[TSS] You: A Novel by Caroline Kepnes (Unabridged Audio Version)

Finally I'm back after having surgery to remove a ruptured disc in my neck and I couldn't be happier to be getting back into my old routine. I have several reviews to post to get caught up and I thought I'd start off with a bang!

YOU by Caroline Kepnas was quite a listen! I was looking for something fresh and different and I found it with this audio. The story is about Joe Goldberg, an intelligent guy who runs a book shop in NYC. The aging owner of the shop is more than happy to let Joe handle the day-to-day so Joe has the run of the place.

When Beck, an aspiring writer and college student, comes into the shop Joe is quickly smitten. Beck is sexy and she flirts with Joe and by the time she leaves, Joe is convinced that Beck wants him as much as he wants her.  And when Joe wants something, he gets it. No matter what. At first glance he comes across as a nice, kind of good looking guy with enough intellect to carry on interesting conversations but there is a side of Joe that can be quite scary. He gains access to Beck's phone, email and social media accounts and begins assimilating himself into her life and manipulating her friends without them even knowing it.  When he realizes she is involved with another guy Joe doesn't like that at all. As weeks go on, Joe is able to maneuver in and around Beck's life even more and the lines between reality and fantasy become blurred.  He obsesses over her 24/7 and all he thinks about is having her. Though Beck flirts with him and leads him on, she continues to hold him at arms length which just makes him more determined.

Joe's obsession with Beck quickly turns dangerous for the people in her life who get in the way of his plan to have her all to himself, which is what he thinks she wants too. Beck has no idea what a dangerous game she is playing.

My Thoughts on the Story:

I was looking for something new and different to listen to while I recuperated and this certainly fit the bill! The story takes off immediately with Joe meeting Beck and the outrageous thoughts he has and the bluntness of his desire for her was a startling beginning and it never let up.  Joe is the only one telling this story and he is talking directly to Beck, as if she can hear every word. It makes for a very intense read. To find that kind of creative and unusual writing style in a debut novel surprising and wonderful. Caroline Kepnes made a bold move with this book and I think it paid off in a huge way. YOU is as much a fast paced thriller as I've ever read and I didn't want to stop.  To put it bluntly, I was all in.

OK, all that being said, I have to make you aware that this is a very sexually explicit book. If sexual situations and dialogue don't bother you, you will be fine. I am by no means a prude but I even found myself blushing a time or two. I just had to throw that out there so you would be prepared if you take my advice and read this book, which, by the way was an Amazon Best Book of the Month last September when it came out. Another thing about this book is how current and relevant this story is in this age of technology and social media. Joe was able to hack her devices and Beck had no idea. That is scary in and of itself.

My Thoughts on the Audio Performance:

There is no other word for Santino Fontana than BRILLIANT!  His portrayal of Joe was nothing short of amazing.  I'm quite sure that hearing him narrate this book is why I enjoyed it so much. It's odd - it's a twisted story about a scary guy but I couldn't help feeling drawn to him.  Even though Joe was scary, there was something magnetic in Santino Fontana's voice that kept me riveted. I believe this is my favorite audiobook so far this year.

The bottom line is this is a great debut novel that I would recommend highly. I would also recommend the audio version. (You'll thank me later) I'm very anxious to see what Caroline Kepnes has up her literary sleeve next. Her new book, HIDDEN BODIES, hits shelves in February.

YOU (Unabridged Audio Version)
Author: Caroline Kepnes
Narrator: Santino Fontana
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Published: September 30, 2014
Length: 11 Hrs 6 Mins
Printed Length: 432 pages
Source: Purchased thru Audible

Audio Review: The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny (Chief Inspector Gamache #3)

As this series continues, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surete is once again called to Three Pines to investigate another death. Gamache has become very fond of this quaint little village that lies south of Montreal, and many of its inhabitants, so its a double-edged sword to return there for this purpose.

