My Little Pocketbooks: Review: Irises   
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Monday, April 1, 2013

Review: Irises

Irises
Author: Franciso X. Stork
Genre: YA
Publisher: Listening Library
Release Date: January 10, 2012
Audiobook: 7 hours and 28 minutes
Narrator: Carrington MacDuffie

Source:  Received a free copy from Audiobooksync.com
Buy the Book: Amazon
Book Description
Two sisters discover what's truly worth living for in the new novel by the author of MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD.
TWO SISTERS: Kate is bound for Stanford and an M.D. -- if her family will let her go. Mary wants only to stay home and paint. When their loving but repressive father dies, they must figure out how to support themselves and their mother, who is in a permanent vegetative state, and how to get along in all their uneasy sisterhood.
THREE YOUNG MEN: Then three men sway their lives: Kate's boyfriend Simon offers to marry her, providing much-needed stability. Mary is drawn to Marcos, though she fears his violent past. And Andy tempts Kate with more than romance, recognizing her ambition because it matches his own.
ONE AGONIZING CHOICE: Kate and Mary each find new possibilities and darknesses in their sudden freedom. But it's Mama's life that might divide them for good -- the question of *if* she lives, and what's worth living for.
IRISES is Francisco X. Stork's most provocative and courageous novel yet.
Review
I got this free copy from Audiobooksync.com last summer when they were giving away two new audiobooks a week.  I had no idea about this book or the author.  I just wanted a free audiobook and I don't think I even read the synopsis either.
The story of two sisters Mary and Kate takes place in El Paso, Texas and during their high school years.  The plot is overall really interesting, and I was held in by wanting to know what happens to the sisters after their father passes away.
Don't worry that is not a spoiler!  It happens pretty early on in the story.
The girls are now faced with taking care of a mother in a coma, school, boys and what to do about income.  Irises touches on a few topics but it is clear the story is mostly about taking a loved one off of life support.  Once I realized this was the overall theme of the book I was disappointed that it did not really delved into enough.  I guess as a YA book the topic would be hard to talk about but this can make a good starting point at least.
The characters Mary and Kate were just ok.  There was nothing special about them that made me empathize with them or their situation.  The other supporting characters always seemed to have other undercover motives and sometimes that began to get on my nerves.
This story really hit a personal note since I am close to a young lady who's father, my pastor passed away years ago.  So it was interesting to hear the a few of the same issues brought to light.
As an audiobook I thought the narrator, Carrington MacDuffie (from The Paris Wife) sounded to old to read for a teen.  Her accents and male voices were good but overall I would have preferred a younger reader with the same ability.

Recommendations
I recommend this book to young teens and older.

Challenges
This book is number 7 in my Audiobook Challenge
This book is number 6 in my TBR Reading Challenge
This book is number 15 in my Goodreads Challenge
 

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