Please join us on Tuesday, April 6th at 4 pm when we welcome Malena Watrous, author of If You Follow Me. In her debut novel, Watrous tells the story of Marina, who moves to Japan to teach English shortly after her father’s tragic suicide, and finds unexpected solace with her Japanese supervisor and seemingly indifferent neighbors.
Hoping to outpace her grief in the wake of her father's suicide, Marina has come to the small, rural Japanese town of Shika to teach English for a year. But in Japan, as she soon discovers, you can never really throw away your past . . . or anything else, for that matter.
If You Follow Me is at once a fish-out-of-water tale, a dark comedy of manners, and a strange kind of love story. Alive with vibrant and unforgettable characters—from an ambitious town matchmaker to a high school student-cum-rap artist wannabe with an addiction to self-tanning lotion—it guides readers over cultural bridges even as it celebrates the awkward, unlikely triumph of the human spirit.
Curtis Sittenfeld, the New York Times bestselling author of American Wife said of If You Follow Me, “I love, love, love If You Follow Me. It’s fearlessly honest, occasionally heartbreaking, and extremely funny, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.”
We have 10 copies of If You Follow Me to give away to the first 10 people who comment that they'd like to join the discussion on Tuesday, April 6th at 4 pm ET. Browse inside the book and look for Malena on tuor near you. Check out the reading group guide, learn more about Malena Watrous and set your reminder for the show.
I'd love to be a part of the discussion on April 6th at 4pm. Will you send a reminder . . . I tend to be forgetful! :) Thanks for the opportunity!
Posted by: Melissa | March 10, 2010 at 09:30 AM
I can do April 6 at 4, and I'd like to participate! Thanks.
Posted by: Kate | March 10, 2010 at 09:32 AM
Thanks. I would like to participate.
Posted by: pearl | March 10, 2010 at 09:36 AM
Thanks! I really like the discussions and this sounds like another good book!
Posted by: LoriAnne | March 10, 2010 at 09:39 AM
Would love to be included! Thanks!
Posted by: christine | March 10, 2010 at 09:40 AM
I'd love to join in. I read a review of this one and it sounded really interesting :D
Posted by: Lu | March 10, 2010 at 09:56 AM
Me, me! I've been anxious to read this book.
Posted by: Amy @ My Friend Amy | March 10, 2010 at 10:30 AM
Thanks - would love to read this book!
jmb0923@gmail.com
Posted by: Joanna | March 10, 2010 at 10:42 AM
I'd love to join the discussion
Posted by: EvaMarie | March 10, 2010 at 11:07 AM
Did I make it? I'd love to be a part of the discussion.
Posted by: Delia | March 10, 2010 at 11:08 AM
Count me in!
Posted by: Felicia | March 10, 2010 at 11:08 AM
Oh, I've been wanting to read this for ages! Thank you!
Posted by: Jessica | March 10, 2010 at 12:21 PM
Count me in! It sounds like an interesting read.
Posted by: Kelly Manfredini | March 10, 2010 at 12:31 PM
I would love to be a part of the discussion if there are still books left!
Posted by: Melissa C | March 10, 2010 at 08:04 PM
Someone just offered me this book; I'll have to tell her I want it so I can join in!
Posted by: Lisa | March 16, 2010 at 02:22 PM
I would love to join the discussion on Tuesday, April 6th at 4 pm
Posted by: Amy JC | March 29, 2010 at 09:57 AM