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20SomethingReads.com Newsletter |
May 3, 2013 |
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THE GREAT GATSBY Fever
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Networking. It's the one important word that all 20somethings hear when we begin working in the professional world. At a graduate program I attended a few summers ago, the essential underlying goal of the six-week course was to network --- network with peers and professionals alike. Everyone, no matter the age, is networking on a daily basis…even when we make new friends, no matter where we meet them. In a social media driven world, the concept of networking has taken new strides that change the way we communicate with each other, find potential work partners and get ourselves, our jobs and our goals known to one another. Especially when starting out at a job, getting to know the people in your industry and those in other industries who work closely to your own is crucial for personal, professional development.
Of course, the idea of networking is not groundbreaking news. As a 20something, networking seems like second nature. So when Teenreads.com and Kidsreads.com Content Coordinator Liz Kossnar was passed along an invitation to a re-launch party for an advertising technology brand, she did what any right-minded, networking young professional would do --- she extended the invite to me.
Conveniently, Liz and I live down the street from one another and on a Tuesday at 8pm sharp we met on my corner to embark on this networking event together. Held at a Chelsea-neighborhood nightclub, the venue was casual chic and there were young professionals galore. We met several different people in the advertising industry and beyond, boldly introducing ourselves and striking up conversations…as any new NY’er would do. While we saw no real potential in collaborating on work-related projects with many of the people we met, they were still interesting to get to know.
Attending the event was also a refreshing reminder of how glad (and lucky!) I am to work with the people I do. By the way, Carol has been teasing us about networking all week while also encouraging us to go out. She keeps asking if the "networking" has an open bar involved, clearly remembering this added bonus when you are in your twenties and out on the town.
Speaking of being out on the town...is it just us, or is everyone talking about THE GREAT GATSBY? As the movie remake release date draws nearer and nearer (Friday, May 10th…for all of you who haven’t been paying attention), it seems like GATSBY fever is ramping up by the hour. In addition to the anticipation of seeing the first film trio of Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire (a cinematically compelling combination), I think it is safe to say that everyone is just as excited for the music, complete with celebrity power couple hip-hop icon Jay Z, who is in charge of the original score for the film, and his ultra-glamorous wife, Beyonce, who is adding her famous vocals to the mix.
Beyond the pop culture additions to the film, GATSBY fever is taking over our lifestyles by storm. Just the other day, I was walking down Madison Avenue past a Brooks Brothers store and saw that the brand was doing a clothing collaboration with THE GREAT GATSBY movie costume designer. (By the way, the menswear in the original Gatsby was done by Ralph Lauren who was still building his business at that time.) And fresh off the heels of "Downton Abbey," in which Season 3 ends during the 1920s, a brief return to the epic decade is completely in order.
I truly hope that Baz Luhrmann’s typical visual feast for the eyes and auditory stimulation will not disappoint, but many viewers are skeptical, some are indifferent and few are expecting the very best. Known for turning classic masterpieces into modern retellings, Luhrmann’s rendition of Romeo and Juliet took one of the most tragic love stories and modernized it to sensational extremes. It was beautiful, violent and heartbreakingly full of passion. But, can THE GREAT GATSBY live up to our expectations? Only time will tell and I’m sure that I, along with all of you, will be talking all about it and nothing else the Saturday morning following its premiere.
To supplement your --- and our --- GATSBY fever, we have two GATSBY-focused features on the site. First, be sure to check out our “20 Books from the '20s: Reading Beyond Gatsby” bookshelf to find 19 other influential texts of the 1920s. Rather than jump on the 1920s reimagined, modernized bandwagon, we decided to take a look at time-honored works of the decade that remain prominent and inspiring books to this day. Sure, some of them you were required to read in high school or college, but when we look at the collection now, we realize that they say something about the writing of the day. Without the stress and hassle of handing in a 15-page paper to your professor by Friday at 3pm, look at these books with new eyes --- and see how Gatsby holds up against them. Check out the bookshelf here, noting which ones you have read, which ones you pretended to read, the ones that have been on your list for years and the ones you now need to add.
