Buy a Friend a Book Week Giveaway
So, like I was saying yesterday, October 1st-7th is Buy a Friend a Book Week again, and I'd like to participate this time around. I decided I'm going to keep the same theme I used last time I participated, and give away a book that I think deserves to be more well-known. This time, I picked A Fine and Private Place by Peter Beagle. You can read my post about it here.
To be entered, leave me a comment saying which book or books you think deserve more attention than they get. You have until October 7. The winner will be announced the following day. The giveaway is open to participants anywhere in the world. Good luck!
Other giveaways:
Chris
Dewey
Care
tanabata
Madeleine
Carl
Melanie
Alice
Laura
Let me know about yours!
The giveaway is now closed. Thanks to everyone who entered.
The only book that leaps immediately to mind is nonfiction: Mountains Beyond Mountains. It's about an amazing doctor who shows how one person CAN make a difference. It's humbling. I haven't reviewed it on my blog (pre-blogging days) but I've said plenty abt the author: Tracy Kidder.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Mary Pearson's The Adoration of Jenna Fox, and I think that book deserves a lot of attention because it touches upon some major these of parenting and growing up.
ReplyDeleteI would love to be entered into this contest. I put it on my TBR list since you posted your review. I just haven't gotten a copy yet to read it. If I win, I would have no excuse! LOL
I would love to be entered. A book I think deserves more attention is Rash by Pete Hautman. I loved, loved, loved this book. And yet I haven't seen it get much attention in the bloggy world.
ReplyDeleteCathryn Valente's Orphan's Tale books (two in all, though the first more than the second) seem to be relatively unknown. They're good dark fairytale fantasy, quite unique in the genera, and I think they should get more attention.
ReplyDeleteYour review convinced me I should read that book (the only one of Beagle's I've read is The Last Unicorn), so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
Thanks everyone. Your names are in. I'd heard of The Adoration of Jenna Fox and of The Orphan Tales, but not of the other two. They all sound excellent!
ReplyDeleteA book that I think deserves more attention is "Mascot" by Mark Kurzem. It's a memoir, but it's also a compelling and controversial story about a Jewish boy who became a mascot for the Nazi S.S. I'm not sure how well-known it is, but I had to get our library to special order it because they had never heard of it.
ReplyDeleteHow bout anything by Neil Gaiman? I really feel like his works are neglected on the blogosphere
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In seriousness, how about The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks? I totally loved this book, but have not seen much buzz on other book blogs.
Hell yeah I want to be entered! lol...I've had this on the top of my wishlist ever since you reviewed it. It sounds amazing. My answer may be a bit predictable, but I wish Orson Scott Card was recognized more outside of his Ender series. He's written so many amazing books and as a whole I think his Homecoming series and Alvin Maker series is even better than the Ender books.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Chris that Card should get more attention for his books outside of the Enderverse. That was one of my first thoughts when I read the post.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...that is a good question. I certainly think the books Mary Modern by Camille DeAngelis and Season of the Witch by Natasha Mostert, both books that I reviewed last year are very, very good and it is rare that I see anyone reading them or talking about them and often when I check at bookstores they are not on the shelves. I understand that lesser known authors have this happen but I feel people are missing out on really fantastic reads because these books had smaller print runs and weren't widely promoted.
ReplyDeleteAs far as classics go, Gaston Leroux is widely known for Phantom of the Opera, but his detective stories, The Mystery of the Yellow Room and The Perfume of the Lady in Black are fantastic books. Yellow Room is credited as the first closed room mystery and both are entertaining, worthwhile reads.
City of Tiny Lights by Patrick Neate is a book that I can't get out of my mind. Similar to Zadie Smith's White Teeth in ambiance (the whole multicultural, urban London thing), but also very funny, noir-ish, and relevant to current international politics.
ReplyDeleteMost definitely I Dreamed of Africa by Kuki Gallmann, one of the most beautiful books I have ever read.
ReplyDeleteAlso Stuart Hill's Icemark series, which hasn't seemed to have reached an adult audience, my current favourite author Alison Croggon's Pellinor series and the gloriously unusual Sun Dog by Monique Roffey.
Too many?! ;)
Thanks everyone! Keep those recommendations coming! No such thing as too many :P
ReplyDeleteKim, you're right...Neil Gaiman is so unfairly ignored :P I remember your review of The Disreputable History. It does sound like a great book.
Chris and Rue, it really sounds like I should read the Alvin Maker books!
Carl, I hadn't heard of those Gaston Leroux mysteries before. Thanks for bringing them to my attention! And you're right, sometimes we miss out on some excellent books simply because there wasn't enough promotion.
I would like to enter and be surprised by an author who does not make the NY Bestseller list, books I often do not read, there are exceptions so.
ReplyDeleteI also have entered your name as having a giveaway on my BAFAB
I am giving away 1 book also
One of my absolute favorite books is "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt. While I have heard mention of it from time to time, I think it deserves to be MUCH more popular than I believe it is.
ReplyDeletethanks for such a great giveaway - I actually have been wanting to read this book for a little while now!
I just saw over at Chris' that you have to wait for The Graveyard Book too; I'm very impatient for my order to come in, but I'm glad you and I get to read it together!
