A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True by Brigid Pasulka
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
And the Pigeon was no glupek about women either. He had learned something aobut them from his eight sisters, and if over the years he had absorbed only this one thing, it would stand as vindication that a boy does not suffer needlessly from growing up in a house with eight sisters. That thing was that a woman’s heart is not bought by the currency of a man’s emotion for her. A woman’s heart is won over by her own feelings for herself when hej ust happens to be around, and as the hut slowly transformed itself into a three-room mansion around her, Anielica could not help but feel even more beautiful, even more worthy.
The above passage is just one of many that I fell in love with when reading this book. I laughed, I cried, I cooed and sighed all the way through. I savored every page and was saddened to come to the end of such a precious, whimsical yet heartbreaking and gladdening story.
The story of Pigeon and Anielica is a story that, I think, everyone would love to have in their family history. And perhaps, we do. Love, loss, heartbreak, passion and loyalty through some of the worst possible times. I can’t say more without totally giving away the book and I want you all to read it and enjoy it as much as I did. But please, read it.
This was my favorite book of 2009. From the first paragraph I was drawn in and charmed by the writing style and the potential of the story. I wasn’t disappointed.
I’m hosting this giveaway of my own accord, because I want to encourage people to read this book. So, on January 31, 2010 I will be giving out the book to a random entry.
I have one book to giveaway, here is how to enter!
Leave a comment with your favorite book that you read in 2009 and a short summary of why it earned its spot.
Bonus Entries!
Tweet or blog about this giveaway and leave me a link here on a separate comment for an extra entry
Be a subscriber to this blog (either new or old) and let me know here for two extra chances
I will notify the winner on 1/31/10 and contact them for mailing information. Be sure to have your email address included in your comments. Good luck!
(US and Canada entries only.)
My favorite book of 2009 was Jesus Girls edited by Hannah Faith Notess. I loved it because it was an intersection of so many of my favorite things: people’s stories, people’s faith stories, people being honest. And it was specifically about women. So much of it rang true and I love love loved it.
Also I subscribe to your blog.
I have Jesus Girls on my list as a result of your blog Kari! Can’t wait to read it.
Can I just say, Kari – every time I read about Hannah Faith Notess it gives me the heebee jeebees! I thought my name was unique. Alas!
My favorite book of 09 was The Hunger Games. I don’t think it was particularly the best book I read, but I enjoyed it so much because I read it with my husband, who doesn’t normally like reading. He couldn’t wait to read the next chapter! It was also a good discussion book . We talked quite a bit about what we thought would happen next, and how we would have reacted in certain situations. It is a hard book to explain to others though – you really have to read it to get it. I know I passed over it many times before I finally picked it up and read it (Sometimes when a book gets a lot of buzz it makes me less likely to want to read it. Call me crazy.) I’m glad I finally gave in and read it.
Forgot to leave my email address – fourwaldens@gmail.com
And thanks for introducing me to A Long Time Ago, Lydia! It was one of my top books of the year, and my top giveaway book for Christmas.
In 2009 I got around to reading David Eddings. The Belgariad, Elenium, Tamuli, Mallorean, and so forth. I found the writing of he and his wife very refreshing and light. Even though the characters were against terrible odds… there were moments of light-heartedness and the cast complimented one another well. I would recommend this author!
OOH – favorite huh? Thats tough. It might have to go to Hunger Games because it was so different from anything I had ever read before and I thought the author did a wonderful job of making what seemed like a horrible topic – into actually a great story.
For me, it was MONTESPAN.
It is an ironic and dark humoured look at the luxury of Versailles!
It’s strong and beautifully written!
Ooo. I’ll have to check that out – it sounds interesting! Thanks!
I can’t really choose a favorite…I might say Poison Study series by Maria V. Snyder, because of it’s wonderful plot and storyline, the rich detail, the romance, and the excitement. It’s absolutely perfect!
I became a follower
I posted this on my sidebar
If this is an “adult” book, then I can’t receive it, but if it’s young adult, then I can
For me, it was “La mécanique du cœur” by Mathias Malzieu.
I don’t know if it is published in english, but it is a beautiful Burton-like fable of Love!
Magnificent!
Oh how awesome! The Boy with the Cuckoo-Clock Heart will be published here in the U.S. this year! I’m putting it on my to-read list for sure!
This sounds like a great book. Thanks for hosting a giveaway!
I can’t pick one book from 2009, but I can pick a series. The Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris was by far my favorite reading experience of 2009. I checked out the first two from the library to see if I liked them. I got so absorbed that I put all the rest on reserve but had to go buy books 3 and 4 because I couldn’t wait for the library. I read all nine books in two weeks. Very fun. I highly recommend them!
I was following you in my favorites list before, but now I’m officially following you on the google followers.
I look forward to find out he contest results!
So many books were really really good. I loved Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghost a lot. That would be my best.
My favorite book that I read last year was The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, I had a hard time putting it down. It is rich in history about a young girl in Nazi Germany, even though it is young adult, I loved it. The author really made it hard to put down, even though the narrator was death himself..
I am new to blogging, so I am going to be a follower of yours also.
I just discovered Melville this past year, and Bartleby is my favorite of all his books.
o_rei_de_havana AT hotmail DOT com
I was surprised by The Last Dickens.
I started reading it because it had been a gift, but it turned out to be great.
2009 was a year, for me, of “old” authors.
The Terror by Arthur Machen was the best read of them all.
I advise everyone to read it!
Best of 2009?
Probably The White Tiger.
Playing the Enemy.
I baught it on account of Eastwwod’s movie, and it is very good!
Sandstorm by James Rollins was my favourite last year.
A great adventure that I wanted to have 100000 pages!