MONDAY NONFICTION

TUESDAY FICTION

TUESDAY NONFICTION

WEDNESDAY FICTION

Bookmark to:

Donna Andrews, The Real Macaw (Minotaur)
Rita Lakin, Getting Old Can Kill You (Dell)
Jess Lourey, October Fest (Midnight Ink)
Kris Neri, Magical Alienation (Red Coyote Press)
Cindy Sample, Dying for a Dance (L & L Dreamspell)
John Vorhaus, The Albuquerque Turkey (Crown)

The Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award, first awarded in 2004, is given to mystery novels covering events before 1960. This year’s nominees are:

Rhys Bowen, Naughty in Nice (Berkley Prime Crime)
Rebecca Cantrell, A Game of Lies (Forge)
Ann Parker, Mercury’s Rise (Poisoned Pen Press)
Priscilla Royal, A Killing Season (Poisoned Pen Press)
Jeri Westerson, Troubled Bones (Minotaur)
Jacqueline Winspear, A Lesson in Secrets (Harper)

The Golden Nugget is a special award given to the best mystery set in California, in recognition of the location of this year’s convention. The nominees are:

Jan Burke, Disturbance (Simon & Schuster)
Michael Connelly, The Drop (Little, Brown)
Janet Dawson, Bit Player (Perseverance Press)
Sue Grafton, V is for Vengeance (Putnam)
Kelli Stanley, City of Secrets (Minotaur)

Eureka! is a special award this year for the best first mystery novel. The nominees are:

Sally Carpenter, The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper (Oak Tree Press)
Darrell James, Nazareth Child (Midnight Ink)
Tammy Kaehler, Dead Man’s Switch (Poisoned Pen Press)

Bookmark to:

By Cindy Orr and Sarah Statz Cords

New To the Bestseller Lists This Week:

FICTION

NONFICTION

GRAPHIC BOOKS

To Be Published Week of Jan. 30 to Feb. 5, 2012:

Fiction

Nonfiction

This is just a sample from our picks of the week. Scroll down or click here for the complete list, including ISBNs.

Best Books of 2011

It’s Best Books of the Year season! Look to the right hand column for our collection of links, or click here. As we find new lists, we’ll add them at the top of the column.

News of the Week:

Ebook News:

ALA To Meet With Top Executives of Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, and Penguin on Ebook Lending

OverDrive Reports 35 Million Digital Titles Checked Out in 2011, Page Views Up 130 Percent

Pew Says Ownership of Tablets and E-Readers Doubled Over the Holidays

Library e-Book Wars and Bundling

Is Digital Rights Management NOT the way to go?

Sesame Street launches digital series

Social networks, privacy, etc.:

New social network for book lovers

Facebook’s IPO is coming

Take a look at Google’s new privacy policy

And all other things literary:

How bestseller lists work

Amazon makes a deal with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

No wonder it’s hard to keep up; “there were more books published this week than in all of 1950.”

Indie publisher Melville House turns 10

Most Quoted Books of 2011

Washington, D.C., the nation’s most literate city

Professional Development Opportunities:

Library Journal webcast: Meet the Power Patron

How to use Pinterest

Books on Screen

Six of the nine best picture films are from books

The obligatory Downton Abbey post

Sweet Valley High, the musical!

Awards

2012 Oscar nominations are in!

National Book Critics Circle Award Finalists

Ayn Rand app wins prize

Andrew Miller wins the Costa Award; now Short Stories have their own Costa Award as well

All awards ALA, announced last week:

2012 ALA Notable Books
ALA Reading List Awards
Newbery and other youth awards
RUSA Listen List
2012 odyssey award
Sophie Brody Medal; Louis Shores Award (congrats Sarah Johnson!); Zora Neale Hurston Award; Stonewall Book Award

Authors

Charla Krupp: Obituary

Newt Gingrich: SF author

Charlotte Bronte, love letter writer

Tolkien’s Middle-earth “family tree”

Ezra Jack Keats’s The Snowy Day turns 50

John Green on NPR

Lists

The 5 Books That Inspire the Most Tattoos

Most Dangerous Novels of all time

New York Times Editors’ Choice for Jan. 27

Lighthearted Links of the Week

Stephen Colbert interviews Maurice Sendak (video)

Authors accessorize!

