Giveaway Winner: The Next Queen of Heaven

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to enter and follow during Midwinter's Giveaway Hop. It was a fantastic experience and I am already looking forward to joining future giveaway hops- so many chances to win! The lucky winner of The Next Queen of Heaven has been selected using random number.org and it is...

Congratulations Heather and happy holidays to everyone!

Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop: The Next Queen of Heaven

I am offering one gently used ARC of The Next Queen of Heaven by Gregory Maguire, you can see my review here. The copy is very gently used, as in I read it once and I am obsessive about my keeping my books perfect. The Next Queen of Heaven takes place during the Holiday season and was one of my recommended Christmas reads, so I thought it would be the perfect book to share so close to the actual day. However, I will only be able to ship this book early in the new year as I am visiting family as soon as this giveaway ends (sorry!). As I am paying shipping costs myself, this is a Canada/US only giveaway.

*Note the copy is an ARC and as such the cover is different

Summary of the book from Goodreads:

With the new millennium approaching, the eccentric town of Thebes grows even stranger. Mrs. Leontina Scales begins speaking in tongues after being clocked by a Catholic statuette. Her daughter, Tabitha, and her sons scheme to save their mother or surrender her to Jesus—whatever comes first. Meanwhile, choir director Jeremy Carr, caught between lust and ambition, fumbles his way toward Y2K. The ancient Sisters of the Sorrowful Mysteries join with a gay singing group. The Radical Radiants battle the Catholics. A Christmas pageant goes horribly awry. And a child is born.

Because I am paying shipping costs myself, I have decided that this time you must be a follower to enter this giveaway. To enter leave a comment letting me know something you are looking forward to in 2011- besides possibly getting this book in your mailbox! Make sure you include your e-mail address so I have a way to contact you. The winner will be randomly selected using random number.org and due to the busy time of year this giveaway is taking place you will have a week to reply to my winner announcement. This giveaway will close when the giveaway hop ends at 11:59 PM on December 22nd EST. 

Click here to visit the rest of the giveaways on this hop! I know I will.


THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED. Congrats Heather!

Christmas Reading Suggestions

Personally I have not yet done themed reading- for example, scary books in October or romance in February, but there does seem to be a lot of it going around the blogosphere and it is a great way to get yourself to read outside your normal genre. So since it is officially December and that means the holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah I figured I'd offer my suggestion for a couple winter-appropriate reads. These are all linked to Christmas, even though I'm Jewish myself, so if anyone knows of any good Hanukkah books be sure to let me know! I know we had a lot of lovely picture books related to the Festival of Lights growing up but I can't recall any of their names offhand.  

1. The Next Queen of Heaven by Gregory Maguire (Novel)
   
   
   First I have to admit that I didn't actually like The Next Queen of Heaven (see my review here), but I'm sure there are plenty of people who will, and for those that might it is a perfect book for the Christmas season. Between Christmas pageants gone awry and a woman getting hit on the head with a statue of Mary, at the very least you'll be glad this isn't your Christmas!
   
   
2. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (Young Adult)
   
   
   Even the cover of Dash & Lily's Book of Dares gets me in the mood for the holidays. The fantasy like world Cohn and Levithan create is just the kind of Christmas magic that makes December so special and this was definitely one of my favourite young adult books of the year (see my review here). The book takes place in New York and captures all of the sparkle of Christmas-time in a big city, as well as pondering what exactly the Holiday means when you are spending it by yourself like the two main characters.
   
   
3. How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss (Picture Book)
   
   
   Even though it's a picture book, anything by Dr. Seuss doesn't have an age-limit for loving it. How The Grinch Stole Christmas always gets me in the mood for a warm mug of hot chocolate and some family time. This classic story of Christmas spirit has all the lessons of A Christmas Carol without being written by Dickens. I also love the cartoon film based on the book, and when it starts playing on TV you know you better have started your gift shopping and figure out if you've been naughty or nice.
   
   
4. A Secret Gift by Ted Gup (Non-fiction)
   
   
   Although I haven't quite yet started this book, I already know it's perfect for the holiday season during which I am going to be reading it. A Secret Gift offers a great reminder of how no effort is to small to go unnoticed, and we always have something to give. It's the true story of one man who shared the Christmas spirit during the depression era, and it's certainly a good reminder about what the holidays are supposed to be about; sharing with those less fortunate.

A few honorable mentions I haven't read (maybe next year):
-Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb 
-Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris

Do you do Holiday themed reading? If so, what books are you planning to pick up this December? Also, does anyone have any novel recommendations for winter holidays other than Christmas?