Winners!

This week's giveaway winners!

The winner of The Queen's Lover is ... Colleen!

The winner of I, Iago is ... Margaret!

The winners have been emailed. If you didn't win something, be sure to check out my open giveaways.

Written In the Ashes by K. Hollan Van Zandt

Title: Written In the Ashes
Author: K. Hollan Van Zandt

Genre: Fiction (Historical / Ancient Egypt / 4th Century / Religious Conflict / Library of Alexandria)
Publisher/Publication Date: Balboa Press (7/2011)
Source: Premier Virtual Author Book Tours

Rating: Liked.
Did I finish?: I did -- for a chunkster, this book reads fast!
One-sentence summary: The story of a slave girl who finds fame, fortune, danger, love, and loss in ancient Egypt.
Reading Challenges: E-book, Historical Fiction

Do I like the cover?: I do -- although I'm reminded a tiny bit of the decor from Cheesecake Factory. (Which leads me to a total unrelated rant: why is the decorative theme of Cheesecake Factory Egyptian-y?!)

I'm reminded of...: Marion Zimmer Bradley,

First line: All trees hold secrets.

Did... I do a double take when I saw the author thanked Johnny Depp in her acknowledgements?: YES. I don't know if she means that Johnny Depp but wow!

Do... I love the secret freebies for those who've got the book?: YES. The author has a web section of freebies relating to the novel for those who have an ISBN and want more. Fun!

Did... I love the extras in the book: YES. From the map, glossary, and epilogue, this book is fully loaded.

Buy, Borrow, or Avoid?: Borrow or buy -- this is an epic historical that reads quickly.

Why did I get this book?: Ancient Egypt!

Review: A dramatic, plot-filled historical set in Alexandria Egypt in the 4th century, this novel follows Hannah, a Jewish goat herder who is kidnapped and sold as a slave in Alexandria. She's purchased on a whim but finds herself in the home of a vintner and alchemist who is friends with the infamous Hypatia, celebrated thinker and scholar. In this household, she's educated and encouraged to use her magnificent singing voice to become a bard of sorts, and it is her connection with Hypatia and the Library of Alexandria that leads her into further drama, adventure, and torment.

I'm not sure that summary even does this book justice, but I tried! At times, there might have been just a little too much plot for my tastes -- this had the feel of a Victorian potboiler in some ways, with one over-the-top turn after another -- and yet, the story didn't strain credulity. This is the tale of a woman growing up; the story of a slave who becomes greater than her bond; a woman at the crossroads of history, in a place where religion and science, history and politics all collided.

The cast is rather big for my tastes, but I found everyone pretty easy to know -- again, Van Zandt doesn't stint on details and everyone felt bigger than life. While I found our heroine Hannah a bit too perfect at the start of the novel -- she's exceptionally beautiful, regal in stature despite being a slave, gifted with a gorgeous voice, blue-eyed and fair skinned -- she grew on me as a character, and I found her reputation was warranted. She was smart, clever, a bit impetuous, and talented, and she behaved with courage and wisdom as the novel progressed. In the end, I wanted her as my friend.

Van Zandt's writing style reads easily; she describes everything, from food to clothes to scenery, and it's impossible not to feel immersed in ancient Alexandria. She doesn't shy away, either, from the grim reality of being a female slave, so FYI for those of you who don't like sexual violence. I was uncomfortable, but unsurprised. In the Epilogue, Van Zandt explains her rationale for the anachronistic decisions she made with the story and I appreciated that -- she aged Hannah to twenty rather than the more likely thirteen at the start of the novel -- and she played fast and loose a bit with history and myth. Since I'm not a well-versed in Egyptian history, this didn't bother me, but I don't know how someone who is wedded to the era will feel. For me, Van Zandt's choices worked with the story as she told it.

At 400+ pages this is an epic adventure, and Van Zandt has said she's planning two more books. However, this book ends very neatly, no cliff hanger to make you gnash your teeth, and I think it stands alone marvelously. Still, I'm looking forward to Van Zandt's next venture.

*** *** ***

GIVEAWAY!

I'm thrilled to offer a copy of Written in the Ashes. To enter, fill out this brief form. Open to US and international readers. US readers can pick a paperback or e-book; international readers receive an e-book. Ends 6/1.

The Storytelling Animal by Jonathan Gottschall

Title: The Storytelling Animal
Author: Jonathan Gottschall

Genre: Non-Fiction (Literary Analysis / Evolutionary Psychology / Human Development / Cognitive Science / Myths / Folk Lore / Popular Culture)
Publisher/Publication Date: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (4/10/2012)
Source: TLC Book Tours

Rating: LOVE!
Did I finish?: Yes -- I raced through this one.
One-sentence summary: A readable and amusing look at how humans need stories in their lives and why.
Reading Challenges: Dewey Decimal

Do I like the cover?: I adore it -- it's playful, evocative, pretty, and spot on.

