10.02.2014

# book giveaways # Garth Stein

A Sudden Light Book Giveaway



This week's featured book is A Sudden Light by Garth Stein. This new release is described by Good Housekeeping as a "Haunting family saga", a perfect read as we enter the month of October.

Here is the description from Simon & Schuster:

The bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain presents a long-awaited new novel in which a boy trying to save his parents’ marriage uncovers a vast legacy of family secrets.

In the summer of 1990, fourteen-year-old Trevor Riddell gets his first glimpse of Riddell House. Built from the spoils of a massive timber fortune, the legendary family mansion is constructed of giant whole trees and is set on a huge estate overlooking Seattle’s Puget Sound. Trevor’s bankrupt parents have begun a trial separation, and his father, Jones Riddell, has brought Trevor to Riddell House with a goal: to join forces with his sister, Serena, dispatch the ailing and elderly Grandpa Samuel to a nursing home, sell off the house and property for development, divide up the profits, and live happily ever after.

But as Trevor explores the house’s secret stairways and hidden rooms, he discovers a spirit lingering in Riddell House whose agenda is at odds with the family plan. Only Trevor’s willingness to face the dark past of his forefathers will reveal the key to his family’s future.

Spellbinding and atmospheric, A Sudden Light is rich with unconventional characters, scenes of transcendent natural beauty, and unforgettable moments of emotional truth that reflect Garth Stein’s outsized capacity for empathy and keen understanding of human motivation—a triumphant work of a master storyteller at the height of his power.


Here's what the critics are saying:

"Take equal parts mystery, lyrical magic, and a healthy dose of natural wonder, add a multi-generational family struggling with the ghosts of the past, literally and figuratively, and you have A Sudden Light—a beautiful, deeply thought-provoking story that is impossible to put down." (Jamie Ford, author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet)

“Wow! I devoured A Sudden Light, a grand, gorgeous, multi-generational epic of the Pacific Northwest. Garth Stein has given us another singular, soulful, and wise narrator for the ages, who tells us a story full of mystery and yearning. I adored this book.” (Maria Semple, New York Times bestselling author of Where’d You Go, Bernadette)

“This magnificent and haunting ghost story will pull you into its world and hold you captive, awe you with the enduring power and beauty of nature, and, on every page, fill you with amazement at Stein’s infinite compassion for the human condition…. A major achievement by a major American writer.” (Robert Goolrick, author of A Reliable Wife and Heading Out to Wonderful)

"Haunting in all the right ways." (Booklist, starred review)

“A Sudden Light is the best of many genres: a ghost story, a love story, historical fiction….a truly killer read…a bold, poignant book about wealth, family ties, and the power—and fallacy—of memory.” (BookPage)

"A haunting family saga." (Good Housekeeping)

Simon & Schuster are kindly offering to give away 3 copies. Please enter the giveaway via the rafflecopter widget below. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only (terms set by the publisher). The winners will be announced on the widget and contacted by email one week from today. Best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


News
At Home With Madame Chic comes out next week! Learn more on my author website.

Watch my newly released TEDx talk on The Ten-Item Wardrobe here.

Upcoming Events
Southern California readers: come meet me at one of my upcoming book signings:
October 8, 2014 Pages A Bookstore, Manhattan Beach, CA presentation, Q&A + book signing 7pm
October 28, 2014 DIESEL bookstore, Brentwood, CA Presentation, Q&A + book signing 7pm
November 2, 2014 Laguna Beach Books Presentation, Q&A + signing 4pm
(more venues and dates to be announced)


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12 comments:

Unknown said...

I don't really like ghost stories. They freak me out too much. However, I love the cover of this book and saw it at the store and almost bought just because of the cover.

I think stories about real life people that went through a terrible experience, i.e. POW or sex slave in an Asian country haunt me more than ghost stories. They have happened to real people and have changed their lives forever.

R. Nesbit said...

This book sounds like a nice deviation from the norm! Perfect for October! The description reminds me a lot of some of the eery, mysterious works I've read by Dean Koontz. It has been years since I've read anything like this, so will look forward to it!

Unknown said...

I loved "The Lantern" (set in Provence) by Deborah Lawrenson. It's similar to Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier which I also loved.

::Michelle~Lynn:: said...

I am moving to the Pacific Northwest at the very end of this month! It looks like the PERFECT book for me to read as I enjoy my very first drizzly and hauntingly grey fall/winter there immersed among the pine trees.

Monique said...

I am intrigued by the house built from whole trees and the hidden secrets.

Anonymous said...

I read and loved his book The Art of Racing in the Rain, which I read on my hairstylist's recommendation. The perspective of telling the story from the dog's POV was unique and full of heart without descending into being maudlin. I expect good things from this book based on how much I enjoyed his previous work.

Unknown said...

"A Sudden Light" sounds like a great book for my Book Club...a slightly different type of book from our usual selections. An earlier post mentioned "The Lantern". I may have to read it because "Rebecca" is my most favorite book...ever and Provence is my most favorite place...ever. Thank you for opportunity and the fun to enter. A lovely day to all!

Unknown said...

I love ghost stories and I am recommending this book at my next book club meeting. The cover art is beautiful and the story sounds fascinating. My grandmother lived in a home with hidden doors and stairways. I always expected to see a ghost in her old home but I never did. But the anticipation (and a hint of dread) always made the visits exciting.

Carol C., Sacramento said...

It's not a ghost story, but I thought The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood was haunting. Also just read Frankenstein by Mary Shelley for book club. It's almost 200 years old and is still scary and thought-provoking. It's the perfect October read to get ready for Halloween.

snappyjaye said...

My favorite "ghost story" is Isabel Allende's House of Spirits! I have liked all of her books, actually, but this was my favorite.

Ladylike said...

Jennifer, I would like to tell you and your readers about another book published by Simon and Schuster that I think will be of interest. It's called "Hundred Dollar Holiday: The Case for a More Joyful Christmas" by Bill McKibben. This highly intelligent book is the 10 item wardrobe of holiday gift shopping. It seems Simon & Schuster has been committed to helping our crazy nation to be more sane for some time.

stephray said...

I'm not the biggest reader when it comes to ghost stories but, as others have stated, I am very intrigued with the cover for this book! I may have to see if my local library can order this book so I can read it! :)