LitStarter

Welcome to another installment of LitStarter! This is a regular look at some of my favorite projects I discovered through two popular crowd funding websites: Kickstarter and Indiegogo. The featured projects will be related to literature and comics, but not limited to publishing or writing projects.

Book lovers: this project was made for us -- we need this.

California Bookstore Day is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2014. It will be similar to Record Store Day in the sense that it will be centered around independent stores selling limited-edition items in an effort to support local businesses and artists. California Bookstore Day will start with over 100 independent book sellers in the state offering more than just signed books. They're planning to sell collector's items, t-shirts, bookish art, and more -- items only available on California Bookstore Day.

"But I don't live in California -- why do I care?"
While this project will begin in California, the creators hope to expand Bookstore Day to include all 50 states by 2015. By helping to fund their first effort, you're helping to set the project up for success when it comes to a city near you. You're also bringing the spotlight to independent bookstores that desperately need your support.
California Bookstore Day is asking for $30,00 so they can hire a coordinator to bring the project to life. The coordinator will be responsible for creating a website, handling publisher submissions, and managing the marketing campaign.
All perks include a "thank you" on the website. Rewards begin at $25 with a bumper sticker. Higher tiers include gift cards to the indie bookstore of your choice, a book bag, and books!
Let's show our love of all things bookish and our support of independent book sellers and back California Bookstore Day!

Required Reading

Our Tators are always reading. Here are some of their favorite books for the month of July.

July's Required Reading



More of All's books »

Angie

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman: Probably one of the strangest stories I've read lately. I was looking for a quick read, and this was perfect. I was hooked on the very first page. A very dark, but perceptive, look at what it means to become a grownup and understanding too much of a good thing can be very, very bad.

Heather

Jennifer Miller's The Year of the Gadfly. Despite being categorized as young adult fiction, Gadfly is an engaging read for older fiction lovers as well. Miller has worked diligently to bring attention to her debut novel from creating a Novelade Stand (complete with homemade cookies) to setting a world record. Her efforts are paying off as she's receiving high praise from a broad swath of readers.

Jared

I liked The Phantom of the Opera for a few different reasons. The first is how he actually wrote the story. I like that it came across as a true story and he wrote it like a crime novel of which I don't usually read, but it's pretty good. It's also depending on how true it is, it shed some light into the old days and theater life. I would now love to read a book that truly depicts the life in the opera during those times.

Jeane

 Juliet Dove Queen of Love by Bruce Coville. (one reason I chose this book as Required Reading is because I read some really crappy books in the month of July, except this book). Even though it is for ages 7-12, Bruce Coville is a great author (I got a chance to meet him and he signed a bunch of books for my daughter!) and this is a great book. It is heavily seeped in Greek mythology so kids will even learn things! Don't really recommend for adults unless they like reading children's books like me :) This is also the 5th book in the Magic Shop series, but you can read it stand alone. 

Karena

The Light in the Ruins was a phenomenal book. If you like Italy, WW2, murder mysteries, family, etc. this is your book.

Laura

The Scarlet Pimpernel is a fantastic mix of adventure, spy action, and romance with the Scarlet Pimpernel as the superhero. At times, it reminded me of Superman with the dual identity factor...meanwhile taking place during one of the most bloody and pivotal points in history, the French Reign of Terror, where the guillotine worked over time. I wrote a paper on the French Revolution in High School, explaining why the Reign of Terror was a "necessary evil."  I had nightmares for weeks while writing this paper, so it was cool to revisit this topic. But this time, I saw it from the aristocrat point of view and felt sympathy for the nobility. 

What was your favorite read this month?

Classical Clairvoyance

Classical Clairvoyance is where we ask our Tators which books they predict will win for the upcoming poll for our Goodreads book club. For October's poll, our winner is Persuasion so Laura's streak has sadly ended.  Aww.  However, she is tied with Karena on most correct answers! 

Our scores for right guesses so far are as follows: 

Angie -2

Heather - 1

Jared - 1

Jeane - 2

Karena - 3

Laura - 3

November's poll choices are for the category of 1910-1959:

The Magnificent Ambersons, The Black Obelisk, Atlas Shrugged, The Innocence of Father Brown, The Midwich Cuckoos  

Angie

Heather

Jared

Jeane

Karena

Laura

Which novel do think is going to win the poll?

