The Shortest Way Home: A Novel by Miriam Parker (English) Paperback Book

Description: The Shortest Way Home by Miriam Parker "Delightful . . . effervescent, heady, and intoxicating."--Elin HilderbrandHow far would you go to find the place you belong?"Delightful . . . effervescent, heady, and intoxicating."--Elin HilderbrandHow far would you go to find the place you belong?Hannah is finally about to have everything she ever wanted. With a high-paying job, a Manhattan apartment, and a boyfriend about to propose, all she and Ethan have to do is make it through the last couple of weeks of grad school.But when, on a romantic weekend trip to Sonoma, Hannah is spontaneously offered a marketing job at a family-run winery and doesnt immediately refuse, their meticulously planned forever threatens to come crashing down. And then Hannah impulsively does the unthinkable--she takes a leap of faith.Abandoning your dream job and life shouldnt feel this good. But this new reality certainly seems like a dream come true--a picturesque cottage overlooking a vineyard; new friends with their own inspiring plans; and William, the handsome son of the winery owners who captures Hannahs heart only to leave for the very city she let go.Soon, the mission to rescue the failing winery becomes a mission to rescue Hannah from the life she thought she wanted. Crackling with humor and heart, The Shortest Way Home is the journey of one woman shedding expectations in order to claim her own happy ending. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Author Biography Miriam Parker has worked in book publishing for more than seventeen years, and is currently the Associate Publisher of Ecco. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from UNC Wilmington and a BA in English from Columbia University. Her short stories have been published in The Florida Review and Fourteen Hills. She currently lives in Brooklyn with her spaniel, Leopold Bloom. The Shortest Way Home is her first novel. Review Praise for The Shortest Way Home"Rewarding....[An] accomplished debut."—Publishers Weekly"Just purely delightful and as smooth to knock back as a glass of rosé on a sticky summer day....There are unexpected challenges and a star-crossed romance and all of the things which you want in a summer book about leaving your life and starting over somewhere new (especially when its somewhere straight out of a Nancy Meyers movie!)....Refreshing and bright, with a clean, crisp aftertaste."—Nylon"This one screams smart beach read: A woman on the cusp of everything she wants in life - dream job, committed boyfriend, luxe apartment - suddenly decides to let it all go."—Entertainment Weekly"Parkers bingeable novel is perfect for those whove fantasized about their own path not taken."—Real Simple"This debut novel about a young woman following her heart and creating her happiness is engaging and fun. Parker takes her place next to similar writers such as Laura Dave and Jane Green." —Library Journal"Perfect to read with a glass of wine and some good cheese." —Booklist"This delicious book is broken into three parts, and each part comes with a food and wine pairing."—Fodors"[A] delightful debut novel."—Bustle"Yes this is a romance, but it is also a novel about a young woman finding herself, figuring out the difference between what she wants to do with her life and what others want... the gorgeous weather, the tempting wines, the handsome son of the vintner and, yes, the resident dog all make for a charming weekend read."—Minneapolis Star Tribune"Does giving up a high-pressure job in Manhattan finance — and a mismatched fiance — to live and work at a Sonoma County winery, while romancing the owners son, sound like a fantasy? Well, this first good-hearted novel suggests that such fantasies can (and should) come true, as they do for protagonist Hannah Greene."—Newsday"This is a fast read and a fun summer fantasy. Especially if the idea of waking up in wine country every day sounds as good to you as it does to me." —Connie Ogle, Miami Herald Books"In The Shortest Way Home, Miriam Parker explores the persistent question of whether grass is truly greener on the other side, and whether following the heart will lead you where you belong. This is a story that wine lovers and big dreamers will devour." —BookPage"The Shortest Way Home is a delightful debut about taking chances and making your own happiness." —Book Riot"When reading a novel set in wine country, its of utmost importance to drink wine as you go. Grab your favorite red or white and dig into The Shortest Way Home. Its a charming story about a woman named Hannah who thought she had the rest of her life figured out..."