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    Middle Ground
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    Middle Ground
    Unavailable
    Middle Ground
    Audiobook1 hour

    Middle Ground

    Written by Zoe Whittall

    Narrated by Michelle Monteith

    3/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Missy Turner thinks of herself as the most ordinary woman in the world. She has a lot to be thankful for—a great kid, a loving husband, a job she enjoys and the security of living in the small town where she was born. Then one day everything gets turned upside down—she loses her job, catches her husband making out with the neighbor and is briefly taken hostage by a young man who robs the local café. With her world rapidly falling apart, Missy finds herself questioning the certainties she's lived with her whole life.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOrca Book Publishers Audio
    Release dateJan 1, 2018
    ISBN9781459819276
    Unavailable
    Middle Ground
    Author

    Zoe Whittall

    ZOE WHITTALL is the author of five novels, including the recent bestseller The Fake, which was longlisted for the Toronto Book Award. The New York Times called her fourth novel The Spectacular, “a highly readable testament to the strength of the maternal bond.” Her third novel The Best Kind of People was shortlisted for The Scotiabank-Giller Prize. Her second novel Holding Still for as Long as Possible won a Lambda Award, and was an American Library Association’s Stonewall Honor Book. Her debut novel Bottle Rocket Hearts won the Writers’ Trust of Canada’s Dayne Ogilvie prize. She is also a Canadian Screen Award winning TV writer. She lives in Prince Edward County.  

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    Reviews for Middle Ground

