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Weekly Words about Books December 12, 2012
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OUT OF THE BAG -
NEW BOOKS ABOUT CATS
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The name Francesco Marciuliano may not ring a bell, but his alter ego, Sally Forth, is probably familiar to fans of the funnies. And now, the creator of the popular comic strip is making a name for himself in bookstores as the author  of the bestselling humor book, I Could Pee On This: And Other Poems by Cats. This small volume has big laughs for any cat lover and will probably provoke knowing nods from those less enamored. Here's one sample entry, entitled, I Lick Your Nose:
I lick your nose.
I lick your nose again.
I drag my claws down your eyelids.
Oh, you're up? Feed me.
In case I Could Pee On This is too subtle for you, then Matthew Inman is your man. A web designer and illustrator, Inman created a web site called The
Oatmeal that is - depending on your sense of humor and definition of t he word 'twisted' - sophomoric, in poor taste, or hysterically funny. He has devoted a section of the site to drawings and observations about cats, and from that has created a book called How To Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting To Kill You. The book reprints many classic Oatmeal comics but also contains lots of new material, plus a pullout poster illustrating the book's title. For example, you may think the act of kneading is a sign of affection, but the poster cautions "your cat is actually checking your internal organs for signs of weaknesses." You have been warned.
On the children's side, you'd be hip to check out Pete, a groovy cat who heeds a call from a sick Santa Claus on Christmas Eve in Pete the Cat Saves Christmas. This fourth installment of the Pete the Cat series adds a rockin' spin to the old Night Before Christmas rhyme (for one thing, Pete delivers presents in his red mini-bus), and you can even download a free "Pete the Cat Saves Christmas" song when you click here. Target age group is 4 to 8, but also cool for a tuned-in three-year-old.
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BOOK GROUP ALERT -
GOOD READS NOW OUT
IN PAPERBACK
| | One of last year's top selling and best-reviewed books, The Paris Wife, has arrived in paperback on independent bookstore shelves. This fascinating piece of historical fiction re-imagines  the romance between Ernest Hemingway and his first wife Hadley Richardson, played out in 1920s Jazz Age Paris. Hadley is the centerpiece here, fighting to retain her sense of self while providing strength as both a wife and muse to the volatile Hemingway in a hard-drinking, fast-living world.
Sebastian Barry has had two of his novels short-listed for Britain's Man Booker Prize and his latest, On Canaan's Side, only adds to his literary resume. Told in the first person and spanning nearly seven decades, from the Great D epression through World War II to the Vietnam War, it is the heartbreaking story of a woman whose capability to love is enormous, and whose compassion, even for those who have wronged her, is astonishing. Although set largely in America, the story's roots are in Ireland, whose struggles for freedom and identity are familiar themes for Irishman Barry.
First novels don't usually create a lot of bookseller buzz, but this past spring I kept hearing about Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk. People were calling it Catch-22 for the Iraqi War, and if you read it, you'll understand why.  Author Ben Fountain presents a telling portrait of contemporary Americans' response to war by focusing on a company of soldiers who have been made instant heroes by an act of bravery captured on film. The Bush Administration brings the company home for a brief Victory Tour to reinvigorate support for the war, and the soldiers end up in Dallas to take part in a halftime tribute at a Cowboys football game. It's both funny and heartbreaking, and non-Dallas football fans will enjoy the skewering of the so-called America's Team.
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A Little Bit About Me
| | My name is Hut Landon. I'm a former bookstore owner who now runs the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association in San Francisco.
My goal with this newsletter is to keep readers up to date about new books hitting the shelves, share what booksellers are recommending in their stores, and pass on occasional news about the book world.
I'm not into long, wordy reviews or literary criticism; I'd like HUT'S PLACE to be a quick, fun read for book buyers. I'd appreciate you letting friends know about the column if you think they'd be interested - make sure to tell them it's free of charge.
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OH NO!
THE BOOK YOU WANT ISN'T ON THE SHELF?
NOT A PROBLEM!
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Many of you have probably ordered a book from a bookstore, but sometimes folks are reticent because they think it's too much bother for the store. Rest assured,if they offer to order it for you, it's not a bother.
All independent bookstores get a portion of their books from wholesalers who allow them to order single copies from multiple publishers. It's very convenient for the stores, because orders placed on a given day arrive in the store 24 to 48 hours later, which makes re-stocking sold- out titles fast and easy.
Most bookstores order from the wholesalers at least once a week; during the holidays, ordering can take place every few days. The point is, if the wholesaler has the book on hand, ordering it for you is no problem. So don't be afraid to ask! | |
There's nothing special about ordering a book - indies do it every day!
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