September 11, 2014

While fall doesn’t officially hit until September 20th, we’re in an autumn state of mind. We’ve stashed our shorts, our linen blouses, our SPF + moisturizer combos and our sand-covered beach reads. Instead, we’ve whipped out our chunky knits and hit Starbucks for their seasonal favorite Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Now that we’re not spending all weekend surfing the waves, we can get back to surfing the internet. Surfbort.

Speaking of hanging inside with technology, author, artist and filmmaker Miranda July just developed a new app called Somebody, and the airwaves are aflutter. The Huffington Post describes the app: “Basically, instead of texting your friend, lover or desired text recipient, your message will be sent to a Somebody user in close proximity of the intended receiver, who will then deliver the message in person. You can attach personal touches to your text message, adding actions like 'crying,' 'begin air quotes,' 'kiss,' or 'scream.' So instead of reading your texts, the sendee will have the message personally acted out...by a stranger.”

We first got wind of this app when a coworker sent us this video. Written and directed by Ms. July herself, the 10-minute long short film shows the app in action. Four different scenes show people (and a plant!) sending emotional messages to a loved one through a strange third party. The video is cinematically captivating and has a whimsical Wes Anderson-esque vibe. Ms. July makes an appearance as a woman who gets proposed to by her boyfriend via a waiter in a fancy restaurant (editorial note: Can someone please email us Ms. July’s skin care regimen?). July is at the height of her game; plus, she has her first novel, THE FIRST BAD MAN, hitting the shelves January 13, 2015. WE. CAN’T. WAIT. Needless to say, she and her husband, Mike Mills, a well-known film and music video director and graphic designer, are the Bey and Jay power couple for the Brooklyn set.

The project is sponsored by haute couturier Miu Miu, and while the app is widely available for iPhone users, although the success rate is not guaranteed. Your best bet would be to send your message to someone in a “hotspot” (an area more heavily populated by app users), which seem to be predominantly in select museums throughout the world. This adds an element of performance art to July’s social experiment. It creates a verbal conversation through a medium that usually makes us so isolated and less prone to in-person interaction (unless you’re #BornThisWay like Emily). People are even sharing their experiences --- both sending and receiving --- via Twitter and Facebook. Believe it or not, it even seems like real, concrete friendships are being formed! Between humans!

We’re aware that we’re sending you some mixed messages, telling you to go see movies alone in one newsletter and to befriend strangers in another. The bottom line is we just tell you to do whatever is #trending. But seriously, there’s something really special about a project that uses technology to create human interaction IRL. We 20Somethings are addicted to efficiency (and Kim K’s Hollywood app), so leaving things up to fate (and a total stranger) challenges our complacency. July admits that she came up with the idea while casually brainstorming ideas for apps with friends (no shots fired --- we’ve all done it on a slow Saturday night), and it’s probably not the most useful thing in the free app market. But there is an app for everything these days. Why not have one that forces awkward human interaction? So instead of spending the next couple of hours trying to beat level 483 of Candy Crush, use your powers for good and hug a stranger at the bidding of another stranger. In our perfect dream world, a stranger would also deliver a recommendation for our next best read.

If you can spare a minute or two from using your cellular device to connect, then we recommend picking up any of the following reviewed books. THE DROP by Dennis Lehane takes place three days after Christmas when a lonely bartender looking for a reason to live rescues an abused puppy from a trash can and meets a damaged woman looking for something to believe in. As their relationship grows, they cross paths with the Chechen mafia; a man grown dangerous with age and thwarted hopes; two hapless stick-up artists; a very curious cop; and the original owner of the puppy, who wants his dog back. We know we've mentioned this book a few weeks back when we had the wonderful opportunity of catching a pre-screening of the movie of the same name, which will hit theaters this Friday, September 12th. We HIGHLY suggest you check out both. Lehane has much success already with many of his novels receiving the golden touch from Hollywood, such as MYSTIC RIVER, SHUTTER ISLAND and GONE, BABY, GONE. In essence, you knooooow his latest work (in both capacities) is going to be great.

Speaking of movies, don't forget to check out the book-to-screen adaptation of THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU by Jonathan Tropper. Some of the TBRN staff snuck a sneak peek of some scenes from the movie at BEA (BookExpo America) back in the beginning of June, and the clips we saw were uproarious. We also had the opportunity to listen to Tropper discuss the process of adapting the novel to a film with two of its biggest stars, Tina Fey and Jason Bateman. Needless to say, we're definitely going to catch it when it comes out next Friday, September 19th.

ZAC & MIA by A. J. Betts is a YA novel about a 17-year-old boy, Zac Meier, living with leukemia in Perth, Australia. When a loud blast of Lady Gaga alerts him to the presence of Mia, the angry, not-at-all-stoic cancer patient in the room next door, the two begin a relationship. Once released from the hospital, the two near-strangers can’t forget each other, even as they desperately try to resume normal lives.

