I’m back! I had a lovely few days of spending quality time with the Northeast’s finest booksellers. I felt like a rock star, waking up in one city and going to bed in another, and then waking up again not certain of what state I was in. However, I went to bed before midnight every night, didn’t trash any hotel rooms, and never played a lick of music, so I suppose I don’t qualify for legitimate “rock star” status.
I appreciate all the people who lived near my destinations and wanted to meet up, and I apologize that I didn’t get back to you, but I was actually working the entire time (including dinners and post-dinner cocktails) except for one evening that I spent with Nancy Pearl Wannabe, but you all know that we’re secret lovers anyway. (That’s mostly because I find her sexier than a Sony Reader AND an Amazon Kindle put together.) Of course, as always, our time together was all too brief and then it was back on to schmoozing with the book people.
In addition to meeting some of the most fantastic booksellers in the business, I also met some pretty kick-ass authors. Because I need to attend to my work-related Internet responsibilities and sort out all these business cards, let me give you a list of recommended fall reading based on some of the authors I just saw:
(All of these books are available from your local independent bookseller, go to IndieBound.com to find yours!)
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: I started reading this on the drive from Boston to New Jersey. I chose it because it’s actually a YA novel, and I figured it would be easy to read. It is, but it is also fantastic, and the subject (children selected to fight to the death in a Gladiator-style competition) is decidedly adult. At her book talk, Collins told us that despite the fact she looks like a hippie, she grew up watching Gladiator movies. It shows in this book, which is absolutely fantastic and I wish I was reading right now.
The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff: I read this a while ago because we were planning an event with him. The book tells the dual story of modern day fundamentalist Mormons and the original clan of Mormons, including the woman who was Bringham Young’s 19th wife. If you find religious cults facinating like I do, this book is for you. Even if you don’t, it’s a great read.
The Patron Saint of Butterflies by Cecilia Galante: Speaking of religious cults, Galante was part of one in upstate New York for the first fifteen years of her life until the leader died and she and her family assimilated into mainstream society. At the New Jersey show, she was given an award for best children’s literature book of the year. In her acceptance speech, she spoke of being teased in middle school, which caused her to run for cover into the first room she found. It was the library, and as she told us that it was the first time in her life she was ever in a library, she choked up and started to cry. Then we all cried. It was very moving, and I really want to read this book, which is loosely based on her life story.
The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs: At the same dinner, he won an award for best non-fiction of the year for a very different take on religion. I read this when it first came out, and I highly recommend. It’s based on his experiment of spending a year following every rule of The Bible. Very funny stuff, and actually pretty reverent.
The Given Day by Dennis Lehane: Although I’ve seen both Mystic River and Gone, Baby, Gone, I’ve not actually read any of Lehane’s novels. After hearing him speak on his newest one based on the Boston Police Strike of 1919, I think I give it a go. And for those of you who like your books extra-special, he let us in on a secret that there’s a typo in the first edition, so get yourself one soon, as it will be fixed by the second printing. (And bonus points if you actually find the typo, which is actually a continunity mistake based on a section that was cut out…)
State By State by Matt Weiland and Sean Wilsey: Weiland sat at a table with me during one event called “The Moveable Feast” where everyone sits at a table with an author. Each time a new course is served, the authors change tables so by the end of the meal you’ve met three authors. It’s a really neat concept, especially when you get someone as personable as Weiland was. He actually edited this book, which is a collection of 50 essays by 50 authors about each of the states. And as a meta bonus, it turns out that the “Delaware” author wrote his essay about two Wilmington booksellers who happened to be sitting at the table with us.
Mudboud by Hillary Jordan: Lastly but so not leastly, I have to give this book a hearty push. Jordan is a local author (to me) who hails from Tivoli, New York. I got the pleasure of meeting her at an event we hosted back in February when her book first came out, and not only is she a lovely person, she wrote this amazing book that has seriously stuck with me all these months later. At the New Jersey show, she was awarded best fiction book of the year for her tale of a family living in the Mississippi Delta after World War II. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking, and I highly recommend you pick up a copy as soon as possible.
There are your tasks to take on until such time as I’ve conqored the back-up in my Google Reader.
Posted by nancypearlwannabe on September 23, 2008 at 9:41 am
I’m pretty sure our waiter thought we were on a date, too. And now I have “Lucky In Love” in my head.
I’ve wanted to read The Year of Living Biblically since it came out. You have just solidified that I will be reading it next. I also thought about ordering that Suzanne Collins book but then didn’t, and now I am putting it back on the list.
I don’t think you’re going to be able to keep The Hunger Games in stock at the library. You might want to get two…
Posted by Ann on September 23, 2008 at 10:51 am
I have 85 pages of Hunger Games left — started it last night, read more this morning, now going to take a “coffee break” and finish. It’s fantastic. Going to talk about it on the podcast we’re recording today (will publish on Wednesday). This one’s going to be big.
