Where I share my love of books with reviews, features, giveaways and memes. Family and needlepoint are thrown in from time to time.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson - Giveaway! - CLOSED

When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson

On a hot summer day, Joanna Mason's family slowly wanders home along a country lane. A moment later, Joanna's life is changed forever...

On a dark night thirty years later, ex-detective Jackson Brodie finds himself on a train that is both crowded and late. Lost in his thoughts, he suddenly hears a shocking sound...

At the end of a long day, 16-year-old Reggie is looking forward to watching a little TV. Then a terrifying noise shatters her peaceful evening. Luckily, Reggie makes it a point to be prepared for an emergency...

These three lives come together in unexpected and deeply thrilling ways in the latest novel from Kate Atkinson, the critically acclaimed author who Harlan Coben calls "an absolute must-read."

Listen to an excerpt

Reading Group Guide

1. Many of the characters in When Will There Be Good News? have lost family members: Joanna loses her mother, sister, and baby brother in the novel’s opening pages; Reggie’s mother has recently drowned; and Jackson lost his mother, brother, and sister in the course of a year when he was twelve. In view of these tragedies, compare Joanna’s, Reggie’s, and Jackson’s respective outlooks on life with those of the other characters in the novel.

2. The question of Nathan’s paternity haunts Jackson Brodie. Why? How might Jackson’s life change if he discovered he was Nathan’s father? Is Jackson a good father to Marlee?

3. With When Will There Be Good News? — and previously also in Case Histories and One Good Turn — Kate Atkinson introduced elements of the traditional crime novel into her fiction. Other than the “crime,” what elements make up a crime novel? What crime- fiction conventions can you discern in this book?

4. When Will There Be Good News? has three central female characters: Joanna, Louise, and Reggie. Discuss the ways in which these three central characters are similar. Which of the three would you most like to encounter again in a subsequent novel by Kate Atkinson?

5. Of Jackson Brodie, Atkinson writes, “How ironic that both Julia and Louise, the two women he’d felt closest to in his recent past, had both unexpectedly got married, and neither of them to him” (page 90). What are the chances that Jackson will ever have a successful romantic relationship? Why do you think he has been unlucky so far, even though he is such an appealing character?

6. Discuss the idea of “good” characters and “evil” characters in When Will There Be Good News? Do you think the novel’s central characters are either essentially “good” or essentially “evil,” or are they a combination of both? How do Louise, Reggie, and Jackson — each of whom breaks the law to achieve the “right” result — fi gure into your viewpoint? What is the moral code at work in the novel?

7. Death, violence, and hardship seem to stalk Reggie, yet she remains remarkably resilient. What do you think sustains her?

8. Discuss the institution of marriage as it is portrayed in the novel. Consider Louise’s marriage, Joanna’s marriage, Jackson’s marriage, and Julia’s marriage. Are there any characters in the novel who are happily married?

9. Jackson Brodie believes that “a coincidence is just an explanation waiting to happen” (page 319). Discuss some of the coincidences in When Will There Be Good News? Do they make the story seem more real? Or less real?

10. Despite the novel’s title and the early statement that “everything was bad. There was no question about it” (page 10), there are many instances of humor in the story. Do you think When Will There Be Good News? is essentially a humorous novel with tragic events or a tragic novel with moments of levity?

GIVEAWAY

I have three copies of this book to giveaway courtesy of Hachette Books. For your first entry (MUST DO THIS ONE FOR ANY OTHER ENTRIES TO COUNT) just tell me you want to win! Also leave your email address.

For additional entries you can sign up to follow (old followers let me know), Twitter or post it on your blog. Each entry must have it's own comment. (Four entries total.)

This giveaway if for U.S./Canada only - no PO boxes and will end Jan 20th! Good luck!

114 comments:

Erin Lowmaster said...

I would love to win this and have been enjoying all the fantastic giveaways you've been hosting!


ellybean at connected2christ dot com

Erin Lowmaster said...

I follow your blog!

ellybean (at) connected2christ.com

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I love Atkinson; I would love to win!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I am an old follower

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

justpeachy36 said...

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

This is a great giveaway, count me in!

I am an old follower.

I tweeted the giveaway here: http://twitter.com/justpeachy36/status/7175882628

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

This one sounds great! Please enter me.

I'm a follower.

fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

Jan said...

I would love to win this book, it sounds fantastic! Please count me in.

alongtheway(at)telus(dot)net

Jan said...

