ABOUT THE BOOK--GOING AWAY SHOES:
Jill McCorkle, a master of the short story whose work has been compared to that of Alice Munro and Lorrie Moore, is a writer whose characters insist on our immediate and total attention. Here, in her first collection in eight years, are eleven new stories bristling with her signature wit and weight. One way or the other, all of these stories are about women looking love in the face without flinching. Some of them are confronting the reality of domestic disruption; others are simply flirting with the possibilities—and dangers—of change. McCorkle's characters make mistakes but aren't interested in hiding behind them. They get divorced or quit their jobs or tell people to step aside, and they move on. From the first story, about a modern-day Cinderella contemplating escape, to the last, "Me and Big Foot," an idyll about finding the perfect prince, McCorkle’s collection is the genuine article, the work of a great storyteller who knows exactly how—and why—to pair longing and laughter.
Here is the table of contents to give you a hint at these amazing short stories:
Table of Contents
Going Away Shoes
Surrender
Midnight Clear
Another Dimension
Happy Accidents
View-Master
PS
Driving to the Moon
Magic Words
Intervention
Me and Big Foot
Ferris Beach is a place where excitement and magic coexist. Or so Mary Katherine "Katie" Burns, the only child of middle-aged Fred and Cleva Burns, believes. Shy and self-conscious, she daydreams about Ferris Beach, where her beautiful cousin, Angela, leads a romantic, mysterious life. It is the early 1970s, and when the land across the road from the Burns's historic house is sold to developers, Misty Rhodes—also from Ferris Beach—and her flamboyant parents move into the nearest newly built split-level. In contrast to Katie’s composed, reserved, practical mother, Misty and her mother are everything Katie wants to be: daring, outrageous, fun. The two girls become inseparable, sharing every secret, every dream—until one fateful Fourth of July, when their lives change in a way they could never have imagined. In this classic McCorkle novel, the author's shrewd grasp of human nature creates characters that resonate with truth and emotion, and a story perfect for mothers and daughters to share and cherish.
"Beautiful and inspired . . . Rich with interesting characters." —The Philadelphia Inquirer
"Delightful . . . A novel about family secrets, identity crises, and mother-daughter standoffs." —Vogue
"Ferris Beach is believable. And funny. And heartbreaking. But most of all, it's a joy to read." —The Cincinnati Enquirer
ABOUT THE AUTHOR--JILL MCCORKLE
Jill McCorkle is the author of eight previous books—three story collections and five novels—five of which have been selected as New York Times Notable Books. She is the winner of the New England Book Award, the John Dos Passos Prize for Excellence in Literature, and the North Carolina Award for Literature. She teaches writing at North Carolina State University and lives with her husband in Hillsborough, North Carolina.
THE GIVEAWAY
THANKS TO COURTNEY AND THE
GOOD PEOPLE AT ALGONQUIN BOOKS,
I HAVE THREE SETS OF THESE
FABULOUS BOOKS TO GIVE AWAY
RULES:
--U. S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--INCLUDE EMAIL IN YOUR COMMENT
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE ENTRY
HOW TO ENTER:
6 PM, EST, OCTOBER 11
GOOD PEOPLE AT ALGONQUIN BOOKS,
I HAVE THREE SETS OF THESE
FABULOUS BOOKS TO GIVE AWAY
--U. S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--INCLUDE EMAIL IN YOUR COMMENT
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE ENTRY
HOW TO ENTER:
+1 ENTRY: COMMENT IF YOU ALREADY ARE A LOYAL FOLLOWER OF ANY KIND AND WHERE OR IF YOU BECOME ONE TODAY
+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK HERE WITH THE LINK
+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK HERE WITH THE LINK
+3 MORE ENTRIES: WATCH FOR MY TWO REVIEWS AND AUTHOR INTERVIEW IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND THEN COME BACK HERE TO COMMENT ON THEM!
