Some Author Events and Miscellaneous News

We had 2 events on Sunday and 1 on Monday.  In order:

1.  Adam Henig, on the right, (his dad, Gerry, is on the left) was at Recycle Books selling his 2 books - Under One Roof: The Yankees, Cardinals, and a Black Doctor's Battle to Integrate Spring Training and Alex Haley's Roots:  An Author's Odyssey

The 2nd author event was Josh doing a reading at Colleen Wilcox's house.  Colleen had about 45-50 people there, including a number of families with young kids.  Lots of fun.  I do apologize, though, about just showing Josh's back.  But you've already seen his face on numerous posts!  (side note - Josh is featured in Sal Pizarro's column from last Sunday's Mercury News)

3.  These were taken at the Saratoga Library Monday night by RBC member, Danie.  I was asked to come to their summer Monday night literary soiree and discuss our book club.  I also got to talk about my blog, my Sunday morning rec table, and even some of my favorite books.  And besides Danie and Joni, Susan also represented the RBC.     

You all, of course, know Joni

There were about 20 people there

This is Betsy White, the Saratoga librarian who runs these literary soirees

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES: 

Jeffrey Archer's last book in the Clifton Chronicles, This Was A Man (#7),  will be out on November 8, 2016.

Robin Sloan, who wrote Mr Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore, will be publishing his 2nd book in Fall, 2017.

Jennifer Skully's and Bella Andre's 4th book in The Maverick Billionaires, Irresistible in Love, will be published on 3/8/17.

Daniel Silva's The Black Widow, the next in the Gabriel Allon series, came out today. July 12.  I've already got my copy!

Jodi Picoult will be appearing at the Fox Theater in Redwood City on October 18, 2016. She will be promoting her latest book, Small Great Things.  Kepler's is sponsoring the event.

My Brilliant Friend, by Elena Ferrante - Not That Brilliant!

I know that My Brilliant Friend is a highly thought of book/series.  This one is book 1 of 4.  I can categorically say that book 1 is "one and done," as they say in the sports world.  It wasn't bad.  I was able to get through it pretty easily, with only a couple of "Do I finish it or do I Goldfinch it?" moments.  But am I going to read any more?  As a tennis buddy of mine used to say when the opponent's shot was just out, "Eh, eh."  Here's the inside flap summary:

The story of Elena and Lila begins in the 1950s in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples (Italy, not Florida).  Growing up on these tough streets the two girls learn to rely on each other ahead of anyone or anything else, as their friendship, beautifully and meticulously rendered, becomes a not always perfect shelter from hardship.  Ferrante has created a memorable portrait of two women, but My Brilliant Friend is also the story of a nation.  Through the lives of Elena and Lila, Ferrante gives her readers the story of a neighborhood, a city, and a country undergoing momentous change.

I gave this book a 2.5/4.  So there were obviously some things that I liked about it.  I'll give you my pluses and minuses:

+Plus
1.  Educational competition among young elementary school kids was interesting.
2.  Her writing is good - "...while she was skinny, like an anchovy, she gave off an odor of wildness..."
3.  I actually referred to the family trees on a regular basis.
4.  More good writing - "And my skin, too, was spoiled: on my forehead, my chin, and around my jaws, archipelagos of reddish swellings multiplied, then turned purple, finally developed yellowish tips."  We've all been there.
5.  I do think she did a good job of making us understand what went on in a neighborhood like theirs.

-Minus
1.  See #3 above.  There were so many characters that I had to repeatedly refer to the family trees.  I finally gave up.  I had learned many/most of them.  But I just couldn't get them all.  Could it be me?  Possibly.
2.  My entire emotional connection to any of the characters was one raised eyebrow.  I kid you not.
3.  I was constantly confused by the ages of the girls.  I guess there was a somewhat natural progression, but I couldn't always follow it.  They seemed to go back and forth on a fairly willy-nilly basis.  Again, it could be me.
4.  The quote on the cover of the book should have been my warning sign:  My Brilliant Friend is a large, captivating, amiably peopled bildungsroman." - James Wood, The New Yorker.  Do you know what a bildungsroman is without looking it up?  Is this supposed to make us want to snatch up this book?  My vocabulary is okay, but I sure as heck don't know this word.
5.  Next!

