Friday, July 30, 2010

Happy 75th Anniversary Penguin & Giveaway!

Today, July 30th marks the official 75th anniversary date for the launch of Penguin Books, and Penguin is going all out to celebrate this summer.

Check out their dedicated anniversary website for more details—but here are some of the highlights of what Penguin is doing this summer:

A bright-orange Penguin Mobile (an adorable mini-cooper with the Penguin logo) is driving to bookstores all over the US to bring some of our bestselling authors to parties in their hometowns, increase awareness of The Nature Conservancy, and promote literacy -- I was lucky enough to see it at BEA last May.

At each event, a set of 75 Penguin Books is donated to a local library or literacy group. Each author is signing the Penguin-mobile as it makes its way across the United States, and the summer’s events will culminate with a party at the New York Public Library in September where Penguin will auction the car with the proceeds going to the New York Public Library.

Penguin is also donating sets of books to numerous U.S. military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Penguin’s founder Allen Lane started the paperback revolution with that little flippant but dignified Penguin (his secretary came up with the name and he sent another colleague off to the zoo to make sketches). One year later, 3 million Penguin paperbacks had been sold. Today, the
Penguin imprint alone has over 4000 books in print. To learn more about their history, see here and here.

Giveaway alert: Penguin has graciously offered to send me two terrific books, and I want to share one of them with you. Here's my issue -- I can't decide which book to keep and which book to share so I'm asking for your help. Just leave a comment telling me which book you'd prefer along with your email address; and if your name is picked, then you win the book of your choice! This contest will be open until August 12th at 11:59 p.m. ET, and I will notify the winner the following day. Open to those of you with U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only. Good luck!

Here are your choices THE LIAR'S CLUB or THE PIANO TEACHER:

Summary: When it was published in 1995, Mary Karr’s The Liars’ Club took the world by storm and raised the art of the memoir to an entirely new level, as well as bringing about a dramatic revival of the form. Karr’s comic childhood in an east Texas oil town brings us characters as darkly hilarious as any of J. D. Salinger’s—a hard-drinking daddy, a sister who can talk down the sheriff at twelve, and an oft-married mother whose accumulated secrets threaten to destroy them all. Now with a new introduction that discusses her memoir’s impact on her family, this unsentimental and profoundly moving account of an apocalyptic childhood is as “funny, lively, and un-put-downable” (USA Today) today as it ever was.

Summary: In the sweeping tradition of The English Patient, Janice Y.K. Lee's debut novel is a tale of love and betrayal set in war-torn Hong Kong. In 1942, Englishman Will Truesdale falls headlong into a passionate relationship with Trudy Liang, a beautiful Eurasian socialite. But their affair is soon threatened by the invasion of the Japanese as World War II overwhelms their part of the world. Ten years later, Claire Pendleton comes to Hong Kong to work as a piano teacher and also begins a fateful affair. As the threads of this spellbinding novel intertwine, impossible choices emerge-between love and safety, courage and survival, the present, and above all, the past.

55 comments:

Steve Capell said...

I would love to read "The Piano Teacher" because the synopsis of this book is intriguing and one that I would choose of the two. Thank you so much for hosting this giveaway.

steven(dot)capell(at)gmail(dot)com

bermudaonion said...

That is a tough decision! I'd like to be entered for The Liar's Club. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

Gerbera Daisy Diaries said...

I was at the pool with friends last night and happend to be discussing Mary Karr -- so that's my vote (and the fact that I have The Piano TEacher already!)
melmccurdyATsbcglobalDOTnet

Karlie said...

I don't usually read memoirs,but The Liar's Club sounds entertaining.

Beth F said...

Shoot! I have them both, so please don't enter me. What a tough decision.

Melissa said...

I read The Liar's Club...wow 7 years ago. It's amazing. You should read it! Like now.

It's the perfect time because her new book Lit is coming out soon and I believe it's a continuation of the first two memoirs that she wrote.

Would love to win the other The Piano Teacher since I've already read the first book (and actually own it as well).

Enjoy!

melissa{at}yabookshelf{dot}com

Melanie said...

I love Penguin books. I enjoy seeing the little orage logo on the spine. I bet the Penguin Mini is adorable. I'd love to read The Piano Teacher.

Linda said...

I would love to read The Piano Teacher. The synopsis sounds interesting, and I love the beautiful cover. Thanks for the giveaway.
lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

rhapsodyinbooks said...

Please enter me for The Piano Teacher.

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Stacie said...

I'm definately interested in The Piano Teacher. Thanks for the giveaway! Staciele(at)netins(dot)net

holdenj said...

I would love to be entered for The Piano Teacher! Thanks!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Booksnyc said...

I would love to read the Piano Teacher - it has been on my wishlist forever!

thanks for offering this giveaway!

booksncity@gmail.com

JHS said...

