BOOKFINDS

Book Findings: Book Cover for iPhone

For the book lover who likes to stay connected.

Books to Pine For…

In One Person
by John Irving

John Irving has never shied away from controversial subjects before: His Cider House Rules is about a drug-addicted abortionist, while A Prayer for Owen Meany wrestles with hypocrisy in organized religion. His latest novel also embraces hot-button issues, as bisexual man in his 60s reflects on his youth.

Release date: May 8

via: The Atlantic

Book Findings: Make a Book a Day

For an entire year Donna Meyer made a book a day and chronicled her efforts on her blog, Make-a-Book-a-Day.

Sarah Jio’s THE BUNGALOW

The Bungalow by Sarah Jio

Summary: A sweeping World War II saga of thwarted love, murder, and a long-lost painting.

In the summer of 1942, twenty-one-year-old Anne Calloway, newly engaged, sets off to serve in the Army Nurse Corps on the Pacific island of Bora-Bora. More exhilarated by the adventure of a lifetime than she ever was by her predictable fiancé, she is drawn to a mysterious soldier named Westry, and their friendship soon blossoms into hues as deep as the hibiscus flowers native to the island. Under the thatched roof of an abandoned beach bungalow, the two share a private world-until they witness a gruesome crime, Westry is suddenly redeployed, and the idyll vanishes into the winds of war.

A timeless story of enduring passion, The Bungalow chronicles Anne’s determination to discover the truth about the twin losses-of life, and of love-that have haunted her for seventy years.

After reading and completely adoring Sarah Jio’s debut novel, THE VIOLETS OF MARCH, last spring, I was extremely hesitant to read THE BUNGALOW. There is a stigma that often follows sophomore efforts, that they won’t live up to the high standards of the first, that the author is rushed to keep up with the publishing industry’s demands of a book-a-year, that they will be too similar to the first venture and feel redundant. All of these fears followed me into Sarah Jio’s newest release, THE BUNGALOW and I can say, with complete certainty, none of these fears were realized. If anything, THE BUNGALOW surpasses my love for THE VIOLETS OF MARCH (which is a very difficult thing to do). THE BUNGALOW is one of the most enjoying, entertaining and captivating novels I have read in a long time. Jio is quickly establishing herself as a strong and compelling voice in women’s fiction. Her novels are original, historically accurate, emotionally resonant and beautifully written. I honestly cannot speak highly enough of this enormous literary talent. I feel like I fall deeply into the stories and lives she creates and don’t escape until I have (reluctantly) turned the last page. I will be recommending THE BUNGALOW to everyone I know.

Book Findings: A Year of Scribbling in the Margins

We love this New York Times piece on writing in the margins.

Sam Anderson, the magazine’s critic at large and resident marginalia obsessive, selects highlights from a year in reading — and scribbling.

This is also the start of a new section of Bookfinds where we highlight interesting book tidbits found around the internet. Stay tuned for more Bookfindings!

FLY AWAY HOME by Jennifer Weiner

Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner

Political scandals have become commonplace in the news recently. We are actually surprised when political figures don’t have secrets or skeletons in their closets. But what we don’t take into consideration is the personal toll these scandals take on the innocent victims involved; the wives, daughters, mothers, and sons. Jennifer Weiner tackles political scandal and the ultimate destruction it forces on relationships in her novel, FLY AWAY HOME. Sylvie Woodruff is the ideal political wife and has been for the past 30 years. She has stood patiently by her husband’s side, carrying his mints, reminding him of forgotten names and holding his business cards. Sylvie, a lawyer in her own right, has ignored her own personal passions and transformed herself into the perfect wife and mother. Which is why she is more shocked than anyone to discover that her husband has been carrying on an affair with a young legal aid half his age. When the scandal becomes public, Sylvie and her two adult daughters are unwillingly thrown into the spotlight.

While Sylvie’s life begins to unravel, things aren’t going smoothly for her daughters either. Lizzie is 24-years-old and a recovering addict still trying desperately to win back the trust and respect of her older sister, Diana. When she meets someone who could be “the one” she gets an unexpected surprise that could ruin everything she’s been working towards. Diana is a successful doctor with a perfect husband and a happy son, but things are never how they appear. Diana is carrying on an affair and watching her own marriage crumble around her.

Each chapter is told from the point of view of one of the three female characters; Sylvie, Diana and Lizzie. Weiner has created real characters and impeccable dialogue that keeps the story entertaining, authentic and honest. The characters don’t feel flat at all and their internal struggles are extremely relatable. What’s wonderful about Weiner’s story telling ability is that she creates enough suspense to keep you rapidly flipping the pages, while at the same time making you want to slow down and savor the pitch perfect dialogue and thought-provoking themes.

Books to Pine For…BEGINNER’S GOODBYE by Anne Tyler

The Beginner’s Goodbye
by Anne Tyler

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Breathing Lessons and The Accidental Tourist comes out with her 19th novel this spring. It’s about a middle-aged man grieving the death of his wife and the comfort he finds in encountering her ghost. Tyler knows the disorienting pain of losing a spouse: Her husband of more than 30 years died a decade ago.

Release date: April 3

via: The Atlantic

Most Anticipated Books of 2012

The Millions has listed their most anticipated books of 2012 including works from John Irving, Jonathan Franzen, Lauren Groff, Toni Morrison and Nell Freudenberger.

The Atlantic also has a list of highly anticipated books of 2012.

Book Findings for a Great Weekend

Mark Twain Battles James Fenimore Cooper.

Why Authors Should Tweet.

Penguin Plucks Author From Online Slush Pile.

Amazon and the Independent Bookstore.

Independent Bookstores Become Publishers.

Great site for book inscriptions.

Books to Pine For: THESE GIRLS by Sarah Pekkanen

Summary:  In her third novel, internationally bestselling author Sarah Pekkanen examines the lives of three women working and living together in New York City and shows that family secrets may shape us all, but it’s the rich, complicated layers of friendship that can save us.

Cate, Renee, and Abby have come to New York for very different reasons, and in a bustling city of millions, they are linked together through circumstance and chance.

Cate has just been named the features editor of Gloss, a high-end lifestyle magazine. It’s a professional coup, but her new job comes with more complications than Cate ever anticipated.

Cate’s roommate Renee will do anything to nab the plum job of beauty editor at Gloss. But snide comments about Renee’s weight send her into an emotional tailspin. Soon she is taking black market diet pills—despite the racing heartbeat and trembling hands that signal she’s heading for real danger.

Then there’s Abby, whom they take in as a third roommate. Once a joyful graduate student working as a nanny part time, she abruptly fled a seemingly happy life in the D.C. suburbs. No one knows what shattered Abby—or why she left everything she once loved behind.

Pekkanen’s most compelling, true-to-life novel yet tells the story of three very different women as they navigate the complications of careers and love—and find the lifeline they need in each other.

Publication Date: April 10, 2012

Author’s Website: Sarah Pekkanen

Publisher: Washington Square Press