I hope you’ll excuse my brief absence. I was taking my leisure with some skunk. Skunk A Love Story, that is. When I first stumbled upon this book, I was immediately taken in by the premise: A man, obsessed by the odor of skunks, falls in love with a woman equally obsessed with fish. While the storyline definitely got my attention, I couldn’t help but wonder-could Courter pull it off through an entire book? After all, the story was originally published as a short. I had a hard time imagining it going any further than a few chapters. But I was more than pleasantly surprised.
Skunk A Love Story is a whirl of imagination and one-of-a-kind humor. I spent much of my reading time laughing out loud and then rereading the portion of text to laugh some more. While the premise may seem completely unbelievable and a rather tall tale when told in summary, the way in which the book is written will have any reader buying it hook, line, and sinker. Another big surprise? Skunk’s plot line takes several drastic turns, and I’d love to tell you what happens but I won’t be a stinker. I’ve seen many books fall flat when the author decides to rip the protagonist out of his comfy setting and plunk him somewhere totally unexpected. But Courter makes these transitions brilliantly without leaving the reader straining to find his way back into the groove.
I am pleased to bestow the great and not-yet coveted Goldfish Award on this most worthy of books. Skunk will make for fantastic summer reading. Sarcastic humor, unusual story line, and the only thing fluffy about it are those cute black and white critters. You’ll want to breathe this one in and savor it as I did. So here’s your chance. I have one copy to give away to a lucky reader.
3 Ways to Enter:
1.) Leave a comment telling me something you’re really hooked on. I’ll go first - I admit to liking the smell of skunk. Yes, I am a skunk sniffer, but only at a distance. I’ve never had one as a pet, but I knew someone who did and I was jealous. Don’t tell anyone, please. It’s rather embarrassing.
2.) Subscribers are automatically entered into this and all future giveaways. Just plunk your email address in the little white box on the right column. (Please make sure to verify your Feedburner subscription by responding to the email they send you. If you don’t receive it, check your junk mail.)
3.) Blog about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post.
Do all three, and you’ve got three entries to win! You have until midnight EST on Wednesday, May 21, 2008, to enter.
***Read the first three chapters of Skunk A Love Story online. This book is available in June from Omnidawn.
I’m hooked on The New York Times website!
I’m hooked on reading. I love to read my favorite authors.
i would love to read this book. it sounds like the writer is really good. thanks in advance if i win and i hope all of your days are blessed.
[...] reviews for a chance to win “Skunk (A Love Story)” by Justin Courter. Just comment here with ’something you’re really hooked on’ lol. You can get another chance to [...]
Hmm I’m hooked on the smell of coffee beans… but I don’t really like coffee (unless it has about 4 heaping spoonfuls of sugar- but then you’re kinda defeating the purpose aren’t you? lol).
I’ve also linked to your contest
http://kbookreviews.wordpress.com/2008/05/21/two-book-contests/
Bunk the skunk; they are all created by a divine love with/without the sprayed secretions. many thanks SW
SOUNDS LIKE A CUTE AND UNUSUAL STORY!:)
great story concept
This book sounds bazaar in
its own obessed way.Would
love to read this.I am curious
now to see how it all works out.
sounds like a good book
Okay I am on the edge of my seat with this book! Looks like a good book to read in my book club!
[...] It even includes a work from a carp(e) libris favorite, Justin Courter, plus a bit of his novel Skunk. As usual for me, Courter did not disappoint. [...]
I am eager to read the full version.