P.S.  Amazon's rating is 3.9/5.  And Goodreads is 3.88/5.  It doesn't get much more consistent than that.  My 2.5/4 is the equivalent of 3.125/5.  I'm obviously well below the average.  As you may have predicted, I'm okay with that.

I couldn't actually find a picture of the author.  Go figure.

Another Romance? What's Happening to Me?

Since May 3, I have read 3 romances (and a partial 4th, although it was more literary fiction than straight romance).  I have a good excuse, though.  The 1st 2, A Taste of Sugar (Marina Adair) and Reckless in Love (Jennifer Skully and Bella Andre), are both tied to the RBC. This 3rd one, though, has a slightly different connection.  Aria Glazki, the author of Mending Heartstrings, is coming to Recycle Books next Sunday, the 17th, to sign books.  I thought it would be a good idea if I read it before her appearance.  And because I'm a manly man, I read this one unemotionally and without any connection to the characters whatsoever...yeah, right.

Okay, I really liked these characters and connected to them immediately.  In fact, I got a few chills and smiled a bunch right away.  And there are tons of tears and lots of smiles all though the book  Lest you think I am part woman, let me remind you that I had triple bypass surgery about 4.5 years ago.  Everybody knows that a surgery like that can put you more in touch with your emotions (there must be medical proof for this theory - mustn't there?). Now that I've gotten that off my chest, so to speak, I can proceed with the review.  Here is the back flap:

Kane's a country singer who's tangled with too many deceitful women.  He's learned his lesson: girls are for flirting and fun; emotions are for his music.  But after spending a night with an earnest woman unlike any he's known, he can't force her out of his mind.  So he goes in search of the woman he knows only as "Elle."

On her last night in Nashville, the staunchly pragmatic Sabella found herself in a situation more suited to a romance novel than reality.  Swept away, she ignored her rigidly self-imposed rules, succumbing to the fantasy just this once.  But she knows real-world relationships have nothing in common with their fictionalized portrayals.  When Kane unexpectedly shows up at her Portland apartment, she must choose between the practical truths she has learned and the desire for a passionate love she has struggled to suppress.

Despite the distance, Kane's tour schedule, and their meddling friends, both are drawn to the chance for a romance neither quite believes is possible.

Aria proves that no matter how many romances you read (in barely a 2-month period), and how much you already suspect that the boy & girl will end up together, it can still be written in such a way as to suck you in.  And I was properly sucked in.  I'm going to use one of my favorite devices for telling you what I liked about Mending Heartstrings.  It's my usual - The List:

1.  With the proper build-up, kissing can be very sexy and romantic.  They do not always have to go "all the way."  (But even the "all the way" scenes are very tastefully done.)
2.  There are several very strong supporting players in this book.  In fact, one of them has her own storyline.
3.  There is enough light humor to provide some breaks from the romance and drama.
4.  The interplay between the 2 main characters is very natural.
5.  the male star of the book works in Nashville.  He plays regularly at a bar called the Fiddle & Steel.  This is just like The Bluebird from TV's Nashville.
6.  The writing is very easy but also very effective.  Some examples:
     "Kane impressively managed to be simultaneously unobtrusive and indispensable."
     "Sabella snatched some scissors to open it.  Vivid fabrics reached out of the box as
     though seeking air they had long been denied."
     "You say you can't even always control the characters in stories that you make up;
     you have no hope of trying to control or predict real life."

I'm suggesting (again!) that if you are in the mood for a romance, this one fits the bill.  It's really good.

I Want to Meet (and be like) Bob and Susan!

I know the title seems a bit cryptic.  But if you read my posts religiously (you know who you are...even if you won't admit it publicly!), you will know that Bob and Susan are the adoptive parents of 4 of the 5 Maverick Billionaires.  I have referenced them in my reviews of books 1 (Breathless in Love - 6/26/15 & 6/29/15) and 2 (Reckless in Love - 12/21/15).  Now we've got #3 - Fearless in Love.  They basically took in their son Daniel's 4 friends - Will, Sebastian, Matt, and Evan - as wayward teenagers.  They gave them a home, structure, and, most importantly, affection.  Now they're all billionaires and 100% supportive of, and dedicated to, each other and to Bob and Susan.  So when I say I want to meet these people and even be like them (tongue NOT firmly planted in cheek), I'm not kidding.

