Wednesday, April 10, 2013

BOOK NOOK: TREADWELL

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

It's easy for me to write an enthusiastic review today, because I absolutely couldn't put down Treadwell by Dana Joy Wyzard (a.k.a. Little Lotta Joy at Witless Relocation Program).


I read Treadwell while I ate; I read Treadwell in bed; I even read Treadwell while I talked to Elvis Aaron Schwarz.

Hi! Remember me?
I'm Elvis Aaron Schwarz.
I'm disconsolate because my baby doll loves Treadwell
more than she loves me. Dana, you are not my friend -- yet.
My baby doll says I will love you after I read Treadwell.
Yes, Jo Elvis, you are absolutely right. You are going to fall in love with Dana when you read Treadwell. All y'all (as some folks in Florida say) are going to fall in love with Dana when you read her book. It's that good.

I was caught up in the story from the very first page. Nelda Pike is an irresistible character. A widow who lives alone near the small town of Treadwell, Indiana, Nelda embodies common sense and kindness. She takes in a young woman, Laura, who is on the run from her evil stepfather, Paul, and his son, Adam. When the bad guys get their hands on Laura, Nelda teams up with her old friend, Wosie Mae Briar, to rescue Laura.

And let's not forget to mention that both women have the tenacity (and the guns -- they're sure shots) to do whatever it takes to save Laura.

I'm crazy about these characters. This book is the kind that's driven by the characters. The plot comes from them, and that's as it should be.

I also love it that these women are older and they have their aches and pains, but they do what needs to be done. Nelda and Wosie Mae don't sit in their rocking chairs and wait for a man to come along and take care of them. Treadwell shows some women at their best, and some at their worst -- just like real life -- but the characters are not stereotypes. There's no prostitute with a heart of gold.

Wyzard's writing is outstanding. She maintains her sense of humor while keeping the story exciting:

Laura glanced up at the window and was presented with the shape of a man's head, silhouetted against the bright background.

As the scream split the air, Adam was already sliding down the side of the hill. Paul pulled the car forward to meet him at the base of the rutted driveway.

Laura's second scream was accompanied by a deafening roll of thunder. Adam slammed the car door and Paul pulled out onto solid ground and pushed the accelerator to the floor. 

"She saw, God dammit! She saw me!" Adam yelled while Paul pulled to the side of the road and made another U-turn. 

"Where the hell are you going dad? We can't go back to that house. That woman has a shotgun!"

I can't begin to tell you all the reasons you'll love Treadwell because I'd ruin the fascinating story for you. I don't want to do that, because I'm confident you'll want to buy this book.

You can purchase it at 
http://www.amazon.com/TREADWELL-Sheltered-foothills-Southern-reclusive/dp/1483603644 

or http://bookstore.xlibris.com/Products/SKU-0131151003/TREADWELL.aspx.

One more reason this book is special: Treadwell speaks to a cultural phenomenon -- that of the retiring baby boomers. There are a lot of us, and we want good books to read. It's not easy to find books with characters we can relate to, characters who are our age but are active, characters who are not vampires or zombies. Well done, Dana Joy Wyzard.*

Treadwell has The Janie Junebug Highest Seal of Approval.

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug


*Please note: I don't want you to think this book is only for us older folks. It has young characters, too, and it addresses contemporary situations.

P.S. To read the first part of my interview with Dana Joy Wyzard, click HERE, and to read the second part of the interview, click HERE.

29 comments:

  1. Nelda and Wosie sound like my kinda folks. I'm compiling a list of everything I want to read this summer when I am off, and this book is going on it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds like a good read to me. Great review!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think my mom and I would really enjoy this. We're going on vacation together in May. Maybe I'll buy a copy of this and bring it on the plane ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sounds like a great book! I hope Elvis gets over his little jealously. Poor guy!

    ReplyDelete
  5. WE NEED MORE COWBELLS!

    Janie, IF ONLY you were still a reporter. Even I want that book!

    I've read ALL of your book reviews, but this is the only one that contains so much energy on your part.

    You should write a book, darlin. You ARE a book.

    And, Elvis? I'm as good looking in real life as Nelda, so you might want to check her out first. Just sayin'.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The review is energetic because the book has such an amazing energy.

      Delete
  6. Check out this blog today: http://emillustrator.blogspot.com there is someone on there you will like!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm glad MOV sent you over, but now we have a problem. See, we now have the same amount of followers and I have to be a winner. So do you have someone you could send my way, to ensure that I am currently ahead? I'd appreciate it.

    Now that I have your blog, I am excited about my gigantic Kindle giftcard.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I shall do my very best to be of service to you. I do not have to win in the blog wars; however, I must win at grammar. If you go to Little Lotta Joy's blog (the link to WITLESS RELOCATION PROGRAM is in my post) and tell her I sent you and that you're going to buy her book, then I bet she'll follow you. My friend Elisa at The Crazy Life Of A Writing Mom will probably follow you if you follow her, but you won't win with her because she has more than 2,000 followers.

      Delete
    2. Okay. I just sent emails to four of my followers, asking them to follow you. I bet at least one of them will be willing to serve! I'll try to keep an eye on how many followers you have so if I should happen to get ahead, I'll look for more followers for you.

      Delete
    3. Uhhhh....wait a minute....send them to MY site! Sheesh. And I had no idea there was a contest, but I want to be the winner.

      Delete
    4. You're one of the people I sent to her. I'm not sending you to yourself. I think you know how to find yourself.

      Delete
  9. Now you have my Dad, Ron all intrigued and scared to death with that 'scream' excerpt....be still his heart!

    I talk for him and feed him, so just in case you need to talk to him I'll translate.

    PS: Jim @ Ocean Breezes is my other Daddio!!

    Sophie Doodle here!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sophie! I've seen your photo and complimented you on your great beauty. I'm absolutely thrilled to meet you. Tell your Daddy Ron to go ahead and get the book because he'll love it. It has funny parts, too.

      Delete
    2. Sophie, lottajoy is my mom. She's also Dana Joy, but she's still my mom. I'm her furchild, Beau. Beau is my name. "Come here Beau" is my full name.

      If you buy mom's book, I'll get it pre-chewed for your viewing pleasure.

      Delete
  10. Next!....lol. We are joined at the hip!!
    Janie, this is a great review and you have enticed me indeed to get this book. I thought of 'Thelma and Louise' when you were describing these strong female characters in Treadwell. Thanks for this lead.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for buying the book. I know it means a lot to the author. It took a long time for her to get the book in print. Now, I want to be joined at the hip with someone so nice.

      Delete
    2. I gladly offer my right hip for either of you. The left one is too full of arthritis to handle the pressure.

      Delete
    3. I told everyone that you're generous, and now here you are, offering me body parts.

      Delete
    4. None you would want if you saw them first.

      Delete
  11. Sounds fantastic! I get so sick of the typical young, ridiculously good looking hero who never gets injured. It takes the reality out of the story for me. I do believe I will like this book!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hey, I totally missed this review, so thanks for the link over here. I take your highest seal very seriously, so this book is now on my Nook. :)

    ReplyDelete

Got your panties in a bunch? Dig 'em out, get comfortable, and let's chat.