LibraryThing: My First Early Reviewer Book Review

I am a member of the interesting site called LibraryThing (http://www.librarything.com/). There you can list all the books in your personal library and compare and contrast your library with others. You can also talk books and find out what is good and not so good, all in all a book-lovers dream world. They have an "Early Reviewers Program" that publishers use to get some books out to booklovers to have them review it and talk it up.

I have been chosen this month to receive a book! I am excited as this is the first time the internet has given me something that I didn't have to buy. I was chosen to receive a small hardcover published by Shadow Mountain, "The UnValentine" by Sam Beeson, paintings by Jesse Draper. The amazon.com link is here: http://www.amazon.com/UnValentine-Sam-Beeson/dp/1590388437/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201746371&sr=1-1

The poetry inside the 32 page book describes a tween named Lily. A blond, blue-eyed, pigtailed girl dressed simply in the wonderful paintings by Jesse Draper, and is described by Mr. Beeson as "sour" and that she "didn't believe in love." He then describes her anti-love positions and her especially virulent hatred of Valentines Day (it makes her "gag").

Then, in true Valentines Day fashion, she receives a wadded up note of poetry from a kindred soul, a BOY named Ray! And love blooms between this anti-love pair, proving once again, love conquers all.

The last three pages of the book are real Valentines. Or should I say UnValentines. Two to a page, with perforations in the middle, the fonts are reproductions of the paintings in the book. On the back is a wonderful UnValentine statement. Very novel and useful.

The book is gift-book sized, designed to fit on the greeting card rack. Priced at $12.95 US, it fits in with the other gift-books and yet is definitely not your usual sugary poetry book. The paintings are also very realistic and when combined with the Victorian typefaces and adornments lend an air of elegance to the whole package. Overall I am reminded of Chas Addams' cartoons in the New Yorker and the wonderful family he created in the type of ironic humor attempted. All in all an intelligent take on a holiday that is all too often inducing of a diabetic coma.

Get it for those you don't love. The UnValentine by Sam Beeson, paintings by Jesse Draper.