Friday, September 10, 2010

ARE YOU LISTENING? DAY: A SECRET KEPT AUDIO BOOK: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

WELCOME TO
BOOKIN' WITH BINGO'S

"ARE YOU LISTENING? DAY"


I AM EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THIS FRIDAY'S
"ARE YOU LISTENING? DAY"
AUDIO BOOK CHOICE IS.....
GIVEAWAY ENDED
A SECRET KEPT
BY TATIANA DeROSNAY
READ BY SIMON VANCE


ABOUT THE AUDIO BOOK:

This stunning new novel from Tatiana de Rosnay, author of the acclaimedNew York Times bestseller Sarah’s Key, plumbs the depths of complex family relationships and the power of a past secret to change everything in the present.
It all began with a simple seaside vacation, a brother and sister recapturing their childhood. Antoine Rey thought he had the perfect surprise for his sister Mélanie’s birthday: a weekend by the sea at Noirmoutier Island, where the pair spent many happy childhood summers playing on the beach. It had been too long, Antoine thought, since they’d returned to the island—over thirty years, since their mother died and the family holidays ceased. But the island’s haunting beauty triggers more than happy memories; it reminds Mélanie of something unexpected and deeply disturbing about their last island summer. When, on the drive home to Paris, she finally summons the courage to reveal what she knows to Antoine, her emotions overcome her and she loses control of the car.
Recovering from the accident in a nearby hospital, Mélanie tries to recall what caused her to crash. Antoine encounters an unexpected ally: sexy, streetwise Angèle, a mortician who will teach him new meanings for the words life, love and death. Suddenly, however, the past comes swinging back at both siblings, burdened with a dark truth about their mother, Clarisse.
Trapped in the wake of a shocking family secret shrouded by taboo, Antoine must confront his past and also his troubled relationships with his own children. How well does he really know his mother, his children, even himself? Suddenly fragile on all fronts as a son, a husband, a brother and a father, Antoine Rey will learn the truth about his family and himself the hard way. By turns thrilling, seductive and destructive, with a lingering effect that is bittersweet and redeeming, A Secret Kept is the story of a modern family, the invisible ties that hold it together, and the impact it has throughout life.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tatiana de Rosnay is the author of ten novels, including the New York Times bestselling novel Sarah’s Key, an international bestselling sensation with over two million copies sold in thirty-five countries worldwide. Together with Dan Brown, Stephenie Meyer, and Stieg Larsson, she was named one of the top ten fiction writers in Europe in 2009. Tatiana lives with her husband and two children in Paris, where she is at work on her next novel. Visit her online at www.tatianaderosnay.com.

ABOUT THE READER:


Simon Vance is the critically acclaimed narrator of approximately 400 audiobooks, winner of twenty-seven AudioFile Earphones Awards, and a twelve-time Audie nominee (including three nominations for the 2007 multi-cast recording of Dune). He won an Audie in 2006 in the category of Science Fiction and was named the 2009 Best Voice in Fiction & Classics and the 2008 Best Voice in Mystery & Suspense by AudioFile magazine.

Simon has been a narrator for the past twenty-five years, and he also worked for many years as a BBC Radio presenter and newsreader in London. Some of his best-selling and most critically acclaimed performances include Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale, Mark Haddon’s A Spot of Bother, Patrick O’Brian’s Master and Commander series (all 21 titles), the new productions of Frank Herbert’s original Dune series, Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and Rob Gifford’s China Road (an AudioFile 2007 Book of the Year). Simon lives near San Francisco with his wife and two sons.

MY REVIEW:

Secrets are secret for a reason. In Tatiana de Rosnay’s latest book, A SECRET KEPT, what the story’s real secret is can only be interpreted, I believe, by the reader. Rather than revealing something that may disrupt the already complicated interactions within a family, perhaps it is better off left tucked away where it belongs.

A trouble-free holiday by the sea is all Antoine Rey wanted in order to celebrate his younger sister‘s 40th birthday. He surprised Melanie and took her to Noirmourtier, the place where they had vacationed as children until the death of their mother. While they are there, they talk about the past as well as what is going on in their lives at that time.

