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Sunday, October 24, 2010

Giveaway: The Tower, The Zoo, and The Tortoise

by:  Julia Stuart

From Goodreads:  Brimming with charm and whimsy, this exquisite novel set in the Tower of London has the transportive qualities and delightful magic of the contemporary classics Chocolat and Amélie.

Balthazar Jones has lived in the Tower of London with his loving wife, Hebe, and his 120-year-old pet tortoise for the past eight years. That’s right, he is a Beefeater (they really do live there). It’s no easy job living and working in the tourist attraction in present-day London.

Among the eccentric characters who call the Tower’s maze of ancient buildings and spiral staircases home are the Tower’s Rack & Ruin barmaid, Ruby Dore, who just found out she’s pregnant; portly Valerie Jennings, who is falling for ticket inspector Arthur Catnip; the lifelong bachelor Reverend Septimus Drew, who secretly pens a series of principled erot­ica; and the philandering Ravenmaster, aiming to avenge the death of one of his insufferable ravens.

When Balthazar is tasked with setting up an elaborate menagerie within the Tower walls to house the many exotic animals gifted to the Queen, life at the Tower gets all the more interest­ing. Penguins escape, giraffes are stolen, and the Komodo dragon sends innocent people running for their lives. Balthazar is in charge and things are not exactly running smoothly. Then Hebe decides to leave him and his beloved tortoise “runs” away.

Filled with the humor and heart that calls to mind the delight­ful novels of Alexander McCall Smith, and the charm and beauty of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise is a magical, wholly origi­nal novel whose irresistible characters will stay with you long after you turn the stunning last page.

Personally, I just couldn't get into this book.  I tried 3 different times and it just wasn't my cup of tea (haha).  However, it's getting quite the rave reviews so it must be really good!  Now you can find out for yourself. 

I have 2 copies of this book to giveaway from the publisher (Thanks Doubleday!) so publisher rules apply.  US addresses only and no PO boxes.  I'll pick winners on Nov. 1. 

To enter just leave a comment on this post with a valid email address.  If you would like an extra entry you can mention this giveaway on Twitter or Facebook and leave a link to it in a separate comment.  Good Luck!

25 comments:

SarahEm said...

I'd like to be entered to win this.

smartin_90(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

SarahEm said...

I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/?status=Giveaway:++The+Tower,+The+Zoo,+and+The+Tortoise+http://networkedblogs.com/9zElj#!/sarah_3m/status/28610879665

smartin_90(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

Vegetarian Cannibal said...

Oooh! Free stuff!

tkturner.writer@gmail.com

Mary Grace said...

I've been wanting to read this. :)

greyz.greyz@gmail.com

Kelly aka yllektra(I Work For Books) said...

Not eligible to enter, but this looks like a cute book!
Thanks so much for the rec! XD

Kelly said...

Thanks for the giveaway :)

kellyrochford(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I love the illustrations on the cover - assuming that way througout

Karen and Gerard said...

My husband agrees with you--he skimmed the last 50 pages. Here's a link to his review if interested:
http://ourstack.blogspot.com/2010/09/tower-zoo-and-tortoise-by-julia-stuart.html

sablelexi said...

Oh, I'd love to be entered for a chance to win this book.

jlynettes @ hotmail . com

mindy said...

these look great thanks for the giveaway minsthins at optonline dot net

Amber said...

This book looks like such fun - I hope I win!
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

Amber said...

I tweeted: http://twitter.com/AmberGoo/status/28728517011
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I'd love to win this book for my niece Thanks for the giveaway
tanyainjville at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

tweeted
http://twitter.com/starryeyed24/status/28736653398

Nicole C. said...

I would love to read this book.

choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

Mia J. said...

This sounds wonderful. I would definitely like to read this.

mia at jacobsracing dot com

bison61 said...

please sign me up

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Emily Rogers said...

Please enter me and thank you for hosting this giveaway!

seriously [dot] reading [at] gmail [dot] com

Mary said...

I have this on my list of books I want to read.

mryward(at)yahoo(dot)com

saturdaynightfever said...

I would like to read this!

edgenemmers@gmail.com

esldiane@gmail.com said...

Thank you-I have been wanting to read this.
Diane Baum
esldiane@gmail.com

Breanne said...

Thanks for the giveaway!

bmweida at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

Seems like an awesome prize!!

parca650@yahoo.com

loni broesch said...

I would like this for my niece and nephew

trippyjanet at hotmail dot com

Vivien said...

Awesome giveaway!

deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com