Monday, May 30, 2011

The Arrivals - Meg Mitchell Moore - Review AND Giveaway


The Arrivals is Meg Mitchell Moore's debut novel.

Ginny and William Owens are happily retired. They've raised three children and are now enjoying puttering, gardening, time with each other and....the quiet.

"In the moment, you were often too tired to enjoy watching your children turn into people. It was such a busy time, so demanding. There was always somebody with a science project due the next day, always a lesson or a practice to get to, always a meal to cook or a stray mitten to find. And then suddenly everyone had cleared out, flung themselves out into the big world, two of them to New York City, Lillian to Massachusetts, calling, sure, e-mailing often, even visiting, but they were gone, truly gone, replaced by the silence - beautiful and blessed, of course, but still, sometimes, she had to admit, strange and unnatural."

And that quiet lasts until their daughter Lillian arrives with her 3 year old and newborn. Her marriage is in trouble and home is the first place she heads. Son Stephen comes to visit with his pregnant wife Jane. The house is getting a little fuller and a lot noisier.....and finally, the youngest, Rachel, arrives home as well. Single life in New York City has taken it toll and she too heads home to recharge her batteries.

Moore has perfectly captured the emotions, tensions, love, headaches and joy of a family reunited under one roof as adults. (with a few additions) Moore's characters are all incredibly well portrayed.  I found myself reacting strongly to a number of them. And that's the mark of a good writer - when you respond to fictional characters and are drawn into their world. While The Arrivals is the tale of the Owens family, the focus is on mothers and mothers-to-be at varying stages of their lives. With the empty nest looming in my near future, I enjoyed Moore's exploration of family dynamics.

"While they talked, Ginny looked out at the lake and let her thoughts float and settle, trying to put her finger on what it was she was feeling, where this sense of peace and fulfillment was coming from. And while she couldn't articulate it exactly, she thought that probably the presence of all of the people in her house - all these different creatures, with their hungers and their desires and their moods and their love - was allowing her to feel necessary, to feel loved and embraced again, in a way that she hadn't realized she'd stopped feeling. Hadn't realized she'd been missing."

The Arrivals marks the arrival of a strong new voice in women's fiction - I look forward to future offerings from Meg Mitchell Moore. Book clubs would enjoy the varying themes presented in this novel - a reading group guide is available.

You can find Meg on Twitter and Facebook.

And thanks to the generosity of The Hachette Book Group, I have two copies of The Arrivals to giveaway. Simply comment to be entered. Open to US and Canada, no PO boxes please. One winner per household. Ends Sat. June 18th at 6 pm EST. Good luck and check the sidebar for ongoing giveaways.

72 comments:

Pam (@iwriteinbooks) said...

Wow, ok, this is sort of like hitting me from both sides....feeling like the one who flew the nest but recently really get in closer physical contact my parents, again, but also watching my little guy growing up rapidly. This looks excellent, though, possibly a tearjerker?! ;O)






iwriteinbooks at gmail dot com

Linda said...

Indeed this sounds like a strong voice in women's fiction. Great, timely plot for today's world. Thanks for the giveaway.
lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

KR said...

This sounds great. I am a new empty nester. Is it horrible to say that after a year, I am finally enjoying it?? (That first year was NOT fun tho!!)

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

Tamye said...

Hi Luanne,

I'm also facing an empty nest son as my daughter gets ready to graduate and go away for university, so the topic for this book is timely. Please enter me into the giveaway for this book. I'd really like to read it. Thanks.

Tamye

debbie said...

I think this is happening alot with this economy. I would love to read this book.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

traveler said...

This beautiful book sounds typical of what is occurring in our world at this time. Thanks for this great giveaway. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

petite said...

The characters and story sound compelling. Interesting and appealing giveaway. thanks. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

Mary (Bookfan) said...

This hits close to home so I'd like to read it!

meah56 at gmail dot com

Just Mom said...

I think this one sounds great, please enter me.
theroundfile at live dot com

PoCoKat said...

Sounds amazing!

littleone AT shaw DOT ca

bermudaonion said...

I love great characters so this book sounds like one I'd like. No need to enter me.

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed your review and would love to read The Arrivals :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

This sounds like such a great book and I would love to read it!
mkbrander at yahoo dot com

Carol N Wong said...

Well, I have had the empty nest syndrome but never the bird returning to the nest. I would to read this book.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Graciegreen said...

Sounds good! I will buy it if I don't win it! I won a copy of Born Under a Lucky Moon and am nearly done reading it. Enjoying the book so much. I am a Yooper and have been to many of the places in the book. Also laughing outloud! Thanks!! tillienedeau@gmail.com

Meg Mitchell Moore said...

Thank you so much for hosting me here, and for the thoughtful review. Hello to all of your blog readers!

Linda Kish said...

I would love to read this book.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Judy H said...

I would be hiding in a corner from all the stress if this was me.

headlessfowl at gmail dot com

Meredith said...

I'm just a couple of years away from my boys leaving the nest. I was a return-to-the-nester once myself.

meredithfl at gmail dot com

In Julie's Opinion said...

