So I left off yesterday having only given suggestions for books which came out last week. Today I will remedy this and I will also, before all is said and done, drop a bombshell. Well, not really a bombshell, per se. I will just tell you something you never would expect me to say. Now that you have a cliffhanger, let’s begin with the books.
There was only looking forward to one book coming out this week – and thank God! because after buying four books last week my wallet’s feeling the hurt – so I’m going to go into some other books which you may like also. I think that it’s possible that what I just said may be admitting that I don’t believe that most people like the books that I like. I hope that this is not the case but in case it is I’m willing to throw out some other books.
Last week Michael Chabon had a new book come out and I had been waiting seven years for his follow up to The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. This week another one of my favorite authors released a book. The truth is that, while I am excited by this release, I’m not nearly as excited as I was for the Chabon release. Haruki Murakami released his book After Dark this week but this is his third release in as many years and I don’t have quite the anticipation which was saved up for last week. His collection of short stories which he released last year (Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman) was one of the better short story collections I’ve seen in a long time and the novel he released the year before (Kafka On the Shore) was nearly as good as my favorite of his books (The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle). This release of his is on the shorter side but I have every belief that I’m going to be blown away by his prose and his innovative story telling. I haven’t been able to dive into this one yet as I’m still working on a few of the books from last week. Luckily, next week is kind of light on books I want to get – with one possible exception – so I should be able to read After Dark within the next week.
One of the other books which many people have been excited about (including the three people who were there to buy the book within the first 15 minutes of opening – and, just so you know, we’re a smaller store and this number of people is not normal) is the new James Patterson book. James Patterson’s most popular series of books are his Alex Cross novels (Along Came a Spider, Kiss the Girls…) but his second most popular series of books is the Women’s Murder Club series. His new book, 6th Target, is a part of the Women’s Murder Club series. I’m not really too sure what these books are about but I would assume that it has something to do with women and murder. Patterson has long been at the forefront of the Thriller genre and anyone who is into these types of books would probably be into this series (although you may want to start with the earlier books in the series – it’s not that hard to figure out which books are the early ones as they are all have a number in the title).
Finally, another book which came out this week which you may be interested in is Elmore Leonard’s Up In Honey’s Room. Leonard is a staple in the mystery genre and has had many bestsellers (Be Cool, Rum Punch, Get Shorty…). Up In Honey’s Room is the tale of a man who is a Nazi spy (but not that good of a husband) who is selling US secrets to the Nazis. His wife decides that she wants to search elsewhere for a better deal and ends up with the head of the US Marshalls. I’m sure that lots of extreme situations, and hilarity, ensue.
Now onto the bombshell.
It is a well-known fact around here that I’m, to put it euphemistically, not the biggest Stephen King fan in the world. I recently ran across something which has really confused me. I ran across a blurb for his last book, Lisey’s Story, which has made me want to give the man a second chance. Michael Chabon (the guy I’ve been pimping for the past week), wrote the following about Lisey’s Story:
"In Lisey's Story, Stephen King makes bold, brilliant use of his satanic storytelling gift, his angelic ear for language, and above all his incomparable ability to find the epic in the ordinary."
So I had to start wondering whether my hatred for Stephen King is deserved. If a man whom I respect as one of the better writers alive today can say such things about Stephen King, should I not give him another chance? I have to say, I’m really rather confused about this right now.
So what’s the end result? I’m going to read Lisey’s Story when it comes out in paperback in June. If I read the book and I find it to be good, I will eat the crow I should eat and I will state publicly that I liked the book. I have to tell you, I’m really rooting for it to not be good but I’m willing to be amazed.
That about does it. I hope that everyone has had a great first couple days of the week and I hope that the rest of the week only gets better.
Happy Reading!
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Monday, May 07, 2007
Books Coming Out During the Week of April 29th
I think I’m going to go back into the past and reach into my little bag of tricks. Hmmm…what will I find down there? Hey look, it’s the Biblio Philes. I’ve been wondering where they’ve been. Apparently they’ve been in this here bag of tricks all along. Let’s see what they have to say.
