Monday, September 7, 2009

THE LACE READER: A GIVEAWAY AND REVIEW

GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED!
THE LACE READER

BY
BRUNONIA BARRY
BREAKING NEWS:
"Brunonia Barry, author of THE LACE READER, has won the 2009 Baccante literary prize and will receive it September 26 during the sixth annual International Women's Fiction Festival, located in Matera, Italy. The prize judges called the book "an amazing journey through the world of publishing, a debut that turned a self-published story into a massive global success. . . THE LACE READER is a richly evocative book guaranteed to sweep the reader along in a headlong rush of events, against the brilliantly-described backdrop of modern-day Salem, Massachusetts and with a fascinating cast of characters, guaranteed to keep readers captivated all the way to the shocking ending."
from READING GROUP CHOICES NEWSLETTER, September, 2009
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Every gift has a price...

Every piece of lace has a secret...

My name is Towner Whitney. No, that's not exactly true. My real first name is Sophya. Never believe me. I lie all the time...


This New York Times bestseller has drawn comparisons to Rebecca and The Thirteenth Tale --- a modern-day gothic story that follows Towner Whitney, a troubled woman who can divine the future. Towner hails from a family of Salem women who can read the future in patterns of lace, and who have guarded a history of secrets going back generations. But the disappearance of two women brings Towner home to Salem, and the truth about the death of her twin sister to light.
The Lace Reader is a mesmerizing tale that spirals into a world of secrets, confused identities, lies,
and half-truths in which the reader quickly finds it's nearly impossible to separate fact from fiction, but as Towner Whitney points out early on in the novel, "There are no accidents."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born and raised in Massachusetts, Brunonia Barry studied literature and creative writing at Green Mountain College in Vermont and at the University of New Hampshire. She has created Brain Teaser puzzles for Smart Games and lives in Salem, Massachusetts, with her husband and their beloved golden retriever, Byzantium.

MY REVIEW:

I had heard so much about this book but wasn't sure. Was it a book for me? When I read what Towner said in the beginning about never believing her and that she lies all the time, it intrigued me. I started it the weekend of Labor Day even with a zillion of other things going on, kept going back to it and finished it (and sheepishly admit that one night I literally didn't go to bed but just nodded off and then would wake and go back to reading). I wanted to figure out when Towner was telling the truth or not, and not sure I ever did.

Barry gives the story the perfect, eerie setting that lends itself to the mystery and odd things that happen. Of course, not only her description make the setting but putting it in Salem, Massachusetts seals the deal. The fact that the women in this family have a unique talent of being able to see the future in lace patterns is a secret that goes back for hundreds of years in their family. That part threw me at first but when I saw how each chapter started with a "lesson" in lace reading, it started to make sense.... FOR THE STORY, that is.

The characters are all well-developed and ones that I was curious to know more about. The lead character, Towner Whitney, tells most of the story and I liked her because she wasn't perfect. In fact, we learned that when she was 17 she had suffered from depression and would hallucinate about things. This made great sense to me considering her twin sister committed suicide and Towner got so bad that they had her enter a hospital for treatment and even shock therapy as well as for her own safety.

Towner's Aunt Eva is missing and so she returns to Salem but not without reservations. Her brother had called her and she felt it was her duty to come. She stays at her aunt's house while they try to find her. When things begin to go awry after Towner comes back, she begins to wonder if she is going through the same thing that effected her following her sister's suicide. Is she seeing Aunt Eva or a ghost? Is she imagining it...or, as I thought, telling lies about it?

Other characters that especially interested me were Aunt Eva who was somewhat quirky but dear at the same time as you learn from hearing others talk about her. Police Officer Rafferty also tells parts of the story and is helpful in investigating Eva's mysterious disappearance.

What part does the lace reading play in the story? Is Aunt Eva found or not? What is Towner telling in the story that is true and what is not true as she warns you about on the very first page of the book? So many questions, not many answers unless you read the book. I think this would make a good book club book as a lot of discussion can come from it. So I return to my first question in this review...was it a book for me? I think it I answer that it will tell you too much and I have already given you enough to be curious about. Read THE LACE READER and decide for yourself.
GIVEAWAY
Thanks to Michael and the good people
at Harper Collins Publishing, I have five
copies of THE LACE READER to give away!

RULES:

--U. S. RESIDENTS ONLY, SORRY
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--INCLUDE EMAIL IN YOUR COMMENT
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE
OR THEY WILL COUNT AS ONE!

HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHETHER YOU THINK THERE IS SUCH A THING AS LACE READING OR HAVE HEARD ABOUT IT BEFORE

+ ONE MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON IF YOU FOLLOW AND HOW (AND THANKS FOR PUTTING ME OVER 400...GOING FOR 500??)

