Genre Fiction

Today, July 31, is Harry Potter’s (the character) birthday! Likewise, it is Potter author J.K. Rowling’s birthday, too.

Happy birthday to both J.K. and Harry!

Stephenie Meyer’s name is being tossed around the teen lit world a lot lately, especially now that she has a book releasing this weekend. But it wasn’t until all the Twilight Saga buzz that I had heard of the young author. So who is she?

Fast Facts on Stephenie:

* Her birthday is Christmas Eve, 1973, making her 35.

* She currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and three sons - Gabe, Seth, and Eli.

* Her husband, Christian, is nicknamed “Pancho.”

* Many of her five siblings’ names are used for characters in her books.

* In 2005, she was named one of the “most promising new authors of 2005″ by Publishers Weekly.

* She graduated from Brigham Young University, Utah, with an English degree. The college is known for being Mormon, and Meyer remains a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

* One story of hers is included in the memoir collection Prom Nights from Hell (2007), edited by Meg Cabot.

* Her novels include: Twilight (2005), New Moon (2006), Eclipse (2007), The Host (2008), Breaking Dawn (August 2, 2008), Midnight Sun (work in progress).

* All of her books are teen fiction, except for The Host, which was targeted for adults.

* Stephenie says that the idea for writing a vampire story came to her in a dream.

* Muse is one of her favorite bands. They are featured in many of her books, as well as Blue October, Coldplay, and Linkin Park.

* Twilight, in addition to earning numerous recognitions and “top lists” honors, has been translated into 20 different languages.

* A big-screen movie of Twilight is set to hit theaters December 12, 2008.

Over 900 Borders and Waldenbooks stores in the U.S. will celebrate the August 2 release of Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer. The book is the fourth and final installment in Meyer’s best-selling vampire series, The Twilight Saga.

In-store book release parties will be held from 10 p.m. Friday, August 1, until midnight, when the book will officially be on sale. The parties will have a theme of “From Twilight til Dawn: A Night with a Bite,” and will include events such as costume contests (come dressed as a character!), trivia contests (kicking off the parties promptly at 10 p.m.), and debates on themes related to the book series. Locate your closest participating Borders or Waldenbooks store at the Borders’ Web site. The Web site also allows you to pre-order a copy that can be picked up at a party.

All events are free – with no purchase necessary to participate – and many have prizes!

Sisterhood stars Blake Lively, 20; Alexis Bledel, 26; America Ferrera, 24, and Amber Tamblyn, 25 attended the premiere of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 in New York City, today, Monday July 28.

The four actresses revisited their roles from the 2005 film version of the teen novel series written by Ann Brashares for a sequel this summer. Playing Bridget, Lena, Carmen, and Tibby (in order as the actresses stand, left to right), they bring four unique stories together on the big screen once again.

In addition to the quartet - who are each showing their own distinguished personal style here - three of Blake Lively’s Gossip Girl (also based on a teen novel series) costars showed up in support. Chace Crawford, Leighton Meester, and Ed Westwick all made appearances.

The new movie, in theaters next week (August 6 official release date), takes pieces of plot from the second and third novel in the series, but is largely based on number four: Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood.

Although I tend toward historic fiction lately, sometimes, a good, girly, light-hearted read is what I am looking for. It didn’t take me long to figure out that such novels had a stronger tendency to be disappointing. Likewise, I quickly figured out that looking for the Red Dress Ink logo (shown here) on a cover or spine was a quick and easy way to ensure the book with captivate and entertain me. When a fluffy, pink-covered, chick-lit novel is what I need, I turn to Red Dress Ink.

Here are some of the Red Dress Ink titles that have a found a welcomed home on my shelves.

Confessions of an Ex-Girlfriend (2002) by Lynda Curnyn: Her boyfriend leaves her for a job cross-country and, rather than wallowing in her sorrows, Emma spends time focusing on her career, her girlfriends, and her self.

Fishbowl (2002) by Sarah Mlynowski: Three women from three different walks of life - a law student, a party girl, and a youthful, innocent one - become roomates and are surprised to find fast friendship.

On the Verge (2002) by Ariella Papa: A 23-year-old, small town, New Jersey girl, who work in New York City at a trendy magazine, makes the leap and moves to the city. She’s on the verge of becoming a self-sufficient person, a magazine professional, and a woman.

The New York Times posted a good article today, July 27, in the Books section. The article focuses on literacy and reading in the Internet age. “Literacy Debate: Online R U Really Reading?” looks at a family where the parents stick to newspapers and printed novels, and the teenage children prefer online formats.

Personally, I fall in between. As a 20-something who saw the computer popularity surge as it happened, I grew up with equal exposure to the Internet as to books. I love being online, being able to find information on anything at any time from the comfort of my couch, but I love me a good book and take pride in my book shelf collection. I do, however, certainly run to the news online before buying a paper. Guess that comes with being a 20-something, too.

