Blog Tour Time (again)! LOST AND FOUND by Carolyn Parkhurst *
Ready for a cast full of characters that keep you guessing at every commercial segment... err I mean page turn? Carolyn Parkhurst's LOST AND FOUND will give it to you. The bulk of the storyline takes place during a reality television show (you guessed it, named Lost and Found). The participants all hiding personal secrets from the American public and we follow along for a ride that just keeps you guessing.The characters are what make this book. Not only are each and every one of them believable, they are simultaneously almost unreal. How? Well, can you imagine an "Ex-gay" born-again Christian couple, millionaires, grown-up child television stars, a divorced but seemingly normal guy and a goofball brother, a mother and teenage daughter with a shared secret (and another that well, surfaces) all working against each other to beat the clock and each other's intelligence? Well, it is in this book. And the characters work well in this setting--it's reality television for crying out loud. How can it NOT happen?
From page one you are thrown into the chaos that one would imagine as a television game show contestant. Or at least ones that are on a global scavenger hunt. And then you turn to page two and you are suddenly flashed into the past and all the secrets that haunt these participants. It's a nice twist of current events with those of the past (and others of the present) and how, as humans, we try to hide our true selves from the rest of the world. Especially under the microscope of a television camera.
I must admit to wanting to attempt my fate at reality television. At least a few years ago when MTV's Real World was airing. When I was still pretty much single and envious of a life in the city. But then again, what late teen doesn't have grandiose dreams of living the life of a somewhat celebrity that the world loves? (Okay, maybe I was delusional. And a bit of a drama queen).
Anyway, the book is fun, fabulous, fast... and really does touch on so many deep topics I hate to even bring them up here (okay here's a few: sexuality in general, growing up, parenting, illness, marriage, homosexuality, violence). It doesn't take a light approach to any of them either. Carolyn just stares them down and tackles them one by one through each of the complex and honest characters in the book.
Don't worry, you don't get bogged down in the television show creation details. Well sure, you learn the names of some of the camera, lighting, and sound crew. As well as the use of microphones, production assistants, and some of the behind the scenes guidance... I mean antics--but the gut of the story is with the characters. And how they grow. How in the end, they're just ordinary people with events in their lives. Just like the rest of us. And that is what makes this book such a great read.
So here's the goods to keep you occupied. And of course to buy the book!
* As always, this post is brought to you by the lovely women at MotherTalk. I get a free book and small gift certificate for my time to read and review. I'm in it for the books people. I love the books. And of course supporting a fellow author!
