Audiobook Review: While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky

While My Sister Sleeps
Author: Barbara Delinsky
Narrator: Cassandra Campbell
Published: February 17, 2009
Genre: chick lit
Audiobook: 9 discs (approx. 11 hours)
Source: borrowed from the library

My Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis (from GoodReads): Molly and Robin Snow are sisters, and like all sisters they share a deep bond that sustains them through good times and bad. Their careers are flourishing-Molly is a horticulturist and Robin is a world-class runner-and they are in the prime of their lives. So when Molly receives the news that Robin has suffered a massive heart attack, she couldn't be more shocked. At the hospital, the Snow family receives a grim prognosis: Robin may never regain consciousness. 
As Robin's parents and siblings struggle to cope, the complex nature of their relationship is put to the ultimate test. Molly has always lived in Robin's shadow, and her feelings for her have run the gamut, from love to resentment and back. The last time they spoke, they argued. But now there is so much more at stake. Molly's parents fold under the devastating circumstances, and her brother retreats into the cool reserve that is shattering his own family. It's up to Molly to make the tough decisions, and she soon makes discoveries that destroy some of her most cherished beliefs about the sister she thought she knew.

My Thoughts: I typically enjoy Barbara Delinsky's work and find her take on an idea to be interesting. She tailors her writing to women but there are so many points in her story where it could also resonate with a man. This story is no different. A woman, Robin, a celebrated marathon runner, has a sudden heart attack. She suffers brain damage and her family is left with some difficult decisions. There are her parents, saddened at the thought of losing a child. Her brother who is coping with difficulties in his own marriage and unsure of how to approach the situation with Robin. Then there is Molly, who has always looked up to Robin and wants to do what is what Robin would want. There are lots of family secrets uncovered in this novel and Delinsky writes so that it never seems unfathomable. She finds the perfect balance in surprising you but not overwhelming you or taking you out of a situation that could happen to any of us.

One of the things that I admire most about Delinsky's books is her ability to craft real characters. Molly is so realistic that you cannot help but feel for her. She is upset by what happened to her sister yet she tries to do what her sister would want to happen. She is the only one in her family who does this, who is being selfless and trying to do what is best by Robin. Their mother, Kathrine, is also very real. I could understand her actions and did not find it hard to believe that any mother would not behave and think in this way. I also really enjoyed the narration in this book. I really enjoy Cassandra Campbell and think she's a great narrator and this book was just another example of how great she is at narrating.

Waiting on Wednesday (11-14-12)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week, you highlight an upcoming release that you are eagerly anticipating. This week, I'm looking forward to Eternity by Barbara Delinsky (release date: November 20, 2012).

Synopsis (from Goodeads): Gideon Lowe is more than some macho construction worker, and the Crosslyn Rise building contract will prove it. The last thing he needs is Christine Gillette tromping onto his work site, disturbing his equilibrium. Christine is appalled that the rough-hewn—but frankly gorgeous—Gideon holds the deciding vote on whether or not her interior designs will be used on The Rise. She's not going to let any he-man bully her around…or sweet-talk her into submission.

Father of the Bride: Cynthia Bauer dreads seeing Russ Shaw after their scandalous divorce years earlier. Yet Russ is returning to town for the first time in twenty-five years, determined to give his only daughter away at her wedding. There's no way they'll be able to avoid each other, but it soon becomes clear that staying away from one another is the last thing either of them wants.

So, what are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Audiobook Review: Famiy Tree by Barbara Delinsky

Family Tree
Author: Barbara Delinsky
Narrator:
Published: February 6, 2007
Genre: chick lit
Audiobook: 9 discs (approx. 10 hours)
Source: borrowed from the library

My Rating: 2.5 stars

Synopsis (from GoodReads): For as long as she can remember, Dana Clarke has longed for the stability of home and family. Now she has married a man she adores, whose heritage can be traced back to the Mayflower, and she is about to give birth to their first child. But what should be the happiest day of her life becomes the day her world falls apart. Her daughter is born beautiful and healthy, and in addition, unmistakably African-American in appearance. Dana’s determination to discover the truth about her baby’s heritage becomes a shocking, poignant journey. A superbly crafted novel, Family Tree asks penetrating questions about family and the choices people make in times of crisis.

