Thank you!
Thanks to everyone who stopped by the past few weeks and entered the contest to win a copy of The Snow Child and to those readers old and new who found their way here from The Literary Blog Hop.
The response to both events was fantastic. The blog hop introduced new subscribers and there were over 100 entries for my review copy of the audiobook of Home Front. Thank you to Judith at Leeswame’s Blog for hosting the event.
And now for the winners:
Inspired Kathy
was the winner of Home Front.
Cecilia H.
Darlene and
Karen B
each won a copy of The Snow Child.
More Opportunities To Win:
If you enjoy historical fiction I have a new giveaway of 2 copies of May the Road Rise Up to Meet You
by Peter Troy.
An engrossing, epic American drama told from four distinct perspectives, spanning the first major wave of Irish immigration to New York through the end of the Civil War.
And next month I will be hosting several more giveaways so be sure to check back.
May the Road Rise Up to Meet You
by Peter Troy
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Doubleday
Publish Date: February 28, 2012
Format: Hardback | 400 pages
An engrossing, epic American drama told from four distinct perspectives, spanning the first major wave of Irish immigration to New York through the end of the Civil War.
I will be reading my copy this week followed by my review but I didn’t want to wait to post this wonderful giveaway.
The publisher has made available two copies for me to give to my readers in the US and you have until March 4th to enter. Here is a little information about the book and the author:
About the Book
Four unique voices; two parallel love stories; one sweeping novel rich in the history of nineteenth-century America. This remarkable debut draws from the great themes of literature—famine, war, love, and family—as it introduces four unforgettable characters. Ethan McOwen is an Irish immigrant whose endurance is tested in Brooklyn and the Five Points at the height of its urban destitution; he is among the first to join the famed Irish Brigade and becomes a celebrated war photographer. Marcella, a society girl from Spain, defies her father to become a passionate abolitionist. Mary and Micah are slaves of varying circumstances, who form an instant connection and embark on a tumultuous path to freedom.
All four lives unfold in two beautiful love stories, which eventually collide. Written in gorgeous language that subtly captures the diverse backgrounds of the characters, and interspersed with letters, journals, and dreams, this unforgettable story, rendered in cinematic detail, is about having faith in life’s great meaning amidst its various tangles.
About the Author
PETER TROY is a former journalist and high school history teacher. He lives in New York State, where he is at work on his next novel.
Connect with the author:
Visit Peter Troy’s blog
Visit the webpage for the book
‘Like’ the book on Facebook.
Giveaway Information
The publisher has generously offered two copies for giveaway.
- Contest is open to those with an address in the US only.
- To enter leave a comment. It is not necessary to be a subscriber or follower to enter but new subscribers are always welcome.
- For an extra entry, tweet the giveaway and leave the URL to the tweet in a second comment. (Click on the time stamp link of the tweet and copy the URL that appears in the address bar.)
- The deadline for entry is Sunday, March 4th. I will draw winners using random.org. They will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond with a mailing address.
Ann Patchett was on The Colbert Report Monday night and discussed the importance of brick-and-mortar bookstores and explains what prompted her to open one in Nashville.
The clip is about 6 minutes long but funny and well worth watching.
The Technologists
by Matthew Pearl
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Random House
Publish Date: February 21, 2012
Format: Hardback | 496 pages
Rating: 5 of 5
The Technologists is historical fiction that is part mystery, part thriller set against the background of the newly evolving field of science and technology in 1868 Boston.
In Boston Harbor ships begin to crash into each other in the fog as compasses momentarily fail to function. Days later glass in the buildings in the financial district begins to melt causing destruction and panic only to solidify moments later, disfiguring anyone who touched it. The people are alarmed and demand that the perpetrator be stopped. Everyone fears another disaster will soon occur.
The police turn to Harvard, the preeminent and trusted institution, and ask the professors there to help them find an answer. Several students at the newly formed Massachusetts Institute of Technology want to help with the investigation but they are told to stay away. The public views MIT with distrust as the very word “technology” scares people. The trade unions fear the many new emerging technologies will eliminate jobs and the press sensationalized what they did not understand. A small group of MIT students form a secret society which they call The Technologists and surreptitiously begin their own research, determined to save Boston from the madman who is causing these disasters.
It took the first 60 to 70 pages for me to get oriented, figure out who all the characters were and get accustomed to the language of the time period or perhaps it was the author’s writing style. After that, the story just took off. The pace picked up and I didn’t want to put the book down. I enjoy historical mysteries and the addition of science made it irresistible for me. The characters were well-developed and believable, the protagonist likeable and the story a suspenseful mystery. It had the feel of a Sherlock Holmes adventure and there were a few great plot twists along the way to the mystery’s conclusion.
