Download the New Releases Audiobooks in Fiction, Contemporary

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Title: Futures and Frosting

Author: Tara Sivec

Narrator: Romy Nordlinger

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-17-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 277 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Carter, Claire and Gavin have formed the perfect little family. Their friends are getting married and everyone is growing up, maturing and ready to face the future. Or are they? From bachelorette party hell, porn addictions, dinner roll baseball and botched wedding proposals to finding out everyone's extended family is chock full of crazy, Carter and Claire begin to question the strength of the ties that bind them. Unfortunately, these ties have nothing to do with fuzzy handcuffs and everything to do with the mounting differences between them. Will their friends make a mess of things with their inappropriate comments and need to know everything, or will they convince the couple that happily-ever-after sometimes really can start with beer pong?

WARNING: CONTAINS SEX, DRUGS AND ROCK N ROLL. Wait, no. Just sex and drugs. And boose and filthy language. Do not read if you have no sense of humor.

Members Reviews:

Review: Futures and Frosting, by Tara Sivec

Its been quite awhile since I read Tara Sivecs first Chocolate Lovers book, Seduction and Snacks . Because of this, I was happily surprised with how easily I fell back into the story that began in book one.

One of the best things this book and series has going for it are the characters and the dialogue they have. Sivec has spared no one from the obnoxious, outrageous, and flat-out insane antics of Clare and her friends. Gavin, her son, will have most readers either appalled or in tears (maybe both) whenever he happens into a scenewhich is often.

I feel that I enjoyed this book even more than the first for a few reasons. First, I think it helps that a lot of the characters, their relationships, etcit was all already established. The comedy and story in general were allowed to play out and I was already familiar with things. I also feel that there was a better balance between the story and the sex scenes (often hilarious ones) in this one. The series cant go on without them, but in Seduction and Snacks I felt there were too many or a few were out-of-place, enough to get in the way of my enjoyment of the story. In Futures and Frosting, I think the balance was found.

I dont really have any complaints about this book. If I were to point out something for readers to beware of, itd be going from one chapter to the next. Depending on the chapter, the point of view will be Claires or Carters. This threw me off often early in book one. Now in book two, I was ready for it, but it wasnt always easy to figure out who for was talking for a few paragraphs. Most of the time it wasnt too awkward though. Putting the characters name under the chapter title would have fixed up any confusions. Maybe book three will utilize that option.

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Title: Sniper Elite: One Way Trip

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Thomas Koloniar, Scott McEwen

Narrator: Brian Hutchison

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 8 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-04-13

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2347 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

From the coauthor of the number-one New York Times best-selling American Sniper, this "inspired by true events" thriller follows one of Americas most lethal snipers as he leads the rescue of a downed female Special Ops pilot.

The President of the United States cant decide how to respond to a classified video showing the Talibans brutal treatment of their captive - a female helicopter pilot of the Armys elite Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Afraid that a botched rescue will further destabilize foreign policy and end his presidency, the Commander-in-Chief falters. But when the Special Ops community learns that one of their own is being tortured and will almost certainly be killed, no executive order will stop them from attempting a rescue mission.

In direct defiance of the Presidents orders, Navy SEAL sniper Gil Shannon launches an audacious mission with the support of elite soldiers and an enigmatic government figure, to infiltrate the tribal faction holding the captured pilot. A pulse-pounding battle ensues, pitching the entire force of the Taliban against the fearless and heroic American sniper. Packed with blistering action and real-life combat scenes, Sniper Elite: One Way Trip will pin you to the edge of your seat until the very last sentence.

Members Reviews:

One of the best book I have encountered this year.

This book kept me engaged from start to finish. Some may be turned off by the level of violence depicted, but none of it was inappropriate given the book largely follows the adventure of a navy seal sniper.

The book is quite a trip, I must disagree with a few of the other reviewers when they say the author is nearly as good a Clancy. In my opinion he is far better.

If the publisher is monitoring these reviews, please note I am keen for more audio books from these authors. I will be checking back periodically to see if they have any new books.

