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

Saturday, April 24, 2010

The Cradle by Patrick Somerville... A Review & Giveaway!

"There are two kinds of people in the world," Marissa said.
"There are people who understand that everything matters and people who don't understand that everything matters."

Congratulations to Linda, Darcy & Ashley who each won a copy of The Cradle! Thanks to EVERYONE who joined the fun, blogged and tweeted!

The Cradle by Patrick Somerville opens with a very pregnant Marissa describing "the cradle" that she was rocked in as a child, that was supposedly from the Civil War, and went missing after her mother abandoned the family when Marissa was 15, and a mysterious break-in occurred shortly there after. Marissa asks her husband Matt to find it. She wants the cradle for her baby, just as she had it as a baby. It is important to her... he wouldn't understand because he was an orphan... What this means is finding Marissa's mother, even though Marissa has no idea where she is... Matt is a hero to her, he's pretty good at finding keys, why should a cradle be so different?

The next chapter fast forwards 10 years to another family, Rene Owen and her husband Bill, dealing with their 19 year old son going off to war. Rene is desperate not to have her son go off to war. The reason is a deep down pain, a lost love in another war many years before, and a secret that she's kept hidden just as long.

How Patrick Somerville weaves these two stories together is what is magical. When I started reading The Cradle, I thought I was in for a light read. What I got was a deceptively complicated story, that surprised and delighted me. When Matt makes the simple gesture of humoring his wife and trying to find the cradle, little does he know that he's going on quite an adventure that will take him all the way to Antarctica! As he follows the trail of the cradle, he stumbles upon long kept secrets of Marissa's family, which stir his own childhood memories and dormant feelings. Rene Owen's story alternates with Matt and his search for "the cradle", and in doing so the anticipation of each story grows. Hints of a connection are sprinkled in both story lines and there are no earth shattering revelations, but that is what makes the story special- the seamless connection you find at the end. Along the way, the author challenges the reader to think about what being a family means, what being a parent means, and what value a human life holds. The characters are believable, the writing is good, and the story innocently captures your attention. Thought-provoking and at times heartbreaking, The Cradle by Patrick Somerville is a very satisfying read in a mere 200 pages. The search may have started out for the cradle, but everyone finds something different at the end of the story. One thing we all find at the end is hope...

The Cradle would make a great reading group pick. There is definitely great material for a discussion! Here's the Reading Group Guide for The Cradle. You can learn more about Patrick Somerville by visiting his website, and Patrick also has a wonderful essay about how the story for The Cradle came about at Hachette Book Group. I want to also thank Valerie of Hachette Book Group for sending me a copy of The Cradle for review!

Courtesy of Hachette Book Group I also have 3 copies of The Cradle by Patrick Somerville to give away! Here's how to enter...

To Enter this giveaway...
*For one entry leave me a comment with your email address!

*Get an extra entry for following my blog! Just leave a comment letting me know you're a follower! ( Not a follower yet? No problem, sign up by clicking on the 'followers" button on the sidebar to the right! Just let me know you became a new follower!)

*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 publisher. Contest ends 11:59pm EST on May 8th. 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!

*P.S. This Book is Kindle Ready!

76 comments:

Wanda said...

I've been seeing this one around in Maibox and Waiting on Wednesday posts and it did sound promising, glad to hear it doesn't disappoint.

Linda said...

Sounds like a very interesting novel. Thanks for the giveawy.

I follow through Google Reader.

bermudaonion said...

Nice review! I enjoyed this book, too, even though I thought the ending was a little rushed. No need to enter me.

scottsgal said...

I've read some good reviews of this book - please count me in
msboatgal at aol.com

Renee said...

Sounds like a good book.


reneesuz82(at)msn.com

Renee said...

I'm a follower.

reneesuz82(at)msn(dot)com

DarcyO said...

Thanks for the review. I'd love to read this one. Please include me.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

DarcyO said...

I'm a follower.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

The Book Chick said...

I've heard buzz about this one and would love a chance to read it for myself. Thanks for the entry!

jonitathebookchick(at)gmail(dot)com

The Book Chick said...

I'm a follower through GFC!

jonitathebookchick(at)gmail(dot)com

Literary Litter said...

Just wanted to let you know I've posted this at literarylitter.blogspot.com

Good luck :)

Heidi V said...

Sounds like a good one!

Thanks
heidivargas [at] live dot com

Margie said...

Thanks for the giveaway.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

I'm a follower.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

wheresmyrain said...

your review convinced me, i would love to read this

wheresmyrain@yahoo.com

wheresmyrain said...

im a follower

Marilu said...

I am really looking forward to reading this! I would love to win a copy. Please enter me. Thanks!

lovemykidsandbooks AT gmail DOT com

Marilu said...

I follow through google freind connect! thanks for the entries.

lovemykidsandbooks AT gmail DOT com

Linda Kish said...

