Sunday, April 21, 2013

SWIMMING AT NIGHT: A REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED 
SWIMMING AT NIGHT
BY LUCY CLARKE

ABOUT THE BOOK:
People go traveling for two reasons: because they are searching for something, or they are running from something.

Katie’s world is shattered by the news that her headstrong and bohemian younger sister, Mia, has been found dead at the bottom of a cliff in Bali. The authorities say that Mia jumped—that her death was a suicide. 

Although they’d hardly spoken to each other since Mia suddenly left on an around-the-world trip six months earlier, Katie refuses to accept that her sister would have taken her own life. Distraught that they never made peace, Katie leaves her orderly, sheltered life in London behind and embarks on a journey to find out the truth. With only the entries in Mia’s travel journal as her guide, Katie retraces the last few months of her sister’s life and—page by page, country by country—begins to uncover the mystery surrounding her death. . . . 

Weaving together the exotic settings and suspenseful twists of Alex Garland’s The Beach with a powerful tale of familial love in the spirit of Rosamund Lupton’s Sister, Swimming at Night is a fast-paced, accomplished, and gripping debut novel of secrets, loss, and forgiveness. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lucy Clarke has a degree in English Literature. She has worked as a presenter of social enterprise events and a creative writing workshop leader. Lucy is now a full-time novelist. She and her husband, a professional windsurfer, spend their winters traveling and their summers at their home on the south coast of England. Visit Lucy-Clarke.com
Some interesting facts about the author
 from Simon & Schuster Publishing
  • What is your birthdate?:  8/7
  • Previous occupations:  I worked as a presenter of events for students, teaching them about social enterprise and environmental awareness.
  • Favorite job:  Being a full-time novelist. Nothing can beat that for me.
    High school and/or college:  I went to school in Bournemouth, which is on the south coast of England, a couple of hours from London.
  • Name of your favorite composer or music artist?:  Beastie Boys
  • Favorite movie:  I'm torn between Dirty Dancing and The Goonies
    Favorite television show: Right now it's New Girl - but this changes almost weekly!
    Read more about Lucy Clarke in this section of Simon & Schuster by going HERE.
MY THOUGHTS/REVIEW:
Lucy Clarke's SWIMMING AT NIGHT is a compellingly engrossing story in which the relationship of two sisters is the theme. The two sisters, Katie, the eldest by three years, and Mia seemed to be almost complete opposites. Katie is the stable and dependable one, while Mia is the openly fearless one. However, like so many sisters, they share their love regardless of their differences and any difficulties they had. The main problem apparently was when their mother was dying and Mia decided to take off with her best friend Finn on an undetermined journey.

As SWIMMING AT NIGHT opens, Katie is informed that Mia has died in Bali. The death was ruled a suicide that even included two eyewitnesses. Evidently, Mia jumped off a cliff into the water below. Katie is shocked but just can’t believe that Mia committed suicide. In a truly uncharacteristic move for Katie, she takes Mia’s journal and drops everything to set out in search of answers. With the help of this journal, which was returned with Mia’s belongings, Katie plans to retrace her sister’s trip to find the truth about her sister’s death. With each sister narrating alternating chapters, readers learn about the girls growing up and the relationship they had with each other as well as with adults. The journal uncovers Mia’s low self-esteem and the cause of her often rebellious nature, while it also provides a guide for Katie to follow in her search.

With Lucy Clarke’s well developed characters and her alternating view points, SWIMMING AT NIGHT moves quickly and grabs the reader from the start. I felt like I knew the characters right away and was eager to find out the truth along with Katie. An enjoyable read with just enough secrets withheld until the end.  
GIVEAWAY
THANKS TO JESSICA AND THE GOOD FOLKS
AT SIMON & SCHUSTER, I HAVE A COPY OF
SWIMMING AT NIGHT TO GIVE AWAY
   
--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS IN COMMENT
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE IN
 

ORDER TO COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE ENTRY

 
HOW TO ENTER:
+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT SWIMMING AT NIGHT THAT WOULD MAKE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS  BOOK 

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


+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FIND INTERESTING WHEN YOU VISIT LUCY CLARKE'S WEBSITE HERE 

 +1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE OTHER CURRENT GIVEAWAY YOU HAVE ENTERED ON MY BLOG. IF YOU ENTERED MORE THAN ONE, YOU CAN COMMENT ON EACH ON SEPARATELY AND GAIN MORE ENTRIES THAT WAY 

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY, YOU CAN COMMENT SEPARATELY AND EACH WILL COUNT AS AN ENTRY
 
GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
 6 PM, EST, MAY 4
  GOOD LUCK!

102 comments:

debbie said...

This sounds like a good mystery. I would like to see what happened with her sister.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I am a gfc follower
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

bermudaonion said...

I love books about sisters so I'd like to read this! milou2ster(at)gmail.com

bermudaonion said...

I subscribe to your blog via RSS feed. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

Steve Capell said...

I've read other novels where every other chapter the protagonist changes and have found this format to flow well, but more importantly I now want to know what is in that journal. GREAT REVIEW! Bingo!

steven.capell@gmail.com

rubynreba said...

Secrets, loss and forgiveness will make it an interesting book!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

GFC Follower
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

+5 April facebook
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

+5 April facebook 3
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

+5 April facebook 4
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

+5 April facebook 5
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

This book sounds so interesting. I would love to learn what really happened to Mia
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Carol N Wong said...

I really like that the book holds your attention and is fast moving. Just reading about her sister jumping off a cliff makes me doubt that it was a suicide. This one is going on my wish list.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I tweeted:

http://t.co/qAXTXd5bGn

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

On her website, I read more about the author. She loves to travel. I do too! This fact would really add a lot of authenicity a passion for discovery to her writing.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for 'Oak and Dagger'.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for 'Prophet of Bones'.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for 'That Old Flame of Mine".


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for 'The Smart One'.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for "That Night on Thistle Lane".


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for 'Under Currents'.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for 'Malled to Death'.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for 'No Way Back".


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for 'Going, Going Ganache'.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Carol N Wong said...

I follow your blog with an e-mail subscription.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow your blog with Networked Blogs.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow your blog with Twitter.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow your blog with google Friends Connect.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

+5 April FACEBOOK BONUS (1)

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

+5 April FACEBOOK BONUS (2)

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

+5 April FACEBOOK BONUS (3)

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

+5 April FACEBOOK BONUS (4)

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

+5 April FACEBOOK BONUS (5)

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Unknown said...

I would love to find out really what happened to her sister. This sounds like a good mystery. Please enter me in contest. I am a follower and email subscriber. Tore923@aol.com

Linda Kish said...

I like that she stepped up and took off to find out what happened to her sister instead of accepting what she was told. Now I want to find out too.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

She said the idea for her story came from her "fascination with travel journals."

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am an RSS subscriber

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am an email subscriber

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

+5 April facebook

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

+5 April facebook
3
lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

+5 April facebook
5
lkish77123 at gmail dot com

traveler said...

A good mystery. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Prophet of Bones. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered That old Flame of mine. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Malled to death. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered No Way back. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered The Smart one. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Stallion by Starlight.saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered The Abundance. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered That night on Thistle lane. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Beach House. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Going,going, ganache. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Margie said...

This sounds like a very interesting family drama and mystery. Thanks or the giveaway.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

The author is married to a professional windsurfer.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

traveler said...

The author has a degree in English Literature. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Margie said...

FB 1
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

FB 2
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

FB 3
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

FB 4
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

FB 5
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

email subscriber
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

GFC follower
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

GFC follower
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Networked Blogs follower
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Facebook fan
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

RSS feed Google Reader
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

entered Prophet of Bones
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

entered Thistle Lane
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

entered The Abundance
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

entered When Summer Comes
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

petite said...

Fascinating and compelling. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I am a follower. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered Oak and Dagger. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered The Smart One. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered Prophet of Bones. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered That old flame of mine. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered Prophet of Bones. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered malled to death. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered Thistle lane. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered beach House. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered Cross Currents. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered No Way Back. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered the Abundance. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Entered Stallion by Starlight. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

The author travels and is creative. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

Sue Farrell said...

I want to travel with Kate to discover the truth about Mia.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I am an email subscriber.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I follow on twitter as @Suekey12.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I follow on Networked Blogs as Suzan Morrow Farrell.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I follow on GFC as Suekey.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I follow on facebook as Suzan Morrow Farrell.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I entered When Summer Comes.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I entered Going, Going, Ganache.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I entered Oak and Dagger.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I entered The Smart One.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I entered Prophet of Bones.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I entered Stallion by Starlight.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I entered Beach House No. 9
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I entered The Abundance.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I entered No Way Back.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Margie said...

entered Heading Out to Wonderful
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

CLICK HERE TO
SEE MY POLICY