Bookmark to:

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults
John Corey Whaley – “Where Things Come Back”

Coretta Scott King Book Award recognizing African American authors
Kadir Nelson – “Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans”


Coretta Scott King Book Award for illustration
Shane W. Evans – “Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom”

Pura Belpre Award honoring a Latino illustrator
Duncan Tonatiuh – “Diego Rivera: His World and Ours”

Belpre Author Award
Guadalupe Garcia McCall – “Under the Mesquite”

Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults
Susan Cooper

Theodor Geisel Award for most distinguished beginning reader book
Josh Schneider – “Tales for Very Picky Eaters”

William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens
John Corey Whaley – “Where Things Come Back”

Schneider Family Book Award for best teen book embodying an artistic expression of the disability experience
Wendelin Van Draanen – “The Running Dream”

Schneider Award for middle-school readers
Joan Bauer – “Close to Famous”
Brian Selznick – “Wonderstruck: A Novel in Words and Pictures”

Alex Awards for adult books that appeal to teen audiences
“Big Girl Small” by Rachel DeWoskin
“In Zanesville” by Jo Ann Beard
“The Lover’s Dictionary” by David Levithan
“The New Kids: Big Dreams and Brave Journeys at a High School for Immigrant Teens” by Brooke Hauser
“The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern
“Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline
“Robopocalypse: A Novel” by Daniel H. Wilson
“Salvage the Bones” by Jesmyn Ward
“The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures” by Caroline Preston
“The Talk-Funny Girl” by Roland Merullo

Bookmark to:

Louis Shores Award for Book Reviewing
Sarah L. Johnson, professor of library services at Eastern Illinois University and author of the blog Reading the Past and book review editor, The Historical Novels Review

2012 Zora Neale Hurston Award for Outstanding African-American Literature
Vanessa Irvin Morris, author of The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Street Literature (ALA Editions)

Stonewall Book Award for exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience
Bil Wright – “Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy”

Bookmark to:

Listen-Alikes:

“Away” by Amy Bloom. Narrated by Barbara Rosenblat. HighBridge.
“Pirate King” by Laurie R. King. Narrated by Jenny Sterlin. Recorded Books.
“Year of Wonders” by Geraldine Brooks. Narrated by Josephine Bailey. Books on Tape.

“Bossypants,” by Tina Fey. Narrated by Tina Fey. Hachette Audio. (ISBN 978-1-60941-969-1). AudioGO. (ISBN 978-1-60941-719-2).
In a very funny memoir made decidedly funnier by its reader, Tina Fey relates sketches and memories of her time at SNL and Second City as well as the difficulties of balancing career and motherhood. In a voice dripping with wit, she acts out the book, adding extra-aural elements that print simply cannot convey.

Listen-Alikes:

“Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim,” by David Sedaris. Narrated by David Sedaris. Hachette Audio.
“I Was Told There’d Be Cake,” by Sloane Crosley. Narrated by Sloane Crosley. Penguin Audio.
“The Partly Cloudy Patriot,” by Sarah Vowell. Narrated by Sarah Vowell. Simon & Schuster Audio.

“The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey,” by Walter Mosley. Narrated by Dominic Hoffman. Penguin Audio. (ISBN 978-0-14-242856-6). Books on Tape. (ISBN 978-0-3078-7583-9).
Dominic Hoffman reads this elegiac novel of memory and redemption with fierce grace, inhabiting Mosley’s characters with voices perfectly crafted in pitch and rhythm. His rough, gravelly narration manages the pace and mood of the book with astounding skill, brilliantly capturing the mental clarity and fog of 91-year-old Ptolemy Grey’s world.

Listen-Alikes:

“Emily, Alone,” by Stewart O’Nan. Narrated by Andrea Gallo. Recorded Books.
“Flowers for Algernon,” by Daniel Keyes. Narrated by Jeff Woodman. Recorded Books.
“Noah’s Compass,” by Anne Tyler. Narrated by Arthur Morey. Random House Audio. Books on Tape.

