BookExpo America Roundup Part 2: Fiction, Graphic Novels, Thrillers, YA Books
Still so many galleys. (Photo by RJ Mickelson)
This past weekend was BookExpo America, a massive convention held at the Javits Center where tons of book publishers from across the globe come together to meet, show off their new titles and sell their titles to book stores.
I was there for amNewYork, and picked up many, many bags worth of books and galleys of upcoming releases. While there is no conceivable way to read these fast enough for reviews, I can judge them by their covers. Here is part one of a run down of what I found that interested me and I think will interest amNY readers. Here is part two of the roundup. Part one is here.
Fiction
Chronic Town by Jonathan Lethem – Local legend Lethem mixes the International Space Station with the Upper East Side for his latest novel which appears to be rife with unique and quirky characters – many with great names like Chase Insteadman, Perkus Tooth and Uona Laszlo – into what will inevitably be required reading. (Hardcover, Doubleday, $26.95, October)
This Side of Jordan by Monte Schulz – Schulz, son of legendary cartoonist Charles Schulz, turns out a novel that intends to recreate the time of his parents Jazz Age childhood. Set shortly before the stock market crash of 1929, the novel, the first of three interconnected novels, evolves into a crime thriller painting against the landscape of the rural Midwest. (Hardcover, Fantagraphics, $22.99, September)
Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby – Look, Hornby’s new novel is about music, relationships and loneliness. This is the name who provided the world with “High Fidelity” and a new book dealing with music is a clearly something we’re honored to experience. (Hardcover, Riverhead Books, $25.95, September)
Thrillers
The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry – Berry returns with another Cotton Malone thriller. His previous book, “The Charlemagne Pursuit” was a captivating action novel, and this novel appears to continuing that trend, with quests for vengeance, shady secret groups and secrets tied to Napoleon. Berry manages to keep his novels fresh and exciting, and Malone continues to be a great protagonist. (Hard cover, Ballantine Books, $26, December)
Frozen Fire by Bill Evans and Marianna Jameson – Long time New Yorkers are likely to be very familiar with Bill Evans, a meteorologist who has been delivering the weather report for the city on television and radio for about 20 years. He’s following up his first thriller, “Category Seven,” with “Frozen Fire,” which pits a security chief and a methane specialist against ecoterrorists. (Hardcover, Forge Books, $24.95, June 23)
Graphic Novels
Stitches – A Memoir by David Small – Small, an award-winning children’s book illustrator presents his story – from his bout with throat cancer as a teen with his throat being cut apart and a vocal chord removed to his father, a radiologist, X-raying him. The book was one of the more buzzed about tomes shown at the show, and it looks to be a compelling story with wonderful illustrations. (Hardcover, W.W. Norton, $23.95, September)
Logicomix – An Epic Search for Truth by Apostolos Doxiadis, Christos H. Papadimitriou, Alecos Papadatos and Annie Di Donna – This graphic novel follows the life of philosopher Bertrand Russell that touches on mathematics, philosophy and the search for truth. (Hardcover, Bloomsbury, $22.95, October)
The Obama Story – The Boy with the Biggest Dream! By T.S. Lee – This is a biography of President Barack Obama geared toward children ages 8-12 with some vivid, Manga-inspired colorful artwork. It is the first volume of the Great Heroes Series (an intended 50-volume set), which will next look at Charles Darwin, Martin Luther King, Oprah Winfrey and Hillary Clinton. (Softcover, Joyful Stories Press, $14.95, Available now)
Refresh, Refresh by Danica Novgorodoff, Benjamin Percy and James Ponsoldt – Following her debut graphic novel, “Slow Storm, Novgorodoff turns Ponsoldt and Percy’s work into a graphic novel that explores the relationship between fathers and sons in what will likely be a contender for best graphic novel of 2009. (Softcover, First Second, $17.99, October)
The Big Kahn by Neil Kleid and Nicholas Cinquegrani – Kleid, who recently touched on Jewish history in his graphic novel “Brownsville,” now tells the story of a rabbi who, for 40 years, pretended to be Jewish. (Softcover, NBM Publishing, $13.95, September)
Tales From the Crypt Presents: Diary of a Stinky Dead Kid – A take off on Jeff Kinney’s “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series, but with zombies. (Softcover, Papercutz, $7.95, October)
Children’s and Teen Books
Ash by Melinda Lo – In “Ash,” Lo retells the classic story of Cinderella. Ash is forced into indentured servitude by her stepmother, meets the King’s Huntress, Kaisa, and learns how to hunt, ride and track. Their friendship rekindles her desire to love and live. Ages 15 and up. (Hardcover, Little, Brown, $16.99, September)
Flawed Dogs The Novel: The Shocking Raid on Westminster by Berkeley Breathed – The famed cartoonist behind “Bloom County” and “Opus,” turns out a novel of his picture book “Flawed Dogs.” It includes illustrations by the author, which is worth the price of the book alone. (Hardcover, Philomel Books, $16.99, September)
The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey – Monster hunting goodness set in the late 1800s with a touch of Lovecraft. What else do you need? Ages 14 and up. (Hardcover, Simon & Schuster, $17.99, September)
Alienated, created by David O. Russell, written by Andrew Auseon – From the mind of director Russell, who made “Flirting With Disaster” and “Three Kings” comes “Alienated,” written by Auseon, about a pair of eighth graders who get caught up in the midst of a intergalactic conflict. Ages 8-12. (Hardcover, Aladdin, $16.99, October)
School of Fear by Gitty Daneshvari – Four fearful 12-year-olds are sent to the School of Fear to conquer their phobias and run into an especially frightening teacher. (Hardcover, Little, Brown, $15.99, September)
