Peeking Between the Pages

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Book Review: Leftovers by Arthur Wooten & Giveaway

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What I love about reading and blogging is finding new authors and Arthur Wooten, the author of Leftovers, is one of them. What a fantastic gem this book is! It took me back to an era when Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland were popular, when gas was 21 cents a gallon and cigarettes 30 cents, and when Tupperware was all the rage! (I remember Tupperware parties and truth be told we still have quite a bit of Tupperware in our cupboards – lol). I loved this journey back in time and the people I got to meet!

Vivian fantasizes about being the perfect housewife. The reason it’s a fantasy is because Vivian is the worst housekeeper and cook there is. Truth be told after an incident as a kid she’s pretty scared of that lumbering gas stove in her kitchen. When her husband who married her for the money he thought she’d inherit tells her he’s leaving her, she’s shocked. She literally falls apart – the bills are piling up, the power is turned off, and finally Vivian’s house is taken from her.

Lucky for Vivian she has a couple of good friends in Babs and her brother Stew because they take her in. Stew is in heaven as he’s been harboring a crush on Vivian for years. If only she’d notice him as more than Bab’s brother and a friend. When Vivian is unable to find a job Babs suggests selling Tupperware as she does. Vivian is terrified of speaking in front of a group of people but she realizes she has no choice.

Turns out Vivian is a natural born seller and has a knack with people – they like her. Once she gains confidence she goes at it with a vengeance. She becomes a top seller in a short time and gets to go a convention that ends up being the catalyst to her transformation. The creator of the Tupperware Home Party, Brownie Wise, decides to take Vivian under her wing. Vivian gets a makeover, new clothes, and a car. On top of it she becomes the media spokeswoman for Tupperware. Life as Vivian knew it is never the same. The only thing she didn’t bank on was losing the two most important people in her life on her rise to stardom.

Vivian is a great character. She’s so hopeless that she’s funny. She can’t park a car if her life depends on it, she dresses like a slob, and obviously she can’t keep a husband. Yet, as she says, Tupperware changes her life and it does. Vivian gains the confidence to succeed and be her own woman – to make it on her own. Keep in mind this is the 1950’s when it was less common for women to be so successful. It was great to see Vivian find herself and realize that despite a bad childhood and marriage, she was strong enough to take care of herself. Every time she stepped further up the ladder of self confidence I cheered her on and it was great to see her grow so much from where she had started.

Arthur has a wonderful writing style. While really the story is a serious one – a woman trying to find her way – he writes in a way that lightens it up and makes it funny and serious all at the same time. I was hooked on the story from the beginning because you just can’t help but be sucked into Vivian’s crazy life and I couldn’t put it down. I’ll say that I enjoyed it so much that I went and bought three more of Arthur’s books for my Kindle. Leftovers is a wonderful story of a woman who was truly lost for most of her life but finds herself in an unexpected way by sheer determination and selling Tupperware. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to my friends!

Be sure to pop by Arthur’s website to check out Leftovers as well as his other novels. You can also visit Arthur on his blog or find him on Facebook and Twitter.  You can buy your own copy of Leftovers here at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, or for your Kindle (at only $2.99 – a steal!).

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I have one paperback copy (or if you prefer a Kindle copy) of Leftovers by Arthur Wooten up for grabs.  To enter…

  • For 1 entry simply leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
  • For 2 entries, follow my blog.  If you already do, thank you, and please let me know so I can pass the extra entry on to you as well.
  • For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway and spread the word!

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, May 5/12.  Good luck to all!

Source: Review copy was provided by the author. No compensation was received for this review and all opinions are my own.

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Comments

  2. This sounds so unique and kind of fun! I bet it would make for a really good relaxing read for when things are stressful. I loved reading your thoughts on it! I would love the chance to read this one, Dar, so please do enter me in your giveaway as well!

    zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

  3. This lovely and unique book sounds special. Your wonderful review captivated me. I am an e-mail subscriber.

  4. What a great book. Just ideal. Loved learning about the author and his writing. I subscribe via e-mail.

  15. This sounds like a fun book to read-I remember the tupperware parties that my mom and her friends used to have-what fun!

    pjames330 at aol dot com

  23. Hi Dar~ When I saw the title of your post in my email,I got really excited because I thought this was about Leftovers by Tom Perrotta, which has been on my WL for a while. But…after seeing what the book really is, I got extra excited because I love finding new authors and this book looks like such a fun read!!

    Thanks for the chance to win!

  26. Sounds like a fun read – and I remember having some of those tupperware parties!
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

  28. I love to read stories set in the 1950s. That stove brings back memories. In 1971,I tried to bake a cake on my honeymoon. The stove blew up and we checked out!!

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

  32. another book for tbr pile..I follow on twitter fb follower. Rhondareads will tweet.email subscriber

  36. Sounds like a great story and probably one that I wouldn’t read because I’m such a cover snob. That’s why it’s wonderful that you read some of these books that others would pass on….great review!

  38. I don’t normally read books like this, but you’ve made the character and the setting sound so wonderful. Great review!

  45. +1 A story set in this era sounds really good!

    +2 blog follower

    +3 tweeted

    Margaret
    singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

  46. Would love to read this email subscrir twitter follower will tweet at rhonda reads..gfc follower. Thanks for giveaway.

  47. lol I’m also a bit afraid of my stove from time to time also 🙂
    Thanks for the recommendation and contest Darlene.
    Is this based on a real person? It sure seems like it.

    jennygirl73[at]gmail[dot]com