Today, Sunday, is the end of August, which is 2/3 of the way through the year. I'm on pace to read 72 books, which is good, but only 22,000+ pages, which is several thousand pages on the light side. Out of the 48 books I've read, 15 have been 3.5 or 4.0. But here's the funny part; out of those 15, I have no 4.0's. I don't think I've ever been this far into a year without at least one 4.0, usually a lot more. I can't really explain it. I don't think I'm getting tougher since about 30% of those read are 3.5. But, still. No 4.0's? Crazy. We'll see what happens these last 4 months (the book I'm reading now, Don't Look Back, by Gregg Hurwitz, will definitely not be a 4.0...or a 3.5...or...).
Here they are, in the order that I have read them:
1. Harlan Coben - Missing You
2. Jamie Ford - Songs of Willow Frost
3. Richard North Patterson - Loss of Innocence
4. Jennifer Ryan - Saved by the Rancher
5. Tara Conklin - The House Girl
6. Betty Auchard - Home for the Friendless
7. C. Lee McKenzie - The Princess of Las Pulgas
8. Kate White - Eyes on You
9. Jonathan Tropper - This Is Where I Leave You
10. Betsy Franco - Naked
11. Rachael Herron - Pack Up the Moon
12. Suzy Vitello - The Moment Before
13. Ellen Sussman - A Wedding in Provence
14. Daniel James Brown - The Boys in the Boat
15. Natalie Baszile - Queen Sugar
And a couple of interesting (but useless) facts about these 15 books:
1. 9 of the 15 are Bay Area authors - 2,3,4,6,7,10,11,13,15
2. 1 of the 15 is a romance - 4
3. 2 of the 15 are YA's - 7,12
4. 1 of the 15 is non-fiction - 14
5. 7 of the 15 authors have appeared at VHOB - 4,6,7,10,11,12,13
6. 2 of the 15 have been, or will be, book club authors - 13,15
7. 1 of the 15 is in my top 24 all-time - 3 (Exile)
That's it. Of course, I will be posting all 2014 books in early January. And stay tuned for some more made-up, random lists.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Friday, August 29, 2014
An Interesting Perspective on Non-Competition between Authors
Seth Godin is a marketing guru who puts out an article every day - some long, some as short as a sentence or 2. Today he talks about how in every industry companies compete against each other, keep secrets, and hide what they're doing from all of their competitors (I guess that's the same as keeping secrets, isn't it?). The exception is book world. Here's what he had to say:
Why don't authors compete?
There's an apocryphal story of a guy who went for his final interview for a senior post at Coca-Cola. At dinner, he ordered a Pepsi. He didn't get the job.And most packaged goods companies would kill to be the only product on the shelf, to own the category in a given store.
Yet, not only do authors get along, they spend time and energy blurbing each other's books. Authors don't try to eliminate others from the shelf, in fact, they seek out the most crowded shelves they can find to place their books. They eagerly pay to read what everyone else is writing...
Yet, not only do authors get along, they spend time and energy blurbing each other's books. Authors don't try to eliminate others from the shelf, in fact, they seek out the most crowded shelves they can find to place their books. They eagerly pay to read what everyone else is writing...
Can you imagine Tim Cook at Apple giving a generous, positive blurb to an Android phone?
And yet authors do it all the time.
It's one of the things I've always liked best about being a professional writer. The universal recognition that there's plenty of room for more authors, and that more reading is better than less reading, even if what's getting read isn't ours.
It's not a zero-sum game. It's an infinite game, one where we each seek to help ideas spread and lives change.
It turns out that in most industries in the connection economy, that's precisely what works. People happily tweet each other's handles to their followers and give references to others that are looking for jobs. When a business that's comfortable not having 100% market share happily recommends a competitor, they're sending a signal about trust and confidence and most of all, about feeding the community first.
The competition isn't the person next to you on the web, or the store. The competition is none-of-the-above.
