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