Tag: starred review

Subway Success Story: THE RACE UNDERGROUND

Subway Success Story: THE RACE UNDERGROUND

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Anne Spieth
“The blizzard of 1888 was the trigger that cities needed to finally acknowledge that the horse-pulled carriages, the steam-powered elevated trains, the cable-pulled trolleys and even the electrified street railways all suffered from the same flaw that could no longer be ignored. They were at the mercy of the skies.”
– THE RACE UNDERGROUND

 


Forget Chris Christie's bridge saga–we've got an even better true life story about a rivalry between cities and brothers that resulted in an invention that changed the lives of millions: THE RACE UNDERGROUND by Doug Most.

When the great blizzard of 1888 brought New York City to a halt, citizens realized a new transportation solution had to be found. Enter two brothers–Henry Melville Whitney of Boston and William Collins Whitney of New York City. Each man shared the same dream: that their city would be the first to have a subway system. And with that, the great race was on!

This riveting story is a Junior Library Guild selection, making it a great choice for younger readers interested in transportation history. It's also a great recommendation for adult readers who enjoy Erik Larson and David McCullough.

“Mr. Most weaves together the egos, political hurdles and other daunting challenges…in a sweeping narrative of late-19th-century intrigue.” – Sam Roberts, The New York Times

"An almost flawlessly conducted tour back to a time when major American cities dreamed big." – Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"...A remarkably well-told story filled with villains, heroes, and events of the Gilded Age...." – Library Journal

"[Most] delivers a fun and enjoyable read about a vital, transformative period.” – Publishers Weekly

“This book proves again that American history is a treasure trove of great stories, this one filled with drama, sacrifice, loss and unimaginable success.” — Ken Burns, filmmaker, creator of the PBS series "The Civil War"

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

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

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Anne Spieth
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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Maximum Shelf: SHOTGUN LOVESONGS

Maximum Shelf: SHOTGUN LOVESONGS

Posted on January 29, 2014 by Anne Spieth

Max Shelf Shotgun Lovesongs

"I had a desire to write about Wisconsin, about place, friendship, love." — Nickolas Butler

 

Shotgun Lovesongs jacketWe're enamored with SHOTGUN LOVESONGS, Nickolas Butler's debut novel about the relationship between four friends living in a small Midwest town. Other are too: it was selected by the ABA for the Spring 2014 Indies Introduce program and is this week's Maximum Shelf Awareness feature.

Hank, Leland, Kip and Ronny were all born and raised in the small town of Little Wing, Wisconsin and are now coming into their own (or not) as husbands and fathers. One stayed while others left to make good, with varying degrees of success. Seamlessly woven into their patchwork is Beth, whose presence among them—both then and now—fuels the kind of passion one comes to expect of love songs and rivalries. Now all four have returned to Little Wing in hopes of finding their place in the world. SHOTGUN LOVESONGS explores the age-old question of whether or not you can ever truly come home again and the kind of steely faith and love returning requires. 

"Butler's story of five 30-somethings seeking to make sense of how their future relates to their beginnings may focus on small town living, but it will resonate with anyone who ever struggled to reconcile dreams with financial security, true love with real life, and unwelcome changes with changes that never seem to come." — Shelf Awareness

See the full summary, review and interview with Nickolas Butler on Shelf-Awareness.com.

download review copy buttonGet whitelisted and download your e-galley on Edelweiss. Or listen to a clip of the audiobook.
Then meet Butler at PLA 2014 in Indianapolis!


Praise for SHOTGUN LOVESONGS:

"A debut novel that delves so deeply into the small-town heartland... [SHOTGUN LOVESONGS] will strike a responsive chord in any reader who has found his life reflected in a Bob Seger song." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review  

“The hearty Midwest, which thrums and beats through tiny Little Wing, Wisconsin—an Anytown, USA, if there ever was one—assumes the whole soul of Butler’s fetching debut… Readers can feel the winter cold on the other side of the neon sign and hear the peanut shells crunching underfoot.” — Booklist 

"Butler uses multiple narrators to tell the story of a group of friends, born and raised in Little Wing, Wis....  Their voices and their memories create a rich, overlapping narrative that is, at bottom, a love letter to the Midwest and its small, mostly forgotten towns." — Publishers Weekly 

"...this is a warm and absorbing depiction of male friendship. Lee and Hank's compassion toward Ronny is particularly touching, and Beth, the sole female narrator, is as nuanced and believable a character as her male counterparts. With the author's connection to indie musician Bon Iver and a movie deal already in the works, expect interest and demand."  — Library Journal

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ALA Midwinter 2014 – Friday events

ALA Midwinter 2014 – Friday events

Posted on January 24, 2014 by Anne Spieth

ALA Midwinter headerIt's finally here! Today ALA Midwinter 2014 opens and we're excited to see all of your happy, shining faces in booth #622 and at all of our exciting events (all are free unless otherwise noted).

Here's your daily digest for Friday, January 24:
Why I Read jacketIn-booth signing by Wendy Lesser, author of WHY I READ: The Serious Pleasure of Books

Friday, January 24th
5:30-7:00pm
Philadelphia Convention Center | Booth #622

Meet the founder of the Threepenny Review and have your complimentary copy of WHY I READ: The Serious Pleasure of Books signed. 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. 

