Want some books? The Literary Giveaway Blog Hop
24 June, 2011
The Literary Giveaway Blog Hop is organised by Leeswammes’ Blog and gives us all a chance to give away and win books between 25 – 29th June 2011. A win-win situation, I’d say. So do go and check out what other lovely treats are on offer. You can find a list of participants at the end of this post.
A month ago, I went to an English PEN event to hear one of my favourite Sri Lankan writers, Romesh Gunesekara, on a panel about festival boycotts. You can read about it here. I also came away with signed new paperback editions of his first novel Reef and my favourite The Match. You heard it, they’re SIGNED.
Reef was short-listed for the Booker Prize in 1994 and is the tale of Triton, an 11 year old who goes to work as a houseboy for Mr. Salgado, a writer, in early 70s Sri Lanka. It’s a beautifully written tale of love, family and loss in a country undergoing rapid changes.
The Match is a bildungsroman about a young Sri Lankan boy growing up in the Phillipines and then settling in Britain. It’s a tale of identity and family as he recalls a cricket match played long ago in a distant country. I think it’s one of the best novels that captures life as an expat, building a home away from home, and reminded me of when I was a child living in Bangkok and surrounded by people from all around the world. Beautiful and my favourite Gunesekara novel.
So what are you waiting for? Leave me a comment saying which book you prefer or, if you want to try for both, in which order of preference. The giveaway will close at midnight (GMT) on Wednesday 29th June and I’ll pick two winners on the 30th. And I’ll send them anywhere too. Good luck everyone!
Literary Giveaway Blog Hop Participants:
chasing bawa 
24 June, 2011 at 11:19 pm
How exciting! Love Romesh Gunasekera and would absolutely love a signed copy of The Match, having gotten a copy of Reef signed at the Galle Literary Festival in 2009! 🙂
24 June, 2011 at 11:30 pm
Very generous contest-I would love to win the match as I live in the Philippines but would be thrilled with either one-thanks
24 June, 2011 at 11:36 pm
Wow, signed editions from one of your favorite authors? Sign me up, please, for either one! (Glad to know The Match is your favorite, so I can look for it in case I don’t win.)
25 June, 2011 at 12:01 am
As a cricket lover, I think ‘The Match’ sounds great – count me in 🙂
25 June, 2011 at 12:13 am
I’d love to win Reef, it sounds great!
25 June, 2011 at 4:30 am
The Reef please! I have The Match (I think I read about him on your blog initially!)
25 June, 2011 at 6:05 am
I would love EITHER book – they book look wonderful. If I win, surprise me 🙂 Thanks for the opportunity!
25 June, 2011 at 6:05 am
That should say…they BOTH look wonderful!
25 June, 2011 at 7:26 am
I love both but my 1st choice is The Match. Hoping to win! 🙂
25 June, 2011 at 7:26 am
I’ll put my name in the hat The Reef. It’s always good to start at the beginning with a new author.
25 June, 2011 at 7:32 am
I would like to win The Match
25 June, 2011 at 7:57 am
Wow, great giveaway. I’d like to try for both, with The Match as first preference.
Have a great weekend!
25 June, 2011 at 8:21 am
Wow, signed! They both sound very interesting, since don’t know anything about cricket, it would be a great way to learn about the game.
So 1- The Match
or 2- Reef
Thank you for this lovely Hop
25 June, 2011 at 8:57 am
I’ve never read this author Sakura – I would love to win either. And thank you for giving away signed editions too.
25 June, 2011 at 8:57 am
The Match sounds fun!
kimie142002 (at) hotmail (dot) com
25 June, 2011 at 9:12 am
Thank you for the giveaway and for being prepared to ship worldwide.
Much appreciated.
I racked my brain but cannot remember ever reading a book by a Sri Lankan author. ( Blushes with shame).
So either book would be very nice but in order of preference:
1. Reef
2. The Match
Thanks.
Carol T
25 June, 2011 at 9:33 am
I would love to win Reef. Thank you!
mishamary@gmail.com
25 June, 2011 at 9:57 am
I like this about the giveaway hop, finding out about authors you didn’t know before and coming from you I’m sure these books will be wonderful. I would love to be entered for either of the books as I haven’t read anything by the author, but if I need to pick an order of preference I will list ‘Reef’ as my first pick.
25 June, 2011 at 10:07 am
I would love to win The Match because I’ve already read and completely loved Reef, and want to let someone new read and fall in love with it! Thanks for giving away your signed copies!
