October 6, 2017

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B-U-S-Y Week!

This week has been a total whirlwind; the quiet of summer seems so far away. But it’s brought me some moments that remind me why I love what I do.

Yesterday morning started early with the Children’s Book Council Annual Meeting, where YA author Jason Reynolds was the featured speaker. I have heard a lot of authors speak through the years, but his talk will be remembered as one of the most inspiring and thoughtful ones. He spoke from the heart about his writing and interacting with his readers. What impressed me was the way he spends time trying to understand young people on their terms --- and he is adamant that everyone who works with kids does the same thing.

This one anecdote may give you a clue of what I mean. Beyond his many school and library visits, he has spent time meeting with incarcerated youths, many of whom have been jailed at young ages and will be away for a long time. When he meets with them, he sees them as the kids they are, and in talking to them, he converses with them like that, putting aside where their decisions have brought them. He said something that stayed with me. Paraphrasing here, it was something along the lines of when these boys were caught doing whatever they were doing, it seemed like the best idea at the time to them. They were not trying to make a mistake. For many reasons, their background, education and circumstances gave them a purview that seems very muddy to us, but to them was crystal clear. Noting that gives him a different perspective on talking to them. It gave me pause; I never thought about this subject quite this way.

I am looking forward to reading Jason's new book, LONG WAY DOWN, which was longlisted for the National Book Award and is in stores on October 24th. The entire novel, which is written in narrative verse, takes place in just 60 seconds --- “the time it takes a kid to decide whether or not he’s going to murder the guy who killed his brother.” Getting into another person's head is something I love about reading.

The same day, I went to a media lunch for Tayari Jones. Rewind for a second here: I loved Tayari’s 2011 book, SILVER SPARROW, which was a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection, and I have been looking forward to seeing what she would write next. Patiently. It’s been six years, something she is all too aware of! Last weekend, I grabbed my advance copy of AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE, which is coming out February 6th, and was reminded again why I love her work. She captures people and emotions so well. Her characters get messy, get confused, get undone, and then put themselves back together again. In AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE, Roy is sent to jail for 12 years for a crime that his wife, Celestial, knows he did not commit. What happened in their marriage before and after is the story. Over lunch, Tayari shared that this book was originally written from the perspective of Roy, then she layered in Celestial’s, and then finally she realized she needed another voice --- that of Andre, Celestial’s childhood friend. It’s intimate and soulful, and book groups will be able to take a deep dive into this one. It will be a Bets On selection.

Speaking of diving, Tayari taught herself to swim while watching YouTube videos. We had a quick chat about swimming and water aerobics (she calls it “water boogie,” the latter of which we both are devotees of). We need to grab some pool time at the Miami Book Fair! You can see a photo of the two of us above...and yes, do note, my jacket matched the book cover. I mean, seriously, is that a perfect book jacket for me, or what?

Next Thursday night, I am headed to the 92nd Street Y again, this time to see Yotam Ottolenghi, one of my favorite chefs, whose cookbook, SWEET: Desserts from London's Ottolenghi, is just out. For those interested in going, tickets are available here.

Oh, and from the luncheon yesterday at Maialino, I want to make Tonnarelli a Cacio e Pepe. I usually walk away from media lunches with at least one thing I have to make myself.

Now to this week’s update...

Jennifer Egan’s MANHATTAN BEACH, which was longlisted for the National Book Award, has been generating plenty of buzz leading up to its release this week. Not only is it her first novel since 2010’s A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD, it’s also her first-ever work of historical fiction. Here, Anna Kerrigan accompanies her father to visit Dexter Styles, a man who she believes is crucial to the survival of her father and her family. Years later, her father has disappeared and the country is at war. Anna works at the Brooklyn Naval Yard, where women are allowed to hold jobs that once belonged to men, who are now soldiers abroad. Anna becomes the first female diver, repairing the ships that will help America win the war. One evening at a nightclub, she reunites with Dexter Styles and begins to understand the complexity of her father’s life and the reasons he might have vanished.

Norah Piehl has our review and says, "Egan’s well-researched narrative is detailed but never bogged down in particulars, and she successfully creates suspense even when offering rich details. I defy anyone with claustrophobia to read the descriptions of diving without developing sweaty palms!" I had the pleasure of hearing Jennifer talk about this book a few weeks ago; the backstory and her research were brilliant. Check out this NPR interview here.

Stephen King and his son, Owen King, have collaborated on their first novel together, SLEEPING BEAUTIES, a supernatural thriller that revolves around this question: What might happen if women disappeared from the world of men? In an all-too-real future, something happens when women go to sleep: they become shrouded in a cocoon-like gauze. If they are awakened, and if the gauze wrapping their bodies is disturbed or violated, the women become feral and spectacularly violent. And while they sleep they go to a better place, where harmony prevails and conflict is rare. One woman, the mysterious “Eve Black,” is immune to the blessing or curse of the sleeping disease. Is Eve a medical anomaly to be studied? Or is she a demon who must be slain? The men divide into warring factions, all turning to violence in a suddenly all-male world.