Graphic By Nature

This is the place for graphic novel reviews, but you won't find any traditional superheroes here. If you're like me, you enjoy your comics funny, strange, and sometimes a little dark. But you also value an interesting story and captivating illustration. Sounds like you? Keep reading!

Instead of the usual graphic novel review, this post will be different because last week was Comic-Con International in San Diego. I had the privilege of attending this year and wanted to share the two graphic novels I'm most looking forward to this autumn.

The main part of the convention is comprised of many booths inside of the convention center. To get an idea of what this looks like, check out the exhibit hall map. A lot of the booths not only offer an opportunity to purchase artwork, books, and a great variety of wares, but they also giveaway stuff. Lots and lots of stuff. I mailed myself an entire box of free books I picked up at the show, but that's a story for another post. One of the popular giveaway items was samplers: a sneak peek at upcoming books, comics, or graphic novels. There were two graphic novels that stood out to me as ones to watch for this fall after giving them a read.

Photo courtesy of Top Shelf Productions

March (Book One) is the first story in a trilogy of graphic novels depicting the life of Congressman John Lewis (GA-5)  a civil rights legend known as one of the "Big Six." Congressman Lewis co-wrote the story with aide Andrew Aydin. Artist Nate Powell brought the story to life with a traditional black and white comic style. This graphic novel will be the first ever authored by a sitting member of Congress. March looks not only to tell the story of Congressman Lewis but also to make the civil rights movement understood and accessible to generations that might not have been alive to experience it for themselves. View a sample by clicking here. Congressman Lewis was at Comic-Con this year to discuss and promote his graphic novel -- you can read more about it here.

March (Book One) goes on sale Tuesday, August 13th.

Photo courtesy of Yen Press

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children was originally a novel by Ransom Riggs  As a novel it was on the New York Times Best Seller List for more than 52 consecutive weeks. And those are two facts were completely unknown to me before I picked up an exclusive excerpt of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children: The Graphic Novel. This is the tall tale of a young man in search of the truth after witnessing his grandfather pass away. Grandpa Portman was always telling his grandson, Jacob, about the strange and wonderful people and places of his youth. As Jacob grew older, he believed all of Grandpa Portman's stories to be false -- until he witnessed something strange himself and went in search of Miss Peregrine in the hopes of finding answers. 

Artist Cassandra Jean incorporates the creepy pictures that made the novel famous into her work as she translates the original story into a graphic novel form that is both easy to read and exciting.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children: The Graphic Novel goes on sale Tuesday, October 29th.

Tator Tuesdays

Every week we ask our Tators bookish questions. This week's question is 

What book have you read that you weren't looking forward to, but ended up liking it a great deal? 

Angie

Brave New World

Heather

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. I was attending an informal book discussion group a year or two ago where it was on the list. One of the members said that, when she read it, it scared her so much she couldn’t sleep. That, coupled with the fact that the book talked a lot about architecture -- a topic I knew little to nothing about and had no interest in -- turned me off. However, while reading, I enjoyed learning about architecture, the World’s Fair, and H.H. Holmes. The research that went into the novel as well as the narrative Larson was able to weave together makes for a very compelling story that shouldn’t be missed!

Jared

 Life of Pi

Jeane

Life of Pi and Pride and Prejudice

Karena

 Life of Pi. I was not looking forward to that one at ALL, but ending up liking it a lot.

Laura

The Age of Innocence. I was about to give up on it and if it weren't for CWAtC, I would have stopped reading it early on. I ended up enjoying it very much, and this experience made me realize THAT is the reason why I joined CWAtC.

Do you have any books that surprised you?

Graphic By Nature at San Diego Comic-Con

Hello dear readers! We know it's not quite time for Graphic By Nature -- that's next week -- but this news it too exciting not to share. I'm at San Diego Comic-Con this week! It's my very first time (but hopefully not the last).

I'm finally here!
Source: Heather Varanini

Follow me on Twitter @heather__ilene as I share my experience; I'll be using #SDCC to denote my con-related tweets.

If you have any tips or suggestions for my first SDCC, please write to me on Twitter or leave a comment.

Tator Tuesdays

Every week we ask our Tators bookish questions. This week's question is:

What is your all-time favorite quote?

Angie

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." 
-F. Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby

Heather

 I don’t have one but a quote that’s been resonating with me lately is Mary

McCarthy’s “We are the hero of our own story.”

