DC Public Library discussion

This is where we'll post news about books and reading that we think might interest the group.

Pulitzer Prize winner and self-proclaimed geek Junot Diaz has another one in English coming out. I'm just now reading an excerpt of his upcoming This Is How You Lose Her and trying desperately to get an e-galley. What I've seen doesn't disappoint. His pen is dipped in ink and humor and the narrative is "hip" and filled with his trademark first person rationalization. This novel is about stupid mistakes in relationships and how easy it is to slip and lose what you aren't aware of until it is gone (if not gone forever). Just a heads up; it is due out in September.

Jo wrote: "Pulitzer Prize winner and self-proclaimed geek Junot Diaz has another one in English coming out. I'm just now reading an excerpt of his upcoming This Is How You Lose Her and trying desperately to ..."

Thanks for letting us know! Our library's book club loved his novel, and I've been meaning to read his short story collection for years (maybe in July with this group...)

"Even though protean and wizardly Chabon has written an array of stellar books since The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (2000), it has reigned supreme as his magnum opus. Until, perhaps, the advent of this even more magnificently crafted, exuberantly alive, emotionally lustrous, and socially intricate saga."

High praise from Booklist's review of Michael Chabon's new novel, Telegraph Avenue, out in September. Can't wait!

I suppose it is due to the fact that the Greatest Generation is dwindling away, there seems to be a trend in publishing towards getting out more and more books about the WWII era. Some recent and upcoming ones I'm looking forward to are:

Dead Funny, by Rudolph Herzog
Home Front Girl, by Joan Whelen Morrison
Youth Without God, by Horvath & Thomas

To be honest, there are around 80 titles forthcoming, some of which are reissues, many focused on life inside Nazi Germany, but the three above are the ones I'm most interested in. So far.

They released the long list for the 2012 Man Booker Prize last week. Has anyone read/would recommend any of them?

In a combination of July and August's discussion themes, Molly Ringwald has written a book of short stories! When It Happens to You: A Novel in Stories actually looks pretty good, though I doubt I'll read it.

Salman Rushdie is recommending the new book by A.M. Homes, May We Be Forgiven. It is due out in late September. My stack is pretty high, but it looks worth a read and I really like her work. And sibling stuff always fascinates me.

If you epistolary fiction, the premise to Nick & Jake by Jonathan and Tad Richards looks hilarious.

From the publisher:

Arcade Publishing, 256 pages * Hardcover, $24.95
978-1-61145-723-0
September 2012
Fiction

Kirkus Reviews, Starred, 9/1/12:
Goofy, funny and full of literary in-jokes.
The Nick and Jake of the title are Nick Carraway (from The Great Gatsby) and Jake Barnes (from The Sun Also Rises), who, in 1953, strike up a correspondence and then a friendship...The cast of characters here is enormous, and the letters weave the narrative in complicated patterns..."

great cover!
http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs006/1...

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/05/boo...

Zadie Smith, Michael Chabon, Tom Wolfe, Ian McEwan, Salman Rushdie, Junot Diaz, J.K. Rowling and more of the most important and beloved literary authors are releasing books this fall! I'm kind of nervous b/c I don't know what to read first... and this little flowchart from New York Magazine, while fun, didn't really help: http://nymag.com/guides/fallpreview/2... (but it is fun!)

J.K. Rowling's book comes out tomorrow! I can't wait to read it after reading this bizarre/fascinating profile on J.K. Rowling: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/20...

You can reserve one of DCPL's copies here: http://catalog.dclibrary.org/vufind/R...

Mo Yanwon the Nobel Prize in Literature. No, we hadn't heard of him either, but the Daily Beast has a "60 Second Guide to Mo Yan": http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles...

HI Everyone,

I am new to the group but wanted to inform you of some unfortnate news.

I was recently made aware that the Barnes and Noble in Washington, DC in Union Station is closing at the end of the year. Apparently it's not the bookstore but Union Station itself that is asking Barnes and Noble to leave. Is there anything we can do? I was informed while calling to pre-order a book, they are hoping to change Union Stations mind and we need all booklovers to convince Union Station that Barnes and Noble needs to stay!

Barnes & Nobles ecourages shoppers to contact Union Station and let them know of your displeasure.

http://www.unionstationdc.com/
http://www.unionstationdc.com/store/b...
http://www.unionstationdc.com/contact

Erica,
I didn't know there was a barnes and noble there-- I thought it was something less well known like a waldenbooks or a books-a-million or something. Did it used to be calles something else? But regardless, I loved that store when I first moved here and lived by Union Station! How sad.

Erica wrote: "HI Everyone,

I am new to the group but wanted to inform you of some unfortnate news.

I was recently made aware that the Barnes and Noble in Washington, DC in Union Station is closing at the end o..."

Erica,

Thanks so much for passing this along! When I worked at the Northeast Library I visited that B&N pretty regularly. I'll definitely look into contacting them.

Maria wrote: "Erica,
I didn't know there was a barnes and noble there-- I thought it was something less well known like a waldenbooks or a books-a-million or something. Did it used to be calles something else? B..."

Hi Maria,

It use to be called B. Dalton, which was under Barnes & Noble. Then a few years ago it officially changed it's name to Barnes & Noble.

Thanks.. I guess it has been a while!

They all changed their minds, Barnes & noble will stay open to at least December 2013!!!!

In about-face, Barnes & Noble agrees to remain open at Union Station

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/c...

The New York Times released their annual list of the 100 notable books of the year: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/02/boo...

I've only read 3: Hope: A Tragedy, Salvage the Bones, and What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank. Usually I do better...
How many have you read?

Look at us on the cutting edge:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/13/boo...