—HelloGiggles"Its nearly impossible to describe this wonderful debut without summoning the language of wine country because Miriam Parker has infused every page with an appreciation for the alchemy of character and place that can transform a cluster of grapes into a beautiful glass of wine. She turns the same keen eye on matters of the heart—exploring how and where and with whom we find happiness, declare a home—with spectacular results."—Cynthia DAprix Sweeney, author of The Nest"Miriam Parkers delightful novel The Shortest Way Home reminded me of why I love champagne: its effervescent, heady and intoxicating. She skillfully blends a captivating romance with inside oenophile references; the writing blew me away."—Elin Hilderbrand, author of Heres to Us"The Shortest Way Home is about love, life, and the sometimes unpredictable ways we find our place in the world. But its also about wine, and maybe best described as one might a great wine: the perfect balance of spice and sweetness, satisfyingly complex yet utterly refreshing."—Rumaan Alam, author of Rich and Pretty"At the end of a stressful day, some of us like to escape with a fine glass of wine; others prefer to sink into a rich, deeply engrossing, heartfelt novel. If both of these are your pleasure—this is the book for you. Savor it."—Camille Perri, author of The Assistants and When Katie Met Cassidy "Parkers debut is a sweet, funny, charming novel of a woman daring to upend expectations (her own and everyone elses) to make her own way. Readers will toast Hannahs roundabout journey and perhaps be inspired to take a detour or two of their own."—Shelf Awareness"The Shortest Way Home is the perfect book to end with this summer. Pour a glass of your favorite white wine, take it out to your comfy front porch chair and settle in for an enchanting read." —The Citizen Promotional How far would you got to find the place you belong? Review Quote Advance Praise for The Shortest Way Home "Rewarding....[An] accomplished debut." -- Publishers Weekly "J ust purely delightful and as smooth to knock back as a glass of rosé on a sticky summer day....There are unexpected challenges and a star-crossed romance and all of the things which you want in a summer book about leaving your life and starting over somewhere new (especially when its somewhere straight out of a Nancy Meyers movie!)....Refreshing and bright, with a clean, crisp aftertaste." -- Nylon "This one screams smart beach read: A woman on the cusp of everything she wants in life - dream job, committed boyfriend, luxe apartment - suddenly decides to let it all go." -- Entertainment Weekly "Parkers bingeable novel is perfect for those whove fantasized about their own path not taken." -- Real Simple "This debut novel about a young woman following her heart and creating her happiness is engaging and fun. Parker takes her place next to similar writers such as Laura Dave and Jane Green." -- Library Journal "Perfect to read with a glass of wine and some good cheese." -- Booklist "This delicious book is broken into three parts, and each part comes with a food and wine pairing." -- Fodors "[A] delightful debut novel." --Bustle "Yes this is a romance, but it is also a novel about a young woman finding herself, figuring out the difference between what she wants to do with her life and what others want... the gorgeous weather, the tempting wines, the handsome son of the vintner and, yes, the resident dog all make for a charming weekend read."-- Minneapolis Star Tribune "Does giving up a high-pressure job in Manhattan finance -- and a mismatched fiance -- to live and work at a Sonoma County winery, while romancing the owners son, sound like a fantasy? Well, this first good-hearted novel suggests that such fantasies can (and should) come true, as they do for protagonist Hannah Greene."-- Newsday "This is a fast read and a fun summer fantasy. Especially if the idea of waking up in wine country every day sounds as good to you as it does to me." -- Connie Ogle, Miami Herald Books "In The Shortest Way Home , Miriam Parker explores the persistent question of whether grass is truly greener on the other side, and whether following the heart will lead you where you belong. This is a story that wine lovers and big dreamers will devour." -- BookPage " The Shortest Way Home is a delightful debut about taking chances and making your own happiness." -- Book Riot "When reading a novel set in wine country, its of utmost importance to drink wine as you go. Grab your favorite red or white and dig into The Shortest Way Home . Its a charming story about a woman named Hannah who thought she had the rest of her life figured out..."