Up Island

By: Anne Rivers Siddons

Narrated by: Dana Ivey

“A wonderful story. . . .Siddons has returned to what she does best: gives us a book full of laughter and adventure that has enough soul to leave us with something to think about after we finish reading.” — Detroit News/Free Press

From childhood, Molly Bell Redwine was taught by her charismatic, domineering mother that ""family is everything."" But no one warned Molly that family can change unexpectedly. In rapid succession, her husband of more than twenty years abandons her for a younger woman, her mother dies, and her Atlanta clan scatters to the four winds. Molly is set adrift in a heartbeat.

With her old world crumbling, Molly takes refuge with a friend on Martha's Vineyard, hoping to come to terms with who she truly is. When the summer season ends, Molly decides to stay on, renting a small cottage on a remote up-island pond—becoming part of an odd, new, very real family that taxes her old outworn notions. And as the long Vineyard winter approaches, Molly braces herself for the arduous task she must undertake: a search for renewal and identity, and the strength to carry her through to the warm and healing spring.

Wonderful audiobook

Have listened to this several times. One of my favorites.
Wish i knew who the artist was for the wonderful jazz music before each chapter.

Shorty but very entertaining

I liked the story. Sometimes made me wish I could escape to a totally different life. I would recommend this to other older women who have had be upended at one time in their life or another. I laughed, shed a few tears and reflected on my own life now and again. A quick 'read', loved the narrator . What I did not care for was the loud harsh music blared at the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. Very annoying

Loved It!

I really love this book. I planned a trip to
Martha's Vineyard for me and my family. I read a couple of books with the Martha's Vineyard setting before I left, this was one of them.

I loved all the characters in this story. It almost seemed like a fairy tale, an unlikely setting for a middle aged, upper class woman to recover from
a betrayal and unlikely characters for her to work for.

I enjoyed all the various family dynamics between the characters. I am all for independent, strong women and it was great to see Molly become just that.

Good story

Good story line. Characters were well described and vivid. I felt I could see the area and characters. The camps sounded very cozy. Really enjoyed it despite a few vulgar words.

The music in between the chapters which I absolutely hated

The story was OK, the characters mostly likable, but not entirely… And the music in between the chapters that drowned out the first words of every new chapter was distracting, annoying, and as far as I can tell without purpose