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Sing Out, Sing Out: Song of Achilles is Almost Here!

March 5, 2012

Ok, by this time, if you are not familiar with Madeline Miller's debut novel, The Song of Achilles, you clearly have not been reading this blog. We are certainly fans, as are Library Journal and PW who gave it starred reviews, and a few other people you might be familiar with. Well now everyone can become a fan because it goes on sale Tuesday, March 6th!

Click through for a list of events that Madeline Miller will be doing, and if she is near you I strongly suggest going because she is so lovely and incredibly interesting and smart and will be very happy to see you!

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Sing Out, Sing Out: Song of Achilles is Almost Here!Read More »

March 2, 2012

At PLA (which is quickly approaching!), the indefatigable Nancy Pearl will host a book buzz with some rock star library marketing folks, including our very own Virginia Stanley.

Wednesday, March 14
10:30 AM–12:00 PM
Pennsylvania Convention Center–Grand Ballroom B

It will highlight some of the best upcoming books for adults from across the publishing industry, so do not miss out! Click through to print the handout with the titles Virginia will be presenting.

Smile!

March 2, 2012

Found this friendly scene on my desk when I came back from lunch…3 guesses who left me the fruit salutations?

Hint: She really likes silly hats.

Happy Weekend!

– Annie

Maisie, Maisie, Maisie!

March 2, 2012

Jacqueline Winspear is bringing us another stellar Maisie Dobbs mystery; Elegy for Eddie, goes on sale March 27 and we are celebrating with some excellent Twitter conversations for the entire month leading up to it. Simply mark your calendars, follow #maisie and start chatting with:

Nancy Pearl, Thursday, March 8th at 1pm EST
Jennifer Barth, Friday, March 16th at 3pm EST
Elaine Petrocelli, Friday, March 23 at 3pm EST
Jacqueline Winspear (herself!), Friday, March 30 at 3pm EST

For more details visit:

www.facebook.com/jacquelinewinspear

www.maisiedobbs.com

– Annie

I’m All Shook Up Over Our New Mascot!

February 28, 2012

Ta-da! Our Facebook clue had some of you on the right track, but I bet you didn't think it would lead to this magical piece of art. It appeared this afternoon (a gift for Virginia), and I am equal parts horrified and in love. Such craftsmanship! Such color choice! Such shiny, waxy features. Between our holiday hat and our silver shaker (not to mention that lovely lady in the background), our offices are starting to look like this gentleman's home. Makes coming to work way more fun!

– Annie

Jolly Good NYT Review of Londoners

February 28, 2012

I lived in London for a few months after college, and since then it has always held a nostalgic place in my heart. Now Craig Taylor's new book, Londoners, allows me to revisit my younger days when I spent hours walking the streets of every neighborhood in Zone 1, touring the countless free museums and saving my pounds for West End performances (Man, was I ever a 22 year old stereotype, but it was magical!). An acclaimed journalist, Taylor has spent years traversing every corner of the city, getting the most interesting Londoners to talk about their lives and their city with candor and humor. The result is a vibrant, narrative portrait of London rich and poor, old and young, native and immigrant, male and female.

Perhaps Sarah Lyall at the New York Times also has great memories of this wonderful city because her NYT Book Review (March 4) is chock-a-block full of praise:

“[A] rich and exuberant kaleidoscopic portrait of a great, messy, noisy, daunting, inspiring, maddening, enthralling, constantly shifting Rorschach test of a place…though countless excellent books have been written on the city, this is the one that best captures what it’s like to live in London right now, through the words of the people themselves–just as Studs Terkel did for Chicago in his oral histories years ago…the material [Taylor] elicits proves his skill not only in asking questions that find the eloquence even in the naturally taciturn, but also in knowing the value of keeping offstage. Londoners is a master class in self-effacing journalism. In an age of celebrity interviews and bombastic, self-loving television hosts, Taylor is the rare specimen who appears genuinely to believe that other people’s words are more interesting than his own…Oral histories are only as good as the people in them, and this is as good an array as you could hope for… In Taylor’s patient and sympathetic hands, regular people become poets, philosophers, orators.”

***

Be sure to read the whole review and pick up the book if you can….Also, while we are sharing, do you have any London stories? I want to hear!

– Annie

No Mark Upon Her Makes NYT Bestseller List!

February 22, 2012

Deborah Crombie was a hit at ALA Midwinter, speaking at the Mystery Authors Pop Top Stage and signing heaps of copies of her new book, No Mark Upon Her. She has continued to be a hit on an even larger stage – the New York Times bestselling list! Deborah's book came in at #12 – congratulations!