“Life Itself: A Memoir,” by Roger Ebert. Narrated by Edward Herrmann. Hachette Audio (ISBN 978-1-60941-035-3). AudioGO. (ISBN 978-1-61113-792-7).
Ebert’s clear-eyed account chronicles his life from his youth in Urbana, Illinois, to his fame as a world-renowned film critic in Chicago. Herrmann’s engaging, affable reading mirrors the author’s tone—honest, often humorous, sometimes bittersweet—as he unhurriedly ushers listeners through Ebert’s moving reflections on a life well lived.

Listen-Alikes:

“Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life,” by Steve Martin. Narrated by Steve Martin. Simon & Schuster Audio. Recorded Books.
“Chapters from My Autobiography,” by Mark Twain. Narrated by Bronson Pinchot. AudioGO.
“Life,” by Keith Richards and James Fox. Narrated by Keith Richards, Johnny Depp and Joe Hurley. Hachette Audio.

“Middlemarch,” by George Eliot. Narrated by Juliet Stevenson. NAXOS. (ISBN 978-184-379-439-4).
Juliet Stevenson brings crisp clarity, a witty sensibility and a charming tonal quality to Eliot’s masterpiece of provincial life. Through her deft management of pacing and tone, she reveals character motivation and illuminates the many themes of the novel. But most of all she reclaims Eliot for listeners who thought they did not enjoy classics.

Listen-Alikes:

“The Age of Innocence,” by Edith Wharton. Narrated by Lorna Raver. Blackstone Audio.
“Jane Eyre,” by Charlotte Brontë. Narrated by Nadia May. Blackstone Audio.
“Pride and Prejudice,” by Jane Austen. Narrated by Josephine Bailey. Tantor Media.

“The Mischief of the Mistletoe,” by Lauren Willig. Narrated by Kate Reading. Penguin Audio. (ISBN 978-0-14-242830-6).
In this Regency Christmas caper, a pudding, a spy, a hilarious school theatrical and a memorable country house party lead to laughter, love and an offer of marriage. Reading’s lovely English accent and exuberance are a perfect fit for the wide range of characters, from young girls to male teachers to members of the aristocracy.

Listen-Alikes:

“The Black Cobra Quartet,” series by Stephanie Laurens. Narrated by Simon Prebble. Harper Audio. Blackstone Audio.
“The Scarlet Pimpernel,” by Baroness Emma Orczy. Narrated by Ralph Cosham. Blackstone Audio.
“The Talisman Ring,” by Georgette Heyer. Narrated by Phyllida Nash. AudioGO.

“One of Our Thursdays is Missing” by Jasper Fforde. Narrated by Emily Gray. Recorded Books. (ISBN 978-1-4498-4675-6).
In this genre-bending romp, the “written” Thursday must rescue the “real” Thursday from a nefarious Bookworld plot. Emily Gray wears Thursday like a second skin, as she does the robots, dodos, and space aliens running around. The story is paced such that every nuance of pun and word play is captured and rendered aurally.

Listen-Alikes:

“Blackout,” by Connie Willis. Narrated by Katherine Kellgren. Brilliance Audio.
“The Peculiar Crimes Unit Mysteries,” series by Christopher Fowler. Narrated by Tim Goodman. Recorded Books/Clipper Audio.
“Relative Danger,” by Charles Benoit. Narrated by Patrick Lawlor. Blackstone Audio.

“A Red Herring Without Mustard,” by Alan Bradley. Narrated by Jayne Entwistle. Random House Audio (ISBN 978-0-307-57643-9). Books On Tape. (ISBN 978-0-3077-0479-5).
Flavia de Luce, a terrifyingly proficient 11-year-old amateur chemist and sleuth, investigates the beating of a gypsy and the death of a villager in this third outing. Entwistle’s spot-on narration reveals the irrepressible, intrepid heroine’s prowess and captures a delicious range of secondary characters in these whimsical mysteries set in 1950s rural England.

Listen-Alikes:

“To Kill a Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee. Narrated by Sissy Spacek. Harper Audio/Caedmon. Recorded Books.
“Special Topics in Calamity Physics,” by Marisha Pessi. Narrated by Emily Janice Card. Penguin Audio. Books on Tape.
“Tallgrass” by Sandra Dallas. Narrated by Lorelei King. Macmillan Audio. BBC Audiobooks America.

