “afterthought” details. For example, there were several occasions in which Sophia engaged in phone conversations with her clients… I found each and every one of these calls useless and unnecessary, they did not add to the plot or deepen the significance of Sophie’s job, only acted as a drag to what would have otherwise been a fast moving story.

Overall? Decent read, and an interesting new take on “chick lit.” If you are looking for a (mostly) well written novel with a unique heroine, and a crazy play on feminist equality… this is the read for you, Oh! and lookey what I found.

WINNER OF GOLD MEDAL, 2010 Living Now Book Awards, Women’s Fiction
WINNER OF GOLD MEDAL, 2010 Independent Publisher Book Awards, Best Regional Fiction
FINALIST, 2010 ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards, General Fiction
FINALIST, 2010 National Indie Excellence Awards, Regional Fiction

I knew I had it in me!

Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember; baby food is still food… but do you really want to explain to a room full of lawyers why you’re eating it?

For a complete book description click image

(3.5/5)

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When The Tables Turn

July 27th, 2010

For anyone that reads “series novels” you know there is nothing more agonizing than waiting for the next book, but when you read a book, love a book, and in no way expect a follow-up to it, you become just that much more excited when 6 months down the road they announce its predecessor. I first read “Shiver” by Maggie Stiefvater in September of 2009, and was instantly impressed with it’s originality and beautiful writing. Stiefvater created two very lovable characters, in one very unfortunate situation, and she did it in a way that left the rest of her YA/Paranormal peers in the dust. Her story of a lonely boy who just happens to be a wolf during the winter, and the girl he falls madly in love with was an instant hit, debuting in the #9 spot on the NY Times Bestseller list, and more recently being purchased by Unique Features to be brought to the big screen. Through all of this however, a follow-up was never mentioned… Until January of 2010. To say I was exited would be the understatement of the century, I was ECSTATIC, but with overwhelming joy, comes overwhelming expectations… 7 months of built up expectations to be more specific, and I’m happy to say, that for once, my head didn’t out write the book.

(If you have not read Shiver please stop reading… There are some whopper spoilers to follow and I don’t want to ruin it for you.)

In “Shiver” Sam and Grace race against time, and nature to do the impossible… change the fate of their lives, and their love. In “Linger” the race is on again, only this time… it’s a different kind of race. Grace is tired of her parents. Tired of them being absent, tired of them pretending they give a crap, and tired of them all of a sudden telling her she can’t see the love of her life. Sam is wreck, still emotionally unstable from the dramatic shift in his overall existence he spends more time walking on his tip toes than enjoying life… that is until something strange starts happening to Grace. Will Grace’s sudden need for defiance endanger her well being, and will Sam be able to hold himself together long enough to do what is necessary to save her life?

With the introduction of 2 new narrative characters (Isabel and Cole) Stiefvater took her game to a whole new level, not only did she allow you to keep feeling your emotional connection to Sam and Grace, (that was established through sweat and tears in the first novel) but she created a whole new tangle of teen angst, and unpredictable behaviour through the miss-guided intentions of a former drug addict turned wolf. Now, (while I’ll admit) I was a little lost in the forefront of this novel (more because it has been a year since I read Shiver) the writing as a whole was no less captivating. The only flaw I can note is that the plot took a little longer to establish than I thought necessary… but once it got going it was flawless, (so my complaint becomes pretty insignificant) The ending was (in my opinion) the piece de resistance and was (of course) geniusly plotted for a 3rd book. (Smart girl Maggie… smart-smart-younger-than-me-I’m-so-jealous-of-you girl)

If you have yet to read Shiver … #1 I told you to stop reading 2 paragraphs ago so shame on you, and #2 get your booty in the car, or on the computer and buy it right now. If you HAVE read Shiver… read Linger… it is everything you hoped it would be, only in reverse, and upside down.

Happy reading my fellow Wolf-lovers and remember: if you feed them they will come.

For a complete book description click image

(4.5/5)

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100 Fan Book Give-a-Way #4

July 24th, 2010

Happy Saturday!!! You know what that means… Week 4 of Bookapaloosa.

I have to say… 4 weeks of giving away books from my own shelves and it doesn’t even look like I’ve touched them. :-) Anyways…First up, a big ‘ole Congrats to Tina Norman who was last weeks Movie Tie-In’s winner!

Now on to business. This week I’ve decided to target those of you that house the more “serious” read gene. There was a period in my life where I became obsessed with the human psyche. I wanted to understand why people did what they did, how they would react in the most severe of situations… what made them tick. The 3 novels I picked for this weeks give-a-way combined all of these. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Simply leave a comment below and you will be entered to win!

