Monday, May 17, 2010

calling all readers...

yes, that means you! I have had the opportunity to read and now review a new book. The best part of this deal is that I get to give one away to one of my friends, anyone who stops by my blog and leaves a comment(see details below). YEAH, I love give aways. I was contacted by Anne, from The Book Report Network in New York. As many of you know, I love to read and who doesn't love a free book?

The book that was mailed to me was Whiter than Snow by Sandra Dallas . Sandra Dallas is also the author(among many other novels) of the Persian Pickle Club, a book that I really loved reading!

Whiter Than Snow, Sandra’s ninth novel,opens in 1920 on a spring afternoon in Swandyke,a small town near Colorado’s Tenmile Range. Just moments after four o’clock, a large split of snow separates from Jubilee Mountain high above the tiny hamlet and hurtles down the rocky slope, sweeping up everything in its path including nine young children who are walking home from school. But only four children survive. Whiter Than Snow takes you into the lives of each of these families. Ultimately, each story serves as an allegory to the greater theme of the novel by echoing that fate, chance, and perhaps even divine providence, are all woven into the fabric of everyday life. And it’s through each character’s defining moment in his or her past that the reader understands how each child has become its parent’s purpose for living. In the end, it’s a novel of forgiveness, redemption, survival, faith, and family.

I really enjoyed this book. When I finished it late last night, I really felt like I knew each character. I may not have related to each character or their situation personally but I came away with a better understanding of different people and where they have come from. This book covers all walks of life. Sandra Dallas dedicated a chapter to each character & that is what allowed me to really feel like I knew each character. Whiter than Snow made me really grateful to have been born when I was. Things have changed alot since 1920 and while I know the world is not perfect, I really do think we have come a long way since the early 1900's. I felt myself cheering on those characters who went out of their way to treat people with kindness even when society treated them different.
A powerful example of that kindness is on page 282 in Whiter Than Snow.

It reads " The book became a classic among folks who lived in mining towns along the spine of the Rocky Mountains, and there was not a house in Swandyke that didn't have a copy, most of them autographed by the author, back when she lived there. After she moved away, people in the town remembered her as the mine manager's wife, the woman who had opened her house to the town on the day of the April avalanche, who had asked that the bodies of the dead children be laid out in her home, who had taken in the prostitute mother and let her sleep in Grace's own bed".


That is how I want to be remembered...remembered as someone who was kind to everyone!

Another strong thread throughout Whiter Than Snow is that people can change. Hearts can be softened, friendships and families can be reunited even when all hope is thought to be lost. It may not be easy but it is definitely possible.

I thought I would rate this book the way I rate books over on Goodreads.
I give this book a 4...meaning I really liked it.

To be entered in the give away, please tell me what your favorite book of all time is. I will have my boys draw a winner in a few days, lets say on Thursday.

I want to thank Anne for the book and the opportunity to read and review it. What a treat.

Happy Reading.

24 comments:

Julie@My5monkeys said...

My favorite book has been harry Potter and Twilight saga--brought me back to the YA books and thats a good thing.

Debby said...

This book sound great and I would love to read it over the summer (since I won't be working. Do I have to pick ONE favorite? I read books for different reasons, so they are each my favorite at that particular time. I still love the Twilight books (I'm currently reading Eclipse again) and The Hunger Games Trilogy (waiting anxiously for book 3). Thanks, Raimi!

Brenda Johnston said...

The Mark of the Lion series (it's 3 books) by Francine Rivers. Hands down, it's my favorite!!

Lisa said...

Oh Raimi! I am totally putting this book on my Goodreads as a "to read" item! It sounds amazing and a great book for my book club to read!

My all time favorite book is the "The Outlander Series" by Diana Gabaldon. This is the series that introduced me to "Jamie Fraser" and made me fall in love with a fictional character! LOL!

Thanks for the book reco! If I win, I will definitely suggest this book to my book club. Heck! I'll probably suggest it anyway! :-)

Anonymous said...

Pick me! Pick me! I loved The Persian Pickle Club and would love a chance to read a new Sandra Dallas book. How lucky are you? You sure have had a fun and lucky streak lately! My favorite book of all? Has to be anything by David Baldacci---he always captivates me, but I loved The Winner!
~Amber

Jan said...

