They say “you get what you pay for”, and “there’s no such thing as a free lunch”, but in today’s marketplace that’s not always the case. Today, you can get a great book by a wonderful author for FREE! Yes… Free! That’s $0.00. Seriously. And check out today today’s post by guest blogger and author Alma Katsu, who talks about the re-birth of short fiction and shares this great deal with us. (Today’s the last day to get it too, people, so start clicking!)
Now with e-publishing, there’s a place for short stories and novellas again. They’ve become teasers, small morsels to tempt readers to take a chance on an author’s full-length books. Not too long ago, Kindle launched its Kindle Singles series, offering short stories and article-length non-fiction from brand name authors. Many publishers got in on the act, too, getting their authors (primarily Read More
Regular Contributor Denise Neary is back with a look at a book-filled week in our nation’s capital.
It is always a good week to be a book lover in Washington, DC, but hard to top last week.
Monday, the Smithsonian honored July Blume with the John P. McGovern Award for her work promoting the understanding of the American family.
She was interviewed by NPR’s Lynn Neary (not related to me, but I wish she were!) She talked about her own books being such a target for censorship (there was even a pamphlet distributed with tips on people keep Judy Blume books out of schools and libraries), and recalled reading her grandchild Harry Potter and wondering when “they” would come after Harry. Reflecting on her career, she noted that she wrote largely in isolation; she is happy that there are now “communities” of writers.
Tuesday, Chris Matthews spoke to a standing room only crowd at Politics and Prose, about his new book, JACK KENNEDY: ELUSIVE HERO.
Matthews arrived at the story early, and started signing books before his reading—he REALLY wants people to buy his book. Hilarious to say that Matthews may be more opinionated in person than he is on TV—and he believes his research and interviews has unearthed a novel view of a mythical figure in American history.
Politics and Prose also hosted Robert Massie, Anne Beattie, Walter Issacson and struggling writer William Jefferson Clinton last week.
Bradley Graham (co-owner of the store, with wife Lissa Muscatine) said that whenever he hears about the decline of the independent book store, he wishes people could come visit see Politics and Prose author events like the ones held this week.
Hard, after a week like that, to live up to my often-stated and never-realized goal to stop buying so many books!
On a more positive note, my holiday shopping is done!
– Denise Neary, Regular Contributor
Congrats to Connor Shearer of Mishawaka, IN who won a signed copy of Amy Waldman’s THE SUBMISSION in our most recent #FreeBookFriday giveaway!
This week we’re giving away a hardcover copy of V IS FOR VENGEANCE by Sue Grafton (who we got to interview last week for our podcast!). If you’re a fan of the Kinsey Milhone series, you’ll love the latest book (and of course the insight in our interview with Sue).
For a chance to win your copy of V IS FOR VENGEANCE, go over to the Midtown Review Facebook page… make sure to like us and enter the sweepstakes and maybe you’ll be our next lucky winner!
– Dana Barrett, Managing Editor
PS – Remember to help support your favorite blog/podcast by shopping on Amazon through any of our Amazon links… like this one!
Have you been following the 2011 goodreads Choice Awards process this year? If not, now’s a good time to jump on board. It’s the semi-final round and some of Midtown Review’s favorite authors from podcasts past are nominated.
Click over to the Choice Awards page on goodreads.com to vote and be sure to support our fav’s:
FICTION:
SWAMPLANDIA by Karen Russell (a Midtown Review Book Club Pick)
THE SUBMISSION by Amy Waldman (Check out our interview from last week!)
MYSTERY & THRILLER:
LOVE YOU MORE by Lisa Gardner (Got to chat with Lisa while she was on tour for this one!)
THE AFFAIR by Lee Child (Talked to Lee a couple of years ago about an earlier book. Love him.)
HISTORICAL FICTION:
MRS. TOM THUMB by Melanie Benjamin (We’ve done a couple posts about the fabulous Melanie!)
DREAMS OF JOY by Lisa See (One of the most searched for podcasts on our site.)
FANTASY:
ONE OF OUR THURSDAYS IS MISSING by Jasper Fforde (Talked to him about Read More
Congrats to Elisabeth Jewell of Concord, NH who won last week’s #FreeBookFriday giveaway – and has a copy of THE STORMCHASERS by Jenna Blum speeding it’s way to her door!
This week is all about THE SUBMISSION by Amy Waldman. In case you missed it, we posted a podcast with Amy earlier this week, and now we’re giving away a signed copy of the book.
THE SUBMISSION is turning out to be one of the most talked about books of the fall so go over to the Midtown Review Facebook page… make sure to like us and enter the sweepstakes and maybe you’ll be our next lucky winner!
Regular contributor Denise Neary is back today with a book recommendation for baseball lovers who are lamenting the end of the season and the long wait until spring!
Still Suffering from World Series Fever?
Is there someone in your house aching with love over baseball? What I don’t know about sports is endless—but I have a book to suggest for those who love baseball.
My husband, who reads and talks about books all of the time, is completely anti-book club. Little does he know that he and his friends are an informal book club….they just don’t meet on any sort of schedule.
All of the great buzz on THE ART OF FIELDING, and the popularity of the book and movie MONEYBALL, reminds me of another baseball book you might not know.
