PBS Launches Great American Read in Spring 2018

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O Lobo Leitor: O livro pára-quedas

Image from http://imgfave.com/noodles

 

Here is something I, and probably you, am looking forward to…

Found the announcement today on my http://www.ShelfAwareness.com newsletter.

“The Great American Read launches in spring 2018 with a multi-platform digital and social campaign leading up to the reveal of the 100 books selected by the American public and an advisory panel of literary professionals. Beginning with a two-hour kick-off event in May, the documentary special will feature appearances by celebrities and everyday Americans passionately advocating for and explaining their personal connections to their favorite books.”

Hurrah for books and any program which may promote reading. Excellent!!

http://www.pbs.org/about/blogs/news/pbs-celebrates-the-joy-of-reading-with-the-great-american-read-wt/

Posted by noodlesabout four years ago
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Book Clubs Around the World, Even for Americans Abroad

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How do you find a book club?  Where are book clubs? What are the possible benefits?

Goodreads.com lists 710 groups with diverse interests in countries as far flung as Malaysia and as close as Mexico.

Clubs are focused on innumerable subjects – business, feminism, films based on books, gardening, LGBT, memoir, politics, romance novels, science fiction, Japanese thrillers, YA (Young Adult fiction), those that have won awards, etc.

There used to be clubs on radio and TV you could listen to, participating only as a reader – The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America Book Club, NPR’s Book Club of the Air with Ray Suarez, and even a “Wake-Up Reading” Club in Spanish hosted by Jorge Ramos on Univision. 

Now, there are special book news reports on TV (mostly PBS), as well as podcasts that stream 24/7 on on-line radio programs.

In June of this year the American Library Association inaugurated, with actress Sarah Jessica Parker, a new book club, a national book club.  See http://www.bookclubcentral.org as well as the live video link from ABC News in the reference section below.  The Book Club Central link will show you how to register for the newsletter and club if interested. I imagine most of the recommended reading will be similar to Oprah or Costco picks, award-winning fiction with original voices.

But for those of you who love reading, AND those of you who enjoy social engagement and dialogue over listening to radio or TV reviews/interviews, there are book clubs, probably in your own community.

Library room with comfy places to sit and read in the sun. Maybe a bay window and window seat
 photo from livebreathedecor.com

(If the home above were mine, I would invite book club members to meet. I’d add comfy pillows to the wicker love seat, another club chair, a sofa. I’d distribute books, serve tea, and delight in the company and the exchange).

The easiest ways to learn about local clubs are to ask local writers, writers groups, and librarians; look on-line for book groups at http://www.MeetUp.com (search by city, state, country); search community bulletin boards and activities listed in newspapers; or, Google what you wish to find. And if there isn’t a club that matches your preferences, perhaps you can start one.

In August of 2016 an enterprising Canadian accountant, retired, decided to start a non-fiction book club at Lake Chapala, Mexico, about an hour south of Guadalajara, the country’s second largest city.  His plan was to discover and read engaging English-language books, and, attract members of the community who represented diverse nationalities, experiences, and opinions.

“In a world of growing polarization and conflict, the members of the Ajijic Book Club, in a spirit of celebrating the oneness of humanity, seek to engage in civil dialogue with each other especially when confronted by deeply held opposing views,” states the founder.

Even though some of the residents at the lake are snowbirds, living only six months a year in Mexico, others reside full-time, up to and including residents who are published authors.

To discuss various subjects the Ajijic Book Club has gathered psychotherapists (one an author), a lawyer, an American MD (also author) who worked for the World Health Organization, a businessman (also author) who started a hospice in Canada, a non-profit administrator from the states who became a yoga teacher, a Canadian English literature professor born and raised in Germany, a retired Canadian foreign service officer, an American hospice nurse, and the founder, Dutch born but raised in Nova Scotia and Calgary, among other members.

See http://www.AjijicBookClub.com for a list of books recently read and reviewed. The book scheduled for January 2018 discussion is:

  A Disappearance in Damascus by Deborah Campbell journalist, winner of the prestigious Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust award for 2016. The book video can be viewed at this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSl5BqSfbmI

Benefits of book clubs?     Meeting people in your community, exchanges on subjects you are passionate about, a way to expose your book if you are an author, a way to keep your mind sharp no matter where you are living on the planet.