    3/5

    21 ratings21 reviews

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    • 3/5
      The Middle Groubd by Zoe Whittal is a novel about Missy, a married mother, encountering the worst day of her life. This makes her question her decisions and make even more questionable decisions. A quick read but doesn't fully develop plot or characters.
    • 3/5
      This was a super quick read but kept my interest. It almost felt that it worked more as a short story than a full novel. The concept of the novel is interesting--what happens when one thing changes in your every day life and the decisions that you can make around that.
    • 3/5
      This was my first from the series of Rapid Read books and I really enjoyed it. The plot moved quickly and kept my interest as the character moved through some crazy life events. I can see this series becoming quite popular and I would look for more of them in the future. I can imagine storing one of these books in my purse for a quick read any time of the day!
    • 4/5
      Well plotted with believable characters. A perfect storm of cascading incidents that were bizarre, but understandable in context. This short book would make a great movie.
    • 3/5
      The MIddle Ground by Zoe Whitall is part of a new series of Canadian imprints called Rapid Reads. These are books written by well-respected authors in veryshort formats. The idea is to appeal to people who don't normally like to read andso they are given a book in an easy, digestible format. For this purpose this novel works well. There is a beginning, middle and end to the story and the author plays with the title twice in a clever way.The novel is about an ordinary day in the life of the female protagonist, when everything disrupts and seems to set her established life in a new order. Thereare twists to the plot several times and the work kept me interested and eager to find out how the whole thing would end up. The ending was also a bit of a twistand a nice surprise. In some ways I'm not the best reader for this text as I likemy novels to be long and more involved then this one, but I did find the writing style to be more then competent and for someone who would like a small taste of the wonders of great thriller writing, this is a satisfactory introduction. I think the book would also be effective for high school readers who aren't very advanced in their literate skills. Over all a pleasant and fun read!
    • 3/5
      This is a short, light novel which is listed as adult fiction, ages 16+, and seemed to be written more for the young adult set. The plot was interesting with a few twists that kept me wanting more. The protagonist, Missy, felt she was living the perfect life when one day everything went wrong. I asked myself several times what I would do in a similar situation when Missy was faced with difficult choices. I doubt that I would make the decisions she made but unless you have been faced with such decisions, you don't really know what you would do.Even though her characters were not well-developed, the author wasted no words, she just got on with the story and I liked that!Thanks to the publisher, Orca Book Publishers, via LibraryThing, for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
    • 4/5
      This 'Rapid Read' is a new concept for me and I think I really like it. The story although short, is pretty well fleshed out and moved along quickly. The characters were believable, and the main character, Missy, is pretty well fleshed out despite the shortness of the novel. It's a fast paced thriller that delivers. Recommended.
    • 1/5
      I did not enjoy this book and would not recommend it to anyone. The storyline is just flat and there is not one character with any redeeming quality. It’s a good thing it was a “rapid read” or I would have had to ly it aside. It truly is not worth picking up.
    • 3/5
      This is the first Rapid Read book I have read. I read it in under an hour and it kept my interest the entire time. I thought it could have had more substance in places but I did enjoy the story line. The plot developed in a very short time and kept moving. That is one good thing about a Rapid Read book, it sets everything up quickly and doesn't get drawn out. I don't know that I would always want to read that short of a book but it was a good change of pace and I thought it was a completely developed story in short form.
    • 3/5
      The Middle Ground is a quick read - not a short story and not a novel - but a new (at least to me) concept of books labeled "Rapid Reads". At only 119 pages, the storyline has to move along and conclude before many novels wrap up their baseline. So I was a bit apprehensive as to whether I would enjoy this style of book. I thought it would be too shallow with not enough 'meat'. Well, I worried needlessly. It was a thoroughly enjoyable story and engaged me fully, as I followed Missy's adventure of being held hostage in a botched robbery. The character of Missy was believable and not a forced, typical 'hostage-style' reaction. The story didn't feel rushed. I definitely feel there is a place for Rapid Read style books and would encourage all to try them out.
    • 4/5
      knowing the author's previous work, it surprised me that something of hers would be included in such a form. her previous work is nothing epic, but quite a bit longer than the rapid read. the thing that most interested me was that the other rapid read books seemed to be of the thriller nature when whittall's was a littler tamer.however, any questions i had about the book were chased away as i read it. it's very engaging in the way that missy's character develops. though it is short, i found it satisfying and not unbelievable. her character development was brief, but sufficient and i sympathized with missy's character. great for younger readers who are resistant to reading, but who like it once a story gets going. not too big of a commitment.
    • 4/5
      The Middle Ground is a fast-paced thriller of just 119 pages and part of a new concept called "Rapid Reads. I think the series is a good combination of good characters and an interesting story. A quick read for a Sunday afternoon or for thosenot interested in long books.
    • 4/5
      I was drawn to the main character (Missy) because she seemed to be in a similar place in life as me (age, name, ect.) the start was an anything-that-can-go-wrong-will day. And who hasn’t had one of those? I kept reading because the author drops just enough hints to keep the suspense built, and to keep you reading. I wanted answers! It was a short book (which I loved. A nice break from some longer, more intense reads). It could be easily read in one sitting, or the short chapters would be good for people who are not big readers, or when you just have/need a short break. I loved it. The author managed to squeeze a lot of story into a few pages. It really had me thinking about some of Missy’s choices. Would I have done the same? At what point would I have done something different? Would I choose to help the ‘bad’ guy? It was essentially a book about choice, and who Missy would choose to be. The whole time I was thinking about it, and picking it apart as it related to me, it was totally believable. Her motivation was believable, and on the most part, what anyone would do. I never felt like I had to suspend my disbelief. I will definitely be hunting down more from this series of Rapid Reads, and will read more by this author when I find it.
    • 4/5
      This is a selection of the Rapid Reads program, As such I feel compelled to state that it took me all of 45 minutes to read, but I didn't feel as if I were being dumbed down by it, quite the opposite. As a tool for helping in adult literacy programs, this would be an excellent choice. I also think it would be great for someone that wanted a light and/or short read for a short trip. Whittall captures your attention on the first page and keeps it to the end. The premise is current and a bit edgy, without being overly so. The outcome is not totally surprising, but not a let down as it could have so easily been.
    • 2/5
