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I received The Wednesday Sisters from LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers. It’s kind of a crap shoot as far what you get, let alone whether you get a book at all. I wasn’t expecting too much with this book because I wasn’t sure if it was going to be on the chick lit side (chick lit is not my cuppa tea), but if I’d known what an awesome book it would be, I would have dropped everything and picked it up the second it hit my mailbox.
My run-on sentence synopsis: The Wednesday Sisters is about five women who first meet at a local park because four of them have kids so it makes sense why they were at the park and then decide after about a month of meeting on Wednesday mornings that they would start writing together, though some of the ladies were reluctant to write, and it’s about their writing and their lives and the ups and downs and the good and bad and anything in between.
I LOVED THIS BOOK.
When I picked up the book, I felt, not like I was reading, but like I was sitting down with a friend and she was telling me a story. I felt so comfortable and I felt so privileged to be taken into her confidence. But the novel doesn’t read like the author was trying to do that…it’s so effortless that I wouldn’t be surprised if the author had written ten books prior to this one.
Oftentimes when books have too many characters, certain characters get pushed to the wayside to make way for the story of the main character(s). The author is able to tell the story of all five women without me feeling like she’s leaving anything out or pushing any characters to the side. I was always satisfied with the amount of information she gave me about each person. Her style in this regard reminds me of John Steinbeck. Meg Waite Clayton tells you stories about each person, allowing those stories to reveal their character.
What was best about this book? The author was able to make me laugh and cry at the exact same time. I found myself laughing and crying every time I picked up the book. I was always crying because I was so touched by the characters and what they were experiencing, and I was laughing as the author pulled the humor out of the situations in a delicate and gentle manner. Their happiness, pain, sadness, hope, were all so raw and apparent that I couldn’t help but feel connected to the characters. Even when I saw how a scene was going to play out, the author was still able to make me laugh out loud.
The Wednesday Sisters is not about any crazy shenanigans they get themselves in to. It’s about their lives; one battles infertility, one struggles with a cheating husband, one is blunt and outspoken to a fault, none of them are perfect, none of them have perfect lives or perfect husbands. They are real. They are you and me.
If I could be granted a wish, I would like to write like Meg Waite Clayton.
I think I may tell Dave the wedding’s off and I want to marry The Wednesday Sisters. 
Rating: 99 out of 100
You can check out the author’s website here.
Okay, so I loved this book sooo much and for some reason every review I’ve read was all, Meh. Try here, this one’s a little better, this one I just found that liked it, from this review I guess more people liked it than I thought (phew!)…seriously, I saw at least three reviews that were Meh, though I can’t find all those now, so I linked to what I could find. I just want to be balanced and show you the reviews that weren’t drooling over it like me, but I LOVED IT.
I loved it so much that I’m going to buy a copy for one lucky person. Due to my wedding being June 7th, the contest will end June 23rd. I will draw the winner on June 24th. Comment to be entered; post about this on your blog with a link back to this particular post and you’ll get a second entry.
I’m off to stalk the author. It will go something like this: OhmygodItotallylovedyourbookandcan’tsayenoughnicethingsaboutitandwheredo youliveanddoyouthinkwecanbefriends? If anyone has any stalking advice for a novice stalker, please leave it in the comments. Thank you.
you know..my birthday’s june 26th….
just sayin’.
Sounds like a perfect piece of literature to indulge in poolside.
Oh, here’s my post.
Wow, sounds like a great book!
sounds like a goodie–and the author’s website very informative.
any other suggestions for my summer reading list???
LOL, Trish – I love your enthusiasm. As you know – I have this book (so don’t enter me in the drawing) and can’t wait to read it.
http://www.caribousmom.com
Enter me!
I just added it to my wish list – but I’d love to win a copy!
Pick me, pick me!
Have a great wedding…. hubby’s bd is the 24th…. maybe it will be lucky. Thanks
Can’t wait to read this one!
PS I have the author’s email address to assist in your stalking endeavors…
PPS I also know her name on Library Thing…
Aww man, if lisamm wins it we all know why!!
