I made a new friend this week. Her name is Julia Einstein, or depending on how literal you want to get, author Laura Zigman who created her. Laura Zigman herself claims that she writes “thinly veiled autobiographical fiction,” so I think it’s a fairly safe bet that if I enjoyed the character, I would relate to the author.
Julia Einstein is forced to go back to work as a celebrity publicist when her husband loses his job. She has to quit the job she’s come to love–that of full-time mom to her three and a half year old son (just like mine–similarity #1 to my own life). After first resenting the idea that she must go back to work, she begins to remember what she enjo
yed about life beyond the scope of playground politics and Thomas and all of his friends (similarity #2–she even mentions Mavis and others by name). What’s more, her husband seems to enjoy his work at home, and actually seems to excel in some of the areas where she has fallen short as a homemaker (similarity #3??). At the risk of sounding odd, I won’t mention that my heart sort of skipped a beat when she mentioned the delicious (and inexpensive) rotisserie chickens from Costco (#4).
I read Piece of Work in a few short sittings. It was clever, light, and real. I enjoyed getting to know and like this character. It’s not often that I come across characters who are real and likeable. It was a pleasure to read about a good marriage–not a perfect one, but one in which mutual love and respect flourishes. This real mom admits that she likes the flexibility of being a stay-at-home mom, but when needed, she also demonstrates that she still has what it takes to be a success in the workplace.
There is a reading group guide available which provides some thoughtful questions about the role of a mom, some great get-to-know-you questions about past work experiences, and some fun questions about celebrities. For more information about the author, check out her website and blog at LauraZigman.com.
We have three copies to give away (to U.S. or Canadian addresses), so please leave a comment if you are interested in winning. We’ll announce the winner in next week’s column. The winners of last week’s book How Strong Women Pray were announced in the New Habits for the New Year giveaway post.
Hi I found your site looking for great books for my 10 year old daughter. I recently went back to work and could relate to this book ! I would love to read it !
Jennie Gnojek
sounds great.
This book sounds amazing! Wish me luck!
Please count me in
HOPE i win ! =)
hope i win.
I am so interested in winning. Sign me up, I would love it!
Enter me too please.
Sounds wonderful! I am always looking for new GOOD books to read! I’m a voracious reader and I’m going through our library too quickly!
This sounds great! Enter me Please!!!
Enter me please!
I’d love to win this…. thanks!
This book looks amazing I look forward to reading it.
have a great day 🙂
My husband salivates at the thought of me going to work while he stays at home. It can’t be because he thinks he’ll get more time at the golf range, right? 🙂 Thanks for offering up such a fab book. I’m excited about it.
Thank you for having such a great giveaway!
would love to win, i love to read
would love to win 🙂
Sounds like a great read, please include me.
Sounds like a good read!
Books, can’t get enough of them
You have a great site!
Enter me please,my wife would love this book.Thanks
this looks like a great book! i’d love to read it – count me in!
I would love to read this. I am a working mother of two teenagers and I know tons about juggling.
this sounds like a good read!
sounds interesting
Sounds like a interesting book to read ! im interested !
cute and funny what I like
i would like this, yes i would
Looks like a good read!
Sounds like a great read.
A mother of two, I need all the help I can get!
Sounds fun!
Sounds good, I’d love to win this!
Mee Too!
count me in please
sounds like a good read!
ENTER ME PLEASE
Please enter me!
Sign me up, sounds like a great read.
good idea
What a great book! I’d love to have this in my collection.
I’d like to get my hands on this one.
I’d love to read this one
would love to read
THis would be awesome – i neeeeeeeed 5 minutes!!!
Has the author been in MY house, too? I’d love to read this one. Please put my name in the draw!
This sounds like a lot of fun, and fun for a book club, too!
Looks great!
Pick me please!
Count me in! 🙂
I’m getting ready to have my second child, a boy and me and my husband are discussing the option of me heading back to work so he can get his master’s degree. This looks like a great book to read to prepare me for everything that lies ahead. Great contest! Thanks!
After 15 years in the workforce, in Aug ’07 I decided to stay home full-time. I am working very hard to build a website and internet business so that I can stay home and raise my almost teenage son and my joyful 1st grade son. I LOVE the flexibility, like today having a sick kid at home, and the freedom to be in charge of my schedule, workload, and the atmosphere in which I work. I am still concerned about finances, but am praying the Lord will honor my decision to put my family first!
