April 9, 2010

I got back from the beach late Sunday night, spent Monday unpacking and sorting out paperwork I had shipped back from Seattle and Portland (and okay, lots of skeins of yarn, most of it shades of, you guessed it, turquoise). I walked back into the office Tuesday, and three weeks away evaporated pretty quickly. Every once in a while I look in a mirror and see I am tan and remember that I was away; I also have some really funky lines on my neck as I was looking down to read a lot when I was in the sun. It’s been that kind of a week.

Let me start backwards. I was driving home last night talking to my mom when she shared the news that the town council in my hometown is thinking of closing the library to cut their budget deficit. Note: They are not thinking of cutting back hours at the library; they are considering closing it. In the local paper, a councilman is quoted as saying, "Our funding for the library is almost $900,000 this year. That’s a lot of money. When more than 50 percent of the funding goes toward salaries, we have to start looking at other options." He said out of about 13,000 residents in town, only 4,700 hold library cards. And he goes on to say, "I’m not against the library, but you have five libraries within the immediate vicinity that could be used by local residents and they provide very similar services." Well, you can imagine how this has me spewing fire, and I spent the rest of the drive home outlining to my mom how they need to mobilize to keep this from happening.

The timing of this discussion could not be more timely as April 11th kicks off National Library Week, which runs through April 17th; the theme is “Communities Thrive at Your Libraries.” Thinking about this sadly informed councilman, I urge you each to get a library card in your town if you do not have one already. I urge you to visit your library this week and check out a book, DVD or magazine. I urge you to ask your library staff if they are in need of support for their budgets with your presence at town meetings, your signature on petitions, or your Letters to the Editor. And I urge you to take a young person with you so they too can get wrapped up in this experience.

And RIGHT NOW Congress is drafting the federal budget for fiscal year 2011. It has never been more important than now that Congress fully funds the LSTA, the only annual source for federal funding to libraries. As Congress writes next year's budget, they need to understand that dollars from the state and local levels are at an all-time low, and libraries cannot continue to do their important work without this funding. Click here to get details to write your Senator. WEDNESDAY, April 14th is the deadline, so please move quickly on this. And if you can post on Facebook and wherever else you can spread the word.

For a while now, because of what I do for a living, I have created my own personal library here at my house. But I do remember when I was little and the library to me was the bookmobile that stopped on the corner, or taking a bus, or getting a ride downtown to the main branch, or when I made daily visits to the town library I reference above when I was in high school, college and first working. Those were the places that gave me the chance to become the reader I am today.

I will be sending the town council a note about how that library grew me into the reader who co-founded this company 15 years ago. If I had to be driven to another town, the personality of the library would not be one that was my own, and thus I am not sure that I would have had the same kind of relationship to the place and by extension discovered books and authors quite the same way. I visit other branches in our county now, and I did that when I was growing up. I visit other libraries when I am on the road. But nothing speaks to me quite the same as the library in my town. And I think you all know exactly what I mean.

Speaking of reading, this week I read a few books that lured me in and kept me flipping the pages. Right after I turned the newsletter over to the staff last week, I rewarded myself with an afternoon in a lounge chair on the deck reading Lisa Gardner’s LIVE TO TELL, which will be in stores on July 13th. I love Lisa’s pacing, which drives her story forward posthaste. Here her character, Detective D.D. Warren, looks into a case where a family seems to have been shot by a father before he takes his own life. Gruesome enough until a second case is uncovered with a similar scenario. What’s going on, and what ties these families together? The story is tight and fast and utterly absorbing. I blame Lisa for some of the stripes on my neck since I was not looking up much!

Elizabeth Brundage’s THE DOCTOR’S WIFE came out in 2004 and was a gripping tale of psychological suspense. Her upcoming book is A STRANGER LIKE YOU, which will be in stores on August 5th. Once again she has woven a twisted tale with well-crafted language. Set in California, she brings together the most unlikely group of characters to play out her story. Elizabeth writes here with an insider view of the movie business, which has me looking forward to talking to her next week about how she is informed about this. One of her characters, all of whom are quite complicated, was drawn from her experiences with meeting a veteran of Iraq, and I can tell she took great pains to deliver her soldier character realistically based on this. For the record, I am trying to figure out if the BMW on the cover is a 3.0 csi. We had one of those years ago, and they are quite sweet little cars.

