Copyright 2017. HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use | NEW Privacy Policy
195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007 Phone: (212) 207-7000
Hear about our faves from the Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 list! Our world-famous book buzz is on July 9th at 10:30 AM-12:00 PM EDT. RSVP here.
If you would like to have a taste of what we will be presenting at our main buzz, you can attend a mini buzz at the ALA Virtual Conference on Thursday, June 25th, at 11:00 AM CDT. Watch our 10-minute buzz here. Find a list of titles discussed here.
Celebrate the 2020 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence at an exciting virtual gala hosted by Booklist and RUSA. The keynote speaker is Pulitzer Prize winner and 19th U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey, author of Memorial Drive. Register here.
Tune in to our Door to Door programming every Tuesday and Thursday at 2 PM EDT on Facebook Live and follow us on Instagram (@harperlibrary) to see author takeovers every Friday!
Virtual Author Events: Check out our guide to submitting proposals for virtual author visits.
Natasha Trethewey's Memorial Drive is a chillingly personal and exquisitely wrought memoir of a daughter reckoning with the brutal murder of her mother at the hands of her former stepfather, and the moving, intimate story of a poet coming into her own in the wake of a tragedy.
We three on the library team love this captivating work of nonfiction and we are not alone! Check out all of this incoming praise:
This title was also selected as our Summer 2020 Lead Read by all the HarperCollins sales force.
Check out a few of the many reviews:
"A work of exquisitely distilled anguish and elegiac drama...Through finely honed, evermore harrowing memories, dreams, visions, and musings, Trethewey maps the inexorable path to her mother’s murder.... Trethewey writes, ‘To survive trauma, one must be able to tell a story about it.’ And tell her tragic story she does in this lyrical, courageous, and resounding remembrance." —Booklist review
"Beautifully composed, achingly sad...This profound story of the horrors of domestic abuse and a daughter’s eternal love for her mother will linger long after the book’s last page is turned." —Publishers Weekly
"[A] graceful, moving memoir...Delicate prose distinguishes a narrative of tragedy and grief." —Kirkus Reviews
"A moving, heartbreaking memoir about a traumatic event and the path to healing." —Library Journal
So much praise for this book. Read more quotes here.
Natasha also wrote a great opinion piece in The New York Times about the Mississippi flag.
Natasha will be the keynote speaker at the 2020 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction Awards that will take place today, July 9th, at 3:00 PM CDT. You can still register for the event until 2:59 PM CDT here.
We hope you had a great 4th of July weekend. If you're looking for more (book-related) fireworks, then be sure to join us for our virtual book buzz this Thursday, July 9th, from 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT. If you haven't yet registered, you can still do so by visiting this page! If you can't join us live, not to worry: the replay will be available immediately following the live broadcast on CrowdCast, Facebook, and YouTube.
Below, you'll find our staff suggestions for the September LibraryReads List. Remember: votes for the September LibraryReads List are due August 1st!
-The LLF Team (Virginia, Chris, and Lainey)
***
When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole For fans of: Watching You by Lisa Jewell and An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena Rear Window meets Get Out in this gripping thriller from a critically acclaimed and New York Times Notable author, in which the gentrification of a Brooklyn neighborhood takes on a sinister new meaning...
"Cole expertly layers plot twists, raising the stakes until the dramatic finale, and readers will cheer when the real heroes are revealed. Cole is a sure-bet suggestion for romance readers, and When No One Is Watching will expand her already enthusiastic audience." —Booklist review
The Writer's Library by Nancy Pearl and Jeff Schwager For fans of: The Library Book by Susan Orlean Twenty-three of today's living literary legends, including Donna Tartt, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Andrew Sean Greer, Laila Lalami, and Michael Chabon, reveal the books that made them think, brought them joy, and changed their lives in this intimate, moving, and insightful collection from "America's Librarian" Nancy Pearl and noted playwright Jeff Schwager that celebrates the power of literature and reading to connect us all.
"Pearl, a librarian and critic, and Schwager, a journalist and playwright, bring boundless enthusiasm and curiosity to this eclectic and probing book of interviews.... Readers of this delightful compendium will relish the chance to find many of those shared loves, as well as discover new ones." —Publishers Weekly review
Watch a special message to librarians from Nancy Pearl!
The Talented Miss Farwell by Emily Gray Tedrowe For fans of: The Collector's Apprentice by B. A. Shapiro and Tangerine by Christine Mangan Catch Me If You Can meets Patricia Highsmith in this electrifying page-turner of greed and obsession, survival and self-invention, that is a piercing character study of one unforgettable female con artist.
"The gritty underbelly of the art market and the pathology of decades of financial chicanery meet their delirious match in Tedrowe’s Miss Farwell, who stands glaring up at the reader from the intersection of Hitchcock’s Marnie and Highsmith’s Ripley. Watch out for papercuts." —Jonathan Lethem, bestselling author of The Feral Detective
Listen to our podcast episode featuring author Emily Gray Tedrowe in conversation with her father Alan Gray, Darien Library Director.
Monogamy by Sue Miller For fans of: Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver and My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout A brilliantly insightful novel, engrossing and haunting, about marriage, love, family, happiness and sorrow, from New York Times bestselling author Sue Miller.
"A robust, character-driven examination of the inner workings of a lengthy marriage…. The novel is grounded by vibrant prose, vividly portrayed secondary characters, and the resiliency of everlasting love…. A spectacular, powerful return." —Publishers Weekly review
Watch author Sue Miller's guest appearance on Door to Door!
Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots For fans of: Vengeful by V. E. Schwab and Spoonbenders by Daryl Gregory
A smart, imaginative, and evocative novel of love, betrayal, revenge, and redemption, told with razor-sharp wit and affection, in which a young woman discovers the greatest superpower—for good or ill—is a properly executed spreadsheet.
