The first trailer for HBO’s Hemingway and Gellhorn just appeared online (the YouTube version was quickly yanked, we don’t know how long the one we nabbed will be available. If it disappears, try linking to  FilmOFillia).

The film stars Clive Owen as Hemingway, Nicole Kidman as Martha Gellhorn, with David Strathairn as John Dos Passos, Peter Coyote as Maxwell Perkins, and Parker Posey as Mary Welsh Hemingway. It is directed by Phiilp Kaufman, who directed another movie based on a literary love story, Henry and June, as well as The Unbearable Lightness of Being and The Right Stuff.

It is produced by Sopranos star James Gandolfini, who worked for 6 years to get it made.

It is not based on a specific book. There are plenty of bios of Hemingway, of course. A bio of Martha Gellhorn was published in 2003 (a profile on NPR’s Morning Edition gives a sense of Gellhorn’s personality; a writer and war correspondent, she hated being known primarily as “Hemingway’s third wife”). It is still available in paperback as well as in many libraries.

Gellhorn: A Twentieth-Century Life Caroline Moorehead Retail Price: $22.99 Trade Pbk 500 pages Publisher: Macmillan/Holt  – (2010-04-01) ISBN / EAN: 0805076964/9780805076967

William J. Broad’s article, “How Yoga Can Wreck your Body,” published in the New York Times on Jan. 5 brought protests from the yoga community .

Broad appeared on Fresh Air yesterday to talk about his less sensationally-titled new book, The Science of Yoga, which looks at both the risks and rewards of the practice.

Libraries are showing heavy holds on modest orders.

The Science of Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards William J Broad Retail Price: $26.00 Hardcover: 336 pages Publisher: Simon & Schuster – (2012-02-07) ISBN / EAN: 1451641427 / 9781451641424

Broad emphasizes the advantages of yoga in the book’s trailer:

A very tall man sat on The View’s couch yesterday. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar appeared on the show to talk about his new book,  What Color Is My World?: The Lost History of African-American Inventors (Candlewick, Jan 3).

The book is currently at#26 and rising on Amazon sales rankings.

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What Color Is My World?: The Lost History of African-American Inventors Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Raymond Obstfeld Retail Price: $17.99 Hardcover: 44 pages Publisher: Candlewick – (2012-01-03) ISBN / EAN: 0763645648 / 9780763645649

One of the buzz titles at Midwinter in Dallas, The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker (Random House, June), has been optioned by River Road Entertainment.

Published as an adult title, this apocalyptic novel envisions what would happen if the earth’s rotation began to slow down. It features an 11-year-old heroine and is expected to have strong cross-over appeal. PW, in the first pre-pub review, says,

A triumph of vision, language, and terrifying momentum, the story also feels eerily plausible, as if the problems weve been worrying about all along pale in comparison to what might actually bring our end.

The book is available as an egalley from Edelweiss and NetGalley.

The Age of Miracles Karen Thompson Walker Retail Price: $26.00 Hardcover: 288 pages Publisher: Random House – (2012-06-26) ISBN / EAN: 0812992970 / 9780812992977

BOT Audio; ebook and audio, OverDrive

After the New York Post broke the embargo on Mimi Alford’s memoir about her 18-month long affair with JFK, Once Upon a Secret, news shows are busily promoting their upcoming interviews with the author. The women of The View discussed why they find the book so shocking (Barbara Walters calls it “particularly sleasy”); Alford will appear on that show on Thursday. The Today Show offered a “sneak peek” at Meredith Viera’s interview with the author, to be aired tomorrow on Rock Center with Brian Williams.

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The book rose to #17, and moving up, after 3 days in Amazon’s top 100.

Once Upon a Secret: My Affair with President John F. Kennedy and Its Aftermath Mimi Alford Retail Price: $25.00 Hardcover: 208 pages Publisher: Random House – (2012-02-08) ISBN / EAN: 1400069106 / 9781400069101

BOT Audio; ebook and audio on OverDrive

We often write about dramatic sales rises on Amazon, but this may be the biggest jump we’ve ever seen. World War II Remembered, a book of 56 recollections by “the greatest generation,” published by Kendal at Hanover, a retirement community in New Hampshire, rose over 6.6 million percent (to #6 from #396,999) because of a story on last night’s NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The book, to be released tomorrow, is distributed through the University Press of New England. It is listed by wholesalers, but not yet in stock.

World War II Remembered Kendal at Hanover Residents Association Retail Price: $26.95 Paperback: 360 pages Publisher: Kendal at Hanover – (2012-02-08) ISBN / EAN: 0979997003 / 9780979997006

The Super Bowl movie trailer that most increased book sales may be The Lorax. Dr. Seuss’s 1971 book  rose to to #108 from #287 after the spot aired.

