Thursday, July 9, 2009

THE CASTAWAYS: BLOG TOUR, REVIEW and GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY CLOSED
THE CASTAWAYS
by Elin Hilderbrand

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Greg and Tess MacAvoy are one of four prominent Nantucket couples who count each other as best friends. As pillars of their close-knit community, the MacAvoys, Kapenashes, Drakes, and Wheelers are important to their friends and neighbors, and especially to each other. But just before the beginning of another idyllic summer, Greg and Tess are killed when their boat capsizes during an anniversary sail. As the warm weather approaches and the island mourns their loss, nothing can prepare the MacAvoy's closest friends for what will be revealed.

Once again, Hilderbrand masterfully weaves an intense tale of love and loyalty set against the backdrop of endless summer island life.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Elin Hilderbrand lives on Nantucket with her husband and their three young children. She grew up in Collegeville, PA, and traveled extensively before settling on Nantucket, which has been the setting for her seven previous novels. Hilderbrand is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the graduate fiction workshop at the University of Iowa.



MY REVIEW:
As you have seen with my recent reviews of Elin Hilderbrand books I posted, A SUMMER AFFAIR and BAREFOOT, I adore her work. However, THE CASTAWAYS was a bit different for me. With this book I believe Hilderbrand went above and beyond what I thought about her before. This was an excellent book...JUST the kind of book I adore reading in the summer. A very character driven plot with so many stories going on and yet all interrelated. The 4 couples who meld into these Nantucket neighbors, share much and the death of one of the couples is no different. The story is written from the point of view of the different characters and you would think that it would be hard to follow or choppy but it wasn't. Now this is not to say it was chik-lit, because it was a much deeper character study theme with depth of each one adding the parts to make the whole so successful a read. I found it to have everything from mystery to romance to relationships. I was taken in from page one, and even though the passing of one couple and how each remaining character deals with grief hit a little too close to home for me, I couldn't tear myself away. I hope everyone will win or buy a copy of this wonderful book and enjoy it as much as I did. I now am so eager to read Elin Hilderbrand's next book and am sure it will be wonderful but not sure how she can top this one. STRONGLY recommend this one!

THE GIVEAWAY:
Thank you to Miriam and the
Hachette Book Group for
sponsoring
this giveaway.

I have 5 copies of this book to give away.
Rules are as always:
---U.S. and Canadian Residents only
---No P.O. Boxes please
---Include your email contact in your comment

TO ENTER:
Comment on where YOU would want to be stranded if you were a "castaway" and why. Tell me the 3 things you would want to have with you if stranded there. Don't forget your email contact address!! ONLY ONE COMMENT/ENTRY PER PERSON

All Entries must be in by 6 PM, EST, July 18


July 9 TOUR STOPS:

http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/
http://thisbookforfree.com/
http://www.ultimatebookhound.blogspot.com/
http://redladysreadingroom-redlady.blogspot.com/
http://bookfoolery.blogspot.com/
http://www.linussblanket.com/
http://abookbloggersdiary.blogspot.com/
http://purplg8r-somanybooks.blogspot.com/
http://brainlair.blogspot.com/
http://danys-san.blogspot.com
http://www.myfriendamysblog.com/

47 comments:

bermudaonion said...

Don't enter me. I thought this book was great - the perfect read for the summer. I loved that it has some depth to it.

nfmgirl said...

When I lived in WA state, I used to dream of being stranded in the Olympic mountain range, cut off from the world by rising waters.

What three things would I want? hmmmm...

1- A number of towels and washcloths, useful for so many things when you no longer have paper towels, napkins or TP.

2- A CD player and CDs for entertainment and songs to sing.

(You notice how I'm cheating and putting multiple items on each one?)

3- Someone else to keep me from getting lonely

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

Debbie F said...

Wow! I've never been first before!!! I so want this book! If I was stranded on an island I would want to be in Negril, JA. Love that place~! As for what I would want with me - Books!!! as many as I could carry! Toothbrush, toilet paper! LOL!

Love your Blog!

dcf_beth at verizon dot net

Debbie F said...

Turned out I wasn't first after all! LOL!

Rebecca Cox said...

Well, I would want to be stranded in Maine,
1. with my TBR pile of books
2. My son
3. My husband

I would not need anything else. The lobsters would keep me happy after that.
rebecca dot cox at charter dot net

Jo-Jo said...

Hmmm....just three things, now that's tough! How about a flint to make fires, a blanket, and a bible.
joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

Bingo said...