"Walschots playfully pokes at both office politics and comic book absurdity while offering gripping action and gut-wrenching body horror. The inventive premise, accessible heroine, and biting wit will have readers eager for more from this talented author." —Publishers Weekly review
The Most Precious of Cargoes by Jean-Claude Grumberg For fans of: Fox 8 by George Saunders Set during the height of World War II, a powerful and unsettling tale about a woodcutter and his wife, who find a mysterious parcel thrown from a passing train.
"With subtlety and intention, the novella ultimately implores us to consider the purpose of literature after tragedy: well-trodden thematic territory after 1945, to be sure, but approached here in a unique way. It is difficult, in 2020, to write a work of fiction about the Holocaust that is original; even simply in this sense, Grumberg’s work succeeds where many have failed. A postmodern fairy tale, by turns evoking horror and wonder, that scrutinizes the relationship between myth and history." —Kirkus Reviews review
These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever For fans of: The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai and My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent The Secret History meets Call Me by Your Name in Micah Nemerever's compulsively readable debut novel—a feverishly taut Hitchcockian story about two college students, each with his own troubled past, whose escalating obsession with one another leads to an act of unspeakable violence.
"As unsettling as it is enthralling, These Violent Delights will engulf you: first in the intoxication of obsession, then in its toxic consequences. Micah Nemerever's debut is a beautiful portrait of intimacy, desperation, and the damage that damaged hearts can cause. It shattered me." —Robin Wasserman, author of Girls on Fire and Mother Daughter Widow Wife
The Short Life and Curious Death of Free Speech in America by Ellis Cose For fans of: Open Season by Ben Crump and How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
The critically acclaimed journalist and bestselling author of The Rage of a Privileged Class explores one of the most essential rights in America—free speech—and reveals how it is crumbling under the combined weight of polarization, technology, money and systematized lying in this concise yet powerful and timely book.
"In a stunningly original book, Ellis Cose cuts to the very core of free speech battles. Ordinary people are being held captive by ear-splitting political voices while not enough Americans are protecting and being freed by listening to the voices of ordinary people. An abolitionist book for this moment, for this time when free speech slumbers in chains." —Ibram X. Kendi, National Book Award-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author of Stamped from the Beginning and How to Be an Antiracist
Make Them Cry by Smith Henderson and Jon Marc Smith For fans of: Bearskin by James McLaughlin and Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane For fans of The Border and Jason Bourne, Make Them Cry is an explosive action thriller about a DEA agent sucked into a dangerous turf war on the US-Mexico border.
"Diane 'Hardball' Harbaugh has helped put a lot of drug dealers behind bars. 'You got two speeds, girl,' her partner says. 'Legal eagle and meth dealer.' The woman has a whole lot more bravery than sense, but that makes for the good story this is.... Plenty of flaws in the main character but few in this satisfying thriller." —Kirkus Reviews review
For fans of: Late in the Day by Tessa Hadley and The Burning Girl by Claire Messud From the acclaimed author of the classics Shiloh and Other Stories and In Country comes a beautifully crafted and profoundly moving novel which follows a woman as she looks back over her life and her first love.
"Vividly recreates those heady counterculture days as a poignant backdrop for the regrets one often faces when one follows one’s head instead of one’s heart." —Booklist
The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons
For fans of: Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center and How Not to Die Alone by Richard Roper
Infused with the emotional power of Me Before You and the irresistible charm of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and Be Frank with Me, a moving and joyous novel about an elderly woman ready to embrace death and the little girl who reminds her what it means to live.
"The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett is an exquisitely poignant tale of life, friendship and facing death. In the latter, the author dares to explore a subject that many shy away from, but she does so with touching sensitivity, gentle humour and absolute honesty. Eudora’s courage, dignity and wry sense of fun are beautifully drawn as she takes the reader on the heart-breaking yet ultimately uplifting journey of her life and death. Everyone should read this book." —Ruth Hogan, author of Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel
To Tell You the Truth by Gilly MacMillan Also from the author: What She Knew and The Perfect Girl
The acclaimed author of The Nanny, I Know You Know, and Odd Child Out returns with another serpentine thriller that is a potent blend of atmosphere, tarnished memories, mystery, and twisty secrets from the past.
"To Tell You the Truth is a spellbinding book about a missing child, and about the life of a writer. Bold, suspenseful, and impossible to put down. This one will stay with me for a long time." —Samantha Downing, New York Times bestselling author of My Lovely Wife
Prime Deceptions by Valerie Valdes For fans of: Aurora Blazing by Jessie Mihalik and Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers The lovably flawed crew of La Sirena Negra and their psychic cats return in this fast-paced and outrageously fun science-fiction novel, in which they confront past failures and face new threats in the far reaches of space, from the author of the critically acclaimed Chilling Effect.
Praise for Chilling Effect: "Featuring memorable Cuban-descended characters, this engaging space opera debut delivers a story that dances between hilarity and seriousness, with all the joy and frustration psychic cats can bring to the mix." —Library Journal review
Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey For fans of: The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory and The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez In Tessa Bailey’s rom-com follow-up to Fix Her Up and Love Her or Lose Her, two enemies must team up to flip a house—and the sparks between them will either burn the place down or ignite a passion that neither can ignore!
