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20SomethingReads.com Newsletter |
November 12, 2012 |
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November Books and Literary Love for Victims of Hurricane Sandy!
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This month’s newsletter is a little delayed as we have been dealing with Hurricane Sandy here in the New York metropolitan area and we think many of you have been in the same boat. Thankfully everyone in our office was very lucky and no one suffered any major damage. And the office never lost power. There were a few days when it was a challenge to remember who had power, but no transit to the office and who had no power, but could get there.
The literary community has always been a tight-knit bunch, and they are rallying together once more to help everyone affected by Sandy the best way they know how --- through books! If you’re interested in helping out, see the information below about First Book and their efforts to get books into childrens' hands.
If you're looking for inspiration, then powerHouse Arena, a bookstore and event space in Brooklyn, has the Tumblr for you! Just to show they haven't lost their sense of humor, they created SandyHateBooks.Tumblr.com, which is definitely worth reading, and they will be hosting a fundraiser at their downtown Brooklyn location, which suffered severe flooding in the storm. Bestselling authors including Jonathan Franzen, Jennifer Egan and more will be on hand on Saturday, November 17th to help powerHouse Arena recover. For more information on the event click here.
Between Sandy, the election and a snow-filled nor’easter, we almost forgot that November had arrived! We all know what November means --- holiday red cups at Starbucks! --- and some highly anticipated books that we have been waiting all year for. On sale now is BRUCE by Peter Ames Carlin, a comprehensive biography of rock star Bruce Springsteen, which offers unprecedented access to the legendary musician. Also, two of our favorite YA series are coming to an end, with the final books in Becca Fitzpatrick’s Hush, Hush series, FINALE out now, and Ally Condie’s REACHED, the conclusion to her epic Matched trilogy, which will be available on November 13.
If you’re a YA fan then we invite you to take our 2012 YA Reader Survey on Teenreads.com. The survey features questions about your reading habits, and is open until November 30. Anyone who takes the survey can also enter to win one of 450 (!) free books, which you won’t want to miss out on!
Last month we gave you a list of spooky reads from Stephen King in our “King” of Horrors bookshelf, and this month we have two bookshelves with more light-hearted themes.
First up is the third shelf in our fantasy-themed collection. The latest fantasy shelf includes 20 Female Fantasy Authors that every reader should add to their shelf.
We also have a Holiday Cookbooks shelf to get everyone in the spirit! Compiled by Amy Alessio --- librarian, cookbook collector and cook extraordinaire --- the collection includes classic recipes and new cookbooks, all featuring great ideas for the holiday season. May we inspire you to buy one --- and cook something special this holiday season to dazzle family and friends.
I hope you’re enjoying “red cup season” as much as I am. There’s nothing quite like the holiday cups at Starbucks and peppermint mochas! I’m like a kid in a candy store during the months of November and December.
In our next newsletter I’ll let you all know what I thought of Breaking Dawn Part II, but for now I will just tell you that I am extremely disappointed in RPatz for taking KStew back. You agree?
Enjoy your red cups, sweet treats and don't eat too much on Thanksgiving --- our Holiday Cookbooks collection shows that the best holiday eating days happen in December, so leave room for the good stuff!
---Maureen Linehan (Maureen@bookreporter.com)
PS. Do you have a literary tattoo? If so, send me a photo of it. Next month I will be sharing mine!
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Still Ongoing on 20SomethingReads.com
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Bookshelf: Fall 2012 Books On Screen - Featuring 20 upcoming movie adaptations of your favorite books; consider this a heads up on what you want to start reading (or re-reading) now.
Bookshelf: Stand-Alone Fantasy Titles - These 20 Stand-Alone Fantasy Titles will keep you entertained while dreaming of far off magical lands brought to you by our contributor, Steve Hubbard. This is a companion bookshelf to our collection of 20 Must-Read Fantasy Series from June. Whether you are a true fan of this genre --- or just know it a bit (after all, if you read Harry Potter you've read fantasy) --- Steve has a list worth noting.
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What's NEW on 20SomethingReads.com?
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Special Feature: CREWEL by Gennifer Albin
What if your entire life was decided for you? In a world where the Guild decides everything, one extraordinary girl dares to defy the power of men and the boundaries of love.
Bookshelf: Female Fantasy Authors
Featuring 20 great fantasy novels by female authors, this collection of books should be on every fantasy readers bookshelf.
Bookshelf: Holiday Cookbooks
It's that time of year! With the holidays quickly approaching, our contributor Amy Alessio assembled a collection of holiday cookbooks to help you plan your menu!
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What's Coming Up on 20SomethingReads.com?
