Expected publication: March 3rd 2015 by Viking Children's
Genre: Young Adult; Contemporary
"I am a collection of oddities, a circus of neurons and electrons: my heart is the ringmaster, my soul is the trapeze artist, and the world is my audience. It sounds strange because it is, and it is, because I am strange."
After the sudden collapse of her family, Mim Malone is dragged from her home in northern Ohio to the "wastelands" of Mississippi, where she lives in a medicated milieu with her dad and new stepmom. Before the dust has a chance to settle, she learns her mother is sick back in Cleveland.
So she ditches her new life and hops aboard a northbound Greyhound bus to her real home and her real mother, meeting a quirky cast of fellow travelers along the way. But when her thousand-mile journey takes a few turns she could never see coming, Mim must confront her own demons, redefining her notions of love, loyalty, and what it means to be sane.
Told in an unforgettable, kaleidoscopic voice, "Mosquitoland" is a modern American odyssey, as hilarious as it is heartbreaking.
Chapter 1 - Don’t Think I’m Ever Gonna Figure It Out by Elliott Smith
Chapter 2 - Glass, Concrete and Stone by David Byrne
Chapter 3
Woods by Bon Iver
Chapter 4 - Anesthetic For The Amputee by Slowreader
Chapter 5 - Letter by Alexandre Desplat
Chapter 6 - Piano One by Jon Brion
Chapter 7 - Piano Two by Jon Brion
Chapter 8
Coast to Coast by Elliott Smith
Chapter 9 - Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley
Chapter 10 - Teenagers by Department of Eagles
Chapter 11 - Afraid of Everyone by The National
Chapter 12 - Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash
Chapter 12 - Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash
Chapter 13 - Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads
Chapter 14
Cop Car by Heypenny
Chapter 15 - From the Morning by Nick Drake
Chapter 16 - Chicago (Acoustic) by Sufjan Stevens
Chapter 17 - Lost by Clark
Chapter 18 - John Wayne Gacy, Jr. by Sufjan Stevens
Chapter 19 - Another Lifetime by Alexandre Desplat
Chapter 20 - The Rendez-vous by Alexandre Desplat
Chapter 21 - Sparkplug Minuet by Mark Mothersbaugh
Chapter 22 - Extraordinary Machine by Fiona Apple
Chapter 23
Young Bride by Midlake
Chapter 24 - Prologue by Alexandre Desplat
Chapter 25 - I Didn’t Understand by Elliott Smith
Chapter 26 - The Shining by Badly Drawn Boy
Chapter 27 - He Needs Me by Jon Brion
Chapter 28 - Undertaker by M. Ward
Chapter 29 - Aging in Rhthym by Slowreader
Chapter 30 - Fell in Love at 22 by Starflyer 59
Chapter 31 - I’ll Be Yr Bird by M. Ward
Chapter 32
Half Light II (No Celebration) by Arcade Fire
Chapter 33 - Phone Call by Jon Brion
Chapter 34 - Holocene by Bon Iver
Chapter 35 - Gymnopédie No. 1 by Erik Satie
Chapter 36 - Crown of Love by Arcade Fire
Chapter 37 - Pitselah by Elliott Smith
Chapter 38 - Politics, Music and Drugs by Slowreader
Chapter 39 - Rue St. Vincent by Yves Montand
Chapter 40 - Blood by The Middle East
Chapter 41
Transatlanticism by Death Cab for Cutie
Chapter 42 - Calgary by Bon Iver
Thank you Sir David for the cool soundtracks you've shared! I think we have the same taste in music, huh? And we'll listen to these songs when we read Mosquitoland!
Well guys, I can't let this post end without asking questions and more of our dear author!
Well guys, I can't let this post end without asking questions and more of our dear author!
When I first encountered your book, I really thought that Mosquitoland is all about a land of mosquitoes. Why this title?
Ultimately, the book is about home. The main character (Mim) has recently moved from Ohio to Mississippi with her dad and stepmom, and she hates it. I was really interested in diving into this idea of hating a place based on its inherent geography. For the record, I don’t think Mim hates Mississippi so much as she hates what it represents: the people she’s with while she’s there, the things going on in her life which happen to coincide with her living in this new state. Ultimately, Mim hits the road, not because she wants to get away from Mississippi (which she refers to as Mosquitoland), but because she wants to find her true home. That said, I lived in Jackson, Mississippi between the ages of 3-9, and the thing I remember most are the mosquitoes. So yeah, it certainly left an impression.
Every person that reviewed your book on Goodreads red-lighted up all five-stars! This feels you good. Aside from your protagonist Mim’s thousand-mile journey, can you share too your odyssey with Mosquitoland?
