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Written by Wanda Jewell
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Wednesday, 17 February 2010 17:51 |
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Fiction:
Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann. Paperback, $15.00. A day in the life of New York City. August 7, 1974. The day one Philippe Petit walked on a tightrope wire strung between the tops of the World Trade Center towers. Colum McCann brings vividly to life a small, fictional collection of New Yorkers from widely divergent backgrounds. Their stories intersect while they are amazed and touched by what is happening far downtown. A deep, affirming, beautifully written novel, the deserved winner of the 2009 National Book Award.
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. Paperback, $15.95. Verghese is an American doctor, from India by way of Ethiopia. He has written a beautiful, epic tale of orphaned twin brothers trying to find their way in the world. There's medicine, family, the kindness and harshness of strangers, exotic settings, and a memorable cast of characters. A book good enough to get lost in. Union Atlantic by Adam Haslett. Hardback, $26.00. A hard-driving investment banker, a New England spinster whose dogs talk to her, and a high school stoner who stirs up strong passions in both of them. It's hard to believe, but this prophetic book was written before last year's financial melt-down. Banker Doug Fanning could well be the Gatsby of our time. As the review on the web site bookslut puts it, "Haslett hasn't written a novelization of the nation's most recent economic debacle; this is, at its heart, a book about people...It's been years since a novel has captured the zeitgeist of contemporary America this well; it's been years since a new author has convinced us, with just two books, that there might be nothing he can't do." Union Atlantic is the Number One Indie Next List pick for February. And Adam Haslet will read at The Regulator on Tuesday March 16.
From our "Rave Reviews" display comes this review of Amy Bloom's new collection, Where the God of Love Hangs Out. Hardback, $25.00. ``Terrible is terrible,'' thinks one of the characters in Amy Bloom's new collection. ``There's no comparing one bad thing to another. Whatever it is -- hands blown off in Angolan minefields, children in Chernobyl with tumors like softballs, a car accident right around the corner -- there's no measuring suffering.'' But perhaps, Bloom slyly suggests with her usual wisdom and direct, mesmerizing prose, the opposite is also true: Wonderful is wonderful. And there's no real point in overanalyzing private moments of joy. Just savor them, pay the price for them, and chalk the experience up as part of being fallably human. Where the God of Love Hangs Out is Bloom's third collection of stories, and one is tempted to say it's her best. -- Reviewed in The Miami Herald
Non-Fiction:
Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Finest, Darkest Hour by Lynne Olson. Hardback, $28.00. A simply superb, fascinating, incredibly readable look at London during World War II, told through a focus on three Americans: the marvelous American Ambassador John Gilbert Winant, the straight talking journalist Edward R Murrow, and the ambitious young millionaire diplomat Averell Harriman. I thought I knew a lot about the war, but every chapter had new revelations for me. Amazing stories of an amazing time. Great reading.
You Are Not a Gadget: A Manifesto by Jaron Lanier. Hardback, $24.95. From one of the founders of virtual reality, a timely reminder that we should not allow ourselves to be defined by the constrained matrices of computer code. Smart, thoughtful, and full of insight into the ways "people degrade themselves to make machines seem smart." The "open culture" (information wants to be free..) of Web 2.0 comes under special scrutiny:
..."Wikipedia, for instance, works on what I call the Oracle illusion, in which knowledge of the human authorship of a text is suppressed in order to give the text superhuman validity. Traditional holy books work in precisely the same way and present many of the same problems."
..."one must remember that the customers of social networks are not the members of those networks. The real customer is the advertiser of the future..."
..."It is astonishing how much of the chatter online is driven by fan responses to expression that was originally created within the sphere of old media and that is now being destroyed by the net. Comments about TV shows, major movies, commercial music releases, and video games must be responsible for almost as much bit traffic as porn. There is certainly nothing wrong with that, but since the web is killing the old media, we face a situation in which culture is effectively eating its own seed stock."
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Written by Wanda Jewell
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Tuesday, 16 February 2010 19:27 |
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Square Books salutes Black History Month with a window display of books of relevant interest, including two notable recent publications -- Ralph Ellison's Three Days Before the Shooting and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which has become an Indie bestseller. THREE DAYS BEFORE THE SHOOTING
by Ralph Ellison
Modern Library, hd. 50.00
Ralph Ellison left behind roughly two thousand pages of an unfinished novel, intended to follow his masterpiece, Invisible Man. Set in the frame of a deathbed vigil, the story is a multi-generational saga centered on the assassination of the controversial, race-baiting U.S. senator Adam Sunraider, who's being tended to by "Daddy" Hickman, the elderly black jazz musician turned preacher who raised the orphan Sunraider in rural Georgia.
THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS
by Rebecca Skloot
Crown Publishing, hd. 26.00
Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells--taken without her knowledge--became one of the most important tools in medicine. The first "immortal" human cells grown in culture, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years.