Okay, enough about Bob and Susan.  This story is about Matt.

After growing up dirt poor in a seedy Chicago neighborhood, Matt Tremont seemingly has it all now-brains, brawn, and billions.  And most important, Noah, his five-year old son, the one good outcome of a disastrous relationship that destroyed his last ounce of trust.  The only thing he's lacking is the perfect nanny for his son.  And Ariana Jones is absolute perfection.  Utterly enchanting.  Completely fascinating.  And totally off-limits.
Like a match made in heaven, this is Ari's dream job.  Swallowed up in the foster care system after losing her brother and mother, Ari has always dreamed of family.  She showers five-year-old Noah with all the love she's kept bottled up inside.  Love she could also offer to her gorgeous billionaire boss-if only he weren't the very last man she could ever hope to have.
But when sizzling sparks of attraction turn into a forbidden, sinfully hot night of pleasure, will Ari's love be enough to make Matt forget the past and love fearlessly?

We've talked about romances.  Yes we know that the guy and girl will most likely end up together.  And again I say:  "So what?"  The means justify the ends(?).  This is not about what ultimately happens between them.  This is about how they get there.  And just like #1 & #2, I loved how they get there.  At the risk of being repetitive from the earlier reviews (Shocked?  Didn't think so), let me point out some plot points/takeaways/reactions for you:

1.  In each book, there is a 3rd person who takes center stage in the romantic relationship. In this case, it's Matt's 5-year old son.  I really like that the protagonists' relationship has to survive the care of a family member.
2.  I am so emotionally connected to these characters.  It happens right away every book.  I basically cry or smile every other page.  Do I go into each book expecting those reactions? Doesn't matter and don't care.
3. The way I felt about the protagonists in books 1 & 2 carried over to #3.  I'm always happy to see these same characters reemerge in later books.
4.  I like that each epilogue tells us which Maverick is next and who his love interest will be.  
5.  There are several references that I can relate to:
     The Oakland Zoo - this is about 3-4 miles from where I grew up
     San Jose State - the school that Joni went to in college years 3-5
     Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach is mentioned.  I read all of the Dahl books to
     my 3 kids (the BFG is my favorite).

Bring on #4.  As I understand it, Irresistible in Love will be hitting my TBR pile in early 2017. I'm ready now!

   

A Decent, But Unexciting, SciFi

When I went to see Walter Mosley at Kepler's Books last month, Angela, who had recommended The Martian to me last year, suggested I try Sleeping Giants, by Sylvain Neuvel.  I had never heard of the book or the author.  And you know that I'm not a huge fan of SciFi.  I did like The Martian, but mostly because the protagonist was really funny. As far as the science part of it was concerned, it went over my head.  Here, too, I was not a big fan of the scientific explanations of things.  But unlike The Martian, this one didn't have any humor to balance the science.  It was still okay.

What is this book about, you ask?  Here's what the book flap says:

A girl named Rose is riding her new bike near her home in Deadwood, South Dakota, when she falls through the earth.  She wakes up at the bottom of a square hole, its walls glowing with intricate carvings.  But the firemen who come to save her peer down upon something even stranger: a little girl in the palm of a giant metal hand.
Seventeen years later, the mystery of the bizarre artifact remains unsolved - its origins, architects, and purpose unknown.  Its carbon dating defies belief, military reports are redacted; theories are floated, then rejected.
But some can never stop searching for answers.
Rose Franklin is now a highly trained physicist leading a top secret team to crack the hand's code.  And along with her colleagues, she is being interviewed by a nameless interrogator whose power and purview are as enigmatic as the provenance of the relic. What's clear is that Rose and her compatriots are on the edge of unraveling history's most perplexing discovery - and figuring out what it portends for humanity.  But once the pieces of the puzzle are in place, will the result prove to be an instrument of lasting peace or a weapon of mass destruction?