It is now Spring and with the arrival of a visiting phychic to their community, the villagers plan a seance, though not everyone thinks its a good idea to do this at Easter time. Nonetheless, they hold a first seance in Olivier's Bistro with lackluster results, so they hold second seance at The Old Hadley House, well known to everyone for having evil spirits. It is during that second gathering that the unthinkable happens and one of their own dies in the process. Gamache arrives and confirms that the death was a murder and sets out to find the killer. Again, he relies on the residents of Three Pines to help put the pieces together and find out who had the means and the motive to commit murder right under their noses.

While Gamache is busy with his list of suspects, someone within the Surete is stepping up their plot to bring down Gamache and ultimately humiliate him into resigning. But this time, they are also going after his family, whom Gamache will do anything to protect.

My Thoughts on the Book:

Louise Penny is one of those mystery writers who does not rush anything in her stories. As with her previous installments of this series, this is a slow-paced thought-provoking journey into the minds of both the killer and the Chief Inspector. If you're looking for edge-of-your-seat thrills, you won't necessarily find them here, but you will find smart, provocative characters, with interesting backgrounds and insights weaved together with believable murder plots. Penny's who-dun-its unfold methodically, slowly showing that anyone could be the murderer. That's what I love about her books.

In this third book, I had a real feel for the Surete officers on Gamache's investigative team and I knew for the most part who to trust and who not to trust, but that is not to say there weren't some surprises in that regard.

I love the character of Gamache and I instantly dislike anyone who goes against him. His second in command, Jean Guy, is also a favorite, though he can be brash, but his loyalty to Armand Gamache is unshakable. I also enjoy the familiarity of the core group of villagers of Three Pines. They can be strange, loving, funny and even down-right odd but they are good people. They each have their own quirks about them but that is what makes them interesting. Now that I am well into the series, I get the little inside jokes and jabs the villagers have with each other, not to mention the name-calling that would seem mean or harsh to an outsider but comes across lovingly if you know the source. One of my favorite things about this installment is the lovely, metaphorical way in which Penny allowed us to learn more about Ruth Zardo, one of the core group who always has come across as the mean and nasty poet who doesn't think twice about telling you exactly what she thinks of you. The realization of who Ruth really is underneath all that gruff was beautifully done using two baby ducklings to do it. It was fantastic and makes me appreciate Penny's writing even more.

In these last three books, along with the main plot of the murder, there has been an underlying ongoing plot of who is trying to bring down Gamache. I'm anxious to see where that story leads us in the fourth book, as much of that story has now been brought to light. In my opinion, this series is more for the mature reader who enjoys uncovering and learning the physic of its characters. Not to stereotype, but some younger readers may find it a bit slow and lack the excitement they are looking for, though, if given a fair chance, I believe they would appreciate the provocative storytelling these books offer.      

Audio Review:

This is the first time I've chosen the audio version for this series and though at first, I didn't feel like I was going to enjoy the narration by Ralph Cosham, I did end up changing my opinion. At first I thought he was a bit drab, but soon I realized his voice was very suitable, especially for the voice of Chief Inspector Gamache. I'm relieved that I ended up favoring his performance because I very well may choose to listen to more based on that decision.

THE CRUELEST MONTH (Unabridged Audio Version)
Author: Louise Penny
Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Published: March 2008
Length:  11 hrs 46 mins

Audio Review: The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers

THE COMFORT OF LIES is the story of three very different women who most likely would never have met had it not been for one man.  Five years ago Juliette's professor husband, Nathan, had a year long affair with Tia, one of his students. The affair ended abruptly when Tia announced she was pregnant. Tia, young and naive, did not expect Nathan's response of simply walking away from the relationship and never looking back. Caroline and her husband, Peter, adopted their daughter, Savannah, loved her as their own, yet they each had different ideas about family and the roles each should play in raising their daughter.

