Saturday, August 15, 2009

THE DIVORCE PARTY: REVIEW and GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED
THE DIVORCE PARTY

BY LAURA DAVE


ABOUT THE BOOK:

The movie rights to THE DIVORCE PARTY have already been scooped up by Universal Studios for Jennifer Aniston and her production partner, and is set for release in 2010.

On their 35th anniversary, Gwyn Huntington and her husband Thomas have invited friends and family to their Montauk home. Instead of celebrating their decades-long love, they are toasting their divorce. This also marks the weekend that their son brings home his fiancée, Maggie Mackenzie, for the first time. Maggie thought she was joining a perfect family, but she is about to reckon with some uncomfortable truths about the man she wants to marry.

A multi-generational story about what it means to share a life with someone, The Divorce Party brings us two immensely appealing women: Gwyn who is stumbling upon the end of her marriage, and Maggie, her future-daughter-in-law, who is trying to navigate the beginning of hers. With emotional candor and surprising humor, these two women find themselves trying to answer the same questions: Can you ever really know someone? When should you fight for the person you love most, and when should you begin to let him go?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laura Dave was born in New York City in 1977 and grew up in Westchester County. She attended The University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated with a BA in English, and The University of Virginia, where she earned her MFA. While in school, Laura received several awards for her writing including The AWP Intro Award in Short Fiction.

Laura is the author of the acclaimed novels "The Divorce Party" and "London is the Best City in America." In addition to writing books, Laura has also worked steadily as a journalist. Her writing has appeared in such publications as The New York Times, Glamour, Self, Modern Bride, Redbook, ESPN the Magazine, and The New York Observer.

In 2008, Cosmopolitan Magazine named Laura a "Fun and Fearless Phenom of the Year", calling her "an inspiration" to young women.

Laura lives in southern California, where she is at work on a new book.


MY REVIEW:

THE DIVORCE PARTY

THE DIVORCE PART is a story about two women, Gwyn Huntington and Maggie Mackenzie, who are both at a very special, important time in their lives---but as much as they are different, they also are somewhat the same.

Maggie lives in Brooklyn, in a small apartment and on this day, is trying to make some sense of her life and trying to organize what will be her NEW life. Maggie is about to meet the parents of the man she has fallen in love with and become engaged. Working as a former travel writer, Maggie fell head over heels for this wonderful man and they are planning a marriage as well as starting a business together. And so, Maggie prepares to go out to Montauk Point on Long Island to meet her Nate's whole family. She is naturally expected to be a bit apprehensive but Maggie finds herself feeling very uneasy about the whole thing.

Meanwhile, out on Montauk about 100 miles from Maggie, is Gwyn Huntington. She is planning a party on the morning of her thirty-fifth wedding anniversary and in her spacious Victorian home has done this many times. However, today will be different as she watches the hired bartenders, waiters, and caterers scurrying around, she faces the last time she will be in Hunt Hall preparing for any kind of party. The party that Gwyn is preparing for is a Divorce Party which has become rather normal and in fact in vogue out here in prestigious Montauk. Gwyn, however, wants HER Divorce Party to be unique! She wants to go out in a grand way as the wife of Thomas Huntington!

This story is a contrast and yet very much the same in some ways as two women find themselves at an important place in their life--where their lives will now change drastically. Although Maggie and Gwyn come from different backgrounds, are different ages, and at opposite ends of the marriage trail, they share much in common. Gwyn has tried to prepare herself for this time as has Maggie but what will it mean? How will their lives change? Is this the right decision and will they be the same people after it? What can be done to keep a couple together, or what could HAVE been done? The story is a great character study and shows how each woman must deal with her changes and answer all the questions she has.

I found myself very wrapped up in these characters. At first I thought I liked one character better than the other. However, as I read on, I found many similarities in their lives and was rooting for each of them. I enjoyed this light but also interesting story.

THE GIVEAWAY

Thanks to Anna at FSB ASSOCIATES
I have two copies of THE DIVORCE PARTY
to give away to two lucky winners!

THE RULES:

U. S. RESIDENTS ONLY
NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
EMAIL ADDRESSES MUST BE INCLUDED

HOW TO ENTER:

EASY ENTRY--JUST COMMENT WITH YOUR
EMAIL ADDRESS ON WHAT OTHER EVENT
IN YOUR LIFE WOULD BE FUNNY TO WRITE
A BOOK ABOUT AND "THROW A PARTY"!

ALL ENTRIES MUST BE IN BY
6 PM, EST, SEPTEMBER 4!

GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

41 comments:

holdenj said...

Being that it seems like it will never get here, I'm thinking an end of the mortgage party will be fun! It'll be a long time coming!

JHolden955 (at) gmail (dot) com

Thanks!

Debs Desk said...

A party I would like to throw would be a new house party. I want to buy a house and quit renting. Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
Debbie
debdesk9(at)verizon.net

Ashley said...

I would love love love to win this book! I've been eyeballing it every time I go to Borders, and was thisclose to getting it today.
I think I'll throw my odd celebration when I hit my goal weight. A congrats on the successful diet party.

I'm a follower, and my email is bellasnovella@gmail

bermudaonion said...

I love holdenj's idea - a no more mortgage party would be terrific! milou2ster(at)gmail.com

Unknown said...

I always thought it would be fun to have a "Paint my room" party and might do that the next I decide a room in my home needs a new color! I'm not a big fan of painting on my own!

