New Title Radar, Week of 9/30

Among the big names releasing new titles next week are Iris Johansen, Malcolm Gladwell and, leading in holds, James Patterson, with his tenth book of the year, Gone.

Titles highlighted here, and more arriving next week, are listed on our downloadable spreadsheet, New Title Radar, Week of Sept 30

Signature of All ThingsAlso arriving to waiting holds is Elizabeth Gilbert’s sixth book and second novel, The Signature of All Things, (Penguin/Viking; Penguin Audio), a historical novelfeaturing a 19th C. female biologist who specializes in mosses. Gilbert’s first three books, a collection of short stories, a novel and and a biography, received critical praise and decent sales. Then lightning struck in the form of her memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, resulting in the double-edged sword that comes with such a phenomenon. Each new book receives lavish advance attention (this one was on the majority of the lists of the most-anticipated titles for the fall, and the author was profiled in the 9/22 NYT Magazine), but none are likely to reach Eat, Pray, Love‘s level of success. Acknowledging this in her upcoming review on the cover of the New York Times Book Review, Barbara Kingsolver politely calls The Signature of All Things “a winning next act.”

9781451617078   9781623650926

James isn’t the only best-selling Patterson arriving next week. Richard North Patterson’s latest is Loss of Innocence, (Quercus). Known for best selling thrillers (Degree of Guilt and Silent Witness), he recently stepped out of that genre with the family-drama tinged mystery, Fall From Grace (S&S/Scribner), about a CIA agent investigating his estranged father’s death near his home on Martha’s Vineyard. This new title is a prequel, set in the 1960’s and focusing on the family dynamics of the previous generation. Kirkus makes a compelling comparison, “Think The Thorn Birds or Rich Man, Poor Man among the Martha’s Vineyard moneyed set.”

Watch List

9781476729084-1The Rosie Project, Graeme Simsion, (S&S; S&S Audio)

We’ve been writing about this book for months; it’s been a favorite on GalleyChat and is now #1 on both the IndieNext and the LibraryReads lists (annotation below):

“Don Tillman, a brilliant geneticist, thinks that having women fill out a six-page, double-sided questionnaire before a date is logical and reasonable. Rosie Jarman, an impetuous barmaid, thinks Don should loosen up and learn to live a little. Follow the unlikely pair in this laugh-out-loud, feel-good story of unexpected joys, discovery and love.” — Paulette Brooks, Elm Grove Public Library, Elm Grove, WI

Entertainment Weekly joins the bandwagon this week, saying, “Move over, Sheldon Cooper. There’s a new brilliant, socially inept scientist poised to win over a huge audience, and his name is Don Tillman, in The Rosie Project.”

The Tilted WorldThe Tilted World, Tom Franklin & Beth Ann Fennelly, (HarperCollins/Morrow)

This title is also a LibraryReads pick for October:

“The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 is the backdrop for one of my favorite historical novels of the last few years. Bootleggers, revenuers, an orphaned child, extreme weather, a disintegrating marriage and romance. There are no dull characters or moments in this beautifully-written story.” — Janet Lockhart, Wake County Public Libraries, Cary, NC

Coincidentally, Bill Bryson writes about that flood in One Summer: America, 1927, (RH/Doubleday), which is also out this week.

Thursdays in the ParkThursdays in the Park, Hilary Boyd, (Quercus; Pbk original)

Several librarians on GalleyChat enjoyed this book, but objected to its being called “Gran Lit” (the character is turning 60) in Britain where it was a self-published word-of-mouth hit. The tabloid, The Daily Mail, compared it to Fifty Shades of Grey, even though the sex is mild (maybe confused by the word grey in the title). It’s an IndieNext pick for October.

Media Magnets

9781451695991Tip and the Gipper: When Politics Worked, Chris Matthews, (S&S; S&S Audio)

The host of The Chris Matthews Show writes about the relationship between Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill (Matthews was O’Neill’s chief of staff for six years). Appealing to Democrats as well as Republicans, it will get media coverage, of course. The author is scheduled for NBC’s Meet the Press, The Today Show, MSNBC’s Morning Joe, NPR’s Fresh Air; and Comedy Central’s Colbert Report, among others.

I Am MalalaI Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, Christina Lamb, Malala Yousafzai, (Hachette/Little, Brown; Hachette Audio)

Last year, when she was just 15, Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by the Taliban and became an international symbol of the fight for women’s rights. Although she had to leave her home in Pakistan, she has not been silenced and continues to argue for education for girls and women, as she does is this book, co-written with journalist Christina Lamb, who has covered Pakistan for many years.

Diane Sawyer landed the first U.S. television interview with Malala, to air on all ABC News broadcasts including World News with Diane Sawyer, Good Morning America, and Nightline. The following week, she is scheduled to appear on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

In July, on her 16th birthday, she brought the U.N. Youth Assembly to their feet with a powerful and articulate speech (video here).

The Vegucation of Robin: How Real Food Saved My Life , Robin Quivers, (Penguin/Avery)

Howard Stern’s longtime sidekick, Robin Quivers revealed earlier this month that she has been doing the show from home while receiving chemotherapy for endometrial cancer and now is cancer-free. She has also embraced veganism, which she says has helped her overcome the aches and pains she endured for many years.

Comments are closed.