This, the month of May, is one of the most exciting months for book releases which we’ve had in quite some time. I remember, a few years ago, I felt more excited than I had felt in years because, at the bookstore, we got in both the new Zadie Smith and the new Salman Rushdie on the same day. Never one to worry about not being able to read both of them at the same time, I bought them as quickly as I could. Even with the amount of excitement I had that day, this month of May is considerably more exciting.
Last week’s book releases started with off with a bang; many of my favorite authors have the tendency to release their books with amazing infrequency and after a grueling seven year wait – and a full year of which was merely a wait for the publishing company, Harpercollins, to find time to fit it into its busy publishing schedule – Michael Chabon has finally released his follow-up to his Pulitzer Prize winning The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. Kavalier and Clay was an astoundingly magical novel about the birth of comic books. This new one, The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, takes a drastic turn to the more creative not only in its storyline but in the devices it uses to get there. The story revolves around the precept that the while the Jews were given their promised land of Israel in the 1940’s, it didn’t take and they were moved off to Alaska. This is an especially interesting thought when one realizes that Franklin D. Roosevelt had, at one time, proposed Alaska as an eventual homeland for the Jews in place of Israel. The story is in the hard-boiled mystery ilk (much like Raymond Chandler and Dashiel Hammett) and it focuses on the struggles of a detective (Meyer Landsman), a troubled alcoholic who is dealing with his ex-wife being his new boss and the potential expatriation of Alaska by the Jews (they were given Alaska – or parts of it, at least – for a sixty year period and that period is quickly coming to an end), and all the while he has a murder of a possible Jewish Messiah to deal with. For, I’m sure, much better reviews of this one you could click on these links and read some of the reviews. Entertainment Weekly, Salon.com, there are other reviews out there so search 'em out if you want more.
Two other books which came out last week, which have garnished much press coverage (for books, that is), are the Chuck Palahniuk (Rant: An Oral Biography of Buster Casey) and a book by Whitebread Award winning author Jim Crace (The Pesthouse). Rant, in true Palahniuk fashion, is an intriguing look at the culture of violence – and the fascination the American people, and possibly the world at this point, have with violence. If you want to buy a Rant tshirt for the book tour Mr. Palahniuk is currently on you can go here, to his official homepage. The Pesthouse is a novel which focuses on a thing which there has been a few – and certainly more books than usual – books written about as of late. Post-Apocalyptic Dystopias. Most popular of the books which have come out lately is The Road, by Cormac McCarthy, (and, might I say, the popularity is well-deserved). Another book to have come out recently (February) is Matthew Sharpe’s book, Jamestown. Both of these are worth checking out but we’re talking about The Pesthouse so I’ll not go into them too much. I’ve perused the beginnings of this book and it seems to be an incredibly well written take America, after a downfall in technology (for whatever reason the demise has come about).
This post has already become a little on the long side so I’m going to make every attempt to post this week’s releases later tonight (after work) or sometime tomorrow. If anyone has any questions on the books mentioned here, or any of the other books which have come out recently, go ahead and ask them in the comments. I’ll do my best to answer your questions (or, at least, point you to some really good sites where you may get a better answer than I could give).
This, the month of May, is one of the most exciting months for book releases which we’ve had in quite some time. I remember, a few years ago, I felt more excited than I had felt in years because, at the bookstore, we got in both the new Zadie Smith and the new Salman Rushdie on the same day. Never one to worry about not being able to read both of them at the same time, I bought them as quickly as I could. Even with the amount of excitement I had that day, this month of May is considerably more exciting.
Last week’s book releases started with off with a bang; many of my favorite authors have the tendency to release their books with amazing infrequency and after a grueling seven year wait – and a full year of which was merely a wait for the publishing company, Harpercollins, to find time to fit it into its busy publishing schedule – Michael Chabon has finally released his follow-up to his Pulitzer Prize winning The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. Kavalier and Clay was an astoundingly magical novel about the birth of comic books. This new one, The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, takes a drastic turn to the more creative not only in its storyline but in the devices it uses to get there. The story revolves around the precept that the while the Jews were given their promised land of Israel in the 1940’s, it didn’t take and they were moved off to Alaska. This is an especially interesting thought when one realizes that Franklin D. Roosevelt had, at one time, proposed Alaska as an eventual homeland for the Jews in place of Israel. The story is in the hard-boiled mystery ilk (much like Raymond Chandler and Dashiel Hammett) and it focuses on the struggles of a detective (Meyer Landsman), a troubled alcoholic who is dealing with his ex-wife being his new boss and the potential expatriation of Alaska by the Jews (they were given Alaska – or parts of it, at least – for a sixty year period and that period is quickly coming to an end), and all the while he has a murder of a possible Jewish Messiah to deal with. For, I’m sure, much better reviews of this one you could click on these links and read some of the reviews. Entertainment Weekly, Salon.com, there are other reviews out there so search 'em out if you want more.