Out this week is THE SWIMMING POOL by Holly LeCraw, which I loved and have been looking forward to sharing with you. I read it last September and teased you with it then with these phrases from the jacket --- “A heartbreaking affair, an unsolved murder, an explosive romance.” I thought I had copped out by not writing more, and then I saw Dana Barrett, our Contributing Editor on ReadingGroupGuides.com, said this: “I took Holly LeCraw's debut novel, THE SWIMMING POOL, on my last business trip and found myself glued to it whenever I had a spare moment. Then I finished it and tried to explain what it was about to a co-worker and couldn't. Not easily anyway! So when I got Holly's guest post I was glad to see she struggled to answer that question too.” Curious as to what Holly had to say? Well, click here. And, by the way, she nails it dead-on. Also, on ReadingGroupGuides.com, we're featuring a contest where book clubs can enter to win an author chat with Holly and copies of the book. Click here for details.

Right now I am absorbed in a YA title called BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver. It’s about a very popular high school girl and her friends, and how their actions in one day spin out of control to some horrific consequences. That’s chapter one. Now hit rewind six times, and each chapter takes on a new look with a few twists, which show how subtle differences in actions bring different reactions. For the record, these ultra-cool girls are every high school girl’s nightmare, but also totally relatable. This is not a book you would describe and say, “whoa that sounds like a book Carol would like," but this week I have been sneaking in pages whenever I can. One of the women in the office read it and felt the same way (I joke we have a book group of two talking about this). I had the pleasure of having dinner with Lauren in San Jose in February, and I laughed reading the inscription in my book where she referenced nearly falling comatose from the chocolate desserts that night. You can read more about this book below as we link to it in our monthly feature about YA books that adults won't want to miss.

Looking over these notes I realize that while I love a great tight plot, characters really make a book work for me. I loathe when they are wooden; I love when I feel like they have drawn me in and are written so real that I feel like I know them. I don’t always need to like them; I do need to feel they are telling their story honestly and completely. Interesting observation. Ponder what draws you in.

Back in the all-too real world, we had a glitch in our system last weekend that knocked our current poll out for about a day. The problem, which of course had no rhyme or reason, has been resolved, and thus we’d love to find out your reaction to our current question, “Are you proud of the books on your bookshelf and what they say about you?” You can answer here. For the record, I am proud of mine, at least the ones that are visible. I confess that many of my shelves have a “second row.”

This week we have some great reader feedback on Sandra Dallas's recently released WHITER THAN SNOW, which you may read here. Looks like another winner from Sandra! As always, you can catch up with our daily Facebook postings here.

I know a lot of people were consumed with Spring Break and holidays last week, thus I am including links again to photos from my Seattle/Portland trip since I have gotten a number of notes from readers asking about them. Seattle photos are here, and Portland photos are here.

While I took about 200 photos, there are a lot of special moments that I failed to capture. One was the evening that I spent with the Seattle7Writers.org group the first night I was in Seattle. I wanted to share more with you about this group, and thus I was happy that Jennie Shortridge wrote this terrific blog piece about the group and how they have been working to support each other --- and give back to their communities. There is a great photo of the “core seven” on the blog. I truly hope this inspires authors in other locations to band together for this same common goal. Imagine if we had these folks rallying for the library in MY hometown?

Planning a quiet weekend here, which will be lovely. After our 10 days of summer-like weather, I think that spring is coming back, so I am going to be knitting the sleeves for two lightweight jackets I am making. I always underestimate how long sleeves take to make! Witness how many tank tops I have made! Oh, and for a moment of humor. Remember when I told you the menfolk here told me they had it “totally under control” to get packed for the beach? Well, I was doing the laundry the last day we were there, and as I was folding clothes, I was trying to figure out which underwear was my younger son’s and which was his friend “Son2A”’s. NONE looked familiar. Well, there was a reason for that. My son forgot to pack HIS, thus proving that I still am needed.

With that moment of motherhood in mind, stay tuned for next week’s Mother’s Day announcement. I have the power to make Mother’s Day last more than a day, and I am going to exercise that right here at Bookreporter.com. Get ready for the revolution! Happy reading…read on…and do not forget my plea for your local library.

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU by Elizabeth Berg (Fiction)
Elizabeth Berg composes a cast of characters headed to their 40th high school reunion in THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU, an emotionally rich novel that will speak to baby boomers and others contemplating the passage of time. Berg deftly weaves together stories of roads taken and not taken, choices made and opportunities missed, and the possibilities of second chances. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

-Click here to read an excerpt from THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU.
 

Anne Lamott’s latest novel, IMPERFECT BIRDS, examines such themes as destructive teenage behavior, the difficulties of communicating truth between parents and their children, and the fragile bonds of familial relationships --- as seen from the perspective of the troubled Ferguson family first introduced in ROSIE and its follow-up, CROOKED LITTLE HEART. In this interview, Lamott discusses why she chose to revisit Elizabeth and Rosie during this critical time in their lives, and sheds light on the motivations behind their questionable behavior. She also explains how she drew on her experiences with troubled teens --- as well as her own relationship with her son --- to better understand her characters, shares advice for families dealing with similar hardships, and reflects on what may lie ahead for Rosie in the future.