I am happy to see you all actually are thinking about this....such good ideas! I would have put to be stranded on the volcano in front of the MIRAGE Hotel in Las Vegas and the 3 things would have been a small row boat with oars, a big bag of cash, and a key to the penthouse suite so I could row to the sidewalk, climb out, shower, and then take my bag of money and shop for a good book and some friendly slot machine!---HEY! It's summer and I am allowed to be shallow! Thanks for entering and good luck! It is a great book as bermudaonion said in comment one!

Debbie said...

Maybe one of the Hawaiian isles - with no tourists there. And for my three things, I'd take my husband, my children (I'm grouping them as one thing), and my books!
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail(dot)com

Pam said...

I would love to be stranded on a tropical island with a kindle full of great reads, an ipod full of great songs, and my family... (is that cheating?)

melacan at hotmail dot com

Matt Gladden said...

count me in
matt dot glddn at gmail dot com

Julie said...

Stranded on an island? As long as its sunny and warm and has absolutely no spiders that is where I will pick!
I would bring what other than...books
and a good friend to explore with!

this looks like a great beach read, please enter me!

Cheers, julie.sherritt[at]gmail.com

Serena said...

no need to enter me in this give. I haven't read this book yet, but it is now moving up the TBR pile.

DarcyO said...

Count me in. I'd want to be stranded on a tropical island with my family, a working bathroom, and an endless supply of margaritas.

dlodden(at)frontiernet(dot)net

holdenj said...

Actually, I spent a spring break once in Ixtapa, Mexico. Would love to be "stranded" in that lovely, peaceful place. I would definitely need sunscreen, my pile of TBR books (that somehow magically make the airline weight restrictions) and a lot of Diet Coke! Please count me in!

JHolden955 (at) gmail (dot) com

Thanks.

scottsgal said...

I'd love to be stranded on a Caribbean Island - preferably St. John with my husband, sons and 2 dogs

msboatgal at aol.com

Michelle M. said...

Gosh, I'd have to be stranded in Wailea on the island of Maui. What would I want with me?
1. a big stack of books
2. an endless bag of peanut m&ms
3. sunscreen

mdmartin076@bellsouth.net

Esme said...

I would love to be stranded in Paris-does that count it is not an island-I would have my camera, books and lots of fruit-pineapple, cherries and strawberries.

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com

Booklover1335 said...

I would love to win this book.

If I were to be stranded on I would want it to be one of the islands off of Ireland or Scotland. Have always wanted to go to both countries.

What three things would I have to have with me. My glasses (have to see), a great book, probably Outlander by Diana Gabaldon since I never get tired of reading it and it is massive so it would take me a while, and finally waterproof matches, because I can't start a fire to save my life, and there is nothing better than cozing up to a fire and reading a good book :)

cldivineATyahooDOTcom

chey said...

Hi.
I'd want to be on a tropical island that has fresh water. I'd want a toothbrush, cooking utensils and matches.

Jenny N. said...

I would love to be stranded at a tropical island somewhere in the Pacific. And my 3 must have things would be my ipod, a giant stack of books and some lip balm (I can't live without it).

jen4777[at]hotmail.com

LoveMyCoffee said...

I'd like to be stranded on the beach in Oscoda Michigan, with the little redwood cottage I always stay in. Ha ha, I'm cheating. I want the cabin filled with everything, books, food, clothing.
The people or things I want stranded with me, my husband and my two little adorable toy poodles.
I can rough it a little, no laptop.
Please enter me.

Dutchlvr1(at)aol(dot)com.

Lee P said...

Hmmm...interesting. I'd want to be stranded on an Island off of Cuba because I've never been there before. I would want to have a fridge full of food and exotic drinks, my mp3 and my husband. Thanks for this interesting contest and please count me in

chinook92(at)gmail(dot)com

cherdon said...

I am a follower

Enter me please. Thanks for the giveaway.

I would like to be stranded in the Galapagos Islands with my family, neverending supply of food and a genie in a bottle that will grant me 3 wishes whenever they are needed.

cherdon said...

Hi..I am a follower and just posted my comment but forgot to ad my email addy..so sorry..hoping i can ad it now.

cherdon@sympatico.ca

cqueen2 said...

somewhere that is cool i've decided that i dont like the heat anymore lol my 3 things would be a friends,coffee and chocolate!! heheh

KR said...

I'd love to be stranded on Bull Island SC with my hubby, and his two friends. Between these 3 guys, I'd want for nothing at all.
Why there? It's the 1st island that popped in my head!

