Better World Books Podcast: Jasper Fforde

Posted by Dana on 02.09.2010 at 9:30 am

Interviewing an author is not as straight forward as you might think.  Often they are coming in from out of town for 24 hours or less and have a fairly tight schedule while they are here.

Sometimes the authors have been affected by the congestion and general purpose ickiness that is Atlanta traffic.

Sometimes the schedule is plagued by the questionable info on the various mapping websites that often will lead them to some place other than our office.

And sometimes they arrive at the right place and the right time and for some unknown reason the recording equipment will decide not to work.

Alas – on the scheduled date of my interview with Jasper Fforde, it was the airline that got in the way.  We were supposed to meet at noon that day.  He was to come to straight to our offices after getting off a flight from Miami.  But the plane broke.  Okay – I’m sure it was more technical than that, and probably less dramatic, but you get the idea.  Our poor author had to spend something like 4 hours on the tarmac while the plane fixers did their thing.

Read more…

 

 Better World Books Author Podcast [21:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (8)

Have your say » | Tagged Author Podcast, Better World Books Author Podcast, Jasper Fforde, Shades of Grey

Better World Books Podcast: Janice Y. K. Lee

Posted by Dana on 01.21.2010 at 5:19 pm

Ask any overnight success how easy their success really was and they’ll tell you it certainly didn’t feel overnight to them.  Janice Y. K. Lee is no exception to that.

THE PIANO TEACHER is Janice’s debut novel and she admittedly didn’t have too much trouble finding a publisher, but she did spend 5 years writing the book as well as several years in a graduate writing program and several years reviewing and reading books for Elle and Mirabella magazines.

As with any artist Janice wasn’t sure she could write a novel let alone get it published and she is thrilled about how well the book has been received.  And with good reason.

THE PIANO TEACHER takes place in Hong Kong during WWII and then in the period 10 years after the war.  It is a story of the glamorous seeming British Read more…

 

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Book Club Update

Posted by Dana on 01.14.2010 at 3:49 pm

It’s been awhile since I’ve blogged about the Better World Book Club and a lot has happened since August!  We’ve been reading some great books and we are starting some live meetings at participating Whole Foods Markets in the Atlanta area.

We’re now announcing books a month ahead of time so that you can participate in our online and local discussions.  Our newest pick – which we’ll be discussing the first week in February is THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO by Junot Diaz.

Stay tuned for details on a twitter discussion – and also feel free to comment right here on the blog!

Our January pick is AWAY by Amy Bloom and the local discussions are taking place tonight at 7PM participating Whole Foods Markets.

Previous picks include:

OUTCASTS UNITED by Warren St. John
THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

Have a book you’d like to suggest? Want to set up a live local meeting near you? Email me at bookclub@betterworldbooks.com.

Have your say » | Tagged Better World Book Club, Amy Bloom, Annie Barrows, Atlanta area, Away, Better World Book Club, Junot Diaz, Mary Ann Shaffer, Outcasts United, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY, Warren St. John, Whole Foods Markets

Top 5 Series for Teens Who Love Twilight

Posted by Dana on 12.21.2009 at 3:22 pm

My friend Stacy recently asked for some book recommendations for her teenage daughter who loved Twilight and hasn’t found anything she’s liked as much since.  I figured many moms and teens are having the same problem, so I checked in with my daughter who recommends the following 5 series.  (She has read them all, in fact and likes #1 and #5 the best).

	#1 – Blue Bloods Series by Melissa De La Cruz This one is Gossip Girl meets Twilight – a page turner, but a little racy.
	#2 – The Immortals Series by Alyson Noel Immortality – check, magic – check, teen romance – check, check…. All bases covered.
	#3 – House of Night Series by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast In a world where humans know about and tolerate vampires – the main character Zoey is marked to become a vampire and starts her training at Hogwarts…oops no the House of Night School.  So Twilight meets Harry Potter – but older and a bit racy.  Pattern?  Surely not.  Still great angsty teen vamp fun.
	#4 – The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray A Victorian boarding school, a Gothic mansion, a gossipy clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy.  What more could you ask for?
	#5 – Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan About to be a movies starring Uma Thurman this one is a bit of a departure – not vamps – but Greek gods.  Might not sound as compelling at first – but trust me it is!

These should keep your teen – or let’s face it you – reading through all the planes, trains and in-laws’ houses you encounter in the next couple of weeks.

9 Comments » | Tagged Book Lists, Blue Bloods, Gemma Doyle Trilogy, House of Night, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Teenage Vampires, The Immortals, Top 5 Book Series for Twilight Lovers, Twilight

Top 10 in New Fiction this Holiday Season

Posted by Dana on 12.08.2009 at 5:46 pm

Looking for the perfect gift for the readers on your list?  Or just need something to read on your journey – here’s the latest and greatest fiction for them and for you!

