Happy #BookBday (3/4/14 Edition)

Happy #BookBday (3/4/14 Edition)

Oh what a lovely day for a #BookBday! Today we're celebrating:

SHOTGUN LOVESONGS by Nickolas Butler
Butler's debut novel about the relationship between four friends in a small Midwest town is the #1 March Indie Next pick, and is receiving rave reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, Shelf Awareness, and more. Don't miss the chance to meet him at PLA next week!

NOTES FROM THE INTERNET APOCALYPSE by Wayne Gladstone
Perfect for fans of David Wong, Chad Kultgen, and Chuck Palahniuk, Cracked.com columnist Wayne Gladstone’s novel about what happens when the world suddenly loses all Internet access is a hilarious look at life unplugged. “...the punchlines are pitch-perfect. Anyone who spends time sharing jokes in web communities will find this satire irresistible.” — Booklist

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR by Jeffrey Archer
The fourth volume in Jeffrey Archer's New York Times bestselling Clifton Chronicles series opens with Harry Clifton and his wife Emma rushing to learn the fate of their son Sebastian, who has been in a fatal car accident. But who died, Sebastian or his best friend? “Archer’s...tight plotting make for a page-turning rich man’s soap opera. Lightweight, entertaining beach reading.” — Kirkus Reviews

WORDS OF RADIANCE by Brandon Sanderson
“Sanderson’s skill at world building is unmatched, and in the 'Stormlight Archive' series he has developed an innovative magical system and combined it with rich, complex characters to create a compelling story. His eagerly awaited sequel to THE WAY OF KINGS exceeds expectations. This developing epic series is a must-read for all fantasy fans.” – Library Journal, starred review

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Happy #BookBday (2/25/14 Edition)

Happy #BookBday (2/25/14 Edition)

Bitter Eden jacketMy Name is Resolute jacketHeadmaster's Wife jacketBirthday KittyJust like our furry friend says, today we wish a happy #BookBday to:

BITTER EDEN by Tatamkhulu Afrika
Based on the author’s own capture in North Africa and his experiences as a prisoner-of-war in World War II in Italy and Germany, this frank and beautifully wrought novel deals with three men who must negotiate the emotions that are brought to the surface by the physical closeness of survival in the male-only camps. “BITTER EDEN is a beautifully crafted, absorbing read, a careful examination of human relationships, and a rare glimpse into the complexities of life in wartime.” — Booklist

MY NAME IS RESOLUTE by Nancy Turner
A sweeping historical set in Revolutionary War-era New England, young Resolute Talbot is sold into slavery and taught spinning and weaving–skills that place her at the secret heart of the growing rebellion against England. "Every page of Turner's engrossing and fascinating work is better than the last. Not only historical fiction fans will love this beautifully written and compelling novel." — Library Journal  

THE HEADMASTER'S WIFE by Thomas Christopher Greene
Inspired by a personal loss, this is a beautifully written, haunting and deeply affecting portrait of one couple at their best and worst. "This is a riveting psychological novel about loss and the terrible mistakes and compromises one can make in love and marriage. Essential for fans of literary fiction." — Library Journal, starred review

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Happy #BookBday (2/11/14 Edition)

Happy #BookBday (2/11/14 Edition)

Hip hip hooray, it's time for another #BookBday! Today we celebrate:

QUESADILLAS by Juan Pablo Villalobos
Mexican novelist Villalobos's darkly comic story about a poor Mexican family in which two teenage brothers set off to find their missing twin siblings–who were potentially abducted by aliens–is "a riotous tall tale” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) and "frequently laugh-out-loud funny." (Shelf Awareness)

GIRL ON THE GOLDEN COIN by Marci Jefferson
This solid debut novel about the beautiful and captivating Royalist exile Frances Stuart, who must walk a fine line between pleasing kings and protecting her family's secret is perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory. "Jefferson's intoxicating first novel superbly draws readers into the mischief and maneuverings, loyalties and treacheries, and lust and hostility of powerful 17th century kings and scheming court sycophants." – Publishers Weekly, starred review

ACT ONE by Moss Hart
Moss Hart’s ACT ONE is not only one of the most celebrated American theater books of the twentieth century, according to legendary actress Julie Andrews it's also “The ultimate Broadway memoir by the master who raised the bar for us all.” The book is coming out just in time for Lincoln Centre Theatre's stage adaptation of “Act One,” written by Tony and Pulitzer-Prize Winning writer/director James Lapine. 

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#BookBday Bonus: ANNIHILATION

#BookBday Bonus: ANNIHILATION

If J.J. Abrams, Margaret Atwood, and Alan Weisman collaborated on a novel...it might be this awesome! 

Ok, we know we just did a bunch of Book Birthdays, but this one is extra special: Jeff VanderMeer's ANNIHILATION, the first book in the Southern Reach trilogy.

