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Title details for Acts of Violet by Margarita Montimore - Available

Acts of Violet

A Novel

by Margarita Montimore
Alejandro Antonio Ruiz
Audiobook
3 of 3 copies available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
3 of 3 copies available

"A multicast presentation of a novel with this many disparate narrative elements could easily become chaotic, so it is testament to the narrators' talents and Montimore's brilliant plot structure, compelling characters, and sharp, often hilarious prose that listeners are instead treated to an absolutely delightful audiobook, essential for all contemporary fiction collections."- Library Journal

This program features unique sound design and is read by a multicast that brilliantly weaves together the narrative elements, the podcast episodes, and the documents within the story.

From Margarita Montimore, the author of GMA Book Club pick and national bestseller Oona Out of Order, Acts of Violet is a dazzling and twisty new novel about a famous magician who disappears, leaving her sister to figure out what really happened.
Nearly a decade ago, iconic magician Violet Volk performed her greatest trick yet: vanishing mid-act. Though she hasn't been seen since, her hold on the public hasn't wavered. While Violet sought out the spotlight, her sister Sasha, ever the responsible one, took over their mother's salon and built a quiet life for her daughter, Quinn. But Sasha can never seem to escape her sister's orbit or her memories of their unresolved, tumultuous relationship. Then there's Cameron Frank, determined to finally get his big break hosting a podcast devoted to all things Violet—though keeping his job hinges on an exclusive interview with Sasha, the last person who wants to talk to him.
As the ten-year anniversary approaches, the podcast picks up steam, and Cameron's pursuit of Sasha becomes increasingly intrusive. He isn't the only one wondering what secrets she might be keeping: Quinn, loyal to the aunt she always idolized, is doing her own investigating. Meanwhile, Sasha begins to experience an unsettling series of sleepwalking episodes and coincidences, which all lead back to Violet. Pushed to her emotional limits, Sasha must finally confront the most painful truths about her sister, and herself, even at the risk of losing everything.
Alternating between Sasha's narration and Cameron's podcast transcripts, interspersed with documents that offer a tantalizing peek at Violet herself, Acts of Violet is an utterly original, propulsive story of fame, deception, and forgiveness that will make you believe in magic.
A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Awards

  • Release date

    July 5, 2022

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781250854636
      • File size: 321328 KB
      • Duration: 11:09:25

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      May 30, 2022
      A woman struggles to get out from under her famous older sister’s shadow in Montimore’s mesmerizing latest (after Oona Out of Order). Hairdresser Sasha Dwyer dreads the fast-approaching 10th anniversary of the day her older sister, Violet Volk, a popular but polarizing magician and 1990s pop culture icon, disappeared during a stage performance and never reemerged. Violet’s rabid fans—the “Wolf Pack”—continue to vilify Sasha for supposedly not looking hard enough to find Violet and failing to mourn her “the right way” after she was declared legally dead. As rumors about alleged Violet sightings swirl on social media, Sasha worries that they’ll give false hope to Quinn, Sasha’s college-age daughter, who adored Violet but remains ignorant of her aunt’s selfish and spiteful streak. However, Sasha’s efforts to leave her sister in the past unravel as synchronicities and more sightings point to Violet’s return. Supplementing the straightforward prose with a slew of narrative devices that include tabloid articles, email exchanges, and podcast transcripts, Montimore achieves a thoughtful, panoramic portrait of larger-than-life Violet while underscoring Sasha’s pain as she tries to grieve under an unforgiving public eye. This spellbinding effort delivers its fair share of magic. Agent: Philippa Sitters, David Godwin Assoc.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Brittany Pressley skillfully headlines an expansive full cast in this immersive audio production. Violet Volk is a dazzling and daring superstar magician. When she vanishes during her flashiest performance yet, her sister, Sasha, is left behind to pick up the pieces. Ten years later, unanswered questions continue to haunt Sasha; her daughter, Quinn; and Violet's legions of devoted fans. This intriguing mystery sounds as if it were designed for audio with its clever mix of traditional narration intercut with emails, newspaper articles, and a fictitious podcast that could pass for any number of real true-crime series. The large cast of outstanding narrators is seamlessly woven together with well-chosen music and sound effects. Pressley keeps the entire panorama grounded as it revolves around her. N.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
    • Library Journal

      Starred review from December 1, 2022

      Ten outstanding narrators elevate the latest novel from Montimore (Oona Out of Order) into an immersive audio experience. While each performer has a distinctive, expressive voice, Brittany Pressley is mesmerizing as salon owner Sasha Dwyer, sister of 1990s pop culture superstar and magician Violet Volk, who mysteriously disappeared mid-act. At the heart of Montimore's cleverly designed narrative is Sasha's first-person account of her anxiety over the events planned for the 10-year-anniversary of Violet's disappearance, her rapidly diminishing patience with her college-age daughter whose starry-eyed devotion to her aunt is driving Sasha up the wall, and her own unresolved issues with her famous--and famously selfish--sister. Sasha's story alternates with episodes of a podcast series about Violet's life as well as various documents including newspaper articles and correspondence between the characters. Each narrator's performance is expertly paced, heightening the tension as Sasha and Violet's history is only gradually revealed. VERDICT A multicast presentation of a novel with this many disparate narrative elements could easily become chaotic, so it is testament to the narrators' talents and Montimore's brilliant plot structure, compelling characters, and sharp, often hilarious prose that listeners are instead treated to an absolutely delightful audiobook, essential for all contemporary fiction collections.--Beth Farrell

      Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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