Body Surfing

A Novel

By: Anita Shreve

Narrated by: Lolita Davidovich

At the age of 29, Sydney has already been once divorced and once widowed. Trying to regain her footing once again, she has answered an ad to tutor the teenage daughter of a well-to-do couple as they spend a sultry summer in their oceanfront New Hampshire cottage. But when the Edwards' two grown sons, Ben and Jeff, arrive at the beach house, Sydney finds herself caught up in a destructive web of old tensions and bitter divisions. As the brothers vie for her affections, the fragile existence Sydney has rebuilt for herself is threatened.

With the subtle wit, lyrical language, and brilliant insight into the human heart that has led her to be called "an author at one with her métier" (Miami Herald), Shreve weaves a novel about marriage, family, and the supreme courage that it takes to love.

©2007 Anita Shreve (P)2007 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"[Shreve's] control is masterful, particularly in the sure-handed and compassionate aftermath." (Publishers Weekly)
"In simple yet eloquent style, Shreve portrays the arc of a complicated romantic relationship, from infatuation to betrayal. What's more, she builds in a palpable sense of suspense as well as a deep empathy for human frailty. The ever-skillful Shreve delivers yet another gripping read that will satisfy her many fans and earn her some new ones." (Booklist)

Exceptional as Usual

The modern day Edith Wharton does it again! The magical way she entwines the lives at the mansion on the New Hampshire shore makes her one of my very favorite authors. Fortunes Rocks is still my favorite, but I look forward to each of her new books with great anticipation and am never disappointed. Davidovitch does an excellent job as reader!

easy listen

This was a nice, easy, mellow listen. The narrator was good, storyline kept me interested.

Light Read but Interesting

If you could sum up Body Surfing in three words, what would they be?

Rebound becomes betrayal

What was one of the most memorable moments of Body Surfing?

The light bulb moment when the one brother realized he had been betrayed by his brother.

Have you listened to any of Lolita Davidovich???s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

no

OK

not as gripping and complex as earlier Anita Shreve titles. She is usually one of my favorite authors. Quite predictable. I felt like she threw this together almost as an after thought. She even mentioned someone running the Boston Marathon "on a whim", obviously not researching it properly and finding that to enter Boston you must run a qualifying time in the previous 12 months....If you haven't read any of her previous work, download those before this one, they are all much better

body surfing

great book. anita shreve is very descriptive in her writing style and the story keeps getting better as it progresses. I would definately recommend this book.

Boring? Not!

Another stellar performance from Anita Shreve, who never dissappoints, with her incsiive insights into family relationships and rich, evocative sense of place.

At first I found the music a little intrusive and ominous but then I gradually warmed to the concept as it mirrored the various heartbreaking dysfunctions throughout the story.

A very sad tale of pain and loss but redemptive at the end. As I said it was heartbreaking but I stayed up nearly all night to finish.

A very good listen

Rather predictable but enjoyable. Interesting characters and the prose is very good.

Music intrusive, but overall, good.

I enjoyed this book. Shreve writes beautifully. She has a very lyrical prose that is inherent in her writing. I found this story to be vastly better than the other Shreve novel I tried to read, Where or When. I couldn't finish that one, the story being so horrible. But Body Surfing moved along at a pretty good clip and I found the characters intriguing.

In this audio recording, however, I found the music to be intrusive. i did not like that at all.

Over all, a good purchase.

Kill the music

The “light music” playing in the background killed this audible. No more Anita Shreve audibles for me.

body surfing

This book is one of the very worst, most boring I have ever read.