#39: Show of Hands by Anthony McCarten

I decided to read Show of Hands because for the first time in a long time I found a book with a plot that I had never encountered before.  Show of Hands is the story of a group of people trying to win a car.  Set in London, the book tells the story of 40 people, but the main characters are a small group, trying to win a Range Rover by being the last person to have one hand on the car.  See--unique plot.

The main characters are:

• Hatch Back, the owner of the car dealership who is holding this contest to boost sales for his failing business
• Jess Podorowski, a widowed mother, who works as a meter maid, of a sweet girl confined to a wheel chair who wants this car in order to transport her to and from her school
• Tom Shrift, a businessman, and member of Mensa, who is trying to win the car in order to sell it so he can begin to pay off debt from a failed business venture
• Matt Brocklenbank, a young guy who has entered the competition in order to prove that he can accomplish something without the help of his parents

There are a few other contestants that we get to know throughout the story, along with the family of each contestant as well as the dealership owner.   

The story is a good one and I particularly liked each character was explored so deeply, after all there is very little to do when you are spending days with one hand on a car except talk about yourself, your family, and why you are trying so hard to win a car.  The story also has a plot twist toward the end that I never expected.  I also never expected the ending to be what it was.  I guess people can surprise you, even ones that you think you know and understand.  

This was a great book and such a different read from my typical romance books or historical fiction novels.   It's good to break away from the norm every now and again and read something new.  

Happy reading, everyone! 

:) Dodie