I’ve got a fantastic book to share with you all today called Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. I reviewed it earlier in the week (my review) and I just loved it! It’ll be a favorite of mine for the year. I know many have read this book but I bet there are still a lot who haven’t so I’m going to share the hardcover copy that I received for review.
About the Book (from Dolen Perkins-Valdez’s website)
In 1851, a lawyer named Elias P. Drake purchased a plot of land near Xenia, Ohio with the intent to establish a summer vacation resort where the country’s elite could relax and enjoy the mineral springs in the area. At the time, it was believed that natural water could cure illnesses and bring about good health. What made this resort unusual, however, was that it became a popular vacation destination for southern slaveholders and their enslaved mistresses. Ultimately, these flagrantly open relationships offended the northern abolitionists who also frequented the resort. After four years, the resort closed.
This part of the story has been confirmed by historians. I took this forgotten historical note and sketched in a fictional account of what it would have been like to be an enslaved woman traveling to this free state each summer. Why wouldn’t the women try to escape? What kinds of emotional attachments did they have with these men? Initially, I believed that it was entirely possible that they actually loved the men. Ultimately, I discovered that it was much more complicated than that.
Situated in the free state of Ohio, Tawawa House offers respite from the summer heat. A beautiful, inviting house surrounded by a dozen private cottages, the resort is favored by wealthy Southern white men who vacation there, accompanied by their enslaved mistresses.
Regular visitors Lizzie, Reenie, and Sweet have forged an enduring friendship. They look forward to their annual reunion and the opportunity it affords them to talk over the changes in their lives and their respective plantations. The subject of freedom is never spoken aloud until the red-maned, spirited Mawu arrives and voices her determination to escape. To run is to leave behind the friends and families trapped at home. For some, it also means tearing the strong emotional and psychological ties that bind them to their masters.
When a fire on the resort sets off a string of tragedies, Lizzie, Reenie, and Sweet soon learn tragic lessons,that triumph and dehumanization are inseparable and that love exists even in the cruelest circumstances as they bear witness to the end of an era.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS
I have 1 hardcover copy of Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez to share with my readers. To enter…
- For 1 entry leave me a comment with a way to contact you.
- For 2 entries follow my blog. If you already do, thank you and let me know in your comment and the extra entry is yours as well.
- For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway to spread the word.
Since this is my own copy of Wench the giveaway will be open to all my readers worldwide! I will draw for the winner on Saturday, March 12, 2011. Good luck everyone!
© 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.
OOh Dar, I am so excited. Already a follower and off to tweet about it.
vivienne_dacosta@hotmail.com
We are followers, we have retweeted you and our email address is: thebookmemoirs [at] gmail [dot] com. 🙂
– I would love to read this book, living in Ohio as I do.
harvee44 at yahoo.com
– I am also a follower
What a strange piece of history.
I would not have imagined such a resort could ever have existed.
Sometimes fact truly is stranger than fiction.
I would like to read this so please enter me.
+1 for comment
+1 I am a follower via GFC.
Thanks.
Carol T
buddytho {at} gmail DOT com
+2. it is always fun to learn something new in history. I am a follower of your blog.
ladybook21 at yahoo dot com
Entering. I would like to read this one and see for myself that place and what the women felt.
Old follower 🙂
blodeuedd1 at gmail dot com
Love the cover of the book and it sounds intriguing too!
+1 comment
+1 Following on GFC
danaan at gmx dot at
Already a follower of your blog
and would love to be entered into the draw for this book
cb2ck @ hotmail dot co dot uk
many thanks
carol
http://dizzycslittlebookblog.blogspot.com/
Interesting review! Thanks for the giveway.
-current follower
(+2 entries)
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
AHHHHH! i can't believe it! This is on my wish list!!! Please enter me!
I am a follower.
forevereading at gmail dot com
I would love to read this.
+1 follower
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
I had never heard that before. How terrible for those women. I would like to read this book, I bet it is really interesting.
I am a gfc follower.
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
Thanks for the generous giveaway!
I subscribe in Google Reader.
milou2ster(at)gmail.com
Would love to own this one, as I have it out from the library now and it will probably have to go back unread (no more renews left).
I'm a follower of your blog in Google Reader.
peanutboo2 AT gmail DOT com
This sounds really interesting, and lovely cover!
Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to win this.
I follow on GFC
lizzi0915 at aol dot com
You always have giveaways for the most interesting sounding books!!
kimbers10[at]yahoo[dot]com
I'm a follower, and I'll make sure to tweet this!
@kdaze10
Sounds like a very interesting book.
littleone AT shaw DOT ca
I follow on GFC
littleone AT shaw DOT ca
I would love to read this book. =)
I'm a follower.
tiredwkids at live dot com
Wow I cannot imagine what it must have been like for these women! I would love to win this book!
Candc320@gmail.com
I am a GFC follower (Colleen Turner).
Candc320@gmail.com
Fascinating – and unbelievable – which makes it a must read!
+1 – comment
+1 – GFC follower (and email subscriber)
kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com
I would love to win. I have read so many excellent reviews of this book.
thanks.
I am a follower +`1
kaiminani at gmail dot com
This sounds good and I'd love to read it!
old follower
crimson_haze(at)hotmail(dot)com
How horrible to realize that you try to escape from an intolerable situation that you can't take your children with you!
