Review and GiveawayThe Gate House by Nelson DeMille
Fiction, Hardcover, 688 pgs.
Grand Central Publishing
This review is a guest post written by T.D.Fuhringer at Popular Fiction, who regularly reads and enjoys Nelson DeMille's novels.
The Gate House is a worthy successor to DeMille's classic The Gold Coast. The main plot holds no big surprises, however John Sutter's association with Mafia thug Tony Bellarosa is a source of tension since we know the outcome is inevitable. The secondary plot is where the book shines as John deals with his ex-wife, his grown children, and his former in-laws, facing the issues left unexplored at the end of The Gold Coast. The scenes involving John's increasingly inventive torments of his ex in-laws are laugh out loud funny and are easily worth the price of the book. After the resolution of the Bellarosa plot, we are treated to a powerful and very satisfying emotional climax.
Fans of The Gold Coast will want to read The Gate House. Those looking to experience Nelson DeMille suspense might be better off reading Nightfall which is his best book to date. The Gate House is a different kind of story, both satirical and comedic, and alternatingly heartbreaking, but ultimately rewarding.
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Thank you Teddy.
Thank you to Miriam at Little, Brown and Grand Central Publishing for the lovely review copy.
I am giving away a harcover copy (gently read) of The Gate House by Nelson DeMille to one of my readers.
1) To enter leave a comment telling me the best novel you read in 2008. If you're already a DeMille fan, please tell us your favourite Nelson DeMille novel.
2) Blog about this giveaway and put a link back to it and I'll give you a second entry. If you don't have a blog, email 3 friends telling them about this giveaway and copying me at sfuhringer (at) sympatico (dot) ca.
Entry is open worldwide until midnight Sunday, January 18 2009. Please note that this is a large heavy book and will be have to be mailed at the least expensive postal rate. It may take some weeks to get to you depending on where you live.
Be sure to leave an email address if you don't have a blog where I can contact you.
Winner will be announced on Monday January 19,2009.
A number of years ago I devoured all of the Nelson De Mille books that were out and absolutely loved them. I haven't read any since, although every now and again I think I really should.
ReplyDeleteI think my favourite was probably The Charm School. It would be terribly outdated now I am sure but I loved it when I read it.
I enjoyed this and all of John Sutter's sarcastic wit, but my hubby just couldn't get into it.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite book from last year was Elizabeth Chadwick's A Place Beyong Courage. My favorite Nelson DeMille (read long ago) is either Word of Honor or Cathedral.
ReplyDeleteThe best novel I read in 2008 was The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards.
ReplyDeleteI found John Sutter too sarcastic a protagonist for my taste. I read and reviewed it but didn't like it.
ReplyDeleteTamara
The best book I read in 2008 was A Lion Among Men by Gregory MacGuire. I havent had the chance to read anything by Nelson De Mille yet.
ReplyDeletebacchus76[at]myself[dot]com
My favorite was Sunday at Tiffanys by James Patterson.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite books from last year was the Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.
ReplyDeleteI've never read anything by Nelson DeMille. My favorite book in 08 that I read was Emma & I by Elizabeth Flock. Thanks for entering me.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite book from 2008 was The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
ReplyDeletewaldman@excite.com
A reading pal of mine at work insists that I read the Gold Coast. I just may have to!!
ReplyDeleteThe best novel I read in 2008 was Twilight.
ReplyDeletebridget3420(at)yahoo(dot)com
The best novel I read in 2008 was Twilight.
ReplyDeletebridget3420(at)yahoo(dot)com
I have this in my reading pile! :)
ReplyDeleteI've read about this book and I have been wanting to read it, sure hope I win a copy!
ReplyDeleteMy fave book in 08 has to be "In the Shadow of the Lion" by Ginger Garrett, because she is the one who introduced me to historical fiction....a genre I love yet had never tried before.
Thanks so much for this giveaway!
Darby
darbyscloset at yahoo dot com
The Road. It still remains very fresh in my mind.
ReplyDeleteso am I in?
:D
gautami.tripathy[at]gmail.com
Of course Gautami, and thanks for your help with the other thing.
ReplyDeleteI haven't yet read a Nelson DeMille book, but I received one through a Secret Santa exchange this past Christmas. I'm excited for the opportunity to read him--finally!
ReplyDeleteI would like to enter your drawing for this one if I may! My top book in 2008 actually turned out to be a nonfiction book called The Translator, but since you're asking for the favorite novel, I'll give you my second place book--The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson. He was actually my new author find from last year and I've loved every one of his books so far.
I've never read a Nelson DeMille book. I would love to start with The Gate House!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite book this year is What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman.
Carol M
mittens0831 AT aol.com
The best novel I read in 2008 was Scream For Me by Karen Rose.
ReplyDeleteayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
The best book I read in 2008 is What the dead know by Laura Lippman. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletefmd518@inbox.com
I haven't read Nelson DeMille yet, but he's on my TBR for 2009. My favorite book of 2008 would be "Firefly Lane" by Kristin Hannah. However, a close runner up is "Killing the Shadows" by Val McDermid. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI have not yet read anything by Nelson DeMille but I do own a copy of The Gold Coast and it is on my TBR pile. My favorite book that I read in 2008 would be Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. Thanks
ReplyDeleterebecca.bradeen(at)verizon(dot)net
No need to enter me, Sandra. I'm simply stopping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you.
ReplyDeleteThe best book I read in 2008 was Never Let Me Go by Ishiguro.
ReplyDeleteI also blogged about your contest:
http://morbid-romantic.net/2009/01/13/book-giveaways-01012-0118
Valorie
morbidromantic@gmail.com
being such an avid reader i could not pick out one favorite thanks for the giveaway
ReplyDeleteI read the Lovely Bones and loved it.
ReplyDeleteI read so many books it would be impossible to pick just one book out.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds great...sign me up for the giveaway please!
tbbycatt@gmail.com
my favorite owuld have to be life of pi what a great well writen novel!
ReplyDeleteHubby and I both like Nelson DeMille. Best book of 2008....oooh, toss up because I really loved, The Seamstress by Frances de pontes Peebles, The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K. Lee, Leeway Cottage by Beth Gutcheon and Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani. Please enter me in the contest and I am putting it on my blog. Thanks Sandra.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite read of last year was probably a Terry Pratchett - don't ask me to pick the best!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite reread was "A Confederacy Of Dunces."
i read blessings by anna quindlen last year and enjoyed it:) i have never read demille, but this sounds awesome:) thanks!
ReplyDeleteI have not yet read anything by DeMille, but would like to. My favorite book I read in '08 was The Count of Monte Cristo.
ReplyDeletedjecse at yahoo dot com
I read a lot of popular fiction, but never Nelson Demille. Time to start. I think my fave book of 2008 was The White Road by John Connolley. I read every book in his series over the summer.
ReplyDeleteGreat giveaway! I blogged about it at: http://lissalightnup.blogspot.com/
I haven't read a Nelson DeMille book, one of my favorite books this past year is The Forbidden Daughter by Shobhan Bantwal
ReplyDeletetiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
My favorite read from last year is The Little Giant of Aberdeen County (although it's only released in 2009, I read it 2008!)Thanks for the giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteI read alot of Nelson De Mille books a while ago, but none recently. My fav book recently was the Secret Life of Bees. Loved it.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite 2008 novel was Twilight. I have read several of DeMille's books. I liked Plum Island.
ReplyDeletedigicat{AT}sbcglobal{DOT}net
I have never read Nelson De Mille and his name is not well known in the UK. I will most certainly be looking him up over here. My favourite book this year has to be most definately Twilight, but a close second would probably be The Beach House by James Patterson. Thanks for opening up your comp worldwide.
ReplyDeleteThe best book I read in 2008 was The Secret Life of Bees.
ReplyDeleteThe General's Daughter by DeMille was my favorite by him AND one of my all time favorite books! I also enjoyed The Kite Runner which I just recently read.
ReplyDeleteallmycrazycats AT aol.com
I so loved reading "The Book of Splendor" by Frances Sherwood! Magically enticing!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this fabulous give~away! : )))
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
'The Gate House' ties up loose ends from the previous novel and features John Whitman Sutter and his ex-wife Susan. The catalyst for a reuniting of the characters is the impending death of an old lifelong estate employee. The book could have been about 100 pages shorter, and there were a few too many in-law jokes, even though most were clever. The ending plot resolutions happen quickly and are both expected and surprising after pages of static plot. I would recommend that anyone reading this book should definitely read 'The Gold Coast' first. Not only is it a far better book but it will make the reading of 'The Gate House' a much more satisfying experience.
ReplyDelete