+ONE MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK AND LEAVE A LINK

+ONE MORE ENTRY: GO TO HARPER COLLINS WEBSITE HERE AND LOOK AROUND AT THE LACE READER PAGE AS WELL AS EXPLORE NEW RELEASES OR UPCOMING BOOKS AND NAME A HARPER COLLINS BOOK THAT LOOKS INTERESTING TO YOU!
ALL ENTRIES ARE DUE BY
6PM, EST, SEPTEMBER 22

GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

126 comments:

Zia said...

I am a follower

ziaria(at)gmail(dot)com

Zia said...

I've never heard of Lace reading before, but it would not surprise to see it exist.

Zia said...

The future in fantasy art looks amazing on the Harper Collins site.

Mitzi H. said...

I'm a new follower

mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net

Mitzi H. said...

I've heard of lace reading...well, in a way. I've read that military secrets were put in lace patterns during the revolutionary war.

mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net

Mitzi H. said...

I didn't see to many books that would interest me. The cookbook by The Pioneer Woman looks good. I loved he stories of how she met her Marlboro Man. I don't read a lot of book on Womenomics, etc.

mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net

Anonymous said...

This book intruigues me...would love read it...thanks for the opportunity.

karen k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I don't know about lace reading, or coffee grounds reading, or any other kind, but I think people who do it and people who subscribe to it enjoy it, so what the heck! Please enter me!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Anonymous said...

I'm a follower (via yahoo)

karen k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I am a follower on the side Google thing and on Google Reader.

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Molly said...

I am definately a follower through blogger!

mollydawn1981(at)aol(dot)com

Jenny said...

I've never heard of it (other than this book) and have to say I don't believe it.

jennala at cfl . rr . com

Jenny said...

I am already a follower on google friend connect.

jennala at cfl . rr . com

Molly said...

I have blogged about this giveaway on my blog site.

http://buuklvr81.blogspot.com/2009/09/another-free-book-giveaway.html

mollydawn1981(at)aol(dot)com

Molly said...

I've explore Harper Collins website and I think that Bird in Hand by Christina Baker Kline looks really good to me.

Mollydawn1981(at)aol(dot)com

Molly said...

I have not heard of Lace Reading before and not really sure if I believe it would exist but if it does I would want to explore futher into it! :-)

Mollydawn1981(at)aol(dot)com

Debbie said...

I've never heard of lace reading. Although it sounds like a great read, I am skeptical that it exists.
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

I hadn't heard of lace reading before this book came out.

Amanda
fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

I follow through Friend Connect.

Amanda
fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

I also tweeted:

http://twitter.com/fitz12383/status/3818518253

Amanda
fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

I'm pretty excited about Harper Collins' new release, Bending Towards the Sun.

Amanda
fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

Debs Desk said...

I think that it is possible there are people who believe they can read lace, I am not sure I believe it. Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
Debbie
debdesk9(at)verizon.net

Debs Desk said...

I am looking forward to reading Bending Toward the Sun.
Thanks
Debbie
debdesk9(at)verizon.net

bermudaonion said...

I have the book, so there's no need to enter me. You've made me very curious!

DarcyO said...

I have never heard of lace reading before, but that doesn't mean it's not real -- will have to research that!

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

DarcyO said...

I follow with Google Friend Connect.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

traveler said...

Thanks for this lovely giveaway. I am fascinated with this novel and have never heard about Lace reading. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

DarcyO said...

Breathing Water looks good at the Harper Collins site.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

traveler said...

I am very interested in the novel, Bending Toward to Sun. It sounds like a wonderufl book and I am an avid reader of this type of story. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Ryan said...

I'm dying to read this book. When is first came out the author was on the Diane Rehm show for the entire hour and I fell in love with the book then. I always look for it when I go into a store but I never find it. I know she answered the question on the show but I can't remember if she said she made lacereading up or not. I think it's real if that counts!

fforgnayr@yahoo.com

Ryan said...

I'm already a follower with Google Friend Connect

fforgnayr@yahoo.com

Ryan said...

I just tweeted about the giveaway

@Ryan_GroffBookin' with Bingo Giveaway of the Lace Reader http://bit.ly/2M1NtH

http://twitter.com/Ryan_Groff

fforgnayr@yahoo.com

Ryan said...

I would like to read Anne Frank by Francine Prose

ccqdesigns said...

I have never heard of lace reading, but if you can read tea leaves why not lace.

rebecca dot cox at charter dot nete

ccqdesigns said...

I am a follower on google reader!

rebecca dot cox at charter dot net

ccqdesigns said...

http://twitter.com/ccqdesigns/status/3820243079
Here's my tweet!

rebecca dot cox at charter dot net

ccqdesigns said...

I would love to read "From Every End of the Earth" that looks at 13 different immigrant families from all over the world and their experiences in America today.

rebecca dot cox at charter dot net

Jo-Jo said...

