When I was approached recently about hosting a giveaway for the paperback release of Claude & Camille: A Novel of Monet
by Stephanie Cowell, I just had to jump at the chance. You see this was one of my top reads last year {READ MY REVIEW} and it's such a pleasure to help spread the reading love to all of my followers!
And thanks to Random House I have 5 paperback copies to give away! Now that's a lot of literary love :)
SYNOPSIS
Sometimes he dreamt he held her; that he would turn in bed and she would be there. But she was gone and he was old. Nearly seventy. Only cool paint met his fingers. “Ma très chère . . .” Darkness started to fall, dimming the paintings. He felt the crumpled letter in his pocket. “I loved you so,” he said. “I never would have had it turn out as it did. You were with all of us when we began, you gave us courage. These gardens at Giverny are for you but I’m old and you’re forever young and will never see them. . . .”
In the mid-nineteenth century, a young man named Claude Monet decided that he would rather endure a difficult life painting landscapes than take over his father’s nautical supplies business in a French seaside town. Against his father’s will, and with nothing but a dream and an insatiable urge to create a new style of art that repudiated the Classical Realism of the time, he set off for Paris.
But once there he is confronted with obstacles: an art world that refused to validate his style, extreme poverty, and a war that led him away from his home and friends. But there were bright spots as well: his deep, enduring friendships with men named Renoir, Cézanne, Pissarro, Manet – a group that together would come to be known as the Impressionists, and that supported each other through the difficult years. But even more illuminating was his lifelong love, Camille Doncieux, a beautiful, upper-class Parisian girl who threw away her privileged life to be by the side of the defiant painter and embrace the lively Bohemian life of their time.
His muse, his best friend, his passionate lover, and the mother to his two children, Camille stayed with Monet—and believed in his work—even as they lived in wretched rooms, were sometimes kicked out of those, and often suffered the indignities of destitution. She comforted him during his frequent emotional torments, even when he would leave her for long periods to go off on his own to paint in the countryside.
But Camille had her own demons – secrets that Monet could never penetrate, including one that when eventually revealed would pain him so deeply that he would never fully recover from its impact. For though Camille never once stopped loving the painter with her entire being, she was not immune to the loneliness that often came with being his partner.
A vividly-rendered portrait of both the rise of Impressionism and of the artist at the center of the movement, Claude and Camille
is above all a love story of the highest romantic order.
In the mid-nineteenth century, a young man named Claude Monet decided that he would rather endure a difficult life painting landscapes than take over his father’s nautical supplies business in a French seaside town. Against his father’s will, and with nothing but a dream and an insatiable urge to create a new style of art that repudiated the Classical Realism of the time, he set off for Paris.
But once there he is confronted with obstacles: an art world that refused to validate his style, extreme poverty, and a war that led him away from his home and friends. But there were bright spots as well: his deep, enduring friendships with men named Renoir, Cézanne, Pissarro, Manet – a group that together would come to be known as the Impressionists, and that supported each other through the difficult years. But even more illuminating was his lifelong love, Camille Doncieux, a beautiful, upper-class Parisian girl who threw away her privileged life to be by the side of the defiant painter and embrace the lively Bohemian life of their time.
His muse, his best friend, his passionate lover, and the mother to his two children, Camille stayed with Monet—and believed in his work—even as they lived in wretched rooms, were sometimes kicked out of those, and often suffered the indignities of destitution. She comforted him during his frequent emotional torments, even when he would leave her for long periods to go off on his own to paint in the countryside.
But Camille had her own demons – secrets that Monet could never penetrate, including one that when eventually revealed would pain him so deeply that he would never fully recover from its impact. For though Camille never once stopped loving the painter with her entire being, she was not immune to the loneliness that often came with being his partner.
A vividly-rendered portrait of both the rise of Impressionism and of the artist at the center of the movement, Claude and Camille
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION:
- To enter, please leave a comment below and include your email address.
- Giveaway is open to US entries ONLY!
- For +1 additional entry each, please help spread the word by blogging, posting on sidebar, tweeting or posting on Facebook. You can use the SHARE buttons below.
- Giveaway ends on April 15th.Good luck to all!

