Jan
25
2010
Beautiful, popular Samantha and her three best friends are the ruthless queen bees of their high school. But Samantha is living a nightmare: throughout the book, she relives the day of her death seven times, with some dramatic alterations and revelations depending on her choices—ditching school to spend time with her younger sister or, on a day when life’s rules have all but lost their meaning, seducing a teacher. She faces the often tragic consequences of even the smallest acts, awakens to the casual cruelties all around her, and tries to get things right and maybe even redeem herself. If this sounds too much like a Groundhog Day–style plot, make no mistake: evocative of Jenny Downham’s Before I Die, Oliver’s debut novel is raw, emotional, and, at times, beautiful (“It amazes me how easy it is for things to change,” Samantha thinks. “how easy it is to start off down the same road you always take and wind up somewhere new”). Samantha’s best friends are funny, likable, and maddening, but readers will love Samantha best as she hurtles toward an end as brave as it is heartbreaking. Ages 14–up. (Mar.)
Lauren Oliver just received a starred Publishers Weekly review, so she is off to a fantastic start for her debut novel. You can also visit her website here.
Jan
25
2010
The Boston Globe has posted their selections for best books of the decade. Titles include Zadie Smith’s WHITE TEETH, Edward P. Jones’ THE KNOWN WORLD and A HEARTBREAKING WORK OF STAGGERING GENIUS by Dave Eggers.
Jan
25
2010
I have been getting some publicity lately for the appearances I have made on Oprah. I am the owner of Kelley and Hall Book Publicity, and have such a passion for reading that I needed an outlet to express my thoughts and reactions to the publishing world as well as the books I want to recommend. There is nothing I enjoy more than talking about great books and dissecting the complex and dynamic world of publishing. If there are any specific areas in publishing that you have questions about, or if you have book recommendations and would like to see certain books reviewed, let me know. I want to make this site a conversation for readers and writers alike.
Jan
23
2010
Famed Boston mystery writer Robert B. Parker, author of the Spenser series, passed away of heart attack in his home in Cambridge, MA on Monday.
Parker was known for his tough PI Spenser and was the author of over 60 novels inlcuding young adult novels and westerns. Helen Hunt requeted him tte the Sunny Randall series, about the daughter of PI, to make it to a movie. The first one was published in 1999, but no movie has been made yet. Parker is also known for his Jesse Spencer series about a detective in a wealthy Boston suburb, that was turned into a few Tom Selleck TV movies.
His last novel, Split Image, will be a Jessie Stone mystery and will be published next month.
Jan
23
2010
Great article from The Millions on managing an overwhelming book collection. But as the author. Edan Lepuki cleverly points out, “Books reveal to visitors our values and our identities.”
Jan
23
2010
An exciting report hit the press late Friday that Robert Pattinson and Sean Penn were “circling” chances to star in the film adaptation of Sarah Gruen’s bestselling novel Water For Elephants. We have details on the role if Rob commits, but here’s a hint: Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon in love? We don’t know who’s more jealous – us or Jake Gyllenhaal.
Probably us. An MTV blog has described Robert Pattinson’s role as the following if he takes the part, which is said to be “likely”: “The story follows a young man — presumably Pattinson — who drops out of school after his parents are killed to join the circus. Penn would play a disturbed animal trainer who works for said circus while the previously confirmed Reese Withspoon would play his wife.”
Jan
16
2010
Welcome to the first review for BookFinds by our intrepid reviewer, Piper. Piper’s Book Nook will be a new segment for our younger readers (or those who are just young at heart). In this first installment Piper is reviewing a selection of Junie B. Jones‘ titles by Barbara Park.
Jan
13
2010
Fans of the popular “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” series will have to wait until late May for the final installment, “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest,” but they have something new to be excited about.
Variety reported that the film rights to “Dragon Tattoo” have been sold to Sony to produce a film based on the bestselling book. Although there has already been a film released in Sweden last February that made almost $100 million dollars across Europe, this will be the first American film based on the first trilogy.
The film will be c0-produced by the trusty Scott Rudin with the makers of Swedish film, Yellow Bird Films.