Under The Dome Stephen King On an entirely normal, beautiful fall day in Chester’s Mill, Maine, the town is inexplicably and suddenly sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field.  No one can fathom what this barrier is, where it came from, and when — or if — it will go away.	Her Fearful Symmetry Audrey Niffenegger Six years after the phenomenal success of The Time Traveler’s Wife, Audrey Niffenegger has returned with a spectacularly compelling and haunting second novel set in and around Highgate Cemetery in London.
Last Night in Twisted River John Irving Last Night in Twisted River depicts the recent half-century in the US as “a living replica of Coos County, where lethal hatreds were generally permitted to run their course.” It is written with the historical authenticity and emotional authority of The Cider House Rules and A Prayer for Owen Meany and is as violent and disturbing a story as John Irving’s breakthrough bestseller, The World According to Garp.	The Piano Teacher Janice Y.K. Lee In the sweeping tradition of The English Patient, Janice Y.K. Lee’s debut novel is a tale of love and betrayal set in war-torn Hong Kong. As the threads of this spellbinding novel intertwine, impossible choices emerge-between love and safety, courage and survival, the present, and above all, the past.
Wishin’ and Hopin’ Wally Lamb From the Funicello family’s bus-station lunch counter to the elementary school playground (with an uproarious stop at the Pillsbury Bake-Off), Wishin’ and Hopin’ is a vivid slice of 1960s life, a wise and witty holiday tale that celebrates where we’ve been—and how far we’ve come.	The Humbling Philip Roth Everything is over for Simon Axler, one of the leading American stage actors of his generation. Now in his sixties, he has lost his magic, his talent, and his assurance.In this long day’s journey into night,  all the ways that we convince ourselves of our solidity, all our life’s performances: talent, love, sex, hope, energy and reputation are stripped off.
Pirate Landing Michael Crichton From one of the best-loved authors of all time comes an irresistible adventure of swashbuckling pirates in the New World, a classic story of treasure and betrayal. Pirate Latitudes is Michael Crichton at his best: a rollicking adventure tale pulsing with relentless action, crackling atmosphere, and heart-pounding suspense.	A Good Fall Ha Jin With the same profound attention to detail that is a hallmark of his previous acclaimed works of fiction, Ha Jin depicts here the full spectrum of immigrant life and the daily struggles—some minute, some grand—faced by these intriguing individuals.
Wolf Hall Hilary Mantel In the ruthless arena of King Henry VIII’s court, only one man dares to gamble his life to win the king’s favor and ascend to the heights of political power. Thomas Cromwell is a wholly original man and a consummate politician. But Henry is volatile: one day tender, one day murderous. Cromwell helps him break the opposition, but what will be the price of his triumph?	U is for Undertow Sue Grafton Through twenty excursions into the dark side of the human soul, Sue Grafton has never written the same book twice. And so it is with this, her twenty-first. Once again, she breaks genre formulas, giving us a twisting, complex, surprise-filled, and totally satisfying thriller.

Have your say » | Tagged Book Lists, Audrey Niffenegger, michael crichton, New Fiction, Top Ten

Top 10 Beautiful Books for Holiday Giving

Posted by Dana on 12.04.2009 at 2:57 pm

You know what they say…. But in this case, it really is okay to judge a book by its cover – and all the pretty pages in between.  I bet there’s someone on your list who’d love one of these for the holidays.  And you don’t even have to worry about getting the right size.

Botticelli Frank Zoellner This opulent celebration of the life and art of the Renaissance genius presents Sandro Botticelli s complete paintings and offers a comprehensive and thoroughly up-to-date study of his work.	A Year in Architecture Claudia Stauble , Jonathan Lee Fox Get a daily dose of architectural splendor, from the Egyptian pyramids and Rome’s Coliseum to envelope pushing masterpieces by today’s leading designers.
A Photographer’s Life: 1990-2005 Annie Leibovitz “I don’t have two lives,” Annie Leibovitz writes in the Introduction to this collection of her work from 1990 to 2005. “This is one life, and the personal pictures and the assignment work are all part of it.”	Style and Substance: The Best of Elle Decor Margaret Russell This book provides an intimate view inside breathtaking homes from around the world with 240 pages of striking images culled from the archives of ELLE DECOR – America’s most elegant interiors magazine.
Slow: Life in a Tuscan Town Douglas Gayeton An unprecedented photographic personal journey into the heart of hidden Tuscany that celebrates the principles that define the Slow Food movement and pays tribute to the region’s kaleidoscope of vibrant characters, whose shared culture revolves around the everyday pleasure of growing, preparing, and eating food.	The Book of Codes: Understanding the World of Hidden Messages The art of the code-code making and code breaking–remains shrouded in mystery and seems locked away in the murky realms of military intelligence, spies, and secret services. This lavishly illustrated encyclopedia surveys the history and development of code making and code breaking in all areas of culture and society-from hieroglyphs and runes to DNA, the Zodiac Killer, The Da Vinci Code, graffiti, and beyond.
The Principles of Uncertainty Maira Kalman An irresistible invitation to experience life through a beloved artist’s psyche. Part personal narrative, part documentary, part travelogue, part chapbook, and all Kalman, these brilliant, whimsical paintings, ideas, and images-which initially appear random-ultimately form an intricately interconnected worldview, an idiosyncratic inner monologue.	A Year in Fashion: A Look a Day Pascal Morche Featuring fashion icons and images culled from the Getty archives, this book presents brilliant photos of designers and their creations, top models and movie stars, royalty and rock n’ roll legends. 365 spreads-one for each day of the year- feature full-page, four-color photographs along with fascinating fashion trivia.
National Geographic Live, Laugh, Celebrate Ferdinand Protzman This lavish and generous collection of photographs and accompanying essays showcases 150 full-color images, some new and never before published, others culled from National Geographic’s archive of classic, often pioneering photography.	Secrets of the Universe: How We Discovered the Cosmos Paul Murdin Secrets of the Universe invites us to participate in the moments of revelation and wonder as scientists first experienced them.  Lavishly illustrated with more than 400 color images, the book outlines in seventy episodes what humankind has learned about the cosmos—and what scientists around the world are poised to learn in the coming decades.