"Fans of the 'Hot and Hammered' series (Fix Her Up; Love Her or Lose Her) will delight in visiting with familiar characters, but this can certainly be read as a stand-alone. Fans of Christina Lauren and Helena Hunting should add Bailey to their list of go-to rom-com authors." —Library Journal review
The Night Portraitby Laura Morelli For fans of: The Paris Orphan by Natasha Lester An exciting dual timeline historical fiction novel about one of da Vinci's most famous paintings, Portrait of a Lady with an Ermine, and the woman who saved it from Nazi destruction in World War II.
"The Night Portrait...[is] a novel of profound emotional resonance. A respected art historian, Morelli brings an exceptional depth of research and understanding to a story already made memorable by her beautiful prose. This is a truly original novel that has earned its place among my favorite works of historical fiction." —Jennifer Robson, bestselling author of The Gown
We are so excited to welcome emily m. danforth, author of Plain Bad Heroines, to the podcast this week. She speaks with Jessica Williams, her editor at William Morrow. This is a book that has been getting a lot of buzz with librarians. It was also a BookExpo 2020 buzz book. There's a lot to dive into with this larger-than-life book and this conversation is a perfect way to jump in. They spotlight the idea behind the book, the extra features of illustrations and footnotes included in the story, and a glimpse into the editor/author relationship. We love this book and can't wait for you to read it for yourself!
More about Plain Bad Heroines, on-sale October 20, 2020: The award-winning author of The Miseducation of Cameron Postmakes her adult debutwith this highly imaginative and original horror-comedy centered around a cursed New England boarding school for girls—a wickedly whimsical celebration of the art of storytelling, sapphic love, and the rebellious female spirit.
Check out these rave reviews:
"The expertly rendered characters are as heartbreaking as they are written with an integrity of vision that saturates every page. Plain Bad Heroines is a queer roar and it's terrifying and it's a goddamned triumph." —Paul Tremblay, author of A Head Full of Ghosts and The Cabin at the End of the World
“Simply one of the best books I've read in the last decade.” —Joe Hill, New York Times bestselling author of The Fireman
“Brimming from start to finish with sly humor and gothic mischief, Plain Bad Heroines is a brilliant piece of exuberant storytelling by a terrifically talented author.” —Sarah Waters, New York Times bestselling author of The Little Stranger and Fingersmith
Romance is in the air on The Library Love Fest Podcast! This week, we featured a conversation between librarian Stephanie Anderson and author Sarah MacLean. StephanieAnderson is Assistant Director, Selection, at BookOps, managing the fantastic team responsible for selecting and ordering material for the 150 circulating locations of the Brooklyn Public Library and New York Public Library, plus both digital collections. Stephanie and Sarah are great friends and when asked to discuss Sarah's new book, Daring and the Duke, they immediately said yes. They always have such smart, thoughtful conversations about romance and this discussion was no exception!
More about Daring and the Duke: New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean returns with the much-anticipated final book in her Bareknuckle Bastards series, featuring a scoundrel duke and the powerful woman who brings him to his knees.
Glowing Reviews for Daring and the Duke: “MacLean works magic, crafting a magnificent romance that’s as satisfying as it is subversive.” —New York Times Book Review
"Visceral, gritty, and full of passion and angst, this romance mixes moments of emotional introspection with grand scenes of balls, fights, and scorching intimacy...While this story excels as a second-chance, redemption love story, what really makes it stand out is the unabashedly feminist exploration...Dark, daring, delicious, and absolutely delightful." —Kirkus Reviewsreview
"Wrapping up the Bareknuckle Bastards series splendidly, RITA Award–winning MacLean reinforces her place as a master of historical romance with another exemplary, empowering love story that brilliantly showcases her flair for gloriously insightful characterization, grandly entertaining plotting, and gorgeously sensual prose." —Booklist
"The emotional journey of the protagonists is raw in intensity, with breath-stealing love scenes. It’s refreshing to find a romantic couple with a near-equal power balance....delivers a satisfying emotional punch that fans will savor." —Library Journalreview
Listen to the podcast episode here:
We also mentioned a past Facebook Live video with Stephanie and Sarah; you can watch the replay here.
Our friend Carol Fitzgerald, President of the Book Report Network, recently interviewed Meg Mitchell Moore, author of The Islanders, to discuss Meg's latest novel Two Truths and a Lie, on sale now! The book is set in Newburyport, Massachusetts where Meg lives, and they talk about how she brings this town to life in her fiction using the businesses and beaches there.
The book is told from four points of view, one of which is as notes from the Mom Squad, a group of mothers who have bonded together through their daughters. Meg and Carol discuss the story structure and character development, as well as the changes social media has made in young people’s lives and the ways in which parents must adapt. Carol learns more about the challenges and joys of writing a summer beach story with interesting characters and a storyline that brings escape.
Today, we are featuring a guest post from Rebekah Taussig, author of Sitting Pretty, coming out on August 25, 2020.
Sitting Pretty is a memoir-in-essays from Rebekah Taussig, disability advocate and creator of the Instagram account @sitting_pretty, reflecting on identity, accessibility, and representation and processing a lifetime of memories to paint a more beautiful, nuanced portrait of a body that looks and moves differently than most.
***
Dear Librarians,
My name is Rebekah Taussig, and I am a fan of you! When I was growing up in the 90s, my favorite thing was to play library with my sister. We had a treehouse in our backyard, and I figured out my own weird way to climb up the ladder using my paralyzed legs and my extra-strong arms to tumble into our oasis of books. Our goal was to write hundreds and hundreds of stories—to line the inside of our treehouse with shelves of them—and hand out library cards so our friends and neighbors could partake in all the reading we had to offer. (Nevermind that our collection of books were actually little stacks of stapled paper with crayon drawings and nonsense stories!) But the act of storytelling and inviting everyone to partake in that storytelling remains a driving force for me.
