Happy New Year 2014!

Happy New Year 2014!

new years kittensHappy New Year! We hope your holidays were wonderful. We're rested, rejuvenated and ready for all that 2014 will bring!

Want to know what our New Year's Resolution is? It's for all the librarians we know to participate in LibraryReads!

Do you love to read? Do people often ask you what book they should read next? Are you a public librarian? If you answered yes to all of these, then my friend, you are ready for LibraryReads.

LibraryReads logoWhat is this magical LibraryReads thing we speak of? It's a monthly list of the Top Ten newly released must-read books, voted on by librarians like you! By harnessing the value of "library staff picks" into a single nation-wide discovery tool, you can help connect books to as many readers as possible.

If you're ready to start, nominations are now being accepted for books publishing in March 2013 (due February 1). Here are some titles we recommend:

SHOTGUN LOVESONGS by Nickolas Butler
TEMPTING FATE by Jane Green
PRECIOUS THING by Colette McBeth
THE HAVEN by Carol Lynch Williams
THE CAIRO AFFAIR by Olen Steinhauer
DECODED by Mai Jia 
NOTORIOUS by Allison Brennan 
THE REVENANT OF THRAXTON HALL by Vaughn Entwistle
THE MIDNIGHT WITCH by Paula Brackston
THE OTHER HALF by Sarah Rayner 
ALWAYS UNIQUE by Nikki Turner 
QUEEN ELIZABETH'S DAUGHTER by Anne Clinard Barnhill 
CODE ZERO by Jonathan Maberry
I REMEMBER YOU by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
NOTES FROM THE INTERNET APOCALPYSE by Wayne Gladstone
PROVIDENCE RAG by Bruce DeSilva

To vote, you must be an Edelweiss user and registered as a public librarian. If so, then you’re all set! To recommend a title, find the book page while logged into Edelweiss and click on “Your Review.” You will see the check the “Submit to LibraryReads” box on the bottom right of that box; click on it when saving your review to nominate that title.

If you are already an Edelweiss user, and logged in, but don’t see the option to “Submit to LibraryReads” when you click on “Your Review,” you may be in an Edelweiss organization that is not classified as a public library. In this case, please email support@abovethetreeline.com for help.
If you are not an Edelweiss user, please register for Edelweiss using the Organization Type “Library – Public” to join the LibraryReads community. 

Read in any format you like–paper or digital–but please submit all your reviews electronically, via Edelweiss.

Speaking of Edelweiss, did you know you can get whitelisted* for access to Macmillan e-galleys? It's true! Here's how to get pre-approved:

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. 

For more on Edelweiss, including reading recommendations, click here. Want to know even more about LibraryReads? Check out our FAQ for nomination deadlines, guidelines for writing reviews, details on how each list gets decided, and FREE marketing materials for your library. Happy reading and happy nominating!

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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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It’s a COZY Thursday (12/19/13)

It’s a COZY Thursday (12/19/13)

Thursdays are usually reserved for hearty and heaping dishes of thrillers...  And our policy has always been, the bloodier the better! But we’re feeling festive and just generally smiley—or in Anne the “Sweet Teeth” Spieth’s case, coated in flour and sugar thanks to her baking adventures—so, we’ve decided to swap our gruesome reads for a few picks from Macmillan’s cozier shelves: 

HEIRS OF THE BODY by Carola Dunn
In this next book in the Daisy Dalrymple series, one of four potential claimants to the title of Lord Dalrymple dies a sudden, nasty death. Was it murder? It's up to Daisy to find out.

MURDER AND MOONSHINE by Carol Miller
This debut mystery set in the heart of moonshine country brims with Southern charm courtesy of our young heroine, Daisy. Working as a diner waitress, Daisy overhears lots of secrets, but not one as dangerous as the one old man Dickerson spills before he drops dead in the diner.

