The Angry Woman Suite

Jo Bryant

The Angry Woman Suite is an unexpected novel. Most authors shy away from having more than one protagonist. Lee Fullbright has three.

This different take actually works which I found surprising, as I have rarely come across a book where that tactic doesn’t lead to confusion and chaos for the reader.

The supporting characters are not forgotten and are fleshed out just enough to not only make them interesting but integral to the story.

It is a disturbing novel. This is one of the most venomous families I have ever come across. How they tear each other down is Machiavellian in extremis. But it is compelling.

I found it a difficult novel at times to read. Not because of the writing. Lee Fullbright has eloquently detailed a time and a family in a way that makes it no surprise this book has won the 2012 Indie Reader Discovery Award for Literary Fiction.

It is not a novel to be read for light enjoyment…though enjoyment comes because of the articulate and fluent prose that weaves together the three protagonists’ lives in a tapestry of torment and deceit.

What I loved most about this book was the fact that I found it difficult to put any one character in the good or bad box. Their complicated personalities had you hating them one moment and sympathizing with them the next. For me as a writer it is one of the most difficult tasks. So I appreciate it when I find authors who are able to do this. No villain is completely bad and neither are the good guys what they seem.

My only problem with this book is the ending.

To quote my favourite TV show: “Endings are hard!”

I felt that Lee, in trying to tie up the loose ends and leave you with a sense of completeness, only left me wondering. I finished the book unsure of why it all happened.

That said…Lee Fullbright is a writer I want to read more of in the future.

From the book’s back cover comes this synopsis…

When overbearing former big band star Francis Grayson mentions the “murdering bitches” who supposedly ruined his life, his resentful stepdaughter Elyse—always on the lookout for simple dirt on Francis—takes note. Intertwining narrative with Francis, Elyse stumbles across glimmers of big murder instead of simple dirt, while Francis moves perspective of his “bitches” back to the 1930s, to his childhood in Pennsylvania. His coming-of-age story centers on a mysterious painting and search for the artist who he believes can fix his feuding family. Aiding him in his quest is his mother’s lover, Aidan Madsen, who not only mentors Francis’ big band music career, but knows everything about two murders implicating the women in Francis’ family. The three narrators of The Angry Woman Suite—Elyse, Francis, and Aidan—weave together a picture of two disturbed families who meet their match in the young, determined to survive Elyse Grayson, and human to a fault hero, Aidan Madsen.

Novel Publicity Blog Tour Notes

Wanna win a $50 gift card or an autographed copy of The Angry Woman Suite? Well, there are two ways to enter…

  1. Leave a comment on my blog. One random commenter during this tour will win a $50 gift card. For the full list of participating blogs, visit the official Angry Woman Suite tour page.
  2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest! I’ve posted the contest form below, or you can enter on the tour page linked above.

About the author:

Lee Fullbright is a fourth-generation Californian, raised and educated in San Diego. She is a medical practice consultant and lives on San Diego’s beautiful peninsula with her twelve-year-old Australian cattle dog, Baby Rae. The Angry Woman Suite, a Kirkus Critics’ Pick and Discovery Award winner, is her debut novel. Connect with Lee on her website, Facebook, Twitter, or GoodReads.

Get The Angry Woman Suite on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Have a look at a Rafflecopter giveaway

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A special treat is coming up on the 10th and the 11th of September. The Hook has his book “The Bellman Chronicles” in a giveaway for both days. If you are a member at Amazon – watch this space and I will remind you to get your copy as the time approaches.

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Article first published as Book Review: The Angry Woman Suite by Lee Fullbright on Blogcritics.

Published by Jo Bryant

I was born in the land of Banjo Paterson, gum trees, and weather extremes. I am a freelance photographer. I love to make images that make people happy. To capture forever a precious moment. I am also a freelance writer/editor. I live in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, but still like to claim my Australian heritage. I graduated with a Bachelor of Communications in 2008. I am writing my first novel. I love to write poetry, short stories, and also write for the web. And there is nothing that is on a par with a sunny summer's day spent at Waihi Beach.

19 Comments

  1. You have fascinated me but not exactly sold it to me. ‘Difficult novel at times’ – okay I don’t look for easy. ‘Disturbing’, and ‘not a novel to be read for enjoyment’, but you did enjoy it didn’t you ? Nevertheless your review IS well written! 🙂

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    1. I did enjoy it Gilly but it is not a novel for the fainthearted as it has a few instances of child abuse. They made it difficult for me as there was a time in my life where living with the relative I did I experienced things quite similar to what occurred in the book. That said…they were integral to both the plot and the characters. But at times it got a little close to home for me and I had to take a break before going any further with it.

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  2. The book sounds interesting, but I would probably share your reaction to the mention of child abuse. I would need a break. But information about both positive and negative past experiences is needed to develop a well-rounded character.

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    1. Thanks Em. I agree with you. I dislike characters that are completely one sided. There were times I wanted to slap Francis…and yet other times I wanted to comfort him. Lee really did some great character writing in this book. She should be very proud.

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  5. Enjoyed the review Jo. My problem these days is that, if I don’t read a book in one stretch, I tend to leave it half read. Having major issues with attention deficit 🙂

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    1. I am a bit like that myself usually but I had committed to doing the review so I did need to read it all. I am glad I did as it is a good read. She does have a way of making her character multidimensional, which I loved.

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  6. I too found the book extremely discomfiting to read at times because of the narrators’ sharp, raw voices and rather lewd insinuations regarding both of the families. Strangely, the cringe-worthiness made it all the more engaging…

    Thanks so much for your thoughts! Very well-written and insightful review 🙂

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    1. Thank you Karielle. It was written in a very raw tone, and your right about that making it more engaging. I appreciate you comment about the review even more so having looked at your site and seen some of yours. Thank you indeed !!!!
      🙂

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    1. Do that for sure. I just finished another that I really enjoyed. Am writing the review for it now. Well not actually now as I am replying to you – but, you know what I mean…hehehe
      😆

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