Thirty years later, I’ve finally written an actual book! Sitting Pretty: The View From My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body was born from my tenderest memories and most pressing questions attached to navigating life from a wheelchair. It’s a memoir told in essay form, each chapter covering a different topic, from romance to work, ableism to feminism, representation to accessibility. One of the central themes of the book casts a spotlight on access—what it looks like, who has it, who doesn’t, and how to create more of it for more folks.
As my book became more and more real, I talked with my publishers about ways to make it more accessible to readers. Books can be expensive, and there are so many reasons—especially right now—that people might not have the funds to purchase it. This is the space libraries occupy—a point of access, an inclusive invitation to anyone who wants access to the world of language. My dream is that Sitting Pretty could occupy the shelves of libraries far and wide, bridging that gap and creating more access for more readers. It’s similar to my childhood dream of sharing my homemade treehouse books with neighbors and friends, only this version invites way more folks to the reading party.
Thank you so much for considering my book as a new addition to your shelves. It would be an honor to be included. And either way, thank you for all you do to make reading and stories more accessible to more people—it’s invaluable, transformative work.
All my best,
Rebekah G. Taussig
***
Listen to an interview with Rebekah on our podcast here:
Thank you to Rebekah for this awesome letter to librarians and for coming on the podcast!
There's still time to get your LibraryReads vote in by July 1st.
We used our latest Booklist ad to let you know how much we will miss seeing your smiling faces at ALA Annual this year. But we have a packed list of exciting virtual events in store for you! We also have a plethora of STARRED reviews from the June Issue of Booklist. Find a list of everything discussed in the ad below!
Mark your calendar!
Our world-famous book buzz is on July 9th! We have lots of details coming your way. To get on the list for updates, email librarylovefest@harpercollins.com with 'Book Buzz RSVP' in the subject line.
If you would like to have a taste of what we will be presenting at our main buzz, you can attend a mini buzz at the ALA Virtual Conference on Thursday, June 25th, at 11 AM CDT. Register separately for our 10 minute buzz on the ALA site.
Celebrate the 2020 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence at an exciting virtual gala hosted by Booklist and RUSA. The keynote speaker is Pulitzer Prize winner and 19th U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey, author of Memorial Drive. Register here.
Tune in to our Door to Door programming every Tuesday and Thursday at 2 PM EDT on Facebook Live and follow us on Instagram (@harperlibrary) to see author takeovers every Friday!
___________________
Check out all of the reviews featured in the June issue of Booklist:
Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey: "...A work of exquisitely distilled anguish and elegiac drama.... Through finely honed, evermore harrowing memories, dreams, visions, and musings, Trethewey maps the inexorable path to her mother’s murder." —Donna Seaman
Reclaiming Her Time by Helena Andrews-Dyer and R. Eric Thomas: "In an approach which borders on hagiography, Andrews-Dyer and Thomas bring all the snap and pizzazz one would expect to their subject.... Their buoyant and zesty portrait of the woman known as “Kerosene Maxine” and “Auntie Maxine” is perfect for the vivacious, unconventional, tireless, and essential Waters." —Carol Haggas
This Is What America Looks Like by Ilhan Omar with Rebecca Paley: "In telling her remarkable story, Omar reminds us all of what it means to fearlessly strive for a better life, a better nation, and a better world." —Enobong Tommelleo
The Lehman Trilogy by Stefano Massini: "The Lehman Trilogy, a 2012 Italian radio play turned into a full-length play that has been a hit throughout Europe and in London and New York, was set for Broadway when COVID-19 hit.... On stage, just three actors perform it; on the page, it’s a panoramic circus, and ravishing, rollicking reading all the way." —Ray Olson
This Is Major by Shayla Lawson: "It is Lawson’s love letter to herself and every other Black woman who may have felt invisible or misunderstood. In one of the rare times in print, the totality and the essence of Black women are front and center here." —LaParis Hawkins
The Mystery of Charles Dickens by A.N. Wilson "Beyond the eye-opening analysis, Wilson also offers a moving personal account of why Dickens has meant so much to him. Dickens' novels, he concludes, possess the power of a mesmerist, convincing us that, despite the horrors of the external world, "every man, woman, and child goes on being not only an individual but, potentially, a comic individual." —Bill Ott
The Book of Dragons Edited by Jonathan Strahan: "This collection is highly recommended to both established genre fans and newcomers interested quality sf and fantasy." —Nell Keep
The Boy in the Field by Margot Livesey: "Braiding three separate views of the same incident, Livesey (Mercury, 2016) weaves a masterful tapestry of emotion and action focused on the indelible impact of random events." —Carol Haggas
The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows by Olivia Waite: "Waite’s poetically polished prose is infused with just the right measure of sly wit and perfectly complemented by a marvelously inventive plot involving not only the art and science of beekeeping but also a village queen bee's attempt to use censorship to wield control over her fellow citizens, and the political turmoil surrounding George IV and his wife, Caroline." —John Charles
You voted, they counted, and the winners have finally been announced!
This month, we are thrilled to share that The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs, Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay, and Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey have been selected for the July LibraryReads List! Congratulations to our wonderful authors!
The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs: In this thought-provoking, wise and emotionally rich novel, New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs explores the meaning of happiness, trust, and faith in oneself as she asks the question, "If you had to start over, what would you do and who would you be?"
"A wonderful exploration of the past and the future and, most importantly, of what it means to be present in the here and now. Full of the love of words, the love of family, and the love of falling in love, The Lost and Found Bookshop is a big-hearted gem of a novel that will satisfy and entertain readers from all walks of life. Lovely!" —Garth Stein, New York Times bestselling author of The Art of Racing In The Rain
Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay: A riveting novel of suspense and terror from the Bram Stoker award-winning author of The Cabin at the End of the World and A Head Full of Ghosts.
