Archive | May, 2011

Biblioholic Review: Theodore Roosevelt in the Badlands

31 May

Most U.S. presidents have some sort of biographical renaissance and Theodore Roosevelt is one such feature of book after book chronicling his time pre-and-post Oval Office. Another recent entry in this go-round is Theodore Roosvelt in the Badlands by Roger DiSilvestro.

A quick read at 263 pages Badlands covers Roosevelt’s move to the west and his discovery that his physical potential finally matched his unbound intellectual curiosity. And yet his journey west was propelled by the death of his first wife and mother within days of each other.

If you are familiar with the history of Theodore Roosevelt, the sketches of the future president are quick. While not precise measurement, we felt that almost half of the book about the Badlands was devoted to profiling a cadre of hunters, cattlemen and desperados that connected to Roosevelt. And while that is the function of a good and diverse biography, there were stretches where you found nary a Roosevelt reference except obliquely.

Our reviewer, the in-house historical buff, was not completely absorbed  in the vagueries of the cattle business and the mystique of the vanishing West. The rampant and wasteful slaughter of the fauna of the West was magnified by the subtle romanticization of the cowboy lifestyle.

However the reasoning of Roosevelt from classic 19th century hunter to naturalist was clearly defined in this book and showed his lasting influence on the culture of the hunting conservationist. DiSilvestro also quickly and effectively fleshes out in the closing stanza of Theodore Roosevelt in the Badlands the strong relationships with the men who battled nature and the beasts of the West.

If you are a fan of western novels or Wild West histories, then this book will provide a presidential tint to the story of spurs and buckskins.

Theodore Roosevelt in the Badland by Roger DiSilvestro was purchased by the Boston Book Bums

BEA 11: Our Thoughts & Experience

30 May

This was the first year that Boston Book Bums could dispatch part of the team down to Book Expo America. We found it a rewarding experience, chatting with fellow bloggers and those in the publishing industry. It also piqued our curiosity at how the industry will change and adapt to reading habits. Also, BEA  made us keenly aware of the need for healthy relationships between publishers and presses with professionally conducted non-traditional media.

BEA should not be considered a con like ComicCon or ReaderCon. No, this is a place for professionals within the industry to meet, promote future releases and build partnerships with sellers and beyond. Surely there are fan autograph signings that had some readers waiting in line for long periods for face to face time with with authors. And yes, there were the stages where celebrauthors got to expound. But at it’s heart, BEA was a valuable resource for mature readers and bloggers to interact with the industry.

In speaking with several publishing houses and small academic presses, we found a commonality in comments. BEA11 was ‘good’ but ‘not like it used to be.’ The new normal for publishing seems to be both exciting and worrisome for producers of the books we love. Business was done during the first few days, according to one publisher, with the last day or two a sort of maintain level interest.

As a member of the non-traditional Fourth Estate, we at Boston Book Bums were more interested in understanding how publishers interacted with each other in this fishbowl called Javitz.

But don’t get us wrong, when it came to after parties, we were all about that too! Yet as we walked the stalls ranging from the tiny fringe bibliophilic items to the mammoth publisher pavilions we sensed a vibrancy and love for the printed word slightly muted by the unsureness of what is to come. Between NEIBA 10, the Publisher reps session in Sandwhich and now BEA, we feel about as well informed about upcoming releases into 2012. But the important unanswered question is how the industry will continue to adapt to the digital landscape.

If we were to gripe, it would be the lack of manners by some non-industry folks when it came to ARCs. When ARCs were placed out by one publisher the  shoving and rapacious grabbing for copies was unprofessional. It reminded us of tweens gripped by Bieber-fever or parents in 1980s hip-checking each other for first generation Cabbage Patch Kids.

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Wednesday night we were lucky to snag an invite to the Harper Perennial Blogger Appreciation party at the fantastic bar, Bill’s Gay Nineties. With the top floor dedicated for we book bloggers, we were privileged to rub shoulders with not just bloggers, but publishers and authors.

