Shine Shine Shine

The complexity of the relationships and the events that formed them.

When Maxon was hallucinating about Bubber

Joshilyn Jackson could read Audible Privacy Notice in Hebrew and I would love listening to her... but her specialty seems to be strong, flirtatious and damaged women and Sunny was no different. She came alive for me and I'm going to miss her.

Fix It! Fix It! Fix It!

I'm a voracious reader, not normally a big fan of audio books. My attention tends to wander easily. I can't sing along, so the radio beckons.

When I first saw the amazing reviews for this novel, I downloaded the sample text pages to my Kindle. Truth is, although I really wanted to like it, I just didn't feel compelled to keep reading. There's so many fantastic novels out there competing for my attention, more books than I could possibly read in my lifetime, so I gave up on this one...much too prematurely, as it turns out.

Two things happened: (1) my commute to work suddenly increased substantially with many of my favorite radio stations out of range for part of the trip, & (2) I learned that one of my most favoritest authors in the whole world performed the audio version of the novel and she posted a link to listen to the first chapter.

Wow! What a difference! Most of the subtle tones and nuances that I missed when reading the first pages suddenly came alive. What was going on with this slightly Stepford Sonny person? I had to know more...immediately! So I signed up for membership and used my first credit on Shine, Shine, Shine. This audio book took me prisoner and wouldn't release me until I learned the fate of the whole crazy, bizarre, dysfunctional-in-a-good-way family of misfits. Not only did I listen on my commute, I spent a few evenings with my earbuds plugged into the Kindle, totally ignoring all my favorite TV shows (much to the joy of my fiancé who got to watch the science shows that I normally hate and refuse to watch).

Speaking of which, this book is better than relationship therapy if you are a woman lucky enough to be coupled with a partner who resembles Maxon more than Mr. Darcy.

Highly, highly, highly recommended. Now I'm going to have to go back and purchase the actual novel.

Interesting book, it slows after the initial introduction of characters and plot but hang in there; from the middle onward it crescendos into one of the better books I've come across. I liked the reader, she captured to the tone of the voices well and especially made Sunny come to life.

Is it possible to give a zero rating? I would if it were. Flat affect, no plot, no story worth mentioning, no suspense. Just nothing. One is never really drawn in by the characters, and always feels twice removed. Its a high-pitched boring, empty narration in the third person, of a period in Sunny's life which should have been interesting, but isnt. She's bald. Her son is autistic. And she's bald. Her husband seems sweet and clever, but also autistic. Did I mention that she's bald? She does, on average every 10 minutes. I think the book is there to tell us that she's bald. They all try to fit in with social norms. So she wears a wig. So what.

Big events (like murders) which happen to characters who are close to her (like parents), are simply mentioned and dropped. You never hear anything more about them. But inane, boring and petty details are given huge and lengthy prominence. A case of small things amusing small minds?

There are two good points to this book: Firstly, you can doze off, and when you wake up you'll still be where you were before, and she'll still be bald. Secondly, it ends. Later rather than sooner, which is a pity. I sometimes wonder how some books manage to get published, but am glad Audible took it off the website's main banner.

The writing is good, the performance good, the presentation of the story....confusing. The author takes chances here. The characters are fresh and interesting and she takes them almost to a place of satisfaction, then drops off. This is the sort of book that I wish brought home the build up, but it just doesn't. I think it's character heavy while the three main characters= the family, are short changed.

Story line disjointed and weird

the ending.... flat, left too many holes

The way she did Sunny's voice, not at all how I thought the character should have sounded

The graphic abuse from Maxom's father. Braided honey loaf? Get over it.

Not an ordinary tale, this story lets us in on the inside lives of very different people trying to live their lives the best they can. It approaches autism and its various disorders and shows it to be just another facet of the human character.

Integrating one's quirks into society is difficult for many. The characters in Shine Shine Shine do it, each in their own way, allowing us to watch the tragedies and triumphs that they go through in dealing with their disabilities and achievements.

The conclusion is uplifting and I cheered to know that all ends well in its own way.