Ex-pat (not a term I favor) book clubs around the world, which include not only Americans but Aussies, Brits, Canadians and other nationalities, can be found in Abu Dhabi, Australia, Hong Kong, Istanbul, London, Paris, Singapore, The Hague, Tokyo, and a myriad of other places. The Paris meetup calls itself the Paris Anglophone Book Club. It has over 2,000 members.

References

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/sarah-jessica-parker-picks-1st-reading-selection-national/story?id=48237959

http://www.meetup.com

https://mmlafleur.com/mdash/types-of-book-clubs   (humorous)

http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/New-Book-Clubs-A-Different-Kind-of-Book-Club   new book clubs on the horizon

The Paris Anglophone Book Club

Paris, FR
2,264 Book lovers

If you love reading, live in Paris, but don’t feel up to discussing the finer points of Proust in French, welcome to an English-speaking book club.We’ll meet once a month to …

Next Meetup

August Meetup – Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

Monday, Aug 7, 2017, 8:00 PM
29 Attending

Check out this Meetup Group →

Most Popular Books 2016 New York Public Library System

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 New York Public Library, New York City    Photo by and from srg85.wordpress.com

 

Shelf-Awareness.com just posted the post popular books list from the 2016 New York Public Library System.

There are 92 New York Public Libraries in the New York City area. According to the article, 25 million items (books, tapes, etc.) were circulated in 2016.

I am pleased to see that my favorite title, for personal and professional reasons, When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalinthi, M.D., was no. 1 in its non-fiction area. It was followed by high readership of Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters by Atul Gawande. M.D.  (See my comments in previous blog about best-seller book lists for 2016). Both books are about quality of life at the end-of-life.

Here is the NY Public Library list…

https://www.nypl.org/blog/2016/12/22/nypls-most-popular-checkouts-2016

 

 

Best Book Titles of 2016 Per the New York Times and London’s Telegraph

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(Click on 100 Notable Books of 2016 above for link to list)

I work with health and mental health authors as a book shepherd and marketing person. Other than subjects of physical and emotional pain (and how they possibly correlate with one other), I am most interested in the subject of facing end-of-life.

The most meaningful book I read this year, and obviously the most meaningful to others according to the NY Times best-seller list, was Dr. Paul Kalinthi’s intelligent, poetic When Breath Becomes Air.  It is about how he, a young neurosurgeon who receives a diagnosis of terminal lung cancer, chooses to live and share his last days.  I am sorry to say the Spanish translation in Mexico is entitled The Good Doctor which makes it sound egocentric and uninteresting, though translators would argue with me that the original title would never sell in the country.

In any event, I urge all appreciators to discover When Breath Becomes Air if you haven’t already. It makes two important points – we never know when our days in this lifetime might pass, and, if we can, prepare for that day in the most sacred way possible.

When Breath Becomes Air

Below is the link to London Telegraph‘s Best Book List 2016.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/top-50-books-year/

And, an interesting list from 2015 at the link below outline’s Sam Harris’ suggestion for books everyone should read no matter the year.  https://www.brainpickings.org/2015/07/21/sam-harris-reading-list/

Guadalajara International Book Fair 2016, a Mini-Report

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The 30th Guadalajara International Book Fair, also known as FIL (Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara) took place November 26 to December 4, 2016 at the Guadalajara Convention Center in Mexico.

Approximately 650 writers from around the world registered to attend, sign books, or speak. Forty-four countries were represented.

The fair was dedicated to Latin America as opposed to one specific city or country. In 2017, FIL has announced that Madrid (as in Spain) will be the honored guest. No other details offered.

Bookstores and book publisher/distributors filled two huge pavillions, one domestic and one international at FIL, the largest Spanish language book fair in the world.

Norman Manea, born in 1936, won the $150,000 (USD) FIL Literary Award. Manea, who was born in Romania and is considered that country’s premiere writer, was a MacArthur Foundation Fellow. He has been nominated more than once for a Nobel prize. His themes are the Wandering Jew, identity, and isolation. He lives in New York City and you can read more about him at http://www.NormanManea.com.

I especially liked visiting Nirvana Books (Mexico City), which as you may guess from its name focuses on Body, Mind, Spirit books. The main publishers represented were Editorial Kairos, Ediciones Obelisco,  and Editorial Sirio from Spain. A good number of the titles were Spanish translations of books by American authors.

