Friday, April 2, 2010

The Girl Who Chased The Moon: My Review and Giveaway

I first fell in love with the book's cover and then the writing. Just show me a full moon against a beautiful starlit sky and you have my attention. The woman in the red dress isn't bad either.

There are secrets in the small town of Mullaby, North Carolina and some unexplained happenings; wallpaper that magically changes its pattern, a giant of a man who reaches into his empty clothes dryer whenever he walks by, a family that never leaves their home at night, a strange light that appears every evening in the woods, and the "sweet sense" that baking gives to some of the characters.

It takes the arrival in town of a seventeen year old girl to stir things up. Emily has no idea why her mother never told her about Mullaby. Now that her mother has died, Emily comes to live with the grandfather she never knew about and discovers the past her mother never talked about.

Not all of the secrets have a magical feel. Some are the scars from youth or past hurts that the writer, Sarah Addison Allen, skillfully uncovers in her characters. There are serious topics dealt with like teenage self-mutilation that are in sharp contrast to the lighter tone of the book. Sometimes the story felt like it had a home in the young adult genre too.

My favorite characters are Julia who bakes wonderful cakes (so real I could almost taste them) and Sawyer who has a sweet sense about Julia and her baking. Julia has a lot of issues to deal with, personal and romantic, and I enjoyed seeing her navigate through them.

With some magic, a touch of romance, and thoughts of homemade cakes, The Girl Who Chased The Moon had the right ingredients for a sweet tasting read.

Rob's Rating: 4/5

The Girl Who Chased The Moon by Sarah Addison Allen. Copyright 2010. Bantam. ISBN: 9780553807219

FTC: I purchased my copy at Barnes and Noble.

I'm giving away a new copy of The Girl Who Chased The Moon to a lucky reader. Maybe it will be you?

To enter my drawing please leave a comment on this review no later than 9pm, Sunday, April 11, 2010, and include your email address if it's not visible on your profile. 

If you live outside the USA or Canada, you must have a book blog to participate.


27 comments:

  1. It sounds truly lovely. Right up my alley. (You pick the best books, dude).

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great review! I would love to read this now:)
    email bangersis(at)msn(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh I want to read about the wonderful cakes! :)

    Please throw my name in the hat. Thanks Rob!

    ReplyDelete
  4. this sounds like a wonderful book. I love the addition of the cakes. I plan to bake a 'hummingbird cake' tomorrow with my son.

    Please enter me in the draw. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Don't enter me, as I have this one waiting in the TBR pile. Have you read her other books? They're just as magical...and the second one features books in the magic. It's great!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I would love to win! Thanks for the giveaway!

    jeffintennessee at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I can see how you were drawn in... Thanks for the contest!

    Bill ;-)

    billsmith2003 (at) gmail (dot) com

    Hope you'll check out my book giveaway:
    http://drbillsbookbazaar.blogspot.com/2010/03/book-giveaway-back-to-homeplace.html
    http://thehomeplaceseries.blogspot.com/ - Come help me name a dog...

    ReplyDelete
  8. I've read all 3 of this author's books, and the first (Garden Spells) was still my favorite. This one was good as well.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This sounds like a pretty great one-- especially with all those cakes! m m m. I would love to be entered into the drawing:

    ecaramil at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Please count me in for this giveaway. I live outside the US but I have a blog which is not a 100 percent book blogging so if that disqualifies me thats ok! Thank you for hosting.


    mystica123athotmaildotcom

    ReplyDelete
  12. I agree, the book's cover is very pretty, enchanting almost. Definitely something that makes you want to know what's inside.

    I'd like to win it definitely.

    lillyswistek at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. She is one of my favorite authors! I've read all of her other books and I'm just dying to read this one! Add me to the list!
    anovelsource@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. This sounds like a really good read! I have read quite a few reviews on it, and must say you are the first that mentioned the great cakes!! That's what convinced me that I MUST read it!
    Please enter me. Thanks!!
    lovemykidsandbooks AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I've been really wanting to read this one! Thanks so much for the chance to win a copy. It just sounds wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  16. It sounds like a gripping read! Thanks for the review and a chance to win

    carriesrambles@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi there! My name is Bridgette Groschen and I have a blog "The Groschen Goblins". I've been hopping around the blogosphere looking for blogs to follow and who would hopefully follow me back. I mainly just do review and giveaways on my blog, until I get the courage up to write about my family. I love reading about other peoples families. Hope you can come check out my blog! I'd love to win this book too!

    Bridgette Groschen
    The Groschen Goblins
    www.groschengoblins.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I've read two of Sarah Addison Allen's other books and since I liked those I figure I can't go wrong with this one. Great giveaway!

    akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Love, love, love her! I got to hear her speak a few weeks ago and she's just delightful. Throw my name in the hat, please! :)

    stephaniedekeyser AT gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. You are so right about the cover. It really draws you in. Thanks for the chance!
    dmkayes@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Rob...you've written a wonderful review. I've seen this book on several other sites and I'm interested! I agree, the cover is great :)

    I'd love a chance to win this book. Thanks for the giveaway!!

    rjleflar at gmail dot com

    PS. I'm a new follower too. Thanks for visiting me :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love Sarah's magical writing. Please enter me. Thanks!

    jgbeads(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi Rob! Thanks for hosting this giveaway! I love this author!!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. This sounds like a great book! and thanks for subbing to my blog, I will be adding yours to my blogroll!

    Leslie

    hugbandit7 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  25. This sounds like a book I would really enjoy! Thank you for the giveaway!
    mittens0831 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Sounds like a good read—please enter me to win!

    skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  27. ***Entries Closed***

    Congrats to Angela at Library Girl Reads who won this drawing.

    Thanks for your comments and participation.

    More giveaways will be announced in April.

    Aloha from Rob

    ReplyDelete

Aloha! Thanks for taking time to talk story. Your comment will be posted soon.

Ho'ola'i na manu i ke aheahe

"The birds poise quietly in the gentle breeze."
Said of those who are at peace with the world, undisturbed and contented.