THE CRADLE author Patrick Somerville returns with a poignant, hilarious, and surprising look at reunited families, dark pasts, love, and righting mistakes in his latest novel, THIS BRIGHT RIVER.
Thanks to Anna and the good folks at Little, Brown and Company, I have 3 copies of THIS BRIGHT RIVER to giveaway. Check the end of the post for the guidelines.
Here’s a brief synopsis of THIS BRIGHT RIVER:
A compelling story of young love and old secrets
A compelling story of young love and old secrets
Lauren Sheehan's career in medicine came to a halt after a chain of violent events abroad. Now she's back in the safest place she knows - St. Helens, Wisconsin-cut off from career, friendship, and romance.
Ben Hanson's aimless young life has bottomed out after a series of bad decisions, but a surprising offer from his father draws him home for what looks like his final second chance. In Wisconsin, he finds his family fractured, still unable to face the truth behind his troubled cousin's death a decade earlier.
As Lauren cautiously expands her horizons and Ben wrestles with his regrets and mistakes, their paths intersect. Could each be exactly what the other needs? Or the last thing in the world either one can handle?
The weight of secrets, the price of success, and the cost of love all linger at the heart of this surprising, unsettling, deeply satisfying novel. Rich with the dark humor and piercing intelligence that made THE CRADLE so beloved, THIS BRIGHT RIVER confirms Somerville's status as one of the most engaging and daring young writers at work today.
Somerville grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and later earned his MFA from Cornell University. He is the author of the story collections TROUBLE and THE UNIVERSE IN MINIATURE IN MINIATURE, and the novel THE CRADLE.
He lives with his wife and son in Chicago, where he teaches creative writing at Northwestern University. For more on Somerville and his writing, check out his website, find him on Facebook, visit his author’s page on Facebook, and look for him on Twitter.
Here’s a book trailer on THIS BRIGHT RIVER for your entertainment.
Now for the giveaway guidelines. To enter, send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win This Bright River.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. The contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only and no post office box addresses can be accepted. In addition, Canadian residents have to include their telephone number. And, just so you know, I don’t share this information with anyone other than the publisher nor use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance at 1 of 3 copies of THIS BRIGHT RIVER (ISBN: 9780316129312), a 464-page hardcover book, will be 8 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, July 7.
Now for the giveaway guidelines. To enter, send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win This Bright River.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. The contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only and no post office box addresses can be accepted. In addition, Canadian residents have to include their telephone number. And, just so you know, I don’t share this information with anyone other than the publisher nor use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance at 1 of 3 copies of THIS BRIGHT RIVER (ISBN: 9780316129312), a 464-page hardcover book, will be 8 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, July 7.
Do you enjoy stories were families are reunited? Does it make it more intriguing if there are dark secrets that come to light? Thanks so much for stopping by today. Remember to send me an email for a chance to win a copy of THIS BRIGHT RIVER.
Mason - Thanks for sharing this one. It's always interesting to think about how we're affected by events from the past, and about whether there really are second chances. Sounds intriguing.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read anything by this author. I do like "re-uniting books" I loved The Arrivals and am currently reading Lake of Dreams which are both about families converging together.
ReplyDeleteAnn
I'm not eligable for this giveaway but I do find the book subject interesting.
ReplyDeleteFamilies are tricky aren't they?
ReplyDeleteI will be emailing you in the next month to talk about your editing services.
T
I won this book but forgot to post my comments until now.
ReplyDeleteThe last part of THIS BRIGHT RIVER is exceptionally good. But the first half of it wanders here, then there, then there, then to the past, than to past that, then back to the present for a minute, etc. It's very difficult to know where you are and who is who.
On top of that, regardless of where or when, it rambles, particularly when Ben is thinking, which is often. His thoughts go on and on in huge, rambling paragraphs. Once, when Ben's cousin was drunk and high, he rambled in one four-page paragraph.
It seemed that Sommerville needed to master the art of plot. That first half (or so) is all over the place and plotless. But he writes so well, I stuck with him, and I think you'll want to, too.
Although Ben's thoughts continue to ramble in long paragraphs in the second half of the book, there is a story. As a matter of fact, there are two stories. And they are magnificent.
Sommerville knows how to do plot; but he risks losing readers before they get to it.