I loved Persian Pickle club, so whiter than snow sounds great. I just finished The Help by Kathryn Stockett, so I guess that is my favorite right now. It was a such a touching book about civil rights.

Stephanie said...

This sounds like a good book! I have many favorites too, but I just LOVED Peter and the Starcatcher series. And, I really liked the Women of Genesis series.

Raejean said...

I read the Persian Pickle Club too last year and really liked it. My favorite book of all time is a tough one - I like a lot of the YA books my kids read. I've especially enjoyed the Harry Potter series, Dragon Rider and The Thief Lord.

Lisa said...

Hi,
I'd love to read, even if I don't win, maybe I can borrow it :~)
My favorite would have to be the Twilight saga. I've never been a reader and probably never read a book over 200 pages. I read all 4 books in a couple weeks. I'm still not fast, but it was a great feeling to have finally read a BIG book.

lorelie said...

How cool this is! I'm always up for trying to win something, especially a book =]. One of my favorite books is Paula, by Isabel Allende. She is such a beautiful writer. And I really like The Help. I'm terrible at narrowing things down to ONE favorite!

Kim said...

Please don't ask me for my favorite book--that depends on the week, month, or year. Okay, last year's picks were These is my Words and The Count of Monte Cristo.

I haven't read any of Sandra Dallas but recently saw a review and immmediately put her on "the list". (queen bee)

erin said...

I too love to read. I love too many to really have one favorite, but if I have to choose: To Kill a Mockingbird. (Although I absolutely loved Persian Pickle Club, and I recommend it to friends all the time. I'd love to read her new one!)

Annie said...

i wouldn't say i love to read. i like it. i feel guilty when i do it. so i try to multi-task while i do it:) my all time favorite, so far, would have to be To Kill a Mockingbird. i love it. i hated being forced to read books i didn't care about or like in middle school and high school. this may be the only one i enjoyed. i've reread a few times. i love it.

Amy said...

Oh my gosh! How don't know how to pick one book. I love to read all kinds of books - Harry Potter, DaVinci Code, 1776, and classics. I just read Katherine by Anya Seton and loved it! It was written based on real events and facts about her life. It was so interesting and a really different kind of book.

Kerrie said...

I love to read. An all time fav? I don't know. I love getting caught up in series, Twilight, Harry Potter, The Work and The Glory. I'll say my fav is The Work and The Glory. It sounds like I need to read the Persian Pickle Club.

Meridee said...

You will be remembered as a very kind person! It's too hard to pick one favorite. . .so I'll say a few: Glass Castle, Secret Life of Bees, Velocity, Time Travelers Wife, The Book Thief, and the Work & Glory series.

Unknown said...

My favorite book of all time is Exodus by Leon Uris! I loved 'The Persion Pickle Club' so I am excited for this book!

Unknown said...

DTB was really me, Camie! That was our Duct Tape Wallet Site ;) but I still want to WIN!!!

Eve said...

It has been awhile since I have picked up a book! I went to the Jodi Picoult book signing- that was pretty cool. I would have to say my favorite is Larry McMurty Lonesome Dove.

Patti said...

How do you DO that? I mean pick favorites? I have such a hard time naming ONE book...my mind goes totally blank! OK, a couple I've enjoyed the past few months: Highway Design, the LRFD Approach; LRFD Bridge Design Specifications; and NDOT Structures Manual. How's that for light reading? Seriously though, I could not put down "The Lost Symbol", by Dan Brown. Am I a winner? Let's see...I got a prize last night for losing the most...

Brad and Julianne Heaps said...

How do I pick a favorite? I'll just say some I haven't been able to put down. Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, Enders Game, Lord of the Rings, and lately I've really loved anything by Shannon Hale.

Honey Mommy said...

Lately I love the Hunger Games and Catching Fire!

Holly said...

The only books I've read in the past few years were the Twilight books which I really enjoyed!

Anonymous said...

My favorite book of all time is probably a sleeper for most folks but it is Cashelmara by Susan Howatch. I have re-read it so many times my husband thinks I'm crazy. Needless to say it is well loved and worn on the spine.

Love, Free