      Coming in at about 100 pages displayed in large font, this did indeed constitute a "Rapid Read" which took me about an hour to complete. Even though I just needed to invest about an hour of my time, there were many places I thought about putting it down. Had it been a regular-length novel, I'm not sure I would have kept up with it. Not only was it "rapid," but I would also qualify it as "fast" -- a novel comparable to "fast food" -- it will do the job of filling you up if you are really in need of a quick meal, but it isn't terribly nutritious. While fast food can be quite enjoyable to most people on occasion because it generally tastes good, I'm not sure this book even accomplished the equivalent of tasting good. While I liked that there could be so much backstory about the characters in such a short book, the whole situation felt stilted and not entirely believable. As to avoid major spoilers, let's just say the heroine, Missy, is having a horrible day. There could have been a bit more attention to details. For example, while the story is supposed to be set in an unspecified location in small-town USA, the author leaves a few clues about her Canadian identity by referring to kids being in grade so-and-so (rather than the 5th grade, or a sophomore in high school). And in many places in the dialogue, the characters don't use contractions where natural speech would warrant it. Perhaps this book (and other Rapid Reads) would be enjoyable to people who are just becoming literate in English, acquiring it as a new language in adulthood, and who aren't lovers of classic literature in their native language. Because I can't imagine any lover of classic literature enjoying this book as anything else but a helpful language tool.
    • 2/5
      Well it did live up to it's hype - "rapid read" Finished in about an hour. I did enjoy it but the book was just too predictable. Exciting for about 10 pages and then bla bla bla you knew what was going to happen. I kind of expected the ending to be "and then I woke up" The thing I liked best was the large print! Change the subject matter a bit and it would be great for middle schooler who can't get into reading.
    • 1/5
      I received this novel from Librarything from the Early Reviewers Program. I applied for this book and other "Rapid Reads" because I thought it might be of use to my ESL readers. This is from the back cover:"When everything goes wrong at once, Missy Turner begins to make some unusual choices.Missy Turner thinks of herself as the most ordinary woman in the world. She has a lot to be thankful for—a great kid, a loving husband, a job she enjoys and the security of living in the small town where she was born. Then one day everything gets turned upside down—she loses her job, catches her husband making out with the neighbor and is briefly taken hostage by a young man who robs the local café. With her world rapidly falling apart, Missy finds herself questioning the certainties she's lived with her whole life."Sounds like it could be interesting, right? Well, I have to say that I did not like this book -- and that is an understatement!I found that the characters were flat, the setting non-existent and the plot improbable and cliche -- reminded me of a tired spaghetti western. "Jerry used to beat the crap out of my older brother in the high school. He'd parlayed his schoolyard bullying into a job with the local force. I don't hate a lot of people, but I pretty much hate Jerry. Besides bullying my brother, he also tried to date-rape my sister at the prom. He still has a scar on the side of his face from a bottle she'd smashed into it." p.31 Further, I actively abhorred Missy Turner, (what a dumb name to give a character!). After being held a gunpoint, she agrees to meet up with the guy. Then inexplicably she leaves her life behind and begins to drive across the country with this new found "love", stopping periodically at hotels for sex. Now, although I don't expect anyone to read this book, I should mention that I am going to spoil the plot for those of you who actually do choose to fork over $10.00 for this good for nothing but kindling.So, since the guy is broke and proud and doesn't want to accept anymore that Missy Turner has been footing the bill for their meanderings, he decides to hold up a gas station. At this moment, the brilliant protagonist asks herself, "Who was this man I'd just spent the better part of two days with? The one I was fantasizing about marrying? Did losing everything in one fell swoop mean I'd lost my mind? Any semblance of intelligence and character?" (p.109) Well I can certainly answer that! Any woman with half a brain doesn't get into a car with a stranger who is known to her as a criminal and expect him to transform into a knight in shining armour!!! I mean DAH!!!! Then, even after he shoots her, she says to herself, "The weirdest thing is, sometimes I think about Red in prison and I feel bad. After everything he did, I still feel compassion. Like he's some one-eyed kitten who can't stop hurting himself. I know this is crazy. I'm still absorbing it all. I think I've still got a ways to go. The truth is, I never knew him at all." p. 118 In my opinion, Missy Turner is not only stupid but also pathetic...and insult to all women. So what am I going to do with this book (I can't bring myself to call it a "novel".) I thought about setting it free with Book Crossings, but that seems cruel and unusual to any unsuspecting reader. Hmm, what to do???
    • 3/5
      Missy Turner has a normal, even boring life, until she has the worst day ever. Her life falls to pieces...and she changes. She gains the courage to try new things.This book is a 'rapid read'. I had never heard of rapid reads until I received this book from LibraryThing's Early Review Program. The Rapid Read series is a new line of short & easy books for adults. The publishers believe that in this hectic world there is a market for books that can be read in one sitting. They may be right. I think these books would also appeal to older teenagers who are reluctant to read, those learning English, or those who struggle with reading.The novella meets the goals of the rapid reads program. For what it is, I applaud it. It is an excellent book for the target audience. However, I believe most of the avid readers I know would be left wanting more. This book is more like a short story with little time for the characters to reflect and grow.
    • 4/5
      I like the idea of a Rapid Read series of books; I think they may prove to be very popular. The Middle Ground is an interesting story with quite a lot of action for just 119 pages, but still also enough character development to make for a compelling story. I always admire writers of short stories or novellas because they employ the same parts of fiction the full-length writers do but with much less room to develop them.
    • 4/5
      This is the story of Missy Turner. Happily married, living in a small town surrounded by her family, Missy lives a happy, if uneventful, life. Until one day, when she gets hit by three shocks and starts to question who she is and what she wants to do with her life.She meets "Red" under unusual circumstances and begins a relationship with him that is very out-of-character for her. It's a good story, fast paced but with sufficient character development that I could identify with Missy.This is a short book (119) pages and part of a new concept called "Rapid Reads". In this book, I think the series has found the right recipe for success: a combination of a story that can build and be resolved quickly without sacrificing character development. I plan to check out another of the Rapid Reads books later this summer.
    • 4/5
      The Middle Ground is a fast-paced thriller fused with a character-driven domestic novel. Thirty-three-year-old Missy Turner meets the mysterious Roger through an unusual chain of circumstances. She then makes an inexplicable choice that will change her life, and the lives of her family, forever.This novel is part of the Rapid Reads series. In the print edition, this book would be excellent for an adult struggling with literacy. The story is compelling, the language is straightforward but not uninteresting, and the narrative structures are clear without being simplistic. In an electronic edition, however, this book would be great for commuters or readers with limited sustained reading time. The text can be easily and satisfyingly consumed either in one sitting or in a series of brief reading periods.What makes the text attractive is the writer's voice and the personality of the protagonist. The action is quick and adult-oriented, but the text also offers opportunities for readers to reflect on the story and identify with the narrator. I am intrigued by the Rapid Reads experiment. If all the texts are of this quality, the series should find resounding success.