I have kids that have flown the nest and come back and kids who are not quite old enough to leave yet, so I've got the whole spectrum covered! I would love to read this book:)
jwitt33 at live dot com

Tiffany Drew said...

This book looks amazing, I would love to read it! Thank you for the chance at winning a copy :)

jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

Maureen said...

This is a book I would like to read.
mce1011 AT aol DOT com

Margie said...

Sounds like a fascinating storyline. Thanks for the giveaway.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Sassy said...

This sounds like such a great book. Pick me, pick me please! ;) Thank you so much for this giveaway.

sassysasha817 at gmail dot com

JHS said...

I'm always on the lookout for new authors -- or new to me authors!

JHS
Colloquium

jhsmail at comcast dot net

Hail the Written Word said...

This seems really interesting. It also has positive feedbacks in amazon. I'd really love to read it. Please add me to the list. Thanks!:)

Frances - bookaholic1213@gmail [dot] com

Unknown said...

This seems like it would be an excellent read.
Please include me in the giveaway.
Mike
mikedraper1042@yahoo.com

shanaelyse said...

This looks like a great summer read!

shanaelyse@gmail.com

The Giveaway Diva said...

i enjoyed reading your review and this seems like it would be a great read

nicolemarielum@ gmail.com

McKim said...

I would love to read this book. I'm a fairly new empty nester, hoping this doesn't happen to me!

Laura Kay said...

WOULD LOVE TO WIN!

Mary said...

I have this on my must-read list! Great giveaway :)

mryward(at)yahoo(dot)com

Caryn said...

Thanks for the giveaway!

Mel said...

I would love to win this book!

mel1212(at)hotmail(dot)ca

Nicole C. said...

I would love to read this book.

choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

Faith Hope and Cherrytea said...

i'm totally taken with this novel - frm cover to storyline! thx for this opp to win ~ frm another mom!

Amber said...

Thank you so much for the giveaway!
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

dwarzel said...

Count me in, please!

dwarzel at hotmail.com

Literary Chanteuse said...

This sounds like such a great book! Thanks for the giveaway!

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

linett said...

great summer reading, thanks

janeh said...

sounds fascinating!

holdenj said...

This sounds like a book I'd really like to read. Thanks for the info and chance to win!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

409cope said...

This sounds like a great book that I would love to read while curled up beside the pool.cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com

Dolly said...

I can view this from both sides. I'm very relieved my son isn't at home; yet I'm not so far removed from when I had to live at home that I don't recall it. (and would NEVER want to repeat it!)
I'd love an opportunity to win this book; thank you so much.

leonel said...

Sounds like a very interesting book


leonelescota AT gmail

ChristyJan said...

I can relate to this story and would love to win a copy of the book.

hawkes(at)citlink.net

Jeryl M. said...

I'd like to read this book.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Patti V said...

This book sounds very good. Would love to read this one!

sweetsue said...

I would like to read this. My adult son recently moved back home and his 8 month old son is often here too.
smchester at gmail dot com

rubynreba said...

Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the chance to win it.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Becky said...

Would love to win this <3

Linda L. said...

This sounds like a great book about family coming together. Can't wait to read!

Kaye said...

Ooh, I love this type of story especially when the author can "draw you into their world". Sounds wonderful.

florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Unknown said...

This sounds like a very real, human story. Poor Ginny and William, I hope it all works out for the Owens!

Thank you for another great giveaway!
Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

Debbie Kennedy said...

I've seen this book mentioned on several websites - it sounds like a possible true-to-like situation. I would really like to read this.
cleaningrhouse at yahoo dot com

shanaelyse said...

This looks like a great read!

Shana
shanaelyse@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a wonderful book, would love the chance to read it.
shawnac68@hotmail.com

nfmgirl said...

I'm seeing this one everywhere! Please count me in. Thank you!

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

StereoQueenBee said...

Am absolutely interested in this book!!!

queenofcrunk at gmail dot com

April said...

Thanks for the contest.following on GFC

Anonymous said...

I would like to read this book!

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

i hope i win

jim.coyne2@verizon.net

Kathy P said...

Thank you for the great giveaway please count me in :)
kathypease(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

It sounds like an interesting book. I sould love to read it. Thanks. garrettsambo@aol.com

mom2girls said...

This sounds like a brilliant summer read, I would love to have a go at it and then pass it on to my mom who would love it as well I am sure!
tracyschultz@yahoo.com

Timshaun said...

This sounds like a really good book.
Shaunda.Eppes at gmail dot com

degood said...

I have had this on my summer reading list since I read the first blog review of it months ago. I would love to win a copy to read at the beach this summer.

kerrie@mayansfamily.com

esldiane@gmail.com said...

I follow via google and am in the empty nest stage now.
DianeBaum
esldiane@Gmail.com

babytrees said...

I am trying to figure out how to parent an "adult" Would be nice to have a fictional account of those farther out.

theresa _ heppner at yahoo dot com

Nancye said...

This sounds like a great book! Count me in!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

dvice12 said...

This would be great

Charlene Kuser said...

I enjoy reading a story that relates
to women's feeling and emotions.We
all put a lot of energy into our children and then they are gone one
day.I can relate to this author and would love to read her book.Thanks

CharlieGurl57@aol.com