I am a follower of your blog

alongtheway(at)telus(dot)net

Renee said...

I want to win :)

reneesuz82@msn(d0t)com

Renee said...

I am a follower

reneesuz82@msn(d0t)com

rubynreba said...

I would like to win this.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I follow
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

bermudaonion said...

Please enter me! milou2ster(at)gmail.com

bermudaonion said...

I subscribe in Google Reader.

Simply Stacie said...

I want to win.

simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

Martha Lawson said...

I would love to win this one. It intriques me!!! Please enter me..


I am an old follower.

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

Lee P said...

I want to win! Thank you for this interesting book giveaway.

chinook92 at gmail dot com

Lee P said...

I follow Books and Needlepoint via Google Friends.

chinook92 at gmail dot com

Lee P said...

I Tweeted:

http://twitter.com/chinook92/status/7195143871

chinook92 at gmail dot com

Margie said...

Looks good...please include me.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

I follow here and via igoogle.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

fredamans said...

I want to win!

freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

fredamans said...

Old follower.

freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

fredamans said...

Tweet; http://twitter.com/fredalicious/status/7204177205

freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

jlshall said...

I definitely want to win! Thanks for the chance.

jlshall AT comcast DOT net

jlshall said...

And I'm an old follower, too.

jlshall AT comcast DOT net

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

No need to enter me, babe. I'm dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you.

Pam said...

This one sounds fabulous!

melacan at hotmail dot com

Pam said...

follower

melacan at hotmial dot com

Debbie Rodgers said...

I want to win! This sounds great.

tatamagouche AT netbundle DOT ca

Debbie Rodgers said...

I follow you

tatamagouche AT netbundle DOT ca

Unknown said...

I would love to win this book!
amandarwest at gmaildot com

Unknown said...

I am a new follower.
amandarwest at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I tweeted. http://twitter.com/amandawk/status/7210880151

Miss Haley said...

I'd love to win this!

haleymathiot@yahoo.com

Miss Haley said...

I tweeted at twitter.com/haleymathiot

Miss Haley said...

+1 posted at http://haleymathiot.blogspot.com/2009/10/contests.html

thanks!!

K said...

Great contest!
I love Kate Atkinson!
WackyWorldofK-at-bell-dot-net

Angie said...

I want to win

aksimmo@brainerd(dot)net

Angie said...

I follow

aksimmo@brainerd(dot)net

Jaime said...

Yes, I want to win
copperllama at yahoo dot com

Jaime said...

already a follower
copperllama at yahoo dot com

Linda Henderson said...

It sounds like a fascinating book, would love to win a copy.

seriousreader at live dot com

Linda Henderson said...

It sounds like a fascinating book, would love to win a copy.

I am an old follower.

seriousreader at live dot com

Mozi Esme said...

I'd love to win and read this!

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Mozi Esme said...

I'm an old follower.

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

i want to win ;)

karenk
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

i'm a subscriber :)

karenk
kmkuka(at)yahoo(Dot)com

baileythebookworm said...

I'd love to win :) baileythebookworm at gmail dot com

baileythebookworm said...

I'm also a subscriber! baileythebookworm at gmail dot com

Katy said...

I want to win! :)

srfbluemama at gmail dot com

Sandee61 said...

I'm a follower and would love to win Kate Atkinson's new book. Please add me to your giveaway list. Thank you!

Happy New Year!
Sandee

Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com

Belinda M said...

I want to win!


bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

Belinda M said...

tweeted

http://twitter.com/Prairiebelle/status/7287879951

bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

Cackleberry Homestead said...

Please enter me - this sounds like a wonderful book.

crywstalfulcher(at)ec.rr.com

Cackleberry Homestead said...

I'm an old follower.

crystalfulcher(at)ec.rr.com

nfmgirl said...

I would really love this book. Please count me in. Thanks so much!

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

nfmgirl said...

Old follower

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

nfmgirl said...

Blogged:
http://cerebralgirl.blogspot.com/2010/01/book-giveaways-in-blogworld-1-02-10.html

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

CrystalGB said...

I would love to win this book.

Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot}com

JJ said...

Your review sounds wonderful. :)

gahome2mom/at/gmail/dot/com

JJ said...

follower

Anonymous said...

I want to win, please! The book sounds great... Thanks!

Aliya D.
aliyadaya(at)shaw(dot)ca

Reading said...

