Beth Fish Reads: Today's Read: Seduction by M. J. Rose

23 July 2013

Today's Read: Seduction by M. J. Rose

Do you believe in reincarnation? What would you think if you started having vivid images of yourself in other places, other bodies, other times? For mythologist Jac L'Etoile, it comes down to believing in past lives or accepting that she may have deep psychological problems. Will a trip to the island of Jersey and the discovery of a lost journal of Victor Hugo help her find peace?

Every story begins with a tremble of anticipation. At the start we may have an idea of our point of arrival, but what lies before us and makes us shudder is the journey, for that is all discovery. This strange and curious story begins for me at the sea. Its sound and scent are my punctuation. Its movements are my verbs. As I write this, angry waves break upon the rocks, and when the water recedes, the rocks seem to be weeping.

—Seduction by M. J. Rose (Simon & Schuster / Atria Books, 2013, p. 1)

Quick Facts

Setting: Jersey, Channel Islands: 1850s and today
Circumstances: in the past: Victor Hugo, mourning the loss of his daughter, turns to the occult for answers; in the present: Jac, mourning the end of a relationship, seeks relief in a new project
Characters: Jac, a mythologist whose family owns a famous French perfumery; Hugo, in exile from France, & his family and friends; Theo Gaspard, Jac's friend from Jersey, & his family
Genre: thriller with Gothic, mystery, paranormal, and historical fiction elements
Themes: unresolved issues, jealousy, free will, good versus evil, reincarnation, trust, loyalty, friendship, mourning
Audiobook: wonderfully read by Phil Gigante, who is brilliant with the necessary accents, languages, & characterizations; his narration ups the tension and drama, drawing the listener in
Miscellaneous: the fifth novel in Rose's Reincarnationist series, but works well as a stand-alone; this don't-miss novel was an Indie Next pick for May 2013; I was fortunate enough to have met the author in New York this summer
Little-known fact: In the mid-1980s I visited Jersey and lived in Guernsey when conducting my doctoral research

23 comments:

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea, 7/23/13, 6:31 AM: I do like the intro, so I would keep reading. Hope you enjoy it and thanks for stopping by this week to join in.
rhapsodyinbooks, 7/23/13, 6:42 AM: I have this but had no idea it fell into the paranormal camp. Good to know!
Unknown, 7/23/13, 6:46 AM: Sounds interesting!

CarolynBrown-Books
Dark Franny, 7/23/13, 6:54 AM: That's really intriguing, thanks for sharing!
Here's mine!
Karen and Gerard, 7/23/13, 6:59 AM: Sounds like a strange one!

Here's ours: http://ourstack.blogspot.com/2013/07/tuesday-teasers-four-for-you.html
Unknown, 7/23/13, 7:24 AM: Sounds interesting. I would need to be in a certain kind of mood for this novel. I hope you enjoy it.
Col (Col Reads), 7/23/13, 7:41 AM: Sounds so interesting! I love novels that take place at two points in time.
Kathy Martin, 7/23/13, 8:39 AM: Lovely cover. Sounds like quite an interesting story. Please come see my teasers from Runt by Nora Raleigh Baskin and The White Princess by Philippa Gregory. Happy reading!
Anonymous, 7/23/13, 9:08 AM: I'm picky with my historical 'fiction'- this one looks good. Keep reading!
Laurel-Rain Snow, 7/23/13, 9:15 AM: This one does sound very tempting...I haven't read this author yet, but I've been meaning to...and the idea of reincarnation is so intriguing....

Yes, I'd keep reading.

Here's MY TUESDAY MEMES POST
bermudaonion, 7/23/13, 10:28 AM: I really want to read one of Rose's books!
JoAnn, 7/23/13, 10:57 AM: Sounds a little strange, but I'd like to read it.
Unknown, 7/23/13, 11:30 AM: I tend to stay away from anything paranormal, I hope you enjoy.
Heather, 7/23/13, 1:32 PM: Love the intro. This entire series intrigues me. My teaser: Blue Heaven
Tiina, 7/23/13, 2:10 PM: Thiscsounds really interesting! I will have to check if our library has it.
JaneGS, 7/23/13, 3:01 PM: I tried a M.J. Rose novel and didn't care for it, but this intro is good. Part philosophical, with a good strong voice.

Verdict? A strong maybe :)
rusydi, 7/23/13, 3:53 PM: sounds interesting. i love part philosophical every story
Julie P., 7/23/13, 3:56 PM: I forgot about this one -- definitely need to read soon!
Syreeta, 7/23/13, 4:31 PM: Like the teaser. Here is ours
http://hbbookhotties.blogspot.com/2013/07/teaser-tuesdays-july-23rd.html
Anonymous, 7/23/13, 4:38 PM: I've read this book, very interesting.

http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2013/07/teaser-tuesday_23.html
Anonymous, 7/23/13, 6:52 PM: I enjoyed very much this book
Literary Feline, 7/24/13, 1:29 PM: That is a great hook. I would definitely keep reading.
Serena, 7/25/13, 9:27 AM: I really enjoyed this one and her Lost Fragrances book where we first meet the lady protagonist.