A Brief History of Montmaray Book Giveaway

'A Brief History of Montmaray' North American paperbackThe Australian and North American publication dates for The FitzOsbornes at War have been announced, so to celebrate, I’m giving away some audiobooks and signed paperbacks of the first book in the series, A Brief History of Montmaray. I realise that most regular readers of this blog have already read it – but perhaps you borrowed it from the library and would like your very own signed copy? Perhaps you have a long car trip planned for the upcoming holidays, and would love to spend eight and a half hours listening to the book being read by Emma Bering? (And she does a brilliant job of reading it with all the different voices and accents, I must say.) Or perhaps you’d like to pass the book or audiobook on to a friend? Of course, people who aren’t regular readers of this blog are very welcome to enter, too.

If you’re one of the three winners, you can choose either a signed copy of the North American paperback edition (pictured above) or the North American audiobook (on seven compact discs). All you need to do is leave a comment below, telling us the title of a book that you’ve enjoyed and would recommend to other readers.

Here are the conditions of entry:

1. You can talk about any kind of book you’ve enjoyed – young adult, children’s, fiction, non-fiction. There are no wrong answers! Just write a line or two (or more, if you’d like) saying why you recommend the book to other readers.
2. This is an international giveaway. Anyone can enter.
3. Make sure the e-mail address you enter on the comment form is a valid one, so I can contact you if you win (no one will be able to see your e-mail address except me, and I won’t show it to anyone else). Please don’t include your real residential or postal address anywhere in the comment.
4. The three winners will be chosen at random, unless there are three or fewer comments – in which case, it won’t be random and all will have prizes.
5. Entries close on the 4th of December, 2011. The winners will be e-mailed then, and I will send off the winners’ books or audiobooks as soon as possible after that.

23 thoughts on “A Brief History of Montmaray Book Giveaway”

  1. Oddly enough, a book I recently read and enjoyed was Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kästner. I liked it because he dealt with his child characters in such a wonderful way, giving them credit for being able to plan and carry out a trap to catch a thief. I would definitely recommend this to children and adults. It was a fun book.

    The copy of A Brief History of Montmaray that I read and loved was a library book, so I would really like to own a (signed) paperback copy.

    Thanks, and I can’t wait to read The FitzOsbornes at War,
    Alex Baugh

  2. Oooh! I have the UK paperbacks of both FitzOsborne books, but would love the NA audiobook. Perfect for a long drive.

    Recommendations . . . one of my favorite YA books of this year was Frannie Billingsley’s CHIME — the voice captivated me, the romance was exquisite, and the story totally fed my twin obsession.

    Also, I’m a huge fan of Kate Atkinson’s Jackson Brodie books, but I just now got around to reading her Whitbread winning BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE MUSEUM. Such a beautiful book. If I ever met Kate in person I would probably fall in a swoon at her feet.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

  3. I just finished the two Montmaray books about two weeks ago (and have reread them both in that time), so normally I would pick them, but instead will recommend one of my favorite books of all time, Never Let Me Go. Deceptively simple on the surface, but filled with layers and layers of hidden truths and dawning realizations that make reading the book as much of an experience as if you were living the lives of the characters. I never thought reflections on three children and what they did with their lives could be so affecting, but it’s an incredibly powerful book, one that I reread at least once a year.

    I am anxiously counting the days until The FitzOsbournes at War, and since I read both books on my Kindle, it would be incredible to have a physical copy! This is incredibly wonderful of you, thanks for the opportunity, and for bringing such joy to my life via these books!

  4. Can’t. Wait. Can’t! Wait! Whoo-hoo!

    Of course I can’t think about the FitzOsbornes without thinking about my Favorite Book Ever (and one of Michelle Cooper’s as well, I’m sure): Dodie Smith’s I CAPTURE THE CASTLE! This book is the traditional 13th-birthday-girl-present in my family (there were three of us girls growing up, and my Mom found us EACH a hardbacked copy – I’m hoarding one or two I’ve found for future daughters/nieces). We like to joke that as women we have gone through a phase of being most like each of the main female characters (progressing from the teenaged Cassandra through Topaz’s youthful, arty motherhood and Mrs. Cotton’s patronage – and I supposed ending up Dead Aunt Millicent, ha ha). A Classic!

    [would love the paperback if I’m lucky enough to win!]

  5. I’m excited to hear about the NA publication date for The FitzOsbornes at War! I’d love to have a signed paperback to re-read in preparation for it.

    I’m a YA librarian, so I read a lot of YA books. The most recent one I enjoyed was Delirium by Lauren Oliver. It’s a great dystopian novel. I also recently read the middle-grade book The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages. It’s a historical fiction story.

