February 27, 2014

As much as we LOVE February, we’re kind of relieved to be leaving it behind on Saturday. Snowstorms or not, March means spring is not just an almost-forgotten memory in our frosty brains --- it’s a real thing that’s right around the corner. This gets a further boost in the right direction when Daylight Savings Time kicks in on March 9th, which is well worth losing an hour of sleep!

There’s no better way to celebrate our pre-spring excitement than with the ultimate Hollywood party: The Academy Awards! Hot stars (we’ve got our eyes on you, Fassbender), amazing dresses, awkward red carpet conversation, loopy acceptance speeches, J. Law mishaps...oh yeah, and a bunch of awards. So throw on your Lorraine Schwartz diamonds (on loan, of course) and custom Atelier Versace gown (or perfectly tailored Tom Ford tuxes, for all you guys out there...and Angelina Jolie), because we’re getting this party started! Forgive us if we’re a little loopy --- we’ve been juice cleansing for the past three weeks. Did our invites to the grand event get lost in snail mail?

Wait. It just occurred to us that because the Oscars is on Sunday night, HBO might not air the next episode of our (and everyone else’s) latest TV obsession, “True Detective.” Don’t worry, though --- much like Detective Rustin Cohle, we’ve done the investigative work for you, and can safely confirm that we WILL be brought one episode closer to the finale (and discovering the identity of The Yellow King) this Sunday. [McConaughey voice: Alright, alright, alright.] We’re not happy about the second greatest television conflict since the “Homeland” premiere went up against the “Breaking Bad” finale, but we’ll deal. At least we’ll get to have our super-intense homicidal cake and eat it, too.

Sorry about this real-time interruption...we literally can’t stop talking about this mind-bending Southern shakedown of a cop show. [Editorial note: We really intended to write this newsletter about other things. Sue us. If Rustin Cohle taught us one thing, it’s that the world needs bad men...who get off topic.] It’s been a long time since a show has rocked us to the core-pse like this (okay, since “Breaking Bad” ended), and it’s easy to see why. “True Detective” is one of the smartest, best-written shows on right now, with a cast that’s so amazing we can’t imagine they’re not their characters IRL. The storytelling is so compelling that the viewer gets drawn into the mystery, and can’t help but become as obsessive about it as the characters themselves. It’s interactive TV-watching at its best, and has plenty of literary references. The Yellow King is actually reference to a collection of terrifying short stories called THE YELLOW KING, written by horror author Robert W. Chambers.

We know Rust thinks we should “deny our programming,” but we absolutely will not deny our television programming. Can we get an(other) alright, alright, alright? Can you tell we’d give this a million Lorraine Schwartz-encrusted gold stars?

In the few minutes of the day that we’re not tossing and turning over McConaughey’s ‘95 coif, there are some other interesting things that have caught our attention. We’re looking forward to Angelina Jolie’s latest directorial venture, Unbroken. Based on the Laura Hillenbrand book of the same name, it’s the inspiring true story of former-Olympian Louis Zamperini, who survived WWII, 47 days adrift at sea and two and a half years in multiple Japanese internment camps. Talk about resilience of the human spirit! We’re also excited about the second season of “Orange is the New Black” debuting on Netflix on June 6th. Here is a very short trailer to hold you over till the real deal. Haruki Murakami’s next book COLORLESS TSUKURU TAZAKI AND HIS YEARS OF PILGRIMAGE will be making its translated, state-side debut in August. And last, but not least, the L.A. Times released its Book Award Finalists list. If the Oscars aren’t your thing, maybe these are awards you could get on the same page as.

This month we’re celebrating a whole bunch of Shel Silverstein anniversaries, including the 50th of THE GIVING TREE and the 40th of WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS. It’s hard to believe these books have been around so long, especially when you think about how contemporary and still-resonant their sensibilities are. Shel was among the first authors to write what his editor once described as “good books for bad children,” and we’re so glad he did! What would our childhoods have been like without the irreverent zaniness of WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS, or the heartbreakingly poignant relationship at the heart of THE GIVING TREE?

