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The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

I loved this book.  I thought the author did an incredible job of showing the raw emotional sides of a marriage as it slowly unravels. We follow the courtship and marriage of  a young Ernest Hemingway to a sheltered spinster nine years his senior and accompany them as they make their way to Paris to follow the writer’s dream. The love they have for each other, however, proves no match for the decadent lifestyle of 1920s Paris.  Full of lush period detail, this book made me want to listen to a Josephine Baker CD and sip a glass of  vin rouge.  As one Amazon reviewer  so aptly writes,

At the end of Ernest Hemingway’s memoir, A Moveable Feast , he writes of his first wife, Hadley Richardson, “I wish I had died before I loved anyone but her.” After their divorce, Hemingway marries three more times, each one prompt to follow, like serial wives. This is the story of the woman that loved him before he was famous.

 

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The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern  

This book is unlike anything I have read before. The author describes the scents, smells and sites of the black and white circus, known as The Night Circus, in such detail that it is truly a feast for the senses. The Night Circus or Le Cirque des Reves arrives without notice and is open only from dusk to dawn. We slowly learn that it is also the playing field for a very serious game between two young illusionists who have been bound at an early age to a contest that pits them against each other to the death. The trouble is, they fall in love. A magical story that is an adult delight to read.

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Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron 

This is a story about a young Tutsi boy, Jean Patrick and his quest to become an Olympic long distance runner.  A tender coming of age story, set against the years leading up to the Rwanda genocide where Hutu’s killed over one million Tutsi.  We follow Jean Patrick as he grows up and heads off to University, where he meets and immediately falls in love with Bea a fellow student of a different social class. As the persecution of the Tutsi by the Hutu increases, Jean Patrick must choose between living his dreams  by escaping with help from his Hutu coach or staying behind and face being killed along with the girl and her family that he has grown to love.

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Fans of Downton Abbey, the UK-produced drama about the Crawley family and their servants that PBS imported for Masterpiece Classic, will be happy to know that NY publishers have taken notice.   In addition to the companion book, The World of Downton Abbey by Jessica Fellowes, dozens of 20th century novels about the British aristocracy are being rushed to print in hopes of cashing in on  what one New York editor describes as the Downton Abbey wave.  According to the New York Times “Mad for Downton?” , the last time this much interest in the British aristocracy was shown by the book buying public occurred in the 70′s when “Upstairs, Downstairs” was the PBS darling.  Booksellers are also looking to push titles about the Titanic and World War I as well.

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For an inside peek at the real Downton Abbey, the Countess of Carnarvon has written a biography of  Lady Almina and  Highclere Castle, the setting for the series.  As Bookbeast so aptly puts it,

Despite the fact that Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle  contains no references to Downton Abbey beyond its sales-friendly title, it is a fascinating insight into how the seriously rich once lived.

The British online Daily Mail suggests the following Downton  inspired literature on shelves now.

1.   New paperback edition of Parade’s End by Ford Madox Ford

2.  The Decline and Fall of the British Aristocracy by David Cannadine

3.   Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford

4.   A Bitter Truth by Charles Todd

5.   Rose: My Life in Service to Lady Astor by Rosina Harrison

]]> http://helensreads.com/2012/01/reading-the-downton-abbey-wave/feed/ 0 http://helensreads.com/2012/01/2012-reading-trends/ http://helensreads.com/2012/01/2012-reading-trends/#comments Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:58:26 +0000 helen http://helensreads.com/?p=3958

Happy 2012 readers!  Even tho’ I can’t predict what new titles will become this year’s hot reads, I did run across a few note worthy trends that book insiders are betting on and buzzing about.

Contemporary dilemma-type titles, sequels of classic tales, YA/adult crossover titles and short story collections are just a few of the fiction trends that Bookseller editor Alice O’Keefe reflects on in Looking Ahead to 2012.  

“There’s a strong showing for unreliable narrators—always an intriguing read. Three of the best I’ve read so far are Alys, Always (W&N, February), a debut by Harriet Lane and a Barbara Vine-esque tale about a lowly newspaper sub-editor who sees an opportunity to upgrade her social circumstances. The heroine of Charlotte Hogan’s The Lifeboat(Virago, March) relays her experiences of three weeks on the open sea—was she innocent or complicit in the events which took place? And In When Nights Were Cold (Mantle, March) by Susanna Jones, a young Edwardian lady escapes her stifling upbringing to pursue her mountaineering dreams, with tragic consequences.”

Don’t ask me where the month of November went.  Somewhere between dishing out the Halloween candy; creating a book group blog for The Mercer Island Patch;  attending my first ever ACBL bridge convention over Thanksgiving weekend;  finalizing the refinancing of our home; celebrating my mom’s 96th birthday and creating a family photo Christmas calendar… the days simply have melted away.  So here it is, December 9th and way past time to get my nose back to the blogging grindstone, so to speak.

