New Books - NewInBooks

What's the News in Books This Week?

What's the News in Books this week? Well let us tell you:

Books About Women, By Women, Less Likely to Win Awards, Says Study

We have all heard of the Bechdel Test thank to this nifty TED talk. We know that we need more entertainment featuring female characters who aren't dependent on their male counterparts, but apparently that memo hasn't reached the ears of the judges for most of the most sought after literary awards. Read More ↦

Libraries Regain Popularity in Germany

Libraries, like Bookstores, have needed to change to adapt to the new world of instant gratification brought on by eBooks and Amazon. What country was the first to completely overhaul their approach to libraries, in an attempt to keep patrons coming and keep these majestic institutions alive? Why, those wily German's of course! With greater access to eBooks, and extended hours, Germans have been reminded that libraries are truly magical places. Read More ↦

Reading Length.com: All of the Stats about your Favorite Books

Jealous of sports fans as they rattle off the stats of their favorite players and teams, knowing that stats like that don't exist for books? Never fear, readinglength.com is here! Just search for your favorite book, or the one you've been meaning to read, and it will tell you length in both page numbers and words! You can even take a test to see how fast you read, and calculate how long it will take you to read a given novel! Read More ↦

Aziz Ansari's Book Trailer is the Best Ever

A little confused by book trailers? Typically, us too. But not today! Aziz Ansari just released his book trailer for Modern Romance, and let us tell you, it's comedic genius. Watch it ↦

Amazon's Next Kindle Scheme: the KiddieKindle

Amazon has enjoyed barging into markets and making a fuss from the get-go. Their next book/eBook related plan? KiddieKindle! A Kindle wrapped in plastic with a 2 year warranty that covers things like spilled milk! Read More ↦

This Week's Literary Funny

We love things that mix old, classic media with the new/ popular. This week's gem: Drunk Texts from Famous Authors. Read More ↦

I Hate Online Dating (a response to Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari)

My experience with online dating has been frenetic and problematic, to put it lightly (this post is book-related, I promise - stick with me). Okay, to be fair, online dating is sometimes fun. It's the little fun moments that keep me coming back. Those moments of sophomoric joy force me to set limits on myself for how often I open Tinder (when I have it downloaded, I limit myself to twice a day) or how many months I will go without dating and focus on more important and interesting endeavors. I have to forbid myself from doing something I dislike (meeting a stranger for a drink) in order to open up my time for things I actually love (like yoga and climbing mountains and reading books). It sounds backwards because it is. That's why I don't do it anymore.

A much better view than a back-lit iPhone, don't you agree?

I was on OKCupid for approximately one hour, during which I received countless messages from would-be suitors, many of them lewd or predatory. I was freaked out and overwhelmed. I talked to one interesting person, but one hour was more than enough for me. I promptly deleted my account.

Tinder is slightly better. On Tinder, at least, two people must mutually swipe right (the action for 'yes I want to match with this person') before any conversation can take place. One can therefore be discerning and minimize the risk of a truly uncomfortable situation. Notice I said 'minimize' - not 'eliminate.' Discerning or not, I still got a message or two like this (WARNING - linked screenshot is mean and contains swear words, don't click on it kiddos. It's a real message I got in response to asking if one of this gentleman's pictures was taken on a farm).

Publication Date: June 18, 2015

Aziz Ansari talks about the total shift in the culture of finding love in his new book, Modern Romance (which comes out on June 16th). Ansari and Eric Klinenberg, one of the nation's leading sociologists, conducted a massive international research project to analyze how people today interact in the pursuit of love. The book trailer is worth a watch - it's hilarious.

It's described as irreverent (which, I think, is the only way to approach the topic) and is backed by cutting-edge social science. I can't wait to read it. I saw Aziz Ansari live a year or so ago, and he approached the same topic in comedy. Aziz took an audience member's phone (with consent obviously, always get consent) and read off the entirety of her conversation with a man she met on Tinder. The conversation, as expected was defined by nebulous plans and noncommittal nuances. Fickleness and freneticism.

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The last time I deleted Tinder, I had 350 matches and active conversations with 30 people. 30 PEOPLE. I don't want to date 30 people! I don't think I talk to 30 unique people on a daily basis. I am an introvert. Talking to 30 people at once does bad things for my mood, not to mention my personality.