My Thoughts: I have listened to a few Barbara Delinsky audiobooks now and tend to enjoy them. She writes great characters and often provides scenarios that are something that any woman might go through in her life. In this audiobook, a Caucasian man and woman have an African-American baby, which leads to many questions (obviously). Through DNA testing, they are able to discover who has African-American ancestors and all must grapple with race and how we actually deal with it. While this plot was interesting, there was a subplot that really grabbed my attention and that I felt could have been a novel all on it's own. A mother gives birth to a son who is fathered by a US senator (he denies paternity). After a terrible accident in which the boy is severely injured, the mom is swayed to take legal action by Hugh (who has the African-American baby). This story line was so interesting and I don't feel like it was given enough development, but just tossed to the side and forgotten about by the end. This whole novel actually felt that way, that it was just tossed around and not fully developed. Delinsky is a great writer, so I won't judge her just by this book, but it was a big disappointment. The narration was good and nicely paced, although it did make me a bit sleepy at times because she read so slowly (a big pet peeve of mine with audiobooks). Delinsky had a wonderful opportunity to explore race and how it affects a family, but she just tossed it away with this one.

Audiobook Review: The Secret Between Us by Barbara Delinsky

The Secret Between Us
Author: Barbara Delinsky
Narrator: Cassandra Campbell
Published: January 22, 2008
Genre: contemporary fiction
Audiobook: 9 discs
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 3.5 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): Deborah Monroe and her daughter, Grace, are driving home from a party when their car hits a man running in the dark. Grace was at the wheel, but Deborah sends her home before the police arrive, determined to shoulder the blame for the accident. Her decision then turns into a deception that takes on a life of its own and threatens the special bond between mother and daughter. The Secret Between Us is an unforgettable story about making bad choices for the right reasons and the terrible consequences of a lie gone wrong. Once again, Barbara Delinsky has delivered a riveting study of family and a superbly crafted novel, perfectly targeted to fans of provocative fiction.


My Thoughts: I was really intrigued when I read the synopsis for this book, and since I've listened to some Barbara Delinsky audiobooks before, I figured that this one was worth a shot. When a mother takes the fall for her daughter, they both are caught up in a scandal and the guilt that comes with it. While I would have liked to the plot to develop a bit more so you could feel more of the angst from Grace, I thought that this was a really good listen.


The characters in this novel are dealing with a life-changing incident, but some of them are also dealing with other life-changing matters. Dylan, Deborah's son, is dealing with eye issues, and her sister is trying to figure out how to handle their father. Deborah is also grappling with being a new single mother and how to raise her kids.


I will keep on looking for more Delinsky audiobooks in the future. They are gripping and always deal with several big issues.

Audiobook Review: Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky

Not My Daughter
Author: Barbara Delinsky
Narrator: Cassandra Campbell
Published: December 9, 2008
Genre: chick lit
Audiobook: 10 discs
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 3 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads):When Susan Tate's seventeen-year-old daughter, Lily, announces she is pregnant, Susan is stunned. A single mother, she has struggled to do everything right. She sees the pregnancy as an unimaginable tragedy for both Lily and herself. Then comes word of two more pregnancies among high school juniors who happen to be Lily's best friends-and the town turns to talk of a pact. As fingers start pointing, the most ardent criticism is directed at Susan. As principal of the high school, she has always been held up as a role model of hard work and core values. Now her detractors accuse her of being a lax mother, perhaps not worthy of the job of shepherding impressionable students. As Susan struggles with the implications of her daughter's pregnancy, her job, financial independence, and long-fought-for dreams are all at risk. The emotional ties between mothers and daughters are stretched to breaking in this emotionally wrenching story of love and forgiveness. Once again, Barbara Delinsky has given us a powerful novel, one that asks a central question: What does it take to be a good mother?


My Thoughts: The premise of this book is what originally drew me to it. A few years ago, the nation was shocked that a group of teenage girls had formed a pregnancy pact, promising one another that they would all get pregnant at the same time (a Lifetime movie followed, of course). It was such a shocking story that it didn't seem real. Barbara Delinsky drew upon that scandal for this book, focusing a trio of best friends who form a pact one summer, vowing that they will all get pregnant. But instead of focusing on the girls and their issues, Delinsky focuses instead on one of the girl's mothers, Susan, who is the high school pricipal. Her experiences with teen pregnancy and the struggles she faced in raising a daughter all by herself are what really make this story.