Definitely The Piano Teacher for me.

JHS
Colloquium

jhsmail at comcast dot net

Sandy Nawrot said...

I can't throw my name in for this one because I've read The Liar's Club (LOVED it) and have The Piano Teacher on my shelves. I think this is what we would call a no-risk proposition!

Meredith said...

Please enter me for The Liar's Club. Unless that's the one you'd rather read! hahaha tough decision!

meredithfl at gmail dot com

Alyce said...

I'd choose The Liar's Club. It sounds like a fun memoir, and I haven't heard of it before this.

akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com

Jo-Jo said...

I've had my eyes on The Piano Teacher for some time now...so that's my pick!
joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I would choose The Piano Teacher. I have heard good things about it.
amandarwest at gmaildotcom

Amused said...

Great giveaway! I would love to win The Liar's Club because I've already read The Piano Teacher and it was awesome so you should read that one :)

amusedbybooks@gmail.com

Ruthie said...

Our book club has already read a few books about WWII (Guernsey & Hotel on Bitter Sweet) so I'm sure they will love 'The Liars Club'...please enter me.

Thanks, ruthiekb72@yahoo.com

Kulot said...

I'd love to read The Liar's Club, please! :)

akosikulot(at)gmail(dot)com

Sandee61 said...

I'd like to be entered in your Penguin anniversary giveaway, and would love to read "The Piano Teacher". Love the cover for it.
I read and enjoyed "The Liar's Club" awhile back. Thank you!

Blessings,
Sandee61

Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com

Benita said...

I'd love to read The Liar's Club.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

traveler said...

I am interested in reading The Liar's CLub. thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Laura said...

I would love to read "The Piano Teacher".

Laura.Adams@ky.gov

Anonymous said...

I would love to read The Piano Teacher because it sounds intriguing. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

petite said...

I would like to read The Liar's Club. Thanks. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

ReferenceQueen said...

I would love the opportunity to read Piano Teacher. It is a possible selection for our book club and I am interested in previewing it. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

I think I have to go with The Liar's Club. WordLily AT gmail DOT com.

Shannon said...

I would love to read The Piano Teacher. Thank you for including me.
tiredwkids at live dot com

katsrus said...

I would like to be entered for the Liar's Club please. Thank you.
Sue B
katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I would like the Piano Teacher.
headlessfowl at jteers dot net

karenk said...

i would enjoy reading 'the piano teacher.' thanks for the chance :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Ruth said...

The Piano Teacher sounds like my kind of story. It gets my vote.

ruthaw_1974@yahoo.com

Simply Stacie said...

The Piano Teacher looks good!

simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

Sandra K321 said...

I would choose the Piano Teacher. The storyline and the setting both make the book sound appealing.
seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

nfmgirl said...

I'd love The Liar's Club! Please count me in. Thank you!

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

I would love to read The Piano Teacher :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com

BookHounds said...

No need to enter me -- I just posted this at win a book for you.

http://winabook.westofmars.com/2010/07/31/penguin-75th-anniversary-giveaway/

ChristyJan said...

I would love to win Mary Karr’s memoir, THE LIAR'S CLUB ~ what a unique and quirky sounding family.

hawkes(at)citlink.net

avisannschild said...

I would love to read The Piano Teacher. Thanks for hosting this giveaway!

Amy said...

I would love to read The Liar's Club! I've already read The Piano Teacher and really enjoyed it!

amymelniczenko AT gmail DOT com

J.T. Oldfield said...

I'd love to win The Liar's Club! Thanks, and thanks to Penguin!

J.T. Oldfield said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
J.T. Oldfield said...

oopsie, forgot my e-mail:

j.t.oldfield[at]gmail.com

Nikki in Niagara said...

I would love to read THE PIANO TEACHER because a tale of betrayal sounds much more exciting to me than one that is funny.

nicolama at cogeco dot ca

Beth said...

I'd love The Liar's Club.

bethsbookreviewblog2 AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I would love to read either book, but I have to say that The Liar's Club sounds interesting
tanyainjville@yahoo.com

Margie said...

I'd love to read The Piano Teacher. Thanks for the giveaway.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Katrina said...

I would love to read the liar's club...it just sounds like a book I would enjoy reading

ykatrina at hotmail dot com

Carol M said...

I would love to win The Liar's Club. It sounds really good!
mittens0831 at aol dot com

Nancye said...

I would love to win "The Liars Club" Thanks for the chance!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Audrey said...

I would love to read The Piano Teacher. Thanks so much for the giveaway!
twigerina[at]hotmail[dot]com

Susan O'Bryant said...

I would pick "The Piano Teacher" ~ Thanks for the giveaway! :)

safoga at gmail dot com

CherylS22 said...

I'd choose "The Piano Teacher". Thanks for the giveaway!
megalon22 at yahoo dot com