Book Notes and Three Winners

First the winners.  Again, thanks very much for stopping by!  I greatly enjoy blogging, and that's due in large part from the many kind people I've (virtually) met here.  I love giving away books, but I wish I had one to give everyone instead of only drawing three names out of the bowls!  Maybe the publisher will happen by, see what interest there is in their books and will send me a dozen or so of each and then I can pass them out to everyone.  Well, wishful thinking anyway!

So.  The names.

The bowls.  (My scientific method...put names in bowls, close eyes, mix names about, pull one out).

And the winners.

The Best American Travel Writing 2007: Padma

The Best American Essays 2007: Susan

The Best American Short Stories 2007: Nicola

If you would send me your mailing address I will pop the books in the mail this week. 

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Now the Book Notes.

Actually just a couple of things.  I am thisclose to finishing Kristin Lavransdatter.  Fifty pages.  If I could have kept my eyes open longer last night I would be finished now.  I contemplated lying in bed this morning and reading, but I thought I really should draw names and post instead of making people wait.  And the book is excellent.  One of my favorite reads this year, but I'll post more about it later.

After this weekend I'll be able to cross off two titles from the list of books I want to complete before the end of the year.

I did say that I might be picking up and reading other books along the way, and it looks like there's an opportunity to read George Eliot's Daniel Deronda in a group.  I really like reading books in a group, so I am seriously contemplating joining in.  My copy of the book is 715 pages.  I had been thinking I wouldn't start anymore long books this year, but my will power is pretty feeble when faced with a book I really want to read.  Sylvia will be joining Susan and Sarah.  Anyone else want to be tempted?  Since I've pulled my copy out of the stack I have a feeling I will indeed be tempted, too (though I expect to read slowly and probably finish far behind everyone else).  First things first, I have KL waiting for me, and I'll be reading a few ghost stories this weekend as well. 

Comments

[Eva]

I'm in on Daniel Deronda! Thanks for posting about it. :)

[Nicola]

Wow! I won! Thanks so much! I love the way you posted the photos. It was so exciting seeing my name on top of the book. Thanks again, now I'll go look for your email link to send my address.

[Danielle]

Eva--That's great. I've wanted to read it ever since I watched the film adaptation!
Nicola--Oops, sorry about that--I should have added my email to the post--in case you haven't already got it:
danielle_torres@hotmail.com

[iliana]

Congrats to the winners!
I would love to read Daniel Deronda with you guys but I'm still trying to get through DQ! I think I'll just watch from the sidelines and cheer you on :)

[Matt]

I'm keeping my fingers on Poe this weekend. I got a copy of 1407 as well.

[Susan]

Danielle, I'm so glad you're finding the Daniel Deronda group read tempting. I'm only three fairly short chapters in (lots of distractions this weekend and I didn't want to pull ahead of Sylvia either, who just got the book yesterday) but it's been very enjoyable reading. You're not going to regret participating.

And thank you thank you for drawing my name out of the bowl. I looked at the essays book while we were at Borders last night and I did so hope I'd win. :)

[Danielle]

Iliana--It's weird after having read DQ now, I see references to him pop up all over the place! Enjoy the rest of the book.
Matt--I read some Poe stories last month and had hoped to fit in some more, but I am reading Washington Irving instead this weekend (and enjoying his writing!). I'm not familiar with 1407--It must be a new book?
Susan--I will start it this week--It will be my new bus book. I will have to put off getting back to DH Lawrence just a tad but longer! I'm so glad you are looking forward to the essay book--it looks good and I might have to buy a copy for myself as well. I'll need to get your address, too.

[padma]

Oh, how great! Thanks alot, it was really exciting, and I never win anything, so it's such a nice surprise! And by the way, I just started re-reading Kristin Lavransdatter, and it's all because of you:)

[Danielle]

Padma--Thanks for the email. I will be mailing off the books tomorrow. I hope you enjoy rereading KL. I plan on reading it again eventually, too. There are lots of other books by Scandinavian authors that I'd like to try as well.

[Andi]

Congrats to the winners!