Sunday, February 24, 2008

Book Review: Bound on Earth

I have been so excited about the release of this book that I have already told many of you about it. But I wanted to wait until I had actually read it and could recommend it before I blogged about it.

Andrew's sister has been published!
"Bound on Earth" by Angela Hallstrom
came out earlier this month.
(If you go to her website and click
"Bound on Earth" and scroll down
a bit, you can read an excerpt.)

We ordered our copy from Amazon as soon as it was available and both Andrew and I were thrilled with it. It is about a fictional Mormon family, the Palmers. It is unique from other novels I've read because each chapter is written from a different family member's perspective. And not only does it alternate between characters, it doesn't flow chronologically. As Andrew put it, it has flash forwards and flashbacks, just like LOST. Loved that. Although when I was about three-fourths of the way through the book, I found myself thinking, "I don't see how there can be any resolution to this book. How can this end well?" But Angie pulled it off. The last chapter has a great sense of bringing everything together.

I also loved the characters in the book. (Or at least most of them. There are, of course, a couple of villains.) I felt as if they were new friends or long-lost cousins and I got acquainted with them as I read. I found that I didn't want to put it down because I wanted to get to know them better and better.

I highly recommend this book and actually have an extra copy for my local friends if you want to borrow it. And I'm not the only one giving it rave reviews. If you click on the Amazon link, you can read what some real critics are saying about it. So far, everyone has given it five stars. Impressive.

By the way, isn't the cover art beautiful? Going along with the talent in that gene pool, Andrew's brother, Anthony, did the artwork. I guess Andrew's in charge of bringing the fame and fortune to our family. I gave it a try when I auditioned for American Idol. My plan failed... Your turn, honey!

12 comments:

Sandy said...

Wow! Very impressive! And the cover art is beautiful - way to go! Maybe Andrew and Brandon can make the feature film of the book, or at least the YouTube version:) I'll definitely have to keep an eye out for this one!

Ang said...

Aww, Andi, you're the best. You know, I was so nervous to hear what both you and Andrew thought of the book, because I really do care a lot about both of your opinions. I was so glad that you liked it! Thanks again for your support.

And by the way, I think that Andrew is getting a bit of a bloggernacle following now, so who knows? Maybe there will be a book in his future too. And then everybody will read YOUR blog, and you can publish your very own "Out of the Mouths of Babes" daily calendar and become rich and famous. :-)

Anonymous said...

I loved the book too, Andi - I felt like the characters were real - especially Kyle and his wife. I read it out loud to dad last week as we drove to St. George and had to stop reading every 5 minutes because I'd get all choked up - I didn't think it would do that to me since I'd read most of the stories before, but it was so elegant in book form that it was like reading it for the first time!
As always, I look forward with gusto to reading everything you post.
Love,
Grandma Sweat

Natalie said...

Wow that is sooo cool! Can't wait to read it!

Erika said...

I'd love to borrow it if you haven't already given it out. You can bring it with you when you come to VT me tomorrow.

shelley said...

I am currently finishing two books right now, so put me down for borrowing after Erika. She'll take 5 years to read it (ha Erika!), so by the time she's done I'll be ready for it.

Carrie said...

That is so cool! I think your copy will be borrowed out for awhile, so I think I will actually go buy it. : ) I have been dying for a good read lately. I just finished my second book this month that I was disappointed in. I can't wait!
~Carrie

Joey/Denny/Emma said...

I just got 3 copies of Angie's book in the mail today and can't wait to read it.

Anonymous said...

I am on the list after Shelley...I should have time in 5 years....I will put it on my calendar.

Laura said...

The book sounds great! I want to read it, too. So is Angie Andrew's sister or sister-in-law?!

andrea said...

Kelly--April, who is not a blog-reader, actually requested after Shelley. So I have you 4th on my list. You'll still be around here in five years, right? :)

Laura--It's Andrew's sister. Hallstrom is her married name.

Gayla Schmidt said...

Andrew's sister was my 10th grade English teacher! What a small world! I look forward to reading her book!