Land of a Hundred Wonders

Lesley Kagen is at her best when she chooses a narrator whose quirky perception fits her own idiosyncratic, comedic voice-- a tough-as-nails little girl battling to protect her little sister in Mutual Admiration Society--or Gibby, the NQR (not quite right) victim of head trauma through whose eyes we experience Land of a Hundred Wonders. Gibby's socially-incorrect bluntness is refreshing; her language gaffes delightful; her enthusiasm infectious; her youthful spirit invigorating. The characters are diverse, original, complex, and memorable. While there are plenty of villains, this is a hopeful book about all-too-human humans making abundant mistakes, doing their best to sort them out, moving forward to live their injured lives together--and we are given reason to believe, happily. Loved this book, and so will you!

Author, Lesley Kagen embodies a true talent for bringing her characters to life. I truly feel like I knew each character, at one time or another throughout my life. Two of them, Gibby and Billy, I will remember for a lifetime. Gibby is "NQR" due to a brain injury. You will love who she is and the miracles she views from everyday life. Gibby has the uncanny ability to remember her favorite sayings, although they are "NQR" as well. (I laughed so hard that I had tears streaming down my face.) Billy is Gibby's saving grace with a heart so tender, that he sees her for who she is and loving her despite her short comings. Growing up in the sixties and seventies I could relate to the innocence and innocence lost during that time in history. The corruption, the racism and secrets...we've come along way and yet have so far to go. Thank you Lesley!

Gifted bestselling author, Lesley Kagen, has created another charming masterpiece with her latest work. Set in a small town in rural Kentucky, a cast of memorable characters struggle with the difficult themes of grief, loss, change and racial tensions in the mid-1970's. Kagen has again expertly immersed us in the dialect and culture of her setting in the fictional town of Cray Ridge. The heroine, Gibby McGraw, has suffered a significant closed head injury and family tragedy, and gradually works to rebuild her identity, relationships, intellectual strengths and future. In a patchwork of realism, humor, and action the story unfolds quickly as we grow to know and love these true-to-life individuals. I highly recommend this wonderful story and think it is one of the best fictional works of 2008. Enjoy.

This was an interesting book. Not the best or anything I would say was really great. Worth the read if you buy it in Bargain books.

Lesley Kagen has taken her original version of Land of a Hundred Wonders with the delightful cast of characters, especially Gibby, and given her devoted readers an update on a truly delightful story. Please do yourself a huge favor and take time to read this latest edition, You will be filled with many emotions: joy, wonder, sadness, eagerness and smiles. We can be NQR (not quite right to quote Gibby) and have a beautiful life. Lesley continues to gift us all. Thank you, author extraordinaire.

After reading "Whistling in the Dark by Lesley Kagen, I wanted to read more of her very unique writing style. I loved "Whistling in the Dark." "Land of a Hundred Wonders" is even more unique. Gibby is a very likable and unforgettable character. After finishing the book, I found that I miss her. Maybe we could have a sequel about Gibby as a grown-up married lady? I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. I stayed up late on a work night just to finish it. Thank you Lesley Kagen for a couple of days entertainment!

Good read and story. Lots of slang and definitely some grammatical errors but overall an interesting story.

I read this novel for a book discussion group so it's not one I would have picked out for myself. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this read and would recommend it. Set in a small, southern town in the 1970's, it is a heartwarming story about a young woman brain damaged in a tragic automobile accident that killed her parents. She lives with her grandpa who owns and runs a diner which only serves breakfast. Both racial tensions and a murder add to depth of the story.

After reading "Whistling in the Dark", I wanted to read more of Kagen's writing. My expectations were high, and this can easily lead to disappointment. It didn't. The novel was a true page turner for me - it's all there: a unique narrator whom you may or may not trust but who you will definitely empathize with; a great host of characters, among them Gibby's grandpa, her friend Clever, who never finished high school, her dog Keeper, traumatized "Vietnam veterinarian" Billy, a racist sheriff; a setting that Kagen fills with life (Kentucky in the early 1970s); a good mix of the personal and the political (crime and mystery, love, friendship, relationships mix in with social change, civil rights, women's rights, corruption); and a great underlying cowboy theme. The plot just makes you want to go on reading. Gibby's voice is excellent. Since she is "not quite right" after an accident, the reader often understands more than she does and this sort of dramatic irony works very well to create suspense. Kagen says cowboy novels were one of her inspirations in writing this - but I was actually also reminded of Mark Twain: the rural somewhat western/southern setting, the innocent and naive trying to survive on their wits, the depiction of country folks, the humor throughout.