Literary Blog Hop: Give-aways!

Welcome to the Literary Blog Hop Give-Away hosted by Judith! This time around, I am giving away two books, each of which relate to the challenges I'm reading for this summer. Please consider joining them should you have the desire or the time.

The first is my own Japanese Literature Challenge 6, and the book I'm giving away is The Old Capital by Yasunari Kawabata:

"Set in the traditional city of Kyoto, The Old Capital tells the story of Chieko, the adopted daughter of a kimono designer and his wife. Since her youth, Chieko was told that the childless couple kidnapped her in a moment of profound desire. When Chieko learns unsettling truths about her past, her life of love and affection is thrown into disarray.

This delicate novel traces the legacy of beauty and tradition from one generation of artists to the next as they navigate, with an ambivalent mixture of regret and fascination, the complex world of postwar Japan. This simple story of change, art, and devotion resounds with deep spiritual and human understanding.

Yasunari Kawabata is widely recognized as one of the most significant figures in modern Japanese literature. The Old Capital was one of three novel specifically cited when he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1968."

The second novel I am giving away is for the Paris in July Challenge hosted by Tamara and Bookbath. It is an Europa edition of Muriel Barbery's Gourmet Rhapsody:

"In the heart of Paris, in the posh residence made famous in The Elegance of The Hedgehog, the world's greatest food critic is dying. Revered by some and reviled by many, Pierre Arthens has been lording over renowned chefs for years, deciding their fates with a stroke of his pen, destroying and building reputations on a whim. But now, during his final hours, his thoughts have turned to humbler things. He is desperately searching for that singular flavor, that divine something once sampled, never forgotten, the Flavor par excellence. Indeed, this flamboyant and self-absorbed man wishes for only one thing before he dies: one last taste.

Thus begins a charming voyage that traces the career of Monsieur Arthens from childhood to maturity across a celebration of all manner of culinary delights. Alternating with the voice of the supercilious Arthens is a chorus belonging to his acquaintances and familiars--relatives, lovers, a would-be protege, even a cat. Each will have his or her say about Arthens, a man who has only ever inspired extreme emotions in people. Here, as in the Elegance of the Hedgehog, Muriel Barbery's story celebrates life's simple pleasure and sublime moments while condemning the arrogance and vulgarity of power."

If you wish to be considered for one of these two books, simply tell me which one you'd like in your comment. I will pull two winners, and announce them here, on June 27, 2012.

Blogs to visit for the Literary Blog Hop Give-Away:

Leeswammes Candle Beam Book Blog Musings of a Bookshop Girl The Book Whisperer Book Journey (US/CA) breieninpeking (Dutch readers) bibliosue heavenali I Read That Once... The Parrish Lantern The Bibliomouse (Europe) Tell Me A Story Seaside Book Nook Rikki's Teleidoscope Sam Still Reading Nishita's Rants and Raves Readerbuzz Books Thoughts Adventures (North America) 2,606 Books and Counting Laurie Here (US/CA) Literary Winner (US) Dolce Bellezza The House of the Seven Tails The Book Diva's Reads (US) Colorimetry Roof Beam Reader Kate's Library Minding Spot (US) Silver's Reviews (US) Book'd Out Fingers & Prose (US) Chocolate and Croissants Scattered Figments Lucybird's Book Blog The Book Club Blog

Lizzy's Literary Life The Book Stop Reflections from the Hinterland (US) Lena Sledge's Blog Read in a Single Sitting The Little Reader Library (UK) The Blue Bookcase (US) 1morechapter (US) The Reading and Life of a Bookworm Curled Up with a Good Book and a Cup of Tea My Sweepstakes City (US) De Boekblogger (Europe, Dutch readers) Exurbanis Sweeping Me (US/CA) Living, Learning, and Loving Life (US) Beauty Balm Uniflame Creates Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book (US/CA) Curiosity Killed The Bookworm Nose in a book (Europe) Sharon's Garden of Book Reviews (US) Giraffe Days Page Plucker Based on a True Story Read, Write & Live Devin Berglund (N. America) Ephemeral Digest Under My Apple Tree (US) Annette Berglund (US) Book Nympho A Book Crazy, Jane Austen Lovin' Gal (US) Love, Laughter, and a Touch of Insanity