July 19, 2010
Book Giveaway: Greg Baxter’s A Preparation for Death
Few books this year have had me launch into such trills of praise as Greg Baxter’s A Preparation for Death. It is a vigorous, painful, bright-eyed wonder. Not everyone agrees: Will Rycroft found it “infuriating” (though also “beautiful”). Inside Books thought it at times “plain disturbing” (as did I, which was one of the things I loved about it). In the UK press, the only review I’ve seen was in the Sunday Times (now hidden behind a paywall), which praised the book but then spent most of its length detailing negative points. Sometimes it seemed like the only person who loved the book as much as I did was Anne Enright.
So I hope this draw will find A Preparation for Death a few more willing submissives. Penguin have generously offered five copies to readers of this blog. If you think it might be your cup of Marmite, say so below and your name will be entered in a draw for a free copy. The only requirement is that you should come back here and share your thoughts on the book, positive or, er, not so positive. (Or do so on your own blog, or Amazon etc.) The draw closes at midnight BST on Saturday 24 July 2010 and is open to entrants worldwide.
Brendan Strong said,
July 19, 2010 at 9:19 am
This may well be my marmite. I enjoy being challenged by fiction – and certainly your review and the snippets you’ve quoted above indicate that this is exactly what this book will do.
Max Cairnduff said,
July 19, 2010 at 9:21 am
Hm, I’ll sign up. From your review I could either love it or absolutely loathe it. Marmite, as Brendan says.
Which makes it sort of tempting.
Clare said,
July 19, 2010 at 9:25 am
I’m in. Have been meaning to read this and would definitely review it on my blog. Thank you. Clare
Alan said,
July 19, 2010 at 9:28 am
John, please include me in your draw. Many thanks. Alan
Paul M. Cray said,
July 19, 2010 at 9:33 am
I may be the only person in the world who is indifferent to Marmite – I can take it or leave it – but I’d be very happy to be entered into the draw.
Averill Buchanan said,
July 19, 2010 at 9:37 am
Dear Mr Self,
I’d like to toss my hat in the ring, my keys in the bowl, my name in your draw for a copy of Baxter’s “A Preparation for Death”.
Thanks now.
Averill
Paul Bremner said,
July 19, 2010 at 9:44 am
I love an unloved book!
Rosie said,
July 19, 2010 at 9:53 am
I love marmite with cheese, so if you send me one I’ll put it on a cracker with a slice of cheese and tell you if it goes down well.
Robert Sullivan said,
July 19, 2010 at 10:00 am
Hello, I’d like to enter the draw please.
Thanks
Robert
Carlos Bruen said,
July 19, 2010 at 10:11 am
Saw the author give a talk here in Dublin recently, very engaging. Please put my name into the draw.
Cheers
Julie said,
July 19, 2010 at 10:15 am
Would love to throw my hand (and any other body part required) into the ring for a copy of the book.
Fingers crossed my name is drawn…I never win anything (sympathy vote!?).
Melissa said,
July 19, 2010 at 10:42 am
I hate Marmite. But believe this book would be very meaningful to me, having watched my mother prepare for her death (from ALS) with such grace and dignity.
Though I assume over here in Australia, this isn’t open to me. I’d love to hear people’s thoughts on it though.
Paul sweeney said,
July 19, 2010 at 11:02 am
Yes me in please.
Mary said,
July 19, 2010 at 11:09 am
Recently found out that marmite is the french for cooking pot, so please put my name in the pot!
Justine said,
July 19, 2010 at 11:39 am
Love to be entered in the draw for this – it sounds right up my street!
thanks
Justine
whiterice said,
July 19, 2010 at 11:40 am
Like Paul, I love to love a loathed booked!
Elizabeth Thomas said,
July 19, 2010 at 11:52 am
Count me in!
Turlough O'Riordan said,
July 19, 2010 at 1:11 pm
count me in too
Tom said,
July 19, 2010 at 1:17 pm
I’m in too!
Ronak M Soni said,
July 19, 2010 at 1:19 pm
I’m in for it.
Deirdre said,
July 19, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Put me in the hat please! Will mention on blog!
Ronak M Soni said,
July 19, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Forgot to say, I promise a blog post too.
Aoife said,
July 19, 2010 at 1:45 pm
I’d love a copy of this book. I read your review, but also heard some great comments from friends. I want to read this book.
Annie said,
July 19, 2010 at 1:45 pm
It is against the law to review this book without using the word “infuriating”.
Count me in please.
Kerry said,
July 19, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Throw in my name too, please.
Máire T. Robinson said,
July 19, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Sounds like an interesting read! Please put my name in the hat. I’d be happy to review the book. Thanks!
Frances said,
July 19, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Seems like a fair and promising proposition. Thanks for the offer.
Kumquat said,
July 19, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Yes pleease
I loved your last reco I bought.
Urbana said,
July 19, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Please add my name too. Thanks!
amner said,
July 19, 2010 at 2:23 pm
I’ll toss my hat into the ring, too.
Rosie said,
July 19, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Having briefly been a student of Greg’s, I’d be interested to read it and knowing that he’s a regular reader of my blog would make it an interesting experience to review it. It was got a comically unfavourable review in one of the Irish broadsheets (though not the one Greg writes for): see here.
amberruth said,
July 19, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Hello, Yes please and thank you.
