**** GIVEAWAY CLOSED ****
Kate Hamer’s new novel, THE DOLL FUNERAL (MelvilleHouse) explores the complex and often difficult relationship between mothers and daughters. Hammer’s narrative introduces us to new ideas, concepts, senses and unimaginable possibilities
One her thirteenth birthday, Ruby learns the abusive people she has called her parents all her life, aren’t her mother and father. Her parents are out there … somewhere, and finding them becomes Ruby’s obsession, taking us on a journey, where the definition of family becomes an abstract concept.
Ruby, along with her imaginary friend, Shadow Boy, head into the Forest of Dean, where she meets up with siblings who live in the woods. She’s taken in and Ruby believes she’s found the family she’s always wanted. But then the relationship begins to shift, and she believes they need her more and the lines between who is helping who begin to blur. What’s real? Should she be afraid?
While reading THE DOLL FUNERAL, I felt as if I’d entered the realm of magical realism. There was always the fear something dangerous could happen, similar to reading a Grimm’s fairytale. The characters are complex and have us question our own judgement. Whenever an author explores the relationships between parents and children, particularly mothers and daughters, they take readers into murky waters, where there is room for interpretation.
Perspectives and timelines shift in THE DOLL FUNERAL, alternating between teenage, Ruby, her mother, Anna and Ruby’s imaginary friend, the Shadow Boy. I felt on edge at times, nervous for Ruby and wanted to protect her.
Kate Hamer is an incredibly talented and courageous writer. She pushes the limits, never what a reader expects and I look forward to her next novel.
Purchase Links
Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble
About Kate Hamer
KATE HAMER is the author of The Girl in the Red Coat, which was a Costa First Novel Award finalist, a Dagger Award finalist, an Amazon Best Book of the Year 2016, and a winner of the ELLE Lettres Readers’ Prize. She lives in Cardiff, Wales, with her husband and two children.
Connect with Kate
Website | Twitter
Thanks to TLC Book Tours and Melville House, we have one copy of THE DOLL FUNERAL to giveaway. Just tell us if you’ve ever read a novel that felt as if it were a fairytale? And if so, which one. We’ll announce a winner next week.
Have a great week.
I can’t say that I have! This may be the one to take me there!!
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I can’t think of one off the top of my head. This sounds good, thanks for the shot at winning a copy!
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No, I don’t believe I have ever read a book that seems like a fairytale. At least nothing comes to mind right now. I’ve read alot though, and can’t remember them all. The Doll Funeral sounds like it would be a really enjoyable read. I hope I get the chance to experience it.
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Hmm nothing comes to mind…this book sounds great though thanks for the chance!
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I can’t recall reading a book that sounded like a fairy tale – this one would suit me nicely.
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I really don’t think so.
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I can think of a few Stephen King books which have felt that way, but not that reminded me of another fairy tale. His stories sometimes seem as if they are new fairy tales and will stand on their own merit.
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No, I haven’t read anything that felt like a fairytale. “The Doll Funeral” sounds like an interesting read.
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A novel that felt like a fairytale? Well, I love the stories of Isak Dinesen, but how about the novel “After Many a Summer Dies the Swan” by Aldous Huxley? It mixes delicate, ironic horror and messages about humanity and our wishes for immortality.
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I can’t remember anything that felt like a fairytale This book sounds great!
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no
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I read the Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey. It felt like it could have been a fable or a Grimm fairytale.
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Many romance novels which I enjoyed felt like a fairytale since they ended up happily.
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Entwined by Heather Dixon. It’s one of my all time favorites!
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I’m stumped. 🤔 The Doll Funeral sounds wonderful.
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Almost every book feels like a fairy tale especially if it says they all lived happily ever after.Because that doesn;t happen forever.
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I feel most chic lit books remind me of fairytails…they sure don’t resemble my life with 4 kids, a hubby, and a dog lol!!
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That comparison to Grimm’s fairytales gives me a good feel for the creepy undertone of this story for sure!
Thanks for being a part of the tour.
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