On the heels of just reviewing her new release The Ninth Wife, we chatted with the enthusiastic Amy Stolls. How important is this interaction between author and reader? A very pregnant Stolls wrapped her arms around one of our team, utterly pleased with the fact her novel was read.

Another fantastic run-in was with Northshore author Brunonia Barry, who fantastically engaged us. We’re lucky to have snagged a invite to the Salem Literary Festival from Brunonia, so we’ll see you in September.

And to say we were ecstatic that we finally met Jamie from The Broke and the Bookish and Perpetual Page-Turner is an understatement. Our gal in Pennsylvania has a contagious love for life and books. We could have talked for hours more about everything from the perils of blogging to weddings.

We also made some new Social Media friends, biblioholics with Twitter handles, like @sassymonkey and @stackedblog. BTW @stackedblog we are on like Donkey Kong for BEA12 karaoke party! And if you want to talk Les Habitants then @sassymonkey can go toe-to-toe about the NHL and books.

Overall BEA proved to be a mature way to get in-depth into the publishing industry and still find those moments to let your hair down.

Bookish Intelligence Report

30 May

  • In the Big Easy, indie booksellers are livin large and enjoyin life (via NOLA)
  • San Diego area loses a long time bookstore (via North County Times)
  • A former Python joins crowd-funded publishing revolution (via Guardian)
  • For Mainers, one of their own pens classic beach reads (via Bangor Daily News)
  • In the tech savvy book market of Korea, book trailers are catching on (via JoongAng Daily)
  • Landmark bookstore in Worcester, MA burns (via Worcester Telegram & Gazette)
  • A book in a haystack of books (via Gadsden Times)
  • A bunch of young Arizona readers get some richly deserved wheels for their labor of love (via Yuma Sun)
  • In rural UK when libraries close some of their books end up in pubs (via Independent)
  • What do readers in Vacationland think of their e-readers (via Maine Sunday Telegram)

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B3 Week in Review

28 May

Monday: Kicking off an action packed Book Expo week, we collect book news from around the world for a Bookish Intelligence Report. Also, we found an interesting website that collates all the book sales around the nation. Almost a year after the passing of the great Frank Frazetta, the art world loses another titan, Jeffrey Catherine Jones.

Tuesday: Is Amy Stolls newest book, The Ninth Wife worthy of a place in your Memorial Day beach tote? Find out with our review today.

Wednesday: Mid-week means a round-up of book news in a  BIR. Also, we interview Newburyport resident and novice author Meg Mitchell Moore about her novel The Arrivals.

Thursday: Well you know a little bit about author Meg Mitchell Moore after our interview. Now, read our review of The Arrivals.

Friday: With all the action of BEA, we still wanted to ask you all an end of the week conversation starter. This week, we wonder do you cast actors in roles as a novel unfolds? Also, Friday means an end of the week Bookish Intelligence Report.

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To Cast a Book

27 May

Not sure if you’ve noticed some of our reviews lately have had some movie casting ideas. When reading books like When God Was a Rabbit, we’ve had some distinct actors in mind when reading.

We suspect lots of people do this, cast actors in roles as they read. Others have seen movie adaptations of novels and immediately cast that actor in their minds eye.

For example, some readers will always peg Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice for example. No one else will do. But have you read Jane Austen as of late and a new up-and-coming actor has suddenly been propelled into a prominent role?

What about fans of Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe’s series? Do you always have Sean Bean at the front of his column of sharpshooters?

So, we ask, do you cast movie adaptations in your head as you read? Do you sometimes read a book and instantly you have an actor locked in. Does this rock solid internal casting shake you, possibly even change the way you perceive the story?

Let’s start the conversation.

