For months now, I’ve been following the details on the release of the book “The Ruins of Us“. It was written by Keija Parssinen, the sister of a dear friend.
“The Ruins of Us” is a timely story about intolerance, family, and the injustices we endure for love that heralds the arrival of an extraordinary new voice in contemporary fiction.
The author, Keija, was born in Saudi Arabia and lived there for twelve years as a third-generation expatriate. She earned a degree in English literature from Princeton University and received her MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where she held a Truman Capote Fellowship and a Teaching-Writing Fellowship. For “The Ruins of Us“, her first novel, she received a Michener-Copernicus Award. She lives with her husband on the edge of a quarry in Missouri.
I’ve got a copy of “The Ruins of Us” to give away to one lucky soul. To enter, simply comment on this post. As always, multiple comments are welcome – every comment is one entry. Giveaway ends Friday February 3rd at noon. US and Canada residents only.
AND YOU SAY YOU’RE IN A BOOK CLUB?
Well hot diggity dog have I got a deal for you! If your book club chooses “THE RUINS OF US”, Keija has generously agreed to Skype / FaceTime / call in for an Author Q&A. Awesome, right?
Now, start commenting to win this awesome book.
Or just go ahead and purchase it as your next book club book.
I would so love to win this for my book club!
Well, for me, but you know- for them too!
{Love this!}
I would so love to win this for my book club!
Well, for me, but you know- for them too!
{Love this!}
A mommakiss style giveaway? Omg yay.
Been dying to win this'
Pick
Me
PLEASE!
Pretty please
I can always use a new book. Now I just need to move closer to y'all.
Looks great. I'm ready for a new read.
I'm always up for a good book. Count me in.
Yes! Please!
I'm dying to read this book.
And although I'm happy to buy a copy…
…free would be nice too!
Very good article. Congratulations.
I want!
Sounds interesting. Count me in, please!
-Sandy Shoes
oooh oooh
me
me
pick meeeeeeeeeeeeee
Not an entry: just to tell those commenting here: this book is the best example of power in subtlety I've read in years.
YEARS.
Thoroughly beautiful, clean, stripped only of that which you need.
I LOVE all the extra flowery gone: JUST THE EMOTION of it all swept me away.
really, such a word master.
Def marking this for our new book club!
Okay, book signing with the author is 11 days and counting.
I've got just enough time to get it.
Read it.
Arrange a sitter.
And get some face time.
So um, you know.
YOU COULD PICK ME!@!!!
I can't really go to the signing without reading it, ya know.
If I win, I'll send pics of the author.
If I don't win, I may send pics of what #TheDude dumped.
Just sayin.
Don't feel obligated to pick me just because I mailed you goodies.
But there is more where that came from.
Just Saying.
Someone stop me.
Oooh, madwoman. Do not take up my space.
I mean. If you don't win this one, just buy it for the book signing!
Because this one?
Is MINE.
Alllllll
Mine
KLZ, have I told you lately how beautiful you are?
How amazing you look in jammies?
And how cute your kids are?
They are. They're totally cute.
Wickedly cute, even!
This book – GIMME.
I'm almost done with my fictional fluff, need some meaty words to take in.
I mean. not meaty like made of meat. But 'hearty' and, well, non-fluffy.
You know what I mean, right?
p.s. how did you find time to read with an infant and toddler around?
if I didn't worship you before, I totally do now.
I need this – a real book.
Love my kindle and all – but holding a book feels just plain awesome.
Not to mention, it's Tarja's sister and well, AWESOME!
That was ALLCAPSAWESOME by the way.
ALL
CAPS.
I'll be back.
to win.
Wow, am I impressed with Momma Kiss and Mad Woman! Dang!
Thank you so much for your support of this book, KLZ!
xoxo Chalupa
ps – obviously not an entry.
oh see you MommKiss.
KLZ, she's giving you lip service.
to win a book!
who does that?
okay, I do. shhhh
And now that I've thought about strategy…
I'll pepper you with love.
