Monday, September 20, 2010

FREEDOM: PREVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
FREEDOM
BY JONATHAN FRANZEN


ABOUT THE BOOK:

Patty and Walter Berglund were the new pioneers of old St. Paul—the gentrifiers, the hands-on parents, the avant-garde of the Whole Foods generation. Patty was the ideal sort of neighbor, who could tell you where to recycle your batteries and how to get the local cops to actually do their job. She was an enviably perfect mother and the wife of Walter’s dreams. Together with Walter—environmental lawyer, commuter cyclist, total family man—she was doing her small part to build a better world.
But now, in the new millennium, the Berglunds have become a mystery. Why has their teenage son moved in with the aggressively Republican family next door? Why has Walter taken a job working with Big Coal? What exactly is Richard Katz—outré rocker and Walter’s college best friend and rival—still doing in the picture? Most of all, what has happened to Patty? Why has the bright star of Barrier Street become “a very different kind of neighbor,” an implacable Fury coming unhinged before the street’s attentive eyes?
In his first novel since The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen has given us an epic of contemporary love and marriage. Freedom comically and tragically captures the temptations and burdens of liberty: the thrills of teenage lust, the shaken compromises of middle age, the wages of suburban sprawl, the heavy weight of empire. In charting the mistakes and joys of Freedom’s characters as they struggle to learn how to live in an ever more confusing world, Franzen has produced an indelible and deeply moving portrait of our time. You can start reading an excerpt right HERE, thanks to Oprah's Book Club website.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jonathan Franzen was born in Western Springs, Illinois, in 1959, and grew up in Webster Groves, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. After graduating from Swarthmore College in 1981, he studied at the Freie Universität in Berlin as a Fulbright scholar and later worked in a seismology lab at Harvard University's Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. In addition to winning a Whiting Writers' Award in 1988 and the American Academy's Berlin Prize in 2000, he has been named one of "Twenty Writers for the 21st Century" by The New Yorker and one of the "Best Young American Novelists" by Granta.

He is the author of three previous novels: The Corrections, which won the National Book Award and spent 29 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list; The Twenty-Seventh City; and Strong Motion. He is also the author of two works of nonfiction, How to Be Alone and The Discomfort Zone. Jonathan divides his time between New York City and Santa Cruz, California.

CONNECTION TO OPRAH'S BOOK CLUB:

OPRAH'S BOOK CLUB SITE WRITES, "Read Freedom with Oprah's Book Club! The wait is over! Oprah's new book club pick is Freedom by Jonathan Franzen, an epic family saga that has it all—sex, love…even rock 'n' roll!"

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO LIKE TO FOLLOW OPRAH'S BOOK CLUB AND THE DISCUSSION SHE WILL HAVE ON HER SHOW ABOUT THIS BOOK, HERE IS ONE THING YOU CAN DO. IF YOU FOLLOW THE CALENDAR YOU WILL BE READING RIGHT ALONG WITH ALL OF OPRAH'S VIEWERS WHO ARE PART OF HER BOOK CLUB AND BE READY TO "DISCUSS" THE BOOK IN TIME FOR OPRAH'S ON-AIR BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION.

ALSO, IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THE BOOK WITH YOUR OWN BOOK CLUB, HERE ARE SOME DISCUSSION QUESTIONS OPRAH'S BOOK CLUB SUGGESTS, BUT BE CAREFUL OF SOME POSSIBLE SPOILERS WITHIN!

....A PERSONAL NOTE:


I have always had a passion for reading from a very young child but as one who like most of you, tends to put myself last on the list of things to do in our busy lives, I wasn't reading as much for a while until Oprah started her book club. She got me excited about reading again and I began to read not just the books she suggested but started to read more on my own.

Her fourth book choice was Wally Lamb's SHE'S COME UNDONE and it became one of my favorite books of all time. I was so excited about it that I wrote to the show, as you did back then, and one day while the "O Book Club" was in the process of reading the book, I was called by the show to be questioned about possibly being one of the 5-6 people invited to come have dinner with Oprah and the author, Wally Lamb. To be honest when I asked who was calling and they told me they were from the Oprah Show, I laughed and said that I knew it was my friend calling to goof on me. She had to say it three times and then put me on hold for a moment where the music playing was indeed the Oprah theme before I believed her. When she got back on, I answered the questions and she told me they still were in the process of eliminating people but were down to the final 100 out of thousands to be considered for the dinner. I answered to the best of my now shaky and stunned ability, and asked when we would know if we were picked and was told in 5-7 days.

Those next 7 days, I dreamed about going to the Oprah Show, and when I watched the show each day and they did the promo at the end about "Guests of the Oprah Winfrey show stay at the...." I dreamed about how much I would love that hotel and Chicago. I told people at my school where I taught about it and for that week, they would come up and tell me they heard I was going on the show. For me, I WAS going to be on the show as I mean, how could I not be? One of my favorite books? A passionate reader and Reading Teacher? But, alas, the call never came. I watched the lucky chosen group who had dinner with Wally and Oprah as I entertained myself at my own pity party for not being chosen...knowing the chance would never come again.