Two other books which came out last week, which have garnished much press coverage (for books, that is), are the Chuck Palahniuk (Rant: An Oral Biography of Buster Casey) and a book by Whitebread Award winning author Jim Crace (The Pesthouse). Rant, in true Palahniuk fashion, is an intriguing look at the culture of violence – and the fascination the American people, and possibly the world at this point, have with violence. If you want to buy a Rant tshirt for the book tour Mr. Palahniuk is currently on you can go here, to his official homepage. The Pesthouse is a novel which focuses on a thing which there has been a few – and certainly more books than usual – books written about as of late. Post-Apocalyptic Dystopias. Most popular of the books which have come out lately is The Road, by Cormac McCarthy, (and, might I say, the popularity is well-deserved). Another book to have come out recently (February) is Matthew Sharpe’s book, Jamestown. Both of these are worth checking out but we’re talking about The Pesthouse so I’ll not go into them too much. I’ve perused the beginnings of this book and it seems to be an incredibly well written take America, after a downfall in technology (for whatever reason the demise has come about).
This post has already become a little on the long side so I’m going to make every attempt to post this week’s releases later tonight (after work) or sometime tomorrow. If anyone has any questions on the books mentioned here, or any of the other books which have come out recently, go ahead and ask them in the comments. I’ll do my best to answer your questions (or, at least, point you to some really good sites where you may get a better answer than I could give).
Saturday, May 05, 2007
I Work In A Bookstore: A Mantra
I work in a bookstore. I work in an environment where the truest, most pertinent reality that surrounds you is the written word. The principle role I play, while at work, is to put a book into the hand of the customer which he or she will derive enjoyment from. Putting aside my presumptions of just what it is that makes up a good book I can see that the people in front of me are looking for something to engulf themselves in, something to take them away from their troubles, their pains – even if they are hoping to engross themselves in the troubles and pains of another; even if they are only wanting the written word so that they can know that they are not alone, that somebody else, be they fictitious or factual, has gone through the trepidations they are, or have, gone through.
I work in a bookstore. I’m in the business of selling books; but more than that, I’m in the business of providing solace, of peddling excitement, of funneling tears. For every problem there is a fix. For every person there is an anachronism to dive in to. I put the sunshine in summer and I place the cold in a cold-hearted winter. I hawk the love stories no one has ever been able to live up to, and I furnish the food for the fantasies which few have hoped to see.
I work in a bookstore. Sometimes I like to stop and look around at all the books, I imagine them as houses, holding the words which strengthen the reserve of those who need strengthening, giving solace to the words which uplift the spirit and take the burden from the wearied soul. I look around and wonder at how many words there really are in the store. I wonder whether it is even able to be quantified. How many words are there in a bookstore full of books, each of them quartering legions of words? All of this, the books, and the words, and the people who are searching – searching for the right books, searching for the right words – make you look at life a little more cheerfully, they make you see that the world is more than skin, and bones, and dirt and alones. We are all searching; maybe we are ships passing in the night, but at least we’re all ships, and at least we’re on the same sea, and at least we’re using the same winds to fill our sails to push us on, toward wherever it is that we imagine will fill our souls.
I work in a bookstore. It’s really not such a bad thing when you take the time to look at it. The time I spend earning my living coincides and intersects with the time spent by others to earn their freedom, their knowledge, their escape, their peace – and that’s what living really is, isn’t it?
I work in a bookstore. I’m in the business of selling books; but more than that, I’m in the business of providing solace, of peddling excitement, of funneling tears. For every problem there is a fix. For every person there is an anachronism to dive in to. I put the sunshine in summer and I place the cold in a cold-hearted winter. I hawk the love stories no one has ever been able to live up to, and I furnish the food for the fantasies which few have hoped to see.