According to reviewer Ray Palen, "SLEEPING BEAUTIES is on par with any of the classic work I loved from King back in the ’70s through the late ’90s. If working with Owen was the inspiration for that creative resurgence, I can only hope that they team up together more often."

Other books we’re reviewing this week include WHAT HAPPENED, Hillary Rodham Clinton’s memoir in which she reveals for the first time what she was thinking and feeling during the 2016 presidential election; GOING INTO TOWN, a new graphic memoir from Roz Chast, who has produced an illustrated ode/guide/thank-you note to Manhattan; and FRESH COMPLAINT, the first collection of short fiction from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jeffrey Eugenides.

Dan Brown’s new thriller, ORIGIN, is now in stores and is the latest novel to feature Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon (played by Tom Hanks in the films based on the books: Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code and Inferno). Our review is scheduled to run next week, but in the meantime, be sure to check out this New York Times interview with Brown and this segment from “CBS Sunday Morning” where correspondent Tony Dokoupil pays a visit to Brown’s home in New Hampshire.

We’re awarding the audio version of ORIGIN, read by Paul Michael, and John Grisham's THE ROOSTER BAR, read by Ari Fliakos, to the winners of this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest. Submit your comments about the audiobooks you’ve listened to for your chance to win both audio titles. Be sure to enter by Wednesday, November 1st at noon ET.

In this week’s Fall Preview contests, we gave away AFTER THE ECLIPSE: A Mother's Murder, a Daughter's Search by Sarah Perry (which we review this week), ALL THE UGLY AND WONDERFUL THINGS by Bryn Greenwood, BEST DAY EVER by Kaira Rouda (a Bets On pick), and THE DARK LAKE by Sarah Bailey. Next week’s prizes will be GARDEN OF THE LOST AND ABANDONED: The Extraordinary Story of One Ordinary Woman and the Children She Saves by Jessica Yu, NEVER COMING BACK by Alison McGhee, and SUGAR PINE TRAIL: A Haven Point Novel by RaeAnne Thayne. The first contest of the week will go live on Tuesday, October 10th at noon ET.

We’ve updated our New in Paperback feature for this month, featuring paperback reprints from such bestselling authors as Chris Bohjalian, Debbie Macomber, Lisa Gardner, T.C. Boyle, Bernard Cornwell and Elin Hilderbrand; memoirs by Alec Baldwin and the late Carrie Fisher; and paperback originals like THREE FLOORS UP by Eshkol Nevo, THE LAST DAY OF EMILY LINDSEY by Nic Joseph (which we review this week), and LOST LUGGAGE by Wendall Thomas (we’re featuring a Q&A with Wendall about the opening installment of her mystery series that introduces readers to Brooklyn travel agent Cyd Redondo).

October’s Books on Screen feature is also up. Highlights include The Mountain Between Us and The Snowman in theaters; the season two premiere of "The Shannara Chronicles" on Spike and the resumption of the second season of “Queen Sugar” on OWN; and The Wizard of Lies on DVD.

We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, October 20th at noon ET what books you’ve finished reading, and you’ll be in the running to win THE RULES OF MAGIC by Alice Hoffman and UNCOMMON TYPE: Some Stories by Tom Hanks. Quick note: A few of you pointed out that when we published our Word of Mouth update on September 22nd, the link was missing. We had that fixed by the following Monday, but for those of you who missed seeing those selections, click here.

For our latest poll question, we’ve listed 20 fiction titles releasing this month, and we’re asking you which ones, if any, you are planning to read. Click here to let us know!

Our previous poll asked: Does reading news and articles online and being active on social media take time away from your book reading? Click here for the results.

The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2017 has been awarded to English author Kazuo Ishiguro, "who, in novels of great emotional force, has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world." Ishiguro is perhaps best known for his novels THE REMAINS OF THE DAY and NEVER LET ME GO, both of which were adapted into highly acclaimed films. His other books include WHEN WE WERE ORPHANS, THE UNCONSOLED, and his most recent, THE BURIED GIANT.

In other awards news, the National Book Award finalists were announced this week in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Young People’s Literature. It’s worth noting that 15 of the 20 nominees are women, including Jesmyn Ward (whose new novel, SING, UNBURIED, SING, we reviewed three weeks ago) and Carmen Maria Machado (whose debut short story collection, HER BODY AND OTHER PARTIES, we review this week). And I will be interviewing one of the nominees, Min Jin Lee, author of PACHINKO, at the Morristown Festival of Books next Saturday.

I am listening to the aforementioned SING, UNBURIED, SING, which is brilliantly narrated by Kelvin Harrison Jr., Rutina Wesley and Chris Chalk. Thus far their voices are bringing Jojo and Leonie to life for me, and though I also have a print copy of the book, I think my experience with this book has been enhanced by listening to the cadence of their voices on audio.