It is here that memories of their mother come flooding back and in fact, as the story starts, it is a hospital, not a resort, that we find them both in. It seems that while driving home from this weekend retreat, Antoine‘s sister, Melanie, the birthday girl, becomes upset after remembering something from their last summer spent at the shore and loses control of the car. The accident is one in which she alone is hurt, ruining her brother‘s surprise weekend celebration for her, at least as far as he can see it.

The story, and the siblings, move on as we find that Melanie is going to be fine, and they are able to return back home to Paris, where the story mostly concentrates on lonely, somewhat self-absorbed Antoine. He is really having a very difficult time getting used to being divorced and having to learn to deal with the teen angst of two of his three children when he has them with him. During the time Melanie was recuperating, Antoine felt an uncontrollable need to find out more about his mother and how she died. She seems to haunt him and she was never discussed within the family after she died. It’s almost as if she never existed, as least in Antoine’s memory. He finally finds out the truth about his beloved mother who he knew had died too soon.

While de Rosnay is a master at these character studies, and wrote Antoine as one deserving of the reader’s sympathy, I personally found him to be somewhat irritating. It seemed like he was just so depressed about his life and yet, didn’t really do anything positive to change it. Even when Angele, a young mortician who is seductive, shrewd, and exciting comes into the story, and shows Antoine a whole other side to life as well as death he still dwells on what haunts him concerning his mother. Both siblings seem preoccupied in different ways by the memory of their beloved mother Clarisse, but I believe Antoine is more than haunted and instead at the point of obsession. I found the interjected reading of Clarisse’s mysterious and somewhat intimate love letters throughout was a clever way to reveal what you figure out rather quickly once the story moves to that part.

Simon Vance narrates the story and his voice seems perfect as he reads what at times I found to be some rather slow-moving parts of the story but were vital in order to develop de Rosnay’s splendid character studies. In a book, I probably would have skimmed to get through some of this but with the audio book, I heard it all and it did help to develop especially Antoine in my mind and Vance’s tone and accent gave the story the right feel. His narration of the female voices added a certain enjoyable quality for your listening pleasure. I was happy he was reading the French words as I knew I would have never been able to pronounce them if I were reading it myself. Tatiana de Rosnay shows her exceptional gift in A SECRET KEPT and readers will surely rush for their copy of her newest work because her talent is certainly not a secret and her fans know that only too well.

GIVEAWAY
THANKS TO STEPHANIE AND THE GOOD
FOLKS AT MACMILLAN AUDIO BOOKS,
I HAVE THREE COPIES OF THIS SOON TO
BE RELEASED AUDIO BOOK
TO GIVE AWAY!


THE RULES:

--U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS IN COMMENT
--ALL ENTRIES/COMMENTS MUST BE
SEPARATE IN ORDER TO COUNT
AS MORE THAN ONE ENTRY



HOW TO ENTER:


+1 ENTRY:
COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT A SECRET KEPT THAT WOULD MAKE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS AUDIO BOOK

+1 MORE ENTRY:
BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE A LINK I CAN FOLLOW IN THE ENTRY


+1 (OR +2) MORE ENTRIES: "LIKE" MACMILLAN AUDIO ON FACEBOOK HERE FOR +1, AND "FOLLOW" MACMILLAN AUDIO ON TWITTER HERE FOR ANOTHER +1

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT IF YOU HAVE ENTERED FOR LAST WEEK'S "ARE YOU LISTENING? DAY" AUDIO BOOK, WICKED APPETITE, BOTH PARTS ONE AND TWO

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE OTHER CURRENT GIVEAWAY OF MINE THAT YOU HAVE ENTERED...JUST ONE, PLEASE



GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, SEPTEMBER 24!


83 comments:

Jo-Jo said...

I always love a book about a juicy family secret! I would love to win this one.
joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

Teresa said...

I saw this in my local bookstore's newsletter yesterday and immediately added it to my TBR list. I would love to be able to listen to it.

teresasreadingcorner at gmail dot com

I am a follower

Jo-Jo said...

I also entered your giveaway for Russian Winter.
joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

Sounds like an interesting plot! I'd love to enter!
schlarmette[at]gmail[dot]com

holdenj said...

I would love to "hear" this just based on how much I enjoyed Sarah's Key and how much I like this author's characterizations and family drama.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

Yes, I entered last weeks Wicked Appetite giveawys.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I have put this contest on my side bar under fellow bloggers giveaways!
http://acozyreaderscorner.blogspot.com

schlarmette[at]gmail[dot]com

holdenj said...