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Bookish Intelligence Report

27 May

  • Several districts in Scotland are banning Israeli books (via YNetNews)
  • A tour through Guardian readers bookshelves (via Guardian)
  • After 40 years Day of the Jackal still has sex appeal (via Telegraph)
  • Romance in India endures (via The Hindu)
  • In Canada, librarians sing the saving grace of digital technology (via The Mark)
  • Adorable piece on a wagon full of cupcakes sold to buy books spawns greater charity  (via My Record Journal- Meriden)
  • While public libraries in North America and Europe struggle, in India they thrive (via Citizen Matters Bangalore)
  • Google’s Cyclopean book collection grows (via The Independent)
  • Three authors from one Swiss village (via Deutsche Welle)
  • How do authors feel when they finish a book (via Irish Times)

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Biblioholic Review: The Arrivals

26 May

Meg Mitchell Moore’s debut novel, The Arrivals, takes an intimate look at a family when adult children descent on their parent’s home for the summer.

Ginny and William have raised their children and dispersed them to Northeastern urban centers, and now they enjoy a quiet life in their idyllic Vermont town.  That is until their oldest daughter, Lillian, unexpectedly arrives with her young children in tow, for an unannounced visit of undetermined length.  Ginny and William rebound quickly, always thrilled to spend time with their children and grandchildren.  As they adjust the house guests, their family home grows more crowded when their son, Stephen, arrives with his very pregnant wife for a quick weekend stay that lasts far beyond.  When the youngest, Rachel, calls to be picked up from the bus stop, the house finally is bursting at its seams.

Literally, the house strains against the overcrowding, with the kitchen in a constant state of disarray and the new washing machine protesting the extra loads.  Moore effectively describes the chaos, with no clean sheets, air mattresses, and piles of diapers.

Moore also effectively describes the relationship between adult children and their parents, showing that parents, no matter the age of their children never shake the parenting bug.  Likewise, children, no matter their age, sometimes still need the comfort of the parents.

The grandchildren in The Arrivals escalate moments of stress and provide perspective when the characters need it most, as it often happens in real life.  Ginny and William are resilient and caring; and do their best to accept their children’s sudden presence without asking for too much explanation.  Lillian, Stephen and Rachel are needy and self-absorbed, hardly ever looking up from their own problems to notice each other, their parents or even their children.  They can be grating in their narcissism but the story doesn’t get bogged down in their troubles.  In fact, the story is about family and rises above everybody’s personal troubles to illustrate a family that comes together.

Moore will be a voice of contemporary fiction and The Arrivals is a good introduction of what is still to come from this author.

The Arrivals by Meg Mitchell Moore was received for free for review by the Boston Book Bums

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Author Q&A: Meg Mitchell Moore

25 May

The Arrivals is your first novel.  What was the process like to get your first book published?

I went through the process the old-fashioned way. I have been a nonfiction writer for a long time, but I had very few real contacts in the book publishing world.  When I had completed a manuscript I thought was ready I started querying agents. Some passed. Some showed interest. Some showed interest and then passed! It’s a long process. I found my agent, the fabulous Elisabeth Weed, in a listing of agents for a conference I was planning to attend (Muse & the Marketplace, put on annually by Boston’s Grub St.). I thought she might be a good fit for my work, and I had signed up to meet with her at the conference. I decided to query her ahead of time and she liked my book and took it on, even before the conference happened. We went through about six months of revision on the book before selling it to Reagan Arthur Books in a pre-emptive offer and two-book deal. Elisabeth really pushed me to make the book the best it could be before she submitted it to editors, and I’m so grateful to her for that.

The Arrivals is a look at grandparents/ parents, children/parents and grandchildren/ children all under one roof.  What inspired you to look at family in this unusual circumstance?

I think it’s actually not so unusual. I have young children myself, and so do many of my friends. I’m always hearing stories of visits to or from grandparents, or tension among adult siblings as they realize they’re competing for the help/attention of their parents. To be sure, The Arrivals exhibits a bit of an extreme version of that because the Owen siblings end up at their parents’ house for an entire summer, but I wanted to put everyone in a situation where there would be a lot of humor but also some pathos.

It was once common for multiple generations of a family to live under one roof and in this economy, more frequently adult children are returning to their parent’s homes.  In your opinion, what are the benefits of this return to multi-generational living? What are the disadvantages?

