BOOKFINDS

By the Book…in the New York Times

I am officially obsessed with the New York Times new column, BY THE BOOK. It appears in the Sunday Book Review as well as a longer version that runs on the paper’s online site. By the Book interviews literary celebrities about their reading habits, what they are currently reading, what books remain favorites and my personal favorite, whether or not they take notes in their books.

Here is David Sedaris’ answer to the question, do you take notes when you read?

What are your reading habits? Paper or electronic? Do you take notes? Do you snack while you read?

I sometimes read books on my iPad. It’s great for traveling, but paper versions are easier to mark up, and I like the feeling of accomplishment I get when measuring the number of pages I’ve just finished — “Three-quarters of an inch!” I like listening to books as well, as that way you can iron at the same time. Notewise, whenever I read a passage that moves me, I transcribe it in my diary, hoping my fingers might learn what excellence feels like.

I find myself now eagerly anticipating who the next By the Book profile will be. Can’t wait until next Sunday to find out!

May Books You Just MAY Adore

 

OBJECTS OF MY AFFECTION

Jill Smolinski

Touchstone

In the humorous, heartfelt new novel by the author of THE NEXT THING ON MY LIST, a personal organizer must somehow convince a reclusive artist to give up her hoarding ways and let go of the stuff she’s hung onto for decades.

Lucy Bloom is broke, been dumped by her boyfriend, and had to sell her house to send her nineteen-year-old son to drug rehab. Although she’s lost it all, she’s determined to start over. So when she’s offered a high-paying gig helping clear the clutter from the home of reclusive and eccentric painter Marva Meier Rios, Lucy grabs it. Armed with the organizing expertise she gained while writing her book, Things Are Not People, and fueled by a burning desire to get her life back on track, Lucy rolls up her sleeves to take on the mess that fills every room of Marva’s huge home. Lucy soon learns that the real challenge may be taking on Marva, who seems to love the objects in her home too much to let go of any of them.

While trying to stay on course toward a strict deadline—and with an ex-boyfriend back in the picture, a new romance on the scene, and her son’s  rehab not going as planned—Lucy discovers that Marva isn’t just hoarding: she is also hiding a big secret. The two form an unlikely bond, as each learns from the other that there are those things in life we keep, those we need to let go—but it’s not always easy to know the difference.

Laugh-out-loud humor, heartfelt writing, relatable characters, and a charming premise all come together to make OBJECTS OF MY AFFECTION the next read for the fans of Jennifer Weiner, Emily Giffin, and Allison Winn Scotch.

 

SOUTHERN CHARM

Tinsley Mortimer

Simon & Schuster

The entertaining first novel by socialite Tinsley Mortimer about a Southern Belle thrust into the frenzied world of high society in New York City.

Small town girl Minty Davenport always dreamed of skyscrapers and yellow cabs. So upon graduation from college, she bids adieu to Charleston and makes a beeline for the Big Apple. Landing a job at a PR firm, she crosses paths with the city’s elite, who are charmed by her vivacious personality and no-strings-attached sincerity. When she finds her picture in fashion magazines alongside A-list celebrities, Minty realizes that her future is in front of the camera, not behind it. But it’s a long way from the deb balls of Charleston to Fashion Week in Lincoln Center, and the gatekeepers to New York society upper echelons aren’t easily charmed.

At first, Minty’s attempts to apply etiquette lessons of a southern belle to big city life fail miserably—to comic effect. But she eventually morphs from the girl who alphabetizes the guest list to a boldface name, while also landing the city’s most eligible bachelor. When a fellow “It Girl” starts rumors that threaten to ruin Minty’s social standing, Minty is forced to reevaluate her values. Finally, she realizes that only by embracing her southern charm can she rule the city.

 

THE NEWLYWEDS

Nell Freudenberger

Knopf

A powerful, funny, richly observed tour de force by one of America’s most acclaimed young writers: a story of love and marriage, secrets and betrayals, that takes us from the backyards of America to the back alleys and villages of Bangladesh.

