The author sent me an ARC of this book (mobi format) in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Plot
(by Goodreads)
Lacy Dawn’s father relives the Gulf War, her mother’s teeth are rotting out, and her best friend is murdered by the meanest daddy on Earth. Life in The Hollow isn’t great. But Lacy has one advantage — she’s been befriended by a semi-organic, semi-robot who works with her to cure her parents. He wants something in exchange, though. It’s up to her to save the Universe.
Will Lacy Dawn’s predisposition, education, and magic be enough for her to save the Universe, Earth, and, most importantly, protect her own family?
Rarity from the Hollow is adult literary science fiction filled with tragedy, comedy and satire. It is a children’s story for adults, not for the prudish, faint of heart, or easily offended.
| Genre(s): | Literature & Fiction > Action & Adventure > Science Fiction Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction |
| Series: | n.a. |
| Length: | 284 pages |
| Release date: | 2015-11-08 |
Teaser
“Okay. See you tomorrow.” Faith took a step up the road.
“Wait. I want to tell you something. I’ve got another best friend. That’s how I got so smart. He teaches me stuff.”
My Opinion
The book introduces you to Lacy Dawn, a girl in her pre-teens and her parents – poor and with mental issues.
With Rarity from the Hollow, Robert Eggleton has created a bizarre and often hilarious story about a young girl, her parents, Brownie the dog, and her friend DotCom. Rarity from the Hollow is a quite entertaining, strange, and also astonishing read. It took me a few chapters to comprehend Lacy Dawn’s way of thinking and talking; unsure at first if DotCom is an imaginary or real friend. The relevant characters are quite complex, they do not change their crude language, develop nicely in other aspects, though. The more I read, the more I liked Lacy Dawn; she is weird and – pretty smart. The book is mainly written in third person, past tense; the characters’ thoughts are shown in first person, present tense – I got used to it.
I really like the new cover! (I rated the previous one 3 stars)
The Rarity from the Hollow is a good read for fans of bizarre stories – e.g. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, for readers who like surprises and do not mind crude language.
In brief:
| Cover > NEW < |
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ |
| Writing | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ |
| Plot | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ |
| Characters | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ |
| Mood | Hopeful |
| Pace | Steady, slow |
| POV | 3rd person – past tense; thoughts: 1st person (alternating) – present tense |
| Language | 😳 – 😡 |
| Violence |  |
| Sexual content | 😳 |
About the author
Robert Eggleton has served as a children’s advocate in an impoverished state for over forty years. He is best known for his investigative reports about children’s programs, most of which were published by the West Virginia Supreme Court where he worked from 1982 through 1997, and which also included publication of models of serving disadvantaged and homeless children in the community instead of in large institutions, research into foster care drift involving children bouncing from one home to the next — never finding a permanent loving family, and statistical reports on the occurrence and correlates of child abuse and delinquency.
Today, he is a recently retired children’s psychotherapist from the mental health center in Charleston, West Virginia, where he specialized in helping victims cope with and overcome physical and sexual abuse, and other mental health concerns. Rarity from the Hollow is his début novel and its release followed publication of three short Lacy Dawn Adventures in magazines: Wingspan Quarterly, Beyond Centauri, and Atomjack Science Fiction. Author proceeds have been donated to a child abuse prevention program operated by Children’s Home Society of West Virginia. http://www.childhswv.org/ Robert continues to write fiction with new adventures based on a protagonist that is a composite character of children that he met when delivering group therapy services. The overall theme of his stories remains victimization to empowerment.
Connect with the author:
Please take a look at my statement on reading in My train of thoughts on …reading. Now I am asking you. 🙂
My questions for you bibliophiles:
What about you? What did you think about Rarity from the Hollow? Or – if you did not yet read Rarity from the Hollow – are you now interested in reading it yourself? What is your take on the new cover?
I am looking forward to reading your comments. 🙂
10 Statements – Robert Eggleton
My train of thoughts on... 
Rarity from the Hollow has a new website: https://www.hostingauthors.com/books/RarityfromtheHollow
The 2018 Edition of Rarity from the Hollow Paperback is now on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2LfzP84. It is also available for Any eReader: https://bit.ly/2KNJkI2 Proceeds help abused children. If you want to raise money to help abused children (50% donated), more revenue is generated from the paperback if you buy it from Lulu: https://bit.ly/2K2j3cd Thanks
Hi Karen,
Happy Holidays! I hope that you’re doing okay. After Christmas, the publisher is going to make the next deposit of author proceeds from the Rarity from the Hollow project into the nonprofit agency’s account for the prevention of child maltreatment. Millions of American children will spend this holiday in temporary shelters. A lot more world-wide are likely to spend their respective “holidays” in worse conditions. Having once been the director of emergency children’s shelters in West Virginia, it is still heartbreaking to think about children not having a “real” family during Christmas. I remember the faces, the smiles and thank yous for the presents from staff, but….
