Reading / I have been inside reading quite a bit and finished several books, all of which I enjoyed. No DNF books so far 😀.
Once home to Vanessa: A famous artist whose notoriously unfaithful husband disappeared twenty years ago.
Now home to Grace: A solitary creature of the tides, content in her own isolation.
But when a shocking discovery is made in an art gallery far away in London, a visitor comes calling.
So Eris Island is not a true island but it is very isolated. With a dangerously thin road connecting Eris to the mainland only a mile in length. It's possible to go walk or drive from the small village during a six hour window. Once the tide comes in you are stuck.
The story weaves back-and-forth between present day and the past. There are three main points of view involving current day perspectives and flashbacks to events in the past.
Vanessa Chapman was a brillant artist who died of cancer, leaving her entire collection of art to The Fairburn Foundation. This was a surprise as she'd had a huge falling out with Douglas Fairburn, pulling her show out at the last minute and thus, starting a lengthy legal battle. Besides being famous for her artwork she is also associated with the mysterious disappearance of her ex husband Julian Chapman. He visited her island one day and afterwards, vanished without a trace.
Grace is a pivital character in the novel. Grace is a doctor and met Vanessa when she struggled into the practice with a broken wrist. You could say they became friends or you could also see Grace positioning herself into Vanessa's life as friend/caretaker/medical professional.
As more of the character development is revealed you will come to realize Grace had a very lonely life. In one flashback to her college life I felt very sorry for her when she was put in the hospital and no one came to visit. Her roommates disappeared. Abandonment. But there is more to Grace than meets the eye.
Becker is the third narrator. He is a curator for the Fairburn Foundation and obessesed with Vanessa's work. He is in an awkward position at the foundation, a down to earth type who wants to do the right thing. Then he discovers some sordid secrets.
Without spoilers I will say this is a slow burn and the revelations sometimes contradict each other, depending on perspective of the character narrating. Toward the end you see all the pieces fit together. I was never tempted to bail but I didn't like how it ended. 3.5 stars
Watching / A series new to us is Madam Secretary and we are enjoying it. Just finished season four and looking forward to the last two seasons. Please don't give me spoilers! We tend to lose interest in series after a while but this one has kept our attention.
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Deb at Readerbuzz for Sunday Salon
I haven't read those books or watched that show. I hope you have a great Sunday and week!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Vicki. I hope your week is a good one and you are staying warm.
DeleteI've had the Blue Hour on my list for while. Hopefully, I'll get to it before January is over. Glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteHarvee, it was good and I did like Girl on the Train by Hawkins. Couldn't get into Into the Water though. Some authors are hit or miss but I did like this one and the twists.
DeleteThe Blue Hour sounds intriguing -- especially with that setting. I only got a couple of episodes into Madame Secretary. Maybe I should try again.
ReplyDeleteJoy, we watched the first season of Madam Secretary and then moved on to something else, not sure why. But we decided to try it again and honestly, the second and third seasons were better....had us moving through the following seasons.
DeleteI've just finished watching Season Two of Bad Sisters and am ready for a new show, so I'll get back to Madam Secretary. I watched the first episode last year, but something else caught my eye. We're watching the second season of The Diplomat right now and LOVING it! Did you see that Jinjer posted today?
ReplyDeleteLes, I don't know about Bad Sisters...off to investigate that one now. Have not tried Diplomat but will see if the library has it! Oh, I was telling Joy that we finished season one of Madam Secretary but got distracted by something else. Decided to try it again and seasons 2 and 3 are better. Has us hooked. We will finish that one out. Plus it doesn't hurt me to see Tim Daly :-)
DeleteI did see Jinjer posted, I was worried for her!
I've been worried about our book friends out in California. I hope people are soon able to get the fire out and begin the process of putting everything back together again.
ReplyDeleteI've heard so many good things about the Ina Garten memoir. It's wonderful that you have started the year with so many good books, Tina.
Deb, it is a horrific situation out there in California. It's so sad.
DeleteThe Garten memoir was good and it didn't drag.
I've been worried about Jinjer as well! Also Laurel-Rain, if you have seen her blog. The Blue Hour sounds good!
ReplyDeleteHi Erin, I think you'd like The Blue Hour, but I didn't like the ending. Still a good story. I did not know Laurel Raun was in Ca!
DeleteI should probably join the nonfiction challenge. I want to read a lot more nonfiction this year. I hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteAJ, I am enjoying the nonfiction this year and have so many books I'd like to get to. We'll see!
DeleteGlad your reading year is off to such a good start! I loved Ina's memoir and The Blue Hour sounds good, too. The news from California is just devastating... so glad to see that Jinjer posted yesterday. I hope things improve this week.
ReplyDeleteJoAnn, the news from California makes me sad. So devastating. My reading year is indeed off to a good start as I have been inside a bit. That means more reading time!
DeleteHi! It's me! I'm safe! The firefighters did a great job keeping that Palisades fire from hopping the 405.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Ina book. I love Ina!
Jinjer!!!! I was so worried for you and Marilyn! Glad things are under control. Ina's book was pretty good and it makes me want to try a few of her recipes. It's been a while.
DeleteYay for no DNF books so far! It sounds like your year in reading is off to a good start. I am planning to join the nonfiction challenge too and need to do that officially soon. The Blue Hour sounds interesting. I have only read one of her the author's books, which I liked, but I haven't gotten to anything else by her yet. I've been thinking about starting Madam Secretary. I haven't watched it before. I hope you have a great week, Tina!
ReplyDeleteWendy, it's always a plus when I don't have a DNF ! If something doesn't grab me these days I either put it aside in case it wasn't the right time/mood for the book or get rid of it if I can't get interested at all. Too many books for me to read to waste time.
DeleteWe liked the first season of Madam Secertary and then moved on. Tried it again and the next seasons are better. Binging that one now.
Our local theater company is doing The Girl on the Train and I'm really hoping we get to go as it looks like it'll be fun. I've been wondering about her latest. It sounds really good. I watched a little bit of Madam Secretary when it was first out but I tend to burn out with shows that have long running plots. I'm more of a dead body at the beginning/arrest at the end show fan. We are watching Death in Paradise right now and that's pretty much my speed! Isn't the Ina Garten story wild. Someone needed more PR training!
ReplyDeleteKatherine, that would be a fun thng to see the local theater act the book out. My sister was part of a local theater group and loved it. Not stage shy as I would be.
DeleteDeath in Paradise is on my list so glad to hear you are enjoying it.
Yeah, the Ina Garten thing was disappointing to hear about but it wasn't mentioned in the memoir at all.
It is heartbreaking hearing the news from LA!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week.
Marg, it is and I can't imagine what they are going through. We have had a few scary times with hurricanes but fire scares hell out me.
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