In PERSONAL: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child, someone has taken a shot at the president of France in the City of Light. How many snipers can shoot from three-quarters of a mile with total confidence? Very few, but John Kott is one of them. And after 15 years in prison, he’s out, unaccounted for, and likely drawing a bead on a G-8 summit packed with enough world leaders to tempt any assassin. If anyone can stop Kott, it’s the man who beat him before: Reacher. Never read a thriller? We recommend the place to start is with Lee Child.

We have three new things live on the site that we'd like to bring to your attention.

First off, it seems to be a trend that books are hitting the 600+ page mark. Here, 20SomethingReads contributor Lauren Sarner talks about why some books are (gasp!) better in their on-screen adaptations, and which books are worth their weight in pages. Which do you prefer --- short or long form? Let us know via Twitter or Facebook...or use the Somebody app and get a stranger to tell us on your behalf.

Secondly, (with inspiration originating from Nikki's upcoming longer weekend in Paris --- how much can she shop and do in 72 hours?), we have a staff-curated bookshelf of 20 books on France --- Vive la France! --- that will make you want to visit France, learn French and/or marry a francophone (or at least a French Canadian). From must-read books for the foodie and tips on living the French lifestyle to some of the country's most iconic and established writers, there's a wide range of accessible texts for the wannabe francophile. If you want to take a trip down memory lane in true Proust style, let us remind you of all the other wonderful Frenchish things we love from our Bastille Day newsletter here.

Thirdly, we know many of you (like Emily) would love to get wrapped up in Jamie's (cough cough, Sam Heughan's) burly arms in the beloved Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. Guest blogger Elizabeth Eckhart tells us why the book-to-screen adaptation currently on Starz is doing a great job of "maintaining the integrity of the series." Between keeping avid readers and TV watchers alike pleased and spoon feeding us sexy actors and actresses, we ask: What more can anyone ask for? Read more of Eckhart's musings here.

5 Things We’re Obsessed With at This Very Moment, in no particular order:
1) Guardians of the Galaxy, which we FINALLY got around to seeing and now we’re impatiently waiting for the sequel
2) Brainstorming our Halloween costumes...too soon?
3) Ongoing ‘90s nostalgia and, in particular, watching short clips of “Crank Yankers” on YouTube
4) Pumpkin-spiced baked goods and beverages
5) iOS 8 features, mainly the option to leave a chatty group text message (note: none of us is lusting for the iWatch)

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

Aubrey Glass has a collection of potential suicide notes --- just in case. And now, five years --- and five notes --- after leaving her hometown, Rachel’s the one who goes and kills herself. Aubrey can’t believe her luck. But Rachel’s death doesn’t leave Aubrey in peace and facing the future means confronting herself and a shattering truth. Aubrey must decide what will define her: what lies behind...or what waits ahead.

In this 20SomethingReads.com Special Contest, we have 50 copies of LAST TRAIN TO BABYLON to give away to readers who would like to read the book, which comes out October 28th, and comment on it. Winners will be asked to read the book and answer a set of questions about it by Friday, October 17th. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, September 18th at noon ET. Best of luck to all!

- Click here to read more in our Special Feature and to enter the contest.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for an excerpt.
- Click here to read more about the author, Charlee Fam.
- Click here for the author's Facebook.
- Click here for the author's Twitter.

We’re on the wrong side of Labor Day, which means it’s time to put away your summer sunglasses and break out your fall shades. It also means serious moviegoers are in luck; days aren’t the only things getting darker!

One of this month’s most anticipated releases is The Drop, a crime drama about a lonely bartender whose discovery of an abused puppy sets off a chain of events that forever changes his life. If you’re looking for something a little lighter, head out to This is Where I Leave You, a hilarious comedy about...death. Based on the Jonathan Tropper novel of the same name, it’s the story of newly divorced and unemployed Judd Foxman, who reunites with the rest of his combative family to sit shiva for their father in their childhood home. Teens and adults alike will be drawn to The Maze Runner, the highly anticipated adaptation of James Dashner's mega hit. Try as you might, we both know it's impossible to ignore the siren call of a post-apocalyptic YA book adaptation --- so long as we're between The Hunger Games and Divergent sequels, you might as well give in.

September also marks a transitional period for television, with summer shows wrapping up and fall programs premiering in droves. We’ll be saying goodbye (for now) to HBO’s “The Leftovers” and CBS’s “Under the Dome”; luckily, Starz’s critical darling “Outlander” will keep many of us home on Saturday nights. “Bones” and “Resurrection” are returning this month, and BBC America’s new show, “Intruders,” looks too spooky for my non-chilled blood but may be perfect for all you thrill-seekers out there.

