Review and Winner-Giveaway: Straw House, Wood House, Brick House, Blow by Daniel Nayeri

October 24, 2011 Susan 19 comments

Edited to add: The winner of the giveaway is Andrea C. Andrea, please e-mail susan at readspace dot net so I can send you your prize!

Bibliography: Nayeri, Daniel. (2011). Straw House, Wood House, Brick House, Blow. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN: 9780763655266

Plot Summary: Four novellas representing four different genres. Toy Farm is a western unlike any other–a farm that grows living toys and a ranch the grows empty people. Our Lady of Villains is science fiction, looking at how the near future morphs into the faraway future with the help of technology. Wish Police is a police procedural about a team that locks up wishes that can’t or shouldn’t or won’t come true. Doom with a View is a romance, if Death were in charge of the world. So everyone dies in the end but love conquers all.

Critical Analysis: Nayeri has written two previous books with his sister Dina, Another Faust and Another Pan. Both were sort of retellings, or more re imaginings of classic tales and full of action, suspense and dread. With these novellas. Nayeri wanted to do something a little different. He decided to write stories that would appeal to boys and girls. That would introduce readers to different kinds of stories that they didn’t realize they would enjoy. According to his author’s note, he wrote all of them on his iPhone.

The sampler I have included the story Doom with a View. I have to admit, it did take me a minute to get into the right frame of mind. (The mention of The Princess Bride in the note should have been a clue.) Nayeri has taken several age old tropes and turned them sideways. Two families feuding but over the interior decorating world? Two children destined to be together but they don’t even speak the same language? One beautiful girl who Death takes by mistake is stuck in limbo, not waiting for the kiss of a prince, but for the paperwork and bureaucracy to clear up and return her to her life. So so so funny! I would have to say that this is unlike anything else being published for teens these days, and I only hope it is a sign that Nayeri has more in store, whether solo or with his sister. I for one can’t wait.

There are some great commercials for the novels that I hope you will enjoy.

Straw House, Wood House, Brick House, Blow – Our Lady of Villains Commercial from Candlewick Press on Vimeo.

Straw House, Wood House, Brick House, Blow – Wish Police Commercial from Candlewick Press on Vimeo.

Straw House, Wood House, Brick House, Blow – Doom With a View Commercial from Candlewick Press on Vimeo.

Straw House, Wood House, Brick House, Blow – Toy Farm Commercial from Candlewick Press on Vimeo.

Also, you can download Toy Farm (Straw House) for free from Amazon for your own sample of these novellas. And last, but certainly not least, the good folks at Candlewick are providing a copy for me to giveaway. Just leave a comment below and you’ll be entered to win! Contest closes Saturday, October 29.

Review Excerpts: “[The] novellas riff on influences as varied as The Wizard of Oz, Mad Max, and the sardonic Death of Pratchett’s Discworld…Strong and assured, these stories seamlessly merge different styles, teasing out and playing with readers’ assumptions about how westerns, fantasy and fairy tales work…provocative and deeply satisfying.”–Kirkus Reviews

Reviewed from publisher provided advanced copy. Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

Teen Lit death, giveaway, humor, novellas, police, police procedural, reviews, romance, sci-fi, science fiction, teens, western

#1 | Written by Leanna ChapppelL about 7 months ago. Reply

Sounds interesting!
#2 | Written by Adrienne Everitt about 7 months ago. Reply

I hadn’t heard of this book or the author, but now I’m definitely intrigued! Thanks for sharing!
- #3 | Written by Susan about 7 months ago. Reply
  
  You should check out Another Pan and Another Faust by Nayeri and his sister Dina.
#4 | Written by Kim Hillary about 7 months ago. Reply

Intriguing.
#5 | Written by Emily Blaeser about 7 months ago. Reply

I saw him speak on a panel about YA Fiction on the Edge at the Boston Book Festival recently. It was a great discussion.
- #6 | Written by Susan about 7 months ago. Reply
  
  He has an interesting perspective as he is also an editor…
#7 | Written by Johnna Artis about 7 months ago. Reply

I have had the pleasure of meeting with this author twice in the last year. I am interested to know how this book turns out since he did it without his sister. It must have been difficult to go it alone but change is growth. I always enjoy the events that include Daniel Nayeri. I can’t wait to read this one.
#8 | Written by yvonne about 7 months ago. Reply

We have Another Faust and it has been received well. This books sounds like a good addition to an English teacher’s or library’s resources.
- #9 | Written by Susan about 7 months ago. Reply
  
  I haven’t posted a review yet, but I thought Another Pan was even stronger. Yes, I think it might be a fun collection for exploring genre and tropes.
#10 | Written by Tracy about 7 months ago. Reply

I haven’t had the chance to read it yet, but I’ve heard a lot of excitement revolving around this book, and Daniel.
#11 | Written by Val Fisher about 7 months ago. Reply

Can’t wait to preview a copy!!
#12 | Written by Joleen Waltman about 7 months ago. Reply

Would love to see this book!
#13 | Written by Susan Schab about 7 months ago. Reply

I am excited to read them. There are not a lot of short story formats right now in ya. I love a good tome but novellas are in their own special category.
#14 | Written by Annie Curtis about 7 months ago. Reply

I would love to win a copy for our YA sction. I have his 2 other books, but they have not circulated as well as I had hoped. It’s probobly my fault, because Another Faust was a little unsatisfying and so I have not talked it up very much. I would love a chance to see a different style of writing from him!
#15 | Written by Megan Townley about 7 months ago. Reply

I very much enjoyed Another Faust! I would be interested in reading more by the same author.
#16 | Written by Maggie H. about 7 months ago. Reply

Thanks for the contest and the review. I love the commericial for “Doom with a View”. Can’t wait to read the book.
#17 | Written by annette kesterson about 7 months ago. Reply

i thought _another faust_ was a lot more clever than i expected, and i’m intrigued by the concepts behind this one!
#18 | Written by Andrea C. about 7 months ago. Reply

Oooh, I wish my computer at this desk had sound. Thanks so much for the review and the giveaway!
#19 | Written by Ally Cowee about 7 months ago. Reply

Really fascinating. Another Faust is in my tbr pile. I downloaded the sample for my Kindle and am looking forward to checking it out thanks to your review.