Five years after giving her baby up for adoption, Tia decided that Nathan should know he has a daughter, so she sent a picture that the adopted mother had sent to her along with a letter. But Nathan's wife intercepted the envelope and was shocked to learn the news of a child from his affair. The actions that Juliet takes after learning this information changes all of their lives forever. Even young Savannah has to learn some hard truths about her parentage.  

My Thoughts:

Having read and loved Meyers' first novel, THE MURDERER'S DAUGHTERS, I was very excited to read this second book. There are so many jagged edges in the storyline that kept my emotions tense. I kept putting myself into the shoes of each of these women and would try to imagine how I would feel if it were happening to me. It would be terrible to discover that your husband had a year long affair, but then to find out five years later that the affair resulted in a child would be devastating, to say the least. If I had an adopted child, I would be terrified if I thought the biological parents wanted her back. And for Tia, the pain of having to give up a baby that you conceived out of love, would be absolutely heartbreaking.

I felt connected to each of the characters, however, Caroline was my most difficult. Though she agreed to adopt a child with her husband, she would often put her job first, which, even as a non-parent, I couldn't possibly relate to. There would be no job that would rival my daughter, adopted or not. But I suppose that's part of what made this story so believable. The characters and their flaws were realistic. Another interesting thing about these complex characters is that each represents a different class of society.

Though I can't say I loved this book as much as I loved THE MURDERER'S DAUGHTERS, I still enjoyed it very much. I think it would be a terrific book club selection giving all of the different points of view the story offers. I'm sure it would prompt a lively discussion.

I chose to listen to this book on audio and I'm happy with that choice. I enjoyed Amy McFadden's performance and felt she did a great job distinguishing between the varying  characters. If you're looking for a engaging audio for your commute, you won't be disappointed with THE COMFORT OF LIES.

THE COMFORT OF LIES (Unabridged Audio Version)
Author: Randy Susan Meyer
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Published: February 2013
Length: 10 hrs 47 mins
Reccomend? Yes

Audio Review: Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain

Set in rural North Carolina some fifty years ago, NECESSARY LIES re-opened my eyes to injustices that were being carried out against lower class citizens under the guise of 'the law' during that time. The Eugenics Program, which was in affect from 1929 to 1975, was seldom talked about but frequently utilized in order to control the population in areas where living in poverty was common. Here's more about the book, taken from Amazon's website:

After losing her parents, fifteen-year-old Ivy Hart is left to care for her grandmother, older sister and nephew as tenants on a small tobacco farm.  As she struggles with her grandmother’s aging, her sister’s mental illness and her own epilepsy, she realizes they might need more than she can give.

When Jane Forrester takes a position as Grace County’s newest social worker, she doesn’t realize just how much her help is needed.  She quickly becomes emotionally invested in her clients' lives, causing tension with her boss and her new husband.  But as Jane is drawn in by the Hart women, she begins to discover the secrets of the small farm—secrets much darker than she would have guessed.  Soon, she must decide whether to take drastic action to help them, or risk losing the battle against everything she believes is wrong.

Set in rural Grace County, North Carolina in a time of state-mandated sterilizations and racial tension, Necessary Lies tells the story of these two young women, seemingly worlds apart, but both haunted by tragedy.  Jane and Ivy are thrown together and must ask themselves: how can you know what you believe is right, when everyone is telling you it’s wrong?

My Thoughts:

Like most people, I'm sure, I hadn't heard the word 'Eugenics' since i was in high school and even then, I probably didn't fully understand what it really meant. Well, this book brought all of its ugliness to the forefront in a way that I will never forget. 

Jane Forrester is an unlikely person to tell this story because her life is so drastically different from the people the Eugenics program affected.  She could have very easily turned her back on the people she was assigned to assist while working for the county and just went along with it, but she simply couldn't do it. Even as her brand new picture perfect marriage to a doctor was being threatened, Jane simply could not let it go. For Jane, the secrecy and lies that were told to the victims in order to get them to comply proved to be more than Jane could bear. This story was told in such a vivid, authentic fashion that made it hard to imagine. Not only was the story authentically told, the characters were so genuine, it was like they were plucked right out of a time machine.  Chamberlain focused mainly on two families, which made it easier to form a connection with those characters and get to know them and ultimately the secrets each family harbored.  