HOWEVER, I did survive and do credit Oprah, as well as my own book club I belong to, for not only getting me reading again, but getting me to read books I would never have chosen on my own....and loving them. Perhaps some of you will be inspired by this book...or any book for that matter, to make reading a priority and take the time for yourself to enjoy this very special personal time.


GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO THE INSPIRATION
FROM OPRAH CHOOSING FREEDOM,
I DECIDED TO PURCHASE AN EXTRA
COPY ON MY OWN TO GIVE ONE OF
MY LOYAL READERS A CHANCE TO
READ AND MAYBE "JOIN THE CLUB"

HERE IS WHAT TO DO TO GET THAT
CHANCE AND IN CASE YOU WANT TO
JOIN "THE CLUB" THIS WILL BE A
SPEEDY FIVE DAY GIVEAWAY!


--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 WHY YOU WANT TO WIN FREEDOM AND IF YOU MIGHT FOLLOW ALONG WITH OPRAH'S BOOK CLUB

+1 MORE ENTRY:
BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND THEN COME BACK AND LEAVE A LINK

+1 MORE ENTRY:
COMMENT ON EITHER ONE OF THE VIDEOS ABOVE AND WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT IT

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, SEPTEMBER 24
GOOD LUCK!

SPECIAL WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT WILL
BE LATE ON SEPTEMBER 24 SO I CAN HOPEFULLY
PRIORITY MAIL THE BOOK TO YOU THE NEXT DAY
!

51 comments:

bermudaonion said...

Thanks for your generous giveaway. I'd like to be entered to win Freedom because Oprah picked it. Whether you love her choices or not, they make you think and she gets lots of people reading. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

bermudaonion said...

I watched the bottom video and found it interesting that Franzen had a happy high school experience and that his home town was the subject of a controversial documentary. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

traveler said...

An interesting video which introduced the character in the novel and his concerns with children and family. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

This book would be fascinating since it deals with so much of what we ponder daily and the era in which I grew up. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Meredith said...

I think it's sound like a family gone green, then gone their own ways. I'm not sure that I'll follow along with Oprah's book club on it, but would love to read it.

meredithfl at gmail dot com

Steve Capell said...

I already follow Oprah Book club and I have read several of her choices and so far have not found any that I didn't love! In fact my all time favorite book to date ... The Story of Edger Sawtelle I read because of Oprah Book Club! So now I want to read Freedom it truly sounds interesting! Thanks for opportunity.

steven(dot)capell(at)gmail(dot)com

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I want to read this because it has gotten such great reviews!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I thought it was interesting in the video that he thinks books should take you to a "still" place and "the quiet alternative." I never thought of books in that way!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Linda Henderson said...

I would like to read Freedom because it sounds like a good look at life in the Midwest. Since I live in Missouri I've very interested in reading it.

seriousreader at live dot com

Linda Henderson said...

I tweeted this giveaway.
http://twitter.com/BookOwner/status/25058215035

seriousreader at live dot com

Linda Henderson said...

I found it very interesting that his hometown of Webster Grove had been the subject of a documentary putting the town in a bad light. The fact that he had a great high school experience says a lot for himself and his parents. High School can be tough.

seriousreader at live dot com

Unknown said...

I found out that the author is a Fulbright Scholar and that he worked in a seismology lab at Harvard University's Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences.

bookventuresbookclub AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I don't usually follow Oprah's Book Club but i do stop and take notice of the books that she picks. She tends to choose books that have profund messages or are simply just great stories.

holdenj said...

Thanks for such a generous offer. I live in MN and am always interested in how our state is portrayed in novels. Plus, he seems a bit more accomodating of his Oprah status this time around and I would be more likely to follow her discussion as well, if I have the chance! Thanks!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for the giveaway I am excited to read this book and I would follow along with Oprah's book club. I have read several other books that she's chosen and enjoyed all of them.
tanyainjville@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

tweeted
http://twitter.com/starryeyed24/status/25082573923

Linda Kish said...

Franzen's books are interesting. I would love to read it but I am not an Oprah follower (oh, no).

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I would like to win this book because Oprah always picks really good books.
amandarwest at gmaildotcom

Unknown said...

Tweeted http://twitter.com/amandawk/status/25086573481

debbie said...

I would like to read this book. It is always interesting to see how and why people change. I would be following oprah's book club, if I had the book. I really liked the road.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

justpeachy36 said...

I got involved with Oprah's book picks when she chose, Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett and I loved it. Since then shes had picks that I loved, and books I wasn't so interested in. But, I always follow along and I think this one will be great!

