Friday, January 10, 2014

Giveaway: Roomies - Sara Zarr & Tara Altebrando

Roomies
Sara Zarr & Tara Altebrando
Series: N/A
On Goodreads

It's time to meet your new roomie.

When East Coast native Elizabeth receives her freshman-year roommate assignment, she shoots off an e-mail to coordinate the basics: television, microwave, mini-fridge. That first note to San Franciscan Lauren sparks a series of e-mails that alters the landscape of each girl's summer -- and raises questions about how two girls who are so different will ever share a dorm room.

As the countdown to college begins, life at home becomes increasingly complex. With family relationships and childhood friendships strained by change, it suddenly seems that the only people Elizabeth and Lauren can rely on are the complicated new boys in their lives . . . and each other. Even though they've never met.

National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr and acclaimed author Tara Altebrando join forces for a novel about growing up, leaving home, and getting that one fateful e-mail that assigns your college roommate.

Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando's confirmed tour dates:
January 12, 2014 - New York, NY: McNally Jackson
January 15, 2014 - Salt Lake City, UT: The King's English
January 16, 2014 - Provo, UT: Provo Library
February 4, 2014 - San Francisco, CA: Books Inc, Opera Plaza
February 5, 2014 - Petaluma, CA: Copperfield's Books


My "roomie" story:

So this past August, just over four months ago, I moved into my dorm for my first semester of college, which meant I would have my very own roommate. I was definitely nervous about having to live with another person and I had all sorts of thoughts like "What if she tries to kill me in my sleep?" and "What if she hates me because of how strange and abnormal I am?" and "What if we hate each other?" among many others. The only conversation I'd had with her since finding out who she was was about who would be bringing what appliances.

As it turns out, my roommate is not a psychopathic serial killer who would slit my throat if I so much as left a corner of the room undusted. But just because she's not a murderer, doesn't mean I don't have any fun stories about sharing a living space.

I think the incident that first comes to mind when I think about a roommate story is a certain incident that started off with me doing homework. The door to my room was open, and I was minding my own business, typing away at my essay, when my roommate walked in with some guy I'd never seen before. I waved hello and went back to my work. A little while later, I saw a text on my phone at the same time I started noticing these clicking noises. I checked my phone first and saw a text from my friend who lives in the room across from me asking "Noor where are you?" Confused, I looked up and was greeted by the sight of my roommate and her unidentified male creature making out in the middle of the room. When I looked up, she saw me, and I quickly looked down, but I couldn't get up right that second or it'd be awkward. In the few seconds between looking up and looking back down, I got another text. It was a picture of me my friend had taken by angling the camera to face the mirror, where you could see my reflection. I looked uncomfortable. They saved me by screaming out my name and giving me an excuse to leave. I got into the hallway and burst out laughing. They told me they walked past the room and the door was wide open and they were just standing there, making out, and they wanted to know if I was in there. I told them I didn't realize that it was happening and I bolted as soon as I could. Overall, it was a weird experience and the next day she said "Sorry about all that awkwardness" so I guess she sensed the weirdness. There haven't been any more incidents exactly like that anymore. Her boyfriend is in the room a lot, but they save the weird stuff for when I'm not in the room or when everyone is in bed, because I can't see them from part of my bed. Sometimes, he's in there when she isn't and he just hangs out in there and I will occasionally leave an empty room to go shower and comeback to him sitting in there alone, which was awkwardly unexpected the first time, but he said "Do you want me to step out so you can change?" and so he did and that works out.

I have another story about this weird passive aggressive moment the first week of classes. She has tons of post-its stuck to her desk, reminding her of various things. Once I was being the klutz I am and I slipped and I put my hand on her desk to stop myself from falling and it bent two of the notes. I came back to the room later to find a note on my desk saying "You bent/moved my post it notes. I would appreciate it if you would not situate your stuff on my desk." When she came back to the room, she said she wasn't trying to be rude, and I told her that I had just slipped, and that was resolved.

Other than a few weird incidents, my roommate and I work well as two people living together. While we aren't quite friends, but acquaintances, and don't talk too often, we are good roommates and our dynamic works. She's a pretty nice person, I remember once when I was sick she got me this little get well soon card and cough drops. We do little things and she's generally a good person to live with, and while we won't go fighting tooth and nail to request each other for next year, it's been a good first semester and hopefully the next one will be even better!

- Noor

Giveaway:

Enter to win a copy of Roomies! This giveaway is US only and the winner will be announced on January 18th. If the winner does not respond to the email by January 20th, a new winner will be selected. The prize will be sent by the publisher and we are not responsible for lost packages.This should be implied, but please do not cheat. Cheating will result in disqualification.  Good luck!

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Do you have a roommate story?
Let us know in the comments!

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