Rise and Shine Audiobook By Anna Quindlen cover art

Rise and Shine

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Rise and Shine

By: Anna Quindlen
Narrated by: Carol Monda
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It's Monday morning when Meghan Fitzmaurice blows her perfect life to bits. The host of Rise and Shine, the country's highest-rated morning talk show, Meghan cuts to a commercial break, but not before she mutters two forbidden words into her open mike. It's the end of an era, not only for Meghan, a household face who is not equipped to deal with disgrace, but for her younger sister Bridget, a social worker in the Bronx who has always lived in Meghan's long shadow.

The effect of Meghan's on-air profanity and truth telling is felt by her son, her husband, her friends, her fans, and even the city of New York, the capital of appearance over reality. But above all it transforms the sister with whom she's shared everything, even the mixed blessings of fame.

What follows is a story about a city big enough to find prep school rappers, rich poseurs, familiar strangers, and autograph seekers in the same ladies room at a black-tie ball. But ultimately, it's about how, in very different ways, the Fitzmaurice girls whip the place into shape. Meghan and Bridget, Bridget and Meghan. They share smart mouths, a fractured childhood, and a powerful connection that even the worst tragedy can't rupture.

©2006 Anna Quindlen (P)2006 Recorded Books Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction

Critic reviews

  • Winner of Audio Publishers Association 2007 Audie Award, Fiction, Unabridged

"The prose is top-notch." (Publishers Weekly)
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I thought this was a great story and written with so much detail. I felt like I was a part of the story and knew the characters inside and out. The ending was very unexpected and had lots of twists and turns. I was sad when the story ended as it was all encompassing. I absolutely recommend this book

Sorry it had to end

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I loved this book. I loved the narration as well as the story. I felt like a part of the novel.

Great story

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It appears I disagree with the other reviewers here--I love this book, particularly in the audio form. I find the characters fascinating and well-described, and their interactions, motivations, and lives are the real plot-- the "action" at the end seems a bit tacked-on. The narration is excellent. This audiobook is a true "comfort-listen" for me.

Excellent listen

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This was a good book and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but the research on social workers left something to be desired, and once again leaves the profession looking somehow lacking. Shame on Miss Quindlen for not researching that aspect out better.

Love, Anna Quindlen

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This is another example for me not to pay too much attention to people’s negative reviews. I almost didn’t get this book because I saw a couple of complaints about Anna Quindlen’s writing style. It’s true that she has a unique talent for the art of digression in storytelling. But, that’s how she gives the reader context, and in so doing she also gives a sub-story. I absolutely loved this book, start to finish. It’s amusing, sad, insightful and poignant all wrapped in one. Great narration, truly well done.

Great story-telling

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I've read this book on paper and enjoyed it, and I usually like this narrator. But the narration here is very disappointing. The reader ends 2/3's of the sentences with the kind of lilt you associate with books for children. She reads "We had a conversation about genital mutilation" in exactly the voice one would expect for "Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy talked about Christmas." Moreover, she characterizes the voices inconsistently. The protagonist's boyfriend is sometimes from Brooklyn, sometimes from the deep South, and sometimes just gravelly. It's not so bad that I won't finish the book, but it's disappointing as heck.

Disappointing narration

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I really enjoyed this book and couldn't stop listening until I got to the end. More, please.

Caught my attention on the first page!

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Perfect symmetry: two sisters, one living the life of service to those who cannot serve themselves, a social worker. The other, living the self-centered, shallow life of a media personality. The third character is the city of New York, presented in all its consumerist, elitist glory. In spite of this obvious formula I thought the novel was elegant, sensitive, and beautifully written. Great characters, great dialogue, and great learning experiences for both protagonists.

I'm only giving it a 4, though 1) because there were some elements at the end that I found inconsistent with the alleged epiphany experienced by the shallow media guru, and 2) because the narrator's quirky pronunciation of the name "Meghan" was annoying, drawing out the first syllable a bit too long.

Other than that, this book, just like New York, is a perfect jewel. How could one look anywhere else?


The Manhattan Novel

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I’ve loved everything she has written, and this was not an exception. I’m waiting for her next great book. The narrator did a wonderful job.

Ms Quindlen never fails to impress

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Beaautifully written; beautifully narrated. Don't miss it.

A real treat!

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