Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Spotlight and Giveaway: APOLOGIZE, APOLOGIZE! by Elizabeth Kelly


Thanks to the generous folks at
Hachette Book Group,
I have been authorized to
 give away three (3) copies of
APOLOGIZE, APOLOGIZE!
by Elizabeth Kelly.

Rules for entering this giveaway are at the bottom of this post.


by Elizabeth Kelly

Publisher: Twelve
Category: Fiction
Format: Trade Paperback
Publish Date: 3/30/2010
Price: $13.99/$0.00
ISBN: 9780446406154
Pages: 336
Size: 5-1/4" x 8"

Description (from the publisher):
APOLOGIZE, APOLOGIZE! takes us into the perversely charmed world of the Flanagans and their son, Collie (who has the questionable good fortune to be named after a breed of dog). Coming of age on Martha's Vineyard, he struggles to find his place within his wildly wealthy, hyper-articulate, resolutely crazy Irish-Catholic family: a philandering father, incorrigible brother, pigeon-racing uncle, radical activist mother, and domineering media mogul grandfather (accused of being a murderer by Collie's mother).

About the author (from the publisher):
Elizabeth Kelly is a magazine editor and award-winning journalist with several Canadian National Magazine Awards and nominations to her credit. Apologize, Apologize! is her first novel. It will be published as part of Knopf Canada's "New Face of Fiction" program in April, 2009. She has a profoundly (some might say tragically) Catholic education, attending a Catholic elementary school, a convent high school, and then St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto, where she majored in English, multiple fiancés, and truancy. Years of poverty, strong opinions, and poor judgment ensued. Today, a largely unrecognized authority on Guns N' Roses, she lives in a century-old house in a little eastern Ontario village where she hides from visitors and nightly prays that she won't one day be found under an avalanche of old newspapers, partially consumed by dogs—one Labrador Retriever named Chip in particular.




READING GROUP GUIDE

Discussion Questions

1) Throughout this account of Collie Flanagan’s life (so far), he appears to be the only conventional—or perhaps even sane—member of his family. However, the novel is told from his perspective. Do you feel like you can trust what he’s saying?

2) What do you think of Collie’s mother? Does she seem to have lived a life of passion, or is she defined only by her rebellion against her aristocratic roots?

3) Should Collie have gone in after Bingo and the others, knowing as he did that there was no hope?

4) In one interview, Elizabeth Kelly referred to Bingo as “representative of full-blown adolescence, but in all its glory,” and as something of a heroic character as well. What do you make of him?

5) Elizabeth Kelly has clearly had a lot of fun creating the hilarious and often manic characters at the heart of this novel. How did you react to the various Flanagan family blowouts? Did you more often cringe or laugh out loud?

6) Talk about the role of money in this novel: who has it and who doesn’t; how it can be a motivator, or stunt one’s ambitions; how it insulates the Flanagans, yet forces them into the limelight; and so on.

7) “Dignity is the last refuge of scoundrels,” Collie’s father was known to say, and he certainly was one to put himself into undignified positions, despite his charm and sharp clothes. What do you make of him as a man, and as a father?

8) Who is your favorite character in this novel, and why?

9) Collie and Bingo have a relationship that’s not always straightforward, yet at its heart is a strong sibling love. What does each expect, and receive (or not), from the other?

10) What was Collie hoping to achieve in El Salvador? Did he change as a result of his experiences there?

11) What are Collie Flanagan’s personal strengths? Were there small events that stood out for you as monumental in terms of proving his character?

12) More than any other member of the Flanagans, Collie has a close—if complex—relationship with his grandfather, Peregrine Lowell. Why is that so? How has their relationship developed by the end of the novel?

13) The Flanagans inhabit a world of elite privilege, yet are so self-absorbed you can’t help but wonder whether they’d even notice if the rest of humanity ceased to exist. Does Collie rise above all that, or is he just like the rest of them?

14) Collie’s father has a knack for showing up wildly drunk for even the most staid of events, including the funerals held for his wife and son. Talk about how his disappearances and arrivals function in the novel.

15) Whenever anyone talks to Collie about the events of the day Bingo and his mother died, they always get the details wrong. What is Kelly saying about living up to the expectations of others in this novel? Should Collie have stood up for himself more often?

16) The Flanagans are a wild and wildly humorous bunch, and even their seemingly unwarranted jabs at Collie are terrific. Discuss the role of cutting humor and over-the-top judgment in the novel.

