This Week In Books
December 2, 2023 Edition
Photo Credit: The New York Times (spot The Book Tide co-founder, Ariel Lawhon’s, new novel)
How is it December already when just yesterday it was June? And also 1992. Time is weird. And so is the world of books. Which is why we love it so much. More books! Less neon 90’s fashion. Let’s get to it.
There’s big money in the cupboard under the stairs: A first edition Harry Potter originally purchased from a bargain bin in the Scottish highlands for £10 will be sold at auction in the UK. The book which–I kid you not–had been kept in a cupboard under the stairs for the last two decades is expected to be auctioned for at least £40k. I don’t know who is more proud of this lady, me or the Dursley’s. Well played, ma’am, well played.
On writing by forced boredom: James Ellroy, the provocative author of LA Confidential and Black Dahlia, is out with a new book, The Enchanters. The novel features his take on Marilyn Monroe’s death, Freddie Otash the disgraced investigator who sought to solve it, and Jack and Bobby Kennedy in his hallmark style of corrupt LA noir. Despite his (probably) intentionally salacious opinions, it is interesting to note that he writes his novels longhand on a white sheet of paper, with a black pen, in a dark room. Reminds us of some other authors…. Ian Fleming, of James Bond infamy, would rent a hotel room, isolate himself, and write each novel in less than two weeks. Fleming in turn influenced Neil Gaiman’s personal rule for writing: you can write or you can do nothing. Duly noted. Sensory deprivation is the secret to success. Or being so bored with your own company that you create a few imaginary friends.
Speaking of Neil Gaiman: Earlier this week he appeared on Icelandic TV where he discussed a number of things including social media: “The days of social media are ending - maybe it’s time to go back to blogging.” We couldn’t agree more, which is why we are on Substack and have such fun plans for the new year. Then Gaiman added this fun tidbit about reading to adults, “There’s something very very magical about reading to adults, who often have not been read to since they were small children…there’s this sort of awkwardness as you begin, you can hear them rustling and shifting and then several paragraphs in there’s a little sigh that comes from the audience and then they get comfortable and now they’re seven years old again and they will listen.” Um, who are these crazy adults? I will volunteer as tribute and then pay cash money to have Neil Gaiman read aloud to me. I mean, just listen to the man!
Genre as a confining madness: Do you only read thrillers? Or just romance? Or exclusively fantasy? Or are you, like most readers I know, the type who simply want a great story regardless of genre? The Guardian posits that the label is thrown on by publishers and retailers as a method of categorizing books that has nothing to do with how writers actually write or how readers actually read. They ask what would happen if we abandoned categorization altogether and met each book on its own terms? Our answer?: Pandemonium, chaos, mayhem, furor, and bedlam. We are 100% in favor of this idea.
Eight New Books of December: The New York Times did a piece on eight new books coming out in December (see photo above) and we are pleased as punch to see Ariel Lawhon’s The Frozen River on the list. No jokes here, just a whole lotta love for our co-founder. Go get you a copy. Or ten.
No, not those dragons, different dragons: Christopher Paolini is back with a new book in the Eragon universe. Homeschooled author, Christopher Paolini originally wrote Eragon when he was 15 years old, self published it, and spent years doing guerilla marketing self-promotion. That tenacity landed him a publishing deal with Random House at just 19, and Eragon went on to sell over a million copies in its first six months. Paolini has since written three more novels in the Inheritance series as well as two other novels in his sci-fi Fractalverse. Now 40, he has released a fourth standalone novel, Murtagh, to follow the Inheritance saga. His fan base is large and varied–adults who grew up with his stories and children who are just now discovering him. You gotta give it to the homeschooled kids who ignore societal norms and pursue their dreams relentlessly. Mr. Paolini, you didn’t conform fast enough and, boy, did it work out for you. Respect.
The world’s oldest reality show: The Royals and the Sussexes’ are in the news again with the release of Omid Scobie’s Endgame. Overall the book is viewed to be re-hashing old fights but the Dutch edition is also rumored to have a gossipy misprint though the author vehemently denies a purposeful slip. Call it my American sensibilities but I’m just curious when we are going to start calling this family what it really is–reality TV? An admittedly refined, extraordinarily fabulous show, that we thoroughly enjoy–but reality tv nonetheless. The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Sussexes, just like Princess Di, have breathed new life and a great deal of flair into what was becoming a stodgy show in its 63rd season (if we’re counting by monarchs). You uncork the wine, I’ll pop the popcorn. God save the Queen! (Sorry, we still haven’t gotten over her majesty. QEII forever).
Now, that’s a big fine: An overdue library book was finally returned to the St. Paul Public Library in Minnesota after 104 years. The copy of Famous Composers by Nathan Haskell Dole was last checked out in 1919 and returned anonymously this year. According to St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, “At the 1919 rate of a penny per day, that would have been a $36k fine… but #SaintPaul is a #FineFreeLibrary system so no charge!” We here at The Book Tide don’t believe in fine-dodging. Pay your fines! Pay my fines, too. I owe a solid $1.50 to my local library.
Scarpetta meets Sasquatch: When Patricia Cornwell started writing her Kay Scarpetta series in the 1990’s she leaned heavily on her experience in forensics. But for her newest novel in the series, Unnatural Death, she dipped into the mythical. (A certain sasquatch might very well be a murder suspect in the novel). Cornwell explained to People Magazine that she listened to Bigfoot 911 calls as research. “It is very, very authentic and makes your hair stand on end, some of the stories,” she said. Zombies. Sasquatch. Dragons. Royals. We’re here for all of it.
Boy Swallows Universe: Netflix has adapted Australian author, Trent Dalton’s, novel Boy Swallows Universe for a limited series. Truth be told, I hadn’t heard of this novel but after watching the preview, I have A) ordered the book and B) feel like it might be the perfect thematic mashup of Because of Winn Dixie and A Monster Calls. But with drug dealers. And for children. As you do. This here is an equal opportunity reading website.
Intern position available: In 1482, before coming to fame, Leonardo DaVinci wrote a letter to Ludovico il Moro, Duke of Milan listing his abilities–a sort of resume, if you will. Included in his professed accomplishments are the following:
“...a sort of extremely light and strong bridge, adapted to be most easily carried, and with them you may pursue, and at any time flee from the enemy.”
“...kinds of mortars; most convenient and easy to carry; and with these I can fling small stones almost resembling a storm; and with the smoke of these cause great terror to the enemy, to his great detriment and confusion… “
“...and if the fight should be at sea I have kinds of many machines most efficient for offense and defense; and vessels which will resist the attack of the largest guns and powder and fumes.”
Ok folks, the bar is high but these are the skills we will be looking for in our future interns. Run on sentences. Unfortunate grammar. And, most importantly, the ability to create portable bridges on the fly. We like to be prepared for all eventualities, especially ones that cause great confusion to our enemies. Of which we have many. Unqualified applicants need not apply.
Tweet of the Week: or rather book deal of the week goes to Therese Anne Fowler. We are so excited for her and can’t wait for this one to be published.
Catch Up with Ariel over at I’m So Glad You Asked.
See what Marybeth is up to at I Will Tell You This.
I would be THRILLED if we all abandoned genres and wrote whatever we wanted without anyone labeling it! (Also, hi ladies!❤️)