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Buzz Books 2015: Spring/Summer
Our sixth Buzz Books edition evokes all the excitement of Winter Institute with substantial pre-publication excerpts from nearly 40 adult titles. Enjoy access to the newest voices the publishing industry is broadcasting for the upcoming season as you discover breakout books from established authors, sparkling debuts from soon-to-become literary stars, and fascinating memoirs and inspirational nonfiction.
Familiar names include Paolo Bacigalupi, Ian Caldwell, Dennis Lehane, Ann Packer, Matthew Pearl, and Neal Stephenson. From inside the book world itself, there’s Farrar, Straus and Giroux publisher Jonathan Galassi’s debut novel Muse, and former editor George Hodgman’s memoir Bettyville, about going home to care for his irascible mother.
Iowa Writer’s Workshop graduate Leslie Parry (Church of Marvels), Erika Swyler (The Book of Speculation), J. Ryan Stradal (Kitchens of the Great Midwest), Christopher Robinson and Gavin Kovite (War Of The Encyclopaedists), and Jessica Knoll (Luckiest Girl Alive) are among our dozen new authors.
Rounding out this generous sampler are books from well-known personalities including actor Maria Bello, TV host Mika Brzezinski, NPR/Weekend Edition’s Scott Simon, and even a novel from Hunter S. Thompson’s former assistant Cheryl Della Pietra.
As always, there’s also a great preview from Publishers Lunch of more than 100 additional, noteworthy spring/summer books to have on your radar.
Familiar names include Paolo Bacigalupi, Ian Caldwell, Dennis Lehane, Ann Packer, Matthew Pearl, and Neal Stephenson. From inside the book world itself, there’s Farrar, Straus and Giroux publisher Jonathan Galassi’s debut novel Muse, and former editor George Hodgman’s memoir Bettyville, about going home to care for his irascible mother.
Iowa Writer’s Workshop graduate Leslie Parry (Church of Marvels), Erika Swyler (The Book of Speculation), J. Ryan Stradal (Kitchens of the Great Midwest), Christopher Robinson and Gavin Kovite (War Of The Encyclopaedists), and Jessica Knoll (Luckiest Girl Alive) are among our dozen new authors.
Rounding out this generous sampler are books from well-known personalities including actor Maria Bello, TV host Mika Brzezinski, NPR/Weekend Edition’s Scott Simon, and even a novel from Hunter S. Thompson’s former assistant Cheryl Della Pietra.
As always, there’s also a great preview from Publishers Lunch of more than 100 additional, noteworthy spring/summer books to have on your radar.
- GenresFiction
537 pages, ebook
First published January 23, 2015
2 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 26, 2016
These Buzz Books are like book crack for me. They give you an excerpt of the book and then on most of them they give you the link to request the book from Netgalley. I had my netgalley ratio and a somewhat decent number until these books came out..so I don't know if that's a good thing or not..
Here are the ones I think look interesting:
The Water Knife
by Paolo Bacigalupi
The Dog Master
by W. Bruce Cameron
A Desperate Fortune
by Susanna Kearsley
How to Start a Fire
by Lisa Lutz
Let Me Die in His Footsteps
by Lori Roy
Seveneves
by Neal Stephenson
Second Life
by S.J. Watson
Come Away with Me
by Karma Brown
Normal
by Graeme Cameron
Luckiest Girl Alive: A Novel
by Jessica Knoll
Kitchens of the Great Midwest: A Novel
by J. Ryan Stradal
The Book of Speculation
by Erika Swyler
Dietland
by Sarai Walker
So if you want your tbr blown all to hell and back grab up these books..I can't resist them.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
After my review of this book I received an email in my personal account asking why only 3 stars? As you see in my review I actually recommended people get this book. 3 stars is not frigging bad.
As to why 3 stars? Because this was a book of clips from other books..some I enjoyed some I did not. Never mind the fact that the person that emailed me has rated these books as five stars without disclosing her relationship with said books
Here are the ones I think look interesting:
The Water Knife
by Paolo BacigalupiThe Dog Master
by W. Bruce CameronA Desperate Fortune
by Susanna KearsleyHow to Start a Fire
by Lisa LutzLet Me Die in His Footsteps
by Lori RoySeveneves
by Neal StephensonSecond Life
by S.J. WatsonCome Away with Me
by Karma BrownNormal
by Graeme CameronLuckiest Girl Alive: A Novel
by Jessica KnollKitchens of the Great Midwest: A Novel
by J. Ryan StradalThe Book of Speculation
by Erika SwylerDietland
by Sarai WalkerSo if you want your tbr blown all to hell and back grab up these books..I can't resist them.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
After my review of this book I received an email in my personal account asking why only 3 stars? As you see in my review I actually recommended people get this book. 3 stars is not frigging bad.
As to why 3 stars? Because this was a book of clips from other books..some I enjoyed some I did not. Never mind the fact that the person that emailed me has rated these books as five stars without disclosing her relationship with said books
February 11, 2015
I first encountered the Buzz Books sampler on Netgalley, but I see this year’s one is also available as a free download at http://buzz.publishersmarketplace.com. There is bound to be something for everyone in this great selection of 39 extracts (the website says it is 40) from up-and-coming and established authors.
SF fans in particular will be keenly interested in The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi and Seveneves by Neal Stephenson (I don’t hold out much hope for The Last Bookaneer by Matthew Pearl being any good).
Each extract includes a brief book description and short author bio, in addition to a picture of the cover (except for Seveneves, for some reason). Apart from the general introduction, there is a fascinating preview of the 2015 spring/summer publishing, which is a broader overview of upcoming books (poor Stephen Baxter is referred to as ‘David Baxter’ in his upcoming fourth collaboration with Terry Pratchett in the Long Earth series).
I suppose Buzz Books can be looked at as a collection of Kindle sample chapters. However, the greater value here is that it alerts you to current trends while also potentially introducing you to new writers, and of course highlighting new books by well-known authors.
