Category Archives: Upcoming Titles

Authors, Book Column, Book Talk, Upcoming Titles

Michael Chabon Has a New Book Coming

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We’re about 10 weeks out from the release of Moonglow, Michael Chabon’s new book. It’ll be his most recent book since Telegraph Avenue four years ago.

I have to admit I am pretty excited about this one. While Telegraph Avenue did not exactly “crank my tractor” many of his others have been fan-freaking-tastic. I still find myself recommending The Yiddish Policeman’s Union as well as craving conversation about The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. I also enjoyed The Final Solution and The Mysteries of Pittsburgh.

moonglow_coverMoonglow follows the implications of a grandfather’s deathbed confession to his grandson as he recounts family tales and relationships. Many people are expecting to see much of Chabon himself in the novel as Chabon was bedside when his own grandfather passed away in the late 1980’s. We’ll see.

So far all we really know is that it’s 432 pages and jumps around from pre-WW II Jewish slums, to Florida to the birth of the U.S. space program. Though we’ve also gotten a glimpse at some of the text thanks to Chabon sharing on Instagram:

moonglow_text

Hopefully it’ll be another good one. Chabon is one of those authors that I always look forward to reading and discussing with others. The book will be in bookstores on November 22, 2016.

Book Column, Book Talk, Upcoming Titles

New Book by Harry Quebert Author

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There is a new book coming out from the author of The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair, which was the surprise hit of 2014.

Author Joël Dicker Twittered a teaser seven days ago announcing an the October 1st release of The Book of Baltimore:

TheBookofBaltimore

And that right there is 100% of what the world knows about Dicker’s next book.

I have recommended The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair to countless friends and folks online. Yes, it’s 600+ pages, but it’s such a well told story with a long twisting mystery and is dripping with the wonderful world of writers, publishing and books. It was such a fun read.

I think it’s interesting that Joël Dickers’ next book is set in America, again. Dickers is Swiss and not even 30-years-old yet and I thought his next book would be set closer to his European home. But maybe he feels like he’s found another sold thread of a story. We’ll see.

The Book of Baltimore will be Dickers’ third book. His first was titled The Last Days of Our Fathers (according to Google Translate) and was a WWII story. I haven’t seen an American translation if there is one.

As long as he stays close to what he knows and enjoys writing about it’s one I am looking forward to picking up.

Book Column, Book Talk, On the TV, Upcoming Titles

Scalzi on TV & in Print

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Science-fiction author John Scalzi is having a big year. Just a few weeks ago he inked a multi-book multi-million dollar publishing deal. And his new book The End of All Things will be out August 11.

You can read excerpts from the first four chapters (Chapter 01, Chapter 02, Chapter 03, Chapter 04) of The End of All Things, which is the second book of the Human Division, set in the Old Man’s War universe.

EndofAllThings_Scalzi_cover

The whole Old Man’s War universe/storyline  revolves around John Perry, a 70+ man who who enlists in the army and transfers his consciousness into a younger, more battle-ready body.  So the wars rage on among the stars with troops in enhanced bodies while having the wisdom and humor of “old men”. Parts of it borderline on cute. But the books are fast paced and just plain fun to read.

Which is why I think it’ll make a great TV show on SyFy. At the end of last year, it was announced that the Ghost Brigades TV show was in development. It gets its title from the 2006 book by Scalzi.

So a new book, a new contract, and a new TV series. No doubt John Scalzi is staying super busy this year.

Have you read any of John Scalzi’s books?

Book Column, Book Covers, Book Design, Upcoming Titles

Go Set a Watchman Releases in 4 Weeks

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Ok, folks – Harper Lee’s new book hits book store shelves in less than a month, on July 14th. You can pre-order all of the internet or your local bookstore. It’s been fun seeing how awareness of the book has developed. And it all started with the origin of the manuscript and all the questions surrounding that.

Now the covers are out. As with just about any book published today, it’s fun to compare the U.S. cover with the British cover. First, we have the U.S. cover, which seems to be purposefully designed to match the vintage To Kill a Mockingbird cover.

Go Set a Watchman is set 20 years after the end of TKAM, but the cover certainly lets you know you’re in the same place. Here’s the original 1st edition cover:

To_Kill_a_Mockingbird

While over across the pond they seem to have gone a little more modern noir feel I think, but the type is period.

Most of the time I usually prefer the U.K. counterparts to U.S. covers, but this time I’m non-plussed. The fact that the author’s name is set the same as the title feels weird. It’s as if the marketing and design teams could not come to an agreement so they just threw their hands up and said “Make it all the same size” or something.

Though I do like the way they shadowed in the words To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s a bit literal for me, but it’s ok.

Both covers have an October harvest vibe as well. Maybe that figures in heavily to the story? We’ll have to wait and find out! It will be interesting to keep up with the reviews once they start rolling out when the book is released on July 14th. And to watch sales numbers. I know some folks took a step back when Harper Lee’s letters didn’t fetch a reserve price at a recent auction, but the crowd that buys million dollar scribbles is a totally different crowd than those waiting to see what Harper Lee has to say about Scout and Atticus.

What do you think of the covers? Have you pre-ordered the book or are you tired of the hype?