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Review & Giveaway: 169. Evenings at the Argentine Club by Julia Amante...

September 29, 2009
argentine clubAbout the book:
In the close-knit Argentine-American community of Burbank, California, there are rules about marriage, family, money, and success. Tradition dictates that you must stay close to those who know you best. But two young people are questioning their parents' version of the American Dream--and turning their world upside down.

All her life, Victoria Torres has navigated nimbly between her family's expectations and her own U.S.-born sensibilities. But when her successful, irreverent friend Eric Ortelli unexpectedly returns to the Argentine Club--the heart of their community--she, too, dares to break some rules. Soon secrets are spilling out of marriages. Generations are shifting in and out of conflict. And the dream of a better life for their children held so tightly by the older generation starts to morph into something new. Everything is changing . . . in a place where everything has always stayed the same.

drey's thoughts:
Julia Amante's Evenings at the Argentine Club is a thoroughly enjoyable read. At its core is a story about a young woman trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life, which I'm sure many of us can relate to in one fashion or another. She also has to then convince her family that wanting to try for her dreams isn't something that goes against their traditions and values, but instead is something that should be encouraged and praised.

The Argentine Club, such as it is, reminds me of gatherings--formal or informal--when people who share a common nationality get together while in a "foreign" land. They gather to share stories, to eat together, to keep a hold of the traditions they followed when home. There is something comforting about finding others who share similar backgrounds. And Julia Amante's depiction of the events and activities at the Argentine Club evoke memories of when my family was here for one very short year, while my father was attending Air Command and Staff College, and the group of fellow Malaysians that we would get together with.

Of course, there's also drama aplenty in Evenings at the Argentine Club! Victoria's parents go through a patch, when her mother realizes that she's spent her whole life taking care of Victoria and her sister, and now has drifted away from the man she fell in love with. Her father's not blameless either, sticking to the archaic notion that a man has to provide for wife and children, without input from either. And all of them learn what it means to love each other. Perfect for book clubs looking for a fall read.

Julia will be on BlogTalkRadio today at noon CST!! Call in and chat with her!

Giveaway!
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have up to five copies of Evenings at the Argentine Club for you...
Rules:
-- Contest is open to US and Canada residents, no PO Boxes please!
-- To enter, comment and share something about Argentina, or immigrants.
-- Follow for 1 extra entry.
-- Share for 2 extra entries (let me know what & where, please).
-- Every 10 people entered gets another copy in the hat, so tell everyone! =)
-- Do it all before 6:00 pm CST October 12th. Good luck!

Title: Evenings at the Argentine Club
Author: Julia Amante
ISBN-10: 0446581623
ISBN-13: 9780446581622
Paperback: 330 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2009

Challenges: 100+, Pub

55 comments:

Kit said...

Gosh, I'd love to be able to win this book!

Anyway, just wanted to let you know I'm having a giveaway called:

Pick a Present worth US$45

Do join in as it's especially for US residents...

Karen H said...

Please count me in this drawing.
I am a current follower

kkhaas AT bellsouth DOT net

traveler said...

Thanks for this delightful giveaway. The book looks wonderful. saubleb(at)gmail)dot)com

Serena said...

this story sounds fascinating. Id love to win a copy!

Julie P. said...

I'd love to win this book. I don't really know much about Argentina so I think I'd find this book very interesting as well as entertaining!

I also follow you!

bookingmama(at)gmail(dot)com

bermudaonion said...

Please enter me - I remember what it felt like to gather with other Americans in France. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

This book sounds really good, please count me in for the giveaway.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

I am a google reader follower.

Anonymous said...

From all the pictures I've seen of Argentina, it looks like a place I'd love to visit. So beautiful. I've also seen their traditional dances on TV and it's very romantic. wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I so want to read this book. Thanks for the possibility.

I subscribe via email.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

dor said...

When I think of Argentina, I think exotic.

dorcontest at gmail dot com

dor said...

I follow by google friend.

dorcontest at gmai dot com

rubynreba said...

Argentina looks like such a beautiful country. I have seen pictures but I don't really know much about it. This books looks good.

I am a follower

pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Kristen said...

Both of my kids are currently taking Spanish so they give me tidbits about Spanish speaking nations around the world. What they told me about Argetina is that it is the largest Spanish speaking country by landmass. I think I remember reading somewhere that it is also where you go if you want to travel to Antartica. (Don't ask me why I've retained that useless factoid.)

Please enter me in your drawing.

whitreidsmama at yahoo dot com

Oh, and I follow you through Google Reader too.

Ally said...

Argentina means "land of silver!"
Please include me in this generous giveaway. Thanks!

allygotts567 at hotmail dot com

Ally said...

I also follow!
allygotts567 at hotmail dot com

Pam said...

I've never been to Argentina but would love to go. My husband is an immigrant and it does certainly have its challenges - culture clashes do occur, especially around child-rearing and expectations.

melacan at hotmail dot com

photoquest said...

