Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Early Birds Blog Tour - An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination

An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination: A Memoir An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination: A Memoir by Elizabeth McCracken

rating: 4 of 5 stars

Published by: Little, Brown & Co.
Release date: September 10, 2008

From the description:
"This is the happiest story in the world with the saddest ending," writes Elizabeth McCracken in her powerful, inspiring memoir. A prize-winning, successful novelist in her 30s, McCracken was happy to be an itinerant writer and self-proclaimed spinster. But suddenly she fell in love, got married, and two years ago was living in a remote part of France, working on her novel, and waiting for the birth of her first child.

This book is about what happened next. In her ninth month of pregnancy, she learned that her baby boy had died."
McCracken wrote the memoir with her healthy newborn from her second pregnancy sitting on her lap as she typed. I really felt like I was with her on her emotional roller coaster as she wrote. So many conflicting emotions: grief, joy, pain, love, solitude and comfort--all poured into each page.

The book is not written exactly chronologically, so from that perspective it was a little fragmented at times. But overall, I found this to be an incredibly moving journey.

Read an excerpt HERE.
Listen to an audio excerpt HERE.

Next stop on the blog tour: Corinne at The Book Nest!


Other stops:
GIVEAWAY
Would you like to win a copy, courtesy of Hachette? I'll enter you once for leaving a comment here, and twice if you post about it on your blog, linking back to this post. I'll pick the winner October 7th. Good luck!!

18 comments:

Sara said...

Please enter me into the contest. I have posted a link to your blog on mine:

www.smbooks.blogspot.com

Thank You,
Sararush(at)hotmail(dot)com

Rae said...

Wow! What a book!! I have not mentioned this on my blog but we lost Kenners' twin. It was devastating but I still had her. I can't imagine being left with empty arms.

Even if I do not win this fabulous giveaway I will most assuredly read this book.

S. Krishna said...

Obviously don't enter me in the contest, but isn't that a great quote - this is the happiest story in the world with the saddest ending?

Gwendolyn B. said...

What happened to Rae happened in my family as well. It is a complicated mix of emotions.
Elizabeth McCracken is very brave to bring her story to print, but I believe she will be helping a lot of people in the process. I would very much like to have a copy of her book. Thank you for the chance.
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

Corinne said...

You rock. Nice job on the post :)

Liz said...

Wow, this sounds like an amazing book. Sad, heartbreaking -- as the mother of three, I can't imagine losing any of them. I have recently finished another book involving loss and recovery, Recovering Charles by Jason Wright. Great read. The recovery is both emotional and physical -- emotional in that a person must recover oneself after personal tragedy. Sounds somewhat similar to your book.

Anita Yancey said...

Sounds like a good book. Please enter me.
ayancey@dishmail.net

SpaceyKasey said...

Tricia, while I rarely leave comments on this blog I love it! Thank you.

The only problem is I can't read the books you recommend fast enough to keep up. I, of course, find this decidedly frustrating. :)

Paige said...

I don't think I can read this book at this time in my life. Not very brave of me, I know. So I'm not entering but I think it is really cool that you are doing a drawing!

Shooting Stars Mag said...

Please enter me. This sounds like an amazing novel. I blogged about this as well:

http://shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com/2008/10/win-it-wednesday.html

-Lauren

couplabz said...

Sounds like a great book and I'd love to read it.

couplabz@gmail.com

Sheri S. said...

I'd love to be entered - the books sounds great! Thanks!

preferred.stock at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

sounds like a great read...count me in....

Melanie

ladynole35@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good read.
Please enter me.
Thanks

- Carmen T
carmenalexistsang[at]gmail[dot]com

Holly (2 Kids and Tired) said...

I am anxious to read this. There are no negative reviews yet! Thanks for offering it as a giveaway.

I blogged it too: http://2kidsandtiredbooks.blogspot.com/2008/10/giveaways.html

Anonymous said...

Hi ! I would like to enter the contest :)

Tom and Heather said...

Count me in! This is so cool. Great idea. I'll have to be sure to add this link on to my blog - I've got a lot of readers that I know would love this.

Elizabeth McCracken said...

Hi, Tricia--

A quick and late note to thank you so much for being part of the book tour--it means a lot to me.

best,

Elizabeth (McCracken)