BOOKS AND MOVIES » giveaways

Winners of the Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy prize pack

CarrieK — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:09:40 +0000

Congratulations to Kathy from Bermudaonion and Sim Carter from Chapter 1 – Take 1 , who have each won a prize package including a t-shirt, a voice recording pen, a Post-It cube, and a copy of John LeCarre’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy!

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Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy Prize Pack Giveaway

CarrieK — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:01:03 +0000

The film version of John le Carre’s spy classic Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy opens nationwide today! The all-star cast includes the brilliant Gary Oldman and equally-brilliant Colin Firth, and I can’t wait to see it. Check out the trailer!

To celebrate the film’s opening, the wonderful people at Big Honcho Media are offering prize packs to two of my lucky readers. The prize pack includes:

~ T-shirt
~ Voice recorder pen
~ Post-it Note Cube
~ A copy of the book with the movie tie-in cover (pictured below)

Here’s how to enter:

~ This giveaway is open to readers in the US.

~ Leave a comment on this post, telling me what your favorite spy thriller – either book or movie – is. One entry per person, please.

~ All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. PST, January 13, 2012. On the 14th, I will use Random.org to draw two winners. I will contact the winners for their mailing info, which I will forward to the person handling the giveaway.

Good luck!

© CarrieK for BOOKS AND MOVIES, 2012. | Permalink | 33 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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Winner of 2011 Ireland Challenge Giveaway

CarrieK — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:36:36 +0000

Congratulations to Susan at You Can Never Have Too Many Books, who has won a copy of Tipperary by Frank Delaney.

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Winner of 2011 Essay Challenge Giveaway

CarrieK — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:30:00 +0000

Congratulations to Nathalie Foy, who has won a copy of Best American Essays 2011.

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Winners of Atlas Shrugged: Part 1 on DVD

CarrieK — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:22:27 +0000

I’m sorry that I’m late drawing winners for this giveaway! I won’t make you wait any longer – the winners are:

Melissa from Avid Reader
Ashley Chattaway
nfmgirl from Cerebral Girl

Watch your e-mail – I’ll be contacting you for mailing addresses.

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Happy Haulidays Giveaway from Chronicle Books

CarrieK — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 08:01:50 +0000

The folks at Chronicle Books are having their annual Happy Haulidays giveaway, in which one blogger – and one person who comments on their Happy Haulidays post – wins up to $500 of Chronicle Books. Sounds sweet, right? Well, the generous Chronicle people have added another dimension to the giveaway this year. Each blogger who enters gets to name the charity of their choice – and if they win, their charity also wins $500 worth of Chronicle Books.

For my charity, I have chosen Packages From Home. This is a bit about their mission:

Our sole purpose is to provide food, personal care, and recreational items to deployed American troops, at no cost to the them. Since March 2005 we have averaged 1,000 to 1,500 packages a month being shipped to our heroes. Our goal is to ship many more. We collect donated items from generous patriotic citizens who live all across America. These items include non-perishable food, personal toiletries, and recreational items like games, books, music CDs and movie DVDs.

The contest ends on December 2nd, when one blogger will be randomly chosen. If my post wins, not only do I win the books I’m about to list, but I get to pick a random commenter on this post to win the same books. Also, Packages From Home will get to choose $500 worth of books that will then be added to care packages sent to deployed men and women in our military. I can’t think of anything that would make me happier at Christmas time.

For a homeschooling mom, Chronicle Books is like a treasure trove of educational goodness! I had so much fun clicking through their web site, choosing books to supplement our homeschool journey.

For art:

Cave Paintings to Picasso: The Inside Scoop on 50 Art Masterpieces by Henry M. Sayre
Art Activity Pack: Picasso by Mila Boutan
Art Activity Pack: Renoir by Mila Boutan
Art Activity Pack: Degas by Mila Boutan
Art Activity Pack: Cezanne by Mila Boutan
Art Activity Pack: Monet by Mila Boutan
Art Activity Pack: Van Gogh by Mila Boutan
Art Activity Pack: Matisse by Mila Boutan
The Exquisite Book: 100 Artists Play a Collaborative Game by Julia Rothman, Jenny Volvovski, and Matt Lamothe
MOMA: My Museum

For social studies:

3D World Atlas and Tour by Marie Javins
Brainjuice: American History Fresh Squeezed by Carol Diggory Shields
A Little History of Ireland by Martin Wallace
The Art of Money: The History and Design of Paper Currency from Around the World by David Standish

For home economics:

Cook It in a Cup! Quick Meals and Treats Kids Can Cook in Silicone Cups by Julia Myall

Just for fun:

Quallop: A Fast-Paced Criss-Cross Card Game
The Name Game: A Family Guessing Game

Along with all the homeschool goodness, I found a few books that would make great gift items for the holidays:

