Genre Fiction

For Christmas, my mom gave me a bookstore experience: lunch and $20 to spend at my favorite used book store, downtown Newark, Delaware. I only spent $12, but I got four books that I am excited to read.

1. The Secrets of a Fire King by Kim Edwards. I’ve already read and loved the author’s other book - The Memory Keeper’s Daughter- which became a New York Times bestseller and a made-for-TV, Lifetime Original movie. This one is a collection of short, related stories about society’s misfits that she published in 1997, nine years before Memory Keeper.

2. A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon. Likewise, Haddon is an author that I am familiar with. He’s written several children’s books, and one poetry collection - none of which I’ve read - but in 2003 he broke into adult fiction with The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. His second novel came out in 2006 and is similar to Curious Incident in that both are written from the point of view of a person dealing with mental illness.

3. Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen. Again, Gruen previously caught my attention with Water for Elephants, her third novel about animals. Riding Lessons was Gruen’s first book and was followed by a sequel, Flying Changes.

4. Wickett’s Remedy by Myla Goldberg. For this selection, I broke the trend and picked out a new author to taste. Goldberg wrote Bee Season, which was made into a big-screen film, but I haven’t read it. The novel - being a historic fiction story, with a beautiful cover on a hardback in perfect condition - naturally sparked my interest.

Now I just have to finish reading Sarah Dunant’s In the Company of the Courtesan so I can start one of my new books!

In case you’re still snagging some last minute gifts for your family and friends, Books are Great Gifts (.com) thinks that, well, books would make a great gift. The site promotes books as Christmas gifts because “they always fit under the tree; one size fits all; they have shelf life longer than a fruit cake.” For Hanukkah celebraters, they point out that “8 candles make for great reading light.” And how about New Year’s? “Reading more is the easiest and most fun resolution to keep.”

Even if you’re done with Christmas shopping, still check this site out - it has several quotes from celebrities about reading, literature, and why books make the best gift, including some video clips, too. There are also links to publishers, places to get good prices, and other sites for book fans. The site itself is put together and maintained by the Association of American Publishers.

Here are some of my fave quotes from Book are Great Gifts:

“Books make great gifts because they are a perfect way to get a conversation started.” - Barbara Walters

“Books make great gifts because they make great friends. Your cherished book can hold your secrets, and you can tell it every secret you have. And, it can’t blab.” - Maya Angelou

“Books make great gifts because they’re everybody’s favorite things.” - Julie Andrews

“Books make great gifts because they’re not as hefty as fruitcake, but they’re enjoyable and they’re easy to devour.” - Rachael Ray

So enjoy celebrating this holiday season and consider giving a book or two as gifts, because … Books are Great Gifts!

In 1996, Vanna Bonta wrote Flight: A Quantum Fiction Novel. The book - and author - were well-received with praise and interest from top media outlets including Publishers Weekly who wrote that “whatever ‘quantum fiction’ is, we need more of it.”

“Quantum fiction” has since been defined as when fiction begins to effect reality, as it does in the life of Mendle Orion, Flight’s main character: while writing about his heroine Aira Flight, Mendle meets a mysterious, other-worldly woman with amnesia, who is suspiciously similar to Aira.

But why is this sci-fi read making headlines again, more than ten years after its original publication? Aside from being released as an audiobook this year, the fantasy world of Flight is now effecting our reality.

Author Bonta is a featured guest on the “Sex in Space” episode of the History Channel’s the Universe because, in her spare time, she invented the 2Suit, a “flight suit that stabilizes human proximity for various forms of intimacy in microgravity environments.”

Yes, that’s correct: humans can now procreate in outer space. If, like me, you are wondering why astronauts are allowed to sleep with each other on the job, then let me help alleviate your concerns: Apparently, we are moving toward Average Joe space exploration and, eventually, living. However, humans cannot exist if they are unable to bond and produce spawn. Hence Bonta’s 2Suit … which she has personally tested in zero gravity.

If having sex in space, or just learning more about the possibility, peaks your interest (I won’t tell anyone if it does), check out Universe: Sex in Space on the History Channel, Saturday, December 20, or on DVD soon after, and grab a copy of Vanna Bonta’s Flight: A Quantum Fiction Novel.