Sign me up for the book drawing – and I just loved reading your enthusiastic review!
Did someone say free book? I’m in!
My advice is similar to Lisamm’s – after I posted my review on LibraryThing, I got a very nice response from her on my message page. So I sent her one back. Now we’ve exchanged several messages, and I want her to be my new best friend. Honestly, I like her so much I am tempted to change my rating to 10/10 just because she’s cool. So let me know if you want to stalk her on LibraryThing, because I can help with that. =)
Sounds like a great book and I’d love to read it and win it. But not in that order. (I would have been turned off by the title because I likewise would have assumed it was chick lit.)
congratulations on your wedding! hope it will be a beautiful day to remember.
the book sounds great; i’d love to win it. 
Here from NCLM – this book sounds awesome! I will definitely check it out. These kinds of books are my cup of tea
Congratulations on your wedding – I hope the day is wonderful for you & your soon-to-be-dh!
Sounds great! I’ll put it on my list. Good luck with all the last-minute wedding tasks.
Wow! Sounds like a great book! Please add my name for the draw!!
First, congrats on your upcoming wedding. Second, please enter me in the drawing and if I win, I hope I love it as much as you did. Sounds like a great summer read.
here from nacomleavmo.
Congrats on your wedding!
& THANK YOU for a great book review. Now I just have to wait for 100 years before my library gets it. heh.
Your blog is SOOO fun to read! A real treat. Enter me to win, please – I must read this (so says you.) Happy Wedding!!
Sign me up! Sign me up! Sign me up!
thank you
Ohhh I love the cover. I hadn’t heard about this one before. It’s been added to my summer reading list. Me thinks I’ll be spending a lot of time at the library this summer…
Hi Trish,
Congratulations on your wedding! Perfect day. My mother’s birthday. I wish you a wonderful marriage and life together.
Don’t enter me, since I won it on LibraryThing as well. Thank you for linking to my blog. And, I’ve had a very nice email conversation with Meg, too.
Now, your wedding’s too close, so you won’t be answering until after that, I’m sure. But, have you read Sarah Addison Allen’s Garden Spells and her new one, The Sugar Queen?
OO OO OO! I know, you think I win too many books, but dude, take pity on a poor girl. I am le poor and NEED to win books, otherwise I’ll just be reading tripe from my tiny library.
Well, you made it sound so good that I must have it. Count me in.
I don’t want to be a monster! Blah!
[AHAHAHAHA!! Don't you have an avatar? If you're signed in (to WordPress) and have an avatar then you won't have to be a monster. The other options are so boring. --trish]
I am glad to hear you enjoyed The Wednesday Sisters, Trish. I received a copy in the mail and have no idea why. I’m sure I put my name in for it on LT, but I wasn’t selected for that one and I got the one I was selected for . . . I probably signed up for it somewhere and forgot. That would be just like me.
[...] is giving away a copy of “The Wednesday Sisters” by Meg Waite Clayton. Comment here for an entry, and link for another. The contest will end June 23, with the winner pulled June [...]
I asked for this through LT too. I’m glad you enjoyed it so much
Count me in, and I’ve linked here as well 
http://kbookreviews.wordpress.com/2008/06/02/4-contests/
Oh wow!!! You’re getting married VERY soon!!
Best wishes!!
xx
Stalking advice: Interview her and offer to post the interview at Estella’s Revenge (Andi and Heather love author interviews). Then, find a way to interview the author in person. I did that, last year, and it was massively fun. Not sure it’s technically stalking but, you know.
I’m a terrible book pig, but I’d really like to read it because your review was so enthusiastic! So, count me in. And, then you can tell me, “You’re a book pig. I’m giving it to someone else.” I won’t mind. Have fun stalking!
I wanted to get this one but wasn’t chosen. Bummer! Now I have to get it the old fashioned way, buy it!
