I can't wait to get my (jazz) hands on this monster (it's a taaaaallll book). I collect books about Broadway musicals, so I have a copy of the original publication. (It's fabulous. Gorgeous pictures and lots of behind-the-scenes stuff). I didn't have plans to purchase the updated one, so I'm happy that we're getting the updated version for our collection. A must read for any Broadway fan.
The Orphan Master's Son
Entertainment Weekly (one of my weekly must reads) gave The Orphan Master's Son an awesome review, calling it "vivid and chilling." They're not the only ones giving this novel set in North Korea stellar reviews; there are few novels dealing with the situation in North Korea, so it's no surprise that this is getting a ton of attention.
May the Road Rise Up to Meet You
Immigrant sagas and epic American historical fiction novels immediately intrigue me; this story about the first wave of Irish immigration to the United States in the 19th century is a must read for me.
The Detour
During Hitler's rise to power, the Third Reich created the Sonderprojekte, which plundered the European continent for its greatest and most iconic works of art for Hitler's benefit. A young German art collector travels to Rome in order to capture The Discobulus (The Discus Thrower) marble statue. After he meets up with Italian twin brothers, hired to escort him to the border, he discovers that their side agendas and constant detours threaten his assignment and his life. Set in the Italian countryside on the eve of World War II, this historical thriller is already generating quite a bit of buzz.
Are You Smart Enough to Work at Google?
Normally, job-seeking books wouldn't interest me, but I'm curious about Google's unique interviewing skills and work environment. Not only does William Poundstone feature the bizarre interview questions posed by Google (and the answers!), but he also discusses the need for creative thinking.
Juliette Gordon Low: The Remarkable Founder of the Girl Scouts
Oooh, this book can't come fast enough (it will be published in February). 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts, and with any monumental anniversary (2012 has quite a few big ones--100th anniversary of the Titanic, the bicentennial anniversary of the War of 1812, Louisiana's bicentennial statehood anniversary and the bicentennial anniversary of Charles Dickens's birthday are the ones that I remember off the top of my head) comes new books and renewed interest. Juliette Gordon Low has never, to my knowledge, been the subject of a serious adult biography; only a handful of unmemorable children's biographies have been published. Luckily, 2012 is changing all that, with this biography and several children's biographies (one, which will be published in a month or two, is already receiving excellent reviews and has a remarkable cover and graphic design....can't wait to show it to you), Low is finally receiving the attention that she deserves. I was a Girl Scout for many years (reached the Cadette level), so I'm super excited about the new books coming out to celebrate this terrific anniversary. In the meantime, check out The Vintage Girl Scout Online Museum. Warning: it's a timesuck if you're a former Girl Scout. Looking at the badges will remind you that the organization was quite nontraditional for its day; in the 1920s and 30s, girls could earn badges such as the "Economist," "Electrician," "Motorist," and "Handywoman."
(Check out the vintage ads, vintage camping equipment, the special Girl Scout emblems for the US's bicentennial anniversary, Dairy Queen's Tagalog ice cream cake...for real.... and even vintage pictures from the international movement. I told you it's a timesucking site!)
A Good American
Another sweeping immigrant saga to add to my list; New Orleans figures into the story, so that's an added bonus!
King Peggy
It's too bad that Oprah doesn't have her syndicated show anymore, because this is the kind of book that she would have been all over. (This is meant as a compliment--I'm a fan of Oprah for what she did to introduce people to books and authors.) Peggielene Bartels was just your everyday secretary at the Ghana Embassy in Washington DC when she received news that her uncle had died....and that she was his heir to his chiefdom of a small Ghanaian fishing village. When she arrived in Ghana, she discovered that she would have to deal with corruption (among her relatives) and the fact that the village had no high school for its teenagers. King Peggy tells her incredible story. Please tell me someone is making this into a movie. Oprah hasn't bought the rights yet?
This can't be. It's not even the end of January, and my TBR list is unbelievable (because I also have a ton of children's/YA books to read!). If you want to be among the first to know about the latest and greatest coming to the library, you should subscribe to Wowbrary. It comes once a week and it's free!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment