October 20, 2008
5 Minutes for Books — The Professors’ Wives’ Club
A book set in New York City featuring academic types (at the fictional “Manhattan U”)? About a group of women friends? Do I need anything more in a novel?
The Professors’ Wives’ Club by Joanne Rendell features four women of different ages and from different backgrounds who come together to fight for a common cause, and in the process help each other to grow. I think that their differences work for them — allowing them to accept the others at face value, instead of who they are “supposed” to be.
All of the women live together in the same campus apartment building. They each use the beautiful walled garden as a kind of retreat, and they come together rallying to protect it when it’s threatened to be destroyed.
Mary is the oldest in the group. She’s a professor herself, and married to the dean who is planning to destroy the green space. She’s been trying to find the courage to escape from her abusive husband, but something keeps holding her back.
Hannah is a former model who is dissatisfied with her marriage and disappointed with a choice she made in an effort to find love. She is trying to break away from the model image and break into the art world, but without her husband’s support, she is finding it difficult.
Sofia has a supportive husband, but she still feels as if she’s lost herself in the whirlwind of motherhood with two young children. She serves as the heartbeat of the group as she taps into her natural skills and proclivities.
Ashleigh is the youngest of the group — an attorney on the way up the career ladder, but still living in the shadow of her successful and overbearing father. As she seeks to break free, she wonders how she can be true to herself without disappointing him.
It sounds like typical chick lit, but the story definitely has some surprising moments. I found myself analyzing the women and rooting for them (even as I sometimes wondered what the “right” choice for them really was). Sometimes heavy topics are written without bogging the reader down, and within context of a good old fashioned caper as the four women bind together to defeat the evil giant.
We have five copies to give away! If you’d like to win one, please leave a comment. We’ll announce the winners in next week’s column.
The winners of What Happy Parents Do are
#2 Moriah@Please Pass the Salt
#58 K. Cleaver
#113 Corrie C.
Filed under * Feature Columns, 5 Minutes for Books, Books, Contests by
Comments on 5 Minutes for Books — The Professors’ Wives’ Club
Michele @ 12:19 am
Sounds like a fun read!
Stacy @ 12:35 am
Sounds interesting! Enter me please!
HeresTheDiehl @ 12:36 am
sounds great!
Carrie @ Blessed Chaos @ 1:21 am
a good book to escape into is always welcomed!
Carrie K. @ 1:53 am
I’ve had this on my wishlist for a while – I’ve read so many good review. I’d love to win a copy!
christy @ 2:07 am
This sounds like a wonderful read. Thanks for this opportunity.
thefarmerfiles @ 2:45 am
I love chic lit! Pick me!
Jackie @ Our Moments Our Memories @ 4:07 am
Chick lit – perfect for a night in by myself. Thanks!
zukppr @ 5:43 am
Sounds like a fun book to read
Jamie @ 7:18 am
I would love to win a copy!
Gaye McGill @ 7:22 am
I’ve heard this is a good book and would love to win a copy. Thanks.
Marilyn @ 7:28 am
I would like to see this – thank you for the contest!
Katherine Frazier @ 7:35 am
Looks like a great read.
Sandy @ 7:44 am
sounds fun
randi oaklief @ 8:12 am
I’ve had this book on my to read list for a while. I’d love to win it! Thanks
Courtney @ 8:18 am
I want it…i want it…pick me..pick me…lol!it sounds like a very good read!!!
Heather G @ 8:45 am
Sounds like a great read!
Chrysa @ 9:01 am
This sounds like a good book. I like chick lit that has a little extra!
Ellie @ 9:13 am
Sounds like a fun book to ready
Sarah at themommylogues @ 9:34 am
I just finished a series and need a new book!
Deborah Wellenstein @ 10:05 am
I would love to read this-thank you!
Jenn S. @ 10:36 am
Would love to read this, looks fun. Thanks for the chance.
Lindsey@A Kindred Spirits Thoughts @ 10:39 am
I would love to read this – thanks so much for the review and giveaway!
Lindsey
Rebecca Doherty @ 10:39 am
This sounds great – Thank you!
Janet F @ 10:42 am
I would like to read this.
Mama Zen @ 10:49 am
This sounds really good!
Linda @ 10:52 am
I would love to win this prize.
Suzila @ 10:55 am
This sounds like my kind of book. Thanks for offering this contest!
Rhonda Struthers @ 10:55 am
I love to read and would like to read this
Piseco @ 11:37 am
Sounds like a fun read. Thanks!
Buttercup @ 11:49 am
I am always looking for good books to read. This one looks interesting.
Linda White @ 12:04 pm
sounds good to me!
Tina @ 12:08 pm
I would love to win a copy. Great review!!!
Linda Peters @ 12:26 pm
would love to read this
Angela C. @ 12:39 pm
I’m always looking for new things to win. I’d love to win a copy!
Angela C. @ 12:39 pm
Sorry I meant to say I’m always looking for new things to read.
The Gang's All Here! @ 12:44 pm
Ooooh, the colder days are just begging for a good book like this to dive into while the Li’l Empress naps!
Amanda @ 1:01 pm
Sounds like a great book, I would love to win one!
Rita M @ 1:03 pm
Sounds like a very diverse group of women, I would love to check ‘em out. Thanks for the giveaway!
Jeanne S. @ 1:14 pm
I love a good chick lit book! count me in!
Ann Fantom @ 1:18 pm
I would love to win this! Please enter me
Leona P @ 1:20 pm
sounds good
Elizabeth M. @ 1:22 pm
This sounds right up my alley! Thanks for the chance to win!
Sara @ 1:58 pm
Sadly, I don’t make much time to read. This book sounds pretty good. Kind of book that I used to read.
c. clemens @ 2:13 pm
great website!
Jessica @ 2:26 pm
This looks like a great book. I’d love to read it. Count me in.
Tiffany @ 2:41 pm
sounds like a really good book to read….. thanks for the contest….
nicole @ 2:46 pm
You won’t catch me passing up a free book!
MaryBeth @ Four Silly Sisters @ 3:01 pm
sounds like an interesting read… thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Dan Smith @ 3:50 pm
Sounds like a great book
Adrienne Gordon @ 4:00 pm
love to read
TopazTook @ 4:03 pm
Sounds like a great read! I would love to win this!
David Bertolo @ 4:07 pm
Looks like an interesting read. Please sign me up for your contest.
amandasue @ 4:26 pm
This is sorta like a desperate housewives in a book form lol, or atleast it reminds me of it with all the different women and they each have different problems. Sounds like a good book to read thanks for entering me.!
Susan Smith @ 4:27 pm
Please enter me
Rachel Langston @ 4:40 pm
Sounds like a great read. Add my name to the drawing!
Rachel Langston
Anne @ 4:42 pm
Can’t have too many books. I’d love to win, thanks!
susan varney @ 4:56 pm
i love to read everything
Kirby McCauley @ 5:00 pm
This sounds right up my alley!
Thomas Gibson @ 5:01 pm
Thank you
Joy F @ 5:29 pm
Sounds good — I love to read, and my husband is hoping to teach in several years once his PhD is done…thus making ME a professor’s wife.
ky2here @ 5:57 pm
We’d love to have this.
Tonya Froemel @ 6:43 pm
count me in please
Julie Donahue @ 6:48 pm
Looks like a fun read.
Hil'Lesha @ 7:01 pm
Sounds very interesting.
Miche @ 7:05 pm
That sounds like a great read!
Chrissi Doane @ 7:28 pm
Looks like a fun interesting read. Thaks for the contest!
Kendra @ 7:38 pm
looks like a great read ! thanks for the opp!
Mary Helen @ 7:51 pm
I would love to win the book. Sounds very interesting.
Linda @ 8:08 pm
Good Luck to all
Katie @ 8:23 pm
Sounds like a really fun read! My mom and I would love it!
christopher h @ 8:34 pm
looks like a good read
emily @ 8:35 pm
I almost picked this up at the bookstore last week. I’m glad that you gave it a good review!
Peggy Doty @ 9:25 pm
I want to read it please enter me.
Cheryl @ 9:34 pm
Sounds like a great book. Please enter me! Thanks
Julie @ 9:43 pm
Sounds like a good read, would love a try at winning this!!
Mel @ A Box of Chocolates @ 10:19 pm
This sounds like a book right up my alley. Please enter me in the giveaway! Thanks for giving away such a fun book.
Anne Pichette @ 10:53 pm
This sounds like a great book. Thank you for having this giveaway.
K. Cleaver @ 11:13 pm
I love to read and would be interested in reading this one. Thanks for the review.
Catherine @ 11:19 pm
Thanx for the contest
Paige @ 11:33 pm
I need a new book; I’m almost done with the latest stack.
Lenora Garrett @ 2:14 am
Sounds great, I would love to read it.
geekbearinggifts @ 2:42 am
I love to read, and this book sounds like it’s right up my alley–thanks for the offer!
Terra Heck @ 4:59 am
I’d like to read this book.
Robert Doscher @ 5:54 am
I would like to read this book.