ROSEMARY AND CRIME by Gail Oust
Recently divorced, Piper Prescott has got a new lease on life. She's moved down to Georgia from the north and fulfilled a life long dream by opening a spice shop. But Piper’s grand opening goes awry when the local chef who’s agreed to do a cooking demo is found stabbed and Piper is suspect #1.

MURDER AS A SECOND LANGUAGE by Joan Hess
In the next Claire Malloy mystery, Claire now finds herself a married woman with free time on her hands. Attempts at volunteering and cooking don't do well, but when her husband Deputy Chief Peter Rosen asks for her help in a murder investigation, Claire finds she's right back where she belongs. 

What are you reading this #ThrillerThursday? Share your picks with us @MacmillanLib

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Holiday Cheer!

Holiday Cheer!

Christmas is only one week away! Why not take some "me" time and curl up with a mug of hot cocoa and one of these Christmas books:

THE DOGS OF CHRISTMAS by W. Bruce Cameron
OY THAT FACE!!
We may prefer felines over here, but just try to resist those sweet puppy-dog eyes!
The story is a sweet one too: a guy falls for a gal at the animal shelter AND the litter of Christmas puppies he's fostering. Awwwwww! And as our brilliant friend Annie Mazes from HarperCollins’ Library Lovefest says: totes adorbs!! 

ON STRIKE FOR CHRISTMAS by Sheila Roberts
Joy and Laura and the rest of their knitting group decide to go on a Christmas strike-no wrapping, shopping, cooking, or decorating for them! But as Christmas Day approaches, the ladies and their husbands confront larger issues in their marriages and discover that a little holiday magic is exactly what they need to come together. 

CHRISTMAS BLISS by Mary Kay Andrews
Savannah antique dealer Weezie Foley is doubly distracted by her upcoming Christmas wedding to her longtime love, chef Daniel Stipanek and by the fact that her best friend and maid-of-honor BeBe Loudermilk is due to give birth any day—and is still adamantly refusing to marry her live-in-love Harry. 

CHRISTMAS KEEPSAKES by Donna VanLiere
This collection of two bestselling books in one includes THE CHRISTMAS SHOES and THE CHRISTMAS BLESSING. Young Nathan Andrews lost his mother to cancer as a child, and dreams of being a doctor. Later, as a medical student in his third year, Nathan continues to learn lessons about faith, blessings, and sacrifice.

If you've still got shopping to do, check out our gift ideas!

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We Love the Ava Lee Mysteries

We Love the Ava Lee Mysteries

Today we’re thrilled to share with you Ian Hamilton’s mystery series starring Ava Lee, a forensic accountant who also happens to be a deadly martial artist with a taste for luxury and a mind like a steel trap. Yeah girl! 

Ava made her debut in THE DISCIPLE OF LAS VEGAS which Booklist called, "Slick, fast-moving escapism reminiscent of Ian Fleming, with more to come in what shapes up as a high-energy, high-concept series.” DISCIPLE was followed by another globetrotting follow-the-money adventure, THE WILD BEASTS OF WUHAN.

Now, Ava must rescue her family from gangsters and bankruptcy in the third book in the series, THE RED POLE OF MACAU (available Dec. 31), which is getting terrific reviews:

"Hamilton delivers a fantastic read once again. Recommended for mystery and crime thriller fans." Library Journal, starred review

"Asian locales and action increasing to a deadly climax add to the appeal...in Hamilton’s surefire series." – Booklist 

"Hamilton delivers colorful snapshots of Hong Kong and Macau, a well-paced plot, and a smart and capable heroine who’ll make you see accounting in a whole new light." – Kirkus Reviews

Can't get enough of Ava Lee? The fourth book in the series, THE WATER RAT OF WANCHAI is coming in May 2014, but the e-galley is available now. Get whitelisted and download your copy. [...]

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Best Books of 2013!

Best Books of 2013!

