Memphis Reads

Which books do you consider to be the greatest novels ever written? Have you read a masterpiece that doesn't get the recognition it deserves?

Upon announcement of the 2010 winner of the Lost Man Booker Prize, Robert McCrum of The Guardian expounds on this topic:

"...Forgotten, or neglected prose is an intriguing topic. Musing on Farrell, I found myself making a scratch list of prose classics that are rarely referred to, but which remain evergreen. The titles that follow would be an indispensable part of my desert island library..."

Read the rest of McCrum's article here.

The 2010 Booker Prize will be announced on July 27, 2010.

Learn more about the Man Booker Prizes on the official website.

Labels: Awards, News and Notes

Nonfiction

Sarah Frierson reviews ZEITOUN by Dave Eggers (McSweeney’s Books, 2009)

I recommend this book not because you will enjoy reading it. In fact, I guarantee you will not. But it is a book that everyone should read. Don’t get me wrong, it is a wonderfully well-written book and it will fly by from the moment you read the first chapter. But it is very painful to have to experience even a moment of what Abdulrahman Zeitoun experienced during and after Hurricane Katrina.

Eggers is able to masterfully tell this story that touches on family, faith, and the responsibility of a government, all while giving the readers a chance to step into the shoes of one who lived it, if only for a moment.

Sarah Frierson, History

Labels: Nonfiction, Reviews by Sarah Frierson

Fiction/ChickLit

Andrea King reviews THE OVERNIGHT SOCIALITE by Bridie Clark (Weinstein Books, 2009)

In this modern version of Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, we encounter Lucy Jo Ellis, a Minnesota native who has moved across the country to Manhattan. Lucy Jo dreams of being a fashion designer and she has a heart of gold. But, it seems every time Lucy gets a leg up in the industry she suffers major setbacks and heartache.

Enter Wyatt Hayes, IV. His name alone sounds regal, doesn't it? Wyatt is a Manhattan native with a doctorate in anthropology. He is tired of just being an arm to New York’s reigning socialites. Bored with being the man-about-town, Wyatt is looking for a project.

Lucy Jo meets Wyatt and his billionaire best friend, Trip, while waiting on a taxi during a terrible thunderstorm. In an effort to score a major book deal, Wyatt boasts that he can transform any girl into the next “It Girl.” As Wyatt tells Trip, “Give me a few months… I could turn her into a social luminary. She’ll make the rest of the pack look like a dim little tea lights.”

Quicker than you can say, “The rain in Spain…” or in this modern version, “Didn’t we meet in Capri in May,” the bet has been set and the stakes have been raised. Tempers flare and tensions rise. As the paparazzi begin to love the new and approved “Lucia Haverford Ellis,” the claws and insecurities of others come out.

Set in the most glamorous, utterly elite circles of Manhattan, where no girl wears the same gown twice, Clark gives readers amusing characters who feel the need to impress from the outside. Sooner than later, everyone realizes that true beauty comes from the inside.

This is a hilarious second novel from novelist Bridie Clark, who also wrote Because She Can--a story about the cut-throat New York publishing industry.

Andrea King, Poplar-White Station Library

Labels: Chick Lit, Reviews by Andrea King

Mystery Writers of America have announced The Last Child by John Hart, as the 2010 Edgar Allan Poe Award winner for Best Novel.

Here is a brief description of the novel:

"John Hart’s New York Times bestselling debut, The King of Lies, announced the arrival of a major talent. With Down River, he surpassed his earlier success, transcending the barrier between thriller and literature and winning the 2008 Edgar Award for best novel. Now, with The Last Child, he achieves his most significant work to date, an intricate, powerful story of loss, hope, and courage in the face of evil.

Thirteen year-old Johnny Merrimon had the perfect life: a warm home and loving parents; a twin sister, Alyssa, with whom he shared an irreplaceable bond. He knew nothing of loss, until the day Alyssa vanished from the side of a lonely street. Now, a year later, Johnny finds himself isolated and alone, failed by the people he’d been taught since birth to trust. No one else believes that Alyssa is still alive, but Johnny is certain that she is---confident in a way that he can never fully explain.

Determined to find his sister, Johnny risks everything to explore the dark side of his hometown. It is a desperate, terrifying search, but Johnny is not as alone as he might think. Detective Clyde Hunt has never stopped looking for Alyssa either, and he has a soft spot for Johnny. He watches over the boy and tries to keep him safe, but when Johnny uncovers a dangerous lead and vows to follow it, Hunt has no choice but to intervene.

Then a second child goes missing . . ." --from the publisher

Take a look at the full list of 2010 Edgar winners here.

Labels: Awards, News

Non-Fiction

Labels: Human-animal relationships, Nonfiction, Reviews by Mary Seratt

Lena Horne, legendary singer and actress, has passed away.

Ms. Horne's autobiography, Lena, was published in 1965. The biography, Stormy Weather: the Life of Lena Horne, was published in 2009.

This article chronicles her groundbreaking achievements.

Feel free to browse the library catalog for additional books and recordings from her illustrious career.

What is your fondest memory of Lena Horne? Was it a book, a song, or a television performance? Share your story with Memphis Reads.

Labels: Author Obits

The Memphis Public Library & Information Center sponsors book clubs at many branches and at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library. Here is a list of the titles that will be discussed in May. For a book club's contact information, click the link for that branch or call (901) 415-2700.

May 2010

Central Readers Book Club

Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
May 17, 7:00 p.m.
Book selection: A Miracle of Catfish: a Novel in Progress by Larry Brown



Cordova Book Club

Cordova Branch Library
May 18, 12:00 p.m.
Book selection: Distant Shores by Kristin Hannah



East Shelby Book Lovers Book Club

East Shelby Branch Library
Every 3rd Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
Book selection: The Most They Ever Had by Rick Bragg



Frayser Book Club

Frayser Branch Library
May 1, 1:00 p.m.
Book selection: Book selection meeting of the next six books for discussion and future speakers.



Second Saturday Book Club

Highland Branch Library
Every 2nd Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
Book Selection: Manhunt: The Twelve Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James Swanson



Onyxx Sport Reader’s Club

North Branch Library
Every 3rd Saturday, 1:00 p.m.
Book selection: A variety of newspapers and sports magazines to discuss the current sporting issues and events.

Renaissance Men's Book Club

North Branch Library
May 29, 2:00 p.m.
Book selection: Jezebel by Jacquelin Thomas


Women's Book Club

North Branch Library
Every 4th Saturday, 2:00 p.m.
Book selection: Silent Tear Drops* by Michelle Blaine
*Women's Book Club meeting will be held in conjunction with the May 22nd Women's Conference. This event will include a book signing of Michelle Blaine's first book, Silent Tear Drops, a true story.



Parkway Village Book Club

Parkway Village Library
Every 3rd Wednesday, 2:00 p.m.
Book selection: A Taste for Death by P.D. James



Onyxx Men's Readers Club

Whitehaven Branch Library
May 13, 6:00 p.m.
Book selection: A People's History of the United States: 1492 - Present by Howard Zinn
(The May meeting will cover chapters 1-2, 6-11, & 18)



Whitehaven Book Club

Whitehaven Branch Library
May 12, 6:00 p.m.
Book selection: Promises in Death by J. D. Robb

Labels: Book Clubs