Rise and Shine    by Anna Quindlen Order:  USA  Can Random House, 2007 (2007) Hardcover, Softcover, CD, e-Book Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Jessica Weaver Anna Quindlen is known for her lovely prose, wonderful description, and deep characters, and her newest novel, Rise and Shine, is no exception. Quindlen spins the story of two orphaned sisters, Meghan and Bridget Fitzmaurice, forty-somethings living in New York City. Bridget is a social worker in the Bronx, while Meghan is the Diane Sawyer of NYC, the star of a morning news program called Rise and Shine. When Meghan curses on-air and becomes the talk of the town, only her sister can rescue her from spiraling out of control. But what if she doesn't want to be rescued? As an older sister, I thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful and realistic dialogue between Meghan and Bridget. The novel is seen through the eyes of Bridget, who both worships and struggles with Meghan. Bridget spends much time describing life in New York City, how the boroughs differ, how much she likes living there. These passages offer small insights into the sibling relationship and provide a way of weighing how Bridget sees the city against how the other characters view it. Bridget's assistant in the projects, Tequila, offers a strain of humor that spices up the novel. Meghan's son Leo is the epitome of a calm, cool, and rich teen boy who wants to be normal despite his mother and his giant, sensitive heart. Bridget's police officer boyfriend, Irving, is gruff but extremely lovable. If you are looking for a complicated story line and vast plot twists and turns, this is not for you. But if you are a fan of authors like Quindlen, Anne Tyler, and Maeve Binchy, sit down and have a cup of tea while reading Rise and Shine. It's the best trip to New York City you'll ever have. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews