giveaways!

Ashes of a Black Frost (11/1) | The Shattered Vine (11/3)
Coming soon:

drey's Giveaway Policy

FTC Disclosure: I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on covers or links here may result in monetary compensation.

Giveaway - How I Got to be Whoever it is I am by Charles Grodin...

March 18, 2009
Hey everyone! Hachette is giving 5 of you a chance to win a copy of this lovely-sounding book, which isn't out till April! So, read on, and enter!

In his candid and engaging new book HOW I GOT TO BE WHOEVER IT IS I AM, successful actor, author, and activist, Charles Grodin, looks back at the major events and private moments that have shaped his life. And, since Grodin is one of the best storytellers around, he can't help but entertain while offering insight gained from a wealth of experience.

The combination of being impeached as class president by his fifth grade teacher (and then winning many school elections thereafter) with being thrown out of Hebrew School for asking too many questions (only to find a much better teacher as a result) informed Grodin's view of himself and made him adept at dealing with rejection--an important skill for an actor. Grodin's success in plays in high school and adventures in college theater led him to a career in acting, studying with the great teachers like Uta Hagen and Lee Strasberg.

Grodin shares behind-the-scenes tales of working on plays like Same Time Next Year and movies like The Heartbreak Kid and Midnight Run--even how close he came to playing the lead in The Graduate. His stories feature the many actors, directors, writers, and producers, with whom he's worked, such as Robert DeNiro, Dustin Hoffman, Johnny Carson, Orson Welles, Warren Beatty, and other colorful characters.

Grodin's greatest work isn't limited to stage and screen, however. He has been an award winning talk show host and commentator on Sixty Minutes II, and he reveals insights about the political and personal side of journalism and some of the larger-than-life characters he's interviewed.

Still, it is the personal aspects of Grodin's life that are truly revealing and funny. He shares intimate anecdotes of humorous dating experiences during the carefree 70s along with stories of what it was like to be a young actor then with friends and colleagues like Robert Redford, Gene Wilder, and Dustin Hoffman.

But it is Grodin's tales of the lives he's helped save with his relentless advocacy work that make you realize what a great guy Charles Grodin really is. We are lucky that the nice guy his friends call, "Chuck" brings us along to share a little of his journey of how he got to be who he really is!

The author is donating eight-five percent of his royalties from sales of this book Mentoring USA, a New York City based nonprofit that forges powerful, transformative connections for young people through the advocacy and involvement of mentors.


This giveaway will run till 10:00pm on March 29th, and is open to US & Canada residents only. Sorry, no P.O. Boxes - HBG rules.

To enter, tell me whether you like memoirs. If you do, why? (If you don't, why are you entering? lol...) +1 entries for followers, +2 for sharing/blogging/tweeting/telling-the-world... & since I'm so NOT psychic, please let me know who/what/where...

Don't forget to come back & find out if you've won. Winners will have 3 days to get me their mailing info, after which I'll draw a replacement. If I have an email address, I can follow up if I don't hear from you, but if not...

Good luck!! & as always, check out the lovely ladies at West of Mars -- Win a Book! for more giveaways...

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, I like memoirs, but only if I like the person they are about - otherwise, why would I read it?

I also follow your blog

and I tweeted about this giveaway here - http://tinyurl.com/db9h8w

kherbrand at comcast dot net

Annie1 said...

I love memoirs! I enjoy reading about people's lives, where they've been, and how they became who they are! I feel, also that I come away having learned something about myself via other people's experiences in life!

Thanks

nancyrobster@gmail.com

Annie1 said...

I shared this on my Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=513603379&ref=profile

Thanks


nancyrobster@gmail.com

Annie1 said...

Tweeted

greeeneyedwhwomhttp://tinyurl.com/c2tgvx WIN!!!

greeeneyedwhwom (twitter name)

Thanks

nancyrobster@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Yes, I enjoy memoirs. I think it's interesting to read about other people's lives and the things they've done. Plus, it's not unusual to be able to learn a thing or two from them, even if only a new perspective on things.

tiffanyak1986(at)hotmail(dot)com

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Grodin is my new hero. *grin*

Thanks for the e-mail, my friend. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you!

BurtonReview said...

First off I am so pleased to hear about him donating some of the proceeds, that is awesome.

Secondly, as far as memoirs go, Yes, I do like them, I just wish the word autobiography is used more often. Memoir sounds all flowery and fun. And French.

Please enter me .. marieburton2004(at)yahoo(dot)com
Marie

bermudaonion said...

I love memoirs - I'm not sure why - maybe because I'm nosy? Please enter me. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

mindy said...

i like memoirs because they give me an inside look into some one not only by what they write but by how they write it thanks for the giveaway

A Reader said...

Memoirs are my favorite genre b/c I love reading about people's lives.
Thanks for the giveaway!

kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com

Dixie said...

I enjoy reading memoirs.
It's interesting to get a glimpse into the lives of public people and learn how they got to be where they are.

southrngal(at)gmail(dot)com

Dixie said...