I'm reminded of...: Diane Ackerman

First line: Statisticians agree that if they could only catch some immortal monkeys, lock them up in a room with a typewriter, and get them to furiously thwack keys for a long, long time, the monkey's would eventually flail out a perfect reproduction of Hamlet -- with every period and comma and "'sblood" in its proper place.

Do... I think the book trailer is dead adorable/funny?: YES. I'm on the fence about whether I like or dislike book trailers, but in this case, the animation is adorable and you get the gist of this very funny and enlightening book immediately!

Do... I think it's dead adorable that Gottschall includes his daughters in the book's index?: YES. He shares many stories about his young daughters' imaginative play, and I love that he includes their stories in the index. I bet they'll die of joy/mortification when they're older!

Buy, Borrow, or Avoid?: Borrow or buy -- if you like fiction, you'll want to learn why, and this would make a smashing gift for the lit geek in your life.

Why did I get this book?: Reading nerd waxing about how awesome reading is = win.

Review: I loved Gottschall from the first line of this book; I quickly saw he was a book fan geeking out about how awesome fiction is and I cheerfully followed along.

I'm always going to fangirl over books on books -- I can't help it. I love readers and I love reading about reading. Gottschall takes joy in not just reading, but all forms of storytelling, from country music songs to commercials and films. He examines how fiction -- storytelling -- helps us individually and globally.

Trivia fans will love this book because it is chock full of tidbits to toss out at your next party or family gathering (for example, a 2009 study showed more people were scarred by scary films than real world horrors like 9/11 or the Rwandan genocide.) Gottschall's writing style is casual, funny, friendly, and approachable and he references contemporary and classic fictions. He breaks down scientific studies on neurons, behavior, emotions and offers a trenchant and funny argument in support of fiction in all its forms.

In addition to being a great read for anyone who likes fiction and doesn't mind a dip into popular non-fiction, I think this would make a unique book club pick. Breezy readable, this book celebrates what we all love about storytelling, and provides great themes and ideas to chew and discuss. Gift this book for the bookish college grad in your life or the light reader who needs a nudge to pick up a novel because page 66 offers a very good reason why: "In one study, they [researchers] found that heavy fiction readers had better social skills -- as measured by tests of social and empathetic ability -- than those who mainly read nonfiction." Novel readers rejoice: we're awesome.

The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones

Title: The Uninvited Guests
Author: Sadie Jones

Genre: Fiction (Historical / Edwardian / English Estate / Upstairs - Downstairs / Disaster / Domestic Horror)
Publisher/Publication Date: Harper (5/1/2012)
Source: TLC Book Tours

Rating: Looooooooooooooooooved like a loving thing.
Did I finish?: I inhaled this in one day!
One-sentence summary: One country estate, one prickly family, one birthday party, and one train disaster equals a night of revelation, drama, desire, heartache, ugliness and unexpected joy.
Reading Challenges: Historical Fiction

Do I like the cover?: I adore it -- it references a scene in the novel and captures the Edwardian feel just perfectly. (Also, the end papers are too cute for words, referencing a particular character -- perfect!)

I'm reminded of...: Djuna Barnes, E.M. Delafield, Stella Gibbons, Molly Keane, Ada Leverson

First line: Since her marriage to Edward Swift, three years after the sudden death of her first husband Horace Torrington, Charlotte had changed her position at the breakfast table in order to accommodate her new husband's needs: specifically, aiding him in the spreading of toast and cutting of meat, owing to his having suffered the loss of his left arm at the age of twenty-three in an unfortunate encounter with the narrow wheels of a speeding gig, out of which he had fallen on the driveway of his then home in County Wicklow.

Did... this book remind me of a variety of early 20th century authors I love?: YES. From the droll hilarity of E.M. Delafield and Stella Gibbons to the weirder and creepier edginess of Djuna Barnes, this seemingly simple story of one family was layered and rich and twisted.

Did... I literally gorge myself on this book?: YES. I couldn't stop quoting lines on Goodreads; the turn-of-phrase and language was just divine.

Buy, Borrow, or Avoid?: Buy or borrow -- this book is a delight!

Why did I get this book?: I loved Jones' previous novel, Small Wars, and I'm a sucker for this genre and style of fiction.

Review: I loved this book. I loved Jones' writing style, her language, her use of words -- I literally was jubilant while reading, delighted by the multifaceted bounce of her narrative and dialogue. The text of this novel had personality, was a character in this story, and the tale it offered captured me from the first line.

