Tuesday 27 March 2012

Review, Guest Post & $25 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway: Doodling by Jonathan Gould

Original Title: Doodling
Author: Jonathan Gould
Published Date:  January 24th 2011
Genre:  Fantasy, Children's, Humor


BOOK DESCRIPTION

Neville Lansdowne fell off the world.

Actually he did not so much fall off as let go. The world had been moving so quickly lately and Neville was finding it almost impossible to keep up.

Doodling is an engaging comic fantasy which relates the events that befall Neville after he finds himself abandoned by the world and adrift in the middle of an asteroid field. Douglas Adams meets Lewis Carroll (with just a touch of Gulliver's Travels) as Neville wanders through his new home, meeting a variety of eccentric characters and experiencing some most unexpected adventures.

REVIEW

Some books cannot be made sense logically, but you still want to read them and the surprise is, in addition to you liking them, you will recommend it to everyone you see! (Of course, when I recommend it to non-readers, they look at me, as though I am mad. :) )   So, one such novel is Flidderbugs!  And when I know that the author has written another book, usually the expectation would be great..so, I picked up "Doodling" with that expectation.

As soon as I saw the word 'doodling', I searched the word meaning in WordWeb, you know the Ctrl + Alt + W stuff (well, most programmers and testers live on it for proper documentation)..according to WordWeb,

doodling => "make a doodle; draw aimlessly"
doodle => "An aimless drawing"

So, I wondered what this is all about.  And I did the only thing I could do - started reading the book.

Neville was running so fast to keep up with this Earth.  But, however fast he runs, the Earth moves faster. At last he can't keep up, and he let go..  He is thrown off into the asteroid field and wanders around looking for a new home.  He meets new people (some mad!), interesting asteroids and learns new things.  As he more and more people, he learns that the world is going more faster than before and its soon going to crash on other asteroids (where the fallen ones live) and create a massive destruction.  Will Neville be able to stop the Earth from crashing on them, with the help of so many mad people?  You have to read it!

Although this book didn't disappoint, it is still not as good as Flidderbugs.  And the reason is, at some point, even though I understand this is children's book, I can't help questioning certain things like Boring asteroid, Toaster asteroid (seriously??), etc.   That's the only disadvantage with these books - NOT suitable for adults.  But, still you can provide it to your kids - HIGHLY recommended to kids!

So, the star rating is strictly based on the recommendation that this book is for kids!



GUEST POST BY JONATHAN GOULD

Jonathan Gould is a Melbourne-based writer and doodler.

He calls his stories "dag-lit" because they're the sort of stories that don't easily fit into the standard genres. Some might think of them as comic fantasies, or modern fairytales for the young and the young-at-heart.

Over the years, his writing has been compared to Douglas Adams, Monty Python, A.A. Milne, Lewis Carroll, the Goons, Dr Seuss and even Enid Blyton (in a good way).

Here is a guest post by the author, that I am discussing about it for the past few days with everyone I know or chat! :)


10 THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT ME


I’d like to start off by thanking Vidya for having me here at Books are Magic for the second time. I have to say, what a great title for a blog.  Books definitely are magic.  I know because mine seem to disappear all the time – and magically reappear in my kids’ rooms.

So here are 10 things you might not know about me:

1.  I’m not six feet tall. I always wanted to be six feet tall. It was one of my ambitions when I was a kid. I ended up being five foot eleven. That probably explains a lot about the person I am. Maybe it sounds a bit cooler in the metric system where I’m exactly 180 centimetres but I so did want to be 6 feet tall.

2.  I’m a left brain dominant person (I know – I got tested) who writes with his left hand. That’s not the usual way it works. Most people write with the opposite hand to their dominant brain side. You can tell the people writing with their “wrong” hand because they hook it around (apparently). It probably explains why my writing is so terrible (note – when I say writing, I’m referring to handwriting, not story writing. I like to think my story writing is a bit better than that).

3.  Actually, when it comes to “handedness” I’m totally mixed up. There are a lot of things I do with my left hand but also lots I do with my right hand – especially when it comes to sports. Most bat and racquet sports I do right-handed, but I shoot a bow-and-arrow left-handed and I bowl (as in cricket) with my left-hand. I kick a football with my left foot. I like to call myself semi-ambidextrous. Mind you, I suck at most sports so go figure.

4.  I never throw out my clothes. My closet is just getting fuller and fuller. Luckily, I hardly ever go shopping so it’s not as bad as it could be. I reckon I’ve got clothes in there dating back 20 years. And the saddest thing is – I still wear some of them.

5.  If I had a choice, I’d rather be a musician than a writer. I think music is the highest form of art. It’s the form we all respond to most viscerally. But if you ever heard me sing or play an instrument, you’d be happy that I chose writing. And I suppose as art forms go, writing is really not too bad.

6.  The very first things I wrote, when I decided I wanted to be a writer, were comedy sketches. The very first sketch I wrote was about a man walking into an employment office and claiming he was the Cat in the Hat. Amazingly it turned out to be quite good. One of these days, I plan to put it, and some of the other ones, onto YouTube.

7.  I’m forgetful. I completely forgot what I was going to write for this item. Oh well. I guess it can’t have been that important.

8.  I’m allergic to Elastoplast bandages. I discovered it years ago when I was a kid. I’d cut my finger on a tin of cat food and asked the doctor to make a really elaborate bandage so I could impress the other kids at school. Big mistake. A week later, my hand had blown up to three times its normal size.