The Miami Herald had some lovely things to say:

“No Mark Upon Her is again deserving of fans’ devotion due largely to [Crombie's] intelligent, subtle wit and above all, her meticulous attention to detail.”

And the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal thinks "her writing is sophisticated and her suspense taut.”

Want to check out No Mark Upon Her for yourself? First 10 commenters to tell me which of Deborah's book they like best (and there are several to choose from!) and WHY, get a copy.

And don't miss this video of Deborah Crombie and “Leander the Hippo” on KTUL/Good Day Tulsa:

– Annie

The WSJ Picks Its Poison

February 21, 2012

And it comes in the form of Peter Robinson's latest, Before the Poison:

“With this stand-alone novel, Mr. Robinson—best-known for his award-winning Inspector Banks mystery series—has fashioned a gripping tale that brings to mind not only old-time Hollywood but also British "golden age" storytelling in the Agatha Christie and Daphne du Maurier tradition.”

***

FULL REVIEW: Old movies loom large on the mental landscape of Chris Lowndes, the chief narrator of Peter Robinson's ambitiously structured and captivating "Before the Poison" (Morrow, 358 pages, $25.99). British-born Lowndes lives in Los Angeles and composes film scores in the manner of such moody 1940s and '50s maestros as Bernard Herrmann and Franz Waxman, at least when his Hollywood bosses let him. But then, after the death of his wife, he moves back to England. He buys an old estate in a remote reach of Yorkshire and soon falls under the spell of the house's history. In short, he begins living a story redolent of the old movies he loves—romantic and suspenseful classics like "Vertigo," "Rebecca" and, yes, "Laura."

Entranced by a portrait of Grace Fox, the house's mistress from 60 years ago, Lowndes learns that this beautiful woman was hanged for the poisoning murder of her husband, a doctor. She is said to have killed him because he had discovered her affair with a young artist.

Lowndes, out of a compulsion he can't quite comprehend, begins exploring the dead woman's story. He interviews elderly locals and pores over old documents with the resourcefulness of a private detective. "You're certainly going to some lengths in this business," a potential new girlfriend, already jealous, observes. "Have you fallen in love with a ghost?"

***

– Annie

Ken Davis Debunks Some Presidential Myths and Explains Presidents Day

February 20, 2012

Remember back in the day when you had Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays off? Then at some point they performed a magic trick and presto-chango, they were lumped together into Presidents Day so slackers (ahem) could only be lazy one day in February. Well your friendly and super smart neighborhood historian, Mr. Kenneth C. Davis, has something to say about that:

"Really it is George Washington’s Birthday –federally speaking that is. The official designation of the federal holiday observed on the third Monday of February was, and still is, Washington’s Birthday."

So there you have it. You can find out lots more information on Presidents Day over on Ken's site including some cool trivia questions, e.g.

Who was the first President born an American citizen?
Martin van Buren, the eighth, also known as “Old Kinderhook,” or “OK”. All of his predecessors were born British subjects during the colonial era.

And most importantly, do not miss this video of Ken rocking a GW wig – awesome!

– Annie

Introducing Our Valentine’s Day Mascot

February 17, 2012

AMPU-TEDDY!

Scaring kids and tasting delicious since 2012. You should get one of your own…Truth!

Happy Weekend!

– Annie

Cooking the Books, Hitting the List

February 17, 2012

Foodies might've heard that the IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals) announced their 2012 award finalists this week. We are tickled pink to have made the list in a few different categories, including:

Cookbooks, American

· American Flavor, Author: Andrew Carmellini; Editor: Libby Edelson; Publisher: Ecco/Harper Collins

International

· The Food of Spain, Author: Claudia Roden; Editor: Libby Edelson; Publisher: HarperCollins/Ecco

Literary Food Writing

· Season to Taste, Author: Molly Birnbaum; Editor: Matt Weiland; Publishers: HarperCollins/Ecco

Congratulations to the nominees (the full list can be found here). And now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some eating to do!

-Kayleigh

Spanish Influenza? Sounds Like a Case for Bess Crawford.

February 16, 2012

If you're one of the many people who watched this week's episode of Downton Abbey, you might find yourself suddenly curious about–spoiler alert–Spanish Influenza. I did some googling this morning, and apparently in 1918, 20somethings were in trouble:

"Not only was the Spanish Flu (as it came to be known) strikingly virulent, but it displayed an unusual preference in its choice of victims—tending to select young healthy adults over those with weakened immune systems, as in the very young, the very old, and the infirm. The normal age distribution for flu mortality was completely reversed, and had the effect of gouging from society's infrastructure the bulk of those responsible for its day to day maintenance. No wonder people thought the social order was breaking down. It very nearly did."