25 June, 2011 at 10:33 am
Both look interesting, so I will put them in order of preference:
Reef
The Match
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
25 June, 2011 at 10:58 am
Hello, The Match sounds fascinating, my email address is cerievans1 at gmail dot com
Thanks
25 June, 2011 at 12:52 pm
Wow, signed editions! I’d love to win either one, both sound really good. Thanks.
kinnareads(at)gmail(dot)com
25 June, 2011 at 12:52 pm
The Match sounds interesting.
Thanks for stopping by.
25 June, 2011 at 1:56 pm
I’d love to win The Match- I love reading South Asian authors but have never read this one.
Thanks for the giveaway!
onehotstove AT gmail DOT com
25 June, 2011 at 2:56 pm
I’d love to win either book! debnance at gmail dot com
Thank you for a wonderful giveaway!
My mother has been sick and I never got around to signing up to participate in the Literary Giveaway Blog Hop. But I’ve started a monthly giveaway on my blog and I’ve got a June Giveaway going on this month at my blog, and I’d love to invite you to stop by and throw your name in the hat for Anna and the French Kiss! It’s a US giveaway only this month, but next month, I’ll be offering an international giveaway for a $25 Amazon card!
If you follow me, let me know. I always follow back!
25 June, 2011 at 3:10 pm
What a wonderful prize! I’ve never read either of these books, so could you enter me for both draws please? Another brilliant stop along the way for this giveaway hop, thanks!
25 June, 2011 at 3:29 pm
I’d like to read both books, but in order of preference Reef comes first, then The Match.
Thanks for the giveaway!
thais_rpc(at)hotmail(dot)com
25 June, 2011 at 4:49 pm
I would be thrilled to win either of these (no preference) both sound amazing.
I’m on the blog hop tour as well. Hope you have a chance to stop by, and will enter my giveaway.
25 June, 2011 at 4:49 pm
Hi & will take your favourite choice as not read any by this writer & whilst here extend an invitation to pop over to mine.Thanks.
25 June, 2011 at 5:46 pm
Thank you for offering these books for the giveaway! I host an immigrant stories challenge and I think The Match sounds perfect for that. So the order of my choices is:
The Match
The Reef
booksncity (at) gmail (dot) com
I am on the hop too so hope you stop by and enter my giveaway.
25 June, 2011 at 6:55 pm
I’d love to read both, but Reef would be my first choice. I had never heard of these authors previously…thanks for sharing!
jo.tee35 AT gmail DOT com
25 June, 2011 at 6:56 pm
I’d love to try for both, but preferring The Match over Reef because any literature that has something to say about the Philippines interests me, and also because I want to read something from a Sri Lankan writer. I don’t think I have ever read one before other than Michael Ondaatje, who I love btw and is considered Canadian now anyway. Thank you so much for the chance.
25 June, 2011 at 7:01 pm
I’ve never read anything from Sri Lanka, so I’m very interested. I think that I would want to start with Reef.
Thanks!
25 June, 2011 at 7:36 pm
Thanks for the giveaway! Reef looks like the one I’d enjoy more, but The Match isn’t far behind. 🙂
susanna DOT pyatt AT student DOT rcsnc DOT org
25 June, 2011 at 8:03 pm
Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to win either but The Match would be my first choice. Thanks!
quixoticdreamer(at)hotmail(dot)com
25 June, 2011 at 8:21 pm
I’m not familiar with either book/author and would love to expand my reading horizons. My preference would be for Reef.
Thanks,
redladysreadingoomATgmailDOTcom
25 June, 2011 at 8:44 pm
Thanks for the chance to win. I would love to win either, but my preference would be Reef, then The Match.
25 June, 2011 at 8:52 pm
I’d be interested in either of them, but if I must:
REEF
THE MATCH
Thanks so much for offering these!
25 June, 2011 at 9:22 pm
Nice stuff you have! I’d like to go for both, first Reef and second Match. Thanks so much.
25 June, 2011 at 9:33 pm
Thanks for the giveaway! I’d love to read either one!
misslaurenwilk at gmail dot com
25 June, 2011 at 10:14 pm
I’d love to win The Match — I loved your description of it. Thanks so much for the giveaway! cuc15 at psu dot edu
25 June, 2011 at 10:29 pm
Reef sounds like an interesting read. I haven’t yet read anything by that author.
25 June, 2011 at 10:30 pm
I would like to try for both, with my first preference being the match.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
25 June, 2011 at 10:38 pm
I’d like to try for both, my first choice being Reef.
