Booking Through Thursday: Recent Serious

Today's BTT question is:

What's the most serious book you've read recently?

This one is easy for me. Back in May I received an advanced copy of THE LAST BRIDGE by Teri Coyne. That is definitely the most serious book I've read in the last several months. It's a debut novel that deals with alcoholism and abuse. The writing was bold and intense and the subjeect matter was difficult, however, I still enjoyed reading it. I'm the type of reader who doesn't shy away from that sort of book. That said, I usually read something completely different afterwards. THE LAST BRIDGE was just released a few weeks ago, so it is now available to everyone. If you'd like to read my review you can find it here.

What's the most serious book you've read lately?

The Sunday Salon: A Complete Myth

It was only four or five short weeks ago that I made the statement that since my work status had changed to unemployed/disabled I was going to have all this extra time for my reading and blogging.  WELL . . . I am here today to say I had no idea what I was talking about! 

In the month I've been off work I've had more things going on and have struggled to even find time to pick up a book, let alone keep up with my blog reading.  Sure, I scan the blogs, but that just isn't the same.  There are so many great books y'all have been reading that it'll take me some time to read your reviews, but I am determined to get to them.

The only productive blogging I did this past week was psoting my review of THE LAST BRIDGE by debut author Teri Coyne.  [Review here].  What an impressive debut! I love books that grab you on the first page and that one surely did!  The release date is July 28, so be sure to look out for that one.  

I was so exicted last Sunday when I found out I'd won A MOMENT BETWEEN by Nicole Baart from Dar at Peeking Between The Pages.  I'm not usually lucky at giveaways so I was thrilled to hear the news!  Thanks again Dar!  And Congrats to Anna at Diary of An Eccentric for winning the other copy! 

Here's another tidbit that I was excited about this week - Last month I read a glowing review of THE PRUDENT MARINER on Ti's blog Book Chatter and Other Stuff.  I was really interested in this southern fiction novel by Leslie Walker Williams but was disappointed when my local library didn't have a copy.  So I used the 'Request A Purchase' feature and entered all the info, not really thinking they'd run right out and buy it.  I WAS WRONG!!  Not only did they order it, but I'm first in line to read it!  See, I'm really not that hard to please!  I get so excited over the smallest things! My non-bookish friends would sayI'm such a a geek for getting excited over that, so I'm glad I have all of you to tell! Hey! I'm a book geek and I'm proud of it!  Can I get an 'Amen'!

This week kicks off TLC's blog tour of BEACH TRIP by Cathy Holton.  I'm reading it now and getting ready for my blog stop this Thursday, the 4th of June.  Please come back to read my review.  If you miss mine though, they'll be many more stops on the tour for you to catch up.   

I'm off now to grab another cup of coffee and hit the book!  Today I'm spending the day with four entertaining women who are enjoying a reunion on a small island off the coast of North Carolina where I can almost hear the waves crashing and smell the espresso martinis! Oh, how I wish I was there with them! 

Where are your books taking you today?

The Last Bridge by Teri Coyne

By looking at the cover of Teri Coyne's novel, nothing is given away.  There is no way to know that within the pages of this debut novel is an intense, emotional story of a woman tortured by her past. Once you read this book, you can look again at the cover and even the simplicity of it is understood. 

THE LAST BRIDGE is the story of Alexandra "Cat" Rucker: abused, alcoholic, damaged.  After being gone from her Ohio family home for ten years, she is forced to return when her mother commits a carefully planned suicide hours after her father suffers a critical stroke.  For ten years Cat has been living with demons she isn't strong enough to face.  Her sad life is a mix of booze, nightmares and self disgust.   

As a child, Cat suffered at the hands of her father and swore that as soon as she made it through high school she would leave and never come back.  She hated her father and kept all of the hurt and abuse inside.  The plans she made to leave did happen, but not quite the way she thought.  Her last night with her family turned out to be something ugly and traumatic with heartbreaking and frightening consequences that she has carried around with her ever since.  Now she's back at her family home with her brother and sister, whom she's had no contact with and feeling very out of place.  She tries to deal with her mother's suicide and her father's declining health at the same time that old family secrets are being revealed. Cat also has secrets of her own and questions that were left unanswered long ago after that last night on the bridge. 

I don't want to give too much away but I will say that Cat's story is a difficult one to read.  Teri Coyne's writing is bold, intense and holds nothing back. This is not a book for the faint at heart.  From the beginning, Cat's self-destructive behavior and debilitating alcoholism is front and center.  The story is told from her perspective both in present time and in flashbacks to her teenage years in alternating chapters. 

Once I started reading THE LAST BRIDGE I found it very hard to put down.  I wanted to keep going to see what would happen next.  It is a dark and troubling story told in a precise manner.  It's not filled with a lot of description and airy details. Teri Coyne paints a realistic picture of Cat's life as a lost soul.  For some, it might be too dark, but I find myself drawn to these types of novels and appreciate the poignancy in them.  As a debut novel this one is a winner in my opinion.  At first, I didn't think I was going to like Cat.  I couldn't relate to her alcoholism and her attitude, but the more I got to know her the more I liked her. 

THE LAST BRIDGE is an easy read and with only 240 pages, many could finish it in one sitting.  It has so many facets that make it truly engrossing:  family; loss; sacrifice and even deep love.  For all of those reasons, I would recommend it for your book club as well.  Visit Teri Coyne's website to learn more about her.  To read an excerpt from the book click here.  The release date for this dramatic novel is July 28, 2009.

THE LAST BRIDGE

Author:  Teri Coyne

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Published:  July 28, 2009

Pages: 240

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Teaser Tuesday: The Last Bridge

It's Tuesday and that means it's time for a teaser!  You know the rules, right? You grab the book you're reading, let it fall open to a random page and pick out a couple teaser sentences to share.  And be sure not to include any spoilers!  

My teaser is from Teri Coyne's THE LAST BRIDGE. Technically, I finished it yesterday, but I still wanted to use it today.  Here goes . . . 

In spite of the cold, the window was open, no doubt at my father's request in one of his lucid moments.  My father needed cold like a vampire needs blood.  ~ page 190

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted weekly by MizB at Should Be Reading. Stop by to check out more teasers!

The Sunday Salon

Hello fellow Saloners! I'm running a bit behind today with my post, but I have a good reason - I went to church this morning and then out to lunch with my parents. So far the day has been just lovely. It's a bit warm, but the breeze is blowing so its not too bad. 

I got up early this morning and read the first 80 pages of THE LAST BRIDGE by Teri Coyne, a book I received through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.  It's a debut novel with intense writing. It's a quick read and I'm sure a lot of you could read in one sitting if not interrupted.  I'm finding it hard to put down.  

I finished TRUE COLORS by Kristin Hannah a few days ago and will post my review this week.  That was my first KH book and I can say I'm now a fan!  Now I want to go back and read some of her older books. I hear FIREFLY LANE is pretty good. 

A book that has caught my eye this week is by another new-to-me author, Elizabeth Berg.  Her new book HOME SAFE  just came out last week from Random House and is beginning to show up on a few blogs.  I actually got familiar with Ms. Berg from reading Karen Harrington's blog.  She really likes her writing style and has mentioned her several times, which made me curious.  I'm looking forward to trying out this author's work. 

As for today, I'm planning to get comfy and curl up with THE LAST BRIDGE and hopefully get as close as I can to finishing it.   What book has your attention today?