In THE NEWLYWEDS, we follow the story of Amina Mazid, who at age 24 moves from Bangladesh to Rochester, New York, for love. A hundred years ago, Amina would have been called a mail-order bride. But this is an arranged marriage for the twenty-first century: Amina is wooed by — and woos — George Stillman online.

For Amina, George offers a chance for a new life and a different kind of happiness than she might find back home. For George, Amina is a woman who doesn’t play games. But each of them is hiding something: someone from the past they thought they could leave behind. It is only when they put an ocean between them—and Amina returns to Bangladesh—that she and George find out if their secrets will tear them apart, or if they can build a future together.

THE NEWLYWEDS is a surprising, suspenseful story about the exhilarations — and real-life complications — of getting, and staying, married. It stretches across continents, generations, and plains of emotion. What has always set Nell Freudenberger apart is the sly, gimlet eye she turns on collisions of all kinds — sexual, cultural, familial. With THE NEWLYWEDS, she has found her perfect subject for that vision, and characters to match. She reveals Amina’s heart and mind, capturing both her new American reality and the home she cannot forget, with seamless authenticity, empathy, and grace. At once revelatory and affecting, THE NEWLYWEDS is a stunning achievement.

IN ONE PERSON

John Irving

Simon & Schuster

His most political novel since THE CIDER HOUSE RULES and A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY John Irving’s IN ONE PERSON is an intimate and unforgettable portrait of the solitariness of a bisexual man who is dedicated to making himself “worthwhile.”

Advance praise for John Irving’s IN ONE PERSON:

“This tender exploration of nascent desire, of love and loss, manages to be sweeping, brilliant, political, provocative, tragic, and funny — it is precisely the kind of astonishing alchemy we associate with a John Irving novel. The unfolding of the AIDS epidemic in the United States in the ’80s was the defining moment for me as a physician. With my patients’ deaths, almost always occurring in the prime of life, I would find myself cataloging the other losses — namely, what these people might have offered society had they lived the full measure of their days: their art, their literature, the children they might have raised. IN ONE PERSONis the novel that for me will define that era. A profound truth is arrived at in these pages. It is Irving at his most daring, at his most ambitious. It is America and American writing, both at their very best.” — Abraham Verghese, author of CUTTING FOR STONE and MY OWN COUNTRY

“IN ONE PERSON is a novel that makes you proud to be human. It is a book that not only accepts but also loves our differences. From the beginning of his career, Irving has always cherished our peculiarities — in a fierce, not a saccharine, way. Now he has extended his sympathies — and ours — still further into areas that even the misfits eschew. Anthropologists say that the interstitial — whatever lies between two familiar opposites — is usually declared either taboo or sacred. John Irving in this magnificent novel — his best and most passionate since THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP  — has sacralized what lies between polarizing genders and orientations. And have I mentioned it is also a gripping page-turner and a beautifully constructed work of art?” — Edmund White, author of CITY BOY and GENET: A BIOGRAPHY

 

I NEVER PROMISED YOU A GOODIE BAG

Jennifer Gilbert

Harper

A warm, wise, and wholly original memoir of survival, renewal, and transformation, by one of New York City’s most successful and respected special events coordinators. With her top-level events company, Save the Date, Jennifer Gilbert has worked with Fortune 500 companies, broadcast media giants, international nonprofit organizations, and celebrities from Oprah Winfrey to Bill Gates and beyond. Yet few of her clients or colleagues have known, until now, that Jennifer not only a self-made success: she’s also a survivor. After a random, near-fatal attack left her body in critical condition on a crowded city street, and left her with emotional wounds that would take years to heal, Jennifer embarked upon a journey to reclaim her life. This is her story, in her own words: I NEVER PROMISED YOU A GOODY BAG, an intimate, poignant, inspiring memoir of perseverance, rediscovery, and hope. Readers may also recognize Gilbert from her stint on the Real Housewives of New York.

