Saturday, May 22, 2010

GOOD TO A FAULT: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
GOOD TO A FAULT
BY MARINA ENDICOTT

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Shortlisted for Canada's prestigious Giller Prize, this "profoundly humane novel" (Vancouver Sun), wrings suspense and humor out of the everyday choices we make, revealing the delicate balance between sacrifice and self-interest, doing good and being good.

Clara Purdy is at a crossroads. At forty-three, she is divorced, living in her late parents' house, and nearing her twentieth year as a claims adjuster at a local insurance firm. Driving to the bank during her lunch hour, she crashes into a sharp left turn, taking the Gage family in the other car with her. When bruises on the mother, Lorraine, prove to be late-stage cancer, Clara decides to do the right thing. She moves Lorraine's three children and their terrible grandmother into her own house—and then has to cope with the consequences of practical goodness: exhaustion, fury, hilarity, and unexpected love.

What, exactly, does it mean to be good? What do we owe each other in this life, and what do we deserve? Good to a Fault is an ultimately joyful book that digs deep, with leavening humor, into questions of morality, class, and social responsibility. Marina Endicott looks at life and death through the compassionate, humane lens of a born novelist: being good, being at fault, and finding some balance in between.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Marina Endicott was born in Golden, British Columbia, and grew up in Nova Scotia and Toronto. She worked as an actor and director in Toronto before going to London, England, where she began to write fiction. In 1984 she went west to Saskatoon, and worked as a director and dramaturge. She ran the Saskatchewan Playwrights Centre for many years before going farther west with Peter Ormshaw, a journalist and poet, on his first posting with the RCMP to Mayerthorpe, Alberta. They eventually married and have two children, Will and Rachel. Marina’s first novel, Open Arms, was nominated for the Amazon/Books in Canada First Novel Award in 2002, and her long poem, "The Policeman's Wife, Some Letters," about the murders of four Mounties in Mayerthorpe in 2005, was short-listed for the national CBC Literary Awards in 2006. Her second novel, Good to a Fault, won the Commonwealth Writers Prize for the Canada/Caribbean region, was a finalist for the 2008 Giller Prize, and was one of the featured books for Canada Reads in 2010. She is at work on a new novel, The Belle Auroras, about a sister-trio-harmony vaudeville act touring the Canadian prairies in 1909.

MY REVIEW:


Marina Endicott’s GOOD TO A FAULT is an absolutely captivating look at people, and what it really means to be a labeled a good person. It is the story of Clara Purdy, a lonely middle-aged woman who one day takes her car and accidentally slams into the vehicle and lives of the people in another car; the entire Gage family. The Gage family consists of two parents, three kids, and one cantankerous grandmother and this accident not only totaled their vehicle but also their lives. You see this family was homeless and slept in their car. Luckily, everyone comes away unhurt when they are checked out at the hospital except for the mother, Lorraine. Although not hurt in the accident, it is found that she has late-stage lymphoma.

Knowing the accident is her own fault, Clara feels the guilt and wants to make things right so without thinking it through, she invites the bewildered Gage family into her own home. This will allow Lorraine, who is presumed to be in her final days, to at least get treatment for her illness. Clara embraces her new life once she gets used to not having her home peaceful and orderly and yet, she is often treated poorly by some of the Gage family members. She adores the children and begins to treat them as her own but before long the father takes her car and leaves town.

Minor characters also play important roles in the story. There is a recently widowed priest who begins to find himself in love with Clara…or is it just that he is seeking solace after his loss? The children’s feelings toward Clara (often known as Clary by now) are varied from defiant with fear of disloyalty to their mother, to one who thinks he feels real love for her. Lorraine feels she owes Clara so much but honestly can’t really feel any gratitude.

GOOD TO A FAULT will have you questioning some of the motives of each of these well written characters especially Clara. Is she really doing this out of a sense of responsibility, or is she somewhat selfish and wants this instant family to fill her lonely life? She relates to baby Pearce as “mine”. But with Marina Endicott’s well drawn characters, you have a good base to relate to each one of the people in this story. She even give the reader a nice ending as all the questions are answered and everything is put in its proper place. I think if you like a good story with well written characters, you will enjoy GOOD TO A FAULT.


GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO KYLE AND GOOD PEOPLE
AT HARPER COLLINS PUBLISHING,
I HAVE 3 COPIES OF THIS WONDERFUL
BOOK TO GIVE AWAY. HERE IS WHAT

YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN A COPY!



