From Publishers Weekly
Georgia Ella Bishop's life screams "wasted potential." The daughter of a great jazz pianist and a famous news correspondent, she has what it takes to combine her mother's talent and her father's celebrity into one extraordinary life. Her alcoholism, however, thwarts these ambitions even before she can imagine them, and by the time she reaches her mid-30s, all of her chances seem to be used up. When Georgia moves from Baltimore to Lexington, Ky., to make one last attempt to straighten out her life, her social justice–obsessed uncle, her fashion-obsessed cousin and her loving but estranged husband are there to help. Samson, author of the Christy Award–winning
Songbird and several other faith-based novels, pulls few punches in this sobering yet sanguine account of God's patience, mercy and eternal optimism in the face of human folly. Samson's writing is characteristically crisp and vibrant—cutting quickly to the heart of her characters and their crises with prose that is emotionally resonant but rarely sentimental. Readers may find events in Georgia's life, particularly her astoundingly bad choices and the surprising consequences she experiences, hard to believe. Still, despite the extremes to which Georgia goes, in Samson's capable hands she becomes an everywoman in whom readers are likely to see at least a glimpse of themselves.
(Sept. 19) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
Praise for Straight Up
“Like an expert barrista, Lisa Samson take bits and pieces of her characters’ lives and mixes them into a story that is fascinating and profound. Loss can lift you up…or destroy you.
Straight Up shows both options and then lets you decide. Which will it be? This is one good book!”
–Roxanne Henke, author of
After Anne,
With Love, Libby, and other books in the Coming Home to Brewster series
“What if we chose differently in life?
Straight Up is pure Lisa Samson–original, raw, and laced with grace. As always, Lisa’s characters came to life in my imagination, becoming my friends. This book made me cry and also allowed me hope. What a treasure.”
–Robin Lee Hatcher, bestselling author of
A Carol for Christmas
“Lisa Samson’s writing is an extravagant gift to her readers. I am eternally amazed at the benevolence that spills so generously from her pen. She is not only a compassionate writer, but a young poet with an old soul, a woman that uses her writing as a dance in which her readers can revel.”
–Patricia Hickman, author of
Earthly Vows and
Whisper Town
In
Straight Up, Lisa Samson draws us into the joys and consequences of this free-will thing called Choice. It is a story that is at once both tough and tender, with Samson exhibiting unusually keen insight into human nature–the longings of the heart, the failings of the flesh, the need for redemption. A powerful read, too important to miss.
–Ann Tatlock, awarding-winning author of
Things We Once Held Dear“Lisa Samson is one of my favorite authors. Her characterization is always brilliant, and
Straight Up is no exception. Samson just keeps getting better and better.”
–Colleen Coble, author of
Fire Dancer