We've had an amazing year in books and are thrilled to be represented on so many Best of 2013 lists. Here's a look at the highlights:
BOOKLIST

Arts & Literature
     IN THE BODY OF THE WORLD by Eve Ensler

Biography
     JACK LONDON by Earle Labor

Health & Medicine
     IN THE KINGDOM OF THE SICK by Laurie Edwards

History
     THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE by David Finkel 

Social Sciences
     EBONY AND IVY by Craig Steven Wilder
     GOSPEL OF FREEDOM by Jonathan Rieder
     HOPE AGAINST HOPE by Sarah Carr
     IN THE NAME OF GOD by Cameron Stauth
     THE UNWINDING by George Packer

Adult Books for Young Adults
  
     A CHANCE TO WIN by Jonathan Schuppe
     THE GAMAL by Ciarán Collins

Books for Youth 
     ELEANOR & PARK by Rainbow Rowell
     IF YOU FIND ME by Emily Murdoch

Audio for Adults
 
     HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN by Louise Penny

 

KIRKUS REVIEWS 

Best Fiction
     LOOKAWAY, LOOKAWAY by Wilton Barnhardt
     BOX OFFICE POISON by Phillipa Bornikova
     GHOSTS OF BUNGO SUIDO by P.T. Deutermann
     MIDNIGHT by Kevin Egan
     JEEVES AND THE WEDDING BELLS by Sebastian Faulks
     HAVISHAM by Ronald Frame
     TRANSCENDENTAL by James Gunn
     GOOD PEOPLE by Ewart Hutton
     SOMEONE by Alice McDermott  
     THE NIGHT GUEST by Fiona McFarlane
     SOMETHING MORE THAN NIGHT by Ian Tregillis
     THE LAND ACROSS by Gene Wolfe
     QUEEN VICTORIA’S BOOK OF SPELLS by Ellen Datlow 

Best Teen 
     ELEANOR & PARK by Rainbow Rowell 

Best Nonfiction  
     THE GUNS AT LAST LIGHT by Rick Atkinson
     REPORT FROM THE INTERIOR by Paul Auster
     SHOUTING WON'T HELP by Katherine Bouton
     MORTAL SINS by Michael D'Antonio
     THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE by David Finkel
     THE SEARCHERS by Glenn Frankel
     THE GREAT DISSENT by Thomas Healy
     THE BOOK OF MY LIVES by Aleksandar Hemon
     THE BROTHERS by Stephen Kinzer
     A FORT OF NINE TOWERS by Qais Akbar Omar
     THE UNWINDING by George Packer
     MEN WE REAPED by Jesmyn Ward
     EBONY AND IVY by Craig Steven Wilder

 

LIBRARY JOURNAL

Top 10 Best Books of 2013   
     THE SEARCHERS by Glenn Frankel 

More of the Best 
     JACK LONDON by Earle Labor
     OWNING THE EARTH by Andro Linklater

Best Books 2013: Memoir 
     HER by Christa Parravani

Best Books 2013: Consumer Health 
     MIDLIFE EATING DISORDERS by Cynthia M. Bulik 

Best Books 2013: Sci-Tech  
     BUG MUSIC by David Rothenberg

Best Books 2013: Audio  
     LOOKAWAY, LOOKAWAY by Wilton Barnhardt
     HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN by Louise Penny

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Top 10 Best Books of 2013  
     MEN WE REAPED by Jesmyn Ward  

Best Fiction  
     PERCIVAL EVERETT BY VIRGINIA RUSSELL by Virgil Russell
     SOMEONE by Alice McDermott

Best Mystery  
     HOUR OF THE RED GOD by Richard Crompton
     HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN by Louise Penny
     ENIGMA OF CHINA by Qiu Xiaolong

Best Poetry  
     METAPHYSICAL DOG by Frank Bidart
     INCARNADINE by Mary Szybist

Best SF/Fantasy/Horror  
     TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY SCIENCE FICTION, edited by David G. Hartwell and Patrick Nielsen Hayden
     VICIOUS by V.E. Schwab

