Elisabeth HydeReseñas

This was a short quick read and a different plot on how siblings interact as adults, not always like adults! I enjoyed it!

Everything about this was gorgeous.

Another dysfunctional family? Sort of, with some secrets to hide.

Three siblings, Ruth, George, and Lizzie all go to visit their father who lives in New Hampshire. Lizzie is the youngest and lives nearby. George and Ruth live in Boston and Washington, DC. Murray, the father, invites Ruth and George to come and intervene with Lizzie and her much older boyfriend to break them up. They all have different personalities and lives but they try to get along now that they are older but there are still resentments.

A lot happens in this book and it goes back and forth from the present (then 2016) back to 1984 and tragedy happens.

I love the title of this book and it refers to a now ruined cookbook that their mother used constantly which cannot be replaced because of their mother's notes in the margins.

rabck from dove-i-libri; A book about family relationships. Murray is 81 and summons his three children home. The most precious item at the house is the Fannie Farmer Cookbook, that their mother wrote strange phrases in. If a kid asked something, the answer often was "go ask Fannie". Only Lizzie boyfriend dunked it in the sick and now it was a mess. The reunion has flashbacks for all of them to the time before their mother and brother died in a car crash. Because they're considering moving Dad to assisted living, they start cleaning out the house and discover a box of Daniel's things and Lillian's stories, including and acceptance letter for one on the day she died. Now the phrases started making sense. As she was cooking, she was concocting her short stories.

The Blaire family has had to overcome a tragic loss. They are still learning to cope 32 years later. It is a good family drama read, on par with The Nest and Commonwealth.

This is a thriller/ crime novel that follows a murder investigation of an abortionist Dr. Diana. A series of unfortunate events unwrap and that only gets more suspects into the murder investigation. We are then given a detailed look at Diana's life at the very end of the book and the mystery unlocks itself. It is a pretty good book with a neat advance of events. Nothing seemed rushed up or slow. It was at a moderate speed. The book seemed a little boring and lost in the middle somewhere, but it started off well and the ending tied everything together. All the loose strings were put together really well. The thing I liked the most about the book is the balance of all the elements throughout it. The characterization, balance of past and present in the story, were the things best done throughout the story by Elisabeth Hyde.

Well written and flows well. The language is clear and easy to follow. For those from a a family of multiple siblings will find the banter familiar and, at times, humorous. The characters are well developed and believable and the reader may find it easy to relate to one of their own siblings. The notated cookbook of their deceased mother. The only qualm I have with the book is the family dynamics in action seem closer tied to women’s fiction than literary fiction at least from my male perspective.

Go Ask Fannie by Elisabeth Hyde is a story of family and relationships that many people will identify with – a spouse who lives with secrets, a woman who sets aside her dreams for her husband's career, and adult siblings who try to understand their past. In real time, the story covers a few days. Through conversations and memories, it is the story of a lifetime, perfect for a summer beach read.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2018/07/go-ask-fannie.html

Reviewed for Penguin First to Read program.

I really enjoyed Go Ask Fannie by Elisabeth Hyde. The characters were very well-defined, as well as likeable, and the story progressed so, so well and it was a very satisfying read from start to finish.

Fannie, is not the character I presumed her to be! But a clever feature of the story that I really enjoyed! The three siblings followed, Lizzie, George and Ruth, as well as they patriarch of the family, Murray, are going through some stuff. A LOT of stuff. There are secrets, and fighting, and lots of unspoken words. It was a sneak peek into a weekend of this family, and all the issues they possess. And also all the Love.

I'm a big fan of Elisabeth Hyde now - and will definitely look out for anything else she has written! I received a copy of Go Ask Fannie as part of the Penguin First to Read program in exchange for my honest review.

It was a bit...fluffy. The writing was nothing special, there were no great insights, no real imagery, & despite the perhaps controversial title there was no real gritty discussion. It was just a simple who-dunnit, a quick read, enough to entertain but nothing more. And for the record, I knew who-dunnit from about the first chapter.

The Short of It:

This family’s story tugged at my heart.

The Rest of It:

Murray Blaire is getting on in years. At 81, he’s set in his ways but still present enough to know the importance of family. In an attempt to convince his youngest adult daughter that the man she is seeing is far too old for her and a real jerk, he invites his three children up for a long weekend.

Ruth as the eldest, figures it’s a good time to discuss the possibility of long-term care before her father actually needs it but Lizzie and George and most of all, Murray, just aren’t ready to talk about it. Plus, Lizzie quickly figures out the real reason for the visit and although she realizes she made many mistakes in her life, she’s not quite ready to address them. Certainly not in front of her judgmental older sister.

