Peeking Between the Pages

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The Gods of Heavenly Punishment by Jennifer Cody Epstein & Giveaway (US/Canada)

by

gods

The Gods of Heavenly Punishment by Jennifer Cody Epstein is a novel that tells of the 1945 firebombing on Tokyo and takes us on a journey into the lives of those who experienced both the ‘before’ and ‘after’ of this devastating act of war.  While the tale she tells is fictional, the basis for it is not and this story will haunt you long after you turn the final page.

When we first meet Yoshi Kobayashi she is a little girl who still believes that life has only the best to offer.  At a dinner party her parents are at she meets Billy although at her young age she has no idea what an impact he will later have on her life.  When the bombings occur Yoshi’s innocence is forever lost.  Billy wants only to take pictures.  With his first camera he discovered a love of photography that would remain with him throughout his life.  However in the time during WWII young men didn’t have the chance to follow their dreams; they had to go to war instead.  Around them are their parents dealing with marriage, infidelities, and the effects of war.  We also meet Cam and Lacy, a young couple in love but both are deeply affected by the war when Cam leaves to fight in it as a bomber pilot.

The intriguing part of this novel is how all these people’s lives intersect in some way even though it seems unlikely that they should.  I wouldn’t say I so much connected with the characters in this book but I felt for them and in that there was a connection.  The tragedies of war and the lives lost is devastating and the author truly brings this horror to life for the reader.  While I have read of the bombing of Tokyo I’ve never experienced the harsh realities of it quite as much as I did with this novel.  The author takes you through the streets and you can almost smell the charred remains of buildings and see the injured and dying people.

The Gods of Heavenly Punishment is a powerful novel.  While it is a story of war and its effects on people it is also a story of hope and resilience.  This novel was meticulously researched and it shows.  I also really liked the photos she included at the beginning of each chapter that were of real people during the war.  I read Jennifer Cody Epstein’s first novel The Painter of Shanghai years ago and she impressed me then and did once again with The Gods of Heavenly Punishment.  I will once again be anxiously awaiting her next book!

The Gods of Heavenly Punishment by Jennifer Cody Epstein is touring with TLC Book Tours so be sure to check out the other tour stops.  You can find Jennifer on her website as well as liking her Facebook page.  You can pick up your own copy of The Gods of Heavenly Punishment at Amazon, Amazon Canada, B&N, and IndieBound.

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS (US/Canada)

I have one copy of The Gods of Heavenly Punishment by Jennifer Cody Epstein to share with my readers.  To enter…

  • For 1 entry leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
  • For 2 entries follow my blog.  If you already do let me know and I’ll pass the extra entry on to you as well.
  • Tweet, Share on Facebook, or Blog for 3 entries.

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winner on May 29/13.  Good luck!

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Comments

  1. The cover and the title are intriguing and your review sealed the deal. I would love to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway.

    Google follower

  3. Your wonderful review captivated my interest. Thanks for this great giveaway. I subscribe via e-mail.

  4. Powerful was one adjective and that is important in a book. I would enjoy this novel. I am an e-mail subscriber. Thanks.

  5. I would like to read The Gods of Heavenly Punishment.
    I follow your blog via email.

  7. Thank you for this giveway, I am very interested in The Gods of Heavenly Punishment. i read Hiroshima twice and would like to read this because it covers before and after this fire bombing. I think that hope and resilence are important in so many situation like surviving cancer. Think this would be a book to treasure.

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

  10. I really love the storyline of this book and would love to win and read it.
    Thanks for the chance to win it.

    cenya2 at Hotmail dot com

  12. Wonderful, powerful review. I’m half Japanese but my mom passed away when I was young, so I’ve recently been studying my Japanese heritage. I know it’s fiction, but it sounds like a well researched and interesting read. I know Jennifer Cody Epstein is an excellent writer and would love to read this novel.

    And I’m a new Feedburner subscriber! 🙂

  13. First I just love the cover of this book. Thank you for the review. Sounds like and interesting read and one that I would like to read.
    I did tweet and follow you on facebook. I also posted it on my facebook.

  17. Wow! I can’t WAIT to read this! I love that cover, too ; )
    I’m definitely adding this to my TBR list immediately!
    I wonder what kind of events or people in the author’s life inspired them to write this book!?
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    mestith at gmail dot com

    I follow via email: mestith at gmail dot com

  18. This looks like a fascinating story. Thanks for the giveaway.
    -email subscriber, GFC follower, Facebook fan

  20. I’d love a chance to win this one. I love the time period and the setting.

    I follow your blog and tweeted @vegasbookgirl

    Cheers!
    Amanda
    libraryofmyown at gmail

  21. I was greatly affected by reading Hiroshima when I was a child. This sounds like it is well researced and will put a personal touch to this horrid situation.
    I follow with email
    I tweeted.

    The Gods of Heavenly Punishment by Jennifer Cody Epstein & Giveaway (US/Canada)

  22. Sounds like it will be a very emotional but gratifying read. I follow via e-mail.

  23. Sounds like a good book. Would love to win a copy.nthanks for the giveaway!

    I follow via GFC as Lara frame

    lafra86 at gmail dot com

  27. It really was difficult to connect with the characters because I had little in common with them, but they were still interesting and the book overall was very powerful. Glad to see you liked it. No need to enter me.