I work in a bookstore. Sometimes I like to stop and look around at all the books, I imagine them as houses, holding the words which strengthen the reserve of those who need strengthening, giving solace to the words which uplift the spirit and take the burden from the wearied soul. I look around and wonder at how many words there really are in the store. I wonder whether it is even able to be quantified. How many words are there in a bookstore full of books, each of them quartering legions of words? All of this, the books, and the words, and the people who are searching – searching for the right books, searching for the right words – make you look at life a little more cheerfully, they make you see that the world is more than skin, and bones, and dirt and alones. We are all searching; maybe we are ships passing in the night, but at least we’re all ships, and at least we’re on the same sea, and at least we’re using the same winds to fill our sails to push us on, toward wherever it is that we imagine will fill our souls.
I work in a bookstore. It’s really not such a bad thing when you take the time to look at it. The time I spend earning my living coincides and intersects with the time spent by others to earn their freedom, their knowledge, their escape, their peace – and that’s what living really is, isn’t it?
Sunday, November 05, 2006
October 29, 2006
Another week goes by and there are more books which are coming out. 'Tis the season, I guess. With Christmas right around the corner, things are getting pretty hectic in the bookseller industry. It's taking all we have just to keep up with all of the merchandising and the customers. When you add to that all of the books which are coming out, well, sometimes you have to sit down just to stop your head from spinning. Let's take a look at the books you can look forward to this upcoming week.
HIGHLIGHTED BOOKS:
Dear John (TC) – Nicholas Sparks
I have a list of a handful of authors which I hate. I've already had the opportunity to talk about Stephen King. I've already explained my reasons why. John Grisham is another one, although I don't think that I explained that when his last book came out. The reason for my dislike of Grisham has nothing to do with his writing (unlike Stephen King). Nicholas Sparks has earned my disdain, in all likelihood, because of his effectiveness at writing. That's right, he's too good at what he does. Nicholas Sparks has the amazing ability to right with a passion which puts a fire into the hearts, souls and minds of every thirteen year old girl out there. Why don't I like him? I don't believe that any forty year old man should be able to, so effectively, speak to the wants of teenage girls. That being said, I'm sure this book is going to be bought by more teenage girls than I can count. I'm sure that it's going to make them cry. To be honest, I have no idea what this book's about, I won't lie. Still, I have no problem not recommending this book.
Dirty Blonde: The Diaries of Courtney Love (TC) – Courtney Love
I have been waiting for this one. I can't believe Courtney Love wrote a book. I'm sure it was ghost written but that's not the point. Courtney Love wrote a book. I mean, who would've thought she could crawl out of her K-hole long enough to dictate to a person what she might want to say. I'm actually rather intrigued to see what this one's gonna say. I'm sure that, whatever's said, it's not going to say what I'm hoping for: that she's going to admit that she killed her husband (Kurt Cobain). It may sound bad that I'm "hoping" that she will say that. I don't really want anyone to kill their husband, I just wish that she would finally own up to having had done it.
On Truth (TC) – Harry Frankfurt
This from the man who brought us the great book, On Bullshit. I guess it makes sense to write a book about the exact opposite thing as the first book he wrote. I'm vaguely interested in what he has to say and so I will probably read it while on a break, at work.
The Pop-Up Book of Sex– Melcher Media
I'm not really certain what's popping up in this book but I am a little frightened just from the idea of the whole thing. This is hopefully going to be better than the pop up kama sutra. That one sounded like it was going to be a good time (worth the time for the laughs alone) but it was under-produced. Here's to hoping this one's better.
The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search For God(TC) – Carl Sagan
There was a time, shortly after Carl Sagan died, when a friend and I thought that it would be a good idea to start our own religion. Maybe someday I'll write about it. It was very well thought out. The point is that it had to do with Carl Sagan. The other point is that Carl Sagan has been dead for many years…and he has just written a book. Without giving too much away from the story of the religion which was built up around the man, I would like to tell you all that The Sagan Coming is upon us. The man has been dead for nearly a decade (it may be at this point…I don't know) and he has just written a book…about the search for God. This is a book which you should probably read. I can only imagine that it has great things to say.
I should mention that I have seen differing reports on when this one is coming out. It's either this week or next week. Either way, the man died years ago...and he is releasing a book.