This is family drama at its best. Go Ask Fannie is a touching story about what it takes to have a successful marriage and raise a family while still maintaining a sense of self. Lillian and Murray lived a wonderful life but her death and the death of their son Daniel place a cloud over this family that cannot be ignored. Murray’s grief and the weight of loss his kids carry is palpable. It’s a story about missed opportunities and second chances. It’s sweet and well-told and comes together beautifully at the end.

Elisabeth Hyde is a new-to-me author but I really enjoyed her writing. Go Ask Fannie is a book many will enjoy this summer.

For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter.

This is a story of a family of six that became a family of four overnight when the mother and oldest son die in a car accident when the youngest daughter was six years old. It's present day and Elizabeth, the youngest daughter is now 38 years old. Elizabeth was in the back seat of that vehicle then and was not killed. Her and the remaining other two siblings are visiting their elderly dad. It's the first time they have been all together for a number of years.

The siblings LOVE to bicker. They are constantly aggravating each other and the oldest daughter (a lawyer who is doing very well) is forever telling everyone how they should run their lives.

There are humorous moments, sad moments and very sad moments. A family memoir in which a Fannie Farmer cookbook is a big deal for the family as the mother used it to write a lot of personal notes which the family cherished. When the family asked what was for dinner, the mother would always reply "Go ask Fannie" hence the title of the book.

I found this to be a very entertaining book and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. While the kids did bicker a lot, it wasn't enough to get on my nerves and at times was sort of humorous.

Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Go Ask Fannie by Elisabeth Hyde is a highly recommended family drama.

Murray Blaire, 81, has invited his three surviving adult children to his New Hampshire farm for the weekend. Ruth, the oldest, is a wealthy lawyer who lives with her husband and two sons in Washington D.C. Ruth likes order, control, and plans in place to cover all contingencies. George, the middle sibling, is a nurse and marathon runner who lives a couple hours away from his father in Concord. Lizzie, the youngest, is an English Professor at a college near her father.

Murray's only hope for the weekend is to have Ruth and George talk Lizzie in to breaking up with her much older married boyfriend. Ruth, naturally, has her own list of things she wants to cover, especially looking at assisted living facilities for their father. George, who is always squabbling with Ruth, is trying unsuccessfully to not quarrel with her. Lizzie, however, arrives with news that changes her father's plans. She broke up with her boyfriend, but when she was picking up their mother's Fannie Farmer Cookbook, which she left at his house, she discovered that he had dropped the book into a sink of water and damaged it. Her reaction may result in criminal charges against her.

As with any family drama much of the action also concerns the past. Lillian, wife and mother of the group, and sibling, David, died over 30 years ago. A good portion of the novel involves what happened years ago, when they were a family of six, not four. There are secrets and questions about that time that have never been shared or asked, and the full story was really never told. Many present day resentments and attitudes toward each other all stem back to that time, when they lost their mother and brother.

Go Ask Fannie is a straightforward, well-written novel. Hyde also allows us insight into the inner thoughts of her characters. The narrative follows these characters during a weekend while uncovering the story of the past and what happened years ago. The past helps explain why they react the way they do and why they all relate to each other in the predictable way they do today. This is not a story with dark secrets or shocking twists, but it is a compelling family drama.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of the Penguin Publishing Group.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2018/04/go-ask-fannie.html

Go Ask Fanny
By
Elisabeth Hyde

What it's all about...

Three adult children return home at the request of their father...Murray. Their mother and brother have long been dead...there are hints about how they died in the book but nothing is really clarified for a long time. The book tells about their childhood or rather the time they had with their mother. Lillian was innovative, clever and a writer although nothing of hers was ever published. She commandeered their third floor guest room for her writing room. Her Smith-Corona was kept there and the floor was literally littered in paper. She had a rope across the stairs so that her children would not enter her writing world.

Why I wanted to read it...

I thought that this book would have more to do with a cookbook called The Fannie Farmer Cookbook and it did but in a unique way. Lillian would write notes in this book but they may or may not have been related to cooking. The cookbook was very precious to her three remaining children.

What made me truly enjoy this book...

The relationships among these adult children was often mildly volatile...Ruth...the eldest was the bossiest...and Lizzie the youngest was the most messed up...the middle brother..George...just seemed to coast along.

Why you should read it, too...

Readers who love well written family dramas...will love this book. I did!

I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss and Amazon. It was my choice to read it and review it.

