Devourer of Books

The Invisible Ones by Stef Penney – Audiobook Review

Jan 272012

The Invisible Ones by Stef Penney, narrated by Dan Stevens
Published in audio by Penguin Audio, published in print by Putnam Books, both imprints of Penguin

Synopsis:

From the publisher:

Small-time private investigator Ray Lovell veers between paralysis and delirium in a hospital bed. But before the accident that landed him there, he’d been hired to find Rose Janko, the wife of a charismatic son of a traveling Gypsy family, who went missing seven years earlier. Half Romany himself, Ray is well aware that he’s been chosen more for his blood than his investigative skills. Still, he’s surprised by the intense hostility he encounters from the Jankos, who haven’t had an easy past. Touched by tragedy, they’re either cursed or hiding a terrible secret-whose discovery Ray can’t help suspecting is connected to Rose’s disappearance. . . .

Thoughts on the story:

With The Invisible Ones, Penney created a fascinating, twisting mystery with a level of detail about the lives of the Romany people that lends the story an air of authenticity. The characterization was very well done, particularly as the cast of characters expanded with the extended Janko family. My only real qualm is that I figured out the majority of the conclusion by about halfway through the book. Now, this may have been partially because I overheard a bit of discussion between two others who had read the book and something they said may have sparked the answer in my brain, I’m honestly not completely sure if I was looking for the answer or if it just was a bit too obvious. The good news is that even with being fairly certain of the ending I enjoyed the road Penney took me down to get there.

Thoughts on the audio production:

Let me just say a two things here. First of all, Dan Stevens has a super dreamy voice. Second, he is an extraordinarily accomplished narrator, both in imbuing the authors words with genuine life and in his ability to differentiate between characters. For more, please read my review for Audiofile Magazine.

soundbytes picture Overall:

An absorbing mystery that is only enhanced by the absolutely amazing narration of Dan Stevens. Grab the audio!

Buy this book from:
Powells: Print*
Indiebound: Print*
Audible.com

I’m launching a brand-new meme every Friday! I encourage you to review any audiobooks you review on Fridays and include the link here. If you have reviewed an audiobook earlier in the week, please feel free to link that review as well. Thanks to Pam for creating the button.

Source: Audiofile Magazine.
* These links are all affiliate links. If you buy your book here I’ll make a very small amount of money that goes towards hosting, giveaways, etc.

Empress Elizabeth – Guest Post by Eva Stachniak, Author of The Winter Palace and Giveaway

Jan 262012

Eva Stachniak was born in Wrocław, Poland, and came to Canada in 1981. She has been a radio broadcaster and college English and Humanities lecturer. Her debut novel, Necessary Lies, won the Amazon.com/Books in Canada First Novel Award, and her second novel, Garden of Venus, has been translated into seven languages. Her third novel, The Winter Palace, was published in January of 2012 in Canada (Doubleday), US (Bantam) and the UK (Transworld). She lives in Toronto, where she is working on her second historical novel about Catherine the Great.

Ah, the Romanovs! Researching them was such a treat. To my initial surprise, Empress Elizabeth Pietrovna, the Russian Tsarina who brought Catherine to Russia to marry her nephew, proved to be as fascinating as Catherine herself.

A daughter of Peter the Great and his peasant wife who ruled Russia briefly as Catherine I, Elizabeth was a passionate woman filled with contradictions. I loved to evoke her presence in The Winter Palace: Elizabeth sending for the choicest morsels to the palace kitchens, having her heels scratched and her feet massaged by her attendants, listening to folk tales and gossip, reaching for any man she fancied. And—this should not be overlooked—at the same time securing for her beloved Russia a period of growth and prosperity only Catherine, herself, would rival.

Elizabeth must have made a tremendous impression on Catherine, for even though Catherine bitterly complained against the empress when she was the Grand Duchess, she ended up imitating her predecessor’s ways. Like Elizabeth, Catherine courted the palace guards, and let them believe they alone raised her to the position of empress. Like Elizabeth, Catherine summoned petty German princesses to Russia as prospective brides for her son, raised her grandsons as if they were her own children, and as she grew older, took progressively younger lovers. She may have sneered at Elizabeth’s passion for 22 year old Ivan Shuvalov, but when Catherine turned 60 herself, Platon Zubov—her dashing lover—was 20 years old.

I have one copy of The Winter Palace available for a reader with a US address. Fill out the form below by noon on Wednesday, February 1st.

