I have two seemingly unrelated stories to tell you about today
– DAMAGED:
A Novel by Lisa Scottoline and INGREDIENTI by Marcella Hazan and
Victor Hazan.
I say the two books have a few things in common. I listened to
both as audio books (and both also come in print) and both are extremely good
for their genre. I like sharing diversity with you and I hope you enjoy the
varied reviews you find here.
◊ DAMAGED: A Novel by Lisa Scottoline
◊ Series:
A Rosato & DiNunzio Novel, Book #4
◊ Narrator: Rebecca Lowman
◊ Audio
CD: 11 Discs
◊ Listening Length: 13 hours and 35
minutes
◊ Program Type: Audiobook
◊ Genre: Mystery, Thriller
◊ Version: Unabridged
◊ Publisher:
Macmillan Audio
◊ Scheduled Release Date: August 16, 2016
◊ Language: English
◊ ISBN-10: 1427278709
◊ ISBN-13:
978-1427278708
SYNOPSIS:
One boy. One lawyer. One chance
for justice.
Ten-year-old Patrick O'Brien is a
natural target at school. Shy, dyslexic, and small for his age, he tries to
hide his first-grade reading level from everyone: from his classmates, from the
grandfather who cares for him, and from the teachers who are supposed to help
him. But the real trouble begins when Patrick is accused of attacking a school
aide. The aide promptly quits and sues the boy, his family, and the school
district. Patrick's grandfather turns to the law firm of Rosato & DiNunzio
for help and Mary DiNunzio is on the case. Soon Mary becomes Patrick's true
champion and his only hope for security and justice. But there is more to the
story than meets the eye and Patrick might be more troubled than he seems. With
twists at every turn and secrets about the family coming to light, Mary
DiNunzio might have found the case that can make her a true protector, or break
her heart...
With Lisa Scottoline’s trademark
emotional depth and fast-paced action, Damaged
will have readers riveted to the last page as they root for the beloved
characters and their fight for justice.
Author Lisa Scottoline is a diverse writer who will have you
crying, laughing, angry and ready to fight all within the first few pages of
her book.
Narrator Rebecca Lowman does a wonderful job vocalizing the
varying emotions of the characters. Her cadence and timing are spot on. She
gives each character their own unique voice. Her mannerisms add depth to this
tantalizing tale.
In DAMAGED, Scottoline blends heartbreaking events with humor for
a well-balanced story. Her characters are realistic and likable. The
protagonist is dedicated and determined with a heart of gold and a strong love
of her family.
With rich descriptions and vivid details, the author brings
the setting to life. You feel the traditions and love of the DiNunzio family
and their friends. You get a sense of what life is like in their neighborhood.
Grabbing your attention at the beginning, Scottoline takes
readers on a roller coaster ride of emotions and suspense as the story unfolds.
Just as you catch your breath thinking things will settle down, the author
throws you a curve and off you go again.
Pulling on your heart strings, this pulse-pounding novel and
its unique characters will stay with you long after it ends.
Damaged: A Novel by Lisa Scottoline, A Rosato & DiNunzio Novel (Book #4), Narrated by Rebecca Lowman, Macmillan Audio, @2016, ISBN: 978-1427278708, Unabridged, 11 Discs, Run Time: 13 Hours and 35 Minutes
FTC Full Disclosure – A copy
of this audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would
review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my
review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.
◊ INGREDIENTI: Marcella’s Guide to the Market
by Marcella Hazan and Victor Hazan
◊ Narrator: Elizabeth Wiley
◊ Audio
CD: 4 Discs
◊ Listening Length: 4 hours and 56
minutes
◊ Program Type: Audiobook
◊ Genre: Cooking, Food, Italian
Cooking
◊ Version: Unabridged
◊ Publisher:
Tantor Audio
◊ Release Date: July 12, 2016
◊ Language: English
◊ ISBN-10: 151595787X
◊ ISBN-13:
978-1515957874
SYNOPSIS:
When Marcella Hazan died in 2013,
the world mourned the passing of the "Godmother of Italian cooking."
But her
legacy lives on, through her cookbooks and recipes, and in the handwritten
notebooks filled with her thoughts on how to select the best
ingredients-Ingredienti. Her husband and longtime collaborator Victor has
translated and transcribed these vignettes on how to buy and what to do with
the fresh produce used in Italian cooking, the elements of an essential pantry,
and salumi. Before you know how to cook, you must know how to shop.
From Artichokes to Zucchini, Anchovies to
Ziti, Ingredienti offers succinct and compelling advice on how to choose
vegetables, pasta, olive oil, Parmigiano Reggiano, prosciutto, and all of the
key elements of Marcella's classic meals. Organic isn't necessarily best, boxed
pasta can be better than fresh. Marcella's authoritative wisdom and surprising
tips will change the way you cook.
INGREDIENTI is not a
book you’ll read once and put aside to never touch again. It’s one you’ll come
back to time and time again. It’s jammed paced with helpful information about
common and not-so-common food items we purchase and consume daily.
Narrated by Elizabeth Wiley, the helpful instructions flow effortlessly.
Wiley’s vocals enhance and her accent brings the advice to life. Her voice is
smooth and comforting like the foods she describes.
This is a fascinating story about various foods, the best ways
to prepare them and the best ways to store them. Through the rich descriptions,
listeners/readers can almost smell the tantalizing aromas fill the air from the
freshly prepared dishes. There are no step-by-step recipes to follow, only
discussions on how things can be prepared and what they are good paired with.
This is not a recipe book, but a book to help you purchase and preserve food to
get the most out of it.
Listeners/readers will never look at grocery shopping quite
the same after spending a few hours with Marcella’s instructions. Don’t be surprised
if you even find yourself rearranging your refrigerator after listening/reading
this delightful book.
This instruction guide with an Italian flare is a must-have
for every kitchen.
Ingredienti: Marcella’s Guide to the Market by Marcella Hazan
and Victor Hazan, Narrated
by Elizabeth Wiley, Tantor Audio, @2016, ISBN: 978-1515957874, Unabridged, 4 Discs, Run Time: 4 Hours and 56 Minutes
FTC Full Disclosure – A copy
of this audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would
review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my
review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.
Thanks for stopping by today. Are
you a fan of author Lisa Scottoline’s writing? Have you listened to a
food-related book before or do you prefer only print when it comes to anything
to do with cooking?
