Pink Think: “Books! I dunno if I ever told you this, but books are the greatest gift one person can give another.” – Bono
Here are my thoughts on Joshua Henkin’s novel Matrimony, a 2007 New York Times Notable Book of the Year. Read to the end of the post on how you can get your own free copy! Read my Goodreads review here.
This contest is now closed. Thanks to everyone who participated. Our winner is Sunny!
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Right before Thanksgiving, I got an email from author Joshua Henkin. He was following up on his book, Matrimony, which I won through Cat at A Simple Bliss. Had I had a chance to read it? Would I be interested in reviewing, and giving it away on my blog?
I replied, I hadn’t read it yet, and normally I don’t do reviews on my blog unless it was related to my post topic. If I were to give it away, I would want to read it first.
Besides, I was pressed for time. I was nearing the end of the month and feeling discouraged because I knew I was not going to reach my Faux NaNo word count goal. The manuscript I was working on, the second draft of my historical novel, A Girl From Gurian, was not going well. I had planned on my book getting written a certain way, when it turned out more like this tie dye job I did over Thanksgiving.
I meant my shirt to have a “spiral” style, but instead, I got the “dalmatian” look. Similarly, my book was not shaping up as I had planned. In order to get to the romance, I was having to write a lot about religion. I was about ready to give up on what I perceived as a tie-dye mess.
While waiting for the computer to reboot to face another grim fiction-writing session, I picked up Matrimony. I thought, based on the title, it was a self-help book, but I quickly realized it was a novel. (Note to self: Duh!) Five pages later, I was still reading and had to stop. I was supposed to work on my novel, and instead, Matrimony was luring me into its world! I decided to take the book with me on Thanksgiving vacation.
Before and after our delicious turkey dinner, I read Matrimony. It was like my brother-in-law’s cooking, something to be savored. I wanted to devour it, but I knew I had to slow down to enjoy it.
Through the eyes of the two protagonists, Julian and Mia, and their romance tested over time, I felt nostalgic: I remembered what it was like to be in college, I remembered what it was like to have a family member be diagnosed with cancer, I remembered what it was like, despite all odds, to tackle conflict and change in a marriage. I kept reading and reading, deriving pleasure from it that I haven’t in a long time reading a book.
I came away with two things from reading Matrimony and talking to Joshua. First, good fiction is ticket to a glorious world. Second, although my second draft still needs a lot of work, it’s worth saving. It has the potential to be a work of art that I could be proud of.
Like Joshua Henkin should be of Matrimony.
Thank you, Joshua, for the unexpected gift.
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Readers, I am going to give away an autographed copy of Matrimony to one lucky winner. Enter by leaving a comment on this post and/or answering the following question:
Speaking of gifts, what gift would make YOU happy this Christmas?
Comment on this Q&A with Joshua Henkin for another entry to the contest. Deadline is December 14.
This contest is now closed. Thanks to everyone who participated. Our winner is Sunny!
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