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Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Medina Hill by Trilby Kent + Giveaway

Medina Hill
by Trilby Kent


Summary

In the grimy London of 1935, eleven-year-old Dominic Walker has lost his voice. His mother is sick and his father’s unemployed. Rescue comes in the form of his Uncle Roo, who arrives to take him and his young sister, Marlo, to Cornwall. There, in a boarding house populated by eccentric residents, Marlo, who keeps a death grip on her copy of The New Art of Cooking, and Dominic, armed with Incredible Adventures for Boys: Colonel Lawrence and the Revolt in the Desert, find a way of life unlike any they have known. Dominic’s passion for Lawrence of Arabia is tested when he finds himself embroiled in a village uprising against a band of travelers who face expulsion. In defending the vulnerable, Dominic learns what it truly means to have a voice.

Review
Trilby creates the backdrop of this book beautifully, combining the feel of London in the 1930s and the escape into the past with Lawrence of Arabia. The difficulty of life during that period is evident in the parents of Dominic and Marlo - their mother ill and father unemployed. But, they each find their own outlets in different books. These interests peak when they leave with their Uncle Roo and connect with other people who bear the same interests. I love how their coping mechanisms grow into something tangible and important, not just slip to the side when taken away from the uncomfortable situation at home.

The story holds your interest with the different events taking place. While you follow Dominic during most of the book, you get a great sense of Marlo and her own struggles. Add in the gypsies, especially one young girl, that live nearby Uncle Roo's home, and we find Dominic partaking more enchanting and fun adventures. There are other characters that add color to the pages, each one with such differing personalities and background that anyone could find a character to relate to - or know of a person just like them.

I had a personal connection to this book that really put me into Dominic's shoes during his journey to speaking again. When I entered Kindergarten, I did not talk at school - at all. I was over it by the end of the year, but from that experience, I can definitely relate to the main character. Overall, I fell in love with the story and the characters and you really can't ask for anything more from a book.


About the author:
Trilby Kent was born in Toronto, Ontario, and grew up in cities on both sides of the Atlantic. After completing degrees at Oxford University and The London School of Economics, she worked in the rare books department at a prominent auction house before turning to writing feature articles for publication in Europe and North America. She now lives in London, England. Medina Hill is Trilby Kent’s first novel.

To purchase a copy, click here.

For a full list of the blog tour stops, check out Tundra Books' blog.



If you would like to read a copy of Medina Hill, I've got great news! Tundra books has offered to give away a copy to one person.

Giveaway rules are as follows:

1. Open to US & Canada
2. Please include your email address with your comment(s).
3. Contest ends Friday, November 19th at 11:59 pm CST
4. How to get points:

+1 Comment below

+1 Comment on Trilby's guest blog post

+2 follow my blog - email, RSS, or blogger

+2 for everytime you link this contest (please leave a link!)

29 comments:

  1. +1 I would love to read this book it sounds really amazing
    +2 Im a follower

    usignolc(at)yahooDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  2. +1I'm really interested in reading this book, it sounds really good.

    +1 commented on Trilby's blog post
    +2 follower

    justaiv09(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  3. This sounds like a great book! No need to enter me in the drawing, but thanks for a thoughtful review that puts this book on my radar :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. This one sounds much more interesting that I first thought.

    whitreidsmama at yahoo dot com

    And I follow through Google Reader.

    ReplyDelete
  5. sounds interesting, Please enter me.

    +2-Follower

    findjessyhere at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. There certainly aren't very many novels I've come across where one of the main characters has selective mutism. That's fascinating to me!

    +1 commented on guest post
    +2 follower

    melacan at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. +1 This sounds so good, I've read a ton of great reviews.

    +2 follower

    +2 sidebar (http://thebookscout.blogspot.com)

    Kelsey
    kelseythebookscout at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. +1 im really interested in reading this book!

    emilyb3342@bellsouth.net

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'd love to be entered!

    +1 comment
    +2 follow
    +2 linked to sidebar @ http://thehidingspot.blogspot.com
    +2 linked in tweet (@thehidingspot)

    Thanks!
    grochowskis@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. this looks wonderful thanks minsthins at optonline dot net

    ReplyDelete
  11. This books sounds a bit eclectic and kooky, with some characters that will definitely keep me interested in the story.
    seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I just became a follower via google.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm interested in this book. Please enter me.

    +2 follower

    linna.hsu at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm interested in reading this!

    +2 Subscriber via Reader...

    janemaritz at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. The review on this book is sooo
    good, I would love to read it.
    A book for my wish list.
    I follow by email.
    I follow by google reader.

    A super book to win.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sounds like a good book.

    tirachii@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. This sounds like a great book and deviates from the type of books i would normally read. This one already has my interest.

    +1 comment on Trilby's guest blog
    +2 I'm a follower

    susan.byerly@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  18. +1 Please enter me!
    +2 blog follower

    squiggles87(At)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. The history geek in me cannot wait to read this book; neither can the book-lover! :) Please enter me!

    krtrumpet [at] aol [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Please count me in.

    I follow.

    simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. This book sounds really good. Count me in, please!

    +2 Follower
    +2 Linked this contest to my sidebar
    http://limericksbookspot.blogspot.com/

    Thanks for the chance to win this book!

    Sarah
    two_of_hearts_101 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. yes please, I would love to read this-thanks for the chance to win it
    kakihararocks@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. +1 Comment I would love to win this book, sounds very good

    +2 follow my blog - email, RSS, or blogger

    copperllama at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. COMMENT:

    lying_innocence@yahoo.ca

    ReplyDelete
  25. I'd love to enter!!

    choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  26. +1 Sounds like a good read.Please enter me. Thanks!

    +2 I follow through email subscription.

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hi :)
    I could have sworn I already commented to enter but I guess not.
    I am a Follower.
    Email's in my Blogger Profile.
    Thank you for the opportunity to win.
    All the best,
    RKCharron
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love really good historical fiction. Would love to win.
    +1 mcmholt [at] gmail [dot] com
    +2 I am a follower-your own my blog roll.

    tks-

    ReplyDelete
  29. I would love to win this book. Then again I love to win anything! XD
    +1 hyperallison@gmail.com
    +2 Follower
    Allison

    ReplyDelete

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