Thursday, February 11, 2016

The Hurricane Sisters - Book Beginnings on Friday and The Friday 56

Dorothea Benton Frank has become one of my favorite authors. Like other books of hers that I've read, The Hurricane Sisters takes place in the Low Country of South Carolina. This story focuses not only on the relationship between three generations of women but also on abuse of women and date rape. 
The author portrays the older characters as vibrant individuals with full and interesting lives, which I always appreciate. The Hurricane Sisters is a worthwhile read and an entertaining story.
FYI: The story is told in alternating points of view in first person.

OOOPS! I just realized that I messed up and posted my Tuesday post on Friday! Oh, well. Hope you enjoy it anyhow.

First Chapter / First Paragraph:
(Prologue)
     My husband, Clayton, and I were at the police station getting my mother, Maisie, out of jail for brushing up against the wrong side of the law. Her actual charges were still unclear. She claims it is not against any law in the state of South Carolina to take a llama for a walk on the open road. He was, after all, on a leash. The local police beg to differ, saying this is a case of animal cruelty, endangerment, and reckless behavior. Legal or not, it wasn't normal. I was glad they brought her in to the police station until I could get there because her behavior surely demonstrates a lack of sound judgment. Or not. Maisie was crazy like a fox and we all knew it. So I sat and waited while Clayton made things right between the Town of Mount Pleasant and Maisie by writing a check.

Teaser (from Page 223 in my trade paperback edition):
Martha Lou's was one of those places you'd only know about if you were from Charleston or if a local took you there. The location was in, how do we say this diplomatically, a reemerging neighborhood, the building was as pink as a bottle of Pepto-Bismol featuring a sort of fabulous fish mural on the exterior wall, and the interior decor was a little to the left of chic.

Genre: Contemporary Women's Fiction
Length of Book: 393 Pages (trade paperback)
Amazon Link: The Hurricane Sisters
Author Website: Dorothea Benton Frank

Synopsis:
(Partial blurb from Goodreads)
     Once again Dorothea Benton Frank takes us deep into the heart of her magical South Carolina Lowcountry on a tumultuous journey filled with longings, disappointments, and, finally, a road toward happiness that is hard earned. There we meet three generations of women buried in secrets. The determined matriarch, Maisie Pringle, at eighty, is a force to be reckoned with because she will have the final word on everything, especially when she's dead wrong. Her daughter, Liz, is caught up in the classic maelstrom of being middle-age and in an emotionally demanding career that will eventually open all their eyes to a terrible truth. And Liz's beautiful twenty-something daughter, Ashley, whose dreamy ambitions of her unlikely future keeps them all at odds.


Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Miz B of A Daily Rhythm. Post two sentences from somewhere in a book you're reading. No spoilers, please!




First Chapter/First Paragraph/Tuesday Intros is hosted by Bibliophile By The Sea. To participate, share the first paragraph (or a few) from a book you're reading or thinking about reading soon.
Link at BibliophileByTheSea





Twitter: @SandyNachlinger
Facebook: sandy.nachlinger

20 comments:

  1. This sounds like a really interesting one - and the cover looks so good, too. :)

    Check out my Friday 56 (With Book Beginnings).

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  2. Is this book nonfiction? The quote could go either way. It sounds like a a tough book, topic-wise.

    My Friday Quotes

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  3. The Hurricane Sister's sounds like an okay book, but I don't think it would be for me.

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  4. I appreciate your upfront mention of the date rape. I've glanced at the book on Amazon but not too closely. Now I know to pass it by for me but I hope you enjoy it.

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  5. I don't normally read this genre but it sounds very interesting. :) That beginning made me laugh. Hope you enjoyed it!

    Stormi
    Friday memes

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  6. Living in the south, we have lots of buildings like that. Feels like home. I've been wanting to read this and it's nearing the top of my southern reading TBR.

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  7. This is an author I've been wanting to read and that has been highly recommended for years. I love that beginning! Hope you enjoy the read.

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  8. I loved this one! Maisie is hilarious, and all the characters are like real people. Thanks for sharing... Here's mine:
    “SILVER BAY”

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  9. She's a great author and local favorite, though I haven't read this one yet. Love the teaser and walking the Llama! Too fun.......

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  10. I LOVE Dorothea Benton's books.

    ENJOY!!

    Have a great reading weekend.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Book Beginnings

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  11. hmmmm that's really intriguing. Happy reading!

    Here is my Friday 56 post:
    https://katiesjumbledthoughts.wordpress.com/2016/02/12/the-friday-56-2122016/

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  12. It sounds very interesting.. especially with multiple narrators from different generations ! Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful weekend !

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  13. I really enjoyed the first paragraph! Anyone that gets arrested for walking a llama sounds like an interesting character to me! Sounds like a good book! Thanks for visiting my blog! Happy reading!

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  14. Hi Sandra,

    I wonder if "my husband Clayton and I" refers to Maisie's daughter, Liz. If it is and her career is as emotionally challenging as the text suggests, then I guess that having such an eccentric mother can be very difficult and demanding.

    However I do like that the story is written from several different points of view, thus affording an unbiased storyline for the reader.

    There is nothing wrong with posting on the wrong day, when the excerpts are so worthwhile sharing :)

    Yvonne

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  15. Sounds extremely realistic to me, and bound to affect! I'm looking for the hurricane on the cover though ... looks pretty calm to me :)

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  16. Love the cover art! This is a much needed subject to discuss, to help women get the care and support they need. I thought the teaser was hilarious. Thanks for sharing!

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  17. Haha, I think we all get a little mixed up sometimes when it comes to the blog. I loved the description in this one. Happy Friday!

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  18. I have to admit that I've never read anything by this author but this sounds good and I'm going to be adding it to my reading list ...thanks for visiting my Friday meme

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  19. LOL That prologue cracked me up. Sounds like a fun read.

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  20. Mistakes happen... nice to see you still posted.
    I've heard about this author but haven't read anything.
    Happy weekend!

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