Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Book Review and Giveaway: Spin

By Melissa Amster


**Giveaway is now closed**

After falling in love with "Arranged" by Catherine McKenzie, I received an opportunity to review "Spin" and jumped on it! I had heard only good things about it and had a feeling I would enjoy it for that reason. This novel has definitely lived up to its "hype."

Kate Sandford just lost her dream job working for a music magazine by showing up to the interview drunk from her 30th birthday celebration. Her behavior at the interview has instead made her the perfect candidate to follow the latest "It Girl" to rehab and report to a gossip magazine with an insider's viewpoint. If she is successful, she'll be able to get the music magazine job she wanted originally. However, Kate doesn't bank on the effect rehab will have on her own life, as well as what her dream opportunity will do to the friendships she has fostered, especially with this "It Girl."

The last good book I read about rehab, prior to this one, was "Rachel's Holiday" by Marian Keyes. I think that if you liked that book, you will definitely like "Spin." The first thing that stuck out for me was all the pop culture references. I'm a huge pop culture "geek," so it was fun to see what Ms. McKenzie would come up with next. I love that she quoted one of my favorite lines from "The Princess Bride" and also talked about some Christopher Guest mockumentary films (oddly enough, he was also in TPB). At the end, she includes a playlist based on the songs mentioned in each chapter. Next was the realistic dialogue and a main character with whom it was extremely easy to relate and connect. The supporting characters were all unique and a lot of fun to read about. Saundra, the counselor at rehab, especially stuck out with her dog obsession. I also liked the romantic sub-plot and how the tension built up throughout the story. Come to think of it, there wasn't anything I didn't like!

I highly suggest checking out "Spin" and making it a best seller, the way Ms. McKenzie strives to help other books become best sellers.

In the meantime, thanks to Ms. McKenzie, I have one copy to give away to a lucky reader in the US or Canada.

How to win "Spin":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page if you can receive messages there.)

1. Please tell us: What is the craziest thing you've ever done to get the job you wanted?
2. Please tell us: What is your favorite line from "The Princess Bride."
3. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
4. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
5. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

US/Canada only. Giveaway ends Monday, February 7th at midnight EST.

62 comments:

Kritters Ramblings said...

I have to be honest and say I have never had to do anything crazy to get a job.

I am a fan on facebook and a follower of the blog.

kdurham2@gmail.com

PoCoKat said...

Craziest thing...when I was 15 I lied and said I was 16 in order to get a job at the PNE.

littleone AT shaw DOT ca

PoCoKat said...

Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

littleone AT shaw DOT ca

PoCoKat said...

I follow on GFC

littleone AT shaw DOT ca

BRN2SHOP9 said...

I haven't done anything crazy to get a job.

BRN2SHOP9 said...

I follow via facebook.

BRN2SHOP9 said...

I follow via twitter

PoCoKat said...

Have joined Chick lit Central on Facebook

littleone AT shaw DOT ca

Colleen Turner said...

I have never had to do anything TOO crazy for a job. When asked if I knew how to run certain programs on the computer for my current job I acted like I did it all the time. I remember having to ask my cousin-in-law, who is a computer programmer, for some help before my first day so I wouldn't make a fool of myself.
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

Fav quote from The Princess Bride: "Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while."
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

GFC follower (Colleen Turner).
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

Facebook fan (Colleen Turner).
candc320@gmail.com

The Book Chick said...

No need to enter me as I already have my own copy, but what a great review! I agree wholeheartedly. I've added this contest to my sidebar :)

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

The craziest thing I've done to get the job I wanted is to answer the phone and start scheduling meeting for my previous boss beginning at 4am PST, I was a contractor then, it did pay of as I am now a full time employee.

Anonymous said...

Favorite line is, "As You Wish"

piabernardino[at]bermillion[dot]com

Anonymous said...

piabernardino[at]bermillion.com
I am a follower, member and will tweet this.

Heather said...

Hmmm, I haven't done anything crazy for a job. And I haven't watched the Princess Bride in many many years so I don't remember any lines :(
ra6352 (at) gmail (dot) com

Heather said...

I am a follower!
ra6352 (at) gmail (Dot) com

Heather said...

I am a member of Chick Lit Central!
ra6352 (at) gmail (Dot) com

Bonnie said...

I am a loyal follower!
intrepid9923(at)yahoo(dot)com

Bonnie said...

I have never done anything crazy to get a job I am happy to say!

Bonnie said...

I am sorry to say I have no favorite quote from The Princess Bride.
intrepid9923(at)yahoo(dot)com

Bonnie said...

I am a Facebook fan.
intrepid9923(at)yahoo(dot)com

Bonnie said...

I posted book giveaway on Facebook!
intrepid9923(at)yahoo(dot)com

Bonnie said...

I am a Twitter follower!
intrepid9923(at)yahoo(dot)com

Bonnie said...

I tweeted book giveaway on Twitter!
http://twitter.com/#!/intrepid9923/status/33229062549798912

Kari Gagnon said...