9.  My favourite hobby, after writing, is sleeping. And, like writing, I just never seem to be able to do as much as I’d like to.

10.  I’m still deciding what I think about social media, especially Twitter. Sometimes I feel like I’d like to set up an anti-Twitter. You start off following everybody and then you gradually unfollow until you’ve found a nice, quiet little spot.

11.  I don’t count so well. How many of these was I meant to be doing?

$25 AMAZON GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY

Jonathan will be giving away a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter from the tour and the host with the most comments (excluding Jonathan's and the host's) will receive a $20 Amazon GC.


ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS COMMENT ON THIS POST TO HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN $25 AMAZON GIFT CARD!  GIVEAWAY OPEN INTERNATIONALLY!

This post is a part of the tour for "Goddess Fish Promotions"


Other ongoing Goddess Fish giveaways:
 
Soul Seduction - $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commentor
Flidderbugs - $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commentor

41 comments:

  1. I LOVE Douglas Adams! If this book is anything like his work then I'm all over it! Thanks for the giveaway. I'm very excited to read!

    megnate at telus dot net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Maegan,

      I'm also a massive fan - I even have an autographed Hitch-hikers guide.

      Hope you like it.

      Delete
  2. Loved the guest post.
    Please enter me.
    Thanks for the giveaway.

    ~Steph
    soklad82@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Pain SUX. I hope that's not your name - though I do agree with it.

      Thanks for your comment.

      Delete
  3. I love getting to know the guest writers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Susan,

      You might not say that if you knew me better.

      All the best.

      Delete
  4. Never heard of this author before! Thank you for the introduction!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mimi,

      That's ok, sometimes I'm not sure I've heard of me either.

      Cheers.

      Delete
  5. I loved your list. Very interesting and a great way to help us get to know you. I can't wait to check out your book. lisarayns at yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lisa,

      Thanks for your comment - hope you enjoy.

      Delete
  6. Hi Vidya,

    Thanks for having me back again and thanks again for the kind words about the books.

    I'm interested in knowing what people think about audiences for books - are some books just for children or can they be enjoyed by adults as well?

    And I can't leave without a plug for my novel - Magnus Opum - Tolkien meets Dr Seuss. Available from Sunday. Check http://daglit.blogspot.com for details.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you for your review.

    I found myself laughing as I read the list of ten.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Marybelle,

      A laugh is always a good thing. Ten laughs is ten times as good.

      Cheers.

      Delete
  8. Thanks for the giveaway. This guest post was funny. My favorite was the Twitter comment. I think people really do that to get followers w/o following back...lol!

    Cheers!
    studiokd3[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Katrina,

      Thanks for your comment. Twitter is one of those funny things I feel I need to be on but haven't quite worked out why.

      Delete
  9. I love the book cover. I will have to check this book out!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi DisneyMom,

      Thanks for your comment. I am really pleased to work with such a great cover artist.

      Delete
  10. I am so grateful for the guest interviews. Otherwise there are alot of books I might over look :) thank you for the contest
    diannaandpaul@yahoo.(com)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cakelady,

      I like your name - can I have some please (chocolate is my favourite).

      Delete
  11. How many of us have ever felt like we just don't fit in with life as it is today? I have often felt like this, like I had fallen off the world as we know it and was just flailing along out there somewhere. Sounds like I might fit in with Neville. At least it makes me want to read Doodling! Thanks for the giveaway. I could use it to purchase Doodling.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi PuttPutt...

      Sometimes I'm not sure if it's me not fitting with life or life not fitting with me.

      Delete
  12. Awesome cover!
    And ...you know..beside the normal bookish stuff we all have in common , that's my fave hobby :sleeping :D

    rallu.93 (@gmail.com)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Daydreamer,

      Glad you like the cover.

      PS - your name is my third favourite hobby.

      Delete
  13. I have had so much fun following your tours. Your books sound so good, and I am happy that you got a good review. I am getting both books for gifts for the kids. I love them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi MomJane,

      It's been great to see you each day too.

      Delete
  14. Greetings from Canada eh.
    Thanks for the interesting review,
    agree that books are magical too.
    Wow, to be able to snag a gc is wonderful.
    follow by gfc - dayleb
    dayleb at telus dot net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Vinci,

      Struth and g'day from Australia, mate.

      Delete
  15. Always up for a fun read. It helps me work out, I don't know why. The money would go towards my prom dress!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Renee,

    A fun read is a workout for the brain.

    All the best.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I bet you look daggy in those 20 year old clothes!

    And count me in on the anti-Twitter. There's something so empowering about un-following or un-liking or un-friending someone.

    Here's my Twitter handle: @capefearlibn. Feel free to follow me and then un-follow me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Catherine,

      I'm the king of daggy when I walk down the street.

      Thanks for the twitter info - I'm @jonno_go - we can unfollow each other.

      Delete
    2. I am an avid reader I have 2 Kindles with almost 300 books on them.I hope Doodling is on Amazon If not I will buy it.I want it for my grand kids.

      Delete
    3. Hi Sally,

      Doodling is most definitely at Amazon - check out my website: http://daglit.blogspot.com for details.

      Delete
  18. I am a huge fan! I loved Flidderbugs and I can't wait to read this one!
    sqwalker2@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. great interview and wonderful giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  20. i am he have something in common! i never get rid of clothese, it takes alot for me to get rid of them! rips dont even do it for me, i have too much clutter! i cant wait to read his book! Thanks for a super giveaway!
    My email: anashct1 [at] yahoo [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Very fun post. Thanks for sharing.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete

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