See you soon!

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For Your Consideration: March LibraryReads titles

For Your Consideration: March LibraryReads titles

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Anne Spieth

Happy Monday to our dear librarian pals,

We’d like to remind y’all that the February 1 deadline to nominate March 2014 publications for the next LibraryReads list is just around the corner! 

Get thee to edelweiss! Download a DRC, read it, love it and nominate it! REPEAT!   

THE CAIRO AFFAIR by Olen Steinhauer

International politics are at play as an Egyptian agent, an American analyst, a CIA agent, and a bereaved wife all converge on Cairo to find out why a diplomat was assassinated. 

"THE CAIRO AFFAIR is an elegant, elaborate clockwork of mystery and deception that should draw readers in and keep them on tenterhooks as they try to figure out what is really making it all tick." — Publishers Weekly, boxed signature review  

"It has become de rigeur to compare Steinhauer to le Carré, but it’s nearly time to pass the torch: for the next generation, it’s Steinhauer who will become the standard by which others are measured." — Booklist, starred review

DRC button - Cairo Affair

SHOTGUN LOVESONGS by Nickolas Butler

Butler's debut novel about the relationship between four friends in a small Midwest town was selected by the ABA for the Spring 2014 Indies Introduce program.

"The hearty Midwest, which thrums and beats through tiny Little Wing, Wisconsin-an Anytown, USA, if there ever was one-assumes the whole soul of Butler's fetching debut. Readers can feel the winter cold on the other side of the neon sign and hear the peanut shells crunching underfoot." — Booklist 

DRC button - Shotgun Lovesongs

TEMPTING FATE by Jane Green

From the New York Times bestselling author of ANOTHER PIECE OF MY HEART comes a riveting new novel about the events leading up to one woman's affair—and its aftermath.

"A SCARLET LETTER for the 21st century." — Kirkus Reviews

DRC button - Tempting Fate

PRECIOUS THING by Colette McBeth

"Debut author McBeth’s GONE GIRL-style psychological thriller will be a widespread hit for fans of dark drama with questionable narrators, including S. J. Watson’s BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP (2011), Sabine Durrant’s UNDER YOUR SKIN (2013), and Karen Perry’s THE INNOCENT SLEEP (2013)." — Booklist, starred review

DRC button - Precious Thing

I REMEMBER YOU by Yrsa Sigurdardottir

"In a departure from her series featuring lawyer Thora Gudmundsdottir, Iceland’s queen of suspense combines modern crime detection with mysticism to chilling effect. Nordic mystery writers can raise goosebumps as few others can, and Sigurdardottir shows she’s one of the best." — Booklist, starred review

Let’s not forget the buzz that’s been building for this gem. 

DRC - I Remember You

THE HAVEN by Carol Lynch Williams

For the teens at The Haven, the world beyond the towering stone wall that surrounds the premises is a dangerous unknown and always has been since the hospital was established in the year 2020. It was built to help control the Disease that claims limbs and lungs-and memories-but what if it's not the safe place it claims to be? Award-winning YA novelist Williams' new novel is "Deliciously enigmatic." — Kirkus Reviews

DRC - The Haven

PROVIDENCE RAG by Bruce DeSilva

“Edgar-winner DeSilva melds moral dilemmas with a suspenseful plot in his third novel featuring Providence, R.I.–based reporter Liam Mulligan, his best yet.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review

Go beyond the book and read this Publishers Weekly interview with DeSilva.

DRC - Providence Rag

 

For more March 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

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Anne Spieth
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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Three stars for THE TASTEMAKER

Three stars for THE TASTEMAKER

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Anne Spieth
TGIF, friends! Our first #FridayReads of the year is THE TASTEMAKER: Carl Van Vechten and the Birth of Modern America by Edward White.

New York City in the early twentieth century was a hotbed of vice and creativity, and the critic, novelist, and photographer Carl Van Vechten was at the center of it all. This juicy biography has already racked up an impressive three starred pre-publication reviews:

“In his immensely entertaining and vivid first book, White tackles the life and times of Carl Van Vechten, one of the most influential figures in American culture in the early 20th century. White’s biography offers absorbing anecdotes and insights into New York society and culture as seen through the life of an ‘archetypal American modernist.’” — Publishers Weekly, starred review

“In orderly chapters, White tackles this complicated, multifaceted, tremendously fascinating and contradictory subject: a married gay man, an alcoholic and always a ‘catalyst for outrage and argument.’ A vigorous, fully fleshed biography of an important contributor to American culture.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“White’s engaging biography adeptly depicts America as a burgeoning cultural powerhouse, one that Van Vechten helped build. A marvelously written, masterful portrait of an exceptionally complex person.” — Booklist, starred review

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Maximum Shelf: RADIANCE OF TOMORROW

Maximum Shelf: RADIANCE OF TOMORROW

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Anne Spieth
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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Thriller Thursday (12/5/13 Edition)

Thriller Thursday (12/5/13 Edition)

Posted on December 5, 2013 by Anne Spieth
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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