For me, the section entitled ‘Debut Fiction’ is perhaps of the greatest value. As a reader, I find it difficult to keep up to date within my main genres (mainly SF, horror and gay lit), let alone the world of literature in general, so resources such as this are really an, er, novel idea.
SF fans in particular will be keenly interested in The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi and Seveneves by Neal Stephenson (I don’t hold out much hope for The Last Bookaneer by Matthew Pearl being any good).
Each extract includes a brief book description and short author bio, in addition to a picture of the cover (except for Seveneves, for some reason). Apart from the general introduction, there is a fascinating preview of the 2015 spring/summer publishing, which is a broader overview of upcoming books (poor Stephen Baxter is referred to as ‘David Baxter’ in his upcoming fourth collaboration with Terry Pratchett in the Long Earth series).
I suppose Buzz Books can be looked at as a collection of Kindle sample chapters. However, the greater value here is that it alerts you to current trends while also potentially introducing you to new writers, and of course highlighting new books by well-known authors.
For me, the section entitled ‘Debut Fiction’ is perhaps of the greatest value. As a reader, I find it difficult to keep up to date within my main genres (mainly SF, horror and gay lit), let alone the world of literature in general, so resources such as this are really an, er, novel idea.
February 27, 2015
Always hungry for a sneaky peek via Buzz Books, most looking forward to reading the following:
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
Church of Marvels by Leslie Parry
How to Start a Fire by Lisa Lutz
War of Encyclopaedists by Christopher Robinson and Gavin Kovite
The Unfortunates by Sophie McManus
The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
Church of Marvels by Leslie Parry
How to Start a Fire by Lisa Lutz
War of Encyclopaedists by Christopher Robinson and Gavin Kovite
The Unfortunates by Sophie McManus
The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler
February 8, 2015
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
Two times a year Buzz Books offers you a sneak peak at a lot of upcoming titles from all major publishers. You can find these Buzz Books at the 'Read Now'-section of Netgalley, and many titles offer you a link after the excerpt so you can request the title as well.
I was however, a little bit disappointed this time as one of the books Creatures of A Day was linked to a widget but had already been archived. (I assume the publisher didn't know this meant the title would be unavailable even for those using the widget)
Some of the books that sparked my interest (and I got an ARC for some of them) :
Gonzo Girl - Cheryl Della Pietra
Long after the last drink is poured and the final gunshot fired, Cheryl Della Pietra's novel inspired by her time as Hunter S. Thompson's assistant will linger in your mind.
Alley Russo is a recent college grad desperately trying to make it in the grueling world of New York publishing, but like so many who have come before her, she has no connections and has settled for an unpaid magazine internship while slinging drinks on Bleecker Street just to make ends meet. That's when she hears the infamous Walker Reade is looking for an assistant to replace the eight others who have recently quit. Hungry for a chance to get her manuscript onto the desk of an experienced editor, Alley jumps at the opportunity to help Reade finish his latest novel.
After surviving an absurd three-day trial period involving a .44 magnum, purple-pyramid acid, violent verbal outbursts, brushes with fame and the law, a bevy of peacocks, and a whole lot of cocaine, Alley is invited to stay at the compound where Reade works. For months Alley attempts to coax the novel out of Walker page-by-page, all while battling his endless procrastination, vampiric schedule, Herculean substance abuse, mounting debt, and casual gunplay. But as the job begins to take a toll on her psyche, Alley realizes she's alone in the Colorado Rockies at the mercy of a drug-addicted literary icon who may never produce another novel and her fate may already be sealed.
A smart, rollicking ride told with heart, Gonzo Girl is a loving fictional portrait of a larger-than-life literary icon.
This debut novel is raucous, page-turning, head-spinning, and side-splitting as it depicts a boss and mentor who is both devil and angel, and a young heroine who finds herself tested in the chaos that surrounds him. An intense story, Della Pietra's tale about writing, firearms, psychotropics, and the pros and cons of hot tubs will suck you in and take you on ride.
The Last Bookaneer - Matthew Pearl
The bestselling author of The Dante Club takes us deep into a shadowy era in publishing ruled by a forgotten class of criminals
A golden age of publishing on the verge of collapse. For a hundred years, loose copyright laws and a hungry reading public created a unique opportunity: Books could be published without an author’s permission with extraordinary ease. Authors gained fame but suffered financially—Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Robert Louis Stevenson, to name a few—but publishers reaped enormous profits while readers got their books on the cheap. The literary pirates who stalked the harbors, coffeehouses, and printer shops for the latest manuscript to steal were known as bookaneers.
Yet on the eve of the twentieth century, a new international treaty is signed to protect authors and grind this literary underground to a sharp halt. The bookaneers, of course, would become extinct. In The Last Bookaneer, Matthew Pearl gives us a historical novel set inside the lost world of these doomed outlaws and the incredible heist that brought their era to a close.
On the island of Samoa, a dying Robert Louis Stevenson labors over a new novel. The thought of one last book from the great author fires the imaginations of the bookaneers, and soon two adversaries—the gallant Pen Davenport and the monstrous Belial—set out for the south Pacific island. Pen Davenport—a tortured criminal genius haunted by his past—is reluctantly accompanied by Fergins, the narrator of our story, who has lived a quiet life of bookselling before being whisked across the world on his friend’s final caper. Fergins soon discovers the supreme thrill of aiding Davenport in his quest: to steal Stevenson’s manuscript and make a fortune before the new treaty ends the bookaneers’ trade forever. Yet Samoa holds many secrets of its own, and the duo’s bookish concerns clash with the island’s violent destiny. A colonial war is afoot between the British, American, and German powers; even as Stevenson himself quietly supports native revolutionaries from high in his mountain compound. Soon Pen and Fergins are embroiled in a conflict larger, perhaps, than literature itself. Illuminating the heroics of the bookaneers even while conjuring Stevenson himself to breathtaking life, Pearl’s The Last Bookaneer is a pageturning journey to the dark heart of a forgotten literary era.