Isn't that cool? I never thought about it this way, but he certainly seems to have nailed it. If you want to start getting Seth's articles, you can go to his website - sethgodin.com - and sign on.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Queen Sugar by Natalie Baszile - One of the Best Books of 2014
It's an interesting(?) story how I came to read Queen Sugar. Stacy at Recycle Books gave me an ARC (advanced reading copy) of the book probably 6 or 7 months ago. And it sat in my TBR (to be read) pile all that time. In fact, somehow it slipped to the bottom - the very bottom - of about 12 books. Sunday, I was looking at the TBR pile for my next book. For some reason, Queen Sugar caught my eye. And I grabbed it. Here's the funny part (is the suspense killing you?). Kepler's is having its next Book Swap on Saturday night, September 13. And Natalie is the featured author. That should be the necessary motivation, right? But, wait. I will be out of town that weekend. I won't even see her! That's it. I still can't figure out why I grabbed it. Boy, am I glad I did. In fact, when I was only a quarter of the way through it, I knew I wanted Natalie and her book for a future Recycle Book Club meeting (she lives in San Francisco). Thankfully, she agreed. She's coming sometime in December. I'll keep you all posted on the date. And whether you come to see her or not, please read the book.
Mr./Ms. Goodreads tells us what it's about:
Why exactly Charley Bordelon’s late father left her eight hundred sprawling acres of sugarcane land in rural Louisiana is as mysterious as it was generous. Recognizing this as a chance to start over, Charley and her eleven-year-old daughter, Micah, say good-bye to Los Angeles.
They arrive just in time for growing season but no amount of planning can prepare Charley for a Louisiana that’s mired in the past: as her judgmental but big-hearted grandmother tells her, cane farming is always going to be a white man’s business. As the sweltering summer unfolds, Charley must balance the overwhelming challenges of her farm with the demands of a homesick daughter, a bitter and troubled brother, and the startling desires of her own heart.
Penguin has a rich tradition of publishing strong Southern debut fiction—from Sue Monk Kidd to Kathryn Stockett to Beth Hoffman. In Queen Sugar, we now have a debut from the African American point of view. Stirring in its storytelling of one woman against the odds and initimate in its exploration of the complexities of contemporary southern life, Queen Sugar is an unforgettable tale of endurance and hope.
I have a lot to say about this book, but I'm afraid I'm going to lose you (yes, I know I could have eliminated the whole 1st paragraph). So, I will resort to some bullet-pointing. Here are just a few of the things about the book that I liked:
1. I was oftentimes surprised. I had a lot of raised eyebrows, OMG's, and "oof's."
2. Charley's brother, Ralph Angel, is complex and not always easy to pin a label on.
3. I learned a ton about the sugar cane industry without being the least bored. In fact, it was fascinating stuff.
4. Like Beth Hoffman's female protagonist in Looking for Me, Charley doesn't need a man to make the story more enjoyable or to move it along (I'm not telling you whether she ends up with one or not).
5. Charley's family seems like anybody's/everybody's family. I was only conscious of race when it came up in context.
6. There are many great secondary characters in addition to Charley, Micah (her daughter), Ralph Angel, and Miss Honey (her grandmother).
7. The book is very well-written. There is a scene on page 118 where Charley literally eats dirt. A reader can practically taste what Charley tastes.
8. I didn't cry as often as I sometimes do. Yet, there are many emotional moments, some of them subtle (y'all know how subtle I am!). And there are a number of scenes that, although they don't produce tears, are still just so darn satisfying.
Was I succinct enough for you? Did you get through my list? Good. Just read the dang book.
Mr./Ms. Goodreads tells us what it's about:
Why exactly Charley Bordelon’s late father left her eight hundred sprawling acres of sugarcane land in rural Louisiana is as mysterious as it was generous. Recognizing this as a chance to start over, Charley and her eleven-year-old daughter, Micah, say good-bye to Los Angeles.
They arrive just in time for growing season but no amount of planning can prepare Charley for a Louisiana that’s mired in the past: as her judgmental but big-hearted grandmother tells her, cane farming is always going to be a white man’s business. As the sweltering summer unfolds, Charley must balance the overwhelming challenges of her farm with the demands of a homesick daughter, a bitter and troubled brother, and the startling desires of her own heart.
Penguin has a rich tradition of publishing strong Southern debut fiction—from Sue Monk Kidd to Kathryn Stockett to Beth Hoffman. In Queen Sugar, we now have a debut from the African American point of view. Stirring in its storytelling of one woman against the odds and initimate in its exploration of the complexities of contemporary southern life, Queen Sugar is an unforgettable tale of endurance and hope.
I have a lot to say about this book, but I'm afraid I'm going to lose you (yes, I know I could have eliminated the whole 1st paragraph). So, I will resort to some bullet-pointing. Here are just a few of the things about the book that I liked:
1. I was oftentimes surprised. I had a lot of raised eyebrows, OMG's, and "oof's."
2. Charley's brother, Ralph Angel, is complex and not always easy to pin a label on.
3. I learned a ton about the sugar cane industry without being the least bored. In fact, it was fascinating stuff.
4. Like Beth Hoffman's female protagonist in Looking for Me, Charley doesn't need a man to make the story more enjoyable or to move it along (I'm not telling you whether she ends up with one or not).
