UNSAID: A GUEST REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

 GIVEAWAY ENDED
UNSAID

BY NEAL ABRAMSON

ABOUT THE BOOK:

UNSAID is told from the perspective of Helena Colden, a veterinarian who has just died of breast cancer. Helena is forced to witness the rapid emotional deterioration of her husband David. With Helena's passing, David, a successful Manhattan attorney, loses the only connection that made his life full. He tries to carry on the life that Helena had created for them, but he is too grief-stricken, too angry, and too quickly reabsorbed into the demands of his career. Helena's animals likewise struggle with the loss of their understanding and compassionate human companion. Because of Helena, David becomes involved in a court case to save the life of a chimpanzee that may hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of animals consciousness. Through this case all the threads of Helena's life entwine and explode - unexpectedly, painfully, beautifully.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Neil Abramson is a partner in a Manhattan law firm, and his wife is a veterinarian. Abramson is also a past board member of the Animal Legal Defense Fund, an award recipient from the ASPCA for his legal work on behalf of animals, and a founding member of the New York City Bar Association Committee on Legal Issues Relating to Animals.

Audio and Video

• View the Video

PRAISE FOR UNSAID:

UNSAID will really make you think about the relationship between people and animals. I was not able to put it down, and I read parts of it twice.

—Dr. Temple Grandin, author of Animals in Translation and Animals Make Us Human

Neil Abramson has written a powerful and imaginative novel. His insights into the animal kingdom touched my heart. My book club will love it.

—Meredith Brokaw, creator and co-author of the Penny Whistle books and Big Sky Cooking

Enjoyed it thoroughly.

—Jeffrey Masson, author of When Elephants Weep

A poignant read on the meaning of life and its priorities—how death and despair can lead to renewal and life, but only if one realizes the interconnectedness of all creatures.

—Irene Pepperberg, author of Alex and Me

A remarkable book.

—Susan Wilson, author of One Good Dog and The Fortune Teller’s Daughter

A suspenseful, heart-throbbing novel exploring the big questions of life, death, sentience, animal rights, compassion, righteous indignation, and what it is all about and why. The surprise twists are like an emotional roller coaster. Read it, weep, grab your chair, and gain insights into the big why!

—Allen Schoen, DVM, author of Kindred Spirits

UNSAID says it all in a lyrical story about humanity’s journey from betrayal to reconciliation with our animal kin. A beautiful, wrenching testimony.

—G.A. Bradshaw, director & founder, The Kerulos Center, and author of Elephants on the Edge

A remarkable book, uncanny in that its narrator is recently deceased, but vivid in its development of believable and complex characters, both human and nonhuman.

—Susan J. Armstrong, Professor Emerita Humboldt State University and co-editor, The Animal Ethics Reader

…This is a book for animal lovers and those who live with animal lovers; for those who love a good courtroom drama and for cynics who imagine all lawyers to be soulless; and for those interested in animal ethics who wonder if there are more communication possibilities to be developed with higher primates. Unforgettable!

—Darwin Ellis, Books on the Common – Ridgefield, CT

GUEST REVIEW:

If I could only use only one word to describe this novel -- I would scream because one word is not enough to describe what needs to be said about Unsaid. Here is my best choice of one word - Brilliant!

This novel first of all has a rich group of characters. They are believable and they all have flaws. Isn't that what being human is all about? Neil Abramson's created characters that I felt were setting right beside me. Some of the characters I loved and others I hated with a passion. Maybe "hated" is a bit to strong of a word -- OK -- I disliked with a passion.

I love the way the plot flowed and way Neil Abramson allowed Helena from the other side to not interact with those she left behind, but still allowed her views to come through in the text of this rich novel. Brilliantly executed!

I couldn't help but think about all the pets that I grew up with in my life while reading this novel and the impact they had on me. Anyone that reads this novel will come away with a greater respect for animals. 

Neil Abramson dishes out a great deal of shame and guilt and more than enough of forgiveness and hope. I turned the last page and closed the book -- my eyes were full of tears; however, I felt that there was indeed hope and I felt at peace knowing that we are interconnected with all creatures.

I do not give many books a 5 out of 5 rating, but without any reservation Neil Abramson deserves a 5 rating on his novel. Read this amazing novel and I'm sure you will agree that this novel deserves the highest rating.

Who should read this novel?

If you ever owned a pet ...
If you ever wished you owned a pet ...
If you never wanted a pet ...
If you ever went to a zoo ...
If you ever helped an animal ...
Then this book is must read. That should include everyone.

Hint: You really need to read this book! Enough said ... enter Bingo's contest and you may win a copy and if you don't win -- beg, buy, or borrow -- one way or another get it and read it.

Thanks so much for a beautiful review once again by Steve Capell. This is a very special book and when I first saw it, I knew that Steve would like it and he would do an amazing job on the review and well, the proof is above in his eloquently written, spot on review. I hope that you all enjoyed it and remember that Steve and his lovely wife currently live in the Kansas City metro area and you can read more by Steve by visiting his own blog, TRUE MEDIA SOLUTIONS, that you can find HERE.  

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO SARAH AND THE GOOD FOLKS

AT HACHETTE BOOK GROUP, I HAVE TWO

COPIES OF THIS AMAZING BOOK TO GIVE

AWAY TO TWO LUCKY WINNERS

    
--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY

--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS IN COMMENT
--ALL ENTRIES/COMMENTS MUST BE
SEPARATE IN ORDER TO COUNT
AS MORE THAN ONE ENTRY

HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT UNSAID ABOVE THAT WOULD MAKE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK

 

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE A LINK I CAN FOLLOW IN THE ENTRY

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON A FAVORITE ANIMAL BOOK OR MOVIE THAT YOU LIKE

+1 MORE ENTRY: GO TO NEAL ABRAMSON'S WEBSITE HERE. THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING SITE SO AFTER CHECKING IT OUT, COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING THERE

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, AUGUST 30
  GOOD LUCK!