Also, don't miss Emily Hoenig’s blog, “Welcome Back, Gatsby! The Joys and Perils of Re-Reading Old Favorites,” in which she discusses rereading THE GREAT GATSBY in anticipation of seeing the movie. Emily covers all the basics and beyond, the simple joy and rediscovery of rereading your favorite text, the unchanging power it inherently holds and stumbling upon second-hand, bookish vintage treasures at a garage sale. Click here to read more, and to read about rereading.
If you decide that getting a copy of THE GREAT GATSBY for your mom for Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 12th) is a bit too cliché, then you must look at our “Books for Mom 2013” bookshelf. With 20 perfect gift suggestions for moms of all ages, you are sure to strike gift-giving jackpot with at least one of these titles (if not two, or three, or four). Add in a box of dark chocolates to your book selections, a bouquet of Spring-like flowers and you’ll gain the new, well-deserved title as “the favorite child” for months and months to come. On the bottom row of the bookshelf, you’ll find 5 titles great for new mothers, you know the ones who can barely find more than 15 minutes away from their precious little bundles of joy. There we’ve curated five reads for the new mother who needs some me, myself and I time, with a tad of humor layered in.
We've got a variety of great reviews from some great books featured on the site. In Sarah Strohmeyer's HOW ZOE MADE HER DREAM (MOSTLY) COME TRUE, Zoe learns there is a dark core under the glittering façade of the fairy-tale themed amusement park where she’s a summer intern. For starters, her boss has a blacker heart than Snow White’s stepmother, and the other interns are worse backstabbers than Cinderella’s step-sisters. On the upside, she has the chance of romance with a real-life Prince Charming and a shot at winning a big heap of cash. And in Walter Dean Myers' DARIUS & TWIG, Darius and Twig are an unlikely pair: Darius is a writer whose only escape is his alter ego, a peregrine falcon named Fury, and Twig is a middle-distance runner striving for athletic success. But they are drawn together in the struggle to overcome the obstacles that Harlem life throws at them. These are only two of a handful of great reviews we've got up on the site, so check it out to see what you're missing.
We always love to hear from you so don't forget to share your thoughts with us via Facebook and Twitter. We love this line of F. Scott Fitzgerald's, "I've been drunk for about a week now, and I thought it might sober me up to sit in a library." Happy Reading!
--- Nicole Sherman (Nicole@Bookreporter.com)
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Author Interviews, Talks and Blogs
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INTERVIEW: Patti Callahan Henry talks about AND THEN I FOUND YOU
Patti Callahan Henry’s latest novel, AND THEN I FOUND YOU, is inspired by true events and tells the story of Katie Vaughan, a woman whose life is full of tough choices and who has dark secrets. Katie needs to confront those from her past and make peace with a secret that has been haunting her in order to live and love to her fullest. In this interview with Bookreporter.com’s Bronwyn Miller, Henry shares her personal ties to this story, the theme of making peace with the past, and the experience of writing a novel so based in truth. She also discusses her writing regimen, another upcoming book tour, and the challenge of being a full-time wife, mother and author --- three elements that have greatly impacted her career.
AND THEN I FOUND YOU by Patti Callahan Henry (Fiction)
Katie Vaughan has a secret, something tucked away in her past. She has a strong relationship with her family, and a devoted boyfriend, Rowan, whom she wants to love with all her heart. But when she discovers a small velvet box hidden in Rowan's drawer, she panics. For the first time in her life, Katie knows that she won't fully love Rowan until she confronts the demons from her past, and it's time for her to act. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.
INTERVIEW: Lauren Willig talks about THE ASHFORD AFFAIR
Lauren Willig, the author of the long-running Pink Carnation series, has written a new page-turner. THE ASHFORD AFFAIR is the story of two women --- Clementine Evans, a Manhattan lawyer, and her grandmother Addie --- who are united through history by a long-buried family secret. When a relative accidentally hints at the secret during Addie’s 99th birthday party, Clemmie will be led on a journey of discovery over three continents. In this interview, conducted by Bookreporter.com’s Bronwyn Miller, Willig discusses the inspiration for writing a book that spans different eras, the reversal of the gender paradigm, and how she immerses herself in research --- all of which play important roles in this stand-alone novel.