The narrator Brian Hutchison, is quite good. He has a pleasant voice and if he worked a little more on his pacing and character voices he could be one of the very best. I would be happy to hear him again.

I NEED A CIGARETTE!

Where does Sniper Elite: One Way Trip rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

Pretty damn high. I've only listened to a little over a hundred audio books but I would definitely put "Sniper Elite" in the top 10. What a ride! This is one of the best action thrillers I've listened to. I think it's one, maybe two cuts above the "Gray Man" series by Mark Greany if that matters to you guys at all.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Gil Shannon would be my favorite character. Not only is he a military bad ass who will disobey orders to save one of his own, he's also a down-to-earth country boy who's kinda shy. I guess he's got the duel personality thing going on.

What does Brian Hutchison bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Well, he brings excitement to the story that I probably wouldn't get if i read it myself. I tell you what, he did a really good job with the voices of the different characters of the story(especially Gil). I have no complaints with his narration.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, this book had non-stop action with a great story arc but, you know, I have to work and do other stuff too.

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Title: Looking for Me

Author: Beth Hoffman

Narrator: Jenna Lamia

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-28-13

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1339 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A Southern novel of family and antiques from the bestselling author of the beloved Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

Beth Hoffmans best-selling debut, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, won admirers and acclaim with its heartwarming story and cast of unforgettable characters. Now her unique flair for evocative settings and richly drawn Southern personalities shines in her compelling new novel, Looking for Me.

Teddi Overman found her lifes passion for furniture in a broken-down chair left on the side of the road in rural Kentucky. She learns to turn other peoples castoffs into beautifully restored antiques, and eventually finds a way to open her own shop in Charleston. There, Teddi builds a life for herself as unexpected and quirky as the customers who visit her shop.Though Teddi is surrounded by remarkable friends and finds love in the most surprising way, nothing can alleviate the haunting uncertainty shes felt in the years since her brother Joshs mysterious disappearance. When signs emerge that Josh might still be alive, Teddi is drawn home to Kentucky. Its a journey that could help her come to terms with her shattered family - and to find herself at last.But first she must decide what to let go of and what to keep.

Looking for Me brilliantly melds together themes of family, hope, loss, and a mature once-in-a-lifetime kind of love. The result is a tremendously moving story that is destined to make bestselling author Beth Hoffman a novelist to whom readers will return again and again as they have with Adriana Trigiani, Fannie Flagg, and Joshilyn Jackson.

Members Reviews:

It is like listening to a friend....

If you want to listen to a book that tugs not only at your heart, but is like listening to a new friend tell you their story--then get this book. While some may get frustrated with the back and forth between childhood and adulthood, just remember no life story is ever told chronological. It is told piece by piece-memory by memory. Beth Hoffman is a great story weaver--as story teller does not capture the essence of her talent.

Jenna's performance provides your imagination an opportunity to make the movie in your head. It is 3D without the hype. She adds dimension to each character, right down to all creatures great and small. And if you haven't listened to Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt, then add it to your list. Both are books that I could listen to over and over again. In fact, I have listened to Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt about four times in the last year. It is like watching your favorite movie, you never tire of the characters, the story, the way it moves your soul. Looking For Me is right there along side Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt. If audiobooks could ever look tattered, dog-eared, and tear-stained...

Great Second Novel

Love southern literature. I especially like that this novel is partially based in Kentucky (my home state). Loved Beth Hoffmans Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt. This is a great second novel. Sometimes an authors sophomore novel does not measure up the first. This one does. The characters are likable, especially Teddi. Teddis relationships are believable and real. She is a woman who has a dream and is passionate about that dream. Depicts Red River Gorge realistically. My favorite listen this summer.

Another fascinating story from Beth Hoffman!

As much as I enjoyed Beth Hoffman's "Saving CeeCee Honeycutt" I think I enjoyed her newest book "Looking For Me" even more. Ms.

