April Book Club: "This One Is Mine" by Maria Semple

I am pleased to announce the EDIWTB book club for April - This One Is Mine, by Maria Semple. Thanks to Hachette, I have a number of copies of This One Is Mine to give away to readers who would like to participate in the book club.

Here's some info about the book from Amazon:

Former television producer and writer Semple bashes Hollywood celebrity, New Age nonsense and struggling relationships in this smart and funny debut. Violet Parry, who puts aside a TV writing career to have a baby and take care of the sumptuous L.A. home of her legendary impresario hubby, David, scratches a seven-year itch with D-list rocker Teddy Reyes. Yet Violet is hardly ready for the roller-coaster ride with a man who thinks only "about my rent and my car and getting laid and staying sober." Meanwhile, David's conniving sister, Sally, sets out to snag a rich husband, training her sights on Jeremy, a robotic sports-stats genius with a promising TV career. In one of the most hilarious sendups of New Age claptrap, David figures out if he's willing to stick around to see where Violet's wild ride will take them. Semple's takes are tack sharp as her delightful cast is driven comically and tragically ever deeper into a culture of artifice. Semple obviously knows her turf, and she does an exquisite job of stomping all over it.

You can read more about This One Is Mine at Nicole's review on Linus's Blanket, who says the book is "highly recommended". She concludes, "This book and its characters are memorable ones and they still continue to stick with me and come to the top of my list of books that I recommend, especially if you like great characterizations and drama. It had a bit of mystery as well because I wanted to see how they would all end out and there were a variety of possibilities that I would have been okay with, which is nice." 

Deb at Just Short of Crazy says that "Maria Semple writes with comic brilliance in this smart, compassionate, wickedly funny take on our need for more--and the sometimes disastrous choices we make in the name of happiness."

If you'd like to participate in the book club for This One Is Mine, send me an email at [email protected] with the following information, single-spaced, by Friday March 19:

Name

Address

Email address

Once the books are mailed out, I will set a date that gives everyone enough time to read it.

Looking forward to the book, and thank you Hachette!

Comments

[Melissa (Betty and Boo's Mommy)]

Just received this in the mail this week and am really looking forward to reading this. I loved "Mad About You" so as soon as I heard Maria Semple wrote for them, I was sold.

[mari partyka]

I have a copy of this book and would love to participate (I don't need a copy of the book).

I look forward to the discussion!

[Gayle]

Mari and Melissa - glad you're in!

[Lisa]

Sounds like a fun one to read while I'm enjoying spring on the patio!

[Nicole]

I am looking forward to jumping in on this conversation and seeing what everyone has to say.

[Becca:)]

I am supposed to be getting this book in the mail from the author, but I haven't received it yet. Maybe if I get it in time for your book club...