Book Carnival Giveaway of Claire LaZebnik’s Novels

March 2, 2009 in giveaway, Literary Event by Kim | 107 comments

Claire and I have been talking about giving away books on this blog for quite awhile, but the Book Giveaway Carnival has motivated us to act.  We’re giving away an autographed set of Claire’s three novels:  Same As It Never Was; Knitting Under the Influence; and, The Smart One and the Pretty One.  With these books, you’ll have a mini-vacation from life.  Personally, Claire owes me three nights sleep because there was no way I was stopping once I started each book.

There are links to Claire’s site for the reviews about each of them, but I’ll pass on an insider tidbit about each book:

Same As It Never Was is Claire’s first novel.  She had four children at the time and Will was a baby Claire wrote the novel during his naps while the two oldest were in elementary school and the third was in preschool.  It’s still hard not to be a little aggravated by that fact.  The book is ultimately about what you do when your life unexpectedly changes, plus there is some romance thrown in.

Knitting Under the Influence includes drink recipes at the end that Claire made up with friends.  But not me, I wasn’t invited.  Just wanted to point that out. Anyway, about the book.  Claire also co-wrote two books about autism, the second of which is due out next month and we’ll be giving away on the blog later.  Her knowledge and interest in the subject shows up in a heartbreaking and loving manner in this novel with the brother of one of the characters.  I love the friendship between the women (they meet once a month to knit together) and how they aren’t perfect, but they hang in there with each other.  Claire is a great knitter, she has this black sweater with white pirate skulls popping up at different places.  I always think “wow” when I see it because I can’t knit a sweater in one color (I have the parts to a pink sweater stashed somewhere to prove how they don’t match up).  

The Smart One and the Pretty One is Claire’s latest novel about two sisters (Claire has three, she’s a sister expert), one of which has the reputation of being smart and plain (she’s an estate planning attorney, like I was, but I’m trying not to take it personally) and the other dumb and beautiful.   Claire’s theory is a beautiful woman wants to hear that she’s smart and a smart woman wants to hear she’s beautiful.  She’s undecided over which one she would rather be; I definitely want to be the smart one, but with a nice wardrobe.  The sisters in the book come together when their mother undergoes cancer treatment and support each other as they grow to realize their full potential.  Both have encounters with boyfriends and help each other out, i.e. there’s great romance. 

A special head’s up, all three dedications are beautiful. 

So, we’re giving away a set of all three books, all you have to do is leave a comment and tell us which one you would rather be, the smart one or the pretty one, and why.  All comments before Saturday, March 8th at noon PST will be eligible to win.  Both domestic and international particpants are acceptable.  If the winner doesn’t respond within 36 hours of notice from us, we’ll go to the next name drawn.  If you’re looking for more book giveaways, head over to Bookroom Reviews.  It’s running a Book Giveaway Carnival for a week, so every participating blog will be listed.  See how many books you can win and let us know how you did.

Tags: Book Carnival, giveaway

1. 

   flip on March 3, 2009 at 10:50 am

   The smart one……my sister was the pretty one…fact is she is also the smart one.

   flip (at) tetonvalley (dot) net

2. 

   oona b on March 3, 2009 at 12:44 pm

   I would rather be the smart one, of course. Smarts last but beauty fades.

   Thanks! foxsquirrelrabbit at gmail dot com

3. 

   dorothy l on March 3, 2009 at 2:23 pm

   smart I can always change my looks con5459(at)gmail(dot)com

4. 

   Renee on March 3, 2009 at 2:26 pm

   The smart one – beauty can fade but a beautiful mind lasts forever.

5. 

   SusanB on March 3, 2009 at 2:58 pm

   Definitely the smart one. Why is that? Hm…well, I think I AM the smart one, and I am pretty happy with my life, for one thing. Also, I enjoy my brains waaay too much to trade for something that will not really give ME a lot of extra enjoyment. But of course I don’t really know about that, having never actually BEEN the pretty one. =)

6. 

   bridget3420 on March 3, 2009 at 3:23 pm

   I’d rather be smart. Personally I’d rather be able to hold an interesting conversation than be oogled at.

7. 

   Valerie on March 3, 2009 at 4:31 pm

   smart one for sure. I mean, if you eat right, exercise-etc you can look pretty too and feel great

8. 

   Ellie W on March 3, 2009 at 5:02 pm

   I’d rather be the smart one because it takes you further in life.