With more buzz than a hornet's nest, this futuristic supernatural thriller has three fabulous starred reviews and is on several 2014 Most-Anticipated lists, including io9, SF Signal, Vulture, The Onion's A.V. ClubB&N.com, and Omnivoracious!

Praise for ANNIHILATION: 

“After their high-risk expedition disintegrates, it’s every scientist for herself in this wonderfully creepy blend of horror and science fiction.... Speculative fiction at its most transfixing.” Kirkus Reviews, starred review

A gripping fantasy thriller, ANNIHILATION is thoroughly suspenseful. In a manner similar to H. G. Wells’ in THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU (1896), VanderMeer weaves together an otherworldly tale of the supernatural and the half-human. Delightfully, this page-turner is the first in a trilogy.” Booklist, starred review

“Using evocative descriptions of the biologist's outer and inner worlds, masterful psychological insight, and intellectual observations both profound and disturbing—calling Lovecraft to mind and Borges—VanderMeer unfolds a tale as satisfying as it is richly imagined.” Publishers Weekly, starred review

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Happy #BookBday (2/4/14 Edition)

Happy #BookBday (2/4/14 Edition)

What a lovely day for a Book Birthday! Today we wish Happy #BookBday to:

THE BOOK OF JONAH by Joshua Max Feldman
Feldman puts a modern spin on his retelling of the ancient tale, whisking his Jonah–a successful Manhattan lawyer–around the globe from Las Vegas to Amsterdam. "Feldman is clever in his use of the Jonah story, and his novel is of the same strange and enigmatic quality as the original." – Kirkus Reviews

MARSHLANDS by Matthew Olshan
In his first novel for adults, Olshan reveals the story of a prisoner who was formerly a doctor in a culture virtually snuffed out under Saddam Hussein. "Although it is easy and appropriate to take this novel as stark commentary on U.S. involvement in Iraq, its most powerful moments explore a much deeper and more abstract ambivalence about tribalism and its allure." – Booklist, starred review

STRANGE BODIES by Marcel Theroux
Theroux's weird and wonderful novel that poses questions about identity, authenticity, and what it means to be truly human has three starred pre-publication reviews, such as this one from Library Journal: “Truly enthralling... Philip K. Dick’s THE TRANSMIGRATION OF TIMOTHY ARCHER meets Stephanie Meyer’s THE HOST in this very highly recommended work.” 

THE WILY O'REILLY by Patrick Taylor
Taylor tells the origin story of Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly through warm and wryly amusing vignettes as the good doctor tends to the colourful and eccentric residents of Ballybucklebo. "Readers unfamiliar with the good doctor’s personal antics and medical adventures will be delighted to make his acquaintance, and old friends will settle in for a comfortable visit." – Booklist

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Happy Belated #BookBday (1/28/14 Edition)

Happy Belated #BookBday (1/28/14 Edition)

D'oh! We forgot to wish our new books a happy #BookBday on Tuesday! We'll keep the party going with belated best wishes for...

THE LAST ENCHANTMENTS by Charles Finch
Finch's coming-of-age tale about a Yale graduate is getting lots of attention, from People Magazine to USA Today. "In prose that glides effortlessly from scene to scene, Finch captures the fleeting time in people’s lives when their every decision, from career to lover, seems freighted with eternal consequence. Highly recommended for all collections." – Library Journal, starred review

THE QUEEN'S DWARF by Ella March Chase
In this richly imagined novel set in the Stuart court, our unique hero Jeffrey Hudson–who happens to be a dwarf–is tasked with spying on the beautiful but vulnerable queen. "Rich in detail and brimming with intriguing characters, Chase’s novel will please fans of historical fiction..." – Kirkus Reviews

A DARKLING SEA by James Cambias
This debut science fiction novel about alien races has three remarkable starred reviews, such as this one from Kirkus: “An exceptionally thoughtful, searching and intriguing debut.” 

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Happy #BookBday (1/14/14 Edition)

Happy #BookBday (1/14/14 Edition)

It's time to celebrate another batch of book birthdays! Today we wish a very happy #BookBday to:

THE BALLAD OF BARNABAS PIERKIEL by Magdalena Zyzak
Set in the quaint (though admittedly backward) fictional nation of Scalvusia in 1939, Zyzak's "wild ride" (Library Journal) of a debut novel follows the misadventures of a young swineherd, Barnabas, and his short-legged steed, Wilhelm, as they try to woo a voluptuous Gypsy concubine. After the mysterious death of an important figure in the community, a witch-hunt ensues, and the tide starts to turn in Barnabas's beloved hometown. 

