TITLE: The Seeds of a Daisy
AUTHOR: +Alison Caiola
AUTHOR'S WEB SITE:
www.theseedsofadaisy.comAVAILABILITY:
Amazon US , Amazon UK (Kindle e-book), Barnes & Noble,
iTunes
Paperback:
https://www.createspace.com/4081993http://www.amazon.com/The-Seeds-Of-A-Daisy/dp/1481159623/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1355941253&sr=8-2&keywords=alison+caiolaKindle: Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/The-Seeds-Of-Daisy-ebook/dp/B00AKR2XVW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355922302&sr=8-1&keywords=alison+caiolaNook Barnes and Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-seeds-of-a-daisy-alison-caiola/1113921263?ean=2940015756111APPROXIMATE LENGTH: 366 pages
GENRE: Mainstream Fiction—Drama/Women’s FictionRecommended for readers seeking character-driven dramas.
Reviewed by Mary Fan, originally for Zigzag TimelineThe Seeds of a Daisy is the story of a
young woman dealing with
emotional turmoil following her mother’s
devastating car accident.
This novel is full of raw emotion and high
drama, set against the
backdrop of Hollywood
politics.
PACE
Let’s just say I
devoured this one. I started reading during lunch and finished by
mid-afternoon. Caiola’s conversational style and flair for drama make
this novel a suspenseful and absorbing read.
PERSPECTIVE
First person present. The book opens with Lily
Lockwood, a successful TV actress, in the hospital following her
mother’s accident. As she comes to grips with the tragedy, she reflects
on her past, and much of the book consists of her
flashbacks.
CONTENT REVIEW
From
a distance, Lily Lockwood has it all. She’s the star of a popular and
acclaimed TV series with a handsome boyfriend poised to become a big
time Hollywood leading man. But in her own eyes, her life is
unraveling. That boyfriend, Jamie, is cheating on her with his costar
on a film set miles away, and Lily’s mother, Daisy, is comatose
following a devastating car accident
The Seeds
of a Daisy opens with Lily by Daisy’s side in the hospital,
begging her
to return to the realm of the conscious. As she waits for
news from the
doctors, she reflects on her life and relationship with
her mother, who
raised Lily alone and guided her through the mad world
of Hollywood.
When Lily goes through Daisy’s possessions in search of
a living will,
she discovers things about her mother’s past that she
could never have
dreamed of, things that reveal the woman behind the
tough-cookie career
queen Daisy the bestselling author was known
as.
Caiola writes with a natural,
conversational style that brings Lily’s
voice to life. The realistic
dialogue and easy, fluid prose carry the
story forward in a way that
makes the pages turn themselves. The
reader is privy to all of Lily’s
thoughts and raw emotions as she
faces the madness her life has
become—her grief, her anger, her hope,
and then some. Each moment is a
suspenseful one for Lily as she waits for news from the doctors and
comes to grips with reality, and that suspense carries over to the
audience, making this book an unexpectedly fast-paced page-turner.
Although the story is told from Lily’s point of view, The Seeds of a
Daisy, as the title implies, is as much about Daisy—her effect on Lily
and the world around her. Lily spends much of the book reflecting on
her somewhat codependent
relationship with her mother and learning to
stand on her own and take charge of her
life.
Behind the mother-daughter drama is a
colorful supporting cast and a fascinating glimpse of Hollywood
politics. While the reader sees Lily as a vulnerable young woman, the
rest of the world views her as a celebrity to be gossiped about.
Paparazzi mob her in the hospital lobby, trying to get a snapshot of
her distraught face for the tabloids. So when Jamie flies back to be
with her, is he actually trying to comfort her, or is this another
publicity stunt? Meanwhile, Daisy’s longtime friends flock to Lily’s
side out of genuine concern.
Also, I must note
that this book seems incredibly well-researched on the hospital drama
front. The medical jargon and explanations—dry and impenetrable to both
the reader and Lily—add to the story’s realistic atmosphere. Although
the book’s set-up, with the Emmy’s and the paparazzi hovering in the
background, may seem glamorized, the story itself is very
down-to-earth. Lily may not be the most eloquent speaker, but her words
ring true even though she sometimes seems to
have trouble expressing
her emotional frenzy.
I didn’t mean to read The
Seeds of a Daisy in one sitting, but I ended up getting so absorbed in
the drama and the characters that I couldn’t put it down. Entertaining,
gripping, and sometimes tear-jerking, it’s the kind of book that’s easy
to get lost in.
THE NITPICKY
STUFF
I received an advance copy of this novel, which has since
been edited,
so I can’t comment on typos and the
like.
This novel contains a handful of mild sex
scenes and some adult language.
AUTHOR
INFO
[from the back cover]
Alison Caiola's many years
in Hollywood, first as a PR Executive and then as a writer, makes her
qualified to write about the entertainment industry and the
behind-the-scenes craziness that it often spawns.
Like Daisy, the mother in The Seeds of a Daisy, her son JD Daniels is
a
successful and award-winning actor. Alison recently wrote, directed,
and produced the television series The Tyme Chronicles. She currently
resides on the beautiful North Fork of Long Island with her Malti-Poo
daughter-dog Emma, surrounded by vineyards, farms, and wonderful
friends. Learn more at
www.theseedsofadaisy.com.
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