Second Life - S.J. Watson
Julia’s life is comfortable, if unremarkable, until her sister’s brutal murder opens old wounds. She finds solace in her sister’s best friend, Sophie, but when Sophie reveals the extent of her sister’s online life, Julia becomes convinced that the truth about her death lies deep in the dark, sordid world of online chatrooms and internet sex.
What begins as Julia’s search for the truth about her sister quickly turns into an exploration of herself and her own desires. After all, the internet is her playground, and why be just one thing when you can be as many as you like? What could possibly go wrong? After all, it’s only cybersex, isn’t it? No one’s going to get hurt.
But then she meets the dark and mysterious Lukas in an online chat room, and things begin to get very dangerous indeed.
Normal - Graeme Cameron
This is a love story. No, really.
He lives in your community, in a nice house with a well-tended garden. He shops in your grocery store, bumping shoulders with you as you pass him and apologizing with a smile. He drives beside you on the highway, politely waving to let you into the lane ahead of him.
What you don't know is that he has an elaborate cage built into a secret basement under his garage. And the food that he's carefully shopping for is to feed a young woman he's holding there against her will--one in a string of many, unaware of the fate that awaits her.
This is how it's been for a long time. It's normal...and it works. Perfectly.
Then he meets the checkout girl from the 24-hour grocery. And now the plan, the hunts, the room...the others. He doesn't need any of them anymore. He needs only her. One small problem--he still has someone trapped in his garage.
Discovering his humanity couldn't have come at a worse time.
Two times a year Buzz Books offers you a sneak peak at a lot of upcoming titles from all major publishers. You can find these Buzz Books at the 'Read Now'-section of Netgalley, and many titles offer you a link after the excerpt so you can request the title as well.
I was however, a little bit disappointed this time as one of the books Creatures of A Day was linked to a widget but had already been archived. (I assume the publisher didn't know this meant the title would be unavailable even for those using the widget)
Some of the books that sparked my interest (and I got an ARC for some of them) :
Gonzo Girl - Cheryl Della Pietra
Long after the last drink is poured and the final gunshot fired, Cheryl Della Pietra's novel inspired by her time as Hunter S. Thompson's assistant will linger in your mind.
Alley Russo is a recent college grad desperately trying to make it in the grueling world of New York publishing, but like so many who have come before her, she has no connections and has settled for an unpaid magazine internship while slinging drinks on Bleecker Street just to make ends meet. That's when she hears the infamous Walker Reade is looking for an assistant to replace the eight others who have recently quit. Hungry for a chance to get her manuscript onto the desk of an experienced editor, Alley jumps at the opportunity to help Reade finish his latest novel.
After surviving an absurd three-day trial period involving a .44 magnum, purple-pyramid acid, violent verbal outbursts, brushes with fame and the law, a bevy of peacocks, and a whole lot of cocaine, Alley is invited to stay at the compound where Reade works. For months Alley attempts to coax the novel out of Walker page-by-page, all while battling his endless procrastination, vampiric schedule, Herculean substance abuse, mounting debt, and casual gunplay. But as the job begins to take a toll on her psyche, Alley realizes she's alone in the Colorado Rockies at the mercy of a drug-addicted literary icon who may never produce another novel and her fate may already be sealed.
A smart, rollicking ride told with heart, Gonzo Girl is a loving fictional portrait of a larger-than-life literary icon.
This debut novel is raucous, page-turning, head-spinning, and side-splitting as it depicts a boss and mentor who is both devil and angel, and a young heroine who finds herself tested in the chaos that surrounds him. An intense story, Della Pietra's tale about writing, firearms, psychotropics, and the pros and cons of hot tubs will suck you in and take you on ride.
The Last Bookaneer - Matthew Pearl
The bestselling author of The Dante Club takes us deep into a shadowy era in publishing ruled by a forgotten class of criminals
A golden age of publishing on the verge of collapse. For a hundred years, loose copyright laws and a hungry reading public created a unique opportunity: Books could be published without an author’s permission with extraordinary ease. Authors gained fame but suffered financially—Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Robert Louis Stevenson, to name a few—but publishers reaped enormous profits while readers got their books on the cheap. The literary pirates who stalked the harbors, coffeehouses, and printer shops for the latest manuscript to steal were known as bookaneers.
Yet on the eve of the twentieth century, a new international treaty is signed to protect authors and grind this literary underground to a sharp halt. The bookaneers, of course, would become extinct. In The Last Bookaneer, Matthew Pearl gives us a historical novel set inside the lost world of these doomed outlaws and the incredible heist that brought their era to a close.
On the island of Samoa, a dying Robert Louis Stevenson labors over a new novel. The thought of one last book from the great author fires the imaginations of the bookaneers, and soon two adversaries—the gallant Pen Davenport and the monstrous Belial—set out for the south Pacific island. Pen Davenport—a tortured criminal genius haunted by his past—is reluctantly accompanied by Fergins, the narrator of our story, who has lived a quiet life of bookselling before being whisked across the world on his friend’s final caper. Fergins soon discovers the supreme thrill of aiding Davenport in his quest: to steal Stevenson’s manuscript and make a fortune before the new treaty ends the bookaneers’ trade forever. Yet Samoa holds many secrets of its own, and the duo’s bookish concerns clash with the island’s violent destiny. A colonial war is afoot between the British, American, and German powers; even as Stevenson himself quietly supports native revolutionaries from high in his mountain compound. Soon Pen and Fergins are embroiled in a conflict larger, perhaps, than literature itself. Illuminating the heroics of the bookaneers even while conjuring Stevenson himself to breathtaking life, Pearl’s The Last Bookaneer is a pageturning journey to the dark heart of a forgotten literary era.
Second Life - S.J. Watson
Julia’s life is comfortable, if unremarkable, until her sister’s brutal murder opens old wounds. She finds solace in her sister’s best friend, Sophie, but when Sophie reveals the extent of her sister’s online life, Julia becomes convinced that the truth about her death lies deep in the dark, sordid world of online chatrooms and internet sex.
What begins as Julia’s search for the truth about her sister quickly turns into an exploration of herself and her own desires. After all, the internet is her playground, and why be just one thing when you can be as many as you like? What could possibly go wrong? After all, it’s only cybersex, isn’t it? No one’s going to get hurt.
But then she meets the dark and mysterious Lukas in an online chat room, and things begin to get very dangerous indeed.
Normal - Graeme Cameron
This is a love story. No, really.
He lives in your community, in a nice house with a well-tended garden. He shops in your grocery store, bumping shoulders with you as you pass him and apologizing with a smile. He drives beside you on the highway, politely waving to let you into the lane ahead of him.
What you don't know is that he has an elaborate cage built into a secret basement under his garage. And the food that he's carefully shopping for is to feed a young woman he's holding there against her will--one in a string of many, unaware of the fate that awaits her.
This is how it's been for a long time. It's normal...and it works. Perfectly.
Then he meets the checkout girl from the 24-hour grocery. And now the plan, the hunts, the room...the others. He doesn't need any of them anymore. He needs only her. One small problem--he still has someone trapped in his garage.
Discovering his humanity couldn't have come at a worse time.
January 25, 2015
I received this book from Netgalley --(Thank You)
Many passionate readers get excited about 'The Buzz' on new books coming out each year. I'm one of them.
This collection of Buzz-Books are due out this spring. Its a collection of fiction and non-fiction books. (books that are 'already' being talked about).
It felt like I was opening up a new gift each time I came to a new title --(oooo-eeee--ahhhh). A hungry-readers-mind is like a vampire!
A few on my 'hot-to-read' list are:
1) Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll
2) The War of the Encyclopaedist by Christopher Robinson, & Gavin Kovite
3) "The Sympathizer" by Viet Thanh Nguyan
4) "The book of Speculation" by Erika Swyler
Many passionate readers get excited about 'The Buzz' on new books coming out each year. I'm one of them.
This collection of Buzz-Books are due out this spring. Its a collection of fiction and non-fiction books. (books that are 'already' being talked about).
It felt like I was opening up a new gift each time I came to a new title --(oooo-eeee--ahhhh). A hungry-readers-mind is like a vampire!
A few on my 'hot-to-read' list are:
1) Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll
2) The War of the Encyclopaedist by Christopher Robinson, & Gavin Kovite
3) "The Sympathizer" by Viet Thanh Nguyan
4) "The book of Speculation" by Erika Swyler
March 5, 2015
I received this book via Netgalley for an honest review.
I was very excited to read through this book and find all of the delights awaiting me this Spring/Summer season. I also found myself looking at categories that I don't usually look at such as Science Fiction. The titles, authors and short sections of the books are very enlightening. I found at least 6 that I have written down that I will definitely watch for, only 1 of those was available on NetGalley.
I will look forward to the next compilation for the Fall/Winter books.
Thank you for the opportunity to review this great guide.
I was very excited to read through this book and find all of the delights awaiting me this Spring/Summer season. I also found myself looking at categories that I don't usually look at such as Science Fiction. The titles, authors and short sections of the books are very enlightening. I found at least 6 that I have written down that I will definitely watch for, only 1 of those was available on NetGalley.
I will look forward to the next compilation for the Fall/Winter books.
Thank you for the opportunity to review this great guide.
June 11, 2015
(I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)
This is the second buzz books that I received and I must say that I enjoyed this one than the last one because this have more novels than before which means more opportunities.
and can I just say that I'm really flattered because I am auto-approved by Buzz Books? haha okay that sounds pretentious.
*p.s will edit this soon cause I wrote it on my phone.
This is the second buzz books that I received and I must say that I enjoyed this one than the last one because this have more novels than before which means more opportunities.
and can I just say that I'm really flattered because I am auto-approved by Buzz Books? haha okay that sounds pretentious.
*p.s will edit this soon cause I wrote it on my phone.
July 27, 2015
I love this type of anthology that gives a preview of both fiction and non fiction books. There are 40 books to peruse. A nice mix, familiar authors and some new authors I've never read before. I always look for the Buzz Books, twice a year. They also have a young adult preview available also.
August 22, 2018
Consists of a variety of pre-pub excerpts from approximately 40 adult titles. These previews inform you on what’s coming out in future months.
Great for previewing new fiction and nonfiction books. Really enjoyable. My only complaint is that I wish the author would have included links to more of the books.
Great for previewing new fiction and nonfiction books. Really enjoyable. My only complaint is that I wish the author would have included links to more of the books.
May 1, 2020
This was great - it’s always good to be aware of books coming out that you ,isn’t be interested in, and it’s a great way to try new authors if you’re not sure about paying full price for a book! It’s also an 8nterestig way to get a ‘flavour’ of a publisher, so you can learn which publishers are putting out the books that you really enjoy!
Read
October 27, 2015This book contains excerpts from the following (publishers in parentheses), with a few of my own thoughts scattered between:
FICTION BY PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AUTHORS
1. The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi (Alfred A. Knopf)
2. The Fifth Gospel by Ian Caldwell (Simon & Schuster)
Ian Caldwell was one of the authors of The Rule of Four, one of my all-time favorite books-about-books. Apparently he spent ten years researching this book, so despite the Dan-Brown-style title, I'm looking forward to reading it.
3. The Dog Master by W. Bruce Cameron (Forge)
4. Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave (Simon & Schuster)
Set in a family vineyard. Hopefully they grow more than eight hundred grapes.