IMPERFECT BIRDS by Anne Lamott (Fiction)
Seventeen-year-old Rosie Ferguson is smart, athletic and beautiful. But there are disturbing signs that the well-adjusted teenage life Rosie claims to be leading is a sham, and that her mother’s hopes for her to remain immune from the world’s darker impulses are dashed. Slowly and painfully, Rosie’s parents are forced to confront the fact that their daughter has been lying to them --- and that her deceptions have profound consequences on them all. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.

-Click here to read a review of IMPERFECT BIRDS.
-Click here to see the reading group guide for IMPERFECT BIRDS.
 

Now in Stores: THE BLACK CAT by Martha Grimes

THE DEAD TRAVEL FAST by Deanna Raybourn (Historical Fiction)
Writer Theodora Lestrange sets out on an adventure to the eerie land of Transylvania, where she experiences horrific things thought only to exist in fairy tales. But will she also find a fairy tale love with the mesmerizing and mysterious Count Andrei Dragulescu? Reviewed by Amie Taylor.

-Click here to see the reading group guide for THE DEAD TRAVEL FAST.

Featured Fantasy Author: Richelle Mead, Author of SUCCUBUS SHADOWS

Richelle Mead, the bestselling author of urban fantasy novels for both adults and teens, returns with SUCCUBUS SHADOWS, the fifth installment in her Georgina Kincaid series. These books tell the story of a reluctant succubus who can't touch the man she loves without dire side effects. She also must deal with Hell's middle management team and the many supernatural threats that come her way.

-Click here to read a second excerpt from SUCCUBUS SHADOWS.
-Click here to read Richelle Mead's bio.
-Click here to see Richelle Mead's backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for Richelle Mead's books.
-Visit Richelle Mead's official website, www.RichelleMead.com.
-Click here to see our finished copy winners.

More about SUCCUBUS SHADOWS:
Georgina Kincaid has formidable powers. Immortality, seduction, shape-shifting into any human form she desires, walking in heels that would cripple mere mortals --- all child’s play to a succubus like her. Helping to plan her ex-boyfriend’s wedding is a different story. Georgina isn’t sure which is worse --- that Seth is marrying another woman, or that Georgina has to run all over Seattle trying on bridesmaid dresses. Still, there are distractions. Georgina’s roommate, Roman, is cluttering her apartment with sexual tension. Then there’s Simone, the new succubus in town, who’s intent on corrupting Seth.
 

Author Talk: Danielle Trussoni, Author of ANGELOLOGY

In this interview, Danielle Trussoni --- author of the acclaimed memoir FALLING THROUGH THE EARTH --- describes the slow evolution of her debut work of fiction, ANGELOLOGY, and discusses the research she performed on theology, historical periods and various religious orders to pen this novel about an ancient conflict between a secret society and the nefarious descendents of angels and humans. She also shares her thoughts on the antagonistic separation between science and religion, explains how living abroad has influenced her writing, and hints at what’s in store for her main character in the book’s sequel.

ANGELOLOGY by Danielle Trussoni (Thriller)
The great battle between Heaven and Earth still rages on, with dark angels living among us. The Fallen Ones are ethereal inhuman creatures whose power is altogether astonishing and terrifying. Their descendants, the Nephilim, are hybrids of angels and humans who populate the Earth, living in disguise and seeking perfection and domination. Angelologists now work to recover a celestial artifact that, in the wrong hands, will either salvage or doom mankind. Reviewed by Melanie Smith.

-Click here to read a review of ANGELOLOGY.
 

Joseph Monninger’s reverence of the outdoors is especially apparent in his latest novel, ETERNAL ON THE WATER, which chronicles a moving and tragic love story set amidst the trails of Henry David Thoreau’s legendary journey along the Allagash Waterway. In this interview, Monninger discusses how his personal surroundings and day-to-day life have helped to create the natural imagery and metaphors utilized in the book, and gives some insight into how his characters approach life and their relationship to one another. He also shares his thoughts on the coexistence of nature and technology, as well as the transcendentalist belief in living simply, and explains how he hopes his work will affect his readers.

ETERNAL ON THE WATER by Joseph Monninger (Fiction)
From the day Cobb and Mary meet kayaking on Maine's Allagash River and fall deeply in love, the two approach life with the same sense of adventure they use to conquer the river's treacherous rapids. But rivers do not let go so easily...and neither does their love. So when Mary's life takes the cruelest turn, she vows to face those rough waters on her own terms. Reviewed by Jamie Layton.

-Click here to read a review of ETERNAL ON THE WATER.
-Click here to see the reading group guide for ETERNAL ON THE WATER.
 

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