Book Review: The Threadbare Heart by Jennie Nash

The Threadbare Heart is the first book that I've read by Jennie Nash and it definitely won't be the last. Nash has a beautiful style of writing and The Threadbare Heart explores so many topics of the heart, it deeply touched my own heart. This is a story of family, of mothers and daughters, sons, marriage, friendship, loss, growth and so much more.

 

Lily and Tom have been happily and contentedly married for over 25 years. They live in Vermont and are both professors at a local college. They have two grown sons and a granddaughter who all live in California as well as Lily's mother Eleanor. Things start to change as Lily and Tom prepare for a visit to California to visit family for Christmas. They both are starting to question where they want their lives to go as they are getting older. In California, Tom is drawn to an avocado farm there and dreams of owning it. Lily's mother Eleanor offers to buy it for them and this stirs up unsettled issues for Lily. Eleanor has been married many times and is envious of the relationship that Lily has with Tom. Lily loves her mother but believes that she is so different from her that it keeps them at a distance. It takes a terrible tragedy for them to learn to understand each other and respect their differences. They realize that being different is okay and that they can still love each other and appreciate each others differences.

I don't want to share too much more of this wonderful story as it will give too much away. You must find a copy yourself and read it, but don't read the back of the book as it will give away too much of the story. This is the kind of book that you shouldn't know what will happen as it is part of the experience of the book.

The Threadbare Heart is about relationships that most of us experience or will experience in life- parent and child, husband and wife and friendships. It will make you stop and think about your own relationships, it certainly did for me. You can be in a marriage or a friendship for many years and do you really know them? This book brings up this question along with many others. What happens when things can change so quickly in your life? How will you handle it? The message of not taking life for granted and cherishing each day you have is one that I thought of a lot as I was reading this book. This book is written with sensitivity and depth and it is one that would make a  great book to discuss with others and especially with a book club.

Disclosure: Thanks to the author for sending me a review copy of this book. I am an Amazon associate and Indiebound associate.

Mailbox Monday~May 10, 2010

Mailbox Monday is a fun meme hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. We share books that came into our house by mail. This is what arrived in my mailbox this week:

101 Things I Learned in Culinary School by Louis Eguaras from Hachette.

Beachcombers by Nancy Thayer from Ballantine Books for Pump Up Your Book  Tour in July. 

South of Broad by Pat Conroy a surprise from Random House

The Threadbare Heart Mother's Day Contest Winner!

I  was one of the blog hosts for the  "Favorite Fictional Mother & Daughter contest" that was held this week. This contest is in honor of Mother's Day and to celebrate the release of The Threadbare Heart by Jennie Nash.

I am pleased to announce the winning entry from my blog is Bonnie Findlay.  Bonnie will receive a signed copy of The Threadbare Heart and she will be entered in the Grand Prize Giveaway of a book club in a box which includes ten signed copies of The Threadbare Heart, a call in by the author and a special rum cake. On MAY 16, Jennie Nash will choose a Grand Prize winner from all the winning blog entries. (How will she pick? Whichever entry just hits her as being heartfelt and true.) The Grand Prize will be announced on the participating blogs, on the Jennie Nash website and on twitter.

~Winning Entry~


Submitted by: Bonnie Findlay

Based on the book "The Innocent" by Posie Graeme-Evans


It was a bitter cold winter's night.
Alyce deBohun and maid Jehanne were in a terrible plight.
Being chased by soldiers, about to give birth,
Alyce died in the woods, her blood draining into the earth.


The babe lived, thanks to the lady's maid,
Deborah heard the newborn's cries and came to Jehanne's aid.
She took the baby girl, to raise as her own.
The babe grew older, her parentage unknown.


Deborah loved Anne, this beautiful lass,
But after fourteen years had come to pass,
Fortune said they had to seperate.
Anne was unhappy with this unfortunate fate.


Leave her foster mother? The only true mother she knew?
Little did she know Deborah's heart was breaking, too.
The tie between daughter and foster mother,
Was never stronger between any other.


The two were reunited within a year,
They hugged amid happy, joyous tears.
Although not bonded by blood, Deborah and Anne
Loved each other as only true mother and daughter can.

