Ahead of the Game:
Titles to Know, The Week of 9/29
Books have been doing plenty of crossover into TV, but this week sees the reverse. B.J. Novak, of The Office, is publishing a book for kids and Lena Dunham, of Girls, is Not That Kind of Girl … the #1 LibraryReads pick for October arrives, Garth Stein’s next novel after his long-time best seller, The Art of Racing in the Rain (no dogs this time) … and Hilary Mantel has already stirred up attention for her new book, a collection of short stories.
All the titles covered here, and several more notable titles arriving next week, are listed, with ordering information and alternate formats, on our downloadable spreadsheet, EarlyWord, New Title Radar, Week of 9/29.
Holds Leaders
Burn, James Patterson, Michael Ledwidge, (Hachette/Little,Brown; Hachette Large Print; Hachette Audio) — The newest Detective Bennet thriller (Patterson’s next Alex Cross book, Hope to Die, is right around the corner — coming Nov 24).
The Lost Key, Catherine Coulter, J. T. Ellison, (Penguin/Putnam; Brilliance Audio)
The Perfect Witness, Iris Johansen, (Macmillan/St. Martin’s; Brilliance Audio)
Advance Attention
The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher: Stories, Hilary Mantel, (Macmillan/Holt; Macmillan Audio)
Short stories rarely cause controversy, but the title story of this collection is making waves in Great Britain. As is clear from that title, this has little to do with the world of the author’s famous Wolf Hall series. It was reviewed by Janet Maslin in the New York Times this week.
The Wonder of All Things, Jason Mott, (Harlequin/Mira; Brilliance Audio; Wheeler Large Print); OverDrive Sample
Mott’s previous book, his debut, The Returned, is the basis for the ABC series Resurrection. which begins its second season on 9/28/14. This new novel has already been optioned by Lionsgate. Mott is profiled this week in USA Today.
LibraryReads Pick
A Sudden Light, Garth Stein, (Simon and Schuster); OverDrive Sample
The #1 pick for October., with this recommendation:
“Garth Stein has given us a masterpiece. This beautiful story takes readers on a thrilling exploration of a family estate brimming with generations of riveting Riddell family ghosts and secrets. This is a true exploratory novel, taking readers through secret passageways, hidden rooms, and darkened corridors that engage all of the senses.” — Whitney Gayle, James Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford, CT
Media
All the Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid, Matt Bai, (RH/Knopf; RH Audio)
About the scandal that ended Gary Hart’s run for the Presidency. It was excerpted as the NYT Magazine 9/21 cover story, “How Gary Hart’s Downfall Forever Changed American Politics.”
Enough: Our Fight to Keep America Safe from Gun Violence, Gabrielle Giffords, Mark Kelly, (S&S/Scribner)
The former Congresswoman, who was shot in 2011 and nearly died, writes about her efforts, along with her husband Mark Kelly, to promote responsible gun ownership. It will be getting media coverage:
• Parade “Picks,” September 28 issue
• USA Today feature, September 29
• MSNBC-TV/”Morning Joe,” Sept 30
• CNN-TV/”The Lead with Jake Tapper,” September 30
• MSNBC-TV/”Andrea Mitchell Reports,” October 1
Celebs
Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She’s “Learned”, Lena Dunham, (Random House; RH Audio)
Now that Michiko Kakutani has given the thumbs up on Dunham’s first book, she can relax and enjoy her upcoming interviews (she was already on the cover of the 9/14 NYT Magazine):
NPR Fresh Air – interview – 9/29
ABC Good Morning America – interview – 9/30
Comedy Central Daily Show – 10/1
The Book with No Pictures, B.J. Novak, (Penguin/Dial)
The actor and writer for The Office, writes his first kids book (his first was for adults, One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories). He is profiled in The Atlantic.
Tie-ins
Horns Movie Tie-In Edition, Joe Hill, (HarperCollins/Morrow paperback, Harper mass market)
Movie opens on Halloween
Mockingjay: Movie Tie-In Edition, Suzanne Collins, (Scholastic)
Mockingjay, Part 1, the movie, opens 11/21/14
How We Got to Now: Six Innovations That Made the Modern World, Steven Johnson, (Penguin/Riverhead; Penguin Audio)
The companion to Johnson’s PBS series premiering Oct. 15. The author appeared on the Daily Show on Thursday.
Young Adult
Belzhar, Meg Wolitzer, (Penguin/Dutton Juvenile; RH/Listening Library); OverDrive Sample
The author’s first Y.A. title.
Audio sample: