Lottery, A Quick Ohio Recap, and ZIMA!

I'm back. Trip details to come later, but I do have to say, "A trip to Dover, Ohio is way more enjoyable and worthwhile than a trip to Disney Hell."

And, ZIMA's back!

My cousin and I came up with a whole new marketing campaign for the awesome, original malt-beverage summertime drink. We just need to ask Justin Timberlake if he'll do the print and commercial ads for it.

We envision him singing, "I"m bringing ZIMA back! Those other drinks don't know how to act!"

Of course, we came up with our new ad campaign while imbibing the refreshingest of refreshing drinks!

Anyway, Little Granny's GREAT! I have pics I'll post later, but talking of Little Granny offers the perfect seque for me to bring up the book Lottery, by Patricia Wood because my Little Granny reminds me of the spunky Gram in the book. And, once more, there's a contest!

After you read my review below, be sure to stop over at Pat's blog to tell her you're dying to read her novel, and that you've found out about it from Manic Mom (No, I'm not getting any kick-backs for this. I truly, truly, truly fell in love with this book, and you will too!) The book's not supposed to be out until August 2 but some lucky folks have seen it in their stores already! So, go look! Go buy it! Or, just go over to Pat's blog and tell her I sent you and you will be entered to win a fun prize package, including the book, an audio of the book, and more!

After I read the book, I wanted to do the book justice. This review is completely, utterly how I feel about the story. It's the type of book where, after you read it, you'll lie in bed and wonder how Perry L. Crandall is doing. He's that real:

When you read Lottery, you’ll want to hole up in a comfy room without any interruptions so you can fully immerse yourself in each word, every phrase. It’s the type of book where you tear through the pages, not getting through them fast enough but then you suddenly realize, “Wait! I don’t want this to end!” so you try to draw out the experience. You fall in love with Perry L. Crandall. You’ll remember his name. You fall in love with his life, and the people most important to him.

Perry is real. He could be your neighbor, a friend, an employee at the Dollar Tree. Your brother. A cousin. Your “cousin-brother” (you’ll get that joke after you read the book). He walks down the street. Makes you laugh. Opens a door for you. Offers you a mint. Or a Tums, depending on the look on your face.

He is sincere. He is funny. He is ambitious. He is considerate, always putting others’ needs before his.

He is not retarded.

Perry doesn’t channel-surf; he “channel-hikes” through the TV stations. His Gram taught him to study words from the dictionary every day. He listens. He bounces when he’s happy. He discovers. He learns. He is smarter than any ten people you could put into one room together – his wisdom on life and love and happiness far surpasses the wisdom of anyone I’ve yet to meet.

And there are the unlikely heroes in Patricia Wood’s sure-to-be-a-best-seller, characters who shine like diamonds in the rough. From witty Gram who tells Perry to “quit bellyaching!” to sea-faring, farting and beer-guzzling Keith, to Cherry, the pierced and tattooed Handy Mart gal Perry befriends. Even in his family members, each character lives vibrantly and realistically on the pages and the reader feels all of their inner motivations, whether good or bad. And there is a lot of both in Lottery.

In Lottery you will find love in the most unexpected places, family when you think there was none. It is full of riches, and the message you get when you read and fall in love with Lottery has nothing to do with luck or money. Yet you come away richer after meeting Perry L. Crandall, a name you will not forget.