Within a Whisper [Hardcover]

Caroline Upcher (Author), James And Nanci Lagarenne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 21, 2001

In the autumn of 2000, James LaGarenne and his wife, Nanci, answered a call for the "Greatest Love Story Never Told" They both submitted the story of their marriage -- without each other's knowledge -- to a contest William Morrow launched in collaboration with Redbook magazine and Women.com. Their powerful tale profoundly moved the judges, who selected Jimmy's entry as the winner. And now, brought to life by novelist Caroline Upcher, their story will touch your heart as well.

From the moment she saw Jimmy LaGarenne riding his bike down her neighborhood street, eighth-grader Nanci DeSerio was smitten. But it wasn't until three years later, the first time she saw Jimmy cry, that they truly fell in love. Both were growing up in the liberating but confusing sixties as children of Brooklyn cops, and knew by the age of nineteen they'd be together forever.

When they realized not long afterward that Nancl was pregnant, they were married. And though the rushed wedding wasn't the fairy tale for which they'd hoped, their wide-eyed young devotion surely was.

But fairy tales fade, and real life can be the enemy of romance. Over the years disappointment and distance gradually chipped away at their love. Finally, all appeared lost on a bitter-cold Christmas Day when they realized they were within a whisper of divorce.

What happened next, however, is the kind of miracle that makes Nanci and Jimmy's everyday story into an extraordinary one. A moving and inspiring tale of rescued love, it contains a message for each of us ...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Every now and then, the story behind a book's publication is more interesting than the novel itself. This one was the grand prize winner of a contest held by Morrow, Redbook magazine and women.com for "The Greatest Love Story Never Told," in which contestants were urged to write about their own heartwarming experiences. The La Garennes' prize-winning story was turned into this novel written by Upcher (Falling for Mr. Wrong). It opens in the 22nd year of Nanci and Jimmy's marriage, with the couple sleeping in separate bedrooms and on the brink of breaking up. It is the Christmas season, and as the couple contemplates filing divorce papers, they begin to review their shared history: their early attraction in Brooklyn, shotgun wedding, two children, love and dreams, and the trials that led to the decline in their relationship. In fact, most of the book involves past history, clich‚s clinking all over the place ("He played her like she was a musical instrument, tuning her body until she was rising and falling in rhythm to his every touch"). Short sentences demand nothing from the reader and an overall treacly sweetness makes this an ideal candidate for the '50s magazine column "Can This Marriage Be Saved?" However, the presence of a few contemporary problems including drug abuse may make this tale more timely for readers looking for happy-ever-after endings. (Sept. 18)Forecast: Savvy marketing should bring this uplifting weeper to the attention of romance readers. The combined audience on HarperCollins', Redbook's and women.com Web sites will get sales rolling. That James La Garenne and his wife both entered the contest unbeknownst to each other, and the husband's version won, adds an O. Henry twist to a story made for media exploitation.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Caroline Upcher has worked in film, publishing, and journalism. She is the author of Falling for Mr. Wrong, The Visitor's Book, and Grace and Favor. She wrote two novels pseudonymously as Carly McIntyre (Next of Kin and Saskia) as well as Naomi Campbell's novel, Swan. Formerly of London, she now lives in Amagansett, New York.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1st edition (August 21, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0066212685
• ISBN-13: 978-0066212685
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,446,988 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a great read, November 9, 2001

By 

lawrence mahoney (Boca Raton, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Within a Whisper (Hardcover)

i dont have alot too say about this masterpiece of modern literature but i was truly compelled by the lagarennes younger son eric who seems to be a truly wonderful person as well as a sensitive jock. i also am pleased to see that the older brother rose from a gutter drinking crackhead monster to a fine young citizen. the story of the lagarennes is one everyone should experience and revel over. the book truly provides a ray of hope to all struggling couples.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Sweet Second Chance, December 17, 2002

By 

Lisa (San Bernardino, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Within a Whisper (Mass Market Paperback)

Jimmy and Nanci have been childhood sweethearts, and were married young, the reason for the marriage is because Nanci got pregnant with Josh, they had another son Eric, They were in love, they moved in with Jimmy's parents, Nanci was very lucky that she got along great with her in laws they were there for her whenever she needed them. They had problems but they seem to work them out, then the problems got worse when Jimmy started working longer hours and was hardly home, then Josh was having problems in school, Nanci needed Jimmy to be there for them, but he didn't know how to handle Josh and the problems he was having, going through a lot Nanci is tired of dealing with everything by herself. Reading this story about these two people makes your heart go out to them and it makes you want to give Nanci a hug and tell her everything is going to be just fine. You can't help but cheer for Jimmy and Nanci, who deserve a second chance.

Happy Reading Lisa

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely!, April 23, 2002

By 

Wally Perkovich (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Within a Whisper (Hardcover)

This book is, in one word- lovely! The character development which occurs throughout the book is amazing, and although I didn't trust all of the sappy dialogue, I attribute that to Caroline Upcher, not the Lagarenne's touching tale. ... Lovely!