ReplyDeletePlease add mine to the list if you will, I'm giving away The Graveyard Book and the contest ends Friday night! :)
ReplyDeleteAn author who should get more attention is Laura Wiess. Both her books (Such A Pretty Girl and Leftovers) are absolutely fabulous. They don't touch easy subjects, and yet they are so irresistibly written.
ReplyDeleteMadeleine, I added you to the list. Thanks for linking to mine as well.
ReplyDeleteheatherlo: I mooched The Secret History not too long ago. I hope to get to it next year!
Eva: I'm glad too! I wonder if all these delayed were caused because the stores underestimated how sought after this book would be as soon as it was released. If so, I'm happy for Neil, but I want my book :P
Carl: Done! Awesome giveaway :D
Alessandra: I'm not familiar with the author but it sounds like I should be!
Perhaps I'll suggest an author I think doesn't get enough recognition as a writer of romantic gothic stories similar to Barbara Michaels or the more current Carol Goodman. It's Susanna Kearsley, who has a new book out this year which is based in Scottish history.
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, don't enter me in the contest as I have a copy of this fantastic Peter Beagle book already. I'm also giving away a book, a new Canadian novel about Newfoundland and fairies and much more, entitled Blasted
Oh please enter me in the giveaway Nymeth! I really enjoyed your review so would love to read the book.
ReplyDeleteAs far as books that don't get enough attention - I'm going to go with a historical mystery series I really enjoy - Her detective Murdoch series is set in turn of the century Canada. Very atmospheric and with a likable detective.
Rob Thurman's urban fantasy series should get more attention. They're fast-paced, have sensical plots, and a wonderfully snarky narrator. It's everything UF fans love but they seem to get ignored.
ReplyDeleteMelanie: I'm glad to hear you're also a fan of this novel! And thank you so much for your recommendations. You said Scottish history, so how can I resist?
ReplyDeleteIliana, you're in! And atmospheric historical mysteries...it sounds great!
Livinia, I'm a fan of urban fantasy and I hadn't heard of that author. Thanks for mentioning him!
Robin Hobb's various fantasy series such as the Farseer trilogy. Occasionally I see a review of one her books on a book blog, but not often. I think she's one of the best fantasy writers around and just can't understand why I don't read about her everywhere.
ReplyDeleteI really wish more people would read Where Is the Mango Princess? by Cathy Crimmins. Because she's a writer, Crimmins's memoir of her husband's brain injury is better written than most brain injury memoirs I've encountered. Her talent allows her to describe this part of her life with a perfect proportion of horror, frustration, humor and hope.
ReplyDeleteHi Nymeth, I couldn't resist participating in your BAFAB having read your review of the book.
ReplyDeleteOne book that comes to mind is Regatta
Oh boy. I'm struggling with the books that need more attention. There are lots, I'm sure, but the book blogging crowd is very aware of tons of books.
ReplyDeleteThe best I can do is the short stories of Roald Dahl. I didn't realize until undergrad that Roald Dahl wrote dozens of stories for adults.
If you'd asked this a few months ago I might have said Natsuo Kirino, but I'm glad to see several people reading 'Out' by her this year.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jessica that the book blogging community is pretty in touch with a wide variety of books. It's hard to think of something that I haven't seen mentioned at least somewhere.
One that I really loved when I read it was Clara Callan by Richard Wright. A Canadian author, and it won both the Giller Prize and the Governor General's Award. So it's not unknown but Canadian books aren't always easily available elsewhere. Another Canadian one that I really enjoyed was Deafening by Frances Itani.
Hmmmm....maybe "The Good Thief" by Hannah Tinti. It was really a great little book, and I haven't seem too much about it.
ReplyDeleteThe somewhat obscure author that I push on people more than any other is probably R M Ballantyne...or John Buchan...or maybe G.A. Henty - well it's one of those three writers, I'm pretty sure...
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone. Lots of names that are new to me! This was a dangerous question, and it's going to affect the length of my wishlist considerably :P
ReplyDeleteJessica, I completely agree about Dahl's short stories for adults! They are amazing, and you don't heard much about them at all.
I'd put my name down but I already own it!!! so - I'm here to give a cheer for you doing the giveaway, thanks, Nymeth!!
ReplyDeleteToday I'm a little sad that there are people in the world who don't know about P.C. Wren. P.C. Wren charms me. People are deprived who live without having read Beau Geste.
ReplyDeleteThe first things that come to mind are all children's books. For example, Elizabeth Enright's Melendy books don't seem to be very well known, but I think they could still be popular today if they were.
ReplyDeleteHow about The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins? Thanks for having the giveaway.
ReplyDeletedoot65{at}comcast[dot]net
Elizabeth
Please, oh please enter me! Thanx.
ReplyDeleteYou're all in. Except Susan, of course :P
ReplyDeleteYellowknife, by Steve Zipp. It blew me away.
ReplyDeletePhew I just made this, I want this book so badly!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many books out there that do not get the recognition they deserve. It's so hard to pick just one! Today I pick both Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and Maus by Art Spiegelman. They are doing well in the blogging world at the moment, but not as well with people I know outside in the wide world. Both are very important books and I have both for my mum when I jnext visit her for her birthday.
Rash by Pete Hautman. i say this one needs more attention.
ReplyDeletei would love to be entered.thanks.
You're all in. Last day to enter - the winner will be announced tomorrow!
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