5. Charley's family seems like anybody's/everybody's family. I was only conscious of race when it came up in context.
6. There are many great secondary characters in addition to Charley, Micah (her daughter), Ralph Angel, and Miss Honey (her grandmother).
7. The book is very well-written. There is a scene on page 118 where Charley literally eats dirt. A reader can practically taste what Charley tastes.
8. I didn't cry as often as I sometimes do. Yet, there are many emotional moments, some of them subtle (y'all know how subtle I am!). And there are a number of scenes that, although they don't produce tears, are still just so darn satisfying.
Was I succinct enough for you? Did you get through my list? Good. Just read the dang book.
Monday, August 25, 2014
The Moment of Everything - A Very Good Debut Novel for Shelly King
Folks, we're only 8 days away from the publication date of Shelly King's The Moment of Everything, as well as her launch that same evening at 7:00 at Books, Inc. in Mt. View. After reviewing books for my blog for over 3.5 years, I am still blown away by the tremendous amount of excellent authors we have in the Bay Area; not to mention all of the debut novels I have read and enjoyed. In this case, not only did I thoroughly enjoy Shelly's book, we're even going to feature her and The Moment of Everything at our Recycle Book Club meeting, in downtown Campbell, on October 28. Does that tell you how much I liked the book? Do you want to know what it's about? Of course you do. Here is our old pal Goodreads to give us a rundown:
Maggie Duprès, recently "involuntarily separated from payroll" at a Silicon Valley start-up, is whiling away her days in The Dragonfly's Used Books, a Mountain View institution, waiting for the Next Big Thing to come along.
When the opportunity arises for her to network at a Bay Area book club, she jumps at the chance -- even if it means having to read Lady Chatterley's Lover, a book she hasn't encountered since college, in an evening. But the edition she finds at the bookstore is no Penguin ClassicsChatterley -- it's an ancient hardcover with notes in the margins between two besotted lovers of long ago. What Maggie finds in her search for the lovers and their fate, and what she learns about herself in the process, will surprise and move readers.
Here is a quote from my notes (yes, I take notes): "Funny and well-written without the paragraphs or the descriptions being too long." (I don't have to be grammatically correct in my note-taking!) I appreciate humor as long as it doesn't take away from the poignancy of the book. And, in this case, it doesn't. Nice going, Shelly. In fact, at one point, I even thought to myself that this is very Beth-like. And you all know what I think of Beth Hoffman and her books.
There is a scene at the Bay Area book club mentioned in the synopsis where she is talking to the very fancy woman who runs the club and who owns the house that is hosting the event. The woman asks Maggie what she's been doing since she lost her job at the high tech start-up. Here is her answer. The italics reflect what she really means in her response. This is pretty darn clever.
"I've been doing some pro bono consulting at a small used bookstore my neighbor owns." I've been wasting time at the Dragonfly and learning 1500 new ways to describe a man's privates. "Sales have been soft with the downturn in the local economy." No one gives a flying frog's butt about the Dragonfly with Apollo across the street. "I'm working with him to improve his margin." I'm sitting in a dusty window reading trashy novels.
It's definitely fun to read a book that takes place in a used bookstore (that syncs up nicely with our book club now taking up residence in a used bookstore). And it's fun to be familiar with Castro Street in Mt. View, where most of the book takes place. BUT, if you don't live in the Bay Area, or don't know downtown Mt. View, not to worry. You will enjoy the book as much as the rest of us.
I will give you one more quote. Lolly Winston, whose books I have very much liked, says of Shelly's book: "Shelly King is among my all-time favorite writers. Her prose brims with beauty and her plots always pack a well-earned punch." That about sums it up.
Maggie Duprès, recently "involuntarily separated from payroll" at a Silicon Valley start-up, is whiling away her days in The Dragonfly's Used Books, a Mountain View institution, waiting for the Next Big Thing to come along.
When the opportunity arises for her to network at a Bay Area book club, she jumps at the chance -- even if it means having to read Lady Chatterley's Lover, a book she hasn't encountered since college, in an evening. But the edition she finds at the bookstore is no Penguin ClassicsChatterley -- it's an ancient hardcover with notes in the margins between two besotted lovers of long ago. What Maggie finds in her search for the lovers and their fate, and what she learns about herself in the process, will surprise and move readers.
