Pages

Friday, July 30, 2010

Penguin Books Anniversary Bash (with a gift for you!)

Any prolific reader would recognize the Penguin book logo when they saw it. It's everywhere - and well it should be. Penguin Books is turning 75 years old! They've been around long enough for anyone to take good notice of them!

Now, honestly, could you spout off a list of Penguin paperback titles if asked? Here are some titles we can thank them for:

At Home in Mitford, by Jan Karon

The Memory Keeper's Daughter, by Kim Edwards (which I still have on my TBR list!)

Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson

...and tons more.

Here are some children's book authors you might recognize in their lineup:

The Mitten, by Jan Brett

Animals, Animals, by Eric Carle

Penguin created a 75th Anniversary website if you'd like to learn more about them. One cool feature is the Penguin Timeline. It starts in 1935 when founder Allen Lane published the first Penguin title in England, which sparked a "paperback revolution."

Best yet, they are hosting a huge giveaway and offering bloggers some of their favorite titles. I was asked if I would like to select a title for myself and one of my readers. I picked The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde because I had been wanting to read it! So, I'm being sent a copy and one of you will also be sent one!

I have not yet read this book but was intrigued by the premise. Here is the description from Penguin's website:

In Jasper Fforde's Great Britain, circa 1985, time travel is routine, cloning is a reality (dodos are the resurrected pet of choice), and literature is taken very, very seriously. England is a virtual police state where an aunt can get lost (literally) in a Wordsworth poem and forging Byronic verse is a punishable offense. All this is business as usual for Thursday Next, renowned Special Operative in literary detection. But when someone begins kidnapping characters from works of literature and plucks Jane Eyre from the pages of Brontë's novel, Thursday is faced with the challenge of her career. Fforde's ingenious fantasy—enhanced by a Web site that re-creates the world of the novel—unites intrigue with English literature in a delightfully witty mix.
I have high hopes!

Would you like to win a copy to read alongside me? To win, simply leave a comment below. This contest is open to U.S. Residents only and will be open through Thursday, August 5th. I will announce the winner on Friday, August 6th. This contest is open to U.S. Residents only.

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED

What I'm most afraid of is that I will absolutely love this book series and then will have to track every title down. Oh the horrors of it all, right?

Here's a HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Penguin Books and thanks for the gift of the book to myself and one of my readers!

40 comments:

Heidi said...

Looks like an interesting read, and different from what I'm normally have to choose from around here.

Janet said...

Too funny... I just started this novel last night!

I'm not sure I'm eligible if I'm already reading it, but I had to comment anyway on the timing...

Stephanie said...

I think I have already read this - the author's name sounds familiar, but I'd love to try it in case my memory is bad. : )

Amy @ Hope Is the Word said...

What an intriguing concept for a book! Sign me up! (At first glance, it reminds me a little of Inkheart.)

Cassandra said...

Wow! What an intriguing plot line. I've never read a book like this. Sounds interesting.

Annette W. said...

I love Penguin, and remember MANY books from childhood had that friend on the spine!

I'd love the chance at this book!

debbie said...

It sounds like a good story, I would like to read it.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Mark Baker said...

You know, I don't think I have this book in the series. Sign me up.

Lee3000 said...

Time travel is so funny . . . no it isn't! This is me, from the future, warning you to not pick me!

sheisreading said...

I've never won a book blog contest before. Maybe today's the day!

Heather

Nicole said...

Oh wow! I adore Jasper Fforde.
mybookviews[at]gmail.com

Barbara H. said...

That sounds intriguing!

Marquis said...

Never read anything by that Author.

Alicia said...

I always need a new book to read!

Alison said...

I'm going to have to add this book to my to read list.

Brooke from The Bluestocking Guide said...

Me me me!

thebluestockingguide at me dot com

apple blossom said...

Oh, please put my name in the hat. Thanks
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Carol M said...

This sounds like a fun read! Please enter me! Thank you!
mittens0831 at aol dot com

karenk said...

thanks for the opportunity to read this fabulous novel :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Stephanie Kay said...

Sounds like an interesting premise.

LuAnn said...

Sounds like a great book. I would love to win it.

ChristyJan said...

Sounds like a fun and quirky read.
I'd love to win a copy.

hawkes(at)citlink.net

Anonymous said...

Sounds interesting, count me in. Thanks.
peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

Amy DM said...

I would absolutely love to win this. My daughter's favorite literary character is Jane Eyre. This would make a great Christmas present.

Winning Readings said...

Looks like an interesting one!

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

Interesting plot!
artandjen at juno dot com

Jen N

wmmahaney said...

I would love to read this.
wmmahaney(at)att(dot)net

Leslie said...

Happy anniversary, Penguin Books! I'd probably like this book! leslie [at]lesliewiggins.com

throuthehaze said...

Sounds interesting!
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Angela C. said...

I would love to win! Thanks for the giveaway!

accoupons at gmail dot com

Heather VanTimmeren said...

This looks intriguing! It will definitely be added to my TBR list regardless of whether or not I win.

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I really like Jasper Fforde. Please enter me!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Benita said...

Great! Please count me in.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Linda Kish said...

Sounds kind of quirky. I'd love to read it.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Bakersdozen said...

I would love to read this. It sounds like it would be fun to see how the characters are developed. vidomich(at)yahoo(dot)com

bayctygrl said...

wow! sounds like a great fun book!

hippopurplemonkey at yahoo dot com

Latter-day Saint Mom said...

Enter me please!
cparkins14 AT teancum.net

LoveMyCoffee said...

I would love to win this book. I've actually had it on my wish list for awhile now.

Dutchlvr1(at)aol(dot)com

Barb @ 1SentenceDiary said...

Looks like a good read. I hope you enjoy it. Can't wait to read your review :-)

Lisa Spence said...

Pick me!

Top  blogs