Hi there!
Welcome back to another day, another post here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers. Whether you're at the BIG shindig going on in New York right now (aka BEA) or at home sighing over missing yet another year of bookish fun....I mean, having a blast with all your other bloggish pals like moi (^_^), I'm here for you and will do my darnedest to add yet another title to your list. Speaking of which...
Today's featured title combines a little fact, a little fiction, and a whole lot of mystery...as in the "who-done-it" kind as well as people with an air of it (cute ones too! *ahem*). It comes to us from the folks at Chronicle Books (if you haven't checked out their catalog, you are sorely missing out) and happens to be traipsing around the blogosphere on tour as we speak (be sure to check that out too!), but I couldn't wait a moment more to share this little beauty with all of you...and if you stick with me til review's end, there might even be another surprise waiting in the wings. (Yes, that's my injection of mystery to this post...hehe.) Ladies and gents, readers and read-ettes, feast your eyes on today's book of choice...
by
About the book...
One day, fifteen-year-old Emily Dickinson meets a mysterious, handsome young man. Surprisingly, he doesn’t seem to know who she or her family is. And even more surprisingly, he playfully refuses to divulge his name. Emily enjoys her secret flirtation with Mr. “Nobody” until he turns up dead in her family’s pond. She’s stricken with guilt. Only Emily can discover who this enigmatic stranger was before he’s condemned to be buried in an anonymous grave. Her investigation takes her deep into town secrets, blossoming romance, and deadly danger. Exquisitely written and meticulously researched, this novel celebrates Emily Dickinson’s intellect and spunk in a page-turner of a book that will excite fans of mystery, romance, and poetry alike.
I have to agree with that last line there and would like to add that it makes her life and times even more accessible to those either initially disinclined to sample her work or those up and coming young readers just getting started. While not a biography by any means, it does take the wit, humor and resourcefulness we've come to love of both Ms. Dickinson herself and her writing, infuses it with a brush of romance, and winds things up with a case worthy of intrigue. The goal is to both right a wrong and discover just who her Mr. Nobody was...and of course keeping oneself among the living would be a BIG bonus. Yes, my friends, Emily's investigation is not without its dangers because some secrets people will do ANYTHING to keep.
As you might know, I'm a big fan of the play-on-word technique...you know, where you say one thing, but it means another...and it's a device used throughout this work. A prime example, the title. It sounds like it's about a secret that belongs to nobody and yet, it's a secret ABOUT Nobody...with a capital "N". No, that's not their real name per se, but it's the one she knows him by, her mysterious, and handsome acquaintance who understood in a mere meeting (or two) young Emily's curiosity with the world and pursuit of all things unknown. Who when the information of her heart's secret desire was shared did not balk, scoff, or otherwise belittle it, but handled it careful as anyone's dream should be handled. The possibility of the seemingly impossible is what makes dreamers into creators, plotters into inventors and so on. So why NOT a lady poet...or a PUBLISHED lady poet?
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| Author Michaela MacColl |
Story wise, though not a historical fiction fan myself (yes, I've read a few, but very scant few...which shall not be changing any time soon), I found myself thoroughly involved in both the time and place as well as the events unfolding. Perhaps it was those events that kept me side tracked from the tangible history there for the buffs in the audience, or perhaps it was simply one of those rarer wonders that wins be over regardless...even still, I like the author's own assessment of her work. On her site, she calls it "Modern Historical Fiction"...very fitting. If this novel is indicative of her other works, I might just have added two more to the wish list. ^_^
In conclusion, a great read for Young Adult fans of all ages that like to indulge their own fascinations about the life and times of famous figures...in a fictional and thoroughly entertaining way. It makes for a great weekend read or summer escape while also stirring the fires of curiosity. The end result of that stirring depends on the reader, but I wouldn't be surprised if many were put on the path for further investigation...which, by the way, happens to be the subject of the final page in the book! (Many thanks to the author for that!) If you like your reads historically tinged but only just, with heroines worth their weight in salt, mysterious strangers, and unexpected endings (in more ways than one), this is definitely a book for you.
Review copy received courtesy of Laura at Chronicle Books. (THANKS!) For more information on this title as well as their full catalog of books and more, be sure to visit them online, pin them on Pinterest, like them on Facebook, or follow along on Twitter. To discover more about author Michaela MacColl, check out her official site, catch up on her blog, like her on Facebook, or follow along on Twitter. This title reached publishes status April this year and should be available now on a bookstore shelf near you. Now, about that mysterious "something else" I mentioned...
...first, how's about a little sample of the book we just discussed? Sounds good, right? Here ya go!
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Ahh.
Satisfying, right?
What's that?
Oh, you want MORE do you now.
No worries, I've got you covered.
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Thanks to the generosity of the folks at Chronicle Books, YOU get the chance to win a copy of this book to call your own! Excited? Yes? YES? Okay! I won't keep you in suspense any longer. Here's the scoop...
The prize...
(1) copy of Nobody's Secret by Michaela MacColl from Chronicle Books
How to enter...
...just fill out THIS FORM and you're in to win!
The rules...
...entries will be accepted through Friday, June 7th, 2013 at midnight CST. Open to US/Canada residents; no P.O. Boxes please. Winning name will be drawn and contacted by Monday, June 10th, 2013 and have 48 hours to respond with their full name and mailing address to be passed on to the publisher for prize send out. If a response is not received within the given time frame, a new winner will be chosen.
That's it!
That's all she wrote...or rather I wrote.
So, what are you waiting for?
Mr. Nobody needs your help...before it's too late.
Until next time...GOOD LUCK...and happy reading!
I haven't heard much about this one, but this post definitely has me wanting to check it out! Unlike you, I love historical fiction, I'll be sure to add this one to the reading pile!
ReplyDeleteInteresting you should mention the play on word thing as reading the synopsis made me think about how different words have different meanings in different parts of the word. Take the use of the word Spunk for example, it has a very different meaning here than it obviously does elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteHmm, new one for me. :D Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSounds like something I would like!
ReplyDelete