“The Snowman,” by Jo Nesbø. Narrated by Robin Sachs. Random House Audio. (ISBN 978-0-307-91750-8). Books On Tape. (ISBN 978-0-307-91752-2).
The icy chill of the Norwegian countryside and a series of cold-blooded murders dominate this Harry Hole crime novel. Sachs contrasts Hole’s world-weary professional attitude, his unquenchable thirst for justice and his yearning for love and comfort, as he skillfully maintains a suspenseful pace and projects an overarching sense of doom.

Listen-Alikes:

“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” by Stieg Larsson. Narrated by Simon Vance. Books on Tape.
“Hell is Empty,” by Craig Johnson. Narrated by George Guidall. Recorded Books.
“Rain Gods,” by James Lee Burke. Narrated by Tom Stechschulte. Recorded Books.

“A Tale of Two Cities,” by Charles Dickens. Narrated by Simon Prebble. Blackstone Audio. (ISBN 978-1-4551-0867-1).
The tragedy and heroism of the French Revolution come alive through Prebble’s distinctive and graceful narration. As the lives of Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton intersect, Prebble takes listeners deep into France and England, narrating terrifying descriptions and breathless acts of courage with a cadence that sweeps one away.

Listen-Alikes:

“Les Misérables,” by Victor Hugo. Narrated by George Guidall. Recorded Books.
“Sharpe’s Fury,” by Bernard Cornwell. Narrated by Steven Crossley. Recorded Books.
“War and Peace,” by Leo Tolstoy. Narrated by Frederick Davidson. Blackstone Audio.

“The Tiger’s Wife,” by Téa Obreht. Narrated by Susan Duerden and Robin Sachs. Random House Audio (978-0-307-87700-0). Books On Tape. (ISBN 978-0-307-87702-4).
In this imaginative novel, Balkan physician Natalia, on a mission of mercy, learns of her beloved grandfather’s death. Duerden’s mesmerizing voice leads listeners through the complexities of this rich novel with its intertwining stories, while Sachs memorably relates her grandfather’s haunting tales in a gentle and gruff voice.

Listen-Alikes:

“Bel Canto,” by Ann Patchett. Narrated by Anna Fields. Harper Audio. Blackstone Audio.
“Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” by Jonathan Safran Foer. Narrated by Jeff Woodman, Barbara Caruso, Richard Ferrone. Recorded Books.
“Pretty Birds,” by Scott Simon. Narrated by Christina Moore. Recorded Books.

“Why Read Moby-Dick?,” by Nathaniel Philbrick. Narrated by Nathaniel Philbrick. Penguin Audio. (ISBN 978-1-61176-024-8). Books on Tape. (ISBN 978-0-307-96967-5)
In what should be required reading before cracking the pages of Moby-Dick, Nathaniel Philbrick’s homage to this great American novel compels the listener to experience Melville with an almost incandescent joy. His voice resonates with palpable enthusiasm and calls to mind a New England professor giving a fascinating lecture.

Listen-Alikes:

“Moby-Dick,” by Herman Melville. Narrated by Frank Muller. Recorded Books.
“My Reading Life,” by Pat Conroy. Narrated by Pat Conroy. Random House Audio. Books on Tape.
“The Swerve,” by Stephen Greenblatt. Narrated by Edoardo Ballerini. Recorded Books.

Bookmark to:

Barnes, Julian. “The Sense of an Ending.” Knopf. 9780307957122
A 60-something retiree living near London searches through his memories to discern what role, if any, he may have played in a decades-old tragedy.

deWitt, Patrick. “The Sisters Brothers.” Ecco. 9780062041265
A darkly comic and quixotic quest western tale about two brothers whose divergent world views are presented in sparkling prose and originality.

Goldman, Francisco. “Say Her Name.” Grove. 9780802119810
Poetic novelization of the author’s struggle to cope with his young wife’s accidental death.

Harbach, Chad. “The Art of Fielding.” Little, Brown. 9780316126694
One man’s failure to attain perfection on the baseball field reveals the pain and beauty that life offers in this psychologically astute novel.

MacLeod, Alexander. “Light Lifting.” Biblioasis. 9781897231944
Seven fearless short stories explore the limits of physical and emotional endurance in muscular prose.