Best wishes and thank for a chance to win this fantabulous giveaway!
25 June, 2011 at 10:51 pm
I’m not familiar with either book, but I would choose Reef.
I’m following you on Twitter (@DarleneBookNook) and my email address is darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com.
Thanks for the giveaway!
26 June, 2011 at 12:39 am
Hi! I’d love either but Reef is my first choice! Thanks so much for this giveaway 🙂
26 June, 2011 at 1:14 am
They both look excellent so I’d love to win either one. Since The Match is your favorite I’d pick that one first!
stacybooks at yahoo
26 June, 2011 at 1:53 am
As I really have no clue about cricket and think I would thus miss things in The Match, I’d like to win Reef. Thanks for the chance!
26 June, 2011 at 2:37 am
Please enter me to win a copy of Reef please! That sounds like an amazing read!
Thanks so much for doing this!
Kara
26 June, 2011 at 4:45 am
I would love an opportunity to read either novel, The Reef being my first choice. I’ve read books from authors of so many nationalities but I can’t recall ever reading anyone from Sri Lanka. I appreciate the opportunity.
waitmantwillie at hotmail dot com
26 June, 2011 at 5:20 am
I have never heard of this writer before. Reef sounds interesting. Sakura, count me in for that book 🙂
26 June, 2011 at 7:02 am
Thank you so much for the wonderful giveaway! I would like to win Reef. Thank you so much!
Sana Saboowala
supergirlsana@hotmail.com
26 June, 2011 at 11:37 am
Please enter me in both giveaways…Reef and then The Match. Thanks!
Elizabeth
etrabelsieATgmailDOTcom
26 June, 2011 at 12:06 pm
Please enter me for Reef 🙂 cynni _ universe (at) hotmail (dot) com
Thanks!!
26 June, 2011 at 1:04 pm
I’d like to try for both, they seem great books.
Thanks for the giveaway and hop!
26 June, 2011 at 1:26 pm
Both books are new to me, but I guess first choice would be Reef and then Match 🙂
26 June, 2011 at 2:39 pm
I’m all for Asian lit. I would love to read something from Romesh. Please enter me in. thanks.
26 June, 2011 at 2:59 pm
Wow! I’ve never read any Sri Lankan fiction, but would love to. (Would also love to visit SL, but that’s not being given away…)
My first choice would be Reef, but both sound fascinating!
26 June, 2011 at 5:27 pm
I’d love to win either book! Reef would be my first choice, though. Thanks!
26 June, 2011 at 6:05 pm
I’d love a chance to read either of these books, but The Match would be my first choice.
Thanks for the opportunity!
ikkinlala AT yahoo DOT ca
26 June, 2011 at 7:18 pm
Winning either signed copies would be my idea of something to treasure. I love his writing and the ‘Match’ might even get my hubby reading!Thanks for this wonderful offer.
26 June, 2011 at 8:00 pm
I’d love to read Reef, but either would be great. Thanks so much!
ahazraDOT88ATgmailDOTCOM
26 June, 2011 at 8:02 pm
Both look interesting, if had to pick Reef. Great that they are signed, this is a treat.
Judy
magnolias_1[at]msn[dot]com
26 June, 2011 at 8:19 pm
Sounds fantastic! How generous…I;d go for
1. Reef
and then
2. The Match
Many thanks for the opportunity!!
26 June, 2011 at 8:24 pm
Thanks for this giveaway. I haven’t read anything by this writer although I’ve heard of him (from your blog, I think). I’d like to be entered for both but have a slight preference for Reef.
26 June, 2011 at 8:41 pm
I would like to win the Reef and I’d feel bad for taking away your favorite signed book.
Chloecarpi @ yahoo . com
26 June, 2011 at 11:59 pm
Wow I’d love either book! They both sound great! my first pick would be The Reef!
Thank you for the giveaway!!
shannonjean14(at)gmail(dot)com
27 June, 2011 at 12:22 am
I would love to win either, but my preference would be Reef and then The Match.
Thanks for the chance !!!
27 June, 2011 at 2:15 am
I’d love either, but the Reef would be my first pick.
Thanks for the cool giveaway!