Jared

Hundreds. None of them jump to my mind. I love how authors can put shit together.

Karena

“In omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libro.

(Everywhere I have sought peace and not found it, except in a corner with a book.)” 

― Thomas à Kempis

Laura

“Since you embrace this indiscriminate vice, 

Your friendship comes at far too cheap a price;

I spurn the easy tribute of a heart

Which will not set the worthy man apart:

I choose, Sir, to be chosen; and in fine,

The friend of mankind is no friend of mine.”
- Alceste from The Misanthrope

What's your favorite bookish quote?

Bookshelf, Library Bag, or Donation Box

In Bookshelf, Library Bag, or Donation Box, our Tators give their verdict on the books they read, whether they're keepers for the shelves, one you borrow from your local library, or just give to your local used bookstore.

Photo credit: Penguin USA

The story begins by following the lives of an unsuspecting man waiting in an airport, Wil Parke, and a young street hustler named Emily Ruff. There's been an incident in the rural Australian town of Broken Hill, where the entire population of thousands have been wiped out. Rumor has it that only one man walked away: the outlier.

At first blush, Lexicon is a novel about the power of words -- the way in which they can be wielded to control people. But not just anyone can use their powers of observation and persuasion this way; only a select few who are admitted into a secret school focused on teaching students to hone their skills through the study of classic literature, psychology, and linguistics even have a chance. They must spend many years of rigorous study, discipline, and constant testing to become masters. The masters of words are called Poets and are named after famous authors like T.S. Eliot, Virginia Woolf, and Emily Brontë. Some work for the school while others work for organizations related to the school but the details of the organization's purpose and true function are unclear.

Lexicon makes for a good summer read. Partly because of the love story, which is the real pulse of the novel, and  the importance of love in our lives -- how it keeps us human. Also, the book is well-paced and most will churn through its 400 pages quickly. There's a nice mix of adventure and introspection that keep the story moving.

With that being said, the novel had a few problems. In Lexicon, words and phrases are means of control and persuasion over others. It was disappointing to discover that these words were just a mishmash of letters -- made up words and phrases. I was expecting something more than that, especially from a book filled with clever nods to classic works and authors. Another factor that made Lexicon a borrow, rather than buy, type of book was that it was difficult to follow, especially in regards to the dialogue in the last third of the book. Often, the dialogue wasn't linear in the typical "person A speaks" then "person B speaks" fashion and made it difficult to distinguish who was saying or thinking what.

If you're looking for a smart, fast-paced summer read with a hint of science fiction, this book is for you. 

Verdict: Library Bag

Learn more about Max Barry and his other books at his website, like him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter. If you're interested in politics and/or international relations, check out NationStates.

*A copy of Max Barry's Lexicon was provided by the publisher via NetGalley.com.

LitStarter: Bringing You the Best in Bookish Projects

Welcome to another installment of LitStarter! This is a regular look at some of my favorite projects I discovered through two popular crowd funding websites: Kickstarter and Indiegogo. The featured projects will be related to literature and comics, but not limited to publishing or writing projects.

In the Country of the Blind: A Novel of Suspense is actor-turned-novelist Matthew Arkin's first attempt at creating the type of novel he's loved his whole life. Arkin is a voracious reader of suspense novels series. The first book in his series, In the Country of the Blind, is finished. You can read a short excerpt of the book here or check out the first five chapters by clicking here. He's asking for money in order to fund manuscript review and editing; custom design for the interior and cover; publishing; and Kickstarter rewards. 

Whenever I visit a Kickstarter page, I try to learn as much about the project as possible. And this includes watching the video. Thus far, it's safe to say I've seen a lot of videos and most of them are terrible. It's always disappointing when I discover a great project only to see that the posted video detracts from the great ideas or work someone is doing. That's not the case here. Arkin's video is funny and engaging -- definitely worth the watch. His enthusiasm is contagious and his story is one that many readers can respect.

There are only a few days left to support In the Country of the Blind: A Novel of Suspense. Rewards range from an eCard to a bookmark to a copy of the completed novel at the lower tiers and hardcover copies, a visit to your book club, as well as the option to name a minor character in the upcoming novel are available at higher tiers.

