Land of a Hundred Wonders | 
 enlarge | Author: Lesley Kagen
Publisher: NAL Trade
Category: Book
List Price: $14.00
Buy New: $7.98
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Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 12701
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.8
ISBN: 0451224094
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780451224095
ASIN: 0451224094
Publication Date: July 29, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
From the national bestselling author of Whistling in the Dark comes another funny, poignant, unforgettable story.
The summer Gibby McGraw catches her big break, the cicadas are humming, and its so warm even the frogs are sweating. Brain damaged after a tragic car accident that took both her parents, Gibby is now NQR (Not Quite Right), a real challenge for a fledgling newspaper reporter. Especially when she stumbles upon the dead body of the next governor of Kentucky, Buster Malloy.
Armed with her trusty blue spiral note-book, Gibby figures that solving the murder might be her best chance to prove to everyone that she can become Quite Right again. But she gets more than she bargained for when she uncovers a world of corruption, racism, and family secrets in small town Cray Ridge. Lucky for her, shes also about to discover that some things are far more important than all the brains in the world, and that miracles occur in the most unexpected moments.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Who is QR? August 20, 2008
Land of a Hundred Wonders took place in Kentucky in 1973 and had quite a bit of mystery, and I liked that. I related a lot to the main character Gibby having certain memory problems myself. I also like the way she was written when she talked or thought. When she would forget things people didn't keep repeating things to her over and over, which can get annoying if done wrong. The book kept the pace pretty steady too ... although I will say it comes very close to being a story with a stupidity plot, where if people aren't doing obvious, stupid things, then their wouldn't be a conflict in the first place. I think the author was trying to show that, like Gibby, mostly everyone has there NQR moments and not that they were all stupid. But sometimes I did wonder... There were times the characters did things that surprised me, and then there were also some predictable moments. I haven't read many books that take place in the south, in fact the only other one I can think of is Gone With the Wind, and my only real problem with this was I didn't like how everyone seemed to not think things through. Despite that, I did find the book enjoyable.
fun chick lit NOIR August 7, 2008
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
In 1970 the car accident that killed her parents left Gibby McGrew with a brain injury that caused some damage that her grandpa calls not quite right (NQR). Three years later, the twenty something Gibby lives with her grandpa and works at his Top O' the Mornin' Diner and Pumps in Cray Ridge, Kentucky. Her dream of becoming a big city investigative reporter was smashed when her brain was dented on the day she became an orphan.
However, Gibby refuses to totally give up on her goal. She produces the weekly Gabby's Gazette that patrons of her grandpa's diner can pick up a copy on Fridays. However she sees an opportunity to prove to her grandpa that though she will never be quite right, she can function quite nicely. Gibby has found the murdered corpse of the alleged next state governor, Mr. Buster "Butter" Malloy. She plans to solve the case.
Gibby hooks the audience from the onset and keeps our empathy throughout with her NOIR chick lit asides. Her commentary along with a strong support cast make for a delightful historical regional investigative tale. Fans will appreciate LAND OF A HUNDRED WONDERS due to the guide displaying an appreciative outlook for life more so than most people who are allegedly quite right. She is a "shoe-in" to gain reader admiration for her can do lifestyle.
Harriet Klausner
 Good hearts are better than good smarts August 6, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Last summer's great read was Lesley Kagen's "Whistling in the Dark". If you enjoyed that book, you will love her new book "Land of a Hundred Wonders". The author reveals the mystery of secrets, corruption, and murder in a small Southern town through the inquiring (but "Not Quite Right") mind of a young woman, Gibby McGraw. I loved the characters and their colorful language and cadence to their conversations, and I was inspired by a central theme to the story: good hearts are more important than good smarts. I've already given away copies to the same friends and family that so enjoyed last summer's "Whistling in the Dark". Let's hope that Ms. Kagen is working on next summer's great read.
An charming cast of characters ... the best book I've read this year July 29, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Three years ago, Gibby McGraw was involved in a car accident that took the lives of her parents and left Gibby NQR or Not Quite Right. Now twenty year-old Gibby lives with her Grampa in the small town of Cray Ridge, Kentucky, bussing tables at his diner and reporting for Gibby's Gazette, which is available for free at several local businesses. Land of a Hundred Wonders by Lesley Kagen is the story of how Gibby tries to become Quite Right, and in the process discovers love, acceptance and that miracles do happen.
There is a lot going on in the little town of Cray Ridge, and in Gibby's life, for that matter. She sees this as the perfect opportunity to prove to herself and everyone else - including her mother who is restless in heaven, worrying about her daughter - that she is Quite Right. Her plan is to produce a superbly written, excellently investigated breaking news story about the murder of local politician Buster Malloy. Gibby found the body, and has pictures to prove it.
But things go awry when some shady local characters interfere with her plan. The disreputable county sheriff, Gibby's pot-smoking neighbor, and Sneaky Tim Ray Holloway, who can't seem to keep his hands of Gibby, much to her disgust. Thank goodness Gibby has plenty of good guys on her side. Her Grampa, gruff and wise, is completely devoted to making sure she is safe and well cared for. Her best friend Clever, despite being a little rough around the edges, would do anything for Gibby. And then there's Billy, not quite right in his own way after what he saw in Vietnam, but handsome, smart, and solid - and it seems his feelings for Gibby constitute a bit more than friendship.
This book easily rates as my favorite of 2008. If I used ratings in my reviews, this one would get a 5/5 rating, which is saying something since the majority of the books I read top out at 4/5. Gibby McGraw is the most incredibly endearing character I've met in a long time. And she's funny - so funny. Without meaning to be, which always makes a person funnier than if they're trying to be, doesn't it? Her sweet innocence and struggle to grasp the nuances of the English language - commonly used homophones and double entendres throw Gibby for quite a loop - result in some misunderstandings that will make you laugh out loud.
Besides Gibby, there are many other memorable characters in Land of a Hundred Wonders. Typically I fall in love with one or two characters in a novel - three is a stretch - but here there were so many well-developed characters - Grampa, Clever, Billy, and a host of others, from Miss Jessie who happened to be in love with Grampa to Miss Florida, who worked at the diner and made the best pies for miles around. I was completely charmed with all of them.
This book has it all, a little suspense, wonderful characters, even a love story or two. What impressed me the most was how very clever it was. The plot lines were varied, yet well developed and fully intertwined. The humor was absolutely brilliant and satisfyingly witty. Kagen's debut novel, Whistling in the Dark, was impressive, but she has outdone herself with Land of a Hundred Wonders.
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