Sunday, August 26, 2012

Aussie Book Review & Give-away: Guitar Highway Rose by Brigid Lowry

Guitar Highway Rose by Brigid Lowry
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release Date: January 24, 2006

Popular and smart, fifteen-year-old Rosie Moon is the quintessential good girl. She also wishes she could be someone else for a while, someone more interesting. Asher Fielding is the mysterious new boy at school who has dreadlocks and a love of Jim Morrison. On the first day of tenth grade, Rosie develops a crush on Asher, and when the two pair up for a poetry assignment they quickly form a bond. When Asher is falsely accused of stealing a wallet at school, he and Rosie decide to escape it all--their families, their school, their ordinary town--and hitchhike up the Australian coast. They know they shouldn't, and that is exactly why they do. Part road story, part love story, Guitar Highway Rose is a thrilling ride for anyone who has ever dreamed about escaping everyday life, even just for a little while.

Quote: "Some ideas are not born of logic and good sense. They are made of clouds and cobwebs. They sprout from nowhere and feed on excitement, sprinkled with adventure-juice and the sweet flavor of the forbidden. The psyche moves from the realms of the ordinary and takes a delicate step towards the territory of the unknown. We know that we shouldn’t and that is exactly why we do."

Wow! How beautiful is that?

My Thoughts:
Guitar Highway Rose is filled with amazing thoughtful passages, enlightening Aussie lingo, and precise descriptions of the landscape in Australia that makes you feel part of the setting and the story. The writing style is light and very much unique as it allows glimpses into the lives of Rosie, Asher and their families during a time a transition and adjustment.

In this story, Asher comes to a new town and school in the aftermath of his parents’ separation. He’s had to leave his friends and father to try and make a new life in Perth with his mom. There he meets Rosie who not only develops a crush on him, but stands by him when he’s falsely accused of stealing a wallet at school. Rosie’s life isn’t much better. Her parents are fighting quite a bit and her relationship with her mom is strained and full of tension. Together, Rosie and Ash form a plan to take a small “time-out” from their lives and go on a road trip that ultimately leads to a lasting friendship.

Guitar Highway Rose was nothing short of what I expected from this genre of Australian YA Contemporary. I fell for the characters immediately as they shared their raw feelings with no remorse. There were moments in the story where my emotions jolted and that just proved how much I came to care for the characters in this story. From beginning to end, I was vested in this wonderful story.

Another beautiful example of the brilliance Australia has to offer . Brigid Lowry holds a firm spot among her talent pool. Loved it!

4 Snowflakes
WinterHaven Books is giving away a copy of Guitar Highway Rose to one lucky follower. Just fill out the rafflecopter and tell us if you've had a chance to read an Aussie book. Good luck!

32 comments:

  1. Not that I know of for sure, but I could have read one and not realized it!

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  2. I don't think I have ever read one. julierupert@gmail.com

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    1. I've loved pretty much all of the Aussies I've read. Good luck with the giveaway. :)

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  3. Not yet, I hope to read this one though!

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    1. They're so good Through my Lens. I hope you get to one soon. Good luck! :D

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  4. No, I haven't, but I'm looking forward to this one! :) Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!

    biblioprincess15 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  5. No I have not (Can you believe it) but I do plan to (someday) :D

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  6. I have never had a chance to read an Aussie book. Thank you so much for doing the giveaway.

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    1. I hope you get to read one soon. Good luck! :)

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  7. I haven't yet, although I have several on my TBR list and one on my shelf that I hope to get to soon. Aussie books tend to be a bit hard to find, or expensive once they are found.

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    1. Yes, they are hard to find. I wish we could get more of them here in the states. Thanks for posting Kelly. :)

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  8. No, but I've heard that Melina Marchetta is an amazing writer, and I've been wanting to read Jellicoe Road for a loong time now.

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    1. Kitty I hope you get to read Jellicoe Road soon. Such an amazing book!

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  9. I have never heard about these authors, but would LOVE to read Guitar Highway Rose!

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    1. It's a great Aussie book. Good luck with the giveaway. Thanks for posting Jennifer!

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  10. Nope, but I've heard so much positive things.

    Thanks for the giveaway.

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  11. I've read Jellicoe Road, Saving Francesca (both were incredibly amazing) and Raw Blue. Aussie books tend to be a hit lately and I would love to read this one too.

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    1. Those were all awesome books Danielle! Glad you liked them too. :)

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  12. I don't believe I have. Thanks for the chance.

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  13. I've only had the chance to read one Aussie book, Stolen by Lucy Christopher. It was an amazing book! :)

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