Please count me in. I would love to win this. Thanks for the giveaway.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Misusedinnocence said...

I would love to win!

misusedinnocence@aol.com

Misusedinnocence said...

I follow.

misusedinnocence@aol.com

Ally said...

I want to win!
Allygotts567 at hotmail dot com

ccqdesigns said...

I Want To Win. I have had this book on my wish list for a while and would love to win it.

rebecca dot cox at charter dot net

Linda Kish said...

I would love to win this

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I would love to win this book.

rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/rhoneygee/status/7582151628

rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com

FrankSandy said...

I sounds like an interesting book.

walkerd@primus.ca

FrankSandy said...

I'm a follower. walkerd@primus.ca

PerfectBlueMoon said...

I want to win! :)

Anna
perfectbluemoon@gmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

Per your instructions - "I want to win". Thanks!

janetfaye said...

I want to win!

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

Old follower - janetfaye

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

Lacey said...

http://twitter.com/HtxAstrosFan/status/7712826608

tweet!!

Lacey914@sbcglobal.net

Lacey said...

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=feed&story_fbid=248766213233&id=1529400064&ref=nf

posted on facebook page

Lacey914@sbcglobal.net

minishoes1 said...

This sounds like my kind of book! Would love to read this! Thanks! jacquecurl1(at)gmail.com

minishoes1 said...

I follow. jacquecurl1(at)gmail.com

Melissa (Books R Us) said...

Please enter me


melissa(At)gingerhigh(dot)com

Melissa (Books R Us) said...

I am a follower

melissa(at)gingerhigh(dot)com

Wanda said...

Can't wait to see how the crime novel elements get worked into this story, and exactly which elements those are. I'm intrigued and I do want to win!

wandapanda at live dot com

Wanda said...

Public follower with Google Friend Connect.
Wanda
wandapanda at live dot com

Wanda said...

I'm following kherbrand on Twitter as TantaDesChiens, and here's my tweet:

http://twitter.com/TantaDesChiens/status/7774788725

wandapanda at live dot com

Anita Yancey said...

I would really like to win a copy of this book. Sounds like a fantastic book. Please enter me. Thanks!

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Unknown said...

Please enter me! I would love to win!

shopgurl101 (at) gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

blog follower!
shopgurl101 (at) gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

http://twitter.com/shopgurl/status/7818183858 tweet

shopgurl101 (at) gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

blogged: http://sweetqt.wordpress.com/2010/01/16/giveaway-books-and-needle-point/

shopgurl101 (at) gmail(dot)com

Dawn M. said...

I would love to win this one. Count me in, please! :0)

Thanks!
librarygrinch at gmail dot com

Dawn M. said...

I subscribe with google reader.

Thanks! :0)
librarygrinch at gmail dot com

Pamela said...

This one looks good!

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

I'd love to win! I am a follower. Thanks.

bibliophilebythesea AT gmail DOT com

Lori said...

I want to win.


dlsmith44@msn.com

Lori said...

I follow on twitter

dlsmith44@msn.com

Sarah E said...

Please enter me in this giveaway!

saemmerson at yahoo dot com

Sarah E

Sarah E said...

I follow your blog.

saemmerson at yahoo dot com

Sarah E

Sarah E said...

I follow you on Twitter and tweeted:

https://twitter.com/saemmerson/status/7897420439

saemmerson at yahoo dot com

Sarah E

CherylS22 said...

I'd love to win this book - please count me in!

Thanks ~ megalon22 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I do, I do, I do want to win this book!

Sheila
skkorman@bellaouth.net

Denny, Alaska said...

I would love to win because this sounds like a good read! Thanks.

denny(dot)gill(at)gmail(dot)com

corkrose said...

Great Author, great book - would love to win..

Anonymous said...

Count me in! Thanks for the chance.

Wendy
ebeandebe at gmail dot com

Jonnie (JB) said...

I would like to win

dftre(at)gmai(dot)com

Jonnie (JB) said...

I'm a follower

dftrew(at)gmail(dot)com

Nancye said...

I would love to win this book. Thanks for the chance!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I am an Old Follower

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Tweet! Tweet!

http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/8013866277

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

disneyfanheather said...

I would love to read this!

disneyfanheather said...

Following your blog!

disneyfanheather said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
disneyfanheather said...

I tweeted!
http://twitter.com/_HeatherAnne_/status/8014459974
hsemonick at gmail dot com

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