7/26/11

GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: The Astral by Kate Christensen

Description

From the PEN/Faulkner Award–winning author of The Great Man, a scintillating novel of love, loss, and literary rivalry set in rapidly changing Brooklyn.
The Astral is a huge rose-colored old pile of an apart­ment building in the gentrifying neighborhood of Greenpoint, Brooklyn. For decades it was the happy home (or so he thought) of the poet Harry Quirk and his wife, Luz, a nurse, and of their two children: Karina, now a fer­vent freegan, and Hector, now in the clutches of a cultish Christian community. But Luz has found (and destroyed) some poems of Harry’s that ignite her long-simmering sus­picions of infidelity, and he’s been summarily kicked out. He now has to reckon with the consequence of his literary, marital, financial, and parental failures (and perhaps oth­ers) and find his way forward—and back into Luz’s good graces.

Harry Quirk is, in short, a loser, living small and low in the water. But touched by Kate Christensen’s novelistic grace and acute perception, his floundering attempts to reach higher ground and forge a new life for himself become funny, bittersweet, and terrifically moving. She knows what secrets lurk in the hearts of men—and she turns them into literary art of the highest order.

About the Author

KATE CHRISTENSEN is the author of five previous novels, most recently Trouble. The Great Man won the 2008 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction. She has written reviews and essays for numerous publica­tions, most recently the New York Times Book Review, Bookforum, Tin House, Elle, and Open City. She lives in New York City.

Details

  • Hardcover: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Doubleday (June 14, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0385530919
  • ISBN-13: 978-0385530910
SOURCE:  PUBLISHER


MY THOUGHTS
REALLY LIKED IT

Harry Quirk has just been thrown out of his apartment (The Astral building) by his wife, Luz, when she suspects him of writing poems for another women, her best friend, Marion.  Harry doesn't understand what happened and seems more confused than anything about his impending divorce.  The author does a wonderful job relating this divorce through a man's point of view.  Harry seems lost and his two children (also outsiders) don't really know how to deal with him.  Their conflict with Harry doesn't seem to add to the story, but do offer an offbeat tangent that I liked.  Harry does start a new relationship which, to me, seems like he is trying to pick right up where the last one left off.  If you are looking for a good book where Brooklyn plays a starring role, then this one about divorce from a male perspective should be just what you are looking for.

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOKS? 


Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with a US mailing address (sorry, no PO Boxes)
Contest ends on 8.9.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 8.10.11
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.
This giveaway is sponsored by DOUBLEDAY and TWO copies are available.

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77 comments:

  1. This sounds awesome! Thanks so much for the giveaway!!

    teddybrgrrl@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow! I'm a big Christensen fan! I'm thrilled that you've made this a giveaway!

    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Just tweeted for today
    https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/96023848981499904
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

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  4. Thanks for the giveaway.

    Lizzi0915 at aol dot com

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  5. I haven't read any books by Christensen so this does look interesting. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  6. This one brings back memories! When I was dating in college, I had one fellow recycle some poetry. He had written it to a former girl friend!! I would love to read this book.

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

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  7. Sounds like a great read!
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

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  8. Tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/pmernick1/status/96308765749559296
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

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  9. This sounds pretty interesting. I especially like the writer/hipster Brooklyn setting. Count me in, please! rosita dot p dot mariani AT gmail dot com

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  10. On the ol' Tweeter Machine:
    https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/96399217261686784
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Here's my entry for July 27! patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

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  12. Daily Entry 7/27

    Lizzi0915 at aol dot com

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  13. Tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/pmernick1/status/96705114714284033
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

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  14. Daily e, 7.28
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

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  15. Back on the Tweeter for today:
    https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/96722103730053120
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

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  16. Thanks for the great giveaway.
    mce1011 AT aol DOT com

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  17. Count me in for today, Friday, July 29, rosita dot p dot mariani AT gmail dot com. Thanks for the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/pmernick1/status/97033245463556096
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

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  20. Daily e; patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

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  21. Tweeted today!
    https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/97120595778613248
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

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  22. Daily entry 7/29

    Lizzi0915 at aol dot com

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  23. Daily entry 7/30

    Lizzi0915 at aol dot com

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  24. Tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/pmernick1/status/97313555262611456
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

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  25. Daily entry 7/30. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  26. On the Tweeter again:
    https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/97473628496596992
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Daily entry
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

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  28. Daily entry 7/31. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  29. Daily tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/pmernick1/status/97719653161377792
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

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  31. Would love to win!
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Tweeted for today (Thanks so much for following, Mary!)
    https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/97854187810983936

    ReplyDelete
  33. Daily entry 8/1. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/pmernick1/status/98021868195430400
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

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  35. I'm anxious to read this!
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

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  36. Daily Entry 8/1

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

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  37. Today's tweet:
    https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/98198634599956480
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

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  38. Today's e:
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com
    8/1

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  39. Tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/pmernick1/status/98473537597227008
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

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  41. Daily entry 8/2. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  42. Daily Entry 8/2

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

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  43. I tweeted about this today:
    https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/98584973312933891
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  44. My daily e for 8.2:
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

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  45. Daily entry 8/3. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  46. Tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/pmernick1/status/98834097702567936
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

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  47. Today's tweet:
    https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/98945344360030208
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  48. Daily e: 8.3.11
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

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  49. Daily entry 8/4. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  50. Tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/pmernick1/status/99153463639949312
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    ReplyDelete
  51. On the Tweeter today:
    https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/99285047059808256
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  52. My entry for today, 8.4:
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  53. Tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/pmernick1/status/99482306032566273
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    ReplyDelete
  54. Tweeted today:
    r.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/99653272113119232
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  55. Daily e, 8.5.11: patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  56. Daily entry 8/6. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  57. Tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/pmernick1/status/99884954846117888
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    ReplyDelete
  58. Thanks for the giveaway!
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    ReplyDelete
  59. Daily tweet:
    https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/99995647465361408
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  60. Daily e, 8.6:
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  61. Daily Entry 8/6

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  62. Daily entry 8/7. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  63. Daily entry 8/7

    Lizzi0915 at aol dot om

    ReplyDelete
  64. Tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/pmernick1/status/100327884975116288
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    ReplyDelete
  65. Thanks for the giveaway!!!

    teddybrgrrl@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  66. Today's tweet:
    https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/100337518582566912
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  67. Daily e, 8.7:
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  68. Daily entry 8/8. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  69. Tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/pmernick1/status/100630091083689984
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    ReplyDelete
  70. daily e, 8.8:
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  71. Today's tweet:
    https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/100736866319478784
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  72. Daily entry 8/9. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  73. Tweet
    https://twitter.com/#!/pmernick1/status/100904689415098368
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    ReplyDelete
  74. Today's tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/101100951187898369
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  75. Daily e, 8.9:
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  76. Daily entry 8/9

    Lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  77. THE ASTRAL BY KATE CHRISTENSEN



    KARA -- Survivorluvr33


    ROBIN D. Robindpdx



    An email has been sent to the lucky people named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam). The winner(s) has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

    Thanks to all who entered.

    PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOR THE EMAIL FROM BOOKHOUNDS @ HOTMAIL REQUESTING YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!

    ReplyDelete

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