Set in 1912 at Sterne, an isolated English country estate, the story focuses on one night with the Torrington family: Charlotte, a 50-ish beauty with a cold demeanor and a loving second marriage; her three children -- Clovis, dark and bitter, Emerald, sweet and loyal, and Smudge, young, imaginative, and often forgotten; her second husband, the one-armed Edward Swift; Florence Trieves, a housekeeping in mourning; and Emerald's birthday party guests. On the eve of her party, the Torrington's learn of a terrible train accident that requires them to house the Third Class passengers until the railway company can send them on their way, and that is when things really begin to unravel. These uninvited guests provoke the Torringtons and their invited guests in ways none anticipated, and an eventful night transforms into something horrific, frightening, and illuminating for all.

I've read reviews that said this family was so unlikeable it was impossible to enjoy the story; to me, the characters were quite flawed but so human, I felt rather tenderly toward them, even Charlotte (who I think is the most despicable, mostly for her treatment of her children). This is a family raised in Victorian mores and ideals, living in an Edwardian society of flashy beauty and changing values, formerly affluent but now dependent on the possibility of a loan to keep them afloat. When I closed the book, I could say I loved every single character in this novel -- every one. They were real, anchored solidly by Jones' marvelous turn-of-phrase (the dialogue! the descriptive passages!) and given flight by the ludicrous and chilling plot. There's a madcap pace to the end of the novel that strained credulity (and shockingly, it wasn't the supernatural elements!) but I loved it for pushing me past my expectations.

Part domestic drama, part class exploration, part spoof on English country life, The Uninvited Guests is a fascinating, creepy, and moving look at obligation, motivation, and loyalty. Gushingly recommended.

*** *** ***

GIVEAWAY!

I'm thrilled to offer a copy of The Uninvited Guests to one lucky reader. To enter, fill out this brief form. Open to US/CA readers, ends 6/1.

Interview with Elizabeth Percer

Last week I read Elizabeth Percer's lovely An Uncommon Education, about a girl's childhood and experiences at Wellesley college. I'm thrilled to share this interview with Ms. Percer on her writing, her book, and what she does when she's not writing. Read on to learn more and for another opportunity to enter a giveaway for her book!

What was the plot of your very first piece of fiction?

My VERY first? The first piece of fiction I can remember writing was about a girl whose father drowned at sea and returns to her as a ghost who insists she must save the world from certain destruction with help from him and his ghostly, sea-wrecked friends. I think I was eight when I wrote it. Can you tell?

Do you have any writing rituals or routines?

Yes. Most of my rituals or routines are designed to reduce the anxiety that always arises over asking my inner self to come out and play, no matter what kind of state she may be in. I try to walk or drive or do some other kind of physical activity before or after I write, just to get my breathing and attention into a more elemental, less critical space. I also like to work on soft surfaces (no desks for me), and to read the work of authors I admire when I get stuck. I can't work after the sun goes down because I'll stay up all night, mind racing, so I try to work in the morning or afternoon. If I didn't have three children, I'd love to be able to just wake up and write before I have to talk to anyone, but they have other plans for me.

Was An Uncommon Education the original title of your book?

No! It's original title was The Shakespeare Society, followed for a while by An Educated Woman.

As you were writing An Uncommon Education, was there a particular scene or character that surprised you?

Yes, though if something I am working on doesn't surprise me, I usually set it aside. Surprise in writing is a little bit like a sign that your yeast is alive when baking (pardon my wacky metaphor): the writing has to bite back a bit, I think, in order to prove to me that it's got the crucial energy it needs to warrant the attention one must devote to a novel. AUE surprised me continually in this sense, but I think the first, most important surprise was Naomi herself. Originally, I thought the book would center around Jun's story, that Naomi would tell Jun's story a la the narrative structure of something like The Great Gatsby or Sherlock Holmes. Instead -- and this was the first, nerve-tingling/upsetting/thrilling sign that the book was coming to life -- Naomi's voice began to insist on more from me.

What was it like to revisit Wellesley through this novel? Have you been back to Wellesley since you graduated?

It was absolutely wonderful. I can't say that I loved every minute of my experience at Wellesley, but any education worth its salt should involve a healthy amount of growing pain. I grew tremendously there, and I wouldn't trade those years for anything. I was surprised that I remembered the layout of the campus as well as I did, and also surprised at some of the things I had forgotten. There was a room in the actual Shakespeare Society, for example -- off the first floor toward the south end of the house -- that had completely slipped my mind. I thought I knew every inch of that house like the back of my hand -- and should have, considering how much time I spent there!

I have been back to Wellesley a few times since I graduated, but only to walk through the campus. I think that if I still lived in Massachusetts (or somewhere in New England), I'd have visited much more frequently.