5. Gonzo Girl: a novel by Cheryl Della Pietra
Inspired by the author's time with Hunter S. Thompson. Not my kind of thing but sure to appeal to certain readers. Don't be fooled by the title's similarity to Gone Girl.
6. The Loved Ones by Marty-Beth Hughes (Atlantic Monthly)
7. A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley (Sourcebooks Landmark)
8. World Gone By by Dennis Lehane (William Morrow)
9. How to Start a Fire by Lisa Lutz (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
Great cover, but maybe misleadingly interesting title. Seems to be a book about three college friends who reunite 20 years later.
10. Palace of Treason by Jason Matthews (Scribner)
11. The Rocks by Peter Nichols (Riverhead)
12. The Children's Crusade by Ann Packer (Scribner)
Not set during the actual Children's Crusade. Instead, it's about a family who settles south of San Francisco in the 1950s.
13. The Last Bookaneer by Matthew Pearl (Penguin)
14. The Hand that Feeds You by A.J. Rich (Scribner)
15. Let Me Die in His Footsteps by Lori Roy (Dutton)
16. Seveneves by Neal Stephenson (William Morrow)
Stephenson has been a perennial author on my TBR, and this book has moved to the top of the list, maybe behind Anathem (or maybe not).
17. Second Life by S.J. Watson (Harper)
"a riveting psychological thriller, in which a woman plunges into the dangerous world of online sex to find the truth about the life, and death, of her sister." Probably not about the game Second Life at all, though I can't say for sure from the excerpt.
FIRST TIME AUTHORS
1. Come Away with Me by Karma Brown (Mira)
2. Normal by Graeme Cameron (Mira)
3. Muse by Jonathan Galassi (Alfred A. Knopf)
4. Benefit of the Doubt by Neal Griffin (Forge)
5. Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll (Simon & Schuster)
This one is also sitting on my TBR
6. The Unfortunates by Sophie McManus (Farrar, Straus & Giroux)
7. The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen (Grove Press)
8. Church of Marvels by Leslie Parry (Ecco)
9. War of the Encyclopaedists by Christopher Robinson & Gavin Kovite (Scribner)
The title might be more interesting than the actual book, but I got the impression that it contrasts the experience of a young man in college with the experience of a young man at war.
10. Kitches of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal (Viking)
Please see my separate review of this book. Overall I thought it was excellent and unique, well worth a read.
11. The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler (St. Martin's Press)
Please see my separate review of this book. I strongly recommend it to anyone who enjoys books-about-books; it was one of my favorite reads of the year.
12. Dietland by Sarai Walker (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
NONFICTION
1. Love is Love by Maria Bello (Dey Street)
2. Grow Your Value by Mika Brzezinski (Weinstein)
3. Pieces of My Mother by Melissa Cistaro (Sourcebooks)
4. Move Your Bus by Ron Clark (Touchstone)
5. Audrey and Bill: a romantice biography of Audrey Hepburn and William Holden by Edward Z. Epstein (Running Press)
6. The Battle of Versailles by Robin Givhan (Flatiron)
7. Bettyville by George Hodgman (Viking)
A memoir of the author's mother, an aging Missourian housewife
8. The Wild Oats Project by Robin Rinaldi (Sarah Crichton)
"What if for just one year you explored everything you'd wondered about sex but hadn't tried?" No, thank you, I'll be fine right here.
9. Unforgettable: a son, a mother, and the lessons of a lifetime (Flatiron)
10. Creatures of a Day and Other Tales of Psychotherapy by Irvin D. Yalom (Basic)
Ten stories from a psychotherapist. I can tell you it won't be as good as The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, but it sounds interesting anyway.
FICTION BY PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AUTHORS
1. The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi (Alfred A. Knopf)
2. The Fifth Gospel by Ian Caldwell (Simon & Schuster)
Ian Caldwell was one of the authors of The Rule of Four, one of my all-time favorite books-about-books. Apparently he spent ten years researching this book, so despite the Dan-Brown-style title, I'm looking forward to reading it.
3. The Dog Master by W. Bruce Cameron (Forge)
4. Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave (Simon & Schuster)
Set in a family vineyard. Hopefully they grow more than eight hundred grapes.
5. Gonzo Girl: a novel by Cheryl Della Pietra
Inspired by the author's time with Hunter S. Thompson. Not my kind of thing but sure to appeal to certain readers. Don't be fooled by the title's similarity to Gone Girl.
6. The Loved Ones by Marty-Beth Hughes (Atlantic Monthly)
7. A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley (Sourcebooks Landmark)
8. World Gone By by Dennis Lehane (William Morrow)
9. How to Start a Fire by Lisa Lutz (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
Great cover, but maybe misleadingly interesting title. Seems to be a book about three college friends who reunite 20 years later.
10. Palace of Treason by Jason Matthews (Scribner)
11. The Rocks by Peter Nichols (Riverhead)
12. The Children's Crusade by Ann Packer (Scribner)
Not set during the actual Children's Crusade. Instead, it's about a family who settles south of San Francisco in the 1950s.
13. The Last Bookaneer by Matthew Pearl (Penguin)
14. The Hand that Feeds You by A.J. Rich (Scribner)
15. Let Me Die in His Footsteps by Lori Roy (Dutton)
16. Seveneves by Neal Stephenson (William Morrow)
Stephenson has been a perennial author on my TBR, and this book has moved to the top of the list, maybe behind Anathem (or maybe not).
17. Second Life by S.J. Watson (Harper)
"a riveting psychological thriller, in which a woman plunges into the dangerous world of online sex to find the truth about the life, and death, of her sister." Probably not about the game Second Life at all, though I can't say for sure from the excerpt.