As the year winds down, the best of 2011 lists are slowly coming out.  What I like to pay attention to is  ’the best book club lists’ since those are the type of books I like to read and there are less of them to pour over and become over whelmed by. So far, only Ann Patchett’s State of Wonder (a personal favorite), Julie Otsuka’s The Buddha in the Attic and Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84 appear on two lists each.  However, I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the suggested titles.  I will keep adding when and if other lists pop up. Let me know if you run across a good list yourself.  Have a great holiday season and

Happy Reading and Book Giving to All!

The Washington Post’s Best Books of 2011 would all make excellent book club choices.

NPR’s Conversation Starters: 2011′s Top Five Book Club Picks

Book Group Buzz recommends The Kansas City Star’s top ten list because they combine fiction, non fiction, YA and children’s for “a Best of the Best list.  All of the nonfiction selections would be great titles for books groups.”

The Women’s National Book Association lists 20 titles on this year’s 2011 Great Group Reads.

Library Journal came out with their first ever top ten list last year stating,  ”Librarians—and booksellers—should feel confident in recommending them to their readers, suggesting them to book groups, and promoting them through a variety of venues.”  Here is the 2011 list.

Photo: John Rawlings   Vogue Summer Fiction

“Holy Moly”,  I never realized that an innocent search for Best 2011 Beach Reads could turn into a Googling nightmare.  Two hours into my online search, I’m still finding sites like Geeky Beach Reads, Equestrian Beach Reads, Sci-fi Beach Reads, Boozy Beach Reads, Classic Beach Reads, Smart Summer Beach Reads, Best Summer Beach Read for Your Personality, Scientist Approved Beach Reading, Best Foodie Beach Reads (this list could go on and on).  What’s amazing is that there are very few repetitions of titles.  When one book does appear not one or two but three plus times, my fellow readers, I take notice.  So here you go.

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Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner

This from Good Housekeeping magazine’s 10 Summer Beach Reads.

“The queen of chick lit returns with a new novel about four women, bound by obligation and opportunity, who must struggle to become a family.”

Personal take: Even if the genre ‘chick lit’ is a turn off to you, give one of Weiner’s books a go.  One of my all time favorite books which was turned into a movie is Weiner’s In Her Shoes.

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State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

This from Rachel Syme  NPR’s Summer High Fliers

“Patchett has crafted a story that is both an adventure tale and a deep psychological study, complete with mosquitoes, poison arrows and, of course, a tribe of cannibals. If you’re looking for an escape that doesn’t abandon literary elegance, this is it.”

Personal take: My book club attended this author’s reading during her book tour stop in Seattle.  When the author recapped the plot: Dr. Marina Singh, a research scientist travels to the Amazon to track down her former mentor…discovers an indigenous tribe where the women give birth into old age… which makes it a bit of a horror story), I was sold.  This book is #1 on my summer reading list.

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Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson

Janet Maslin of The New York Times’ Books to Bury Yourself In writes:

“The summer’s single most suspenseful plot belongs to Before I Go to Sleep, by another debut author, S. J. Watson. Its heroine, the middle-aged Christine, is the spookiest amnesiac in a season that’s full of them.”

Personal take: I’ve been hearing about this book for several months.  My 28 year old daughter just read the galley and emailed me “it was AMAZING! SO GOOD.  #2 on my summer reading list.

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If You Were Here: A Novel by Jen Lancaster

Lancaster worked for a technology company before being laid off and blogging about how she coped which then turned into six books.  This from Jet Set Girls blog (but I’m thinking any of her previous books would be fun in the sun too).

“The author of the hilarious Bitter is the New Black and My Fair Lazy tries her hand at fiction in a story that will delight any Gen Xers’ heart. The narrator, Mia and her husband, Mac, move from downtown Chicago to suburb Abington Cambs, the setting of many John Hughes’ films. The couple settles in Jake Ryan’s house from Sixteen Candles, with hilarious results.

Personal take: Definitely books my daughter and her friends would like.  This author’s books appeared over and over again on many of the ‘beach read’ lists, so even if it might not be for me, I had to share.

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Bossypants by Tina Fey

This quote comes from Desert Living Today’s Summer Reading List For Adults.

“Get this for a laugh out loud beach read and some perfectly worded jokes for your next night out (comedic timing not included).”  Ba dum tssshhh

Personal take: Definitely #3 on my summer list.

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The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

From Daily Candy Beach Reads

“Hemingway writes of his starter wife, Hadley Richardson, “I wished I had died before I ever loved anyone but her.” Paula McLain pens her historical novel in Richardson’s voice, spinning a gripping love story that tragically seduces us into rooting for the doomed romance. Best read with a pitcher of dry martinis.”

