Thursday, March 17, 2011

Review and Giveaway: Home to Woefield by Susan Juby

Home to Woefield by Susan Juby (published in Canada under the title The Woefield Poultry Collective) is the story of Prudence, a YA-author-turned-organic-farmer, who inherits a dilapidated and scrubby farm from her Great-Uncle Harold. Delighted with this opportunity to make her dreams come true, Prudence enlists the help of several locals: Earl, the gruff 70-something foreman who came with the property; her neighbour, Seth, a celebrity blogger who hasn’t left his house since an unfortunate incident involving his high-school drama teacher; and 11-year-old Sara Spratt, who’s looking for a home for her prize-winning chickens. Told in the alternating voices of these four characters, Home to Woefield is a side-splittingly funny and thoroughly modern back-to-the-land tale.

I briefly entertained the notion that I wasn’t going to like this book—for the first few chapters, I was a bit worried that Juby was making fun of her characters, who initially seemed like they were going to be caricatures of people whose passions (organic farming and blogging) are dear to my heart. For example, Seth introduces himself like this:
“Let me paint a picture for you in words. People don’t take my skills seriously, but there’s an art to it. There really is. When I was on a roll, I used to update my blogs eight, sometimes twelve hours a day. That’s eight or twelve hours of writing. Stephen King is probably one of the only other guys who writes that much. Him and James Patterson, although King’s the only one of those two worth reading. I wasn’t creating books, but there was definitely some storytelling happening. My mother used to call my blogging mental diarrhea, and my former father, Prince of Pubs, used to ask me if I was some kind of pervert because I was on the computer so much.” (p. 8)
However, it didn’t take long for me to realize how wrong I was—as it turned out, I snorted and giggled and guffawed through the whole book (and Seth turned out to be the character that cracked me up the most). I read parts of the novel out loud to Mr. B and found myself howling with laughter all over again (who knew that sheep shearing could be so funny?). Juby’s characters are wacky and original—more than once, she retells the same moment from two or three or four points of view, each as funny as the last.

Not surprisingly, this isn’t a very realistic story—although Juby does touch on some sensitive subjects such as alcoholism and family dysfunction—but it’s hilarious, quirky and sweet. If you’re in the mood for a laugh, this is the funniest book I’ve read in a long time—in fact, I can’t remember the last time a book made me laugh so much or so hard. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Harper Collins for sending me this book to review.
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Home to Woefield is on blog tour with TLC Book Tours in March. Visit these other blogs for reviews:

Sara’s Organized ChaosBookNAround (spoiler alert) • Colloquium (spoiler alert) • A Musing ReviewsA Bookworm’s WorldRundpinneThe Lost EntwifeReviews by MollyTina’s Book ReviewsBook Club Classics!Chrisbookarama

HarperCollins Canada also organized a Woefield blog tour:

The Written WordShelf CandyDaisy’s Book JournalThe Literary WordFailing the Rorschach TestBurning Impossibly BrightMrs Q Book Addict

Other reviews:

Booking Mamafaerie writerHey, I want to read thatLeafing Through LifeRayment’s Reading, Rants and Ramblings

Interviews with the author: Daisy’s Book JournalNight Owl Reviews

Check out Phase II of the Great Hen Bag Giveaway on Susan Juby’s blog. (I want that hen bag!)

Susan Juby is going to be on Blog Talk Radio with Book Club Girl on Tuesday, April 5, at 7 p.m. ET.
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Would you like to win a copy of Home to Woefield? Harper Collins has offered to send a copy to one of my readers. The giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian residents only (no P.O. boxes). I will accept entries until 11:59 PM Eastern Time on Friday, April 8.

If you are a follower or subscriber, let me know and I will give you another entry.

Make sure you provide me with a way of getting in touch with you. Entries without a blog link or email address will be disqualified.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.
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36 comments:

  1. I'm so glad to see you ended up loving because I'll be reading it for Book Club Girl's show soon. No need to enter me.

