We’re not all pleasant people; we have flaws, some of us more than others. Sometimes we do or think despicable things. This may not be the best way to conduct life, but it does make for an interesting character for a book. In April Fool
Author John Neufeld does an excellent job at taking a distasteful personality and turning him into someone a reader wants to spend time with and learn about. This is a difficult task for any writer; despite George’s behavior and his desire to consider murder an option for getting out of a rut, I still somehow rooted for George and hoped he’d find the error of his ways. The book was entertaining and a pleasure to read, filled with humor, suspense, and politically incorrect characters. I doubt there was a noble one in the bunch, which made it all the more interesting.
John Neufeld has written over 20 novels for adults and young readers, and has been nominated for an Edgar, been twice included in the Sunday New York Times’ Best Books of the Year, and has been published in several countries as well. I’m happy to tell you I have a copy of April Fool
3 Ways to Win:
1.) Have you known people with major character flaws? Of course you have! But did you like them anyway? Do share. Be thoughtful with your comment! Winners are randomly chosen, but if the name drawn doesn’t respond, I choose the next winner by comment.
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Do all three, and you’ve got three entries to win! You have until midnight EST on Saturday, October 25, 2008, to enter.
is a series of short stories by writer Lien Chao, focusing on Chinese immigrants in Canada. Chao’s own experiences as a Chinese-Canadian in Toronto is one major influence on these stories, although for the most part she based the stories on the experiences of the people within her community. 
Congrats to winner Susan! You’ll have a lot of fun reading this one. Sometimes memoirs are stranger than fiction. Maybe that’s why I love them so much–the knowledge that the stuff you’re reading actually happened. So is the case with 
by Philip Smith. Probably the most unusual memoir I’ve ever read, Walking Through Walls takes you through Smith’s life growing up with a father who is an interior designer with powerful psychic abilities. Smith’s father becomes more and more dedicated to learning about his gift, and while he uses his gifts to help and heal, his bizarre lifestyle sometimes gets the better of Philip. After all, when your father’s a psychic it’s hard to get away with much.