Copyright 2009. HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022 Phone: (212) 207-7000
Over on The Roaring 20s we've talked a lot about classic novels you love to hate (Melville and Steinbeck were the winners). So, in an attempt to avoid being a Negative Nancy, all this year I'm reading--and gushing about-- modern classics. Erica (The Olive Reader) and I have started a book club specifically for this purpose, which we have named English 101. Each month this year we'll be reading a different paperback and discussing the book on our blogs and Twitter (hashtag #english101). January was devoted to A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (here's Erica's review, and mine) and this month we're reading one of my personal favorites: Aldous Huxely's Brave New World. Interested in joining us? You don't have to be a 20something! Click here for the full schedule.
Last month, I blogged about a book entitled, Wench, by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. Wenchis the story of three female slave mistresses and the friendship they built despite living in a period of oppression. Check out my article.
We have gotten such a great response for this book...and the praise keeps coming! USA Today just gave Wench an awesome review. Read it right here!
If you haven't read Wench yet, please add this to your reading list. You will NOT be disappointed!
Roughly 8,000 librarians attended the American Library Association’s Midwinter conference in Boston.
HarperCollins had a great show: 11 authors including one unforgettable performance by Adriana Trigiani who won the ALA’s Reading List Awards in the Women’s Fiction category for Very Valentine (now out in paperback!). Watch this:
This video went out everywhere. By the next day it was on every major library site including Library Journal’s and the American Library Association’s.
For you non-librarians, the Midwinter conference is where committees meet to determine winners of various book awards. Harper snagged quite a few this time around.
The Reading List awards outstanding genre fiction in 8 categories. We had winners in 3 of those categories as well as a few runner ups:
Historical Fiction - Winner Agincourtby Bernard Cornwell
The Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers selection list suggests books that teens, ages 12-18, will pick up on their own and read for pleasure; it is geared to the teenager who, for whatever reason, does not like to read. We picked up four of these:
The American Library Association’s Midwinter conference was held last weekend in Boston. The HarperCollins Library Marketing Department gave a presentation of select titles that are coming out in the Spring/Summer seasons.
We joined forces with the fabulous team at Earlyword.com who is hosting our presentation on their site.
I have been talking about this book since I read it in manuscript form last year. It has never left me. This is the true story – told through the eyes of a father – about the sudden loss of his 38 year old daughter and how he and his wife step in to help their son-in-law care for their 3 young grandchildren.
This is not a maudlin tale. Yes, it’s sad. But it’s also inspiring, hopeful and even humorous at times. If you want to meet a family who will stay with you long after you’ve read the last page of their story, read Making Toast. For more coverage on the book, including a fantastic interview with Roger Rosenblatt, check out yesterday's dedicated issue of Shelf Awareness.
I’ll send a copy to you if you send a review to me at librarylovefest atharpercollins dot com. Really, I’d love to hear what you think.
Last month, I blogged about a book entitled, Wench, by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. Wench is the story of three female slave mistresses and the friendship they built despite living in a period of oppression. Check out my article.
We received a great review from Jennifer M. Winberry, Principal Librarian, Extension Services, Acquisitions and Programming for the Hunterdon County Library. Here it is:
Set in the decade prior to the American Civil War, Wench tells the story of Lizzie and three other slave women who are brought to Tawawa Resort in Ohio each summer by their masters who have taken these women as their mistresses. Lizzie, from all appearances, and in her own mind, is treated very well, is considered a favored slave on her plantation, and Drayle shows a considerable amount of affection toward her and toward the two children she bore for him. Over the years, Lizzie, Reenie and Sweet have formed a strong summer friendship and are mostly accepting of their roles in life until the summer a fourth woman, Mawu comes into their midst and says the word aloud that until now the others only dared say to themselves: freedom. Dangerous and determined to escape, Mawu sets off a chain of events that brings tragedy to each woman, but that also offers a chance for each woman to change the course of her own destiny, whatever may come. The women will slowly work their way into your mind and heart, especially Lizzie who grows so much over the course of the book, as each searches for her own freedom and the strength to live with her decisions.
-Jennifer M. Winberry Hunterdon County Library
Many thanks to Jennifer and everyone at the Hunterdon County Library! I hope you add Wench to your reading list.
Congratulations are in order for five outstanding authors! Attica Locke, Steve Harvey, Chris Gardner, Nikki Giovanni and David Bergen Brophy have been nominated for NAACP Image Awards. For more information, including a complete list of the nominees, please visit: http://www.naacp.org/news/press/2010-01-06/lit/index.htm
NAACP Image Awards – Nominees
Literary Work – Debut Author Black Water Rising by Attica Locke 9780061735868
Congratulations to Brunonia Barry! Barry’s novel, The Lace Reader, has won the New England Book Festival’s Award in the fiction category. For more information, including a complete list of Winners, please visit: http://newenglandbookfestival.com/winners2009.html
If you will be attending ALA Midwinter this weekend, please stop by our booth (# 1403) and congratulate her in person! Brunonia will be signing at our booth on Sunday, January 17th from 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM in the exhibit hall of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.