(Dear Kindle Subscription holders… don’t forget you have options too! Stop by my site www.kindleobsessed.com or shoot me an email at misty@kindleobsessed.com)

 

Popular writer and Outside columnist Sides (Stomping Grounds) interviewed participants in one of WWII’s little-known exploits: the rescue of 500 American and Allied POWs from Cabanatuan prison camp on the Philippine island of Luzon. This gripping account intertwines the tale of these prisoners, who were survivors of the horrible Bataan Death March in 1942, and 121 officers and men of the army’s Sixth Ranger Battalion. Led by Colonel Henry Mucci and Captain Robert Prince, these Rangers, who had yet to taste active combat, trekked 30 miles behind Japanese lines to effect the rescue, haunted all the while by the knowledge that if their secret mission was leaked, the POWs would probably be massacred by their captors. Sides includes the heroic efforts of Claire Phillips and other resistance fighters to keep the Americans supplied with accurate intelligence, and the scores of villagers who helped the POWs to safety. Some Alamo Scouts and two Filipino guerrilla groups provided no small assistance to Mucci and his men. The raid itself was almost anticlimactic as the Rangers burst into the POW compound, eliminating the garrison and bringing out the inmates in less than half an hour. It’s a tale worthy of a Hollywood movie (and film rights have been optioned by Universal). The author’s excellent grasp of human emotions and bravery makes this compelling book hard to put down. (May 15)Forecast: This is for fans of Flags of Our Fathers who have been waiting for another installment. First serial rights have been sold to Esquire, and the author is booked on the Today Show. With more exposure like that, and with blurbs coming from the likes of David Halberstam and Jon Krakauer, this should sell hugely.

 

On October 12, 1972, an Uruguayan Air Force plane carrying a team of rugby players crashed in the remote snowy peaks of the Andes. Ten weeks later, only sixteen of the forty-five passengers were found alive. This is the story of those ten weeks spent in the shelter of the plane’s fuselage without food and with scarcely any hope of a rescue. The survivors protected and helped one another, and came to the difficult conclusion that to live meant doing the unimaginable. Confronting nature at its most furious, two brave young men risked their lives to hike through the mountains looking for help — and ultimately found it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Brokaw goes out into America to tell – through the stories of individual men and women – the story of a generation, American’s citizen heroes and heroines who came of age during the Great Depression and the Second World War and went on to bud modern America.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Take That… Evil Lying Boy!

July 23rd, 2010

I was first introduced to Jess C Scott through her blog-novel “Eyeleash.” While I found it very intriguing, and unquestionably unique it was also very difficult to critique her writing style due to its formatting… so when she asked me to take a look at her novella “The Devilin Fey” I was excited.  Here was my chance to see how well Scott pushed her pen, and if her more “mainstream” attempt at writing was as interesting as her previous work.

It was not.

Please do not misunderstand me… Scott’s writing was not bad,  the quality of writing was quite good, what was lacking was focus.

“The Devilin Fey” is a novella comprised of 2 short stories. The first is a story of a girl who learns to channel her anger through her relationship with an Incubus, the other is the story of a Succubus who doesn’t know when to stop and is overrun with a wild jealousy.

The first story is the one I am most concerned with.  The initial relationship “set-up” between the main character and her incubus seemed somewhat disjointed… as if Scott couldn’t really make up her mind as to how she wanted her plot to begin.  It was not until half way through (when the “revenge” scenario popped up) that Scott seemed to finally hit her stride.  Lucky for her, she has a genuinely artistic way with words that almost (and I stress the almost) overshadowed the jumpiness that (at times) had me re-reading paragraphs.

The second story however was much better.  The choppiness was no longer present, the plot was was straight forward, and the details put into the characters was spot on. Scott’s writing grew and that is what’s important.

I can’t say for certain that I would fork over the $1.99 this novel is currently priced at (if for no other reason than the length alone) but if you are a hardcore paranormal romance/erotica fan the price tag should in no way be a deal breaker.  I think you will enjoy what you get for your dollars.

On a side note: I look forward to the day Scott decides to take on the world and write a full length book. While rough and somewhat abstract… her talent remains undeniable.

Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Dreams are the windows to your soul… so you might want to grab the Windex and clean those bitches.

For a complete book description click image

(3.5/5)

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Seeing Through The Tar

July 22nd, 2010

Growing up in a small town you learn a few things.

#1 Don’t lie to your mama she will always find out.

#2 If you plan on skipping school don’t forget that your principal lives across the street, and

#3 everyone has a dirty little secret they don’t want you to know.