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Title: Falling for Love

Subtitle: Gansett Island Series, Book 4

Author: Marie Force

Narrator: Holly Fielding

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-27-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 241 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The McCarthys of Gansett Island Series: Book 4

Since he won the Academy Award for best original screenplay a few years ago, Grant McCarthy's personal and professional lives have fallen apart. Abby, the woman he was supposed to marry, is engaged to someone else, and Grant is back at home on Gansett Island helping to run the family marina business while his father recovers from a serious injury. While all Grant's focus should be on winning back the love of his life, pesky Stephanie, who runs the marina restaurant, is working her way under his skin and into his bed. As Tropical Storm Hailey cuts off Gansett Island from the mainland, Grant suspects Stephanie is hiding something big from her past. When he finds out what it is, what will be more important to him? Winning Abby back or helping Stephanie to right a terrible wrong?

Members Reviews:

Awesome

I wasn't sure on the first book. But now book three has me Hooked. I'm in Love with the McCarthy's. Thank you Maria

Enjoyable story.

I enjoyed this listen as a welcome addition to the Gansett Island series. There is great chemistry between the main characters, Grant and Stephanie, and a strong connection with characters from other books in the series. Unfortunately the narration lacks expression and does little to bring the characters to life. This series would be much more enjoyable with a different narrator.

Great Audible love lost and found

Grant And Stephanie has had their struggle but will love not be one of them. This is a great book that you will truly enjoy listening too...have a few tissues

I can't get enough!!!

The series just keeps getting better and the way Marie intertwines all the characters so you continue past stories and get a taste of the next story is amazing!!!

The narrator was monotone and hard to listen to

Would you try another book from Marie Force and/or Holly Fielding?

Yes, I would if the narrator were different. I did not like the quiet and monotone way the narrator read.

Any additional comments?

This was an enjoyable story. I liked the scenes played out by different couples throughout the book. It definitely kept my interest.

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Title: Torch

Author: Cheryl Strayed

Narrator: Cheryl Strayed

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-20-12

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 135 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

In her debut novel, Torch, best-selling author Cheryl Strayed weaves a searing and luminous tale of a family's grief after unexpected loss.

"Work hard. Do good. Be incredible!" is the advice Teresa Rae Wood shares with the listeners of her local radio show, Modern Pioneers, and the advice she strives to live by every day. She has fled a bad marriage and rebuilt a life with her children, Claire and Joshua, and their caring stepfather, Bruce. Their love for each other binds them as a family through the daily struggles of making ends meet. But when they received unexpected news that Teresa, only 38, is dying of cancer, their lives all begin to unravel and drift apart. Strayed's intimate portraits of these fully human characters in a time of crisis show the varying truths of grief, forgiveness, and the beautiful terrors of learning how to keep living.

Critic Reviews:

"A heartbreaking anatomy of one family's grief.... Beautifully written and authentic." (People)

"This novelist goes fearlessly into this place of raw grief and inappropriate lust and desperate love and simply reports what she sees: These are people who...live dense, perplexing, fascinating and authentic lives." (Washington Post Book World )

"Torch is a steady stream of finely wrought portrayals of nuance, moments, and emotions.... Lovely turns of phrase are coupled with subtle and keen observations and truisms that remind a reader why she reads." (Newsday)

Members Reviews:

Don't Listen to the Intro

Any additional comments?

The intro goes over all the main events from the story and compares them to the author's real life which pretty much ruined the book for me.. why am I spending this many hours listing to a book where I already know what happens... just skip the intro (ch1) and listen to in after.

Meh. The characters just weren't likable

Be incredible? Really? I wish ALL the characters of this book would have taken that advice. The first part of the story is good. Meeting Teresa, the mom who has cancer is great. The characters around her and her relationships are great. But I lost interest during the rest of the 3/4 of the book.

If you are like me, you are interested in this book because you loved Wild. Strayed's style is in here. It's in here in the shocking, raw things that the characters do because they are flawed and because of their grief. I liked those moments. Where this book failed though was redeeming those characters and making them likable. In Wild, Cheryl obviously is super likable and does things and shares things that made me like her including and because of her flaws--I liked her because of her complete-ness.

The characters in Torch were selfish and narcissistic and shallow and single faceted in their flawed-ness. I had no reason to cheer for them, they were just kind of lame.

The end of the story was the worst part. It just fizzled as the characters continued to have things happen to them and as they just stumbled through their mediocrity.