The characters are strong and sure of their actions, which I really liked. There was development among the main characters, but they still stayed true to themselves. If there was one thing that I had to point out as being flawed in this book, it's the intensity of the parents involved. None of the mothers of the pregnant girls ever seemed truly upset by it. They would say they were, but there wasn't any emotion behind it. I felt like if they had expressed their feelings more, it would have made the story more believable. I enjoy Delinsky's work (even though it tends to be a bit long), and look forward to reading/listening to her again in the future.

Audiobook Review: Escape by Barbara Delinsky

Escape
Author: Barbara Delinsky
Narrator: Cassandra Campbell
Published: July 12, 2011
Genre: chick lit
Audiobook: 10 CDs
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 3 stars


Synopsis (from goodreads.com): Emily Aulenbach is thirty, a lawyer married to a lawyer, working in Manhattan. An idealist, she had once dreamed of representing victims of corporate abuse, but she spends her days in a cubicle talking on the phone with vic­tims of tainted bottled water—and she is on the bottler’s side. And it isn’t only work. It’s her sister, her friends, even her husband, Tim, with whom she doesn’t connect the way she used to. She doesn’t connect to much in her life, period, with the exception of three things—her computer, her BlackBerry, and her watch. Acting on impulse, Emily leaves work early one day, goes home, packs her bag, and takes off. Groping toward the future, uncharacteristically following her gut rather than her mind, she heads north toward a New Hampshire town tucked between mountains. She knows this town. During her college years, she spent a watershed summer here. Painful as it is to return, she knows that if she is to right her life, she has to start here.


My Thoughts: The description of this book really appealed to me. I'm young, but I'm also continually amazed at how work rules peoples' lives. People sleep with their Blackberries in bed! So, this book definitely appealed to me. Barbara Delinsky explores the relationship that we have with work and our careers, the people that we are drawn to, and the people that impact us more than we ever thought possible. Emily, the main character, is so likeable. I couldn't help but immediately identify with her story. Within minutes of the book starting, I wanted Emily to leave her job. Delinsky wastes to time in pulling you into the story. Emily is struggling with so much in her life, so the only logical escape choice that she has is to run away to Bell Valley, New Hampshire, where she spent her last summer before law school with her best friend, Vicky. Emily rediscovers what she is missing in her life, what she can do without, and what she should do in terms of her career. I think it's something that a lot of people can identify with, and with so many relatable characters, it's very easy to enjoy listening to this book.


Now, after glowing about what a relevant book it is, you might be wondering why I only gave it three stars. For me, the book was too long. It just seemed to be never ending and at times, it became a bit too repetitive. Emily constantly wondered what to do about her old flame, Jude, who didn't really factor into the story. I felt like she just spent too much time thinking about everything, and it made the story drag at times.


I really enjoyed the story and the narrator told the story perfectly. For me, it was the perfect audiobook: something easy to listen to without being very heavy. I will definitely be looking for more of Delinsky's audiobooks in the future.

Waiting on Wednesday (6-8-11)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where you get to highlight an upcoming release that you are looking forward to. This week, my pick is Escape by Barbara Delinsky (expected publication date:July 5,2011).

Synopsis (from bn.com): Emily Aulenbach is thirty, a lawyer married to a lawyer, working in Manhattan. An idealist, she had once dreamed of representing victims of corporate abuse, but she spends her days in a cubicle talking on the phone with victims of tainted bottled water—and she is on the bottler’s side.

And it isn’t only work. It’s her sister, her friends, even her husband, Tim, with whom she doesn’t connect the way she used to. She doesn’t connect to much in her life, period, with the exception of three things—her computer, her BlackBerry, and her watch.

Acting on impulse, Emily leaves work early one day, goes home, packs her bag, and takes off. Groping toward the future, uncharacteristically following her gut rather than her mind, she heads north toward a New Hampshire town tucked between mountains. She knows this town. During her college years, she spent a watershed summer here. Painful as it is to return, she knows that if she is to right her life, she has to start here.

This book sounds so appealing to me right now, especially since I think about doing something like this every single day. What are you waiting on this Wednesday?