Please enter me in the giveaway.

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

justpeachy36 said...

I liked both video's it's always interesting to get the authors take on what they were really going for with a book...

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

+ 5 Swag


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

+ 5 Swag


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I would like to read this book because of all the controversary associated with it. It would be easy for me to follow along with the book club.

I would watch the videos but my computer is too much of a slowpoke for it.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

It would be easy for me to follow along with the book club if I won the book. I am interested in this book because of the controversary that surrounds it.



CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Colleen Turner said...

This book sounds so pertinent for today's society and I have heard such rave reviews for it (and a little negativity regarding this author getting so much press in the New York Times while women authors are not). I would love to follow along with Oprah's book club as I have done that in the past and thought it was fun!
Thanks,
candc320@gmail.com

The Great Catsby said...

Honestly the reason I would love to win this is because I am a super broke college girl who has to buy books in secrete like a junky so my mother doesn't stop giving me money for food! Haha but seriously thanks for having such a great giveaway! Off to tweet about it now!

scauvi1@gmail.com

Alyce said...

I want to win because I've been hearing good things about this book for a while even before Oprah chose it. I don't know about doing the book club - it's not something I've followed before.

akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com

Benben said...

Wonderful book by wonderful author. Someone has already bought it for me, so i don't need the giveaway, but hope everyone else enjoys :)

Unknown said...

I want this just because it looks really good after what I read up top. I had heard about it being an Oprah book club choice and to be honest that actually makes me a bit reluctant to read it but a good book is a good book. I don't have plans to follow along though


giveawaymommy at yahoo.com

LoveMyCoffee said...

I would love to win Freedom. I do usually follow Oprah's Book Club reads. I normally pick my book up within the first week of the announcement, but I haven't done so yet so it would be wonderful to win it.
I've always wanted to be in a book club, and Oprah's is as close as I can get to it.

Dutchlvr1(at)aol(dot)com

rbooth43 said...

I follow Oprah Book club and I have read many of her choices, and she knows how to pick a thought-seeking book. My favorite books to date are Cane River by Lalita Tademy and Gap Creek by Robert Morgan. I want to read Freedom. s Thanks!

rbooth43(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

Thanks for the giveaway. I would like to read this book. That's why I want to win it. But not sure if I would follow Oprah's book club. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

Allison said...

I'd love a copy of this book because eventually I want to read all of Oprah's picks and if I did win I would follow along.

allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

Hi Karen, I've been a bad bloggy friend as I haven't stopped by in quite awhile! I keep missing the deadlines on the giveaways. I promise to be less of a lurker!

I'll admit that I want to read this book largely because of the hype, but also because I'm intrigued that Oprah would pick a book by Franzen again after he dissed her when she picked The Corrections for her book club. I would definitely try to follow along in the book club, if I can fit it in!

Thanks for the giveaway!

truebookaddictATgmailDOTcom

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

tweeted: http://twitter.com/truebookaddict/status/25211147281

truebookaddictATgmailDOTcom

bison61 said...

this book sounds like it deals with problems most families deal with-I'm not sure that I'll follow along with Oprah's book club

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I would love to read this because I already enjoyed Franzen's book The Corrections. I have been hearing a lot about how great this new one is, too. I'm not sure when Oprah's Book Club is starting this book, but I think it would be fun to follow along if I happened to be reading it at the same time.
peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

After watching the first video I thought it was interesting that he said he thinks that a novel is supposed to connect the largest social issues with the smallest, most intimate and difficult human stories.
peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

+5swag chirth7@yahoo.com

Jeff said...

+5swag jeff72768@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

+5swag shundelt@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

https://twitter.com/Romantic73/status/25294757012

chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100000641625482&v=wall&story_fbid=120570621332033&ref=mf

chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/chirth7/review/46037550/

chirth7@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

http://twitter.com/Grandmamaof10/status/25295561232

shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/shundelt45/review/46037888/

shundelt@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I would like to win this book because it has received terrific reviews and I am looking forward to reading it. I really enjoyed "The Correections": and would like to read another work by Franzen.
I won't be following along with Oprah's Book Club but may tune in for some of the discussion.

Aimala127 AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I watched the second video, about Webster Grave and enjoyed it. I think Franzen seems friendly, easy to talk to and fine with discussing his upbringing. I was interested to hear what he had to say about the "incident" with Oprah and his book "The Correction" which I always thought was more of a misunderstanding than anything. So much in life like the documentary about Webster Grove or Franzen's appearance on Oprah goes awry because of poor communication and lack of explanation.

Thank you for providing the videos!

~ Amy
Aimala127 AT gmail DOT com

Jo-Jo said...

I want to read this book because it sounds like it contains everything I love in a book.
I probably won't follow along with Oprah's book club though, but read this one on my own.
joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

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