In addition to the original book, Random House has released a series of tie-ins, including a pop-up and two titles in the  “Step into Reading” series.

It’s difficult to judge the effect the pre-Super Bowl trailer for The Hunger Games. The series has been in the Top Five on Amazon for months.

Several tie-ins release tomorrow (full list, after the jump):

(more…)

Anyone remember when we were urged to call French fries “liberty fries”?

How quickly things change; now it seems everything French is superior. French women don’t get fat and they’re better parents, according to a new book, Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting (Penguin, Feb.7).

An article in Saturday’s Wall Street Journal, “Why French Parents Are Superior” sent the book up to #11 on Amazon’s sales rankings (yes; the same publication that launched Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother with the similarly titled, “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior“).

This week, contemporary short story masters Nathan Englander and Dan Chaon return, while Josh Bazell delivers the sequel to his breakout debut. Usual suspects include Lisa Gardner, Vince Flynn, J.A. Jance and YA author Sara Shepard. Our major title to watch details the life of a slum in Mumbai by Katherine Boo. In nonfiction, historian James Simon probes the faceoff between FDR and Chief Justice Hughes, and Tucker Max delivers his third raucous memoir.

Watch List

Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo (Random House; BOT Audio; Thorndike Large Print; ebook and audio, OverDrive) focuses on Annawadi, a makeshift settlement in the shadow of luxury hotels in Mumbai, as India starts to prosper. As we’ve said before, we think this one is headed for best sellerdom. Lots of media attention this week should help it along.

Wild Thing by Josh Bazell (Hachette/Little,Brown/Reagan Arthur; Hachette Audio) is the sequel to Bazell’s popular debut, Beat the Reaper, once again featuring Dr. “Peter Brown,” this time as he accompanies a sexy but self-destructive paleontologist on the world’s worst field assignment. LJ says, “it’s as good as [Bazell’s debut] and more. In addition to the mayhem and madness of the original, there’s an element of ecoconsciousness and political satire (the long-delayed appearance of the government official is worth the purchase price) that will leave readers wanting still more.”

What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank: Stories by Nathan Englander (RH/Knopf; RH Audio; OverDrive ebook and audio) includes eight new stories from celebrated novelist and short fiction author (For the Relief of Unbearable Urges and The Ministry of Special Cases). Kirkus says his “voice evokes a long legacy of Jewish storytelling and the sharp edge of contemporary fiction” and pronounces his tales of Israel, American Jewry and suburbia the work of “a short-story master.” The newspaper reviews, however, have not been so complimentary (WSJ and L.A. Times). The NYT profiled the author’s “Sunday Routine.”

Stay Awake: Stories by Dan Chaon (RH/Ballantine; ebook, OverDrive) is a collection of 12 stores about fragile characters who wander between ordinary life and a psychological shadowland by National Book Award finalist Chaon, following hss critically acclaimed novel Await Your Reply. LJ says, “The powerful writing in this intense and suspenseful collection draws us into the emotional maelstroms experienced by the characters. A highly recommended work, not to be missed.” The NYT Book Review calls the best of the stories “superbly disquieting.”

Usual Suspects

Catch Me by Lisa Gardner (Penguin/Dutton; Brilliance Audio; Thorndike Large Print) finds Detective D. D. Warren faced with a client who believes she will be murdered in four days, and she wants D. D. to handle the death investigation. In a starred review, Booklist says, “Last year, Gardner had three titles on different New York Times bestseller lists; her latest D. D. Warren novel will launch a new streak for 2012.”

Kill Shot by Vince Flynn (S&S/Atria; S&S Audio) is a suspenseful political thriller that follows a deadly mission to hunt down the men responsible for the Pan Am Lockerbie terrorist attack. LJ says, “If you loved the author’s The Secret Supper, you’ll probably love this, too.”  USA Today profiles Flynn, who has defied odds after being diagnosed with cancer in 2010

Left for Dead by J. A. Jance (S&S/Touchstone; Thorndike Large Print; S&S Audio) Ali Reynolds investigates two shocking cases of victims brutally left for dead — Santa Cruz County deputy sheriff Jose Reyes, Ali’s classmate from the Arizona Police Academy, and an unidentified young woman presumed to be an illegal border crosser.

Young Adult

Two Truths and a Lie (The Lying Game Series #3) by Sara Shepard (Harper Teen; HarperAudio) is the third installment in the new series by the bestselling author of Pretty Little Liars, about one twin trying to solve the murder of another, by unraveling her cryptic journal, tangled love life, and the dangerous pranks she played.

