This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jonathan Weeks will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
FAVORITE BOOK AS A CHILD: The Man Who Lost His Head. This picture book was written by Claire Huchet Bishop and published in 1942. As the title implies, it’s about a man who wakes up headless and wanders his village searching for the lost appendage. He tries out various substitutes, including a pumpkin and a parsnip from his vegetable garden. As a kid, I remember being mesmerized by the bizarre illustrations, which were drawn by Robert McCloskey. This book gave me incentive to learn how to read, along with Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.
FAVORITE BOOK TODAY: Beartown by Fredrik Backman. Though Backman is better known for his novel, A Man Called Ove, I actually enjoyed Beartown much better. You don’t have to be a hardcore sports fan to enjoy this emotionally powerful story about a junior hockey team located in a remote small-town community. Backman knows how to create richly drawn characters and brilliant dialog. The good news: there’s a sequel to Beartown! (Us Against You)
BAD BOOK HABITS: I hate to admit this, but when I’m reading a book that is boring me to tears, I skim the descriptive passages and focus mainly on the dialog. (Shhhh—don’t tell anyone!) It’s amazing how you can still follow the story that way.
E-READER OR PRINT: I’m old school all the way. There is nothing that compares to actually turning the pages of a real book. I love the earthy smell of libraries. And when I borrow a book, I always wonder who has read it before me. Books are like vinyl records—it’s an art form I pray will never become extinct.
FAVORITE GENRE: I’m pretty eclectic when it comes to reading, but I prefer escapist entertainment. I always seem to gravitate toward fiction dealing with the supernatural—ghosts, psychic powers, mysterious entities, etc. I also like non-fiction, particularly sports biographies (no surprise there).
RE-READER OR NOT? I am definitely a re-reader. I actually went back and re-read all the books assigned to me in high school to see how they resonated with me as an adult. A few books I found compelling the second time around were Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I have always loved Bradbury’s work, but I’m not sure I appreciated Fitzgerald when I was in high school. I definitely missed the boat on that one.
WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU NOT FINISH A BOOK? Well, a number of things actually. Books are mood-dependent for me. During the current pandemic, I have tried to stay positive by avoiding depressing material. I also get turned off by writers who provide too much physical description and don’t know where the story should end. I love Stephen King, but he often packs a 300-page story into a 600-page format.
KEEP BOOKS OR GIVE THEM AWAY: I wouldn’t call myself a hoarder, but I have a tendency to hang onto books—especially ones that are part of a series. I have a rule about letting people borrow books: I’ll lend anybody a book once, but if it’s two years later and you haven’t returned it, you’re off my lending list. LOL
Orr did not invent the archetype of the offensive defenseman, but he elevated it to a new level. A masterful skater with unparalleled acceleration, he knew where the puck was at all times and could almost always be found carrying it, pursuing it or redirecting it. Teammate Phil Esposito recalled a game in which the B’s were on a penalty kill against the Oakland Seals. Orr took the puck behind the Bruins net and lost a glove in a scuffle with an opponent. Retaining possession of the puck, he skated over the blue line then back into the Bruins zone, where he picked up his glove and killed off a full minute of the penalty. Concluding one of the most astounding sequences Esposito had ever seen, Orr glided into the offensive zone and scored a short-handed goal.
Though Orr’s detractors claimed that he was soft on defense, others begged to differ. B’s goalie Eddie Johnston, who played with Orr for several seasons, remarked: “They say Bobby doesn’t play defense. Heck, he makes a forty-minute hockey game for us. He’s got the puck twenty minutes by himself. What better defense is there?” On a similar note, coach Harry Sinden crowed: “You can have all the Bobby Clarkes of the world. I’ll take one game from Orr. He’ll make thirty moves no one has seen before.”
Orr established himself as a cultural icon in the same manner as Joe DiMaggio. More than just a player—he became a hero to the New England masses and a legend to hockey fans outside his primary fan base. His greatest seasons were packed into a relatively short span, but his star burned brightly long after he retired as a player. To the present day, he receives resounding ovations at every public event he takes part in. Interestingly, Orr never basked in the spotlight during his playing days. After Bruins victories, he would often hide in the trainer’s room and avoid reporters so that his teammates could receive credit.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5862273.Jonathan_Weeks
Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Bruins-Bostons-All-Time-Players-ebook/dp/B08T7PGZNS/
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good Morning!! Thanks for hosting my virtual tour! Great news for Boston fans...The Bruins advanced through the first round of the 2021 playoffs last night, beating their arch-rivals, the Washington Capitals! Visitors can feel free to fire away with any questions or comments about my book or other topics. I'll be checking throughout the day. I enjoy chatting with potential readers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteI liked the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind words Rita!!
DeleteGreat excerpt and giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThanks!!
DeleteThis sounds like a very good book.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I try my best!
DeleteGreat post - I enjoyed reading it!
ReplyDeleteIt's nice of you to say so. Thank you.
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