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Thursday, May 6, 2010

The Life O'Reilly: Review and Giveaway

A man phones a lawyer and asks, "How much would you charge for just answering three simple questions?"
The lawyer replies, "A thousand dollars."

"A thousand dollars!" exclaims the man. "That's very expensive, isn't it?"

"It certainly is," says the lawyer. "Now, what's your third question?"




Although I'm not a lawyer, I can get away with telling a lawyer joke because my husband is an attorney. He often tells lawyer jokes at the beginning of speaking engagements, to loosen up the crowd. His sense of humor extends to his profession, and since he's hard-working and dedicated, his jokes are well received.

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Because I'm familiar with the legal profession through association, I thought it might be interesting to read a novel written by a lawyer about a lawyer. Published in 2009, The Life O'Reillyis the first novel by lawyer Brian Cohen. It's the story of Nick O'Reilly, an attorney at Williams Gardner and Schmidt, a prestigious law firm on Wall St. in NYC. In an attempt to help bolster their image, Will, the managing partner, has decided that the firm needs to devote some time to pro bono cases, and Nick is assigned the first case. He's asked to represent a domestic violence victim, Dawn Nelson, who's fighting to gain custody of her three-year-old son, Jordan. Soon after their initial meeting, Nick begins to develop strong romantic feelings for Dawn (uh-oh!), and also starts to question what he's doing with his life.

"What was I doing with myself? I couldn't help but think about my unsavory corporate clients, off in their weekend cottages and vacation homes, water-skiing behind yachts and diving in Grand Cayman, basking in comfort by directors and officers liability insurance, boasting about how royally they screwed their own shareholders.
Ha, ha, ha, fraud, schmaud!
And then I thought about Dawn and drifted off on my office couch for a while until the phone rang."
~The Life O'Reilly, Brian Cohen

As Nick's story unfolds, unexpected twists and turns keep it exciting. The Life O'Reilly is written with the precision and clarity of a lawyer, but it also has heart. This novel exudes warmth (his mother is called "Mom", as if that's her name)--and humor. In Chapter 9, Nick and Dawn meet to review an affidavit and go to a "Chinese restaurant" in the village, and what occurs there is absolutely hilarious. Having grown up in NYC, I could imagine such a scenario really happening.

What's the verdict on this novel? I enjoyed reading this book, which is a modern day love story and more. It made me smile, laugh, and cry. Emotionally moving, The Life O'Reilly is about what makes life worth living, about love and sacrifice and commitment, about being at peace with yourself. It makes you think about what you will leave behind, about your legacy. Last night, I recommended this book to my husband. And now I recommend it to you.

Terrific news! The author is offering an autographed copy of The Life O'Reilly as a giveaway--worldwide!
  • To enter the giveaway for this book, simply leave a comment.
  • For another chance at winning, become a follower of this blog, or let me know that you're already a follower, or that you subscribe in Google Reader.
  • For an additional chance, post about this contest on your blog, Facebook, or Twitter.
  • For an extra bonus chance, define the expression 'the life of Riley' briefly in your comment.
Enter by 5 PM PDT on Monday, May 24. One winner will be selected randomly and announced on Tuesday, May 25. Good luck!

Special thanks to Brian Cohen for sending me his book and for sponsoring this generous giveaway.

36 comments:

  1. I love books that are so emotionally engaging! Sounds wonderful!

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  2. I'm so glad you liked this book. I loved it! Do you know what the difference is between God and a lawyer? God doesn't think he's a lawyer! LOL!
    Anyway (rolling my eyes), don't include me in the drawing as I already have this book. Just wanted to stop by, say hi and leave this dumb joke for you.

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  3. I would really like to read this one. My husband is a lawyer as well and also enjoys a good lawyer joke.

    teresasreadingcorner at gmail dot com

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  4. This one sounds very good Suko, great review :) It does sound like you enjoyed it. I like that theres a love story in there.
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

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  5. Hey, do enter me in the giveaway.. It sounds like a nice read! :)

    thanks for hosting this giveaway! :)

    i am a follower of this blog and have it on my blogroll.. Will also be posting about the giveaway on my blog and Fb!

    As for 'The Life of Reily', I think it refers to the life of any person who is bogged down with monotonous work, until something big happens in his life to make him reassess what he's been doing so far.

    Dunno how far I am correct, but still!

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  6. Please consider me as an entry for giveaway. It is a lovely gesture. I have been following your blog ever since I saw the cover of this book. :-)

    After reading your review I so want to read it. Sometimes we all need that trigger to question our comfort zones to discover what we are missing on life. That's "the Life of Reily" for me.