I am drooling over this book!!! I blogged the giveaway and sidebarred it! http://themusingsofabookjunkie.blogspot.com/2011/04/passages-to-past-5-copy-giveaway-claude.html and here http://themusingsofabookjunkie.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
allisonmharper@hotmail.com
Thanks so much for this giveaway.
ReplyDeleteLove & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net
Thank you for including me in the giveaway. =)
ReplyDeletetiredwkids at live dot com
Oh my I want to read this so badly! I read so much about the Tudors, Plantagenets, etc. that I am looking forward to expanding my historical fiction boundaries :). Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeletecandc320@gmail.com
I shared on Facebook!
ReplyDeletecandc320@gmail.com
What a wonderful review. I'm so excited about this book. Thanks for hosting this giveaway. My fingers are crossed.
ReplyDeletethedavi4(at)gmail(dot)com
I would love to win a copy of this novel.
ReplyDeleteutahmomslifeATgmailDOTcom
I have heard great things about this book, please enter me into this giveaway.
ReplyDeletethanks,
Angela
ars45123 at yahoo dot com
I've been so looking forward to the paperback release for Claude & Camille, I'd love to win a copy! Thanks for the awesome giveaway, as always. :)
ReplyDeletejmartinez0415 [at] gmail [dot] com
I tweeted too: https://twitter.com/#!/crazylilcuban/status/55023676441100288
Please enter me! :-)
ReplyDeleteroseLZ18 at yahoo dot com
I would love to read this!
ReplyDeleteteabird17 at yahoo dot com
Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletesusanna dot pyatt at student dot rcsnc dot org
Tweet:
http://twitter.com/#!/SusieBookworm/status/55037201473486848
Im dying to get this book. Thanks for the giveaway. I am a follower.
ReplyDeleteLaura
laura.leahj@gmail dot com
I'd love to read this! Sounds like a great romance!
ReplyDeletepbclark(at)netins(dot)net
Ooooh, so excited to read this one -- so bloggers have raved about it! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteaudra
unabridgedchick at gmail.com
I also tweeted!
ReplyDeletethis sounds awesome!
ReplyDeleterak9@students.calvin.edu
would love to read this beautiful novel...thanks for the chance :)
ReplyDeletekarenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
I am such a sucker for historical
ReplyDeleteromance...Many thanks for the
opportunity to win this lovely
book!
Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
"Facebook Post!"
ReplyDeletehttp://www.facebook.com/stargirljewelry#!/cindi512/posts/195067363865850.
Again, many thanks to you!
Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
I have to agree with you, Amy, what a beautiful chance to win Claude & Camille!
ReplyDelete~Bella
Nunezbella at hotmail dotcom
I would love to read this book, it sounds really good.
ReplyDeletetwoofakind12@yahoo.com
This looks like a great read! I hope to start reviewing books too!
ReplyDeletebeautybriteblog at yahoo dot com
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/beautybrite/status/55223775515516928
ReplyDeletebeautybriteblog at yahoo dot com
Awesome! Please enter me!
ReplyDeleteMolly AT reviewsbymolly DOT com
Tweet!
ReplyDeletemolly AT reviewsbymolly DOT com
This book sounds really good. I love Monet and would love to learn more about his life. ReadHandedLibrarian at gmail dot com.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
I would LOVE to get my hands on this book! Thanks so much for hosting such a fantastic giveaway!
ReplyDeleteAmy
tiger_fan_1997 AT yahoo DOT com
I lived in Paris for many years and had the opportunity to visit Monet's home and gardens. The romance of the place seemed to be in the air. I would so love to be lucky enough to win a copy of this terrifically romantic novel.
ReplyDeleteConnie Fischer
conniecape@aol.com
I love Monet - he's my favorite painter! Would love to read this book.
ReplyDeleteMargay1122ATaolDOTcom
while monet is the draw, i'm curious to read about camille in this story.
ReplyDeletevvb32 at yahoo.com
I've wanted to read this for a long time- thank you for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteRachelhwallen@gmail.com
Oh, this one's been on my wishlist forever! Please enter me! JDQ1175@aol.com
ReplyDeleteWow! Sounds like a good book! Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletetaffy(dot)lovell@gmai.com
This book is on my wishlist. Thank you for the chance to win it.
ReplyDeletemarcie.turner@yahoo.com
Please enter me in contest. I really want to read this book. Tore923@aol.com
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chance to win a copy of this book. The reviews have been amazing for it.
