Thursday, February 17, 2011

The House of Six Doors by Patricia Selbert

The House of Six Doors
Title:  The House of Six Doors
Author:  Patricia Selbert
Publisher:  Publishing by the Seas
Publication Date:  February 22, 2011
Format:  Paperback, 330 pages
Age Group:  Adult
Official Website:  http://thehouseofsixdoors.com/

When Mama takes Serena and her sister from their Caribbean island home to the United States, she insists that they will have a better life.  However from the first, things begin to go wrong.  Will they truly find a better life or will Mama's stubbornness and desire for wealth destroy their chances at happiness?

I had a hard time with the beginning of this book.  I could not relate to the character of Mama in any way and I felt so bad for Serena that she and her sister were forced here and there as Mama searched for a way to be successful.  I wasn't bothered by the portrayal of the immigrant who didn't understand how things worked in the United States as much as Mama's reaction to finding out that things were not the way she thought they should be.  She was so loud and harsh, insisting that she was right and everyone else was wrong.  Her attitude drove away so many of the friends who could have helped make the journey easier.

The best part of the book for me was not the time in the United States at all but instead Serena's memories of Curacao.  These memories, especially the ones of Oma, comforted Serena during the difficult times with her mother.  They brought the island color into an otherwise drab existence.  Selbert moves between the present in the United States and the memories of Curacao with ease.

One final difficulty that I had with this book was that it was way too easy to see what was coming.  Events were not foreshadowed as much as they were spelled out.  I think that lessened the impact of the event when it actually happened.

The overall story was interesting once I moved beyond my dislike of Mama and tried to focus on Serena.  Selbert packs a lot of issues into this book so it was a heavier read than I was expecting.

For another perspective, check out some of the other blogs participating in the blog tour:

Chocolate Reality
Sharon's Garden of Book Reviews

I was sent a copy of The House of Six Doors by BookSparks PR in exchange for my honest review and participation in this blog tour.

Giveaway

Thanks to BookSparks PR, I am able to share a copy of The House of Six Doors with one of my readers.

Giveaway Rules:
  • Open to US mailing addresses
  • No PO Boxes
  • Must be over 13 to enter
  • Ends 11:59 PM EST on February 25, 2011
  • Total number of possible entries per person is 3
  • The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be selected
Required Entry:  Leave a comment on this post with a way to contact you if you win.

Extra Entries:
  • +1 Follow with Google Friend Connect or subscribe by email & let me know
  • +1 Promote this giveaway by sharing on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog & leaving me the link
Feel free to leave all entries in one comment.  Good luck!

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

13 comments:

  1. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you. No need to enter me.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the contest! Please enter me! apereiraorama[at]gmail[dot]com

    Thanks! :)

    +1 follower

    ReplyDelete
  3. This sounds good! Please enter me.
    Thank you!

    I follow on GFC

    mittens0831 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I appreciate your always honest
    reviews of books! Your comments
    have really picqued my interest
    in reading this book...
    Many thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I follow you publicly via
    Google Friend Connect and
    email!
    Again, many thanks...
    Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  6. "Facebook Post!"
    http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/cindi512/posts/191482817539690.
    Thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Count me in!

    GFC follower.

    JHS
    Colloquium

    jhsmail at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  8. i'm interested in reading this novel...thanks for the chance :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. This book sounds interesting. Those moves never go as we plan, do they?

    GFC follower

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. This sounds like a book I would enjoy reading. Please enter me. Thanks!

    I am a GFC!

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for the giveaway

    GFC Follower and tweeted
    http://twitter.com/#!/bookflamereview

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the giveaway :)

    +1 GFC follower

    hsiu_an(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete

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