2 Comments » | Tagged Book Lists, Art Books, Holiday Book List

Better World Books Podcast: Byron Pitts

Posted by Dana on 11.03.2009 at 4:01 pm

Byron Pitts is a gifted broadcast journalist, an engaging and talented speaker, a published author and force for good. But that wasn’t always the case.  As his book STEP OUT ON NOTHING details, Byron started out a skinny kid with the nickname “Pickle” who didn’t talk much and was often bullied.  But worse than that, Byron was hiding and working hard to keep his secrets.  He couldn’t read and had a debilitating stutter.

If it wasn’t for his faith and the people who “stepped out on nothing” for him, Byron doesn’t believe he would have made it to the place he is today.  When his mother was told he was “stupid” she wouldn’t accept it.  When his best friend in college noticed his limited vocabulary he stepped in to help.  And a when a professor he had never met before found him dejected an about to drop out, she believed in him. Read more…

 

 Interview with Byron Pitts [17:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (289)

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Better World Books Podcast: Warren St. John

Posted by Dana on 10.07.2009 at 11:14 am

Did you ever have one of those days?  The kind where everything comes together and you know you are doing what you are meant to be doing?

That’s how I felt when I finished reading OUTCASTS UNITED and knew that I would have the opportunity to meet and interview author Warren St. John and help get the word out about this great book.

The book tells the story of coach Luma Mufleh the soccer team of refugee boys she founded and the town of Clarkston, Georgia that wasn’t sure they wanted them… or their families.

Once I finished reading the book, I knew it would be a perfect fit for The Better World Book Club.  And once again that perfect day stuff starting happening.  I think they call it serendipity.  When I called Warren to let him know his book had been chosen for the December 2009 read for The Better World Book Club – now going live at Whole Foods Markets in Atlanta, he let me know how perfect that was, as he had written a good bit of the book IN the Whole Foods Market at Ponce.  I think I actually got chills. Read more…

 

 Interview with Warren St. John: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (331)

Have your say » | Tagged Author Podcast, Atlanta Book Club, Better World Book Club, Clarkston, dana barrett, georgia, Luma Mufleh, Outcasts United, The Fugees, Warren St. John, Whole Foods Markets

Better World Books Podcast: Mary Kay Andrews

Posted by Dana on 09.21.2009 at 12:20 pm

I met Mary Kay Andrews for the first time in 2006 when BLUE CHRISTMAS first came out.  She came to my little bookstore to do a signing and could not have been more supportive or gracious.  Already a New York Times bestselling author she could have been a total diva – but she was exactly the opposite.

Since then I’ve gotten to know Mary Kay through various events and saw her again at the Decatur Book Festival earlier this month where I had the pleasure of introducing her and Haywood Smith at their very well attended talk.  This time Mary Kay (whose real name is Kathy) had her daughter and adorable first grand-baby in tow and was proudly introducing them around.  I guess my point is Mary Kay knows who she is and is Read more…

 

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Have your say » | Tagged Author Podcast, Blue Christmas, dana barrett, Decatur Book Festival, Haywood Smith, Mary Kay Andrews, The Fixer Upper

Better World Books at SOCAP09

Posted by Dana on 09.17.2009 at 12:34 pm

September has been a very busy month here at Better World Books.  Our warehouse is busy processing and shipping loads of textbooks to all the students gearing up for fall and we have been unplugging ourselves from our computers to get out into the real world and meet some of you.

The beginning of the month found CEO David Murphy, Co-founder Xavier Helgesen and myself at the SOCAP09 Conference in San Francisco.  David spoke on a panel called SELLING WITHOUT SELLING OUT with Read more…

1 Comment » | Tagged Company News, best books on social enterprise, Calvert Social Investment Fund, dana barrett, David Erickson, david murphy, Federal Reserve, Satori Capital, SOCAP09, Sunny Vanderbeck, Terry Mollner, The Housing Policy Revolution, Xavier Helgesen