Contest: A Partial History of Lost Causes

Contest:  A Partial History of Lost Causes by Jennifer Dubois

The publishers have graciously offered to give away one copy of A Partial History of Lost Causes to a BookSnob follower.  This book is deep and meaningful with imaginative writing.  Be sure to read my book review.  A Partial History Review

Here is the synopsis from GoodReads:

“[An] astonishingly beautiful and brainy debut . . . [a] stunning novel.”—O: The Oprah Magazine

“In Jennifer duBois’ gorgeous novel, A Partial History of Lost Causes, the personal, theoretical, and political are braided together into a seamless whole. . . . Moving yet startlingly funny—full of bravado, insight, and clarity. A Partial History of Lost Causes is a thrilling debut by a young writer who evidently shares the uncanny brilliance of her protagonists.”—Elle

In Jennifer duBois’s mesmerizing and exquisitely rendered debut novel, a long-lost letter links two disparate characters, each searching for meaning against seemingly insurmountable odds.

In St. Petersburg, Russia, world chess champion Aleksandr Bezetov begins a quixotic quest. With his renowned Cold War–era tournaments behind him, Aleksandr has turned to politics, launching a dissident presidential campaign against Vladimir Putin. He knows he will not win—and that he is risking his life in the process—but a deeper conviction propels him forward. And in the same way that he cannot abandon his aims, he cannot erase the memory of a mysterious woman he loved in his youth.

In Cambridge, Massachusetts, thirty-year-old English lecturer Irina Ellison is on an improbable quest of her own. Certain she has inherited Huntington’s disease—the same cruel illness that ended her father’s life—she struggles with a sense of purpose. When Irina finds an old, photocopied letter her father had written to the young Aleksandr Bezetov, she makes a fateful decision. Her father had asked the Soviet chess prodigy a profound question—How does one proceed against a lost cause?—but never received an adequate reply. Leaving everything behind, Irina travels to Russia to find Bezetov and get an answer for her father, and for herself.

Spanning two continents and the dramatic sweep of history, A Partial History of Lost Causes reveals the stubbornness and splendor of the human will even in the most trying times. With uncommon perception and wit, Jennifer duBois explores the power of memory, the depths of human courage, and the endurance of love.

RULES:
Leave a comment PLEASE.
U.S. residents only
Ends 3/27 at midnight
Good Luck!

A Partial History of Lost Causes by Jennifer Dubois

A Partial History of Lost Causes by Jennifer Dubois

Life is like a chess game and A Partial History of Lost Causes is the manual on how to live a life doomed to be interrupted by death.  A Partial History of Lost Causes is the story of two unique individuals and their journey through life to a crossroads where their lives intersect.

Alexsandr's character is loosely based on the real life Russian chess champion Garry Kasparov.  Alexsandr is the King of the novel who retires from chess and decides to run a losing campaign against Putin.  He surrounds himself with pawns who support his political game that is ultimately controlled by Vladimir Putin.  Yet he cannot forget the woman he loved in his youth and he is haunted by his friend Ivan's death.

Irina is a thirty something American who is awaiting the onset of Huntington's disease which she inherited from her father.  The Queen of the novel, she escapes to Russia after finding a letter her father wrote to Alexsandr.  Irina is fighting a losing battle against a horrible illness and she is hoping Alexsandr can answer her father's question and thereby help her go on with her life.  She does not know how to live a life that is doomed. 

A Partial History of Lost Causes is one meaty, multi-layered story. The novel gives the reader a lot to learn and discuss.   Alexsandr and Irina are both lost causes and the theme of the story runs throughout the book.  Dubois's writing is beautiful and her descriptions are unique and imaginative. 

 Every once in a awhile a book comes along that takes place in a part of the world that is part of your own personal history.  The history of the book covers an era or a time that you remember being a small part of.  A Partial History of Lost Causes takes place in St Petersburg and Moscow, Russia from 1979 to 2008.  I visited these cities in 1992, right after the fall of Communism and had an amazing, unforgettable experience.   I was able to visit my memories through Aleksandr and Irina's stories.

A Partial History of Lost Causes raises lots of questions about life, death, power, love and courage.  It left me asking the question:  Are we just pawns in someone else's game or are we in control of our destiny?  Words for thought.

Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

Anya is a typical disgruntled teen who happens to be a Russian immigrant.  She is trying to forget who she is and meld into American young adulthood.  One day she skips school and literally falls into a deep dark hole in the ground.  At the bottom of the hole is a skeleton and attached to it is a ghost, who is soon to become Anya's ghost.

