As everyone knows who has said more than ‘hello’ to me for the last six months – I LOVE Aimee Bender’s THE PARTICULAR SADNESS OF LEMON CAKE. I’ve shared this love with many of you and now you are sharing it back! I am thrilled to report that Aimee debuts on the NYT bestseller list at #15 on the list dated 7/18! WooHoo!

I’m giving credit to librarians for ordering promptly and in nice big quantities. She has also made the PW, San Francisco Chronicle, Boston Globe and Los Angeles Times lists. Her tour was so well-attended that she may hit the road again in the fall.

She was plugged for summer reading on Good Morning America, in USA Today and bounded onto the IndieBound bestseller list. NPR called the book “a virtuoso performance” and O Magazine featured in “Our 26 Favorite Books of the Summer.” Earlyword gave it an early shoutout and People gave it four out of four stars. The Wall Street Journal featured it in its Summer Books “Great Expectations” article. And not to forget the star in Library Journal.

I had the pleasure of attending her event here in NYC held at Symphony Space which was packed by a large number of devoted book discussion members. The evening got off to a start with a tremendous ‘dramatic’ reading of the first two chapters by Lillo Way, performance reader and artist, followed by a conversation between Aimee and Heidi Julavits, founding editor of the Believer. The audience got to ask some great questions and then a huge line formed for the signing. This was the first time I met Aimee and I’m so pleased to say that she was just as lovely as I had hoped.

So congratulations to Aimee and congratulations to librarians for embracing this wonderful book which will live on in discussion groups for years to come. I can hardly wait to see what she’ll come up with next! Cake for everyone!

-Marcia Purcell

Today’s the day the lights go out.  Justin Cronin’s much-awaited summer blockbuster THE PASSAGE finally goes on sale.  The reviews have been rolling in and we can’t be more thrilled, because we’ve been singing its praises for some time now.

TIME said “The Passage can stand proudly next to Stephen King’s apocalyptic masterpiece The Stand, but a closer match would be Cormac McCarthy’s The Road: a story about human beings trying to generate new hope in a world from which all hope has long since been burnt.” Read the full article HERE.

 “Cronin has given us what could be the best book of the summer.” -USA Today

Unshelved is running a fun Twitter contest and featured THE PASSAGE as their Book Club strip last week.

We even had a fabulous review from one of our faithful blog readers, The Boston Bibliophile.

So, we hope you are convinced that it is a book not to be missed.  We want to encourage you to enter the Unshelved Twitter contest, so we’ll add a little extra incentive.  Post your tweet entry in our comment section also, and we’ll choose an additional 3 winners who will receive an autographed copy of THE PASSAGE.

The rest of the gang is away at BEA so I thought I’d say a quick “hello” and share with you a great book I’ve recently read.

Lisa Grunwald’s new novel, The Irresistible Henry House began with a barebottomed baby.  Says Grunwald of coming across Joan’s photo: “I clicked on the photograph and read that he had been a “practice baby,” an infant supplied by a local orphanage to Cornell’s home economics ‘practice house,’ where college students learned home-making, complete with a live baby…” Turns out the first baby in the Cornell University program was Joan Domecon (for Domestic Economics) who lived in the practice house for one year in 1919.

What must it have been like for these babies? And who did they turn out to be?  These types of questions inspired Henry House, the title character who has had a way with the ladies his entire life. (I could practically see the dough eyes and gorgeous smile myself.) Brought into a university “practice house” at just a few months old, he is placed in the care of Martha Gaines, a no-nonsense expert who has been doing this for a long time thankyouverymuch. In the hey day of Dr. Spock and his childcare revolution, Martha struggles with her own maternal instincts while instructing her students not to spoil the baby. Eventually Henry becomes the one practice baby to stay.

The reader follows Henry through his odd childhood and into an adolescence filled with grim realizations and burning questions. Grunwald accurately captures the inner turmoil of resentment mixed with love and forges ahead as Henry attempts to reconcile his own complicated identity. Add to this a background that involves Disney’s California, a very Sixties New York, and the Beatles’ London and the result is a delightful mixture of fact and fiction, character and place. Grunwald seems to have hit a topical gold mine (I wanted to Google “practice baby” late into the night!) and fleshed it out with just the right amount of  psychology, history, and narrative. Bravo!

If you do not yet have this on your shelves you must get it! Be sure to point your patrons in the direction of the baby photo in the back. You’re sure to hook a few that way!

-Marie

I’d like to be able to say I read a lot of book reviews. It’s not really the case. The truth is more like, “I glance at a lot of book reviews.” I get the gist. I move on.

But once in awhile, a review is written with such passion that I can’t help but ride the wave–all the way to the end. And this could go either way. Either the reviewer really hates it or the reviewer really loves it. These. These are the most fun to read.

