Tuesday, October 16, 2012

SUNNY: BOOK REVIEW "The Siren" by Tiffany Reisz

CHARACTERS:
Nora Sutherlin
Zachary Easton
Wesley Railey

THE SUMMARY from Goodreads:
Notorious Nora Sutherlin is famous for her delicious works of erotica, each one more popular with readers than the last. But her latest manuscript is different—more serious, more personal—and she's sure it'll be her breakout book...if it ever sees the light of day.

Zachary Easton holds Nora's fate in his well-manicured hands. The demanding British editor agrees to handle the book on one condition: he wants complete control. Nora must rewrite the entire novel to his exacting standards—in six weeks—or it's no deal.

Nora's grueling writing sessions with Zach are draining…and shockingly arousing. And a dangerous former lover has her wondering which is more torturous—staying away from him...or returning to his bed?

Nora thought she knew everything about being pushed to your limits. But in a world where passion is pain, nothing is ever that simple.


THE REVIEW: *Warning: Spoilers Included*

What is normal?  
I spent the last 15 years asking people in both my person and professional capacity to to widen their perspective, suspend their assumptions, learn tolerance, keep an open-mind.  This book challenged me to do the same thing.  

This was a highly anticipated read for me.  After reading the reviews, and taking my sister’s admonishment to “be ready”, I took the plunge.  Two things I decided before reading:  I would force myself to take it slow (I would normally have read at least 3 books in the the time it took me to read this book and I would manage my expectations).  

“Romance is sex plus love. Erotica is sex plus fear.”

My first thought as I was reading this book was that people are messed up, but then decided that that comment implied judgement.  I resolved to embrace the fact that people find healing in different ways, and if it is between two consenting adults then that is a lifestyle choice.  But always in the back of my mind the book kept asking me, “is it?”

Admittedly, my pace slowed down dramatically when it became clear that Nora was not going to end up with Zach.  I couldn’t help myself.  I’m a romantic at heart and I wanted these two to be together.  But as I proceeded I was drawn to Nora’s relationship with sweet, innocent, virginal Wesley and deeply disturbing fatherly (no pun intended) Soren.  And I realized that these also in some ways represent different aspects of love.  Where many of us would sacrifice one for another, Nora has the courage or maybe the audacity to want it all.  

Nora is the reason I kept reading the book.  I liked her confidence, her quirkiness, her pain, her sacrifice.

“She seemed like the type of woman who’d help you forget about your headache by setting your bed on fire.”

Much like the woman, this book is not straightforward, written in a purely linear fashion, but it is completely accessible..... a little like our heroine.


IN A NUTSHELL:  
If you are ready to challenge yourself to stretch your thinking, I say try this book.

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