Saturday, January 9, 2010

THE GEOGRAPHY OF LOVE: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
GEOGRAPHY OF LOVE
A MEMOIR
BY GLENDA BURGESS


ABOUT THE BOOK:

When Glenda Burgess and Kenneth Grunzweig met in 1988, Kenneth had already lost two wives—the first in a fatal car crash, and then years later his second wife in a brutal murder for which Kenneth remained for many years the prime suspect.
What possesses a woman to fall in love with a man fourteen years her senior, with a troubled teenage daughter and a past shadowed with so much suspicion and misfortune? And why would a man who has loved and lost in such tragic ways take a chance on opening his heart to another woman, despite the odds? Beautifully written and heart-wrenchingly honest,The Geography of Love is a poignant and unforgettable chronicle of a relationship that defies convention and survives the unthinkable.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


GLENDA BURGESS is the author of two novels, Exposure and Loose Threads. She lives in Spokane, Washington.


REVIEW:

This is a beautifully written and moving memoir of Glenda Burgess who as the age of 30 had been a management analyst with the U. S. State Department. Quite by coincidence, she meets a 44-year old Ken Grunzweig, who is a software executive and they fall hopelessly in love. Their courtship and love is not the norm with Ken being 13 years older than Glenda and having been married twice before. We learn how his first wife died in his arms in what was a tragic car accident. He was just separated from his second wife when she was murdered. Ken actually was under suspicion for her death but he didn't do it. And so with all this, Glenda and Ken still fall in love and marry. Glenda must face being the awful "stepmother" to Ken's teenage daughter but with all that, their love is so strong that they build a beautiful life together and even have two children of their own. This first part of the book you can't put down as you so want to see if these two really do get together. Alas, they do and even though they are tested by many things and some are very sad and painful, they remain together and their relationship grows into a a beautiful romance. They share the kind of love many people can only dream of.

However, the second part of the book brings more tragedy into their lives when a mysterious cough that Ken developed after an expedition for photography in the great Southwest turns out to be cancer. He and Glenda battle this disease together with love and faith. As they struggle to what is a very moving and heartbreaking ending, readers will find that although there is sadness in this part, there is also some joy and beauty in the uplifting relationship they share. The book is written to make the reader understand this was a real and wonderful relationship, and Glenda Burgess has written it so beautifully as a tribute to their love. The book is hard to put down no matter what part you are in. I haven't read a good love story in a long time and to think this is a real one, made it even better.

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO JENNIFER AT
THE BROADWAY/RANDOM
HOUSE BOOKS, I HAVE
1 COPYOF THIS BEAUTIFUL BOOK
TO GIVE AWAY. HERE IS WHAT YOU
NEED TO DO TO WIN A COPY!


RULES:

--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON THE LAST GOOD LOVE STORY OR MEMOIR YOU READ AND ENJOYED

+1 MORE ENTRY:
COMMENT ON IF YOU COULD READ SOMEONE'S MEMOIR, WHO WOULD YOU WANT TO READ ABOUT, REAL OR FICTIONAL!

+1 MORE ENTRY:
BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK AND LEAVE A LINK FOR ME TO FOLLOW HERE.

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT 6 PM, EST,
JANUARY 15 FOR THIS BOOK!


HOWEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ONLY THOSE PEOPLE WHO
ENTERED DURING THE BLOGIVERSARY
WEEKEND ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE
GRAND PRIZE TO COME ON JANUARY 16...
THAT IS THEY WIN ALL 12 BOOKS

NOTE: BLOGIVERSARY WEEKEND
GRAND PRIZE ELIGIBILITY IS OVER!

BUT YOU CAN STILL WIN THIS BOOK!

94 comments:

Benita said...

The last good love story I read was Sins of the Flesh by Caridad Pineiro. It's not a conventional love story, but it does hold your interest from beginning to end.


bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

I'd like to read Barack Obama's memoirs.


bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

CMash said...

Sounds like it will tug at the reader's heart. Please enter me.
http://cmashlovestoread.blogspot.com
Mash1195(at)aol(dot)com

Unknown said...

