Customer Reviews

Running With the Wind

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This new author writes well. Unfortunately, she made some poor choices of subject matter and characterization. One of the protagonists engages in frequent casual sex with both women and men. Her reason? A "relationship" that ended unhappily after two months (that's not a typo---two months!).

While not one myself, I do fully accept bisexuals, I hope without reservation. However, I think a book that's represented as a lesbian book should be about lesbians. This book contains explicit male/female sex (for example on page 90 Corrie, one of the protagonists, says, "C-coming...oh, do you f-feel me?" Her male partner's response is, "Yeah, tight, so good, f***---"). For material like this, my local library offers hundreds of selections that I can read for free, but I choose to purchase "our books" instead. Quinn, the other protagonist, is a woman in her twenties who has not come out and who is accepting and even forgiving of Corrie's promiscuity. That's a tough one for me.

I'm all for expanding my horizons, but not particularly in the direction depicted in this story. I think potential readers should know that they might find the contents of this book distasteful. Nevertheless, since the author does know how to tell a story, I'd like to see her take a shot at writing a lesbian book.

When I picked up this book, I did not realize that the rear-cover blurb about the main character, Corrie, engaging in "frequent casual sex with her friends," meant the book was about a self-centered, promiscuous bisexual who has apparently never heard of safe sex practices during her romps with both men and women. The love interest, Quinn, is a naive lesbian who becomes inexplicably and improbably aroused at finding herself in tight quarters with a couple engaging in heterosexual intercourse. I suspect that some lesbian readers will be put off by the content; I was very surprised at the amount of straight sex in the book.

There are some technical problems with the book as well. The author shifts POV abruptly and without warning, which some readers may find annoying. The author also focuses on the more technical aspects of sailing at the expense of the developing relationship between Corrie and Quinn. I would much rather have learned how it feels to sail and why Corrie loves it, which might have made the character more real and sympathetic, rather than reading expository dialogue about the actions she was performing.

I enjoyed this book. It wasn't a typical lesbian romance, but that doesn't make it a bad book. There was a lot of sailing in it, which reminded me of all of that technical jargon on tv shows like ER. I didn't quite get it all but I could tell what was happening.

The central characters of Quinn and Corrie were a little hard to relate to. Quinn was a little too sweet and forgiving of Corrie's behavior. Corrie is a psychological mess who plays games with the people around her instead of dealing with her real feelings. They both have a lot to overcome if they want to be together.

If you're looking for standard characters of this genre you won't find them here. You will find a different kind of story that challenges the reader a bit. If you're ok with that this is a good choice.

From the first chapter I was enjoying the humor in the novel. I identified completely with Corrie's reaction to seeing her dad dancing in public!

The intensity of the emotion for the twenty-somethings was very real from the beginning and due to the author's careful attention to detail I didn't need to be fresh out of college to know what the main characters were feeling. The character Denise makes for a wonderful foil and I enjoyed every moment she was in.

I felt I understood Quinn from the very beginning, she felt very real to me, including the friendship she shared with Drew. And her love of cookie dough ice cream reminded me of a dear friend so she already had immense appeal for me. When Quinn questioned herself if Corrie was flirting with her it struck an intense cord of recognition and I was hooked.

I like the playfulness of Corrie and didn't hold it against her that she was a Hoya. I think Corrie's incredibly poor communication with her brother will echo many readers own lives and perhaps serve as a cautionary tale.

Corrie and Quinn's romance is very sweet and I am eagerly awaiting the author's next novel!

Running With the Wind is an engaging, engrossing debut novel by Nell Stark.

Corrie Marston, a graduate student in engineering, spends her summer teaching sailing in Rhode Island. Corrie is talented, intelligent, fit, good looking and very good at sailing--Olympic-class good. Denise Lewis was Corrie's crew for the Olympic trials. Their relationship was intense, exciting and closeted, as Denise wasn't ready to come out. Before long, Denise left Corrie for the security and validation of a heterosexual relationship with William, Corrie's brother. The siblings have always had a competitive streak but this blow created a rift between them. Since Denise and William's engagement, Corrie has shut off a great deal of her pain, anger and her capacity for love. She has "made a point to hook up with friends--not random, but no strings attached"(47).

Corrie is one of the most thoughtful and articulate depictions of a bisexual woman this reviewer can recall. As a friend of Corrie comments, "I get the feeling that gender doesn't really matter to her. That it's just another physical characteristic like body type or something"(48). Still, Corrie admits to herself that "seducing men made her feel powerful, somehow. Whereas women just felt good" (49). Some elements of Corrie's view might make readers uncomfortable. She has not dealt with the emotional scars from Denise's rejection and that has pushed Corrie into a patch of windless water where she is foundering.

Quinn Davies, an intelligent, shy, 27 year-old woman in vet school has been convinced by an old friend, Drew, to take sailing lessons this summer. Quinn's gift with animals results in her helping Corrie's dog, Frog when she has an accident. The event places the two women in more intimate surroundings than the marina. Aware of Corrie's approach to sex, Quinn, despite her attraction to Corrie, is careful. For Quinn, "The entire idea of casual sex-- even between friends--made her uncomfortable. Sex meant losing control, and losing control meant whoever you were with could really, truly see you. Not just physically because you were naked, but emotionally--and what if they didn't like what they saw? Even if they did, you could never take it back. Sex wasn't like blurting out a confession by accident that you could then pretend was a joke. It was permanent"(48). With this thoughtful self awareness, Quinn refuses Corrie's causal overtures.

