Joyce maynards fantastic novel under the influence is one of those books that grabs your attention right from the beginning and never lets go. It should be added, however, that maynard has slowly but surely compiled an impressive body of fiction, including 2009s labor day, which was turned into a 20 film starring josh brolin and kate winslet. It doesnt start flashy, with a grisly murder or great drama, rather we learn that protagonist is moving to a new town with her son when she sees a woman she hasnt seen in ten years. Joyce maynard under the influence corte madera book. Her marriage has fallen apart, and she has lost custody of her sevenyearold son, ollie. Nevertheless, maynard deftly portrays helens sense of helplessness and vulnerability as events build to a disturbing climax. In under the influence, helens life has unraveled due to her excessive drinking. Shes accumulated one marriage, three children, and one divorce. The new york times bestselling author of labor day and after h. Chicago turabian humanities citation style guide maynard, joyce, 1953, under the influence. Under the influence is the newest release by joyce maynard.
Once an aspiring art photographer, she now makes ends meet taking portraits of school children and working for a caterer. Under the influence is a whirlwind through and through and is not one to be missed. The new york times bestselling author of labor day and after her returns with a poignant story about the true meaningand the true priceof friendship. Helen was devastated after a drinking bout and a dwi led to the loss of custody of her son, ollie. Wally lamb its a story about the pull of consuming friendships, of seeking to escape into the lives of others, of possession and illusion. A curious mixture of thriller and drama, under the influence offers a life lesson about mistakes which can cost us dearly, and how those who claim to be. Selfpitying joyce maynard heroine falls under the influence. Once an aspiring art photographer, she now makes ends meet taking portraits of school children and working for a. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read under the influence. March 2016 i always like joyce maynards writing and find her books to be compelling and memorable reads. Today on book club girl on air were sharing a podcast with bestselling author and book club favorite joyce maynard as she discusses her novel under the influence, on sale in trade paperback now about the under the influence the new york times bestselling author of labor day and after her returns with a poignant story about the true meaningand the true priceof friendship. The delivery was superb, i was immersed in the very realistic story from the very beginning. Under the influence is ultimately an absorbing portrait of complex characters confronting real problems. Maynards latest is the cleverly titled under the influence.
Feb 23, 2016 helen, the protagonist of joyce maynards new novel, under the influence william morrow, 321 pp. Buy a cheap copy of under the influence book by joyce maynard. Maynard skims the surface of these characters, never delving too deeply, the helpless child the linchpin for emotional context. At the end of the book, the authors notes share that elliot my favorite character is based on maynards husband and it made me wish that everyone had an elliot in their life as maynard and helen did. Citation formats are based on standards as of july 2010. As helen increasingly falls under the havillands influence running errands, doing random chores, questioning her relationship with elliottava and swift hold out the most seductive gift. In february, the same month she published under the influence about a single mother with a drinking addictionshe announced her decadeslong struggle with alcoholism. An illuminating and mesmerizing novel publishers weekly, read by the bestselling author herself. Nov 22, 2016 under the influence by joyce maynard the new york times bestselling author of labor day and after her returns with a poignant story about the true meaning and the true price of friendship. Under the influence book by joyce maynard thriftbooks. The book is long and covers a wide range of emotions and events, and though it does have a slow start, once the reader is caught maynard will have their attention hook, line, and sinker until the very last word. Her newest book, under the influence satisfied me beyond my expectations. As helen increasingly falls under the havillands influencerunning errands, doing random chores, questioning her relationship with elliottava and swift hold out the most seductive gift. Wally lamb its a story about the pull of consuming friendships, of seeking to escape into the lives of others, of possession and illusion and you will not be able to put it down until maynard herself releases you.
I have, of course, heard of joyce maynard before, but have never read a book she has written. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Under the influence book columbus metropolitan library. Wealthy, connected philanthropists, they have their own. When she meets ava and swift havilland, the vulnerable helen is instantly enchanted. Maynard is now the author of nine novels and four works of nonfiction. I read under the influence in a few hours, i truly did not want to put.
When i saw under the influence, i was excited to finally get a chance to read one of her books. Under the influence ebook by joyce maynard rakuten kobo. Under the influence joyce maynard the literary edit. Helen, the protagonist of joyce maynards new novel, under the influence william morrow, 321 pp. William morrow, an imprint of harpercollinspublishers, 2016. Under the influence is the second maynard audio book i read, and as you can see from my rating, i enjoyed it a great deal. Helen loses custody of her son, because of driving under the influence. Sometimes when your life begins to spiral out of control, the sympathetic ear of a new friend may seem like the bright spot in those otherwise dark days.
Helens firstperson narrative details her adult life and how it spiraled out. Drinking cost helen her marriage and custody of her sevenyearold son, ollie. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Hello select your address best sellers gift ideas new releases deals store gift ideas new releases deals store. Helens firstperson narrative details her adult life and how it spiraled out of control after the divorce from her exhusband dwight. In this, her ninth novel, maynard depicts one womans moral dilemma. Under the influence book pima county public library.
Not the audiobook version, but i would recommend the paper copy version. This article was originally published in the march 2016 issue of bookpage. William morrow, an imprint of harpercollinspublishers. In under the influence, alcohol cost helen her marriage and custody of david, her sevenyearold son. Then one evening, a habit of drinking too much wine before bed has disastrous consequences. Under the influence book snoisle libraries bibliocommons. As helen increasingly falls under the havillands influence running errands, doing random chores, questioning her relationship with elliott ava and swift hold out the most seductive gift. Book tour under the influence by joyce maynard dreams. The new york times bestselling author of labor day and after her returns with a poignant story about the true meaningan.
Helens firstperson narrative details her adult life and how it spiraled out of control after the divorce from her ex. Alcoholism is the fulcrum for the drama in under the influence. Though she once had aspirations to be an art photographer, she makes ends meet taking pictures of gradeschool children and working society parties for a catering company. Good discussion topics of a very needy person who is down on her luck being manipulated and used by a power couple.
Under the influence by joyce maynard the new york times bestselling author of labor day and after her returns with a poignant story about the true meaning and the true price. Recently divorced, helen is entranced when she gets in the good graces of powercouple ava and swift havilland. I always like joyce maynards writing and find her books to be compelling and memorable reads. Her career as a photographer is on the skids like the rest of her life. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Recovering from her addiction, she spends her evenings checking out profiles on an online dating site. I did not particularly care for joyce maynard also the author as the narrator. Under the influence by joyce maynard booksamillion. As helen increasingly falls under the havillands influencerunning errands, doing random chores. Joyce maynard, the bestselling author of labor day, is back with a new novel, under the influence.
Helens marriage to dwight, initially exciting, has fallen apart. About midway through joyce maynards novel under the influence. Under the influence book san antonio public library. Read under the influence a novel by joyce maynard available from rakuten kobo. Nov 22, 2016 when you pick up a book written by joyce maynard, you can rest assured you will be taken on a wellcrafted trip. Once an aspiring art photographer, she now makes ends meet taking portraits of school children and working. Under the influence joyce maynard, 2016 harpercollins 336 pp. The format of this book leads you to want to find out what happened to this friendship. Under the influence by nanovsky see profile 032217. The plot is compelling and, as a result, the book is difficult to put down. When you pick up a book written by joyce maynard, you can rest assured you will be taken on a wellcrafted trip.