GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED
WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER TODAY
Winter weather has made its way to the UK. Combine the cold with short days and it makes me what to cuddle up to a good book with a cup of hot chocolate. I joined a book club here in London and, so far, I’ve read two of their selections: In the Garden of the Beasts (Erik Larson) and Gone Girl (Gillian Flynn). Both are books I wouldn’t have picked up on my own and that’s one reason for belonging to a club~ gets me out of my comfort zone.
The Garden of the Beasts (non-fiction) is a fascinating account of the newly appointed US Ambassador to Germany in 1933. As much as I’ve read/studied about World War II, I found this book to be a fresh perspective of a mild-mannered college professor who became Ambassador by default and his rather wild, promiscuous and ambitious daughter. It was impossible for me to read it without a deep sense of foreboding ~ not unlike watching the movie “Titanic” or “Dances with Wolves.” Hindsight affords us the knowledge of what happens in the end and, as we all know, it’s not a happily ever after even for the survivors/victors.
Gone Girl (fiction) is currently #8 on the New York Times best sellers list. It’s a quick read with lots of twists and turns. I found it difficult to like the characters and it was even more disconcerting because I found them to be deeply flawed but surprisingly realistic. I’ve known people who are like Nick, Amy, the parents, etc. Not to the extent they’re portrayed in the book but muted variations. What kept me most interested though is the fast-paced, sharp and tense writing style. The story alternates 1st person between the Nick, the husband and Amy, the wife. I don’t want to say much about the storyline because just describing it might give away too much.
Next month’s book selection is the classic: To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee). I read it in the dark ages High School ~ great book, great story but I’m not sure I want to re-read it now. May skip next month’s meeting and move onto the February selection which is Bringing Up the Bodies (Hilary Mantel). I’m half way through her first book Wolf Hall and it’s fabulous!
Yesterday, the book club luncheon included a “book exchange”, and since I was the last to pick, I stole away with The Days and Nights of London Now ~ as Told by Those Who Love It, Hate It, Live It, Left It and Long For It LONDONERS (Craig Taylor). It definitely wins the prize for longest titled book I’ll be reading this year. I was very excited about the book until I read the author is Canadian. For some reason, I assumed a book with that lofty London title would surely be written (compiled) by a Londoner.
The book I took to be exchanged was The Ambassador’s Suitcase (Matthew Parris) which my friend Leslie ended up with whichs works out well. We can trade books after we’ve read our own books. Originally, I ordered the action packed novel One Rough Man (Brad Taylor) to take to the book exchange. I wrote a review on it last year here. Unfortunately, it didn’t make it in time so I decided to do this book giveaway. Also, my copy of Gone Girl is in pristine condition and it’s not a book I’m likely to re-read so I’m giving that away as well.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Please leave a comment beginning with “The best book I’ve read in a long time is…” Also, if you want to be considered for one specific book, please write either One Rough Man or Gone Girl. Otherwise, I’ll put your name in for both. It will be possible for one person to win both books. The winner will be chosen by my daughter, Logan who will pull a name from a hat for One Rough Man and then she’ll draw a name from the other “hat” with those who want to be in the running for Gone Girl. I know, I can’t get any more “low tech” than that but it’s more fun this way. Deadline to leave a comment will be Sunday, 9 December 2012 at midnight (GMT/London time). We’ll choose names on Monday, 10 December. FYI both are hardcover books which I’ll mail to you if you win.
Good Luck!!
can’t recommend too highly either The Hare With Amber Eyes, or the NO 1 Detective Agency – they throb with humour and humanity
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Valerie ~ Thanks for the suggestion ~ I’ll be sure to add The Hare with Amber Eyes to my reading list. I’m working my way through “Bringing up the Bodies” for my book club.
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Hi Patti!
Almost forgot about this, thanks for the reminder… and we’ll go for One Rough Man 😉 The best book I’ve read in a long time is… The Lady of Bolton Castle by Elizabeth Camden- historical Christian romance, fast-paced- it’s rare that I want to reread a book, but this is one that I want to read again (unfortunately it’s still packed from our PCS 4+ months ago, bummer).
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“The best book I’ve read in a long time is…” Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda. It has been awhile since I have read this book, but it is one I will not forget. I also love The Christmas Tree by Julie Salamon, it is a nice seasonal read.
