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The Fall Books Librarians Are Shouting About

June 7, 2011 – 4:13 pm

shouting present participle of shout (Verb)

1. (of a person) Utter a loud call or cry, typically as an expression of a strong emotion.

It’s not often you get to use the words librarian and shout in the same sentence, which is exactly why we all should be paying attention to the Shout ‘n’ Share that happened in the waning hours of this year’s BEA.  I’ve included a link to the entire 54 title, one hour panel presentation here if you are so inclined.  I chose to pick one book from each shouter (librarian) that definitely left me wanting to read more.

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Rin Tin Tin : The Life and Legend by Susan Orlean (October, Simon & Schuster)

This just sounds like a great big nostalgic read to me by a wonderful writer (The Orchid Thief). What boomer did not grow up watching The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin on Saturday mornings?  Barbara A. Genco, Collection Management, Library Journal  ”This is everything you would want to know about Rin Tin Tin and much much more….From his sweet beginnings as a puppy during WWI, to being rescued by a Doughboy and brought to America where he became a movie star…certainly an important part of my growing up in the 1950′s, children’s television, ‘Open the gates – Rinti needs to get in’.”

 

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Wunderkind: A Novel by Nikolai Grozni (September, Europa)

Set in Bulgaria,  a year in the life of a classical piano prodigy, Constantine, who must decide to stay in school and lose his soul or rebel and lose the music that he loves.  Barbara Hoffer, Editor of Library Journal’s “Pre Pub Alert”  ”this should be given to anyone that loves music, politics or coming of age stories”.

 

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Lightning Rods by Helen DeWitt (October, New Directions)

I’m thinking this novel is a tongue in cheek business book…but I’m not quite sure.  Due to technical difficulties with the video feed, just exactly what this book is all about was a bit garbled.  What I do know is  that Douglas Lord, Library Journal’s “Books for Dudes” needs his own late night comedy hour (19:35 into the Shout ‘n’ Share tape).  His hook as to why you need to read this book?  ”It’s like when you get a hair of somebody else’s in your mouth when you’re eating or drinking and you have to do something about it…. You can not NOT pay attention to this book.”  OK, enough said.

 

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The Burning by Jane Casey (August, Minotaur)

This says it all.  Robin Nesbitt, Technical Services, Columbus Metropolitan Library quote ” …SERIAL KILLERS…Why I’m grabbing this is, anyone read Tana French?  ”Into the Woods”.  Oh my God.”

 

 

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Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson (June, Harper)

This psychological thriller has been getting great press.   Basically it’s a story about memory loss and what a 47 year old married woman, suffering from amnesia, goes through trying to get her memory back. The hook comes from Nora Rawlinson, Co-Founder and Editor, EarlyWord.com “…there’s an undercurrent…she has this journal that she keeps going back to and the begining of the journal says ‘don’t trust Ben’(her husband)…very suspenseful.”

 

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The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (September, Doubleday)

I’ve already posted abut the buzz that this book is creating.  It’s one thing to want to read it after listening to a book editor rave about it. Having a well read librarian the likes of Alene Moroni, King County Library, rave about it too is icing on the cake!

 

 

 

By helen | Posted in Best Of, Book Buzz | Comments (0)

BEA Book Buzz

May 25, 2011 – 6:13 pm

Well everyone who is anyone in book world is probably in New York this week attending Book Expo America (BEA), the book industry’s premier trade show.  It used to be de rigueur to attend in order to get the inside scoop on upcoming titles, but now that a number of the author events and business panels can be viewed or listened to digitally, thats not so important anymore.  Just this morning I sat in my PJs and virtually attended The Book Editors Buzz.  This is where a panel of  six major book editors pitch their favorite titles for the upcoming season.  Last year, Emma Donaghue’s Room was pitched and went on to become a breakout hit.

Of the six books pitched this year, I must say I’m most drawn to  Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus pitched by Alison Callahan, Executive Editor, Doubleday. Callahan recalls how her heart started banging after reading the first 30 pages of Morgenstern’s manuscript.  Finishing the manuscript some five hours later in the Random House cafeteria, she knew she had to have this book. The novel is set at the turn of the 19th century in a circus, a circus unlike any you or I have ever been to before.  Black and white tents pop up in the middle of the night, anywhere in the world, without warning.  Each tent holds a unique amazement.  The heart of the story is about a dual between two magicians who must keep fighting until there is only one left standing. The trouble is they fall in love.  Callahan uses words like “feast for the senses”, “like reading in 3D”, “a great big romantic spell casting love story”, “it’s for everyone…13 to 80 years olds”.  The book comes out on September 13th, its been sold to 25 countries and the film rights have been snapped up by Summit Entertainment.  Can’t wait to enter The Night Circus.