I also wanted you to know that the novel received a very cool review by Amazing Stories Magazine. This is my tweet: “Amusing at times, shocking at others, a touching and somehow wonderful SFF read.” Full review by Amazing Stories Magazine: http://bit.ly/2kbsAlV On Sale for Christmas: http://amzn.to/2lF5BPS Proceeds help maltreated children: http://www.childhswv.org
Thanks again for the review and the Ten Statements post. I just shared the link to them again on social media.
Take care,
Robert
P.S. Just FYI, here’s the link to a review that nailed the political parody in my story, connected the tragedy with the comedy, and its overall child welfare interests within this climate of adversity in America. https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R2RAXNLSHTUDUF/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=190713395X I thought that you might appreciate reading this review.
Hi Robert, Happy Holidays!
Thanks for updating and sharing.
You’re welcome, but thank you!
Also, thanks for the compliment about the new cover. On 10-1-17, it won the Authors Talk About It book cover competition in the SciFi / Fantasy category! Congrats to Adam Beyonce Lowe of Dog Horn Publishing for the design. You can check out the winners in other categories here: http://authorstalkaboutit.com/august-september-book-cover-contest-winners/
Congrats on the cover award, Robert!
9-30-17 Newest Blurb of Rarity from the Hollow: “A fun, sometimes cleverly-gonzo, and even inspiring tale about an undaunted girl’s close encounter of the weird kind.” — David Brin
As featured by your post today, Mr. Brin is an American scientist and author of science fiction. He has received the Hugo, Locus, Campbell and Nebula Awards. His novel, The Postman, was adapted as a feature film and starred Kevin Costner in 1997.
Congrats on David Brin’s blurb on your novel, Robert.
Thanks for the additional information on David Brin.
For a limited time, the eBook version or Rarity from the Hollow is on sale for $2.99 and the Paperback is on sale for $16.99. https://www.amazon.com/Rarity-Hollow-Robert-Eggleton/dp/190713395X/ Author proceeds contribute to the prevention of child maltreatment: http://www.childhswv.org/
Thank you, Robert. Dear readers: enjoy this unusual story and support the good cause.
The final edition of Rarity from the Hollow was released to Amazon on December 5, 2016.
Thank you for the update, Robert.
I like to read a wide variety of literature and am glad you show us your reviews which are clear and introduce us to genres we maybe unfamiliar with, Karen. There were innuendos in Ian Fleming’s books. Even then, Pussy Galore was obvious to me at age 12. Swear words and other situations, including adult elements, are okay by me. . . I usually wait till I see it in the “new selections” of the local library. 🙂
Thank you very much for the praise, Robin. 🙂
Adult elements should be mentioned as we all have different tolerance ranges. If you see it in your local library, please let me know what you think. 🙂
I loved all of Douglas Adams’s books, particularly ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide…’ – however the crude language might put me off this one. Will definitely take a closer look. Great review and the new rating system is terrific. Well done!
Thank you very much for your kind words, Annika.
Regarding the language…This is very individual – some words will already cross the line with certain readers; other readers may consider me being too cautious with my rating. I know that many readers do not like certain body parts being named too often; considering this an adult book, they might guess what they’re in for.
Sounds fascinating.
Yep. You’d love it, Sandra.
I need to give it a try. I also need to get back on track with my writing. Had so many distractions lately! Life sometimes gets in the way.
Sometimes life gets in the way – I couldn’t agree more. Have a good one, Sandra.
Sounds interesting and unusual, Karen. And I like your new rating system. It worked well 😀
If you liked The Hitchhiker’s Guide…you are going to like this book as well, Diana.
Thank you very much for your kind feedback regarding my new rating system. 🙂
I haven’t read the book myself, I declined the authors offer of a copy for review due to an already large TBR list however I did a interview with him on my blog and he comes across as a interesting guy with a really interesting reason behind the book to. 🙂
Robert Eggleton participated in my ’10 Statements’ series; his answers, your interview and his background information made me want to read his book. I don’t regret reading Rarity from the Hollows; interesting contrast between the author and his writing. 😉