17) At the end of the novel, Collie appears to have come to terms with his family, or at least seems to have achieved some measure of peace. What does the future hold for Collie Flanagan?

RULES FOR ENTERING THE GIVEAWAY:

• Leave a comment on this post telling me you would like to win. Include an email address with your comment so that I can contact you if you do win. Use a spam-thwarting format such as geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com or geebee.reads [at] gmail [dot] com

You must leave an email address in order to qualify. If I can't contact you, you can't win!

• You can earn an extra entry by being or becoming a Follower or Subscriber of this blog and telling me about it in a separate comment.

• Blog about this contest and provide me with the link to the post in a separate comment, and I'll give you yet another entry.

• Tweeting about this contest and providing me the link in a separate comment will get you one more entry. I've added a Retweet button at the bottom of every post.

• Stumble this blog, Digg it, or Technorati Fave it, whatever, and leave a separate comment for another entry.

• Winners must provide a U.S. or Canadian street address. Hachette is unable to deliver to P.O. Boxes.

Deadline for entry is 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, May 7, 2010.

• Winners will have 48 hours to respond to my email announcing that they have won; if I don't hear from a winner, I will draw another name. I use Random.org's sequence generator to determine winners.

Thank you to Valerie
at Hachette Book Group
for making this giveaway possible.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

105 comments:

Jo-Jo said...

I'm also a follower.

joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

Jo-Jo said...

I would love a chance to win this book.
joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I follow your blog
polsen11atcomcastdotnet

Unknown said...

Looks like an intersting read - I would like to win.
polsen11atcomcastdotnet

Sandy Jay said...

I follower with Google Reader.

forwhlz at gmail dot com

Sandy Jay said...

I would love to win this book.

forwhlz at gmail dot com

Book Sake said...

This looks like a book I'd enjoy reading...even had a friend named Collie (we questioned his parents as well).
booksake(at)yahoo(dot)com

Book Sake said...

Stumbled it.
booksake(at)yahoo(dot)com

Book Sake said...

Following your blog as well!
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Book Sake said...

Tweeted http://twitter.com/booksake/status/12120353129
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Beth said...

I'm a follower.

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

Beth said...

This looks great! I'd love to win!

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

Zibilee said...

This looks like a fun read and I would love the chance to win a copy. Please enter me in your great giveaway!

zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

ConundrumChum said...

I would love to win. Toni at tonikilleferis@gmail.com

scottsgal said...

I'm a follower
msboatgal at aol.com

scottsgal said...

I'd love to read this - thanks for the chance
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Martha Lawson said...

follow on google friend connect.

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

Martha Lawson said...

I would love to win this one, it looks great.

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Tina said...

I'm a follower

tbranco(at)hughes(dot)net

Tina said...

Oh yes...this one looks great ...please enter me.

tbranco(at)hughes(dot)net

a real librarian said...

I've seen this book everywhere lately! I'd love to win!!

areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

Jamie W. said...

I'd like to win a copy because after reading your review, I think this is a book I would enjoy reading. Thank you for the chance to win a copy!

jamiejaws AT gmail.com

holdenj said...

I am a follower.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

Thanks for the chance to win!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Cindy W. said...

I am also a follower.

Smiles,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Cindy W. said...

This book sounds like a great read. Please enter me. Thank you for the chance.

Smiles,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Benita said...

Follower/Email subscriber.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

I really would like to read this book.

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enyl said...

GFC follower.
enyl(at)inbox.com

enyl said...

e-mail subscriber.
enyl(at)inbox.com

enyl said...

Apologize,Apologize! sounds like a great novel for studying character. I would love to win this novel.
enyl(at)inbox.com

enyl said...

Tweeted.
twitter.com@enylstil#apologize14
enyl(at)inbox.com

Mystica said...

Please count me in for this giveaway.


mystica123athotmaildotcom

Kelsey said...

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/Door2Wonderland/status/12147234013

Kelsey
krae991 AT yahoo DOT com

Kelsey said...

I'm already a follower.

Kelsey
krae991 AT yahoo DOT com

Kelsey said...

I would love to win! This book sounds great.

Kelsey
krae991 AT yahoo DOT com

Mystica said...

I follow


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Jennifer L. said...

I'm a subscriber.
jentam777 AT gmail DOT com

Jennifer L. said...

I would love to win this book.
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Charleydog said...