FIRST TIME AUTHORS
1. Come Away with Me by Karma Brown (Mira)
2. Normal by Graeme Cameron (Mira)
3. Muse by Jonathan Galassi (Alfred A. Knopf)
4. Benefit of the Doubt by Neal Griffin (Forge)
5. Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll (Simon & Schuster)
This one is also sitting on my TBR
6. The Unfortunates by Sophie McManus (Farrar, Straus & Giroux)
7. The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen (Grove Press)
8. Church of Marvels by Leslie Parry (Ecco)
9. War of the Encyclopaedists by Christopher Robinson & Gavin Kovite (Scribner)
The title might be more interesting than the actual book, but I got the impression that it contrasts the experience of a young man in college with the experience of a young man at war.
10. Kitches of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal (Viking)
Please see my separate review of this book. Overall I thought it was excellent and unique, well worth a read.
11. The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler (St. Martin's Press)
Please see my separate review of this book. I strongly recommend it to anyone who enjoys books-about-books; it was one of my favorite reads of the year.
12. Dietland by Sarai Walker (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
NONFICTION
1. Love is Love by Maria Bello (Dey Street)
2. Grow Your Value by Mika Brzezinski (Weinstein)
3. Pieces of My Mother by Melissa Cistaro (Sourcebooks)
4. Move Your Bus by Ron Clark (Touchstone)
5. Audrey and Bill: a romantice biography of Audrey Hepburn and William Holden by Edward Z. Epstein (Running Press)
6. The Battle of Versailles by Robin Givhan (Flatiron)
7. Bettyville by George Hodgman (Viking)
A memoir of the author's mother, an aging Missourian housewife
8. The Wild Oats Project by Robin Rinaldi (Sarah Crichton)
"What if for just one year you explored everything you'd wondered about sex but hadn't tried?" No, thank you, I'll be fine right here.
9. Unforgettable: a son, a mother, and the lessons of a lifetime (Flatiron)
10. Creatures of a Day and Other Tales of Psychotherapy by Irvin D. Yalom (Basic)
Ten stories from a psychotherapist. I can tell you it won't be as good as The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, but it sounds interesting anyway.
May 7, 2015
I LOVE these books! I eagerly wait for these books to come out twice a year since they were released about four years ago on NetGalley! They release two of these every year now, actually four are released because 2 are the Adult Versions, which is the version I get, and the other two are the Young Adult Versions, which I do not get only because I don't enjoy Young Adult as much as I enjoy Adult.
The BEST part about these books is you can request the titles featured in these books right from your Kindle! Unfortunately, not ALL titles are available for review. Bummer! I've read a few chapters from a few amazing authors, such as S J Watson and Chevy Stevens that are NOT available! Ugh! I WISH!!! I'd LOVE to read them NOW! I guess I'll have to wait!
The Adult version book has about 40'ish books, and is set up with a Table of Contents, an Introduction, The Spring/Summer Publishers, Buzz Books Authors Appearing at Winter Institute, Excerpts by Publisher, About NetGalley. There is Part One: Fiction. Part Two: Debut Fiction and Part Three: NonFiction. Copyright and The End.
Oh! The books! You have GOT to take the time to read this book! You will be salivating at some of the books that are coming! You are going to find yourself requesting books to read/review, and your TBR list at NetGalley is going to GROW, and quickly! Remember, not all books are available for review (bummer!!!). I wrote down the books I requested on my calendar according to their release dates. Most books seem to come out in June, but there are some that release sooner. A calendar to keep track is a MUST HAVE!
Enjoy!! I sure did, and now I get to start reading!!!
The Young Adult version is most likely set-up the same.
I received this book for FREE from the Publisher's Lunch and NetGalley in exchange to read and write a review about it. It is NOT required for this review to be either positive or negative, but of my own honest opinion. "Free" means I was provided with ZERO MONIES to read this book nor to write this review, but to enjoy the pure pleasure of reading it. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa... Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
The BEST part about these books is you can request the titles featured in these books right from your Kindle! Unfortunately, not ALL titles are available for review. Bummer! I've read a few chapters from a few amazing authors, such as S J Watson and Chevy Stevens that are NOT available! Ugh! I WISH!!! I'd LOVE to read them NOW! I guess I'll have to wait!
The Adult version book has about 40'ish books, and is set up with a Table of Contents, an Introduction, The Spring/Summer Publishers, Buzz Books Authors Appearing at Winter Institute, Excerpts by Publisher, About NetGalley. There is Part One: Fiction. Part Two: Debut Fiction and Part Three: NonFiction. Copyright and The End.
Oh! The books! You have GOT to take the time to read this book! You will be salivating at some of the books that are coming! You are going to find yourself requesting books to read/review, and your TBR list at NetGalley is going to GROW, and quickly! Remember, not all books are available for review (bummer!!!). I wrote down the books I requested on my calendar according to their release dates. Most books seem to come out in June, but there are some that release sooner. A calendar to keep track is a MUST HAVE!
Enjoy!! I sure did, and now I get to start reading!!!
The Young Adult version is most likely set-up the same.
I received this book for FREE from the Publisher's Lunch and NetGalley in exchange to read and write a review about it. It is NOT required for this review to be either positive or negative, but of my own honest opinion. "Free" means I was provided with ZERO MONIES to read this book nor to write this review, but to enjoy the pure pleasure of reading it. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa... Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
June 15, 2015
Really enjoy these samplers as they introduce me to authors I probably never would have found on my own! While I'm more of an Urban Fantasy and YA reader, there were several samples in this collection that left me wanting more! Here are a few of my favorites:
The Dog Master by W. Bruce Cameron - A story about an injured she-wolf trying to protect her newborn pups and a lone human who decides to help her. The story hooked me the minute we heard from the she-wolf's point of view!
A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley - Sara has always felt a bit of an outsider, partly because she has Asperger's Syndrome. I liked her immediately, and was intrigued by the idea of an encrypted diary from an exiled Jacobite in France.
The Children's Crusade by Ann Packer - This isn't my usual type of read at all, but something about the story drew me in and left me wanting to learn more about this family.