I don't know anything about Argentina, I love reading books in locations i have never been please enter me in this drawing, this book sounds like a wonderful read!!
photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net

photoquest said...

I am a follower
photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net

photoquest said...

I am a subscriber
photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net

CrystalGB said...

It is the eighth largest country in the world by land area and the largest among Spanish-speaking nations, though Mexico, Colombia and Spain are more populous.

Crystal816{at}hotmail{dot}com

CrystalGB said...

I am a follower.

Crystal816{at}hotmail{dot}com

Kat Bryan said...

I loved the movie "Evita" with Madonna about the life of Evita Duarte, an Argentinian actress who became the wife of Argentinian president and dictator Juan Perón, and the most beloved and hated woman in Argentina.
winterset AT peoplepc.com

Kat Bryan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
enyl said...

The capitalof Argentina is Buenos Aires,97% of the population is of Spanish and Italian descent, the literacy rate is 97%.

enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

enyl said...

I'm a follower.

enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

mrsshukra said...

Argentina has a population of almost 41 million!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

lag123 said...

I would love to go to Argentian.

lag110@mchsi.com

lag123 said...

I follow this blog.

lag110@mchsi.com

Sheila Deeth said...

Being an immigrant, I'm always interested in books about other immigrants. A friend was telling me recently how easily we end up answering "nowhere" in our heads when people ask where we're from - a sense of lost identity, and unbelonging.

I follow your blog, and I'd love to read this.

sdeeth at msn dot com

holdenj said...

The capital of Argentina is Buenos Aires. I don't know much else about it, but the book certainly looks like a winner! Thanks for the chance to read it!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I'm a new follower with Google Reader!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Beth (BBRB) said...

I've been interested in Argentina ever since the Evita movie came out! This looks so interesting!

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

Beth (BBRB) said...

I'm a follower.

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

Please count me in...thanks.

I really don't know very much about Argentina, but I would welcome the opportunity to learn more about this country.

karen k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I'm a subscriber

karen k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I follow :)

karen k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

Cindy said...

When I think of Argentina, I think of soccer! They definitely have some great soccer players and teams, and since I am in a soccer loving family, that is what I think of first when it comes to Argentina.

I follow your blog on Google.

I also follow you on Twitter. My username is Soccermom213 and I tweet often about your blog and giveaways.

Please enter me in the giveaway!

Cindy
Socmom213@aol.com

Simply Stacie said...

The Andes Mountains are in Argentina!

I follow your blog.

simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

annies home said...

would love to win and allthough I know there have been quite a few musicians come from there the only song I can think of is Dont Cry For Me Argentina. I would love to be able to read this book
shopannies@Yahoo.com

Jo-Jo said...

I really can't think of anything that I know about Argentina, but I would love to win this book!
joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

Debbie Rodgers said...

I know only one Argentinian & all I can remember about her is that she LOVED listening to Salsa music (Sorry).
I'd love to win this book and learn more.

tatamagouche AT netbundle DOT ca

Debbie Rodgers said...

I'm a follower

tatamagouche AT netbundle DOT ca

Alyce said...

I'd like to enter.

I follow your blog.

akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

i'd love the chance to win, as i don't know much about Argentina.

bibliophilebythesea AT gmail DOT com

nfmgirl said...

Argentina's economy is driven by agriculture, and I think one of their chief exports is beef, although I'm not positive of that. Maybe I'd learn more from the book!

I follow

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

DarcyO said...

Argentina is in the southern hemisphere so it will soon be summer there. Too bad I'll be here in Minnesota!

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

DarcyO said...

I'm a follower.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

Irene said...

The city my mother, my brother, and I immigrated to had an Italian neighborhood, Polish neighborhood, German neighborhood, Irish neighborhood, etc. When I was young, it was very confusing for me because I was born in Germany, but my parents were Polish. I didn't attend the Polish school though, I attended the school where we were multinational. So, I learned a lot about different nationalities.
I do agree with Sheila Deeth about the sense of a loss of identity.
I would love to read this book.
Please count me in.

I am a follower via Google and e-mail.

cyeates AT nycap DOT rr DOT com

Sandra K321 said...

One of the greatest current soccer players, Lionel Messi, is from Argentina.
I also remember from my high school Spanish classes that Argentina is one of the top beef producers in the world.
seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

Sandra K321 said...

I follow you via Google.
seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

CherylS22 said...

Argentina is the second largest country in South America & is located between the Andes mountains in the west & the Atlantic Ocean in the east.

Please count me in ~ Thanks!
megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

ossmcalc said...

Argentina is the eighth largest country in the world by land area and the largest among Spanish-speaking nations, though Mexico, Colombia and Spain are more populous.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

I follow your blog.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

I tweeted about this giveaway http://twitter.com/ossmcalc/status/4741360227

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

I shared about this giveaway on Facebook.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

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