A book giveaway for the rest of us: Win 5 titles from Hachette

Update: The contest is now closed, and I've selected the five winners at random using the random (unique!) number generator over at randomizer.org. And the winners are:

1. Judy
2. Rebecca Adler
   
3. Nicole (ikkinlala)
4. Carol M.
   
5. Patty

I'll also get in touch with the winners by email. Thanks, everyone, for participating!

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Hachette Book Group is giving away more books! Five readers of book-blog.com will win five books each.

Here's what you can win:

The Flavor Bible, by Karen Page , Andrew Dornenburg -- $35.00
Katie Brown Celebrates, by Katie Brown -- $30.00
I Like You, by Amy Sedaris -- $15.99
Festivus, by Allen Salkin -- $9.99
Holidays on Ice, by David Sedaris -- $16.99

How to enter:

Given the presence on this list of Allen Salkin's Festivus book, I'm thinking the contest should be Seinfeld-related. So, to enter a drawing to win one of these sets of books please leave a comment below in which you do one of three things:

1. One thing that made Seinfeld so great is that--despite the ostensible absurdity of some of the episodes--it so often captured realistic moments. So, if you have one to share, tell us about a Seinfeld moment in your own life. That is, describe a real-life experience in which your reality mimicked a Seinfeld episode. I can give you a great example from my own life for this one. Remember the Keith Hernandez episode? That's when Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez--who'd only recently met the gang--jumped friendship levels by asking Jerry to help him move. Well the husband and I (pre-husband at the time) once knew a former professional athlete who likewise jumped friendship levels with us by asking us to help her move. (But unlike Jerry, we actually did it.)

2. Alternatively, tell us what your favorite Seinfeld moment is--not necessarily an episode, but part of an episode, since each show has so many different interlocking storylines (Junior Mints, say, or Mr. Pitts' socks, or Newman's wisdom of Solomon moment).

3. If Seinfeld isn't to your liking, explain yourself! What have you got against the show? How do you intend to remedy your Seinfeld-less-ness?

The fine print:

1. Contest open to residents of U.S. and Canada only.
2. Books cannot be shipped to a P.O. box.
3. All entries must be submitted by 9:00 AM EST, November 21st, 2008.
4. Five winners will be selected at random from entries received.
5. The drawing will be held shortly after the contest closes on the morning of November 21, 2008 and announced at book-blog.com. Winners will also be notified by email, so make sure to provide your email address with your entry.
6. One entry per person.

Comments

[Jena]

I'm not a huge Seinfeld fan, but it had it's moments. I really love the Yada Yada episode, the part when Elaine describes how she's yada yadaed sex and Jerry says, "But you skipped over the best part!" and she pointedly replies, "No, I mentioned the bisque."

[Tracee]

This is my favorite show of all time! My husband and I quote it ALL the time. How about "I could have been a fragrance millionaire Jerry", "No, no pick", or "Here's your Christmas card" (all the same episode). Another one of my favorites is where Kramer starts the smoking club in his apartment "Look away I'm hideous". I could go on and on and on! Hope I win - this looks like an awesome giveaway!

[Judy]

I've never watched an episode of Seinfeld in my life. I don't have anything against it; I just never really grew up with it or got sucked into the phenomenon. I'm not sure if I intend to remedy it (I have way too many shows to watch!), but maybe one day I'll finally watch an episode?

[Cindy]

I liked the portion of the episode where Jerry meets the chef - Poppy? - in the bathroom and the chef doesn't wash his hands before returning to the kitchen so Jerry doesn't want to eat. Makes you wonder how often that really happens.

[deliriousgirl]

In real life I'm ALWAYS running into "low-talkers." Like the episode where Jerry is straining to hear what the low-talker is always saying! HAAAA!!!

Also, I'm almost afraid to admit this: I own a puffy shirt. HAAAA!!! That episode was genius!!!

[booklogged]

I have enjoyed watching an episode here or there and mostly reruns. It is a funny show, but I don't watch lot of TV. I don't remember certain things and I don't think I've seen repeats. I do like how Cramer comes sliding into Jerry's apartment. He cracks me up.

[Rashmi]

I love the episode in which the friends get lost in a multi-level mall parking lot while out shopping for a big-screen tv. It has happened to me countless times. And yes, just like in Seinfeld, while wandering around looking for my car, I had the misfortune to come across a guy peeing a dark corner!

Thanks for this great giveaway :)

[Rebecca Adler]

Oh my gosh, I so have my fingers crossed for winning this one. I've wanted that Amy Sedaris book forever - and it has the David Sedaris holiday book too!?

OK, so on to the assignment: I absolutely LOVED the muffin tops episode of Seinfeld. I have always picked at the top of muffins and then tried to pawn off the stumps to boyfriends/sisters/mom/whoever. Another favorite is the Soup Nazi episode. Since that episode, I find myself calling people Pretzel Nazi or Chip Nazi, etc.

And, I'm with you: I've never understood the people who don't like Seinfeld. How can you not love that show?

[Nicole (ikkinlala)]

I wouldn't exactly say Seinfeld isn't to my liking, just that I haven't watched much of it (I caught most of an episode of it in a hotel room once). I was too young for it when it was really popular, and we didn't get whatever channel it was on.

I don't plan to remedy this because I don't want to set a precedent - my friends have been pushing me to watch a long list of shows.

[Carol M]

I watched Seinfeld when it first came on but have lost interest in it now. I did like the Soup Nazi - NO SOUP FOR YOU episode and I love to say that to my family!

My son-in-law looks like Jerry although he disagrees. However, when his two-year-old twins saw Jerry on tv and said "daddy" there wasn't much he could say! lol
mittens0831 AT aol.com

[Sarah]

Sooo many great Seinfeld moments, it's next to impossible to choose just one. I think up there for me is when Elaine found the Jesus fish on Puddy's car, and then she changed all his Christian radio stations to other stations on his presets.

[Vasilly]

I have not seen a whole Seinfeld episode yet, but you guys are making me want to watch. I'll netflix them next weekend. Please sign me up for the contest!

[Patty]

There's too many to count! I couldn't pick a favorite, so I'll just mention the last one that came up in conversation -- when Kramer got that souped up showerhead because of the lousy water pressure in the building. A great scene, and I think about it every time I take a shower with lousy pressure.

[Francine]

My favorite Seinfeld episode is Terri Hatcher as Jerry's latest girlfriend Sidra, and her "run-in" with Elaine at the gym - "they're real and they're spectacular!"

[Debra Hamel]

I can't think of Terri Hatcher without remembering that line.

[Vasilly]

Debra, can you take me out of the contest? I already won the books!! Thanks!

[Debra Hamel]

Sure, Vasilly. Congratulations!