There does seem to be a fairly recent phenomenon where adult children are retuning home, either with or without their own children in tow. I know a lot of that has to do with an uncertain economy, so it’s great that parents can be a support system for their adult children. However!  There might be some people out there saying (or thinking) to their progeny, “Grow up already!” It’s a tricky balance, especially for people who have worked hard for their retirement time and may now find it interrupted.

With the release of your first book, do you have a second book in the works?

I am now working through revisions on my second novel with my editor. It will come out in 2012. Much of it takes place in my town, Newburyport, and it’s about a 13-year-old girl named Natalie Gallagher who finds in her home a diary written by an Irish immigrant, Bridget O’Connell, who was a domestic servant in a doctor’s home in Newburyport in 1925. Natalie unravels Bridget’s story with the help of an archivist named Kathleen Lynch, who is herself dealing with a loss in her life. The title I started with, Solace, will likely change, but one of the main themes of the book is that solace can come from unexpected sources. It’s a darker tale than The Arrivals—touching on social issues like cyberbullying, among other things—but I am, as ever, trying for that balance between humor and pathos.

What are your reading now?

I am reading Started Early, Took My Dog, by one of my very favorite writers, Kate Atkinson. Now there’s a writer who can take dark, dark subject matter and find the humor in it! Waiting for me when I finish that are two of the much-anticipated debuts that just came out: The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussen and The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry.

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Bookish Intelligence Report

25 May

  • Funding cuts mean all Queens, NY branches will halt buying new books (via NY Daily News)
  • One esteemed newspaper names their top ten books of all time. What do you think? (via MinnPost via CSM)
  • Books to help a little one find their way (via Lehighvalleylive.com)
  • Teacher uses creative techniques to get kids reading and liking books (via Jacksonville.com)
  • Why print will always matter (via GoLocalProv)
  • EU tweaking copyright rules to keep ahead of digital books (via Bloomberg)
  • A trio of books building buzz at BEA (via WSJ)
  • Nice Irish literary round-up in Loose Leaves (via Irish Times)
  • A big name wins a big prize at the Hay 2011 festival (via Telegraph)

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Biblioholic Review: The Ninth Wife

24 May

Author Amy Stolls ventures away from young adult fiction to write her latest novel, The Ninth Wife, a more adult book that is perfect for a beach tote.

Bess Gray is thirty-eight and even though she has wonderful, supportive friends, doting grandparents and the career of her dreams, she feels she may never find Mr. Right to complete the picture of her perfect life.  Her friends talk her into have a Singles Party, only inviting people who are single, who bring other single people on what happens to be her birthday.

The party guests arrive, some invited and some not.  Just as Bess is enjoying a conversation with a charming Irish musician, her ex shows up with his pregnant girlfriend.  The party gets a bit chaotic and the musician, Rory disappears.  Bess feels she’s missed her chance but Rory seeks her out again and they begin a whirlwind courtship.  Everything is going swimmingly, until Rory proposes, and admits he has been married before, eight times.

Bess, a researcher by nature, decides she needs to understand Rory’s previous wives before she can say yes and sets off on a roadtrip with her grandparents and her closest friends.

Rory is charming and has been cast in this reader’s head a Gerard Butler type of character, while Bess is annoyingly persistent, on the path she has set and not very aware of what is going on in the lives of those she cares for most.

Stoll’s may have made Bess’ character a little too stubborn but the other characters are an eclectic, delightful group and the reader hopes for the best for Bess and Rory.  The novel has a Hollywood ending and really lends itself to a cinematic take.  Imagine a polished Julia Roberts making a cameo and an aged Alan Arkin as Bess’ grandfather.The Ninth Wife is a perfect, relaxing read for this summer. And should they make it into a movie, it  could be downright funny, a testament to Stoll’s perfect pitch characters.

The Ninth Wife by Amy Stolls was received for free for review by the Boston Book Bums

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