Friday, February 25, 2011

a little giveaway

remember this post? after i shared the pages i love to get lost in, many of you expressed an interest in one book in particular, love is a mix tape. and i don't blame you. this book is gorgeous. the love story between rob and renee is a real one. it's beautiful and serious and playful and funny and feel-it-in-your-gut sad.

so i started thinking. over a cup of warm hazelnut coffee. because that's where i do my best thinking.

what if this book could be passed around between us? around the states, around the world? what if the same spine and dustcover could travel thousands of miles, all in the name of a good story? would you guys be up for that? 

i present to you:




here's how it will work:
  1. leave a comment on here and tell me your favorite love story, along with an e-mail address or link to your blog.
  2. at midnight on march 6 (sunday), i will randomly choose one person and mail you the book. {note: this is a new book, not my own copy.}
  3. read the book. go ahead and read it slowly and savor it.
  4. pass it along. to anyone you choose. you can do a giveaway on your own blog, or just pass it to someone you think will enjoy it. but the catch is that everyone has to pass the book along. no bookshelf dust collecting!
{the really fun part: i'm going to put a little sticker in the front of the book with my name, e-mail, blog URL, and a request for new "owners" to e-mail me a brief note whenever they get the book. this way, we can keep track of where this baby ends up, and possibly do a sort of Flat Stanley series with pictures of the book in various places around the world}

i just love the idea of sharing the gift of reading. because you're all my friends, and if you can't share something like this with your friends, what are you going to do with it?

p.s. that picture of me looks a bit like a mug shot and for that, i am sorry.

43 comments:

  1. But a very beautiful mugshot. :)

    My favorite fictional love story is probably Jane Austen's Emma.

    But my favorite REAL love story? My own, of course. One that extends over many years, months, days, moments, smiles, and tears, all with my one true love.

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  2. This is such a great idea courtney!! Love it!! I'm in love with: love and war by John and staci Eldridge. I love their other books but this one Is definitely a love story.

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  3. Wonderful wonderful idea, like spreading love around the world. Perhaps each person that reads it could write their name and date on the inside of the front cover. I love when I buy old books and there is an inscription of the name of the owner and the date inside. I feel a connection.
    Like Christi, my own love story is my favorite and the fact that I get to live it everyday is a gift of infinite joy.

    Remember if you tell the post office there is only a book inside you will get the "media" rate for mailing :)

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  4. Awesome idea! I'd love if everyone in the world could share a book.

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  5. Ohmygoodness, I wish I could win this!! This is the coolest giveaway ever.

    My favorite love story is the Time Traveler's Wife. I have watched the movie probably twenty times and cried like a baby while reading the book. Yes, I am a sucker for romantic stories.

    My email: magdalenaseyes@gmail.com
    www.magdalenaseyes.blogspot.com

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  6. this is such a great idea! my favorite love story is noah and allie from the notebook (cheesy and corny i realize) or kathleen and joe from you've got mail

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  7. Oh, this is a superb idea! Su-perb. Other than my own love story? Gosh, that's a tough one...hm.

    I might have to pick 'Little, Big' by John Crowley. No, it's not your normal happy-gushy love story between two people, but the whole book is so amazingly beautiful and illustrates the love of a slightly off-kilter and fantastical family. Perhaps I'm drawn to that particular story because my family (although not living in an alternate universe) is slightly off-kilter and fantastical. ;)

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  8. such an awesome idea!! i'm so down =) send away

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  9. I agree - a very beautiful mugshot!! What a brilliant idea. My favourite love story is between Greto Garbo and Robert Taylor, from an old black & white film, Camille. I weep buckets every time I watch it!! My blog is Southhamsdarling!

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  10. oh and p.s.
    my fav love story is the one i daydream about. the one that i hope someday i can live. =)

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  11. I think this is such an awesome idea and the book sounds wonderful! my email is riebe11@yahoo.com

    would love to pass it around to people who deserve a good read :))

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  12. oooo thats such a fun idea.. passing around books that you feel everyone should get to experience..

    btw i know, i'm a horrible pen pal.. wedding madness has consumed my life. i'm hoping to sit down this weekend and mail you that dang package.

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  13. Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! I am SO excited for this! I'm totally in!!! My favorite love story...would have to be that of my grandparents! My grandmother was sold as a servant to my grandfather's family when she was only 4 years old. But, my grandfather's mom took her in and treated her like a daughter. When it was time for my grandfather to get married, tons of matchmakers and families flocked to him in order to marry their daughters off... but to each and every one of them, he simply shook his head and said, "sorry. my wife is waiting for me at home." they got married soon after, moved to three different countries, and had ten children together! They truly are two peas in a pod! :]

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  14. Oh I love love :). I love all of the Sookie stackhouse stories, the Notebook and my love story.

    tanya@atasteoft.com

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  15. I love the notebook! I think that is the greatest love story ever! haha as cheesy as it is!


    dianawinksmith.blogspot.com

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  16. fantastic giveaway. My favorite love story is the story of Jennifer and Oliver from the movie A Love Story. :)

    Oh and I actually made a mixtape for my post today...weird

    AmberBlueBird83@yahoo.com

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  17. What a super-duper idea! Love the Flat-Stanley concept;)
    Hmmm...favorite love story...I love The Notebook.
    But there's lots more.

    Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
    dawn-dancingintherain.blogspot.com

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  18. Wow Courtney! I LOVE this idea, books are my favourite things (can't never have enough is what I teach the girls, toys,no, books, yes).
    So, count me in!
    My favourite love story....difficult....so many...I think I will choose the love between Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robinson, timeles love between a boy and his bear.
    Enjoy the weekend!
    Maureen x

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  19. What a lovely idea! My current favorite, because I'm a total nerd, would have to be Damon & Elena from The Vampire Diaries. I love unrequited love. It's so beautiful and real.