I have worked in two day cares and although I haven't adopted or have been a foster mother, I bonded with some of my day care babies. Many of them are grown up now, and I look back with sweet nostalgia-I had a hand in raising these great young adults-what an honor! This must be only a fragment of how real adoptive/foster parents must feel!

_______________________________________________________________________________


Congratulations to Bonnie Findlay! I think that Bonnie has an excellent chance to be the Grand Prize Winner. We'll have to wait until May 16th to find out which entry Jennie Nash chooses. Happy Mother's Day to all mothers today!

Book Review~The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff

The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff is a novel inspired by the true life story of Danish painters Einar Wegener and his wife Greta. The story unfolds as Greta sets the stage of transformation for Einar when she asks him to fill in for a subject who has to cancel their sitting. Einar wears the woman's shoes, hose and dress which he enjoys. Greta realizes that he is comfortable and even drawn to wearing women's clothes and encourages him to dress and take on the persona that they name Lili.

As Einar takes Lili out into the world as his cousin this is the beginning of a transformation that changes their whole world. Einar and Greta never realized how far that this could go and how it stirs in Einar a depth of unknown feelings, desires and emotions. Einar begins to spend more time as Lilli and their lives as a couple and their careers forever change.

Einar Wagner was the first man to undergo a sex change operation in 1931 and The Danish Girl loosely weaves the reality of this into the novel. This book is much more than just the story of a transsexual man. It is about identity, finding yourself and the truth about yourself and being able to have the strength to make that truth a reality. It is about marriage, love and acceptance....when someone you love suddenly changes can you support them and still love them?  I had to stop and think that this actually occurred in the 1920's and early 1930's which was not a time of acceptance of sexual differences. This is a fascinating story. It's hard to understand what it must feel like when you are a man but feel that inside you are a woman. Einar was able to feel complete when he was transformed into Lili.  I admired Greta for her love and dedication towards Einar even though it was painful and she was essentially losing the man she loved.

I found this novel fascinating and I kept wondering what the "real" Einar/Lili looked like and what the differences were compared to the book. Thanks to google, there is much about his life to be found and Ebershoff shares details at the end of the book.

Nicole Kidman and Gwyneth Paltrow are slated to star in the movie version of The Danish Girl. I'll definitely be looking looking forward to this movie.

• 
  
  Check out David Ebershoff's website, here. 
• 
  
  Read an excerpt from The Danish Girl, here. 
• 
  
  Download an audiofile of Uma Thurman reading the first chapter of The Danish Girl, here.
• 
  
  Go here for a Reading Group Guide for The Danish Girl.

Disclosure: Review copy of book provided by the author as part of being part of this TLC Book Tour.
I am an Amazon affiliate and Indiebound affiliate.

Book Review~Hannah's List by Debbie Macomber

Title: Hannah's List

Author: Debbie Macomber

Publisher: MIRA Books, May 2010

Hardback, 412 pages

Genre: Women's Fiction, Relationships

Source: Review Copy from Big Honcho Media

Description from Debbie Macomber Website:

On the anniversary of his beloved wife’s death, Dr. Michael Everett receives a letter Hannah had written him. In it she reminds him of her love and makes one final request. An impossible request. I want you to marry again. She tells him he shouldn’t spend the years he has left grieving her. And to that end she’s chosen three women she asks him to consider. During the months that follow, he spends time with Winter, Leanne, and Macy, learning more about each of them . . . and about himself. Learning what Hannah already knew. He’s a man who needs the completeness only love can offer. And Hannah’s list leads him to the woman who can help him find it.

My Thoughts:

For me, Hannah's List is about second chances and moving forward after one has lost a loved one. I liked the idea that Hannah leaves a letter for her husband Michael to read after her death and encourages him to marry again. Michael is caught between grieving for his wife and his inability to move forward and live his life without the love his life. How hard would that be for anyone in that situation? Grieving is such a personal process and those around you want you to move forward while your heart is still in the past with the one you've lost. Sometimes,  a nudge in the right direction can open your heart and mind to new opportunities. Hannah chooses 3 women that are all very different for Michael to consider marrying. In meeting these women Michael is taken out of his comfort zone and forced to look at his life and where he wants to go. 