THE ASHFORD AFFAIR by Lauren Willig (Historical Fiction)
As a lawyer in a large Manhattan firm, just shy of making partner, Clementine Evans has finally achieved almost everything she’s been working towards --- but now she’s not sure it’s enough. Her long hours have led to a broken engagement, and she feels her messy life crumbling around her. But when the family gathers for her grandmother Addie’s 99th birthday, a relative lets slip hints about a long-buried family secret, leading Clemmie on a journey into the past that could change everything. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.
INTERVIEW: Kristin Hannah talks about FLY AWAY
FLY AWAY, the highly anticipated sequel to Kristin Hannah’s FIREFLY LANE, finally has been released. In this emotionally complex and often heart-wrenching novel, Hannah focuses on the characters of Tully, Johnny, Dorothy and Marah, and the stories and relationships that have made them who they are. Told with vibrant flashbacks, the book paints a portrait of growth, redemption and what it means to be a woman. In this interview, conducted by Bookreporter.com’s Norah Piehl, Hannah discusses grief, motherhood and our misunderstandings of the people closest to us. She also talks about the craft and struggle of writing with flashbacks, and what led her to return to the world of FIREFLY LANE five years after its publication.
FLY AWAY by Kristin Hannah (Fiction)
FLY AWAY is the story of three women who have lost their way and need each other --- plus a miracle --- to transform their lives. An emotionally complex, heart-wrenching novel about love, motherhood, loss and new beginnings, this long-awaited follow-up to FIREFLY LANE reminds us that where there is life, there is hope, and where there is love, there is forgiveness. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
AUTHOR TALK: Aaron Hartzler, author of RAPTURE PRACTICE
In this author talk, author Aaron Hartzler discusses his debut novel RAPTURE PRACTICE, his memoir about growing up in a fundamentalist Christian family and beginning to question his identity in high school. Learn how he began writing his memoir, what advice he would give his teenaged self and little hints about what his life has become after high school.
AUTHOR BLOG: Janet Gurtler, author of HOW I LOST YOU
Nothing will ever come between Grace Anderson and Kya Kessler. They have a pact. Not only is Grace the only one who knows and guards Kya’s secret, she also knows how much Kya needs someone to stick by her. But in the summer before Senior Year, life throws out challenges they never expected. In HOW I LOST YOU, Grace and Kya are forced to question how much a best friend can forgive.
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What's Coming Up on 20SomethingReads.com?
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We've got some exciting new content coming up! Among new blogs that get posted weekly, we have a Father's Day bookshelf coming up for all of your gift-giving needs.
Bookshelf: Books for Dad 2013 --- Gift Giving for Dad (Mid May)
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Reviews
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ALL YOU COULD ASK FOR by Mike Greenberg (Fiction)
Brooke has been happily married to her college sweetheart for 15 years. For her husband’s 40th birthday, she is giving him naked pictures of herself. Newlywed Samantha learns of her husband’s cheating heart when she finds the goods on his computer. High-powered career woman Katherine works with heartbreaker Phillip, the man who hurt her early on in her career. Brooke, Samantha and Katherine don’t know each other, but their stories are about to intertwine in ways no one could have imagined. Reviewed by Maggie Harding.
CANDLEMOTH by R.J. Ellory (Thriller)
Accused of killing his best friend Nathan, Daniel Ford has exhausted all appeals and now faces the electric chair in 30 days. Father John Rousseau is the man to whom the last month of Daniel's life has been entrusted. With time running out, Ford begins to tell his story --- beginning with his first meeting with Nathan, through first loves, Vietnam, the death of JFK, and finally their flight from the draft that ended in Nathan's brutal murder. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.