I follow!
southrngal(at)gmail(dot)com

Dixie said...

I tweeted.
http://twitter.com/southrngrl/status/1349962621

Anonymous said...

Memoirs are a pretty new subject for me. I've read a few, some good, some meh.. It's always pretty interesting to peek into the lives of others. Kinda feels like I'm spying! Lol.
I'm also a follower! =)
Thanks! lpmccann(at)gmail.com

KR said...

I enjoy memoirs. I like peeking into the lives of others.
I follow.

mj.coward@gmail.com

guru said...

I love memoirs and this ones sounds great.

Estela said...

I really enjoy memoirs. Must be the voyeur in me...lol

Estela said...

I'm your follower!

loves6cats said...

I like memoirs because it gives you an inside look at the person from their perspective as to who they really are. I really enjoy Charles Grodin as an actor and would love to read further about his life. Thanks for the chance to enter.

loves6cats said...

I tweeted...http://twitter.com/loves2cats

LuAnn said...

I often read memoirs, much more so than autobiographies. They seem to be more honest and tend to focus on a particular part of a person's life. They also don't seem to stick to the "chronological" order.

scottsgal said...

I enjoy reading memoirs on someone who interests me. I' sure Charles Grodin's book is filled with a lot of fun stories.

msboatgal at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

I like memoirs. I have read a couple of his other books and I find Charles Grodin to be an interesting and entertaining writer.

Anonymous said...

I like memoirs because reading them is like making new friends or (like all books) stepping in to somebody else's shoes.

nfmgirl said...

I like some memoirs, if the person is someone that I am interested reading about. I think that this one could have some good stories in it. Plus, tragically enough, his relative is guilty of murdering a little girl down here. So there is some local interest in his family.

nfmgirl said...

I'm a follower

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I love memoirs. Just curious how other people live their lives!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Debs Desk said...

I love memoirs, you really get to know people. My most recent memoir was Beyond My Control. Please include me in your drawing.
Thanks
Debbie

Debs Desk said...

I am a follower. Thanks Debbie
debdesk9@verizon.net

Unknown said...

It all depends on who the memoir is about and who has actually written it. Both are major factors in not only how interesting the overall story will be, but whether or not the book is readable.

I am a follower (googlreader).

kolists a/t gmail do/t com

lilbabypug said...

I love them, it's like living someone elses entire life with them. thanks for the giveaway.

Nicole said...

Memoirs are also interesting. I like reading about other people's experiences and how that's made them who they are.

Anita Yancey said...

Yes, I like reading memoirs. I find it interesting reading about other peoples lives. I really enjoy reading about famous people. Thanks for having this giveaway.

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

SueB said...

I agree with comment #1 - why read who doesn't interest you? I think Grodin is hilarious when he wants to be - he plays the put out regular guy so well, almost a straight man (comedy wise). But he's an activist as well - and look what else he's done! I want to find out - what made him tick, how did he get to be this way, and can I take any of it "home" to heart, to help me in my life.

So there.

kathy55439 said...

I have heard great things about this book....

Anonymous said...

I love to read about a person's life experiences. The depth, challenges, and eventual victories.
I wouldlove to win this book, and I think it is awaesome that he is donating 85% of the profits to mentor programs.

Livingmyhappilyeverafter at yahoo

Anonymous said...

I am a follower!

livingmyhappilyeverafter at yahoo

Anonymous said...

I love memoirs. Its not only a teaching tool for others life lessons, it is also greatly entertaining.

Thank you for this entry.

freda.mans@sympatico.ca

windycindy said...

People are so unique and fascinating. I enjoy learning about their past, and life anecdotes!
Like authors, I enjoy knowing more about the person behind the book. Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

windycindy said...

I am a fan/follower of your blog!
Thanks for another great book giveaway drawing.
Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Marie said...

I have always been fond of memoirs because I love getting glimpses of other people's lives -- I guess I'm basically nosy :-)

vmlay@artsci.wustl.edu

Kat Bryan said...

Yes, I like memoirs if I find the person interesting in the first place. And the main reason is just like the title of this book, I like to know how and why a person succeeded (or failed).

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I tweeted this contest.

I.D. is rhapsodybooks (rhapsodyINbooks shut down due to porn spam) (used computer in a hotel lobby - bad bad bad). Tweet is:

Win Chas. Grodin's new book at: http://tinyurl.com/db9h8w

rhapsodyinbooks said...

p.s. re previous post re tweeting at rhapsodybooks, forgot about the "not psychic" part!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Book Lover Lisa said...

I do like memoirs. Mainly to see what people think others will find interesting about their lives.

lisalouhoo@msn.com

Book Lover Lisa said...

I am a new follower.

lisalouhoo@msn.com

Unknown said...

Hi Drey!

Haven't been out much lately-strep throat-I'm missing all the good reads!

Count me in on the contest!

Dottie

Unknown said...

Oops! I'm a follower too!

Dottie

Post a Comment

have a thought to share? I love comments!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

what's here...


Powered by Blogger Widgets

history...