Wednesday, April 14, 2010

I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD

BY PETER NELSON

ABOUT THE BOOK:

For Paul Gustavson, a hack writer for the wildly popular For Morons series, life is a succession of obstacles. His wife has left him, his father has suffered a debilitating stroke, his girlfriend is dating another man, he has impotency issues, and his overachieving brother invested his parents' money in stocks that tanked. Still, Paul has his friends at Bay State bar, a steady line of cocktails, and a new pair of running shoes (he’s promised himself to get in shape). And then there’s Stella, the one constant in his life, who gives him sage advice, doesn’t judge him, and gives him unconditional love. However, Stella won’t accompany Paul into his favorite dive bar. "I'll roll on dead carp, I'll even eat cat turds, but that place grosses me out." Stella, you see, is Paul's aging Lab-shepherd mix, and she knows Paul better than he knows himself. In I Thought You Were Dead, author Pete Nelson delivers a novel that is all at once heartwarming, heartbreaking, and heart-wrenchingly funny. Most of all, it’s a story that proves that when a good dog is by your side—especially one with whom you can have an engaging conversation—life can be full of surprises.
Read and excerpt HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Pete Nelson is the author of several books, including
Left for Dead. He is also a singer-songwriter with a select but devoted following. He is not, however, the Pete Nelson who writes books about tree houses, although he has nothing against them. He lives in Westchester County, New York.

REVIEW:

I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD, the new novel by Pete Nelson, is the somewhat quirky story of Paul Gustavson who is a freelance writer, currently writing the book Nature for Morons, part of the outrageously popular Morons series. However, things aren’t going really well for Paul right now. His wife has left him, and his girlfriend is dating another man at the same time she is dating Paul. On top of that, he suddenly learns that his father has just had a stroke and Paul will have to go home to see what all is going on with his Dad.

The one positive thing in Paul’s life is Stella; his clever, sensible and faithful companion who happens to be an aged German Shepherd/yellow Lab mix. Although Stella needs help climbing the stairs and her health is declining, at least she is someone Paul can depend on and talk to. The odd thing, although many dog lovers speak to their dogs, is that Stella is one that answers back. I found it rather disconcerting at first because the story makes it out to be a normal thing even if only Paul can hear her. However, as the book went on, Stella’s part is so well written that she becomes a successfully well developed and believable character. It is this peculiar relationship that makes Paul seem convincing and will enable readers to root for him.

So when Paul’s father is hospitalized, Paul must return home, hoping to come to some kind of understanding at long last with his father. Forced to confront his own misery, Paul eventually finds new life through a reflective evaluation of his own life, by re-evaluating middle age, the meaning of family and companionship, human or canine. He realizes his life is a wreck and does everything he can to right that and in doing so, actually winds up better than he was and more than he could have hoped for. Stella is his constant and the one who talks him through all of this. I believe the title, that literally is taken from what Stella says to Paul when he returns home each day because she thinks he was dead somewhere and his return each day, confirms her worst fear was unfounded. The final part that Stella plays in the story is an important and poignant one that dog lovers and non-dog lovers will all appreciate.

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO BRITTANY AND GOOD
PEOPLE AT ALGONQUIN PRESS,
I HAVE 3 COPIES OF THIS EXCITING

BOOK TO GIVE AWAY. HERE IS WHAT
YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN A COPY!



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GIVEAWAY ENDS
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MAY 1!


GOOD LUCK

51 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am a email subscriber.
debp
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

bermudaonion said...

I'm so glad to see this is good - from the title, I was afraid it would have a sad ending. No need to enter me.

Margie said...

Facebook fan
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Follower via GFC
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

I'm a sucker for good dog stories, so I think I would really enjoy this one. I loved The Art of Racing in the Rain, which also gave a voice to the dog. Thanks for the great giveaways!
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Colleen Turner said...

This sound so cute! Thank you for mentioning in your review that the dog talks back, because I would have found that disconcerting as well if I just stumbled upon it. Quirky, interesting topic.
Thanks,
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I am a facebook fan!
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I follow via email.
candc320@gmail.com

StephTheBookworm said...

I'm a Google friend follower

StephTheBookworm said...