THE OTHER BOOKS:
Alibi (MM) – Sandra Brown
Christ, the Lord (MM) – Anne Rice
Conspiracy Game (MM) – Christine Feehan
Family (TP) – Karen Kingsbury
French Women For All Seasons (TC) – M Guiliano
HRH (TC) – Danielle Steel
Home to Big Stone Gap (TC) – Adriana Trigiani
Joy of Cooking (TC) – I Rombauer
Keeper of the Keys (TC) – Perri O'Shaughnessy
Martha Stewert's Homekeeping Handbook (TC) – Martha Stewert
Salty Piece of Land (MM) – Jimmy Buffet
Santa Baby (MM) – Jennifer Cruise
Secret Life of Houdini (TC) – Kalush & Sloman
Spy: The Funny Years (TC) – Kurt Andersen
Thanksgiving – Janet Evanovich
Valley of Silence (MM) – Nora Roberts
Whirlpool (MM) – Elizabeth Lowell
You: On A Diet (TC) – Michael Roizen
SOME RANDOM BOOKS FROM THE PAST:
Two mass markets for you this week so you can't get all upset that they're all expensive. These both fall into the Fantasy category. Don't be too picky, you won't be
The Dragonbone Chair (MM) – Tad Williams
I was redoing the Sci-Fi/Fantasy section at work the other day and I saw this book, and the others of the Memory Sorrow and Thorn series (The Stone of Farewell, To Green Angel Tower Parts 1 & 2) and I was reminded of just how great I thought they were. These here are some of the best fantasy books of all time and there are very few people who know about them. If you like fantasy, and you haven't read these, give them a shot, you won't be disappointed.
The Traveler (MM) – John Twelve Hawks
I had stated initially that this one was a 'Fantasy'. This isn't totally true. This one is a 'Fantasy' in the same way that The Matrix is a fantasy. It is set in our world but it allows for things which we can't see. Go ahead and check this one out. At least read up on it a bit. If you haven't heard of it you may be happy you came across it.
WHAT I'M READING THIS WEEK:
Restless (TC) - William Boyd
The Road (TC) - Cormac McCarthy
HIGHLIGHTED BOOKS:
Dear John (TC) – Nicholas Sparks
I have a list of a handful of authors which I hate. I've already had the opportunity to talk about Stephen King. I've already explained my reasons why. John Grisham is another one, although I don't think that I explained that when his last book came out. The reason for my dislike of Grisham has nothing to do with his writing (unlike Stephen King). Nicholas Sparks has earned my disdain, in all likelihood, because of his effectiveness at writing. That's right, he's too good at what he does. Nicholas Sparks has the amazing ability to right with a passion which puts a fire into the hearts, souls and minds of every thirteen year old girl out there. Why don't I like him? I don't believe that any forty year old man should be able to, so effectively, speak to the wants of teenage girls. That being said, I'm sure this book is going to be bought by more teenage girls than I can count. I'm sure that it's going to make them cry. To be honest, I have no idea what this book's about, I won't lie. Still, I have no problem not recommending this book.
Dirty Blonde: The Diaries of Courtney Love (TC) – Courtney Love
I have been waiting for this one. I can't believe Courtney Love wrote a book. I'm sure it was ghost written but that's not the point. Courtney Love wrote a book. I mean, who would've thought she could crawl out of her K-hole long enough to dictate to a person what she might want to say. I'm actually rather intrigued to see what this one's gonna say. I'm sure that, whatever's said, it's not going to say what I'm hoping for: that she's going to admit that she killed her husband (Kurt Cobain). It may sound bad that I'm "hoping" that she will say that. I don't really want anyone to kill their husband, I just wish that she would finally own up to having had done it.
On Truth (TC) – Harry Frankfurt
This from the man who brought us the great book, On Bullshit. I guess it makes sense to write a book about the exact opposite thing as the first book he wrote. I'm vaguely interested in what he has to say and so I will probably read it while on a break, at work.
The Pop-Up Book of Sex– Melcher Media
I'm not really certain what's popping up in this book but I am a little frightened just from the idea of the whole thing. This is hopefully going to be better than the pop up kama sutra. That one sounded like it was going to be a good time (worth the time for the laughs alone) but it was under-produced. Here's to hoping this one's better.
