Review: Rarity from the Hollow


Book Review: Rarity from the Hollow, by Robert Eggleton


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Lacy Dawn's father relives the Gulf War, her mother's teeth are rotting out, and her best friend is murdered by the meanest daddy on Earth. Life in The Hollow isn't great. But Lacy has one advantage -- she's been befriended by a semi-organic, semi-robot who works with her to cure her parents. He wants something in exchange, though. It's up to her to save the Universe. To prepare Lacy for her coming task, she is being schooled daily via direct downloads into her brain. Some of these courses tell her how to apply magic to resolve everyday problems much more pressing to her than a universe in big trouble, like those at home and at school. She doesn't mind saving the universe, but her own family and friends come first. Will Lacy Dawn's predisposition, education, and magic be enough for her to save the Universe, Earth, and, most importantly, protect her own family?

Genre: fiction / science fiction

Publication date: November 2015

Mature content: not explicit, but it is clearly a book for mature audiences

Review:  Rarity From the Hollow is a difficult book to read, and an even harder book to rate. I don't even know if it falls under the general fiction or the science fiction category. I do know I have never read a book quite like it. 

In a way, reading Rarity from the Hollow made me sad, because there's just so much darkness in it, so many troubles weighting on the shoulders of a little girl who has to deal with her family problems, the death of her best friend and still has to save the world. It made me think of my own two kids and how would they deal with even a fraction of all that. 



My only complaint about Rarity from the Hollow is that I felt the science fiction part detracted a bit from the seriousness of the underlying social issues. I know it is supposed to be a satire, but it's a bit a too dark one for my taste, especially in the last part of the book. In same chapters the story reads a bit like a teenage adventure, even though the problems faced by the main character and the language used are anything but.

Still, it is thoroughly original, and I'm glad I read it, so I'm thankful to the author for providing me with a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.


About the author: Robert Eggleton has served as a children's advocate in an impoverished state for over forty years. Locally, he is best known for his nonfiction about children’s programs and issues, much of which was published by the West Virginia Supreme Court where he worked from1982 through 1997. Today, he is a retired children's psychotherapist from the mental health center in Charleston, West Virginia, where he specialized in helping victims cope with and overcome maltreatment and other mental health concerns. Rarity from the Hollow is his debut novel. Its release followed publication of three short Lacy Dawn Adventures in magazines. Half of the author proceeds with the sale of Rarity from the Hollow are donated to a child abuse prevention program operated by Children's Home Society of West Virginia.

Happy Tuesday, 

the book worm, book blog

Comments

  1. Hi Teresa,

    Happy New Year! I hope that you're doing okay. After Christmas sales are tallied, the publisher is going to make the next deposit of author proceeds from the Rarity from the Hollow project into the nonprofit agency's account for the prevention of child maltreatment. Millions of American children spent this holiday in temporary shelters. A lot more world-wide likely spent their respective "holidays" in worse conditions. Having once been the director of emergency children's shelters in West Virginia, it is still heartbreaking to think about children not having a "real" family during Christmas. I remember the faces, the smiles and thank yous for the presents from staff, but….

    I also wanted you to know that the novel received a very cool review by Amazing Stories Magazine. This is my tweet: “Amusing at times, shocking at others, a touching and somehow wonderful SFF read.” Full review by Amazing Stories Magazine: http://bit.ly/2kbsAlV On Sale for Christmas: http://amzn.to/2lF5BPS Proceeds help maltreated children: www.childhswv.org

    Thanks again for the review. I just shared the link to your blog again on social media. Your support has been appreciated and anything that you can do to help promote this project will continue to be appreciated. Do you have a Twitter account?

    Take care,

    Robert
    https://twitter.com/roberteggleton1
    https://www.amazon.com/Rarity-Hollow-Robert-Eggleton/dp/190713395X/
    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rarity-Hollow-Robert-Eggleton/dp/1907133062


    P.S. Just FYI, here's the link to a review that nailed the political parody in my story, connected the tragedy with the comedy, and its overall child welfare interests within this climate of adversity in America. https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R2RAXNLSHTUDUF/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=190713395X I thought that you might appreciate reading this review.

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