Thursday, August 13, 2009

Giveaway & Book Review: The Impostor's Daughter by Laurie Sandell




When I first laid eyes on The Impostor's Daughter, I knew I was about to read a rather unique book: a memoir presented in graphic novel form. But once you go beyond the packaging, deep into Laurie
Sandell's story, you will find that there is much more to The Impostor's Daughter than a flashy presentation. Sandell's memoir traces the path that she took to reveal the truth about her eloquent and heroic father--who may also be a liar of epic proportions--and the struggle Sandell went through to grapple with her own identity in the shadow of her father's.

Whether she got it from her father or not,
Sandell has a great talent for storytelling; she knows how to draw the reader in and keep them captivated. Indeed, much of The Impostor's Daughter reads like a good suspense novel: a domineering and charismatic man is slowly revealed to be a huckster; who knows what the damage will be on those around him? Sandell seems to be aware of the element of mystery as she crafts the pacing extremely well; at any point in the story, she reveals just enough information to keep you hooked without giving away where the narrative will end up.

The book's weak point is, well, the "graphic" part of "graphic novel." Don't get me wrong, I don't have much experience with the genre, but the novels I have read--Persepolis, V for Vendetta--had significantly better artwork.
Sandell includes artwork she made as a child in several frames, and the talent displayed in the rest of book barely surpasses her childhood capabilities. I wonder if she would not have been better served to hire a dedicated artist to sketch out her ideas instead.

But at the end of the day, the artwork doesn't distract from the story, which is very near flawless. My one piece of advice is this: approach this as a novel with pictures rather than a graphic novel, and you won't be disappointed.

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Now for the giveaway! Thanks to Anna and the good people at
Hachette, I have five copies of The Impostor's Daughter to give away.

The Rules

1. The contest will run until midnight EST on
August 31st.
2. Unfortunately, this giveaway is limited to the United States and Canada only, and no P.O. Box addresses can be accepted.
3. To enter, just leave a comment with your e-mail address so that I can contact you if you win.
4. For additional entries, you can:
+1 Follow my blog
+1 Subscribe by reader
+1 Subscribe by e-mail
+3 Post on your blog about this contest (either sidebar or post is
fine; include the link in your comment)
+1 Tweet about this contest (include the link in your comment)
5. Please post a separate comment for each entry.

Good luck!

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MckLinky Blog Hop

84 comments:

  1. follower
    sibscribe by reader AND email
    posted on sidebar (http://readingwatchingliving.blogspot.com)

    ReplyDelete
  2. email sub.
    posted on sidebar (http://readingwatchingliving.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. posted on sidebar (http://readingwatchingliving.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I would love to read "The Impostor's Daughter."

    My email is teakettle58@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. teakettle58@yahoo.com

    I follow by email
    I follow by reader

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have linked to you from my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I tried tweeting. All it say is "Good morning" with "Teakettle" beside it. I never can find where to write a message. I did go. Please give me a little credit for trying.

    ReplyDelete
  8. My link to you is on my http://ilovelovebooks.blogspot.com blog. I have a lot of blogs. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  9. please enter me in the book giveaway con5459(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hope i win.

    krystal3733@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I would so love to read this... thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I would love to win. I now have time to read while children are in school.

    ryspenc@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Any comment, alright let's go with, 'thank you for your contest and your blog'.

    ReplyDelete
  14. This looks like an interesting book that I'd like to read. Please enter me in the giveaway.

    abfantom at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'd love tp win this book. I subscribe with google reader:

    dd DOT bookgoddess AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  16. This sounds like a really interesting book! Thanks for the contest!

    jlsemon at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the chance to win a copy. (krstrpp at hotmail dot com)

    ReplyDelete
  18. I haven't read a graphic novel in today's style, so this would be interesting.
    If you have chance, stop by my blog and enter for my $15 Gift Certificate to my Etsy store (something for almost everyone)
    http://prayersncrafts.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Please inclue me in your giveaway.
    Thanks
    Debbie
    debdesk9(at)verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  20. I am a follower.
    Thanks
    Debbie
    debdesk9(at)verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  21. I am a subscriber.
    Thanks
    Debbie
    debdesk9(at)verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi, I found your posting at Book Blogs. Thanks.

    gahome2mom/at/gmail/dot/com

    I posted it on my MckLinky too. :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love book sweeps and am fortunate to win a few...I had two books that I read on my camping vacation and ran out but was lucky enough that the local library was selling books for a buck :)
    the best sweep is a book sweep lol
    sabina do edwards at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Please enter me in this contest.

    linmoe@sympatico.ca

    ReplyDelete
  25. Please enter my name in your draw. Thank you very much!
    wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I became a follower of your blog about 5 minutes ago.
    wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I subscribe through Google Reader.
    wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  28. This looks like a really great book!

    orchestratenoise0726[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Enter me please.
    jwx4 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I am an email subscriber and would love to win this b00k,

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  31. I am a new follower.

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

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  32. I've never red a graphic novel, so this sounds interesting!
    smchester at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I follow your blog now!
    smchester at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I've seen this book around lately and would love to read it. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I love graphic novels. It sounds awesome

    jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  36. looks great thanks minsthins at optonline dot net

    ReplyDelete
  37. I would like to be entered!

    delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  38. This looks like an interesting book that I'd like to read. Please enter me in the giveaway. jelly15301@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  39. E-mail subscriber. jelly15301@gmail.com

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  40. Google reader subscriber. jelly15301@gmail.com

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  41. Blog follower. jelly15301@gmail.com

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  42. Sounds like an intriguing story.
    Theresa N
    weceno(At)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  43. I would love to win!

    egreca (at) hotmail {dot}{ com

    ReplyDelete
  44. Would love to win this book!

    jlhal@verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  45. This looks like a really interesting and easy read. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  46. I would like to read this book

    rhondastruthers at yahoo dot ca

    ReplyDelete
  47. I subscribe

    rhondastruthers at yahoo dot ca

    ReplyDelete
  48. I follow

    rhondastruthers at yahoo dot ca

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  49. i love reading, and would love a copy

    andie(dot)v107(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  50. please sign me up

    tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  51. I'd love to explore this genre of book.
    Thanks so much!
    pamelashockley(AT)netscape(DOT)net

    ReplyDelete
  52. I signed up as a follower.
    Thanks so much!
    pamelashockley(AT)netscape(DOT)net

    ReplyDelete
  53. I would love to win this.
    erma.hurtt@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  54. I love graphic novels. They are able to tell a story with much more nuance and less words. Thanks for this giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  55. Thanks for the great giveaway. I'd love to read this.
    eswright18 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  56. count me in! I don't usually read this type of novel but it sounds interesting

    ReplyDelete
  57. I would love to read this book. Please enter me. Thanks!

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  58. I just subscribed by email!

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

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  59. Sounds intriguing and interesting. Enter me please! daniriddles at gmail dot com

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  60. I would love a chance to win! Thank you!!

    tiffanys819 at gmail dot com

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  61. I'd love to read this! Please enter me!
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  62. I follow your blog! mom2anutball

    hawkgirl_16{at}hotmail{dot}com

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  63. Love graphic novels!

    patronus89013[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  64. Thanks for the giveaway!
    nazatraz(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  65. I've not yet read anything by Laurie Sandell, but I think I'm going to be a new fan! :)

    ReplyDelete
  66. Thanks for the chance to win!
    mannasweeps (at)) gmaildotcom

    ReplyDelete
  67. Sounds like a really good read! Thanks for the chance!

    sherri419 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  68. I've been wanting to read this for a while.
    Thanks for the chance!

    ReplyDelete