#BookBday Bonus: THE SHELF

#BookBday Bonus: THE SHELF

We've got another special Book Birthday this week: THE SHELF: From LEQ to LES: Adventures in Extreme Reading by Phyllis Rose.


Can you have an Extreme Adventure in a library?
Phyllis Rose casts herself into the wilds of an Upper East Side lending library in an effort to do just that. Hoping to explore the “real ground of literature,” she reads her way through a somewhat randomly chosen shelf of fiction, from LEQ to LES. 


Praise for THE SHELF:

“A seasoned, open-minded, and passionate reader, inquisitive thinker, and delectably lucid and witty writer, Rose rallies readers to affirm our love of literature and libraries.” Booklist, starred review  

“Rose's...understanding of readers and reading is candid and sincere.”
— Library Journal

“Rose’s experiment provides specific case studies to use in weighing the age-old question: which books are worth keeping? For skeptics of the canon, this book will make the cut.” — Publishers Weekly

“Chatty, enthusiastic and at times rambling, Rose is a welcoming guide on her latest journey of literary discovery.” — Kirkus Reviews

 

To celebrate the publication of THE SHELF, we’re offering librarians a chance to win an entire shelf of books from Macmillan (including THE SHELF) to those of you that are “extreme” enough to try Phyllis’s experiment! 

Simply select a shelf of adult books in your library according to the specified guidelines:
* No more than five books by the same author on the shelf
* The selection must include a diversity of authors
* The selection must include classics and modern work
* Children’s books are not eligible

Take a picture of the shelf and send it to us with a report about the books you read on your shelf. The report should include detailed summaries and your thoughts on each book—one or two sentences won’t count! And please remember that Children’s books are not eligible for this project.

Email your reports to library@macmillanusa.com with the subject line “The Shelf Project.” 

The sweepstakes is open from May 13 through November 14 and prize shelves of books are limited to the first five responders. 

We know we’re asking for you to do a lot of reading, but we also know that librarians are expert speed readers. We hope you have an extreme adventure in your library and perhaps you’ll add a nice collection to your stacks. Good luck!

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For Your Consideration: May LibraryReads titles

For Your Consideration: May LibraryReads titles

May LibraryReads collageSpring is coming, we promise! If you're still stuck with winter weather, stay indoors, read, and nominate* your favorite May 2014 titles for the next LibraryReads list!

*(deadline for nominations is April 1. More details here.)

THE SNOW QUEEN by Michael Cunningham
In the “tender, funny, and sorrowful” (Booklist, starred review) new novel from the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of THE HOURS, Cunningham examines the complex dynamics between a couple and a brother and a mysterious light in the sky.

THE HOLLOW GROUND by Natalie S. Harnett
Set amongst the deadly coal mine fires of 1960s Pennsylvania, this extraordinary debut tells the coming-of-age story of Brigid Howley, a young girl struggling to keep her family together despite the "curse" laid upon them generations earlier. “This cursed Irish-American clan will grab you by the brisket and not let go.” — Gary Shteyngart, New York Times bestselling author of SUPER SAD TRUE LOVE STORY

DARK AEMILIA by Sally O'Reilly
A tale of sorcery and passion in 17th century London—where witches haunt William Shakespeare and his dark lady, the playwright's muse and one true love. “O’Reilly casts her story with witches, doomed royals, evil courtiers, and star-crossed lovers, as if it were a Jacobean play. But her finest accomplishment is not the tribute she pays to these historical figures, but the bold imagination she displays in bringing them together.” — Publishers Weekly  

INVISIBLE CITY by Julia Dahl
In Julia Dahl's accomplished debut, young journalist Rebekah Roberts finds herself drawn into her mother's tight-knit world when she's assigned to cover the murder of an Hasidic Jew. “The secretive society of Brooklyn’s ultra-Orthodox Jews provides the backdrop for Dahl’s impressive debut. Dahl’s convincing dialogue and perfect pacing make for a real page-turner. And her storytelling skills illuminate the intriguing worlds of the tabloid press, Hasidism, the NYPD, and Brooklyn’s 20-somethings—as well as the fragile boundaries of family, religion, and life itself.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review

BONE DUST WHITE by Karin Salvalaggio
When a young woman witnesses the murder of her mother who had abandoned her as a child, Detective Macy Greeley must solve the case and stop a killer in this “...haunting debut...that readers won't soon forget.” — Publishers Weekly 

MY REAL CHILDREN by Jo Walton
Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author Walton delivers the haunting and powerful tale of Patricia Cowan—a woman who lived two lives: one in which she marries and has four children, and the other in which she raises three children with her partner instead. Two lives, two worlds, two versions of modern history; each with their loves and losses, their sorrows and triumphs. 

THE SHELF: From LEQ to LES: Adventures in Extreme Reading by Phyllis Rose
Can you have an Extreme Adventure in a library? Phyllis Rose casts herself into the wilds of an Upper East Side lending library in an effort to do just that. Hoping to explore the “real ground of literature,” she reads her way through a somewhat randomly chosen shelf of fiction, from LEQ to LES. “Rose's...understanding of readers and reading is candid and sincere.” — Library Journal  

For more May LibraryReads title suggestions, view our collection on Edelweiss. Happy reading and happy nominating!

