Up Island audiobook

Beware of preconceived notions. When I pulled the battered copy of Up Island from a box of discarded books a friend had asked me to disperse, I saw the author’s name. Anne Rivers Siddons? Isn’t she a romance writer? Or does she do quick-read shallow best sellers? But reading the jacket flap, I saw the novel was set in Atlanta (I love anything set in the South) and in Martha’s Vineyard (a place that is as exotic to me as Afghanistan.) So I pulled the book and placed it on my “to-read” shelf. Someday I would get to it and have a quick sojourn to places both familiar and unknown.But oh, was I wrong. My preconceived notions were banished as much as protagonist Molly Redwine’s are in the story. Siddons writes literarily, with much grace. Her vocabulary is rich (there are words I used in Scrabble play that I know how to spell, but thanks to Siddons, now know how to use.) Her characters are colorful and wounded. And all that makes for a read that is satisfying and entertaining.Molly Redwine, an Atlanta well-to-do society wife of a Coca Cola executive, has the perfect life: a daughter who has given Molly a grandchild, a son on the cusp of high school graduation and looking forward to university, a father who adores her, and a husband who is hard-working and supports her—he, the only love she has ever known. For Molly, she has the notion that she has a wonderful family and family is everything. But her life begins to unravel when her husband unceremoniously dumps her for a younger, shrew of a woman. Molly is devastated and in denial. But when she follows a friend—for respite from all this—to the friend’s summer home on Martha’s Vineyard, Molly sees a place to hide. She decides to stay the winter, and she soon encounters an aging, sick Portuguese woman; the woman’s bed-ridden, child-like cousin; and the woman’s one-legged, cantankerous son. Add to the mix Molly’s father, who comes to stay a while, and a pair of overindulged, willful swans. Molly’s post-husband life becomes full and almost unmanageable, but it forces her to confront her notion of what family really is.Siddons is a superb storyteller, crafting a coming of age story for the middle aged set. I read a lot of young adult novels, which quite often tell of a teen’s ripening into adulthood. But here Siddons confronts Molly Redwine’s stunted growth at middle age, and through her machinations, brings the character, finally, into adulthood. It is masterful. And it makes me want to seek out more of Siddons’s books.

Molly Bell Redwine has had the mantra 'family means everything' instilled in her from early childhood by her charismatic, demanding mother. But in what seems like a single instant, Molly's world is tilted on its axis and she is shaken to her very core by the aftermath. When her husband of more than twenty years leaves her for a much younger woman, Molly's world crumbles around her. She is devastated to learn that the "Other Woman" has stepped in to Molly's life and essentially replaced her - moving into Molly's house, taking over her social position and earning the affection of Molly's son.With the death of her domineering mother, Molly is truly set adrift in the world. Seeking refuge with a friend in Martha's Vineyard, Molly begins to search for her own identity. When her friend departs, she decides to stay in Martha's Vineyard by herself. Molly rents a small cottage, assuming the duties of caretaker for two cantankerous elderly women who share a haunting secret, the gravely ill and estranged son of one of those women, and a pair of territorial swans.As Molly's stay on Martha's Vineyard widens the distance between her and her old life in Atlanta, she learns to let go of her outdated notions of family and becomes part of a different - but still very real - new family. As winter closes in on Martha's Vineyard, Molly struggles to nurture them and looks forward to a more hopeful future.I really enjoyed reading Up Island. In my opinion, Anne Rivers Siddons is a truly great author - she really draws the reader into the story, and they are captured by a desire to know what happens next. I vaguely remember reading this book before several years ago, but I couldn't really remember most of the plot, so it was like reading an entirely new book for me. I give Up Island by Anne Rivers Siddons an A+! and will place it on my keeper shelf to read again.

This book does indeed stay with you. At first, it seems like a standard tale of a woman’s failed marriage and her quest for meaning… but then it quickly moves deeper, following that quest, but proving how each and every character is hiding something from themselves, for various reasons.Depression, pain and love are all major themes covered in depth, and it has made me think about all three, a fact which alone makes it more than worth reading. The beautiful Southern style of realism versus romance makes the journey that much more palatable – even when you despise some of the characters, you are still trying to figure out how this unusual story will continue, as with the main character’s life itself.