I highly recommend visiting Arkin's Kickstarter page and checking out the project for yourself. Let's support fellow readers-turned-writers! 

You can learn more about Matthew Arkin on his website, follow him on Twitter or Facebook. 

Tator Tuesday

Every week we ask our Tators bookish questions. This week's question is:

Who are three authors you'd most like to have dinner with (living or dead)? 

Angie 

Alive: Patrick Ness, George R.R. Martin, Sherman Alexie

Dead: Carson McCullers, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Dorothy Parker

Heather

Samuel Clemens, hands down. There’s no way there would be a dull moment. Nate Silver because then I could pick his brain about politics and statistics. And Mary Roach because she’s charming, funny, and deeply curious.

Jared

 Malcom Gladwell, Nate Silver and Clive Cussler

Jeane

Christopher Moore, Anne Rice, and Barbara Kingsolver

Karena

Jenny Lawson, Kevin Hearne and Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens). There would be booze and curse words involved and that spells great dinner party. I wonder what Twain would say to alcoholic Otter pops?

Laura

V.C. Andrews, Edgar Allen Poe and ... hmmm Marquis de Sade to keep the conversation interesting.  

Who would you have dinner with?

LitStarter: Bringing You the Best in Bookish Projects

Welcome to another installment of LitStarter! This is a regular look at some of my favorite projects I discovered through two popular crowd funding websites: Kickstarter and Indiegogo. The featured projects will be related to literature and comics, but not limited to publishing or writing projects.

Since the column began, we have yet to cover any kid-related projects -- until today! This week's column features a children's cookbook with an international flair.

The Cultured Chef: An International Cookbook for Kids is being written by Nicholas Beatty and illustrated by Coleen McIntyre. The last time they teamed up together, they created Baking With Friends: Recipes, Tips, and Fun Facts for Teaching Kids to Bake, and won five awards for their work! Beatty and McIntyre have collaborated again to create a fun, educational, and multi-cultural cookbook for children. Through colorful art, fun facts, and easy, delicious recipes, this cookbook will not only help children with their development, but  also teach them about the world. A few recipes to be included are: Mexico's Bread of the Dead, Brazilian Brigadeiro, Scottish Shortbread, Icelandic Snert, and Russian Pelmeni.

I grew up in a small town as part of an Italian-American family. My mother and grandmother cooked six, if not seven, nights a week. Each meal was a healthy mix of vegetables, proteins, and starches -- all with an Italian slant. We rarely ate out, and if we did, there weren't many choices. The selection was limited to a few American home style diners and a Round Table Pizza. It wasn't until I moved away to attend college in a major city that I began to discover international foods from places like Brazil, Japan, Ethiopia, and Vietnam -- just to name a few. And through food, I was also able to learn about each country and culture. The Cultured Chef is a way to teach children about the joys of cooking as well as introduce them to new ways of living and eating across the globe.

As of now, copies of The Cultured Chef will only be available to backers. The author and illustrator have decided to publish The Cultured Chef independently. They hope to work with a traditional publishing house to make the book more widely available -- but since that isn't their priority, it may be a while before that happens. So if you'd like a copy for yourself, you will need to back the project for $25 or more. Your cookbook will be personalized, numbered, and signed. Additional rewards (at higher backing levels, of course) include prints drawn by the illustrator and a chance to have your family recipe featured in the book.

You can learn more about The Cultured Chef and its creators by visiting their webpage. You can also like The Cultured Chef on Facebook.

Tator Tuesays

Every week we ask our Tators bookish questions. This week's question is:

What was the first chapter book you remember reading? 

Angie

Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Bloom

Heather

I don’t quite remember, but I do know that Scott O’Dell’s Island of the Blue Dolphins is the first book I ever read more than once.

Jared

Charlotte’s Web. There are others, but I don’t remember.

Jeanie

The Boxcar Children

Karena

Honestly, I don't remember the first. I remember really loving the Fudge series.

Laura

Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff 

What was your first chapter book?

Required Reading

Our Tators are always reading. Here are their favorite books for the month of June.

June's Required Reading



More of the Tator's books »

Angie 

The Golem and the Jinni: This book was amazing to read. It is the perfect mix of fantasy and realistic fiction. The imagery is vivid, and the characters are well-developed. 