When you’re not writing, what do you like to do?

Read, run, and be present for my children. The latter involves making up a little parlor trick we like to do of making up songs on the spot on any subject suggested.

Read any good books recently?

How much time do you have? I'm a bit of a book slut, and read constantly. Right now I'm toggling between the Louise Penny series (I recently learned that my mother's family descended from the founders of French Quebec, where Penny sets her series), and A Fierce Radiance by Lauren Belfer. I would recommend both of these authors enthusiastically. I'm also chomping at the bit to start the autobiography of William Carlos Williams I picked up while on book tour. In addition to being one of my favorite poets, he was also a doctor, and I'm eager to read his reflections on the intersections between these two worlds. I'm convinced that great science and great art are hatched from very similar paths in human thinking, and read anything I can get my hands on that will enable me to explore this idea further.

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GIVEAWAY!

I'm thrilled to offer a copy of An Uncommon Education to one lucky reader! To enter, fill out this brief form. Open to US/CA readers, ends 5/25.

Slant of Light by Steve Wiegenstein

Title: Slant of Light: A Novel of Utopian Dreams and Civil War
Author: Steve Wiegenstein

Genre: Fiction (Historical / Pre-Civil War / Missouri / Communes / Utopia Movement / Abolition / Marriage)
Publisher/Publication Date: Blank Slate Press (4/2012)
Source: TLC Book Tours

Rating: Liked to loved.
Did I finish?: I did -- it was so compelling.
One-sentence summary: In the years before the Civil War, an idealist establishes a commune in Missouri and the direction of his plans affects himself, his wife, and the residents of his commune.
Reading Challenges: Historical Fiction

Do I like the cover?: I do -- it's rather pretty and has a nice design, and it's refreshing to see a hist fic without a costumed woman on the cover. There's a theme of plants, seedlings, and clippings in the story, too, so the botanical image is super appropriate.

I'm reminded of...: Sally Gunning, Ann Weisgarber, Jenny Wingfield

First line: The keelboat moved so slowly against the current that Turner sometimes wondered if they were moving at all.

Do... I love that the book's title comes from an Emily Dickinson poem?: YES. Emily Dickinson wins no matter what, but the poem in particular is breath-takingly pretty.

Buy, Borrow, or Avoid?: Borrow or buy, this is such a unique historical novel: pre-Civil War setting, utopia movement, abolition...

Why did I get this book?: It was a unique-to-me setting for hist fic, unlike my usual fare, and I was immediately intrigued.

Review: This was a fantastically great book. I rarely read historical fiction set around the Civil War, and this book's time span -- 1857 - 1862 -- was unique, fascinating, and compelling. Wiegenstein's writing is vibrant and engrossing, his characters uncomfortably real, and I was immediately plunged into a time and world that frightened and fascinated me.

James Turner is a philosopher and itinerant lecturer who wrote a utopian novel called Daybreak that inspired a Missouri man to donate land in hopes of establishing a real life Daybreak. Turner's new bride, Charlotte, eager to escape a sad home and embark on something promising, rushes to join Turner in the Missouri Ozarks. A Harvard-educated abolitionist, Adam Cabot, recently tarred and feathered in Kansas for his anti-slavery work, decides to join the community as well, and these three characters provide the frame for the story. But the secondary characters are just as compelling and fleshed out -- the other residents who decide to join Daybreak, the suspicious neighbors who are uneasy with the commune -- and I felt like I knew everyone.

I will admit that the love triangle-ish-ness was my least favorite part of the story, but I've got some weird hangup about infidelity that I kind of think I need to explore in therapy or something. (Seriously -- I've not been affected by infidelity myself and I used to love hot torrid affairs in my novels but now just a whiff of cheating makes my stomach hurt!) Regardless, the love triangle wasn't the focus of the story, really, and it served to provoke some great mental debate about ethics, ideals, and obligations.

Wiegenstein's writing style is straight-forward, evocative but not flowery. I was lost to the world every time I picked up this book and I didn't want it to end. Even if you're not a historical fiction fan, consider picking up this novel -- this is a philosophical armchair escape that is grounded, accessible, and real.

*** *** ***

GIVEAWAY!

I'm thrilled to offer a copy of Slant of Light to one lucky reader! To enter, fill out this brief form. Open to US/CA readers, ends 6/1.

Winners!

Here are this week's winners of my giveaways. Congrats!





The winner of The Sumerton Women is ... Mystica!

The winner of Afterwards is ... Carl!

The winner of In My Father's Country is ... Amy F.!

The winners have been emailed.  I have plenty of open giveaways if you didn't win this week so be sure to check them out!