August 13, 2010 7:16 am
Strangers at the Feast by Jennifer Vanderbes
Simon & Schuster
August 2010
Here’s the blurb from the publisher:
On Thanksgiving Day 2007, as the country teeters on the brink of a recession, three generations of the Olson family gather. Eleanor and Gavin worry about their daughter, a single academic, and her newly adopted Indian child, and about their son, who has been caught in the imploding real-estate bubble. While the Olsons navigate the tensions and secrets that mark their relationships, seventeen-year-old Kijo Jackson and his best friend Spider set out from the nearby housing projects on a mysterious job. A series of tragic events bring these two worlds ever closer, exposing the dangerously thin line between suburban privilege and urban poverty, and culminating in a crime that will change everyone’s life.
I am so excited about this book! There is nothing greater than being excited over a book and then getting the said book in the mail. It’s the best feeling ever! I have to tell you though, when I received this one, I thought for one heart-stopping second that the cover was actually torn, FOR REAL. You see how the cover is torn? Well that tear looks so real that I ran my hand over it numerous times to confirm that it wasn’t.
Anyway, I love the idea of following a family on a specific day. What makes it more intriguing is that the day happens to be Thanksgiving. I don’t know about you but I’ve experienced my fair share of family drama on Thanksgiving. I mean, who hasn’t?
I am also in full FALL mode. My kids are in school and summer is pretty much over for me. I’m ready for Pumpkin Soy Lattes and warm, cushy sweaters. I can’t wait to sink my teeth into this book.
What about you? Besides the long-awaited Mockingjay, what are you excited about?
Posted by Ti
Categories: Bookish Talk
Tags: © 2010 Book Chatter, Book Shout-Out, Bookish Chatter, Fiction, Jennifer Vanderbes, Strangers at the Feast
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I’m excited about this one too!
By bermudaonion on August 13, 2010 at 8:10 am
Me too, Ti — so ready for Fall. It is my favorite season. I actually even had a dream about it last night! So it’s funny you posted about it today.
I can’t wait for yummy scented Fall candles, a new season of my favorite TV shows, cozier clothes, shorter days, trying out the fireplace… I could go on, but don’t want to write an entire post in your ocmments section. 🙂
By Wallace on August 13, 2010 at 10:13 am
Oh! The Fall candles. I love them all. My friend sells PartyLite so I usually have quite a few on hand.
By Ti on August 13, 2010 at 10:21 am
I’m excited for Fall too, so much so that I got excited about the pre-season pro football that was on tv the other day (and I don’t even like watching pro football). It’s just one more thing that means fall is near.
By Alyce on August 13, 2010 at 10:44 am
I got excited too and I don’t like football that much either. Made me think of SuperBowl.
By Ti on August 13, 2010 at 11:15 am
OMG…you are so funny and I did the exact same thing…two or three times…I was so puzzled about how the cover got torn…hee hee hee…mmmm…I love Starbucks pumpkin lattes…the first sign of Fall and I love fall…I can’t wait to read that book…and I have been looking at the big oversized sweaters online at FreePeople…I have to have all of them…
By Patty on August 13, 2010 at 11:07 am
What are you doing to me?? Better question, what are you doing to my wallet? I’ve not heard of Free People before but I had to Google it since you mentioned it and now “I” have to have all of those sweaters (in my dreams, but maybe one?)
By Ti on August 13, 2010 at 11:17 am
I just want some cold weather. I want sweaters and soup and hot chocolate. And Mockingjay. I have the audio pre-ordered and the kids and I can’t stand waiting. I actually don’t have much of a clue on what is coming out. I am pretty focused on what is sitting on my nightstand and on my iPod!
By Sandy on August 13, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Oh, this is the one you were telling me about! I can’t wait to hear about it! I think the fake tear would drive me crazy – I’d constantly be tugging at it! :–)
By rhapsodyinbooks on August 13, 2010 at 6:02 pm
I have this one on my shelf and now you have me excited about it! Fall in general is sort of a downer for me, baseball is winding down, eventually it is going to get a bit cooler, etc.
By Gwen on August 13, 2010 at 9:56 pm
Fall is a big downer for my husband too. Makes it hard since I love it so 😉
By Ti on August 15, 2010 at 7:00 pm
I think Im ready for fall as well but I think its because its been raining the past few days.
By Jessica on August 14, 2010 at 3:33 am
Raining? Really? What part of the world are you from? I live in So California and rain is a rarity for us. The summer has been incredibly mild for us this year. Usually it’s about 105 in August but it’s averaged about 80 degrees this year so far. I love it.
Hope you enjoy the weekend. I love to read when it’s raining 🙂
By Ti on August 14, 2010 at 9:19 am
I’m not ready yet for the summer to end, although I do wish September would hurry up and get here. I heard it’s going to be getting much warmer soon out my way so I think summer is going to exert her authority for a bit longer whether we want her to or not. Enjoy your new book, Ti!
By Literary Feline on August 15, 2010 at 10:15 am
Our summer has been so mild here in So. Cal. They say we are supposed to get quite an increase in temps this week but I don’t see it happening. I am loving the fair, 85 degree temps.
By Ti on August 15, 2010 at 6:45 pm
This book sounds fabulous and I thought it was torn, too! LOL! As for fall – I love it! Who doesn’t? The change of seasons is brilliant and fall is where its at. I love the cooler weather, the upcoming Halloween and Christmas decorations in stores, the coziness of it all. And a hot choccy – yummy! Its funny you mentioned fall, because the other day the weather was sort of grey and cool and just very fallish that I wished we had skipped ahead a bit and were already in the midst of fall. Anyhow, can’t wait to read your post on this book – should be an interesting read! ENJOY!!
By Nadia on August 15, 2010 at 10:23 am
Oh yes…hot chocolate is yummy too. Starbucks makes a white hot choc that is to die for. Yum!!
Hey, I finally saw the finale to The Hills. The ending was so weird!! I saw the after show too and Kristen said that they’ll never tell which story lines were real, and which weren’t. I thought it odd that Speidi was not in the finale OR the after show. Perhaps their divorce drama is real.
I loved that show because it didn’t suck up a lot of my time, and it was so watchable (full of drama).
By Ti on August 15, 2010 at 6:50 pm
I am very anxious to read this one as well. AS for FALL, bring it on…I’ve had enough hot, humid weather an look forward to no air and open windows every day and night. As for school. kids don’t go back here until the first week of September.
By diane on August 15, 2010 at 12:21 pm
This sounds great! I’ve been out of the blogging loop a bit this summer so am not as up on the new books. I’m not ready for summer to end though but am tired of the heat & humidity. My son doesn’t go back to school for a few weeks yet. I love fall so will be ready for it next month:)
By Bonnie on August 15, 2010 at 12:25 pm
That rip in the cover would drive me crazy. It does look real!
By Jenners on August 15, 2010 at 4:57 pm
You got me pretty excited about this AND pumpkin Lattes!!
By Toni Gomez on August 15, 2010 at 11:25 pm
I avoid all Thanksgiving celebrations now. Isn’t that sad? I just can’t submit to the torment. LOL I’m glad you are excited about this book and I think it is funny how you ran your hand over the cover to make sure it wasn’t ripped. Too funny.
By Wisteria Leigh on August 16, 2010 at 5:30 am
Hi – saw this shout out and the book does look interesting! Isn’t it wonderful to be excited about books?
Thanks for sharing and enjoy the book!
By MarthaE on August 18, 2010 at 10:40 am