Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Quotables with Randy Susan Meyers


When I'm reading, I love coming across "just-right" passages that have me reaching for my quote book. With this in mind, and as a twist on an author interview, I'm starting a new feature on the blog, Quotables, in which I present authors with a meaningful (to me) quote from their novels and ask them to speak to it in whatever way they wish.

First up is Randy Susan Meyers, author of the newly released The Murderer's Daughters, a heart-wrenching story of two sisters in the aftermath of the murder of their mother by their father. I highly recommend this book. It deals with heavy issues, but it's a compelling read, as each sister, while remaining close to each other, deals with the tragedy in vastly different ways.

One of the quotes from the book that really stuck with me was:

"Maybe when we recognize the trivial for what it is, we can concentrate on what we love most, what we most treasure."

From the author:

The above quote from the last quarter of The Murderer’s Daughters sums up much of my book. Lulu, a doctor, and one of two sisters who’ve witnessed their father kill their mother, hears these words from a dying patient.

Of the themes that surfaced as I wrote this book, perhaps one of the strongest is the manner in which folks execute appalling deeds over meaningless issues. So many of the batterers with whom I worked in a Massachusetts batterer intervention program permanently damaged their families and their relationships over issues such as unwashed dishes and already-spent money. In The Murderer’s Daughters, a man kills his wife, stabs his daughter, and immediately loses his family and his freedom. He was drunk. His goal was to win back the love of his wife. Instead, he fights with her over a small sum of money, an escalating battle in which his rage culminates in murder.

Perhaps if we took a moment during times of anger (and it is possible; we just tell ourselves that it isn’t) and determined what our true goals were, tragedies—permanent and temporary—could be avoided. And there would not be so many children who end up as the collateral damage of family violence.

St. Martin's Press is providing a giveaway copy of The Murderer's Daughters. Leave a comment by midnight CST on Sunday, February 7, and I'll randomly pick a winner.

28 comments:

  1. Sounds like a good book, and I love the cover. Please enter my name for your drawing. Thanks.

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  2. Wow! You're right, that's a powerful quote. I love this new feature on your blog. It's great to get the author's perspective on the quote and hear a little of the book's back story. I'll add this one to my list of wants. Please add me to the drawing as well.

    shelcows AT gmail DOT com

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  3. Wow, great quote. The book sounds very deep and thought-provoking. Please enter me in your drawing!

    jdq1175@aol.com

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  4. Sounds great! Please enter me in the drawing as well. Thanks!! joules21 At aol DOT com.

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  5. I really want to read this book. It looks very interesting. Please enter me in your drawing.
    Thank you, Kathy

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  6. Please enter me! I looked this book up on Amazon, and see that it is no longer available?!

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  7. First off -- I'm dying to read this book!

    I love the quote you mentioned because that is something that my husband says (not quite so eloquently, though) to me all of the time. Unfortunately, it often times takes something awful happening before I wake up and see that for the truth it is!

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    bookingmama(at)gmail(dot)com

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  8. I love that quote!
    If the giveaway is international, than please add me to your drawing!
    Thank you!

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  9. I've had my eye on this book, so thanks for the chance to win a copy.

    You really picked a great quote. You've got a terrific idea here for author/blogger interaction. I'm looking forward to more of these posts

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  10. Sounds good. Please enter me in the giveaway.

    forwhlz at gmail dot com

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  11. WOW!! What a quote and that is so true. I would love a chance to win this book. Sounds very interesting.

    Thanks for the chance.

    sharon54220@gmail.com

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  12. This sounds really great. Thanks for the giveaway!

    michellemsherman(at)gmail(dot)com

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  13. How did I miss this Jill? I so want to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway

    bibliophilebythesea AT gmail DOT com

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  14. This sounds terrific! Please enter me.
    joemmamas (at) gmail (dot) com

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  15. This looks like an excellent book! I look forward to reading it.

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  16. I'd love to be entered! Thanks for the great giveaway.

    milou2ster(at)gmail.com

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  17. I just saw this book at the local bookstore and was immediately interested. I would love to be entered in this give away. Thanks so much for the offer.

    Mstermind1 at gmail dot com

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  18. I'd like to enter the drawing! Thanks!

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  19. I would love a copy of this book. It sounds like it talks about some really heavy issues. I'm taking a women and politics class and one of the big topics we are covering is violence against women. Please enter me. My e-mail is JLesnick@scu.edu

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  20. This sounds good. I would love to read it!
    mittens0831 at aol dot com

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  21. Please enter me in the drawing.
    I finished the book this morning, which I checke out from the library. It is one I want to purchase for my personal collection. This is a very good book!

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  22. Great cover! Sounds like a really good book. Please enter me. Thanks for the giveaway.
    susan.byerly@comcast.net

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  23. sounds like a great read thanks for the reminder to enter minsthins at optonline dot net

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  24. Wow, I love that quote.. it IS very powerful. I will definitely put this on my list of books I must get.

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  25. Great give away !!! Please enter me if this contest is international !! !!Thanks so much.......
    Greetings from France

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