Seriously, though, if you haven't seen the episode yet, don't read this blog post, which questions the accuracy of Downton's experience with the epidemic. Instead, I recommend taking some precautionary vitamin C and getting started on the Bess Crawford series by Charles Todd (a mother and son writing team who have garnered fans, and accolades, the world over). The latest book in the series, An Unmarked Grave, has our intrepid battlefield nurse/sleuth taking on Spanish Influenza and a soldier's mysterious murder. Fans of Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series and Agatha Christie devotees will especially enjoy Charles Todd. But don't just take my word for it–if you're going to PLA next month, meet Caroline Todd (one half of the duo) and see for yourself. Caroline will be participating in the AAP's Mystery Solved Panel and afterwards, signing at the HarperCollins booth (#523). Not going to Philly? You can catch her on the Mystery PopTop Stage at ALA this summer.

So many mysteries, so little time! You might just want to call in sick for this series.

-Kayleigh

SLJ Dishes with Madeline Miller

February 16, 2012

The Song of Achilles is another debut novel that had us all at hello. Building on the groundwork of The Iliad, Madeline Miller’s page-turning, profoundly moving and blisteringly paced retelling of the epic Trojan War engages the reader immediately; the New York TImes said it "is drenched with longing not seen since “Brokeback Mountain,” Yowza! Miller has a BA and MA in Latin and Ancient Greek (she's actually read The Illiad in ancient Greek – yeah, me too), and studied at the Yale School of Drama, specializing in adapting classical tales to a modern audience, so she knows exactly how to weave a compelling tale.

She also happens to be on the of the loveliest people this side of the River Styx.

School Library Journal sat down with Madeline to find out what inspired her and how she formed her beautiful story:

When did you first hear the Iliad?

My mother began reading the Iliad and Greek myths to me when I was a child, and from the first, I was completely hooked. Even despite the gods and monsters, the stories felt intensely real to me. The heroes themselves weren't like the heroes in other books—they were angry, grief-stricken, passionate, and full of faults. I felt like I was being given a scandalous peek at the adult world. And, of course, I loved the thrilling adventures.

I was lucky to have a really terrific Latin teacher in high school, who not only encouraged my interest in Latin, but also offered courses in extra-curricular Greek. I jumped at the chance. I was so excited to be able to read these works in their original language. It was no longer just about the stories themselves—which were still amazing—but also about the incredible poetry. Reading Vergil's Aeneid and Homer's Iliad together was a literary revelation. Both men are master craftsmen of the highest order.

For the rest of the interview, check out the SLJ site.

– Annie

Maisie March Madness

February 16, 2012

Jacqueline Winspear is bringing us another stellar Maisie Dobbs mystery; Elegy for Eddie, goes on sale March 27 and we are celebrating with some excellent Twitter conversations for the entire month leading up to it. Simply mark your calendars, follow #maisie and start chatting with:

Nancy Pearl, Thursday, March 8th at 1pm EST
Jennifer Barth, Friday, March 16th at 3pm EST
Elaine Petrocelli, Friday, March 23 at 3pm EST
Jacqueline Winspear (herself!), Friday, March 30 at 3pm EST

For more details visit:

www.facebook.com/jacquelinewinspear

www.maisiedobbs.com

– Annie

Starred Review for Wiley Cash!

February 15, 2012

It is no surprise that we here in Library Land lurve (with a R cause it's for real) Wiley Cash's debut novel, A Land More Kind Than Home, and we are not alone. The smart people over at Library Journal have given Mr. Cash a starred review in the 3/1/12 issue.

***

As lyrical, beautiful, and uncomplicated as the classic ballads of Appalachia, Cash’s first novel is a tragic story of misplaced faith and love gone wrong, set in the mountains of North Carolina. The River Road Church of Christ in Signs Following is a secretive place, with newspapers taped over the windows so you can’t see in, and the minister, Carson Chambliss, is often seen on a Sunday morning carrying cages made of wood and chicken-wire into the building. Still, the neighbors pay little attention until an autistic child becomes the victim of a special healing service, and the local sheriff launches an investigation. Told in three voices—of the sheriff; the child’s younger brother, Jess; and an elderly church member, Adelaide Lyle—the tragedy unfolds and compounds upon itself as the backgrounds of the major players are revealed and each reacts as conscience and faith demand. VERDICT In a style reminiscent of Tom Franklin and John Hart, Cash captures the reader’s imagination in the first chapter, with the minister and his snakes, and maintains the wonder of the tale through to the coda of faith and affirmation. Lovers of Southern fiction should not miss this one.—Thomas Kilpatrick, formerly with Southern Illinois Univ. Lib., Carbondale

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Wiley will be signing at PLA in booth 523, March 15, so be sure to stop by and get a signed copy!

