Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Book Review and Giveaway- The Charlatan's Boy

A Waterbrook, Multnomah Publishing Group Book

The Charlatan's Boy
by
Jonathan Rogers


Grady has no last name, he does not know where he came from and he has no mama and no pa. All he has is Floyd, a huckster who is a liar and a fraud. For as long as Grady can remember, he has been traveling with Floyd all over Corenwald, putting on a Feechie act where he gets to be "The Wild Man of the Feechiefen Swamp!" Grady, having nothing to hold on to, comes to believe this character to be his true identity. He is a he-feechie, alive and in the flesh. But the people of Corenwald no longer believe in Feechies  and Floyd and Grady must find new trades. Grady's heart is broken as he is told he is not a real Feechie, but only the Ugliest Boy in the world. An idea that births a new act, but when another boy is found to be uglier than Grady, a new trade most be found, and Floyd and Grady find themselves in the Phrenologist trade. Yet, Grady cannot forget the old days.  Neither can Floyd forget the money they made with the Feechie act. Together, Floyd and Grady set to create another Great Feechie Scare. Floyd, merely using the ugly boy for his profit, while Grady longs to relieve the days where he had an identity, and he knew who he was.

I  enjoyed this book. From the beginning, my heart was drawn to Grady. He longs to know who he is and where he came from. As an adoptive mother, Grady's heart speaks to me. He wants to be loved, he wants to know where he comes from, who he is, and wishing that he had a friend, someone who cared for him. Grady's likable character is well established from the beginning, and his personality and voice are consistent and strong throughout the book.

Floyd and Grady's adventures as they travel from town to town putting on their Fechie act, along with the other various performances, are fun and entertaining. These are sprinkled with Grady's longings of love and friendship, and you get a good, light hearted read.

While it was not a page turner, I recommend this as a fun read.

If you want to read the first few chapters, you can visit the Waterbrook Multnomah webiste. There you can purchase the book if you get hooked!

You can also read chapter 1 and 2 here.

Do you want this book?

Well, here is the deal, Stumbo Family Story is having a giveaway!

This is how you can enter. Just leave me a comment and tell what your favorite fiction book is. For an additional chance to win, go to my book review on the Multnomah website and rank my review, then come back here and leave a second comment.
Also remember to leave your contact infromation so I can contact you if you win!

This entry will be open until January 31 at midnight, then I will use a random generator to select the winner!
(US residents only)


If you don't win, here are a couple other places places where you can buy the book: amazon or Christian books. It is also available as an e-book.
I recieved this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publising Group  for my review.

12 comments:

  1. Hi Ellen,

    THis sounds like an interesting book! I love reading...one of my favorites is "Some Wildflower in My Heart" by Jamie Langston Turner. She writes with rich detail and I love the characters she creates!

    ~Robyn Mulder
    *You know how to contact me :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Ellen,

    This book sounds really interesting to read. My favorite fiction book is The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher.

    Thanks for the chance,

    Monique Raymond
    garyswoman@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous2:09 PM

    Hi there,
    I would like to take part in the chance to win the book!

    My favorite fiction book is: The Long Song by Andrea Levy

    Thanks & God bless,
    Dara
    Verumpax@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous2:11 PM

    And...just rated your review!

    Thanks!

    Dara

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nicole Jones4:12 PM

    Sounds like a great read! What a fun giveaway!
    One of my favorite to read is "Wish You Well" by David Baldacci.

    Thanks!
    Nicole

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm going to have to say my current favorite is The Shack. It pulled me in and totally absorbed my attention.

    Thanks for the review! And the giveaway chance. :)

    Kathi

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow, I have so many favorite books it is hard to pick just one. Even though it is intended to be a Young Adult Book, I think The Giver is my all time favorite work of fiction. But then there's Sarah's Key, and Water for Elephants, and Cutting for Stone.....

    ReplyDelete
  8. I also ranked your review.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Two of my favorite fiction books are "Divine" by Katen Kingsbury and "The Atonement Child" by Francine Rivers. One of my favorite children's books is "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster--most creative story ever--full of puns!

    Rachel
    butterflygirl82@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hey, Ellen

    My faviroute book is "oceans apart" By Karen Kingsbury

    Annette

    ReplyDelete
  11. Howdy Ellen! Gabe and I just finished reading the Percy Jackson series... very fun! Thanks for the post, if I don't win I'll add this book to my ever fluctuating list of books to read ;) What a great idea... I like reading what others post - many I love as well, many I will have to explore!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous8:29 AM

    Ellen,
    I would love to read the book and then donate it to the Library after I read it.
    Mary Whiteside

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me. If you do not subscribe to comments, make sure you check back for my reply to your comment.

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