News & Pop Culture

Reader Mail:

Wendy from Winnipeg, Manitoba, wrote: “I was surprised to see you make such an obvious error in the newsletter. This sentence ‘I heard the editor present it at a preview a few weeks ago and her reference to it having an overtone of Grey Gardens peaked my interest.’ uses the wrong homophone in the third last word. It should be piqued. I hope you will mention this in the next newsletter. It is an error I often see and it should be stamped out.” I appreciate Wendy writing. When I wrote that word last week, I hovered over it and almost highlighted it in red for another staffer to check me on, but alas I did not. Next time, hovering in red!

Janet from Oswego, NY, wrote, “Thank you so much for THE GOOD DAUGHTER and A STRANGER IN THE HOUSE, which I received for winning a recent Word of Mouth contest. I have to admit that they are not my favorite genre, but I was glad I read them! So many twists and turns with the stories --- they certainly kept me guessing throughout the books. Thank you again for helping me expand my reading interests.” I love when we expand our readers’ reading horizons. I have gotten great ideas from so many of you too!

Ann wrote, “I cannot imagine the movie Our Souls at Night will come close to that moving and dear story. I never pictured the characters as Fonda or Redford. Far from them. That was the sweetest story and so understandable. Happiness and love and joy in that relationship until the family became involved. The giving up to keep peace in the family. Sad but realistic, I guess. I am certain the small town played a role also. Our book club truly enjoyed the book and the dear couple. I recommend it to my friends. To be aware of Kent Haruf's dying as he completed the story deepens its meaning. Not sure I can watch the movie, it might ruin the characters in my mind. It's a book I will reread.” I loved reading this commentary from Ann. I confess to not having read the book, but after reading Ann’s thoughts on it, it made me want to read it! I did watch it last weekend. My comments on it next….

Watched Our Souls at Night on Netflix: Enjoyed it. Yes, people are talking about Redford and Fonda, and I am not sure they were the best cast for it. BUT…my eye was on Iain Armitage, who plays the grandkid in it. I thought he looked so familiar. Other credits this year: "Big Little Lies," The Glass Castle and "Young Sheldon." Think he is having a year, or what?

Tom Petty: While, yes, he was a brilliant musician and songwriter, around our house we were big fans of him on Tom Petty Radio on Sirius XM, where he hosted his “Buried Treasure” radio show from Rick’s Airport Recording Studio. We spent many a drive listening to this show, where he curated music and provided his own brand of thoughtful commentary. A huge loss.

"Ray Donovan": Last Sunday’s episode brought the season together really well. I will miss Abby. I have to say that somehow Ray’s LA looks nothing like the LA I know, except the house in Calabasas.

I spent yesterday and today at New York Comic Con checking out the latest trends in the graphic novel marketplace. I was the one without the costume. I was wildly impressed with the costume creativity that I saw on the show floor. Anyone stuck on a Halloween costume for you, your kids or your grandkids? #NYCC2017 on Instagram for ideas.

We have a nice three-day weekend on tap. Our friends Cathy and Lisa are coming for dinner on Saturday night, and I am scheming on the menu. I am making a lamb dish with figs that we all love from one of the Ottolenghi cookbooks. I think I may try the fig pavlova on the cover of SWEET. I am mad about figs, and last weekend a friend told me about a place that is selling them near here. And I will continue my quest for eucalyptus!

On my reading pile is PARTING SHOT by Linwood Barclay. Once again, and for one last time, I’ll be back in Promise Falls with his cast of characters. He has a stand-alone up his sleeve next, and from talking to him about it, I cannot wait to read it. The title is A NOISE DOWNSTAIRS. Intriguing, right?

It’s October 6th, and I am off to hit the pool. The temperature is down to 66; it’s wetsuit time again. Growl on those few cold nights. Oh, for our Canadian readers, Happy Thanksgiving. For those in the U.S., Canadian Thanksgiving is celebrated the second Monday in October, the same day that we note Columbus Day each year. And remember, Len Riggio from Barnes & Noble will be marching with 100(!) Italian-American authors on Monday. If the office was not closed, I would walk over and watch this, which promises to be lots of fun. I wonder how far they walk. I am very into my steps these days since I got a new fitness tracker; a Garmin one that works in the water. And with that in mind, I am off to walk in --- not on --- water.

Read on, and have a great week.

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

P.S. For those of you who are doing online shopping, if you use the store links below, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases. We would appreciate your considering this!

Featured Review: MANHATTAN BEACH by Jennifer Egan

MANHATTAN BEACH by Jennifer Egan (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Heather Lind, Norbert Leo Butz and Vincent Piazza
Anna Kerrigan accompanies her father to visit Dexter Styles, a man who, she gleans, is crucial to the survival of her father and her family. She is mesmerized by the sea beyond the house and by some charged mystery between the two men. Years later, her father has disappeared and the country is at war. Anna works at the Brooklyn Naval Yard, where women are allowed to hold jobs that once belonged to men, now soldiers abroad. She becomes the first female diver, repairing the ships that will help America win the war. One evening at a nightclub, she meets Dexter Styles again, and begins to understand the complexity of her father’s life and the reasons he might have vanished. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

- Click here to read more about the book.