I like that this book features a dog in the story and on the cover! I'm an animal lover.

stephaniet117 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I like the fact that he uses a dog in the book as the characters constant. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

traveler said...

I am an e-mail subscriber. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I am captivated with this wonderful story. The relationships and the dogs importance was fsacinating to learn about. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Benita said...

I'm an email subscriber.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

The title alone draws me in and makes me want to read this book.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Sandra K321 said...

I subscribe via google friend.
seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

Sandra K321 said...

How can I not want to read a book that has a big yellow lab as one of the main characters? Especially one that talks, even if only here master hears her.
seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

Linda Kish said...

I love the description of Paul's life. Sounds like he lives under a dark cloud.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

FB fan

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

Sounds perfect for my What an Animal Challenge; thanks

bibliophilebythesea AT gmail DOT com

Debbie said...

GFC follower.
fourkidsrgreat@gmail(dot)com

Debbie said...

As a middle aged woman, I like stories about middle-aged people coping with real life issues.
fourkidsrgreat@gmail(dot)com

Sweet Vernal Zephyr said...

I love that this story involves deep conversations with your dog, as I have had many "ah ha" moments after talking things out with my best freind Sammie the collie mix.

mdwartistry at yahoo dot com

Misusedinnocence said...

I follow on blogger/gfc.

misusedinnocence@aol.com

Misusedinnocence said...

I love that he writes a "For Morons series" that piqued my interest immediately.

misusedinnocence@aol.com

Hot Off the Shelves said...

I love that he can hear his dog talking back to him...I think any animal lover will be able to understand and love this book. I have three cats and have been known to hold "conversations" with them as they meow and look sideways at me like I'm crazy. Please enter me.

jasmyn9[at]hotmail[dot]com

Hot Off the Shelves said...

I follow on goggle/blogger.

jasmyn9[at]hotmail[dot]com

Hot Off the Shelves said...

I posted a link on my blog here:

http://jasmynninestuff.blogspot.com/2010/04/giveaway-link-i-thought-you-were-dead.html

jasmyn9[at]hotmail[dot]com

bison61 said...

Paul has an interesting life-a girlfriend he shares, his sick father and a dog that speaks back!

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Pamela Keener said...

OMG I am a sucker for stories with dogs or cats on the cover. This book looks amazing.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I follow via Google reader.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I follow via e-mail.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I am a fan via Facebook.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Teresa said...

I think its cool that his dog is his best friend in the book
mstlee2000 @ hotmail.com

holdenj said...

I am a google friend connect follower.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I just think the whole play on he works for the "For Morons" series (vs. For Dummies!) Sounds very quirky.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I'm not sure if this is the best book I've ever read, but it is definitely the best book I've ever written.

Susan said...

Dive bar, cocktails, new shoes .... Oh, wait - this is a book about someone else.

I think I Thought You Were Dead would be a great read since allof the things Paul i dealing with I either can relate to or know someone who has had something similair in their life.

susan56bft at gmail dot com

Susan said...

Bookin' with Bingo follower via Networked Blogs
id:Susan Claus

susan56bft at gmail dot com

Susan said...

Bookin' with Bingo follower via Google

susan56bft at gmail dot com

Susan said...

Bookin' with Bingo email subscriber

susan56bft at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I like the fact the story as a dog in it. I love animals!

chirth7@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I follow 2 ways, FOLLOW ON GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT and ON FACEBOOK WITH NETWORK

cirth7@yahoo.com

Mary (Bookfan) said...

I blogged in my sidebar:
http://bookfan-mary.blogspot.com

meah56 at gmail dot com

Mary (Bookfan) said...

"re-evaluating middle age, the meaning of family" etc. caught my attention. Sounds like an entertaining novel.
meah56 at gmail dot com

Mary (Bookfan) said...

I'm a google friend connect follower

meah56 at gmail dot com

dag888888 said...

Google follower!

dag888888[at]yahoo[dot]com

dag888888 said...

Good old faithful Stella makes me want to read this book! The title grabbed me, too!

dag888888[at]yahoo[dot]com

Aik said...

I tweeted:

http://twitter.com/aikchien/status/12697609586

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Aik said...

I subscribed via Google reader.

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Aik said...

After reading your review, I'm sure that I will love this book!

aikychien at yahoo dot com

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