Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'?

Review – Lost by Jacqueline Davies

trish — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:09:28 +0000

by Jacqueline Davies

242 pages

Published April 1, 2009

Young adult, historical fiction

I picked up Lost by Jacqueline Davies based on a recommendation by Melissa Wiley via Twitter. I really loved this book and haven’t seen it anywhere, so am happy to give it some airtime it rightfully deserves.

(I need to tell you that it’s hard to tell you the plot without giving something away, so I’ll do my best.)

Lost is about Essie, a 17-year-old Jewish girl who lives in Manhattan in 1911. She works at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, which means she can’t take care of her 6-year-old sister, Zelda, quite so much, but Essie promises to make it up to Zelda.

Essie is tasked with helping one of the new girls, Harriet, at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, and they quickly become friends. There’s something about Harriet that Essie relates to, something tragic and sorrowful. Something about her that’s lost.

As you dig deeper into Lost, you learn that Essie’s mental state might not be all that stable. The author wonderfully goes back and forth between the present and the past, putting a puzzle together that slowly takes shape.

Essie has to navigate through loss and despair so she can get to acceptance and move forward with her life. Woven in with Essie’s journey is the fictionalized account of the disappearance of Dorothy Harriet Camille Arnold, a wealthy heiress.

And I know I don’t have a lot to say about Lost, but it was really good! I love the historical aspect of the book, and the author’s imagining of what happened to Dorothy Arnold. This book reminds us how far we’ve come in so little time. It’s terrible what wages used to be, how hard employers were allowed to work their employees, and in what conditions those employees were expected to work. I would offer this book to a young adult so they could get a glimpse of how things used to be, and how important and amazing it is that we’ve come so far. I ate this book up, and I’m sure young adults will as well.

Rating: 90 out of 100

Check out Jacqueline Davies website.

No other blogger has read and reviewed this book.

Book source: I checked this book out from the library.

And one more thing? If you click on one of the Lost links and buy something from Amazon, I’ll make a commission! Mwahahahaha!! Maybe with the pennies I make I’ll be able to call someone who cares.

You can thank the FTC for this disclosure!

Review – Lost by Jacqueline Davies was originally published by Trish for Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? This post cannot be republished without express written permission.

All About BEA – Blog Tour for Book Blogger Convention

trish — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 07:36:58 +0000

Today I’m part of the blog tour that will give you suggestions, ideas, tips, and tricks about BEA. I’m sure everyone else will tell you to wear comfortable shoes, wear comfortable clothes, don’t be a book hoarder (because you will regret it), etc. And those are all FANTASTIC suggestions. I’m going to tell you what no one else will tell you.

Are you listening?

Are you really listening?

Move heaven and earth to go to BEA (and the book blogger convention). I guarantee you will regret it if you don’t make every effort to go. I’m not encouraging you to put the expenses on your credit card, because goodness knows I’m working on paying those off myself. I’d rather poke my eye with a stick than put something on a credit card these days. But before you think you can’t afford it, make sure you check out where Amanda is staying (hint: she’s only paying $35 per night).
Don’t overbook yourself. The hands-down best time I had last year at BEA was when everyone else was at some party, and me and Jenn and Nicole went our to dinner together, just the three of us. We talked for FOUR HOURS. Sure, you can hang with cool people at parties and stuff, and maybe that’s totally your thing. But me? I like to connect with people, to become friends with them, and (for me) that doesn’t happen at a party. Not overbooking yourself will give you the chance to be spontaneous.
Along the lines of #2, don’t worry if you don’t get invited to something. I PROMISE that there will still be people to hang with. This is small stuff. Don’t sweat it.
Those books you get at BEA? READ THEM. I know. I’m so smart to be making a suggestion like that. Next thing you know I’ll be telling you to turn your lights off to conserve energy. But seriously. I got THE UNNAMED by Joshua Ferris, which will be a favorite of 2010. It probably would have languished if I hadn’t had motivation to read it. I’m now wondering what other gems I picked up and didn’t even realize it.
Map out your plan. There is so much going on at BEA between author signings and panels that you’ll need to have a plan. You might miss a few things due to conflicting times, but such is life. Figure things out ahead of time (i.e. as soon as BEA releases a schedule, which should be sometime in April) so that you have time to move things around, plot with other bloggers, and maximize the time.
Plan on being sleep deprived. YOU CAN SLEEP WHEN YOU’RE DEAD. Attending BEA is not conducive to lots of sleep. Be forewarned.
That blogger/publisher/author you’ve always wanted to meet in person? Reach out to them! They probably will be over the moon to grab coffee, lunch, or just take a few minutes out to meet you. I know I said to not overbook yourself, but I’m also telling you to not leave everything to chance.
Create a landing page. You’ll be handing your business card to lots of people, but so will lots of other folks. On the off chance they check out your blog, make sure it’s worth their while. I think Heather did a really good landing page for when she moderated a panel at the Baltimore Book Festival.