Cheers!
Susan @ 8:03 am
This is SO my kind of book!
david basile @ 8:11 am
sounds great
Nicole C. @ 8:32 am
Sounds really good! Please enter me!
Kasey P @ 8:58 am
This sounds like a great book. Thanks for a chance to win.
nancy @ 9:00 am
would love to read her first novel!
Michael Capp @ 9:02 am
I’d love to win!
Susan C @ 9:37 am
I love stories about the friendship of women!
Teal @ 9:55 am
I would love to win this book! From your review, it sounds as if it’ll suck you in!
Vicky Boackle @ 10:23 am
sounds like a great book.
Zoly @ 10:24 am
Sounds very interesting.
Angela @ 10:33 am
This sounds good. Thanks for the contest.
valerie mabrey @ 10:38 am
I would love this
Heather @ 10:50 am
I’d love the chance to read this…
Marie @ 11:20 am
Sounds like a great read!
veronica sandberg @ 11:35 am
want to win this
charline s @ 11:42 am
This sounds liek a great book for all us ladies.
Rachael @ 11:51 am
Sounds fun! I’d love to win !
Angela J @ 1:23 pm
I’d like this
Alana @ 1:26 pm
Sounds like a great book.
Linda Pinto @ 2:08 pm
I love books about women who overcome.
Debi @ 2:41 pm
I love to read books and especially with a story lone like this.
Great Contest !
Clifton Wade @ 2:46 pm
My wonderful but disabled wife of more than 38 years just LOVES to read – one of the pleasures she still enjoys! Thank you for this great contest and prize!
Erin Walsh @ 3:20 pm
I’d love a chance to win this, I can always read a good book. Thanks!
Katie @ 3:21 pm
I love to read! I would love to read this book! Thanks for telling us about it!!
Eloise Carlson @ 3:39 pm
This sounds like a really great book and one that I would love to read. Thanks so much for such a wonderful opportunity!
furygirl3132[at]comcast[dot]net
Mike Weisberg @ 4:57 pm
I want to win
Andria @ 7:50 pm
Always up for a good book!!
lace @ 8:03 pm
I’m always up for a new book/author.
Anita Yancey @ 8:34 pm
Sounds like a good book. Would love to read it.
ayancey@dishmail.net
Michele @ 8:36 pm
Oooh, fresh reading material! Sign me up!
Candie L @ 10:11 pm
The story line caught me more than the actual title. I think it would definately be an interesting read
Jessie W @ 11:13 pm
Thanks for the review, I may not have given the title a second look. Sounds like a great read.
Christina @ 11:23 pm
Nice!
judy brittle @ 12:01 am
This book sounds great. Would love to read it. Thank you!
FPresley @ 1:19 pm
This would be a good break from my usual historical romance.
Megret @ 2:01 pm
Sounds delicious! I just finished a book — I need a new one to get lost in! Thanks!
Megret
musesofmegret (at) gmail (dot) com
Patricia Wagner @ 2:08 pm
sounds like a good book
Natalie @ 5:39 pm
Fun! Count me in, I’ve been on a reading kick lately.
Don @ 7:33 pm
Would love to win as a gift for my mother.
Jill Miller @ 7:40 pm
Since my husband really IS a professor, I’d say I would probably enjoy this book a lot!! Hope I win!!
Keeling @ 8:47 pm
I’d love a chance to win! Thank you!
Gary Osborn @ 8:50 pm
Wooo Hooo Make me a winner!
Heather @ Cool Zebras @ 8:56 pm
Someday I’ll have time to read again. I’m sure of it!
Molly Capel @ 1:01 am
Sounds like an awesome book!
Carol G @ 9:08 am
Not that I really need to add to my TBR pile, but this one sounds like it should be there!
Sarah @ 9:30 am
enter me!
Sara A @ 10:48 am
I am a chick lit addict! Id love to read this
Shannon B. @ 1:16 pm
This sounds like a great book! I’d love to win!
Linda Moeller @ 1:31 pm
Looks like a fun read.
Carol E @ 3:53 pm
Looks good.
Sheila Pepe @ 6:10 pm
I like to read! Sounds like an interesting book!
Jennifer hedden @ 6:10 pm
Enter me
claudette flanigan @ 7:16 pm
this sounds really, REALLY interesting! Please enter me!
Kayce C @ 7:58 pm
Sounds like a fun book.
Heather B @ 7:56 am
sounds like a good read!
Cheryl Free @ 8:41 am
I’d love to read this
*Thanks* for the giveaway!
Kathy Conley @ 10:11 am
I have been wanting to read this one!