A little here.
a little there.
so…I'll be BAAAACCCCKKK
Ever since I read #1 on your list, I trust you with my reading material…
Hmmmm, hoping to slide in between MK & Mad Woman
;dlkfja;lkdghjaoehno;hi
That's Dylan's entry for the day.
Books are my favorite.
Slide on in Angela. We'll make a sandwich.
It sounds like a fascinating book!
I want it!
Back off MamaKiss!
And MadWoman!
Yep. I'm going to tweet this, also.
Because I can.
XO
i JUST tweeted this. i would love this for my book club and for me…now that the baby is a little older and napping (somewhat) more predictably, I am making more time to read again—how I've missed it!! thank you so much for hosting this and how exciting—-WOOT!
and have i mentioned lately how much i love you?
and the books you tell us about?
i trust your taste.
that sounds bad.
p.s. do you have a banana?
Hey you!
Came back to check the competition.
You know, one of these single commenters is going to win.
And obviously they would deserve it!
Just as much as I would.
Oh, man, would I do wonderful things with this book.
I would love it and hug it and call it george!
{not really george}
I'd call it Flying Chalupa's Aunt's baby.
Or The Flying Chalupa's cousin.
I would totally hug the book, though. No matter what I named it.
I like books. A lot. Don't tell my kindle, though – been having an affair with it lately.
Shhhhhh. This book will be loved!
You're gonna text me if I win, right?
No matter what time of day or night?
I mean, I'm not up with a newborn at all hours or anything, but I do sleep with my phone near my head.
It's my alarm, I have to have it near me.
So yes, please, as SOON as I've won – let me know!!!
Promise? YAY!
I totally want to read this book.
Like, really want to win it.
Did I tell you that you have the cutest baby in the WHOLE ENTIRE world??
Well if Rach said that you have cutest baby in the whole world, I'm saying whole damn UNIVERSE.
Cuz it's true. I even looked at his newest pics on my cell.
Showed my lunch date.
Confirmed. Cute Kid.
Who will one day love to read. Like my kids.
Me reading this book will help my boys in their love of reading.
But I have to win it to read it.
Did I win yet?
When is this over? I can go and go and go and go and go. You know I can.
Excuse me!
Bring on the battle of the comments!
People, lets make this interesting, shall we?
Because of my love of all the parties involved….
There will be a prize for 2nd place!
I, being the MAD woman that I am…
Will give a copy to ANOTHER reader!
Its true! But you better comment!
It looks like its between me and MommaKiss.
BUUUUTTTTTT there is still time.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Did you know that you're beautiful too?
I mean, I find it hard to believe that you just had a baby.
And what adorable babies you have.
Really, they should be on magazines.
As should you.
Psst…I think Momma Kiss & Mad Woman are SPAMMERS…
Just thought you should know.
But you know I'm a real person.
I'll be your BFF.
And help you UNPACK & CLEAN your house.
Think about it.
SPAMMERS?!?!?!?!
I can not wait to read this! Whether it is a free copy, or one I have to buy myself. It looks awesome!
DonutsMama wants to make this PERSONAL?
Well, I'm above all that!
I'd like to believe my interests are firmly focused on the arts.
I, for one, am excited about reading an evocative and illuminating book.
I see I'm not making any friends here.
But that's ok.
I'm here to WIN BABY!
But I do promise to read the book.
Did you just call me a can of fake meat?
Spam? It's not even remotely close to meat.
This kid? I'm the real thing.
Beef, baby. That's me.
KLZ, I'll clean your house and unpack AND fold your laundry.
I'm gonna let you think about that one for a bit.
Just a smidge.
It's a super impressive offer, isn't it?
Mad Woman? You're giving a book away, too?? WTF? Do I need to spread the comment crack around?
Don't mind me while I just laminate some posters of KLZ.
To hang on my wall.
And sing sweet lullabys to.
I spelled that wrong. But the “auto correct” didn't look right.
Nursery Rhymes?
That looks better.
Did you consider that offer of mine yet?
Just let me know, I'm waiting. Patiently. Kinda.