Ha! Well, I don’t know how much credence I give the Goodreads reviews, but I’m glad to hear people are responding positively. As for my own personal experience while writing Mosquitoland, there’s a long story and a short one – I’ll try to find something in the middle.
My wife and I used to live in Nashville, where I worked as a freelance musician and producer. I was also working on a few middle grade manuscripts in my spare time, but my writing had no urgency. So when we found out my wife was pregnant (surprise!), I suddenly felt like I was out of time. Music took a back seat, and I dove into a young adult manuscript I’d been too afraid to start. Those were the early pages of Mosquitoland; I’d been sitting on the idea for months, but felt it was too big, too serious a topic for me to tackle. I always figured I’d get to it “some day.” But after we found out a kid was on the way, “some day” became “this day.” I’ve said this before, but there’s no kind of writing like writing for your life. Two years (and countless episodes of Sesame Street) later, I had a draft of Mosquitoland that was ready to query. I began looking for an agent in May of 2013, signed with Dan Lazar at Writers House in July of that year, and Dan sold it to Viking/Penguin in September. That part of the process went fairly quickly, but only because I took my time on the front end, polishing my manuscript, getting critiques from readers I trusted, and researching agents. All told, it will be three and half years between the time I started writing Mosquitoland, and the time it will hit shelves in March of 2015.
David Arnold is the author of MOSQUITOLAND (Viking/Penguin, 2015). Previous “jobs” include freelance musician/producer, stay-at-home dad, and preschool teacher. He is a fierce believer in the power of kindness and community. And chips. He believes fiercely in chips. David is represented by Dan Lazar at Writers House. You can find him at davidarnoldbooks.com and on Twitter @roofbeam.
Subscribe to his Website– https://www.davidarnoldbooks.com
Be a fan of David on Goodreads! – https://www.goodreads.com/david_arnold
Follow him on Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/roofbeam
Know more of Mosquitoland here.
This giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY. You must be 13 years old and above. Use the Rafflecopter below to gain entries. The contest will end on December 30, 2014. Winner will be notified through e-mail. Winner will also be announced on this post via update. If winner has not responded within 48 hours, we will choose another. Enjoy!
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Winner Update
Congratulations Carmel La!
You WON the Mosquitoland Swags Giveaway with 32 entries
Please e-mail me at eeliahgem@gmail(dot)com your complete name and mailing address.
Thank you!
Thank you for everyone that participated! Until next time. <3
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I'm going to love this.
ReplyDeleteYou will! :)
DeleteI've been eyeing this book ever since it was listed on Goodreads! The synopsis mentions something about a "quirky cast" sooooo I'm definitely sold. And I LOVE that Playlist by Chapters bit! Lots of really good songs and Bon Iver <3
ReplyDeleteGood to know you have known this book. Not just quirky but adventurous too! I did not expect a chapter by chapter playlist but it was awesome not to mention it has lots of chapter. lol
DeleteA PLAYLIST BY CHAPTERS IS PERFECT. I can't wait to read Mosquitoland!
ReplyDeleteIt is, Hazel! Don't forget to add it on Goodreads too. :)
DeleteI expect that I can definitely relate to this! The moment I read oddities. I think this read is gonna hit home. and life is never the same! Thank you really! You have such amazing giveaways! <3
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carmel! XO
DeleteYou are so kind and sweet. You're right there. :)
YAY~ I've been wanting to read this book ever since I saw it on Goodreads! I'm definitely looking forward to read this in 2015. The synopsis sounds awesome and the interview you had with the author, David Arnold, was awesome too! Thanks for the giveaway. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks that you liked it! :) We all hope to read it soon.
DeleteI fully expect to love this. I read the first three chapters as part of a sampler and it's astoundingly good.
ReplyDeleteLucky you have read it, Kim! I am too. I am loving it so far now by just its chapter-by-chapter playlist. :)
DeleteWell, only the first three chapters-- I've gotta wait until March for the rest unfortunately! This playlist is so good too. It makes me want it even more, which I didn't think would be possible as it's easily my most anticipated book of 2015.
DeleteOoops~ I think you've pre-ordered it, right? Wow. It is indeed the most anticipated book of 2015.
DeleteI have no idea what to expect, I feel so kept in the dark with Mosquitoland! But I'm expecting a lovely contemporary, with heart, that's off beat and creeps up on you slowly. I'll just have to wait and see.
ReplyDeleteI heard this is a lovely contemporary! Surely you will love it. I cannot wait to read your thoughts about it when you have read it soon. :)
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