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The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak – Book Review

Jan 252012

The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak
Published by Bantam, an imprint of Random House

Barbara has a loving family, her father is a Polish bookbinder who has had some measure of success in Russia, including some patronage from the Empress Elizabeth. When her parents die, one after the other, Barbara has nothing left, and must throw herself on the mercy of the court. Starting as a maid in Elizabeth’s wardrobe, Barbara – called Varvara in Russian – draws the attention of Chancellor Bestuzhev, who quickly recognizes her potential as a spy for himself and Elizabeth. As a new The timing for a new, bright spy to come into their employ is perfect, as a young princess is currently on her way to Russia as a potential bride for Elizabeth’s nephew and probably heir, Peter. As Varvara spends more time with Sophie, the girl who would become Catherine after her Orthodox conversion, her loyalty begins to shift from Elizabeth and Bestuzhev to Catherine.

The Winter Palace is the first in a series on Catherine the Great’s rule, and spans from the time shortly before she arrives in Russia to shortly after her ascension as Empress. Varvara is an engaging main character, and her position as maid and spy in the imperial court gives her the ability to know and narrate things that would be out of the purview of most characters, which allows Stachniak to use a first person narration that would otherwise be implausible.

Having recently read Robert Massie’s Catherine the Great, it seems to me that Stachniak’s historical research is topnotch, and she appears to stick very closely to Catherine’s story, without embellishment for dramatic purpose. This is particularly reassuring in cases like Catherine’s, where the historical drama is more than sufficient without anything added. Particularly shocking for students of Western European history is the exhortation for Catherine to become pregnant by any means possible to provide an heir, whether Peter was the father or not. The idea that none of the rest of the Romanovs were really Romanovs is simply mind-boggling.

Although this is the first book in a series, Stachniak made it nicely self-contained. There is no incomplete feeling at the end, it cuts off at a logical point in Catherine’s reign and in Eva’s life. Overall, this was a very engaging way to present the first part of Catherine’s life in Russia and the dramatic events that unfolded. If you’re at all interested in Russian history or Catherine’s amazingly strong reign, pick up The Winter Palace. Recommended.

Buy this book from:
Powells | Indiebound*

Source: .
* These links are all affiliate links. If you buy your book here I’ll make a very small amount of money that goes towards hosting, giveaways, etc.

Come in and Cover Me by Gin Phillips – Book Review

Jan 242012

Come In and Cover Me by Gin Phillips Published by Riverhead Books, an imprint of Penguin Ever since discovering the work of a potter and artist, Ren has been a star of the archaeological community – although she hasn’t told anyone that it was the ghost of the artist who led her to her find. [...]

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson – Book Review

Jan 232012

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson Published by Putnam Juvenile, an imprint of Penguin Rory Deveaux is used to her life in Louisiana, but she’s still excited about the prospect a year at a British boarding school. Her parents will be teaching in England for the year, so going with them seems like [...]

Sunday Salon 1.22.12

Jan 222012

This week was made of miserableness. I’m mostly over morning sickness, but my toddler gave me his cold last weekend, and it pretty much killed me this week. I did get a bit of reading in while trying to steam and soak my head, though. Despite being sick, we took Daniel to the train convention [...]

Crossed by Ally Condie – Audiobook Review

Jan 202012

Crossed by Ally Condie, narrated by Kate Simses and Jack Riccobono Published in audio by Penguin Audio, published in print by Dutton Juvenile, imprints of Penguin I previously reviewed the first audiobook in this series, Matched. Synopsis: From the publisher: In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of [...]

The Sparkpeople Cookbook by Meg Galvin – Book Review

Jan 192012

The Sparkpeople Cookbook: Love Your Food, Lose the Weight by Meg Galvin Published by Hay House Sparkpeople.com is a diet website. It provides its 11 million plus members with weight loss resources, including community support. As befits as responsible diet website and plan, much of Sparkpeople focuses on exercise and healthy eating. It is this [...]

Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron – Book Review

Jan 172012

Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron Published by Algonquin Books, an imprint of Workman Publishing For as long as Jean Patrick can remember, he has wanted to be a runner, to represent Rwanda in the Olympics. And he has a gift, he could do this. Except, in addition to being a talented runner, he is [...]

Buffalo West Wing by Julie Hyzy – Book Review

Jan 162012

Buffalo West Wing by Julie Hyzy Published by Berkley, an imprint of Penguin This is the 4th book in the White House Chef series. I have previously reviewed the first three books: State of the Onion, Hail to the Chef, and Eggsecutive Orders. Ollie had a good run in the White House kitchen under President [...]