Friday, August 19, 2011

Book Review and Giveaway of Finding Emilie!


Finding Emilie is a precious gem.  I say this because rarely do I fall this much in love with a novel that is not totally the ‘true’ history.  Laurel Corona’s book has added to the history by writing a story about ‘what might have been’ and created a novel that captivated me in all of its beauty and prose.  
Based on the lives of both Emilie du Chatelet (Voltaire’s love) and (mostly) her daughter, Stanislas-Adelaide; known as Lili- the story takes you into the pre-Revolution time of the 18th c.  This was a time in France where women were not supposed to dabble in the sciences and other ‘higher’ learning subjects-let alone write. 
Emilie’s death a few days after giving birth results in Lili being raised by Julie de Bercy (Emilie’s close friend). Julie's daughter, Delphine and Lili are raised like sisters.  Lili however presents herself as quite trying and out of the ordinary in terms of all her questioning at the convent where she and Delphine were schooled. 
Lili finds herself intrigued by her defunct mother and wants to find out more about her.  Knowing that she resembles her not only physically, but also in spirit, Lili desperately wants answers for her own life through ‘finding Emilie’. This becomes a difficult task since her aunt is reluctant in sharing anything about Emilie’s remarkable life (she was the one who actually re-wrote Newton's work! Anonimously...one can only imagine how deep her understanding and knowledge of the material stretched)- But Lili is adamant about finding out the truth about her mother.
Unlike her despicable aunt, Julie is a constant and wonderful support for Lili as she blossoms into a great philosophical writer and lover of science. Lili does publish her work, but because this was a time where women’s brains were not something deserving of praise or recognition, she does this under a pen name.
I love that the author put this twist in history and added Lili’s life into it to give closure to what could have been a continuation to Emilie’s life.  I almost bet you Emilie would have expected nothing less of this remarkably strong and intelligent daughter! 
Bravo Laurel Corona!
Also check out:
LAUREL CORONA TALKS ABOUT FINDING EMILIE (video)
 

GIVEAWAY of 2 COPIES of this wonderful novel! 
Open to US and Canada
To Enter:
 Follow this blog
Get Extra chances for every FB, Twitter, Blog sidebar...Just send me the link!
Good Luck to All!

Winners Announced on:  Friday, August 26th

20 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks for the review and giveaway! I've been intrigued by this novel for a while - 18th century, Voltaire, and intelligent female characters? Awesome!

I tweeted about the giveaway: http://twitter.com/#!/SusieBookworm/status/104618747536482304

susanna DOT pyatt AT student DOT rcsnc DOT org

Unknown said...

I'm a follower. Please enter me.

mylife.onestoryatatime@yahoo.com

I have two give aways this week on my blog. Hope you pop in to enter. Donna

http://mylife-in-stories.blogspot.com

Literary Chanteuse said...

Count me in on the giveaway! I'd love to have this book!

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

Amanda said...

Thanks for hosting the giveaway. I'd love to enter.

I'm a follower.

amandatheaker@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

This book has been on my wishlist for awhile! Thanks for the giveaway.

I am a GFC follower (Colleen Turner).

candc320@gmail.com

Darlene said...

I'd love to read this! Please enter me in the draw.

I'm an email subscriber, and my email address is darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com.

Thanks for the giveaway!

Darlene said...

+1 for tweeting:

http://twitter.com/#!/DarleneBookNook/status/104669961422778369

darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

Darlene said...

+1 for sharing on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=153345594747206&id=100002541526103

darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

Amy said...

Ooohhh I'd love to win this book! Thanks so much!
I am a follower.

Amy
tiger_fan_1997 AT yahoo DOT com

Linda said...

I would love to win this novel. Thanks for the giveaway.

lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

This sounds like such a wonderful book! I follow you and I posted the giveaway on my sidebar. http://themusingsofabookjunkie.blogspot.com/

Thank you!
Allisonmharper@hotmail.com

Laura's Reviews said...

This sounds like a fantastic book!

I am a follower.

laarlt78 (at) hotmail (dot) com

Thank-you!

Rachel said...

I'm a follower- thanks for the giveaway!

Rachelhwallen@gmail.com

mamabunny13 said...

I follow you via gfc (mamabunny13)
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

tweet https://twitter.com/#!/mamabunny13/status/104861968032206848
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

Shared on facebook-mamabunny shelor
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=183245545077103&id=100001199655476
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

The (Mis)Adventures of a College Book Addict said...

Wow, the book looks great. And the video was awesome too! Thanks for the giveaway!

Leigh Ann
insanityisnormal@gmail.com

Unknown said...

No need to enter me, I have already won this one. I haven't yet read it but I too like to read books about what might have been. Not total rewrites of history but pushing the story in different ways. I really am looking forward to getting into this one.

Unknown said...

wow. Thank you for this review. It sounds like just the type of book I want to read.

Jessica said...

Looks like a fascinating story. A beautiful book with a spot on a beautiful blog. Jessica