--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 SOMETHING INTERESTING YOU FOUND OUT ABOUT MARINA ENDICOTT FROM THE HARPER COLLINS "FUN STUFF" PART OF THEIR WEBSITE HERE.

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

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON HOW YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG OR SUBSCRIBE. IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW YET, YOU CAN BY SUBSCRIBING VIA EMAIL, FOLLOW ON GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT, OR ON FACEBOOK WITH NETWORK IN LEFT HAND COLUMN TODAY..OR ALL THREE! EACH WAY YOU FOLLOW IS A SEPARATE ENTRY AND COMMENT.


GIVEAWAY ENDS
6 PM, EST,
JUNE 6!

GOOD LUCK!

97 comments:

debbie said...

I am a email subscriber.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I learned she likes to read voraciously, so do I. I bet her book is really good.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

bermudaonion said...

I found it interesting that Marina admires Atticus Finch.
milou2ster(at)gmail.com

Margie said...

Facebook fan
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

email subscriber
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

blog follower via GFC
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

The author feels her biggest accomplishment is managing to get a novel finished while raising two children.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

LAMusing said...

She dreams about keeping bees

adrianecoros(at)gmail.com

StephTheBookworm said...

I'm a Google friend connect follower.

stephaniet117 at yahoo dot com

StephTheBookworm said...

If she wasn't a writer, she would be a director!

stephaniet117 at yahoo dot com

traveler said...

I am an e-mail subscriber. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I learned that this author loves the movie Roman Holiday the best of all. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Shannon said...

I follow through Google Reader.
tiredwkids at live dot com

Shannon said...

How can bruises indicate late stage cancer? tiredwkids at live dot com

petite said...

Her main interests are reading and writing which consume her. I enjoyed learning about this unique and special novel. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

I am a email subscriber.

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

I subscribe in Google Reader.-Lisa Richards


alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

follow on FACEBOOK WITH NETWORK-Lisa Ann Richards


alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

tweeted-alterlisa
http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/2010/05/good-to-fault-review-and-giveaway.html

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

Fun stuff from Harper Collins--
MARINA ENDICOTT's LEAST FAVORITE FOOD IS…
kangaroo. okay- yuck

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Nan said...

I subscribe through Google Reader.

vtgoat[at]gmail[dot]com

Nan said...

I love that she likes 30 Rock!

vtgoat[at]gmail[dot]com

Unknown said...

I find the comment about clutter to be interesting....being someone with a lot of clutter myself.

debraldufek AT hotmail DOT com

Pamela Keener said...

If she wasn't a writer she would be a sad and bitter director.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I follow via GFC
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I am a FB fan.
Love 7 Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I subscribe via e-mail.
Love & Hugs, Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Colleen Turner said...

I love that the author's desert island book is an e-reader! Good thinking.
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I am a Facebook friend!
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I am a GFC follower.
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I am an email subscriber.
candc320@gmail.com

Linda Kish said...

GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

She loves 30 Rock and Liz Lemon

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Carol N Wong said...

GFC follower

Carol N Wong said...

Her favorite food is oranges. Can understand that! Somehow we got home from groceries without any.

CarolNWong@aol.com

Team JC said...

I learned if she couldn't have been an author she would have been a sad a bitter director. I would love to read Good to a Fault!!!
poolplayer712 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Team JC said...

I am following via GFC.
poolplayer712 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Team JC said...

I am getting your emails.
poolplayer712 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Unknown said...

I thought this was interesting Because I wouldn't even consider eating this. Strange how cultures are so different
"My least favorite food is…
kangaroo."
chirth7@yahoo.com

Laura said...

Please enter me. I am a follower.
Laura
laura.leahj@gmail.com

Unknown said...

http://twitter.com/Romantic73/status/14704225558

Posted on twitter

chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Posted on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100000641625482&v=wall&story_fbid=119871351386300

chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

posted on stumble: http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/2010/05/good-to-fault-review-and-giveaway.html

chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I follow thru facebook network

chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I follow GFC

chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I subscribe via email

chirth7@yahoo.com

Angie said...

I am a GFC follower as well as an email subscriber

aksimmo at brainerd dot net

Angie said...

I just saw this in Barnes & Noble yesterday and thought it looked awesome!
I was interested to see she's a hockey freak too- although the Oilers are one of The Minnesota Wild's rivals!

aksimmo at brainerd dot net

Anonymous said...

