Jeannine Ouellette’s new memoir, The Part That Burns, has garnered critical acclaim since its release on February 1. Joyce Carol Oates called it “simply beautiful. Precisely imagined, poetically structured, compelling, and vivid.” Last week Ouellette joined Jo Ann Beard, Katherine Angel, Dantiel Moniz and Michele Filgate for a panel discussion on “Desire” for the Red Ink Series, sponsored by Books Are Magic bookstore in Brooklyn NY. Kirkus gave The Part That Burns a starred review and describes it as “A textured remembrance of a traumatic childhood that also offers affecting moments of beauty.”
Ouellette continues her virtual book tour this week with an event sponsored by independent bookstore Magers & Quinn in Minneapolis. Heidi Seaborn will moderate a discussion with Jeannine Ouellette, Lilly Dancyger (Negative Spaces) and Gina Frangello (Blow Your House Down: A Story of Family, Feminism, and Treason). This virtual event will be live on Facebook and YouTube.
The following week, Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor hosts a conversation with Ouellette and author Jennifer Pastiloff on Zoom a week from Thursday on March 25 at 8 pm ET. Jen is the founder of the online magazine, The Manifest-Station, and author of the On Being Human: A Memoir of Waking Up, Living Real, and Listening Hard. Register to get the Zoom link here.
Stay tuned for dates and locations to be announced for April events with Jeannine Ouellette and Ethel Rohan who has a new story collection coming out (In the Event of Contact) and with novelist Keisha Bush (No Heaven for Good Boys).
Enter to win a free copy of The Part That Burns by leaving a comment on the blog about why you’re interested in reading her memoir. A drawing for the winner will be held on Saturday, March 20.
UPDATE: We have a winner! Congratulations to Carly who will receive a copy in the mail this coming week. Thanks everyone for entering.
Writing and Listening — an Interview with Brooke Randel
As a young girl Brooke Randel knew little about the Holocaust—just that it was a catastrophe in which millions were murdered, and that her grandma Golda Indig barely escaped that fate. But her Bubbie never spoke about what happened, and the two spent most of their time together making pleasant memories: baking crescent roll cookies, playing gin rummy, and watching Baywatch. Until an unexpected phone call when Golda said, out of the blue: “You should write about my life. What happened in the war.” What results is a fascinating memoir—about one woman’s harrowing survival, and another’s struggle to excavate theRead more…
Thank you for this, Jill!
You’re more than welcome, Jeannine. Spreading the word about this terrific book is my intention.
Can’t wait to read this book!
I was lucky to read an ARC of this gorgeous book and I own a copy, but if I win I will gift it to a friend because I think everyone needs to have this book on their shelf. ❤️
Thanks Heather! What a lovely idea. If you’ve read it, then you know how good it is. Drawing will be this Saturday!
This sounds like a powerful, beautifully written book and I’m adding it to my list of books to read right now.
I have always found memoirs to be intriguing and inspiring. To learn of another person’s story and how they lived through exceptional challenges can be such a good lesson. I look forward to reading Ouellette’s story, never mind that I love the title!
I really want to read this book. I have heard such great things about it!
I look forward to finding out how this author’s beautiful language can transform a torn part of her life into something greater than herself.
Thank you, Jill! Congratulations on publishing your memoir.
I would love a copy of this amazing-sounding book! It sounds beautiful and inspirational.
I read this haunting collection via an ARC and would pass this onto one of my students who badly needs it if I won.
I’d like to be entered, please! As a fellow memoirist, I am comforted to read stories that might give insight on my life and writing journey
I like reading memoirs and this one sounds great!
Intrigued by the “poetic structure.” This is on my TBR list, for sure!
Poetically structured with affecting moments of beauty?!! I’m so IN!!
The book cover alone has me wanting to read this.
I have heard wonderful things about this and can’t wait to read it.
I am so excited to read this book. I am familiar with Jeannine Ouellette‘s writing and already a huge fan! Thank you for hosting this giveaway and for sharing her memoir with the world.
This sounds super interesting, and if Dorothy Allison is behind it – I’m into it!
I’d love to read The Part That Burns and definitely plan to. Excited! Sounds fantastic!
I’ve heard lovely things about this book and am excited to read it!
So excited to read this!
You’re the lucky winner of today’s drawing!
I plan to ask my library to order this book. I’d love to win a copy that I could donate after I read it.
I’d love a copy of this book! The cover is great!
CAN’T wait to read!
I would LOVE to win this book. I’ve heard incredible things!!!