Grace Lisa Vandenburg counts. The letters in her name (19). The steps that she takes every morning to her local cafe (920). The number of poppy seeds on her slice of orange cake (?), which then dictates the number of bites she'll take to finish it. Grace counts everything, because numbers hold the world together...

Debut novel - looked intriguing and I had a discount voucher so that added up to 'buy me"

This was a book with a difference. I wasn't sure what to expect but the 'counting thing' had me interested. For Grace the counting was her way of having control over her life. I think most people have their idiosyncrasies and sometimes it's just a little shove that pushes people beyond what's considered normal. Perhaps you match clothes up on the clothes line or you prefer things to be even or you follow the same morning routine (ritual). I know someone who has to put the same colour pegs together. What about you?

Reserved for the 'Freelunch" Secret Fiction Swap.

Arrived yesterday. Thanks Lisaqt! I am also intrigued by the counting thing. I hope I get to reading it soon.

This book has been selected from the Oz VBB by catsalive.

Actually, it was selected from the OZ VBB by moi, crimson-tide, not catsalive. And it has now lobbed safely into my PO Box, for which I am very grateful. Thanks DrCris.

What a great debut novel. Witty and compassionate, it certainly is a love story with a difference - and is also all about difference. The 'counting thing' had me interested too. It could have deteriorated into basic mushy 'chick-lit' but didn't, as Grace's voice held it all together on quite another level. The information on, and parallels to, Nikola Tesla was also fascinating. A good quick read, and I enjoyed it.

Now reserved as a RABCK for a BookCrosser who has it on their wishlist.

Off on a trip to South Australia as a RABCK. :-)

thanks so much to the lovely crimson-tide for this surprise rabck!! i was really surprised by how much i enjoyed this book (unlike other journalers, despite the numbers stuff). it's rare to come across a book that tells its readers (as well as its characters) to be exactly who they are, regardless of what society considers "normal", and i found that to be so fresh and inclusive that i just fell in love. grace was so witty and spunky when she was counting, and so crushed and overlooked when she was medicated and "on the road to normalcy", so a big hats-off to toni jordan for taking us on that ride without ever sentimentalising or over-explaining things. i'm going to hang on to this book for now, in hopes that my mom will read it. i think she'll enjoy it, but i'm not sure :) thanks again, crimson-tide - this was a joy!

this didn't grab my mom in the way it got me, so it's ready to head back out into the world. i hope the next reader gets a big kick out of it!!

mom took a huge stack of books to work with her (i hope this means that anyone who picks up some of these books will think that something good came out of going to work today!!)