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Here‘s my review for a book I bailed on. This is the first time I‘ve ever bailed on an audiobook from Libby. I‘m disappointed because this book sounded really good to me.

I was curious to see what would happen in the Red House on #Madagascar, where two worlds met: that of owners Shay and Senna and of the local community. I was intrigued by Shay‘s relationship with Bertine, a local woman working in the house but with an authority to which Shay gladly submits. I was confused when the book turned out to be a collection of short stories. Too little depth for me to really enjoy

#ReadingAfrica2022 🇲🇬

(Pic: Antwerp)

Lee notes this book actually began as a series of short stories, told from different points of view, set in Madagascar. Unfortunately, the book reads that way & it never quite came together as a cohesive narrative for me. As disjointed as the story was, the writing is beautiful, the setting fascinating, & the issues touched upon—from colonialism to identity—thought-provoking. There were sections I really enjoyed but on the whole, this was so-so.

Next up

Bahni Turpin did an excellent job of narrating, but I found it hard to follow many of what should be labeled interconnected short stories on audio. Too many characters!

Shay, a Black American woman, marries an Italian man and they build a house on a resort island in #Madagascar. The book centers around Shay and her ties to this house. There are stories about staff, locals, and guests. Shay‘s crumbling marriage is at the center of many stories.

Set in #Madagascar , this book of chronologically interconnected stories follows Shay, the mistress of the Red House. I loved the descriptive aspects of the novel, detailing a country I know so little about and learning the customs of those who live on the island. The first story had a somewhat Gothic overtone, which I wished carried on throughout the book. At times, I felt the stories became a bit tedious, as Shay grapples ⬇️⬇️⬇️

This EASILY could have been a five star read but I felt the author gave us just a bit TOO much….I would have preferred a more slimed down story. Still a FANTASTIC piece of Island lure set in #Madagascar #ReadingAfrica22 Many themes explored and an interesting look at how race & class are viewed on an African Island amongst the inhabitants. Audio narration was fabulous

LOVING this book set in #Madagascar #ReadingAfrica22 Narration by Bahni Turpin is FANTASTIC🙌🏻
Little vignettes featuring island life told through the eyes of Shay, an African American professor whose wealthy Italian husband has built her a luxurious villa in middle of the Indian Ocean. The details surrounding Island life, class, culture, people and myth are fascinating. I‘m devouring this one 🥰

Shay is a California-born African American, working as a university professor in Milan. Her husband Senna is a successful Italian businessman. As Europeans do, they vacation on a small island off the coast of Madagascar and fall in love with a large red house. Lee tells stories of expatriate life, modern day castes and classism, and ironies of life within all of those.

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com #thebibliophage2021

This book is told in 10 chapters of short stories spanning approx. 20 years of Shay and her husband vacationing in Madagascar. As a wealthy black woman, Shay does not relate to the impoverished and employed natives or the white vacationers who think themselves above the locals. A beautifully told story showing how colonialism still plays its role today.

This book reads more like short stories that are all centered around one main character/ family rather than a ‘traditional‘ novel. It was easy to get into and I enjoyed getting to know the secondary characters throughout the chapters as well as the reflections of the multiple cultures this book covers.

It was too hot to do anything but read today so I devoured this novel-in-interconnected stories about a couple (she: Black American, he: Italian) and their vacation retreat in Madagascar. I only wish I‘d known Bahni Turpin narrated the audiobook.

This was a case of instantaneous coverlove. Then when I saw that it took place in Madagascar, a place I‘ve always wanted to visit, I knew I would read it.

Shay is the somewhat reluctant mistress of the grand house her husband had built on the coast in Madagascar. They spend their summers there, and this is a collection of tales of island life, a tumultuous marriage, and the friendships formed over a lifetime of summers. I liked it.

#curioucovers :Water #LittenListen

My hold for this came in over the weekend, so I‘ll definitely be getting to it ASAP. I just love this cover!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Absolutely loved this on #audiobook. A novel of connecting sub-stories. The first section sets a wonderfully Gothic scene. One of my favorite reads of the year.

Here in the US it is the day after Thanksgiving, which for me means snuggling in and reading.
Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC.
I really enjoyed this. Different from most books in that the house itself is the protagonist, and the characters that flow in and around it are the story. I loved her writing and thought this was original, and interesting to read.

Love Andrea Lees beautiful writing so excited to read her latest Red Island House.Thanks @ScribnerBooks for this beautiful arc my holiday reading all set,

Three day work week. And because I am someone who cares that our hospitals are stretched over the limit all Thanksgiving plans are cancelled. So my super stretch #weeklyforcast is 5 books. Starting Red Island House and This Mournable Body (which I am nervous about because it has very low ratings here and on GR) today.