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Wednesday, January 5, 2011

"Waiting On" Wednesday: This Vacant Paradise


"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted here, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

This Vacant Paradise
By Victoria Patterson
Publication Date: March 1

From Amazon:

The 1990s—Newport Beach, California. Money is God. A man’s worth is judged by the size of his boat, the make of his car. A woman’s value is assessed by the blank perfection of her quantifiable desirability: dress size, cup size, the whiteness of her teeth. And oh yes: her youth. Though Esther Wilson has the looks to marry well, things aren’t going as planned. She’s nearing her mid-30s and possibly aging out of the only role she’s equipped to play: wife to a powerful member of the elite.

In the tradition of Edith Wharton and Henry James, This Vacant Paradise recasts the important questions about our very American obsessions: class, caste, race, age, and the roles of men and women in our drive toward an ever more lofty sense of our upward mobility.


What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

Want to participate? Grab the logo, post your own WoW entry on your blog, and leave your link below!

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45 comments:

  1. StephJanuary 5, 2011 at 12:01 AM

    Great pick!

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  2. June GJanuary 5, 2011 at 12:02 AM

    This sounds good. The cover catches your eye right away.

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  3. Casey (The Bookish Type)January 5, 2011 at 12:03 AM

    Oh wow! This sounds incredible! I absolutely LOVED Wharton's House of Mirth, and this sounds sooo much like a modernized version. Thanks so much for putting it on my radar!

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  4. LizzyJanuary 5, 2011 at 12:03 AM

    This one sounds really interesting! At first I wasn't a fan of the cover, but now I see how it ties in with the plot.

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  5. Rie ConleyJanuary 5, 2011 at 12:04 AM

    That sounds like a good read.

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  6. LizJanuary 5, 2011 at 12:05 AM

    Interesting book! I'm going to have to look into it some more. I bet it has some pretty important insights about our nation's materialism & focus on eternal youth.

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  7. CarissaJanuary 5, 2011 at 12:06 AM

    Sounds like this is going to be the type of book that you will be thinking about long after you are done reading---which is always a good thing!

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  8. lady readerJanuary 5, 2011 at 12:08 AM

    Sweet Jill! And, you don't have too much longer to wait. :)

    Have a great week!
    Amy
    http://attackofthebook.com/2011/01/05/waiting-wednesday-bad-taste-boys-small-persons-wings/

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  9. JennyJanuary 5, 2011 at 12:10 AM

    Just wanted to say sorry for the messed up link on #2 there, I forget that the Linky holds the last thing we typed in another linky and I replaced the link but not the title. I promise I wasn't trying to promote my giveaway on your blog Jill!

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  10. AleethaJanuary 5, 2011 at 1:21 AM

    Never read any book of hers. But I think I have more time to search about it

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  11. LoriJanuary 5, 2011 at 1:45 AM

    I never heard of this book, I hope that you enjoy it when you get it.

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  12. Mari - Escape In A BookJanuary 5, 2011 at 2:13 AM

    Sounds like a good choice. Sadly I got the impression that it really is like that more than one place in the world..

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  13. Tina's BlogJanuary 5, 2011 at 4:42 AM

    This one looks really good, Jill!

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  14. Jan von HarzJanuary 5, 2011 at 4:57 AM

    Love the setting and the summary is intriguing. Great pick!

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  15. IngJanuary 5, 2011 at 6:11 AM

    Nice pick. I like the cover.

    Here's mine for this week:
    http://asthepagesturn.blogspot.com/2011/01/waiting-on-wednesday-animal-magnetism.html

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  16. KatJanuary 5, 2011 at 6:54 AM

    Sounds like a scary kind of world to live in. Intriguing pick.

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  17. ElodieJanuary 5, 2011 at 6:58 AM

    I'm discovering this book ... so thank you !! Great choice !!

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  18. AnonymousJanuary 5, 2011 at 7:16 AM

    I haven't heard of your pick but I'm looking it up now. Thanks!

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  19. Melissa (i swim for oceans)January 5, 2011 at 7:52 AM

    This one sounds awesome - intriguing cover, too!

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  20. AnonymousJanuary 5, 2011 at 7:53 AM

    This book sounds potentially gut wrenching - especially as a woman.