Sounds like a good read
This sounds like a cool book, especially as it seems to mirror my experiences. I can’t wait to read it!
Pick me. Thanks
me please!
Count me in too!
🙂
count me in please.
Count me in please!
I just wanted to let you know that I received the prize I won- “My Mommy’s Tote” in the mail and it is SO cool! I posted a picture of it on my blog. Thanks again for the contests!
Sounds like just the right gift for my depressed friend.
Thank you kindly!
I love to read…I’d love to win this cool new book!
Sound interesting. I’m an empty nest Mom with surgery preventing to go to work so trying to figure out what I can do. Would love to win this.
Sounds like a fun read!
I would love to read this book!
this sounds like a really nice light read. And although I am vegetarian my husband devours costco rotisserie chicken! Sign me up! 🙂
This book sounds a lot like me too.
Wow! Sounds like a really fun book to read with others and to chat about! I’d love to win! 🙂
Looks like a good read!
This sounds like a great book! I’d love to win!
Yes, sounds good. Funny cover.
Sounds like a good book – please enter me!
looks great! fingers crossed!
Nice and useful reading! I’m in
I’m always looking to add a new author to my list of ones that I look for – count me in!
please enter me!
sounds good!
Enter me please for this book.
Thanks
please! count me in. thank you. 🙂
Please enter me. Thanks!
please enter me thanks
Sounds good! Thanks!
cool! Count me in:)
my daughter is a stay athome mom and I would just love to be able to give this book to her.
Nice book! Enter me.
I’d love a chance to read this, and suggest it to my local moms book group…
Great contest!
I would love to read a new book! Thanks!
This sounds like the perfect book for my book club!
Count us in.
Please enter me…it sounds like a great read!
sounds like a good read! Thanks for sharing!
This sounds like a great book, would love to read it. Happy New year everyone.
I would love to read this book… it sounds like something I would really enjoy.
I wish all a wonderful New Year…
This sounds great.
Looks like a great read!
I’m interested. Sounds like a book I’d enjoy. Thanks for the giveaway.
I would love a good mommy to mommy read!! Sounds good, count me in!!
I’ve loved some of Laura Zigman’s earlier books and this one sounds great. Thanks!
What a fun read!
This book looks like a great read.
I would love to win this book. Sounds like it would be a good read.
Looks like a great read! Thanks!
I would LOVE to win. I could use a great read right about now!
Sounds like a great book. Count me in!
sounds like an awesome book! count me in!!
Sounds great. Count me in 🙂
ooooh another great book!
I love her books! Count me in please!
I would love to win and read this book!
Count me in.
Hi, I like a light reading book. Please enter me in your giveaway. Thanks,Cindi
I would like this book.
moms sharing thoughts with other moms, is there anything better???
Please randomly select me!
I need a new book to read!
dansan826 at yahoo
Looks like a good read! I’d love to win!
sounds wonderful
I would like to read this book!!!
Sounds great!
Sounds like my life as well=). There is no right universal answer to the work/ stay at home dilemna! Id love to read this book.
This book sounds great! I love reading more realistic books. I need to know that I am not the only one who is going through all that stay at home moms and working moms go through!
I’m in need of a new good book, count me in!
Count me in!
yes please!
Sounds nice to me wanna win thanks for the contest.
Sounds like it would be interesting. I’m always looking for new authors.
Sounds like a fun read!!
This sounds like a good book!
I’d love to read this!
Books are indeed important.
=Your Books Reviews=
I would love to win this book. I already relate to the title since I’ve been told I’m a “real piece of work.”
Count me in, please! Sounds like a fun read!
add me in too!
Sounds like a good one. Count me in! Thanks!
This sounds excellent!
Im definitely interested in winning!
I’d love this for my bookclub.
Sounds wonderful to me. Definitely something a busy mom could fit into a busy day.
Sounds like a book I would like to read!
I’m looking for a good new book!
Enter me please!
I am always looking for a good book. That sounds great, count me in.
This sounds like a great read.
I like the idea of reading it and then having a group discussion. That gives us a good excuse to break out the coffee and chocolate!
sounds like a very interesting read..
Sounds like a fun read. Thanks for the chance to win!
I would like to be entered. Thanks!
I love to read and this sounds like a great book!
I could use a new book, count me in!
Sounds fun!
Count me in!
Count me in!
I would love a chance to read this book