The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search For God(TC) – Carl Sagan
There was a time, shortly after Carl Sagan died, when a friend and I thought that it would be a good idea to start our own religion. Maybe someday I'll write about it. It was very well thought out. The point is that it had to do with Carl Sagan. The other point is that Carl Sagan has been dead for many years…and he has just written a book. Without giving too much away from the story of the religion which was built up around the man, I would like to tell you all that The Sagan Coming is upon us. The man has been dead for nearly a decade (it may be at this point…I don't know) and he has just written a book…about the search for God. This is a book which you should probably read. I can only imagine that it has great things to say.
I should mention that I have seen differing reports on when this one is coming out. It's either this week or next week. Either way, the man died years ago...and he is releasing a book.
THE OTHER BOOKS:
Alibi (MM) – Sandra Brown
Christ, the Lord (MM) – Anne Rice
Conspiracy Game (MM) – Christine Feehan
Family (TP) – Karen Kingsbury
French Women For All Seasons (TC) – M Guiliano
HRH (TC) – Danielle Steel
Home to Big Stone Gap (TC) – Adriana Trigiani
Joy of Cooking (TC) – I Rombauer
Keeper of the Keys (TC) – Perri O'Shaughnessy
Martha Stewert's Homekeeping Handbook (TC) – Martha Stewert
Salty Piece of Land (MM) – Jimmy Buffet
Santa Baby (MM) – Jennifer Cruise
Secret Life of Houdini (TC) – Kalush & Sloman
Spy: The Funny Years (TC) – Kurt Andersen
Thanksgiving – Janet Evanovich
Valley of Silence (MM) – Nora Roberts
Whirlpool (MM) – Elizabeth Lowell
You: On A Diet (TC) – Michael Roizen
SOME RANDOM BOOKS FROM THE PAST:
Two mass markets for you this week so you can't get all upset that they're all expensive. These both fall into the Fantasy category. Don't be too picky, you won't be
The Dragonbone Chair (MM) – Tad Williams
I was redoing the Sci-Fi/Fantasy section at work the other day and I saw this book, and the others of the Memory Sorrow and Thorn series (The Stone of Farewell, To Green Angel Tower Parts 1 & 2) and I was reminded of just how great I thought they were. These here are some of the best fantasy books of all time and there are very few people who know about them. If you like fantasy, and you haven't read these, give them a shot, you won't be disappointed.
The Traveler (MM) – John Twelve Hawks
I had stated initially that this one was a 'Fantasy'. This isn't totally true. This one is a 'Fantasy' in the same way that The Matrix is a fantasy. It is set in our world but it allows for things which we can't see. Go ahead and check this one out. At least read up on it a bit. If you haven't heard of it you may be happy you came across it.
WHAT I'M READING THIS WEEK:
Restless (TC) - William Boyd
The Road (TC) - Cormac McCarthy
October 22, 2006
It's time for another edition of The Biblio Philes. This is the time when I talk about all the books that are coming out this week. Book which I have never read. Books that I will still give you my opinion on.
Books in italics will come out on Tuesday. All other books are just scheduled to come out this upcoming week and may already be out.
HIGHLIGHTED BOOKS:
Andrew Carnegie (TC) – David Nasaw
Andrew Carnegie was a very rich man. More than that, Andrew Carnegie looked like a plastic toy. Seriously, look at the picture of him on the book. He doesn't even look real. Aside from that, I'm sure that this is an interesting book, I just have nothing to say about it.
English Roses Too, Good To Be True (TC) – Madonna
Madonna can't even sing, what made her think that she could write? This no talent hack has been schlepping her kabalistic cult for long enough now that we should see anything she does as proselytizing.
Jeff Foxworthy's Redneck Dictionary II - Jeff Foxworthy
The fact that Jeff Foxworthy has decided to release a sequel to a dictionary should speak for itself. This isn't the Oxford English Dictionary. The first of these books was no more than 200 pages long. This means one of two things (and probably both). 1) Mr Foxworthy has decided to force his 'fans' to sell off one of the broken down cars in their yard so that he can add another working car (or 8) to his garage. 2) His 'fans' wouldn't have been able to handle reading a book which had more than 200 pages in it and he had to separate it into two books (who knows, there may be more on the way).