I especially enjoy a book that makes me curious about the history of the characters and the setting, and inspires me to learn more. Were they based on real people? I began looking them up on Wiki. Yes, some of them were. Two of the students were based on actual individuals who attended MIT in the early years, one being the first woman in America accepted to any school of science and technology.
It is apparent that the author did a remarkable amount of research that gave this novel an air of authenticity. 19th century Boston, a time and place I am not familiar with, comes alive. At the end of the book is a several page Afterword. The author cites his inspiration for the story, provides more information on the characters, the science of the day and some factual background on MIT’s fight for legitimacy in the early days when the concept of scientific education was considered dangerous.
I definitely recommend this for those who like historical mysteries and the techie types who like a little science mixed in will enjoy it even more. This was my first book by Matthew Pearl and I’m looking forward to reading more from him.
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Source: Review copy.
Mailbox Monday was created by The Printed Page. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their home last week.
Mailbox Monday is currently on tour, hosted by a different blog each month. The February host is Metroreader.
Last week I received mostly audio books and this week print books. I should be pretty busy for the next few weeks reading and listening.
I have two giveaways running through February 22nd. One for a print copy of The Snow Child and another for an audio copy of Home Front.
I finished reading The Technologists yesterday and loved it. My review should be up in the next day or so. Last week I reviewed A Good American, another winner.
And now for this week’s books:
Two books from TLC Tours for review:
Walter’s Muse
by Jean Davies Okimoto
It’s the first summer of her retirement and librarian Maggie Lewis is relishing the unfolding of sweet summer days on Vashon Island: walking on the beach, reading the classics, and kayaking. But in June when a sudden storm hits the island, Maggie’s summer becomes about as peaceful as navigating white water. Not only does her wealthy sister arrive uninvited with a startling announcement; but Maggie finds herself entangled with her new Baker’s Beach neighbor, Walter Hathaway. A famous children’s author and recovering alcoholic, Walter has a history with Maggie they would each like to forget.
The Year of the Gadfly
by Jennifer Miller
Iris Dupont is a teenage reporter who communes with the ghost of Edward R. Murrow. Jonah Kaplan is a failed microbiologist-turned biology teacher who is haunted by the ghosts of his past. Each embarks on a private investigation to uncover a secret society in their remote New England town. As Iris and Jonah’s paths start to intersect, they are drawn into the darker corners of their town, their school, and their own minds. THE YEAR OF THE GADFLY is an intricately woven narrative that will keep you reading late into the night.
For review and giveaway from Doubleday:
The Good Father
by Noah Hawley
An intense, psychological novel about one doctor’s suspense-filled quest to unlock the mind of a suspected political assassin: his twenty-year old son. Told alternately from the point of view of the guilt-ridden, determined father and his meandering, ruminative son, The Good Father is a powerfully emotional page-turner that keeps one guessing until the very end. This is an absorbing and honest novel about the responsibilities—and limitations—of being a parent and our capacity to provide our children with unconditional love in the face of an unthinkable situation.
From FSB Associates:
So Damn Lucky
by Deborah Coonts
Lucky O’Toole—Head of Customer Relations at The Babylon, premier mega-resort on the Vegas Strip—thinks it’s just another night in Las Vegas. But then a magician pulls a disappearing act, right under Lucky’s nose. Is it a stunt? Or something worse? While Lucky chases leads, someone is trying to put her off the scent. As if this wasn’t enough to ruin her day, Lucky’s relationship with The Big Boss is coming to a head—past hurts can no longer be denied. Las Vegas expert Deborah Coonts thrills again with this third installment in her dazzling series focused on casino “fixer” Lucky O’Toole.
From the publisher for review:
Bloodland
by Alan Glynn
Susie Monaghan was on the cusp of stardom when her life was cut short by a tragic helicopter crash. After a full investigation, her death was ruled an accident: case closed. But a hungry young journalist named Jimmy Gilroy isn’t buying the official story. Before dying, Susie’s path had crossed with an unlikely gallery of powerful men: an ex-Prime minister with a carefully guarded secret; the businessman brother of a U.S. Senator angling for the Oval Office; and a billionaire investor with his eye on an extremely rare commodity. Might there also be a link between Susie’s death and a deranged security contractor operating in Congo?
How was your week?
