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Friday, September 2, 2011

Lucky Me! Thanks to Jen: http://www.thehopefullibrarian.blogspot.com

I want to thank Jennifer Moore of http://www.thehopefullibrarian.blogspot.com/ for her very generous gifts to me after having won her giveaway a couple of weeks ago. Jen allowed me to choose books in exchange for my gift certificate, and I couldn't have been more delighted.

Thank you so much, Jenn. I hope this prompts everyone to visit your very special blog.

Here are the books you sent me:



Published by: Quirk Books
Author: Ransom Riggs

*Blogger's Note: My maiden name is Riggs~I wonder if there's any relation. The weirdness of this book gives me pause to think, "Yes!"

The Dame's Eye View:

This is a very strange book which may be in part why it's so famous right now. The title is ominous enough, but to paste the picture of a creepy old child who's levitating in a flapper outfit on the cover, just closes the deal on a "have to figure this one out" book.

When I was in my early 20's, my fresh-faced attorney husband and I lived in Flushing, NY (not the most glamorous place but good enough for "baby and me" and Neil Diamond songs). What I mean to say is, I know how it is riding those trains in and out of the City, day in and day out...you like to stand out a little bit once in a while. Not just bow to the rat in the rat race. This is THE book to carry around so you can stick out like a sore thumb.

People will think you're strange, or intellectual, or a literati, or maybe a psychologist/psychiatrist, or maybe they'll recognize the book and want to mug you for it.

Whatever the case may be, this is a rare and wondrous treasure of a book.

In my hands it feels and looks like a Barnum & Bailey-like tome. It's weighty and peculiar. The cover, end piece, inside cover papers and plethora of oddly familiar pictures of people and scenes make this book one for my library shelves...forever.

I can't wait to read and review it! It feels like I should know these people pictured here... Strange



Published by: Penguin Young Readers Group
Pages: 432
Series Book #1

The Dame's Take:

May I simply say that this book publisher has left no stone unturned to bring us a gorgeous and collectible book.

The cover! Of course, the cover; we fall for it every time, but we need the beautiful ones because they do set the tone and bring us into the magic of the book. This cover is extraordinary. Scrolls of beautiful lettering seems burnished and twined with thorny roses...telling us part of the mystery. The face of a young girl is tattooed with a golden lily.

From front cover, to side/edge, to back this is a beautiful book.The book itself, without the cover, is made of black paper cover and has gilded letters and scrolling on the side/edge.

The only thing that's disappointing is the lesser quality of paper and book fabric they've used for "Bloodlines." I wonder if this has been because of an assumption that only teens or young adults will collect the books?

Not so, and not an acceptable reason, anyway...perhaps something to reconsider in future books.

Richelle Mead has made a good name for herself, and has a great following with her "Vampire Academy" series. She deserves the best! And so do her esteemed readers/collectors, I should think.

I'm not complainin', though. Listen to me, I'm happy as can be with my two new books.

Thanks again, Jennifer!

Deborah/TheBookishDame

2 comments:

Alex

I haven't read Bloodlines, but I have read Miss Peregrine's School for Pecular Children. I thought it was pretty good - but weird. Hope you enjoy it.

bermudaonion

What a great win! I think Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children looks interesting.

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