THE CARRION BIRDS by Urban Waite (Noir/Thriller)
Hired gun Ray Lamar is ready to put his past behind him. He wants to see his 12-year-old son and start a new life --- away from the violence of the last 10 years. One last heist will take him there. All he has to do is steal a rival’s stash. But when things start to go very wrong, Ray realizes that the path to redemption isn’t always easy. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
CRAP KINGDOM by DC Pierson (Humor)
Tom Parking is the Chosen One, and he's swept off to his now kingdom from Earth. The kingdom totally sucks. When Tom turns down the job of Chosen One, he thinks he's making a smart decision. But when Tom discovers he's been replaced by his best friend, Kyle, who's always been cooler, more athletic and better with girls, Tom wants Crap Kingdom back --- at any cost. Reviewed by Samantha E., Teen Board member.
DADDY'S GONE A HUNTING by Mary Higgins Clark (Mystery)
Kate and Hannah Connelly are sisters whose family-owned furniture firm, founded by their grandfather and famous for its fine reproductions of antiques, explodes into flames in the middle of the night. All the buildings are leveled to the ground, including the museum where priceless antiques have been on permanent display for years. The ashes reveal a startling and grisly discovery, and provoke a host of suspicions and questions. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.
THE DAYLIGHT WAR: Book Three of The Demon Cycle by Peter V. Brett (Fantasy/Adventure)
With THE WARDED MAN and THE DESERT SPEAR, Peter V. Brett surged to the front rank of contemporary fantasy, standing alongside giants in the field such as George R. R. Martin, Robert Jordan and Terry Brooks. THE DAYLIGHT WAR, the eagerly anticipated third volume in Brett’s internationally bestselling Demon Cycle, continues the epic tale of humanity’s last stand against an army of demons that rise each night to prey on mankind. Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.
DEADLY VIRTUES by Jo Bannister (Mystery)
Jerome Cardy knew he was going to die and that it would be made to appear like an accident. He might not be able to prevent it, but he was determined to make sure that someone knew what was going to happen. After he is found beaten to death, Ash is unable to forget Jerome’s last awkward words to him: “I had a dog once. Othello. That was its name. Othello.” Certain there is a hidden message in these words, Ash is determined to discover the truth. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
DR. BIRD'S ADVICE FOR SAD POETS by Evan Roskos (Fiction)
Sixteen-year-old James Whitman has been yawping (à la Whitman) at his abusive father ever since he kicked his beloved older sister, Jorie, out of the house. James’s painful struggle with anxiety and depression make for a heart-rending read, but his wild, exuberant Whitmanization of the world and keen sense of humor keep this emotionally charged debut novel buoyant. Reviewed by Samantha W., Teen Board member.
DON'T GO by Lisa Scottoline (Fiction)
When Dr. Mike Scanlon is called to serve as an army doctor in Afghanistan, he’s acutely aware of the dangers he’ll face and the hardships it will cause his wife Chloe and newborn baby. However, in an ironic turn of events, Chloe dies in an apparent household accident. A devastated Mike returns home to bury his wife, only to learn a shocking secret that sends him into a downward spiral. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE FAMOUS AND THE DEAD: A Charlie Hood Novel by T. Jefferson Parker (Thriller)
Three men --- an earnest law-enforcer, an inveterate lawbreaker, and the man who pits them against each other --- hurtle toward one another in the jaw-dropping conclusion to T. Jefferson Parker’s mesmerizing vision of the border. Their climactic showdown brings to a spectacular close a crime series that obliterated the boundaries of the genre. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
FLY AWAY by Kristin Hannah (Fiction)
FLY AWAY is the story of three women who have lost their way and need each other --- plus a miracle --- to transform their lives. An emotionally complex, heart-wrenching novel about love, motherhood, loss and new beginnings, this long-awaited follow-up to FIREFLY LANE reminds us that where there is life, there is hope, and where there is love, there is forgiveness. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE GOLEM AND THE JINNI by Helene Wecker (Historical Fantasy)
A lonely man’s desire for a wife is the catalyst for the creation of a golem like no other. When she’s left master-less on the streets of New York City, she fights her ingrained impulse to help and protect those around her. A jinni, captured and enslaved hundreds of years ago, is free of his flask but not truly free as the iron cuff that keeps him in human form remains on his wrist. The golem and the jinni are drawn to each other, kindred spirits of long-forgotten fairy tales. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.