– Annie

Jenne Turner

804 Eagle #20

Denton, Texas 76201

(Valentine’s Day) Guest Post: Sara Benincasa

February 14, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day, LLF friends! Hope you all feel loved today and everyday – we certainly love you all! As a special treat for today, we have a guest posting by the very funny Sara Benincasa, author of Agorafabulous!: Dispatches From My Bedroom. Her book has been getting lots of praise from little known publications like Kirkus and PW.

“A blisteringly funny yet affecting debut memoir about a young woman’s struggle to overcome panic disorder and agoraphobia… Fabulously quirky and outrageous.” —Kirkus

"AGORAFABULOUS! is “funny and unflinchingly honest” –Publishers Weekly

***

It’s Valentine’s Day 2012, and I'm super-into my date. It’s not a guy (or a girl) – it’s my book, Agorafabulous!: Dispatches From My Bedroom, which comes out this very day. For me, the greatest Valentine’s Day present of all would be to wander into the New York Public Library (or the Brooklyn Public Library, or the Queens Library) and spy a patron curled up with my book. It’s not the sexiest Valentine’s Day fantasy, but it's mine. Anyhoo, I clearly have a very strong opinion on which book you ought to purchase (or borrow!) as a low- or no-cost Valentine for your beloved, but ethics dictates that I must also suggest books that were not written by me. Sigh. Here are a few of my personal favorites.

1.) Sandman by Neil Gaiman (the complete series) – Gaiman borrows from several world mythologies, as well as the DC universe, in order to tell the powerful, sad, sexy, freakish, frightening, marvelous tale of Dream and his unruly siblings Death, Destruction, Despair, Desire, Delirium, and Destiny. Perfect for the comic book geek in your life, or for anyone who is open to the idea that great literature can arrive in the form of sequential art as well as in text.

2.) Dangerous Angels: The Weetzie Bat Books by Francesca Lia Block – Forget your significant other; these books will make you fall deeply in love with Los Angeles, or at least with the mythical Los Angeles Block creates in these modern fairy tales. Originally marketed as young adult novels, these stories are suitable for romantics of all ages.

3.) The AP Stylebook – For the obsessive journalist or college student in your life, there's nothing more deliciously decadent than this entire book full of arbitrary rules of grammar and usage. Except, perhaps for…

4.) The Chicago Manual of Style – Hubba hubba!

5.) Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury – For a sharply written, deeply cynical dystopian love letter to books, I'll never stop loving Bradbury's masterpiece.

– Sara

Click through to win a copy!

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(Valentine’s Day) Guest Post: Sara BenincasaRead More »

Deborah Crombie Fans in the Audience?

February 7, 2012

UPDATE: This contest is now closed. Stay tuned for similar ones!

I know there are! And I have a great prize for one of you. Deborah was at ALA Midwinter and signed the blow-up poster of the cover of her latest suspense novel, No Mark Upon Her. (FYI- it is approximately 20"x30"). The first person to email me (librarylovefest@harpercollins.com) and tell me what number Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James novel this is AND which book is your favorite, gets it!

– Annie

The Buena Salud Guide for a Heathy Heart

February 7, 2012

Why hello there!

We're very excited to share the news that The Buena Salud Guide for a Healthy Heart is on Library Journal's Best Books 2011: Consumer Health list. It's a well-deserved honor–the Buena Salud series has broken language barriers and improved the health of millions in the process. Jane Delgado is the President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the nation's largest organization of health and human service providers to Hispanics, serving over 15 million people annually. Dr. Delgado was named a 2008 Health Hero of the Year by WebMD, and one of the most influential Hispanics in the hemisphere by People en Espanol. Felicidades, Jane!

-Kayleigh

The Boiling Season

February 3, 2012

Christoper Hebert is a Hopwood Award winner, and in his stunning debut novel, The Boiling Season, an ambitious young man struggles to define himself and his future in a Caribbean nation (Haiti) plunged into violent revolution .

Michael Knight, author of The Typist and Divining Rod says it's "a compelling psychological study, a tour-de-force of restrained, unreliable first-person narration, a love letter to a beautiful, forgotten place, and a visceral depiction of Haitian political upheaval."

Check out the book trailer and let us hear your thoughts.

– Annie

Do You Want to Know a Secret?