Lisey's Story (TC) – Stephen King
Some of you know how I feel about Stephen King already. Those of you who don't are in for a real treat, here. I may piss some people off. This is a chance I'm willing to take. Stephen King is one of the single worst writers out there. And people actually buy his books. Suckers! He has no ability to build characters. Every character is the same as the next one and they are all static. If you enjoy mindless drivel then, by all means, go buy this book. By the way, I've heard from a person who actually likes Stephen King, and got an Advance Copy of the book, that this one sucks. I can only imagine what that means if I think that all of his writing sucks. The most overrated author writes another muddled mess. That should be the tagline for this one. That being said I think that his column at the end of Entertainment Weekly is great. I read it everytime it's in there.
I would also like to point out that Mr King has stated that he's trying to write different with this book. Maybe that means he has actually tried to write some characters with depth. If anybody reads this one, and actually likes it, please tell me. I may even think about reading it. Just so you know…I think about reading a lot of books, even if I don't get around to reading them.
Redneck Woman: Stories From My Life (TC) – Gretchen Wilson
I found out the other day that I don't speak 'hick'. This book came into the bookstore and I found myself singing the song in my head. The problem was that I only knew a few words of it. I was later informed that I wasn't even singing the right words in my head. I take this to mean that I don't understand 'hick'. Maybe I'm too much of a yankee. I think I'll be happy about that. This one goes out to all of you who think that reading the Foxworthy book will be funny. I already know that I'm gonna catch some hell for my treatment of these two books. And then when you add on my treatment of Stephen King, wow…I may get death threats.
I would also like to point at that, if you go to the books page by following the link, you will find a very eclectic selection of books in the 'customers who bought this book also bought...' section. Go ahead, go there just to look at some of the other books.
THE OTHER BOOKS:
At Home With Kate: Growing Up In Katherine Hepburn's Household (TC) – Eileen Considine-Meira
Barefoot Contessa At My Home (TC) – Ina Garten
Celebrations (TC) – Maya Angelou
The Collectors (TC) – David Baldacci
Darwin Awards 4 (TP) – Wendy Northcutt
Hundred Dollar Baby (TC) – Robert Parker
Jesus Land (TP) – Julia Scheeres
The Lay of the Land (TC) – Richard Ford
Lessons In Becoming Myself (TC) – Ellen Burstyn
Miracle On 49th Street (TC) – Mike Lupica
Mitford Bedside Companion (TC) – Jan Karon
Mysteries of the Middle Ages (TC) – Thomas Cahill
Our 50 States: A Family Adventure Across America (TC) – Lynn Cheney
Forgotten Realms: Road of the Patriarch (TC) – R.A. Salvatore
Thunderstruck (TC) – Erik Larson
Trump 101: The Way to Success (TC) – Donald Trump
STUFF YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:
The Book of Fate (TC) - Brad Melzer
For anybody who liked The Da Vinci Code, this one may be up your alley. When this one came out I was really excited to read it. My enthusiasm hasn't lasted but that doesn't mean that it's not any good. Give it a try. I would bet that the writing is better than Dan Brown's writing.
The Known World (TP) – Edward P Jones
This guy has some of the best prose out there. This one was also named one of the best books of the past 25 years by The New York Times. You should give this one a shot.
BOOKS TO LOOK FORWARD TO:
Dear John - Nicholas Sparks
Dirty Blonde - Courtney Love
The Pop-Up Book of Sex - Melcher Media
BOOKS I'M READING THIS WEEK:
I'm not really reading anything different than last week so I'll just list the same things again.
thirteen moons - Charles Frazier
Restless - William Boyd
Books in italics will come out on Tuesday. All other books are just scheduled to come out this upcoming week and may already be out.
HIGHLIGHTED BOOKS:
Andrew Carnegie (TC) – David Nasaw
Andrew Carnegie was a very rich man. More than that, Andrew Carnegie looked like a plastic toy. Seriously, look at the picture of him on the book. He doesn't even look real. Aside from that, I'm sure that this is an interesting book, I just have nothing to say about it.
English Roses Too, Good To Be True (TC) – Madonna
Madonna can't even sing, what made her think that she could write? This no talent hack has been schlepping her kabalistic cult for long enough now that we should see anything she does as proselytizing.