I found this story a bit predictable and slow. I just didn't connect or relate to the characters as I have in most other Macomber books and I'm a huge fan of her work. I've read all of the books in the Blossom Street series (which Hannah's List is part of) but this is more of a side story with a weaker plot than most in the series and only a mention or two of the main characters of Blossom Street. This does have a happy ending as most of Macomber's books do so there is comfort in that at the end.

You can read an excerpt of Chapter One, here.

Check out Debbie Macomber's Website, here.

Make sure to enter the Giveaway I'm hosting for: 3 Copies of HANNAH'S LIST by Debbie Macomber, more books AND $25 GIFT CARD. GO HERE TO ENTER. This contest ends May 7th. 

Mailbox Monday~ May 3, 2010

Mailbox Monday is a fun meme hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. We share books that came into our house by mail. This is what arrived in my mailbox this week:

How to be an American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway from Penguin for an upcoming TLC Book Tour.




Husband and Wife by Leah Stewart from Harper Collins





If You Knew Suzy by Katherine Rosman from Harper Collins





The Queen of Palmyra by Minrose Gwin from Harper Collins for a Book Club Girl Blog Talk Radio Discussion with the author.

The Lovers by Vendala Vida from Harper Collins

A Mother's Day Writing Contest: Who’s Your Favorite Fictional Mother-Daughter Pair?

I am excited to share with you a very special event here at Redlady's Reading Room. I am hosting a "Favorite Fictional Mother & Daughter contest". This contest is in honor of Mother's Day and to celebrate the release of The Threadbare Heart, a story by Jennie Nash about a mother and a daughter torn apart by grief, jealousy and misunderstanding — and the family heirloom that finally brings them together.

I am honored that Jennie Nash asked me to be part of this fun and exciting blog tour contest along with 26 other wonderful bloggers (see complete list, here). We want to know which fictional mother-daughter pair made you laugh? Made you cry? Made you cringe? Which pair revealed something true about your own mother-daughter relationships? (And yes, mothers and daughters in film are eligible. Fiction is fiction, right?)

HOW TO ENTER:

• Compose a 250 word essay explaining your favorite fictional mother-daughter pair and email them directly to me at redladysreadingroom@gmail.com NO LATER THAN Saturday, MAY 8, 2010.  Remember that you can only enter on one blog. Open to US Mailing addresses only.


• ON MOTHER’S DAY, MAY 9, 2010, each blogger will post the entry they like best. Each blog’s winners will receive a signed copy of The Threadbare Heart and will be entered in the Grand Prize Giveaway.


• On MAY 16, Jennie Nash will choose a Grand Prize winner from all the winning blog entries. (How will she pick? Whichever entry just hits her as being heartfelt and true.) The Grand Prize will be announced on the participating blogs, on the Jennie Nash website and on twitter.

The Grand Prize winner will receive:

 A “Book Club in a Box” — ten signed copies of The Threadbare Heart, a call-in from the author, and a delicious rum cake to share with your book-reading friends. (Why rum cake? You’ll have to read the book to understand! Jennie picked out a cake by a baker named Kelli because she started selling rum cakes when she lost her baking buddy to cancer and Jennie loved her story - and she happens to think that good stories are a big part of a good life.) 



Good Luck & Happy Mother's Day,

This Is Me From Now On by Barbara Dee Themed Goody Bag Giveaway

  

Yesterday, I reviewed a wonderful Young Adult novel for middle grade girls called This Is Me From Now On by Barbara Dee. Please read my review, here.  I wanted to share more information about the book with a video from the author and I have a great giveaway, so please read on.

Check out this great video with the author Barbara Dee talking about

This Is Me From Now On:

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Barbara Dee has graciously provided me with TWO This Is Me From Now On themed Goody Bags and bookmarks to giveaway. The Goody Bags are each filled with favorite items of Evie's including: Lip Gloss, Bubblicious bubble gum and a handmade replica of Evie's Amber necklace.

TO ENTER:

• 
  
  Leave a comment and make sure to include your email address so that I can contact you in case you win! Otherwise, I won't be able to include your name in the drawing.
• This giveaway is open to everyone, Internationally. 
• Giveaway ends May 21, 2010. I'll use Random.org to choose the winners.