Personal take: Several of my book club friends are reading or have read.  A good selection if you want a head start to next year’s book club season.

This past month I have been busy creating a new blog over at blogger.com titled The Novel Cook.  It’s my attempt at peeling the layers off a book through it’s references to food.  I first thought about this after reading a piece in the New Yorker by writer, essayist Adam Gopnik.  According to Gopnik there are four kinds of food in a book:

 

food that is served by an author to characters who are not expected to taste it; food that is served by an author to characters in order to show who they are; food that an author cooks for characters in order to eat it with them; and, last (and most recent), food that an author cooks for characters but actually serves to the reader.

Gopnik summarizes by pointing out that

Cooking is to our literature what sex was to the writing of the sixties and seventies, the thing worth stopping the story for to share, so to speak, with the reader.  Read more

I like this idea of an author sharing his characters with the reader through the food they prepare, adore, dispise or long for.  In Kathryn Stockett’s The Help, I got so involved with the character of Minnie Jackson that I found myself yearning for a piece of her famous Caramel Cake.  Since the novel didn’t provide a recipe, I scoured the internet for an authentic southern one.   I started to think that maybe other readers might be doing the same thing.

If you have a favorite novel that inspired you to cook,  I would love to hear your story.  In the meantime, hop on over to The Novel Cook and let me know what you think.

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I’m just finishing up reading Stacy Schiff’s Cleopatra.  A much different book than I was expecting.  It reads more like a text book and the long-g-g-g chapters and the need for a dictionary at times left me exhausted.  A Pulitzer Prize winner I’m sure because of the research that went into it.  If non of this puts you off, then keep reading because Cleopatra in all her glory will be with us for a while.  The details of Cleopatra’s life as a ruler, military strategist, lover, wife, mother, linguist, women’s health advocate and even poison expert are what kept me reading.  The book is a best seller, Angelina Jolie is set to play Cleopatra in the movie version (and in 3D no less), gladiator sandals are all the rage and now the cosmetic industry is jumping on board.  According to the Wall Street Journal this is the year of Cleopatra.  Essential oils (Cleopatra massaged her face with olive oil) are replacing facial creams as the new fountain of youth.   I even found day spas touting Cleopatra inspired snake venom and 24 carat gold facial masks.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Cleopatra themed vacation tours start popping up following in the tradition of  The Millennium and Da Vinci Code books.  Actually, that could prove to be a godsend for the Egyptian tourist board which has taken a beating lately due to the recent political unrest.  I know I would buy a ticket.

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Algonquin Books online book club is kick starting their 2011 event season with author Julia Alvarez discussing her book In The Time of Butterflies with author Edwidge Danticat (Brother, I’m Dying). This live webcast will be held on March 21st at 7pm EST.   This is not a passive event.  Readers are encouraged to join in the discussion in the weeks leading up to the webcast. Those participating have the chance to score swag bags and other publisher goodies.  If you want to get a group of friends together, the website provides ideas for wine pairings and food suggestions as well as the traditional reading group guide.

Future book club events will feature Sara Gruen (Water For Elephants) interviewed by Kathryn Stockett (The Help) on April 26th;  Heidi Durrow (The Girl Who Fell from the Sky) interviewed by Terry McMillan on August 18th; and Robert Goolrick (A Reliable Wife) interviewed by Patricia Cornwell on October 20th.

Click below to read Laura Miller’s Become A Better Reader In  2011 and her list of some fun book challenges. http://www.salon.com/books/laura_miller/2011/01/05/reading_challenges/index.html

What books are the librarians loving this season?  Emma Donoghue‘s The Room, Susan Henderson’s Up From The Blue and Tom Franklin‘s Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter. Already on the NY Times bestseller list coupled with a stellar audio version, Donoghue’s Room looks to be ‘the’ book of the fall season.  ~via Earlyword

Calling all Henning Mankell fans.  Wallender is back!  Faceless Killers, the first of this years three part Wallender II series aired last Sunday on PBS?   If you missed out, fear not.  You still have time to tune in and catch The Man Who Smiled which airs this Sunday, October 10th followed by The Fifth Women on  October 17th.

In case you’re wondering just who is Mario Vargas Llosa, the winner of this year’s Nobel prize for literature. Book Beast comes to the rescue by telling  you all you need to know about this prolific Peruvian novelist.

Several good books have been adapted into good movies and are showing now.  The American, Never Let Me Go, The Town, Freakonomics, The Social Network, Secretariat, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest (10/29).

For book clubs in need of filling out their reading calendar,  Women’s National Book Association (WNBA) announced their Great Group Reads 2010.  The website states

These titles were selected on the basis of their appeal to reading groups for whom they are bound to open up lively conversations about a host of timely and provocative topics, from the intimate dynamics of family and personal relationships to major cultural and world issues.