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Wendy Jane Carrel at Nirvana Libros booth Guadalajara Book Fair 2016

Other Body/Mind/Spirit books were found at Ediciones Urano, Grupo Planeta (Paidos), Lectorum (Prana), and Oceano.

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross books at Grupo Planeta booth

American end-of-life author Elisabeth Kubler-Ross is still front and center, after many years, at the Grupo Planeta stand

I like the enticing slogan for Grupo Planeta , Creemos en Los Libros, We Believe in Books.

Arte de Mexico always displays fabulous folkloric works from around the country as well as gorgeous coffee table books.

Artes de Mexico stand

Arte de Mexico stand at Guadalajara Book Fair 2016

Gandhi Books is a popular book chain in Mexico. They attend each year and have stores in Guadalajara.

Gandhi Bookstores at GDL Book Fair 2016

Gandhi Bookstore booth at Guadalajara Book Fair 2016

 

In December 2016, the senate of Mexico approved the used of medical marijuana, a controversial subject in the nation for years. Legalization awaits other approvals.

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One of several books at the fair on the possible use and outcomes of marijuana for pain management and improved health

Antiquarian book store at GDL Book Fair 2016

An “antiquarian” book stand at GDL Book Fair 2016

minature books

Miniature book stand at GDL Book Fair 2016

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Daniel Stevens Leon, Head of Acquisitions and Editorial Innovation for Buena Prensa, a Catholic publisher

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Daily crowds at entrance to Guadalajara International Book Fair 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Book Gardenista!! Gardens for Healing, Gardens with Style

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For all you garden lovers… a new book, released in October, with a charming title… Gardenista.

In my work with health and wellness authors I have come to find gardens more healing than ever before – other than being in a beautiful place to walk and sit, one can meditate, restore oneself, feel oneself, and remember those who are alive and who have passed. Sacred gardens, and every other day gardens are especially important at hospitals, palliative care centers, and around hospice buildings, yoga shalas, and our homes.  See the revolving photos of client Carol Cumes’ Chakra Gardens at https://www.willkatika.com/7-chakra-gardens .

See review of Gardenista from Alan of Diesel Bookstores, California, below…

 Product Details

Gardenista: The Definitive Guide to Stylish Outdoor Spaces

by Brian Evenson
From the team who gave us the bestselling book of carefully considered interiors, Remodelista, comes its logical extension to the home’s exterior Gardenista. “Carefully considered” does not mean formal or stuffy, think more of classically-casual instead. Think of it as both inspiration and expert advice in a book which can serve both as a starting point, and later on a reference manual. – Alan

The book can be purchased at Amazon.com, $25 hardcover, $12 e-edition. There is also a web site for the book, http://www.gardenista.com .

 

How Much Do Successful Authors Earn?

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Today’s Publisher’s Lunch made mention of the Forbes study on the amount successful authors earn yearly. The listed authors write fiction and are primarily from the U.S. or the U.K.

The highest earner is thriller and young adult author James Patterson, $95 million last year. He has important promotional backing from the Hachette Group (worldwide publishing). You can read his bio and learn more about his prolific writing life at http://www.JamesPatterson.com .

  James Patterson, author. Photo from his web site.

Non-fiction authors earn considerably less. There is a consensus among my colleagues that you need about three books in your non-fiction genre to start generating income. You’ll probably earn more if you self-publish. If it’s a topic in the minds of many, you might earn up to $10,000/year, if you are fortunate. If you are writing non-fiction you’ll likely need back-up work to support your passions and your life.

The PL blurb below outlines how well popular fiction authors earn a living. Big difference!

“Forbes has their annual guesses on the earnings of the some of the most successful authors, estimating that 14 authors together earned $269 million. (Though they don’t underscore it, that’s their lowest total for top authors in the past 5 years: $399 million in 2012; $476 million in 2013; $325 million in 2014; and $355 million in 2015.)”

James Patterson $95 million
Jeff Kinney $19.5 million
JK Rowling $19 million
John Grisham $18 million
Stephen King $15 million
Danielle Steel $15 million
Nora Roberts $15 million
EL James $14 million
Veronica Roth $10 million
John Green $10 million
Paula Hawkins $10 million
George RR Martin $9.5 million
Rick Riordan $9.5 million
Dan Brown $9.5 million