    Looking forward to The FitzOsbornes at War!

  6. One of my all time favorite books is I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. It’s a great coming of age novel, that has withstood the test of time. It never gets old, I always find something new every time I read it.

  7. Hey Michelle! A book I’ve most recently read and really loved is called “The book of awesome” by Neil Pasricha. This book was absolutely special and unique because it makes you thankful for the simple things in life. His style of writing is absolutely hilarious and he has a way of making you feel appreciative of the simple things in life such as your pillow, the smell of rain on a hot sidewalk or even sweatpants! After reading this book, I looked at everything around me differently and felt just a little more grateful about the simple pleasures of life. 🙂

  8. Hi! A book I enjoyed was the Perks of Being a wallflower by Stephen Chbosky which is a series of letters written by a teenager Charlie about the things happening around him. It is a coming of age novel and seeing unique his view on life is very honest and touching. Charlie’s voice seems real (and not like an adult talking down to teenagers) and to be honest I have fallen a bit in love with this character

    I read the series out of order, reading the Fitzosbournes in exile first. I found it be accident at the library while searching for another book. However, I ended up borrowing this one instead and have fallen in love with the characters and style. it is one of the few books where I haven’t skipped the ‘boring’ bits; I just had to read everything! I would love to win a physical copy so I could re-read my favorite parts

  9. One of the goals of my life is to get more people to read Steve Kluger’s My Most Excellent Year. It’s one of my favorite books. After I first read it, I wanted to snuggle it. It was so warm and funny and full of possibilities. That was one of the things I loved most about the three main characters–they truly believed anything was possible if they could just figure out a way to make it happen.

  10. Well, I see at least one person I directed over here in the first place– now that I’ve made all this competition for myself, I should join in!

    I feel like I ought to recommend something new, but I’m not sure I’ve read anything recently that I absolutely loved. The best book I’ve read this year is from a year or two back actually– by Frances Hardinge, here in the States it’s called The Lost Conspiracy but it had a different title in the UK (Gullstruck Island, I think?) and I have no idea what it’s called in Australia! It was just so UNIQUE, a true delight to read. It’s a book about which I want to tell people, “Whatever made you think you weren’t interested in this book, YOU’RE WRONG. READ IT ANYWAY.”

  11. I just read “The Owl Service” by Alan Garner last night! It’s a brilliant albeit creepy book and is really well written and has a great plot. I’ve read it before but that was ages ago so I couldn’t really remember what happened. Anyway it’s a BRILLIANT book, an absolutely AWESOME kind of brilliant 🙂 readitreaditreaditnownownownow!!!

  12. Recently read and thoroughly enjoyed Tuesdays at the Castle, by Jessica Day George – middle-grade fantasy novel involving a royal family and a castle that adds rooms at its own whim, changes guests’ rooms depending on its opinion of the guests, and helps the youngest child fight against usurpers.

    Must also agree with the recommendation above of My Most Excellent Year (which could be added to your GayYA list). Terrific, happy book, with theater and baseball and many other wonderful things.

    I’d love a physical copy of Brief History (couldn’t use the audiobook, though). And can’t wait to read the third book!

  13. My favourite book of all time is Tully by Paullina Simons, because I can relate to each of the characters in a different way! I would love to win a copy of your book for my mum, she would be thrilled 🙂

  14. I loved the ‘Luxe’ series by Anna Godbersen. The books are set in late 1800’s America. I would say that the books are suited to young people who enjoy historical novels (like the Montmaray trilogy!), but also enjoy a sense of mystery and gossip.

  15. The book I strongly recommend is a non-fiction story “The Road of Lost Innocence” by Somaly Mam.
    Born in a village deep in the Cambodian forest, Somaly Mam was sold into sexual slavery by her grandfather when she was twelve years old. For the next decade she was shuttled through the brothels that make up the sprawling sex trade of Southeast Asia. Trapped in this dangerous and desperate world, she suffered the brutality and horrors of human trafficking – rape, torture, and deprivation – until she managed to escape with the help of a French aid worker. Emboldened by her newfound freedom, education, and security, Somaly blossomed but remained haunted by the girls in the brothels she left behind.