The Hand That Feeds You by A.J. Rich - Not really into mysteries or thrillers lately, but there are dogs involved and I want to know more! For instance, are the dogs guilty or innocent bystanders? And what's up with Morgan's mysterious fiance?
Dietland by Sarai Walker - Plum is a large woman who has basically put her life on hold because of her weight. Convinced that her "real" life will start after she loses weight, she schedules surgery and starts buying clothes for her new & improved self. Then she notices someone following her, and her life takes an unexpected turn. Sounds intriguing, doesn't it?
The Dog Master by W. Bruce Cameron - A story about an injured she-wolf trying to protect her newborn pups and a lone human who decides to help her. The story hooked me the minute we heard from the she-wolf's point of view!
A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley - Sara has always felt a bit of an outsider, partly because she has Asperger's Syndrome. I liked her immediately, and was intrigued by the idea of an encrypted diary from an exiled Jacobite in France.
The Children's Crusade by Ann Packer - This isn't my usual type of read at all, but something about the story drew me in and left me wanting to learn more about this family.
The Hand That Feeds You by A.J. Rich - Not really into mysteries or thrillers lately, but there are dogs involved and I want to know more! For instance, are the dogs guilty or innocent bystanders? And what's up with Morgan's mysterious fiance?
Dietland by Sarai Walker - Plum is a large woman who has basically put her life on hold because of her weight. Convinced that her "real" life will start after she loses weight, she schedules surgery and starts buying clothes for her new & improved self. Then she notices someone following her, and her life takes an unexpected turn. Sounds intriguing, doesn't it?
February 10, 2015
Buzz Books 2015: Spring/Summer edition is divided into three sections. the first part is fiction. The second part is debut fiction. And the third part is nonfiction. There is also a Spring/Summer 2015 publishing season preview.
Even though the main books featured in this e-book are not ones that I would normally read I still enjoyed looking through all of the listings. I liked reading the summaries and trying the chapters for the ones that I thought might interest me.
My favorite part of this e-book was the preview section. It was quite in-depth and included literary fiction, debut fiction, commercial fiction, non-fiction conversation starters, and non-fiction memoir & biography. This section was wonderful and mentioned so many more books than just the ones featured (with summaries and excerpts).
I looked through all of the books that had summaries. And bookmarked the ones that I wanted to take a closer look at later.
I do enjoy reading book summaries, but I am not normally someone who reads chapters in advance. But in this case I liked it. As these are not normally books that I would read the first chapters really gave me a lot of insight into each book. And there were definitely some that I requested.
I think that Buzz Books 2015 would be great for anyone who reads in the adult genre. It gives the reader a great look into what some of the most talked about books might be. A very enjoyable e-book!
February 6, 2015
Buzz reads offers short experts on upcoming books. It's nice to get a taste of some books to look forward to. I rated this a 3 star because some of the books were more interesting than others. Some I am looking forward to the most are:
A Desperate Fortuneby Susanna Kearsley
The Water Knifeby Paolo Bacigalupi
The Loved Onesby Mary-Beth Hughes
Luckiest Girl Alive: A Novelby Jessica Knoll
Received a copy from NetGalley
A Desperate Fortuneby Susanna Kearsley
The Water Knifeby Paolo Bacigalupi
The Loved Onesby Mary-Beth Hughes
Luckiest Girl Alive: A Novelby Jessica Knoll
Received a copy from NetGalley
December 2, 2016
Buzz Books, any year, is a catalogue of upcoming novels, the publisher and a short plot description. Usually it is separated into sections such as Fiction, Nonfiction, and Debut Fiction and published twice a year according to seasons: Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter.
The 2015 Spring/Summer list consists of Part One: Fiction, Part Two: Debut Fiction, and Part Three: Nonfiction. Novels I believe worth reading are as follows:
Part One: Fiction
THE FIFTH GOSPEL by Ian Caldwell, Simon and Schuster
Two Vatican priests’ adventures as they try to fulfill the dying wish of Pope J. Paul II to reunite Catholicism and Orthodoxy
THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU by A.J. Rich
Woman seeks reasoning behind boyfriend’s death and who is murdering his exes.
SEVENEVES by Neal Stephenson, Harper Collins
Futuristic
Part Two: Debut Fiction
KITCHENS OF THE GREAT MIDWEST by J. Ryan Stradal, Penguin Random
Recipes passed from father to daughter who morphs into a star chef
PART THREE: Non-Fiction
PIECES OF MY MOTHER by Melissa Cistero, Sourcebooks/Landmark
Woman abandoned by mother as a child
I recommend this book to all avid readers who wish to keep in the know on upcoming novel reading material. I received this book from the Net Galley Reviewer Program in exchange for an unbiased opinion.
The 2015 Spring/Summer list consists of Part One: Fiction, Part Two: Debut Fiction, and Part Three: Nonfiction. Novels I believe worth reading are as follows:
Part One: Fiction
THE FIFTH GOSPEL by Ian Caldwell, Simon and Schuster
Two Vatican priests’ adventures as they try to fulfill the dying wish of Pope J. Paul II to reunite Catholicism and Orthodoxy
THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU by A.J. Rich
Woman seeks reasoning behind boyfriend’s death and who is murdering his exes.
SEVENEVES by Neal Stephenson, Harper Collins
Futuristic
Part Two: Debut Fiction
KITCHENS OF THE GREAT MIDWEST by J. Ryan Stradal, Penguin Random
Recipes passed from father to daughter who morphs into a star chef
PART THREE: Non-Fiction
PIECES OF MY MOTHER by Melissa Cistero, Sourcebooks/Landmark
Woman abandoned by mother as a child
I recommend this book to all avid readers who wish to keep in the know on upcoming novel reading material. I received this book from the Net Galley Reviewer Program in exchange for an unbiased opinion.
April 21, 2015
Surprised by how many of the books I marked to try to get at BEA this year!