ALL ENTRIES ARE DUE BY6 PM, EST, OCTOBER 11
66 comments:
Hello! Both of these books sound like very good reads. I am a Google Connect follower & Google Reader. I am also an email subscriber. gcwhiskas at aol dot com
Wow - both of these books sound wonderful.
I am a follower via google reader
beachlover20855[AT]yahoo[DOT]com
I'd like any of those two books I follow you on Google, I am mail subscriber and a follower
madeleine444[at]gmail[dot]com
I'm interested in reading these stories. Please enter me. I'm a google reader follower. :D
linna.hsu at gmail dot com
Thanks for this lovely giveaway. These books are unique and wonderful. I am an e-mail subscriber. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
I am a Google follower - thanks for the giveaway!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
I'd like to be included! tWarner419@aol.com
both books sound good ;-)
google follower
I am already a follower with google reader.
lovestoread0708(at)yahoo.com
Both books sound terrific.
I am a google reader subscriber
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I would love to enter this giveaway for "Going Away Shoes" and "Ferris Beach."
I'm at chezraine@yahoo.com
I am a follower of your blog, so would love to have that extra entry!
I posted about your giveaway on the sidebar of my newest blog,
http://snowimpressions.blogspot.com/
Both books look like wonderful reads! I'm already a Google Friend Connect follower! Thanks.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm a loyal follower - you couldn't get rid of me, even if you beat me with a stick:-)
libneas[at]aol[dot]com
I'm a loyal follower through google friend connect! What a fun giveaway!
sarahosborne12(at)gmail(dot)com
I blogged here:
http://myfavoritegiveaways.blogspot.com/2009/09/double-book-giveaway.html
sarahosborne12(at)gmail(dot)com
Hello- These books both sound like great reads!
I am a follower via google reader
DanceAlert At Aol Dot Com
sounds like good reads and we are going to need one for the winter weather I could just imagine myself cuddling up with either one of these books
shopannies@Yahoo.com
I am already a follower
copperllama at yahoo dot com
Please enter me-thanks!
amanda n.
fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com
Follower.
amanda n.
fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com
tweet tweet:
http://twitter.com/fitz12383/status/4145189666
Amanda n.
fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com
I liked the interview with McCorkle. I think it's great that she's been influenced so much by the South, with the exception of the Fitzgerald, she mentions other Southern writers than know how to spina great tale, like Welty and Harper Lee.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
The author enjoys reading the classics and the revision process gives her kinship with her characters. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
Bonus Entry: Something I read in Jill McCorkle's interview is that she encourages youth to "read read read" if they have a dream of writing someday. She said to pay attention to elements in stories and take lots of notes.
sarahosborne1(at)gmail(dot)com
Something I read in your interview with Jill McCorkle, was that Fitzgerald's THE GREAT GATSBY, was one of the early books that made an impressions on here.
Thanks again for the giveaway.
libneas[at]aol[dot]com
I'm a Blogger follower.
BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com
after reading your reviews... I'm even more convinced that these are 'rip your heart out' books that have many levels... I'm drawn to know more...
I'm a loyal follower!
nbmars AT yahoo DOT coom
Regarding your review, I have to say that I too tend to eschew short stories. But I must say your review convinced me that in this case I should give them a try!
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
I'm a loyal google follower.
meah56 at gmail dot com
I don't usually enjoy short stories but your review makes me want to try McCorkle's - especially since she's written a few other volumes of ss. The title story sounds like it could tug at the heart.
Although I'm not an only child, I did 'come of age' in the 70s and think Ferris Beach sounds like a good book.
meah56 at gmail dot com
I'm a loyal follower. :)
misusedinnocence@aol.com
Bonus Entry for "Going Away Shoes"- I'm like you, I don't read short stories very often. But I'm intrigued with McCorkle's title as "The Guardian Angel of American Short Fiction." ...or something to that extent. Maybe she'll be the author that hooks me on short stories!
sarahosborne12(at)gmail(dot)com
Bonus Entry for "Ferris Beach"- I like that the "ending will not dissapoint!" I love a book with a good ending.
sarahosborne12(at)gmail(dot)com
I liked the review and teaser of hearing about the short story "Going Away Shoes" in McCorkle's book of short stories. That's a genre I don't read much of and I think I may be missing out.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm glad they decided to re-release Ferris Beach. It sounds like a great coming of age story--nothing beats a well written tale like that.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
Both of these sound really interesting to me! I am a new follower via gfc and reader! Thanks for the chance!