I have never heard of lace readers before, but it would be fun to read about.
joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

Jo-Jo said...

I follow you through google.
joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

I have never heard of that before. But it wouldn't surprise me if it did. :)

lovestoread0708(at)yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I am a google follower.

lovestoread0708(at)yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Posted on my blog

http://trishasbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/09/giveaways-of-day-97.html

lovestoread0708(at)yahoo.com

Libby's Library said...

I've never heard of Lace Reading.

Thanks for the giveaway.

libneas[at]aol[dot]com

Libby's Library said...

I'm a Google Friend Connect follower.

Thanks

libneas[at]aol[dot]com

Chèli said...

I believe there are many ways to read, so why not with lace?

Cheli
Cheli's Shelves
cyderryATyahooDOTcom

Chèli said...

I follow you through google

Cheli
Cheli's Shelves
cyderryATyahooDOT com

Chèli said...

I have you on my blog

Cheli
Cheli's Shelves

Chèli said...

Harper Collins Upcoming Releases

Come Back, Como looks like a tearjerker but I loved the picture on the cover

Cheli
Cheli's Shelves

Stormi said...

Sounds like a interesting book. Please enter me into your contest. I am a follow of your blog and I went to harper collins and looked at their up and coming and I love the movie Some Like It Hot so I would love to read the book about the movie.

Thanks,
Stormi
ladystorm282001[at]yahoo[dot]com

KR said...

I've never heard of lace reading but I'm intriged.

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

tawndam said...

I've never heard of Lace reading b4... but I'm dying to figure it out!

tawndam said...

google follower

Sheila (bookjourney) said...

Wow! I have not heard of Lace reading before and I am not sure if there is such a thing or not.

I follow you and I have blogged about this giveaway - linked here to my name. :)

Thanks!

journey through books @ gmail dot com

DCMetroreader said...

I have never heard of lace reading, but who knows?

Thanks for the giveaway
Kimspam88(at)yahoo(dot)com

DCMetroreader said...

Follower

holdenj said...

I had not heard of Lace Reading until I heard of this book. It kind of reminded me of the idea of reading tea leaves and such.

JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I follow through google on the left side of your blog!

JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I went to the Harper Collins website. I actually had trouble navigating between some pages, but I did get to take a look at Under This Unbroken Sky, which looks good.

JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

rubynreba said...

I have not ever heard of lace reading!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I am a follower on Google
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

dag888888 said...

Haven't heard of lace reading so I'm really curious about this novel!

dag888888[at]yahoo[dot]com

dag888888 said...

Already follow you.

dag888888[at]yahoo[dot]com

Pam said...

I've never come across anyone who practices lace reading, but I'm sure it exists somewhere.

melacan at hotmail dot com

Pam said...

follower

melacan at hotmail dot com

Pam said...

I would really like to read Under this Unbroken Sky.

melacan at hotmail dot com

windycindy said...

Greetings! I have not heard of Lace Reading before; however, I do believe it is a possible ability!
I suppose kind of like tea leaves,
fortune tellers and tarot cards.
Thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

windycindy said...

I have been a follower of yours via
my Google Reader Page for awhile now!
Many thanks.....Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

windycindy said...

"Tweet!"
http://twitter.com/cmh512/status/3833077458.
Thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

windycindy said...

At the Harper Collins website, I think the book Bending Towards the Sun sounds fabulous.
Thanks very much.....Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Commchick said...

I don't know for sure if there is such a thing as lace reading, but it is very possible. I mean, I've heard of people reading the future in tea leaves, so nothing is too far fetched.

Sharon
belchers@jccal.org

Commchick said...

I follow you on Blogger.

Sharon
belchers@jccal.org

Commchick said...

The up coming book "Evidence of Murder" by Lisa Black sounds like one I would be interested in reading.

Sharon
belchers@jccal.org

Sue said...

I've never heard of lace reading, but I yes I could imagine it's existence. Thanks for sharing.

s.mickelson at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I had never heard of lace reading before this book came out. Sounds interesting, though!

jgbeads(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I am a follower :)

jgbeads(at)gmail(dot)com

Sarah Osborne said...

I have never heard of lace reading before. I have to admit, I don't believe in it, but I would love to read the book!

sarahosborne12(at)gmail(dot)com

Sarah Osborne said...

I'm a new google follower!

sarahosborne12(at)gmail(dot)com

Sarah Osborne said...

I looked through the Harper Collins website, and I'd be interested in reading "Ruby's Diary." I love a good weight loss story!

sarahosborne12(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I have heard of Lace Reading. My grandmother used to talk about it a bit because her Irish relatives believed in it. My grandmother didn't. I'm not sure what I think. Maybe this book will help me decide!

Aimala127@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I am a follower by way of blogger dashboard and google reader

Congratulations on over 400!