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We Love Books About Books

We Love Books About Books

Who can resist books about books and libraries? We can't! Here's just a few of the latest titles we're into (Caution: some books may include kittens):

WHY I READ: The Serious Pleasure of Books by Wendy Lesser
Founder of the Threepenny Review, Lesser's "delectably sophisticated inquiry into why reading is a constant source of pleasure and provocation" (Booklist) is as much a memoir as it is about the craft of literature. Written in "erudite, beautiful passages," WHY I READ "will speak to booklovers of all types." – Publishers Weekly, starred review. If you're attending ALA Midwinter, make sure to meet Wendy Lesser in booth #622!

WHAT MAKE THIS BOOK SO GREAT by Jo Walton
This collection of Tor.com blog posts from Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author Walton about her favorites works of sci-fi and fantasy is "...akin to a genre version of Nancy Pearl's BOOK LUST." (Library Journal, starred review) "For readers unschooled in the history of SF/F, this book is a treasure trove; for those who recognize every title, Walton evokes the joy of returning to a well-worn favorite." – Publishers Weekly, starred review

THE SHELF: From LEQ to LES: Adventures in Extreme Reading by Phyllis Rose
No, this isn't reading while rappelling down a mountain like we hoped, but it is still an extreme library sport: to read through an entire shelf of library books. In Rose's case, her randomly chosen shelf of fiction from LEQ to LES contained a classic she has not read, a remarkable variety of authors, and a range of literary styles from mystery to humor. Perhaps it'll inspire similar challenges in your library!

Now that we're thinking about cats, here are 21 cats who are secretly excellent readers!

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While We’re Away…

While We’re Away…

♫♪♫♫♪ 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the Flatiron Building,
Not a publicist was pitching, not even a phone a ringing.
The books were already put up on the shelves with care,
Because no one at Macmillan would be there.  ♫♪♫♫♪ 

kitten in stockingMacmillan's offices are closed from 1:00pm on Tuesday, Dec. 24 through New Year's Day and we intend to do a lot of reading while we're off for a long, winter break! We hope you do, too. Remember to get whitelisted* on Edelweiss for access to Macmillan e-galleys. Here's how:

1. Register for Edelweiss with your library-issued e-mail address.
2. Send Anne an email that includes the e-mail address you registered with, your full name, and your current library (subject: Edelweiss).
3. Wait for Anne to send you a confirmation message, then download to your heart's delight and nominate titles you love for LibraryReads
*Whitelisting is only available to librarians currently employed in the U.S.

And now, let the feverish downloading begin! 

THE SNOW QUEEN by Michael Cunningham
A darkly luminous new novel about two brothers searching for transcendence from the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of THE HOURS. Coming May 6 from Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

BONE DUST WHITE by Karin Salvaggio
When a young woman witnesses the murder of her mother who had abandoned her as a child, Detective Macy Greeley must return to solve the murder and stop a killer in this incredible debut. Coming May 13 from Minotaur Books.

THE HOLLOW GROUND by Natalie S. Harnett
Set amongst the deadly coal mine fires of 1960s Pennsylvania, THE HOLLOW GROUND is an extraordinary debut that will “grab you by the brisket and not let go.” (Gary Shteyngart) OK for YA! Coming May 13 from Thomas Dunne Books.

THE SHELF: From LEQ to LES: Adventures in Extreme Reading by Phyllis Rose
Phyllis Rose embarks on a grand literary experiment—to read her way through a random shelf of library books, LEQ–LES. Coming May 13 from Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

MY REAL CHILDREN by Jo Walton
The new novel from the author of the Hugo and Nebula Award–winning AMONG OTHERS: a powerful tale of one woman who has lived two lives. Coming May 20 from Tor Books.

DARK AEMILIA by Sally O'Reilly
A tale of sorcery and passion in 17th century London—where witches haunt William Shakespeare and his dark lady, the playwright's muse and one true love. Coming May 27 from Picador.

THE DEVIL MAY CARE by David Housewright
The search for a suddenly missing man entangles unlicensed P.I. Rushmore McKenzie with one of the most powerful—and ruthless—local families. Coming June 3 from Minotaur Books.

THE GLASS KITCHEN by Linda Francis Lee
Three sisters move from Texas to New York City to open a restaurant in this novel about food, family, and finding true love from the author of EMILY AND EINSTEIN. Coming June 17 from St. Martin's Press.

ONE EVENING IN PARIS by Nicolas Barreau
In a little cinema in Paris, dreams suddenly come true, and Nicolas Barreau shows us again that every love has its own special secret. Coming July 1 from St. Martin's Griffin.

HIGH AS THE HORSES BRIDLES by Scott Cheshire
An urgent, electric debut novel about inheritance, belief, and a father and son divided by a dangerous prophecy. Coming July 8 from Henry Holt.

We hope you all have a lovely holiday and a safe,
happy New Year. We'll see you all again in 2014!
library cookies
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