I know, only 8 tips is SO UNSATISFYING. Sorry.

So, who’s going to BEA? Can I get a holla?

All About BEA – Blog Tour for Book Blogger Convention was originally published by Trish for Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? This post cannot be republished without express written permission.

Review: The Gatekeeper by Michelle Gagnon

trish — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 07:06:03 +0000

The Gatekeeper

by Michelle Gagnon

409 pages

Published November 1, 2009

Fiction, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

I don’t read mystery/suspense/thrillers all that often anymore, though I have to admit they’re one of my guilty pleasures. It’s like watching an action movie: it doesn’t get too deep, usually has great action, and the best will keep your heart racing most of the way through. I’m trying to read more of this genre, though, because I think they make a great palate cleanser between literary fiction. With this in mind, I picked up The Gatekeeper by Michelle Gagnon because I had just finished Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.

The Gatekeeper opens with Madison Grant, a 16-year-old girl who’s met a man on the Internet, who she’s flying out to meet. Before she knows it, she’s been kidnapped and is being held prisoner. So her dad, Randall, calls up an old friend, Syd, who’s just opened a new company called The Longhorn Group, which deals with kidnap and ransom. Syd’s partner, Jake, gets started on trying to locate Madison and extricate her before the kidnappers kill her.

Meanwhile, Jake’s fiance, Kelly, who works for the FBI, has been assigned a case that involves the brutal murder of a senator. HER case takes her to all these hate groups, and eventually Jake and Kelly find that their cases might be connected.

This book was exactly what I needed. It had the perfect amount of setup (read: not the whole book) with more scenes that left my heart racing than I could have hoped for. I loved that at least three times I double checked the page count because she was wrapping up things I didn’t expect to be wrapped up until the end of the book.

I’m oftentimes put off by love stories within mysteries. If I wanted a love story, I’d read another kind of book. But Kelly and Jake’s relationship is so real, and just when I was like, Oh, I see where she’s going with this, Gagnon surprised me. Gagnon really has a knack for characters, and I’d like to see future books feature Syd, and delve more into Syd’s motivations and intentions.

My only squabble with this book was that the person who calls himself “the gatekeeper” was never actually called “the gatekeeper”. It’s possible I missed the reference, though.

I know this is silly, but I loved her Author’s Note at the end. Having a great author’s note is like finding one more M&M in a bag of M&Ms that you thought was empty. It’s like, “Oh! I’m not quite done yet!” Yes, I want to know who helped you. I want to know who answered your questions, who your awesome agent is; I want to know all of that. It’s not like I know those people, it’s just…satisfying.

But best of all? I loved where she went in the ending.

Rating: 90 out of 100

No other reviews.

Book source: I received this book from the author. Don’t think I won’t tell you what I really think just because I receive a book from the author.

And one more thing? If you click on one of The Gatekeeper links and buy something from Amazon, I’ll make a commission! Mwahahahaha!! Maybe with the pennies I make I’ll be able to call someone who cares.

You can thank the FTC for this disclosure!

Review: The Gatekeeper by Michelle Gagnon was originally published by Trish for Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? This post cannot be republished without express written permission.

Peeing My Pants With Book Anticipation – WENCH and MATTERHORN – January 29, 2010

trish — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:01:59 +0000

Good books — they just never stop coming. Here’s what I’ve got my eye on this week.

Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Amistad (January 5, 2010)

From Publisher’s Weekly:

In her debut, Perkins-Valdez eloquently plunges into a dark period of American history, chronicling the lives of four slave women—Lizzie, Reenie, Sweet and Mawu—who are their masters’ mistresses. The women meet when their owners vacation at the same summer resort in Ohio. There, they see free blacks for the first time and hear rumors of abolition, sparking their own desires to be free. For everyone but Lizzie, that is, who believes she is really in love with her master, and he with her. An extended flashback in the middle of the novel delves into Lizzie’s life and vividly explores the complicated psychological dynamic between master and slave. Jumping back to the final summer in Ohio, the women all have a decision to make—will they run? Heart-wrenching, intriguing, original and suspenseful, this novel showcases Perkins-Valdez’s ability to bring the unfortunate past to life.

Doesn’t that sound fantastic?! Can’t wait to get my hands on this book.

Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War by Karl Marlantes

• Hardcover: 592 pages
• Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press; 1 edition (April 1, 2010)

From Publisher’s Weekly:

Thirty years in the making, Marlantes’s epic debut is a dense, vivid narrative spanning many months in the lives of American troops in Vietnam as they trudge across enemy lines, encountering danger from opposing forces as well as on their home turf. Marine lieutenant and platoon commander Waino Mellas is braving a 13-month tour in Quang-Tri province, where he is assigned to a fire-support base and befriends Hawke, older at 22; both learn about life, loss, and the horrors of war. Jungle rot, leeches dropping from tree branches, malnourishment, drenching monsoons, mudslides, exposure to Agent Orange, and wild animals wreak havoc as brigade members face punishing combat and grapple with bitterness, rage, disease, alcoholism, and hubris. A decorated Vietnam veteran, the author clearly understands his playing field (including military jargon that can get lost in translation), and by examining both the internal and external struggles of the battalion, he brings a long, torturous war back to life with realistic characters and authentic, thrilling combat sequences. Marlantes’s debut may be daunting in length, but it remains a grand, distinctive accomplishment.

What books are you peeing your pants in anticipation for?

Peeing My Pants With Book Anticipation – WENCH and MATTERHORN – January 29, 2010 was originally published by Trish for Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? This post cannot be republished without express written permission.

Review – What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman

trish — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:50:53 +0000

What the Dead Know

by Laura Lippman

376 pages

Published March 13, 2007

Fiction, mystery

What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman was picked by my in real life book club. I knew nothing about it going in, but within a few pages I was hooked and excitedly tweeting how much I was loving this book.

I guess you could say this is a murder mystery, since that is the premise, but I would argue it’s much more than that. Basically, 30 years ago two girls, sisters, Heather and Sunny, disappeared, and the murder was never solved. The parents, Dave and Miriam, of the sisters ultimately divorced, and Miriam moved down to Mexico while Dave passed away in his 50s. The reason the case is brought up again is because a woman who is involved in a car accident tells one of the officers that she’s one of the missing girls. And she knows things about the area that you could only know if you’d lived there, and she knows details about the case that you could only know if you’d been involved, but she’s being awfully cagey and doesn’t really want to see her mom so what the heck is going on and maybe this girl is an imposter?

The story unfolds in alternating chapters, some in the present, and some unfolding the story from the past.

Lippman does a fantastic job at character development, but treats the reader to some humor while she’s at it:

But over time Kay came to realize that she preferred her books to other people’s company. Reading was not a fallback position for her but an ideal state of being.

Kay sometimes thought she should get a little custom-made button: I’m not gay, I just like read.

In particular there was a lot of development about the parents and their marriage. The point of view changes from various people throughout the book (the sisters (Heather and Sunny), the social worker (Kay), the parents (Dave and Miriam), etc), so you sometimes see the same incident through both eyes, say, a scene with the two parents, and it really gives you a deeper understanding of the complexities of a marriage.

(Dave is thinking about Miriam letting him open his own business) Lately he had begun to wonder if Miriam figured that she would benefit either way. The store would make them rich or provide her with something to hold over Dave’s head the rest of their lives. She had given him his chance, and he had blown it. Now every disagreement between them was rooted in that unspoken context: I believed in you / You blew it. Had she hoped all along that he would fail?

