Title:Appetite
Author:Sheila Grinell
Published:May 2017, She Writes Press
Format:Paperback, 328 pages
When Jenn Adler returns
from a year in India, she has a surprise for her parents: a young guru
from Bangalore whom she intends to marry. Her father, Paul, is wary of
this beggar Jenn has brought home who, he suspects, is conning his
much-loved daughter while her mother, Maggie, is frightened that this
alien stranger will steal away her only child, her focus in life. In the
months leading up to the backyard wedding, Maggie is forced to
reevaluate her virtues as she casts about for support, and Paul faces an
unexpected threat at work one that Maggie could help him meet, if he
would only ask. But even with these distractions, the two parents are
focused on one primary question: Can they convince their daughter she is
making a terrible mistake before the wedding takes place?
What readers are saying:
“Appetite examines the different ways we seek satisfaction in our
lives―some of us are hungry for power, others for love, and some find
comfort in duty and tradition. This realistic and engrossing portrait of
two generations is a promising first novel with wide appeal.” —Booklist
“Sheila Grinell’s debut novel Appetite
takes us into the heart of a family being torn apart by conflicting
beliefs about what constitutes love, marriage, and success. Do parents
have the right to try to stop an adult child from marrying if they see
disaster looming, or should they back off and wait to pick up the
pieces? In this tight, well-written novel, Grinell highlights the
conflict between youthful idealism and adult disillusionment in ways
that are both moving and thought-provoking.” –Mary Mackey, author of the New York Times bestseller A Grand Passion
“Appetite
is the story of the conflict between a boomer couple, Maggie and Paul
Adler, and Jenn, their millennial daughter, over the daughter’s
impending marriage to an Indian guru. It is an engrossing account of a
struggle to find common ground about how life should be lived. Long-held
principles can be lost, debased, and degraded over time, sometimes to
disastrous effect, while hopeful and idealistic plans for the future
remain untried. This intergenerational drama of relationships, both
long-established and newly formed, makes for a gripping journey―not only
for the characters but for the reader as well. Sheila Grinell has done a
splendid job in this fascinating first novel.” –Mickey Friedman, author of Hurricane Season
“In
her debut novel, Sheila Grinell weaves a rich and sensual tapestry of
individuals held together by devotion and duty. Taut and sexy, Appetite
is a story about finding your own way and the magnetic appeal of youth,
ambition, and freedom. A fun read that will leave you hungry for more.” –Gina Gotsill, co-author of Surviving the Baby Boomer Exodus: Capturing Knowledge for Gen X and Y Employees
Appetite by Sheila Grinell is one of BookSparks “Summer Reads” reading selection picks.
Follow the #SRC2016, #BestSRCEver and
#BestSummerEver hashtags on twitter to read reviews on this book as well
as reviews on the other summer books!
