Book Review and Giveaway: Life After Forty By: Dora Heldt, translation by Jamie Lee Searle

on April 08, 2011

** this giveaway is closed ***

I told you earlier this week that chcik-lit seems to be including alot of Divorce books. well here's a new twist- GERMAN chick lit about divorce! I discovered this book via my new membership in Amazon's Vine Reviewer program (woo-hoo!) and I admit I didn't realize it was a translation until I got it in the mail- I read the synopsis and it sounded interesting, so I picked it!

Synopsis: When Christine's husband of ten years dumps her over the phone while she watches a Hugh Grant film, she is sent spinning on a cathartic, self-medicated journey to the land of self-acceptance and self-reliance. Surrounded by her sister and a strong support group of friends, Christine learns how to deal with the horrors of dating, finding new appliances, and the exhilarating feeling of shopping without consequence.

An uproarious look at the suddenly single life of a divorcee, Dora Heldt's first book to appear in English captures the zeitgeist of the new millennium, with searing insight while never deigning to take itself too seriously. Sparkling dialogue and unforgettable characters create a vibrant world of sardonic, take-no-prisoners women who hold their own in a world geared toward acceptance of their younger selves.

About the Author: Dora Heldt was born on the North Sea island of Sylt, Germany. She works as a publisher’s sales representative and lives in Hamburg. Life After Forty is the first of her German bestsellers to be published in English.

About the Translator: Jamie Lee Searle is a freelance translator and reviewer of German-language literature for publications such as New Books in German. She lives in London, and teaches German language and translation. She recently co-founded the publishing collective And Other Stories, which seeks to promote and publish international literature in translation in the UK.

Review: Some things translate from one language to another, as they almost seem universal. Having a husband want a divorce out of seemingly nowhere, and then finding out there was a reason (more like a who than a what), is something that happens to marriages around the world. Having to start over at 40 is something else that a lot of women can relate to. I found this book very endearing in that Christine's family and friends stood by her and helped to make her stronger, so that she could come thru the divorce better for having gotten it. Moving back to the big city helped Christine find her true self as she started over and there were many lessons we can all take from the book (including when you find THE perfect chair- BUY IT-it may be your best friend at times! LOL), and reading Christine's transformation is like watching a butterfly emerge from it's sleeping state! It was actually pretty refreshing to have a main character OVER 40I had no issue with the translation at all! Other than different place names, the book could have been set in the states! I recommend this book as a way to branch out into European chick-lit!

Giveaway:

Winner will receive this review copy of Life After Forty!

Entries:

Make sure I have an email address, with your comment,

so I can contact you,if you win!
If I don't have a way to contact you, you will forfeit your win!

USA /Canada only

3 day winner's rule : Winner has 3 days to acknowledge they won prize,

and confirm address, if no contact, then new winner will be picked in their place.

Please post each entry separately, i.e. 2 comments for Subscribing:

Some entries have been combined on one line, check carefully!

Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect (1 entry)

Follow me on Twitter, Facebook or Networked Blogs (1 entry for EACH)

Vote for us at Picket Fence Blogs (button on right sidebar) (1 entry)

Fun entry! Go to our Blog Rolls and select a blog that starts with the same letter as your email. let me know the title of one of their posts on their main page! (2 entries)

Subscribe to this blog (2 entries)

Share this giveaway on Facebook or Twitter (please use BTHM1 in your Tweet!) -you can use the new SHARE and RETWEET buttons below this post!) (2 entries EACH, per DAY)

Stumble this post/giveaway (2 entries) (use the new SHARE button below!)

Have / Put the "Bless Their Hearts Mom Blog" Button on your blog or website (3 entries)

Enter this post link in a Giveaway Linky on another site (4 entries)** MUST provide link to the Giveaway Linky!

Blog about this giveaway (5 entries)

Contest will end on April 20th, at midnight. Winner will be picked by Random Number (random.org) on April 21st, and emailed. As soon as winners' info is received, I will mail them their book on the next mail run.

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book for review purposes, free of charge, from the Amazon Vine Program ! No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about the book!