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
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 last week’s winners, Melinda and Enrique! They both won copies of WILDFLOWER HILL by Kimberly Freeman.
This week we’re giving away a signed copy of SHE’S GONE COUNTRY by Jane Porter! Just go over to the Midtown Review Facebook page… make sure to like us and enter the sweepstakes!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Shey Darcy, a 39-year-old former top model for Vogue and Sports Illustrated led a charmed life in New York City with a handsome photographer husband until the day he announced he’d fallen in love with someone else.
Left to pick up the pieces of her once happy world, Shey decides to move back home to Texas with her three teenage sons. Life on the family ranch, however, brings with it a whole new host of dramas starting with differences of opinion with her staunch Southern Baptist mother, her rugged but overprotective brothers, and daily battles with her three sons who are also struggling to find themselves.
Add to the mix Shey’s ex-crush, Dane Kelly, a national bullriding champ and she’s got her hands full. It doesn’t take long before Shey realizes that in order to reinvent herself, she must let go of an uncertain future and a broken past, to find happiness—and maybe love—in the present.
“She’s Gone Country is a richly rewarding story about the importance of love, family, and friendship, and Porter writes with genuine warmth and quiet grace about the everyday problems all women face – and conquer – in their own lives.”
~ John Charles, The Chicago Tribune
Congrats to last weeks winners, Cindy, Terry, Lisa and Lynette! They each won a copy of THE MISTRESS’S REVENGE by Tamar Cohen.
This week we have two copies of WILDFLOWER HILL by Kimberly Freeman to give away! Just go over to the Midtown Review Facebook page… make sure to like us and enter the sweepstakes!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Emma, a prima ballerina in London, is at a crossroads after an injured knee ruins her career. Forced to rest and take stock of her life, she finds that she’s mistaken fame and achievement for love and fulfillment. Returning home to Australia, she learns of her grandmother Beattie’s death and a strange inheritance: a sheep station in isolated rural Australia. Certain she has been saddled with an irritating burden, Emma prepares to leave for Wildflower Hill to sell the estate.
Beattie also found herself at a crossroads as a young woman, but she was pregnant and Read More
Well actually, you have a week to enter! We have 4 copies of THE MISTRESS’S REVENGE by Tamar Cohen to give away! Just go over to the Midtown Review Facebook page… make sure to like us and enter the sweepstakes!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
There’s a fine line between love and hate.
For five years, Sally and Clive have been lost in a passionate affair. Now he has dumped her to devote himself to his wife and family, and Sally is left in freefall. It starts with a casual stroll past his house, and popping into the brasserie where his son works. Then Sally starts following Clive’s wife and daughter on Facebook. But that’s alright, isn’t it? These are perfectly normal things to do. Aren’t they?
Not since Fatal Attraction has the fallout from an illicit affair been exposed in such a sharp, darkly funny, and disturbing way:
The Mistress’s Revenge is a truly exciting fiction debut. After all, who doesn’t know an otherwise sane woman who has gone a little crazy when her heart was broken?
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
Last night The Atlanta History Center continued its celebration of the 75th Anniversary of GONE WITH THE WIND with a an author panel titled “Inspired by Margaret”. They brought together for very diverse and fascinating women authors to discuss the impact and inspiration of Margaret Mitchell and GONE WITH WIND.
Shelia Moses, Amanda Gables, Dana Barrett, Patricia Sprinkle & Rebecca Burns
The panel included Shelia Moses, whose is both a National Book Award finalist and Coretta Scott King Honoree, Amanda Gable whose first novel features a young girl obsessed with the Civil War, Patricia Sprinkle, a prolific fiction author who researched Margaret Mitchell’s life for an imagined tale where she had lived to write more, and Rebecca Burns former Editor-In-Chief of Atlanta Magazine and author of three books on Atlanta history. I had the privilege of moderating the discussion.
It was a full house, and we dove into the book, the movie, gender and race issues and of Read More
If you’re a book lover and haven’t yet had the opportunity to attend the annual Book Expo America conference, you don’t know what you are missing. I went for the first time last year and found a little piece of heaven. This year, alas, I couldn’t make the trip, but luckily for me our regular contributor Denise Neary was able to to go and report back!
What happened at BEA Doesn’t Stay at BEA!
I was lucky enough to attend the Book Expo this year. It is now a blur of fun, interesting speakers, and books, books, books.
Didn’t get a chance to attend yourself?
Thanks to the BEA website, you can attend some of the main events from the comfort of your home. (If you are reading this from the East Coast, from the comfort of your sweltering home!)
You have to poke around the site a little to find the gems….but isn’t that half the fun? Like a good read, the site will have you engaging, laughing and crying.
Check out the special events podcasts, and make sure to watch Mindy Kaling (Office actress turned first time essayist) who had the crowd roaring. Tons of celebs were there – including John Lithgow who read from his new book!
Children’s authors, YA authors, buzz panels……there is something for every reader!
BEA is a reader’s dream…….but if you didn’t have the chance to go, the site is the next best thing. And of course after perusing the site, you’ll have to start planning your trip to the 2012 Expo! I hope to see you there!
– Denise Neary, Regular Contributor
Ana Raquel, Melissa Fay Greene, and Dana Barrett
Melissa Fay Greene is a serious author. She’s written important books like THERE IS NO ME WITHOUT YOU, PRAYING FOR SHEETROCK and THE TEMPLE BOMBING. She’s won serious awards like the Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize, the Georgia Author Award, the Southern Book Critics Circle Award not to mention a couple of nominations for The National Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award. So how did she come to write a funny and heartfelt memoir? Well, as she puts it, she found herself embedded in the best story of all – the one happening right in her house – where she and husband Donny raised 9 children. That was 10 editors with veto power over her book NO BIKING IN THE HOUSE WITHOUT A HELMET, but Melissa was fine with that.
Last night at The Atlanta History Center, as part of the Isenberg Lecture Series, Melissa Fay Green kept the large audience laughing as she exuberantly acted out the silly but Read More