I am GFC follower MelanieL

peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I think it's interesting that she's even tried kangaroo to know that it's her least favorite food.

peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

Sarah E said...

Something interesting I learned about the author is that her favorite city is Saskatoon.

Please enter me in this giveaway!

saemmerson at yahoo dot com

Sarah E

Sarah E said...

I tweeted:

http://twitter.com/saemmerson/status/15104935765

saemmerson at yahoo dot com

Sarah E

Sarah E said...

I follow via GFC.

saemmerson at yahoo dot com

Sarah E

Sarah E said...

I subscribe via e-mail.

saemmerson at yahoo dot com

Sarah E

Sarah E said...

I follow via Facebook NetworkedBlogs (Sarah Emmerson).

saemmerson at yahoo dot com

Sarah E

Misusedinnocence said...

I love that she has a theatre background. In my experience that makes for the best books. :)

misusedinnocence@aol.com

Arch said...

I found it interesting that Marina Endicott's best quality is her patience and her worst quality is impatience!!!

archanaskorner(at)gmail(dot)com

nfmgirl said...

I follow via Google Connect

nfmgirl At gmail DOT com

nfmgirl said...

She dreams of keeping bees. So do I...

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

Rebecca Orr said...

GFC follower. bekki1820cb at gmail

Rebecca Orr said...

I cracked up when I read this: If I couldn't be a writer, I would be…
a sad and bitter director/dramaturge.
Too funny. :)

bekki8120cb at gmail

Debbie F said...

I follow - GFC

dcf_beth at verizon dot net

Debbie F said...

Her least favorite food is kangaroo? I would think it would be! LOL~!

Please include me! Thanks

dcf_beth at verizon dot net

Colleen Turner said...

+5 swagbucks entry!
thanks,
candc320@gmail.com

Shirley said...

I found her least favorite food interesting and I quite agree with her.
"My least favorite food is…
kangaroo."
shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

I found this funny, because me and my son in law say this about my daughter, lol.
"My worst habit is...
clutter. (My husband answered that one.)"
shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

tweet: http://twitter.com/Grandmamaof10/status/15426013766
shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

FB: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001087052807&v=wall&story_fbid=122625624443686&ref=mf
shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

I SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL
shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

follow ON FACEBOOK NETWORK
shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

FOLLOW ON GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT
shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

+5 for swag bucks

shundelt@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

the most interesting to me was her dreaming about Keeping bee's, This is somethine I could never do. but I say go for it!
christina101092@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

http://twitter.com/Christina101092/status/15443188666

christina101092@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100001144971475&v=wall&story_fbid=109234522456738&ref=mf

christina101092@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Follow VIA EMAIL
christina101092@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I FOLLOW ON GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT

christina101092@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

+5 entries for swag bucks

christina101092@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I follow via FACEBOOK NETWORK

christina101092@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I find it interesting and funny that Ms. Endicott's oldest piece of clothing, a gray Patagonia cardigan is so old its picture was taken in one store. I have a fewpieces of clothing that are really old and super cmfy and I would never throw them out. I love that Ms. Endicott has such clothing too!

Aimala127@gmail.com

Unknown said...

If she couldn't be an author, she would be a director. And her best quality is patience.
azndrmr2 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Email subscriber
azndrmr2 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I follow on GFC.
azndrmr2 at gmail dot com

Elise said...

I subscribe via email also.
caliblue7 at gmail dot com

Elise said...

GFC follower.
caliblue7 at gmail dot com

Elise said...

Marina's favorite quote is what stood out to me. "It'll be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end."
caliblue7 at gmail dot com

Johnny said...

I am an email subscriber.
johnnystruckwash at gmail dot com

Johnny said...

I am a GFC follower.
johnnystruckwash at gmail dot com

Johnny said...

I learned that a perfect day for the author is walking through London in the fog, a swim at Redondo Beach, and dinner at Storm Mountain Lodge in Alberta.
johnnystruckwash at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Her least favorite food is kangaroo. Her favorite is oranges.

dianarod23 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I subscribe via email.

dianarod23 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I subscribe via email.

dianarod23 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I am a follower via GFC.

dianarod23 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

The author's favorite sports team is the Edmonton Oilers.
dakotasky55 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Email subscriber.
dakotasky55 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

GFC follower of your blog.
dakotasky55 at gmail dot com

Margie said...

+5 for swag bucks signup
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

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