9. 

   Victoria on March 3, 2009 at 5:07 pm

   I would rather be pretty….”pretty smart.” I think that the modern day woman has a duty in today’s society to be able to read a book, comprehend the material, and look good doing it.

10. 

    Susan C on March 3, 2009 at 5:35 pm

    I would rather be the pretty one because it’s probably much more fun!
    smchester at gmail dot com

11. 

    Aliya D. on March 3, 2009 at 7:08 pm

    My sister and I have the same sort of relationship (and likely related emotional issues) as the sisters in the book you stated above… According to others I fall into the “smart” category, whereas my sister was always the “pretty” one. I don’t know which one I would rather be… I do know that neither labels were fair to us. Please enter me and thank you!

12. 

    MD on March 3, 2009 at 8:19 pm

    I’d rather be smart because beauty is subjective!

13. 

    deltay on March 3, 2009 at 8:25 pm

    I’d rather be the smart one because beauty fades. Brains last longer, and knowledge is always expanding. And beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It’s harder to debate whether or not someone is smart.

    lucidconspiracy[at]gmail[dot]com

14. 

    Donna Moore on March 3, 2009 at 11:27 pm

    Okay I want to beauty and brains. Can’t we as women have it all? I can’t choose but I do want you to choose me!!

    I love chicklit so please count me in!!!

15. 

    Michelle Kuo on March 4, 2009 at 1:02 am

    Hmm I think I’d rather be the smart one because that leads to a better future. That way you can be smart enough to go to college and be successful. Plus, once you’re older, beauty turns into wrinkles anyways.

    michelle.kuool(at)yahoo(dot)com

16. 

    Liz C on March 4, 2009 at 6:29 am

    My sister who’s 16 years younger is the smart and the pretty one both, which is so unfair. And with whats happened in my life the past year with my husband leaving me for a 24 yo, I think I want to be the pretty one.

17. 

    Fran on March 4, 2009 at 6:36 am

    I prefer to be smart than beautiful because I can find ways to beautify myself using my brains. Besides, being beautiful in its truest sense, should be inside out, not just only by physical appearance.

18. 

    Neverwithoutabook on March 4, 2009 at 8:48 am

    Hmmm, I think the smart one. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder! I’d love to read these books. Please enter me.

19. 

    Amy R on March 4, 2009 at 9:37 am

    The books sound great. And I definitely would want to be the smart one.
    Thanks!

20. 

    Carolyn S on March 4, 2009 at 3:12 pm

    Oh, heavens, I need to be the smart one, because if I have to make it on looks, I am definitely in trouble. lol

    thanks for sharing

    ceashark at aol dot com

21. 

    Wrighty on March 4, 2009 at 3:54 pm

    Why can’t we be both? I consider myself smart (enough!) and my husband is sweet and always tells me I’m pretty too so I always feel pretty. We can be anything we want, right? These books sound great! Thanks so much for the opportunity!

22. 

    Mary on March 4, 2009 at 4:10 pm

    I would rather be the smart one cause I think smarts has a natural beauty within itself

23. 

    Rhonda Struthers on March 4, 2009 at 4:50 pm

    I guess the Smart one…If I am smart and make lots of money..I could always spend it on plastic surgery to make me pretty….Nah that would be pretty dumb.
    I’ll stick to smart

    rhondastruthes at yahoo dot ca

24. 

    gahome2mom on March 4, 2009 at 5:11 pm

    Why can’t we be both smart and pretty? I will say smart then.:)

25. 

    Joanne on March 4, 2009 at 5:56 pm

    I would much rather be the smart one. Looks only matter for so much in life and I would rather be admired for my mind than how I look.

    shiloki[at]gmail[dot]com

26. 

    Debbie Deskin on March 4, 2009 at 6:31 pm

    Please include me in your giveaway. I would rather be smart and pretty!
    Thanks
    Debbie
    debdesk9@verizon.net

27. 

    Chrysa on March 4, 2009 at 6:49 pm

    I would rather be the smart one. Pretty fades.

28. 

    she on March 4, 2009 at 7:01 pm

    i’d like to be smart and settle for cute instead of pretty! i’m more intellectual and enjoy using my noggin’!!!!

29. 

