Sunday, November 22, 2015

BOOK GIVEAWAY CONTEST: KATHERINE PATERSON'S MEMOIR, "STORIES OF MY LIFE"

    


     If you read my blog every so often, you probably already know that my friend Michele and I were fortunate enough to meet the one and only Katherine Paterson on an afternoon in September.  Also, that afterward we were disappointed - horrible ingrates that we are - because she clearly didn't want to talk with us about her books while we were there.  Moreover, that Michele and I afterwards put our heads together and came up with a belated list of questions to ask her, which I emailed to her.  Additionally, that I received no response for weeks.  And finally, that KP ended up responding to my email after all, telling us she didn't have time to answer our questions, but that she would try to send us "something" instead.  Which turned out to be two copies of her recently-published memoir, STORIES OF MY LIFE.
  I've finished reading my copy now, and here's my review: many stories, much life.  I thought I knew my fair share about KP before, having been more-or-less obsessed with her and her books for many years, and now HAVING BEEN TO HER HOME.  (Okay, I confess: when I used her bathroom I was sorely tempted to rifle through her medicine cabinet and steal a KP-purchased Q-tip or something.  But my conscience won out.  Barely.)
     Well, it turns out that I didn't know much about her before after all, and I know a lot more now - all of it G-rated (she was a minister's wife, not a Hollywood starlet), much of it frank nonetheless and tinged with self-deprecating humor.  There's quite a bit of old-Southern-family history; quite a bit more of globetrotting-missionary-parents history, including her own early childhood in China; a very satisfying collection of family photos; and a respectable dose of her four years living as a missionary in Japan and her ensuing 50 years of married life, children, pets, and writing career.  And the book ends with a deeply poignant description of her beloved husband's final illness and death, and what she learned from living through those experiences.
     And now I want to give this book away, and I can't really explain why except to say that I think KP would want me to.  If you look at her Facebook page, you'll see immediately that she is (at 84) a fully engaged citizen of the world, and that sharing is what she does and what she approves of.  I don't think I'll read KP's memoir again unless someone decides to give me a pop quiz on her life, which seems fairly unlikely, so I will happily share my read-but-pristine copy with a lucky winner and fellow Patersonphile.  Here's the deal:  leave a comment on this post naming your favorite Katherine Paterson book, with a brief explanation as to what makes that book stand out for you.  I'll choose my favorite comment and ship the book to the commenter, no matter where he or she lives. The contest begins now and ends next Sunday, the 29th, at 11 p.m. Eastern time.  Please enter, and tell your friends about it!  I hate running giveaway contests and getting only a handful of entries!!
     GO.

9 comments:

  1. I don't qualify because I have only ever read Bridge to Terebithia :) I would never ever be able to pass on a book that my favourite author had sent me, must learn to be less grasping. You are an inspirational example, hats off!

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    1. Nila: Because it's my contest, I get to make the rules, and I say that you qualify on one condition: that you promise to read JACOB HAVE I LOVED at some point in the future. If you make that promise, then enter away! And I think that KP is the inspirational one, not me. I'm just trying to emulate her. But thank you!

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  2. Okay, I guess I have no chance because I'm going to admit I didn't like Jacob Have I Loved, but Bridge to Terabithia reigns supreme for me! It was made even more meaningful for me when I heard KP speak at a conference and learned that it was based on her own son, who was lonely in their new neighborhood until he met the girl that the character in BTT is based on. It stands out for me because Jesse's home life and family members were so richly painted. I really felt I knew them all.

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    1. Well, MDG, you absolutely have a chance, and you even have a secret weapon: I'm guessing you share my affinity for crossword puzzles! Let's see how this contest plays out!

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  3. My favorite Katherine Paterson book is Jacob Have I Loved. I read it several times when I was in middle school. There were something about it that upset me and I couldn't put my finger on it. It was dark. Scary in some ways. I didn't understand it but I loved it. A few years ago I read it again. Wow. What a complicated and disturbing book!

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    1. Jody: I love that book so much, maybe in part because I grew up in the shadow of a much more accomplished sibling, much like Louise. But like you, I also love the writing. Beautiful but deadly! Thanks for entering.

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  4. Love the Qtip mental debate!! Haha. I enjoy reading books about interesting people!

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    1. Thanks, Tammy! She is definitely an interesting lady!!

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  5. Wow, only three contestants! How come there aren't more people who want to win free books? I have to say that MDGCrossword's comment was my favorite of the three. So, MDG, email me at muranosb(at)gmail.(com), send me your mailing address, and I'll get this baby out to you ASAP! I don't want to spoil the surprise, but you're about to find out even more about the origins of Bridge to Terabitihia. Congratulations!

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