Aimala127@gmail.com

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

I have not heard of lace reading, but I believe it's possible just like I believe in the Tarot, etc.

Bingo, you have some really great contests! Thanks!

miller4plusmore(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

I am a loyal follower via Google friend connect!

miller4plusmore(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

I tweeted about the contest here:

http://twitter.com/thebookaddict/status/3881727548

miller4plusmore(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

At Harper Collins, new releases: Under this Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell. I have been hearing a lot about this book and really want to read it!

miller4plusmore(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Oregon Kimm said...

First I'm going to say that No, I don't believe that lace reading exists; however, it would be most interesting if it did.

oregonkimm(at)gmail(dot)com

Oregon Kimm said...

I am a follower via Google Connect

oregonkimm(at)gmail(dot)com

Oregon Kimm said...

I tweeted the giveaway.

http://twitter.com/OregonKimm

Oregon Kimm said...

Last post:

I wandered around the Harper Collins site and came across an interesting book about Anne Frank. It's written by Francine Prose

oregonkimm(at)gmail(dot)com

Glenn said...

Haven't heard of lace reading before and don't know enough about it to state yet whether I believe it exists or not. Thanks for the giveaway.

glenn_pessano AT yahoo DOT com

Debbie F said...

I have never heard of Lace reading before.

dcf_beth at verizon dot net

Debbie F said...

I am a follower - Google Friends and google reader

dcf_beth at verizon dot net

CherylS22 said...

This books looks so interesting. I have never heard of lace reading before, but I guess anything is possible.
Thanks ~ megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

CherylS22 said...

I'm a GFC follower
megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

CherylS22 said...

I'd like to read "Drawn in Blood"
by Andrea Kane
megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

Beth (BBRB) said...

I've never heard of lace reading before. It's really interesting!

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

Beth (BBRB) said...

I'm a Blogger follower.

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

Beth (BBRB) said...

Chocolate, Please looks fun!

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

catss99 said...

I've heard of a lace reader before but don't really know much about it!
amanda
catss99@yahoo.com

catss99 said...

I follow through blogger
amanda
catss99@yahoo.com

janetfaye said...

I have never heard of Lace Reading but it sounds very interesting.

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

I follow with Google Friend - janetfaye

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

Tweet:
http://twitter.com/Janetfaye/status/3959843712

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

I would like to read Unfinished BusinessBy James Van Praagh.

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

Heather said...

I don't think lace reading really exists.

chapman.hm at gmail dot com

Heather said...

There weren't a ton of books that grabbed me, but I think "The Hidden Life of Deer" looks pretty good.

Beth said...

Please enter me. Thanks for the chance. I have never heard of lace reading. But I am sure that someone, somewhere reads lace.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Jaime said...

I've never heard of a Lace Reader
copperllama at yahoo.com

Jaime said...

I am a follower

Gaby317 said...

I haven't heard of Lace Reading - it sounds like a new concept/invention.

gaby317nyc at gmail dot com

Gaby317 said...

i'm an old follower

gaby317nyc at gmail dot com

Gaby317 said...

On the Harper Collins website, I found these books that I'd recently read and loved:

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba

Under This Unbroken Sky by Shandy Mitchell

I'd like to read American On Purpose by Craig Ferguson

gaby317nyc at gmail dot com

Misusedinnocence said...

I've never heard of Lace reading before but there's a lot of things I don't know about that are true.

misusedinnocence@aol.com

Misusedinnocence said...

I follow on blogger. :)

misusedinnocence@aol.com

Gabby-Lily Raines said...

I haven't heard of lace reading before, but it does sound interesting.

Wouldn't surprise me there are lace readers, considering tea reading and all.

shadowlord28 at gmail dot com

Renee G said...

Before this book, I had never heard of the term lace reader.

rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

Karin said...

No, I've never heard of lace reading. It sounds weird, but interesting..... I personally don't believe anyone could foresee the future by looking at lace patterns though~~

karin56381 (at) gmail.com

Shawna L. said...

Shawna Lewis
weloveourdogs@juno.com

You know I have NEVER heard of this before but I am interested now!!!

Shawna L. said...

Shawna Lewis
weloveourdogs@jun.com

I am a follower of your blog & I follow you on Twitter

Shawna L. said...

Shawna Lewis
weloveourdogs@juno.com



I twetted http://twitter.com/theblindcupid/status/4138570477

Shawna L. said...

Shawna Lewis
weloveourdogs@juno.com

I looked around & saw a book called Come back Como it looks wonderful!!

Esme said...

I have never heard of a Lace Reader.

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com

Esme said...

I follow.

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com

Esme said...

Chocolate Please

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com

Nancye said...

I had never heard of lace reading before. It sounds interesting.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Followed via Blogger, Reader, & Google

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Tweet! Tweet!

http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/4297870986

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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