 

 

 

THE COTTAGE AT GLASS BEACH

Heather Barbieri

Harper

Heather Barbieri follows her acclaimed Gaelic-tinged drama THE LACE MAKERS OF GLENMARA with the resonant tale of a woman who, in the wake of scandal, flees to a remote Maine island to reconnect with her past—and to come to terms with the childhood tragedy that has haunted her for a lifetime. Set on the rugged New England coast, Barbieri’s THE COTTAGE AT GLASS BEACH strikes the perfect balance between high lit and mainstream women’s fiction, infusing a potent and unforgettable love story with unforgettable characters that will remain with you long after the final chapter. Richly evocative, Barbieri’s narrative of intimacy, struggle, and redemption will call out to readers of Joanne Harris, Alice Hoffman, and other modern masters of drama.

 

 

 

 

THE ROCK STAR IN SEAT 3A

Jill Kargman

William Morrow

 

It’s Hazel’s 30th birthday and she has everything she’s ever wanted: a kickass job at a video-game company, a dream New York City apartment, and the perfect boyfriend — who also happens to be a personal chef, and has just proposed in the most romantic way. With good food, video games and love, Hazel thinks she’s happy — but not ready to get married. So when her most far-fetched fantasy suddenly enters the realm of the possible, shouldn’t she drop everything to see it through? The morning after her birthday, Hazel leaves for a business trip and receives a surprise upgrade to first class, boards the plane, and sees the person in seat 3B: it’s her celebrity crush, rock star Finn Schiller. Just the night before, she had confessed her infatuation with Finn at her birthday party, and her boyfriend joked that she had a free pass if she ever met him. Hazel can’t believe fate has actually thrown them together. Even more unbelievable is the flight that follows, as they genuinely connect — even after he sees her vomit due to plane turbulence. Finn likes her uncensored cursing, wicked sense of humor, and that she’s not like all his groupies; Hazel likes his killer looks, ripped physique and soulful music. But what started as a fantasy quickly becomes a real attraction and after a dream date and taste of the rock-star life with Finn in Los Angeles, Hazel is forced to examine the track her life is on. Indulging in a passionate affair with a rock star seems crazy — but could she ever forgive herself if she walked away from her wildest dreams coming true? Seasoning with her signature wit and hilarious dialogue, Jill Kargman presents a fairytale romance with a twist.

Interview with Rosie Sultan, Debut Author of Helen Keller In Love

 

Always a fan of historical fiction and the richly detailed stories of a famous person’s life, we couldn’t wait to dive into Rosie Sultan’s HELEN KELLER IN LOVE (Viking, April 26, 2012). Rosie Sultan’s debut novel imagines a part of Keller’s life she rarely wrote or spoke about: the man she once loved. Here Sultan talks about what inspired her to write about Helen Keller and what she learned during her research that surprised her.

What triggered your interest in Helen Keller’s life, particularly her private life?

I’ve always been fascinated by Helen Keller. I read my first book about her when I was in the third grade, and I’ve read almost everything about her since. A few years ago I read a new biography of Helen: toward the book’s end a short chapter—maybe six pages long—said she had a love affair at age thirty-seven with a twenty-nine year old journalist from Boston. I couldn’t believe that Helen Keller had a secret love affair; I couldn’t believe she had defied her family and tried to run away with him; and I couldn’t believe the chapter that told that story was six pages long! I put the book down and said, “There’s a story here.  I’m going to tell it.”

Do you think it’s possible that, because Helen was blind and deaf, most people—even those closest to her—believed she couldn’t develop romantic and carnal desires?

That’s right. This was 1916, and Helen’s family and her teacher, Annie Sullivan, knew Helen had normal desires, but they did not want her to act on them. But from the time Helen was young, she preferred men to women. Even as a child, if a man came to the house Helen would ask, “Do I look pretty?”  When she was a young woman, at school in New York City and later at Radcliffe College, other girls went out with their boyfriends, while Helen studied or socialized with Annie. During that time Helen secretly read romance novels, and if Annie caught her she’d tell Helen to put the novel away and read something to improve her mind. Another way Helen’s family tried to keep her from having normal romantic desires?  They wouldn’t let her be alone with a man. One time, at Radcliffe, a handsome young man was assigned to proctor Helen’s exam. Her mother had him replaced. So handicapped people had normal desires, but couldn’t fulfill them. Helen tried anyway.

