Uprush

by Jo Barney

Every summer four old friends flock together at Madge’s seaside house to swap stories and sip wine. Throughout divorces, children, and new marriages, only the beach house and the sisterhood that comes with it, hold constant. This time, though, something is different

Madge, the writer friend who brought them all together, is acting strange. She asks them for a risky, unthinkable favor. And then one morning, she disappears.

In Madge’s absence, her friends discover the unfinished manuscript to what will be her final novel. It is the story of past forty years of their lives, a story that may reshape their futures.

302 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2014

Reviews

[Lynxie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uprush, a collection of unlikely protagonists. A group of four ageing women as they meander through life and their families and jobs.

I really liked how the book was divided in chapters for each of the women and Lucius (the police detective). Each of their histories and emotions was explored.

I liked how each woman was different, real, flawed and yet an irreplaceable piece of an amazing group of friends.

I wondered at Lucius' logic behind the ending. As a cop, I didn't understand why it happened as it did. It's a bit of a shame really, I was thoroughly engrossed in the story and totally believed it until that point.

This book made me cry, just a little. It wasn't the heart-wrenching sadness that I've experienced only a handful of times with books, but I was still close enough to these women to shed a few tears for them.

These women reminded me of the characters in the movie 'Calendar girls' the same sort of sisterhood, friendship feel.

A story to make you stop, take a deep breath, and slowly wind your way into it. Uprush will make you think about what it means to be friends, what you would or wouldn't share with your friends and just how far you would be willing to go for them.

It's in need of an edit, here's a few things I noticed:

6% - ...Jackie has ever noticed., (delete fullstop) not like...
...pour themselves cups (of) coffee...
13% - blond (blonde? Since we're referring to a female?)
22% - ... Is about to go out nowwalking (space needed)
39% - A hundred of (delete of) miles of heat...
46% - ...I've valued hour (your or our) secrets...
56% - ...drank wine with us Afterwards (no cap needed)
61% - ...no need for her (to) go into the rest...
63% - ...as if I had hitthe (space) delete key...
68% - ...soon we sit down (in) front of...
71% - soft handsyt (??)
"It (delete it, add is) that what you're doing...
99% - It'll (be) a short sweet speech...

**Note: I was provided an electronic copy of this book in return for an honest review**

[Tina Meyers]

UPRUSH by Jo Barney was an awesome book about old friends who would do anything for each other. As college co-ed they came from all walks of life and grew together. Now, many years post graduation and different life experiences have drawn them together once again to celebrate and mourn their friendships. Add this to your TBR. This was a new to me author that I really enjoyed. #booktrib

[Barbara Waloven · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title and cover are so perfect for this story in so many ways. From the time when the 4 young ladies sat in the sorority solarium and had an up rush of information to discuss to each individual lady’s life story that is filled with an uprush of life and culminating in their latest gathering.

[Lynelle Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the book from the author for an honest review.

Four friends, Madge, Lou, Joan, and Jackie knew each other since college. Meeting each other each night at the solarium where they discussed and discovered everything during the late 1950's. Now, as years have passed the relationship between the four is still as close as ever. The bond that was established back then still true to this day; the easiness they communicate with each other, the quiet acceptance of once faults, admiring the strengths, and yes a healthy dose of jealousy does excists but it doesn't hinder the friendships.
It's a book about relationships, about struggles, making decisions that took them on different paths, each battling her own why's and how's and at the end settling with who they have become, still remaining friends. Through their life expereince you could identify yourself with many of the questions they faced, searching for that something that would make your life meaningful.

On the weekend they came together, Madge had a plan and she wanted her friends to help her to accomplish her plan. Tears flowed, even tempers raised when the plan was revealed but yet at the end you see this bond working like a well-oiled maschine as each woman played her part incredibly well. As if they had rehearsed it long before the weekend. In every detail, you couldn't help but to admire them all, as individuals but also as a group of friends.

