Monday, May 3, 2010

Janna Touts Joanna -- Spreading the Awesome

What caught my eye that day, poking through antiques, was a small collection of novels. I can never turn away, you know.
`
I liked the one book's blue spine. (Ask my best friend; she'll tell you I'm drawn to blue. In clothes, furniture, trinkets. Always blue.) I lifted it from the others; its trade paperback size perfect in my hands. And from the back cover blurb to the front cover endorsement, it smacked of women's fiction. So it had me, see.
`
When I got to the front register, the shopkeeper said it had been her copy. "Joanna Trollope, she's one of my favorites. I'm glad to see the book find someone new."
`
***
`
Second Honeymoon is a tale of family and of change, wrapped in the tenderness and fragility of motherhood.
`
Edie Boyd's children have all grown and moved out, leaving both the nest and her heart empty. Her sense of purpose, gone. Her life's work, unraveled. She has no choice but to scrabble through, and revive her marriage to Russell, try to resuscitate an acting career she'd once set aside.
`
Until, that is, one circumstance after another leads each of the kids home again, and Edie has the option of reclaiming her role of a lifetime: motherhood. But is anything as good the second time around?
`
Trollope's writing is beautiful, full of heart and depth. Her insights into life, into the emotions of a woman, wife and mother, build a story of truth and relatability. It's women's fiction, perfected.
`
***
`
This post is part of Spreading the Awesome, an event created and hosted by Elana Johnson. Today you'll find bloggers, all over the internet, sharing details about the books they most love, and the incredible authors behind them.
`
I'll refer you now to Gretchen McNeil. She'll be sharing her own review and the link for another blog and review, and so on, in our round-robin way of connecting one to the next and (eventually) back again.
`
For Elana's all-inclusive list of bloggers and the links to their awesome, visit her page of recommended reads.
`
***
`
So Joanna Trollope, she's one of my favorites. And this is my way of helping her books find someone new.

47 comments:

Kara said...

Sounds like a wonderful book. I love to find books this way:)

Slamdunk said...

Did you judge a book by its cover then?

Ha, sounds like you found a winner.

Terri Tiffany said...

This book would be my kind of read cause I can so relate:)

Diane said...

Covers are so important. They do draw you in! :O)

Rebecca Nazar said...

I'm always on the lookout for a good read, thanks.

Unknown said...

This looks like a wonderful book. That Elana is one smart cookie!

patti said...

Oh, dear, she's right up there with Maeve Binchy!

Thanks for plugging another writer.
LOVE IT!@!

Patti

Unknown said...

So glad to add a women's fiction title to my growing to-read list today. Thanks for the recommendation!

Wendy Paine Miller said...

Ohps, missed this spreading of love deal. Next time maybe. Like the description of this one.
~ Wendy

Courtney Barr - The Southern Princess said...

sounds great! I cannot wait to check this one out!


Visit My Kingdom Anytime

JLC said...

Looks like a great story. I always imagined taking one of those 'around the world' cruises when the last munchkin moves out. It would get me out of the house for a long time, and by the time I get back, I would be ready for that new chapter in my life.
Thanks for sharing!

Jody Hedlund said...

Awesome! I was wondering what the "Spreading the Love" was about! I've seen it several places now. Thanks for your explanation!

MedSchoolWife said...

Sounds interesting!

Natalie said...

That sounds really good.

~Jamie said...

Okay, that cover is freakin' adorable. I would have been drawn to it too!

Janet Johnson said...

Thanks for the recommendation. Sounds like a good read. :)

Suzette Saxton said...

Thanks for the recommendation! I like blue, too. Especially antique glass blue.

Lydia Kang said...

Looks like a great read (and I love the cover!)

Caroline Starr Rose said...

This sounds lovely. I'm writing it down.

Christine Fonseca said...

Sounds like another great book!

Anonymous said...

Love the suggestion...thanks!

Sherrie Petersen said...

Thanks for introducing me to a new author!

Tamika: said...

I love Women's Fiction! Thanks for the recommendation, I have been a bit stilted in my reading lately. This motivates me!