I would love to read this book.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

The review sounds really good and I would like to win and read this novel.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I follow by google reader.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Ashley said...

Enter me please.

hewella1@gmail.com

KR said...

I'd love this.

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

KR said...

I follow

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I follow your blog and tweeted this giveaway.
https://twitter.com/KarenZupancic/status/12788616716

I would LOVE to read this book!

kzupancic[at]yahoo[dot]com

Martha Lawson said...

I've been seeing this around the blogs and it looks awesome. I'd love to win it.

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

Martha Lawson said...

I'm a follower on gfc

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

suzie said...

I would like to read this book
9oofus@gmail.com

suzie said...

I follow you
suzquiz
9oofus@gmail.com

suzie said...

tweeted
http://twitter.com/suzquiz/status/12799229769
9oofus@gmail.com

Dawn M. said...

I would love the chance to read this. Count me in, please! :0)

Thanks!
librarygrinch at gmail dot com

Michele said...

Sounds like an interesting read. Please eneter me.
mmmtnbike09@yahoo.com

Michele said...

I follow your blog.

mmmtnbike09@yahoo.com

angie said...

Thanks for the giveaway! I would love to read this!
email bangersis(at)msn(dot)com

angie said...

I am a new follower
email bangersis(at)msn(dot)com

angie said...

I tweeted http://twitter.com/bangersis/status/12836059788
email bangersis(at)msn(dot)com

Kathy (mommysreading) said...

Please enter me in the giveaway.

mommysreadingATdassaroDOTnet

Kathy (mommysreading) said...

I am a brand new follower. Great review.

skkorman said...

I would love to read this book—please enter me to win!

skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

Amy (ArtsyBookishGal) said...

Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the giveaway.

Amy
artsyrockerchick at aim dot com

Esme said...

I follow.

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo . com

Esme said...

cococroissants

http://chickwithbooks.blogspot.com/2010/04/cradle-by-patrick-somerville-review.html The Cradle Giveaway

chocolateand croissants at yahoo . com

Jennifer said...

Thank you for the giveaway!

jennifer(dot)arnold11(at)gmail(dot)com

Jennifer said...

I'm a blog follower, thanks!

Jess said...

I would love to read this!

jedziedz(at)hotmail(dot)com
jess
barney's book blog

Jess said...

I am a follower.

jedziedz(at)hotmail(dot)com

Elise said...

I am a follower.
caliblue7@gmail.com

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

No need to enter me -- dratted PO Box of mine and all. I'm dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you.

a real librarian said...

Sounds like a great read! Thanks for the giveaway!

areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

Pam said...

I'm so intrigued by this one...

melacan at hotmail odt com

Unknown said...

I'd love a chance into this giveaway, sounds like a book I'd really enjoy reading.

unforgetable_dreamer_always(at)hotmail.com

Wanda said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Wanda said...

Thanks for the giveaway!

I follow and will post here.

wanda_waiting[@]hotmail[.]com

Simply Stacie said...

I follow!

simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

Judylynn said...

I am a follower!

seizethebookblog(at)gmail(dot)com

Mozi Esme said...

I'd like to read this.

Janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Reading said...

Please count me in. Thanks for the chance.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Debbie F said...

I want this book so bad! thanks!

dcf_beth at veriozn dot net

Debbie F said...

I'm a follower!

dcf_beth at verizon dot net

Unknown said...

I would love the chance to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway!

debraldufek AT hotmail DOT com

Cindy W. said...

I would really love to win this book. Please enter me.

Smiles,
Cindy W

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Cindy W. said...

I am also a follower of your blog.

Smiles,
Cindy W

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

nfmgirl said...

I'd love this one. Please count me in. Thank you!

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

nfmgirl said...

Blogged:
http://cerebralgirl.blogspot.com/2010/05/book-giveaways-in-blogworld-05-01-10.html

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

Carol M said...

This sounds good! Please enter me. Thank you!
mittens0831 at aol dot com

Carol M said...

I'm a follower.
mittens0831 at aol dot com

Julie said...

All of the reviews I've read on this book have been wonderful! If I don't win, I MUST buy!

jewell330 at aim dot com

Nancye said...

I would love to win this book! Thanks for the chance.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Follower

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Tweet! Tweet!
@NancyeDavis

http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/13583225076

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Julie said...

I follow on GFC!

jeell330 at aim dot com

sharon54220 said...

Boy, am I late getting in on this one, but maybe that will be lucky. I've been wanting this book for a long time.

sharon54220@gmail.com

sharon54220 said...

I follow via GFC

sharon54220@gmail.com

Jo said...

Sounds like a great book! :)

jo.tee35@gmail.com

Jo said...

I'm also a follower of your blog through Google Connect.

jo.tee35@gmail.com

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