ARE YOU LISTENING? AND WE STAY: A REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

WELCOME TO BOOKIN' WITH BINGO'S" 
ARE YOU LISTENING? DAY"  
I AM EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE TODAY'S  
AUDIO BOOK CHOICE.....

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GIVEAWAY ENDED
AND WE STAY
READ BY ERIN SPENCER
 BY JENNY HUBBARD
  

ABOUT THE AUDIO BOOK:
When high school senior Paul Wagoner walks into his school library with a stolen gun, he threatens his girlfriend Emily Beam, then takes his own life. In the wake of the tragedy, an angry and guilt-ridden Emily is shipped off to boarding school in Amherst, Massachusetts, where she encounters a ghostly presence who shares her name. The spirit of Emily Dickinson and two quirky girls offer helping hands, but it is up to Emily to heal her own damaged self.

This inventive story, told in verse and in prose, paints the aftermath of tragedy as a landscape where there is good behind the bad, hope inside the despair, and springtime under the snow.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

JENNY HUBBARD is also a poet and playwright. Her debut novel, Paper Covers Rock, was a William Morris YA Debut Award Finalist.

PRAISE FOR AND WE STAY:
”Teasing out strands of the past and the present, Hubbard masterfully twines together a story of one girl’s journey to self-identity…As graceful as a feather drifting down, this lyrical story delivers a deep journey of healing on a tragic theme.”--Kirkus

“This novel is accomplished, polished, and mixes prose and and poetry to stunning effect…Hubbard’s narrative tone will only make readers want to lean in closer.”--Booklist

“A little gem of a book…Despite the heavy topics, the book feels sweet and poetic and never gratuitous. Budding poets may particularly appreciate Emily’s story, but there is certainly something for anyone looking for a good read with a strong, believable female lead who is working her hardest to overcome tragedy.” -–Jill Heritage Maza, School Library Journal

MY THOUGHTS/REVIEW:
AND WE STAY by Jenny Hubbard was not what I expected but I did find the book to be an interesting read, or listen to. This is a story set in mid-1990's in which Emily Beam and her boyfriend Paul have a complicated relationship that readers find more about from flashbacks throughout the story. I also found that more about the characters is revealed as the story goes on.

When Paul comes into school and shoots himself in front of Emily, his death is the catapult for the following actions taken by, and for, Emily. She is sent to an all girls school in Amherst, Massachusetts and it is there where she connects with her roommate K. T. Through Emily's love of poetry, we learn more about this tragic story. With Emily Dickinson having lived only blocks from the Amherst school, her poetry becomes a huge influence on young Emily. Not wanting to get close to anyone and thus chance more hurt, Emily is content to work her way through her troubles with the poetry and friendship from K T. The flashbacks bring greater understanding to how Emily's relationship with Paul, and even her getting pregnant and dealing with that, came to play such an important role in her life, as well as Paul's. This somewhat odd way of narrating the story and developing the characters may not appeal to all but I found it interesting.

Told from a third person point of view, and with all the flashbacks, there were parts that I felt could have been more satisfying had they been written in a more traditional manner. However, AND WE STAY is a fast read and one I feel worth your time as it does weave a tale that is intriguing and uniquely presented.

GIVEAWAY

 THANKS TO RICHARD AND THE FINE FOLKS AT

RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, I HAVE ONE COPY

OF THIS EXCITING AUDIO BOOK TO 

GIVE AWAY TO ONE LUCKY WINNER!

  

--U.S. 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:

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+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, AUGUST 14

GOOD LUCK!