Here is a quote from my notes (yes, I take notes): "Funny and well-written without the paragraphs or the descriptions being too long." (I don't have to be grammatically correct in my note-taking!) I appreciate humor as long as it doesn't take away from the poignancy of the book. And, in this case, it doesn't. Nice going, Shelly. In fact, at one point, I even thought to myself that this is very Beth-like. And you all know what I think of Beth Hoffman and her books.
There is a scene at the Bay Area book club mentioned in the synopsis where she is talking to the very fancy woman who runs the club and who owns the house that is hosting the event. The woman asks Maggie what she's been doing since she lost her job at the high tech start-up. Here is her answer. The italics reflect what she really means in her response. This is pretty darn clever.
"I've been doing some pro bono consulting at a small used bookstore my neighbor owns." I've been wasting time at the Dragonfly and learning 1500 new ways to describe a man's privates. "Sales have been soft with the downturn in the local economy." No one gives a flying frog's butt about the Dragonfly with Apollo across the street. "I'm working with him to improve his margin." I'm sitting in a dusty window reading trashy novels.
It's definitely fun to read a book that takes place in a used bookstore (that syncs up nicely with our book club now taking up residence in a used bookstore). And it's fun to be familiar with Castro Street in Mt. View, where most of the book takes place. BUT, if you don't live in the Bay Area, or don't know downtown Mt. View, not to worry. You will enjoy the book as much as the rest of us.
I will give you one more quote. Lolly Winston, whose books I have very much liked, says of Shelly's book: "Shelly King is among my all-time favorite writers. Her prose brims with beauty and her plots always pack a well-earned punch." That about sums it up.
Sunday, August 24, 2014
The 1st Literary Fair - A Gigantic Success
Wow was yesterday (Saturday, August 23) fun! We had about 30 local authors along with our 2 keynoters (one of whom - "whom" is awkward but correct, I think - is a Los Gatos resident). Los Gatos Library put on the show with able assistance from Village House of Books and Friends of the Library. The event went from 12-3 and was considered by all to be a great success. Here is the story in pictures (with captions).
The real star of the day - Melissa Maglio, the Library's Programs and Reference Librarian. She did an amazing job putting all of this together. Way to go Melissa.
Author and publisher tables
The shade-sitting crowd, listening to the speakers
The 2 keynote speakers - Laurie R. King and Jay Elliot (do I have to tell you which one is which?).
Laurie kicked off the program.
Jay was our last speaker. He told some really fascinating stories about Steve Jobs and Apple.
Linda Gunther was one of the local authors who spoke for 5 minutes each. In fact, Linda and the next 4 authors have all appeared at VHOB.
Tim Myers
Alina Sayre
Shelley Bates, who writes as Adina Senft and Shelley Adina.
JoAn Smith
Wait. This is no author. This is my daughter Meredith, with her 2 girls Drew and Josie, enjoying the sunshine and the grass.
I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR!
Friday, August 22, 2014
3 Events This Week (so far)
We've had 3 very good events at VHOB in the last 3 days. On Wednesday, we had 2 events and, tonight, 1. Here they are (were):
Wednesday, 5:30-6:15 - National best-selling author, Gregg Hurwitz, came and signed books, including his latest, Don't Look Back.
Wednesday, 5:30-6:15 - National best-selling author, Gregg Hurwitz, came and signed books, including his latest, Don't Look Back.
Wednesday, 6:30-8:15 - VHOB Book Club - Ellen Sussman was our author. She and her book, A Wedding in Provence, brought in about 25 people, by far our best showing so far. How cool is that?
Ellen is straight back in the corner, wearing a sleeveless white top
Friday, 7:00-7:45 - Laurie McAndish King read excerpts from her book, Lost Kidnapped Eaten Alive. Laurie is an award-winning travel writer and has visited countries and out-of-the-way places all over the globe.
Tomorrow is the Literary Fair from 12-3 on the Civic Center lawn in Los Gatos. I am really excited about this event. The Library is providing almost 30 local authors and 6 local publishers. VHOB is providing the 2 keynote speakers. Laurie R. King will kick off the event, at 12:10. And Jay Elliot will be the last speaker, at 2:35. It's going to be super fun.
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Village House of Books #2 - 21 W. Main Street, Los Gatos
Village House of Books #2 opened its doors yesterday, August 20, 2014. Here are 10 pictures of the store.
Pretty neat, don't you think?
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