Wednesday, January 23, 2013

The Angry Woman Suite - Tour




THE ANGRY WOMAN SUITE
By
Lee Fullbright

BLURB:  
Raised in a crumbling New England mansion by four women with personalities as split as a cracked mirror, young Francis Grayson has an obsessive need to fix them all. There’s his mother, distant and beautiful Magdalene; his disfigured, suffocating Aunt Stella; his odious grandmother; and the bane of his existence, his abusive and delusional Aunt Lothian.

For years, Francis plays a tricky game of duck and cover with the women, turning to music to stay sane. He finds a friend and mentor in Aidan Madsen, schoolmaster, local Revolutionary War historian, musician and keeper of the Grayson women’s darkest secrets. In a skillful move by Fullbright, those secrets are revealed through the viewpoints of three different people–Aidan, Francis and Francis’stepdaughter, Elyse–adding layers of eloquent complexity to a story as powerful as it is troubling.

While Francis realizes his dream of forming his own big band in the 1940s, his success is tempered by the inner monster of his childhood, one that roars to life when he marries Elyse’s mother. Elyse becomes her stepfather’s favorite target, and her bitterness becomes entwined with a desire to know the real Francis Grayson.

For Aidan’s part, his involvement with the Grayson family only deepens, and secrets carried for a lifetime begin to coalesce as he seeks to enlighten Francis–and subsequently Elyse–of why the events of so many years ago matter now. The ugliness of deceit, betrayal and resentment permeates the narrative, yet there are shining moments of hope, especially in the relationship between Elyse and her grandfather.

Ultimately, as more of the past filters into the present, the question becomes: What is the truth, and whose version of the truth is correct? Fullbright never untangles this conundrum, and it only adds to the richness of this exemplary novel.—Kirkus Reviews



“I’ll tell you what I’m ready for, Aidan. I’m ready for the top floor.” His eyebrows shot up.

“I beg your pardon?”

“The third floor of Grayson House. I’m ready for it. I’m really ready.”

“I don’t think I understand—”

“Please, Aidan.” I emphasized each word: “I’m ready to meet Jamie.”

I turned and walked out of that parlor then, and into the foyer and up the ten steps to the landing where the grand staircase turned direction. I ran up the first flight, then paused at the second landing, waiting for Aidan. When I glimpsed him behind me, I turned and ran up the next flight, to the third floor, straight for the door at the end of the hallway, next to the door that opened onto the outside stairs.

I’d been able to pinpoint this door as the one by the soft thumps I’d heard when I’d sneaked into Papa’s room on the second floor—things nobody thought I’d hear—and by watching from my spot across the road: the quick deliveries and arrivals, the things and people nobody thought I’d see.

I hesitated, not feeling anything, I was now so empty. No more  anger. Instead I was in tune with senses: the steady tick-tock of the clock at the end of the otherwise soundless hallway, the wallpaper’s perfectly vertical stripe, even an aromatic odor reminiscent of the appendectomy I’d had when I was six—was it ether? And then, finally, Aidan’s ragged breathing when he caught up with me. We were ready,  in position—and it was understood I’d assumed leadership: I’d go first.

I turned the doorknob. My opponent had just run through his resources.



REVIEW SOUND BYTES

From Kirkus Reviews

"Secrets and lies suffuse generations of one Pennsylvania family . . . in a skillful move by Fullbright, those secrets are revealed through the viewpoints of three very different people . . . a superb debut that exposes the consequences of the choices we make and legacy's sometimes excruciating embrace."


2012 DISCOVERY AWARD

GLOBAL E-BOOK AWARD NOMINEE

From Midwest Book Review
"A very human story . . . a fine read focusing on the long lasting dysfunction of family."

"There is something fascinating in labyrinthine plot twists, which is what we have here, and I must applaud Fullbright for her keen and magical ability to pull it off with such aplomb."-Norm Goldman, Montreal Books Examiner and Bookpleasures.com

5 Stars ***** Reviewed by Joana James for Readers Favorite: "The Angry Woman Suite is quite a ride . . . very cleverly written . . . an outstanding novel."

Rating: 5.0 stars Reviewed by Anne B. for Readers Favorite:" Lee Fullbright is master of characterization."

Rating: 5.0 stars Reviewed by Alice D. for Readers Favorite:
"The Angry Woman Suite is a brilliant, complex, complicated story about talented, complicated people . . . this is a story to remember!"


AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Lee Fullbright, a medical practice consultant in her non-writing life, lives on San Diego’s beautiful peninsula with her writing partner, Baby Rae, a 12-year-old rescued Australian cattle dog with attitude.        

The Angry Woman Suite, a Kirkus Critics’ pick, 5-starred Readers Favorite, and a Discovery Aware winner, is her first published novel.



LINKS:




Also Lee will be giving away a $100 Amazon gift certificate to one randomly drawn commenter at the end of the tour.) and make sure to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/11/review-tour-angry-woman-suite-by-lee.html

Anita
www.anitaphilmar.com

19 comments:

  1. Very good excerpt, I was sucked into the story instantly. How did you came up with the idea to THE ANGRY WOMAN SUITE?

    moonsurfer123(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi mooonsurfer, I was visiting Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, where a lost Revolutionary War battle had been fought. As I wandered about, I considered what had been lost there (but ultimately won), and just like that, the character, Elyse, popped into my head—and I just knew I had a story—a metaphor if you will—about a woman’s quest for her own autonomy. The rest of The Angry Woman Suite, sub-plots and other narrators, grew out of Elyse. Stories can come from the unlikeliest places!

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  2. Sounds thrilling and complex. Now I'm wondering about these dark secrets...
    Was it hard to write a book with more than one narrator? I imagine one could mix up something easily.

    galaschick78 at gmail dot com

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    Replies
    1. Hi! It was amazingly challenging … I’d almost rather chew glass than take on that (particular type of structuring) again … but on the other hand (there’s always another hand!), it WAS fun too (in a yeah-let-me-beat-myself-up-some-more kind of way), when I’d nail an on-the-edge-of-your-seat ending to one narrator’s section that then smoothly segued into another narrator’s voice, in a different time frame—Fun!

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  3. Thank you for hosting, Anita!

    Lee

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  4. Interesting premise.

    emiliana25ATwebDOTde

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  5. Sounds like a great read.

    Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

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  6. Sounds very intriguing!

    vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

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  7. I've read a lot of good things about this book, looking forward to find more about it on your tour!

    lennascloud(at)gmail(dot)com

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  8. The book sounds interesting, though I don't particular like switching POV's, but the premise intrigues me.


    shadowrunner1987 at gmail dot com

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  9. The book sounds intriguing.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  10. I find the blurb a little disturbing. This sounds very dark and complex...not my usual reading material. I look forward to learning more during the tour.
    catherinelee100 at gmail dot com

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  11. I like complex books, I actualy haven't realised it was historical at first, because it could have been set in our time as well.

    lyra.lucky7 at gmail dot com

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  12. What a fascinating collection of characters. I'm intrigued.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  13. I wanted him to open that door. Exciting excerpt.

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  14. This novel sounds so fascinating. I'm intrigued!

    justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

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  15. This sounds like an interesting and intriguing book, thanks for sharing!

    tiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  16. The book sounds very intriguing, looking forward to read more!

    anzuazura AT yahoo DOT de

    ReplyDelete