And the way Lippman touches on the grief of the parents just ripped my heart out. Miriam chooses to move on, while Dave chooses not to. Can you really criticize either choice? Particularly after Miriam observes:

“But if I don’t accept the probability of their deaths at this point, how do I live? How do I go on?”

…

“It’s hard,” she said. “Remaining open to hope, yet needing to grieve. Whatever I do or say, I feel as if I’m betraying my daughters. We just want to know.”

I’m sure many people could figure out the ending within the first 50 pages. But this book is so much more than the plot. The author had so much more to say than to tell you whodunit. The complexities of marriage, guilt, grief, and responsibility are just a few of the subjects that Lippman touches on, and touches on well.

I was disappointed that only myself and one other book club member really enjoyed the book. In fact, after the other members left, I lingered with the other person who enjoyed the book and we discussed passages we loved, passages that touched us for one reason or another. But maybe that’s what makes books so special: not every book is important or profound to everyone else, so it holds a little bit of magic for those of us who it does touch.

Rating: 92 out of 100

Laura Lippman’s website

Other reviews:

Book source: I checked this book out from the library, and ended up paying like $3.00 in overdue fines, so I should probably be irritated and give it a bad review, but alas, I liked it too much.

And one more thing? If you click on one of the What the Dead Know links and buy something from Amazon, I’ll make a commission! Mwahahahaha!! Maybe with the pennies I make I’ll be able to call someone who cares.

You can thank the FTC for this disclosure!

What the Dead Know

Review – What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman was originally published by Trish for Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? This post cannot be republished without express written permission.

The Laura Lippman Challenge

trish — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:47:43 +0000

In 2009, I read What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman for my book club. I haven’t posted my review yet, but I promise, it’s nothing short of gushing!

Because I loved What the Dead Know so much, I thought it would be fun to read more books by Lippman, and what better way to do it than in a challenge! Another impetus for doing a Laura Lippman challenge is because Life Sentences is coming out in paperback on March 2, 2010, and she has a new book coming out this summer, tentatively scheduled for September.

Lippman has written 16 books, not including the book that will be released this summer. She has a Tess Monahan series, which are mysteries, but novels that she’s writing now, like Life Sentences, are stand-alone novels. Having read What the Dead Know, I think Lippman’s stand-alone books are more literary fiction than just fiction, though there is a mystery element to What the Dead Know. So you certainly have plenty of books to choose from! And if mysteries aren’t your thing, then be sure to try some of Lippman’s stand-alone novels.

Here’s a list of Lippman’s books, as well as when they were released, awards they were nominated for and/or won, and what genre they are.

Baltimore Blues

Released February 1997 (Hardcover released December 2006)

Nominated for a Shamus for best first novel

Genre: Mystery (this is the first Tess Monahan series)

Charm City

Released October 1997 (Hardcover released December 2007)

Winner of the Edgar and Shamus awards, nominated for the Anthony

Genre: Mystery (2nd in the Tess Monahan series)

Butchers Hill

Released July 1998 (Hardcover released October 2008)

Winner of the Agatha and Anthony awards, nominated for the Edgar, Shamus and Macavity

Genre: Mystery (3rd in the Tess Monahan series)

In Big Trouble

Released September 1999 (Hardcover released October 2009)

Winner of the Anthony and Shamus awards, nominated for the Edgar and Agatha

Genre: Mystery (4th in the Tess Monahan series)

Sugar House

Released September 2000 (Mass market released August 2001)

Nominated for best P.I. novel by the Romantic Times, cited as one of the best mystery novels of the year by the Washington Post, the London Times, the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel and Amazon.com

Genre: Mystery (5th in the Tess Monahan series)

In a Strange City

Released September 2001 (Mass market released October 2002)

Genre: Mystery (6th in the Tess Monahan series)

The Last Place

Released October 2002 (Mass market released August 2003)

Genre: Mystery (7th in the Tess Monahan series)

Every Secret Thing

Released September 2003 (Mass market released October 2004)

Winner of the Anthony and Barry awards

Genre: Mystery (stand-alone)

