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GIVEAWAY ENDED LET'S TAKE THE
LONG WAY HOME
A Memoir of Friendship
BY GAIL CALDWELL
ABOUT THE BOOK:
“It’s an old, old story: I had a friend and we shared everything, and then she died and so we shared that, too.”
So begins this gorgeous memoir by Pulitzer Prize winner Gail Caldwell, a testament to the power of friendship, a story of how an extraordinary bond between two women can illuminate the loneliest, funniest, hardest moments in life, including the final and ultimate challenge.
They met over their dogs. Both writers, Gail Caldwell and Caroline Knapp, author of Drinking: A Love Story, became best friends, talking about everything from their shared history of a struggle with alcohol, to their relationships with men and colleagues, to their love of books. They walked the woods of New England and rowed on the Charles River, and the miles they logged on land and water became a measure of the interior ground they covered. From disparate backgrounds but with striking emotional similarities, these two private, fiercely self-reliant women created an attachment more profound than either of them could ever have foreseen.
The friendship helped them define the ordinary moments of life as the ones worth cherishing. Then, several years into this remarkable connection, Knapp was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.
With her signature exquisite prose, Caldwell mines the deepest levels of devotion and grief in this moving memoir about treasuring and losing a best friend. Let’s Take the Long Way Home is a celebration of life and of the transformations that come from intimate connection—and it affirms, once again, why Gail Caldwell is recognized as one of our bravest and most honest literary voices.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Gail Caldwell is the former chief book critic for The Boston Globe, where she was a staff writer and critic for more than twenty years. In 2001, she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. She is also the author of A Strong West Wind, a memoir of her native Texas. Caldwell lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ABOUT MY REVIEW:
Watch for my review coming soon (since I just got the book). It will link you to this post and also provide Bonus Entry Chances to help you win one of the giveaway copies. I am SO EXCITED to read this book and hope you are as well. Good luck!
GIVEAWAY
+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE A LINK I CAN FOLLOW IN THE ENTRY
GIVEAWAY ENDS
6 PM, EST, SEPTEMBER 25!GOOD LUCK!
THANKS TO DEBORAH AND GOOD PEOPLE
AT RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHING,
I HAVE 5 COPIES OF THIS BEST SELLING
NEW BOOK TO GIVE AWAY. HERE IS WHAT
YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN A COPY!
AT RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHING,
I HAVE 5 COPIES OF THIS BEST SELLING
NEW BOOK TO GIVE AWAY. HERE IS WHAT
YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN A COPY!
--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:
--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 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 THINK BOOK CLUBS MIGHT FIND INTERESTING TO DISCUSS BY LOOKING OVER THE READER'S GUIDE QUESTIONS ON THE RANDOM HOUSE WEBSITE HERE
6 PM, EST, SEPTEMBER 25!
60 comments:
I found it interesting that Gail and Caroline met over their dogs. As a dog lover, that makes me want to read the book. milou2ster(at)gmail.com
It sounds like there's a lot for book clubs to discuss - friendship, relationships, addictions, etc. milou2ster(at)gmail.com
This emotional and beautiful book about life, loss and grief resounds with me. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
A great book with profound discussions about life, meaningful relationships and dreams. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
A friendship that transcends everything and is meaningful. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com
Clubs would discuss the depth of life, death and its effect upon the one left. Happiness and sadness. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com
Any one that can be awarded Pulitzer Prize has to be a good writer and with over twenty years writing about other writers I am sure she has seen the best and the worse. I would love to read this book and I thank you for hosting this contest.
steven(dot)capell(at)gmail(dot)com
I liked how the two best friends met over their dogs:)
foxchick0323@live.com
I tweeted!
http://twitter.com/Happymama82
foxchick0323@live.com
I think they could discuss all that goes with life,death and friendship.
foxchick0323@live.com
Hi! I thought it was neat that the two ladies met because of their dogs and eventually formed a long friendship. :)
aliasgirl1976@yahoo.com
It sounds like a very emotional book. I would love to read this one! Thanks for the chance!
poolplayer712 (at) yahoo (dot) com
I think this book about the special friendship between women sounds intriguing. I especially enjoy memoirs, although this doesn't seem like a memoir in the strict sense.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
From the reading guide....
I think the game of assigning a dog breed to people would be a lot of fun, especially for a reading group.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
Their dogs introduced them but they found more similarities to advance their friendship. Dogs and friend spell out my cuppa tea.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net
I like the first readers question.
Why is it a Memoir of Friendship & not just a memoir. W/o reading the book I think it defines the premise of the book. Friendship is a two way street.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net
Wow, I would love to read this because I have a really special best friend and this book sounds sooo beautiful and touching.
stephaniet117 at yahoo dot com
To discuss with a reading group, I am really intrigued by question 6 about grief.
I would love to read this as some of my most favorite books have been about the friendship between women!
heatheranne99 at gmail dot com
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/ScoomerBlog/status/23991084135
heatheranne99 at gmail dot com
I think bookclubs could discuss the impact the women in our lives make on us. Our feelings toward ourselves and others around us. A sense of camaraderie, as we all experience mostly similar events throughout life.
heatheranne99 at gmail dot com
I found it interesting that they met because of their dogs, but their friendship evolved over the years.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
This is an author that I can not believe, after looking over the amount of books he's written, that I don't think I've actually read. WooHoo! I love it. The only think better than a debut author that I love is finding one that has oodles of books that may be unread.