I had fun, but very different and interesting, trip to Barnes & Noble this weekend.

As I entered, I was greeted by a friendly mutt with the face of a Greyhound and the tail end of a collie. Frankie turned out to be an incredibly friendly - and well-behaved - rescue dog who was at the store supporting his shy friend Violet. Violet was a young beagle who had just been released from an animal testing facility. Violet had been destined to have a kidney removed and numerous experiments performed on her to study how she survived with only one kidney. However, Vi got a skin rash and was disqualified from the study. The lucky dog’s rash cleared up after she was rescued, and has never returned.

The dogs were at the bookstore representing two local beagle rescue groups - B.R.E.W. and Cascade. Reps from the groups were offering free gift wrapping, and seemed to be receiving a substantial amount of donations.

Next to the pups was Joe Kulka, a local children’s book author and illustrator. I stopped to say hello and look at his books. I picked up Wolf’s Coming!, despite the mean-looking wolf on the cover. I began reading. The first several pages feature all kinds of animals shouting “run,” “hide,” “Wolf’s coming!” I was prepared to lecture Mr. Kulka … until I turned another page: the animals were running and hiding because they had a surprise party planned for Wolf.

The book is wonderful. Buy it for all the kids in your life … and do it at Barnes & Noble, because you never know what you might see while you’re there!

Dear Santa:

With a low salary, in a bad economy, I’ve been unable to buy new books much this year. If you still have room in your bag for me these titles are all on my “buy when I have lots of spare cash” list. They’ve all gotten good reviews, and the authors are all ones whose work I’ve loved over the years.

* The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb

* Knit Two or Comfort Foods by Kate Jacobs

* Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner

* The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold

* Belong to Me by Marisa De Los Santos

* Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger

* A Wolf at the Table by Augusten Burroughs

For the kids in my life, dear Santa, can you please bring some good children’s books, too? How about some of these:

* Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor - every little girl needs a copy of the original book from this collection.

* Christina Katerina and the Box by Patricia Lee Gauch - I’ve looked everywhere, Santa, but stores don’t stock this classic any more. Maybe you could help?

* Doris TheSaurus by Maria L. Corkern - you can see how cute it looks here, plus I think every kid should love synonyms and this book will help. Can you add my mom to the list for this one too, please? Because her name is Doris.

And, although I prefer fiction, some nonfiction books have been catching my eye lately, too.

* Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

* In Defense of Food or The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan

* Thanking the Monkey by Karen Dawn

Thanks,

Sally

P.S. I’ve been really good this year; I promise.

The holiday season is upon us: Christmas tree lots have sprung up around every corner. Radio stations have begun playing Christmas music non-stop. Elf, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and The Santa Clause are showing on at least one TV channel at any given moment. And bookstore windows are donning themed children’s reads such as Olive, the Other Reindeer, The Night Before Christmas, and A Very Marley Christmas, featuring Marley the dog of Marley and Me fame.

But how about the adult readers? And, yes, I do slightly mean that in the sleazy “adult” way.

Harlequin romance novel fans can enjoy a 40 percent discount on all holiday-themed books at eHarlequin.com. For most, this means a $2 or $3 price tag instead of the hefty $4 to $5.

Interest not sparked by titles such as Do Not Disturb Until Christmas, Wanted: Christmas Mommy, and Who Needs Mistletoe? You’re in luck - the selection of books goes beyond romance novels, as well, covering all aspects of stereotypical guilty pleasures for women. There are a few Christmas ones by Debbie Macomber and Nora Roberts hiding in there, and the site also sells Red Dress Ink books, which are my guilty chick lit favorites.

eHarlequin is also celebrating the season with its annual 12 Deals of Christmas. Each day, from December 1 through 12, the Web site will offer a different discount code for a different sale, good for only 24 hours. The deal for today, December 3, is 50 percent off all ebooks by entering “HALFOFF” at checkout, valid until midnight Eastern time.

Happy holiday reading … and saving!