The NYTimes Book Review’s Christopher Buckley really let it fly last Thursday in his review of Tom Rachman’s The Imperfectionists. This is Mr. Rachman’s first novel, and to get a review like this one from America’s top paper, he must be overjoyed. Here’s part of the opening:

I still haven’t answered that question, nor do I know how someone so young — Rachman turns out to be 35, though he looks even younger in his author photo — could have acquired such a precocious grasp of human foibles. The novel is alternately hilarious and heart-wrenching, and it’s assembled like a Rubik’s Cube. I almost feel sorry for Rachman, because a debut of this order sets the bar so high.

Well, five stars if you count the one from me!  David Mitchell’s new novel, The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet is epic historical fiction with a literary bent, fascinating characters, and a mesmerizing setting.  I absolutely loved it and I was not the only one.  Check out what the reviewers are saying:

“It is a rare novel that’s so captivating that the reader feels transported through time and fully immersed in an unfamiliar culture and place, and this is such a novel. . . .This painstakingly researched and original novel is hard to pin to any one genre, for it is a historical novel and cultural study with plenty of intrigue and mystery mixed in. It is intelligent and utterly readable at the same time.” – Library Journal, Starred Review

“It’s as difficult to put this novel down as it is to overestimate Mitchell’s virtually unparalleled mastery of dramatic construction, illuminating characterizations and insight into historical conflict and change. Comparisons to Tolstoy are inevitable, and right on the money.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Mitchell’s rightly been hailed as a virtuoso genius for his genre-bending, fiercely intelligent novels …THE THOUSAND AUTUMNS OF JACOB DE ZOET is a dense and satisfying historical with literary brawn and stylistic panache. ” —Publisher’s Weekly, starred review & Pick of the Week

“Despite the audacious scope, the focus remains intimate; each fascinating character has the opportunity to share his or her story. Everything is patched together seamlessly and interwoven with clever wordplay and enlightening historical details on feudal Japan. First-rate literary fiction and a rousing good yarn, too.” —Booklist, starred review

We’re hoping for more great feedback from you. We gave out many galleys at PLA and I hope some of you have had a chance to read it already. If so, please visit the official book site to leave a comment in the discussion forum. And if you weren’t one of the lucky ones to receive a galley at PLA, then you can start reading the book there:  www.ThousandAutumns.com.

Dear Oh-So-Helpful Librarians!

First of all, thank you so much for all of your great suggestions. I’d never heard of many of the books and they certainly gave me food for thought. I’m sure you have all been unable to sleep and on the edge of your seats waiting to find out which book I ended up picking up. Turns out I found a recent Random House release on my shelf that sparked my fancy, though I am almost certain a blog suggestion will be next on the list. That book is… drumroll please…

The Wives of Henry Oades by Johanna Moran. Based on newspaper article, it is the story of a British family that has relocated to New Zealand where,  mother, Margaret, and the four children are kidnapped by native Maori. Presuming them all lost for good, father, Henry, picks up the pieces and moves to Berkeley, California (home of my alma mater!) where he meets and marries a young widowed mother, Nancy. Then Margaret and the children surface and turn up on the new couple’s doorstep…

I must say I’m really liking this one so far. It is a quick, engrossing read and I’m fascinated by the link to true events.  I received many suggestions via comments on the blog post and on Facebook. This is proof positive of what I have long believed to be true: who better to turn to when you don’t know what to read next than a librarian?

Check out my letter to see what was suggested. You may also find the post here on Facebook! Feel free to add to the growing list! One can never get enough good book recommendations, right?

Many thanks again,

Marie

PS – Want to enter to win a FREE finished copy of The Wives of Henry Oades? Simply sign up for our book group e-newsletter and watch your inbox over the next few days!

A couple of readers recently commented (thanks!) on my review of the new memoir, I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced. Since this book has sparked conversation and contemplation, I thought I’d share this recent op-ed piece in The New York Times  by Pulitzer-Prize winner Nicholas D. Kristof whose book, Half the Sky, is a Random House, Inc. bestseller.

Feel free to comment and let me know what you think! I’d love to discuss.

-Marie

Obviously we have an interest in books selected by Library Journal that are featured in their various subject round-ups. So when the Feb. 1 issue hit my desk, I immediately noticed in the “Spring Into Art” feature a number of titles from Rizzoli.

No surprise. But what WAS a surprise was that when I counted up the titles there were 14! So many wonderful art books from Rizzoli and its various imprints have been included that I just wanted specially to bring them to your attention. OK, some are pricey, but your collection can’t have all mass market and trade paperbacks! Splurge on a EDWARD HOPPER, WONDER WOMAN or TIFFANY GLASS and you and those devotees of your art section will be richly rewarded.

And yes, Rizzoli is one of the many fine RHPS Client Publishers that Random House, Inc. distributes. Aren’t we lucky!

-Marcia

Here’s a list of the included books (*highly recommended for most libraries):

Foster, Carter & others. Edward Hopper. Skira: Rizzoli. May 2010. 240p. ISBN 978-88-572-0283-9. $80.

*Barbara Kruger. Rizzoli. Apr. 2010. 288p. ISBN 978-0-8478-3325-2. $65.

Dennis Hopper and New Hollywood: Actor, Director, Artist. Flammarion: Rizzoli. Apr. 2010. 192p. ISBN 978-2-08-030099-7. $50.