I entered Don't Blink.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

bermudaonion said...

I'd love to win this book because it's read by Simon Vance!!! milou2ster(at)gmail.com

bermudaonion said...

I like MacMillan audio on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

bermudaonion said...

I entered your Let's Take the Long Way home contest. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

traveler said...

I am fascinated with family sagas and this one sounds compelling. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Russian Winter. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

petite said...

This fabulous story is one that appeals to me greatly. I read Sarah's Key. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I entered Let's Take The Long Way Home. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

Steve Capell said...

I have listened to 100s of audio books, but not sure I have heard any by this narrator, but with 25 years of experience there is a good chance I have crossed his path one time or another. I would also add that I find it disconcerting when a series that I purchase in audio format and they change narrators in the middle. It doesn't happen often, but when it does it is very noticeable. Now a comment about the audio-book ... I would love to hear this book! Thanks for hosting this giveaway.

gcpeach17 said...

I would love to win this audio book. It is always interesting to read how certain things, a family secret, in this case effect everyone differently. Thank you for the chance to win this audio book!

gcpeach17 at aol dot com

gcpeach17 said...

Yes, I entered last weeks Are You Listening giveaway, but, it may have only been part 1.

gcpeach17 at aol dot com

gcpeach17 said...

i entered Don't Blink as well.

gcpeach17 at aol dot com

rubynreba said...

The title makes me want to listen to this audio book - secrets are always interesting!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

Entered Gilded Lily giveaway.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Colleen Turner said...

I love family drama! From the description, I can't wait to find out what the secrets are!
Thanks,
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I did not enter last weeks audio giveaway becaues it didn't sound like something I would enjoy, but this one definitely does!
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I entered the giveaway for Russian Winter.
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

+5 swagbucks!
candc320@gmail.com

Unknown said...

It sounds very interesting to read about a family secret. Please enter me in contest. I would love to hear this book. Tore923@aol.com

Anonymous said...

I think the secret must have been very serious or it would have been revealed as time goes on. This makes this book all the more mysterious and that is the reason that I would like to read this book.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

+ 5 Swag

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I also enterd the contest for Russian Winter.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Yes, I entered for last week's audio, both parts for Wicked Appetite.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I had already "liked" Mcmillian Audio previously on FB, so I just left the status as the same.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

justpeachy36 said...

I posted this book as my Waiting on Wednesday selection for last week on my blog. I think it interesting and want to listen to it because it deals with family relationships. The relationship between mother and child, brother and sister. I always find those appealing.

Please enter me in the giveaway.

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

justpeachy36 said...

+2 following Macmillan Audio on Facebook (Debbie Hamilton Lester) and on Twitter (@justpeachy36)

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

justpeachy36 said...

I entered last weeks Audio day book, Wicked Appetite, in parts one and two.

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

justpeachy36 said...

I entered The Good Daughters Giveaway.

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

Linda Kish said...

I entered last week's Are you listening...both parts.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I entered I'd Know you Anywhere giveaway

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I want to know more about the family secret.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Bonnie said...

I always find it interesting to read about family relationships and adding secrets to that makes it more interesting!

redladysreadingroomATgmailDOTcom

Bonnie said...

"I'M YOUR FACEBOOK FAN FOR +5"


redladysreadingroomATgmailDOTcom

Bonnie said...

I "liked" Macmillan Audio on Facebook


redladysreadingroomATgmailDOTcom

Bonnie said...

I Follow Macmillan Audio on Twitter

redladysreadingroomATgmailDOTcom

Bonnie said...

I've entered to win Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins in your Professor Bingo Presents Tuesday!

redladysreadingroomATgmailDOTcom

Pamela Keener said...

I loved her Sarah's Key & feel I would love this book as well. To be able to listen to it will add nuances that perhaps I wouldn't have discovered by just reading it.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I like MacMillan on FB/Pam Keener
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I follow MacMillan on Twitter/@pam4290
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I entered last weeks Wicked Appetite giveaways.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Eileen said...

Sounds like a perfect audiobook for a Fall car trip. Would love to win it.

Eileen
Wiseowlreviews@aol dot com

rbooth43 said...

