Sunday, February 21, 2010

THE WIFE'S TALE: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
THE WIFE'S TALE
BY LORI LANSENS

ABOUT THE BOOK:

On the eve of their Silver Anniversary, Mary Gooch is waiting for her husband Jimmy--still every inch the handsome star athlete he was in high school--to come home. As night turns to day, it becomes frighteningly clear to Mary that he is gone. Through the years, disappointment and worry have brought Mary's life to a standstill, and she has let her universe shrink to the well-worn path from the bedroom to the refrigerator. But her husband's disappearance startles her out of her inertia, and she begins a desperate search. For the first time in her life, she boards a plane and flies across the country to find her lost husband. So used to hiding from the world, Mary finds that in the bright sun and broad vistas of California, she is forced to look up from the pavement. And what she finds fills her with inner strength she's never felt before. Through it all, Mary not only finds kindred spirits, but reunites with a more intimate stranger no longer sequestered by fear and habit: herself.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Lori Lansens was a successful screenwriter before she burst onto the literary scene in 2002 with her first novel Rush Home Road. Translated into eight languages and published in eleven countries, Rush Home Road received rave reviews around the world. Her follow-up novel, The Girls, was an international success as well. Rights were sold in 13 territories and it was featured as a book-club pick by Richard & Judy in the UK, selling 300,000 copies. Born and raised in Chatham, Ontario, Lori Lansens now makes her home in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.

REVIEW:

THE WIFE’S TALE is the story of Mary Gooch, who has slowly let her life fade away as she eats to fill a need within herself that she can’t face. She is in a constant battle between her body and food, with her past haunting her in the form of hunger. She remembers when she was thin and happy and pregnant. This was a time before she gained all this weight and lost the baby. However, as you will see in THE WIFE’S TALE, Mary finally decides to put an end to this and try to take back her life.

Mary finds that she is unable to leave the comfort of her home and try anything new or even to travel. She stays in her small Canadian home where she has been married for twenty-five years to her wonderful husband, Jimmy Gooch. Jimmy, who once had big dreams as a basketball star until misfortune struck , is also trapped in this small town. As Mary’s story begins, her husband has disappeared on the night of their twenty-fifth anniversary. She isn't worried and able to handle any concern she feels by erasing that fear with food. She is really more fretful about what to wear to dinner to celebrate than she is about Jimmy Gooch’s disappearance. She assumes he will just get home any time now and so doesn’t waste time worrying about it.

When it dawns on Mary that Jimmy really isn’t coming home, which takes her a while, she begins a journey emotionally and physically in a new direction. Setting out for California, where Jimmy’s mother lives, she leaves behind the woman who only wear the dark colored medical scrubs and who is categorized as obese.

On this journey, Mary realizes that she no longer hears food calling to her as she hasn't eaten in days except for some fruit and energy bars to keep her going. Not having traveled, she finds herself with none of the necessities in life she needs like clothing and feels like she is on a different planet. She comes to realize that she must find something besides Jimmy and that is herself. Will Mary be able to do this? Will she find her Jimmy along with herself?

Lori Lansens writes a compelling story of Mary’s adventure and attempts at reinventing herself. By writing of Mary’s memories so that she can understand her weight issues and pain, Lansens gives the reader something we can all relate to. An often funny, powerful, realistic story of an overweight woman who feels trapped and helpless in her own body, THE WIFE’S TALE teaches a lesson in hope. I loved this book and thought of how much it reminded me of one of my favorite books, Wally Lamb’s SHE’S COME UNDONE. This touching story would make for an excellent book club book choice as it certainly promotes discussion.


GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO MIRIAM AND THE
HACHETTE BOOK GROUP, I HAVE
FIVE COPIES OF THIS
FABULOUS
BOOK TO GIVEAWAY!




--U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS IN COMMENT
--ALL ENTRIES/COMMENTS MUST BE
SEPARATE IN ORDER TO COUNT
AS MORE THAN ONE ENTRY



HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY:GO TO THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE SITE HERE WHERE THEY HAVE ALL THE DIFFERENT COVERS FOR THE WIFE'S TALE ACCORDING TO WHAT COUNTRY IT IS PUBLISHED IN. TELL WHICH COUNTRY'S COVER YOU LIKE THE BEST.

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE A LINK I CAN FOLLOW IN THE ENTRY

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, MARCH 13


GOOD LUCK!

88 comments:

Unknown said...

I really like the Canadian cover.
amandarwest at gmaildotcom

Anonymous said...

I like the US cover. I like the body of water seen in the cover.

Thanks for the contest.

carmenalexistsang [at] gmail [dot] com

Marilu said...