Small towns tend to be much more complex than major metropolitan areas, they represent the stability of family life, while at the same time… turn into harbors for those looking for a fresh start, an escape, or more often than not…a hiding place.

The town of Leroy is no different.

Lauren Grant is the definition of “small town.”  As the loved owner of a downtown cafe she has what everyone wants,  home… family… and love, but what the rest of the town doesn’t know is that Lauren is trapped.  With a past that starts to become the present, and ghosts (that she thought had long since disappeared) start popping back up, she has no choice but to face her demons. What she didn’t have in mind however, was that the demons would find her first… and consequently try and destroy her happy little abode.  As her horrible past starts to come to light Lauren struggles to understand not only why these things happened to her so long ago, but how she can get past them.  The biggest problem she has however, is trying to stay alive long enough to get her answers.

This book was wonderful.  It was well written, well plotted, and sucked the reader in with numerous viewpoints.  While the main and most important story was told through Lauren’s experiences and thoughts, several chapters were glimpses from the people around her, which only added depth to the emotional connection you felt for her.  The pace of this book however is what kept me enthralled.  To say it was bumpy would be a gross understatement.  Just when the story would level off for the “expected” pages of explanation, Haddix would throw another curve ball, and knock her beloved characters right back into the mud.  The “past offense” spoken of so often in the forefront of this novel is no secret, if you have a brain you can figure it out rather quickly, what is important, is not the act itself, but more the journey Lauren takes in explaining and reliving it.

There was romance, deception, moments of psychoticness, unforgivable memories, and just enough action to squash any hidden fight fetishes you may harbor.

Overall?? I say it was a winner, but more importantly it was a great all encompassing read.

Happy reading my fellow runaways and remember: Sometimes crazy just can’t be explained.

For a complete book description click image

(5/5)

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Kindle vs. Hardcover.. And The Winner Is…

July 20th, 2010

Kindle’s Digital Sales Overtake Hardcover

The battle has been ragging for a while now, Kindle vs. Hardcover, but it was unclear until this morning who the winner would be. While Amazon boast a very vague “millions” of Kindle’s sold it was still unclear if the eBook would topple the well establish bound copies. Sure… Millions of people own a Kindle, but are they actually purchasing books or using it as a very fancy coaster? Well…the numbers are in! Since Amazon’s decision to drop the Kindle price from a whopping $259 to the more reasonable $189 they have been selling like hot cakes. What is “hot cakes” exactly? How about this…the sale of the Kindle hardware has TRIPLED! (Wowza!) In the last 3 months alone Amazon has sold 143 Kindle downloads to every 100 hardcovers, and that number does NOT include the number of FREE copies readers have been gobbling up! So…for those of you who are still on that “eBooks are just a phase” train, it’s time to grab your bags and get off at the next station. Remember: It’s still reading… it’s just reading in a brand new way!

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You Know What They Say About Red Heads

July 19th, 2010

When I was first sent “The Witch Awakening” by Karen Nilsen I groaned a little inside, (there’s no point in not being honest,) while the synopsis sounded interesting it also sounded predictable. “Here is another Paranormal Romance…oh goody” I thought without really giving it a chance. My love for paranormal novels is known fact, (one of which I speak of very publicly and with much gusto,) but the need for them to be original and otherwise outstanding is starting to burden me a little. It takes a lot for me to REALLY like them, and with so many (very well known and fantastic) samples out there for us to read I tend to be overly critical of this particular genre. (Which then spawns angry emails and pissed off authors.) So first, before I really even get down to the business of tearing the book apart, let me apologize to Ms. Nilsen for being a book grouch before even cracking my Kindle’s cover.

“The Witch Awakening” was not just a paranormal romance, it was this oddly pieced together mixture of historical fiction, romance, fantasy and action lit, which…regardless of how overwhelming all of those sound (clumped into one piece of literature) worked together like the pieces of a well oiled machine.

Safire is independent in a time that it’s expected for women to be seen and not heard. As a daughter of a falling house, her father makes arrangements to marry her off in exchange for the “wiping clean of his debts,” but Safire is less than thrilled by the idea of being sold to a man who is as dirty as his money. After being sent to court to “become a proper lady” with her prudish sister, Safire does the unthinkable…she falls in love with a Nobel man named Merius. The only problem with this match made in heaven is Merius’ evil plotting father, and his mission to hide the truth and end their love… by any means necessary. It’s not until Safire truly excepts who she is that things really start to happen, but will revealing who she is (regardless of her intentions) help her or eventually kill her?

