A Visit from Santa

Okay, not really Santa, but the next best thing: author Joshua Henkin.
The season of giving is upon us and Josh is one author who epitomizes generosity this year! Josh has been traveling through blogland this month, offering signed copies of his New York Times Notable Book, Matrimony, and I'm happy to announce that he's making a stop here at A Reader's Respite.




And one of you are going to be the lucky recipient of an autographed, inscribed copy of Matrimony!

In Matrimony, a man and woman meet in college, fall in love, and spend the next fifteen years finding their way through the ups and downs of marriage. It’s the second novel from author Joshua Henkin, and Matrimony reflects the maturing talent of a writer who auspiciously emerged on the literary scene nine years ago with the critically praised first novel Swimming Across the Hudson.

Longer in scope, more ambitious with its characters, and grounded with realism and wry humor, Matrimony introduces us to Julian Wainwright and Mia Mendelsohn, two intensely likeable yet wonderfully flawed characters, who meet their freshman year at Graymont College, a liberal arts school in western Massachusetts. Julian, an aspiring writer, has arrived at college from New York to study with his literary hero. Mia has come from Montreal searching for something new and unknown. When they meet, folding laundry, they fall deeply and happily into first love.

But real life soon intrudes, and a family crisis arises at the end of their senior year that will cement their relationship more seriously and quickly than they could have imagined. Together they make their way through the next fifteen years — through career changes, family conflicts and losses, betrayals and successes. From the university towns of Ann Arbor, Berkeley, and Iowa City, to the brownstones of Greenwich Village, the novel moves back and forth between Julian and Mia’s perspectives as Henkin explores the choices and sacrifices we make at different stages in our lives, our changes in ambition and desire, and how we come to lead the lives we live.

From Pantheon Books



Would you like to enter? Just leave a comment telling me about the best Holiday present you've ever received and you'll be in the running!


This contest is open to all domestic and international entrants and will remain open until New Year's Eve (Pacific Time, -8 GMT), at which time we will pick a random winner. Don't forget to check back on New Year's Day to see if you won!


If you'd like to read more about Josh and his writing, visit his website and blog! Josh is also a new contributor over at Reading Group Guides where he shares his adventures in touring and also the backstory behind Matrimony. Please feel free to join in the discussions online or if you have a book club of your own, Josh regularly contributes to discussions via phone (or maybe even in person if your club meets in New York, New Jersey or Philadelphia!). Go to his website to learn more and download the Matrimony Reading Group Guide.


Good luck and Happy Holidays!