Please enter my name in the book giveaway.

Thanks!

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librarypat said...

Sounds like an interesting book - one I can relate to.
I'd like to win it. I like trying out new authors. Thanks for the reading group discussion guide.

librarypat AT comcast DOT net

librarypat said...

I am a Subscriber.

librarypat AT comcast DOT net

librarypat said...

I am a Follower.

librarypat AT comcast DOT net

Gerri said...

Put me on the list for the giveaway please

Darcie K. said...

I follow via Google Friend Connect
dmkayes@gmail.com

Darcie K. said...

I would love to read this!
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photoquest said...

I am a follower of this blog
photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net

photoquest said...

i would love to be included in this contest for this book sounds very interesting : )
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Simply Stacie said...

follower

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Simply Stacie said...

Please count me in.

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Teresa said...

I am a follower
mstlee2000 @ hotmail.com

Teresa said...

I would love a chance! Thank you!
mstlee2000 @ hotmail.com

Tabathia B said...

tweeted http://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/12192297927

tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

Tabathia B said...

google follower

tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

Tabathia B said...

I would love to win

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angie said...

I subscribe by email
email bangersis(at)msn(dot)com

angie said...

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angie said...

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angie said...

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Anonymous said...

Please enter me.
This books sounds very interesting.
RJB
loki304[at]tds[dot]net

Fokxxy said...

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Julie P said...

Please enter me in this giveaway. The book sounds great!

bunnymom1970 AT aol DOT com

Julie P said...

And I am a follower..........

Thanks!

Julie P said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Valerie said...

I would like to be entered to win!!

victorious12 AT hotmail DOT com

Valerie said...

I have just become a follower of your blog. I look forward to more posts from you! Thanks for another entry for the contest!

Valerie said...

Just blogged about your giveaway!

http://valshan-thejourneytoabetterme.blogspot.com/2010/04/book-giveaway.html

victorious12 AT hotmail DOT com

Jo-Jo said...

I blogged about the giveaway here.
joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

Jess said...

I am a follower.

jedziedz(at)hotmail(dot)com

Jess said...

From MA -- sounds like my kind of read!

jedziedz(at)hotmail(dot)com

Misusedinnocence said...

I would love to be entered, thanks! :)

misusedinnocence@aol.com

Dawn M. said...

Sounds like an interesting story. Would love the chance to read it. Count me in, please! :0)

Thanks!
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Dawn M. said...

I subscribe by email. (midnightblue)

Thanks! :0)
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Caroline said...

I'm a subscriber.

design4less@yahoo.com

Caroline said...

I would love to Win!!

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Anonymous said...

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Anita Yancey said...

I follow on Google Friend Connect.

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Anita Yancey said...

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Jenna said...

I am also an email subscriber of your blog

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Jenna said...

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Jenna said...

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Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

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Unknown said...

I would love the chance to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway! I deleted my first post as I left out my email. Here it is

debraldufek AT hotmail DOT com
Thank you!

Unknown said...

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debraldufek AT hotmail DOT com

Thank you!

Icedream said...

I would love a chance to read this book, it's been on my reading radar for a while. Thank you :)

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Icedream said...

I am a follower on GFC.

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Icedream said...

I tweeted :
http://twitter.com/BloggerIcedream/status/13198842510

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ConundrumChum said...

I would love to win. I keep looking at the book in the bookstore.

tonikilleferis@gmail.com

Susan Whitfield said...

Let me now follow your directions. ssn.whitfield At gmail DOT com

Susan Whitfield said...

I would love to win a copy of Apologize, Apologize! It sounds like a wonderful book. BTW-cute blog. I'll be back. If you get a chance to visit my blog, please vote for your favorite book cover.

Susan Whitfield
www.susanwhitfieldonline.com
www.susanwhitfield.blogspot.com
ssn.whitfield@gmail.com

Margie said...

blog follower via GFC
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Margie said...

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Susan Helene Gottfried said...

No need to enter me, darling. I'm dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you.

Bcteagirl said...

I follow your blog via google reader!

Bcteagirl said...

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Katrina said...

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Unknown said...

I'm a follower!


Aimala127@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I'd really like to win this book, it sounds wonderful.

Thank you!


Aimala127@gmail.com

tetewa said...

I'd like to be included! tWarner419@aol.com

Reading said...

I follow on gfc

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Reading said...

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Tina said...

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Tina said...

I'm a follower

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Tina said...

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