1. Please tell us: What is the craziest thing you've ever done to get the job you wanted?

I wish I could say I did something crazy, but I haven't.

2. Please tell us: What is your favorite line from "The Princess Bride."

I have two: (1)"Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line"! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha...
(2)"It's possible, Pig, I might be bluffing. It's conceivable, you miserable, vomitous mass, that I'm only lying here because I lack the strength to stand. But, then again... perhaps I have the strength after all." *SWOON*

3. Follower :)
4. FBed
5. Membered :)

~Kari
kari.vanalstine at gmail dot com

Movie Passenger said...

Never did anything too crazy to get a job, but I do love The Princess Bride: "Inconceivable!" "you keep saying that word. I do not think it means what you think it means!"

I follow the blog & on Facebook.
Encgolsen@gmail.com

Linda Kish said...

I have never done anything crazy to get a job. Never thought to...too scared by the whole interview process.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

a real librarian said...

I have never done anything crazy to actually get a job. Well, actually, I may have done a snippet of "Tooty-Ta" once during an interview!

Thanks for the giveaway!!

areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

a real librarian said...

Favorite line of The Princess Bride...

Aaaaasssssss yooooooooooouuuuu wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiish!!!!

areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

a real librarian said...

I also follow!!!

areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

anjibeane said...

I haven't done anything crazy to get a job... but I'm a WAHM and it is a great job to have :)

anjibeane@comcast.net

anjibeane said...

Inconceivable!

anjibeane@comcast.net

anjibeane said...

posted on facebook :)

anjibeane@comcast.net

anjibeane said...

tweeted! :)

anjibeane@comcast.net

anjibeane said...

I'm a follower ;)

anjibeane@comcast.net

anjibeane said...

and, of course, I'm a member of Chick Lit Central on facebook :)

anjibeane@comcast.net

Unknown said...

I haven't really done anything "crazy" to get a job I wanted. One of my professors was the DA in Brooklyn and I took one of his classes and made sure to ride the elevator with him on the way to or from class O i could chat with him & make sure he knew me!

Spin sounds like an interesting & fun book and I think Catherine McKenzie is an awesome person. Please enter me in your giveaway!

Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

A favorite line of mine from The Princess Bride is:

"Bye, bye boys, have fun storming the castle!"

Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I'm a Google Friend Connect follower of this blog!

Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I joined Chick Lit Central on Facebook (Amy Meyer)

Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

hermitgirl said...

I'm a fan on FB and follow this blog- thanks for the chance to win!

cherbason(AT)cox(DOT)net

hermitgirl said...

I'm a BIG fan on FB and follow this blog- thanks for the chance to win!

cherbason(AT)cox(DOT)net

karenk said...

i never did anything 'crazy' to get a job

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Sarah said...

I have never done anything crazy to get a job:)

foxchick0323(at)live(dot)com

Sarah said...

I have never seen the princess bride!

foxchick0323(at)live(dot)com

Sarah said...

I am a loyal follower!

foxchick0323(at)live(dot)com

Sarah said...

facebook fan!

foxchick0323(at)live(dot)com

Sarah said...

posted on twitter @happymama82

foxchick0323(at)live(dot)com

Anonymous said...

have not really done anything too crazy to get a job?
am a member and follower :)
have never seen the princess bride

otkeri at comcast dot net

Sana Noor said...

I have never seen the Princess Bride.But this is my fave quote "This is true love... you think this happens everyday?"
I am a follower.

sananoor_94@hotmail.com

Me said...

I'm dying to read something by Catherine MacKenzie! Great giveaway. I follow you all on the Blog, FB and Twitter. One of my favorite lines from the Princess Bride is when the sick boy in bed, whose grandpa is reading him the story, says, "Is this a kissing book?" Probably the most cazy thing I've done to get a job, is nothing too-super-crazy but once I walked in a terrible snowstorm cause I didn't have a car but I really wanted a corporate job, so I walked to a bus then had to go into a public ladies bathroom to dry off my nice clothes and hair before my interview. Thankfully, I got the job and a car shortly after:) Please contact me at cgraceh@gmail.com if I win!

Me said...

I just posted a link to the giveaway on Twitter too!!

Unknown said...

1. The craziest thing I've ever done to get the job I wanted was saying I had no problem being there for 8am... I am NOT a morning person.

2. My favorite line from "The Princess Bride" is: As you wish. That is something you definitely don't hear from a guy every day...

3. I am already a follower of the blog.

4. I posted this link on Twitter at JaiKaies

5. I had already joined Chick Lit Central on Facebook.

worlds underscore cutest underscore leprechaun at hotmail dot come

Nancye said...

I am pretty boring and have to admit that I haven't done any crazy things to get a job.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I don't have a fave line from The Princess Bride.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I follow this blog

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I joined this blog on Facebook

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Tweet! Tweet!
@NancyeDavis

http://twitter.com/#!/NancyeDavis/status/34830391277780992

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I posted this giveaway on my Facebook Wall

http://tiny.cc/jknuq

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net