-- HelloGiggles "Its nearly impossible to describe this wonderful debut without summoning the language of wine country because Miriam Parker has infused every page with an appreciation for the alchemy of character and place that can transform a cluster of grapes into a beautiful glass of wine. She turns the same keen eye on matters of the heart--exploring how and where and with whom we find happiness, declare a home--with spectacular results." --Cynthia DAprix Sweeney, author of The Nest "Miriam Parkers delightful novel The Shortest Way Home reminded me of why I love champagne: its effervescent, heady and intoxicating. She skillfully blends a captivating romance with inside oenophile references; the writing blew me away." --Elin Hilderbrand, author of Heres to Us "The Shortest Way Home is about love, life, and the sometimes unpredictable ways we find our place in the world. But its also about wine, and maybe best described as one might a great wine: the perfect balance of spice and sweetness, satisfyingly complex yet utterly refreshing." --Rumaan Alam, author of Rich and Pretty "At the end of a stressful day, some of us like to escape with a fine glass of wi≠ others prefer to sink into a rich, deeply engrossing, heartfelt novel. If both of these are your pleasure--this is the book for you. Savor it." --Camille Perri, author of The Assistants and When Katie Met Cassidy "Parkers debut is a sweet, funny, charming novel of a woman daring to upend expectations (her own and everyone elses) to make her own way. Readers will toast Hannahs roundabout journey and perhaps be inspired to take a detour or two of their own." -- Shelf Awareness "The Shortest Way Home is the perfect book to end with this summer. Pour a glass of your favorite white wine, take it out to your comfy front porch chair and settle in for an enchanting read." -- The Citizen Promotional "Headline" How far would you got to find the place you belong? Excerpt from Book Chapter 1 I would have never predicted that a winery could change my life. But when I walked into the empty tasting room at Bellosguardo on the first weekend in May of my thirtieth year, a feeling came over me. The kind you get when you taste a new food for the first time and you know it will be your favorite, or when you see a guy across the bookstore and you know hell be your new boyfriend. It was like inspiration. Never before had an empty room made me feel like I belonged in it, but this room had that quality. The tasting room, whitewashed stucco with exposed beams, was infused with the soothing, earthy smell of a room that had seen a lot. A room that knew things. A huge brick fireplace was embedded in the wall on one side and a floor-to-ceiling diamond-shaped wine rack filled the back of the room. An ornate oak bar was to the right, with nobody behind it, but two glasses were placed right in the middle, an open bottle of wine with a black label on it between them. A perfect photo. A brown-and-white Cavalier King Charles spaniel lounged in a patch of light from a window in the back corner. The dog lifted his head slightly to acknowledge me and I nodded in his direction. He lazily put his head back on the floor, thumped his tail a few times, and closed his eyes. Clearly, he approved of me. My boyfriend, Ethan, and I had spent the day driving up from San Francisco to Sonoma, taking more than three hours to do a one-hour drive. We had wound around the twists and turns of Highway 1, stopping to get out and appreciate the view based on Ethans pretrip evaluation of the best lookout spots on our route-we held hands, gritted our teeth, and dipped our toes into the cold water of Muir Beach and gasped at the view from the cliffs in Point Reyes. My iPhone photographs didnt come out nearly as good as Ethans DSLR photos, but I took the time to imprint the vista on my brain. In the age of Instagram and Snapchat, I think a memory is the most private thing. When things are important, I make a point of closing my eyes and taking a mental photo. We were about to go back to New York to start our real lives, leaving the beauty of the Pacific coast behind us. We were both in California for graduate school at Berkeleys Haas School and we were still awed by its resplendence-on days that werent foggy (of course). We lived for the fog-free days. It seemed almost criminal to be returning to the East Coast after just two years in the West. But jobs beckoned. Our last stand would be a weekend in wine country. We had arrived in Sonoma at around eleven and had dropped our bags at the front desk of the El Dorado Hotel. Our room wasnt ready yet, so we were advised to walk to Bellosguardo. "Its Sonomas oldest and most beautiful winery," the woman behind the desk wearing a name tag that said betty had told us. She drew us a map of the town and showed us how to