I really like the Us cover. I think it looks like she is going to test the water!
I think it is so cool that she was born and raised less than 2 hours away from me!
I would love to win a copy! Please enter me. Thanks

lovemykidsandbooks AT gmail DOT com

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

I so want to read this book and since I love the ocean, the US cover appeals tome the most.

bibliophilebythesea AT gmail DOT com

thanks so much

Marie said...

The book sounds great. Really nice review.

I like the Canadian cover, too.

Thanks for the giveaway.
mparke[at]mts[dot]net

StephTheBookworm said...

OOh, please count me in!

stephaniet117(at)yahoo(dot)com

StephTheBookworm said...

I like the U.S. cover the best.

kittyism said...

I love the U.K. cover! She's supposed to be big, but it almost seems like the U.S. cover doesn't want to show that.

rekitty96[at]gmail[dot]com

rubynreba said...

I like the US cover the best.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

brokenteepee said...

I like the Australian cover. It has cake. Cake is good. Who doesn't like cake....
thank you
kaiminani at gmail dot com

brokenteepee said...

http://twitter.com/BrokenTeepee/status/9443030728
I tweeted
thank you
kaiminani at gmail dot com

holdenj said...

I kind of like the Austrialian cover--it's a nice looking cupcake!
Thanks.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Linda Kish said...

I like the US covers.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

scottsgal said...

I like the US cover but the UK cover goes more with the description of the book I think
msboatgal at aol.com

bermudaonion said...

Everyone should enter this contest! I loved this book!

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a great book for book club. Sounds like Wally Lambish - whom I love.

Thanks for a great review Bingo.

SusieQ@Hinson

Margie said...

I like the US cover the best. This sounds like a wonderful book...thanks for the good review!
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

wheresmyrain said...

im likin' the UK version, I tend to like them over US versions on a whole

wheresmyrain at yahoo dot com

tetewa said...

My favorite is the US covers! tWarner419@aol.com

Sarah said...

I love the US cover.

faithinhim(at)gmail(dot)com

Charleydog said...

I like the USA cover bets.
Please enter my name in the giveaway for the book. Thanks!

pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com

Rebecca Orr said...

For me, it is a toss up between the US and Canadian covers. Although, I really like the Australian cover as well. Thanks for the chance. bekki1820cb at gmail

Celticlady's Reviews said...

I also like the US cover but it really doesn't seem to go with the story..if Mary is morbidly obese, I would have to say that the UK covers fits better....

I posted on my left sidebar herehttp://celticladysramblings.blogspot.com/

momkelly2003(at)yahoo(dot)com

Thanks you!!

traveler said...

Thanks for this wonderful giveaway. I like the Canadian cover. Reading about this book from your review it sounds extraordinary. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

Please include me in this giveaway, and thanks!

fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

tweeted:
http://twitter.com/bookmonstrosity/status/9457250311

fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

Martha Lawson said...

I like the US cover the best! It makes you curious - you wnat to pick the book up and see what it's about! This sounds like a really good read.


mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

Teresa said...

I like the Australian cover best
mstlee2000 @ hotmail.com

Teresa said...

Tweet
http://twitter.com/isaiahsmom21/status/9462026423
mstlee2000 @ hotmail.com

Sue said...

The U.S. cover is my favorite. I love blue and I love water... Thanks for the giveaway.

s.mickelson at gmail dot com

Carol W. said...

The Australian cover is most appealing to me.

wolfcarol451(at)gmail(dot)com

Jo-Jo said...

I like the US cover because the body of water reminds me of the ocean.

joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

Simply Stacie said...

I am drawn to the US cover the most.

simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

doreen lamoureux said...

I love the U.S. cover because the water color is very inviting.

dorcontest at gmail dot com

Colleen Turner said...

I like the Australian cover with the cupcake...it looks devilishly good!
Thanks!
candc320@gmail.com

Hot Off the Shelves said...

I like the US cover. It reminds of how life is all about taking the next big step into the unknown.

jasmyn9[at]hotmail[dot]com

Angie said...

I like the U.S. cover. It looks like she's taking a big step into unknown waters.

aksimmo at brainerd dot net

Teresa said...

daily tweet
http://twitter.com/isaiahsmom21/status/9498908659
mstlee2000 @ hotmail.com

Pam said...

I love the US cover because it seems to capture the story in my mind with the woman who looks like she's about to take a big leap.

I've been wanting to read this! I LOVED The Girls. Please pick me...

melacan at hotmail dot com

MonieG said...

Looks pretty good. I like the UK cover the best.

Monie@readingwithmonie.com

g.g. said...

I think the Australian cover matches your review the best

anjamie4 AT gmail DOT com

Wickdogg said...

I like the UK cover

wickdogg at gmaildot com

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

I like the US cover best. I'd so love to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway: bibliophilebythesea AT gmail DOT com

rhapsodyinbooks said...