So in honor of our favorite Uncle Shelby, we’re running a very special contest that kicked off on February 18th (the day of the anniversary book were released) and is running until Tuesday, March 18th at noon ET. You must submit a short poem for a chance to win the unbelievable grand prize, which includes a copy of each of the following: THE GIVING TREE 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS 40th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, DON’T BUMP THE GLUMP! 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, A GIRAFFE AND A HALF 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, and LAFCADIO, THE LION WHO SHOT BACK 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION. The runner-up will receive the anniversary editions of THE GIVING TREE and WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS. The top two poems + our 10 favorites will be posted on the site. Get out your black turtleneck because it’s a prize so good it makes us want to rhyme…so set aside some time, and send us something sublime, better get on it because I'm...Scroll down below for more information on the contest!

We'd also like to highlight our interview with J.M. Darhower, author of SEMPRE and SEMPRE: Redemption. Be sure to check out what she has to say about bad "men" here and learn more about her passionate stories here.

There are three excellent books, complete with reviews, we'd like to give a shout out to this week. ROMANCE IS MY DAY JOB: A Memoir of Finding Love at Last by Patience Bloom is a surprising and exhilarating look into the author's unexpected real-life love story. After moving to NYC and finding her dream job, editing romances for Harlequin, Bloom felt fulfilled career-wise, but lacking in the love sphere. When she reconnects with a high school friend via Facebook, Bloom finally learns that love and romance can conquer all. CUT ME LOOSE: Sin and Salvation After my Ultra-Orthodox Girlhood by Leah Vincent tells the story of one woman's harrowing struggle to define herself as an individual. Through Leah's eyes, we confront not only the oppressive world of religious fundamentalism, but also the broader issues that face even the most secular young women as they grapple with sexuality and identity. THE GOOD LUCK OF RIGHT NOW by Matthew Quick, of SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK fame, is a funny and tender story about family, friendship, grief, acceptance, and Richard Gere --- an entertaining and inspiring tale that will leave you pondering the rhythms of the universe and marveling at the power of kindness and love.

Enjoy the Oscars, enjoy life, the world needs bad men, and we’ll see you in two weeks!

Connect with us via Facebook and Twitter, we love to hear from you!

Nicole Sherman ([email protected]) + Emily Hoenig ([email protected])

The enticing series from author J.M. Darhower, SEMPRE and SEMPRE: Redemption, are passionate stories about love, sacrifice, death and freedom. SEMPRE is the first book in the series and is now available in eBook and in paperback for the first time. Two teenagers, Haven Antonelli and Carmine DeMarco, come from very different worlds. When they fall in love in the midst of a mafia-run sex trafficking ring, they start to question everything they once believed. SEMPRE: Redemption is the thrilling sequel to SEMPRE and is now available in eBook. This time around, Haven and Carmine find themselves implicated in the mafia-run organization they once tried to overthrow, and desperately try and find new ground in their relationship. SEMPRE: Redemption will be released for the first time in paperback on April 1, 2014.

- Click here to read an interview with author J.M Darhower.
- Click here to learn more about the series.

More about SEMPRE:
Two young lovers, Haven Antonelli and Carmine DeMarco, come from very different worlds. When they fall in love in the midst of a mafia-run sex trafficking ring, they begin to question everything they once believed. This is a story about sacrifice...death...love...freedom. This is a story about forever.

Available in eBook NOW. Available in paperback NOW .

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for an excerpt.

More about SEMPRE: Redemption:
In this thrilling sequel to SEMPRE, Haven and Carmine find themselves implicated in the mafia-run organization they once tried to overthrow, and desperately try and find new ground in their relationship.

Available in eBook NOW. Available in paperback on April 1, 2014.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for an excerpt.

This month, we’re celebrating a whole bunch of Shel Silverstein anniversaries, including the 50th of THE GIVING TREE and the 40th of WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS. It’s hard to believe these books have been around so long, especially when you think about how contemporary and still-resonant their sensibilities are. Shel was among the first authors to write what his editor once described as “good books for bad children,” and we’re so glad he did! What would our childhoods have been like without the irreverent zaniness of WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS, or the heartbreakingly poignant relationship at the heart of THE GIVING TREE?