ReplyDeleteJules
onebookshy at yahoo dot com
I would love to read this book. I have been in Claude Monet's beautiful home in Givenchy.
ReplyDeletegardnerad@juno.com
I remember reading everyone's book reviews last year when this was first released and it still sounds like a tragic love story...which usually make the best stories. Would love to win a copy a learn about Camille's demons ;)
ReplyDeleteFondly, Roberta
rlphilbr13@aol.com
Just shared this giveaway on facebook.
ReplyDeleterlphilbr13@aol.com
Just tweeted this giveaway.
ReplyDeleterlphilbr13@aol.com
Have added this giveaway to my sidebar.
ReplyDeletehttp://con-tain-it.typepad.com
rlphilbr13@aol.com
I would love to win this one!
ReplyDeleteI've always been an admirer of Monet's works and would love to read the story of his life and the woman behind his inspiration. Count me in!
ReplyDeleteBornajhawkATaolDOTcom
Tweeted giveaway: http://twitter.com/#!/MamaHendo3/status/55763793514479616
ReplyDeleteBornajhawkATaolDOTcom
Posted giveaway on FB: http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=105546772862320&id=1336711064
ReplyDeleteBornajhawkATaolDOTcom
Wow, how romantic! You made me want to read this book so badly! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to win a copy of this book!
ReplyDeleteakreese (at) hotmail (dot) com
Oh this has been on my to-read list for some time now, I'd love to win!
ReplyDeletentalanATgmailDOTcom
I heard about this the other day, and was intrigued.
ReplyDeletenfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
Tweet:
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/#!/nfmgirl/status/57267548395278337
nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
Ohh! April 15th is my birthday! I would love to win this!
ReplyDeleteCharla
Sounds like a very interesting book. I would really enjoy reading it. Please enter me. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
Mais oui! Please enter me!
ReplyDeletelesliecarroll13@aol.com; and will tweet about it as well!
I stopped working on my own novel to come here and request a copy of Claude and Camille. I would so love to have it!
ReplyDeletePlease enter me, I didn't get a chance to read it, before my sister took off with it! Big sisters can be such a pain! :)
ReplyDeletejerelynhodges@yahoo.com
You could just imagine the faces of all here who have posted wanting a copy of this fabulous book, and mine here in words adds to the many. This is how it is...we all hope!
ReplyDeleteI would love to win this book ... it sounds wonderful!
ReplyDeletemary(dot)clare(at)hotmail(dot)com
sounds beautiful!
ReplyDeletemelanieinoh2003@yahoo.com
Shared on FB
ReplyDeletemelanieinoh2003@yahoo.com
I've been salivating over the chance to win a copy of this book for a while now. I've interacted with the author on Twitter, and she is a DARLING, and has such a charming demeanor which just makes you want to read her book (imagine how charming her characters would be!?!?) that much more!
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting such an amazing giveaway for your readers/followers! :)
~Hira~
Email: Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com
Twitter: @inluvwithbookz
+1 - I tweeted the giveaway:
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/#!/inluvwithbookz/status/58262572260012033
~Hira~
Email: Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com
Twitter: @inluvwithbookz
+1 Sidebar mention of contest:
ReplyDeletehttp://ibetuthinkthisblogisaboutyou.blogspot.com/
~Hira~
Email: Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com
Twitter: @inluvwithbookz
This book has it all, the story of a great painter and his love...with complications of course.
ReplyDeleteJust signed up for emails of your blog at nycn93@yahoo.com. I will like on fb to have frequent feeds. Found you on Goodreads.
Thanks for the wonderful giveaway!
This will be an interesting read.
ReplyDeletemamabunny13 at gmail dot com
tweet http://twitter.com/#!/mamabunny13/status/58920305711792128
ReplyDeletemamabunny13 at gmail dot com
I shared this giveaway on fb-mamabunny shelor
ReplyDeletemamabunny13 at gmail dot com
Hope I got in on time! I've been wanting to read this one. I won it last year from another blog, but never received it. =O( Maybe I'll get lucky this time! Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeletetweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/truebookaddict/status/59084043098132481
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/michellestockardmiller/posts/125208454220319
truebookaddictATgmailDOTcom