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Land of a Hundred Wonders Lesley Kagen 9780451224095 Books

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Land of a Hundred Wonders Lesley Kagen 9780451224095 Books

Lesley Kagen is at her best when she chooses a narrator whose quirky perception fits her own idiosyncratic, comedic voice-- a tough-as-nails little girl battling to protect her little sister in Mutual Admiration Society--or Gibby, the NQR (not quite right) victim of head trauma through whose eyes we experience Land of a Hundred Wonders. Gibby's socially-incorrect bluntness is refreshing; her language gaffes delightful; her enthusiasm infectious; her youthful spirit invigorating. The characters are diverse, original, complex, and memorable. While there are plenty of villains, this is a hopeful book about all-too-human humans making abundant mistakes, doing their best to sort them out, moving forward to live their injured lives together--and we are given reason to believe, happily. Loved this book, and so will you!


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Land of a Hundred Wonders Lesley Kagen 9780451224095 Books Reviews

I read this novel for a book discussion group so it's not one I would have picked out for myself. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this read and would recommend it. Set in a small, southern town in the 1970's, it is a heartwarming story about a young woman brain damaged in a tragic automobile accident that killed her parents. She lives with her grandpa who owns and runs a diner which only serves breakfast. Both racial tensions and a murder add to depth of the story.
Gifted bestselling author, Lesley Kagen, has created another charming masterpiece with her latest work. Set in a small town in rural Kentucky, a cast of memorable characters struggle with the difficult themes of grief, loss, change and racial tensions in the mid-1970's. Kagen has again expertly immersed us in the dialect and culture of her setting in the fictional town of Cray Ridge. The heroine, Gibby McGraw, has suffered a significant closed head injury and family tragedy, and gradually works to rebuild her identity, relationships, intellectual strengths and future. In a patchwork of realism, humor, and action the story unfolds quickly as we grow to know and love these true-to-life individuals. I highly recommend this wonderful story and think it is one of the best fictional works of 2008. Enjoy.
Author, Lesley Kagen embodies a true talent for bringing her characters to life. I truly feel like I knew each character, at one time or another throughout my life. Two of them, Gibby and Billy, I will remember for a lifetime. Gibby is "NQR" due to a brain injury. You will love who she is and the miracles she views from everyday life. Gibby has the uncanny ability to remember her favorite sayings, although they are "NQR" as well. (I laughed so hard that I had tears streaming down my face.) Billy is Gibby's saving grace with a heart so tender, that he sees her for who she is and loving her despite her short comings. Growing up in the sixties and seventies I could relate to the innocence and innocence lost during that time in history. The corruption, the racism and secrets...we've come along way and yet have so far to go. Thank you Lesley!
This was a great book about love, family, friendship,nice people, mean people, and how they all tie together to make a story full of laughs and tears. Ms. Kagan's use of acronyms (made up to fit the plot) such as NQR is just so real, and so charming. Gibby, the young woman who is the main character in the story has suffered a brain injury from a car accident which killed her parents--as she slowly recovers, she refers to herself since the accident as NQR i.e Not Quite Right--it just fit her character right from the start. Her consistent fight to regain brain functionality and memory is portrayed in a realistic, yet humorous manner and one can't help but love young Gibby.

All of the characters were great--Grandpa, her best friend Clever, and of course the surprise love of her life--Billy who had his own injuries to deal with from Vietnam. Just an all around good read, from beginning, middle to end.

If you are looking for a good story, buy this book.
The protagonist, Gibby, has been NQR (Not Quite Right) since she suffered a brain injury in a an automobile accident that also made her an orphan three years before, at age 17. Childlike in her speech and actions, she often uses the wrong word and is unable to filter what she says, saying whatever she thinks, which is often tactless, inappropriate or impolite. Her candor and malapropisms lend much humor to the novel.

Gibby's doctors said she may improve if her brain is stimulated enough, but after three years, Grampa has nearly given up hope that she will ever be QR (Quite Right) and he just wants to keep her safe, which is complicated when a beautiful young woman acts and thinks like a child. Fortunately Gibby has a guardian angel in a young Vietnam veteran whose inability to forget is as disabling for him as Gibby's inability to remember is for her.

When she finds a dead man, obviously murdered, Gibby decides to not tell anybody but instead to solve the crime herself so she can prove she can be QR. Of course that puts her in danger.

There's a large cast of characters surrounding Gibby, including her wild best friend, a woman who talks to the dead, an evil stalker, a suspicious-acting neighbor, Grampa's employees and customers, and the corrupt local sheriff who calls Gibby dumber than anthracite coal. That are several threads to the story, in addition to the mystery of the dead man, and an undercurrent of tense race relations of the time.

The strengths of the novel are its several well-developed likable characters, which give it heart, and its humor. The plot is a little implausible, but the book is a quick fun read and the wonderful characters make suspending belief worthwhile.
Lesley Kagen has taken her original version of Land of a Hundred Wonders with the delightful cast of characters, especially Gibby, and given her devoted readers an update on a truly delightful story. Please do yourself a huge favor and take time to read this latest edition, You will be filled with many emotions joy, wonder, sadness, eagerness and smiles. We can be NQR (not quite right to quote Gibby) and have a beautiful life.
Lesley continues to gift us all. Thank you, author extraordinaire.
Lesley Kagen is at her best when she chooses a narrator whose quirky perception fits her own idiosyncratic, comedic voice-- a tough-as-nails little girl battling to protect her little sister in Mutual Admiration Society--or Gibby, the NQR (not quite right) victim of head trauma through whose eyes we experience Land of a Hundred Wonders. Gibby's socially-incorrect bluntness is refreshing; her language gaffes delightful; her enthusiasm infectious; her youthful spirit invigorating. The characters are diverse, original, complex, and memorable. While there are plenty of villains, this is a hopeful book about all-too-human humans making abundant mistakes, doing their best to sort them out, moving forward to live their injured lives together--and we are given reason to believe, happily. Loved this book, and so will you!