Obreht, Téa. “The Tiger’s Wife.” Random House. 9780385343831
After the death of her beloved grandfather, a young doctor navigates family history, folklore and love across ethnic barriers in a war-torn country.

Ondaatje, Michael. “The Cat’s Table.” Knopf. 9780307700117
An adventurous 21-day ocean voyage filled with a rich assortment of characters and escapades resonates through a boy’s life on his way to a new life.

Phillips, Arthur. “The Tragedy of Arthur.” Random House. 9781400066476
In an adulthood marred by family dysfunction, an author who dislikes Shakespeare reluctantly finds himself in possession of the Bard’s lost gem. Or does he?

Russell, Karen. “Swamplandia!” Knopf. 9780307263995
An inventive story set in an alligator theme-park navigates boundaries between childhood and adulthood, imagination and reality, in an American landscape both familiar and surreal.

Torres, Justin. “We the Animals.” Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 9780547576725
Searing portrait of a troubled, mixed-race working class family centers on the youngest son as he struggles to find his identity amid affection and abuse.

Trevor, William. “Selected Stories.” Viking. 9780670022069
These finely sculpted and timeless stories provide a greater appreciation for finding beauty in the minutiae of daily life.

NONFICTION:
Adams, Mark. “Right Turn at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time.” Dutton. 9780525952244
In this humorous travelogue, the author sprinkles historical anecdote with investigative reporting as he retraces the steps of early explorers into ancient Peru.

Bartók, Mira. “The Memory Palace.” Free Press. 9781439183311
Beautifully wrought memoir chronicles the 17-year estrangement of the author and her homeless, schizophrenic mother and the painful reunion that brings them together.

Gleick, James. “The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood.” Knopf. 9780375423727
This comprehensive study, a melodious interplay between science and literature, documents the transmission of human knowledge from the talking drums to the Internet.

Greenblatt, Stephen. “The Swerve: How the World Became Modern.” Norton. 9780393064476
Meditation on the power of literature, examining how a medieval book hunter’s serendipitous discovery of an ancient prose poem provides a theoretical bridge to the Renaissance.

Hillenbrand, Laura. “Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption.” Random House. 9781400064168
An Olympic runner’s physical and inner strength is tested by the experience and aftermath of a plane crash, 42 days at sea and Japanese imprisonment.

Hitchens, Christopher. “Arguably: Essays.” Twelve. 9781455502776
Polymath and public intellectual displays his considerable range and biting wit in these thoughtful, incisive pieces that provoke and challenge.

Homans, Jennifer. “Apollo’s Angels: A History of Ballet.” Random House. 9781400060603
Elegant, authoritative work traces the evolution of classical dance from the 16th century to today, highlighting social and cultural dimensions of this traditional art form.

Kahneman, Daniel. “Thinking, Fast and Slow.” Farrar, Strauss, Giroux. 9780374275631
Entertaining look at the complexities and oddities that characterize our mental processes from the only psychologist ever to have won the Nobel Prize for Economics.

Marable, Manning. “Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention.” Viking. 9780670022205
Definitive work on his life and transformation from petty thief to charismatic leader of during the turbulent civil rights era.

Millard, Candace. “Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President.” Doubleday. 9780385526265
Era of great corruption and change in U.S. history is illuminated through the tragic story of two men – one destined for greatness, the other a madman.

Mukherjee, Siddhartha. “Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.” Scribner. 9781439107959
The history of these diseases and their treatment is examined through the stories of those seeking to discover a cure and the individuals affected.

Reitman, Janet. “Inside Scientology: The Story of America’s Most Secretive Religion.” Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 9780618883028
An investigation of the origins, personalities and controversies of this uniquely American religious movement.

POETRY:
Rimbaud, Arthur. “Illuminations.” Translated by John Ashbery. Norton. 9780393076356
A vigorous new translation of the French prodigy’s last poems as rendered by one of America’s finest contemporary poets.

Bartlett, Jennifer, Sheila Black and Michael, Northen. “Beauty is a Verb: The New Poetry of Disability.” Cinco Puntos. 9781935955054
Collection of poems and essays that provides insight into the lives of the estimated 50 million Americans with disabilities.

