Down to a Sunless Sea by Mathias B. Freese – Book Giveaway

19. February 2009 · 185 comments · Categories: Book Review and Giveaway, Short Stories · Tags: , , ,

Click Here for More Giveaways

Real enough to make you wonder how the author could have lived so many lives, sad enough to hope he didn’t, Down to a Sunless Sea is a collection of short stories in varied shades of humanity.  Author Mathias B. Freese writes in a wide range of convincing voices.  One thing I like to see in a short story collection is an array of different voices.  As a character actor shapeshifts and reinvents himself from one part to the next, every one of Freese’s stories has a completely different perspective.  It’s as if the bus stops and the reader gets off and hails a taxi for the next “ride” on another point of view.  Much more enticing to a reader, I believe, than feeding the same tone over and over, changing only a scenario, as oftentimes happens in the short story collection.

The one common thread throughout the book is a sort of psychological look into each main character and a darkness that seems to permeate each life.  It wasn’t until I’d finished the book that I read on the back cover that Mathias Freese is in fact a clinical social worker and psychotherapist.  His 25 years experience in these fields has richly added to his fine capacity to tell a riveting short story; the overall impression is one of well-written human observation.

Want to win your own copy of this award-winning collection?  We’ve got one to give away!

Rules for Entry:

1.) Just tell me why you’d like to read Down to a Sunless Sea.  (You may enter once a day – following entries don’t require you to answer the question.) Remember, leave an interesting comment.  If I cannot contact the winner, you might be chosen instead based on your comment.

2.) Email subscribers get an extra entry for as long as their subscription is active.

     Already a subscriber?  Leave me a separate comment on this post to let me know you’re interested in this giveaway.

     Want to subscribe?  Just enter your email address in the “Subscribe” box on the left. (Please make sure to verify your Feedburner subscription by responding to the email they send you. If you do not receive it, check your junk mail. Only verified subscriptions are entered for all the giveaways.)

3.) Blog about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post.  Come back and leave me a Comment with a link to your blog post. (If your comment doesn’t show up right away, don’t worry – I may have to approve it first.  My blog might think it’s spam but gosh darn, I certainly don’t!)

4.) I’m feeling Twittery.  If you Twitter a link to this giveaway, come back and comment here to let me know your Twitter name for another entry! (I’m dkmommy if you want to follow me.)

Feel free to do all four to gain several entries to win! You have until midnight EST on Wednesday, February 25, 2009, to enter.

Check out all current giveaways for both my blogs here.

185 Comments

« Older Comments
Newer Comments »
  1. Jen S.
    February 21, 2009 at 10:54 pm

    my saturday entry

  2. Sarah
    February 22, 2009 at 12:30 am

    I love reading and short stories are great since I don’t have as much time as usual right now. Thanks for a great giveaway!

    Sarahs last blog post..Fantastic Friday

  3. Cindi
    February 22, 2009 at 4:14 am

    The stories in this book struck a chord with me as I was reading your review of it. Then, when you said the author is a psychotherapist, I knew why. My degree is in Psychology and people have always fascinated me.
    Please enter my name in your book drawing. Many thanks, Cindi

  4. Cindi
    February 22, 2009 at 4:15 am

    I am a subscriber to your site.
    Take care, Cindi

  5. Jackie
    February 22, 2009 at 9:21 am

    Sunday’s Entry…enjoy your day!

  7. Aliya D.
    February 22, 2009 at 1:55 pm

    Here is my entry for February 22, 2009… Thank you!

  8. Sito
    February 22, 2009 at 2:27 pm

    I like having a short story collection behind the counter at work. When it’s slow, I can often finish a story; with a novel, I get so caught up, I start to resent customers. This sounds like an intriguing mix of stories that would not become “same old thing” after the first few.

  9. Sito
    February 22, 2009 at 2:27 pm

    I suscribe.

  10. Christy G.
    February 22, 2009 at 3:05 pm

    2/22/09 – Thanks for the giveaway!

  11. beth shepherd
    February 22, 2009 at 6:00 pm

    This sounds like an excellent book. THank you for the chance!
    tatertot374@sbcglobal.net

  12. Popin
    February 22, 2009 at 8:05 pm

    The minute you said psychological, I knew I had to read this. I love reading books delving into the human psyche, everything from the good, the bad, and the weird. It makes for interesting reading.

