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This past summer, I read and reviewed 'Matrimony' a New York Times Notable book by Joshua Henkin. It was a great read, a story about marriage, friendship and family.


Joshua is known for taking being very accessible to his readers, he is the kind of author you can email, and he will take time to answer you back. Joshua also actively visits book groups that discuss his book. An article that appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer about how authors such as Joshua are visiting book groups to participate in discussing their books, and how Joshua has visited over 80 book groups in person or on the phone! I think its nice to see authors do this, to make the time to discuss thier books with people who made the time to read their books. Here's a link to the article: Author, your group is calling


Here's what Joshua had to say:

Dear Book Group Member,


Since it's January, when a lot of book groups make their selections for the year, I wanted to get in touch with you about my novel MATRIMONY, which was a 2007 NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK and which has recently come out in paperback. Michael Cunningham, Pulitzer-Prize-winning author of THE HOURS, called MATRIMONY "a beautiful book," and People Magazine said about MATRIMONY: "Charming... Henkin keeps you reading with original characters, witty dialogue, and a view that marriage, for all its flaws, is worth the trouble." I've been participating in a lot of book group discussions of MATRIMONY--I've now participated in over 80 book group discussions in person, by phone, and online, and I'd be delighted to participate with your book group. Over the holidays, the Philadelphia Inquirer published an article about my visits to book groups, which is attached here.


http://www.philly.com/inquirer/magazine/36618199.html


I very much hope you will select MATRIMONY for your book group, and if you would like me to participate in the discussion, you can reach me at Jhenkin@SLC.edu. Thanks, and I look forward to hearing from you.




Happy new year,



Josh

Joshua Henkin is the author of Swimming Across the Hudson, which was selected by the Los Angeles Times as a notable book of the year; his short stories, essays, and reviews have appeared in many journals and newspapers. He teaches at Sarah Lawrence College, Brooklyn College, and the 92nd St.Y in New York City

visit the authors website: http://www.joshuahenkin.com/

Fans of Joshua Henkin will be interested to see him do monthly posts over @ Reading Group Guides.

Joshua Henkin's Book Club Adventures Part 1 and Part 2

Dear Book Blogging friends,


I've recently signed on to do a monthly blog over at Reading Group Guides at Book Reporter. Every month I will do a roundup of my book club visits for that month, with thoughts, comments, etc. about the experience. November's roundup was posted in two parts yesterday and today. Here are the links.


http://www.readinggroupguides.com/blog/2008/12/joshua-henkins-book-club-adventures.asp


http://www.readinggroupguides.com/blog/2008/12/joshua-henkins-book-club-adventures_11.asp



I'd love to hear your thoughts about the posts, and if you think your readers would be interested, I'd be delighted if you shared the posts with them. I've now participated in more than 75 book group discussions of MATRIMONY, and I'd be delighted to participate in your book group's discussion. In any case, consider it a standing offer. With best wishes for a happy holiday season.

related links: http://www.joshuahenkin.com/

Sign up your book club to chat with Joshua Henkin about his book Matrimony. Joshua has agreed to chat with all the book clubs that sign up.

How to Enter

If you want to enter your group to win, send an e-mail with 'Author Chat: Joshua Henkin' in the subject line to vintageanchor@randomhouse.com by midnight on 9/30/08. Be sure to include a contact name and phone number in the e-mail. Limit one entry per group.


*Note: For the Joshua Henkin Author Chat contest, every group that enters will have the opportunity to schedule a 30-minute phone call with the author! Author Chat phone calls are scheduled on a case-by-case basis with each group at the convenience of the author. Contest limited to residents of the United States and Canada.

visit Random House for more details on the chat.







visit the author's website: http://www.joshuahenkin.com/

title: Matrimony

author: Joshua Henkin

pages: 291

published: 2007

genre: fiction

first line: "Out! Out! Out!"

rated: 4 1/2 out of 5








Author Joshua Henkin
was kind enough to send me an autographed copy of his novel, Matrimony ,
and I have really enjoyed reading it. Thank you Mr. Henkin.




Read on for my review of this New York Times Notable book. And for info on how you can sign up to win an autographed copy.





Julian Wainwright was born and raised in a priveledged family. When he goes off to attend college in Massachusetts, with the hopes of becoming a writer one day, he meets and befriends Carter Heinz. Julian winds up meeting another student, a woman named Mia Mendelsohn, and the two begin a relationship. Carter also meets a woman named Pilar, and becomes involved with her. Carter resents Julian a bit for coming from a wealthy home, since Carter himself grew up struggling.



Julian and Carter talk about staying in touch after graduation. Meanwhile Mia's mother is ill with cancer. Mia and Julian decide to get married while her mom is still living so she can be there for thier wedding. After graduation, Julian and Mia move to Michigan while Mia attends grad school and Julian gets a job teaching at the university.



Years later, Julian goes to meet up with Carter.
It turns out Carter was attending law school but quit to join a group of people starting up an internet company. He ends up making millions of dollars in just a few years. Carter ends up telling Julian a secret that shatters thier friendship.



This was a wonderful read.
It's a book is about marriage, friendship and family. It's also a story about hope. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. It was one of those books I didn't want to put down. I kind of 'lived inside' this book for a few days, and was very taken with the story.




The story takes us through almost the next two decades of Julian and Mia's lives. There is alot going on here, and you can relate to these characters and the everyday struggles they face. I liked Julian, I think his character grows throughout the story. You want him and Mia to be okay despite all the obstacles they face.

Carter has kind of a love-hate relationship with Julian, he considers Julian a good friend yet also envies him. But towards the end of the story, you see him mature a bit as well.

I think this book would make a great film.



About the author:

Joshua Henkin is the author of Swimming Across the Hudson, which was selected by the Los Angeles Times as a notable book of the year; his short stories, essays, and reviews have appeared in many journals and newspapers. He teaches at Sarah Lawrence College, Brooklyn College, and the 92nd St.Y in New York City

visit the authors website: http://www.joshuahenkin.com/



Book raffle:


I am raffling off an autographed copy of 'Matrimony' to one of my blog readers!

* To enter to win, just comment to this post.

* If you have a blog, and post about this book raffle, send me the link and I'll enter your name an extra time in the drawing.

A winning name will be drawn on Saturday, August 30th. good luck!

Special thanks to Joshua Henkin.