I got so wrapped up in Jane and Ivy's story, that I'd forgotten the book began as a flashback.  I've read many books lately that went back and forth from past to present and, quite frankly, I'd grown tired of that format, but in this instance, it didn't bother me at all because most of the story was told as if it was happening at that moment. I had been totally transported back in time and was completely absorbed until at the end of the book, I was once again back with Jane's grown daughter many years later. 

Though the subject matter was a bit difficult, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I think its important to remember even the most unpleasant parts of our country's past in order to remind us how far we've come. Because of a time issue, I chose to listen to the audio version of this book and I was completely satisfied with that decision. Alison Elliot did an incredible job with the narration. The southern vernacular was spot on and the individual characters were unmistakably unique and pitch perfect. Definitely a five star performance. 

NECESSARY LIES would be a terrific selection for a book club with the wide range of topics to discuss. I'm sure it would be a very lively conversation. I would highly recommend this book, especially to readers who have an interest in Southern culture. 

NECESSARY LIES (Unabridged Audio Version)

Author: Diane Chamberlain (@D_Chamberlain)

Website: www.dianechamberlain.com

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Published: September 2013

Length: 10 hrs 51 mins

JICYMI: October

Hello November! Today I'm trying something new here on Southern Girl Reads blog. I had such a fantastic book month in October and I just want to do a quick rundown of the books and audios that I spent time with Just In Case You Missed It. 

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I started off the month with a new-to-me series from Louise Penny. Its the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache Series, or you may know it as the Three Pines Series. I read the first two books in this Agatha Christie-esque series this month and got hooked immediately. I love the characters in these books and the Canadian setting only adds to its allure. There is no doubt I will be reading all of the books in the near future. Louise Penny is a terrific mystery writer and I'm just glad I discovered her when I did. JICYMI, here are links for my reviews of the first two books:

• STILL LIFE (Book 1)
• A FATAL GRACE (Book 2)

This next review was by far the most visited post for the month. It was the October Book Club pick for She Reads Book Club. THE GIRL YOU LEFT BEHIND by Jojo Moyes. I got close to 400 views on this post, which, for my lil' ole blog was fantastic! This was my first Moyes book and I LOVED it!! JICYMI, here is the link for that post:

• THE GIRL YOU LEFT BEHIND by Jojo Moyes

I also listened to a couple fantastic audio books this month. I've really come to enjoy my audios and both of the narrators in these books were simply AMAZING! I highly recommend them both. 

• THE LAST ORIGINAL WIFE by Dorothea Benton Frank
• THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak

I participated in one of Beth Fish's Weekend Cooking posts and I was completely overwhelmed by the number of visitors I received and the lovely comments, especially since I'm not a regular poster for that weekly event. I posted a simple recipe for a apple/cranberry topping for oatmeal and apparently it was  a big hit! JICYMI, you can find that recipe here:

• WEEKEND COOKING: Don't Settle for Boring Oatmeal

I finished up the month with a review of a book that one of our fellow blogger friends wrote. SURE SIGNS OF CRAZY is Karen Harrington's follow-up to her first book, JANEOLOGY. I was so happy to receive an advance copy from Karen and I am thrilled to say this book was terrific! I love books told from a child's perspective and Karen hit it out of the park with this one! JICYMI, please check out my review here:

• SURE SIGNS OF CRAZY by Karen Harrington

Well, that was my month and I couldn't be happier with the response and comments I received. November is shaping up to be just as good so I'm excited about whats to come. There are so many books that I can't wait to get my hands on and to share them here on SGR. I'd love to know what you think of my JICYMI idea. 

Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Reading!!