In conducting your research on Helen Keller, her family, and inner circle, did you come across any places or documents that were particularly noteworthy? Or, say . . . shocking?

Yes, absolutely. I found some articles in the New York Times that surprised me because in them Helen protested the United States entering World War One. In biographies I found that the public who attended her speeches against the war revered her courage. They mobbed her after her speeches and even took the flowers off her hat. Other surprises were that at the turn of the century Helen supported Margaret Sanger and the use of birth control and she gave her support to the NAACP. Her southern family was scandalized.

Helen had a very close relationship with her instructor, Annie Sullivan. How would you characterize their relationship and how did that manifest itself in Helen Keller in Love?

It was complex. It was not an ordinary mentor-student relationship. Annie taught Helen language and was Helen’s doorway to the outside world. When Annie was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1916, they needed to hire Peter Fagan. This is where intense conflicts developed because Annie didn’t want Helen getting close to Peter. She was threatened by Helen’s interest in him, and her growing need for his company.

Helen is a very independent thinker yet, based on her disabilities, she’s very dependent on those around her. What was it like writing a character with such a complex dynamic?

What was it like to write about her? It was thrilling.  I discovered that she’s not the person we all thought we knew.  I got to bring to life her many dimensions: Helen was a public figure, an author, a daughter, a sister, an activist. And I got to bring alive her secret desire for love.

What’s next for you? Do you have plans to continue writing historical fiction?

Absolutely. In researching this book I found there is a lot of untapped historical material about the characters I explored. So to answer your question, I have many more stories to tell, and they’ll be in my next novel.

 

Cover Love

I have said it many times before. I LOVE British covers. They are happy and bright and oh so girly. Yes, I admit to being a fan of these covers and wish that American covers were as light and bubbly as their British counterparts. I also wish we had some of these books! Not that I don’t love and adore so many of the books published here in America…but sometimes I feel we miss out on some good, old-fashioned, Bridget Jones-esque CHICK LIT! There, I said it. I frequent sites like Trashionista and Novelicious, desperate for information on what little literary gems they have coming out overseas. I wish I could get my hands on these titles. I would love to see many of them published here, as well. There is something much lighter and carefree in the created worlds of British (and Irish) female writers. Why is that? Do they have a better sense of humor? Marian Keyes is a great example. She tackles some very serious issues with her novels but does so in such an enjoyable and entertaining way. Isn’t that true about life in general? Isn’t there always some strange humor found in the most dire of circumstances? Isn’t that a great testament to the strength of the human spirit? The ability to still find laughter?To look on the bright side? To appreciate the good? I think I may have to move overseas.

The Garden of Happy Endings by Barbara O’Neal

Spring is upon us and I can’t help but feel inspired by the lush greenery that surrounds me. I want to open up all the windows in my house and let the healing power of nature seep in. It’s always astounding how books seem to find you at the right time, the most appropriate time. This is what happened with Barbara O’Neal’s The Garden of Happy Endings. I picked it up randomly one night, drawn to it by the cover and title. It promised a certain happiness and calm that I couldn’t resist. The main character is Elsa Montgomery. A reverend of a small church in Seattle. Tragedy immediately envelopes Elsa and she’s forced to question her beliefs (or lack there of) in this moment of complete shock and horror. Distraught and despondent, Elsa returns to her hometown of Pueblo, Colorado. Her sister, Tamsin, is going through her own personal breakdown. Together they help rebuild each other’s lives through food, gardening and community involvement while searching for hope and happiness amidst the ruins.

There is an elegant quality to O’Neal’s writing that seems to transcend the genre she’s placed. Passages in The Garden of Happy Endings read like poetry. Images of the garden they are creating and the food that they produce evoke a visceral reaction in the reader. It is like watching spring unfold through the pages of a novel.