Shannon Messenger said...

Sounds like a fantastic read. Thank you so much for pointing it out to me! :)

Janna Leadbetter said...

Thanks, everyone! I'm glad so many are interested in the book.

And welcome to those who've never been to SSW before. :)

Angela Ackerman said...

Looks like a great book. I do this too sometimes--something about the book calls to me and even before I read the back copy I decide to buy it. :)

Clementine said...

I got that email from Elana, but I'm so behind that I haven't had a chance to participate. I'm looking forward to reading everyone's posts. Oh, I LOVE to antique shop. There is a wonderful strip mall down the street from me. Next time I'm in there, I'll look for something blue *grin*

Carolina M. Valdez Schneider said...

It's funny--I do the same with anything corral colored.

And by the way, it looks like we have very similar tastes in adult books. I LOVE Elizabeth Berg and Anita Shreve. I just met Elizabeth Berth last week, actually! What an amazing experience. I nearly hyperventilated, I think. But I am not familiar with Joanna Trollope yet. And this sounds like something I'd love to read--very much in line with Berg and Shreve. Thanks for the recommendation!

Karen Lange said...

Sounds interesting, I may have to find this one:) Thanks for sharing with us!

Shannon O'Donnell said...

So many great new books to read- today has been so much fun! Thanks for another wonderful recommendation, Janna! :-)

Jill Kemerer said...

The colors in the cover grabbed me too. I'm adding this one to my library list.

Elana Johnson said...

Excellent review! I'm going to see if I can't get my hands on a copy of this book!

J.R. Johansson said...

Ooh, that sounds really awesome. I'll definitely have to check it out. Thanks, Janna!

Nichole Giles said...

Sounds good. I love recommendations like this.

Thanks!

Jessica Nelson said...

I missed the spreading the awesome thing, but this sounds like a good story. Moving.
Although, once my kids move out, I'm not sure if I'd want them back. *grin* Less time to write, you know.
Unless they came back and waited on me. Did laundry. Made me food. Oh yeah. That would be great. LOL

Thanks for the review! I'm glad you found a great new author.

Sage Ravenwood said...

So you like blues? No wonder we read each other, it couldn't be helped with me having a name like Indigo could it (winks).

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll have to check out Joanna Trollope's books. (Hugs)Indigo

Joanne said...

I haven't read Trollope in a few years, but always enjoyed her work. This one looks great, I'll definitely add it to my to-read list. And that cover would've caught my eye too, it's very catchy!

Ladybird World Mother said...

Love Joanna Trollope... she has written some goodies. Dont think I have read this one... must go and get it! x

B.J. Anderson said...

This looks so great! I'll have to add it to the list. Yikes, my list is getting long and out of control.

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

"Helping her books find someone new." Beautifully said...I posted an author interview today of a friend who writes lovely mysteries/romance/women's fiction. She is a wonderful talented friend and my hope id by my post some of her newest (and older) books will find homes and my readers will find a new favorite author. :)

Janna, I've seen your name all over the place lately....so I had to check you out. :)

Theresa Milstein said...

Elana's idea for these book reviews is great. This one sounds awesome. Thanks for reviewing it.

myletterstoemily said...

i wonder if she's related to the famous
trollope ?

Janna Leadbetter said...

myletterstoemily, she is! He was an uncle, or grandfather, somewhere down the line. It's in the blood! :)

myletterstoemily said...

janna, how cool is that! the apple doesn't
fall far from the tree . . .

Deb Shucka said...

What a great way to talk about books! I love your review and have added the title to my list of books to add to my pile(s).

Margo Berendsen said...

Just based on the number of authors that you have listed as your favorites, that are also my favorites (almost all of them), I think I will like this novel. Never heard of Joanna Trollope, but it sounds like a beautiful book.

Rebecca said...

Trollope is one of my favorite fiction writers, too. I think I've read all she's written and can't wait for a new one! The other author I enjoy is Adriani Trigiana. Have you read any of hers? And of course Maeve Binchy...