By a Spider’s Thread

Released July 2004 (Mass market released July 2005)

Genre: Mystery (8th in the Tess Manahan series)

To the Power of Three

Released June 2005 (Mass market released June 2006)

Genre: Mystery (stand-alone)

No Good Deeds

Mass market released February 2007

Genre: Mystery (9th in the Tess Monahan series)

What the Dead Know

Released March 2007 (Trade paperback released February 2009)

Genre: Fiction/romance/suspense

Another Thing To Fall

Released March 2008 (Mass market released February 2009)

Genre: Mystery (10th in the Tess Monahan series)

Hardly Knew Her

Released October 2008 (Trade paperback released October 2009)

Genre: Short stories, mysteries

Life Sentences

Release March 2009 (Trade paperback released March 2010)

Genre: Fiction/suspense

Here’s the rules/details:

The challenge goes from January 26, 2010 through December 31, 2010.
Anyone can participate! You do not need a blog!
You can use the button I’ve got at the top of this post. Please save it down to your computer and upload it to your own blog.
Challenge books can overlap with other challenges.
You do not need to pick your book in advance.
You can change levels mid-challenge!
Levels:
- Taster – 1 book
- Dabbler – 2 books
- Interested Party – 3 books
- Laura Lippman Lover – 4 books
- Stalker – 5+ books

Have fun with me! Sign up using the Mr. Linky below.

This second Mr. Linky? This is where we can put the links to our reviews, so there’ll all in one spot. And that way we can see which books people totally loved.

The Laura Lippman Challenge was originally published by Trish for Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? This post cannot be republished without express written permission.

Review & GIVEAWAY – The Book of Fires by Jane Borodale

trish — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:54:43 +0000

The Book of Fires

by Jane Borodale

368 pages

Published January 21, 2010

Fiction, historical

The Book of Fires by Jane Borodale is a historical fiction novel about Agnes Trussel, a 17-year-old girl who lives in the country in England. Agnes flees her home because of an unwanted pregnancy, and goes to London to start a new, respectable life. In one of the carriers that Agnes rides to London, she meets Lettice Talbot, a beautiful girl not much older than Agnes. Lettice promises to help Agnes, giving Agnes hope for her new life.

London is bigger and more unfriendly than Agnes anticipated. She loses the slip of paper that has the address where she can find Lettice, and as evening is closing in, Agnes finds herself asking for the job of housekeeper that’s advertised on the door of Mr. Blacklock. Instead of taking her on as a housekeeper, Mr. Blacklock takes her on as his apprentice.

Agnes is only two months pregnant when she starts working with Mr. Blacklock, who is a pyrotechnic in the business of making fireworks. She shows an aptitude for making fireworks, so he keeps her on. One of the things Agnes worries about is what she’ll do when Mr. Blacklock finds out she’s pregnant, because she’ll probably find herself out of a job, no matter how hard she’s worked.

I had a hard time connecting with Agnes. I never really felt like I wanted to cheer for her. I liked her, but it was in a passing-interest kind of way, not in an invested-and-care-what-happens kind of way. I spent much of the story wondering why I wasn’t more interested in Agnes. I think part of it had to due with the fact that she WAS PREGNANT, yet for someone who would be completely shamed and could have her life ruined by this baby being born, she spent very little time thinking about how she got pregnant (rape), or what she was going to do when the baby was born.

One other thing about Agnes is that she’s ridiculously naive. She’s extremely intelligent, but has a naivity that can be extremely frustrating to watch. I often wondered if she could really be so dense.

I really liked the pyrotechnics portion of The Book of Fire. The technical parts didn’t bog down, and one of the interesting parts of this book was that at the time this book takes place, fireworks didn’t have color; they were only in white and silver. Agnes encourages Mr. Blacklock to find a way to make a colored firework, and her descriptions of the depth of color the fireworks should have is luscious.

I enjoy historical fiction but am no history buff. The language in The Book of Fire was reminiscent of an older time, but whether the verbiage is historically accurate is not something I can speak to. While clunky at times, I really enjoyed it and thought it gave the book just the atmosphere it needed.

All my criticisms aside, this is definitely an enjoyable novel that will get you caught up in another time.

