Happy Cinco de Mayo to you!
I thought I’d host a random giveaway. I received the following ARCs a while back and then I also received them via NetGalley so I thought I’d share these with my readers!
I have started all 3 but never did finish any of them. I’ll give you a brief explanation of why I didn’t finish them and whether I plan to finish them eventually.
Books
 The Humming Roomby Ellen Potter192 pages, Feiwel & Friends, (2012-02-28)
$16.99 (Amazon.com) |
Summary (Goodreads)
Hiding is Roo Fanshaw’s special skill. Living in a frighteningly unstable family, she often needs to disappear at a moment’s notice. When her parents are murdered, it’s her special hiding place under the trailer that saves her life.
As it turns out, Roo, much to her surprise, has a wealthy if eccentric uncle, who has agreed to take her into his home on Cough Rock Island. Once a tuberculosis sanitarium for children of the rich, the strange house is teeming with ghost stories and secrets. Roo doesn’t believe in ghosts or fairy stories, but what are those eerie noises she keeps hearing? And who is that strange wild boy who lives on the river? People are lying to her, and Roo becomes determined to find the truth.
Despite the best efforts of her uncle’s assistants, Roo discovers the house’s hidden room–a garden with a tragic secret.
Inspired by The Secret Garden, this tale full of unusual characters and mysterious secrets is a story that only Ellen Potter could write.
Why I Didn’t Finish
I didn’t finish this one because I really didn’t get hooked at first. I LOVED Ellen’s The Kneebone Boy (my review) so I know I’ll eventually pick this one back up. Since it’s a middle grade book, it’s hard for me to feel the urge to read this. Maybe I’ll read it to my nearly 8 year old daughter instead.
 Life Is But a Dreamby Brian James240 pages, Feiwel & Friends, (2012-03-27)
$17.99 (Amazon.com) |
Summary (Goodreads)
Sabrina, an artist, is diagnosed with schizophrenia, and her parents check her into the Wellness Center. There she meets Alec, who is convinced it’s the world that’s crazy, not the two of them. They are meant to be together; they are special. But when Alec starts to convince Sabrina that her treatment will wipe out everything that makes her creative, she worries that she’ll lose hold of her dreams and herself. Should she listen to her doctor? her decision may have fatal consequences.
Brian James calls Life is But a Dream “the most intense book I’ve written. Bringing this unique character to life and seeing the world through her eyes, with all its beauty and confusion, was an immense challenge that I hope is just as rewarding to read as it was to write.” Intense–yes. Unforgettable–definitely.
Why I Didn’t Finish
I got very far into this one. It’s a very HEAVY book. Two young kids in a mental institution. I was afraid to keep reading. I just couldn’t see it ending well. I don’t usually enjoy reading things that have such sadness in them. I ‘d rather read a paranormal or a happy contemporary.
 After the Snowby S. D. Crockett304 pages, Feiwel & Friends, (2012-03-27)
$16.99 (Amazon.com) |
Summary (Goodreads)
Fifteen-year-old Willo was out hunting when the trucks came and took his family away. Left alone in the snow, Willo becomes determined to find and rescue his family, and he knows just who to talk with to learn where they are. He plans to head across the mountains and make Farmer Geraint tell him where his family has gone.
But on the way across the mountain, he finds Mary, a refugee from the city, whose father is lost and who is starving to death. The smart thing to do would be to leave her alone — he doesn’t have enough supplies for two or the time to take care of a girl — but Willo just can’t do it. However, with the world trapped in an ice age, the odds of them surviving on their own are not good. And even if he does manage to keep Mary safe, what about finding his family?
Why I Didn’t Finish
I barely started this one. I actually laughed and then decided to read it out loud to my husband. This would make an excellent audio book. I might just do that instead of reading it. But after reading Blood Red Road I might be able to handle this one. Maybe. The twang was just too much for me.
Giveaway
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I would read The Humming Room first because it looks like the lightest.
(If you’re not afraid of a vague spoiler, LIFE IS BUT A DREAM ends happily.)
Thanks for the note about the ending! The author stopped by too to let me know it ends some what happily.
I’d read after the snow first sounds like a good mystery.
Just want to let you know that “Life is But a Dream” has a happyish ending.
Thanks Brian! I’m a sucker for romance and happy endings.
After the Snow sounds like one I’d like to try reading 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway.
I’d read The Humming Room because it sounds interesting and it was inspired by The Secret Garden (which I love!)
I would read Life Is But a Dream first because I suffer from mental illness myself I have clinical depression and I’m curious about how this story will end even though I know treatment for mental illness doesn’t wipe out memories or you’re personality.
I would read After the Snow first. All the reviews I’ve seen have been wonderful. I love the theme of trying to rescue family/friends and all the obstacles that you would face doing it.
Life is but a dream because I am very interested in books that portray mental illness
I’ve had Life is But a Dream on my TBR for quite a while now, so I’d jump on that one first.
Life is but a dream – because its different from the usual types of books I read
I would read After the Snow first.
the humming room, like ghost stories!
After the Snow.
I started it a while ago from the library and I was really getting into it. I put it down in favor of finishing up some other series that had just released though. 🙂