Mare
tommygirl828 (at) gmail (dot) com
27 June, 2011 at 5:08 am
My first choice would be Reef. Thanks for the giveaway
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
27 June, 2011 at 5:25 am
Reef is my choice. Thanks for offering a chance to win. Aloha from Rob
molokaisurfer(at)gmail.com
27 June, 2011 at 7:03 am
Wow, signed editions! Lovely!!! I’d love either book! Thank you for the giveaway!!
blackplum3(at)gmail(dot)com
27 June, 2011 at 7:51 am
I’d be good with either. Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
emi3mle at yahoo dot com dot au
27 June, 2011 at 9:57 am
please count me in for reef!
thanks for the awesome giveaway and for making it international!
justjanhvi at gmail dot com
27 June, 2011 at 1:00 pm
I would love a copy of either! Great giveaway!
27 June, 2011 at 6:45 pm
I’d like to win Reef!! Thank you for the giveaway!
ilepachequin(at)hotmail(dot)com
27 June, 2011 at 6:46 pm
I would love to win Reef, it sounds right up my alley. Thank you!
27 June, 2011 at 8:03 pm
What a fantastic giveaway! Two books of wonderfully sounding stories and also signed by the authors! I cannot choose and would be thrilled to win either one or the other ~ I would like to be entered to win The Reef first and then The Match.
Thank you for your generous giveaway.
Aimala127@gmail.com
27 June, 2011 at 10:55 pm
I’d love to try for both please!
27 June, 2011 at 11:08 pm
Thanks for the giveaway. I would like to win the Match.
28 June, 2011 at 3:22 am
I’d like to win The Reef first and then The Match
irbratb(@)gmail(.)com
28 June, 2011 at 9:18 am
Lovely books! I’d like to try for both: first for The Match and then for Reef.
careofkiddos {at} msn {dot} com
28 June, 2011 at 12:57 pm
Reef would be the one I would want to win. THANKS.
silversolara AT gmail DOT com
28 June, 2011 at 1:54 pm
I’d like to read both, but i prefer The Match
Thanks for the giveaway!
Lissette_125(at)hotmail(dot)com
28 June, 2011 at 2:49 pm
Put me down for The Reef!
28 June, 2011 at 6:55 pm
They both sound wonderful but if I had to choose I would go with The Match, simply because it’s your favourite. And I do love expat immigrant stories.
Thanks for the giveaway!
28 June, 2011 at 11:08 pm
Wow, I have heard such amazing things about Romesh Gunesekera, and would love for a chance to win “Reef” by the esteemed Sri Lankan author. Thank you so much for your generosity, and for participating in this literary blog hop.
~Hira~
Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com
P.S…I’m so jealous that you’re reading “The Lake” by Banana Yashimoto. I am just kidding, I hope you’re thoroughly enjoying it, I absolutely love Yashimoto’s work.
29 June, 2011 at 12:37 am
These both sound great! I’m unfamiliar with the author, but I think I’ll choose The Match!
I’m on the blog hop too, so I hope you’ll stop by! http://www.elle-lit.blogspot.com
jesse.nicole.paul (at) gmail (dot) com
29 June, 2011 at 1:14 am
The Match sounds like a wonderful book.
aprilk01(at)yahoo(dot)com
29 June, 2011 at 2:18 am
I wouldn’t mind winning either! I would want the Match and then Reef, in order of preference (:
29 June, 2011 at 11:44 am
They both sound lovely, The Match and Reef (in that order of preference). I didn’t know you grew up in Bangkok, how exciting 🙂 (Loved it when I visited, about a decade ago)
29 June, 2011 at 7:28 pm
Great giveaway – thank you. I’d be happy with either of the books or both =)
tatiana_lwg(at) yahoo.com
29 June, 2011 at 7:52 pm
Thanks so much for the great giveaway:) Both books sound fabulous so I would like to enter the giveaway for both. Thanks:)
sarahDOTsetarATgmailDOTcom
29 June, 2011 at 8:46 pm
Both sound so good. I’d love to be entered for either. Thanks!
veronicasbooks at gmail dot com
29 June, 2011 at 9:35 pm
I’d love to win Reef! Thanks for the giveaway!
sarahthehobbit at gmail dot com
30 June, 2011 at 12:51 am
I’d love to win Reef-Thanks for the giveaway.
k_anon[at]hotmail[dot]co[dot]uk
30 June, 2011 at 12:52 am
whoops, too late:)
30 June, 2011 at 2:21 am
What great choices! I’m so glad that I actually DIDN’T have to choose one or the other! My order of preference would be 1. Reef 2. The Match
Thanks for the chance to win!
knittingandsundries(at)gmail(dot)com
30 June, 2011 at 2:45 am
‘The Match’ looks wonderful.
Thanks for the opportunity!
Anna
fatdogfarm@sbcglobal.net