Canadian cover.

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Anonymous said...

I think I like the Canadian cover the best.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

skkorman said...

I like the U.S. cover best!

skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

natalia said...

I like the US cover best. I've already read this book and just loved it! Lansens is such a great writer and the central character Mary Gooch is unforgettable. I couldn't put this book down once I started reading it.

Bonnie said...

My favorite is the US Cover.

redladysreadingroomATgmailDOTcom

bison61 said...

I like the US cover the best

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Beth(bookaholicmom) said...

Being a water lover, I like the US cover the most! Thanks so much for the chance to win!

bthgordon at yahoo dot com

Debbie said...

They must know what they are doing because I like the US cover best.
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com

Unknown said...

I liked the U.K. cover because the woman on the cover looks so happy!


Aimala127 AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I tweeted this giveaway at The Wife's Tale Giveaway

Thank you!

Aimala127 AT gmail DOT com

Libby's Library said...

I think I'm most drawn to the US cover. Wish I had legs that looked like those!
Thanks for the giveaway.

libneas[at]aol[dot]com

Mary (Bookfan) said...

I liked the UK cover - after reading about the book, it looks like the right cover. Maybe I'll feel differently after reading the book.

meah56 AT gmail DOT com

Mary (Bookfan) said...

I blogged in my sidebar giveaways:
http://bookfan-mary.blogspot.com

meah56 AT gmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

I like the US cover. The blue color pops.

Wendy
ebeandebe at gmail dot com

Vera said...

I like the UK release because it actually shows a plump woman - which fits the character - instead of the twig on the American cover. There was actually a feature in Entertainment Weekly on how many books featuring overweight heroines have very skinny women on their covers.

vvperesk@gmail.com

kristinemarie7 said...

I like the US and UK covers. But, I think the UK cover seems to go along with the book summary and I like that she looks happy in it.
kristinemarie7 at gmail.com

kristinemarie7 said...

I posted the giveaway on my blog.
kristinemarie7 at gmail.com

Unknown said...

I like the Australian cover with the cupcake!

justpeachy36 said...

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

Please enter me in the giveaway.

I like the U.S cover best.

Lee P said...

Being Canadian, I have to go with the Canadian cover. I think Lori is a very good author. I read The Girls and it was an amazing book! I think The Wife's Tale would also be a good book to read because I'm interested in finding out what happened to her husband. Thank you for this nice giveaway and please count me in.

chinook92 at gmail dot com

Lee P said...

I posted your giveaway on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/chinook92/status/9929528530

chinook92 at gmail dot com

Annmarie Weeks said...

I actually like the US cover best (although the cupcake on the Australian cover looks delicious!)

Annmarie Weeks said...

I tweeted! http://twitter.com/amweeks/status/9987735971

Jolee said...

I like the cover of the lady w/ sunglasses.

Misusedinnocence said...

ANY of them but the US one. Ugh. Reading the description why on earth would they pick a leg that looks like that?! I'd go with the Australian.

misusedinnocence@aol.com

Pamela Keener said...

I loved the U.S. cover the best.
pk4290@comcast.net
Love & Hugs,
Pam

Benita said...

They're all so different. I like them all, particularly the cover from the UK.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Francine Anchondo said...

I like the US cover because it looks simple.

fmd518(at)gmail(dot)com

ossmcalc said...

I like the cover from the Australian release.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

I tweeted about this giveaway http://twitter.com/ossmcalc/status/10108199620

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

Kristin said...

I really like the US cover the best.

Kristin at k2reader@gmail.com

Debbie F said...

I really like the US cover the best!

dcf_beth at verizon dot net

Geri said...

I like the Canadian cover.
Geri
novasea at gmail dot com

catss99 said...

I like the australian cover--it took me a minute to figure out it was a cupcake.
catss99@yahoo.com

catss99 said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/catss99/status/10390314767
catss99@yahoo.com

Mary said...

I like the Canadian cover best
darrma2000 @ gmail.com

CherylS22 said...

My favorite cover is for the U.S. Release.
Thanks ~ megalon22 at yahoo dot com

409cope said...

I like the Canadian cover the most.cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com

DarcyO said...

I think the UK cover is more true to who the book's about.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

Unknown said...

http://twitter.com/aitmama/status/10429807546

Unknown said...

I like the Canadian cover. aitmama {{ta}} gmail {{tod}} com

Nancye said...

Tweet! Tweet!

http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/10434077116

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I like the U.S. cover the best.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Lacey said...

i like the canadian cover and australian cover because they both have yummy looking food on them.

lacey914 at sbcglobal dot net

Lacey said...

http://twitter.com/HtxAstrosFan/status/10440143423

tweet!!

lacey914 at sbcglobal dot net

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