THE GOOD COP by Brad Parks (Mystery)
Reporter Carter Ross heads off to interview the widow of a cop who allegedly committed suicide. But Carter can’t understand why a man with a job he loved, a beautiful wife and adorable children would suddenly kill himself. And when his widow makes a public statement to the same effect and Carter’s calls to the police and the morgue are repeatedly blocked, it's clear someone knows more than he's saying about the cop's death. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.
THE GOOD NURSE: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder by Charles Graeber (True Crime)
After his December 2003 arrest, registered nurse Charlie Cullen was quickly dubbed "The Angel of Death" by the media. But Cullen was no mercy killer, nor was he a simple monster. He was a favorite son, husband, beloved father, best friend, and celebrated caregiver. Implicated in the deaths of as many as 300 patients, he was also perhaps the most prolific serial killer in American history. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
THE HIT by David Baldacci (Thriller)
A highly skilled assassin, Will Robie is the man the U.S. government calls on to eliminate the worst enemies of the state. Fellow assassin Jessica Reel is every bit as lethal as Robie. And now she's turning her gun sights on other members of their agency. As Robie pursues Reel, he quickly finds that there is more to her betrayal than meets the eye. Her attacks on the agency conceal a threat that could send shockwaves through the U.S. government and around the world. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE HUMANITY PROJECT by Jean Thompson (Fiction)
After surviving a shooting at her high school, Linnea is packed off to live with her estranged father. His neighbor, Christie, is a nurse distracted by an eccentric patient, Mrs. Foster, who has given Christie the reins to her Humanity Project, a bizarre and well-endowed charity fund. Meanwhile, Conner, the Fosters’ handyman, has become the one person in which Linnea can confide. As these characters and many more hurtle toward their fates, the Humanity Project is born: Can you indeed pay someone to be good? At what price? Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN: A Memoir by Jackie Hance with Janice Kaplan (Memoir)
Until the horrific car accident on New York State’s Taconic Parkway that took the lives of her three beloved young daughters, Jackie Hance was an ordinary Long Island mom, fulfilled by the joyful chaos of a busy household. After the tragedy, she was “The Taconic Mom,” whose unimaginable loss embodied every parent’s worst nightmare. I’LL SEE YOU AGAIN chronicles the day Jackie received the traumatizing phone call that defied all understanding, and the numbed and torturous events that followed. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.
THE INTERESTINGS by Meg Wolitzer (Fiction)
The summer that Richard Nixon resigns, six teenagers at a summer camp for the arts become inseparable. Decades later the bond remains powerful, but so much else has changed. In THE INTERESTINGS, Meg Wolitzer follows these characters from the height of youth through middle age, as their talents, fortunes and degrees of satisfaction diverge. Reviewed by Alexis Burling.
LET'S EXPLORE DIABETES WITH OWLS: Essays, Etc. by David Sedaris (Humor/Essays)
From the unique perspective of David Sedaris comes a new book of essays taking his readers on a bizarre and stimulating world tour. From the perils of French dentistry to the eating habits of the Australian kookaburra, from the squat-style toilets of Beijing to the particular wilderness of a North Carolina Costco, we learn about the absurdity and delight of a curious traveler's experiences. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.
LOVE WATER MEMORY by Jennie Shortridge (Fiction)
A woman suddenly becomes aware, and is shocked to find herself wading through the frigid waters of San Francisco Bay. However, she has no clue who she is or why she is here. When she returns to her life as Lucie Walker, she must piece together not only the mystery of her amnesia, but also decide who she chooses to be now. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.