Emelie Samuelson of PageBreak wrote a piece for Hellogiggles which makes a brilliant point:

I was becoming the type of girl that my ideal guy wouldn’t want to date. I don’t want to date a guy who is interested in girls who spend hours on the Internet, looking for their potential mate. I want to date a guy who spends his time reading books and pursuing his passions, and I would expect him to be interested in a girl who does the same thing.

I was becoming that girl, too. One night, my best friend and I spent 5 hours talking on the phone, texting each other screenshots of Tinder profiles and scrutinizing them together. I don't want to be a woman who does that. I don't want to date a man who is attracted to people who are constantly scrutinizing others. But the ethos of the online dating world lends itself to constant scrutiny because there is such an incredible abundance of choice. Choice paralysis leads to a disregard for all choices. Fine when you're deciding on type of pasta sauce, less fine when you're talking about real humans with real emotions. Fickleness is the lifeblood of Tinder.

I don't want to be fickle. I don't want to spend my time scrutinizing. If you need me, I'll be on a mountain or behind a book. Until I give in and inevitably download Tinder again. Probably. Maybe. Who knows.

Until I figure that out, I'll preorder Modern Romance and impatiently wait for June 18th to arrive.

Want to chat about the problematic world of online dating (or books or Aziz or... um... the weather)? Find us on Twitter at @NewInBooks. And tell me: do I pull off the hearty-eyed emoji look as well as Aziz? No? Then maybe don't tell me.

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Interview with Donna Freitas, Author of The Tenderness of Thieves

We have a soft spot for edgy YA fiction. The Tenderness of Thieves is a page- turning mix of psychological thriller and summer love story. Likened to Gone Girl, this story is now, definitely, sitting on our bookshelf. We reached out to the author, Donna Freitas, to learn more about her writing and what rocks her world.

Tell us a little bit about your new release, The Tenderness of Thieves.

It takes place in a close knit, working class community sitting on the beach in New England. It’s a fishing village, really, and most of the kids grow up to either work on the docks and the boats, or somewhere else locally in the town.

My protagonist is Jane Calvetti, a smart girl with a future, likely outside of the town, with three great best friends and a mother (a seamstress) who loves her dearly. She’s just gone through a trauma: she was held hostage during a robbery in February, and her father (a police officer) was killed that night. No matter how hard she tries, Jane can’t remember much about the men (or boys) who held her captive.

The novel starts at the very beginning of summer, when all Jane wants to do is forget the terrible events of the past winter. Enter Handel Davies into her life, the town bad boy, and Jane falls for him, thinking romance will be the best thing to help her move on and have a great summer with her friends. The story alternates between the present and flashbacks about the night of the robbery.

Where are your favorite spots in Barcelona and Brooklyn?

That’s such a difficult question! There are so many. Let’s see…

In Brooklyn (as far as restaurants go):
Rucola, Henry Public, Buttermilk Chanel, Frankie’s, Prime Meats, James, and shopping for food at Brooklyn Larder.

I also love going down to Brooklyn Bridge Park, seeing the view, and hanging out by the gorgeous restored merry go round.

In Barcelona (as far as restaurants go):

El Xampanyet in the Born neighborhood (for tapas), El Sutidor in Poble Sec (for pizza believe it or not), Hoffman’s (for pastries—best croissant you’ve ever eaten, better than Paris—not kidding), eating paella at Pez Vela down on the beach, not because it’s the best paella you’ve ever eaten (it’s good, totally on par), but because of the spectacular setting and the fact that you feel like you’re on vacation. I love Quimet Quimet, also in Poble Sec. There are so many places! Too many to name.

I also love to go to all the gorgeous markets in Barcelona, and walk around in Ciutat Vella, which is the medieval neighborhoods of the city.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

An Olympic gymnast.

What book from your teenage years has stuck with you into adulthood? Why has it stayed with you?

Let’s see . . . I loved, loved, love The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary. I just loved Ralph, and I also loved that I was reading a full novel! I was so proud of myself. I also loved books like The Cricket in Times Square and Tucker’s Countryside. I read all of these again and again. Apparently I liked books featuring either bugs or animals.

What's on your writing desk?

Well, I don’t have a writing desk. I do all my writing on a chaise lounge. I like to have my feet up, I like to be surrounded by pillows, and in the winter I love being under a big pile of cozy blankets.

Essentials on the little side table next to my chair are a big mug of coffee and a pile of all the books I’m either reading or want to read.

What is rocking your world this month?

Barcelona soccer. I love Messi and company. They are having an amazing year, they’ve shut Madrid out (sorry Madrid fans) and they are on the verge of taking home three huge titles in a single season. ¡Go Barça!

