Once again, the NYT has “obtained” (which doesn’t sound like “purchased”) a pre-embargo copy of Laura Bush’s memoir SPOKEN FROM THE HEART, in advance of the book’s May 4 publication. (Too bad it’s not an iPhone protoype, or Scribner would have a shot at getting it back.) While the paper’s story is attracting reasonable interest, we got a lot more Twitter-play yesterday by focusing on the question raised at Amazon’s Omnivoracious. They noted that their “fascination with the cover for Laura Bush’s upcoming memoir…touched a nerve with a few readers and emailers.” The big question: “I can’t decide if it’s […]
New Releases/Forthcoming
Crown Announces George Bush's DECISION POINTS for November 9
Crown has announced the release this fall of former president George W. Bush’s book, written with the help of former speechwriter Chris Michel, listing for $35. In a statement, Crown promises that Bush “writes honestly and directly about his flaws and mistakes, as well as his historic achievements in reforming education, providing life-saving treatments for HIV/AIDS and malaria for millions of people in Africa, safeguarding the country from another terrorist attack, and other areas.” He also “offers intimate, unprecedented details about his decision to quit drinking, his discovery of faith, and his relationships with his family.” They say “he has […]
Entertainment Weekly Touts 18 Spring/Summer Reads
The magazine gets a jump on other traditional summer reading previews with these recommendations: THIS BODY OF DEATH, Elizabeth George (April 20)HALF LIFE, Roopa Farooki (April 27)GIRL IN TRANSLATION, Jean Kwok (April 29)THE INVISIBLE BRIDGE, Julie Orringer (May 4)THE LAST STAND, Nathaniel Philbrick (May 4)SLOW LOVE: HOW I LOST MY JOB, PUT ON MY PAJAMAS AND FOUND HAPPINESS, Dominique Browning (May 9)WAR, Sebastian Junger (May 11)THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST, Stieg Larsson (May 25)THE PARTICULAR SADNESS OF LEMON CAKE, Aimee Bender (June 1)THE SHORT SECOND LIFE OF BREE TANNER, Stephenie Meyer (June 5)THE PASSAGE, Justin Cronin (June 8)SO […]
Meyer Novella Set for June 5 Release
A Stephenie Meyer novella, THE SHORT SECOND LIFE OF BREE TANNER, is set for release from Little, Brown Children’s on June 5 with an announced first printing of 1.5 million copies. The $13.99 hardcover, at 192 pages, is told from the point of view of Bree, a character originally featured in Eclipse. A dollar per book from the first printing will be donated to the American Red Cross International Response Fund. The book will also be available online at breetanner.com for free from June 7 to July 5 “as a special thank you to fans.” Meyer says, “I’d always considered […]
WaPo, PublicAffairs Team Up For Book on Health Care Reform
The Washington Post announced this morning that its guide to new health care reform legislation passed by the House on Sunday night will be published by PublicAffairs in April, first as an e-book and shortly thereafter in paperback format. According to the release, LANDMARK: The Inside Story of America’s New Health Care Law and What It Means for Us All “will provide a comprehensive look at the provisions of the bill as it emerges from the Senate” and “feature exclusive interviews with senior White House officials, lawmakers, lobbyists and industry leaders.”
People, Etc.
Sally van Haitsma has formed her own agency, van Haitsma Literary, after six years at the Castiglia Literary Agency and, before that, the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. She represents commercial and literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, current affairs, pop culture and business. The PEN American Center reelected its officers to new one-year terms, including the reappointment of president Kwame Anthony Appiah. Bookforum editor Chris Lehmann has joined the new Yahoo News team, the Observer reports. Further to yesterday’s story on Grove/Atlantic’s upcoming release of the anticipated novel MATTERHORN, the publisher says that El Leon Arts never published their edition last April. […]