So, in honor of Shel Silverstein, we’re running a month-long contest until Tuesday, March 18th at noon ET. You must submit a short poem for a chance to win the unbelievable grand prize, which includes a copy of each of the following: THE GIVING TREE 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS 40th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, DON’T BUMP THE GLUMP! 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, A GIRAFFE AND A HALF 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, and LAFCADIO, THE LION WHO SHOT BACK 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION. The runner-up will receive the anniversary editions of THE GIVING TREE and WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS. The top two poems + our 10 favorites will be posted on the site.

There are plenty of great spies in fiction --- The Hardy Boys, Sherlock Holmes and James Bond, just to name a few. But one of our very favorites is Harriet M. Welsch from HARRIET THE SPY, the girl who walks around her New York City neighborhood every afternoon with her top secret spy notebook, recording her neighbors' activities and thoughtfully munching on a tomato sandwich.

Although Harriet herself will forever be 11 years old, the book HARRIET THE SPY is actually turning 50 this February! We're celebrating by giving away FIVE copies of HARRIET THE SPY: 50th Anniversary Edition, which includes the original story, a map of Harriet's New York City neighborhood and spy route, tributes by such authors as Judy Blume and Lois Lowry and copies of letters between the editor and author.

For this contest, you have until Wednesday, March 19th at noon ET to answer the question "Which literary character would you spy on, and why?" The winning answers will get a copy of the book, and we'll post our top 10 favorites on the site.

Click here to enter the Harriet the Spy 50th Anniversary Contest!

We are looking for contributors for book reviews and blog posts who would like to impart their wisdoms on life, love, books, TV, movies, pop culture and all the other stuff we 20Somethings just can't get enough of. Send a cover letter and writing samples to [email protected] and [email protected].

Not sure you want to commit long-term? We know what that's like and would love to hear your idea for a "one-off" piece if you are not ready for commitment. If you are interested in more of a long-term commitment, the deal is if you write for us enough, we'll add you to our Contributors page.

BLOG: Throwback Thursday: Books We LOVE
Another Thursday, another throwback. And this one's Valentine's Day themed!

GRASSHOPPER JUNGLE by Andrew Smith (Adventure, Science Fiction)
In the small town of Ealing, Iowa, Austin and his best friend Robby have accidentally unleashed an unstoppable army. An army of horny, hungry, six-foot-tall praying mantises that only want to do two things. It’s the end of the world. And nobody knows anything about it. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

HEARTBEAT by Elizabeth Scott (Romance, Young Adult 14+)
Since her mother's sudden death, Emma has existed in a fog of grief because her mother is almost still there: kept alive on machines for the baby growing inside her. Estranged from her stepfather, Emma has only her best friend to remind her to breathe. Until she meets Caleb Harrison, whose anger and loss might just match Emma's own. Is there hope for life after death --- and maybe, for love? Reviewed by Ashley Bressingham.

TSARINA by J. Nelle Patrick (Adventure, Historical)
Natalya knows a secret. A magical Faberge egg glows within the walls of Russia's Winter Palace. It holds a power rooted in the land and stolen from the mystics. A power that promises a life of love for her and Alexei Romanov. Power, that, in the right hands, can save her way of life. But it's in the wrong hands... Reviewed by Carly Silver.

THE ADVENTURES OF HENRY THOREAU: A Young Man's Unlikely Path to Walden Pond by Michael Sims (Biography)
THE ADVENTURES OF HENRY THOREAU --- chronicling the 10 years in his life beginning with Harvard in 1837 and ending as he walked away from Walden Pond after living in his long dreamed-of cabin for only two years --- tells the dramatic (and at times heartbreaking) story of how a troubled young man found a meaningful life in a tempestuous era. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.

AFTER I'M GONE by Laura Lippman (Mystery)
The acclaimed bestselling author of THE MOST DANGEROUS THING, I'D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE and WHAT THE DEAD KNOW returns with an addictive story that explores how one man's disappearance echoes through the lives of the five women he left behind --- his wife, his daughters and his mistress. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

THE BOOK OF JONAH by Joshua Max Feldman (Fiction)
A bizarre, unexpected biblical vision at a party changes everything for young Manhattan lawyer Jonah Jacobstein. This disturbing sign is only the first of many Jonah will witness, and before long his life is unrecognizable. Though this perhaps divine intervention will be responsible for more than one irreversible loss in Jonah’s life, it will also cross his path with that of Judith Bulbrook, an intense, breathtakingly intelligent woman who is no stranger to loss herself. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.