Anya is eventually rescued and her ghost hides in her purse, follows her to school, helps her pass exams and is trying to help her find a boyfriend.  Yet, there is a mystery to be solved, who is this girl whose skeleton is at the bottom of a well?  Was she murdered? 

 Anya's Ghost is full of dark humor and it's a little bit spooky.  Youngsters might get a chill as they quickly turn the pages.  They won't be able to resist reading this creative, creepy, comic book.  I couldn't resist and neither could my kids.  All three of us read Anya's Ghost in less than a week. 

Anya's Ghost is a graphic novel and the first book by Brosgol.  If this book is any indication, Brosgol is a going to have a long artistic career in comics.  The artwork is reminiscent of Persepolis, yet entirely unique.  The entire book is done is shades of black and white and muted purple.  It is visually appealing.

Do you believe in ghosts?  Or are you on some sort of hallucinatory methane?  Either way, Anya's Ghost will put some spice in your life.  You need to get this book into your purse!

March by Geraldine Brooks Contest

March by Geraldine Brooks Contest

I actually own two copies of March and so I thought I would give a copy away to my blog followers.  I just finished reading March and I loved it.  I highly recommend this book if you love Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.  If you love historical fiction and are a lover of literature, this is a great book.  March won the Pulitzer Prize in 2006.
Open internationally!

Synopsis from Goodreads: 
From Louisa May Alcott's beloved classic Little Women, Geraldine Brooks has animated the character of the absent father, March, and crafted a story filled with the ache of love and marriage and with the power of war upon the mind and heart of one unforgettable man (Sue Monk Kidd). With "pitch-perfect writing" (USA Today), Brooks follows March as he leaves behind his family to aid the Union cause in the Civil War. His experiences will utterly change his marriage and challenge his most ardently held beliefs. A lushly written, wholly original tale steeped in the details of another time, March secures Geraldine Brooks's place as a renowned author of historical fiction.

"A very great book... It breathes new life into the historical fiction genre [and] honors the best of the imagination." Chicago Tribune
"A beautifully wrought story about how war dashes ideals, unhinges moral certainties and drives a wedge of bitter experience and unspeakable memories between husband and wife." Los Angeles Times Book Review
"Inspired... A disturbing, supple, and deeply satisfying story, put together with craft and care and imagery worthy of a poet." The Cleveland Plain Dealer
"Louisa May Alcott would be well pleased."
The Economist

Contest Rules:
Leave a comment.  I love comments!
Open Internationally
Ends 3/31
Must be a Booksnob follower. 

March by Geraldine Brooks

March by Geraldine Brooks

March is based on the absent father from Louisa May Alcott's beloved classic book, Little Women.   Mr. March is a passionate abolitionist and preacher and when the Civil War begins, he finds himself at 40 years old, leaving his home, his wife and daughters to aid the Union Army.  He holds many roles during the first year of the war as he seeks to bring peace and healing to the wounded.  In his letters, Mr. March finds he cannot tell his wife everything that has happened as the war is so horrible.  Racism exists on both sides and March struggles with the convictions of others.

March is eventually posted to teach former slaves on a Southern plantation in Virginia run by a Northern businessman.  They aim to grow and harvest cotton to supply the North with materials to manufacture garments.  The Confederates are wholeheartedly against this. 

Mr. March travels take him from Concord, Mass. to Virginia and on to Washington D.C.  Brooks bases most of March's character on Louisa May Alcott's father, Bronson Alcott.   The Alcott's lived in Concord near Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry Thoreau.  Alcott was a teacher who was a little ahead of his time.  Brooks decision to model Mr. March after Mr. Alcott makes sense as Louisa May Alcott modeled Little Women after her family as well.  I recognized Bronson Alcott as Mr. March right away because I read Eden's Outcasts, a biography of the Alcotts a few years ago. 

Mr. March is a lovable, unforgettable man who will steal your heart with his resolve.  The backdrop of the Civil War and the fight for abolition is powerful.  March is steeped in history and literary greats.  It is a treasure trove for lovers of literature and meant to be enjoyed by grown up fans of Little Women.

Geraldine Brooks is one of my favorite authors as I have read four of her six books and have loved every one of them.  Brooks is an author who takes history and gives it a voice and a charm that resonates with people today.  She won the Pulitzer Prize for March in 2006 and it is well-deserved.  I met Geraldine Brooks when her book Years of Wonder came out and I have never forgotten the meeting as she was dangling a small black, fake, rat that she wrote about it in her book.  Love it!

A Discovery of Witches Contest Winner!

A Discovery of Witches Contest Winner!

I am happy to announce the winner of my 2nd blogging anniversary contest for a signed copy of A Discovery of Witches.  The lucky winner will soon be doing a happy dance.