Bookmark to:

Adrenaline:
Before I Go To Sleep,” by S. J. Watson, Harper Collins, 9780062060556
Each morning, Christine wakes with no memory. From the clues she left herself, she tries to piece together her identity and sort lies from the truth. The unrelenting pace thrusts the reader into the confusion of a waking nightmare in which revelations of her past lead to a frantic crescendo.

READ-ALIKES:

“The Likeness,” by Tana French
“Shutter Island,” by Dennis Lehane
“Memento,” (Summit Entertainment, 2000)

SHORT LIST:

“Now You See Me” by S. J. Bolton, St. Martin’s, 9780312600525
“Spiral” by Paul McEuen, Dial Press, 9780385342117
“The Woodcutter” by Reginald Hill, Harper Collins, 9780062060747
“You’re Next” by Gregg Hurwitz, St. Martin’s, 9780312534912

Fantasy
“The Night Circus,” by Erin Morgenstern, Doubleday, 9780385534635
Le Cirque des Rêves is utterly unique, disappearing at dawn in one town only to mysteriously reappear in another. At the heart of the circus are two young magicians, involved in a competition neither completely understands. The dreamlike atmosphere and vivid imagery make this fantasy unforgettable.

READ-ALIKES:

“Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell,” by Susanna Clarke
“Shadow of the Windby,” Carlos Ruiz Zafón
“Prestige,” (Touchstone Pictures, 2006)

SHORT LIST:

“Daughter of Smoke and Bone,” by Laini Taylor, Little, Brown, 9780316134026
“The Magician King,” by Lev Grossman, Viking, 9780670022311
“The Wise Man’s Fear,” by Patrick Rothfuss, DAW, 9780756404734
“Zoo City,” by Lauren Beukes, Angry Robot, 9780857660558

Historical Fiction
“Doc” by Mary Doria Russell, Random House, 9781400068043
In the early days of Dodge City, a genteel, tubercular Southern dentist forges a friendship with the infamous Earp brothers. Combining historical details and lyrical language, this gritty psychological portrait of gunslinger Doc Holliday reveals how the man became the legend.

READ-ALIKES:

“Deadwood,” by Pete Dexter
“Etta,” by Gerald Kolpan
“Gunman’s Rhapsody,” by Robert B. Parker

SHORT LIST:

“Bright and Distant Shores,” by Dominic Smith, Pocket Books, 9781439198865
“Lionheart,” by Sharon Kay Penman, Putnam, 9780399157851
“Rules of Civility,” by Amor Towles, Viking, 9780670022694
“The Sea Captain’s Wife,” by Beth Powning, Penguin, 9780452296954

Horror
“The Ridge,” by Michael Koryta, Little, Brown, 9780316053662
The unexplained death of an eccentric lighthouse keeper in the isolated Kentucky woods, followed by a mysterious threat to a nearby large cat sanctuary prompt an investigation by a journalist and the local sheriff. Palpable evil and a sense of dread drive this chilling tale.

READ-ALIKES:

“The Dead Path,” by Stephen Irwin
“Those Across the River,” by Christopher Buehlman
“Harbor,” by John Ajvide Lindqvist

SHORT LIST:

“The Last Werewolf,” by Glen Duncan, Knopf, 9780307595089
“The Night Strangers,” by Chris Bohjalian, Crown, 9780307394996
“Raising Stony Mayhall,” by Daryl Gregory, Del Rey, 9780345522375
“The White Devil,” by Justin Evans, Harper Collins, 9780061728273

Mystery
“The Devotion of Suspect X,” by Keigo Higashino, Minotaur, 9780312375065
An introverted mathematician matches wits with a brilliant former colleague to protect the neighbor he secretly adores from a murder charge. Although the reader knows the murderer’s identity from the beginning, this unconventional Japanese mystery remains a taut psychological puzzle.

