Beth Fish Reads: BBAW: Hidden Gem of a Book and Giveaway

16 September 2010

BBAW: Hidden Gem of a Book and Giveaway

Today is the fourth day of Book Blogger Appreciation Week 2010! This yearly event of giveaways, blog hopping, blogging, and awards is all about you! And you and you and you and me and is the brainchild of Amy from My Friend Amy.

Each day this week I'm hosting an international giveaway (winners announced on Monday, September 20), so I hope you come back to see what I have in store.

On this Thursday, BBAW asks us to talk about a book or two that we wish everyone would read. I'm spotlighting a novel I reviewed in April 2009 that I still think about: The Killing Tree by Rachel Keener. Here is a paragraph from my review:

No one seems to rest easy in the small-town world of Crooktop Mountain, and some secrets are held so closely that even those who have lived there all their lives are oblivious. Through Mercy Heron, Keener has expertly revealed the many layers of rural prejudices and hidden segments of Appalachian life. The Killing Tree is not a novel about the romance of a simpler life, it's an examination of a young woman who struggles to understand her family and her own conflicting hopes and expectations.

I found only three other reviews in the Book Blog Search Engine, and all were also positive. I'm not sure why this gem of novel did not get picked up by blogging world. Check out my review and give the book a shot if the premise appeals to you.

Giveaway

Today I am giving away three books from my own collection. I hope at least one will become a favorite of yours. I'm offering a mix of genres.

Sand Daughter by Sarah Bryant (gently read paperback) is a historical novel of a Bedouin woman set during the Crusades. A Gift from Brittany by Marjorie Price (gently read paperback) is a memoir that takes place in the French countryside. Day for Night by Frederick Reiken (gently read ARC) is a novel of interconnected stories.

This giveaway is open worldwide and will run until I turn on my computer on Monday morning (September 20). To enter, you must fill out the form. One winner will be picked via random number generator, and I will delete all data after the winner is contacted.

Good luck and don't forget to check all my BBAW posts -- I have a giveaway each day.

23 comments:

Anonymous, 9/16/10, 5:00 AM: Thanks for the giveaway, Beth. These books may well be hidden gems. I haven't heard of them at all. They look interesting, though.
Anonymous, 9/16/10, 5:18 AM: I love it when a book still makes you think even after years.. The Killing Tree sounds really good!
Anonymous, 9/16/10, 5:41 AM: You are just awesome, thank you for all the giveaways, especially the international ones :)
Michelle, 9/16/10, 5:52 AM: You are a giveaway machine!
Sandy Nawrot, 9/16/10, 8:47 AM: The book sounds great. Who knows why some books get ignored. There is always such a cutthroat fight for our attention, I guess the publisher with the most money wins. Great giveaway too - thank you!!
Michelle, 9/16/10, 8:52 AM: You are still thinking about a book a year later? That's impressive and means I need to add this to my TBR pronto!

Thanks for yet another fabulous giveaway!
Rachel Keener, 9/16/10, 9:24 AM: Beth, I'm so flattered that you still think of Killing Tree. I would love for more bloggers to give the book a try. Thanks so much for spotlighting it and encouraging others to read it!
Barbara, 9/16/10, 9:24 AM: Another book for my TBR list. I love stories set in Appalachia.
bermudaonion, 9/16/10, 11:08 AM: I added this to my wish list after reading your review, but haven't bought a copy yet.
Unknown, 9/16/10, 11:40 AM: The Killing Tree sounds like a book I would really like to read. The fact that you still think about this book more than a year after reading it piques my interest almost more than the summary of the story. I'm listing The Killing Tree high up on my TBR list!

Thank you Beth.
Unknown, 9/16/10, 12:22 PM: The Killing Tree does sound like a great read. I'll definitely add it to my wish list.
Pam Pho, 9/16/10, 1:22 PM: I haven't heard of that book but it does look interesting.
Margot, 9/16/10, 1:45 PM: It is hard to figure out why some books are wildly popular and others, equally well written, are not. This one does sound like a thought provoking story.
Lucy Beugeling-Ramos, 9/16/10, 1:57 PM: Thanks for the giveaway!
Natasha @ Maw Books, 9/16/10, 4:15 PM: I did the same thing - look at the books I chose for today's topic on the search engine and it's so sad to see so few reviews for books we love. Thanks for highlighting this one Candace!
Library Cat, 9/16/10, 4:47 PM: Great giveaway!
S. Krishna, 9/16/10, 6:35 PM: Sounds like a great read! Also, A Gift From Brittany sounds great, I hadn't heard of it!
Robin M, 9/16/10, 9:17 PM: It sounds very intriguing. Don't know how I missed it the first time you reviewed it. Added to my wishlist.
Veens, 9/16/10, 9:31 PM: I have put it in my wish list too!
Thanks for the giveaay, Beth! Thanks for making it Int'l!!
Beth Hoffman, 9/17/10, 10:18 AM: I don't recall hearing about this book before, but it's going on my list for certain!

Thanks for the giveaway.
Anonymous, 9/17/10, 4:51 PM: i love hidden gems......mine would be jessica by bryce courtenay...for some reason only known in australia!
dianam167@sbcglobal.net
Jen at Introverted Reader, 9/20/10, 2:39 AM: Oooh, how have I missed this? I love books set here in my Appalachians! Thanks for bringing it to my attention and for the giveaway!
Tribute Books, 9/24/10, 1:28 PM: Will add to my tbr list thanks!