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

I keep returning to the Film section of the New York Times today to see if they’ve posted a review of “Up in the Air” yet. No luck so far. BUT, many other publications have posted their reviews. RottenTomatoes.com’s Top Critics sect is currently posting a 92% positive rating, which is pretty incredible. The film, in case you hadn’t heard, is based on Walter Kirn’s comic novel of the same name.

I’m very excited to see it. And luckily, I’ve got the day off tomorrow, so I’m thinking of moseying over to see a matinee. Anyone else off to the movies this weekend?

On the Trekkie scale, I probably average about a 4 out of 10.  I don’t have a costume and only recently, finally, saw all of the original movies. But I’m a fan nonetheless. I loved the J.J. Abrams movie last summer and am thrilled to see that Library Journal gave a stellar review of Star Trek: The Art of the Film from Titan Books!

“Director J.J. Abrams bold—and smart—reimagining of the dying Star Trek franchise was a pleasant surprise to both critics and especially rabid fans, whose phasers were set on kill if he mistreated their baby. He didn’t. Both Abrams and the screenwriters handled the material with the utmost seriousness and respect it deserved, creating a thrilling sci-fi action adventure revealing the iconic characters’ beginnings. This tie-in volume sports text by NY Times best selling author Vaz (an old friend to sci-fi film fans), and a ton of concept art, screen grabs, and behind-the-scenes shots covering all aspects of the film’s technical production. Chapters cover the creation of the assorted alien species, ships (the Enterprise, of course, gets more than 20 pages of coverage), props, uniforms, poster art, and more. Publisher Titan does Art of books right and this is no exception, the photos and illustrations are outstanding and what fans really want. Just loads of coolness for Trek heads, who’ll be crazy for this book. Grab it.”—Mike Rogers, LJX/LJ

This past weekend Erica, our RHAcademic co-worker Lani, and I flew to Atlanta for the National Council for Social Studies conference. Aside from the great perks of traveling (my personal fave is not having to make my own bed!) one wonderful thing about conferences is that it gives me a chance to discover or rediscover books that somehow missed my radar. This was the case with I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced.

I picked up a galley copy of this slim book as I was drawn to the  image of a beautiful little girl on the cover. Then I noticed the title. 10 years old and divorced?! I was immediately intrigued. Nujood, a Yemeni girl, had no record of the exact date or year of her birth but it was around age ten that she was married, without her consent, to a man three times her senior. She endured life as a wife, forbidden to play or do other childlike things, until one day she decided to get out. She slipped away to a courthouse where she asked to see a judge and demanded a divorce. Her request was granted and Nujood became the first child bride in Yemen to divorce her husband, setting precendence for so many others. 

She writes, “I am a simple village girl whose family had to move to the capital, and I have always obeyed the orders of the men in my family. Since forever, I have learned to say yes to everything. Today, I have decided to say no.” Nujood’s story is written in her voice and its childlike simplicity is exactly what makes it so powerful. Actions are alluded to, feelings are described, and the reader experiences it all with Nujood, from her family struggles to tasting “bizza” and “bebsi” for the first time.

While reading, I often found myself imagining what it would have been like to read this book as a young adult. It is a perfect addition to your Young Adult collection, great for parent/teen reading groups and school assignments. I have no doubt readers of all ages will be inspired and humbled by Nujood’s experience.  

I am Nujood will be published in March 2010. Be sure to add it to your lists!  

 -Marie

Forget Facebook… I’m addicted to GoodReads. I love getting the e-mail notifications that a friend of mine is now reading this book or has finished (and rated/reviewed) that book. Silly I know, but it is fun. I recently became “friends” with a nice fellow Californian named Amy who is also entrenched in the library world. I’d noticed she was reading a galley copy of Alice I Have Been, a novel that tells the story of the real Alice of Wonderland fame. Three of us in RH Library have read and loved this book so I was happy to see it in the hands of someone else. Well, Amy just posted a great review on her blog that I thought I’d share.

Also, keep your eyes peeled for our forthcoming edition of the Random Revelations newsletter. Alice is front and center in a new feature and has also been selected for a Staff Pick. We’re tellin’ ya, it’s good!