Rating: 85 out of 100

Giveaway – I’ve got two copies of this book to give away! To enter, leave a comment telling me if you like fireworks. A silly question, I know, but feel free to describe your favorite fireworks. The contest will be open until January 31, 2010 at 11:59pm PST. United States and Canadian addresses only, please. Since I forgot about the giveaway, anyone who commented on this post prior to January 25, 2010 at 8:00am PST is automatically entered to win. Sorry about that. Mah brain iz fried.

Book source: I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.

And one more thing? If you click on one of The Book of Fire links and buy something from Amazon, I’ll make a commission.

You can thank the FTC for this disclosure!

Review & GIVEAWAY – The Book of Fires by Jane Borodale was originally published by Trish for Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? This post cannot be republished without express written permission.

Peeing My Pants With Book Anticipation – January 22, 2010

trish — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:34:50 +0000

My new feature that showcases books I’m dying to read!

The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry

I absolutely loved The Lace Reader and am excited to see what else Brunonia has in store for us. I’ve met Brunonia, so I can’t help but wonder if it’s my imagination, or does that back of the woman on the cover look a bit like what Brunonia looks like from the back? Either way, it’s a really lovely cover.

Read the prologue at www.mapoftrueplaces.com.

432 pages

Fiction

To be published May 4, 2010

(In an email I received from Brunonia) It’s a story about relationships and family and finding your true place in the world when you have no map to follow.

The Girl Who Fell From the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow

The Girl Who Fell From the Sky caught my attention because it’s the latest Bellwether Prize winner, which is a prize that was founded by Barbara Kingsolver. “Its intent is to advocate serious literary fiction that addresses issues of social justice and the impact of culture and politics on human relationships. The prize is awarded to a previously unpublished novel representing excellence in this genre.”

I somehow snagged a copy of this, so I’ve done the unthinkable and abandoned my (terrible) book club pick in favor of The Girl Who Fell From the Sky. We can talk about the book once I’ve, uh, finished laundering my pants.

Check out Heidi Durrow’s website here.

256 pages

Fiction

To be published February 16, 2010

This debut novel tells the story of Rachel, the daughter of a Danish mother and a black G.I. who becomes the sole survivor of a family tragedy.

With her strict African American grandmother as her new guardian, Rachel moves to a mostly black community, where her light brown skin, blue eyes, and beauty bring mixed attention her way. Growing up in the 1980s, she learns to swallow her overwhelming grief and confronts her identity as a biracial young woman in a world that wants to see her as either black or white.

Meanwhile, a mystery unfolds, revealing the terrible truth about Rachel’s last morning on a Chicago rooftop. Interwoven are the voices of Jamie, a neighborhood boy who witnessed the events, and Laronne, a friend of Rachel’s mother. Inspired by a true story of a mother’s twisted love, The Girl Who Fell from the Sky reveals an unfathomable past and explores issues of identity at a time when many people are asking “Must race confine us and define us?”

Peeing My Pants With Book Anticipation – January 22, 2010 was originally published by Trish for Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? This post cannot be republished without express written permission.

Review and GIVEAWAY – The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris

trish — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:47:46 +0000

Congratulations to #48, Enyl! I’ve emailed you already. I hope you enjoy the book!

The Unnamed

by Joshua Ferris

320 pages

Published January 18, 2010

Fiction, literary

I’m actually kind of saddened to think that I read the best book of 2010 in January.

The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris is about Tim Farnsworth and his wife, Jane. Tim is a lawyer, and Jane is a real estate agent, and when the book opens, they’re very successful and have a 17-year-old daughter. Tim has a strange disease that has re-emerged after being in remission for years.

This disease that Tim has causes him to walk: to walk away from wherever he is, and walk until he’s so exhausted that he lays down to sleep wherever he is. Tim walks and walks, and historically his walking has only lasted a few months, though one time it continued for a year. This time, though, how long will it last? How long can he survive being exposed to the elements, and how long can his marriage be considered a marriage as he takes off without warning and keeps his wife and daughter scared for his safety?