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  20. PS, I can see some side ring bling in your picture. Is there a top view? (I love looking at pretty wedding rings. Is that weird?)

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  21. Love this idea! and I have been wanting to read this book for awhile now.

    My blog:

    http://asmallgirlinthebigcity.blogspot.com/

    The story of Chuck and Ned in Pushing Dasies is my fave love story.

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  22. Ok, something was bugging me...
    I know what it is...
    In Dutch his name is Janneman Robinson, so I thought his last name would be the same in English, but I think it's not...
    Still, love their connection!
    Now I will go to sleep (you see how my mind keeps running around in circles? sigh...)
    Night Courtney!
    M xx

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  23. it's a beautiful mugshot. My favorite love story is that from the movie "Austrlia" i loved it. as for email it's rebeccabryant562 at hotmail dot com

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  24. wuthering heights. cliche? yes. but i kind of love it. a lot. <3

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  25. Ah, Courtney, this is the coolest idea! Love it. Oh, that's a hard one. Maybe Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. My own love story is on my blog. Crossing fingers in faraway Hobart, Australia! J x

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  26. Love. Love. Love. Thanks so much for sharing. Your blogs my new fave.
    Please visit mine at www.fashboulevard.blogspot.com

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  27. Oh my gosh, I would love to read that book- what a fantastic idea! My favorite love story is my own. I know, so original;-)

    Blog- shayandcoop.blogspot.com
    Email-thelaughblog@aol.com

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  28. What an adorable idea! I love the idea of a traveling love book:-)

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  29. I enjoy the love story that God is writing in my life...as far as fictional love stories, the notebook is my favorite. :)

    http://jocelyn-claire.blogspot.com/

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  30. My favorite fictional story would be Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice--specifically that of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett. Love your idea for a giveaway. My blog is www.myersfamily4.blogspot.com

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  31. what a great idea!!! it may be juvenile, but I the first love story i loved was the innocent love story of "the notebook". It was not about sex and drama like most stories are now...just a pure kind of love:)

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  32. Love this idea.
    Favorite love story: Catherine And Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights- So romantic and so tragic.


    kateisit.blogspot.com

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  33. great idea...so thoughtful! my favorite love story is probably the book of Ruth.

    thanks!

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  34. What a great idea! My favoite lovestory of all times is that of Arwen and Aragorn - I am such a fantasy freak :)

    Hugs and a lovely Monday to you!

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  35. what a sweet and lovely idea :) it's going to be amazing to see how a book can connect so many people and so many hearts around the country. regardless of the winner i can't wait to see the outcome :)

    i have many favorite love stories all of which have changed me and my heart. but my favorite is the story of my grandparents. they met when she was 13 and he was 21 (8 years apart) and she adored him. he was much to old and heading off to the military. three years later he returned for a military ball in their little town of bolivar, missouri. she made a bet with her friends he would ask her to dance and dance the night away they did. they soon fell in love and eloped to the next state since she still wasn't 18. five kids, six grandchildren, and one great grandbaby later the two looked at each other as if they were still teens in love.

    but all love stories have their share of grief. my grandpa did develop alzheimer's disease and passed away two years ago. but despite the fact that he couldn't speak towards the end and sometimes wouldn't remember mine or my brothers faces, when my grandma entered the room it was like his memory returned. his other half returned. his face got color back and i
    swear he would blush when she told him she loved him with a sweet little kiss. and no my grandma didn't pass away the same day with him laying in his arms like in the notebook but rather she is still alive to this day and keeps her heart going by telling me stories of the way they loved each other. from dancing to frank sinatra performing at a military ball or just how he looked the first night she fell in love with him. this is my favorite love story because it is real, flawed in some places, but totally and completely romantic:)

    this pass january would have been their 60th wedding anniversary. my grandma still loves my grandpa with all her heart and encourages me that "prince charming" is still out there because she found hers and her own perfect fairytale.

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  36. 1. This is such a fun idea, I love it!
    2. Hazelnut coffee is my favorite!
    3. My favorite love story is from the movie Say Anything. I know it's not a story per se but it's my favorite all the same.

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  37. I'm Renee and a new follower of your blog! Just thought I'd say hello!

    anyhoot, i love what you've got going here, very cute!

    Feel free to take a look at mine [you know, just so you know who's reading yours :)]

    http://babygeisler.blogspot.com/

    Renee xo

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  38. My favorite love story is Noah and Allie from the Notebook or Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda on Yours, Mine, and Ours. O and I love William and Kate. I really love all love stories! I'm such a sap! Plus I feel like I'm living a great love story :)

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  39. hey! wanted to sneek in a chance to be the big winner!! my fav love story... hmmm... so many to chose! love Mr. Darcy & Elizabeth Bennett, Gilbert Blithe & Anne Shirley... love my mom & dad's love story and then my own! :D

    ~Evie

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  40. That is such a fantastic idea! Me and my girlfriends once sent a journal to each other all over the country! Well my favorite love story I think besides from the movie "the notebook" lol is Boaz and Ruth, its such a beautiful picture of Gods plan and sovereignty.

    http://fashionjerseygirl.blogspot.com/

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  41. My favorite love story is Angel/Sarah and Michael in Francine River's "Redeeming Love." It's loosely based around the book of Hosea where God tells Hosea to marry Gomer, a prostitute.

    It's my absolute favorite book ever and even if I don't win, I think everyone should read it:)

    http://thedianapostulate.blogspot.com/

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  42. I liked the movie The Notebook. that was a great love story.

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