Saturday, October 8, 2022

(2) Brief Book Reviews - Fellowship Point; Alice Elliott Dark and The Night She Disappeared; Lisa Jewell

 

Fellowship Point; Alice Elliott Dark
Scribner/Marysue Rucci Books / Simon & Schuster Audio - 2022


Fellowship Point is an expansive story (nearly 500 pages) about a lifelong friendship of two Quaker women who are now in the eighties.  The women are Agnes Lee, a writer of children's series books entitled ...WHEN NAN.......... which was first published in 1965.  She has also written another six adult novels under a pen name about individuals in her Philadelphia social circle. Agnes has never married and now in her twilight years has found out she has cancer. She is also being pressured by Maud Silver a publicist to write a memoir.

Polly Wister is a loyal wife and mother, her husband and adult son on the other hand are men who are best described as "difficult and self-centered." Agnes and Polly could not be more different but, their shared pasts and the fact that they have vacationed for years on Fellowship Point, a remote, coastal island in Maine.  Now after all these years there is a fear that once the two women are gone their interest in keeping the island and cottages the way it has been dating back to the 19th century, may die with them.  A developer has interest in purchasing the properties to develop a posh resort in place of the cottages and surrounding wildlife sanctuary.  The land was purchased by Agnes' grandfather a wealthy merchant.

Although the first half of this novel moved somewhat slow for me, I loved the writing and depth as well as the build up for what what followed . I loved the way I felt swept away by the trials and tribulations of these women as I read and listened to this well-written novel. The audiobook was narrated by Cassandra Campbell who did an excellent job.

I received an audio download as well as a hardcover copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review.

RATING - 4.5/5 stars


Atria - 2021

The story begins in 2017 with Tallulah, a young mother who also attends college and her boyfriend Zach needing a night out. Tallulah's mother Kim agrees to babysits.  In the morning when Kim realizes Tallulah has not come home, she begins making phone calls and the police become involved but, eventually the case is unsolved.  The only lead they have is that the couple was never seen after a night of partying at a remote country estate where Scarlett, a wealthy college friend lives.  Fast forward to 2019, a young mystery writer new to the town who lives on the edge of the woods notices a sign while out walking in the secluded area. The sign says "DIG HERE."  Is this significant in regards to the missing couple?

This is one of those stories that kept me quickly turning pages and trying to find out what happened,  I thought the dual time periods worked well and the story was well paced as well. 

I received an audio download as well as an advanced reader print copy of this book  from the publisher last year in exchange for my unbiased review.

RATING - 4/5 stars

25 comments:

  1. I almost dnf'ed Fellowship Point because the beginning chapters of were so slow. I'm glad I stuck with it because I ended up enjoying it and was sad to turn the last page! I love Cassandra Campbell as a narrator. Maybe I'll read it again on audio. :D

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    1. Yes, the beginning is slow but, the writing was so good that it kept me going. I do love stories with older characters these days.

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  2. Two goodies, that author is on a roll.

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  3. I have "Fellowship Point" in my TBR file. After reading your review, I might move it up a notch or two.

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    1. The story is unique and the writing very good - perhaps a bit too long.

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  4. Both of those appeal for different reasons. Fellowship Point because I like that kind of friendship novel and the other because once in a while I like these pacy crime novels by people like Lisa Jewel and Sharon Bolton.

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    1. I love a friendship novel as well and the jewell thriller was so different from F.P. that it was a nice change to switch off with.

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  5. Nice to have read two good books this week! Have a great weekend

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    1. F.P. took me a while to read as it was nearly 500 pages but, both were good stories.

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  6. I thought Fellowship Point was a beautifully written book, but I thought it was much too long and the pacing was too slow. But that's probably just me.

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  7. Both of these are books I will definitely read. Fellowship Point sounds like a good one that might be an emotional read as well. I like those ones!

    Thanks for stopping by Diane, I hope you will have a wonderful week ahead!

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  8. I like the sound of The Night She Disappeared! :D

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    1. Lisa Jewell writes a good thriller. I've enjoyed her previous books (although I haven't read them all.)

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  9. I really enjoyed The Night She Disappeared! Definitely a page turner and made me remember just how much I enjoy her books. Now I need to read Fellowship Point. That looks like a good read!

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    1. Fellowship Point is a very good story of lifelong frienship...well written.

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  10. That's nice you enjoyed Fellowship Point. I heard it was long but glad it was worth it.

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  11. Yes, both good stories - very different from each other.

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  12. I've that book by Lisa Jewell so I'm looking forward to reading it. Fellowship Point sounds like an interesting read.

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  13. I think you will like the Jewell book and, F.P is well written but a bit too long IO.

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  14. I've been looking forward to reading Fellowship Point and may go the read/listen combo since it sounds like it's too long. Glad it's worthwhile, though!

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  15. This first 150 pages was slow for me but then the story got a lot more interesting

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