February 3, 2012

Gossip is the latest treat from Beth Gutcheon, an author whom Susan Isaacs from the New York Times Book Review calls “a gifted storyteller…her characters are intelligent, brave, and witty…human and real.” This novel is a tale of intimacy and betrayal, trust and fidelity, friendship and motherhood that explores the way we use "information"—be it true, false, or imagined—to sustain, and occasionally destroy, one another.

Library Journal said Gossip is “good women’s fiction for book clubs," and Booklist agrees that it's "a graceful and elegant novel that explores the unintended damage simmering hostility and sharing confidences can bring."

Plus it has a cute cover – I'd like to be jauntily sway down the street arm in arm with a girlfriend. If only walking in heels didn't make me want to cry.

Who wants a copy?? First 10 NEW people to leave comments about their favorite gal pal books get one! I want to see some fresh blood out there.

– Annie

Bond Girl is a Hit

February 2, 2012

We are big fans of Erin Duffy, who's first book, Bond GIrl just had it's book birthday on January 24th. She was signing at the HarperCollins booth at Midwinter, and she could not have been cooler. She was also great at the ALTAFF tea, making everyone laugh and sharing stories of her childhood library experiences.

The Washington Post just posted a great review which you should check out in its entirety. They say, "It’s about time chick lit made a move to occupy Wall Street… Erin Duffy deftly raises that tent."

Who wants a copy?? Email librarylovefest@harpercollins.com to get yours!

– Annie

Ron Rash’s Serena to Become Movie!

February 1, 2012

Ron Rash was at ALA Midwinter signing copies of his latest novel, The Cove, which is coming out in April. As if this wasn't cool enough, we now have confirmed big news that Serena, his 2008 beauty and PEN/Faulknere Finalist, is being made into a movie, starring (another beauty) Bradley Cooper and hot up and comer (and Hunger Games star – who's excited for that movie?!?!) Jennifer Lawrence. I am definitely going to be lined up to see this one…who wants to go with me? Check out more details at NY Mag.

– Annie

Christopher Moore Gets Rave Reviews for Sacre Bleu

February 1, 2012

Christopher Moore, NYT bestselling author of Bite Me and Fool, has a new book coming out in April and word on the street is that it's FAB! Sacre Bleu is a delectable confection of intrigue, passion, and art history. It is the portrait of an artist as a young man, his mysterious girlfriend, and a colorful cast of characters with can-can girls, baguettes, and fine French cognac thrown in for good measure. There are elements of suspence, comic escapes and thrilling mysteries….but you don't have to take my word for it (that is totally stolen from Reading Rainbow's Levar Burton, fyi).

Library Journal has given it a *starred review*:

Moore (Fool; You Suck) set out to write a book about the color blue. What he ended up with is a surprisingly complex novel full of love, death, art, and mystery. When baker–turned–aspiring artist Lucien Lessard, whose father was friends with some of the preeminent French artists of the late 19th century, receives a special tube of vibrant blue paint from the mysterious Juliette, his amateurish painting becomes masterly and his life becomes a mess. Obsessed with painting and loving Juliette, Lucien must discover the mystery of the blue paint, the origins of Juliette, and the identity of her near-constant companion, the frighteningly sinister Colorman who haunted other artists like Van Gogh, Monet, Pissarro, and Cézanne. In the end, the true question for Lucien is, “At what price art?” VERDICT Don’t let Moore’s quirky characters and bawdy language fool you. His writing has depth, and his peculiar take on the impressionists will reel you in. One part art history (with images of masterpieces interspersed with the narrative), one part paranormal mystery, and one part love story, this is a worthy read. Considering the large marketing push and Moore’s rabid fan base, expect demand. [Nine-city tour; see Prepub Alert, 10/9/11.]—Jennifer Beach, Cumberland Cty. P.L., VA

****

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Christopher Moore Gets Rave Reviews for Sacre BleuRead More »

Adriana Trigiani ♥ Skype! a.k.a How to Skype Authors to Your Library!

January 31, 2012

Now that Adriana has shown you exactly how easy it is to Skype to your library, why not try it out?

We regret that we can't include everyone, but for now this is only open to public libraries and will primarily feature adult authors.

Click through to see which authors are available for virtual visits to your libraries…

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Adriana Trigiani ♥ Skype! a.k.a How to Skype Authors to Your Library!Read More »

Who Doesn’t Love Downton Abbey??

January 31, 2012

I pose this question because I am genuinely curious….who on earth does not love this show? It's so entertaining and (melo)dramatic and beautifully designed. So if you are currently properly into all things WWI era, you should check out these books:

Voyagers of the Titanic by RIchard Davenport-Hines

A Bitter Truth by Charles Todd

– Annie