The most interesting thing about this novel was the way in which it was told. A story like this could have very easily been told from only 1 or even 2 perspectives, but the sheer fact that Nilsen told the story through the “eyes” of the “enemy” made it even more captivating. In the first few chapters I was less than impressed with the characters as a whole, they seemed horribly rushed in some places and holey in others, but thankfully once the initial choppiness of getting the story started was out of the way, the much needed details started to pop up, and the story transformed from Swiss cheese to wonderful solid block of cheddar (don’t mock me for the food reference… I’m hungry and it worked.) Eventually all of the characters (both the heroes and the nemesis) read as if they are real…solid…people that house the same traits you could see walking down the street, which… made the read (even though flawed in a few places…mostly editing errors) enjoyable. The plot was filled with details both Renissancey (is that a word?) and Fantastical, and left just enough to the imagination that it didn’t become overbearing (even though is was well over 400 pages long.)

All in all, I was much more impressed than I originally expected, and the story (in its completeness) had way more action then I ever expected (which I LOVED… seeing as how I’m addicted to a good ‘ole exchanging of fist.) If you can force yourself to sit down and take on such a daunting sized read (keep this in mind… it took me several days and I read faster than most) then I think it’s worth the money and time. It is truly marveling meshing of several beloved genres.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Society sets standards…we are put on this earth to break them.

For a complete book description click image.

(4/5)

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100 Fan Book Give-A-Way #3

July 17th, 2010

Happy Saturday!! First… A great big congratulations to Jennifer MacRostie who is the winner of last weeks Bookapaloosa give-a-way!!! Hope you love them.

This week I decided to go with the movie-tie in theme. We all know that I am horribly OCD when it comes to movies made out of books. I CANNOT see the movie unless I read the book first, so naturally I have a ton of these lying around. Here are 2 of them.

All you have to do is leave a comment saying you want one, and (THIS IS THE IMPORTANT PART) either Retweet or Facebook-Share this post. Happy Reading and Good Luck!

(Dear Amazon Subscription Holders – Don’t forget to join in on the free book fun by either stopping by www.kindleobsessed.com or shooting me an email at misty@kindleobsessed.com)


P.S. I Love You

Click image for complete details

From Publishers Weekly

Ahern, the mediagenic 22-year-old daughter of Ireland’s prime minister, debuts with a sweet, sentimental tale of a young widow’s trials and triumphs in the year after her husband’s death. Soul mates Holly and Gerry married in their early 20s; when Gerry dies of brain cancer at 30, Holly is utterly bereft. But Gerry has a final gift: a series of letters, which Holly is to open on the first of each month from March to New Year’s, and which will guide her on her journey from grief. Gerry correctly predicts that Holly will not have gone through his belongings by June, found a new job by September or considered falling in love again by December, but with his posthumous epistolary encouragement she does all those things. She also enters a karaoke contest, takes a beach vacation and dances at a holiday ball she’d always attended with Gerry. The months pass as close friends help prop Holly up; around her, a marriage falls apart, a couple gets engaged and a friend announces her pregnancy. Within her tight-knit family, Holly’s youngest brother makes a revealing film of her birthday party, her elder brothers change places in her allegiance and her parents take in one stray grown child after another for stays short and long. Ahern’s speed (she wrote the book in three months) and her youth do show-the wisdom in evidence owes much to Nicholas Sparks and Sophie Kinsella-and her prose is pedestrian. She boasts a natural storytelling talent, however, resulting in a compelling tale sparked by an unusual premise.


The Time Traveler’s Wife

click image for complete details

From Publishers Weekly

This clever and inventive tale works on three levels: as an intriguing science fiction concept, a realistic character study and a touching love story. Henry De Tamble is a Chicago librarian with “Chrono Displacement” disorder; at random times, he suddenly disappears without warning and finds himself in the past or future, usually at a time or place of importance in his life. This leads to some wonderful paradoxes. From his point of view, he first met his wife, Clare, when he was 28 and she was 20. She ran up to him exclaiming that she’d known him all her life. He, however, had never seen her before. But when he reaches his 40s, already married to Clare, he suddenly finds himself time travelling to Clare’s childhood and meeting her as a 6-year-old. The book alternates between Henry and Clare’s points of view, and so does the narration. Reed ably expresses the longing of the one always left behind, the frustrations of their unusual lifestyle, and above all, her overriding love for Henry. Likewise, Burns evokes the fear of a man who never knows where or when he’ll turn up, and his gratitude at having Clare, whose love is his anchor. The expressive, evocative performances of both actors convey the protagonists’ intense relationship, their personal quirks and their reminiscences, making this a fascinating audio.

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