You now host a talk show (congrats). Who is your first guest?

Philip Pullman of the His Dark Materials trilogy. He’s brilliant and I love him. We would talk about the meaning of Dust in his books, philosophy, theology, about Lyra and Will and their star-crossed love.

Be sure to buy The Tenderness of Thieves today!

Connect with Donna on Twitter, Facebook, and her website!

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Interview with Anna North: Author of The Life and Death of Sophie Stark

When we first heard about The Life and Death of Sophie Stark, we got so excited to feature it that we accidentally selected it twice. In two different genres (Literary Fiction and Mystery). Any book that uses the word 'iconoclastic' in the first sentence of the description sounds like a book that we want on our shelves at NewInBooks HQ. We're therefore thrilled to have the opportunity to chat with Anna North, author of The Life and Death of Sophie Stark, to learn about what inspires her.

Tell us a little bit about your new release, The Life and Death of Sophie Stark.

The Life and Death of Sophie Stark is the story of a brilliant but troubled filmmaker, told by the people who loved her most in her life. Sophie uses the stories of people close to her to make her movies, and this ends up, not oddly, causing problems for her relationships. When I set out to write the book, I wanted to write about a great female artist and the legacy she leaves behind, and it ended up being a book about that, but also about all the other people who make up that legacy.

Who or what inspired you to become an author?

I've wanted to write ever since I was really little — before I could actually write myself, I dictated stories to my parents and tried to get them to write them down. The best one was probably one about a giant eyeball who solves crimes. It's hard to say what exactly inspired me since I can't remember a time before I wanted to write, but I think I've just always had a lot of stories in my head, and I've always had the urge to get them out.

Where is your happy place?

I like sitting by the window in my apartment, in my green armchair, ideally with the cat and a cup of tea. This is also where I get most of my writing done.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a writer, but I also wanted to be an ornithologist. I loved bird-watching as a kid, and I thought maybe I could make it into a career. I didn't, but I still go birding a fair amount — my most recent sighting was actually a kestrel making a nest above a bagel store in Cobble Hill.

What's your favorite thing about Brooklyn?

I like that I can get pretty much everything I need, including human interaction, without driving anywhere.

If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it?

Probably either writing or sleeping. Maybe half and half? I get up early in the mornings to write before work, so I'm always a little sleep-deprived.

Do you listen to anything while you write? If so, what's your audio of choice?

I can't listen to music while I write — it's too distracting. But music often inspires me to write. In the years I spent working on The Life and Death of Sophie Stark, I was listening to a lot of The Rosebuds and Sarah Dougher (just not while I was actually writing) — I wrote about some of the music that inspired the book at Largehearted Boy.

Buy The Life and Death of Sophie Stark today!

Connect with Anna online on Twitter and Facebook!

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Interview with Ashlee Vance: Author of the new biography on Elon Musk

The life of Elon Musk is nothing short of inspiring. At only 43 years of age, Musk has tackled some of the biggest technological challenges facing humanity including: Electric Cars, Space Flight, and Solar Energy. Ashlee Vance, experienced Silicon Valley historian, recently wrote a biography of Elon which follows Musk's life through a rough childhood in South Africa, his early career at Zip2 and PayPal, and ends at present day with his involvement’s in SpaceX, Solar City, and Tesla Motors. We chatted with Vance to get a little insight into his biography and life in general.

Tell us a little bit about why you decided to write about Elon Musk.

I love factories, and he has the coolest factories going. When I visited SpaceX and saw he was mass producing rockets in the middle of Los Angeles, I decided to write as much as possible about the company and guy behind it.

What was your first impression of Elon Musk? Was he as you anticipated?

He can be intimidating in that he's physically imposing with very broad shoulders and doesn't suffer fools.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

So many people but one professor and author - Rubén Martinez - had a particularly large influence in pushing me to become a journalist. He was an inspirational teacher and his stories were so vivid and full of life.

Where is your favorite spot in Silicon Valley?

The Dish - it's this open area near Stanford where you can see all of Silicon Valley and walk in a nature reserve among massive satellites dishes.

What is your current obsession?

The education system and how messed up it is.

Which publications are on your daily reading list?

I don't really have a set list. I tend to hop around the Web to different spots every day but often find myself on the longform sites.

What's on your writing desk?

I tend to write in bed, which is a horrible idea, so a pillow.

If you're as interested in the forefront of technology as we are, be sure to grab Elon Musk today and let us know what you think!