I also did not like Cheryl as the narrator. She had an annoying lilt in the way she finished each sentence that got tedious.

I hope Strayed writes more books. Fiction or non-fiction, I'll read (listen to) it, because I like her style and I think she'll only grow as a writer.

I don't recommend this book.

High expectations

I had high hopes after listening to"Wild" but this fell short.

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Title: Thoughtless

Author: S. C. Stephens

Narrator: Rebekkah Ross

Format: Unabridged

Length: 20 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-13-12

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1334 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

For almost two years now, Kieras boyfriend, Denny, has been everything shes ever wanted: loving, tender, and endlessly devoted to her. When they head off to a new city to start their lives together - Denny at his dream job and Kiera at a top-notch university - everything seems perfect. Then an unforeseen obligation forces the happy couple apart.

Feeling lonely, confused, and in need of comfort, Kiera turns to an unexpected source - a local rock star named Kellan Kyle. At first, hes purely a friend she can lean on, but as her loneliness grows, so does their relationship. And then one night everything changes... and none of them will ever be the same.

Members Reviews:

What a shocker!

I was really shocked at how good this book really is. Let me say this first, I totally understand why there are so many bad reviews; however, actually the book is not bad... just Kiera (the main female character) is misunderstood.

Quick summary: Kiera is originally with Denny and they move into Kellan's, Denny's friend, house. Denny goes away on a work trip and Kiera starts an emotional affair with Kellan. Kiera and Denny break up and then Kiera sleeps with Kellan. Denny comes back and Kiera goes back to Denny, but wants to maintain the relationship with Kellan as well.

Ok... now what make this book really shine are the characters. Each one is so unique, even down to the members of Kellan's band. Griffin was just great. Kellan is what you would call a "beautiful disaster" and Kiera is like his poison. Kellan actually falls in love with Kiera and throughout the whole book Kellan is trying to get Kiera to basically choose him. I found myself taking Kellan side on most everything that happen throughout the book. I really liked it when Kellan actually called Kiera a whore. That was awesome... !!!

Now, Kiera, even though I totally agreed with Kellan throughtout the book, I felt Kiera was seriously misunderstood. She was in love with Denny but Kellan was like her soul mate or whatever... so she was torn between two guys. I get it somewhat... She didn't want to hurt Denny, I got that... but Kiera was seriously doing some dirt!!!! I found it funny how she always got away with it and Kellan and Denny loved her even more.

I have to say "The slap heard around the bar" chapter was the best intense love/hate fight chapter I have ever read/listen to.... AWESOMENESS!!!!

This was my first Ross narration. I actually enjoyed her narration. She was very good with speeding up and slowing down as the drama and action built. I thought she really expressed Kiera the best, but not so bad with Kellan either. I like when the narrator actually change their voice to show different characters, and I think Ross did well, especially when Kiera, Kellan and Denny was all in one scene. Switching from Aussie Denny to laid back rocker Kellan to whinny Kiera was done really well.

This is a buy/credit. I would do either one. I would buy if you plan to buy the second one too... this will leave you wanting more. If you plan to wait for credits then, its a wait... Well worth it.

Noise in the background of the audio

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The voice seems like its coming from a tunnel plus there is this noise in the background of the audio that keeps coming every once in a while

Second Verse Same as the First....

Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens and Narrated by Rebekkah Ross is O.K., but nothing really special.

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Title: Nantucket Nights

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Elin Hilderbrand

Narrator: Christina Delaine

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-06-12

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 195 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The ties between women can run as deep as the ocean - but so can the secrets.

For 20 years, Kayla, Antoinette, and Val have performed their own special summer ritual. Once a year, the old friends put aside their daily, separate lives to drink champagne, swap stories, and swim naked under the Nantucket stars. But on one of those bonding nights, one of their trio swims out from the shore and doesn't return. After the surviving friends emerge from their grief, they realize that the repercussions of their loss go far beyond their little circle, and they begin to uncover layers of secrets - and their connections to each other - that were never revealed on the beach. What has made their friendship strong now has the power to destroy - their marriages, families, even themselves.

Members Reviews:

No Stars

I would definitely not recommend this book. I am definitely a fan of Elin Hilderbrand, but this is not a good read. Disappointed. No Stars.

Not worth your time, a bad train wreck

This book is trash. Characters are unlikeable and unbelievable. So many plot holes. Also very powerful pro-life message that as a young woman, made me upset.

WHAT?!!

I loved the book & performance but the ending was BS!! Kayla let everything go

for Antionette who wasn't even that close of a friend! BS!!

Slow

I could not get into this book and I've loved her others I've read. Nothing to do with the first book.

Ending a huge disappointment

The story was interesting but the ending was enormously disappointing. It had more holes than a slice of Swiss cheese. Ruined the book.

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Title: The Sins of the Mother

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Danielle Steel

Narrator: Cassandra Campbell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-30-12

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 606 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Every woman makes choices. And no one has made more difficult choices than Olivia Grayson. The enormously successful businesswoman missed out on much of her childrens lives while she built her legendary home-furnishings empire. In Danielle Steels character-rich novel, Olivia faces the past, tries to balance the present and make amends where due, while still running her vastly successful business.

As a way of making up to them for time lost, Olivia spends months each year planning a holiday that everyone in her family will enjoy. This summer she has arranged a dream trip in the Mediterranean on a luxurious yacht, which she hopes will be the most memorable vacation of all. Her lavish gesture every year expresses her love for them, and regret at all the important times she missed during her childrens younger years. Her younger daughter, Cassie, a hip London music producer, refuses the invitation altogether, as she does every year. Her older daughter, Liz, lives in her mothers shadow, with a terror of failure as she tries to recapture her dream of being a writer. And her sons, John and Phillip, work for Olivia, for better or worse, with wives who wish they didnt.

In the splendor of the Riviera, this should be a summer to remember, with Olivias children, grandchildren, and daughters-in-law on board. But as with any family gathering, there are always surprises, and no matter how glamorous the setting, things dont always turn out as one hopes.

Family dynamics are complicated, old disappointments die hard, and as forgiveness and surprising revelations enter into it, new bonds are formed, and the future takes on a brighter hue. And one by one, with lifes irony, Olivias children find themselves committing the same "sins" for which they blamed their mother for so many years. It is a summer of compassion, important lessons, and truth.

The Sins of the Mother captures the many sides of family love: complex, challenging, funny, passionate, and hopefully enduring. Along the way, we are enthralled by an unforgettable heroine, a mother strong enough to take more than her fair share of the blame, wise enough to respect her children for who they really are, and forgiving enough to love them unconditionally.

Members Reviews:

Loved it

What did you love best about The Sins of the Mother?

The story, this is the best Danielle Steel book I have read in years. I rarely purchase her books if the narrater is male. I find a female suits this type of story so much more.I could not put this book down and will read it again.The story is so complete you enjoy every bit I just did not want it to end. It was a pleasure to listen too. I have some of her books with a male narrator but find them a trial it is like listening to a speech sometimes, particularly one male who is really bad.

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Title: Trainspotting

Author: Irvine Welsh

Narrator: Tam Dean Burn

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-13-12

Publisher: Random House Audiobooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 251 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Choose us. Choose life. Choose mortgage payments; choose washing machines; choose cars; choose sitting oan a couch watching mind-numbing and spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing f****n junk food intae yir mooth. Choose rotting away, pishing and shiteing yersel in a home, a total f***n embarrassment tae the selfish, f****d-up brats ye've produced. Choose life.

Members Reviews:

Trainspotting

I struggled with the written version of this 20 years ago and gave up at some point in the early chapters. The phonetic spellings were too distracting and I couldn't get into it. With the new movie coming out, I tried again, and once again it didn't work for me.

But as spoken Scots accents are so musical to me, when the lightbulb went off in my head to look for the audiobook, well, it was a no-brainer.

The reader/narrator did a wonderful job bringing the book to life.

The book itself is so much more than the movie (not to take anything away from the movie, though), with emotional kicks to the gut when least expected, and the connection with the characters is on another level entirely.