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  21. Nadea RuzmenJanuary 5, 2011 at 7:53 AM

    The cover looks great and the story sounds good. Great pick!

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  22. Shannon The BookstalkerJanuary 5, 2011 at 7:56 AM

    Sounds like an interesting book!

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  23. JoyceJanuary 5, 2011 at 8:21 AM

    Sounds good!

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  24. Rebecca RasmussenJanuary 5, 2011 at 8:21 AM

    Looks great Jill! xo

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  25. Joli @ Actin' Up with BooksJanuary 5, 2011 at 8:22 AM

    This Vacant Paradise sounds like it will be an important cultural commentary. Even though it is set on 1990, I'm sure that it would still apply now - 21 years later. (This makes me think of all of the "Real Housewife's of . ." shows. I hope that I get a chance to read it sometime. Thanks for posting it here .

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  26. Gwendolyn B.January 5, 2011 at 8:29 AM

    Hmmm. I really liked both Wharton's and James' examinations of these issues, but women really had so few choices a hundred years ago. I'm interested to know if the author is sympathetic toward Esther. At first glance, I don't imagine I would be, but I do think I'll check this book out.

    Here's my pick for this week: http://aseaofbooks.blogspot.com/2011/01/waiting-on-wednesday-among-others-by-jo.html

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  27. Alison Can ReadJanuary 5, 2011 at 8:33 AM

    How interesting! I loved Edith Wharton. A modern version sounds fascinating.

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  28. Laurel-Rain SnowJanuary 5, 2011 at 8:38 AM

    Oh, I definitely want to read this one! Thanks for sharing....

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  29. Kiwi IvashkovJanuary 5, 2011 at 8:50 AM

    Interesting pick!:D

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  30. joyh82January 5, 2011 at 8:55 AM

    It sounds interesting.. people do base to much on money and looks in my opinion. Have a great week!
    Here is mine..
    Joy at Books and Life

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  31. TheBookGirlJanuary 5, 2011 at 9:13 AM

    Great pick, Jill. Having read Edith Wharton for the first time this year (The House of Mirth), this one intrigues me. Thanks for highlighting it.

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  32. AnonymousJanuary 5, 2011 at 9:34 AM

    Sounds interesting

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  33. CHRISTIEJanuary 5, 2011 at 10:04 AM

    This one sounds really good. Nice pick!

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  34. Beth(bookaholicmom)January 5, 2011 at 10:17 AM

    This sounds like a great read!

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  35. Carrie at In the Hammock BlogJanuary 5, 2011 at 11:22 AM

    oooh, set in the 90s, interesting!!

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  36. BLHmistressJanuary 5, 2011 at 1:42 PM

    Definitely sounds interesting and has me curious , its sad that we tend to judge by the importance of material as well as looks.

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  37. JimJanuary 5, 2011 at 3:22 PM

    Sounds good and a great meme - I've just joined in for the first ever time on my blog!

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  38. Lark AndreaJanuary 5, 2011 at 3:57 PM

    Interesting choice. The cover makes me think of the 1920's.

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  39. Gina @ My PreciousJanuary 5, 2011 at 4:14 PM

    Looks like a thought provoking read.

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  40. SarahJanuary 5, 2011 at 5:03 PM

    I posted my first Waiting on Wednesday at http://sarahsreadingnook.blogspot.com/2011/01/waiting-on-wednesday-1.html. I tried to link it, but I don't think it worked for some reason...

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  41. KristenJanuary 5, 2011 at 6:02 PM

    Sounds like an interesting novel! :)

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  42. Shooting Stars MagJanuary 5, 2011 at 6:34 PM

    This sounds interesting. My pick deals with the relationship between friends of the opposite sex. Fascinating to me. :-)

    -Lauren

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  43. I Eat WordsJanuary 5, 2011 at 7:13 PM

    I love this event! So fun to read what other people are looking forward to! Thanks for hosting it. :)

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  44. Amber I @ AwesomesauceJanuary 5, 2011 at 7:22 PM

    This is my first Waiting on Wednesday. I just started blogging and I love finding these little events.

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  45. RachelJanuary 11, 2011 at 9:01 PM

    Hi, that book sounds fantastic! Here's the link to m pick:
    http://crackaspinebookreviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/waiting-on-wednesday-1-steel.html

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