-Marie

Have you reviewed a Random House book on your blog lately? Let us know and we just might feature you here!

Are you addicted to GoodReads too? Follow or Friend RHLibrary or RHMarie (me!)

So the long awaited day has come and gone and the race has begun.

I’m am talking about The Lost Symbol race of course. I approached the starting line last night as the wash cycle switched to rinse at my neighborhood laundromat. As I settled into the plastic chair and cracked the spine a woman commented, “That’s the new one, isn’t it?” Seemed to me she’ll be joining the race soon as well.

In the course of my brief (so far) career in publishing this is the first “big” book I’ve been around for — and with a massive print run it is the company’s biggest. This morning Jen, Erica, Dave and I compared page numbers. It seems I am winning so far (page 89 – waiting on laundry will do that to a girl) but Dave is swiftly gaining on me (page 86) with Jen at an impressive 62 and Erica, clearly with better things to do, has made a good start at 24. The contenders, ever eager about their performance, had this to say:

While I want to win The Lost Symbol race, I’m having so much fun reading the book, I don’t want it to end! (Jen)

I had just finished Cleopatra’s Daughter by Michelle Moran yesterday morning and so was perfectly timed to open my crisp  new copy of The Lost Symbol on my commute home last night. I already can’t put it down! And that’s a good thing since I have to immediately passit along to my mother when I’m finished. I’m trying to get it to her before her reserve copy at the library is available! (Erica) 

Insomnia inciting. (Dave)

(For the record Dave also has better things to do than respond to my repeated harassment for a quote. Journalism is rough, folks.)

But there you have it. The race is well under way and the competitors seem to be enjoying themselves so far. While I am personally impressed by all of my 89 pages I’m sure there is someone out there, some die-hard Robert Langdon fan, who has me beat. Anyone?

Maybe we can get Dan Brown to preside over the medal ceremony.

-Marie

Hello friends!

It has been a while. I was away on business and vacation in my home state: sunny California. And sunny it was. I’m surprised I got any reading done but with a 5-6 hour flight both ways there is plenty of time for that. While I did cheat on Random House a bit, I also finished a few of our own titles:

THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES: The second in a new “paranormal” series from Carrie Ryan, this book is published by our kids group and was even better than the first. It picks up in the years following The Forest of Hands and Teeth (read my previous post about that one to get a synopsis) and follows Gabry as as she goes from living a quiet life to confronting the undead, the blossomings of love, and family secrets that change everything. If you haven’t read Forest yet, start there, as Dead-Tossed won’t be available until March 2010.

FACTORY GIRLS: FROM VILLAGE TO CITY IN A CHANGING CHINA: Wall Street Journal reporter Leslie T. Chang effectively drops her reader into the life of the “factory girls,” young  Chinese women who leave their villages and families for the province of Dongguan – a city of factories where everything from Coach to Nike is made. Focusing on dating practices, job hunts, English classes, and other ways of life, this book gives readers a glimpse into the culture surrounding the world that has been created all in the name of our sneakers and electronics. As a young woman who “migrated” from the suburbs to the city myself, I was intrigued by the stories of the women Chang interviewed and befriended and our shared similarites. This book was named a New York Times Book Review “Notable Book” and it is easy to see why – approachable and illuminating, this is not one to miss.

THE TRIPLE BIND: SAVING OUR TEENAGE GIRLS FROM TODAY’S PRESSURES: Ever wonder why more adolescents suffer from troubling emotional problems today than in decades past? Dr. Stephen Hinshaw (chair of the Psychology Department at my alma mater!) points to what he calls “The Triple Bind.” Today’s young girls are feeling more and more pressure to “Be pretty, sweet, and nice” and at the same time “be athletic, competitive, and get straight A’s” and the clicher… “be impossibly perfect”. This is an interesting read for anyone who has a teen girl in his or her life – or ever was one.

To welcome myself back to the blog after my absense, I’ve procured a copy of The Triple Bind that I’d love to send to one lucky reader. Please comment for your chance to win!

- Marie