The book, PROPHET OF THE SANDLOTS: Journeys with a Major League Scout by Mark Winegardner, is a favorite in our house: I suggest you consider it as a holiday gift for a baseball fan in yours. (It is out of print, but used copies are available.)
From Library Journal:
“Tony Lucadello, likely to be the first scout to be inducted into Cooperstown, related to Winegardner during their trips through the Midwest the tricks of the trade in identifying and signing future major leaguers. Winegardner is reminiscent of David Halberstam in his Read More
Congrats to Samantha Hely of Platteville, WI who won a copy of THE TAKER by Alma Katsu in our last #FreeBookFriday giveaway!
Didn’t win? Fear not. This week we’ve got a copy of THE STORMCHASERS by Jenna Blum to giveaway! Just go over to the Midtown Review Facebook page… make sure to like us and enter the sweepstakes!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The author of the runaway New York Times bestseller Those Who Save Us returns with a powerful novel about twins who must confront a dark secret from their past.
Jenna Blum’s debut novel became a grassroots sensation and was a New York Times bestseller for more than a year. In this emotional and provocative new novel, Blum asks the question: How far would you go to protect a sibling-and at what cost to yourself?
As a teenager, Karena Jorge has always taken care of her twin brother, Charles. Obsessed with severe weather, Charles, who suffers from bipolar disorder, begins chasing storms. Refusing to take his medication, Charles soon involves them both in a terrifying tornado chase-with deadly consequences.
Now, two decades later, Karena must find her long-estranged brother before he reveals the dark secret from their past or hurts himself-or someone else. But there is only one way to find him: the storms…
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I know you want to win… so what are you waiting for? Head over to our Facebook page and sign up!
– Dana Barrett, Managing Editor
Ah books and movies, movies and books. Sometimes I have a hard time choosing which I like better. It’s like choosing between chocolate and vanilla. For some people there is no contest – they fall firmly on one side or the other. For me, I’d just as soon have them swirled together (in a cone, please). So when I can get my books and movies together in the form of a favorite book adapted for the big screen, I couldn’t be happier. This month there are several such yummy treats to choose from:
1 – I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT (based on the book by the same name by Allison Pearson)
Opens tomorrow – September 16th, 2011
The movie stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, Christina Hendricks, Olivia Munn,Kelsey Grammer and Seth Meyers which is reason enough for me to want to go see it.
As an employee at a Boston-based financial management firm, Kate Reddy (Sarah Jessica Parker) struggles daily to balance the demands of her high-powered career with the needs of her husband (Greg Kinnear) and children. When she gets an account that requires frequent trips to New York and her husband gets a new job, Kate finds herself spread even thinner. Complicating Kate’s life even more is new business associate Jack Abelhammer (Pierce Brosnan), who throws temptation into the mix.
This is one of those books I kept meaning to read but didn’t but the movie looks like it could be fun, and I miss Sex and the City, so I’m in.
2 – MONEYBALL (based on the book by the same name by Michael Lewis) Read More
For me, Labor Day is not the signal that fall is coming, or that school is back in session. It’s not a last chance to go to the beach or joyfully prance about in white shoes. No, no. Labor Day is all about books and more specifically The AJC Decatur Book Festival.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival is the largest independent book festival in the US. It brings more than 300 authors (from all genres and all parts of the country) to Decatur (just outside Atlanta) for the holiday weekend. The authors give readings, talks, participate in panel discussions and sign books. There are tons of kids events, vendors selling cool stuff, and loads of yummy food available. You gotta pay for your food, but all the author events are FREE! What could be better?
This year, the Keynote Speakers are Colin Meloy (of The Decemberists) and acclaimed illustrator Carson Ellis, the nationally renowned pair behind a new book of bravery and adventure for families, kids, and adults alike: Wildwood. You’ll also get to meet lots of the wonderful authors featured here on Midtown Review like Jennifer Haigh, Anna Jean Mayhew, Wendy Wax, Karen White, Mary Kay Read More
I know they say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but I often can’t help myself. The cover art is there for a reason – to appeal to a certain demographic and to people who like a certain kind of book. In the case of THE DRY GRASS OF AUGUST by Anna Jean Mayhew, though the cover is beautiful, I think it falls short of depicting the captivating novel within. The cover makes it look a sweet, southern family drama. The reality is SO much more. This debut deserves high praise. It took the author 18 years to write and should follow THE HELP as a book all book clubs will want to get their hands on. I am pleased to showcase THE DRY GRASS OF AUGUST in today’s debut spotlight and am very much looking forward to moderating a talk with the author this coming weekend at The Decatur Book Festival!
Here’s a brief synopsis:
On a scorching day in August 1954, thirteen-year-old Jubie Watts leaves Charlotte, North Carolina, with her family for a Florida vacation. Crammed into the Packard along with Jubie are her three siblings, her mother, and the family’s black maid, Mary Luther. For as long as Jubie can remember, Mary has been there–cooking, cleaning, compensating for her father’s rages and her mother’s benign neglect, and loving Jubie unconditionally.
Bright and curious, Jubie takes note of the anti-integration signs they pass, and of the racial tension that builds as they journey further south. But she could never have predicted the shocking Read More
