Book Review and Giveaway: Airmail

Synopsis from Amazon:
Reclusive old Mr. G.L. Solomon's favorite things are single malt whiskey, Steve McQueen movies, and gingersnap cookies. He hates processed cheese, washing detergent commercials, and the way the teacup rattles in the saucer when he picks it up. Solomon has become accustomed to his lonely routine in Sydney, Australia-until the day he begins sporadically receiving letters in his mailbox from a complete stranger. On the other side of the world, Anouk is a mentally delicate young woman living in New York who insists she is being stalked by a fat woman in a pink tracksuit. When Anouk declares to Solomon that she is writing "from the Other Side," the old man breaks away from his daily grind of watching soap operas and reading Fishing World and travels to New York to find her. As he is drawn into Anouk's surreal world of stalkers and storytelling, marbles and cats, purgatory and Plato, Solomon has but one goal-to unravel the mystery before it is too late.


About the Author:
Naomi Bulger is an Australian journalist who moved to New York City for adventure and found love instead. She now lives in Sydney, Australia, with her new family.


Her debut novella Airmail hit the stores in April 2011. She is the author of non-fiction books Talk Without Being Interrupted and Seventeen Summers, and her poetry was included in the Australian Poetry Encouragement Award anthology in 2002.

She has been published in several magazines in Australia and the US (including Nett, One+, Craft Arts International and Forces of Good), was the Editor of two magazines, and broadcast to more than 100 radio stations while senior journalist at Le Gras News. Naomi is also a seasoned copywriter, writing and editing content and strategy for more than 30 companies across the corporate and not-for-profits.

My review:
I have never read anything quite like this book and unsure of how to describe it. It is written in the genre of magic realism and I have never read in that genre before and I think that is the reason that I am having a hard time selecting just what I want to say about what I read. The book has several story lines going on, yet they all become interconnected at some point in the book. The characters are interesting and diverse and I got caught up in each of their stories. I think that I over thought parts of the story in trying to figure out just why something happened or what significance an event had, instead of just going with the flow and taking it for what it was. However, I really like a book that stays with me and keeps me thinking and this one has definitely done that. It has been two weeks since I read it and I am still trying to analyze it. Perhaps that is due to having a degree in English and being trained to do that.

I would have liked for certain aspects of the story to have been explored more just because I have an inquiring mind and I wanted details that went beyond what was given to the reader. Yet, I think this is also part of the allure of the book as it lets your imagination run with what if, so you can explore the possibilities on your own and what you think might have happened.

I am glad I read this and it opened up my mind to a genre I was unfamiliar with. The book is one that is great for discussion and I am in hopes of many comments to get other perspectives.

Naomi gave me a free copy of the book for my honest review and one copy of this book to giveaway. Please leave a comment below to enter. The winner will be chosen on May 26.