The last good memoir I read was My Life in France by Julia Child. As for romances, I love all of Nicolas Sparks' books.
amandarwest at gmaildotcom

Unknown said...

If I could read someone's memoir it would be Nefertiti or Cleopatra. I want to know what really happened in their time.
amandarwest at gmaildotcom

Unknown said...

I tweeted. http://twitter.com/amandawk/status/7568209033
amandarwest at gmaildotcom

Anonymous said...

I would most like to read the memoirs of Elizabeth I, who also happens to be the person I would most like to meet if I could travel through time.

Sheila
skkorman@bellsouth.net

Anonymous said...

I would say that my favorite love story of all time is Boris Pasternak's "Doctor Zhivago"—just thinking about it while I'm typing this makes me want to read it again!

Sheila
skkorman@bellsouth.net

Anonymous said...

I really liked Nicholas Sparks's "The Notebook." It even made a good movie.

Donna
dlhaley@hotmail.com

sharon54220 said...

Memoirs are one of my most favorite genres to read. I've read so many that it's hard to choose just one.

I have always wanted to read all of Barack Obama's memoirs. At the present time, I don't own any.

sharon54220@gmail.com

bermudaonion said...

The last good memoir I read was Everything Sucks by Hannah Friedman.

milou2ster(at)gmail.com

bermudaonion said...

I'd like to read my father's memoir. He was born in 1919 and has seen a lot in his day.

milou2ster(at)gmail.com

Anonymous said...

The Brides of the West series by Lori Copeland.

Wendy
ebeandebe at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I'd like to read one by my grandpa. He saw so much in his lifetime. I wish we had it in a book.

Wendy
ebeandebe at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

The best love story I have read...Love Story.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I would like to read Ted Kennedy's memoir.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

brizmus said...

I've read quite a few great love stories, but the one I've read fairly recently that really sticks out in my mind is the Time Traveler's Wife. There was something about that romance that was just so beautiful to me!

zedster.tbb(at)gmail(DOT)com

brizmus said...

I would love for Pythagoras to come back and write a memoir using today's English. I think that would be super interesting!

zedster.tbb(at)gmail(DOT)com

brizmus said...

It's in my sidebar under the contest list -
http://brizmusblogsbooks.blogspot.com

zedster.tbb(at)gmail(DOT)com

Linda Henderson said...

I guess the first real love story that I can remember reading is Love Story.

seriousreader at live dot com

Linda Henderson said...

I'd like to read Amelia Areharts story. I would love to know what happened to her.

seriousreader at live dot com

Linda Henderson said...

I'd like to read Amelia Areharts story. I would love to know what happened to her.

seriousreader at live dot com

Debbie said...

Time Traveler's Wife is such a great book. I loved it.
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com

Debbie said...

I'd like to read the real memoir of Mary Magdalene.
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com

Debbie said...

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/suburbsanity

scottsgal said...

The last good love story I read was Dear John by Nicholas Sparks.

msboatgal at aol.com

Reading said...

The last good love story I read was Dear John by Nicholas Sparks.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

scottsgal said...

I'd like to read Barack Obama's memoirs
msboatgal at aol.com

Reading said...

I'd like to read John McCain's memoir.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

brokenteepee said...

I would love to read Michelangelo's memoir...
thank you
kaiminani at gmail dot com

brokenteepee said...

sorry, my entries are out of order. The last good love story I read was hmmm, Gone With The Wind. I read it once a year...
thank you
kaiminani at gmail dot com

rubynreba said...

I liked PS I Love You
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Lacey said...

The last good love story i read was a thousand slendid suns, although the entire story is not all about love it turns out to be a good love story.

Lacey914@sbcglobal.net

rubynreba said...

I'd like to read Sarah Palin's new book - can't remember the name!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Lacey said...

There is this girl at work who has gone through so much with her divorce and kids and she comes from a broken home, but she still manages to go to school full time and work full time. I think her life story would be a inspiration.

Lacey said...

http://twitter.com/HtxAstrosFan/status/7574375698

Tweet!

Lacey914@sbcglobal.net

Angie said...