Book Signing: April 1
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Written by Wanda Jewell
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Friday, 05 February 2010 14:29 |
Staff Picks Fiction and Poetry Commandment, by Mary Adams
Spring Street Editions, in collaboration with Ash Creek Press in Portland, Oregon, has launched its chapbook series with WCU professor Mary Adams's Commandment. Her work has earned her a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, among other honors. These new poems show her to be one of the finest formalists writing today. Says Ron Rash, 'She is a poet of the first rank.- Kathryn Stripling Byer Remarkable Creatures, by Tracy Chevalier
I really think this is Chevalier's best book yet. (Her previous novels include The Girl with the Pearl Earring.) It is a novel but is based largely on the lives of two women who were fossil hunters in Lyme Regis, England, in the early 19th century. Although I think the title is meant to refer to the fossils they found, these two women were remarkable creatures themselves. Read the first paragraph or two and see if you can put it down!
' Margot Wilcox |
Lightning Thief Goes to the Movies February 12th
Rick Riordan's marvelous Percy Jackson and the Olympians series comes to movie theaters on February 12th, with The Lightning Thief. The book has a new cover based on the movie. If you haven't read the series yet, you're in for a treat!
--Jenifer Ross Fly Guy Meets Fly Girl, by Tedd Arnold
In this latest addition to the Fly Guy series, readers are introduced to several new characters, including a potential romantic partner to the tiny hero. It is impressive how Tedd Arnold can tell a good story using such few words. Much of the story is told through the colorful and expressive artwork. Children will enjoy this charming addition to the series.
- Ephraim Freed, WCU Intern
The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary, by Jeff Kinney
Go behind the scenes with Jeff Kinney and the making of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie, which will be released on April 2, 2010. The book will be here March 16th. If you've ever wondered how a movie gets made, you're not alone. Author and illustrator Jeff Kinney didn't know either, but when his bestselling series was turned into a live-action movie, he found out. Complete with photographs, script pages, storyboard sketches, costume designs, and original art by Jeff Kinney, The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary is the perfect companion to the series. | |
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Last Updated on Friday, 12 February 2010 20:09 |
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Written by Wanda Jewell
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Wednesday, 03 February 2010 19:45 |
| Here are this month's UNCHAINED CHOICES selected for you by Inkwood's booksellers
| THE BOOK OF NIGHT WOMEN by MARLON JAMES - “A brilliant work of art from a truly gifted and inspired writer, The Book of Night Women is set on a Jamaican sugar plantation at the end of the eighteenth century, and centers around the life of Lilith, a young woman born into slavery. As Lilith comes of age, she finds herself drawn into the fold of a group of women revolutionaries, plotting to overthrow white slaveholders and claim independence for Jamaica. Lilith gets caught up in the angry passion of revolution, but her unexpected love for a white overseer complicates her zeal for freedom and revenge. This is a beautiful story of a girl who desires nothing more than to leave behind the complexities of race and live as a human being, as a free woman.” Amanda. Regularly $16; our price $12.80.
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BRAVA VALENTINE by ADRIANA TRIGIANI – “Trigiani’s follow-up to Very Valentine once again features the unstoppable Valentine Roncalli, an Italian-American shoemaker in Manhattan. Valentine rises to meet the challenges of bringing her family’s century-old handmade wedding shoe business into the twentieth century, deal with her grandmother’s remarriage and move to Italy, and juggling her own love affair with a handsome, but older, Italian man. Valentine is a feisty, compelling character. This is no fluffy chick lit, but an honest look at what it takes to be a thirty-something woman and balance your dreams with your responsibilities. I eagerly look forward to the next installment. Brava to Adriana Trigiani for this series! Regularly $25.99; our price $20.79. 9780061257070 HarperCollins. |
| A DAY, A NIGHT, AND A DAY by GLEN DUNCAN - "I don't know what to say about this book, but it is one of the most challenging books I have read in years. Pushing the reader to consider what it means to be human, to be moral, in the world today. Duncan tells a story that, on the surface, with the love story between Augustus and Selina, could sound sentimental ,or with the torturer- terrorist relationship, could sound like a mass market thriller, and instead he has crafted a flawlessly written story, as impossible to put down as it is to forget. Like his Death of an Ordinary Man, this novel is honest and unflinching in the way it examines the devastation of grief and loss, and how we decide to live in the midst of it all. I loved this book, and I have grown from reading it." Leslie. Regularly $13.99; our price $11.19.
| FOREST GATE by PETER AKINTI - "On top of twin tower blocks in the Forest Gate projects of East London, James and Ashvin stand poised, nooses around their necks, to leave behind an unforgiving world, to make a stand and escape their fates while they still have the power to do so. But when James survives, he is forced to find the strength within himself and others to make a new life. Told primarily by Ashvin's sister, Meina, this is a beautiful story of loss, love, reconciliation and resilience. Forest Gate is a wonderful debut by a truly gifted and insightful writer." Amanda. Regularly $14; our price $11.20.