THE RISE OF THE TUDORS: The Family That Changed English History by Chris Skidmore
With all the relentless deceit, betrayal, treason and bloodshed in a season of "Game of Thrones," British historian Skidmore unfurls the epic story of the Tudor family. "An engrossing, probably definitive background to one of the most powerful dynasties in British history." – Kirkus Reviews

LOST LAKE by Sarah Addison Allen
We know we're a week early, but we can't resist wishing this LibraryReads pick a happy birthday! “Allen’s trademark magic is woven throughout the story and can be found in the lake, the town, and the people, but at its heart, this story is about finding home—something we can all relate to.” – Ally Watkins, Central MS Regional Library System, Pearl MS

Now can we all have some cake, please?
cat eating cake
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Happy #BookBday (1/7/14 Edition)

Happy #BookBday (1/7/14 Edition)

It's our first #BookBday of the new year! We couldn't be more proud of these new releases:

RADIANCE OF TOMORROW by Ishmael Beah
This lyrical, haunting novel about a village trying to reclaim peace after war is a January Indie Next pick and is getting tons of media attention from the Washington Post, the New York Times Book Review, USA Today, TIME magazine, People magazine, NPR's "Morning Edition," "The Colbert Report," Shelf Awareness, and much more. Don't miss your chance to hear Beah speak at ALA Midwinter 2014 in Philadelphia!

THE EXILES RETURN by Elisabeth de Waal
Set in the ashes of post-World War II Vienna, de Waal's stunning novel follows a number of exiles, each coming to terms with a city in painful recovery. "De Waal’s acid, eyewitness drama of malignant prejudice, innocence betrayed, the disintegration of the old order, and love transcendent has the same jolting immediacy as the novels of Iréne Némorisky as well as deeply archetypal dimensions. Another de Waal triumph of illumination." – Booklist

BEFORE I BURN by Gaute Heivoll
Heivoll's "thrilling and poetic novel" (Booklist, starred review) that "reads like a top-tier crime story" (Publishers Weekly, starred and boxed review) was inspired by a real-life arson spree that deeply affected him as he grew up in Norway. You'll see another rave review in the January issue of Harper's magazine, with more attention to come from the New York Times Book Review, the Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe, the Chicago Tribune, the L.A. Times, and NPR's "Weekend All Things Considered."

DREAMS OF THE GOLDEN AGE by Carrie Vaughn
In this "worthy, rich and thoughtful sequel" (Booklist) to AFTER THE GOLDEN AGE, Celia West is now a mother and a powerful businesswoman who works hard to keep her city and her daughters Anna and Bethy safe. Meanwhile Anna and her friends are practicing to become a team of vigilante superheroes–something that comes to good use when Celia discovers a new archvillain, the Executive.

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Book Birthday Treats – FREE Recipes!

Book Birthday Treats – FREE Recipes!

truffle collage

Each Tuesday, we love to wish our books a very happy #BookBday. Today is extra special because we've got the treats to back it up! Anne is entering a baking competition at work next week and decided to do a test run of her Halloween desserts: Pumpkin Granola Truffles and Halloweeny Boo Bites. We hope you'll enjoy them too–they're very easy to make and you don't even have to turn on your oven! Read on for recipes with pictures!
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Happy #BookBday (10/8/13 Edition)

Happy #BookBday (10/8/13 Edition)

After several months of labor, we're proud to announce the birth of these fine books on today's #BookBday

 

MR. LYNCH'S HOLIDAY by Catherine O'Flynn
Catherine O’Flynn’s debut novel WHAT WAS LOST received a Costa First Book Award and was long-listed for the Booker Prize and the Orange Prize. In MR. LYNCH’S HOLIDAY, O’Flynn creates a moving and memorable portrait of reconciliation between a father and son. "Like her characters, O’Flynn has an eye for the beauty to be found amid squalor and chaos." –Publishers Weekly

JACOB'S OATH by Martin Fletcher
A Holocaust survivor must choose between keeping the woman he loves and seeking revenge against the camp guard who beat his younger brother to death in this "expressive...story of love and hatred, revenge and recovery." (Kirkus Reviews) "Fletcher has crafted a moving love story, a vivid portrait of a devastated and chaotic Germany immediately after the war’s end, and a remarkably insightful look into the minds of two survivors of the Holocaust. Fletcher’s style is spare and graceful, and it enhances the power of this small gem of a novel." –Booklist

TUDORS: The History of England from Henry VIII to Elizabeth I by Peter Ackroyd
The Tudor era was pivotal in English history and is still of great interest to many (just think of the dashing Jonathan Rhys Meyers in the TV show "The Tudors"). Ackroylishers Weekly) and rich in detail thanks to interesting anecdotes about key players.

FEAR OF FLYING by Erica Jong (the 40th Anniversary reissue edition with an introduction by Jennifer Weiner)
Originally published in 1973, Jong's internationally bestselling story of Isadora Wing launched a new way of thinking about gender, sexuality, and liberty in our society. This reissue edition comes of this seminal work comes just in time for the 40th anniversary, complete with a new introduction by New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner.

 Kitty cupcake [...]

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