Best Comics
     THE PROPERTY by Rutu Modan

Best Nonfiction  
     MEN WE REAPED by Jesmyn Ward
     MORTAL SINS by Michael D'Antonio
     THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE by David Finkel
     FORTY-ONE FALSE STARTS by Janet Malcolm
     SCARCITY by Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir
     THE UNWINDING by George Packer

Best Children's Fiction  
     ELEANOR & PARK by Rainbow Rowell

Best Religion  
     MY BRIGHT ABYSS by Christian Wiman


SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL  

Best Fiction
     ELEANOR & PARK by Rainbow Rowell
     FANGIRL by Rainbow Rowell

LibraryReads logoAnd here are all of our LibraryReads’ selections from 2013:

September list 
     #1: FANGIRL by Rainbow Rowell
     #2: HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN by Louise Penny

November list
     #2: THROUGH THE EVIL DAYS by Julia Spencer-Fleming
     #8: THE RAVEN'S EYE by Barry Maitland

December list 
     #7: DANGEROUS WOMEN, edited by George R.R. Martin & Gardner Dozois
     #9: THE TRIP TO ECHO SPRING by Olivia Laing

While it's not technically a "Best of 2013" list, NPR's Book Concierge is definitely a collection of favorites throughout the year. 

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Maximum Shelf: RADIANCE OF TOMORROW

Maximum Shelf: RADIANCE OF TOMORROW

Max Shelf - Radiance of Tomorrow

"How do you try to shape a future if you have a past that's still pulling at you?"

 

Radiance of Tomorrow jacketThis is the question at the heart of RADIANCE OF TOMORROW, a powerful novel about a village trying to reclaim peace after war from Ishmael Beah, author of A LONG WAY GONE: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

We're very excited about this book, which was recently named a January Indie Next pick, and is this week's Maximum Shelf Awareness feature. 

"What begins as a story of survivors returning to what used to be home and attempting to reconstruct the rhythms of normal life takes several surprising turns as Beah carefully unfolds his elegant and layered narrative." — Shelf Awareness

See the full summary, review and interview with Ishmael Beah on Shelf-Awareness.com

Edelweiss buttonGet whitelisted and download your e-galley on Edelweiss. Then meet Beah at ALA Midwinter 2014 in Philadelphia!

 

Praise for RADIANCE OF TOMORROW:

"Beah, who broke our hearts with the haunting memoir of his life as a boy soldier, will render readers speechless with the radiance of his storytelling in this novel of grace, forgiveness, and a vision of a tomorrow without conflict." Library Journal, starred review

“UNICEF Ambassador Beah writes lyrically and passionately about ugly realities as well as about the beauty and dignity of traditional ways.” Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“In RADIANCE OF TOMORROW, Beah has produced a formidable and memorable novel—a story of resilience and survival, and, ultimately, rebirth.” Publishers Weekly, review by Edwidge Danticat

“The power of the story is in the close-up, heartbreaking detail of the struggle for survival, the cruelty, and also the kindness.” Booklist

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Sleeper Hit: THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF NATHANIEL P.

Sleeper Hit: THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF NATHANIEL P.

As 2013 draws to a close, the annual "Best Of" lists are coming out (more on that next week), and we were struck by how many times we saw THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF NATHANIEL P. by Adelle Waldman, a debut novel about a rising literary star and his search for happiness.  

Five months after going on sale, this summer sleeper continues to find new fans (hello Jonathan Franzen!), and has made the following lists:

**Economist Best Books of 2013

**Washington Post’s Notable Fiction of 2013

**Bookpage Best of 2013 Editors’ Picks

**Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Holiday Books 2013

**NPR’s Guide to 2013’s Great Reads
“Of all the novels I've reviewed in 2013, this is the one that everyone — from my middle-aged friends to my hip graduate student TAs — wants to borrow.” — Maureen Corrigan, NPR

**A Guardian Best Book of 2013 (selected by Blake Morrison)

“Adelle Waldman’s first novel THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF NATHANIEL P. is memorable for its Austen-like wit, humour, social astuteness and scarily accurate insights into men.” — Blake Morrison

