Am often compelling mix of ancient history, modern life, and outer space adventure.
In this third book in Stott’s (Spirit Fire, 2019, etc.) Neandertals series, a young, passionate archaeologist pursuing an amazing find discovers far more than she expected.
In a change from the prehistoric tales in the first two series installments, this one takes place in a more modern milieu—the early 21st century, to be exact. There are also new characters with new dreams and aspirations. Sandi Hartwell is a hardworking young archaeologist who’s been searching for fossil evidence that would prove the Neandertals and Cro-Magnons produced offspring. When she finally does find such evidence in Pakistan—apparently guided in her quest by a dream—she almost can’t believe her luck. But after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, any hope of a flourishing career in Pakistan seems to disappear—at least in the short run. Luckily, Sandi eventually manages to return to the country and to the site of her discovery, but what she doesn’t know is that there are still a great many surprises in store for her—particularly after a sudden turn in the second half of the novel, which adds an SF twist, taking the tale of the Neandertals into truly alien territory. Still, as a romance begins to flourish between her and a handsome Neandertal expert, Garret Chambers, Sandi strives to fulfill what she believes is her destiny. Throughout this entry, the prose style—and most noticeably, the dialogue—are refreshingly modern, compared with that of the other books in the series. However, the sudden change in genre about halfway through the story may be a bit difficult for some readers to follow, as plot starts to get more complicated than readers may be prepared for. Nonetheless, the author does a good job of keeping events moving along steadily. The love story between Sandi and Garret also adds a much-needed sense of humanity to the spacey storyline, and it effectively serves to deepen its emotional stakes.
Am often compelling mix of ancient history, modern life, and outer space adventure.Pub Date: Aug. 29, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-692-38824-2
Page Count: 312
Publisher: Global Summit House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 27, 2019
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Heartfelt, yes, but pretty routine.
Life lessons.
Angie Malone, the youngest of a big, warm Italian-American family, returns to her Pacific Northwest hometown to wrestle with various midlife disappointments: her divorce, Papa’s death, a downturn in business at the family restaurant, and, above all, her childlessness. After several miscarriages, she, a successful ad exec, and husband Conlan, a reporter, befriended a pregnant young girl and planned to adopt her baby—and then the birth mother changed her mind. Angie and Conlan drifted apart and soon found they just didn’t love each other anymore. Metaphorically speaking, “her need for a child had been a high tide, an overwhelming force that drowned them. A year ago, she could have kicked to the surface but not now.” Sadder but wiser, Angie goes to work in the struggling family restaurant, bickering with Mama over updating the menu and replacing the ancient waitress. Soon, Angie befriends another young girl, Lauren Ribido, who’s eager to learn and desperately needs a job. Lauren’s family lives on the wrong side of the tracks, and her mother is a promiscuous alcoholic, but Angie knows nothing of this sad story and welcomes Lauren into the DeSaria family circle. The girl listens in, wide-eyed, as the sisters argue and make wisecracks and—gee-whiz—are actually nice to each other. Nothing at all like her relationship with her sluttish mother, who throws Lauren out when boyfriend David, en route to Stanford, gets her pregnant. Will Lauren, who’s just been accepted to USC, let Angie adopt her baby? Well, a bit of a twist at the end keeps things from becoming too predictable.
Heartfelt, yes, but pretty routine.Pub Date: July 1, 2004
ISBN: 0-345-46750-7
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Ballantine
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2004
Dated sermonizing on career versus motherhood, and conflict driven by characters’ willed helplessness, sap this tale of...
Lifelong, conflicted friendship of two women is the premise of Hannah’s maudlin latest (Magic Hour, 2006, etc.), again set in Washington State.
Tallulah “Tully” Hart, father unknown, is the daughter of a hippie, Cloud, who makes only intermittent appearances in her life. Tully takes refuge with the family of her “best friend forever,” Kate Mularkey, who compares herself unfavorably with Tully, in regards to looks and charisma. In college, “TullyandKate” pledge the same sorority and major in communications. Tully has a life goal for them both: They will become network TV anchorwomen. Tully lands an internship at KCPO-TV in Seattle and finagles a producing job for Kate. Kate no longer wishes to follow Tully into broadcasting and is more drawn to fiction writing, but she hesitates to tell her overbearing friend. Meanwhile a love triangle blooms at KCPO: Hard-bitten, irresistibly handsome, former war correspondent Johnny is clearly smitten with Tully. Expecting rejection, Kate keeps her infatuation with Johnny secret. When Tully lands a reporting job with a Today-like show, her career shifts into hyperdrive. Johnny and Kate had started an affair once Tully moved to Manhattan, and when Kate gets pregnant with daughter Marah, they marry. Kate is content as a stay-at-home mom, but frets about being Johnny’s second choice and about her unrealized writing ambitions. Tully becomes Seattle’s answer to Oprah. She hires Johnny, which spells riches for him and Kate. But Kate’s buttons are fully depressed by pitched battles over slutwear and curfews with teenaged Marah, who idolizes her godmother Tully. In an improbable twist, Tully invites Kate and Marah to resolve their differences on her show, only to blindside Kate by accusing her, on live TV, of overprotecting Marah. The BFFs are sundered. Tully’s latest attempt to salvage Cloud fails: The incorrigible, now geriatric hippie absconds once more. Just as Kate develops a spine, she’s given some devastating news. Will the friends reconcile before it’s too late?
Dated sermonizing on career versus motherhood, and conflict driven by characters’ willed helplessness, sap this tale of poignancy.Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-312-36408-3
Page Count: 496
Publisher: St. Martin's
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2007
BOOK TO SCREEN
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