When one man, the town's sheriff, Lucius, meet them, he thought he could understand them and find the truth behind all the roll play, but at the end his decision was the final clinch in the whole plan. Maybe unwillingly, but reading the book you realized how they all arrived at the same conclusion. For some readers this could be a moral dilemma, but when you arrive at a certain age you realize there are more to life than morals and principles that governors us-well my personal experience anyway.
I thought the book with its many layers, taking you back in the past and then back to the present, was very well-crafted so that you didn't get lost. The author had kept it in an orderly threat all the way in a great storytelling fashion while still keeping the plot in the direction she wanted it to go.
It was written with so much energy and passion, keeping your attention on the story as you learn more about the five characters in this book.
This was the second book of the author I have read, her unique storytelling keeping you entertained as she describes life's trails in the most humanistc ways so that you can identify with each one. Her stories are original and strong, and accomplish what she sets out to do. Making you think as you connect with her and her characters through her writing.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book traces the lives of four women that became best friends in college, kept in touch over the years and have now reached the self-described position of cronehood. Which means that they are in their sixties, feeling and showing their age to various degrees. The temporal position of the narrative moves back and forth from events that took place in college to a meeting that they are having at Maggie’s beach house. Interspersed within this timeline are major events in each one of their lives.
In keeping with the social norms of the time (late ‘50’s), once they left college, their goal was to get married and have children. When that happened they quit working and lived the life of a wife and mother. Now their children are adults living their own lives and for some time they have been reflecting back on their lives and divorces, deaths, the relationships with their (step)children and the constancy of their friendship.
Madge is a successful novelist whose career is winding down. She is working on what she knows will be her last novel and needs the help of her friends to complete it. The lives of her friends after attending college in the late ‘50s is an integral part of the book.
There are many amusing points in the book, even though they are very low-key in the early years. Their sex talk while in college would have been quite risqué for the time, but in their sixties sounds quaint even to them. These women have a lot of mileage on them and they feel it, physically, mentally and emotionally.
Given the content of the story, the natural audience would be women in their older years where their children are adults and the men who sired them are out of their lives via one mechanism or another. However, the excellent way that the messages are delivered expands the audience to older people of the other gender. I found it very engaging as Madge and the girls look back on their lives and she tries to complete one last project. It is a story that all older people can relate to.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uprush is by Jo Barney. It is an interesting book. It is told by all the characters so you hear all of their stories. It sometime makes for confusion but not often. Jo has written a book that draws you into the story and makes it so you just can’t put it down.
Madge, Joan, Jackie and Lou are unlikely friends from college. They all met in the sorority house and became good friends. After college, they went their separate ways but Madge kept in touch with them and they began sporadically meeting to spend one weekend together getting reacquainted. Madge became a writer and was working on her next book, Think on These Things. This book is about the four women and their lives and problems. However, Madge wants each of the others to finish their own chapter. She then proceeds to finish her own story ending with her death. She wants to commit suicide and make it look like an accident but she needs the help of the other girls. The next morning the other girls wake up and Madge is gone. Joan calls the police but the sheriff says they have to wait 24 hours before they can do anything. 24 hours later, Lucius comes to the house to instigate a search for Madge.
Did Madge get away with killing herself? Why would she do that? How do the other three girls manage to keep their cool through the investigation? What will they tell Robert, Madge’s lover, and Jim and Grant, Madge’s sons? What is the secret each of the girls is hiding from the others?

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never, never under estimate what women in their 60's and above are capable of accomplishing--I should know--we are fearless and can out smart and out talk almost anyone. When four old college friends get together at one of their beach houses for a reunion they are all at turning points in their lives. When Madge tells them that she has written a book about them but she can't finish it--they will have to--of course they come up with lots of excuses--until they start noticing things--like post it notes all over the beach house.

This is a story of true friendship and what they ultimately did for Madge! I am sure you are going to love it--whether you agree or not with what they ultimately did. You will laugh at how they accomplished some of it! That poor Sheriff!!

I loved this book and give it a 5 Star-Uprush

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four college friends, Madge, Joan, Lou & Jackie, meet for their final time, but only one knows this and she is banking on her friends help. Madge, has written a book about the girls, but they must finish it. They need to write the ending of the book. Each friend has their own issues, their strengths and weaknesses. But Madge is in need right now. She knows how her story will end, with her death. In order to do this, she needs her three friends to help her. Madge has it all planned out, it will look like an accident, hopefully. Will the remaining women be able to pull it off? Or will they bend in the wind and break like a branch?

This is a powerful story of friendship and life. It that draws you in and keeps you interested. You learn about each of the women and the story is told by each of the women in turn. I really enjoyed this book and the way the friends stick together. Yes they have secrets, who doesn’t, but when it counts they are there for each other.

[Victoria Brinius · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is how I imagine Sex and The City characters will end of years from now. There are sexual situations in this book, so no young readers. Joan was my favorite character, because I think that any couple can lose their relationship. Especially if they are going to school, raising kids, working and keeping house. Time flies and suddenly there was a space in her bed. The author really did a great job of using realistic situations that real people will find themselves in. I also found the assisted suicide plot an interesting topic. Her reason was a good one, and I felt for Madge. I liked reading about these four women and how their lives intertwined. What does it mean to be a true friend? How far would you go to keep a promise? I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my end.

[Jo Barney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uprush is about friendship, long-lived relationships, the kind of friends I was thinking of, valuing, contemplating, as I begin this book, which began originally as The Solarium, an ebook. I loved writing it, sharing it with women who might recognize a bit of themselves in the story. A few years later I realized that this is one book I really wanted to hold in my hands, turn its pages, remember the scenes again and again. So I converted it into a paperback as well as an ebook and gave it a new title: UPRUSH. These four women were at the edge of a wave that would change their lives, an unexpected uprush. Hope my readers find this story a thoughtful investigation of the intricacies of friendship.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will take you on an emotional journey right along with each of the 4 women, Joan, Lou, Jackie and Madge. Each character is so well written and I love how we get to learn their story. The book starts out with Madge's death and each chapter is told by one of the women but you don't get confused. The ending had me in tears. 4 women, a friendship that spans over 40 years and a bond that can't be broken.

I received this from the author for an honest review and I highly recommend this book.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoying the characters, the descriptions of the eras they have come from and grown through and their situation today. I was impressed how thoroughly the hostess had scripted her week-end with her lifetime friends and how each reacted to the stresses in their own personal ways. Group think didn't add up to mirrored behavior. A thoughtful evocation of circumstances that I could easily feel myself living through.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book up from Powell's Bookstore in Portland, OR. I had set my mind on choosing an indie press book from there, and to be honest, I chose this one somewhat at random from a display in the small press section. It was an engaging story, but I was distracted by a number of typos.

[Lewlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written book and well edited too. The author has obviously put a lot of effort into making sure this book was ready to publish and well done for that.

Congratulations Ms Barney.