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  2. I would love to win one. It sounds fascinating!

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  3. I would love to read this one as I loved Juby's Alice series.

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  4. I could probably use a nice, lighthearted read like this one after all of the heavy stuff I've been reading.

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  5. I really like quirky and sweet so I just may read this one...loved your thoughts on this one!

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  6. Thanks for the giveaway - the books sounds hilarious.

    I am also an old follower of your blog
    d.septer at insightbb.com

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  7. I would love to read it, it sounds really good.
    I am a gfc follower.
    debbie
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

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  8. Sounds like a book that would hit the spot - you can never have too much laughter in life. I'm in for the giveaway (I'm a follower and you have my email).

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  9. I'm up for a quirky, funny book, Avis. Please enter me in this giveaway. I'm a follower, and will post this giveaway in my blog's sidebar. :)

    suko95(at)gmail(dot)com

    THANKS!

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  10. I am a follower and email subscriber. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read the book. Tore923@aol.com

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  11. i am subscriber&follower .would love to read the book. .Lomazowr@gmail.com

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  12. I'm so glad your initial fears about this book were unfounded - it sounds like such a fun and funny book! It is currently at the top of my wish list since I really need an uplifting book like this right now. ;)

    Thanks for being on the tour!

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  13. No need to enter me, I'm reading along with Book Club Girl as well. I'm glad to hear how much you liked it. I'm looking forward to a good laugh.

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  14. I would love to win this boook!

    kdurham2@gmail.com

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  15. I"m a follower.
    This sounds like a delightfully funny book. Thanks for the giveaway.
    mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

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  16. This book sounds like a good read. Thanks foir the review
    I follow your blog via GFC & Google Reader
    Love & Hugs,
    Pam
    pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

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  17. This sounds like a delightful read. Thanks for doing the giveaway.
    Ann
    cozyintexas@yahoo.com

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  18. Sounds great. Count me in please.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  19. Sounds like a good story. (And I've always wanted my own chickens!)

    I'm a follower.

    undermyappletree at gmail dot com

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  20. Now this is a book I probably would have thought sounded cute and then dismissed it. Silly me! I'm learning not to follow all of my first instincts when it comes to books through book blogs! I'm excited that you laughed quite a lot while reading this book as I love books that make me laugh. Your review is wonderful and now I know why this is a book I should read!

    Thank you for offering a copy in a giveaway!

    ~ Amy
    Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

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  21. I am very interested in this book! Thanks for the chance on this one too!
    I have just recently subscribed to your blog.
    ~Renee
    renee(dot)soriano(at)caltech(dot)edu

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  22. I've had my eye on this one!! Thanks for the chance to win!!

    areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

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  23. would love to read this novel...thanks for the chance :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  24. Please enter me. This wounds like a book I would really enjoy.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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  25. I am a follower.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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  26. I would love to win. I have been looking for something new to read.
    ykatrina at hotmail dot com

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  27. This sounds like just the kind of book I need right now!

    shanaelyse@gmail.com
    Shana
    PS-I follow via GFC.

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  28. I have this one to read on my shelf. Can't wait to start. Your review made me want to start now :)

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  29. I would like a chance to read this book. Please enter me. Thanks!

    Follow on GFC!
    Subscribe by email!

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

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  30. There's nothing better than a good that can make you laugh out loud. This one's on my wish list so I'd love to win! Thanks for the giveaway.

    susanaudrey33 at gmail dot com

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  31. I'm a GFC follower too.

    susanaudrey33 at gmail dot com

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  32. I would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks.
    wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  33. I am a follower of your blog through Google Friend Connect.
    wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I'd love to read this book :) Thanks so much for this giveaway!

    I'm your follower :D

    evieseo@gmail.com
    www.evie-bookish.blogspot.com

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  35. I would love to read this book! Please enter me in the giveaway.

    Follow via GFC.

    bookloversarah1 at yahoo dot com

    Sarah E

    ReplyDelete