I remember a simple seaside summer vacation was at Long Beach, North Carolina, when I was 16 or 17 years old. My parents took my best friend, Freida and I to a cabin owned by my daddy's best friend on the week of the fourth of July. Freida and I had the best time arriving at the beach and looking at the waves hitting against the sand, and the ocean beyond with the shrimp boats at a distance.
After a restful sleep, we would go with my mother to collect seashells early in the morning. We collected various, beautiful seashells, such as the Devil's Pocketbook and the Starfish shell. Then we had a tasteful breakfast of blueberry pancakes.
We swam in the ocean, sunbathed on the shore, and built sandcastles. Then after lunch, we walked to the pavilion and walked on the Yaupon Pier. Then we ate at the Seafood Restaurant. After walking back to the cabin, we sat on the porch and watched the beautiful sunset. we would read Nancy Drew books and gab until we fell asleep, listening to the peaceful waves.
We enjoyed being together, playing together, and looking at God's beautiful ocean.
A Secret Kept sounds like a great read that my best friend and I would love to read.

rbooth43(at)yahoo(dot)com

rbooth43 said...

I am an email subscriber and a google follower.

rbooth43(at)yahoo(dot)com

hendy said...

Who doesn't love an old family secret coming to light and the chaos that ensues. I want to know what that 30 year old secret is surrounding the death of their mother.
hmhenderson AT yahoo DOT com

hendy said...

I entered the Mockingjay giveaway
hmhenderson AT yahoo DOT com

Linda Henderson said...

This sounds like a very emotional story of family secrets and how they effect everyone for years.

seriousreader at live dot com

Linda Henderson said...

I like Macmillan Audio on Facebook as myself.

seriousreader at live dot com

Linda Henderson said...

I follow Macmillan Audio on Twitter as BookOwner.

seriousreader at live dot com

Linda Henderson said...

I entered the Top Chef cookbook giveaway.

seriousreader at live dot com

Unknown said...

I would love to win one of these because it sounds like it has a lot of drama with the accident and the family secrets. The drama is right where I like it to be, in a book.

jrandtam[at]columbus.rr.com

Unknown said...

Tweeted

http://twitter.com/lovemy2doggies/status/25159585185

jrandtam[at]columbus.rr.com

Unknown said...

Following McMillan on FB (Tammy Graham)

jrandtam[at]columbus.rr.com

Unknown said...

Following MacMillan on Twitter

@LoveMy2Doggies

jrandtam[at]colubus.rr.com

Unknown said...

I am off to enter your Promise Me giveaway.

jrandtam[at]columbus.rr.com

Pamela Keener said...

I absolutely loved Sarah's Key and have heard mixed reviews about this book. I, too, would have skimmed over some of the book I am sure but that is what I love about audiobooks. They give you nuances that you may never have picked up on. This book sounds intriguing & I loved your honest review. Thanks.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I like MacMillan on FB/Pam Keener
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I follow on Twitter/@pam4290
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I entered Don't Blink giveaway.
& I follow on Twitter/@pam4290

Unknown said...

+5swag chirth7@yahoo.com

Jeff said...

+5swag jeff72768@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

+5 swag shundelt@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

https://twitter.com/Romantic73/status/25294415782

chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100000641625482&v=wall&story_fbid=128322200552798

chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/chirth7/review/46037391/

chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I "LIKE" MACMILLAN AUDIO ON FACEBOOK

chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I "FOLLOW" MACMILLAN AUDIO ON TWITTER - romantic73

Unknown said...

FREEDOM GIVEAWAY chirth7@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

http://twitter.com/Grandmamaof10/status/25295032313

shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/shundelt45/review/46037752/

shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

I FOLLOW" MACMILLAN AUDIO ON TWITTER shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

entered the FREEDOM GIVEAWAY

shundelt@yahoo.com

Nancye said...

I am now very curious to learn what the secret Melanie has kept from Antoine. Gotta' read it now!!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Tweet! Tweet!
@NancyeDavis

http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/25440320334

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I like Macmillan on Facebook

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I follow Macmillan on Twitter
@NancyeDavis

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I am headed right now to sign up for the "Let's Take the Long Road Home".........gotta' run!! :)

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

CLICK HERE TO
SEE MY POLICY