CAUGHT by Lisa Moore (Literary Adventure)
David Slaney has escaped from prison, where he was locked up on charges of marijuana possession. A trucker who is a friend of his sister transports him to a strip bar, where he survives his first night of freedom. But Slaney intends to track down his old partner, Hearn, and get back into the drug business. Along the way, Slaney's fugitive journey across Canada rushes vibrantly to life as he visits an old flame and adopts numerous guises to outpace authorities. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

COCKROACHES: The Second Inspector Harry Hole Novel by Jo Nesbo (Mystery/Thriller)
When the Norwegian ambassador to Thailand is found dead in a Bangkok brothel, Inspector Harry Hole is dispatched from Oslo to help hush up the case. Surrounded by round-the-clock traffic noise, Harry wanders the streets of Bangkok lined with go-go bars, temples, opium dens and tourist traps, trying to piece together the story of the ambassador’s death, even though no one asked him to or wants him to --- not even Harry himself. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

CONCEALED IN DEATH by J. D. Robb (Mystery)
In a decrepit, long-empty New York building, Lieutenant Eve Dallas’s husband begins the demolition process by swinging a sledgehammer into a wall. When the dust clears, there are two skeletons wrapped in plastic behind it. He summons his wife immediately --- and by the time she’s done with the crime scene, there are 12 murders to be solved. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE COUNTERFEIT AGENT: A John Wells Novel by Alex Berenson (Thriller)
In an Istanbul hotel, a deep source warns a CIA agent that Iran intends to kill a CIA station chief. John Wells is called in to investigate, but before he can get far, the tip comes true. Which means that the next warning the source gives will be taken very seriously indeed. And it’s a big one. We’ve put a package on a ship from Dubai to the United States. A radioactive one. A bomb? Not yet. It’s a test run. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

CUT ME LOOSE: Sin and Salvation After My Ultra-Orthodox Girlhood by Leah Vincent (Memoir)
CUT ME LOOSE tells the story of one woman's harrowing struggle to define herself as an individual. Through Leah Vincent's eyes, we confront not only the oppressive world of religious fundamentalism, but also the broader issues that face even the most secular young women as they grapple with sexuality and identity. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.

THE GOOD LUCK OF RIGHT NOW by Matthew Quick (Fiction)
In a series of extremely personal letters to actor Richard Gere, a mentally challenged man in his late 30s named Bartholomew shares his confusing, complicated search for the meaning of life. No letters are actually mailed. The letter writer also imagines Gere's answers and is encouraged by them. Reviewed by Carole Turner.

I FORGOT TO REMEMBER: A Memoir of Amnesia by Su Meck with Daniel de Vise (Memoir)
In 1988, Su Meck suffered a traumatic brain injury that erased all her memories of her life up to that point. Although her body healed rapidly, her memories never returned. Yet after just three weeks in the hospital, Su was released and once again charged with the care of two toddlers and a busy household. Nearly 20 years would pass before a series of personally devastating events shattered the “normal” life she had worked so hard to build, and she realized that she would have to grow up all over again. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.

THE INNOCENT SLEEP by Karen Perry (Thriller)
Five years afer the presumed death of their son, Dillon, Harry and Robin have settled into a new kind of life. Their grief will always be with them, but lately it feels as if they're ready for a fresh start. However, when Harry gets a glimpse of Dillon on the crowded streets of Dublin, the past comes rushing back at both of them. Has Dillon been alive all these years? Or was what Harry saw just a figment of his guilt-ridden imagination? Reviewed by Jamie Layton.