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Dee: Both books sound interesting and I love reading seasonal books. As well as books of the location I’m currently living in. When in DC I read a lot of spy novels that took place in part there and now it’s all about London/UK locales.
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Sad to say I hadn’t read a book for at least 10 yrs. until “Fifty Shades of Grey”. Granted it was what I call “light reading” but nevertheless I couldn’t put it down. Actually read all 3 books in about 2 weeks! I’d like to get into reading more & Gone Girl sounds like a book that could keep my interest so pick me Logan, please, please, please! 🙂
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Oh, my…haven’t read “Fifty Shades” but, if that’s the only book you’ve read in the last 10 years, I’ll keep my fingers crossed that Logan pulls your name from the hat. You need some variety 😉 I would recommend you join a local book club (check the library for clubs) ~ it’s always interesting to hear other peoples opinions on a book. Sometimes it’s opposite of what I thought of a book. And check out the suggestions above ~ maybe one of those will interest you.
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I’ve read so much recently with surgeries and such. My favorite recent is “Where Men Win Glory.” Not a happy read but powerful nonetheless. Reading “Pillars of the Earth” now and trying to get into it. I LOVE getting your book suggestions, I just ad them to my amazon wish list:). Hope all is well for you three in the UK!
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Hi Kelly: Hope you’re feeling well these days and are ready for the fast approaching holidays. We’re loving our time in London except our year here is flying by way too fast. We’re definitely going to run out of time before we see/do everything we want to do.
I read “Pillars of the Earth” years ago and enjoyed it. I do remember it taking awhile to “get into it” but once I did, it flowed much more quickly.
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The best book I’ve read in a long time was “The Constant Princess” by Philippa Gregory. I am really liking historical fiction, as of late. The book provides a fresh prospective on Katherine of Aragon who too often portrayed as a sad, pathetic figure. Also, I absolutely love “The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency” series by Alexander McCall Smith. The books manage to be lighthearted and poignant, at the same time. I’m really looking forward to reading book 6 on December 13th (the day after my two final papers are due) and I have an entire month to read selections of my own choosing. What a great post! Thanks for tagging me! 🙂
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I’ve been thinking about reading “The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency” but wasn’t sure until your recommendation. I’ll give the series a try.
Philippa Gregory’s books are great. I’ve read a few but not “The Contant Princess.” She’s a fabulous writer! Thanks for helping me add to my reading list.
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The best book I’ve read in a long time is ……hmmm can’t think of anything I have read lately that I would recommend….I have been reading easy things that I find on the Library electronic site. I am hoping to get “Unbroken” from my mom at Christmas. I started both “Wicked” and “Fall of the Giants” and haven’t finished either one. I also found Girl Gone a good read….I thought I had solved the mystery early on (I thought it was his Dad) and was shocked as it went on. At times I was very unhappy with the characters…..they were very easy to not like at all.
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Are you not liking “Wicked” or just no time? I enjoyed Wicked (read it years ago) ~ reminded me that it’s all about perspective. I agree with you about Gone Girl re: the characters but wasn’t the writing style excellent?
I’ll put you in for “One Rough Man” only since you’ve already read Gone Girl. Terry might like it as well since it’s written by a former Special Forces Officer and is not chick lit.
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Hi Patti! I’m in a book club also, and although I never seem to have enough time, like you it’s caused me to read books that I wouldn’t have picked up otherwise, so I love it. We are currently reading “The Happiness Project” and I really like it so far. 🙂 Please put me in the running for Gone Girl (pick me Logan!). Hope you are well!
Love,
Erin
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Gone Girl is a far cry from The Happiness Project 🙂 Have you followed The Happiness Project blog? That’s why I didn’t read the book (yet) because there’s so much on the website. She also wrote “Happier at Home” ~
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Hey Patti! The best book the Alexandria book club has read for a while is The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal (non-fiction). It’s been out for a while (2010), but heartily recommended if you enjoy art history, family recollections, charming (sometimes slow) prose, against the backdrop of 20th century Europe in upheaval. Buildings, places, people, objects all brought vividly to life, surrounding the central players – a collection of tiny Japanese netsuke (Google them if you’ve never seen one!)
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The book sounds interesting and one I wouldn’t have thought to read. I’ll add it to my list! Thanks!
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