Do-Over!: In which a forty-eight-year-old father of three returns to kindergarten, summer camp, the prom, and other embarrassments
by Robin Hemley
Hardcover
336 Pages
List Price: $23.99
Published in 2009
ISBN-10: 0-316-02060-5
About the book:
Robin Hemley’s childhood made a wedgie of his memory, leaving him sore and embarrassed for over forty years. He was the most pitiful kindergartner, the least spirited summer camper, and dateless for prom. In fact, there’s nary an event from his youth that couldn’t use improvement. If only he could do them all over a few decades later, with an adult’s wisdom, perspective, and giant-like height…
In the spirit of cult film classics like Billy Madison and Wet Hot American Summer, in DO-OVER! Hemley reencounters paper mache, revisits his childhood home, and finally attends the prom–bringing readers the thrill of recapturing a misspent youth and discovering what’s most important: simple pleasures, second chances, and the forgotten joys of recess.
About the giveaway:
Thanks to Hachette Book Group and Anna for this giveaway.
-There will be five winners on April 16
-Only residents of the U.S. or Canada are eligible to win
-No P.O. Boxes
How to win:
+1 = leave a comment to answer this question: What is your most embarrassing memory from childhood?
+1 = link your sidebar about this particular book giveaway
+2 = if you blog about this contest in 7 sentences or more
+1 = twitt about this contest
20 Comments(+Add)
I had many embarrasing moments in my childhood, but the one that just jumped out at me; my brother andI were dressed up as girls for a Halloween party one year and the next day in school I found out (thanks to a bunch of teasing 5th graders) that I had not taken off the nail polish. Now that was embarrasing!
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♥Shoshana reply on March 30th, 2009 8:09 pm:
LOL. Sorry to laugh, but that must have been funny now. There was this book filled with funny stories which aren’t funny when it happened. I like that book. I don’t remember the title, but it’s edited by Dave Barry.
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Hi, don’t enter my name in this contest. I was just wondering how quickly you are able to get books that we win in the mail to us.
In November I won Just Wicked Enough, but I haven’t received it yet. I have tried emailing you, but I don’t think I am getting through. If you are behind on mailing things, that’s OK. I just wasn’t sure if I should worry about a lost shipment or not.
Thanks for the contests you have here!
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♥Shoshana reply on April 16th, 2009 9:17 pm:
I always send out the books. On rare ocassions, when a winner e-mails me and I don’t get the message, please e-mail again. (thisbookforfree at gmail dot com)
It’s very important to me that winners get their books, and I always want to know if there’s any problem. Thanks again.
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Hi, Shoshana! Thanks for the private email and the offer to send another book. I appreciate it so much!
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♥Shoshana reply on March 30th, 2009 8:07 pm:
Cheryl, I hope it arrives.
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♥Shoshana reply on April 16th, 2009 9:17 pm:
Thank you for letting me know that this book have arrived. I appreciate it.
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My whole childhood was embarrassing. We were quite poor and had to wear hand me downs. Living in a small community, the kids would tease about wearing their old clothing.
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♥Shoshana reply on March 30th, 2009 8:07 pm:
That’s tough. I like uniforms in school. It’s a good equalizer in terms of outfits.
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I was very shy in school and one time when we had to give a report in school in front of the class I got up there and no sound would come out of my mouth. I sat down in tears and will never forget the snickers around the room.
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♥Shoshana reply on March 30th, 2009 8:04 pm:
Kids can be so thoughtless.
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I was born with a rather large port wine birthmark on the left side of my face!
Many times, I had to deal with the questions and comments made about my face.
What was the most embarrassing for me were the adults that I thought should know better than to inquire about it. Thanks, Cindi
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♥Shoshana reply on March 30th, 2009 8:04 pm:
My mother used to tell us to never stare at anyone who’s got unusual stuff because it’s rude. Then she said that port wine birthmark is like an angel’s kiss. My nephew has a great one. It’s exactly the same shape as Gorbachev’s.
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My most embarrassing moment from school was when I was in about the 3rd grade and I got into a fight with a boy. He was older and bigger, and he knew I could really fight so he kept pulling my feet out from under me. I think he wrestled or played football or something! I had on a skirt and the more he did it the madder I became. I didn’t stop until a teacher came out! I knew I could kick his butt if he would just let me get in some punches! LOL
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♥Shoshana reply on March 30th, 2009 8:02 pm:
Oh gosh, what’s with 3rd grade and boy fight? I had this annoying classmate who’s always pulling my hair or bag or shirt. One day, I had enough and wrestled him. I used tooth and nail and I think I would have won if the teachers hadn’t pulled us apart.