Is there any better love story then Pride and Prejudice? Although I did like Spring Fancy by Lavyrle Spencer. The man in the story was such a sweetheart.

aksimmo at brainerd dot net

Angie said...

I would like to read the memoirs of Mary the mother of Jesus.

aksimmo at brainerd dot net

DarcyO said...

"The Lucky One" by Nicholas Sparks was very good.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

Jessica ( frellathon ) said...

Last one I read was The Time Travelers Wife.

jessica(at)fan(dot)com

Jessica ( frellathon ) said...

If I read a memoir I would like it to be about one of my friends. What a life he has lead.

jessica(at)fan(dot)com

justpeachy36 said...

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

Please enter me in the giveaway.

I just read a really good paranormal romance by Linnea Sinclair, called Gabriel's Ghost.

Unknown said...

I haven't read a love story for a while that was a "love story" -- my favorite is probably A Walk to Remember though. Tissues R Us.
ashleymaymott(at)aol(dot) com

Unknown said...

I would love to read a real Jane Austen memoir, but alas it will never be.

Alyce said...

I just finished reading The Motion of the Ocean by Janna Cawrse Esarey last week, and it's a combo memoir/love story about her honeymoon sail across the Pacific.

akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com

Alyce said...

I would love to read a memoir by Martin Sheen. I should really see if there's one out there somewhere.

akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

The last good love story I read was The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Nifenegger...I loved that book!

miller4plusmore(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

I wish Elizabeth I of England had written a memoir!

miller4plusmore(at)bellsouth(dot)net

LoveMyCoffee said...

I adored Pray, Eat, Love..it was a fantastic read.

Google Follower

Dutchlvr1(at)aol.com

LoveMyCoffee said...

A would like to read Ted Kennedy's memoir.

Google follower

Dutchlvr1(at)aol(dot)com

Mitzi H. said...

The last great story I read (involving years of continuing stories) is the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. In her last book, the main characters are over 50-60 years old, but still going strong

mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net

Mitzi H. said...

I would love to meet Ben Franklin after reading so many different accounts of him in historical novels....The man loved to sun bath nude...what a hoot!!! Not to mention he helped secure French money for the independent cause.

mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net

Mitzi H. said...

I'm a follower

mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net

nfmgirl said...

Although it would perhaps not be viewed as a "love story", I would say Under This Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell. The book is about so much, but one part of it is not on the love story between the two main characters, but the love between family members as well. To me, it really was a love story.

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

nfmgirl said...

I'd love to read the memoir/bio of Jimmy Stewart.

nfmgirl At gmail DOT com

booklover0226 said...

The last great love story I read was the Outlander series; it's about love found and lost and found, again.

Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 At gmail dot com

booklover0226 said...

I would love to read, if it exists, Napolean Bonaparte's memoirs.

Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 At gmail dot com

Wickdogg said...

I think Gone With the Wind has to be the classic love story I like

wickdogg AT gmail dot com

Wickdogg said...

I think a memoir of Walt Disney is one I'd like to read


wickdogg AT gmail dot com

Renee said...

Lizzi & Fredl is an excellent memoir

http://reneesuz.blogspot.com/2009/07/lizzi-fredl.html - here is my review

http://reneesuz.blogspot.com/2009/07/lizzi-fredl.html

Wendy said...

The last great memoir I read was called Damaged by Cathy Glass (wonderful!).

The Geography of Love sounds like a fabulous book!


Thanks for the entry!

Wendy
wendysfictionaddiction(at)gmail(dot)com

Wendy said...

If I could read anyone's memoir it would be of the author Margaret Atwood. I have always been facinated by her books and would love to know more about her life.

Thanks for the entry!

Wendy
wendysfictionaddiction(at)gmail(dot)com

Kaye said...

I'd like to read about Catherine the Great.

florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Kaye said...

Hmm, don't know what happened to my first entry. Anyway, last good love story- Forbidden Falls by Robyn Carr and last good memoir was Private Papers of Eastern Jewel.

CherylS22 said...

I just completed a wonderful love story this morning, "Hugh and Bess". It's the story of Hugh le Despenser & Elizabeth de Montecute set in 14th century England.