Thanks for the heads-up on the Lehane. I missed the breakfast but do have a 1st edition so I will be eagle-eyed as I’m reading.
Great to see you — next time we must really meet at the bar instead of the hotel lobby!
I’m so close to finishing the book, I can’t wait until the end of the day! And it was great to see you too!
Posted by mickey on September 23, 2008 at 11:05 am
I will definitely pick up The 19th Wife on your recommendation. Mormons are fascinating.
The Year of Living Biblically sounds interesting, too.
Glad you made it through your trip!
I do love me a good Mormon tale.
Posted by stefanie on September 23, 2008 at 11:07 am
And now I feel more than ever like I am wasting precious reading time on those ridiculous teen vampire books. Oh well.
Nothing wrong with the teen vampire books. But when you’re done…
Posted by MrsTwink on September 23, 2008 at 11:53 am
I think you might have one of the coolest jobs of any blogger I read…
I’ll definitely add some of those books to my reading list!
There are some perks to this job, I’ll give you that.
Posted by cadiz12 on September 23, 2008 at 11:55 am
i heard an interview with A.J. Jacobs on npr and he was describing how he was “stoning” people by throwing tiny pebbles at them. i had totally forgotten that i wanted to pick up that book!
thanks for the recommendations; i’m always on the hunt for a good read.
That was a really cute part of his book. And now that it’s in paperback, it’s totally affordable!
Posted by courtney on September 23, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Your job sounds so cool. I will definitely be adding those books to my to-read list, especially The Year of Living Biblically.
That seems to be the winner here!
Posted by Lara on September 23, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Those all sound awesome.
I got to hear Dennis Lehane at the Brattleboro Literary Festival a few years ago and I kind of fell a little in love with him then. And Andre Dubus!
Lehane totally won me over, even though I find him a little intimidating.
Posted by Allie on September 23, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I’m still trying to catch up on my Google Reader and starting to think it will never happen.
Sounds like a great trip — and I’m so jealous that you got to hang out with awesome writer people.
Thanks for the reading list!
I just keep making mental notes of all the blogs that I have to go back and read for real. It’s too many now.
Posted by erikka on September 23, 2008 at 3:35 pm
AJ Jacobs also wrote another great book – The Know-it-all.
Wickedly funny. A Year of Living Biblically was next on my list.
I heard about that one, it sounded great. While he was speaking, I kept wondering what crazy thing he’s doing this year.
Posted by apollocreed on September 23, 2008 at 3:50 pm
sexier than a Sony Reader AND an Amazon Kindle put together
Impossible!!!
You only say that because you haven’t met her.
Posted by Ann on September 23, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Damn. I had a copy of the Lehane novel in my sweaty little hands last Friday, but I backed off. My TBR pile is to the ceiling and I am biased against books and movies set before WWII. Of course, maybe this mystical mistake isn’t in the first UK edition.
I’ve read everything else he’s written (except the short story collection because I hate short stories) and absolutely love him as a writer, so maybe I’ll have to get over my biases.
I’m not sure about the UK edition, but if it came out at the same time, it’s probably got it in there.
Posted by charley on September 23, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Nice recommendations. I have mixed feelings about The Hunger Games, I enjoyed The Year of Living Biblically, and I have a galley of Mudbound that is gathering dust on my bookshelf. I keep meaning to read Dennis Lehane, too, after seeing his movies. I plan to start with Shutter Island.
You should get to Mudbound! It’s much better than dust. And I too need to get on the Lehane wagon.
Posted by Aaron on September 23, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Welcome back to the innerwebs. I’ve been wanting to read The Year of Living Biblically, and now that it has the official Christmas Christmas Tree seal of approval, it’s moved to the top of my list.
I should really get those seals made up soon.
Posted by rdl on September 23, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Sounds like great fun!
But for the part where I was “at work.”
Posted by Maxie on September 23, 2008 at 10:13 pm
i’m so jealous that you got to meet NPW!
She is kind of great.
Posted by Vanessa on September 24, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Thank you so much for the link to Indiebound. I’ve been looking for something like this. While I frequent B&N, it just doesn’t compare to Baily and Coy in Seattle. I’ve already found the indie bookstore close to me. YAY!
Posted by Vicious Headbutt on September 24, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Got Hunger Games at Half-Price books when I was back up in Texas, (damn Oklahoma doesn’t have one) it certainly a page turner.
I am putting The Year of Living Biblically on my list – it sounds great!
Posted by xsquared on September 27, 2008 at 7:51 am
Thanks for the recommendations! I’m constantly in need of new books.