The Fiction Books that Caught My Eye
Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dane
A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley
How To Start a Fire by Lisa Lutz
The Rocks by Peter Nichols
The Last Bookaneer by Matthew Pearl
The Hand That Feeds You by A.J. Rich
Let me Die in His Footsteps by Lori Ray
Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
Second Life by S. J. Watson
Normal by Graeme Cameron
Muse by Jonathan Galassi
Benefit of Doubt by Neal Griffin
Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll (already read)
The Unfortunates vy Sophie McManus
Church of Marvels by Leslie Parry
War of the Encyclopaedists by Christopher Robinson
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler
Dietland by Sarah Walker
Non-fiction that somehow caught me eye:
Love is Love by Maria Bello
Audrey and Bill by Edward Z. Epstein
The Battle of Versailles by Robin Givhan
Bettyville by George Hodgman
The Wild Oats Project by Robin Rinaldi
Unforgettable by Scott Simon
I doubt I will actually pick up half if the titles I listed, but there are a few that really stood out like Normal and Dietland.
The Fiction Books that Caught My Eye
Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dane
A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley
How To Start a Fire by Lisa Lutz
The Rocks by Peter Nichols
The Last Bookaneer by Matthew Pearl
The Hand That Feeds You by A.J. Rich
Let me Die in His Footsteps by Lori Ray
Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
Second Life by S. J. Watson
Normal by Graeme Cameron
Muse by Jonathan Galassi
Benefit of Doubt by Neal Griffin
Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll (already read)
The Unfortunates vy Sophie McManus
Church of Marvels by Leslie Parry
War of the Encyclopaedists by Christopher Robinson
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler
Dietland by Sarah Walker
Non-fiction that somehow caught me eye:
Love is Love by Maria Bello
Audrey and Bill by Edward Z. Epstein
The Battle of Versailles by Robin Givhan
Bettyville by George Hodgman
The Wild Oats Project by Robin Rinaldi
Unforgettable by Scott Simon
I doubt I will actually pick up half if the titles I listed, but there are a few that really stood out like Normal and Dietland.
July 4, 2016
I know this book is a year old now; but as i've said in my previous review on Buzz Books 2015: Young Adult Fall/Winter, it never hurts to discover new books.
The book presents you with 39 books. The setup of this book was easy to follow. If a book did not interest you, you can skip to the next one with ease. There was a brief summary and an excerpt of the first few pages attached to each book to make it easier on the reader and let them decide if they like what they're reading.
Out of the 39 books that were presented to me, 7 have piqued my interest!
I do not regret reading this book because I found a handful of books I'd like to read sometime in the future.
**This book is available for free on the Nook app if anyone is interested**
The book presents you with 39 books. The setup of this book was easy to follow. If a book did not interest you, you can skip to the next one with ease. There was a brief summary and an excerpt of the first few pages attached to each book to make it easier on the reader and let them decide if they like what they're reading.
Out of the 39 books that were presented to me, 7 have piqued my interest!
I do not regret reading this book because I found a handful of books I'd like to read sometime in the future.
**This book is available for free on the Nook app if anyone is interested**
May 17, 2015
I super love and appreciate the Buzz Books. They are a great way to read a sample of some of the most hyped books, and some books that don't always get a lot of press, to determine if the whole book is one you would want to dedicate time and money to. Also, some of the book excerpts I know are for books that I am not interested in, but certain customers of mine would love them. It's a great tool for both the store and for me personally. Four stars for the excellent combination of big books, little known books and non-fiction books.
My thanks to NetGalley and Publishers Lunch BUZZ BOOKS for an eArc copy of this book to read and review.
My thanks to NetGalley and Publishers Lunch BUZZ BOOKS for an eArc copy of this book to read and review.
May 3, 2015
I always look forward to reading about some of the new books that are coming out and that people are talking about. Being about to read excerpts from all 26 books that are included helps me organize my spring reading better. This year I found a few that really look promising, especially Rebecca Stead's new book Goodbye Stranger and Alice Hoffman's debut YA book Nightbird, both of which I have already managed to get review copies.
Not every book that is included appealed to me but that is the beauty of the Buzz Books. It doesn't mean those books are bad, just not my cup of tea. I always look forward to the newest edition of Buzz Books.
Not every book that is included appealed to me but that is the beauty of the Buzz Books. It doesn't mean those books are bad, just not my cup of tea. I always look forward to the newest edition of Buzz Books.
May 29, 2015
I have a love/hate relationship with this type of book. I love reading these as I often discover new authors that I have not read. I hate making my to be read list longer. It is already too long! But does that stop me from reading these type of books? No! I know I would miss out on some great books if I didn't. Please keep printing this book at least once a year if not more often!
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
January 31, 2015
I love reading through the Buzz Books to find what interesting new books will be out this spring and summer. There were a few that I felt like I "Must Read" and some others to be added to my never ending "To Read" list.
* Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this book to read and review.
* Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this book to read and review.
January 13, 2016
Fast becoming my go to for the upcoming season, I am a big fan of these excerpts from buzz Books.They pick a wide variety of books from both fiction/nonfiction across the genres so there's something for everyone and it's a fantastic idea to get people likle me out of their reading ruts.
April 14, 2015
Lots of interesting reads to look forward to
March 9, 2015
These Buzz Books are a great way to build a reading list of highly anticipated books coming out this spring. I enjoyed many of the excerpts and added several books to my to read list.
July 2, 2015
This is so great!!! It provides you with summaries and samples of books being released this Spring and Summer. I love it!
April 3, 2015
Great opportunity to preview upcoming releases...I've added quite a few new novels to my 2015 "to read" list!
May 20, 2015
I really loved the Buzz Books version for YA novels.
This was a great way to look into some new titles coming out soon.
This was a great way to look into some new titles coming out soon.
September 6, 2016
I really like the books in this book sampler!
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