A Little French Cookbook by Janet Laurence – for Michelle, who is also taking French with her high school freshman this year
TCM Classic Movie Trivia: Featuring More Than 4,000 Questions to Test Your Cinema Smarts – for Mom and Dad, who are big classic movie buffs
Ultimate Book of Card Games: The Comprehensive Guide to More Than 350 Games by Scott McNeely – for Mom, who loves to play cards
The Boy Who Loved Batman: The True Story of How a Comics-Obsessed Kid Conquered Hollywood to Bring the Dark Knight to the Silver Screen by Michael E. Uslan – for Kari, one of Natalie’s best friends, who loves all things Batman, and is writing her own Batman screenplay

And for me (because I’m not completely altruistic):

Winerd: The Wine Tasting Game
I’m So Happy It’s Happy Hour: Sinfully Delicious Cocktails for Any Occasion by Anne Taintor
Everyday Matters: A New York Diary by Danny Gregory
You Know You’re a Writer When… by Adair Lara
Ready, Set, Novel! Plan and Plot Your Upcoming Masterpiece by By Chris Baty, Lindsey Grant, and Tavia Stewart-Streit of National Novel Writing Month
Zombies: A Record of the Year of Infection by Don Roff and Chris Lane
Dead Inside: Do Not Enter – Notes From the Zombie Apocalypse

Now, for your chance to win these books! To enter, simply leave a comment below. (One entry per person, please.) All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. PST, December 1, 2011. Good luck!

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Winner of Water for Elephants Book/DVD Bundle

CarrieK — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 20:29:50 +0000

Congratulations to Natasha W., who has won the Water for ElephantsBook/DVD Bundle!

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Chronicle Books Giveaway

CarrieK — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 08:34:30 +0000

I recently received three review copies from Chronicle Books. They’re not the type of books I typically read or review, but I don’t want them to go to waste, as they look like books that many of you would enjoy – and that might better fit the time of life you are in. Here are the books I’m giving away:

Mama’s Big Book of Little Lifesavers: To survive the tumultuous first years with kids, smart parents learn to do things faster, cheaper, and easier. Wouldn’t it be great if their hard-won shortcuts were collected into one handy reference? Here’s a book that does just that. Featuring 400 of the best tips and tricks from veteran moms and dads, Mama’s Big Book of Little Lifesavers gets straight to the point with modern solutions to age-old parenting dilemmas such as getting baby to sleep, potty training, saving cash on baby gear, streamlining bedtime, and much more. Easy to dip in and out of, this book helps parents get through each day with a few spare minutes, a few extra dollars, and their sanity intact!

Kerry Colburn is the co-author of How to Have Your Second Child First, among other books. She currently works, parents, and drinks plenty of coffee in Seattle.

College Safety 101: Miss Independent’s Guide to Empowerment, Confidence, & Staying Safe: A must-have for every young woman headed off to college, this comprehensive guide to personal safety covers everything from daily life to more serious threats on campus. Safety expert and speaker Kathleen Baty offers young women essential advice for protecting themselves in the dorm, at parties, on Facebook, during spring break, and while studying abroad. She also advises on sexual harassment, domestic violence, and self-defense. Written in a friendly, accessible tone, and packed with checklists, personal anecdotes from students, safety secrets, and invaluable resources, College Safety 101 is the handbook every college student needs on her nightstand, and a priceless gift for high school grads.

Kathleen Baty is a safety expert and has appeared on national shows including the Today Show. She lives in California.

Hi, My Name Is: Babble’s Guide to Choosing the Perfect Name for Your Baby: What’s in a name? It turns out, a whole lot. What does the name mean? Does it lend itself to nicknames? How many other kids will have it? Is it mellifluous? Mellifluous—is that a name? This informative and entertaining volume from the editors of Babble.com presents the 500 top names for boys and girls, breaking down each name’s meaning, ranking, and historical significance. Best of all, the book offers fascinating top ten lists throughout: the top ten names of billionaires, Beat poets, pirates, and more! Written in Babble’s signature irreverent tone, this is the ultimate contemporary baby-naming guide, perfect for every Tom, Dick, and Harry—and Braden, Hayden, and Jaden!

Babble.com, the sister site to Nerve.com, is the premier online magazine for a new generation of parents, read by more than 5 million unique readers per month.

Giveaway details:

~ You can enter to win one, two, or all three books – but please only leave one comment. In your comment, tell me which books you are entering to win.

~ I’m shipping these, so all entrants must have a US or Canadian mailing address.

~ All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. PST, Friday, November 18, 2011. On Saturday, November 19th, I will use Random.org, to choose winners.

Good luck!

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DVD Giveaway – Win one of 3 copies of Atlas Shrugged: Part One!

CarrieK — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 07:01:41 +0000

Powerful forces trigger a global revolution when the highly anticipated film adaptation of Ayn Rand’s bestselling novel, Atlas Shrugged: Part I, emerges on Blu-ray and DVD November 8. The first installment in a planned trilogy, Atlas Shrugged: Part I uses a talented cast to explore themes of individualism, socialism, and anarchy.

