Fiona Range

I had high hopes for this novel as I loved “Songs in Ordinary Time,” but this seems like it isn’t even by the same author. A circular story that endlessly spins around a woman constantly making poor choices, having the same conversations with the same characters without end; I finished reading this mostly out of spite. The writing itself was almost juvenile, such a departure from Songs in Ordinary Time and entirely confusing in its repetition of scenarios.

After sludging through a few bad novels, I picked up Fiona Range, expecting something similar to her Songs in Ordinary Time. Although I enjoyed Songs immensely, I was very much surprised and excited to meet Fiona. Fiona Range is a troubled thirty-something living in a small town where everything is everyone else's business. She is haunted by her mother, who disappeared shortly after Fiona's birth and a semi-psycho man she knows to be her father. Added to that are her aunt and uncle's family, with whom she grew up with, that expects Fiona to be just as perfect as they are. Fiona often finds herself in compromising situations. She drinks a little too much, finds one-night stands a bit too often and falls in lust/love too easily. Needless to say, this novel has a ton of potential. Mary McGarry Morris did such a wonderful job with this book, with well developed characters, a lot of action and plenty of tears to go around. A great read!

Mary McGarry Morris has a winner on her hands. This book is just wonderful. I think it could possibly be one of the best books I have read this summer (and, I've read a lot) but, this one has everything you need. The characters, story, plot, setting, etc...I found it thrilling, charming and wonderfully told. Others have said it's no better than a cheap "dime-store" romance novel, but I disagree. I thought it was well written and very nicely told. It's a smart book by a gifted author. Certainly one I would recommend to others.

Where do I start? At the beginning of course. Fiona's character jumps off the page from the start, in fact her life was thrilling to the end of the novel. Morris once again paints a complete portrait of a woman. By the time I finished I felt I knew Fiona inside and out. If she waited on me at the local diner here in town, I'd spot her before I read her nametage. But it wasn't just Fiona. This book is packed with 3-dimensional characters. The judge-what a crafty, yet somehow still respectable man. (By the way, has anyone stopped to follow how Morris portrays judges in her four novels? That would be an interesting essay itself) His wife, Aunt Arlene-keeping up appearances no matter the cost. Dear Elizabeth-Almost as complex a character as Fiona. Get this book, you won't be disappointed.

Once I picked FIONA up I couldn't put her down. I suspect that's how a lot of the other men whom she encountered in her life felt too. FIONA is voracious and demanding and very pleasing as well. Bet you can't tell if I mean the heroine or the book itself. You've got to get this one and find out. I can't get FIONA out of my head. ENJOY!

Fiona Range is a revealing book about a young woman who learns to take her place in the world, in spite of her step-family's well-meaning attempts to keep her an outsider. Fiona is raised by her maternal aunt and uncle and grows up with three cousins, one of whom is also her best friend. While Fiona is attractive and witty, she's also a hellion facing a turning point in her life. She is searching for the reasons why she is such a difficult person, and why she is so unappreciative of her step-family's 'good deeds'. Fiona's life changes when she digs up the family secrets and asks to have the record set straight.Fiona Range is a great study of the kinds of people who take in 'abandoned' children and undermine those children's fragile sense of security by 'unintentionally' reminding them of their second-class status. It is also a great study of the development of the classic 'guarded personality'.Thoroughly enjoyed the book. Whisked through 418 pages in two-days. I couldn't put it down.