Click here to see all the movies, TV shows and DVDs featured in September’s Books on Screen.

When May Wuthrich accepted her friend’s advice and listened to the audiobook HATCHET by Gary Paulsen and narrated by Peter Coyote while driving from New York City to the Hamptons, she had no idea that it would launch an entirely new phase of her career. “We were hooked from that first book,” she said. “We were listening on a regular basis, and I got inspired.”

Now, almost eight years later, May is an experienced audiobook producer and director, working on books by such acclaimed authors as Rick Riordan, Jacqueline Woodson, Azar Nafisi and Mary Oliver.

Click here to read Part 1 of May’s "REAL TALK Publishing" interview, where she discusses the start of her audiobook career, her mentors and how she prepares for recording sessions. Keep an eye out for Part 2, which will go live next Wednesday, September 17th!

A Little Bit More About the "REAL TALK Publishing" Feature...

Over the next few months, we'll sit down with book editors, librarians, booksellers, children's literature professors, book cover designers, publicists, professional reviewers and more, giving you insight behind the books. Through interviews, guest posts and sometimes sneak peeks inside their offices, you'll get to learn more about the book industry and all the work that goes into creating some of the world's best written word.

DRAGON'S BREATH: and Other True Stories by Mari Naomi (Graphic Novel)
In this fresh and offbeat graphic memoir, Mari Naomi chronicles her time as a misfit teen and young woman looking for love in San Francisco, while bringing to light issues of identity and sexuality. Reviewed by Lilly Richardson.

THE SECRET SERVICE: Kingsman by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons (Graphic Novel)
From the writer of KICK-ASS and the artist of WATCHMEN comes a collaboration decades in the making! The world's greatest secret agent is on the most exciting case of his career. But will the end of the world as we know it take a back seat to training his street-punk nephew to be the next James Bond? Meanwhile, what's the link between a series of kidnapped sci-fi stars, the murder of an entire town and a dark secret from inside Mount Everest? Under Uncle Jack's supervision, Gary's spy skills and confidence blossom --- but when the duo learns what's behind the celebrity kidnappings, the knowledge comes at a price. The conspiracy begins to unravel, but who can be trusted when so many prominent figures seem to be involved? It's a must-be-seen-to-be-believed action spectacle! Reviewed by John Maher.

SHOPLIFTER by Michael Cho (Graphic Novel)
Corrina Park used to have big plans. Studying English literature in college, she imagined writing a successful novel and leading the idealized life of an author. But she’s been working at the same advertising agency for the past five years and the only thing she’s written is...copy. Corrina knows there must be more to life, and she faces the same question as does everyone in her generation: how to find it. Reviewed by John Maher.

THE JEWEL by Amy Ewing (Fiction)
The Jewel means wealth, the Jewel means beauty—but for Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Born and raised in the Marsh, Violet finds herself living in the Jewel as a servant at the estate of the Duchess of the Lake. Addressed only by her number—#197—Violet is quickly thrown into the royal way of life. But behind its opulent and glittering facade, the Jewel hides its cruel and brutal truth, filled with violence, manipulation, and death. Reviewed by Aspen R., Teen Board Member.

ZAC & MIA by A. J. Betts (Contemporary Fiction)
“When I was little I believed in Jesus and Santa, spontaneous combustion, and the Loch Ness monster. Now I believe in science, statistics, and antibiotics.” So says seventeen-year-old Zac Meier during a long, grueling leukemia treatment in Perth, Australia. A loud blast of Lady Gaga alerts him to the presence of Mia, the angry, not-at-all-stoic cancer patient in the room next door. Once released, the two near-strangers can’t forget each other, even as they desperately try to resume normal lives. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.

CLOSE TO HOME by Lisa Jackson (Thriller)
Vowing to make a fresh start, Sarah McAdams has come home to renovate the old Victorian mansion where she grew up. Ever since the original mistress of the house plunged to her death almost a century ago, there have been rumors that the place is haunted. But there’s a new, more urgent menace in the small town. One by one, teenage girls are disappearing. Somewhere deep in Sarah’s memory is the key to a very real and terrifying danger. And only by confronting her worst fears can she stop the nightmare roaring back to life once more. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

THE DROP by Dennis Lehane (Thriller)
Three days after Christmas, a lonely bartender looking for a reason to live rescues an abused puppy from a trash can and meets a damaged woman looking for something to believe in. As their relationship grows, they cross paths with the Chechen mafia; a man grown dangerous with age and thwarted hopes; two hapless stick-up artists; a very curious cop; and the original owner of the puppy, who wants his dog back. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

A LIFE INTERCEPTED by Charles Martin (Fiction)
Twelve years ago, Matthew "the Rocket" Rising was the number one NFL draft pick. But on the night of the draft, he was falsely accused of a heinous crime. Having served his sentence, Matthew leaves prison determined to find his wife. He soon learns that she has discovered a young man with the talent to achieve the football career Matthew should have had. Although helping the boy means violating his parole, he'll take the chance with hope of winning back Audrey's love. Reviewed by Michele Howe.

