PROFESSOR BINGO PRESENTS DAY: KATIE, UP AND DOWN THE HALL-REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

WELCOME TO
BOOKIN' WITH BINGO'S
"PROFESSOR BINGO
PRESENTS DAY"
PART TWO
I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THIS TUESDAY'S
"PROFESSOR BINGO PRESENTS DAY"
CHILDREN/YOUNG ADULT BOOK
SECOND CHOICE IS....
(ALSO GREAT FOR ALL AGES)
GIVEAWAY ENDED
KATIE
UP AND DOWN THE HALL
BY GLENN PLASKIN

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A personal memoir by bestselling author and celebrity journalist Glenn Plaskin, KATIE is a moving story about a man who discovers the true meaning of family after adopting a cocker spaniel puppy. Through the magnetic personality of his mischievous dog, the author soon makes powerful connections with several of his down-the-hall neighbors in a high-rise located in the unique Battery Park City neighborhood of Lower Manhattan. First, Katie trots into the lives of Pearl and Arthur, a warm-hearted elderly couple just a few doors down from Glenn. Later, John, a single Dad, and his rambunctious young son, Ryan, also move in and are seduced by Katie's charms.

All of their lives are profoundly changed as they are transformed from neighbors to friends to family, with Pearl as matriarch. The motherless boy finds a "Granny"; his Dad inherits a mother, Glenn discovers a confidante. Set in New York City, we witness nearly sixteen years of antics and family adventures spanning Hollywood high times, bad health, accidents, blustery winters, even the terrors of 9/11. Through it all, the family clings to each other, sharing a deep bond that give each comfort, support and security.

Based upon a widely-read article in Family Circle, here is an unforgettable story about the love that makes a family-one that transcends the hard realities of time, tragedy, and inevitable loss.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Veteran journalist and celebrity interviewer Glenn Plaskin is the bestselling author of Horowitz: The Biography of Vladimir Horowitz and Turning Point: Pivotal Moments in the Lives of America’s Celebrities. His profiles and columns have appeared in the New York Times, the Daily News, San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Family Circle, US Weekly, Ladies Home Journal, Cosmopolitan, W, and Playboy. His interview subjects have included such figures as Katharine Hepburn, Nancy Reagan, Calvin Klein, Senator Edward Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Leona Helmsley, Barbara Walters, Diane Sawyer, Donald Trump, Al Pacino and Meryl Streep. His TV appearances include The Today Show, Oprah, and Larry King Live. He lives in New York City. Visit the author’s websites at www.glennplaskin.com and www.katiebook.com.

MY REVIEW:

I have been reading so many wonderful memoirs lately and KATIE - UP AND DOWN THE HALL by Glenn Plaskin is no exception. It always helps when setting is New York City where my family comes from and I was born, so that had me right away. Knowing the history of Battery Park City at the southern tip of Manhattan, I can picture Glenn’s apartment building and the view of the Lady in the Harbor, the Statue of Liberty. After Glenn had moved to this area, one of his next objectives was to get a dog.

Enter Katie, a blonde Cocker Spaniel who just happened to be the runt of the litter, and like so many of them, turned out to be probably the smartest of the litter as well. Glenn was a writer who interviewed MANY celebrities including Katherine Hepburn (who Katie is named after), Farrah Fawcett, and the Divine Ms. M, Bette Midler, and often Katie went on those interviews with Glenn. But Katie’s real calling came in making friends in the apartment building. She becomes very close, as does Glenn, to an eighty-year-old couple, Pearl and Arthur, and a single dad, John, and his very active son, Ryan.

When Glenn lost his job, it was Katie and this new found family that pulled Glenn through some trying times and out of depression. Then this intrepid group of strangers had a first hand look as their neighborhood came to resemble a war zone on September 11, 2001. Only Katie could get a smile out of “her” family in those dark days.

Glenn recounts how when Arthur died after being married to Pearl for 59 years, it was Ryan, in particular who came to play a big part in her life. As a grandmother figure to the boy, and mother and close friend to the rest, Pearl was able to go on and the group was even closer. I think Plaskin’s talent is put to the test when there are sad or trying times to be described and he passes with flying colors. He gives his characters the depth that made them as real to me as they are, or were, of course, to him. Katie’s hallway antics and as she ages, her loyalty, are described with humor as well as great tenderness. When Ryan and his dad, John, move away to Paris, it is like losing more family members.

And as it goes, the circle of life finds Katie as her work was more than done and Plaskin’s gentle narrative of Katie’s last few days, is told so beautifully that it will touch your heart like it did mine, I am sure. They had spent almost 15 years together and saying goodbye was so very hard for Glenn as it will be for the reader. Glenn carries on with a purpose, however, as he is remains as caregiver to Pearl until is also gone. You don’t really have to be a dog lover to appreciate the fine writing by Glenn Plaskin because the story is really about the love a family…and what defines a family? In this case, Katie did as she brought together these people who were needed, and came to love and care for each other. KATIE-UP AND DOWN THE HALL is a beautiful tribute to Katie.

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO VALERIE AND MY
FRIENDS AT THE HACHETTE
BOOK GROUP, I HAVE THREE
COPIES OF THIS CHARMING
MEMOIR TO GIVE AWAY!

THE RULES:

--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: READ THE THE REVIEW AND ESPECIALLY WATCH THE LOVELY VIDEO AND COMMENT ON WHY YOU WOULD LIKE TO WIN THIS MEMOIR

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

+1 MORE ENTRY: GO TO THE "KATIE'S" WEBSITE HERE AND CHECK OUT THE GALLERY OF PICTURES AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS TO SEE THERE. COME BACK AND COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING THERE.

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, OCTOBER 5!