Friday, March 21, 2014

HFVBT: Christina E. Pilz's Fagin's Boy - Review and {Giveaway} #FaginsBoyTour


My thoughts
Sadly, I have yet to read Dickens' Oliver Twist (it's on my endless to-be-read pile), but who hasn't heard the story, or seen the many screen adaptations? I have, of course, so I felt I knew the story well enough to read Christine Pilz's Fagin's Boy...and I'm so glad I did.

I have read several of Dickens' great works and let me just say that Pilz has masterfully captured his tone in her writing. As with Dickens, the reader experiences the palpable sorrow of downtrodden characters and when these characters find happiness/redemption, the heart soars.

Oliver's story is one that stays with us and to read such a worthy continuation of his story is a true delight. It's quite impressive that this is Pilz's first novel. It's exciting to anticipate just what she will come up with next. I, for one, can't wait!

About the book
Publication Date: January 1, 2014
Blue Rain Press
Paperback; 624p
ISBN-10: 0989727300

Five years after Fagin was hanged in Newgate, Oliver Twist, at the age of seventeen, is a young man of good breeding and fine manners, living a quiet life in a corner of London. When Oliver loses his protector and guardian, he is able, with the help of Mr. Brownlow’s friends, to find employment in a well-respected haberdashery in Soho.

However, in the midst of these changes, Jack Dawkins, also known as the Artful Dodger arrives in London, freshly returned from being deported. Oliver’s own inability to let go of his past, as well as his renewed and intimate acquaintance with Jack, take him back to the life he thought he’d left behind.

Buy the Book
Amazon US
Amazon UK


About the Author
Being a writer is not just what I do, it’s who I am. Even if everything else in the day turns sour, if I have written, then it’s still a pretty good day.

I decided I wanted to be a writer when my fourth grade teacher (Mrs. Harr) gave me a good grade on a creative writing story I’d written. And not only that, she added “I like your ending,” along with a smiley face. At that point, I was off and running. I’ve been writing and making up stories ever since.

I live in Colorado. I’ve tried to live elsewhere, but it’s always too far from my family, so I returned for good some time ago. Colorado is a brilliant location to live in as it’s not very far from either coast, and the local international airport is only an hour away.

Right beside my writing desk, I have a green arm chair and ottoman that I call The Vortex. There are two reasons I call it that. The first is that it’s always trying to suck me in and sit down and do nothing but think and read and stare at the sunlight and shadows as they dapple the walls and ceiling. The second is that once I sit down in the thing, it’s almost impossible to get up, as The Vortex keeps sucking me in.

Visit Christina Pilz’s website for more information. You can connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.


Visit other blogs on the tour--Tour Schedule
Twitter Hashtag: #FaginsBoyTour

Follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form below to enter for a chance to win a paperback copy of Fagin's Boy by Christina E. Pilz! (Open to U.S./Canada)


a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
A copy of this book was sent to me in exchange for an honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for providing it.

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8 comments:

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment. It means so much.

I apologize for word verification, but as soon as I changed the settings from only users with Google accounts, I started receiving a ton of spam comments...within one hour of changing the settings. The bots are on high alert apparently.

  1. Like you, I have yet to read Dickens' novel. I'm glad you said one can still enjoy this novel. I was fascinated by the cover when I first saw it, and am anxious to read the book.

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  2. I have read Dicken's novel. I am captivated with this giveaway. and post.

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  3. I love Oliver Twist - this definitely needs to get added to the wish list!

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  4. I really enjoy reading Dickens, so look forward to reading this story.

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  5. I have read Oliver Twist many times. My favourite Dicken's book, of course, is A Christmas Carol, which I read every Christmas along with my second favourite, Oliver Twist. A Tale of Two Cities and Nicholas Nickleby, along with Pickwick Papers are also near the top of my list of Dickens books.

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  6. As an English major, I'm kind of ashamed to admit I've never read *Twist*. My favorite is *David Copperfield*, with *Nicholas Nickleby* and *Our Mutual Friend* close behind...

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  7. You have some good questions there and I want answers. :-)

    Anna from Shout with
    Emaginette

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  8. I've only read A Christmas Carol by Dickens but did love the writing so one day I'll tackle the longer ones. I remember watching the movie of Oliver Twist whenever it came on tv when I was younger.

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