Peeking Between the Pages

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GIVEAWAY: 5 copies of Testimony by Anita Shreve

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Hi everyone, I have a great giveaway for you all! 5 copies of Testimony by Anita Shreve are up for grabs courtesy of Brianne at Hachette Book Group. Anita Shreve has been a long time favorite author of mine and I did read Testimony when it came and enjoyed it – I’m going to repost my review instead of the book description…

I’ve read a few of Anita Shreve’s novels and liked them. Testimony was no different. It’s a very powerful story that grabs your attention from the beginning and keeps you hooked to the end.

The beginning of the novel introduces us to a devastating videotape that involves two boys 18 years old, one boy 19 years old and a very young girl, aged 14. The tape shows them involved in very explicit sexual acts. They are all very clearly drunk. This tape ends up falling into the headmaster’s hands and he scrambles to keep it contained within the Academy’s walls. However, this doesn’t happen and from that point on everything spirals out of control.

The story is told in the form of testimony, hence the title of the book. This testimony comes from several different people from the man who sold alcohol to teens to the cafeteria staff and to those more intimately involved and finally on to those who committed the offense.

The boys involved all played on the school basketball team and were all very talented. They were to go on to college. They all came from decent enough homes. So this brings us to the question of how does this kind of thing happen? Is it something inherently wrong with the boys? Is it their upbringing? Or, was it instigated by the young girl as there will always be people who question this?

I felt of all the characters Silas truly felt disgusted with himself over what had happened. He couldn’t come to terms with it. His mother Anna and something she does is really a catalyst for all that happens. Not that anything could justify these horrendous acts but it really goes to show us how one act in a person’s life can have devastating effects on others and spiral into one disaster after another for so many others including themselves.

I found one section in the book that has stayed with me so I’d like to share it…

“A single action can cause a life to veer off in a direction it was never meant to go. Falling in love can do that, you think. And so can a wild party. You marvel at the way each has the power to forever alter an individual’s compass. And it is the knowing that such a thing can so easily happen, as you did not know before, not really, that has fundamentally changed you…” —page 277


The only complaint I would have with this novel is the way it was written in testimony. I didn’t feel as if I really got to connect with anyone enough. That being said it is a gripping story and I read it quickly. Again, the story does contain sexual content and difficult subject matter so for some that may not be appealing. (Originally posted October 2008)

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

As you can see I enjoyed the book and it has had really good reviews as well. You have a chance to enter to win 1 of 5 copies of Testimony by Anita Shreve that are available. To enter…

  • For 1 entry leave me a comment with an email address to contact you.
  • For 2 entries follow my blog. If you already do, let me know as the extra entry is yours as well.
  • For 3 entries blog or tweet this giveaway to spread the word.

This giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents only (no PO boxes- only 1 winner per household). I will draw for the winners on Sunday, Sept 26/10. Good luck to all!

© 2010, Darlene of Peeking Between the Pages. All Rights Reserved. If you’re reading this on a site other than Peeking Between the Pages or Darlene’s Feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

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Comments

  1. Pleae enter me, have been trying to get this book to review, but always a bit late. So will now try to win a copy.
    CMash
    Mash1195(at)aol(dot)com

  5. Not my usual genre, but every time I've read a review of this book, I've thought it sounded very interesting. Thanks for the giveaway.

    lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

  15. I would really like to win this book by this author. I have yet a book by her and would like to start with this one.

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

  32. I've heard great things about this book and would love to enter. Thanks.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

  47. Wow, this sounds like a pretty powerful book. I like the excerpt. Please enter me in the giveaway.

    ihappydance at gmail. com

  51. Gotta have this. Am praying I would win. LOL

    teh(dot)alice(at)gmail(dot)com

    (+1) I'm already a follower…
    (+1) I've also tweeted about this

    Thanks, Dar!

  52. I'd love to win a copy of this, thanks for the chance! 🙂

    My e-mail is: estrella [dot] azul20 [at] gmail [dot] com

  66. I would love to read this — I am a big fan of Anita Shreve and am thinking of this for my Book Group. I do follow your blog — love it.