In 2016, the country is on the verge of economic collapse. Dagny Taggart (Taylor Schilling, “Mercy”) runs one of the largest remaining railroads despite her inept CEO brother, James (Matthew Marsden, “Resident Evil: Extinction”). To save the railroad from financial ruin, Dagny seeks out entrepreneurial industrialist, Henry Rearden (Grant Bowler, “True Blood”), whose super-strength metal alloy holds the promise of the future.

As government interference continues and the country’s most competent and productive workers systematically disappear, Dagny refuses to give up. As she bears witness to seeing the motor of the world stopped, Dagny increasingly hears people reciting: Who is John Galt?

For your chance to win one of three available copies of Atlas Shrugged: Part I on DVD, simply answer the following question in the comments:

Who wrote Atlas Shrugged?
• Ayn Rand
• Taylor Schilling
• John Galt

Giveaway details:

~ Contest open to readers with US mailing addresses only.
~ To enter, please leave a comment answering the question above.
~ One entry per person.
~ All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. PST, Friday, November 11, 2011. On Saturday, November 12th, I will use Random.org to draw three winners.

Good luck!

© CarrieK for BOOKS AND MOVIES, 2011. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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DVD Review: Water for Elephants – plus, a DVD/Book Bundle giveaway!

CarrieK — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 07:01:18 +0000

Take a journey back in time with the romantic tale based on Sara Gruen’s New York Times #1 Best-Seller novel of the same name, Water for Elephants, coming to Blu-ray and DVD on November 1st from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Starring Academy Award®-winner Reese Witherspoon (Walk The Line), Robert Pattinson (Twilight series) and Oscar®-winner Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds), the film presents an epic tale of forbidden love in a magical place filled with adventure, wonder and great danger. Showcasing the decadence of a bohemian circus and the majesty of its animals against the backdrop and beauty of a bygone era, Water for Elephants makes the ideal holiday gift idea for your favorite film buff, fashionista or book-lover!

Devastated by the sudden death of his parents at the height of The Depression, a young dreamer from the wrong side of the tracks, Jacob Jankowski (Pattinson), abandons his veterinary studies at Cornell University. With no other family, no house, and no money, Jacob stows away on a train carrying the circus performers of The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Hired as a veterinarian to care for the troupe’s animals, Jacob is temporarily filled with the promise of an exciting life that comes with a traveling circus troupe. However, as he builds a rapport and falls in love with the star of the show, Marlena (Witherspoon), they become prey to the circus’s owner, Marlena’s violent and abusive husband August (Waltz). As the circus begins to crumble from within and against all odds, Jacob and Marlena come together and fall in love through their compassion for a special elephant. With their love on the line, Jacob and Marlena come to a crossroads that will forever change their destiny.

Directed by critically-acclaimed filmmaker Francis Lawrence (Constantine), Water for Elephants features fantastic supporting performances from Paul Schneider (Lars and the Real Girl), Jim Norton (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets), Mark Povinelli (The Polar Express), Richard Brake (Batman Begins), and Academy Award®-nominee Hal Holbrook (Into the Wild).

The DVD special features include: Robert Pattinson Spotlight; Feature Performer Reese Witherspoon; The Traveling Show: From Page to Screen; Audio Commentary with Director Francis Lawrence and Writer Richard LaGravenese; and Theatrical Trailer.

I loved the book Water for Elephants (my review), and was so excited to hear that a film version was being planned. Then I read about the casting. Robert Pattinson? Edward? Really? I wasn’t happy, but…. I decided to hold on to my reservations and give the movie a chance.

I didn’t get a chance to see it in the theater, though, because I live in a little rural community with a one-screen theater, and we only get “commercial” films. When I was offered a screener copy on DVD, I jumped at it, and immediately scheduled a movie night with my best friend, Michelle.

This movie amazed me. I hoped I would like it. I had slight hopes that Robert Pattinson would be adequate. What I didn’t expect was to completely get sucked into the film within the first fifteen minutes. I didn’t expect to forget that it was Edward up there on the screen, but I did. Pattinson was completely believable as Jacob, and even though the age difference between Jacob and Marlena seemed larger in the movie than in the book, the two actors had fantastic chemistry.

Not only was the main couple cast very well, but the casting was solid all around. Christopher Waltz was truly chilling in his portrayal of the sadistic August. The scenes between August and Marlena, and August and the elephant, Rosie, were disturbing.

Best of all, the filmmakers were smart enough to know that Sara Gruen’s story didn’t need any tweaking, and they followed the book very closely. It was a surprising experience to walk away from a film adaptation without thinking, “They really screwed it up.” For once, they got it exactly right.

Thanks to the generosity of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, I am thrilled to be able to offer one lucky reader of my blog a DVD/book bundle of Water for Elephants.

Here’s how to enter:

~ To enter, please leave a comment below.

~ One entry per person, please. Entrants must have a US or Canadian mailing address.

~ All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. PST, Friday, November 11, 2011. On November 12th, I will use Random.org to draw the winner and announce him/her here at Books and Movies.

Good luck!

Also, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has put together a reading/viewing guide to enhance your experience:

© CarrieK for BOOKS AND MOVIES, 2011. | Permalink | 17 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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