get there. "And when youve worked up an appetite, come back here and go to the Girl and the Fig across the street. Get the lavender crme brzlZe no matter how full you are. Its the best." The winery hadnt been on Ethans carefully planned itinerary (although the restaurant had). He preferred to plan trips down to the hour, with attractions, restaurants, and hotels that he carefully selected based on an amalgam of travel websites and message boards he visited. But, since we had arrived an hour early, his itinerary hadnt kicked in yet. "It sounds amazing," I said. Ethan silently acquiesced to the change in plan, although I could tell that he was irritated. But he smiled and took my hand, and we walked together following the hand-drawn map rather than the blue dot on our iPhones. "I feel so lucky to be here with you," he said. I felt lucky to be with him, or at the very least I felt lucky to be with anyone after many years as a single woman in New York City. Plus, it felt good to be away from the pressure cooker of the past few months of school. The competition for jobs had been fierce and many of my friendships had frayed, especially with my best friend, Tyra. Wed both interned at Goldman the summer before and I had beat her out for the job in Global Investment Research in New York. It was a perfect job for me because it was focused more on research and writing than on straight data analysis. Math hadnt always been my strong suit, although I had made it through accounting and macroeconomics relatively unscathed. Tyra had been offered the same job in Singapore, which she had grudgingly accepted. But I knew she still didnt think it was fair. "Im worried about graduation. Packing. Moving back. Im going to miss California. And I still feel bad about Tyra." "Two days off. Away from all of that garbage," he said. "Youll be fine. You have plenty of time to pack, and if you dont, youll just hire someone to do it. Youre going to be rich soon." "I dont know," I said, unconvinced. I loved Ethan, but he and I were pretty different. His pragmatic side both attracted and irritated me. Since I didnt think everything through as much as he did, we often butted horns. I wanted to do things right away; he wanted to consider them deeply for extended periods of time. He made me feel like my neuroticness was a mind-set I could stop indulging in, rather than a character trait. Take our respective travel styles-he was a planner; I liked to ask the locals what to do. We strolled through beautiful downtown Sonoma, past brightly painted bungalows and lush trees. "Those people have an entire citrus salad in their front yard," Ethan pointed out as we passed a blue-and-pink house with a hammock strung between two trees and a real parrot sitting on the porch rail. "Another glass of wine?" the parrot yelled at us, making me smile. Of course parrots in Sonoma knew to ask for glasses of wine rather than crackers. We turned onto Old Winery Road and the oak trees exploded around us. They were tall and shaded the entire street. The sidewalks were littered with acorn shells and we crunched along, going over the points that wed need to address in our ethics final. It was an essay test that we assumed would present some sort of ethical business dilemma (products made in sweatshops? carbon offsets? workplace integrity outside of the office?) and that we would take two hours to solve in essay form. We worked well together on the business school projects that we overlapped on: He was the practical one; I brought the creative energy. We crossed a little bridge over a delightful stream and walked into the parking lot of Bellosguardo, a large stone building embedded into the side of a hill. It was covered in ivy, and a wooden door peeked out, inviting me inside. I left Ethan in the parking lot examining the cornerstone and the foundation. He was a recovering civil engineer and still felt obligated to evaluate the structural integrity of old buildings as he encountered them. I pulled open the huge wooden door to enter the tasting room. I couldn Details ISBN1524741884 Author Miriam Parker Pages 352 Year 2019 ISBN-10 1524741884 ISBN-13 9781524741884 Format Paperback Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States DEWEY 813.6 Publisher Random House USA Inc Imprint Ballantine Books Inc. Subtitle A Novel Short Title The Shortest Way Home Language English UK Release Date 2019-06-25 Publication Date 2019-06-25 US Release Date 2019-06-25 Audience General NZ Release Date 2019-06-24 AU Release Date 2019-06-24 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:141742605;

Price: 29.22 AUD

Location: Melbourne

End Time: 2024-12-09T03:43:41.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 AUD