This delightful and impressive book entices me greatly. I have read wonderful accolades about it. Thanks for this great giveaway.
well, i’m just going to have to read it..maybe it’ll knock me out of my reading slump.
don’t enter me in the giveaway. and happy wedding preparations to you!
congrats on the wedding! I will have to keep that book in mind for my next trip to the library
nclm
Sounds like a great book.
I wrote asking for book recommendations not long ago. It’s great to hear a glowing one. I’ll have to add that to my list.
This sounds like a good read. I’ll have to check it out.
Congrats on your wedding! Good review, added to my TBR.
Regards,
Archana.
Wow you really have my intrigues after reading your review.
Best Wishes on your wedding
Please enter me to win. Thanks
You got me wanting to read this book by your review!!!
Count me in!
Just added to my wish list and my post is here: http://ardentlypinkreads.blogspot.com/2008/06/wednesday-sisters-giveaway.html
Oh, Oh, I want this book!
P.S. Hope you had a wonderful wedding!
I’m dying to read this one…so count me as entered for the giveaway.
Congratulations on your wedding!
sign me up for sure!
and yay for getting married
Hey Trish – you’ll be happy to know I’ve joined the fan club. LOVED this book. My review is here.
I’d love to get my hands on a copy of this book. Sounds like I’d love it.
Hope the wedding was wonderful and beautiful!
[...] You can read Meg’s Bio HERE. To read an excerpt of The Wednesday Sisters, click HERE. For a rave review from Trish at Hey, Lady! click HERE. [...]
I can’t think of a genre of book that I like to read more than chick lit! Thanks for the chance, and I hope your wedding is all that you dreamed it would be!
Thanks so much for the wonderful opportunity to win this book!!!! I’ve also heard some really great things about it!!!
I’ve blogged about it here:
http://melsysplace.blogspot.com/2008/06/awesome-give-away.html
Thanks again!!!
I have heard such wonderful things about this book!!
Thanks for doing this!!
first, congrats as a newlywed! I really liked your review on this book, because while it is not a genre that I would normally pursue, you made it sound like having a conversation with a few good friends, as all women usually do at some time or another. Please enter me, it sounds like a worthwhile summer read.
I have only read rave reviews. Thanks for the give-away and congratulations! Tracy
Please enter me in your giveaway. ANd congratulations on your wedding!
Congratulations on your wedding!! I would love to be included in your contest !!
These comments were fun…I’m very interested in reading this book. A free one would be delightful. Thanks
I would love to win it & read it! Thanks:)
I loved The Wednesday Sister too. After I posted my review I received a very nice comment from the author on LT. She is so nice which makes me like the book even more! Don’t enter me in the drawing. Congratulations on your wedding! I hope you have a lovely honeymoon!
Check out my review of this book at:
http://www.breakingthespine.blogspot.com
I’ve put it on my blog!
http://julyso4463.blogspot.com/
[...] I can’t even rate this because I refuse to compare it to some of my recent treasures (Hi, The Wednesday Sisters! Hi, The Year of Fog!), but like I said, it’s a good [...]
[...] chance to enter my contest to win a copy of The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton – which is my favorite book of 2008 so far! – is [...]
[...] My friend came with me and I was actually kind of nervous! I was going to meet the woman who’d written my favorite book this year: The Wednesday Sisters. [...]
[...] and check out these other reviews of The Wednesday Sisters: Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’?, Lesa’s Book Critiques and Lesley’s Book [...]
[...] Hey Lady! Watcha Readin’? [...]
[...] not even kidding, I can’t stop thinking about this book. What’s different from my other favorite books this year? Well, we can’t really compare this book with my other favorite [...]
[...] jennysbooks This is another one of those I’ve read about on several different websites. Trish’s book blog, Caribousmom, SassyMonkey … probably more, but those are the ones I remember. Everyone kept [...]
[...] Trish at Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’? [...]
[...] The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton. I’m STILL recommending this to people, six months after I read it. I know I’ll re-read this book some day. The story is still with me and I only wish she would write faster. [...]
Would love to be entered for a chance to win this book. Thanks!