Nonfiction

FDR and Chief Justice Hughes: The President, the Supreme Court, and the Epic Battle Over the New Deal by James F. Simon (Simon & Schuster) recounts how the two men fiercely collided at a pivotal moment in history — during the initial stages of FDR’s New Deal. PW says, “With the present-day Court poised to rule on health care reform amid controversies over the governments power to address economic turmoil, Simons account of a very similar era is both trenchant and timely.”

Hilarity Ensues by Tucker Max (S&S/Blue Heeler Books) is the third volume by the author of the bestsellers I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell and Assholes Finish First, about his sexual and drunken exploits.

Calling JFK a “horndog” for seducing a 19-year-old intern, the New York Post quotes at length from an embargoed memoir which will be published on Wednesday. The story says the Post obtained a copy from a Manhattan bookstore. The news propelled the book to #71 on Amazon sales rankings; libraries are showing 1:1 holds on moderate ordering.

The NYT wrote about the affair in 2009, when the book deal was signed. The author has not spoken publicly about the relationship since it was first revealed in 2003.

Once Upon a Secret: My Affair with President John F. Kennedy and Its Aftermath Mimi Alford Retail Price: $25.00 Hardcover: 208 pages Publisher: Random House – (2012-02-08) ISBN / EAN: 1400069106 / 9781400069101

BOT Audio; ebook and audio on OverDrive

We’ve said it before; we think the book about a Mumbai slum, Behind the Beautiful Forevers is going to the the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks of 2012 (meaning, a book about a subject that may not immediately sound appealing, but garners great press attention, is an instant best seller, hanging on for months, going on to do even better in trade paperback).

Entertainment Weekly has already predicted, “Beautiful Forevers will be one of the year’s big books — a conversation starter, an award winner” and calls it “a riveting, fearlessly reported portrait of a poverty so obliterating that it amounts to a slow-motion genocide.” Janet Maslin gave it a rave. Now the 2/13 issue of People gives it four stars and makes it the first People Pick of the year, calling it a “tough-minded, inspiring and irresistible book… Boo’s extraordinary achievement is two-fold. She shows us how people in the most desperate circumstances can find the resilience to hang on to their humanity. Just as importantly, she makes us care.”

In addition to the shows we have already listed that are planning to cover it, an appearance has been booked on Charlie Rose and the NYT Book Review has decided to put the it on the cover:

NPR / Morning Edition – taping 2/3 (air date: 2/6)

PBS/Charlie Rose – 2/7

NPR / Fresh Air – taping 2/6 (air date: 2/7)

New York Times – profile piece by Chip McGrath – 2/7 interview (on stands date tk)

New York Times Book Review – COVER REVIEW – 2/12

Library holds are growing. Several libraries have ordered more copies.

Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, death, and hope in a Mumbai undercity Katherine Boo Retail Price: $28.00 Hardcover: 288 pages Publisher: Random House – (2012-02-07) ISBN 97814000-67558

BOT Audio; Thorndike Large Print; OverDrive

David Angus’ book, The End of Illness, hardly needs more attention. It’s been at #1 on the NYT Hardcover Advice & Misc. best seller list for the last two weeks. Several features on ABC News in mid-January, sent it to the top ten on Amazon for a week. It settled back down in to the 100’s, and shot back up again, after Jon Stewart issued the magic words during his talk with the author on The Daily Show, “The book is phenomenal. For anyone who is up at night, looking at WebMD…you should get this.”

(UPDATE: some health web sites, including HealthNewsReview.org, have criticized some of Dr. Angus’ recommendations).

Libraries are showing heavy holds in most areas.

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The End of Illness David B. Agus Retail Price: $26.00 Hardcover: 352 pages Publisher: S&S/Free Press – (2012-01-17) ISBN / EAN: 1451610173 / 9781451610178

S&S Audio

SAG Best Actress Award winner (and Oscar nominee), Viola Davis has been signed for two book-to-movie projects; Beautiful Creatures (see previous story) and the movie based on Orson Scott Card’s sci fi classic, Ender’s Game.

The movie already has a strong cast, with rising young actors Asa Butterfield (Hugo) and Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) as well as veteran, Harrison Ford.

According to Variety, Ender’s Game will shoot first. If that’s true, it will start soon; other sources report that Beautiful People is scheduled for shooting in April.

Fox has acquired John Green’s new book and #1 NYT Best Seller, The Fault in Our Stars (Dutton; Brilliance Audio). Variety reports that Twilight producers Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen have signed on to do the adaptation.

John just wrapped a 17-city tour for the book. He talks about how it felt, below.

Technically, it’s true, as we reported earlier, that a Hunger Games teaser won’t air during the Super Bowl — however, one will appear during the pregame show.

Trying to stay current with this is dizzying. A teaser for the teaser appeared on Entertainment Tonight, briefly on the Web before it was yanked by the studio. As of now, it’s back up: