Tuesday, June 28, 2011

THE ART OF SAYING GOOBYE: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
THE ART OF SAYING GOODBYE
BY ELLYN BACHE

ABOUT THE BOOK:
She was the thread that wove their tapestry together.

With a group of women as diverse as the ladies from Brightwood Trace, you might not think them to be close. There's Julianne, a nurse with an unsettling psychic ability that allows her to literally feel what her patients feel, Andrea, a strong fortress sheltering a faltering core, Ginger, a mother torn between being a stay-at-home mom or following her career aspirations, and Iona, the oldest, whose feisty, no-nonsense attitude disarms even toughest of the tough. Not exactly the ingredients for the most cohesive cocktail . . . Until you add Paisley, the liveliest and friendliest of the clan, who breathed life into them all.

But when their glowing leader falls ill with cancer, it's up to these women to do what Paisely has done for them since the beginning: lift her up. Overcoming and accepting the inevitability of loss, the women draw closer than ever; finding together the strength to embrace and cherish their lives with acceptance, gratitude and most importantly, love. Finally living with the vigor that Paisely has shown them from the start, they are able to see their lives in a new light, while learning to say goodbye to the brightest star they've ever known. Over the course of just three months, these four women will undergo a magnificent transformation that leaves nobody unchanged.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ellyn Bache is the award-winning author of nearly a dozen books of fiction, including a short story collection that won the Willa Cather Fiction Prize and nine novels, including Safe Passage, that was made into a film starring Susan Sarandon, and The Art of Saying Goodbye. A native of Washington, DC who has spent most of her adult life in the Southeast, she currently divides her time between the Carolinas and Pennsylvania. Read more about Ellyn Bache's life at here website "Bio" HERE. Also, while at Ellyn's site, check out the short audio description at the bottom of the page about this book HERE--I loved it! Photo by Gary Wells.

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK:
Grief, friendship, marriage, love and uncertainty—it’s all here—portrayed quietly and convincingly, without being over done. ...[A] glimpse into the lives of this intertwined group of women and their everlasting, complicated friendships—which is how a book about women and their complicated friendships should be.
— New York Journal of Books
 “A moving, gratifying, and inspiring reminder to live life to its fullest and demonstrate love in every possible way to friends and family.— Publishers Weekly  “Sweet, profound, sweeping in its themes yet detailed in its nuances, Bache’s latest explores the layers of friendship involved in facing serious illness and buried secrets.— Booklist
The secrets revealed and the emotions exposed make this a compelling read.— Charlotte Observe  “A beautiful story of friendship in the face of tragedy.— Fresh Fiction  A deeply felt and beautiful story that portrays what friends can mean to each other in ways that are difficult to articulate.  Bache has done so here in perfect pitch. Bravo!”Dorothea Benton Frank, bestselling author of “Sullivan’s Island” and “Folly Beach”
MY THOUGHTS/REVIEW:
It is easy to understand why Ellyn Bache is an award winning author just by reading THE ART OF SAYING GOODBYE. This is the first, but not the last, of her novels I have read and I was not prepared for what I discovered. I thought as I read the synopsis and cover that I was in for another sad book about someone dying of cancer and how it affects all those around her. To say it isn’t would be a lie, but to describe it as only that is so wrong. You see, this story is more, so much more than that.

With THE ART OF SAYING GOODBYE, Ellyn Bache has focused her writing on the friendship among five very different women who are drawn together by one common bond; not the cancer, but rather by one woman, Paisley Lamm. Paisley does have cancer and the book centers around the last three months of her life and how each person in this elite group will be touched and changed forever during this time. Paisley is the member of the group who is always there for everyone and is as zany as she is kind. A pretty mother of two daughters with a supportive and loving husband in Mason, Paisley is the core of this group or as described in the book, the “thread” that holds them all together.  

Bache cleverly divides the story into chapters where each chapter deals with one of the five women. When she writes about one of the women other than Paisley, Bache writes in the third person and details the interpersonal relationship that the character had with Paisley. How they care for each other and how Paisley helps them to see their way clear through life’s challenges, helps to personify each woman so you see and feel for that character, showing how different they all are. However, when the chapters switch to Paisley, the point of view is in the first person as Paisley herself will flash back to a time in her life when she was helped by her friends, often without their even knowing it.