I was excited to see Elisabeth Hyde had a new book out because I LOVED The Abortionist's Daughter and In the Heart of the Canyon. Go Ask Fannie didn't disappoint and I became completely immersed in it. I felt like I was in New Hampshire with the Blaire family.

Murray's three adult children are heading home for the weekend. Murray wants his oldest daughter, Ruth, to talk to Lizzie about breaking up with her much older boyfriend. Naturally, things do not go as planned. A beloved ruined cookbook sets up the weekend. There's talk of jail, visits by police, many hospital visits and fighting among siblings. There's also revelations of what happened that fatal day in November.

I enjoyed reading about the Blaire family and Murray's run for political office. The book revolved around family and the love they had for each other. I loved the characters, story and writing style. I definitely recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and the author, Elisabeth Hyde, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.

Nothing too extreme in this book: a group of people doing an adventure white water raft through the Grand Canyon with guides. The reader gets to know all the characters through a shifting omniscient POV. Of course they've all got their baggage and issues and through the ride things "work out" so to speak and they "find themselves". I kept expecting huge disaster of the bare bones, survival sort, but instead got lots of little adventures. Nothing too profound, nothing too great, but a reasonable story and writing; very middle of the road.
It does pique my interest in going on such a trip myself (if it didn't cost $3000).

This book was just ok. Its a murder mystery and I figured out who the murderer was pretty early on. It was a quick read and I would recommend it to Jodi Picoult fans. I was a bit disappointed in the ending.

Fairly early on I went - this character is going to be the killer.
I didn't buy Hank and Megan's relationship. I didn't get what he saw in her. He is 7 years older than him. He is a grown man with a career and a house. She comes across as a scared confused little girl. She is legally an adult - barely, but she is still a kid. Why is he so fascinated by her? He sees her and what she is so beautiful he can't get her our of his head? He is acting like an idiot.
When Diana talks about by preforming the abortion she is just pushing the reset button it made me think of the anti drinking and driving commercial that say life doesn't have a rewind button.

Really didn't live up to the hype!

This was a random book that I picked up at the Lifeline bookfair. It has an interesting enough story line to make it a fairly easy to read novel. It does keep you guessing until nearly the end as to "whodonit". Interesting book. Worth a read.½

A decent read but didn't live up to expectations. Great potential: abortion doctor murdered. Hot button issues: abortion, infidelity, martial problems, pornography, recreational drug use, obsession, special needs children, mother-daughter relationships. Likely murder suspects: discontented husband, rebellious daughter, jilted lovers, drug dealers, right-to-life activists. Ultimately, the reason for the murder was senseless and completely unrelated to the victim's chosen profession. Why did the author bother to make the doctor an abortionist? Was the provocative title a marketing ploy to catch our attention? Annoying. More annoying - an autopsy report stating that semen was found in the doctor's vagina but we never find out whose it was. Where was the editor?

Just what I needed for a light read: read quickly but able to put it down. Full of entanglements and people's erroneous assumptions about others. Very melodramatic teens, I started thinking they should just grow up. The use of drugs (ecstasy by the teens, pot by the mother) was presented matter of factly, not as something horribly illicit, which bothered me. I suppose other people could be just as bothered by the fact of providing abortions, but that is definitely treated as controversial in this story. I'd probably read another by this author, but I'm not looking for this to be a series.½

In the Heart of the Canyon is an accurate portrayal of a thirteen day river trip down the Grand Canyon; so much so that I felt I could have been there. Hyde effectively describes the guides, the tourists, the scenery, and of course, the Colorado River picture perfect. The character development of everyone involved in the trip builds just as if you were in the boats with them, getting to know them as the days and miles pass by. The weather (and how to deal with the heat) and surrounding nature comes alive with Hyde's words. And when it comes to rafting down the river you can tell Hyde has seen rapids and even had a "maytag" experience or two. She puts you right in the action. A story about a rafting trip down the Colorado would be enough material for a book but Hyde takes it a step further by introducing a stray dog early in the story and creating characters that are not only interesting but complex. One character in particular, seventeen year old Amy keeps a journal. Her journal gives the events described by Hyde a new perspective. She introduces a different point of view and her comments serve as a reminder that everyone has an alternate truth based on their own unique personality. It's what happens when you put twelve strangers and three guides together.

I had such high hopes for this book after seeing the title and reading the plot. Both seemed intriguing and griping. But in the end The Abortionist's Daughter was boring and forgettable. I think this could have been a great book had the author developed the character Bill more thoroughly. There was so much she could have done with him. Next.

Reasonably OK mystery.