Thanks ~ megalon22 at yahoo dot com

CherylS22 said...

I'd like to read Harrison Ford's memoir.
megalon22 at yahoo dot com

Katy said...

OK, I'm with Cheryl--I'd be way interested to read Harrison Ford's memoir. Just read a great interview with him today in the Parade magazine in my newspaper, and I think he's such an interesting man!

srfbluemama at gmail dot com

Katy said...

I haven't read a good love story in a while... let me think... I really liked The Apothecary's Daughter earlier in 2009--it had a very nice love story. :)

srfbluemama at gmail dot com

Katy said...

Tweet: http://twitter.com/afewmorepages/status/7602294088

srfbluemama at gmail dot com

traveler said...

Thanks for this giveaway. I have been enjoying many memoirs lately and my favorite is A Lucky Child which is wonderful. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

A memoir of someone I would enjoy reading would be Patrick Stewart. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Cheffer said...

The last good love story I read was Dear John by Nicolas Sparks!
It was a touching story and I cant wait for the movie!!

Fourevermandm@aol.com

Cheffer said...

I would love to read Princess Diana memoir. I think it would be a experience to read about the loves of her lives.

Fourevermandm@aol.com

Edna said...

Please enter me into this drawing please.



Mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

Denny, Alaska said...

The last good love story I read was a biography of Lindbergh. He and his wife Anne shared a special love.
Thanks for hosting this giveaway.

denny(dot)gill(at)gmail(dot)com

Denny, Alaska said...

I'd like to read a biography of Lincoln explaining in depth his love for Mary Todd Lincoln.

Thanks for hosting this giveaway!

denny(dot)gill(at)gmail(dot)com

Rebecca Orr said...

I read Blowing My Cover: My Life As A CIA Spy by LIndsay Moran.

Thanks for the chance!
bekki1820cb at gmail

Rebecca Orr said...

I would also like to read Benjamin Franklin's memoir.
bekki1820cb at gmail

Nancye said...

The book that pops in my head is "A Time to Embrace" by Karen Kingsbury. All of her books are beautifully written.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Tweet! Tweet!

http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/7607207584

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I would loved to have my grandmother write a memoir. She lived until she was 96. Lots of good stories to tell, I'm sure.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Libby's Library said...

Oh my,I've read so many wonderful books lately. The first that comes to mind is HEARTS OF COURAGE, by John Tippets.

libneas[at]aol[dot]com

Libby's Library said...

Goodness - what a difficult question. So many people that I would like to read about. Maybe the memoirs of Julia Child...as I'm watching Julia and Julia again...for the umpteenth time:-)

libneas[at]aol[dot]com

Missa said...

The last good love story I read was The Language of Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs.

sweetmissa at gmail dot com

Missa said...

I'd love to read my great-grandmother's memoir. She passed away a few years ago, and saw so much in her 98 years of living in Italy and America.

sweetmissa at gmail dot com

Missa said...

Tweet! http://twitter.com/hunniebee724/status/7611127405
sweetmissa at gmail dot com

enyl said...

I recently read Lucan and much to my surprise, I enjoyed it. I don't usually read sci-fi nor paranormals, Lucan is a mixture of both.
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

enyl said...

I would like to read Mary"s, mother of Jesus,memior.
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

Commchick said...

One of my favorite love stories as far as a novel was "The Thornbirds" which was a pretty good miniseries also.

Sharon
belchers@jccal.org

Commchick said...

I would like to read the memoirs of Patrick Swayze or Farrah Fawcett, but I don't know if either of them wrote one.

Sharon
belchers@jccal.org

Tea said...

I love the title and story. I would love to read THE GEOGRAPHY OF LOVE.

teakettle58atyahoodotcom

Tea said...

If I could read a memoir picked by myself, I would pick a memoir about Toni Morrison.

KayeDean said...

I loved Nicholas Spark's Nights In Rodanthe. I love all his books.
sandym204 @ gmail dot com

KayeDean said...

I would like to read my grandmother's (on my dad's side)memoirs. She was a facsinating woman.
sandym204 @ gmail dot com

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