Beth Fish Reads: Today's Read & Giveaway: Shorecliff by Ursula DeYoung

30 July 2013

Today's Read & Giveaway: Shorecliff by Ursula DeYoung

How would you like to spend the summer on the coast of Maine with your extended family? Imagine that you're only thirteen, an only child, and the youngest of your ten cousins; what would you do to fit in with the other kids? Richard Killing has at least one trait his Hatfield cousins like: He is an expert eavesdropper. What will Richard do with the information he acquires?

The summer when I was thirteen years old changed everything for me. Looking back on it now, I can fill in the gaps with what I learned later, but at the time it seemed like a story unto itself, and that is the way I want to tell it. When I got back to school in September, I thought to myself, "I've been through hell this past month, and not one of you knows a godamn thing about it." I'd picked up swearing that summer, but it wasn't the worst thing I had picked up, and it wasn't the most lasting. What I like to remember best are the mornings in Uncle Kurt's room when he would regale me with tales of the war. But what I remember most vividly is a bright patch of flames surrounding something so horrible I couldn't bear to look at it. That comes at the end. I will take my time getting there.

—Shorecliff by Ursula DeYoung (Hachette Book Group / Little, Brown, 2013, p. 1)

Quick Facts

Setting: Maine coast; family vacation home; summer 1928
Circumstances: Richard Killing spends the summer with his maternal relatives; Richard is somewhat withdrawn and finds it easy to learn people's secrets and listen in on their conversations; when secrets are exposed, life is changed
Characters: Richard, 13 years old; his mother and father; his aunts and their husbands; his ten cousins, aged 21 to 13
Genre: general fiction; historical fiction
Themes & plot lines: secrets; family; marriages; siblings; extended family; America before the Depression; love; loyalty
Miscellaneous: Author DeYoung's debut novel

The Giveaway

Doesn't Shorecliff sound great? I love the coastal Maine setting, the time period, and the family themes (and secrets). I've only just started this, but I'm already intrigued. Thanks to Little, Brown (who will be mailing the books) I'm able to give away a copy of Ursula DeYoung's debut novel to two of my readers. To be eligible for this giveaway, you must have a US or Canada mailing address. Just fill out the form and I'll pick two winners via random number generator on August 10. Once the winners are confirmed, I'll erase all personal data from my computer. Good luck!

ISBN-13: 9780316213394
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).

18 comments:

Karen and Gerard, 7/30/13, 6:31 AM: Great teaser! Sounds intriguing.
I don't want to put my address in the form on here but if you email me at zemeks at sbcglobal dot net, I can give it to you. Sounds like a good book!

Here's ours: http://www.ourstack.blogspot.com/2013/07/tuesday-teasers-four-for-you_30.html
rhapsodyinbooks, 7/30/13, 6:42 AM: How sort of odd that so many books are set in Maine! I think I need to go there - it must be inspirational in some way!
Anonymous, 7/30/13, 8:17 AM: Keep reading! It sounds brilliant and I love books set in Maine!
Anonymous, 7/30/13, 8:21 AM: Actually, I just checked out some reviews over at Goodreads... Not only is it set in Maine but also in the 1920s - my favourite era. Added to my towering TBR stack!
bermudaonion, 7/30/13, 9:08 AM: I can imagine all kinds of misunderstandings coming about because of that eavesdropping!
Laurel-Rain Snow, 7/30/13, 9:39 AM: Oh, I love this kind of read...it takes me back to my weekend and summer events with my cousins, and how you had to work hard to be noticed.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's MY TUESDAY MEMES POST
Heather, 7/30/13, 10:48 AM: Excellent teaser -- this book does sound intriguing.
The Last Slayer, 7/30/13, 2:48 PM: I'm outside the US & Canada, more's the pity! It sounds like it's really well written. Here's my teaser: http://ahellofawoman.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/teaser-tuesday_30.html
Beth Hoffman, 7/30/13, 3:19 PM: Terrific teaser! It was just yesterday that I became aware of this debut, and I must say it sounds really good.
Anonymous, 7/30/13, 4:11 PM: Sounds like a captivating read, good teaser.

http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2013/07/teaser-tuesday_30.html
Margot, 7/30/13, 4:41 PM: Very good beginning. I'd keep reading because I like stories from the point of view of this age group. Think CeeCee Honeycutt.
Nise' , 7/30/13, 4:59 PM: It does sound good! Thanks for the giveaway.
Karen Harrington, 7/30/13, 5:03 PM: Oh, this sounds right up my reading alley.
(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea, 7/30/13, 8:21 PM: I LOVE that intro and honestly, am drawn to this type of narrator in my reading -- sounds good.

Thanks for joining us.
Naomi Hop, 7/31/13, 4:39 AM: Sounds like an interesting book, thanks for sharing!
Thanx for visiting my TT
Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace
Daryl, 7/31/13, 10:32 AM: sounds good ... thanks
Leslie (Under My Apple Tree), 7/31/13, 11:02 AM: Sounds like a great read. I already have a copy that I'm looking forward to reading.
Jennifer, 7/31/13, 1:18 PM: I'm definitely intrigued by this one!

Thanks for the opportunity to get the book!