| THE GIRL WHO FELL FROM THE SKY by HEIDE W. DURROW – “This debut novel is the winner of the 2008 Bellwether Prize for best fiction manuscript addressing issues of social justice, which unfortunately sounds like a dry textbook assigned in school. However this astonishing novel is anything but. Apparently inspired by a real event, The Girl Who Fell From the Sky is the story of Rachel, a biracial daughter who is the sole survivor of a family tragedy. Durrow works magic with each of the character's voices, and as the haunting story unfolds we learn both secrets and answers. Part love story, part mystery, this is an unforgettable portrait of a young woman confronting prejudices of class, race, and even beauty, as she struggles to survive. This is a book you hold to your heart.” Leslie. Regularly $22.95; our price $18.36.
| | LITTLE BEE by CHRIS CLEAVE - “The less you know about Little Bee to start off with the better, since what the book is about and what it will mean to you after you’ve read it are two different things. Through the eyes of Little Bee, an illegal immigrant in England, we are witness to the dangerous and often tragic experiences of refugees. An incredibly important and relevant novel, you can expect to be enlightened, disgusted and inspired by Cleave’s lovely prose. Little Bee’s story will haunt you long after you’ve turned the last page.” Amanda. Regularly $14; our price $11.20.
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PICKING COTTON: OUR MEMOIR OF INJUSTICE AND REDEMPTION by JENNIFER THOMPSON-CANNINO and RONALD COTTON – “No fiction writer could have created characters better suited to living and telling this story. In alternating voices, we hear from Jennifer, a white woman who was raped while in college, and Ronald, the black man she identified as her attacker. After 11 years in prison, never giving in to self-pity or bitterness, Ronald is finally set free when his innocence is proven by DNA evidence and Jennifer unflinchingly takes responsibility for her horrible mistake. Now close friends, they are partners in spreading the word about the fallibility of eyewitness testimony.” Carla. Regularly $14.99; our price $11.99. 9780312599539 MacMillan Publishing Services. | PIRATE LATITUDES by MICHAEL CRICHTON – “Found as a completed manuscript after his death, Pirate Latitudes hearkens back to Crichton's earlier historical works such as The Great Train Robbery and Eaters of the Dead. This posthumous thriller follows Captain Hunter, a crafty 'privateer,' as he and his swashbuckling crew set out for a bloody adventure on the high seas in search of, you guessed it, treasure. As educational as it is exciting, the gritty world of 17th century piracy is brought to life as Hunter and his crew set out to plunder the impregnable Spanish fortress of Matanceros. A fresh wind in the sails of pirate literature, Latitudes will have you turning pages faster than you can walk the plank.” Christian. Regularly $27.99; our price $22.39.
| PRINCESS HYACINTH: THE SURPRISING TALE OF A GIRL WHO FLOATED by FLORENCE PARRY HEIDE – “As a former little girl who dreamed of being a princess, this fanciful and charming book appeals to me on many levels. This is the tale of Princess Hyacinth, whose onus in life is that she floats and can not play with the other children in her kingdom. She must spend her days weighed down by jewels and tied down by seatbelts, watching the other children out of her window, until one day she has an adventure that changes her life. Beautifully illustrated and an enchanting story, this is a timeless children’s book.” Avery. Regularly $17.99; our price $14.39.
| A RELIABLE WIFE by ROBERT GOOLRICK - “This debut novel, set in the early 1900s, is a beautifully written psychological mystery, almost gothic at times. Advertising for “a reliable wife”, Ralph Truitt, wealthy businessman, gets more than he realizes when Catherine Land steps off the train. Secrets on top of secrets, all revealed in Goolrick’s lyrical prose, this is a beautiful examination of love and regret.” Leslie. Regularly $14.95; our price $11.96.
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VANISHING ACT OF ESME LENNOX by MAGGIE O’FARRELL – “Iris Lockhart is a young London vintage shop owner with the usual relationship and money issues, on her own with no family but a grandmother with dementia – or so she thinks. When an asylum is shut down, she is suddenly legally responsible for her never-mentioned great aunt Esme, confined 60 years ago at age 16 for reasons that seem spurious. Esme’s perceived offenses parallel Iris’ own eccentricities, and as their tender relationship slowly evolves the family secrets are revealed. This heartbreaking story is beautifully written and will haunt you long after the quietly surprising ending.” Carla. Regularly $14; our price $11.20.
| WHERE THE GOD OF LOVE HANGS OUT by AMY BLOOM – “Billed as short stories, this reads like two novellas, following two sets of characters over several years, even decades, with another four freestanding stories to fill out the book. One set follows a middle-aged couple from their friendship to affair then through marriage and illness; the other concerns a stepmother and grown stepson from his father’s death on for decades. I consider Bloom the hands-down best woman writing short stories today – see for example A Blind Man Can See How Much I Love You – and I am happily just as fond of these longer studies of complex characters in complicated relationships.” Carla. Regularly $25; our price $20.
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Last Updated on Friday, 12 February 2010 20:12 |
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