Please enter me in this contest.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
I follow your blog publicly with Google Friend Connect.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
This book looks great! Thanks for this international giveaway.
I follow your blog. RSS
I tweeted (retweeted your tweet – I'm @Leeswammes)
I tweeted:
https://peekingbetweenthepages.com/2011/02/giveaway-wench-by-dolen-perkins-valdez.html Giveaway of 'The Wench'
My Twitter name is Carolee888.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
Sounds like a very interesting book. Please count me in. Thanks
GFC Follower & tweeted ~ http://twitter.com/#!/pixie13sweeps/status/39047401989865472
gevin13{at}gmail{dot}com
I'd love to win this!! Thanks for the opportunity! I'm a follower.
LIS859@gmail.com
Fabulous cover!
GFC follower.
JHS
Colloquium
jhsmail at comcast dot net
This sounds neat! I'd love to read it.
Old follower
Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com
The cover is so beautiful and the story is intriguing. I am starting to enjoy historical fiction as a genre.
+1 comment
+1 GFC(Mona Garg) and email
monagarg@yahoo.com
I would love to win this book!
I follow you on GFC
mystica123athotmaildotcom
I'd love to win
ruthjoec at aoldotcom
I follow on Google fc
I would love to read Wench 🙂 *Thanks* for the giveaway!
theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com
Already publicly following Peeking Between the Pages with Google Friend Connect [Cheryl F. {The Lucky Ladybug}]
theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com
Tweeted the giveaway
theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com
Hi! Thanks for the giveaway!
petra_socaciu@yahoo.com
http://bagofbutterflies.blogspot.com/2011/02/giveaway-6.html – blog post
I'm also following.
I have this on my wish list. have seen so many great reviews for it. Thanks for hosting a great giveaway.
I am a follower also.
bthgordon(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks so much for giving this book to a very lucky winner.
I follow your blog via GFC & Reader.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net
Please enter me! I'm a follower GFC.
Thanks!
Dancealert at aol dot com
What a beautiful cover – evokes memories of summer.
I am a follower on Google Reader.
pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com
following you , thanks so much!
i really like your blog I have so much fun here
I'd love to read this!
I'm already a follower and I tweeted here http://twitter.com/#!/Entre_Libros/status/39547544992227328
Thank you for the giveaway! 🙂
entrelibros_blog at hotmail.com
I would love to win this book and read it! I follow via RSS. nomadreaderblog at gmail dot come
I would love to be entered. I'm already a follower.
carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com
I've heard some great things about this book and would love to read it.
veronicasbooks at gmail dot com
also, i already follow your blog
Please enter me in this contest. I read your earlier review only after being atrracted by the cover photo.
Already a follower.
heatherdpear at hotmail dot com
The plot sounds awesome !
I'm a follower now 🙂
anais.styling/a/orange.fr
I love books in this era.
RJB
loki304(at)tds(dot)net
This book looks so good.
susanbillietaylor [at] gmail [dot] com
1. I follow by gfc.
susanbillietaylor [at] gmail [dot] com
2. I follow by gfc.
susanbillietaylor [at] gmail [dot] com
Sounds like a really great book, one I would love to read. Please enter me. Thanks!
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
I follow on GFC!
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
I love books based on historical 'trivia'.
I follow
I tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/EVA_n_essence/status/41132429955694592
eva.s.black[@]gmail[.]com
I love the front cover of this book. I can't wait to read it.
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
I follow you via gfc
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
tweet @mamabunny13
http://twitter.com/#!/mamabunny13/status/41215958412431360
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
I bet WENCH is a powerful novel. I would love to read it.
I'm a follower.
thebookish96(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi Dar, oh… thank you for hosting this giveaway! I'd like to enter it and I'm already a follower. 🙂
teh(dot)alice(at)gmail(dot)com
This sounds like an interesting one! Please count me in. Thank you!
nfmgirl AT gmail dOT com
I follow
nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
Blogged:
http://cerebralgirl.blogspot.com/2011/02/book-giveaways-in-blogworld-02-26-11.html
nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
I have heard a lot of good things about this book, but haven't as yet read it. Thanks for the giveaway!
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
follower of your blog via GFC
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
Please enter me in the giveaway 🙂
Laceyinthesky(AT)live(DOT)com
I would love to read this book.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I am a GFC follower
1
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I am a GFC follower
2
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I would love a chance to win!
I am a follower.
I posted in my sidebar.
msjessicamae(at)gmail(dot)com
I would love to read this book. Thanks for the chance.
+1 GFC follower (Melanie L)
+1 Tweet:
http://twitter.com/#!/Melanie_2006/status/45348202320367616
peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com
Total: 3
I'd love to read this, it looks very original and interesting! Thanks for the chance 🙂
jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net
I'm a GFC follower 🙂
jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/#!/enterthedrew/status/45977583766089728
jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net
Sounds interesting – I'd love to read it.
rach62803 at yahoo dot com
I've heard a lot of good things about this book, so I'd love to be entered. I am a follower.
diaryofaneccentric at hotmail dot com
I would love to read Wench! Please enter me in this giveaway.
bookloversarah1 at yahoo dot com
Sarah E
Follow via GFC.
bookloversarah1 at yahoo dot com
Sarah E
Tweet:
http://twitter.com/BookLoverSarah/status/46791901755604992
bookloversarah1 at yahoo dot com
Sarah E
This book sounds amazing!!
chitchatqueen2005@hotmail.com