The other women, who I am sure you are more than ready to meet, are Julianne who is a nurse practitioner. She is also the one who first “found” Paisley’s cancer. With some kind of psychic touch she only has experienced once before, Julianne knows right away when Paisley is in her office, that something dreadful is wrong. Learning to cope with this “gift” is a very difficult thing for Julianne. Paisley’s disease is not just happening to her, but Julianne also feels such an emotional part of it herself, and Paisley helps her to be able to deal with this.

Andrea is Paisley’s closest friend. She spends almost every day with her and is determined for Paisley to not face this alone as she recalls how Paisley helped her to get through a similar situation and the secrets they share are those of the closest of friends. It is quite painful for Andrea, but I had great respect for her outward strength through it all. 

The last two of the five friends are Ginger, who is now running a business inherited from her father-in-law that Paisley helped her to find her place in. With what was a difficult situation, Ginger came out on top thanks to Paisley’s advice on how Ginger could find herself and at the same time give her husband back his life and dreams. Finally, Iona, the oldest, is a widow with spunk who never remarried and somewhat over the years is the rock they could all depend on. She doesn’t shy away from playing the part of the sage as she gives out advice and doesn’t mind telling it like it is. But, Iona needs to find herself and Paisley again plays into that. It is something Iona never realized was there all the time but she never would have known it without Paisley’s inspiration and help.

While Paisley does all these things, the cancer brings to the forefront its ugly reality. All the people in her neighborhood hang white ribbons around their trees to show their support but as so often happens, shy away from physically coming to see Paisley. This is the thing she misses most and can’t understand why it is so hard to come see her just because they know she is dying. It takes them finally facing the awful reality and coming on their own terms before they can visit once again. However, once they do, Paisley puts them at ease and although each person reacts differently, none regret going.

They are forever changed by not only how she lived her life, but in the goodness and blessing Paisley continues to show even in her illness. These women realize finally that once Paisley is gone, that she will have left them physically but never be far from their hearts. With Julianne, Andrea, Ginger, and Iona, Paisley asks each to make a promise to her. She whispers it in their ear and all promise they will keep their vow to her. What are those promises? Perhaps, they are THE ART OF SAYING GOODBYE! You will find out when you read Ellen Bache’s wonderful new book.
GIVEAWAY 
THANKS TO MEGAN AND THE GOOD FOLKS 
AT HARPER COLLINS, I HAVE ONE COPY
OF THIS WONDERFUL BOOK BY ELLYN BACHE,
THE ART OF SAYING GOODBYE, TO GIVE AWAY
--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 YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOVE THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THE ART OF SAYING GOODBYE

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

+1 MORE ENTRY: VISIT ELLYN BACHE'S WEBSITE HERE AND COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU ENJOYED OR FOUND INTERESTING AT HER SITE

+1 MORE ENTRY(or more?): COMMENT ON ONE WAY THAT YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY,  YOU MAY ENTER EACH WAY BUT YOU MUST COMMENT ON EACH SEPARATELY. NOTE: FOR +2 MORE ENTRIES, ENTER MY HOW TO EAT A SMALL COUNTRY  GIVEAWAY AND YOU CAN EARN +2 MORE ENTRIES JUST BY COMMENTING YOU DID IT TWICE!

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, JULY 16
GOOD LUCK!

120 comments:

debbie said...

This sounds like a very good book, and you really liked it. I do like stories about true friendships, and sometimes, it takes something like cancer, to make us appreciate them.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I am a email subscriber.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I am a gfc follower
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I entered how to eat a small country.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

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Pat L. said...

I love books about friendships and an occasional tearjerker which I am sure this will be.

patoct@yahoo.com

Pat L. said...

I entered how to Eat a Small Country.

patoctatyahoodotcom

Pat L. said...

patoct at yahoo dot com

Ellyn's story, Safe Passage was made into a movie with Susan Sarandon and Sam Shepard.

Tea said...

I would luv to win THE ART OF SAYING GOODBYE. That the author uses a brief three month span to tell about this dying woman's life or parts of it amazes me.

teakettle58(at)yahoo(dot)com

Tea said...

I tweeted about the giveaway at http://twitter.com/topazshell5/

Tea said...

I listened to the audio excerpt. It totally moved me. I cried. The sick woman doesn't live as an ill woman but as she was at an earlier time, a stronger woman. That's so powerful.

Tea said...

This is one of my favorite blogs. So, I follow you in any way possible.

1. email
2. Facebook
3. RSS
4. Twitter
5. Networked blogs

I entered HOW TO EAT A SMALL WORLD. Would luv to read it too.

Carol N Wong said...

This sounds like a very inspiring book. I like the idea of a group of women learing from their leader who has cancer.



CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

This sounds like a very inspiring book. I like the idea of a group of women learing from their leader who has cancer.



CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

traveler said...

This book would be memorable since it involves wonderful women and their friendships as well as the devastating illness. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered How To Eat a Small Country. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

Ellyn Bache started writing after her children were born. She wanted some adult activity to do while the children had their naps.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered How To Eat a Small Country. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

Ellyn Bache began her writing career after her children were born and she is talented and creative. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

My Twitter name is Carolee888 and I tweeted:

http://t.co/zPoS5EBGiveaway of 'The Art of Saying Goodbye'


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow you blog with an e-mail subscription.


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Carol N Wong said...

I follow you blog with Facebook.


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Carol N Wong said...

I follow you blog with Networked Blogs.


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petite said...

I enjoy books that are meaningful and have depth and this one sounds like it is special. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

Margie said...

This sounds like a very powerful and inspirational book. Thanks for the giveaway.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow you blog with Twitter.


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Carol N Wong said...

I follow you blog with Google Friends Connect.


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Margie said...

The author's first book Safe Passage was made into a movie.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

+5 Swag
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

petite said...

I entered How To Eat a Small Country. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I entered How To Eat a Small Country. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

Margie said...

follower via GFC
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Margie said...

follower by Networked Blogs
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Margie said...

June Facebook Fan Bonus entry 1
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petite said...

The author's book Safe Passage was made into a movie. Her writing is unique. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

Margie said...

June Facebook Fan Bonus entry 4mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

June Facebook Fan Bonus entry 5
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Margie said...

entered How to Eat a Small Country
entry 1
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Margie said...

entered How to Eat a Small Country
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Unknown said...

This sounds like a wonderful read. Please enter me in contest. I would really like to read this book. I am a follower and email subscriber. Tore923@aol.com

Sassy said...

I love books about friendship. This sounds like a really great book.

sassysasha817 at gmail dot com

Colleen Turner said...

wow, this sounds incredibly heartbreaking AND life confirming. Sometimes it takes someone else getting sick or dying to remember that it could be you and you should really live while you can. Thanks for the giveaway!
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I am a GFC follower (Colleen Turner).
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Colleen Turner said...

I am a Networked Blogs follower (Colleen Turner).
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Colleen Turner said...

I follow on Facebook (Colleen Turner).
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Colleen Turner said...

I follow on Goodreads (Colleen Turner).
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Colleen Turner said...

+5 swagbucks #4.
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Colleen Turner said...

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Colleen Turner said...

June Facebook fan bonus #1.
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Colleen Turner said...

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Colleen Turner said...

I learned from the author's website that one of her novels (Safe Passage) was made into a Susan Sarandon movie! I don't remember seeing this movie but I do love Susan Sarandon, so I will have to check it out!
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I entered the How To Eat A Small Country giveaway #1.
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Colleen Turner said...

I entered the How To Eat A Small Country giveaway #2.
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Connie said...

Hi!I want to read this book because of the friendships between the women. I have a feeling this book will be a tear jerker for me but I still want to read it. Thank you for the great review. :)

aliasgirl1976@yahoo.com

Connie said...

I am a loyal GFC follower. :)

aliasgirl1976@yahoo.com

ann said...

I entered the how to eat a small country giveaway



amhengstATverizonDOTnet

ann said...

i entered the giveaway how to eat a small country




amhengstATverizonDOTnet

ann said...

I subscribe by email


amhengstATverizonDOTnet

ann said...

I find that Ellyn Bache's novel “Safe Passage,” became a Susan Sarandon film.


amhengstATverizonDOTnet

holdenj said...

The first part of your review makes me want to read this. That it's not just another cancer book, but really about the character, not the disease.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I am an email subscriber.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I am a GFC follower.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I subscribe via RSS feed.
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holdenj said...

I entered How to eat a Small Country.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I entered How to eat a Small Country.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

bison61 said...

sounds like a great book about women and their friendships

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

lag123 said...

I would like to win this because I love to read books about the tapestry of friendship. I have had my best friend for45 years.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

Tweeted: Lisa Holmes Garrett

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

Her first book was Safe Passage.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I subscribe via google reader.

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lag123 said...

I follow via GFC.

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lag123 said...

I follow on twitter. @lag32583

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lag123 said...

I follow on FB: Lisa Holmes Garrett

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mamabunny13 said...

I thought that the character of the nurse that has the psychic ability to literally feel what her patients feels is interesting.
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

#1 I entered HOW TO EAT A SMALL COUNTRY giveaway.
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mamabunny13 said...

#2 I entered HOW TO EAT A SMALL COUNTRY giveaway.
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mamabunny13 said...

I follow via gfc
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email subscriber
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Anonymous said...

lovesthemets@yahoo.com

Stories about friends are always an enjoyable read and I am going to grab this one when I want a good cry.

Linda Kish said...

It doesn't seem like a sad book about cancer but a book about the strength of friendships and how people can rely on each other through tragedy and recovery.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

A couple titles caught my eye on her site...Raspberry Sherbet Kisses and Over 50's Singles Night. The write-ups make them sound fun.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am an email subscriber

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am a GFC follower

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Anonymous said...

So sad...but interesting with Paisley the cockatiel

pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
thanks a bunch

Carol N Wong said...

I sent a friend request to you on Library Thing so I should be following you that way soon.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I sent a friend request to you on Shelfari so I should be following you that way soon.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I sent a friend request to you on GoodReads, so I should be following you that way soon.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Reading said...

Sounds like a great cast of characters. I would love to win this. Thanks for the giveaway.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Reading said...

I follow on GFC

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Reading said...

Entered How to Eat a Small Country giveaway

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Reading said...

ENtered How to Eat a Small Country giveaway

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Misusedinnocence said...

I love the idea of being able to give back to those who have helped you in the past, and this sounds like a truly heartwarming novel, and sounds like it has film potential too. I would love to read it.

misusedinnocence@aol.com

Misusedinnocence said...

I follow on gfc.

misusedinnocence@aol.com

Misusedinnocence said...

I subscribe via email.

misusedinnocence@aol.com

Pamela Keener said...

I love these types of stories about longtime friends.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

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

Pamela Keener said...

I like Bookin w/Bingo on FB
Love & Hugs,
Pam
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Anonymous said...

I love books about women's friendships. I'm so lucky to have great friendships that were established in our book club. It's been so fun to watch relationships develop between women who didn't know each other before the book club started.
SusieQ @ Hinson

Ruth Cox aka abitosunshine said...

WoW! This book hits close to home! I've been a member of a web group of gals for a decade and the host of the group is battling cancer for the second time. She's mothered us all through the years and I've wondered what we'd do without her.

I'd love to win this book!
ruthcox at abitosunshine dot net

Ruth Cox aka abitosunshine said...

I Twitter tweeted this book giveaway: http://twitter.com/#!/abitosunshine/status/91883574998990848
ruthcox at abitosunshine dot net

Ruth Cox aka abitosunshine said...

I visited Bache's site and discovered she lived in Wilmington, Delaware -- I did, too, for a year!
ruthcox at abitosunshine dot net

Ruth Cox aka abitosunshine said...

Ruth Cox aka abitosunshine is a GFC follower!
ruthcox at abitosunshine dot net

Nancye said...

This book sounds incredible! I am eager to read about this close knit group of women that have been together through good time and bad, even though they are all vastly different.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I learned on the author's website that she used to write "under the pen name E.M.J. Benjamin."

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Tweet! Tweet!
@NancyeDavis

http://twitter.com/#!/NancyeDavis/status/92339881749118977

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