Wow, these books sound great!
I follow you on blogger.
Sharon
belchers@jccal.org
what a fabulous giveaway...i'm a subscriber :)
karen k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com
Both books sound wonderful. I follow with Google Friend Connect.
dlodden at frontiernet dot net
I thought it was interesting that Jill feels a kinship with most of her characters and that she enjoys the revision process.
dlodden at frontiernet dot net
Loyal follower
kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com
Blogged about giveaway http://metroreader.blogspot.com/
I enjoyed reading the review Going Away Shoes. I have recently started reading short stories and this collection of wrong choice/decisions sounds like morsels for thought.
I enjoyed the review of Ferris Beach b/c I grew up in the 70's, so I think I can relate on that level to the protagonist.
Already follow!
delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com
I am a follower! Via gfc! bekki1820cb@gmail.com
Both book look awesom! Thanks for the chance!
Your review of Going Away Shoes really grabbed me. I can relate to Debbie's situation since my mother had a massive stroke when I was a junior in college and ever since needed to be cared for and her varied feelings regarding her mother and trying to cope with it all. I understand her issues with her relationship with her mother and I also love the two-fold symbolisom of the shoes, it's a great metaphor. Thank you for a wonderful review, I'm excited to read all of the stories in this collection.
Aimala127@gmail.com
Your review of Ferris Island is great. Stories about female relationships, particularly friendships and mother/daughter relationships are some of my favorite stories so a book with both sounds wonderful to me!
Thank you for this review!
Aimala127@gmail.com
I am already a google follower
copperllama at yahoo dot com
Both books look so good. Please enter me.
lizzi0915 at aol dot com
I am a loyal google reader follower
madeleine444/at/gmail/dot/com
I tweeted your giveaway at:
http://twitter.com/sevigny444
madeleine444/at/gmail/dot/com
I'm a loyal follower through Google friend connect.
~Briana
thebookpixie[at]yahoo[dot]com
+1 Tweeted: http://twitter.com/thebookpixie/status/4769509126
~Briana
thebookpixie[at]yahoo[dot]com
+1 I'm a follower in Google Friend Connect
Marie
utah91960(at)yahoo(dot)com
+1 Tweeted: http://twitter.com/utah91960/status/4769649080
Marie
utah91960(at)yahoo(dot)com
I already follow on Google Friend Connect & subscribe via Google Reader.
These books both look interesting. I, too, was not a great fan of short stories until we did some in our book club.
Thanks ~ megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com
Bonus Entry "Going Away Shoes":
I'm relatively new to reading short stories & your descriptions of some of the stories in this book interest me. I look forward to reading "Me & Bigfoot" - the title intrigues me.
Thanks ~ megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com
Bonus Entry "Ferris Beach":
I like the premise of this book - coming of age in the 70s. It was a time of such change in this country & it's nice to read someone else's take on the era.
Thanks ~ megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com
Bonus Entry - Author Interview:
I just read that Ms. McCorkle just finished reading Richard Yates' collection "Eleven Kinds of Loneliness"
megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com
Both these books sound wonderful. I follow by checking out your blog once or twice a week. I emailed you once because I so want to subscribe via email, but I wasn't able to. Still, I follow in the way I can.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
Sounds interesting count me in: D
I follow on My Yahoo and Google.
BevE
merryweatherbookblog (a) gmail.com
These books both sound great and I follow via google friend connect!
danielle78@comcast.net
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