THE LONG WAY HOME: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny (Mystery)
Happily retired in the village of Three Pines, Armand Gamache, former Chief Inspector of Homicide with the Sûreté du Québec, has found a peace he’d only imagined possible. While he doesn’t talk about his wounds and his balm, his neighbor Clara Morrow tells him about hers. Peter, her artist husband, has failed to come home, and she wants Gamache’s help to find him. Having finally found sanctuary, Gamache feels a near revulsion at the thought of leaving Three Pines. But he does. Reviewed by Roz Shea.

MURDER 101: A Decker/Lazarus Novel by Faye Kellerman (Mystery)
A call about a possible break-in at the local cemetery seems like a false alarm until it's discovered that a mausoleum's stunning Tiffany panels have been replaced by forgeries. Soon the case escalates into murder. Detective Lieutenant Peter Decker and his partner, Tyler McAdams, are drawn deep into a web of nasty secrets, cold-case crimes, international intrigue, and ruthless people who kill for sport. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

NIGHT OF THE WHITE BUFFALO: A Wind River Mystery by Margaret Coel (Mystery)
A mysterious penitent confesses to murder, and then flees the confessional before Father John O’Malley can identify him. Two months later, attorney Vicky Holden discovers rancher Dennis Carey shot dead in his truck. It soon develops that the most sacred creature in Native American mythology, a white buffalo calf, was recently born on Carey’s ranch. Vicky and Father John try to unravel the strange events surrounding both the murder and the recent disappearances of three cowboys from the ranch. Reviewed by Jennifer McCord.

PERSONAL: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child (Thriller)
Someone has taken a shot at the president of France in the City of Light. How many snipers can shoot from three-quarters of a mile with total confidence? Very few, but John Kott is one of them. And after 15 years in prison, he’s out, unaccounted for, and likely drawing a bead on a G-8 summit packed with enough world leaders to tempt any assassin. If anyone can stop Kott, it’s the man who beat him before: Reacher. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

PRIVATE DOWN UNDER by James Patterson and Michael White (Thriller)
With the best detectives in the business, cutting-edge technology and offices around the globe, there is no investigation company quite like Private. Within days the agency's caseload is full. But it is a horrific murder in the wealthy Eastern Suburbs and the desperate search for a motive that stretches the team to the limit. Stacy Friel, friend of the Deputy Commissioner of NSW Police, isn't the killer's first victim --- and as the bodies mount up, she's clearly not the last. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE SECRET PLACE by Tana French (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
“The Secret Place,” a board where the girls at St. Kilda’s School can pin up their secrets anonymously, is normally a mishmash of gossip and covert cruelty. But today someone has used it to reignite the stalled investigation into the murder of handsome, popular Chris Harper. Detective Stephen Moran joins forces with the abrasive Detective Antoinette Conway to find out who and why. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

SILVER BAY by Jojo Moyes (Romance)
Liza McCullen will never fully escape her past. But the unspoiled beaches and tight-knit community of Silver Bay offer the safety she craves --- if not for herself, then for her young daughter, Hannah. That is, until Mike Dormer, a mild-mannered Englishman with too-smart clothes and distracting eyes, shows up as a guest in her aunt’s hotel. His arrival could destroy everything Liza has worked so hard to protect. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

WE ARE NOT OURSELVES by Matthew Thomas (Fiction)
When Eileen Tumulty meets Ed Leary, a scientist whose bearing is nothing like those of the men she grew up with in Woolside, Queens, she thinks she’s found the perfect partner to deliver her to the cosmopolitan world she longs to inhabit. They marry, and Eileen quickly discovers that Ed doesn’t aspire to the same, ever bigger, stakes in the American Dream. She encourages him to want more, but as years pass, it becomes clear that his growing reluctance is part of a deeper psychological shift. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

THE WINTER GUEST by Pam Jenoff (Historical Romance)
Set in Poland during World War II, The WINTER GUEST follows 18-year-old twin sisters Helena and Ruth Nowak. The two are left to care for their younger siblings while avoiding detection from the Nazis. But when Helena discovers Sam Rosen, an Allied paratrooper and Jew, she risks her family's safety by hiding him. Will Ruth be okay with Helena's budding romance, or will her jealously endanger them all? Reviewed by Amie Taylor.