07 March 2010

Sunday Salon: Giveaway: Drama

My library is so full of books that I may actually have to start storing them in my kitchen cupboards.  The husband was not thrilled with this idea, so I'm finally doing a large scale giveaway.  I've decided to do it in honor of my birthday - which is not until April 22 - because this way I can think about how wonderful it is to turn 30 - OMG I'm getting old - for the next 50 days.  Lovely.

There will be three rounds, each two weeks apart.  So welcome to....

Round 1: Here There Be Drama...

Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler is a short play featuring a remarkable character.  Hedda is "an aristocratic and spiritually hollow woman, nearly devoid of redeeming virtues" and yet one can't help but be fascinated as she vindictively lives her tragic life.  I would not be offering this one up for the taking, but I have two copies!


David Auburn's Proof fell into my hands randomly.  When I moved in to my new office at the college, the previous professor had left it on the bookshelf.  I read it without a clue as to the plot one day while eating lunch.  The story is simple:  Catherine's father is brilliant but crazy, a math genius who is so ill Catherine is his primary caregiver.  Hal, a former student, is determined to find some mathematical gem amongst hit papers, and Claire, the estranged sister is determined to live a normal life.  How much of the father was given to the daughter is the question driving the plot. 


Commonly called Oedipus Rex, Oedipus the King is popular primarily because of Freud's wonderfully intriguing theory regarding boys and their mothers: the Oedipus Complex.  An Athenian tragedy, the story features a young man who unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother.  Nasty business but don't let that stop you from reading it.  The story is fascinating.


If you have not read Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing - SHAME on you!  The story is fast-paced and exciting, full of little foibles and fun.  While the story supposedly focuses on the pure, young love of Hero and Claudio, true readers know that the fun lies with Beatrice and Benedict, two nagging middle-agers whose passions run deep.  Much Ado About Nothing is also one of my favorite film adaptations of Shakespeare's work.


Hamlet is, in my opinion, the best Shakespearean play, and one of the most intriguing and revealing stories of all time.  The characters, plot-line, themes, all work together seamlessly to draw the reader into a world so rich with emotion. I'm going to assume I don't have to summarize the plot because most have either read the play, seen one of the many films, or at least heard about it. But if you have not READ the play, you should most definitely do so.


HOW TO WIN
To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment with your email address.

Separating a bunch of "ways to get extra entries" out is time consuming for me and for those who just want to win a freaking book; however, I do want word to spread about the giveaway, so you can get an extra entry for:  Following Me (or already being a follower), Doing Anything to Promote the Giveaway (tweeting, blogging, blah, blah, blah).  That's a total of TWO possible extra entries.  Just let me know in your comment what you did and how many entries I should give you.


WHAT YOU WIN
First Place:  Two of the above books
Second Place:  Two of the remaining books
Third Place:  The remaining book OR automatic second place in the next round

All entries must be in by March 17

Next Round Features Teasers:  Salinger, Hurston, Achebe, Lanagan, and Schlink

8 comments:

  1. I read Hedda Gabler last month and loved it! (I listened to an audio version). And I very much enjoyed the movie version of Proof w/ Anthony Hopkins.

    Have you read Wit? It's one of my fave plays, and one that I think actually works really well when read as a book.

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  2. Turning 30 is really not so bad. Even though I am shortly past that age, I wasn't concerned at the time and viewed it as another great time in my life. I will say there are several ages after that I wasn't too thrilled about, but we'll save that for later.

    Never read Hedda Gabler so I would love to win that one.

    jennygirl73(AT)gmail(DOT)com
    I also posted on my side bar.

    Oh and I have a hidden stash of books at work. If my husband only knew :)

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  3. Loved several of these (especially Proof) and don't have copies of any of them not in anthologies. Consider me a contestant!

    andi (dot) miller (at) gmail (dot) com

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  4. Count me in please. Great selection.

    Happy Birthday!!!!!

    christinezeg(at)gmail(dot)com

    And I tweeted (at)booktumbling

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  5. Very interesting mix. I would like to be included please.

    Happy birthday in advance and thanks for being so generous.


    mystica123athotmaildotcom

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  6. Ooh, "Proof" sounds the best to me out of what you're offering, so yes, please, I'd like to be in the running to win. My e-mail:

    lea724 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  7. I love books and can't seem to get enough of them.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  8. Eva - I enjoyed Hedda Gabler too. I've only seen bits and pieces of the film Proof, just caught the end of it a few times. I have not read Wit, but I will certainly check it out.

    Jenny Girl - It's hilarious that you have a hidden stash of books at work! All of my work books are textbooks sent to me by publishers, but I think it's a great idea to stash a few pleasure reads there as well.

    Andi - It's always nice to have copies of plays around; I find them infinitely re-readable.

    Christine - Will do!

    Mystica - Will do!

    A - Will do!

    Linda - I am the same way. I'm practically buried in books at home and yet I still run out and buy more. :)

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