    For her tireless efforts, Somaly has justifiably garnered world-wide respect and is now a renowned leader at the forefront of the anti-trafficking struggle.
    http://www.somaly.org/about-smf/somaly-mam

  16. One of my most enjoyed recent reads would be The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson. It’s a great epic fantasy with compelling characters and an intriguing, unique premise. (Of course, looking at the entries above me, Chime and I Capture the Castle are also big favorites of mine.) I would love a copy of A Brief History of Montmaray. 🙂

  17. Hi Michelle!

    I am doggedly working my way through CS Lewis’ diary 1922-27. It is sometimes fascinating, and sometimes a bit dense. I love his descriptions of his walks, and the reading he does for his courses at Oxford. It’s insightful to read his young opinions on Shakespeare and Milton and so many others from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries that one never hears about anymore. Not exactly a page turner, but I find it good reading, and I get regular jolts of connectedness, the odd giggle, and the comforting reminder that nobody feels inspired to study or write all the time.

    I would love a signed paperback Brief History to go with my signed FitzOsbornes in Exile!

    Yours,
    Hermina

  18. Hi there!

    Two books I recently read and liked (I’m including two because they follow on from each other) are Caragh O’Brien’s YA “Birthmarked” and “Prized.” They’re set in the future and deal with a genetic crisis, midwifery, and patriarchy and some rather chilling reflections of current day issues such as abortion, freedom and, well, patriarchy. The second book especially is quite interesting from a feminist point of view, because the society the main character escapes to is an actual matriarchy, if no less oppressive than the patriarchy she escaped from. It does trouble me a bit that it’s s much easier to spot the oppression in the matriarchy than in the patriarchy, but I guess it still gets readers to think about the whole issue. I’ll leave it there… I think I’ve waffled on about the patriarchy enough now.

    Anyway, best wishes for the release!

  19. The book I have just finished reading is The Tangled Thread by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, about the end of the 18th century in England and France. It has some lovely (and terrifying) descriptions of the French Revolution and how and why it all went wrong, as well as an English girl who wants to be a doctor and runs away disguised as a boy to work on a ship, which apparently actually happened. Like Montmaray, it is a lovely way to learn about what life was like in the past and find out how people saw historical events at the time.

    I already have a copy of A Brief History of Montmaray, so I don’t need another one, but if I win can I send it to you to be signed please?

  20. I have recently read and loved The Game of Sunken Places by M.T. Anderson. It was kind of scary/thrilling and just really well done. It is about two boys who go to visit a strange old uncle and have to solve a mystery. I’m going to say it is like Jumanji mixed with The Secret Garden.

    However, my favorite book for a while now has to be Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock. So I have to give a shout out to that one. (As an aside, I have introduced my mom and my aunts to your FitzOsbornes novels and we all absolutely love them! Next October seems like a long time away but I’ll try to enjoy the anticipation.)

  21. So excited for The FitzOsbornes at War! It is on the top of my to-read list for 2012!

    I could write about the books I love that are well known by many readers, but instead I’d like to mention my favourite 1930’s children’s series, to which I owe my habit of saying ‘ought’ and ‘beastly’ and ‘duffer’ even still! That is of course The Swallows and Amazons series by Arthur Ransome, which I loved so much that I enforced a camping/canoeing trip on my family at age twelve just to live it out. I hear the BBC is adapting it as a series at the moment, and while I doubt it will live up to the 1964 film, I have high hopes.

    I will leave you with a quote from the first in the series:

    “Hands up for making him walk the plank!” Her hand and Peggy’s went up at once. So did Titty’s. So did Roger’s. John and Susan hesitated. “Oh, look here,” said Nancy, “no weakening. It’s far too good a plank to waste.”

  22. I was very delighted to see “I capture the Castle” listed twice as I just discovered it last year. But the fourth in the Flavia deLuce series, “I am Half-sick of Shadows” has just come out. Flavia is beyond unique, an 11 year old chemistry whiz with her own laboratory in an old British mansion. Flavia is incredibly bright and witty, with two rather nasty older sisters. In all four stories she has a murder to solve. The writing is so colorful that it reminds me of Grahame’s “The Wind in the willows”. For reasons unfathomable to me, these books by Alan Bradley are housed in the adult area of book stores, libraries and reviews.
    And the atmosphere has the rather dreamlike quality of the FitzOsbornes. Thank you, Michelle!

  23. Wow…favorite book. Well, my favorite book changes all the time. Lately, I’m kind of obsessed with The Hunger Games series, which a lot of people are… But I would recommend it to other readers. The plot is riveting, and even when it’s not, the characterization is really excellent. Other favorites include I Capture the Castle (a recent read), The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak, the FitsOsborne books (of course), The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (a bit disturbing at times, and maybe hard to get into, but at the end, it’s really good), and finally anything by Lisa Klein, who is a pretty awesome historical fiction writer. I hope my entry still counts…even though I’ve listed many favorite books. 😉

    I do have a copy of A Brief History already, but would love a chance to win another signed copy. Who knows — I might keep it, or give it as a gift.

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