Annie G @ 12:01 pm
Thanks for the chance to win another great book!
Zoey Smith @ 1:51 pm
Thanks for this great giveaway – I would love to win this book.
Paulie @ 1:52 pm
I am always traveling for work – this would be a super read for my next trip.
Joyce Jacobs @ 5:36 pm
Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the chance to win it. Happy Halloween!
Adrian Lamont @ 8:40 pm
Sounds good, count me in.
Becca @ 12:40 am
I love reading all kinds of books, thanks!
Chrysa @ 1:19 am
I heard about this book. IT sounds great!
Kelly F @ 5:05 am
I am such a book maniac! This giveaway is awesome
Evelyn Murray @ 8:20 am
I love to read, and would love to win
mindy @ 9:00 am
good read thanks
Lydia Wilson @ 10:00 am
Thanks for the giveaway!
Stephanie @ 10:19 am
Thanks for the opportunity!
Paula S @ 10:33 am
Great Giveaway!I would love to win this!
Erma Hurtt @ 10:47 am
Would love to read this, looks fun.
Zoe Lee @ 12:05 pm
I would love to read this! Thanks for the contest.
Mihaela Day @ 12:14 pm
Sounds like a fun read!
alison @ 12:23 pm
I’m always looking for a new book or author!
Holly @ 12:33 pm
I’ve wanted to read this. I blogged the giveaway here: http://2kidsandtiredbooks.blogspot.com/2008/10/giveaways_22.html
shawna f @ 1:33 pm
Sounds good!
Marion B @ 1:52 pm
Looks like a good book to read!!
Kathryn Gutierrez @ 6:15 pm
I love to read
Vicki Wurgler @ 6:19 pm
sounds like a good read
Gina Stratos @ 6:24 pm
Fantastic
gkstratos@yahoo.com
Felicia Shapiro @ 7:15 pm
Great giveaway!
Betty C @ 7:39 pm
I’ve definitely added this to my “must read” list. It sounds like a great story line.
Brenda S. @ 9:00 pm
Sounds interesting! Enter me please!
Jen R @ 9:34 pm
Sounds great! I’m in!
Jen
Angelia McDonald @ 10:43 pm
Count me in, Please
Erica G @ 11:04 pm
I’d like to win.
Jennifer Schroeder @ 11:25 pm
Sounds like a great read! Thank you so much for the contest!
Brenda Howard @ 11:34 pm
I would love to read this, thanks for the giveaway
Renee @ 12:13 am
I’d love to read this.
Carla Pullum @ 12:20 am
This book sounds fun!!!!! I would love to read it!!!
Bonnie @ 12:55 am
Hope I win and that it comes on a cold day when I have time to just curl up with it and a mug of hot cocoa.
Lara Aleff @ 1:45 am
I’d love to read about the wives!
Bobv @ 2:24 am
Great prize, enter me please.
Brenda Park @ 2:54 am
Looks great, please enter me! Thanks!
Heather C @ 3:02 am
I always like to read good books about women. Count me in!
Veronica Garrett @ 3:18 am
Sounds like a fun read. Hope I win.
Timothy Sternberg @ 3:55 am
Sounds like a fun read!
Jeanine P @ 6:07 am
Nice prize! I would love to win! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
Tammy @ 8:28 am
great prize, thank you for the chance to win
kathy pease @ 9:18 am
PLEASE COUNT ME IN ON THIS AWESOME GIVEAWAY
Linda @ 9:57 am
Please enter me. Thanks!
Yvonne North @ 10:26 am
This sounds good
John Deal @ 10:30 am
It sounds interesting enough to give it a try.
Denise @ 10:58 am
This is nice!
Tammy Hankins @ 11:34 am
cool
Tricia Andrews @ 1:38 pm
This sounds like a fun read that I am going to share with my book club! We love books with fun, strong women in them!
Amy @ 2:07 pm
I wanna win!!
Kris @ 5:21 pm
Sounds like a good book! Thanks for the entry!!
C. Gibbs @ 5:27 pm
Sounds good, count me in!
Lori Griffith @ 6:24 pm
I need a good book to read, sounds like it’s for me!
Pamela White @ 6:30 pm
I love the idea of women getting together to defeat the unjust or uncovering the truth. It is inspiring.
Sarita Berry @ 7:10 pm
I would love to win – I think the book would be enjoyable and fun to read
Aimee C @ 7:52 pm
I’ve heard about this book and would LOVE to read it!
Angie P @ 8:15 pm
It sounds like an interesting read~thanks for the giveaway.
Dani @ 8:52 pm
Sounds like a fun read.