When Corrie realizes that William and Denise will be sailing in the annual Regatta, she decides to court Quinn in a face-saving plan to prove that she can get a girlfriend. Despite her sexual experience, Corrie is the naive one in many ways and the leaks in this boat appear quickly as Corrie, whose observing ego is not very strong, begins to fall for Quinn. Yet the more "innocent" Quinn understands more of herself, Corrie, and the nature of love and loyalty. The two women will have to find winds of trust and love for the relationship to sail.

Appropriately, sailing is one of the characters of Running With the Wind. How Corrie, Quinn, William, and other characters approach and relate to the sport is fascinating and revealing. The race scenes, both impromptu and formal, kept this reviewer turning pages. Further, Stark uses the various characters' understanding of sailing to explain sailing elements without distracting the reader with details. Corrie's frame of reference for a great deal of life is sailing and her analogies are nautical. She understands the boats, the sails, the wind, the sea and her role as a sailor. Corrie finds solace in the power and non-judging challenge of the wind and the water.

Running With the Wind is a fast-paced read. Stark's characters are richly drawn and interesting. The dialog can be lively and wry and elicited several laughs from this reader. Like Kallmaker's All the Wrong Places, the discussions of the nature of sex, love, power, and sexuality are insightful and represent a welcome voice from the view of late-20-something characters today. Stark also captures lovely, intimate, and vivid moments such as, "Corrie remembered how smooth and soft [Denise's] eyebrows had felt as she traced them with one forefinger in the aftermath of their lovemaking" (14). The love scenes between Corrie and Quinn are erotically charged and sweet.

Running With the Wind is a wonderful debut novel which holds great promise. It's a touching romance with lively, realistic characters in an interesting setting. This reviewer looks forward to reading Stark's future stories and in the meanwhile, recommends readers pick up a copy and set sail.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I like books where the characters are going interesting places, or learning interesting things. The detail about sailing and competing with which the author imbues this book really helps create a real and interesting world for the characters to inhabit. I don't mind the technical detail, and didn't find that there was too much of it at all. Having passionate pursuits helps give the characters depth and purpose, and makes for a tighter plot that moves more quickly and fluidly.

The author also creates sympathetic characters, who clearly have failings, but those failings are understandable in the context of the characterizations, and play out realistically, and in such a manner that not only can you forgive the characters as the reader, but it seems natural that the other characters should as well.

I also liked the contrast between the main characters. Too often it seems like you're reading about the same person inhabiting two different-looking bodies, but these two are clearly different, with distinct backgrounds, formative events, and varying reactions to events, yet clearly they have a kinship as well, and it's a delight to follow along as they develop their relationship further, in fits and starts. Add in a believable and entertaining supporting cast and you have a very enjoyable read ahead of you.

It's very easy to get wrapped up in this wonderful novel by new author, Nell Stark. Before tackling it, I suggest getting very comfortable in your favorite reading spot and be prepared to hang out for a few hours until you make it to the last page. RUNNING WITH THE WIND is literally that good.

Corrie Marsten has a tragic history with love. So tragic that she doesn't trust anyone with her heart. The first woman she fell hard for left her and is now engaged to her brother, making Corrie's relationship with her family rocky. As a result, Corrie sleeps around with her friends, male or female, and won't commit to even a casual relationship. One of her friends brings the introverted Quinn to take a sailing class. Corrie assumes Quinn will be an easy conquest, but is sadly mistaken. While trying to win the other woman's attentions, Corrie finds herself wanting it all, but will tales of her recent history keep Quinn away?

There are many secrets, twists and turns with this one. The novel deals with some pretty serious issues for both protagonists and the writing is quite mature for a new author. As usual, Bold Strokes Books has selected great new talent to join their ranks. Here's looking for Stark's next book.

Corrie Marsten head sailing instructor for the University of Rhode Island's Sailing Center, has an injured heart, no one knows it. She sleeps around trying to erase the damage to herself but not caring about others she leaves in her wake. This includes her friends and others at the Sailing Center.

Quinn Davies shy veterinary student learning to sail while she studies for her vet exam.

Their paths cross and a silent attraction draws them together. Will Quinn lose her heart? Does Corrie's heart heal? Its all part of the drama and romance that keeps you reading.

Another main character is sailing. I felt that I was learning a little about sailing as I read along. I recognized the phrases and have a better understanding of the love some have for sailing.

All in all a great read. I recommend this book for the characters (I felt I knew them and was not confused about who was who.) The love scenes are hot and paced at perfect intervals. Its almost a 5 star except it did not leave me pausing at the end. That moment when I close a book and am sorry its over and wish the author had added more.

The two main characters will make you angry and inspire you as you enjoy this romance set within gorgeous sailing scenes.