Literary Quote of the Month

"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies," said Jojen. "The man who never reads lives only one." - George R.R. Martin, A Dance With Dragons

Friday, June 5, 2009

Giveaway : Stand the Storm ...by Breena Clarke


Giveaway: Stand the Storm by Breena Clarke

From the back cover:

"Even though former slaves Annie Coats and her son Gabriel have managed to buy their freedom, their lives are still marked by constant struggle and sacrifice - Washington's Georgetown neighborhood where the Coatses operate a tailor shop and laundry, is supposed to be a "promised land" for former slaves but is effectively a frontier town, gritty and dangerous, with no laws protecting black people.

The remarkable emotional energy with which the Coatses wage their daily battles - as they negotiate with their former owner, as they assist escaped slaves en route to freedom, as they prepare for the encroaching war, and as they strive to love each other enough- is what propels Stand the Storm and makes the novel's startling denouement so powerfully affecting."


The story you walk into when you open
Stand the Storm is simply wonderful. Breena Clarke's writing is like bits of poetry that produce amazing images when read out loud. From the first few sentences of the book " There are endless stitches to count. Handwork promotes calculation. Gabriel watched his mother pause in her knitting to rest her fingers for the briefest moment - a pause most observers wouldn't notice..." I wanted to see what Gabriel's mother was working on. I learned along the way that Sewing Annie, Gabriel's mother, was working on much more than her knitting - she was working on a life of freedom & dignity for herself and family.

Stand the Storm follows Sewing Annie from her humble beginnings on the plantation after her "mam was sold south" when she was assigned to learn to knit & sew on the Ridley Plantation under the watchful eye of "Knitting Annie" to her eventual life as a free woman. We are there when she falls in love, gives birth and fights for the rights every human being should be entitled to. We become part of her family and watch her son & daughter grow up and become strong individuals in their own right. We see how the desire for freedom is rarely spoken in words and how dangerous even the thought can be. We see how their experiences as slaves and even as 'freed slaves' shape their thoughts and actions. We go to war for them as well as with them when the Civil War begins and the Union & Confederacy fight.

This novel is unusual in that it portrays the Coatses not as slaves working out in the fields, but skilled craftsmen. And because of this the Coatses become integrated in the community and the story allows us to take a long look at slavery from the perspective of their own experiences as they try and live in harmony with those around them.

*
Book Clubs - There is a reading group guide available! And what a great discussion Stand the Storm would make... the interaction of the characters, slave life in the 19th century, the Underground railroad... just to name a few topics. And I know as a book club member, I am always looking for a book that will first of all hold my attention but also have enough substance for a lively talk - this book does both. Take a look at the reading guide: Here . Read an excerpt : Here. I loved the book! And I especially loved Sewing Annie!

NOW for the Giveaway! I have 3 copies of Stand the Storm by Breena Clarke for a giveaway to my readers courtesty of Valerie Russo of Hachette Book Group. Thank you Valerie for the opportunity to share this wonderful book!

To Enter this giveaway...
  • For one entry leave me a comment with an email address.
  • For another entry, follow my blog and leave a comment to let me know you just became a follower. (if you already are a follower you will get an extra entry!)
  • Blog or tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link.
This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only.(No PO boxes). The books will be shipped to the winners directly from the publishers. Contest ends 11:59pm EST on June 27th, 2009. I will randomly pick the winners the next day and email them! (please check your email... winner must reply to me within 3 days! Thanks!) Good Luck!

Thanks to EVERYone who entered the giveaway! AND CONGRATS to the winner's! The Winner's are: Beth, Sara & Casi !

75 comments:

Carlene said...

Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
carlene
iluvreading(at)verizon.net

JJ said...

I'd like a chance. Thanks.

gahome2mom at gmail dot com

mindy said...

sounds nice thanks for the giveaway minsthins at optonline dot net

AmandaK said...

It looks like a fantastic read!! Please enter me in your giveaway!

orchestrateatenoise0726[at]yahoo[dot]com

casib69 said...

Would love to win and read. Thanks.
casib69(at)gmail(dot)com

casib69 said...

I am following your blog.
casib69(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

Count me in:)

bjhopper(at)me(dot)com

Unknown said...

I'm a follower

bjhopper(at)me(dot)com

Unknown said...

Linked on my sidebar

http://bridget3420.blogspot.com

bjhopper(at)me(dot)com

Lisette said...

This sounds great I'd love to enter!

lc_intocable [a]yahoo[d]com

Anonymous said...

Sounds so good! Please include me in the contest. I am following your blog.

wendy wallach said...

sounds like a great book...please enter me.

madamerkf at aol dot com

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

THANKS mrs.mommyyatgmaildotcom

Anonymous said...

Mary
zenrei57 (at) hotmail (dot) com

Stand the Storm sounds like a wonderful book, and thank you for the opportunity to win :)

Anonymous said...

It sounds like an interesting book!


texas_heartland84[at]yahoo[dot]com

stpand said...

Please enter me.
You know my email address.
Thanks!

sue14625 said...

interesting review my interest is piqued

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a fantastic book! I hope to read it soon!

bsyb100 at gmail dot com

Lady Roxi said...

I would love to read this.

Thanks,

darkfyre1(at)gmail(dot)Com

Renee G said...

Would love to read this. I've heard it is quite good.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

You've written a delightful account of a very serious novel. You make it sound like a must read and invite people to do just that. Please enter me in your giveaway. I hope to enjoy reading this novel, as much as you apparently enjoyed writing about it.
Thank you.
bgcchs@yahoo.com

Esme said...

