Review: The Last Bookaneer by Matthew Pearl

Matthew Pearl has been on my radar for a while now. His books always look so intriguing since they are historic thrillers books…..about books…..but for some reason I just haven’t made it around to reading any of his books.

When this one came around to review I jumped at it since this was an author I have wanted to read.

The Last Bookaneer explores the dark side of publishing and the literary pirates who commandeered unpublished works by famous authors. Before 1890, loose copyright laws allowed for author’s works to be publish on the blackmarket so to speak, which ultimately gave rise to the bookaneers whose job it was to track down these unpublished gems at any cost.

With the new international copyright laws going into effect, the great bookaneer, Pen Davenport, embarks on one last adventure to recover an unpublished work by Robert Louis Stevenson on the exotic island of Samoa. But he needs help, Pen knows he can’t obtain the book alone so he enlists the help of his long time associate, Fergins.

Fergins is the narrator of the story and has enjoyed a nice, quiet life selling books…..and occasionally assisting Pen but he has never experienced anything like this. Before he knows it, he is whisked off onto a boat bound for the South Pacific with Pen to steal a manuscript worth thousands.

Continue reading “Review: The Last Bookaneer by Matthew Pearl”

Announcement: Winner THE INVENTION OF WINGS by Sue Monk Kidd

And the winner of the giveaway for THE INVENTION OF WINGS by Sue Monk Kidd is…..

Kara S (commented on post)

The winner will be notified via email.

Thank you to everyone who entered and a huge thank you to the publisher for making this giveaway possible!

Giveaway: THE INVENTION OF WINGS by Sue Monk Kidd

Have you had a chance to read one of the hottest books released this year?THE INVENTION OF WINGS was on Goodreads recently as a finalist in the Best Historic Fiction category for 2014.

I also reviewed it last year and loved it. It’s a fantastic tale of two sisters, and a story that you won’t soon forget!

Thanks to the Publisher, I am ecstatic to be able to offer a copy of THE INVENTION OF WINGS for your enjoyment! Giveaway is for one paperback copy.

Giveaway runs 5/4/15 to 5/10/15

Winners will be announced 5/11/15.

(how to enter)

On this blog you must leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway.  Your comment MUST include your email so I can contact you….if you do not enter an email in the comments your entry will be void. Winners will be notified by email the day after the giveaway closes and have five days to respond, it not another winner will be chosen. 

(GIVEAWAY OPEN TO US ONLY AND NO PO BOX)

Make sure you note if you have done the following for more chances to win: Tweet about the giveaway (+1), share on Facebook (+1), like The Lit Bitch on Facebook (+1), follow The Lit Bitch on Twitter (+1), subscribe to The Lit Bitch’s blog (+1). Tweet/RT about the giveaway (+1). Share about the giveaway (+1).

Announcement: Winner THE SILVER WITCH by Paula Brackston

And the winner of the THE SILVER WITCH by Paula Brackston is…..

Susan H (shared on Facebook)

The winner will be notified via email.

Thank you to everyone who entered and a huge thank you to the publisher for making this giveaway possible!

Review: Les Miserables: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) by Victor Hugo

This book is a literally massive. For years I have thought about reading it, and though I am not intimidated by the length or the wordy writing style….I kept putting it off.

Even after seeing the film, I thought…..this is the time I am going to read it…..and then I didn’t. I knew it would take me a while to read and considering that the French translation of ‘Les Miserables’ is ‘the miserable ones’ or the ‘poor ones’….I knew it would be an emotional roller-coaster that I just wasn’t ready for in my reading.

Well no more excuses. When the new Penguin Deluxe edition came out, I was in some serious cover lust so I agreed to review it….no more excuses!

I’ve read The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Hugo and was frankly a little lost and found the writing bland, so I worried that this would be the same. TOTALLY NOT THE CASE!

I will say that it is helpful if you have seen the film or the musical, as it gives the reader an orientation within the story, but it’s not a requirement.

Continue reading “Review: Les Miserables: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) by Victor Hugo”