Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Book Review and Blogger Only Giveaway: Please Ignore Vera Dietz by AS King

Vera had a falling out with her best friend Charlie and then he died. Told her whole life to ignore her neighbors’ misdeeds and concentrate on her own problems, Vera’s not sure if she should share what really happened the night Charlie died and clear his name - or if she even wants to.


After legions of novels with paranormal creatures and rich girls, it is so refreshing to spend time with someone as normal as working class Vera. Sure, she’s a bit of an overachiever – working a full time job as a pizza delivery girl while still maintaining excellent grades in school – but since her social life is practically nil, she can swing it. See, all Vera really wants is to be ignored – to fly under the radar so she can emerge from high school unscathed. She doesn’t want to end up like her now absentee mother, pregnant at 17 and a stripper at 18.

There’s a bit of a mystery element to the novel as Vera slowly reveals clues about why she and Charlie were no longer speaking to each other and hints about what happened that fateful night. And although most of the narrative is in Vera’s voice, we also hear from Charlie (from the great beyond), Vera’s dad Ken (who offers up some hilarious flow charts) and even the pagoda at the top of the hill (quirky, eh?). It’s an engrossing, touching, and funny read – very different from King’s debut THE DUST OF 100 DOGS but just as special.

PLEASE IGNORE VERA DIETZ comes out October 12th, and ARCs were in short supply. That’s why I am offering my ARC to a book blogger/reviewer who is willing to review it before the end of October. If that describes you, please leave a comment telling me your blog name, e-mail address and why you want to read/review it. I will pick a winner this Saturday, September 25th at 11:59 pm CST and send it out on Monday the 27th.

Find out more about the novel at the author’s website.

23 comments:

Staci said...

I like the sound of this one and actually think my son and I would both enjoy it!

brizmus said...

I want to read this because the first sentence of your post made me gulp - I love books that make me cry, and it seems like this might be one! It also sounds very exciting!
If you'd ship to Japan, enter me!

zedster.tbb(at)gmail(DOT)com
http://brizmusblogsbooks.blogspot.com

Amanda said...

I don't read "contemporary" fiction very often, preferring paranormal books most of the time, especially when it comes to YA. However, I do occasionally read books similar to this one, such as Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers, to share with [one of] my younger sisters, who just turned 18 this summer. I also pass these types of books along to a friend of the family who has a pretty rough home life, so she can feel that yes, someone else out there really does have as tough of a life as she does.

Anyway, I always read and review within a week of receiving a book. Please check out my blog with the link below. I also post on GoodReads.
http://amandasbooksandmore.blogspot.com/

amandasbookblog[AT]gmail[DOT]com

Najela said...

Sounds intriguing. Sign me up. sorakainomori at gmail dot com. bravenewadventure.blogspot.com

Readingjunky said...

I just read and reviewed this one and agree it's a good read. Any reviewer would be lucky to get your copy.

RJ

Unknown said...

WOW, this one sounds excellent! I am 100% with you on needing a more "girl next door" type protagonist. With a little bit of mystery mixed in, it sounds like a favorite in the making. Thank you for sharing!

Anonymous said...

This one sounds excellent and I'm all for reading some non-paranormal YA every once in a while. However, no need to enter me into the competition.

nicole s. said...

most of my YA reading lately has been zombies, unicorns and other things that go bump in the night related. i've been hearing a lot of great buzz on this book and would love the chance to read it.

nicole.signoretta(at)gmail(dot)com
http://bookedup.posterous.com

Lena1xoxo said...

Oh, I've heard great things about this book around the blogosphere.

My blog is called Addicted 2 Novels and I review YA books. I want to read this book because I love great contemporary reads with a twist.

*crosses fingers*

addicted2novels(at)gmail(dot)com

Zibilee said...

It sounds like a very different kind of read, and I like that it's a little bit quirky. I will also throw my name in the ring for the chance to review it. My blog is Raging Bibliomania.

heather@figearo.net

Michelle Fluttering Butterflies said...

Wow, this one sounds really interesting. I'm doing a project with another blogger about death and bereavement in teen lit and I think this book would fit in nicely for it.

Simply_Megan said...

This sounds really quirky and interesting. I'm already intrigued about what happened between Vera and Charlie and I haven't even started it yet!

http://wwwsimplymegan.blogspot.com

swimmer1430[at]aim[dot]com

Jordyn said...

This book looks awesome... very sweet and quirky. Plus, it's contemporary, which is my bread and butter. I'd love the chance to read/review this one. Also, I've never read King before so I think this would be a good introduction.

tencentnotes@gmail.com
http://tencentnotes.blogspot.com

Jamie said...

I've been craving more contemporary, and this sounds like it would fit the bill!

Jamie of http://bookmarkedreviews.blogspot.com
jamieallyn24 (at) gmail (dot) com

Krystal said...

This book sounds like a great read. I'd love the chance to read and review it.

http://www.stellarbookblog.blogspot.com

stellarbookblog[at]gmail[dot]com

Unknown said...

Wow sounds like a my kind of read. I really want to read it because the synopsis sounds intriguing and I love a good mystery! :) I will also love to review it of course!

Lisette
lcintocable[at]gmail[dot]com

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Kristie said...

I would be happy to review this. I can be found on the web here:
http://textnjava.blogspot.com/

and can be emailed here:
javaintheam at hotmail dot com
Thanks!

Mari - Escape In A Book said...

Please Ignore Vera Dietz sounds like a great read and I would very much like to read it. Unfortunately I don't think I can review it in time so I won't enter your giveaway.

Anonymous said...

Great review! This book sounds amazing. I do tend to read a lot of books with a paranormal twist, but am starting to get back into contemporary fiction as well. This one sounds right up my alley.

I would be honored to read and review immediately - thank you for the opportunity!

http://thereadingdate.wordpress.com/
readingdate(at)gmail(dot)com

Harmony said...

I'd love to read it because I haven't been able to read the author's first novel but I really want to support her. A.S. King has been really supportive of me and PAYA, even though I haven't read her books. I'd love the chance to return the favor by reviewing her book and promoting it on my blog.

Plus, the book sounds AMAZING.

Harmony Book Reviews
harmonybookreviews@yahoo.com

Spav said...

I want to read this one because I'm always looking for new fresh YA books and this one sounds great.

Fiction Kingdom
http://fictionkingdom.blogspot.com/

spav05(at)gmail(dot)com

Png said...

The cover looks interesting...

Would like to try my hand at reviewing..

regards,

maidenhealer@hotmail.com