They are first to arrive at the Estate House, of which Oscar is part owner. There’s Elfrieda Phipps, a retired actress, and Oscar Blundell, a man who recently lost his family in a car crash (or smash, as they say over there). Winter Solstice mostly takes place over a few weeks around Christmastime, as an unlikely group of people find themselves sharing a home in Scotland. Winter Solstice is much anticipated, but unfortunately it is somewhat disappointing. Since Pilcher is not a particularly fast writer, fans must wait years between books. A beautiful place, where everyone’s house has a charming name and people always have delightful conversations over tea. Sinead O’Connor may tell us that “England’s not the mythical land of Madame George and roses,” but when you read Pilcher’s books, you can’t help thinking that England is something of a mythical land after all. I’m not usually a big fan of women’s fiction, but I always read Rosamunde Pilcher.
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While bathing the dog, Travis sees GH3 tattooed on its ear, and concludes it is a research dog, which would explain its superior intellect. She allows him to keep it when Travis shows the level of intelligence that the dog possesses. At home, Travis' mother is displeased about the dog. Travis is puzzled as to why the men were armed. The men claim that she has been transferred to a better location. Travis pushes past them into Tracey's room, only to find it completely empty. Travis and his mother rush to the hospital, but Agent Johnson and his partner will not allow them to see her. The next morning, Travis's mother informs him that there has been an accident and that Tracey is in the hospital. Meanwhile, an NSO agent named Lem Johnson is dispatched by the corporation to retrieve the animals. Travis starts to realize the dog is extraordinary and decides to keep it. Meanwhile, Travis finds the dog in the back of his car and a military/police force is sweeping the area for the escapees. Tracey discovers the beast and screams, summoning her father who is attacked. Thinking it is her father, Travis leaves. In the barn, Travis Cornell is with his girlfriend Tracey. A mutated monster known as the OXCOM (Outside Experimental Combat Mammal) escapes and chases a golden retriever from the same lab, through the surrounding woods. An explosion occurs in a classified research laboratory, causing an intense fire. But the audio production distracts from the story, as all the talent and skill Farsad shows in voicing characters gets lost when listeners are pulled out of the audio experience by loud breathing and mouth noises. Leila’s older sister and her frenemies get nuanced cattiness, and she voices young men with a slightly nasal tone. She gives Leila a delightful crinkly voice, perfect for the wry humor and self-deprecation of the character. She trills as Leila’s mother and lowers her voice believably for her father. But when Saskia, a gorgeous new student shows some interest in Leila, the latter grapples with her fears and feelings. She knows this will make her stand out even more at her mostly WASP-y school, and she cannot begin to imagine how her parents will react. Farizan is just the voice YA needs right now. She’s flying below the radar for safety’s sake: Leila is just figuring out that she likes girls. SPECIAL FREE PREVIEW Both personal and universal, this is a compelling story about high school, family and owning up to who you really are. While her older sister is pre-med at Harvard, Leila is just getting by at her private high school. 3.82 avg rating 10,725 ratings published 2014 18 editions. Leila’s family is Persian, conservative, and strict, and her parents expect big things from their daughters. Average rating 3.81 34,871 ratings 6,134 reviews shelved 164,064 times. She is not enamored of schoolwork or keeping up with her older sister’s accomplishments. Leila is a high school junior who enjoys video games and hanging out with her friends. |