I’ve provided the link if you wish to view the entire 1 hour presentation of  BEA Editor’s Buzz session http://bookexpocast.com/2011/05/24/2011-bea-editors-buzz/

Below, author Erin Morgenstern signs copies of The Night Circus for BEA attendees. (via Shelf Awareness)

By helen | Posted in Book Buzz, On The Big Screen | Comments (0)

The Novel Cook

May 6, 2011 – 4:30 pm

 

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.

By helen | Posted in Book Clubs, Read 'em And Eat | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Spring Flings: Books That Disappointed

March 28, 2011 – 3:46 pm

Reviews of the new spring titles are starting to pour in but what about the not to be missed books of last fall and winter?  Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken, Emma Donoghue’s Room and Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom certainly have lived up to their hype but others, alas, have not.  Take for instance Ingrid Betancourt’s Even Silence Has An End. Last fall, The Daily Beast proclaimed it “the memoir of the season”.  I salute Ms. Betancourt’s courage and political convictions, but after 150 plus pages of jungle captivity and detailed descriptions of her physical and emotional deprivations, I needed to move on.  After all, I knew she had survived her ordeal and was well and alive on the book tour circuit.  Another book that I finished but only because I wanted to find out if a snake really caused her demise (the jury’s out) was Stacy Schiff’s Cleopatra: A Biography.  This book made one member of my book club proclaim “Why?”.  And then there is Tony Blair’s A Journey. Weighing in at nearly 700 pages, my husband mused that the title must have come from his proof reader.  The book sits dusty and half read on our nightstand.  If anyone out there reading this is interested in tackling any one of these books, I would be happy to send.

By helen | Posted in Book World, Musings | Comments (1)

Marking Royal Wedding Time Page By Page

March 17, 2011 – 2:35 pm

Just six more weeks until William and Kate tie the knot.  For those Anglophiles out there (and you know who you are) that can’t bear the wait,  here are some literary suggestions to help you while away the hours.

READ:

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The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown

Who can resist a quirky family novel set in the mid west about a scholarly English professor who has brought his three daughters up to communicate by spouting Shakespearean dialogue.

Publisher’s Weekly says you don’t have to be a fan of the Bard to enjoy, but it wouldn’t hurt either.

WATCH:

The latest film adaption of Jane Eyre is slowly being rolled out to theaters nationwide.

KNIT:


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Throw on a pair of wellies and knit your own Corgi.  There are 24 other breeds to choose from including English Bulldog, English Bull Terrier and Old English Sheepdog.  This activity alone should bring you right up until wedding eve.

By helen | Posted in Book Buzz, Book World, Musings | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

The Year Of Cleopatra

February 19, 2011 – 10:22 am


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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.

By helen | Posted in Book Clubs, Travel | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Mark Your Calendars for Live Author Web Chats

February 7, 2011 – 3:15 pm


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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.

By helen | Posted in Author Events & Happenings, Book Clubs, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Baby Bookworm Book Deal

January 17, 2011 – 4:39 pm

The dreamy photographs of Finish mom/blogger Adele Enersen have been floating around the internet charming everyone who clicks and views.  News of a book to be published in 2012,  Daydream illustrated “When my baby dreams”, therefore comes as no surprise to the many followers of  Mila’s Daydreams, a maternity leave hobby.  And to think, it was all I could do to get myself showered and dressed while my first born slept.

By helen | Posted in Book Buzz, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

2011 Reading Challenge. Are You Up For It?

January 11, 2011 – 12:23 pm

When the blogging revolution started in earnest, many book bloggers started offering up reading challenges as a way to drive traffic to their site.  Much like the summer reading rallies hosted by schools and libraries, online reading challenges run the gamut from Adoption to Zombies.   Salon co-founder and author Laura Miller writes that she uses challenges to read outside her comfort zone.   I’m not especially interested in challenging myself to read 100 books in one year, but the idea of  setting a goal to read a different type of book than I’m usually drawn to does.  This idea could just as easily apply to a book club.  Look through your club’s past book choices and see where the gaps are.  Challenge your club to tackle a classic, a book of poetry, a graphic novel.  It can only make for better reading.

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

By helen | Posted in Book Clubs | Tagged | Comments (0)

Happy Holidays From Helen’s Reads

December 19, 2010 – 7:12 pm

This time of year, I always try to post fun ways that books are used during the holidays. You’ve heard of Christmas in July, right?  Well this cleverly designed book stand actually is from a June post via OKGreat.  I thought it the perfect way to wish my readers a very Merry Christmas and a New Year full of great reads!

Holiday Book Displays   December 2009

By helen | Posted in Musings | Comments (0)