It’s not often that I give up on a book. Cold Mountain (1998) by Charles Frazier and The Little Friend (2003) by Donna Tartt are the only two books that I remember putting down half way through reading.

But I have found a book that can repel me faster than any other, a book that I put down a mere ten pages in. Tuscany for Beginners (2005) by Imogen Edwards-Jones is that book.

At face value, it seemed like a similar story as Under the Tuscan Sun (1997) by Frances Mayes. In the preface, Tuscany admits to taking cues directly from Tuscan, saying that the main character had a rough patch in her life, then became inspired by reading Under the Tuscan Sun and headed to Italy. The novel is to be her diary of this adventure. After the first small chapter, however, the diary format disappears and third person steps in. On top of the writing aspects that annoyed me so quickly, the main character irked me as well: she was rude to her daughter when she wanted to visited.

That was it. The book was closed and listed for trade on Paperback Swap.

I feel that I have grown as a reader to be able to put down a book that is not interesting, where I used to believe that it was a must to drudge through, regardless.

UPDATE: I forgot the most annoying aspect of the writing style used in this book: to give an Italian edge and feel to the novel, or perhaps to just constantly remind the reader of the locale, every tenth word or so is randomly in Italian! And they are not words and phrases that you can use contextual clues to deduce the meaning of.

Harper Collins Publishers has an ongoing, monthly, online drawing - Book in a Bag - for five random readers to win three must-read new novels, packed into a designer bag courtesy of The SAK.

This month, you can enter to win the Ashbury Leather Shopper shown here (click on it to see more details at The SAK), stuffed with three new fiction novels courtesy of Avon A books em>(an “imprint” of Harper Collins): The Safety of Secrets (2008) by DeLauné Michel, The Flirt (2008) by Kathleen Tessaro, and The Godmother (2007) by Carrie Adams.

After the lucky five win, and the rest of us mope about not getting something for free, be sure to return each subsequent month to Harper Collins Book in a Bag online to enter to win a new bag, with new books. Up next month will be the California Classic Crossbody in Teak from The Sak, with three more must-read books: It Had To Be You (1994) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, The Smart One (2008) by Ellen Meister, and One in a Million (2008) by Kimberla Lawson Roby.

Good luck … but not too much, because I want to win, too!

After 20 minutes of browsing through the fiction racks of my favorite used bookstore on Sunday - Rainbow Music and Books - I had no heart-stopping find yet, but I had managed to select three little-known novels that sparked my interest. On a whim, I decided to give my favorite authors’ places in the ABC-ordered shelves a quick, second glance.

Burroughs, for Augusten Burroughs’s newest novel A Wolf at the Table (2008), which is his only published work that I have not yet devoured. Nothing was there.

Chevlier, for Tracy Chevalier’s latest, Burning Bright (2007), the only of hers that I have not yet savored. Score!

I picked up the hardback copy of Burning Bright. It was gorgeous: perfect condition, with a fake torn edge effect on the pages to elude an antique feel. It was inexpensive: a book that would cost $25 brand new or $8 used (the store’s seemingly standard pricing for new hardbacks), it was a mere $5.

I fear my true book nerd side showed as I cheered over my find; but, who could blame me? A favorite author? Check. An awesome copy of a book I’ve been coveting? Check. Money-saving price? Check.

Burning Bright follows suit with Chevalier’s other novels, weaving a story together of carefully researched historical aspects with well-written fiction characters. This one turns to look at poet and painter William Blake, with the title coming from one of his most-famous opening lines: “Tyger, tyger, burning bright/ In the forests of the night. …”

Now I just have to finish Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal Dreams (1990), which I am only 30 pages into, so that I can start reading Burning Bright!

Today’s announcement comes from an unlikely source for a book Web site: a fashion magazine’s review of a movie.

Women’s Wear Daily this morning wrote up a bit about the upcoming feature film, big-screen debut of the Broadway show Mamma Mia! The hook with this article was Rita Wilson - producer of the film, and wife of Tom Hanks - attending a screening of the movie with her family.

But where does the fiction news come into play? Well, Rita Wilson, who previously produced My Big Fat Greek Wedding, recently acquired the screenplay rights to the bestselling fiction novel Middlesex (2002) by Jeffrey Eugenides (also Greek, by coincidence).

Take the most literal breaking down of the title, and you’ve got the theme: the main character was born intersexed, meaning his (we first meet him as Cal, a 41-year-old heterosexual male) chromosomes did not fully develop as either male or female. He was raised as Calliope, a daughter; but now lives as Cal, a son.

The unusual story promises not to focus just on the struggles involved with living a confusing life where even the narrator is unsure of his identity. Other tales of family relationships, coming-of-age in the late 20th century, and factual bits of history are woven into Cal’s story.
The novel won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2003, and was selected as a read in Oprah’s Book Club for summer 2007.

There’s no timeline on the film’s production yet, so you have plenty of time to grab a copy and get reading!

There are some books that should never be read. Somewhere along the line an editor approves the author and their idea, without realizing that the story is no good.