MAYA'S NOTEBOOK by Isabel Allende (Fiction)
Neglected by her parents, 19-year-old Maya Nidal has grown up in a rambling old house in Berkeley with her grandparents. When her grandfather dies of cancer, Maya turns to drugs, alcohol and petty crime. Her one chance for survival is Nini, who helps her escape to a remote island off the coast of Chile. Here Maya tries to make sense of the past, unravels mysterious truths about life and about her family, and embarks on her greatest adventure: the journey into her own soul. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
THE MILK OF BIRDS by Sylvia Whitman (Fiction)
Nawra lives in Darfur, Sudan, in a camp for refugees displaced by the Janjaweed’s trail of murder and destruction. Nawra cannot read or write, but when a nonprofit organization pairs her with an American donor, Nawra dictates her thank-you letters. K. C. is an American teenager from Richmond, Virginia, who hates anything that smacks of school. But as Nawra pours grief and joy into her letters, she inspires K. C. to see beyond her own struggles. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin
REVENGE OF THE NOT-SO-PRETTY GIRL by Carolita Blythe (Historical Fiction)
Faye doesn't mean to hit the old lady she and her friends are mugging. But she does. The old lady might be ancient and wrinkly now. But back in the day, she was as beautiful as they come --- a famous movie star. And everyone knows that pretty and mean always go together. But Faye feels guilty. So she comes back. Slowly, Faye and the old lady form an unlikely friendship, one that pulls Faye out of her life with her abusive mother and destructive "friends" and allows the old lady relief from her loneliness. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.
SLEIGHT OF HAND by Phillip Margolin (Thriller)
Charles Benedict --- criminal defense lawyer, amateur magician and professional hit man --- leads a seemingly charmed life, winning all of his important cases, and prosecutor Carrie Blair thinks she knows why. But before she has a chance to prove that he’s stacking the cards, she disappears. And all the evidence points to her ultra-rich husband. Open and shut? Hardly. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
THE SUMMER PRINCE by Alaya Dawn Johnson (Science Fiction)
In the lush city of Palmares Tres, June Costa creates art that's sure to make her legendary --- even more so when she meets Enki, the new Summer King. Together, June and Enki will stage explosive, dramatic projects that Palmares Tres will never forget, adding fuel to a growing rebellion against the government's strict limits. Unfortunately, like Summer Kings before him, Enki is destined to die. Reviewed by Alice Dalyrmple.
THE SYMPTOMS OF MY INSANITY by Mindy Raf (Humor)
Izzy is a hypochondriac with enormous boobs that won't stop growing, a mother with a rare disease who's hiding something, a best friend who appears to have undergone a personality transplant and a date with an out-of-her-league athlete. When she discovers that the people she trusts most are withholding from her the biggest secrets, things are about to get epic --- or is it epidemic? Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
TUESDAY’S GONE: A Frieda Klein Novel by Nicci French (Psychological Thriller)
A London social worker makes a routine home visit only to discover her client, Michelle Doyce, serving afternoon tea to a naked, decomposing corpse. With no clues as to the dead man’s identity, Chief Inspector Karlsson again calls upon Frieda Klein for help. Frieda discovers that the body belongs to Robert Poole, con man extraordinaire. But she can’t shake the feeling that the past isn’t done with her yet. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE VICTORY SEASON: The End of World War II and the Birth of Baseball's Golden Age by Robert Weintraub (History/Sports)
In the spring of 1946, with World War II finally over, hundreds of baseball's stars were coming home. It proved to be one of the most memorable seasons in history, capped with a thrilling seven-game World Series. And a new era began, with Jackie Robinson making his professional debut. Robert Weintraub brings to life little-known tales from the war years, including the "world series" service members played in an abandoned Hitler Youth stadium in the fall of 1945. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan.
WEDDING NIGHT by Sophie Kinsella (Fiction)
Lottie is 33 and sick of long-term boyfriends who don't want to commit to marriage. When her old boyfriend Ben reappears after 15 years and reminds her of their pact to get married if they were both still single at 30, she jumps at the chance. But not everyone is thrilled with their rushed marriage, and family and friends are determined to intervene. Will Lottie and Ben have a wedding night to remember or one to forget? Reviewed by Amie Taylor.
WHEN LOVE COMES TO TOWN by Tom Lennon (Social Issues)
The year is 1990, and in his hometown of Dublin, Ireland, Neil Byrne plays rugby, keeps up with the in-crowd at his school and is just a regular guy. A guy who's gay. It's a secret he keeps from the wider world as he explores the city at night and struggles to figure out how to reveal his real self --- and to whom. Reviewed by Sally T., Teen Board member.
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