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alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/alterlisa/status/24006341560
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alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com
I'd like to read this book because it sounds like the women had an incredible bond of friendship that not many people are fortunate enough to ever have.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
I find the fact that he has so many children's books as exciting as the mystery series for adults.
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alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com
One interesting thing to discuss would be this: What they never tell you about grief is that missing someone is the simple part.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
This book sounds so powerful and heart-wrenching, who wouldn't want to read it? I think all of us has had or hoped to have a friend like this, and the ultimate test of that is death (or helping your friend towards that). I would love this!
candc320@gmail.com
I went to the readers guide and I loved the quote one of the questions highlighted: "Finding Caroline was like placing a personal ad for an imaginary friend, then having her show up at your door funnier and better than you had conceived.” This would definitely open up discussion for a book group. Have they ever experienced that? Is it good to let someone into your life that you feel that strongly for, with the chance they might leave?
candc320@gmail.com
+ 5 swagbucks!
candc320@gmail.com
I love books that delve into relationships. This was first and foremost about a great friendship. Looks like a great memoir.
Please enter me in the giveaway.
justpeachy36@yahoo.com
Sounds like a terrific book about best friends. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
I think that it is rare that friends can be together at death.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
Instead of a regular memoir, this is a story of a relationship that that worked even though the women were very different. Also, why do some friendship go deep and others remain superficial would be a good question for a book club.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
I wrote a comment and my computer said that I had some kind of error so here's trying again.
The book club may want to tink about what is it that determines who become our closest friends separate from those friendships that
are only on the superfical level.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
That first line of the book makes a tug on my heart that means I would truly love to read this book.
It's hard to find life friendships like that very often.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
I think any book club, especially full of female friends, would spend a lot of time and maybe tears discussing any and all!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
I would enjoy reading this book about lifetime friendship between the women
tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
It sounds like a truly wonderful friendship. My sister and I had that until she died in a plane crash at 32.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I would love to read Let's Take The Long Way Home about treasuring and losing a best friend because I also lost a best friend that was so very special to me. We shared everything and had so many wonderful years together.
rbooth43(at0yahoo(dot)com
I WANT this book. First I love memoirs. Second I read Drinking: A Love Story for one of my forensic psychology courses and really enjoyed it. Third-I work with recovering addicts. Need I say more.
hmhenderson AT yahoo DOT com
A book club could have a long discussion answering this question from the guide: "What they never tell you about grief is that missing someone is the simple part.” What do you think Caldwell means by this?
hmhenderson AT yahoo DOT com
I love the first sentence, it really draws you into the book!
allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com
I think that the dog breed question is funny.
allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com
To me there's nothing better than reading a story of great friendship. Even though there is a sad ending, I'd love to read it.
seriousreader at live dot com
I tweeted this giveaway.
http://twitter.com/BookOwner/status/25059504553
seriousreader at live dot com
I think the questions ask in the reader's guide would make you delve more deeply into the meaning of life and friendship.
seriousreader at live dot com
I would enjoy reading this story about two women with a very deep friendship.
avennett AT verizon DOT net
I think book groups would find it interesting to discuss the Readers' Guide question about the similarities and differences of these women.
I love that these women met because of or over their dogs and then developed the strongest of friendships. It's more difficult to meet and make a good friend when you are older and busy with life, a career, family, many responsibilities. But these women did and they clicked. That's why I would love to read this book and win it.
Aimala127 AT gmail DOT com
I think book clubs will find it interesting to discuss the similarity and differences between the women and whether their bond was weaker or stronger because of these similarities or differences.
Aimala127 AT gmail DOT com
My familiarity with the geographical area which is the setting of this memoir adds to my interest in reading this book.
wolfcarol451(at)gmail(dot)com
There is so much food for thought among the Readers' Guide questions, but I know a discussion of women's female relationships and friendships would offer much to share.
wolfcarol451(at)gmail(dot)com
Wow! This book sounds amazing! I bet it was excrutiating to was her best friend suffer. I would be beside myself if this were my best friend suffering and I. We have been best friends for 33 years, since 2nd grade. I know I will need a box of tissues for this one!
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
Twee! Tweet!
@NancyeDavis
http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/25441724520
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
I think that question #2 would be interesting for book clubs to discuss because most people can relate to their relationships with their friends. I think this question will open up an interesting conversation.
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
The author lives in the same state as me! (:
blissfulrains(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love a good book that makes me cry!! Thanks!
poolplayer712 at yahoo dot com
WOW!! What a memoir!! I am a big reader of memoirs and I would LOVE to add this to my collection. A beautiful friendship with a sad ending.
sharon54220@gmail.com
12.
Loss is at the center of the book —we know from the first several pages that Caroline will die —and Caldwell writes about the new world without Caroline in it, where she experienced rage and despair and “the violence of time itself.” Does her description of grief mirror any of your own experiences
All of the questions are really good, but the above is my choice.
sharon54220@gmail.com
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