Monday, July 7, 2008

Booking It (too you)(a giveaway!)

The first book is the above by Emily Giffin (photo from Amazon). I've read Giffin's first two books Something Borrowed and Something Blue which were good. They tied into each other. This book was different. It's about a girl named Ellen who is newly married and lives in New York City. She runs into her first love on the street one day and wonders "what-if" as he continues to pop up in her life.

I liked this book but did not love it. I found Ellen unrelatable in some parts of the book, for me. This is clearly subjective as you may find her very relatable. I don't want to say exactly which parts I mean because I'll give away large parts of the story. It's good to read about how different people feel and react though. I know she's not a real person but the writer is and she writes from a real place.

Did you read this? What did you think?

The book I just finished is the above Mrs Kimble by Jennifer Haigh. This novel is the author's first. She has a new one out that I'm interested in reading because I loved her voice. In Mrs Kimble, we read about Ken Kimble's three wives and families and what his marrying (and leaving) them does to their lives. The book spans twenty some odd years and a few states.

This book was just riveting. I loved it. The characters were fabulous and well written. The women, though all different in age and background, were all tragic and broken in someway. Even though that was the case, I still didn't feel like they were all sad and depressed and completely helpless. I'm very impressed by Jennifer Haigh and am going to read her other books.

Unfortunately, I am only giving away Love the One You're With because Mrs Kimble got wet and is a mess. I'm too embarrassed to send it out to someone. Here is how the giveaway will go: (1) leave me a comment here letting me know that you want to win this book (you can leave a comment even if you don't want to win, just say you don't want to win) (2) tell me what you are reading now or what you read last (3) be sure I have your e mail info (4) do all of this BEFORE Wednesday July 9th at 6pm when I'll announce the winner (I'll do random number or names in a bag)

Okay! How's that? I'm excited. Whoever wins might get an extra bonus book, too. We'll discuss it (or not. ha ha) Anyway, I'm dying to do a sorta book club like thing where we (or some of us) read the same book and periodically talk about it. I'll be happy to host it here. I'm about to start reading The Mercy Of Thin Air. I actually read a few pages and it's so fabulous already, I'm thrilled. It's set in New Orleans in 1920 and it's about a woman who dies but is caught between worlds or something- it's so amazing. So, just let me know.

Labels: Book Review, books, fun, giveaway