|
|
|
|
The week of October 18, 2022 Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. What’s That Noise?
Have you ever hear someone talking about a book, and then suddenly you are hearing about it everywhere? In house here at SBR, we call that the "plate o’ shrimp" book principle, after the famous quote in the film Repo Man explaining the "cosmic unconsciousness." The book world, however, operates on something more like "cosmic consciousness." People who love books can’t help but talk about books. People who read books have to share them. Which is why "you’ve got to read this!" is the most exciting thing you can say to a reader. So when you hear about a great book or tell a friend about one, you are really just part of a buzzing network of "cosmic book consciousness." And nobody is tapped into that network like independent booksellers, who live to talk about books–with their customers, their friends, each other, possibly even random people on the street. SBR’s Book Buzz is our tribute to this irresistible impulse all readers have to share what they are reading. Each one is dedicated to a book that came to our attention, plate o’ shrimp style, because booksellers keep talking about it. This week’s Book Buzz Spotlight, Mr. Wilder and Me by Jonathan Coe, is the 50th Book Buzz published by SBR, marking a year’s worth of stellar reading lighting up the book cosmos. Read This Now | Read This Next | The Bookseller Directory |
|
|
| Read This Now! Recommended by Southern indies… |
|
|
Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese Adult Fiction, Historical, Literary Fiction Absolutely one of the best books I have read this year. I love the way the author wove Nathaniel Hawthorne’s story of Hester and The Scarlet Letter perfectly into this novel about a woman in the 1800s who embroiders but has synesthesia where she associates certain colors with letters. I love the way she portrayed Isobel as a strong woman- but to men she could be seen as a temptress. A beautifully woven (pun intended) story. Reviewed by Olivia Meletes-Morris, Litchfield Books in Pawleys Island , South Carolina |
|
|
|
Bookseller Buzz |
 |
|
Spotlight on: Mr. Wilder and Me by Jonathan Coe
“I suppose it’s typical of me that I zoom in on Billy Wilder in one of the most melancholy moments of his life, just when his star is on the wane and he’s trying to find a gracious way of becoming an elder statesman. I think it is more interesting to approach an artist through one of their flawed films, because a masterpiece speaks for itself. Whereas you watch Fedora and you think: ‘How did this film come to be? It is so peculiar, there must be a story there.” ―Jonathan Coe, Interview, The Guardian What booksellers are saying about Mr. Wilder and Me 
About Jonathan Coe Jonathan Coe was born in 1961 in Lickey, a suburb of south-west Birmingham. His first novel, The Accidental Woman was published in 1987. His best-selling novels include What a Carve Up! and The Rotters’ Club (2001). He is the recipient of many prizes and awards, including both Costa Novel of the Year and Prix du Livre Européen. He won France’s Prix Médicis for The House of Sleep and Italy’s Premio Flaiano and Premio Bauer-Ca’ Foscari. |
 |
|
|
Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty Action & Adventure, Adult Fiction, Crime & Mystery, Mystery & Detective, Science Fiction, Women Sleuths Mallory is a self-aware mystery magnet, seemingly causing murders that only she can solve to happen spontaneously around her, to the point that she now feels responsible for the murders. To stymie her mysterious power, she escapes to the space station Eternity to be one of three humans among throngs of aliens. This works for months until a shuttle of humans is scheduled to arrive from Earth and the cycle of murders and mysteries starts anew around Mallory. The world-building is impeccable, with multiple alien species bringing their own biology, culture, and politics into the narrative. Lafferty also manages an intricate, compelling mystery by weaving together multiple viewpoints with a web of connections and "coincidences," yet still wrapping up the mystery without dangling loose ends. I look forward to more tales of Mallory’s exploits in this intriguing world Lafferty built. Reviewed by Kelly McLeod, The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, Alabama |
|
|
|
|
Breathless by David Quammen Adult Nonfiction, Biology, Life Sciences, Science David Quammen can make the most complex scientific subjects perfectly understandable and fascinating. We’ve lived through the beginnings of Covid-19, but so much was going on behind the scenes. It’s astounding that vaccines were developed as quickly as they were, and we find out the backstory here. Quammen makes our last two years read like a thriller. Reviewed by Rosemary Pugliese, Malaprops in Asheville, North Carolina |
|
|
The Getaway by Lamar Giles Horror, Prejudice & Racism, Social Themes, Thrillers & Suspense, Young Adult What an incredible book! Giles ratchets up the tension immediately in this story of paradise gone wrong. The staff and families living at Karloff County’s most famous resort are living happily in harmony until people start to vanish without a trace. As the world outside starts to crumble, young Jay and his friends try to find a way to get themselves and their loved ones to safety – whatever that may mean. Reviewed by Andrea Richardson, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia |
|
|
Brown Is Beautiful by Supriya Kelkar Children, Humorous, Juvenile Nonfiction, Mathematics, Poetry, School Education I love the beauty of Brown is Beautiful. A young Indian American girl walks through nature with her grandparents, celebrating all the beauty of things that are brown – leaves and bears and canyons. The book transitions to houses and families and babies, all brown and beautiful. This is a story of joy and celebration! Reviewed by Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
|
|
The Wolf Suit by Sid Sharp Animals, Children, Comics & Graphic Novels, Fairy Tales, Folklore, Humorous, Juvenile Fiction, Legends & Mythology, Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance, Social Themes The Wolf Suit is an absolutely charming picture book about anxiety through the eyes of a sheep in wolf’s clothing. Reviewed by Michelle Cavalier, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana |
|
Read This Next! Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies… |
|
|
Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner Adult Fiction, Bisexual, Lesbian, LGBTQ+, Romance, Romantic Comedy An October 2022 Read This Next! Title There is something that happens when you take an age old trope (age-gap or best friend’s dad) and make it queer that breathes new life into the story. So many chili peppers for this book. Sheesh. Reviewed by Katie Garaby, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee |
|
Southern Bestsellers What’s popular this week with Southern Readers. |
[ See the full list ] |
|
Parting Thought “But at the same time, I have trouble keeping things out of books, which is why I don’t write short stories because they turn into novels.” |
Publisher:
The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance /
siba@sibaweb.com |
SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805
You have received this email because you are currently subscribed to receive The Southern Bookseller Review.
Please click @@unsubscribe_url@@ if you no longer wish to receive these communications.