Friday, December 5, 2008

City Woman

Hi All!

Well, after taking a little break from reading for my parents' visit and the Thanksgiving cooking, I got back to it while I wasn't feeling too well. Personally, I can't think of anything more relaxing than reading a good book when you aren't feeling well - okay, next to sleeping that is!

Here is my most recent read: City Woman by Patricia Scanlan.


This is a thick book - 653 pages - but I still felt like I didn't want it to end. Always a good sign!

There are three main characters in this book, Maggie, Carolyn, and Devlin. They all live in Ireland and each have very unique stories to tell yet they are the best of friends. Maggie is married and has three adorable children. She is at the start of a promising writing career and dealing with a husband who is less than supportive. Carolyn is a recovering alcoholic who is married to a man who is hiding his true sexuality from the world and from his overbearing mother. Devlin is a successful business woman who owns an upscale spa and gym and who is dealing with a painful tragedy.

What else could you ask for in a book? What is that? A love interest or two, you say? Well, this book has that as well. Maggie is tempted by another writer who shows her support when her husband doesn't. Carolyn starts to explore the possibility of other relationships as she distances herself from her husband. Devlin's main squeeze, Luke, is a partner in her business and wants to be much, much more.

Throw in a few exotic locales like Abu Dhabi and this book is a great read. It helped that my parents lived in the middle east for several years and that I knew about the different middle eastern locales through them. I felt familiar with the places mentioned in the book.

If you are looking for a good book which you can savor - this is it. The stories of the three woman are told individually but are so intertwined that you feel as if they are told as one story instead of three. Reading about these woman makes you appreciate your women friends as well as that special someone in your life (sorry men - I guess it will make you appreciate your special someone also as well as her friends!).

City Woman is a good read!

Trisha

Voice Update: Doing okay. Not back to peak performance yet but not too bad.

1 comment:

Laura Essendine said...

Thanks for the tip - I have Patricia Scanlan on my reading pile and am looking forward to getting stuck in.

I love authors who can take several stories and combine them within a novel. Maeve Binchy is brilliant at this and her writing is just effortless.

It's always nice to discover a new author and, as Patricia has several books to her name, I should be going for quite a while.

Laura Essendine
Author – The Accidental Guru
The Books Limited Blog