"Tremblay has earned worldwide acclaim because he is able to seamlessly combine reality with speculative elements, and his newest may be his most prescient yet.... Gorgeously written about terrible things, the relatively short Survivor Song is a good choice for fans of pandemic epics ...and novels that probe themes of friendship, family, and social commentary amidst chillingly realistic horror." —Booklist review
Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey: A chillingly personal and exquisitely wrought memoir of a daughter reckoning with the brutal murder of her mother at the hands of her former stepfather, and the moving, intimate story of a poet coming into her own in the wake of a tragedy.
"Through finely honed, evermore harrowing memories, dreams, visions, and musings, Trethewey maps the inexorable path to her mother’s murder.... Trethewey writes, 'To survive trauma, one must be able to tell a story about it.' And tell her tragic story she does in this lyrical, courageous, and resounding remembrance." —Booklist review
Thanks to all who participated and submitted votes for the July LibraryReads list! Be sure to submit your votes for the August LibraryReads list by July 1st.Click here to find out what we're recommending!
This week is a Nancy Pearl love fest on all of our social accounts!
On June 9th, Nancy was on our Door to Door Facebook Live video. Watch the replay here.
Virginia also interviewed Nancy for the podcast. They talk all about Nancy’s latest book, The Writer's Library, which she co-wrote with playwright Jeff Schwager. The book comes out on September 8, 2020.
More about The Writer's Library: An intimate, moving, and insightful collection from "American's Librarian" Nancy Pearl and noted playwright Jeff Schwager that celebrates the power of literature and reading to connect us all.
Before Jennifer Egan, Louise Erdrich, Luis Alberto Urrea, and Jonathan Lethem became revered authors, they were readers. In this ebullient book, Nancy and Jeff interview a diverse range of America's most notable and influential writers about the books that shaped them and inspired them to leave their own literary mark.
Illustrated with beautiful line drawings, The Writer’s Library is a revelatory exploration of the studies, libraries, and bookstores of today’s favorite authors—the creative artists whose imagination and sublime talent make America's literary scene the wonderful, dynamic world it is. A love letter to books and a celebration of wordsmiths, The Writer’s Library is a treasure for anyone who has been moved by the written word.
There is an introduction by Susan Orlean and the book features interviews with twenty-three of today's living literary legends.
Naoise Dolan's Exciting Times is an intimate, bracingly intelligent debut novel about a millennial Irish expat who becomes entangled in a love triangle with a male banker and a female lawyer.
I so enjoyed reading this book and it's becoming clear that everyone else is loving it, too! It's been listed as a most anticipated book from Vogue; TIME; Elle; O, the Oprah Magazine; Esquire; Harper's Bazaar; PopSugar; Refinery 29; and LitHub.
Marie Claire just named it as their new book club pick. You can read an excerpt on their site here.
Autostraddle included it in their "60 Queer and Feminist Books Coming Your Way in Summer 2020."
Black Bear Pictures, the production company behind The Imitation Game, has optioned the TV rights.
Check out these amazing reviews that have been coming in:
“Volleying dialogue, rich interiority, and perceptive writing on money, politics, and class...A clever and deep novel of sex, connection, and the complexities of self expression.” —Booklist review
"Dolan’s preoccupation with power is often couched in humor but always expertly observed. Her elegantly simple writing allows her ideas and musings to shine. A refreshingly wry and insightful debut." —Kirkus Reviews
"[A] wry, tender debut.... Dolan’s smart, brisk debut works as a charming comedy of manners." —Publishers Weekly
“Jealousy and obsession, love and late capitalism, sex and the internet all come whirling together in a wry and bracing tale of class and privilege.” —The New York Times Book Review
"Whipsmart…. A modern love story…Exciting Timesis an impressive, cerebral debut written with brio and humour… The observations are keen, heartfelt and delivered in a brutally nonchalant style…. Heralding for sure a new star in Irish writing." —Irish Times
I discussed the book on our podcast with Meghan Deans, the Senior Marketing Director at Ecco. Listen here:
We turned our Editors Unedited podcast feature on its head this week! For the first time, we had an author interview their editor. Listen in to this week's episode with the incomparable Susan Elizabeth Phillips, in conversation with her Editor, Carrie Feron. You'll get an inside peek at the relationship between editor and author as well as hear about Susan's upcoming novel Dance Away with Me.
More about Dance Away with Me: When life throws her one setback too many, midwife and young widow Tess Hartsong takes off for Runaway Mountain. In this small town high in the Tennessee mountains, surrounded by nature, she hopes to outrun her heartbreak and find the solace she needs to heal.
But instead of peace and quiet, she encounters an enigmatic artist with a craving for solitude, a fairy-tale sprite with too many secrets, a helpless infant, a passel of curious teens, and a town suspicious of outsiders, especially one as headstrong as Tess. Just as headstrong, is Ian North, a difficult, gifted man with a tortured soul—a man who makes Tess question everything.
In running away to this new life, Tess wonders—has she lost herself...or has she found her future?
Take a listen to the podcast episode here:
Carrie also mentioned other authors she works with, including:
We hope you all are well in these important, challenging times. Before we dive into the details of our staff suggestions for the August LibraryReads List, please let us know what we can do for you. We're here to help in any way we can, big or small.
-The LLF Team (Virginia, Chris, and Lainey)
***
The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline Also from the author: Orphan Train and A Piece of the World The author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Orphan Train returns with an ambitious, emotionally resonant historical novel that captures the hardship, oppression, opportunity and hope of a trio of women’s lives—two English convicts and an orphaned Aboriginal girl—in untamed nineteenth-century Australia.