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Books On Screen: Anna Karenina, Lincoln, Breaking Dawn, Life of Pi, Silver Linings Playbook (November)
New Bookshelf: Downton Abbey-Themed Bookshelf (December)
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This Week's Reviews
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PEACHES FOR FATHER FRANCIS by Joanne Harris (Fiction)
When Vianne Rocher receives a letter from beyond the grave, she has no choice but to go back to Lansquenet, where she opened a chocolate shop eight years ago. But she finds the once-beautiful French village changed in unexpected ways. Most surprising of all, her old nemesis, Father Francis Reynaud, desperately needs her help. Can Vianne work her magic once again? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
ONE FOR THE BOOKS by Joe Queenan (Humor)
Joe Queenan became a voracious reader as a means of escape from a joyless childhood in a Philadelphia housing project. In the years since then, he has dedicated himself to an assortment of idiosyncratic reading challenges: spending a year reading only short books, spending a year reading books he always suspected he would hate, spending a year reading books he picked with his eyes closed. In ONE FOR THE BOOKS, Queenan tries to come to terms with his own eccentric reading style. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE ELEPHANT KEEPERS' CHILDREN by Peter Høeg (Fiction)
Fourteen-year-old Peter and his two siblings live on the fictional island of Finø, where people of all religious faiths coexist peacefully. Yet nothing is at it seems. When their eccentric and profoundly devout mother and father suddenly disappear, they must question whether their parents' relentless quest to boost church attendance has put them in danger. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
THE VANISHING POINT by Val McDermid (Thriller)
Young Jimmy Higgins is snatched from an airport security checkpoint while his guardian, Stephanie Harker, watches helplessly. Assisting the FBI in their attempt to recover the missing boy, Stephanie reaches into the past to uncover the motive for the abduction. Has Jimmy been taken by his own relatives? Is Stephanie’s obsessive ex-lover trying to teach her a lesson? Has a stalker of Jimmy’s mother come back to haunt them all? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
VALLEY OF ASHES by Cornelia Read (Mystery)
Madeline Dare trades New York's gritty streets for the tree-lined avenues of Boulder, Colorado, when her husband lands a promising job. But Boulder isn't nearly as tranquil as it seems: there's a serial arsonist at large in the city. As Madeline closes in on the culprit, the fires turn deadly --- and the stakes tragically personal. She'll need every ounce of strength and courage she has to keep the flames from reaching her own doorstep, threatening all she holds most dear. Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds.
JACK REACHER’S RULES featuring an introduction by Lee Child (Thriller)
Jack Reacher takes on all comers, using a potent mixture of brutal strength and pure cunning. Now, his wisdom, his training, and even his wit has been compiled into a definitive guide to Jack Reacher. With quotes from Lee Child's bestselling novels, tips and tricks based on their plots, JACK REACHER’S RULES is the perfect companion for both rookie readers and seasoned Reacher veterans. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE ELEMENTALS by Francesca Lia Block (Fiction)
When Ariel Silverman goes off to UC Berkeley, she is grappling with more than the usual college freshman disorientation. Friendless and sensitive, she wanders into a realm of seductive visions --- and macabre nightmares. Reviewed by Kathy Weissman.
OUTRAGE: An Inspector Erlendur Novel written by Arnaldur Indridason, translated by Anna Yates (Thriller)
Haunted by personal demons, Detective Erlendur decides to take a short leave of absence, putting his female assistant, Elinborg, in charge while he is gone. When a disturbing case lands on her desk, Elinborg is quickly thrust into a world of violent crime. A serial rapist is on the loose, and the clock is ticking as the police race to catch him before he strikes again.Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub. |
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Hurricane Sandy: How You Can Help
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First Book --- an organization dedicatd to providing access to new books for children in need --- is working to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy. In partnership with their local volunteers and partners they are working to restock school and home libraries with brand-new, high-quality books.
In less than 48 hours, they raised enough to provide thousands of new books to children in need in the affected areas.
Interested in contributing to their cause? For every $2.50 you contribute it will provide a new book to a child affected by the storm, and every donation will be matched — dollar for dollar — by the American Federation of Teachers and the Albert Shanker Institute.
Click here if you would like to donate to First Book, or learn more about thei relief efforts. |
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Take the 2012 YA Readers Survey!
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Our 2012 YA Readers Survey is live! We ask about YA books and authors, but also delve into your thoughts on a whole lot more that is happening with pop culture media.
By completing the survey, you are eligible to enter a contest to win one of 450 books our publisher friends have provided to us. There are PLENTY of prizes, which means spread the word! The 2012 Readers Survey is for everyone who loves reading YA books who is over 10 years old and living in the U.S. (We still love all of you in Canada and overseas, but we know enough of the questions are U.S.-centric and those residing elsewhere wouldn’t be able to reply.)
We assume it will take between 20-30 minutes to complete. Please allow the appropriate amount of time to complete it in one sitting. We had a test group take it and they remarked that the time to take it flew by!
Click here for more details and to take the survey. |
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