The winner is:  Maxine from Oakdale, Minnesota!

Thanks everyone for entering and for being loyal Booksnob followers and sticking by me for two years.  I appreciate your comments and the fact that you read the words I write.  Thank You!

If you didn't win you can still order a copy of A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness from Amazon.  I hear it has been optioned for a movie and they are writing the script.  I also heard that book number two will be available this summer!  yay!

Kara, Lost Contest Winners!

Kara, Lost Contest Winners!

I am happy to announce the two winners of Kara, Lost by Susan Niz, February's Minnesota author in the spotlight. 

Congratulations to Vivien from Withita, Kansas
and Congratulations to Julie from Columbus, Ohio!

If you didn't win you can still order a copy of Susan's book from Amazon.  Kara, Lost is such an intriguing and thought provoking story.

Please visit Susan's Niz'sblogs susannizfiction.blogspot.com and website here. susanniz.com  

Jacob Wheeler visits South High

Jacob Wheeler Visits South High

In honor of "I Love to Read" month, South High invited several local authors in to speak about their books.  The third author to share his story and book is author Jacob Wheeler.  He visited South High School on Tuesday, February 23th to talk to Geography and History classes about Guatemala and International Adoption. 

Jacob spoke to a crowded auditorium in the morning and then spent the rest of the day in the media center talking with staff at lunch and then working with individual classes.  He read from his book, Between Light and Shadow and answered lots of questions.  Several students expressed interest in reading his book about Guatemalan adoption.  Many students throughout the day had shared their personal stories around adoption.  One girl spoke out as an adoptee from Guatemala and another young man told his story of being adopted at age 10 in Minnesota.  They were very powerful stories.

Jacob Wheeler is a freelance journalist for The Uptake.org, a local online press, as well as author of Between Light and Shadow.  He plans to write another book. 

All in all it was a great day.  Thanks Jacob!

March-Hometown Track Author in the Spotlight

March-Hometown Track Author in the Spotlight

Welcome to March and the start of Spring!  Many people are snow weary and ready for sunshine and warm air.  I'm totally looking forward to time by the lake and reading outside in the sun on my porch swing. 

March's author, Danielle Sosin, wrote a book called The Long-Shining Waters and it is up for the Minnesota Book Award in the Fiction category.  The ceremony is next month on April 14th.  Good Luck Danielle!

Here is the synopsis on The Long Shining Waters from Goodreads:

Lake Superior, the North Country, the great freshwater expanse. Frigid. Lethal. Wildly beautiful. "The Long-Shining Waters" presents three stories whose characters are separated by centuries and circumstance, yet connected across time by a shared geography.

This month you can expect a book review, a contest, an author interview and if we are lucky a guest post by Danielle.  I really love the cover of The Long-Shining Waters, it just reminds me of warm weather.  You can also expect Spring, St. Patrick's Day, Spring Break and lots of good book reviews from Booksnob.  Enjoy the month of March.

February Author in the Spotlight Wrap-up + Giveaway

February - Author in the Spotlight Wrap-up + Giveaway

Kara, Lost Giveaway Ends tonight at midnight!

Guess What?  It is the end of February already.  Can you believe it?   It is time for me to wrap-up the  month of February book love by highlighting Minnesota author, Susan Niz.

Today is the last day to enter the contest to win a copy of Kara, Lost.  The contest ends at midnight tonight.  The contest is open to people living in the U.S. and Canada that are current Booksnob followers.  Good Luck and as always thanks for following Booksnob!

Click here to enter:  Kara, Lost Contest 

Please check out my review of Kara, Lost.  Kara is a runaway teenager fending for herself on the streets of Minneapolis.  The story is based on the author's real life experience as a runaway in the 1990's.  It is a gritty, raw look at life on the streets. 

Kara, Lost Book Review

Be sure to check out the interview with Susan Niz.  She talks about how she finds time to write with a young daughter.  She also talks about her favorite authors and how she was inspired to write Kara, Lost.  She also has some great advice for teenagers going through tough times at home or on the streets.

Susan Niz Author Interview


Susan took time out her busy day to write a guest post.  It is titled "Finding Your Voice as a Writer" and offers great advice to aspiring writers. 

Susan Niz Guest Post

As February comes to a close I would like to thank Susan for being the February Minnesota Author in the Spotlight here on Booksnob.  She is a talented writer and I look forward to reading more interesting titles from her and working with her in the near future.  Please visit Susan's Niz's blog susannizfiction.blogspot.com and website here. susanniz.com and support her by reading her book, Kara, Lost.