Mackenzie, Mairi. …Isms: Understanding Fashion. Universe: Rizzoli. Feb. 2010. 160p. ISBN 978-0-7893-1826-8. $16.95.

Oaks, Jeff. Wonder Woman: Amazon. Hero. Icon. Universe: Rizzoli. Apr. 2010. 208p. ISBN 978-0-7893-2035-3. $35.

Kennedy, Roger G. Greek Revival America. Rizzoli. Apr. 2010. 464p. ISBN 978-0-8478-3184-5. $75.

Marotta, Antonello. Contemporary Museums. Skira: Rizzoli. Apr. 2010. 240p. ISBN 978-88-572-0258-7. $45.

Dannatt, Adrian & others. Mattia Bonetti. Skira: Rizzoli. Feb. 2010. 112p. ISBN 978-0-8478-3417-4. $55.

*Edelkoort, Li & others. Campana Brothers: Complete Works (So Far). Rizzoli. Mar. 2010. 304p. ISBN 978-0-8478-3326-9. $75.

Lewis, Adam. The Great Lady Decorators: Lessons from the Women Who Invented Interior Design. Rizzoli. Apr. 2010. 256p. ISBN 978-0-8478-3336-8. $65.

Pepall, Rosalind. Tiffany Glass: A Passion for Color. Skira, dist. by Rizzoli. Mar. 2010. 256p. ISBN 978-0-8478-3426-6. $60.

Pryke, Paula. Paula Pryke: Decorating with Flowers. Rizzoli. Apr. 2010. 384p. ISBN 978-0-8478-3429-7. $24.95.

Dangerous Women: The Perils of Muses and Femmes Fatales. Flammarion: Rizzoli. Feb. 2010. 160p. ISBN 978-2-08-030128-4. $39.95.

Highland Living: Landscape, Style, and Traditions of Scotland. Flammarion. Feb. 2010. 208p. ISBN 978-2-08-030133-8. $39.95.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lackshas been getting an amazing amount of buzz in the media lately, so likely your holds lists are growing.  You probably already have this book on your radar, but just in case you’ve been caught napping, I’ll include the basics below.

ABOUT THE BOOK:In 1951 Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cervical cancer and died months later. Doctors took her cells without asking. Those cells never died. They launched a medical revolution and a multimillion dollar industry, yet Henrietta Lacks remains virtually unknown…Skloot brilliantly weaves together the Lacks’s story–past and present–with the story of the birth of bioethics, the story of HeLa cells, and the dark history of experimentation on African Americans. Important, powerful, and compassionate, this is a remarkable work of science and social journalism.

REVIEWS:

THE NEW YORK TIMES said, “…one of the most graceful and moving nonfiction books I’ve read in a very long time.”  Read the full, glowing article HERE.

“While there are other titles on this controversy…this is the most compelling account for general readers, especially those interested in questions of medical research ethics.  Highly recommended.” –LIBRARY JOURNAL

“Writing with a novelist’s artistry, a biologist’s expertise, and the zeal of an investigative reporter, Skloot tells a truly astonishing story of racism and poverty, science and conscience, spirituality and family driven by a galvanizing inquiry into the sanctity of the body and the very nature of the life force.”—BOOKLIST (starred review)

“Science journalist Skloot makes a remarkable debut with this multilayered story about ‘faith, science, journalism, and grace.’…Recalls Adrian Nicole LeBlanc’s Random Family…A rich, resonant tale of modern science, the wonders it can perform and how easily it can exploit society’s most vulnerable people.”—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review)

MEDIA: It was covered on ABC’s World News Tonight on Sunday and in the New York Times‘ “Health” section, and the author was interviewed on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross. For more info on this and links to clips visit EARLYWORD.

FREE!: Rebecca Skloot was in the office yesterday and was kind enough to autograph some copies of her book for us.  I have two copies to give away, please leave a comment for a chance to receive one.

I’ve begun to notice a pattern in my reading. This happens a lot. I’ll jump from historical fiction to literary coming-of-age stories to popular best sellers and back, gobbling them all up along the way.

It seems there is an abundance of Appalachian fiction these days and it would appear that I am slightly addicted to it. We all know how I felt after reading Sweeping Up Glass. I also ventured outside the Random House family last fall and read Velva Jean Learns to Drive and The Well and the Mine, both fine reads. My latest favorite, Bloodroot, is set in East Tennesse’s Smoky Mountains and follows three generations of a family haunted by secrets and madness, blood red love and intense hatred, from the Great Depression to present day. And I must say I agree with a fellow Goodreads.com member who said not to be fooled by the peaceful looking cover, this book is vicious. A debut novel, it is wonderfully written. Somber and heartbreaking, even the most difficult moments are gorgeous. Also woven into the narrative and the lives of the characters are smidges of magical realism that enable the reader to vividly imagine each wild woman and her “haint blue” eyes as well as the ghosts that haunt the residents of Bloodroot Mountain. 

This one is available now. Pick it up. You won’t be sorry!

-Marie