Jeff Foxworthy's Redneck Dictionary II - Jeff Foxworthy
The fact that Jeff Foxworthy has decided to release a sequel to a dictionary should speak for itself. This isn't the Oxford English Dictionary. The first of these books was no more than 200 pages long. This means one of two things (and probably both). 1) Mr Foxworthy has decided to force his 'fans' to sell off one of the broken down cars in their yard so that he can add another working car (or 8) to his garage. 2) His 'fans' wouldn't have been able to handle reading a book which had more than 200 pages in it and he had to separate it into two books (who knows, there may be more on the way).
Lisey's Story (TC) – Stephen King
Some of you know how I feel about Stephen King already. Those of you who don't are in for a real treat, here. I may piss some people off. This is a chance I'm willing to take. Stephen King is one of the single worst writers out there. And people actually buy his books. Suckers! He has no ability to build characters. Every character is the same as the next one and they are all static. If you enjoy mindless drivel then, by all means, go buy this book. By the way, I've heard from a person who actually likes Stephen King, and got an Advance Copy of the book, that this one sucks. I can only imagine what that means if I think that all of his writing sucks. The most overrated author writes another muddled mess. That should be the tagline for this one. That being said I think that his column at the end of Entertainment Weekly is great. I read it everytime it's in there.
I would also like to point out that Mr King has stated that he's trying to write different with this book. Maybe that means he has actually tried to write some characters with depth. If anybody reads this one, and actually likes it, please tell me. I may even think about reading it. Just so you know…I think about reading a lot of books, even if I don't get around to reading them.
Redneck Woman: Stories From My Life (TC) – Gretchen Wilson
I found out the other day that I don't speak 'hick'. This book came into the bookstore and I found myself singing the song in my head. The problem was that I only knew a few words of it. I was later informed that I wasn't even singing the right words in my head. I take this to mean that I don't understand 'hick'. Maybe I'm too much of a yankee. I think I'll be happy about that. This one goes out to all of you who think that reading the Foxworthy book will be funny. I already know that I'm gonna catch some hell for my treatment of these two books. And then when you add on my treatment of Stephen King, wow…I may get death threats.
I would also like to point at that, if you go to the books page by following the link, you will find a very eclectic selection of books in the 'customers who bought this book also bought...' section. Go ahead, go there just to look at some of the other books.
THE OTHER BOOKS:
At Home With Kate: Growing Up In Katherine Hepburn's Household (TC) – Eileen Considine-Meira
Barefoot Contessa At My Home (TC) – Ina Garten
Celebrations (TC) – Maya Angelou
The Collectors (TC) – David Baldacci
Darwin Awards 4 (TP) – Wendy Northcutt
Hundred Dollar Baby (TC) – Robert Parker
Jesus Land (TP) – Julia Scheeres
The Lay of the Land (TC) – Richard Ford
Lessons In Becoming Myself (TC) – Ellen Burstyn
Miracle On 49th Street (TC) – Mike Lupica
Mitford Bedside Companion (TC) – Jan Karon
Mysteries of the Middle Ages (TC) – Thomas Cahill
Our 50 States: A Family Adventure Across America (TC) – Lynn Cheney
Forgotten Realms: Road of the Patriarch (TC) – R.A. Salvatore
Thunderstruck (TC) – Erik Larson
Trump 101: The Way to Success (TC) – Donald Trump
STUFF YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:
The Book of Fate (TC) - Brad Melzer
For anybody who liked The Da Vinci Code, this one may be up your alley. When this one came out I was really excited to read it. My enthusiasm hasn't lasted but that doesn't mean that it's not any good. Give it a try. I would bet that the writing is better than Dan Brown's writing.
The Known World (TP) – Edward P Jones
This guy has some of the best prose out there. This one was also named one of the best books of the past 25 years by The New York Times. You should give this one a shot.
BOOKS TO LOOK FORWARD TO:
Dear John - Nicholas Sparks
Dirty Blonde - Courtney Love
The Pop-Up Book of Sex - Melcher Media
BOOKS I'M READING THIS WEEK:
I'm not really reading anything different than last week so I'll just list the same things again.
thirteen moons - Charles Frazier
Restless - William Boyd
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