On the surface this is about marriage and love, and how long either can last when put to the test by an unnamed, unknown factor. Something affecting Tim affected the whole family, as Jane observes, “But this misfortune was not his and his alone!” Tim also realizes that with a family, he’s no longer an autonomous being: “He had to recognize that his sickness was not his alone.” How often we think that our actions shouldn’t or won’t or can’t affect others, but they do, particularly family members.

Digging a little deeper, Tim’s disease of having to walk could be representative of anything he desires to walk away from. He’s a high powered attorney with lots of pressure to succeed. How much of that pressure can a person bear before they just want to walk away? And who of us haven’t wanted to (at one time or another) walk away from our families?

This is a haunting and beautiful story. I loved seeing the sacrifices that Tim and Jane made for each other, because it’s in the hard times that those sacrifices actually mean something. I can’t argue that The Unnamed isn’t melancholy or sad, because it is. But I CAN argue that The Unnamed will make you wish all books were written so deftly.

This book is being released today, so please, I BEG YOU, do yourself a favor and go buy this book, check it out from the library, or steal it from the person sitting next to you on the subway. Kidding!

Rating: 100 out of 100

Other reviews:

Lev Grossman at Time.com

Giveaway: I’ll be going to see Joshua Ferris when he comes to Kepler’s Books on February 5, 2010. At that time, I will purchase a copy of The Unnamed to give to one person who comments on my blog. To enter to win, please leave a comment telling me whether you like to hike. This contest will close on January 31, 2010 at 11:59pm PST. The book will be shipped out on February 6, 2010, and the winner has the option of having the author personalize the book. Contest is open internationally. Good luck!

Book source: I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.

And one more thing? If you click on one of The Unnamed links and buy something from Amazon, I’ll make a commission! Mwahahahaha!! Maybe with the pennies I make I’ll be able to call someone who cares.

You can thank the FTC for this disclosure!

Review and GIVEAWAY – The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris was originally published by Trish for Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? This post cannot be republished without express written permission.

Peeing My Pants With Book Anticipation – January 15, 2009

trish — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 06:10:27 +0000

Well, it looks like this might become a regular feature! I’m trying to keep better track of books that are on my radar, and this seems like the perfect way.

The World More Full of Weeping by Robert J. Wiersema

Publisher: ChiZine Publications
Published September 15, 2009
104 pages

Eleven-year-old Brian Page spends every waking moment in the forest behind the house where he lives with his father. But forests are always deeper than anyone can know. Secrets are hidden in the eternal twilight of the trees. Those secrets emerge into light when Brian disappears in the forest, as his father did three decades before. His father, however, came home with no memory of the events in the depths of the forest. What has drawn Brian away? Will he emerge, shuddering and broken, as his father did, or will the forests close around him, as they have done so often before?

Sounds pretty good, right? Well, go read this post and see if you don’t rush out to buy it. Seriously, if this doesn’t make you want to pee your pants with excitement, then you’re crazy.

There’s no book cover for this next one, but I just think it sounds SO INTRIGUING that I want to tell you about it anyways.

The Nobodies Album by Carolyn Parkhurst

Publisher: Doubleday
Published: June 15, 2010
320 pages

Bestselling novelist Octavia Frost has just completed her latest book—a revolutionary novel in which she has rewritten the last chapters of all her previous books, removing clues about her personal life concealed within, especially a horrific tragedy that befell her family years ago.

On her way to deliver the manuscript to her editor, Octavia reads a news crawl in Times Square and learns that her rock-star son, Milo, has been arrested for murder. Though she and Milo haven’t spoken in years—an estrangement stemming from that tragic day—she drops everything to go to him.

The “last chapters” of Octavia’s novel are layered throughout The Nobodies Album—the scattered puzzle pieces to her and Milo’s dark and troubled past. Did she drive her son to murder? Did Milo murder anyone at all? And what exactly happened all those years ago? As the novel builds to a stunning reveal, Octavia must consider how this story will come to a close.

Universally praised for her candid explorations of the human psyche, Parkhurst delivers an emotionally gripping and resonant mystery about a mother and her son, and about the possibility that one can never truly know another person.

Peeing My Pants With Book Anticipation – January 15, 2009 was originally published by Trish for Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? This post cannot be republished without express written permission.