    Estela S on March 5, 2009 at 4:44 am

    I WAS the smart one growing up, and it was terrible seeing the guys flocking to my is and ignoring me (unless it was an ill-fated attempt at getting closer to her.) But, I can honestly say it helped me grow into my own skin a lot better. I’m happier with myself now and never have to question anyone’s motives around me!

30. 

    Karina on March 5, 2009 at 6:16 am

    Wow, it’s fascinating to read the comments. The majority picked smart–is that because this group of women are already ‘smart’ (obviously, because they read!) and understand the value of smart? The world values beauty over brains, if magazines, TV and movies are any indication.

    As for me, I’d say smart, because beauty is so subjective and personality plays such a huge part in it. But really, most everyone has smarts and looks, they just have to know it.

31. 

    Blodeuedd on March 5, 2009 at 8:31 am

    I guess i would like to be the pretty one, sure it would be nice to be smart too. How shallow I am, yes it would be the right thing to say the smart one, but in certain times of your lifes it’s the pretty ones that get what they want….then again could i be pretty and “normal clever”

32. 

    Johannah B on March 5, 2009 at 9:28 am

    Always been smart…skipping grades and such… never “felt” like I was the pretty one. So I guess I would like to be the pretty one, at least for a few years, then I’ll take the smarts back.

33. 

    Bcteagirl on March 5, 2009 at 9:52 am

    I would rather be the smart one… so I can read all these books! Thanks for the contest!

34. 

    Indigo on March 5, 2009 at 2:27 pm

    I would choose intelligence over beauty any day of the week. I’ve found those who “think” they’re beautiful tend to be rather empty inside. Yet take a shy intelligent woman and witness the compassion she has for everyone but herself…priceless. I would rather that kind of beauty than the pronounced obvious one. Thanks for the opportunity! Indigo

35. 

    Helen S on March 5, 2009 at 5:18 pm

    The smart one because beauty is just skin deep.

36. 

    Nicole on March 5, 2009 at 7:35 pm

    I would rather be the smart one, because there’s always plastic surgery to become the pretty one. :}

37. 

    Kayce C on March 5, 2009 at 7:37 pm

    I’d like to be both, but I’ll go for Smart.

38. 

    Pamela S on March 5, 2009 at 9:30 pm

    Oh I would always chose the smart one!!! Pretty doesn’t last that long and then you’re saggy & living in some run down roach motel!!!

39. 

    Terra Heck on March 5, 2009 at 10:55 pm

    I’d like to read these books. It’s hard to choose, but I think I’d rather be the pretty one.

40. 

    Colette S on March 5, 2009 at 11:04 pm

    I’d rather be the smart one. Outward beauty fades

    I definitely would love to win this!

    Thank you

    calliemist@yahoo.com

41. 

    Kiki on March 6, 2009 at 12:14 am

    I’d like to be the pretty one!

    ParkingGoddessFTW at gmail dot com

42. 

    sena on March 6, 2009 at 12:40 am

    I would rather be the smart one because beauty doesn’t last forever!

43. 

    Sherry on March 6, 2009 at 9:37 am

    I’d rather be the smart one. Looks fade and are always in the eye of the beholder. (plus I’m a geek anyway!)

    Thanks for the chance to win
    slcremer at gmail dot com

44. 

    Christina on March 6, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    I’d always rather be the smart one, because even if you don’t have looks you can have personality and be pretty through that, but smartness is something else! I’d love a vacation from life through reading these three giveaways, I certainly need one!

45. 

    Meagan on March 6, 2009 at 2:31 pm

    The smart one because most of the things I enjoy require a certain amount of intellect. If I couldn’t appreciate my books, or chess and I was constantly suffering from confusion, then i would have a very sad life.

46. 

    Valeen N on March 6, 2009 at 4:33 pm

    Oh, I’d definately rather be the smart one! Life is too short to be dumb!

47. 

    Jayna on March 6, 2009 at 7:54 pm

    Definitely the smart one – all the better to enjoy life with!

48. 

    Karen on March 6, 2009 at 11:19 pm

    I’d definitely rather be the smart one — because smart stays with you for your whole life. Pretty can fade and then what? Smart leads to interesting conversations and knowing that people are with you because they really care about you and find you interesting — not your looks.

49. 

    nhertel on March 7, 2009 at 11:05 am

    I’d rather be smart.

50. 

    RidgewayGirl on March 7, 2009 at 1:12 pm

    Just following the herd, here and preferring to be the smart one.

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