    Please enter me in this giveaway. I’ve left a link of it at my blog, it’s off to the side under the header Giveaway List.

    Thanks

    ~ Popin

    Popins last blog post..SHOMI’s leading men…one of the same?

  13. Margaret Snyder
    February 22, 2009 at 9:05 pm

    Daily entry here! Thanks for the chance to win.

  14. Doreen
    February 22, 2009 at 10:02 pm

    Here is my superb sunday entry.

  15. Samuel Ruiz
    February 22, 2009 at 10:24 pm

    This is my Sunday entry – would really like to win

  16. Jen S.
    February 22, 2009 at 10:39 pm

    my sunday entry

  17. Bcteagirl
    February 22, 2009 at 11:38 pm

    I study psychology, so would find that area of the story very interesting. Short stories are also great late at night. Thanks for this contest!

    Bcteagirls last blog post..Free Tote Bag at La Vie En Rose with Purchase!

  18. Christina
    February 23, 2009 at 6:43 am

    I’d like to read this book to see how a clinical social worker and psychotherapist approaches fiction!

  19. Zoly
    February 23, 2009 at 10:13 am

    I would like to read this book.

  20. Jackie
    February 23, 2009 at 10:42 am

    Monday…here for another entry!
    Thanks!

  21. Robert Moseley
    February 23, 2009 at 10:42 am

    Thanks for the giveaway!

  23. Christy G.
    February 23, 2009 at 12:23 pm

    2/23/09 – Thanks for the giveaway!

  24. Samuel Ruiz
    February 23, 2009 at 3:07 pm

    I subscribe

  25. J.E.
    February 23, 2009 at 4:42 pm

    as I travel alot short stories are perfect.

  26. Beth
    February 23, 2009 at 4:52 pm

    It has been a long cold winter and I need some new reading material and this sounds interesting with so many different stories.

  27. Beth
    February 23, 2009 at 4:55 pm

    I like short stories and this sounds very interesting with so many different ones – thanks

  28. Jennifer Hedden
    February 23, 2009 at 5:01 pm

    enter me

  29. Debbie Deskin
    February 23, 2009 at 8:21 pm

    This book sounds great. I would love to read it. Please include me in your drawing.
    Thanks
    Debbie

  30. Aliya D.
    February 23, 2009 at 8:45 pm

    Please accept this as my February 23, 2009 entry into the contest… Thank you!

  31. Carla
    February 23, 2009 at 9:15 pm

    I’m intrigued by the darkness theme of the story…

  33. Margaret Snyder
    February 23, 2009 at 10:28 pm

    Here is my daily entry. Thanks for the chance.

  34. Jen S.
    February 24, 2009 at 12:10 am

    my monday entry

  35. Jackie
    February 24, 2009 at 9:14 am

    My Tuesday entry
    Thanks again!

  36. Zoly
    February 24, 2009 at 10:25 am

    Very interesting. I want to win this.

  37. Karen Gonyea
    February 24, 2009 at 11:08 am

    Sounds great – count me in :)

  38. Christy G.
    February 24, 2009 at 11:16 am

    2/24/09 – Thanks for the giveaway!

  39. Beth
    February 24, 2009 at 11:40 am

    Please entry me for today, the 24th! – Thanks!

  40. quiltingreader
    February 24, 2009 at 12:14 pm

    I love short stories.

  42. shawna
    February 24, 2009 at 2:54 pm

    Sounds like a good read!

  43. Jason
    February 24, 2009 at 4:11 pm

    I prefer short story books. I daydream to much and sometimes my mind wanders to much to read a full book.

  44. Teri
    February 24, 2009 at 6:20 pm

    I am a subscriber interested in this giveaway!

  45. Ed Nemmers
    February 24, 2009 at 7:38 pm

    I heart short stories!

  46. Samuel Ruiz
    February 24, 2009 at 8:36 pm

    I am a subscriber

  47. Aliya D.
    February 24, 2009 at 8:50 pm

    Please accept this as my entry for February 24, 2009… Thank you!

  48. Margaret Snyder
    February 24, 2009 at 10:00 pm

    This is my daily entry. Thank you.

  49. Melanie
    February 24, 2009 at 10:14 pm

    I would love to read this, it sounds like it would be really well-written.

  50. Jen S.
    February 24, 2009 at 10:48 pm

    my tuesday entry

« Older Comments
Newer Comments »