Be sure to connect with Ashlee on his website, on Twitter, and on Facebook!

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Giveaway: Win This Week's Book Releases

I don't know if you've noticed, but this week's new book releases are fantastic. Really fantastic. So fantastic that we decided to pick some of the books that our readers are buzzing about and give them away.

Want to win six brand new new books by bestselling authors like Stephen King, Meg Cabot, and Judy Blume? Instructions are below. Best of luck, and happy reading!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Can't wait to see if you win? Get the books below!

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Splendid New Literary Fiction and Women's Novels | Week of 6/2

Judy Blume fans, rejoice! The celebrated bestselling author of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret released her eagerly awaited novel In the Unlikely Event today. In addition, two debut novels to keep your eye on are I'd Walk with My Friends If I Could Find Them and Eight Hundred Grapes, which both premiered today.

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Fall in Love with the Latest Romance Reads | Week of 6/2

Meg Cabot's new book, Royal Wedding, is perfect for all of the girls who wanted to be princesses when Princess Diaries came out... and now are adults ready to find their quirky, chivalrous prince charming! New York Times Bestselling Romance authors Denise Grover Swank, Julie James, and Jessica Claire also have new releases this week, masterfully mingling sexy with suspense in contemporary romances.

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New 50 Shades of Grey Book by EL James (coming soon)

Romance readers, get excited (not like that, come on). EL James just announced that she is writing a new 50 Shades of Grey book, from the perspective of Christian Grey. The book will be called GREY, and will be released on June 18th (Christian's birthday).

https://instagram.com/p/3YsFpwykRD/

To celebrate the release of the new 50 Shades of Grey book, we pulled together some of our readers' favorite quotes from Christian Grey himself.

[h3]About Grey[/h3]

Publication Date: June 18, 2015

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See the world of Fifty Shades of Grey anew through the eyes of Christian Grey.

In Christian's own words, and through his thoughts, reflections, and dreams, E L James offers a fresh perspective on the love story that has enthralled millions of readers around the world.

Christian Grey exercises control in all things; his world is neat, disciplined, and utterly empty—until the day that Anastasia Steele falls into his office, in a tangle of shapely limbs and tumbling brown hair. He tries to forget her, but instead is swept up in a storm of emotion he cannot comprehend and cannot resist. Unlike any woman he has known before, shy, unworldly Ana seems to see right through him—past the business prodigy and the penthouse lifestyle to Christian’s cold, wounded heart.

Will being with Ana dispel the horrors of his childhood that haunt Christian every night? Or will his dark sexual desires, his compulsion to control, and the self-loathing that fills his soul drive this girl away and destroy the fragile hope she offers him?

This book is intended for mature audiences.

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A Review of Elon Musk's New Biography

Emotions: Inspiration, Awe, Intrigue
Locales: South Africa, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles
Also Mentioned: Larry Page, Steve Jobs, Kimbal Musk
Publication Date: May 19, 2015

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The life of Elon Musk is nothing short of inspiring. At only 43 years of age Musk has tackled some of the biggest technological challenges facing humanity including: Electric Cars, Space Flight, and Solar Energy. This is an approved biography – meaning that Musk himself was interviewed and cooperated with the Author, experienced Silicon Valley historian Ashlee Vance.

The book follows Musk through a rough childhood in South Africa, continues through his early career at Zip2 and PayPal, and ends at present day with his involvement’s in SpaceX, Solar City, and Tesla Motors.

Comparing Musk to Steve Jobs is now a common comparison, and I couldn't help but compare the biographies as well. Jobs’ biography by Walter Isaacson, is longer, more complete and much more dense. It also spends a good amount of time dwelling on Jobs’ flaws as a person, perhaps due to the publication date being after Jobs’ death, or perhaps due to the author's bias.

In contrast, the biography of Musk is much shorter, coming in at 400 pages, compared to 656 pages for the Jobs biography. This can be expected given that Musk is only 43, still in the brightest part of his innovative career. Elon Musk also reads more like a fan-boy story. Ashlee Vance and Musk have a shared South African heritage, and it shows throughout the book. Vance is clearly a Musk fan (full disclosure, so am I). Despite the favorable angle, the book has integrity, describes some of Musk’s flaws, and accurately portrays his failures as well as his achievements.

If you like science, technology, business, or just reading about incredible people, this book is a must read. While there’s plenty of strife, and conflict through Musk’s life, the takeaway feeling from this book is positive, inspiring, and optimistic.

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