Years later in high school, I had such pleasure saying NO when he asked me on a date.
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I added the link to my sidebar.
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Once I brought popcorn for everyone in the class, and it was really stale.
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♥Shoshana reply on March 30th, 2009 7:54 pm:
Your class should have been happy someone tried to bring a popcorn.
I get it though.
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This is definitely an easy question. I had won the school spelling bee and went on to compete at the district bee. They gave me a word that could be spelled two different ways. Well, I had one of the ways in my head and made the mistake of asking for the word in a sentence. The sentence needed the other spelling and I got confused. Needless to say, I blew it!
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♥Shoshana reply on March 30th, 2009 7:57 pm:
Mine was the word for:
consists of a series of events that follow the climax of a drama or narrative, and thus serves as the conclusion of the story
I had it used in a sentence…but since I was an 7th grader in the Philippines and didn’t know how pervert French words are…I still didn’t get it. Duh!
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That’s a hard question. I have so many embarrassing moments it would be hard to choose…from reading in front of the class and stumbing over EVERY word…to being sick and throwing up all over my desk…to peeing my pants on a toboggan trip with family. Argh…now I’m going to be reliving these all day.
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♥Shoshana reply on March 30th, 2009 7:54 pm:
I’ve peed in my pants during hikes. I’m still bewildered to this day how I could have been so thirsty and still peed in my pants.
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Most embarrassing moment… yikes, so many to choose from. I find embarrassment really anchors events in your memory effectively. One I remember in particular involves walking into the boys bathroom instead of the girls’ when I was about 6 years old.
gypsyrover21@yahoo.ca
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I had tons of embarrassing moments in my childhood. Once when I was in kindergarten I had an accident because I couldn’t make it to the bathroom in time. My class was in a portable building and the bathroom was up this really long hill. My teacher wouldn’t let me go until a classmate had come back and when I was allowed to leave I made it halfway. It was almost time to go home, so i stayed outside on the side of the portable until the bell rang. : (
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This book sounds so good.
I was an awkward child (who isn’t though) and while lots of memories are embarassing there is one in particular that my family will not ever let me live down.
There was a party that I wanted to go to at a friend’s house and my dad was saying that I couldn’t go because I hadn’t been all that good lately (which was probably true). He said “When you can act your age maybe I’ll think about letting you go.” My reply was “But I act 12″ and then he said “Exactly, you’re 13 and you still act 12.”
To this day my family always says “But I act 12″ I don’t think I’ll ever live that one down.
I’ve also added a link to this contest in my side bar.
Thank you,
Jennifer D.
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Having my mother take me to the first grade on the first day (after I had graduated day care & preschool) and throwing myself on the ground and crying and kicking and yelling that I ALREADY went to school! My poor mom had to drag me to school for weeks. Even the older kids teasing didn’t help.
Oh well, there are, as most everyone says, many moments in our lives that we could wish away but I think that is the first I can remember.
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I realy want a chance to win this book so here I go. . .
I think I was in the 1st grade and my stomach was very upset. I really had to go to the restroom and the teacher did not let me go . I always felt I just bother her if I every ask for anything. Well, I could not hold and you know what happen. It realy was bad and it smelled real bad. All the kid pull there desk away. I remember after that day if I had to go she let me go. I also remember not asking for much of anything in that class.
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My most embarrassing childhood memory was…ok, I better win a book for this ROFLOL…I was about 6 and I pooped my pants when we were out on a long nature walk. I held it too long and thought I could get to the bathroom in time…I didn’t make it and filled my pants with liquid poop YUCK!!
I can’t believe I confessed that! lol
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My younger brother thought it was hysterical to embarrass me so as we’d walk through the grocery store he’d hang on my arm and limp with his mouth hanging open and making grunting sounds.
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Being a senior in high school and having to attend Charm school with Jr. High girls.
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My most embarassing moment in middle school happened when I was walking into a local hamburger joint filled with my schoolmates. I tripped on the step and fell flat on my face just inside the door. I wanted to instantly vanish, but of course, that didn’t happen! Was my face ever red …!
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