KILLER: An Alex Delaware Novel by Jonathan Kellerman (Psychological Thriller)
At the behest of the court, Dr. Alex Delaware becomes embroiled in a bizarre child custody dispute initiated by physician Constance Sykes against her sister and begins to realize that there is much about the siblings he has failed to comprehend. When the court battle between the Sykes sisters erupts into cold, calculating murder and a rapidly growing number of victims, Alex knows he’s been snared in a toxic web of pathology. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

LION PLAYS ROUGH: A Leo Maxwell Mystery by Lachlan Smith (Mystery)
In LION PLAYS ROUGH, the second in Lachlan Smith’s acclaimed Leo Maxwell series, Leo is tasked by a mysterious woman to defend her wrongfully accused brother, only to find himself accused of a heinous crime that only he can solve. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE MARTIAN by Andy Weir (Science Fiction/Thriller)
Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him? Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.

THE MUSEUM OF EXTRAORDINARY THINGS by Alice Hoffman (Historical Romance/Mystery)
Coralie Sardie is the daughter of the sinister impresario behind The Museum of Extraordinary Things, a Coney Island boardwalk freak show that thrills the masses. One night, Coralie stumbles upon a striking young man taking pictures of moonlit trees. When Eddie Cohen photographs the devastation on the streets of New York following the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, he becomes embroiled in the suspicious mystery behind a young woman’s disappearance and ignites the heart of Coralie. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

ONE MORE THING: Stories and Other Stories by B.J. Novak (Fiction/Short Stories)
Finding inspiration in questions from the nature of perfection to the icing on carrot cake, actor B.J. Novak’s debut short story collection has at its heart the most human of phenomena: love, fear, hope, ambition, and the inner stirring for the one elusive element that just might make a person complete. Reviewed by Jane Krebs.

PIGS CAN'T SWIM: A Memoir by Helen Peppe (Memoir)
With everything happening on Helen Peppe’s backwoods Maine farm --- ferocious sibling rivalry, rock-bottom poverty, feral male chauvinism, sex in the hayloft --- life was out of control, even for the animals. Despite the chaos, in telling her family’s story, Peppe manages deadpan humor, an unerring eye for the absurd, and a touching compassion for her utterly overwhelmed parents. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

PRIVATE L.A. by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan (Thriller)
When movie stars Thom and Jennifer Harlow disappear, facts are hard to find. They live behind such a high wall of security and image control that even world-renowned Private Investigator Jack Morgan can't get to the truth. But as Jack keeps probing, secrets sprout thick and fast --- and the world's golden couple may emerge as hiding behind a world of desperation and deception that the wildest reality show couldn't begin to unveil. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

ROMANCE IS MY DAY JOB: A Memoir of Finding Love at Last by Patience Bloom (Memoir)
As a teen, Patience Bloom fell in love with Harlequin novels and imagined her life would turn out just like the heroines’ on the page. Years later, she moved to New York and found her dream job: editing romances for Harlequin. Bloom became an expert when it came to fictional love stories, but her dating life remained uninspired. Then one day, a real-life chance at romance made her wonder if what she’d been writing and editing all those years might be true. Reviewed by Toby Lloyd.

RUNNER by Patrick Lee (Thriller)
Sam Dryden, retired special forces, encounters a young girl who is running from a group of heavily armed men intent on killing her. He learns that the 11-year-old has been kept in a secret prison by forces within the government. She only remembers the past two months of her life and that she has a skill that makes her very dangerous to these men. Dryden agrees to help her try to unravel her own past and make sense of it, to protect her from the people who are moving heaven and earth to find them both. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE SWISS AFFAIR by Emylia Hall (Fiction)
For Hadley Dunn, life has been predictable and uneventful. But that is before she spends her second year of college abroad in Lausanne, a glamorous Swiss city on the shores of Lake Geneva. Lausanne is imbued with the boundless sense of freedom Hadley has been seeking, and it is here she meets Kristina, a beautiful but mysterious Danish girl. The two bond quickly, but as the first snows of winter arrive, tragedy strikes. Reviewed by Alexis Burling.

THE WINTER PEOPLE by Jennifer McMahon (Literary Thriller)
In 1908, Sara Harrison Shea was found dead in the field behind her house just months after the tragic death of her daughter, Gertie. Now, in present day, 19-year-old Ruthie lives in Sara's farmhouse with her mother, Alice, and her younger sister, Fawn. Alice has always insisted that they live off the grid, a decision that suddenly proves perilous when Ruthie wakes up one morning to find that Alice has vanished without a trace. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.