An Evening With Ann Leary: The Good House

One of the true pleasures in my life is to always be in the midst of a book I look forward to disappearing into every night. I carry it with me, everywhere. I read while I wait at school pick up, I read while at Doctor appointments, I read before I go to sleep. Reading until my eyes begin to roll in their sockets and the book drops off my lap onto the floor is a ritual I haven't gone without, ever, even when I had newborns. Maybe especially when I had newborns.

Writers that make you feel like you've sneaked into a life that could so easily be one that's real, that's the mark of a smart, compelling author. Ann Leary does just that with her latest, The Good House. I have to tame myself from not devouring a satisfying read like The Good House in one sitting, so that I can try to make it last at least a week. Controlling myself, not turning the page to begin a new chapter; that was something I failed at with The Good House.

I was only able to make The Good House last four days.

Ann Leary's book was released January 15. I began reading it as soon as it arrived at my door inside its manila envelope. With the first sentence, I had the Can't Put This One Down feeling. The Good House strips away unnecessary scene building and dialogue, stuff you could do without, and what we get instead is knowing that every word placed on those pages, has to be there. There are the moments of humor you don't see coming that make the read even more delicious. There are the moments of deep dark sharing, where you feel like you're a ghost peering over someone's shoulder as they write secret journal entries in the night.

Hildy, the main character of The Good House, is so endearingly honest that she became living and breathing to me. Flawed and vulnerable, she has to make herself tough. Tough. Because that's all she's got. I love that.

Ann Leary writes with a pen that both pierces my heart with love for Hildy, as well as makes me want to hold her hand and promise her it will all be all right.

I am in love with this book, and tonight, I get to meet Ann Leary at a book signing. She'll be appearing at Lynden Sculpture Gardens at 7 PM tonight. I can hardly wait to thank her for her words.  

And here's more exciting news: I HAVE A SIGNED COPY OF ANN'S BOOK THE GOOD HOUSE to give away here. You want this book. I haven't met a person who's read The Good House who hasn't fallen in love with it.

Comment, tweet, to win. "Entering to win @annleary 's #TheGoodHouse because I love good books! via @gdrpempress"

Gotta run, six inches of uberarctic blast predicted for tonight and I promised Ann a hunter's cap. She'll look adorable in it.

Comment, tweet, fingers crossed for you.

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