    Thanks for hosting the give away. :-)
    -BlueMist

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  7. I've haven't read much fiction written by a lawyer and about a lawyer, so your review was really interesting to me. I am so glad that you liked the book and are going to be sharing it with your husband. I love it when I can share a read! That being said, I would love the chance to be entered in this giveaway, and thank you so much for hosting it! Have a great weekend!!

    zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

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  8. I would love to enter!
    Thanks,
    nataliew2(at)gmail(dot)com

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  9. Found you via hop and am a new follower. Sorry to have posted it here but didn't see the post for the Blog Hop. I can be found here
    CMash

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  10. No need to enter me, babe. I'm dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you.

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  11. Please enter me....sounds great. Just found you and WILL follow your blog. I always thought the Life of Riley was the great life, easy life, perfect life.
    Thanks!!!
    jackie.smithATdishmailDOTnet

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  12. Sounds great!

    melacan at hotmail dot com

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  13. follower

    melacan at hotmail dot com

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  14. I'd love to be entered in this. I'm already a follower. To me "The Life of Riley" means having all the comforts everyone wants in life.

    yvone473[at]optonline[dot]net

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  15. With a sister who works for a lawyer (he's a nice guy!) and friends who are lawyers I would like to read The Life of O'Reilly to see how it compares to the parts of the law I have heard about. I am glad you said you would shre this with your husband. My husband and I like to find good books and share them.

    susan56bft at gmail dot com

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  16. Suko's Note book follower via Google and subscriber via Google reader.

    Glad I found your blog. Interesting reading and great writing.

    susan56bft at gmail dot com

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  17. To me "the life of Reilly" means to live life to it's fullest. Take a chance and enjoy your life. Be brave enough to follow a dream. To believe in yourself and what you do.

    susan56bft at gmail dot com

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  18. Sounds good, I'd like to be included! tWarner419@aol.com

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  19. This sounds like a "feel good" book and we all need to read one of those now and again, so please enter me in the giveaway.

    I have joined as a Follower.

    Thank you for opening it to worldwide entries.

    Carol T

    buddytho {at} gmail DOT com

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  20. I would love to enter this giveaway. I subscribe to your blog through Google Reader .

    It's been a while since I read a book with lawyers LOL would love to read this one .Thanks for the giveaway Susan.

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  21. Sounds like a great read—please enter me to win!

    skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

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  22. Please enter my name in the book giveaway. Many thanks!

    pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com

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  23. Many thanks for all the great comments.

    Sometimes I feel that I'm living "the life of Riley" as a book blogger. The perks are wonderful!

    Additional comments welcomed. :)

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  24. Susan please add me to the list! The "Life of Reilly" means living the "good life", aka "having the cat by the tail", as I understand it.

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  25. This sounds like a really great story. Would love the chance to read it. I also kind of like that one of the characters is named, Dawn. LOL. Count me in, please! :0)

    Thanks!
    librarygrinch at gmail dot com

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  26. I just came across your blog and love it! Please include me in this giveaway - sounds like a great read. Thanks

    dcf_beth at verizon dot net

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  27. I'd love to be the new owner of this autographed book!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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  28. I follow your blog.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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  29. I would like to have a shot at winning this book. It sounds interesting.

    Also I think the phrase 'The Life of Reily' is generally used when you want to refer to somebody as leading a very contended and laid-back life!!

    archanaskorner(at)gmail(dot)com

    Thanks
    Arch

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  30. This looks like a great book! I would love to win! Thanks for the chance.

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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  31. Tweet! Tweet!

    http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/14391442309

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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  32. Follower via GFC

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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  33. The Life of Riley means that you have a good life and that everything is going your way.

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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  34. I would love to enter this giveaway. I am a new blog follower.

    Thanks!

    lisa.2713 at gmail dot com

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  35. sounds great!

    Rica
    xoxo4rica@gmail.com

    extra entry: I'm a follower, Rica Eat World
    extra entry: http://twitter.com/xoxo4rica

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  36. I've heard ALL the lawyer jokes. Trust me. (Or don't . . . because I am a lawyer.)

    The "life of Riley" refers to someone living an easy, carefree, worry-free life. Thus, the title strikes me as a play on words since lawyers are notoriously Type A creatures. We thrive on stress. If I don't have a deadline, fuhgedaboutit.

    And yes, I read via RSS using Google Reader.

    JHS, Esq.
    Colloquium

    admin at jhsiess dot com

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