Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Special for YOU: Garth Stein's latest opus


Since -- as recently intimated -- Bamboo Nation has a niche in American cultural consciousness that I can only aspire to, I aim to ape Prince Gomolvilas in all things. Hence I will borrow from one of Prince’s best attention-culling mechanisms: the giveaway!

First, the lure. I hope you recall when I reviewed here Garth Stein’s best-selling novel The Art of Racing in the Rain. Remember? Well now, just in time for St Patrick’s Day, Garth has written a new one for us. I’ve been awaiting his latest novel, whatever it would be, wondering how he could possibly follow up on such a sequel-proof story. No matter what the new book would be, it certainly be a surprise.

And he has not disappointed. Raven Stole the Moon is an out-and-out thriller, and a thriller of the best sort -- the atmosphere-heavy kind that introduces you to places, people and cultures that few come across on their own.

Again, the author’s feel for the Northwest is strong. His story starts in Seattle, but soon defects for a small town in Alaska where the indigenous Tlingit people and their bonds with unseen worlds are still strongly evident. The story’s hero, Jenna, is returning to the town of Wrangell as the scene of a turning point in her life -- it’s where her son was drowned. But she soon comes to realize that warring conspiracies seek both to reveal the truth or to hide it from her.

Warning: don’t read this book in bed at night if you have an early morning the next day! I rushed from chapter to chapter just to find out what would happen next.

And now for the giveaway. I have a brand new, never-before-read copy of Raven Stole the Moon to give you. True, the book was just released yesterday, so you can always bop on over to Powell’s…or you can leave a comment, any comment, on this post by Saturday morning, March 13. That day at noon I’ll randomly select one of the entrants, and someone will get her/his very own copy of Garth's latest. If you want to post anonymously, that’s cool -- just make your post unique enough that I have a way to give you a shout out, and we can go from there.

Buona fortuna!

9 comments:

Marlene said...

Oooo, oooo, oooo, pick me! I love The Art of Racing in the Rain and this sound soo good!!

Eden From Sweden said...

Mead! Pick me! I'm currently reading a borrowed advanced copy of Racing in the Rain. My goal is to read all the books Garth will ever write, without ever spending a penny. A noble goal, right?

Dot Hearn said...

"death shrouded in legends" and in Alaska - I would love to read that book. I'll try for the free copy of what looks lile a most excellent book; then add it to my purchase list if I don't get the free one (though it may be at Elliot Bay books cuz I'll be in Seattle for a few days next week)!

(and I'll add a plug that I'll be having a book giveaway on March 29th for "Aries Rising"... www.thewritingvein.com)

Anonymous said...

Mead, the really, really important reason to choose me is because the central character’s name, Jenna, so closely resembles mine! And, because my soon to be released novel involves a woman who returns to her roots (in Ireland), in an effort to deal with her past. And, of course, because it will be released just in time for St. Patrick’s Day!
Gemma

Prince Gomolvilas said...

Mead, don't throw my name into the hat. I just wanted to say that I can't wait until you start making cat videos.

Susan Denning said...

I hope I win because I really like the title of this one and have still not found time to read THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN yet.

Pick me and I'll write you a super nice thank you note!

Chris 'Frog Queen' Davis said...

Oh, one can never have too many books!!! This would help me keep my money for prop building :D

Cheers!

Amber said...

me, me, me! i need good stories to keep me awake while nursing!

Stephen said...

I love the Raven image. NW native people belived that the raven was white. The birds took it upon themselves to clean up the grabage of the world... & they eventually turned black.

I want to read this book, I am on the new austerity program.
Choose me!