Saturday, July 24, 2010

Happy 75th Birthday Penguin Books (and a giveaway!)


July 30th marks the official 75th anniversary date for the launch of Penguin Books, and Penguin is going all out to celebrate this summer. For a list of festivities,stories and events, go here

Penguin’s founder Allen Lane started the paperback revolution with that little flippant but dignified Penguin (his secretary came up with the name and he sent another colleague off to the zoo to make sketches). One year later, 3 million Penguin paperbacks had been sold. Today, the  Penguin imprint alone has over 4000 books in print. To learn more about their history, see here and here


Penguin has generously offered me the chance to give some lucky reader a Penguin book to commemorate their 75th anniversary.  I was asked to pick two titles from a list of 75. One was for me to keep (thank you Penguin) and the other is to give away.


Choosing one title out of seventy-five choices was no easy feat indeed, but after a little deliberation I decided to go with "Tortilla Curtain" by T.C. Boyle. 



I read "Tortilla Curtain" many years ago and the plight, misery and yet courage of the Mexican couple- protagonist, Candido and
America, never ever left me.  Today with Arizona's  immigration bill on everyone's tongues I thought this would be a very topical read.  If you're on the fence regarding this bill, believe me, this book is going to help you make your mind up, one way or another.


I include a synopsis of the book courtesy the publishers:

Topanga Canyon is home to two couples on a collision course. Los Angeles liberals Delaney and Kyra Mossbacher lead an ordered sushi-and-recycling existence in a newly gated hilltop community: he a sensitive nature writer, she an obsessive realtor. Mexican illegals Candido and America Rincon desperately cling to their vision of the American Dream as they fight off starvation in a makeshift camp deep in the ravine. And from the moment a freak accident brings Candido and Delaney into intimate contact, these four and their opposing worlds gradually intersect in what becomes a tragicomedy of error and misunderstanding


And here is a slightly more detailed run down of the book from Wikipedia.

And one from the Penguin Reading Guide.


In order to win a copy simply write a comment telling me you would like to be included in the draw.  The draw will take place on 02 August and you will be notified here, so please check this space.  Thanks!


******UPDATE********


And the winner is, "Sai Speak"


Congrats Sai, I will be e-mailing your for your address!!!  Hope you like the book!

21 comments:

Praveen Krishnan said...

Hi LR,

How are you doing? As usual, an awesome post! Looking forward to read this book :-)

Take care!!!

SFP said...

Sounds like you selected a fantastic book. Please put me in your drawing.

Lotus Reads said...

Hi, Praveen!

Long time...how are you? Really great to see you here you know?

Lotus Reads said...

I'd be glad to SFP...it's a very powerful book.l..I'm reading it for the second time now.

Mozette said...

75 years of Penguin Publishing! Wow! What a great time to be in writing! Add me into the draw please.
I've love reading books - all kinds of books - for a long time, however I haven't heard of this particular one. And reading outside my comfort zone is what Penguin has been all about since it's began.

Unknown said...

Hey LR

Will you please include me in the draw? My email is kishorek at gmail dot com. Also, I have a site that I would like to request you to mention in the links at the bottom of your blog. Please let me know how I can go about it?

Regards
Kishore

Sai said...

Hey,
This sounds like a great book. please add my name to the lucky draw as well.

The Pixy Princess said...

Yey for Penguin... and thanks for the draw. Sorry I've been a sh*te blogger friend - life at a summer camp is hectic indeed.

Will catch up with you after I'm back in G Town.

Lotus Reads said...

Hi, Mozette!

Wonderful to "meet" you! I just checked your list of blogs...is "Book Craze" your book review blog? I will definitely visit you and yes, I have your name in the hat for the draw! :)

Hi, Kishore:

Done. Your name is in the hat too!

Lotus Reads said...

Sai ~ Although this book was written atleast a decade ago, the subject matter is so current for the Arizona Immigration law comes into play on Thursday! I wish everyone could get a copy of this book, especially all those people who were involved with the writing of and the implementation of this bill!

Lotus Reads said...

Don'cha worry about staying in touch Pixie, I know how busy things are for you. Are you blogging? Wait, don't answer, I'll go check! ;-)

30in2005 said...

Ooh yes please! It sounds very interesting considering the current debate. Nothing like a topical read.

karmic said...

Wonderful sounding book Lotus. Sometimes a read like this I what might help get a better perspective on a polarized debate.
Please include me in the draw as well. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Hi
Ive been a 'silent lurker' on your blog for the past few months, and have enjoyed your posts , especially on William Dalrymple's new book.
Please include me in the draw as well- thanks!
Sonal

Anonymous said...

Good pick! Pleae include my name....

Kulot said...

Please include me in your draw!

akosikulot at gmail dot com

Leathers said...

Please include me in the draw!

Alyce said...

I would like to be included!

Mystica said...

I like stories of immigrants and how they turn their lives around in a strange country. Lately, there are lots of these books around and all of them very good.

If this is open for overseas readers, I would appreciate you including me.

mystica123athotmaildotcom

Unknown said...

hey...it sounds amazing..please include me in the draw!
-Ami Parikh

Anonymous said...

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Is this possible?