Amy
Aimala127@gmail.com

christina said...

I would love to say that my student loans are paid off, thus embarking on a 48 hour party.

Don't know if that would play out well in a book, though. I guess, I would need some creative writers.

c (dot) beumer (at) gmail (dot) com

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I would throw a party if we ever stopped moving around all our clothes we will never fit into again!!

Please enter me!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

MurderMysteryMayhem said...

How about..Ooops my car accidentally burned down to its tires party?

All those dashboard warning lights just have to go..NOW

Please enter me..LooseEnds AT Snet DOT net

Kytaira said...

There have been times I felt like throughing a party because a friend was dumped. Sounds strange but at least twice, I hated the guy that they were with. But they weren't at a point were they would hear anything bad about the guy. Thankfully the guy broke up with them. They were devestated. I was thrilled but knew enough not to show my joy. At least until they had realized their lucky break.

lynda98662 at yahoo dot com

Julie P. said...

This is a hard one, but I really want to win!

Let's say...a clean out the closet and basement party. Everyone can come and take a few things off of my hands!

bookingmama(at)gmail(dot)com

Linna said...

I would like to throw a party to celebrate my dog giving birth to baby dogs. :D

Please enter me for this giveaway. It's been on my TBR list.

linna.hsu at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I was thinking an eviction party would be great!

bjwaldron(at)gmail.com

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

I think if my husband got a great new job I would have to throw a party!!!

dancealert(at)aol(dot)com

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

I'm a follower.

dancealert(at)aol(dot)com

Beth (BBRB) said...

There definitely needs to be an "I quit my crappy job party"!

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

Libby's Library said...

How about the time when we had friends call to say they wanted to stop by and visit (in about 15 minutes)...I had 2 small children at the time, and my house was a mess. I ran around like a maniac trying to clean as quickly as I could. I took all the dirty dishes and piled them on a baking sheet and shoved in the oven.

Our friends brought frozen pizzas to eat (we were very poor back then and any kind of pizza was a big deal)! Yep, I had to drag all those dirty dishes out of the oven.

libneas[at]aol[dot]com

Valorie said...

I am going to hold a menopause party when I hit it. Might as well celebrate a bad thing and make it something good.

Valorie
morbidromantic@gmail.com

Jem said...

I think a grown kids finally leaving home party would be fun and make a good book. (It is a long way off for me)

Email: thereadingjourney[at]gmail[dot]com

Bingo said...

WOW! Some really creative and fun ideas...I have to say Beth and Valorie especially made sense to me! Thanks all for entering!

Anonymous said...

Please count me in...

I would celebrate a new house...

karen k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

scottsgal said...

Would love to read this.

I'd love to throw an I won the lottery party!

msboatgal at aol.com

Bingo said...

OK, Scottsgal..now that is a party I too would love to throw!

Commchick said...

I just loved the idea of "quit my crappy job" party!!!

belchers@jccal.org

nfmgirl said...

I thought that if I ever get married again, I would like it to be a "surprise wedding". I'd like to just have family get together for a cookout or family reunion, and then just surprise them with my wedding! The reception would be the cookout we were already planning on anyway. My aunts and uncles would play guitar and sing and tell stories. Sounds like a lot more fun than most weddings I've gone to!

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

I'd really like to read this book. It might be fun to write a book about a lemon of a car being totaled (provided nobody was hurt), and then throw a party!

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

How about having a tailgate party when you pay off an auto loan?

jgbeads(at)gmail(dot)com

Beth said...

I would throw a party if I got back down to my pre-pregnancy weight!
lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Ally said...

I could write a book about all the problems ive had with my rented studio apartment.

allygotts567 at hotmail dot com

rubynreba said...

I'd like to throw an Attic Party. Everyone can come and take home a treasure!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

DarcyO said...

I'd like a party for when my husband gets a new job!

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

Debbie F said...

I'm with the many other here - a end of Mortgage party sounds wonderful!!! Books sounds like a good read! Thanks
I follow!
dcf_beth at verizon dot net

Victoria said...

How about an I survived teeny bopper hood with my three kids...so let's have a party!

Sounds like a great book!

victoriah40@yahoo.com

starryann2000 said...

would throw a party to celebrate life and lessons learned. then probably throw anther one to celebrate family present and past.

would love to read this book so please enter me and thanks for the contest.

starryann2000@yahoo.com

CherylS22 said...

A Mid-Life Crisis Party would be fun!
megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

Gaby317 said...

gaby317nyc at gmail dot com

my husband and i haven't had a wedding reception yet - that would be a fun thing to throw. a less expensive party could be a last payment on the mortgage party - 29 years from now!

thanks for the entry

I'm an old follower

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

I would really like a party at the end of the last day of a horrible job!

fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

Andrea said...

This sounds like a great read. Since I'm just getting my wisdom teeth in , I'd like to have a goodbye wisdom teeth party

andie(dot)v107(at)yahoo(dot)com

Natalie A. said...

I'd like a paint the house party!
Thanks for the chance to win this book!
coolnatty12@yahoo.com

Ms. Cindy said...

I agree with CherylS22-A Mid-Life Crisis Party would be fun! Thanks!

monkeyami1@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

The kids starting school party?
aitmama (at) gmail (dot) com

Rebecca N. said...

How about celebrating with a, "Hooray! My allergies are acting up again", party!! ACHOO!
Cover charge could be a box of tissues and a benadryl :)

imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

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