Up Island Review

I finally had a little space to finish Up Island and write my review. Here's a sneak peak:

If you have ever imagined a trip to Martha’s Vineyard in your mind, Anne Rivers Siddons book Up Island captures that shining landscape in minute detail. Up Island is the story of Molly Redwine, a charming Southern woman, wife of a successful businessman and mother to two children. The story begins with a seemingly innocent rash on her posterior that serves as the first sign she’s in for trouble. While on business trips, Molly’s husband has been having an affair with a coworker. When he finally confesses to Molly, she is lost and doesn’t know where to turn. When she tries to find comfort with her less than sympathetic mother, Molly is shocked with her mother’s death.


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Description: Essential or Overdone?

I've been shying away from books recently that include lots of descriptive passages. Why? I guess I have been spoiling myself with books that have a little more action. I'm still in the middle of Up Island, and when I picked it up last night I delved right into six or more pages of pure description -- nothing else. I'm telling you, those were some of the hardest pages to get through. It would have been better had the description served a huge purpose, but really, it didn't and I don't think it will have a large impact on the next chapter in the book.

A little progress

While I was on a short hiatus from work last week, I finally picked up a book again! I'm still in the middle of Anne River Siddons' Up Island. So far, it's a pretty good book, but a lot different than Outer Banks. Instead of a love story/suspense with great flashbacks, Up Island has been more focused on internal reflection. It is still a good book. There are many beautiful descriptions of Martha's Vineyard. I have never been there, but I feel like I have after reading many portions of this book. What I am tired of is the internal conflict that almost seems whiny. I can understand how a divorce could be traumatizing, but sometimes the "why me?" goes a little overboard.

I'll give a full review after I finish the book.

started another one

The three titles I'm in the middle of right now (Boom!, Norton Anthology of Modern and Contemporary Poetry: Book 1, and the Selected Writings of Gertrude Stein) are still at my old apartment for a few more days. Since I finally found time to read again, I had to choose a new book for the moment. I chose Up Island by Anne Rivers Siddons. I am only about six pages into the story so far, but I already have a comment: does Siddons always talk about sororities? I'm not complaining or against the mention of that type of institution, although the idea of paying for friends is not something I participated in during my college years. I know that some writers like to include one or two things that are dear to their hearts or that they have first-hand knowledge of. For instance, most of my characters either know how to write or appreciate classic movies, TV, and music.

The reason for the question is because I read Outer Banks a few years ago, and the sorority was a huge part of the plot. I kind of want to be prepared if that's the norm in her books since Low Country is include with Up Island.

Now I will keep my mouth shut until I finish the book so that I can give it a fair assessment. Every author deserves that kind of respect when anyone reviews their work.