READ-ALIKES:

“Out,” by Natsuo Kirino
“Think of a Number,” by John Verdon
“Sherlock,” (BBC, 2010-2012)

SHORT LIST:

“Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead,” by Sara Gran, Houghton, Mifflin, 9780547428499
“Killed at the Whim of a Hat,” by Colin Cotterill, Minotaur, 9780312564537
“The Snowman,” by Jo Nesbo, Knopf, 9780307595867
“A Trick of the Light,” by Louise Penny, Minotaur, 9780312655457

Romance
“Silk is for Seduction” by Loretta Chase, Avon, 9780061632686
Ambitious dressmaker Marcelline Noirot will do almost anything to secure the patronage of the Duke of Clevendon’s intended bride. Neither her calculated business plan nor his campaign of seduction can withstand the force of their mutual attraction. Witty banter and strong-willed characters make this a memorable tale.

READ-ALIKES:

“Dangerous in Diamonds,” by Madeline Hunter
“The Raven Prince,” by Elizabeth Hoyt
“Untie My Heart,” by Judith Ivory

SHORT LIST:

“Dragon Bound,” by Thea Harrison, Berkley, 9780425241509
“A Lady’s Lesson in Scandal,” by Meredith Duran, Pocket, 9781451606935
“My One And Only,” by Kristin Higgins, Harlequin, 9780373775576
“When Beauty Tamed the Beast,” by Eloisa James, Avon, 9780062021274

Science Fiction
“Leviathan Wakes,” by James S.A. Corey, Orbit, 9780316129084
The missions of a jaded cop and a dedicated ice hauler officer collide as the fate of humanity hangs in the balance. A mystery adds a noir touch to this space opera featuring deeply flawed yet heroic characters, non-stop action and Earth versus Mars politics.

READ-ALIKES:

“Up Against It,” by M. J. Locke
“Pandora’s Star,” by Peter Hamilton
“The Quiet War,” by Paul J. McAuley

SHORT LIST:

“Embassytown,” by China Miéville, Del Rey, 9780345524492
“The Quantum Thief,” by Hannu Rajaniemi, Tor, 9780765329493
“Ready Player One,” by Ernest Cline, Crown, 9780307887436
“When She Woke,” by Hillary Jordan, Algonquin, 9781565126299

Women’s Fiction
“The Language of Flowers,” by Vanessa Diffenbaugh Ballantine, 9780345525543
A former foster child struggles to overcome a past filled with abuse, neglect and anger. Communicating through the Victorian language of flowers allows her to discover hope, redemption and a capacity for love. Damaged, authentic characters create an emotional tension in this profoundly moving story.

READ-ALIKES:

“Like Family,” by Paula McLain (NF)
“The Lost Garden,” by Helen Humphreys
“White Oleander,” by Janet Fitch

SHORT LIST:

“Deep Down True” by Juliette Fay, Penguin, 9780143118510
“Joy for Beginners” by Erica Bauermeister, Putnam, 9780399157127
“The Weird Sisters” by Eleanor Brown, Putnam, 9780399157226
“What Alice Forgot” by Liane Moriarty, Penguin, 9780141043760

Bookmark to:

By Cindy Orr and Sarah Statz Cords

New To the Bestseller Lists This Week:

FICTION

NONFICTION

GRAPHIC BOOKS

To Be Published Week of Jan 23-29, 2012:

Fiction

Nonfiction

This is just a sample from our picks of the week. Scroll down or click here for the complete list, including ISBNs.

Best Books of 2011

It’s Best Books of the Year season! Look to the right hand column for our collection of links, or click here. As we find new lists, we’ll add them at the top of the column.

News of the Week:

OverDrive reports 35 million digital copies checked out in 2011, a 130% increase from 2010; number of users exceeds 11 million

Storytime not just for kids anymore

Professional Development Opportunities:

Beyond Books: Advanced Readers’ Advisory course begins March 13. $75 for Californians, $150 for others

Books on Screen

On the set of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Movie tie-in edition of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is available from Mariner ($14.95, 9780547735023).

Coriolanus movie companion volume: Coriolanus: The Shooting Script (Newmarket Press for It Books, $19.95, 9780062202574), includes the screenplay, a foreword by Ralph Fiennes, introduction and scene notes by screenwriter John Logan and 21 film stills and behind-the-scenes photos.

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2 scene sneak peek offered by Target

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Awards

NAACP Image Award for Literature nominees

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Authors

Cormac McCarthy writes an original script

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Lists

Oprah: 9 books that will help you change your life

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Lighthearted Links of the Week

The alternate titles of famous books

Bookmark to:

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