El mayor premio jamás otorgado por la lotería europea ha caído en un pequeño pueblo de Girona. Lo que en un principio es el día más feliz para sus habitantes, pronto se convierte en una carrera contrarreloj para encontrar al agraciado y cobrar el boleto. Un cura con incontinencia verbal, una jubilada con fantasías sexuales con el carnicero, un alcalde que lleva 30 años siéndolo o un cartero enamorado de la mujer del panadero son algunos de los personajes variopintos que nos harán reír, llorar y disfrutar de situaciones cotidianas llevadas al límite. En esta comedia, llena de acción y suspense, Carlos J. Server nos descubre un marco costumbrista al más puro estilo de Berlanga y Woody Allen.
Sin duda una novela que hay que disfrutarla leyéndola despacio, si puedes...
Carlos J. Server (Valencia, Spain, 1975) first became a household name in 2014 with his debut novel, Un día con suerte, a finalist in the First Annual Indie Literary Prize Contest cosponsored by Amazon, the prestigious Spanish newspaper El Mundo, and publisher Esfera de los Libros. Contest judges considered more than seven hundred works by authors from thirty-two countries. Un día con suerte became an overnight Internet phenomenon, quickly rising in the charts to become the No. 1 bestselling eBook in Spanish on Amazon in Spain, the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Germany, France, Holland, and Italy. It has maintained its ranking in Europe as the top-selling comic novel in eBook form available in Spanish on Amazon throughout 2015 and 2016.
In 2015 Carlos Server published his second novel, Un bautizo singular, a romantic comedy of intrigue peopled by a cast of zany characters. The author is currently at work on his third novel, scheduled for publication at the end of 2016.
The global launch of A Lucky Day, the English version of Mr. Server’s first novel, will take place in February 2017, making the novel available to English-speaking readers everywhere. This will be followed in June of the same year by the publication of Family in a rush, the English version of his second novel.
In his fast-paced, suspenseful, highly entertaining novels, Carlos Server invites us to enjoy tales reminiscent of Billy Wilder and Woody Allen, two artists much admired by the author.
Carlos J. Server (Gandia, España 1975) se dio a conocer en 2014 con su primera novela "UN DÍA CON SUERTE", finalista del 1er Consurso Literario de Autores Indie organizado por Amazon y El Mundo. La novela rápidamente se transformó en un fenómeno en la red, convirtiéndose en el ebook en español más vendido en Amazon en España, USA, México, Alemania, Francia e Italia.
En 2015 ha publicado su segunda novela "UN BAUTIZO SINGULAR", una romántica comedia de enredo llena de divertidos personajes.
En sus divertidas novelas, llenas de acción y suspense, Carlos J. Server nos descubre un marco costumbrista repleto de personajes al más puro estilo de Berlanga o Woody Allen.
The book opens with a quote “Luck is an arrow that finds its target in the least expected place.” Konrad Adenauer.
The story goes back and fought between different time frames, starting with two main characters, Jeanette and Adrian getting lost and arguing about directions, whilst travelling in Spain. The couple notice a sign for Sainte Marie d’Azur, not far away, so they decide to stop and ask for directions on how to get back to the highway. When they entered the village, with their son Charlie, the town it would appear is deserted. Eventually they discover a church. Hoping that someone will be inside they go in.
Chapter two then goes back in time and switches to a different character, and I found myself going back and forth between characters and times. At first it was difficult to keep track of all the characters, but once I did, the plot turned out to be very easy to follow.
The story is about a missing lottery ticket, and the speculation that can occur when people try to guess who the winner is. It reminded me that it only takes one person to spread rumours/gossip, and for one other person to believe them, and things can quiet easily get out of hand.
The book ends with the big reveal of who the lottery ticket belonged to.
The book has a lot of humour to it, and I did find myself smiling at various places in the book. I read the last part of the book in a library and had to control myself so as not to laugh too loudly, and disturb the other users. It is a very enjoyable book, and I found myself racing through it.
“I reviewed the English version, translated from it’s original Spanish, and one hopes the original author’s meanings were shared in every way, which can be a concern with such works. And exactly why a good translator is always prized, and deservedly can receive notice and awards of their own. So cheers, to Annie Crawford for that. For me, the main concern I had with accepting this title review was that humor can be very subjective. What one finds funny, another may not, but I was pleased to find amusing situations and great ‘one-liners’ throughout that could be universally appreciated, for the most part. A good storyteller helps you see the humor even in small gestures, looks and events, even in writing. Server was highly successful in this way.
The variety of characters presented, from a baker’s housewife with a passionate decorative affair with garden gnomes, to Sergeant Chardin, at five foot five and 265lbs, each is unforgettable in their way. Some of the things I liked best about A Lucky Day was the balance between descriptive scenes: landscape, personal appearance, mannerisms, and the conversational dialogues. While effusive details may become tedious in a novel length work, the author never reached that point. They were relevant and very visual, helping anchor readers in the region, which most of us may never have visited. There wasn’t too much dialogue nor too little. Pacing was also good, as readers already knew what the prize was from the book’s synopsis, but how it all came to pass and who eventually received the reward?
