I have been seeing reviews of this book since way back in when it first came out in hardcover, and even though most all of those reviews were positive I resisted picking up a copy. The last time I did that was with The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz, and we see how that turned out. I loved it!
Fast forward to December of 2009 when I signed up for a bazillion challenges- as I started to consider what I wanted to read for The Debutante Ball Challenge I discovered that Tiffany Baker was a past Deb and that her book would be eligible for the challenge. I was further prompted by the steady presence of great reviews that her book has garnered. When I asked about it, Jen from Devourer of Books chimed in on Twitter that she thought I would like it (I could be making that up by the way, but I am pretty sure it was Jen).
Here is what Kathy of BermudaOnion had to say about The Little Giant of Aberdeen County in her review:
This book started out with a bang for me. I loved Truly and my heart went out to her. I was frustrated when everyone, including the adults, around her treated her so poorly.
If you enjoy John Irving’s tales set in New England towns, especially A Prayer for Owen Meany, then Tiffany Baker’s The Little Giant of Aberdeen County will likely appeal to you. Tiffany Baker gives us the same sense of fantastic when she recounts the town’s history, events in Truly’s life, and those of her closest friends.
Sandy at You’ve GOTTA Read This listened to this book on audio, and made me curious about the narrator:
The narrator of the book did an excellent job at embodying Truly. She made the story an entertaining 10 discs. The story never dragged, and was able to listen to the entire story in just a few days.
Audiobooks are all about the narrator. But then she had troublesome things to report about Truly:
But Truly scared me a little. She had every reason to have a chip on her shoulder, but she got pretty vengeful, without much afterthought. (Side note: OK, I just recovered emotionally from the cruelty to kittens thing in Her Fearful Symmetry, and now this?)
I also heard about animal cruelty in Her Fearful Symmetry. That is one part of that book I am not looking forward to reading. Especially since it involves cats. I am a fan of animals!
All in all, everyone has me convinced that I should read this at some point this year, and in doing so fulfill my reading challenge duties. Do you want to read it too? Enter the giveaway via the form below for your opportunity to win one of three copies. Contest ends Saturday, February 13 at midnight EST.
I am an Amazon Associate.
Good Luck!
I enjoyed this book, but didn’t quite love it. I think I’m in the minority, though – most people seemed to love it. I can’t wait to see what you think! (Thanks for the link to my review.)
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Our Life in France – banking, money and numbers =-.
I don’t know if that was me or not, but I do think you’ll like it! Don’t worry, there really isn’t any animal cruelty that I can remember, I think Sandy was just still scarred from HFS and then Truly got vengeful, but I could be forgetting something, maybe?
.-= Jen – Devourer of Books´s last blog ..O, Juliet – Book Review =-.
I am pretty sure it was you now. Except I think we were in the document and not on Twitter.
Okay, twist my arm
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..The New York Challenge =-.
I have entered every giveaway for this book for a year. I still haven’t got it but I really want to read it so I’ve entered. Sounds like my kind of story. Thanks for the giveaway.
.-= Sandra´s last blog ..It’s Monday! What are you reading? =-.
I won a copy a while back and haven’t read it just yet. Must do that soon!
.-= Andi´s last blog ..Bookish Potpourri =-.
Thanks for hosting a great giveaway! I’ve been checking this book out but haven’t committed yet.
.-= Amused´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday – Jan. 25 -30, 2010 =-.
OK, I wouldn’t say that there was animal cruelty in Her Fearful Symmetry – I am a cat lover and had NO PROBLEM reading the part about the kitten. DOn’t worry about it – it really was nothing…
I have this book sitting on my shelf, I’m really hoping to get to it soon!
.-= S. Krishna´s last blog ..LOST: LA X, Parts 1 and 2 =-.
I read The Little Giant of Aberdeen County last year with the intent of reviewing it for our reader’s advisory blog at work. I didn’t end up reviewing it because I didn’t really like it. The writing was good, but I couldn’t sympathize with any characters. Truly turned out to be someone who was bitter and unlikable in the end.
I agree with Stephanie that the animal cruelty in Her Fearful Symmetry isn’t quite what you think it might be. It didn’t bother me. Did you read Water for Elephants? The cruelty was nothing like that.
.-= BookishlyFab´s last blog ..Running and Fitness Report – January 2010 =-.
I did read Water for Elephants and had issues with the animal scenes. Yikes.
Too bad you didn’t like this one. I have had really mixed feeling about reading it for some reason.