Review and Giveaway: Laura Rider's Masterpiece

 Laura and Charlie Rider have been married for twelve years. They share their nursery business in rural Wisconsin, their love for their animals, and their zeal for storytelling. Although Charlie's enthusiasm in the bedroom has worn Laura out, although she no longer sleeps with him, they are happy enough going along in their routine.

Jenna Faroli is the host of a popular radio show, and in Laura's mind is "the single most famous person in the Town of Dover." When Jenna happens to cross Charlie's path one day, and they begin an e-mail correspondence, Laura cannot resist using Charlie to try out her new writing skills. Together, Laura and Charlie craft florid, strangely intimate messages that entice Jenna in an unexpected way. The "project" quickly spins out of control. The lines between Laura's words and Charlie's feelings are blurred and complicated, Jenna is transformed in ways that deeply disturb her, and Laura is transformed in her mind's eye into an artist. The transformations are hilarious and poignant, and for Laura Rider, beyond her wildest expectations.  

 

About the Author

Jane Hamilton is the author of The Book of Ruth, winner of the PEN/Hemingway Award for first fiction, and A Map of the World, a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and named one of the top ten books of the year by Entertainment Weekly, Publishers Weekly, the Miami Herald, and People. Both The Book of Ruth and A Map of the World have been selections of Oprah's Book Club. Her following work, The Short History of a Prince, was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 1998, her novel Disobedience was published in 2000, and her last novel When Madeline Was Young was a Washington Post Best Book of 2006. She lives in and writes in an orchard farmhouse in Wisconsin.

all descriptions are taken from here

My Review

 

 The book starts out a tiny bit better than it ended.  That is to say, I did not like it in the least.  The book was supposed to be super funny.  Whoever said that does not know humor.  It was extreamly dry and boring.  The characters were dull and lifeless.  The story goes something like: Laura wants to be a writer and becomes friends with Jenna who is a radio show host.  The small town that the couple lives in thinks that Charlie, Laura's husband is gay. In reality, Charlie likes nothing more than having sex with his wife (who is very obviously female).  Laura, on the other hand, loaths doing it with him and has ended that point of the relationship.  She even wonders to herself if she loves her cats more than she loves her husband.  And then the games begin.  Charlie and Jenna start emailing each other with intimate messages.  Laura, who knows her husband's email password, sometimes writes back to Jenna (as Charlie, of course).  Yep, Laura knows about the emails.  In fact, Laura and Charlie even sit down together to write the emails out tegether at times. 

 

As you can tell, the book is very odd.  When I had first heard of the book, I thought 'oh, this might be a very cute little romance'.  NOPE.  Personally, I did not like this story at all.  I have not read anything else by Jane Hamilton either, so I must assume she is just not a very good writer.  That, or I have horrible taste in books.  (And, I'm pretty sure it is not the latter!)

 

 Giveaway Time!

Hachette has allowed 3 of my readers the chance to win their very own copy of Laura Rider's Masterpiece!

 

Rules: 

-No P.O. Boxes

-US & Canada only

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Entries:

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Giveaway ends March 30th

Heat Rating= should I even comment?
Don't waste your time!

Until Next Time,
Happy Reading!