"Master storyteller Christina Baker Kline is at her best in this epic tale of Australia's complex history—a vivid and rewarding feat of both empathy and imagination. I loved this book."
—Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife and Love and Ruin
The Silent Wife by Karin Slaughter Also from the author: The Last Widow, Pieces of Her, and Pretty Girls New York Times bestselling author Karin Slaughter returns with another electrifying thriller in the Will Trent series—her 20th book!
"Slaughter adds depth to her best-selling series with the investigations of old and current cases, while also advancing the key personal relationship. Another slam dunk." —Booklist review
Watch Karin Slaughter's guest appearance on Door to Door!
Black Bottom Saints by Alice Randall For fans of: Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue An enthralling literary tour-de-force that pays tribute to Detroit's legendary neighborhood, a mecca for jazz, sports, and politics, Black Bottom Saints is a powerful blend of fact and imagination reminiscent of E.L. Doctorow's classic novel Ragtime and Marlon James' Man Booker Award-winning masterpiece, A Brief History of Seven Killings.
"Black Bottom Saints is easily the most inventive and musical novel I've read in a decade. Alice Randall has rewritten and re-energized the rules of the American novel!" —Kiese Laymon, author of Long Division and Heavy
Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden For fans of: Depth of Winter by Craig Johnson and Bearskin by James McLaughlin An addictive and groundbreaking debut thriller set on a Native American reservation—a tour-de-force of crime fiction, a bracingly honest look at a long-ignored part of American life, and a twisting, turning story that’s as deeply rendered as it is thrilling.
"Winter Counts is a marvel. It’s a thriller with a beating heart and jagged teeth. This book is a brilliant meditation on power and violence, and a testament to just how much a crime novel can achieve. Weiden is a powerful new voice. I couldn’t put it down." —Tommy Orange, New York Times bestselling author of There There
Listen to a podcast interview with David Heska Wanbli Weiden!
Universe of Two by Stephen P. Kiernan For fans of: Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave and The Wives of Los Alamos by TaraShea Nesbit From the critically acclaimed author of The Baker’s Secret and The Curiosity comes a novel of conscience, love, and redemption—a fascinating fictionalized account of the life of Charlie Fisk, a gifted mathematician who was drafted into Manhattan Project and ordered against his morals to build the detonator for the atomic bomb. With his musician wife, he spends his postwar life seeking redemption—and they find it together.
"Kiernan recreates the zeitgeist of America leading up to the atomic bomb on a national and personal level: the eager anticipation of wartime’s end, the grimly fascinating science, and the growing sense of guilt and dread. Simultaneously tender and hard-hitting, this riveting story offers much to reflect upon." —Booklist
Watch authors Stephen P. Kiernan and Beatriz Williams on a historical fiction-themed episode of Door to Door!
You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria For fans of: Dear Haiti, Love Alaine by Maika Moulite and Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey RITA Award-winning author Alexis Daria brings readers an unforgettable, hilarious rom-com set in the drama-filled world of telenovelas—perfect for fans of Jane the Virgin and The Kiss Quotient.
"Soapy, smart and so sexy...with vibrant characters and electric chemistry comparable to the telenovelas that inspired it, you’ll be thrilled You Had Me At Hola doesn’t come with commercials!" —Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author of Daring and the Duke
You Ought to Do a Story About Me by Ted Jackson For fans of: The Master Plan by Chris Wilson and Life Is Not an Accident by Jay Williams The heartbreaking and redemptive story of a fallen-from-grace NFL player discovered by a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist on the streets of New Orleans, and the transformative friendship that binds them.
"Consistently complex and absorbing.... A rich and rewarding narrative about the possibilities—and the challenges—of redemption." —Kirkus Reviews review
Final Cut by S. J. Watson For fans of: In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware and Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight In this mind-blowing psychological thriller, the internationally bestselling author of Before I Go to Sleep explores themes of memory and identity as a young documentary filmmaker travels to a quiet fishing village to shoot a new film, only to encounter a dark mystery surrounding the disappearance of a local girl.
Watch LLF's Chris Connolly buzz about Final Cut as part of ALMA's Bite-Size Book Buzz series!
Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park For fans of: Get a Life, Chloe Brownby Talia Hibbert and The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang In a debut perfect for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Sally Thorne, a junior video game producer finds herself getting closer and closer to the one person she hates most after a mass troll attack online almost ruins her life.
"[A] punchy adult debut set in the world of video game design. Park makes tough topics go down easy by couching them in wry humor and lighthearted romance, and her fierce, snarky heroine is irresistible. This smart rom-com is a winner." —Publishers Weekly review
The Wright Sister by Patty Dann For fans of: Another Side of Paradise by Sally Koslow and Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton An epistolary novel of historical fiction that imagines the life of Katharine Wright and her relationship with her famous brothers, Wilbur and Orville Wright.
"The Wright Sister is a marvel—a perfect, very dear and brilliant novel whose characters are now stored in my heart like favorite, absent friends. Long live the remarkable Katharine Wright, her famous brothers, and author Patty Dann, who brought them back to life for this gobsmacked, grateful reader." —Elinor Lipman, author of Good Riddance and On Turpentine Lane
Click here to watch Patty Dann give a tour of her writing space on Instagram!
No Offense by Meg Cabot Also from the author: No Judgments and The Boy is Back New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot returns with a charming romance between a children's librarian and the town sheriff in the second book in the Little Bridge Island series.
And on Friday, June 19th, Meg will be taking over our Instagram! Be sure to follow us on Instagram so you don't miss a thing!
