Let's Talk Books: New Releases 10/22/2013

It's a great week for books!

Let's just dive in and look at the diverse selection of new releases this week.

• Donna Tartt makes readers wait an awfully long time between books: her first novel, The Secret History, came out 1992, The Little Friend in 2002. The Goldfinch is her third novel, and to say it's been eagerly awaited is to undersell it. Both the notoriously cranky Michiko Kakutani and Stephen King (easier to please but still no pushover as a reviewer) gave it raves in the New York Times, tossing around adjectives such as "Dickensian" and calling the writing "dense, allusive, and so vivid it's intoxicating." I'm but 200 pages into this nearly 800 page behemoth and can attest to its beauty, mastery of narrative, and all-around great storytelling.
• In Sycamore Row John Grisham returns to the setting and characters of his first novel, A Time to Kill.  Grisham always hits the spot, and this sequel to his beloved first novel--which remains many readers' favorite Grisham--should be no exception.
• Allegiant. Ah, Allegiant. If you have a Hunger Games age teen in your life--or if, like me, you're an adult who enjoys Young Adult literature (particularly of a dystopian bent)--then you're either already aware of the Divergent Trilogy or soon will be. Here are some keywords for you: Near Future. Dystopian. Oppression. Heroic Teens. Action. Violence. Yeah, it's good stuff.
• The feminist blog Jezebel, which is owned by Gawker Media, releases its first book today, a 300 page "Encyclopedia of Lady Things" entitled, simply, The Book of Jezebel. It's an awesome guide to pop culture, feminism, fashion, sex, and politics, all with the unique Jezebel spin.
• We Are Water is another richly detailed novel of family drama from Wally Lamb, who is the author of not one but two Oprah Book Club selections (She's Come Undone, I Know This Much Is True). Will he hit the trifecta with this one? We don't know yet, but it sure looks good (and very juicy).

All these, and so much more, are in stock now at The Book Frog. None of them appeal? Come on in and talk to me--I promise we'll find the perfect book for you!