Over at MTV’s blog, they speculate who will play the tough, tattooed computer hacker turned sleuth Lisbeth Salander, who has been called “one of the most compelling characters in contemporary fiction.”
According to MTV, their choice is clear:
She is “a pale, anorexic young woman who had hair as short as a fuse, and a pierced nose and eyebrows… She was a natural redhead, but she dyed her hair raven black… She had a wide mouth, a small nose, and high cheekbones that gave her an almost Asian look.” And of course, she has a dragon tattoo (among others). With that in mind, here are our top three picks for Lisbeth:
Shannyn SossamonIf I were to leave my duties as your faithful blogger and take up a career as a Hollywood casting agent, my No. 1 pick for this role would be Shannyn Sossamon. Best known for her early ’00s roles in “A Knight’s Tale” and “40 Days and 40 Nights” this exotic brunette is a perfect physical facsimile of how I imagine Lisbeth to look.
Samaire ArmstrongAnother young starlet who’s just the right mix of delicate and dangerous is “Dirty Sexy Money” and “O.C.” actress Samaire Armstrong. Plus, with stints on T.V. crime shows like “NYPD Blue,” “Numb3rs” and “CSI: Miami,” she’s no stranger to a little detective work.
Kate MoennigWe loved Kate Moennig as tough-as-nails (with a heart of gold) lesbian Shane McCutcheon in “The L Word.” Pretty yet androgynous, we hope Kate would consider a hiatus from her role as Dr. Miranda Foster on the medical drama “Three Rivers” to step into Lisbeth’s well-worn combat boots.
Kristen Stewart of “Twilight” fame is a name that will probably pop up, although she was great in “Adventureland,” she has never come off as a “tough girl.” We will have to wait and see. Feel free to weigh in on who you think should be cast.
Jan
11
2010
I, Penny Lane Bloom, do solemnly swear to never date another boy for as long as I shall live. All right, maybe I’ll reconsider it in ten years or so when I’m no longer living in Parkview, Illinois, or attending McKinley High School, but for now I’m done with guys.
They’re all lying, cheating scum of the earth.Yes, every last one of them. Pure evil.
Sure, there are some that seem nice, but the second they get what they want, they’ll dump you and move onto their next target.
So I’m done.
No more dating.
The end.Love is all you need…or is it?
Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating, so she vows: No more. She’s had one too many bad dates, and has been hurt by one too many bad boys. It’s a personal choice…and soon everybody wants to know about it. It seems that Penny’s not the only girl who’s tired of the way girls change themselves (most of the time for the worse) in order to get their guys…or the way their guys don’t really care about them.
Girls are soon thronging to The Lonely Hearts Club (named after Sgt. Pepper’s band), and Penny finds herself near legendary for her non-dating ways – which is too bad, since the leader of The Lonely Hearts Club has found a certain boy she can’t help but like…
Jan
6
2010
Unbelievably adorable! I am currently about half-way through Marian Keyes newest release, THE BRIGHTEST STAR IN THE SKY, and I am loving it. I am loving it so much that I had to post about it midway through. She has even revamped her website, so check it out here.
The Brightest Star in the Sky received a *STARRED* review from Publishers Weekly:
Keyes delivers a dizzying vertical view of the mismatched, mixed-up tenants of Dublin’s 66 Star Street, friends and lovers who grow up, grow old and give way to their heart currents with help from a puckish sprite. This multitiered saga of Dubliners searching for the brightest star in the sky… the planet of love straddles slapstick and sophistication in an engaging balancing act both giddy and grand. Here’s Katie, publicist, freshly 40, and her workaholic, commitment-phobic fella, Conall; newlyweds Maeve and Matt, who hide a violent and crippling secret that binds them and drives them apart; madcap, sassy Lydia, a taxi driver who juggles worries about her aging mom and an over-the-top passion (mixed with equal parts lust and disdain) for her sexy flatmate; plucked from nowhere hunk Fionn, who hopes to begin a TV career, and his psychic foster mom and her mean-as-a-snake dog who improbably helps bring all the sweet mayhem to a satisfying close. Keyes (This Charming Man) is an expert at weaving dark threads into cozy material, and in this ambitious outing, she’s in top form.