My Life as a Villainess by Laura Lippman Also from the author: Lady in the Lake and Sunburn
New York Times bestselling author Laura Lippman, a journalist for many years, collects here her recent essays exploring motherhood as an older mom, her life as a reader, her relationships with her parents, friendship, and other topics that will resonate with a large audience.
"[Lippman] revels in confession and connection, surprise and provocation, and she performs all with panache, wisdom, wit, and courage. Lippman asserts: 'I’m a tough old bird,' and readers will declare: and one helluva true-tale teller." —Booklist
Watch Laura Lippman's guest appearance on Door to Door!
The Boys' Club by Erica Katz For fans of: Whisper Network by Chandler Baker and The Wife by Alafair Burke Sweetbitter meets The Firm in this buzzy, page-turning debut novel—already optioned to Netflix—about sex and power in the halls of corporate America.
"Sharply observed and utterly engrossing, The Boys' Club is part coming-of-age story, part riveting workplace drama, set in the world of big firm law where one young female associate finds that getting ahead means there are no good choices." —Kimberly McCreight, New York Times bestselling author of A Good Marriage
"A knowing, nuanced #MeToo story from the world of corporate law, with juicy The Wolf of Wall Street–type action." —Kirkus Reviews
Wandering in Strange Lands by Morgan Jerkins For fans of: So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo From the acclaimed cultural critic and New York Times bestselling author of This Will Be My Undoing—a writer whom Roxane Gay has hailed as "a force to be reckoned with"—comes this powerful story of her journey to understand her northern and southern roots, the Great Migration, and the displacement of black people across America.
"A thrilling, emotional, and engaging ride that almost commands the reader to turn the page, Wandering in Strange Lands is required reading, accurately widening the lens of American history." —Booklist review
Click below to see why LLF's Chris Connolly loves Wandering in Strange Lands!
Jackie and Maria by Gill Paul For fans of: And They Called It Camelot by Stephanie Marie Thornton From the #1 bestselling author of The Secret Wife comes a story of love, passion, and tragedy as the lives of Jackie Kennedy and Maria Callas are intertwined—and they become the ultimate rivals, in love with the same man.
"Fans of historical fiction, those obsessed with the Camelot years, or readers who simply delight in a good story should reserve a copy.... Paul (The Lost Daughter) presents a mostly accurate portrayal of real events through the fictional voices of Jackie and Maria. The captivating narrative paired with supplemental reading group questions paves the way for an instant book club favorite." —Library Journal review
Night. Sleep. Death. The Stars.by Joyce Carol Oates is a a gripping examination of contemporary America through the prism of a family tragedy: when a powerful parent dies, each of his adult children reacts in startling and unexpected ways, and his grieving widow in the most surprising way of all.
Stark and penetrating, Joyce Carol Oates’ latest novel is a vivid exploration of race, psychological trauma, class warfare, grief, and eventual healing, as well as an intimate family novel in the tradition of the author’s bestselling We Were the Mulvaneys.
We have so many amazing reviews coming in, including TWO STARRED REVIEWS!
“[A] quintessential examination of grief.... With precise, authoritative prose that reads like an inquest written by a poet, Oates keep the reader engaged throughout the sprawling narrative. This is a significant and admirable entry in the Oates canon.” —Publishers Weekly review
“While Oates purposefully plumbs the depths of each family member’s agonizing loss, her perceptive study of Jessalyn’s widowhood stands out as an impressive and impassioned portrait of this distressing life journey.” —Booklist review
“A brooding, thoughtful study of how people respond to stress and loss, which is not always well and not always nicely.... As with all Oates, well worth reading.” —Kirkus Reviews
This week, we welcome Lian Dolan, Author of The Sweeney Sisters, to the podcast! Lian and her editor, William Morrow Executive Editor Rachel Kahan, chat about the book, capturing family relationships in fiction, and what it's like for Lian to work with her own sisters on her podcast, The Satellite Sisters.
More about The Sweeney Sisters: Maggie, Eliza, and Tricia Sweeney grew up as a happy threesome in the idyllic seaside town of Southport, Connecticut. But their mother’s death from cancer fifteen years ago tarnished their golden-hued memories, and the sisters drifted apart. Their one touchstone is their father, Bill Sweeney, an internationally famous literary lion and college professor universally adored by critics, publishers, and book lovers. When Bill dies unexpectedly one cool June night, his shell-shocked daughters return to their childhood home. They aren’t quite sure what the future holds without their larger-than-life father, but they do know how to throw an Irish wake to honor a man of his stature.
But as guests pay their respects and reminisce, one stranger, emboldened by whiskey, has crashed the party. It turns out that she too is a Sweeney sister.
Once the shock wears off, questions abound. What does this mean for William’s literary legacy? Where is the unfinished memoir he’s stashed away, and what will it reveal? And how will a fourth Sweeney sister—a blond among redheads—fit into their story?
This week, we wish Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue, authors of What Makes a Marriage Last, a very Happy 40th Wedding Anniversary! They celebrated on Ellen. Watch the clip below:
Their new book, What Makes a Marriage Last, is a compelling and intimate collection of intriguing conversations with famous couples about their enduring marriages and how they have made them last through the challenges we all share.
What makes a marriage last? Who doesn’t want to know the answer to that question? To unlock this mystery, iconic couple Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue crisscrossed the country and conducted intimate conversations with forty celebrated couples whose long marriages they’ve admired—from award-winning actors, athletes, and newsmakers to writers, comedians, musicians, and a former U.S. president and First Lady. Through these conversations, Marlo and Phil also revealed the rich journey of their own marriage.
