First Ever Giveaway
You know how sometimes you get emails that are all “would your blog readers like to win a free case of Depends? Please click here to see how you can host this awesome giveaway?” I laugh a little. And then I delete the email. Because I’m fairly sure that very few of you need Depends. And if you do, I bet the last place you want to procure such a necessity is on a blog.
This giveaway is, thankfully, not for Depends, but for a book called The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan. It’s number six on the New York Times Best Seller list right now, so you may already be familiar with it. It’s a memoir about Kelly’s experiences as a mother and her battle with cancer. I actually saw this book on the shelf at the library over the summer and almost picked it up, but as usual, I’d maxed my library card completely out (who can possibly stay under fifteen books at one time?!) and I had to pass it up.
The giveaway is being hosted by The Daily Grommet and they are hosting Kelly and her book, The Middle Place, today. You can go visit The Daily Grommet (there’s a short video interview with her) or check out the comments section over there, which Kelly is participating in.
To win, all you need to do is leave me a comment. About the book or not about the book. I’m not picky.
On Thursday, I’ll randomly select two people from the commenters and your book will be on its way. And then you’ll have something to anticipate coming in the mail. Life doesn’t get much better than that.
Okay, confession: I’m an English PhD student and I’d never heard of this book. This semester I decided to scrap the basic rhetoric and argument textbook in favor of teaching my students with a memoir instead–something that had personal experience and point-of-view inherent in it and that would create more interesting conversations to talk about these writing skills. This semester I’ve been teaching from “The Glass Castle” but I’m on the look out for new memoirs to use in upcoming semesters. Kelly has a nice descriptive voice, and while I don’t know much about her story other than what was discussed in the interview, I’d love to give it a try! Cool contest, Janssen–I didn’t know bloggers did stuff like this.
Side question: Where’d you find the background to your blog?
i just read the review + it looks like an incredible book.
Leave it to a free giveaway to bring me out of the shadows. I’ve been a secret reader of yours for months.
I just looked at the website and I think that this author and her book look fantastic. For some reason it makes me think of “The Glass Castle” by Jeanette Walls, even though this family seems completely functional 🙂
I echo a comment that I saw on the website, even if I don’t win your give away, I may have to purchase this book myself and introduce it to my book club.
Oh, wow, I just read that the first comment also referred to The Glass Castle. I guess I am not off base on that one.
Ooh–I was just hoping for a good book recommendation. I wouldn’t mind also getting a free book.
I’ve never heard ot this book but I bet my book group would love it! I have a hard time reading science fiction/fantasy because I like stories about real people and their struggles and successes. This sounds like a perfect fit. I’d love to win it but even if I don’t I’ll definitely be looking for this at the library. Thanks!
I’m always on the lookout for new books, and if I don’t have to haul my three kiddos into the library (where they have a tendency to get lost), so much the better! If I don’t win, you can be sure I’ll still get my hands on one!
And books are a much more fitting giveaway for this blog than depends anyway.
Had never heard of this book before but since I am in need to find a new read it would be awesome to win this piece of literature.
I want to read about her experiences with her father’s illness…just put myself on the hold list for this one, but since I can’t check out a book if anyone else is waiting for it (one of the Official Librarian Drawbacks) and as it seems like a book i’d want to write comments in, I’m hoping I win it!
These are the kind of books I read to try to develop my own writing style a little bit more. I have the honesty thing down, I just haven’t quite developed the ability to put my quirky observations on life down on paper in a way so that they don’t sound cliche, you know? I really like that the video points out that the title can have this meaning of “both mother and daughter”. I struggled with my own transition into assuming a new title “wife” a little bit after I got married.
Lovely giveaway. I too, only get the emails about depends. I’d love to be able to do something more for my readers as well.
I’m hoping to win this book for personal reasons. My father fought, and passed away from Cystic Fibrosis when I was young. I’ve always wondered what his perspective was as a parent who was very ill. Like other people have said, I’ll probably find a way to read this book even if I don’t win it. Sweet Giveaway, Janssen!
I’m always looking for books to read, especially good book club books. I especially love reading books by mothers because it makes me aspire to develop talents outside of parenting.
I thought it quite a coincidence that moments after I read this post I received an email from another friend with a link to a YouTube video of Kelly reading an excerpt from the book. I haven’t read it (hadn’t heard of it, actually) but now am very interested. Too bad I’m third in line now at my local library for claiming this as my own. Perhaps your blog will help me get it sooner!
Wait, if jaction leaves TWO comments, is she entered twice?
Just to be safe I better comment again.
And third time’s the charm. 🙂
This book looks like a great read. As a mother of an 18 month old and a daughter who just helped her mother with her struggle with cancer, it seems like something I could relate to right now in my life.
I’ll just get it at the library if I don’t win it 🙂 You’re lucky you get up to 15 book on your library card! We only get 10 – and when you have a toddler, that’s not very many!
I’m always looking for new books and that’s why I love your blog Janssen. I’m glad I found it through Bart 🙂
Are family members ineligible?
This looks like a fantastic book! And why not try my luck here…maybe I’ll win my first ever giveaway on my sisters blog! (and if I win, it was NOT rigged…or bribed)
I’m always down for a new book. And from what I saw in the video description it sounds like a blog in book form, sort of a collection of anecdotes. My kind of book.
And I’m glad they mentioned that the book is funny because I was worried it might be a depressing book about cancer that would have me crying the whole way through. I can do funny cancer, but not sad cancer.
Listen: I know I’m going to win, but I don’t want the book, You can keep it.
I clearly love books (and mail!)
The book sounds really good! Count me in 🙂
I would love to win the book! I have been inspired by the volume of books that you read and have subsequently challenged myself to keep doubling the number of books I read per month until I reach a number that I feel satisfied with and that would be too difficult for me to double again. If you are able to recommend this book, then I am confident it would be a good read.
I would love to get a new book! I hope I win!
When could I possibly turn down a free book? Answer: never.
Randomly pick me. Capiche?
You can only check out 15 books at a time? That’s almost a crime! My local library allows up to 100! Can you believe that?
Ooh! Pick me, pick me! That sounds like a really good book.
I’d love to win this book 🙂
Who wouldn’t want a free book?
i love winning stuff… and a book would definitely be the coolest thing i’ve ever won (the only other thing probably being a bear i won from my dentist for having no cavities. i was 8ish.) pick me, pick me! 🙂
Aren’t giveaways fun? Sounds like an interesting book!
Sounds like an interesting read, although today’s Daily Grommet is a lovely MnM Jada Millefiori Beaded Belt…hmmmm…
Fun! I would totally love a new book. I’m always picking books from your recommenations- though I’m not nearly fast enough to keep up with all of them! Thanks!
It looks like an interesting book!
Free books are awesome. Sign me up!
It looks fabulous! I’d love to read it- and I never mind owning another book:)
– Summer K.