I would love to read this one. thanks

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com

jemscout425 said...

i love how the author has widen the perspectove. you've made it sound great, count me in
pksanddancer(at)yahoo(dot)com

jemscout425 said...

follow
pksanddancer(at)yahoo(dot)com

Renee said...

Sounds like a great book. I am now a follower as well

reneesuz82(at)msn(dot)com

Unknown said...

Please enter me :)

lavery328 at yahoo dot com

Yvette Kelly said...

That was a wonderful review.I went over and its available on Kindle.Am going to get it now.
P.s.Dont forget to let me know if I can go ahead and post on your "winnings".

Debbie said...

I would love to read this. Thanks.
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail(dot)com

BurtonReview said...

Suzy Quzy :) Thanks for stopping by my blog, Boting.. and Commenting ! :)
Secondly, I would love to enter for this Giveaway. A wnderful mix of history and a story not told often enough of America.

you have gained a new follower.
marieburton2004 at yahoo dot com

Teddy Rose said...

No need to enter me. I posted it in my Giveaways Galore.

Luvdaylilies said...

I would love to win this~please enter me in your giveaway!

Thanks,
Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net

Unknown said...

I would love to win this book. Thanks for the opportunity to win it.

Val
lastnerve2000@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I follow you on Twitter. I am lastnerve2000

Val
lastnerve2000@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I tweeted about the giveaway

http://twitter.com/lastnerve2000/status/2071552133

Thanks
Val
lastnerve2000@gmail.com

Michele said...

sounds like an interesting read. Please enter me.
Thanks,
mmmtnbike@yahoo.com

KR said...

I'm from the South. I'd love to read this.

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

Sandra K321 said...

I enjoy reading historical fiction. Please include me in the drawing.
seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

Sandra K321 said...

I am now following your blog.
seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

Kristi said...

I would love to win a copy of this book.

kherbrand at comcast dot net

Kristi said...

I already follow.

kherbrand at comcast dot net

Nicole C. said...

This sounds like a great book! I'd love to be entered!!

choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

LoveMyCoffee said...

I would love a chance to win this book. You review makes it sound like a must read.
Dutchlvr1(at)aol(dot)com

LoveMyCoffee said...

I'm following you by RSS
Thanks
Dutchlvr1(at)aol(dot)com

A Reader said...

Follower (liane66)

Thanks for the giveaway!
Kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com

Marie said...

I would love to read this, it sounds great!

marielay@gmail.com

Marie said...

I am a follower.

marielay@gmail.com

Gaby317 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Pamela S said...

Sounds like some great historical fiction. I'd love to be entered.

Thanks!
pamelashockley(AT)netscape(DOT)net

Anonymous said...

This sounds relly interesting. Please include me in the drawing!

thanks
sara
ihpie at yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great book- please include me in the drawing!

budletsmom said...

I would love a chance to win this book - thank you.

budletsmom(at)yahoo(dot)com

budletsmom said...

I just became a follower.

budletsmom(at)yahoo(dot)com

Sarah Z said...

Sounds like a great read!
Thanks
Sarah
believedreamcourage (at) gmail.com

Mishia said...

I'd love to enter the giveaway!

Anonymous said...

I recently visited KC, MO. Went to the Jazz museum at 18th and Vine. Learned things that happened before I was born. I would love to read this book to find out more history.

bark67@wildblue.net

Ellie Wright said...

Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway. Please enter me.
eswright18 at gmail dot com

Vicki said...

I would love to be entered in the contest.

pookie0331@gmail.com

heatherzilla said...

Sounds like a great book. Please include me in the giveaway. Thanks! heatherzilla AT care2 DOT com

Anonymous said...

Hi! Thanks for the great book giveaway. Please sign me up.

Connie

connie_bryant@hotmail.com

jwx4 said...

Enter me please.
jwx4 at yahoo dot com

Gaby317 said...

count me in

gaby317nyc AT gmail DOT com

Gaby317 said...

I'm your 100th follower!

gaby317nyc AT gmail DOT com

squiresj said...

Please enclude me in this giveaway. The books sounds interesting.
jrs362(at)hotmail(dot)com

Julie J. said...

I am a follower and I would like to be included in this giveaway.

faithfulgirl4[at]gmail[dot]com

Beth said...

Just wondering when giveaways will include Kindle books for those of us hooked on the Kindle!

But I do still read books, so please enter me too for this one.

benolfe at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I would love to read this!

Thank you!
victoriah40@yahoo.com

Emma said...

"Stand the Storm" by Breena Clarke sounds wonderful. Please include me in this giveaway.
augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com. Thank you.

Julie said...

Please enter me, I would love to win this book~

Cheers,
julie.sherritt[at]gmail.com

LittleEagle said...

I believe that I would enjoy reading this book. sharonaquilino(at)hotmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I'd like to read this, too. aitmama (at) gmail (dot) com

L said...

Enter me please!
lovinfitch(at)aol(dot)com

L said...

I'm already a follower.

lovinfitch(at)aol(dot)com

heatherzilla said...

Sounds like a good book. Please include me in the giveaway. heatherzilla(at)care2(dot)com

Julie J. said...

I'd love to win this book!

faithfulgirl4[at]gmail[dot]com

Julie J. said...

I am a follower of your blog.

faithfulgirl4[at]gmail[dot]com

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