For anyone who had a hard time reading the book, I strongly recommend trying the audiobook version. Very much worth it.

Powerful, Profane and Profound

This is a marvelous novel and a wonderful audiobook. Tam Dean Burn manages to capture Welsh's multifaceted characters nicely, and easily navigates some tricky dialects.

As the book is written in dialect, it can be a challenging read. I first read the novel, which includes a glossary of terms, and was very helpful. Before long, I had absorbed the language. I might suggest at least looking at a copy of the book first to get a better idea of Welsh's use of language.

For those readers who make the effort, however, Trainspotting is well worth it. Less of a novel and more of a series of interrelated stories which combine to make a very satisfying whole.

Fantastic listen.

I'm a sucker for Scots. I could listen to it all day. The story is great and I now feel a need to revisit the movie.

Where was this 20 years ago

Ever since the movie came out, I've tried off and on to read Trainspotting and have never had any success. THIS is the way to experience it. Narrator Tam Dean Burn is extremely talented. Probably of equal importance, he grew up in the same area that author Irvine Welsh did so the thick dialect is pitch perfect and is exactly as intended by the author. I could finally understand the book for the first time and I love it.

Must have for every library

This is an iconic book beautifully read for audible with the perfect accent to make it authentic!

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Title: The Bartender's Tale

Author: Ivan Doig

Narrator: David Aaron Baker

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-21-12

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 661 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Audie Award Nominee, Fiction, 2013

Time and again, Ivan Doig has proven himself to be a treasure of American letters. Critical darlings and New York Times best sellers, his novels target the heart of the human experience and never miss the mark.

The Bartender' s Tale stars Tom Harry and his 12-year-old son, Rusty, who live alone and run a bar in a small Montana town in the early 1960s. Their lives are upended when Proxy, a woman from Tom's past, and her beatnik daughter, Francine, breeze into town. Is Francine, as Proxy claims, the unsuspected legacy of her and Toms past? Without a doubt she is an unsettling gust of the future, upending every certainty in Rustys life and generating a mist of passion and pretense that seems to obscure everyones vision but his own.

As Rusty struggles to decipher the oddities of adult behavior and the mysteries build toward a reckoning, Ivan Doig wonderfully captures how the world becomes bigger and the past becomes more complex in the last moments of childhood.

Members Reviews:

a sweet, old fashioned coming-of-age story

Most of this story happens in the summer of 1960. Tom Harry is a bartender in rural Montana, and lives with his son, Rusty. Rusty is twelve years old, and loves his life with his single father, living above their bar. During that summer, twelve year-old Zoe moves to town and befriends Rusty. Twenty-something Delano also moves to town working on an Americana oral history project and connects with Rusty and his father. This is a sweet, slow-moving story, much like life in that small town at that time. I enjoyed being part of that time and seeing the world from Rusty's innocent eyes. The reader was great, with distinctive voices for all the main characters. I really enjoyed listening to this story, and rate the story as a 4+. My only criticisms - it felt a bit similar to other rural coming-of-age stories, and lacked any sharp edges to take it out of that comfortable idyllic world. That said, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. One more comment - the book promo talks about Proxy and his daughter coming into the lives of Tom and Rusty. I was waiting for that to happen, thinking it would be central to this story. It does not occur until the book is 3/4 over. Rusty's relationship to his father and his bar, and his friendship with Zoe are much more central to this book.

If you love a good story ...

this is your book. Ivan Doig has been called "The New Wallace Stegner" for a long time. I love Wallace Stegner, so I take that comparison seriously. There have always been similar threads, but never has the quality of the writing been as close to - or better than Stegner's - than in this book.

Doig has a way of writing about small events and everyday people that makes even an annual fishing event sound interesting. (Perfect example is a "bit" he wrote about looking for ticks. I never would have guessed there was a story in that. There is when it's in Doig's hands and it's funny.) I also think there's an element of autobiography in this one with Rusty, the young narrator.

I love the crisp writing, the use of local jargon - as he calls it "lingua America" - and the bits of history woven in for good measure. I love the 87 ways he can allude to sex without ever getting into the nitty gritty of it.