Siddons' descriptions are exquisite.

Llegué a este libro por casualidad gracias a su localización en la pintoresca Martha's Vineyard.Es una novela que habla de muchísimas cosas: la familoa, el matrimonio, la maternidad-paternidad, el fracaso matrimonial, la soledad, la depresión, el duelo, la enfermedad, la vejez, la amistad, los procesos de recuperación, la añoranza, el empezar de cero... ¿sigo?Ha sido uan lectura muy agradable y también dura y conmovedora en ocasiones. Quizá se podría haber contado la misma historia con 50 páginas menos pero en cualquier caso, la he leído muy a gusto y creo que la autora tiene un estilo cuidado y a la vez cercano.

I always thought I wouldn't like Siddons' novels, but I decided to try this one. I really liked her writing and wonderful character development. I will miss Molly's "families" especially her Up Island one. I was sad when I finished the book.I was concerned that the story's ending would be depressing with all the drama each character brought, but it wasn't. Sure, there was sadness, but the ending left the reader with hope.The pair of surly swans were part of the charm of the book.

Starts out as the typical blue-print for a contemporary novel; Suburban wife is left by husband, runs off to vineyard to lick her wounds and find inner healing. I was pleasantly surprised by the uniqueness and depth of this book, despite the cliches. At first, I was slightly disappointed by the initial shallowness of the plot and characters...but the more the story developed, the more human it became. Although this is marketed as a beach read, and follows many of those tropes, it tackles a lot of darker subjects. Especially grief and death. I really appreciated the diversity in the characters and their intimate struggles, It was refreshing.It also helps that Mrs Siddons is a very good writer, Its very easy but eloquent reading. She's very good at taking you somewhere else with world building and atmosphere.If you want a good beach read with some actual heart, I'd definitely recommend this.

I discovered Anne Rivers Siddons when I read a book I'd purchased at a library's used book sale. I enjoyed the book and wanted to read more of her titles, so I searched our local library for more. Up Island is just what I'd hoped it would be. I have never visited or lived anywhere on the east coast of the U.S., except Florida. I enjoy reading about the culture of areas that I have heard of but never visited. Anne Rivers Siddons is very good at making the reader feel part of the story. She gives details about clothes, food, people, everything. I like books with lots of detail. This story is interesting and the characters are too. I am going to pick out a few more from the library, so I can continue enjoying this new author, to me.

Anne Siddons does an excellent job exploring complex, relationships in this book. Molly finds out that her husband is cheating on her and he effectively pushes her out of her own home in Atlanta so his new fiance can move in. Molly finds temporary housing in Martha's Vineyard up island. There she agrees to help care for two elederly ladies, their son who has cancer and has lost a leg and two swans. In the meantime, her mother dies and her father and her dog, Lazurus join her on the island. This is a beautiful, heartfelt story about difficult relationships and what consitutes families. Anne's book is truly moving.

I enjoyed this novel, published in 1997. The plot is one that is not surprising, some of the characters are rather grotesque on first meeting, but the general idea of putting aside one's pain (loss of spouse, divorce, illness) by thinking of others is a good one. The dreams Molly has about her dead mother did not strike me as real at all, but the other configurations I could believe. The swans are important: they mate for life and bring such joy to the characters, giving them release just by their very presence. Nature can do that. This book probably is for women readers.

I really enjoyed this book. An easy summer read. I could identify with the main character in that I've never felt complete unless I was caring for someone else and taking care of their needs. The book brought the main character through betrayal and pain, and their immediate consequences, to eventual healing.

It's all about family. Nothing should break up the traditional family. Life isn't perfect; death, divorce can break up the family. The story shows family changes, healing, and how life can go on with new friends and acquaintences. The author made you feel a part of each scene. I will be reading more of Anne Rivers Siddons books.