Update: David Sedaris Book Signing

I stopped by the University Bookstore the other day to pick up the new Laura Lippman (success!), The Cloud Atlas (still on order; showed up the next day—of course), and the Dooce book (on order). While there, I cornered Steph and made her tell me more about the June 20th David Sedaris event:

• First, I made her look me in the eye and swear she was telling the truth. I now believe her.
• She said that she scored this event partially because of a previous, very successful Harry Potter event.
• No photos will be allowed.
• Sedaris often likes to spend a couple of hours at the store before the event, so get there early!
• So far, I can't get her to promise a front-row seat for me. Come on, Steph—don't make me beg. But! Maybe I can hand books to him while he's signing (I've already started practicing).
  

Review of The Likeness by Tana French

There is a review of the new Tana French book over at Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? This blog is new to me courtesy of Google Reader's suggestions (thanks Google!) and it looks like it's right up my alley.

Anyway, I haven't read the full review because I don't like to know much about a book before I read it. I get the feeling she liked it, though:

Let’s just cut to the chase, shall we? THIS IS THE BEST BOOK I’VE READ THIS YEAR. Truly, seriously, I’m not even kidding, I can’t stop thinking about this book.

BTW, in that post, she is also offering a chance to win a copy.

Books Waiting for Me

The new Julie Hecht novel and the new David Sedaris are both waiting for me to pick up from Steph at the University Bookstore. What am I waiting for?!

New Julie Hecht book out!

Happy Trails to You: Stories by Julie Hecht.

I am so excited! I loved both Do the Windows Open (this is one of the few books that as soon as I finished it I immediately went back and started it all over again) and The Unprofessionals.

In this new collection of stories, Julie Hecht reclaims the darkly funny, existential territory for which she is known: "People say 'Good morning,' but don't believe them. It's just something to say." The uniquely eccentric narrator reappears in Happy Trails to You and recounts her perplexed engagements with our society and the larger world—whether she's attempting to withdraw money from a bank machine, worrying about Paul McCartney, or seeking a nonexistent place of calm on Nantucket, where nail guns and chain saws have replaced the sounds of birds singing.

Appalled by life in our times, the narrator recounts innumerable artifacts from a now vanished America (civility, idealism, Elvis Presley, well-made appliances). She is also exquisitely attuned to the absurdities of our culture; her acute observations illuminate every subject, from the dangers of microwave ovens to the disappearing ozone layer. With deadpan wit, the author reveals the truths of a new century. Happy Trails to You is a radically distinctive work of American fiction.

New books

I haven't read anything by these authors before so I can't wait to dig in.


Resurrection Men by Ian Rankin
(ebook from eReader.com)



The Learners: A Novel by Chip Kidd
(cloth from the University Bookstore at UNL)



Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story by by Leonie Swann
(cloth from the University Bookstore at UNL)

Sedaris bio

"Charting a course from Marcel Proust to Tony Danza, Kevin artfully captures the exquisite pleasure and pain of reading David Sedaris. A witty, thoughtful, intimate encounter."
—David Hyde Pierce

"If I were to read a book on David Sedaris it might be this one." —Paul Reubens

Last week a friend told me about Sedaris, a new biography by Kevin Kopelson (University of Minnesota Press). I don't know much about it yet, except that it was chosen for the AAUP Book, Jacket, and Journal Show. The shows mission is "to 'honor and instruct': honoring the design and production teams whose work furthers a long tradition of excellence in book design, and—through a traveling exhibit and acclaimed annual catalog of selected entries—visually teaching the tenets of good design." The show will be at UNP some time this spring and I can't wait.

Needless to say, I plan to get this book. I'll post more about it and the AAUP book show later.