I found A Lucky Day to be a lightly comical, tightly written tale that flowed easily, where I literally laughed out loud at times and which was never overly complicated in style or presentation. It was a fun journey, which almost anyone might enjoy. I definitely recommend it, especially if seeking a fun, fast moving read as escapism from the daily issues so many people face today. ”
Thank you Goodreads for sending me this book. The front of the book is bright and eye-catching, which is always something that draws me towards a book. It has been translated from Spanish and is very funny, enjoyable read. Initially it could be a little confusing as the first chapters jump from different time zones, introducing different characters. The main premise of the story is that a winning Euromillions lottery ticket has been lost. The aftermath of this is about how people deal with this and their reactions. It can make you laugh out loud at times. A great feel good book that I highly recommend.
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is really a lot of fun. With plenty of humor and interesting characters, this book is a fabulous way to unwind. For me, it was a perfect way to relax after a rough week at work. Really, it's great for everyone!
The way the narrative jumps around in time is somewhat disconcerting and, you feel, a device utilised simply to allow a final revealtion. Having said that it is nicely translated and retains a sense of fun.
I read this book start to finish. The cast of characters drew me into their small village as they tried to figure out who won the lottery. Satisfying ending!
I really enjoyed this book! It was fun to read with likable characters and an interesting plot. I read it in one sitting and it was a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, and now look forward to reading "A Singular Baptism" by this author.
This was the first book I've read by this author. This was a funny story of the people in a small town and how they are effected by a winning lottery ticket. There is a full cast of interesting characters. I enjoyed the book and will look for more from this author.
I received an ARC copy of this book by the author.
When the largest prize on the Euromillions is won by somebody in the small village of Sainte Marie d'Azur in France, there's a race to find out who has the winning ticket and to cash it in time. But will the winner even come forward to claim the prize, and what will happen when the village find out who it is?
'A Lucky Day' is such a funny book I can't believe how much it had me laughing. The book is an English release of the Spanish 'Un Día Con Suerte' and I'm so glad it's been translated as it's now one of my favourite comedy books. The story takes place initially on the 24th August in a small village along the French Riviera where somebody has won the biggest ever prize on the Euromillions. The date is important as it's the last day for the winner to come forward and claim the prize which until then nobody has done. You find out from the first chapters that the news of the win has complicated things in the village and through flashbacks we then learn what has happened in the last three months.
The book is so easy to get into and from the first pages I was really hooked. Every chapter is filled with comedy which I can only describe as farcical and it's so silly and funny that I found myself laughing out loud. A few moments in the book were so funny I had to put it down for a minute as I couldn't stop laughing! The chapters are short and switch between different scenes. The chapters also have a date and it's important to note the date as the action swings back and forth from the past to the present. There's never any confusion despite all the different characters introduced and the whole book took on the feel of a movie. I could really see this turned into a madcap comedy on screen!
The tale never really delves too deeply into character's personalities and they might be considered a little one-dimensional but at the same time this book isn't supposed to be about deep character building. Instead you have obvious good and bad characters and lots of funny in between. As description on the back of the book states, there's a priest with verbal incontinence, an old lady with sexual fantasies about the local butcher, a villainous baker, etc. The characters might not be too deep but there are moments when you learn more about them and you do end up routing for some of them. I especially love Julien's unfolding tale and all the scenes with Father André.
The story has a sex scene in it, it's actually very brief and funny and it doesn't go into any real details. There isn't much violence apart from fighting which ends up more farcical than vicious and one use of the b swear word. Unless someone takes offense to the way the priest is depicted, as a little less than perfect, or to the general farce style of comedy then I would say this book is a great comedy for anyone to enjoy.
I don't know if it's because I love that general farce humour in things like the Carry On films but this book is one I really enjoyed. It's so funny and the ending is a very satisfying one. If you are looking for a deep book with deep character building then I'd say this wasn't for you, however for something light-hearted and very funny I would really recommend reading this, especially if you love to read or watch this sort of thing on the screen. A really great book, I can't wait to read more from this author!
“I reviewed the English version, translated from it’s original Spanish, and one hopes the original author’s meanings were shared in every way, which can be a concern with such works. And exactly why a good translator is always prized, and deservedly can receive notice and awards of their own. So cheers, to Annie Crawford for that. For me, the main concern I had with accepting this title review was that humor can be very subjective. What one finds funny, another may not, but I was pleased to find amusing situations and great ‘one-liners’ throughout that could be universally appreciated, for the most part. A good storyteller helps you see the humor even in small gestures, looks and events, even in writing. Server was highly successful in this way.
The variety of characters presented, from a baker’s housewife with a passionate decorative affair with garden gnomes, to Sergeant Chardin, at five foot five and 265lbs, each is unforgettable. Some of the things I liked best about A Lucky Day was the balance between descriptive scenes: landscape, personal appearance, mannerisms, and the conversational dialogues. While effusive details may become tedious in a novel length work, the author never reached that point. They were relevant and very visual, helping anchor readers in the region, which most of us may have never visited nor will. There wasn’t too much dialogue nor too little. Pacing was also good, as readers already knew what the prize was from the book’s synopsis, but how it all came to pass and who eventually received the reward?
I found A Lucky Day to be a lightly comical, tightly written tale that flowed easily, where I literally laughed out loud at times and which was never overly complicated in style or presentation. It was a fun journey, which almost anyone might enjoy. I definitely recommend it, especially if seeking a fun, fast moving read as escapism from the daily issues so many people face today. ”
This was such a fun story! A small town full of real life flawed characters who turn everyone’s world upside down trying to find out who is has the winning lottery ticket.
Un gran descubrimiento. Me ha parecido una historia genial con múltiples personajes de los más variopinto, con algunas anécdotas divertidas, otras absurdas, pero todas muy entretenidas. ¡Y qué buen final!. Mi más sincera enhorabuena. Seguiré leyendo a este autor.
This book is a supposedly funny story of a Clochemerlesque village in Provence which just didn't work for me. Jumping about from different times, a number of female characters who were easily confused and a not very convincing local priest made it rather flat and unfunny. Maybe the fact that a Spanish author is writing about a French Provençal village and I was reading the version translated into American may explain why some of the humour got lost. Parts of it would make good visual humour and I can imagine that it could provide the basis for a funny film in the Louis de Funes style. The book as I read it, however, was far from being funniest book of the year as announced on the cover.
Brillante en cuanto que me parecen brillantes los libros que consiguen hacerte reír y además te atrapan. Una novela con momentos desternillasteis, dentro del costumbrismo typical Spanish de un pueblo con todos los ingredientes de pasiones, relaciones sociales, un cura que es un verdadero crack, y todos los factores necesarios para, si el escritor es bueno y hábil, hacer una narración que pase de lo digno a lo siguiente. Pues la novelista engancha y no puedes dejar de leer. Hay intriga y una exposición de las miserias de las relaciones humanas cuando se entrometen los intereses y el dinero. Muy buena compañía para aprovechar una siesta de verano y pasar un buen rato.
Tagged as the funniest novel of the year I gave it a go as it seems harder and harder to find good humourist writers. Sadly it never reached any peaks of funniness, it did have the odd smattering of mildly amusing but no better. I was terribly disappointed, it was however a good story and told well.
The book says on the cover "The funniest novel of the year", which gave some expectations for a lot of laughs, which never came (although some did come along at certain points).
Putting the funny-ishness aside, the book is entertaining, sweet and nice. I like small town stories and this one did the trick.
Some lucky ticket holder from a small village in the French Riviera has won the EuroMillions Lottery! It was the talk of the town. Everyone was curious to know "who won?" But, even as the deadline for claiming the money loomed - the winner remained anonymous.
The lottery isn't "the story." It is the catalyst that uncovers the real stories.The cast of characters in A Lucky Day are some of the best developed, sharpest drawn I've read in a long time. (In any genre, by any author.) Even the supporting characters have more depth and relatability than many of the lead characters recently on the best seller list. There's the mayor who's occupied his chair for 30 years. He's opinionated, authoritative and has more than once simply created a new political party to represent his views. Then there's the beloved Priest - he's everything you imagine the Pope would be, if the Pope were neighborly and down to earth with none of the pomp and circumstance. The baker, with his sugary sweet talk thinks himself a real treat for the ladies and acts accordingly. A gangster wannabe, he would be eaten alive (or maybe buried that way) if he ever crossed paths with a true gangster. But his overbearing, bullying style has earned him bad boy status, especially at home. I was red in the face angry reading the dialogue between Dominique and Bernadette. When suddenly, she found her voice...only to learn her marriage had been based on a lie. A lie that altered the path of three people's lives. Wow, what a roller coaster!
Server's ability to mold, reveal and withhold aspects of the people that populate his story had me wrapped up in the book within a few chapters. Three dimensional and well rounded, Server's characters are interesting and easy to relate too. To me, being emotionally invested is one of the most important parts of a story. If the author fails to present characters that I can care about, the book is simply words on paper. Cold, empty and meaningless. It's when the author fills those words and connects them with all the different aspects that make a well rounded character that I care what's happening. Even the antagonist. I have to love hating him. (or her)
The short, crisp chapter style moves the story along at a comfortable, natural pace. It also gives the reader a place to pause without disrupting the flow. (Should you want to pause that is.) If you are looking to read a book that is different from anything sitting on the selves around it - pick up A Lucky Day. I liked this book. I read it in one night. This is a good book to grab a blanket and your favorite warm drink and disappear into the lovely lil' village the characters of A Lucky Day call home.
**I received a courtesy copy (English edition) of A Lucky Day.