I'm giving Sleeping Giants a 2.75/4.  So, obviously, I liked it somewhat.  There are definitely a few features that stand out.  To wit (really?):
1.  He combines interviews, journals, and news reports, rather than just the typical inter-character dialogue.
2.  He uses a nameless, faceless interrogator to question all of the main characters.  We never find out who this person is (this is the best part of the book).
3.  The book is very well-written.

Goodreads has a cumulative rating of 3.85/5, and Amazon is 3.9/5.  Remarkably consistent.  I'm a little bit lower than that, but still in the same ballpark.  I'm not telling you to read it or not read it.  You all decide for yourselves.

P.S.  I gave The Martian a 3/25/4 back in early 2015.

P.P.S.  Take a look at booktalk.org and BookBub.com.  The 1st has a lot of dialogue, news, and info.  And the 2nd gives you free and heavily discounted ebooks.  

Betty Auchard at Recycle + Big Day at Rec Table + Queen Sugar News

1st of all, it's always a pleasure to have Betty Auchard around.  Today she signed books at Recycle during the Farmers Market.  She had all 3 of her books there - The Home for the Friendless, Dancing in My Nightgown, and, the latest, Living with Twelve Men.  She had a good crowd, and I was happy to meet her daughter, Renee.  Here are a few pics.

Betty is with Alfred Jan, who will be at this same table on Sunday, August 7

The woman in the pink shirt is Betty's daughter, Renee

We also had a big day at the rec table.  The book count is now 80!  And I sold 9 books off the table today.  Okay, 5 were bought by Betty and Renee.  But, still - 9!  Here's what they were:

A Man Called Ove (2)

Child 44

Queen Sugar

Mulberry

Pillars of the Earth (top 3 all-time)

The Language of Flowers (top 12 all time)

All the Light We Cannot See

Goodnight June (4/4+)

And here's what those 80 books look like:

You do see Josh's book front and center, don't you?

We've got dates now for the world premier of Queen Sugar on the OWN.  The 1st 2 episodes are on September 6 and 7 at 10:00PST (I don't know if that makes EST 7:00 or 10:00 - sorry).  To see some previews, go on Search Facebook and enter Queen Sugar. When you see a white box with the words Queen Sugar on it, click on that.  That will give you all of the information you will want to prepare you for watching the show.  There are previews as well as interviews.  It's really very cool.

An RBC Author, A New Independent Bookstore, 4 Reasons Why Independent Bookstores Are Thriving, and My 1st Interview!

1st of all, we had our June RBC meeting this past Wednesday night.  Our author was Paulette Boudreaux, who wrote Mulberry.  Our members (we had 22 people there at Recycle!) gave it one of the highest ratings since we started the book club way back in January of 2014.  12 members rated it a 3.67/4.  That is super high.  But, more importantly, Paulette was extremely interesting.  We found out, among other things, that she finished writing the book in 1996 and had it published in 2015!  How's that for perseverance?  We also learned that the book started out as a short story - about a character who did not even turn out to be the main protagonist!  And, like so many of our RBC authors, Paulette has a 1st novel that is sitting in the bottom of a drawer.  Hopefully we'll get to read it some day.

I wrote a review of Mulberry on February 18.  If you haven't read it, take a look.  This is a terrific book that deserves to be read.  I mean, after all, it's on my rec table!

BIG NEWS:  Books, Inc. will be opening a new bookstore in Santa Clara this month.  It will be located in Santa Clara Square, not far from Levis Stadium.  They will have a grand opening later in the month, and I will keep you posted on the exact date.

Jessica Sullinger, of the magazine The Week, tells us why independent bookstores are not only holding their own.  They're actually thriving.  Take a look:  http://theweek.com/…/4-reasons-why-independent-bookstores-a…

And last, and certainly least, the Saratoga Library is running a series of "literary soirees" on Monday nights during the summer.  They have book-related trivia and feature local book clubs.  Well, they must have been desperate because they asked me to be the interviewee on July 11.  This will be my 1st (and most likely last) interview.  I'm very excited about it because I get to tell the world (ok, maybe a handful of people) about the RBC.