The themes of loss, regret, confusion, betrayal, fear and love are all emotions that we, as readers, can identify with and understand. The characters of Elsa, Tamsin, Father Jack and Deacon McCoy allow us to watch real people struggle to find both their place in the world and the happiness that they hope resides there.

I recently read an essay by O’Neal on Writer Unboxed where she detailed the need writers have for writing to answer their “central question.” The question that O’Neal wanted to answer with The Garden of Happy Endings eluded her at first. She ultimately understood the question to be about what happens when something gets in the way of your passion, of your inner drive, or your life choices. I think it’s interesting that O’Neal wrote about her desire to answer questions with her novels because I feel it is this quality that made The Garden of Happy Endings so rich with detail and the evolution of the characters’ lives.

This novel is vivid and honest. Hopeful and calming. Powerful and evocative. Subtle and charming. I devoured it and am now inspired to check out all of Barbara O’Neal’s earlier work.

 

Margaret Atwood on The Hunger Games

Margaret Atwood was interviewed for New York Magazine’s Vulture Blog and responded to questions about The Hunger Games, which Atwood seemed to not be very familiar with but felt was similar to a portion of her novel Year of the Flood.

So, basically it’s Painball from Year of the Flood in which people are pitted against other people so other people can watch it on TV? And the origin of that of course is paintball, which is a real thing! It’s always nice to have people see the beauty of one’s ideas. I’m flattered. [Chuckles.] It sounds interesting. Some of these things go way back, mythologically.

Hatred for Gatsby…and the Entire Jazz Era

Man, what self-indulgent rubbish.

“I am so rich…I am so observant…My friends are so rich…My friends have great parties…Gatsby is so rich…Gatsby is so neat…”

So it’s a great story about the Jazz era. It wasn’t that great an era.

If I wanted to read about lame, rich, full of themself people going to parties, I’d pick up People magazine.

A bore.

{These are actual one star reviews found on Amazon.com}

Walking Back to Happiness by Lucy Dillon

 

“You don’t have to stop loving the past to enjoy the rest of your life.”

Life and death. Love and honesty. Betrayal, fear, and jealousy are all at the heart of Lucy Dillon’s literary journey, Walking Back to Happiness. Juliet is a young widow who is turning her back on life. She finds solace retreating into her own private world, surrounded by memories of her husband, Ben. Overcome with grief, the only voyages Juliet takes beyond her front door is to walk Minton, her deceased husband’s loyal dog. Juliet’s mother encourages her to interact more with people and lovingly pushes her into starting a dog-walking business. While still very much mourning Ben, Juliet begins an innocent flirtation with the owner of a spaniel and gets pulled into the messy and chaotic folds of her neighbors’ lives.

The emotional component of this novel was very realistic and heartfelt. It was not a simple, “watch her get over the loss of her husband and move on to someone new” kind of book. It was very honest and often heart wrenching but ultimately hopeful and life affirming. Anyone who has had their life flipped upside down can relate and be inspired by this wonderful story of hope and survival amidst life’s worst curveballs.

Highly recommended read.

“Life’s not one long poem, Juliet. It’s a book with a series of chapters. You’re sad for awhile; then you turn the page and see what happens next.”

British Cover

Had to include the British version here to support my belief that British covers are just happier and more inviting. Thoughts?

Books to Pine For: I COULDN’T LOVE YOU MORE by Jillian Medoff

The Secret Garden Should Be Banned from the Whole World?

We had to read this in class and it was very, very , very, very,(you get the point) boring. I was looking at the reviews that people gave it. How could you like this book. The average customer review and it was five stars. It should be more like 1 stars. I gave it 1 stars. The only part that was O.K. is when she is looking for the key. But the author makes it drag on so it isn’t that good. I would recomed this book only to people who like very slow and boring books. My teacher said that she just loves this book, but it really stinks. I think this book should be banned from the whole world. I hope the author who wote this book will read this review.

I love that the reviewer hopes the author (who died in 1924) will read this review. Really?

{These are actual one star reviews found on Amazon.com}