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

throuthehaze said...

I guess I would want to be stranded in Hawaii. I would want a fueled up speedboat, map, and food because while it might be nice to spend the day alone on an island I wouldnt want to "rough it" for any longer than that.
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

amanda said...

I spent some time hiking the appalachian trail, so this is easy :)
I'd want to be stranded in a lovely mountain range... with my husband, a blow up mattress, and a stack of great books (is that last answer cheating?)
oheeyore at hotmail dot com

Misusedinnocence said...

I'd like to be stranded for a short amount of time on the Lost island.. not long enough to be killed though. lol. ;)

I'd like to have a camera, my ipod with a solar charger for it, lol, and a kindle filled with my to be read list.

misusedinnocence@aol.com

Barefoot Studios Ok, LLC said...

I'm not really an Island kind of girl...I'd rather be stranded in a bed and breakfast in the mountains.
With a pile of books, my hubby, and good wine.

ChristyJan said...

Last year we went on an Alaskan cruise and on one of our excursions we went past this cute little lighthouse. I wouldn't mind being a castaway there (just for the summer) ;)
Of course it would be furnished, so I would just need my husband ~ my books ~ and a camera.

ChristyJan said...

Oh no!

I think I forgot to add my e-mail address to my previous post.

hawkes(at)citlink.net

Lesley (aka Upper West Side Writer) said...

Can I say Italy? I think I can, because I *have* been stranded there (albeit briefly :^). And I would want:

1. My husband
2. Personal grooming products (I would freak out very quickly without these)
3. Books! I'd need them to keep myself completely sane.

Thanks!

lesleymfan(at)gmail(dot)com

wheresmyrain said...

i would want to be stranded on one of the golapogas islands ( becuase it has a good ring to it) and i would need to have my books, an animal friend, and a supply of emergency ration peets coffee to see me through

Julie said...

I would pick a beach with a big pile of books, my ipod, & a case of Pepsi!!!

CherylS22 said...

If I were stranded on an island I would want it to be one of the smaller, non-commercialized Hawaiian islands. My reason - the weather is almost always beautiful in Hawaii & there might be many chances for rescue because of the inter-island travel that occurs many times a day.

I'd want:
1. My husband to keep me company
2. Enough fresh water to allow survival until found
3. A lot of sunscreen!

megalon22 at yahoo dot com

Sammie said...

I would love to be stranded in the jungle. I have always had a fascination with the animals in the jungle. Three things I would bring: A laptop so that I could at least read my books online
2. A camera
3. My two children and husband

SamantharaeM at gmail dot com

Erin Lowmaster said...

I'd want to be stranded in Alaska!

The three things I would want...

My Bible, My husband, and my daughter!

ellybean (at) connected2christ (dot) com
http://www.connected2christ.com

Jess said...

I would love to be stranded on that island that Johnny Depp owns. I would bring a computer, books, and a blender to make the drinks.

jedziedz@hotmail.com
jess
barney's book blog

Unknown said...

I'd like to be stranded - wait, I really do not want to be stranded anywhere. Three things are way too little! Food, water, and TP don't even begin to cover it... aitmama (at) gmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

I'd love to be stranded in Australia(even though theres lots of places there..lol).I've always wanted to go there.
3 things I'd have with me MP3 player,
books,survival kit.

elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

Matt Gladden said...

i would want to be stranded on an island in the middle of the gulf of mexico.

the 3 things i would want to have with me would be

1: a boat

2: enough gas for the boat to get me home

&

3: 3 more items that i could bring with me!

:):):):) lol

just so you know i love to make people laugh or at least try to.:)

matt dot glddn at gmail dot com

catss99 said...

i'd want to be somewhere warm--i hate the cold

i'd want 1. laptop 2. internet access 3. my cat

amanda
catss99@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I would like to be stranded on a tropical island with my husband and two kids.

denise_22315(at)yahoo(dot)com

Cindy said...

This book sounds great!!

If stranded, I would want to be on a tropical island with warm weather, no snakes, a coconut tree, and clear water!

3 things that I would want to bring:

1. Mascara - never go out without it!
2. A good book to read!
3. A blanket or towel to sleep on!

I love your blog and your giveaway questions!

Cindy
Socmom213@aol.com

Cindy said...

I follow your blog.

I also subscribe by email.

Cindy
Socmom213@aol.com

Cindy said...

I follow you on Twitter. You are on my list of Favorites!

I tweet often about your blog and will do so again!

My username is Soccermom213

Cindy
Socmom213@aol.com

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