The Dogs of Babel (2004) by Carolyn Parkhurst is one of these novels.

I had heard of the book when it was first released. It struck an interest with me, but not enough to pick it up. But when Wal-mart had a copy for only $5, I grabbed it.

The story is explained as such: When his wife dies unexpectedly, and suspiciously, in the backyard, with only the dog as a witness, Paul becomes obsessed with trying to teach his dog to speak and reveal the mystery behind her death.

In the process however, Paul accidentally discovers an underground cult of animal-abusing linguists who slice and dice dogs’ throats and vocal chords to try and mimic human anatomy. The scenes are gross, disturbing, and unfortunately memorable. Sure, the ideas are original, but there is a reason for that: no one wants to read about grotesque abuse.

Parkhurst starts with a quirky tale of sorrow and tragedy reminiscence of The Lovely Bones. But where Alice Sebold was able to keep the reader hooked into a mystery, Parkhurst looses sight of her original plotline and goes for shock and disgust instead of cohesion, suspense, and mystery-solving.

Even Amazon.com’s review of the book - printed on the same page where the book is for sale - condemns the novel:

“Unfortunately, the second half of The Dogs of Babel takes too many odd twists and turns–everything from a Ms. Cleo-like TV psychic to an underground sect of abusive canine linguists–to ever allow the reader to feel any real sympathy for the main characters.”

Obviously, some people enjoyed - the Today Show made it part of their book club. But there are so many other great novels out there, that The Dogs of Babel is not worth the time and will leave you with haunting memories of brutal scenes.

Laura Dave announced her new novel - The Divorce Party (May 2008) - in style, yesterday, July 9!

Where bookstores and libraries might do for other authors, this stylish penner went for New York City’s upscale, women’s store Henri Bendel that sells everything a woman needs in life from clothes and accessories to makeup and gourmet food.

The book is already receiving rave reviews from readers and critics alike. It tells the story of two people who celebrate the anniversary of their divorce. And on the other end of the marriage spectrum: their son is newly engaged.

Laura Dave previously wrote London is the Best City in America (2006), and has also been published in Glamour, The New York Times, Self, Redbook, ESPN the Magazine, and The New York Observer.

Metro, a free, daily newspaper published and distributed in 100 major cities worldwide, wants to give you a free fiction book!

Sign up for the Metro Life Panel, where you can fill out opinion surveys and win prizes, then also check that you have an interest in participating in the Metro Book Club and you could receive a free book to review!

For the month of July, the Metro Book Club is currently reading:

Everything Nice (July 2008) by Ellen Shanman

How to Talk to a Widower (2007) by Jonathan Tropper

Jessica Z (June 2008) by Shawn Klomparens

No One You Know (June 2008) by Michelle Richmond

Say Goodbye (July 2008) by Lisa Gardner

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society (July/Aug 2008) by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

I often like movie versions of novels just because I loved the book. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work the other way, as with the Bridget Jones series of books and films.

Bridget Jones’s Diary (1996, 2001 film) and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (1999, 2004 film) by Helen Fielding remain two of my favorite chick flicks, but were painful to read. The diary format used created a disjointed novel that changed story from page to page. It was hard to learn much of anything about the on screen-lovable mess of a cute woman.

If you too grabbed up the Bridget Jones duo of hit British novels only to be disappointed: don’t give up on Helen Fielding as an author!

Although Bridget was seemingly more suitable for film than paper, when Fielding pulls a story together, and removes the constraints of a daily diary, she creates fun characters in funny situations.

Cause Celeb (1994) was her first published novel. It follows a slightly more put together version of Bridget - Rosie - as she joins a humanitary relief effort in Africa after a bad, public breakup. It’s amazing how one book can inspire you to be a better person, while winding you in to a chick lit story.

After she thoroughy exhausted Ms. Jones (there were two other stories after the two popular ones), she headed in the direction of crazy, storyteller Oliva Joules. Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination (2004) tells the classic journalist turn spy when freelance writer Olivia spins a wild tale - in her head - about Pierre, the man she is assigned to do an article about but whom she secretly believes to be a terrorist.

So, love the Bridget Jones enhanced to adorable perfection by Renee Zellweger? Skip over the written versions and head straight to an introsuction with Rosie and Olivia.

Almost as soon as Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees (2002) became an instant bestseller, readers were teased with the knowledge that it would eventually become a bigscreen film. Now, six years later, it is al coming to frutition.

The film - starring Dakota Fanning as Lily Owens, the young girl who lost her mother and headed off to live with a surrogate family of beekeepers, and Alicia Keys, Queen Latifah, and Jennifer Hudson as a few members of Lily’s makeshift family — is set to release this fall, 2008.

Borders bookstore online is currently hosting the first available sneak peek of the film. And while you’re over there, pick up a copy of The Secret Life of Bees - it would make the perfect short novel to pick up at the beach this summer, finishing it just in time for the movie release.