The 2014/2015 Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA) Best Book Awards were recently announced and we have two winners in the Fiction category: DECODED by Mai Jia Both a riveting mystery and a metaphysical examination of the mind of an inspired genius, DECODED is the first novel to be published in English by one of China’s Know More » […]
Tag: China
JADE DRAGON MOUNTAIN Signed Galley & Poster Giveaway
FRIDAY FREE DAY!! Earlier this month author Elsa Hart dropped by the Flatiron Building to say hello and sign galleys and limited edition posters of her stunning debut novel, JADE DRAGON MOUNTAIN! In JADE DRAGON MOUNTAIN, an exiled librarian(!) traveling through the 18th-century Chinese/Tibetan borderlands must learn the truth about a Jesuit priest’s death before Know More » […]
Happy #BookBday (3/10/14 Edition)
Hey hey, it’s time for another #BookBday! Today we celebrate: BONES & ALL by Camille DeAngelis A haunting coming-of-age story about a young outcast as she sets out on a journey to find her long-lost father, who can tell her why she does the bad thing she does—literally consuming anyone who gets too close to Know More » […]
Happy #BookBday (2/3/14 Edition)
It’s a big day for #BookBdays! THE NIGHTINGALE by Kristin Hannah You’ve heard us buzzing about the February Indie Next pick for a while now, and at last it’s here! “Hannah’s latest is a page-turner that will no doubt have readers reaching for tissues. This moving, emotional tribute to the brave women who fought behind Know More » […]
And The National Book Award Goes To… EVAN OSNOS!
We’re thrilled to share the news that the National Book Award in the Nonfiction category went to Evan Osnos for AGE OF AMBITION published by FSG. The book explores China’s ongoing transformation into an economic superpower, and the clash between its economic progress and its authoritarian government’s crackdown on social freedoms. Congrats to all involved! […]
Stars for THE THREE-BODY PROBLEM
Attention sci-fi readers: if you’re looking for a book with the scope of DUNE and the commercial action of Independence Day, look no further than THE THREE-BODY PROBLEM by China’s most beloved science fiction author, Cixin Liu. Reviewers love this multiple-award-winning near-future trilogy: “Fans of hard SF will revel in this intricate and imaginative novel Know More » […]
B&N Fall 2014 Discover Picks
Barnes & Noble recently announced their Fall 2014 selections for the Discover Great New Writers program and several Macmillan titles made the cut! FIVES AND TWENTY FIVES by Michael Pitre We can’t stop talking about former marine Pitre’s deeply affecting debut novel about three men from a road repair platoon in Iraq and the struggles they Know More » […]
Thriller Thursday bonus: DECODED
HOT TITLE ALERT! We want to make sure this gripping debut novel is on your radar: DECODED by multi-award-winning author Mai Jia.
One of China's bestselling novels, it reveals the mysterious world of Unit 701, a top-secret Chinese intelligence agency whose sole purpose is counterespionage and code breaking. Brilliantly combining the mystery and tension of a spy thriller with the psychological nuance of an intimate character study and the magical qualities of a Chinese fable, DECODED discovers in cryptography the key to the human heart.
The New York Times jumped on DECODED early and ran an interview with Jia on their Sinosphere Blog and reviews have been outstanding:
“Told by a shadowy narrator who draws on interview transcripts and declassified documents, the book ranges in style from mythic fairy tale to spy story to epistemological speculation. Within this fantastic framework unfolds the saga of Rong Jinzhen, a youngster of illegitimate origin and odd upbringing whose phenomenal success in his non-chosen field leads to international counterespionage.” — The Wall Street Journal
“Finally, a great Chinese novel. It stands out among Chinese novels for its pace, liveliness and the sheer novelty of the tale it tells. It grips from the first page… [Jia] offers a beguiling and magical mystery tour of China. It is an absolute joy to read.” — The Economist
“An espionage novelist who navigates the top-secret world of cryptography, Mai has been hailed as China’s Dan Brown. DECODED quite blithely—and deliberately—defies the genre expectations.” — The New Republic
“Readers skate the line separating insanity from genius in Mai Jia’s riveting tale of cryptographic warfare. A denouement at once heartbreaking and thought-provoking leaves readers pondering the collective sanity of a world shrouding knowledge in enigmas. Gifted translators bring English-speaking readers a Chinese literary treasure.” — Booklist, starred review
“Mai’s careful attention to pacing and the folklore-inspired narration make for a fascinating story, neatly interwoven with complex mathematical theory.”
— Publishers Weekly
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Thriller Thursday (3/20/14 Edition)
Happy #ThrillerThursday, friends! Here's a look at the latest books keeping us up past bedtime:
THE CAIRO AFFAIR by Olen Steinhauer
Steinhauer's geopolitical tale about a murdered diplomat, his unfaithful wife, her Egyptian intelligence ex-lover, and a CIA analyst recently earned a rave New York Times review from Janet Maslin: “Elaborate, sophisticated…a long, twisty road full of cleverly placed potholes and unexpected turns. Mr. Steinhauer draws his spies as flesh-and-blood characters in whom his readers invest both attention and emotion.”
DECODED by Mai Jia
“Told by a shadowy narrator who draws on interview transcripts and declassified documents, the book ranges in style from mythic fairy tale to spy story to epistemological speculation. Within this fantastic framework unfolds the saga of Rong Jinzhen, a youngster of illegitimate origin and odd upbringing whose phenomenal success in his non-chosen field leads to international counterespionage.” — The Wall Street Journal
BONUS: read the interview with Mai Jia in the New York Times Sinosphere blog
DON'T LOOK FOR ME by Loren D. Estleman
In the 24th(!) book in the Amos Walker series, the "barely housebroken" P.I. finds himself caught between the mafia and the porn industry. "A direct descendant of Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe, Walker fires up a cig, has a sip of Scotch, and ponders how the case of a disappeared wife can get this complicated. A very good entry in a solid series." — Booklist
THE TRIDENT DECEPTION by Rick Campbell
"Campbell utilizes his background as a retired navy commander and his familiarity with submarines to craft a terrific thriller debut. Campbell does an amazing job, balancing character interaction with high-octane action, all the while keeping the technical jargon to a level understandable by nonmilitary readers. This is the best novel about a submarine since Tom Clancy’s classic THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER." — Booklist, starred review
What's tingling your spine this #ThrillerThursday? Share your reads with us @MacmillanLib.
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