Check out these amazing reviews for the book:
“Delightful and instructive...Love and understanding shine through in this inspiring collection.” —Publisher’s Weekly
“Warmhearted testimony to enduring relationships...The authors’ disarming ebullience makes them endearing interviewers.” —Kirkus Reviews
“An intimate and surprising look at what keeps couples together.” —AARP
Author Emily Gray Tedrowe came on the podcast this week to talk about her new novel, The Talented Miss Farwell. We always love hearing about exciting new reads, but this conversation was truly unique because Emily was interviewed by her father! Her dad, Alan Gray, is the Director of the Darien Library in Connecticut. This is one of our favorite episodes we have recorded yet. Not only did we hear all about Emily's new book, but we got to hear them talk about working in the library, growing up surrounded by books, and much more—making it feel like we are overhearing a conversation at the family dinner table. This is a must-listen episode.
More about The Talented Miss Farwell: At the end of the 1990s, with the art market finally recovered from its disastrous collapse, Miss Rebecca Farwell has made a killing at Christie’s in New York City, selling a portion of her extraordinary art collection for a rumored 900 percent profit. To some, the elusive Miss Farwell is a shark with outstanding business acumen. To others, she’s a heartless capitalist whose only interest in art is how much she can make.
But a thousand miles from the Big Apple, in the small town of Pierson, Illinois, Miss Farwell is someone else entirely—a quiet single woman known as Becky who still lives in her family’s farmhouse, wears sensible shoes, and works tirelessly as the town’s treasurer and controller.
But as Reba Farwell’s deals get bigger and bigger, Becky Farwell’s debt to Pierson spirals out of control. How long can the talented Miss Farwell continue to pull off her double life?
Follow us on Facebook to receive notification every time we're live. If you don't use Facebook, not to worry! Each Door to Door episode will be available on our Youtube channel immediately following the Facebook Live broadcast!
You voted, they counted, and the winners have finally been announced!
This month, we are thrilled to share that The Empire of Gold by S. A. Chakraborty, The Guest List by Lucy Foley, and Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert have been selected for the June LibraryReads List!
Additionally, Susan Elizabeth Phillips officially joins the LibraryReads Hall of Fame with her latest novel Dance Away With Me!
Want to know how the authors reacted to being selected for the June LibraryReads List? Click below to listen to their reactions!
The Empire of Gold by S. A. Chakraborty: The final chapter in the bestselling, critically acclaimed Daevabad Trilogy, in which a con-woman and an idealistic djinn prince join forces to save a magical kingdom from a devastating civil war.
"Chakraborty (The City of Brass) brings her epic fantasy series to a stunning conclusion. Rich details, familial ties, and magical politics sing in this lush world built from Middle Eastern history and imagination." —Library Journal review
"No series since George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire has quite captured both palace intrigue and the way that tribal infighting and war hurt the vulnerable the most." —Paste Magazine
The Guest List by Lucy Foley:A wedding celebration turns dark and deadly in this deliciously wicked and atmospheric thriller reminiscent of Agatha Christie from the author of The Hunting Party.
"Only a handful of thriller writers can accomplish what Foley does here: weave a complex plot from the perspectives of eight characters plus an omniscient narrator without causing confusion or reader exhaustion when the plot bounces from one person to the next. Fans of Christie, Louise Penny, and Ruth Rendell will absolutely love this book...." —Library Journal review
"I didn’t think Lucy Foley could top The Hunting Party, but she did! I loved this book. It gave me the same waves of happiness I get from curling up with a classic Christie." —Alex Michaelides, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert: Talia Hibbert returns with another charming romantic comedy about a young woman who agrees to fake date her friend after a video of him "rescuing" her from their office building goes viral.
"Hibbert continues her wickedly funny romantic comedy series, The Brown Sisters, by following Get a Life, Chloe Brown with a magical friends-to-lovers tale.... Hibbert is a rising star, and this tale will appeal to all contemporary romance fans, including those who enjoy British romantic comedies." —Booklist review
Dance Away With Me by Susan Elizabeth Phillips: At long last, the legendary New York Times bestselling author returns with a heartfelt novel of womanhood, a wild heart, and the healing power of love.
"In this superbly written stand-alone, this master storyteller's flair for highly imaginative plots and flawless characterization are on full display, resulting an emotionally enriching, breathtakingly brilliant tale of heartbreak and hope." —Booklist review
Thanks to all who participated and submitted votes for the June LibraryReads list! Be sure to submit your votes for the July LibraryReads list by June 1st.Click here to find out what we're recommending!
Big news, everyone. The HBO TV adaptation of Wally Lamb's beloved New York Times bestselling novel I Know This Much Is True will premier this Sunday, May 10th, at 9pm ET. Check out the trailer below and find out more about the TV series here.
I Know This Much Is True follows Dominick Birdsey, a forty-year-old housepainter living in Three Rivers, Connecticut, who finds his subdued life greatly disturbed when his identical twin brother Thomas, a paranoid schizophrenic, commits a shocking act of violence. Dominick is forced to care for his brother as well as confront dark secrets and pain he has buried deep within himself. I Know This Much Is True is a masterfully told story of alienation and connection, power and abuse, devastation and renewal—an unforgettable masterpiece.
Just check out some of the praise Wally Lamb's I Know This Much Is True has garnered:
"Thoughtful...heart-wrenching...An exercise in soul-baring storytelling—with the soul belonging to 20th-century America itself. It’s hard to read and to stop reading, and impossible to forget." —USA Today
"A gratifying saga of loss and redemption." —People
"Never grapples with anything less than life’s biggest questions.... Lamb clearly aims to be a modern-day Dostoevsky with a pop sensibility." —New York Times Book Review
"A fully developed and triumphantly resolved exploration of one man’s suffering and redemption." —Publishers Weekly starred review
www.librarylovefest.com