Andrew said,
July 19, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Throw me in the hat for that one too, I’ll review it on mine and chip in over here too.
annie said,
July 19, 2010 at 4:47 pm
i need some ferocity, sign me up!
deucekindred said,
July 19, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Sign me up please
Thanks
Sasha said,
July 19, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Please enter me in the draw. I’ve read your review — and scratched my head at that long comment someone left, about the book cover. If I win this, I’ll definitely review this over at the blog.
Thanks!
Patrick said,
July 19, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Marmite is an abomination, but the book sounds lovely. Please add me to the list. I’ll happily review it over at The Literate Man.
JamJelly said,
July 19, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Marmite? No thanks, I don’t do weird foods like that. But I’d surely love to turn off the radio and give Greg’s work a read!
Mark said,
July 19, 2010 at 9:44 pm
Always on the look out for a good read. Sign me up.
JRSM said,
July 20, 2010 at 12:39 am
Please sign me up. And I have no opinions on Marmite.
Linda said,
July 20, 2010 at 10:21 am
I feel a personal review of this book is the only sensible solution.
Please add me to the long list of contestants for this book draw.
(And I would be willing to review the marmite as well if a sample is included)
L
Richard said,
July 20, 2010 at 10:27 am
I’d be quite interested. It sounded promising from the review.
I quite like Marmite too.
Sheila said,
July 20, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Sounds like an interesting read—please enter me to win!
Mike said,
July 20, 2010 at 3:47 pm
I love disturbing books! Please sign me up, thanks.
Kevin Breathnach said,
July 20, 2010 at 4:42 pm
Sign me up, too.
Pavli said,
July 20, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Sounds nice, I´m in!
Ceri said,
July 20, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Hello. Please count me in, the book sounds compelling and whether I love it or hate it I promise to review it.
Shane Waring said,
July 20, 2010 at 8:00 pm
I’d love a copy of that book
nicknick said,
July 21, 2010 at 4:29 am
I never win anything. Count me in.
Lee Monks said,
July 21, 2010 at 10:24 am
I also never win anything either but I already have a copy. Drat. But I will get back on here with comments when the day I read it finally comes.
Kinna said,
July 21, 2010 at 3:46 pm
I’m in and thanks for the giveaway.
Lisa said,
July 21, 2010 at 3:50 pm
I’m really curious about this one!
The Second Pass said,
July 21, 2010 at 6:24 pm
[...] . . Speaking of Baxter’s book, John Self offers it a great deal of thoughtful praise, and he’s giving away five copies on his blog (you can sign up for the drawing until Saturday night). . . . An interview with Tom [...]
Shawna said,
July 21, 2010 at 8:42 pm
I’m still holding out hope of winning one of these give away draws. Maybe this is the lucky entry….
KevinfromCanada said,
July 21, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Could I enter a second entry on Shawna’s behalf? I don’t want to win for myself but I know she is now living in the wilds of Northern Saskatchewan with only the Northern Lights for entertainment. So if I can have an entry, I’d like it to be for her.
quicke said,
July 21, 2010 at 9:21 pm
Thanks so much for linking through to the blog (inside books) a real honour to have you do that. Thank you
David H said,
July 21, 2010 at 10:11 pm
Sounds an intriguing book; please enter me.
Nick said,
July 22, 2010 at 7:30 am
I’d also like to be part of this.
Such controversy in the reviews is always interesting.
lisa peet said,
July 22, 2010 at 11:23 am
I’m in — looks interesting, and I’m always up for reviewing something that hasn’t got a ton of play already.
Diana L. said,
July 22, 2010 at 11:12 pm
I’d also like to be included in the draw (stumbled upon it just in the nick of time!) and would be more than happy to provide a review.
Clara said,
July 23, 2010 at 4:58 pm
I’d love to be added to the drawing, though I’m intrigued enough by the book that I’m going to add it to my “to-acquire” list anyway.
Jason Bull said,
July 23, 2010 at 9:57 pm
I think I will like this one.
maria said,
July 24, 2010 at 2:54 am
sign me up. i would be interested in reading and analyzing it.
Robin Harvie said,
July 24, 2010 at 7:45 am
When you put it like that, and with a jacket like that (although, yes, I know), who could refuse?
K Jackson said,
July 24, 2010 at 7:56 pm
Please include me in the draw!
Jonathan Gibbs said,
July 24, 2010 at 10:07 pm
i) Hat, ring.
ii) oh, not *glen* baxter
iii) cover, but, a bit too will self, wouldn’t you say?
thanks
Tiny Camels
John Self said,
July 25, 2010 at 11:00 am
Thanks for all the entries. The winners, courtesy of random.org were numbers 25, 31, 32, 50 and 60.
(The draw was from 62 entrants as some people left comments but didn’t want to be entered.) This means the winners are:
Máire T. Robinson
amberruth
Andrew
Lisa
Robin Harvie
I’ve emailed you for your addresses, so please reply as soon as you can so that I can pass your details on to Penguin.
Lee Monks said,
July 27, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Ho hum on the longlist, John…everyone is getting a little frothy on the Grauniad site for some reason. Where’s Rachman? Ah well. I’m automatically rooting for Jacobson, but would be quite happy to see Mitchell, Galgut and Levy, say, get it for other efforts.
Jon Appleton said,
July 28, 2010 at 6:46 am
Dear John,
Please do include me in the draw.
Many thanks
Jon
John Self said,
July 28, 2010 at 11:15 am
Too late, sorry Jon!
black expressions books said,
July 30, 2010 at 11:03 pm
EARGH! I MISSED THIS!!!