**An Irish Times Best Book of 2013 (selected by Maggie O’Farrell)

“THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF NATHANIEL P.…has the same verve and poise as another New York debut novel, BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY.”— Maggie O’Farrell

“An interesting thing I did lately was read Adelle Waldman’s first novel. I think she’s a writer to watch. It’s a more deeply clever book than you might think as you start reading it.” — Jonathan Franzen, on WNYC.ORG 

Additional accolades include:
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Three stars for STRANGE BODIES

Three stars for STRANGE BODIES

Whatever this is, it started when Nicholas Slopen came back from the dead.

Today's #FridayReads is STRANGE BODIES by the National Book Award finalist Marcel Theroux, a weird and wonderful novel that poses questions about identity, authenticity, and what it means to be truly human. It's received three starred pre-publication reviews: 

“A strange, satisfying novel about possession featuring a literary scholar, a music mogul, assorted East European thugs, and the long dead but still articulate Dr. Samuel Johnson... A thought-provoking and engaging fusion of comedy and horror.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Truly enthralling... An intense and nuanced examination of the plight of being... Philip K. Dick’s THE TRANSMIGRATION OF TIMOTHY ARCHER meets Stephanie Meyer’s THE HOST in this very highly recommended work.” — Library Journal, starred review

A labyrinthine exploration of identity and mortality, filled with big ideas....” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Get whitelisted and download your review copy. Let us know what you're reading @MacmillanLib for #FridayReads. And if you haven't been sharing your top 10 favorite books of 2013 via the #libfaves13 hashtag, there's still time! (running now through Dec. 10)

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Thriller Thursday (12/5/13 Edition)

Thriller Thursday (12/5/13 Edition)

Everyone's in holiday mode, but murder and mayhem never rest! 

Here are some of our recent #ThrillerThursday favorites to add to your reading wish list:

GOING DARK by James W. Hall
Thorn’s newly discovered son, Flynn, has naively fallen in with a group of extreme environmental activists who want to shut down a nuclear plant. When Thorn learns that some of the activists have far more violent intentions, he must intervene to try to save his son's life.
"Hall shifts among the skillfully drawn characters, each uncertain of which ends justify extreme means, as the action races toward a literally explosive climax at the nuclear plant. The result is both thoughtful and white-knuckle tense." Publishers Weekly, starred review

SHOOT THE WOMAN FIRST by Wallace Stroby
In the third book in the Crissa Stone series, the professional thief has stolen a drug lord's money and is on a mission to deliver part of the take to the needy family of one of her slain partners. Hot on Crissa's heels are the drug kingpin’s lethal lieutenants and a former Detroit cop with his own deadly agenda.
"Crissa Stone is emerging as one of the more compelling female criminals in mystery fiction. Stroby nails this taut, gripping contest between well-matched opponents." Publishers Weekly, starred review

THE SPOOK LIGHTS AFFAIR by Marcia Muller & Bill Pronzini
MWA Grand Masters Muller and Pronzini return to San Francisco in 1865 with new cases for John Concannon and Sabina Carpenter. Sabina investigates a disappearance of a debutante one foggy night, while John looks for the robber who stole $35,000 from Wells Fargo.
"Historical mystery readers will enjoy this well-researched story from a pair of always reliable genre veterans." Booklist

ONCE UPON A LIE by Maggie Barbieri
In a dramatic departure from her Murder 101 series, Maggie Barbieri has written a gripping novel about one burnt out mother's desperate determination to protect her family's future by facing down her past. What starts out as a standard suburban mystery evolves into an unexpectedly riveting tale of ordinary cruelty and complicated heroism.
"...Barbieri skillfully avoids tipping her hand until the last possible moment, leaving readers both breathless and unnerved by the novel’s conclusion." Publishers Weekly, starred & boxed review

What are you reading this #ThrillerThursday? Share your picks with us @MacmillanLib. And don't forget to share your #libfaves13 (especially if they're mysteries)!

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