The 8th Journal [Paperback]

Nicole Parris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 12, 2006

What do we really know about ourselves--or the ones connected to us? Holly Anderson is just looking for an excuse to take a year off before starting college, but she never expected her time off to be so dramatic--or so potentially deadly. Reeling from the discovery that she is adopted and that her birthmother is the author of the best-selling adventure series of which she is also a huge fan, Holly now finds the onus of writing the last book in the series falling upon her inexperienced shoulders. Charged with what appears to be an impossible task, Holly journeys to the home of her eccentric aunt in the West Village, where she must deal with a trail of past murders, the 'Henry Curse,' and the increasingly relentless harassment of the media. "The cast of secondary characters are a colorful delight, the pace never flags, and readers will find the ending of this rollicking adventure cum tender coming of age story more than satisfying" Ellen Tanner Marsh

Editorial Reviews

Review

Holly discovers her destiny when following the path of her famous author mom.

Taking a year off from college, Holly learns that she was adopted and that her birth mother wrote bestselling fantasy books called the Buzz series. Though Holly's mom died with her series unfinished, she willed to her clueless, untried daughter the completion of the run. Thrust into the New York City publishing world, Holly deals with ambitious agents and covetous hangers-on while seeking out the last journal of an explorer ancestor, the real Buzz who inspired her mother's books. Parris has elements of a rip-roaring story here. She understands plotting--after giving excessive background information about the death of Holly's mom, the book picks up steam and doesn't relent until the last page. A cliffhanger ends each short chapter, or a new twist develops in the first page of the next. The smoothly moving story percolates with irresistible energy. Parris deftly skewers the rapacity of publishers, portraying the competition over Holly and her mother's legacy as a James Bond-esque affair with double agents, high stakes and explosive revelations. Still, the author's reliance on beginner-level narrative tactics bogs down the book. Everyone worships Holly: her loving adoptive parents, devoted but tragically absent birth parents, long-suffering boyfriend, and a coterie of professors and agents. Her unrealistic charisma and flawless persona (aside from understandable crabbiness when her mom's agent turns her life upside down) puts her dangerously close to Mary Sue territory. Additionally and most damningly, Parris bungles a b-plot in which a descendant of one of Buzz's co-explorers wants a cut of the fame. As a black man whose ancestor's experiences were ignored, Gilbert has legitimate grievances, but the author reduces him to a snobbish-yet-idiotic twit, giving a nasty edge to an otherwise rollicking action/adventure. --Kirkus Discoveries

Product Details

• Paperback: 457 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (September 12, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419630571
• ISBN-13: 978-1419630576
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,706,466 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Author has a Stunning Career Ahead of Her!, November 17, 2006

By 

Gadget Girl (Orlando, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The 8th Journal (Paperback)

Anyone can buy Danielle Steele's latest novel, but I really enjoy trying out offerings from new authors. I like the idea of catching a rising star! I purchased this book because the cover looked intriguing and the plot sounded interesting. I was not at all disappointed! The plot is full of twists, the ending does not disappoint, and the best part is the colorful, unforgettable characters. I hope there is a sequel coming soon!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A definite must buy!!, December 13, 2006

By 

J.S. (Lexington, KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The 8th Journal (Paperback)

A strong, and refreshing, book. The characters grab ahold of you from the start, and you can't help but get very involved in the story. And what an exciting journey Holly, and cast, take you on. All in all, a refreshingly pure, and solid, mystery that everyone will enjoy. This book will someday make an awesome movie.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 21st Century Nancy Drew, November 22, 2006

By 

J.K. (Prescott, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The 8th Journal (Paperback)

Wow! Is this the first of a 21st century Nancy Drew style series? This book is sure to please young readers! It's clever and imaginative, and keeps the reader guessing till the end. The heroine is just starting her first year of college in this mystery, and with her good-guy boyfriend she untangles the secrets hidden in the journals left her by the birth mother she never knew. Can't wait for the next episode!