Heather

Michael G. Santos' Earning Freedom: Conquering a 45-Year Prison Sentence. Mr. Santos' book is equal parts engrossing and remarkable. This story is the epitome of finding strength within oneself in the face of great adversity; it's much more than turning lemons into lemonade. The lessons Mr. Santos learns while in prison and shares with readers aren't limited to the confining concrete walls of incarceration -- they're lessons all of us can learn about how to lead gracious, focused, and goal-oriented lives while managing the obstacles life throws our way.

Jared

I like the science of it [Solaris]. 

Jeane

Hilarious! Perfect story for anyone who likes science fiction, or humor, or just a light hearted action book. Redshirts by John Scalzi will make you laugh out loud and as a bonus Wil Wheaton narrates the audio book! Awesome! 

Karena

I have two this month. I really enjoyed Gone Girl and Hunted. I hesitated to submit GG for my pick because I really don't have much more to say about it than anyone has already, but I liked the unpredictability of it and the characters were though unlikeable, intriguing.  And Hunted was a fun, action packed read. If you are looking for an Urban Fantasy series to try, I HIGHLY suggest the Iron Druid Chronicles. 

Laura

Behind the Attic Wall  - I read this book during my lunch time at work. I usually eat lunch alone because of how the schedule works out, and I often feel lonely, so I identified with Maggie who drinks tea and eats crumpets with her new family of dolls. This is a very touching and magical book that would make for an amazing movie. 

Did you have any favorites this month?

Book It: Events for Bibliophiles

Welcome to Book It: Events for Bibliophiles! We publish this column on the first Sunday of each month. Let's take a look at some popular authors that are on tour as well as other special book-related events for the month of July!

If you would like to see your event listed in a future post, please contact me via e-mail at heather [dot] varanini [at] gmail [dot] com.

Credit: Comic-Con International

Comic-Con International: San Diego

Dates: July 18-21

Times: Th, Fr, Sa: 9:30am - 7pm; Su: 9:30am - 5pm

Location: San Diego Convention Center

111 W. Harbor Drive

San Diego, CA

Comic-Con is one of the most exciting and sought-after events of the year. It began in the 1970's with a focus on comic books and sci-fi/fantasy literature and has come to encompass all forms of popular culture and media. To learn more, head over to their website.

Credit: Riverhead Books

Anton Discalfani wins the award for "Summer Books that Make Us Blush." Her debut novel, The Yonahlosee Riding Camp for Girls, takes place in the South amidst the Great Depression. Readers follow the story of 15 year old Thea Atwell as she is shunned from her home in Florida and sent to an equestrienne boarding school in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Discalfani's book tour runs through October and spans many locations from the Bay Area to Mississippi to Tennessee. To see if the author will be at an event near you, click here. You can follow Anton on Facebook and Twitter.

Credit: Simon & Schuster

Another debut novel making waves is Sahar Delijani's Children of the Jacaranda Tree. The novel is based on Sahar's own experiences as well as those of her family and friends in the wake of the Iranian revolution. Children follows the stories of three generations worth of characters as they live through political strife in Iran. Promising to be the most international novel you will pick up this summer, it has already been translated into 25 languages and published in more than 70 countries. Delijani's tour is finishing up with stops in Seattle, Portland, Mountain View, and the Vicalvi Castle in Italy. For more information on her tour, please click here. You can like Sahar on Facebook.

Credit: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 

Claire DeWitt and the Bohemian Highway is the second installment in the Claire DeWitt series by author Sara Gran. It's a whodunit mystery with the world's most amazing detective, Claire DeWitt, at the center. Bookriot named it as one of their top five books to watch for in June. Gran is embarking on a limited book tour with stops in Brooklyn, the Bay Area, and Los Angeles. If any of those stops are near you and you're interested in more information, click here. You can follow Sara on Facebook and Twitter.

Credit: Random House

Katie Hafner's Mother Daughter Me: A Memoir is garnering popularity and praise. Named one of Goodreads' July 2013 Movers & Shakers, it is the story of the author, her teenage daughter Zoë, and mother Helen as they live together in San Francisco and work through a complex myriad of emotions. Hafner's book tour runs through early August, with stops all over California along with ones in New Jersey, Kentucky, and Massachusetts. For more information, please click here. You can follow Katie on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. 

Credit: HarperCollins Publishers

You probably already know of Aisha Tyler -- she's an actress, comedian, and director. You've heard her voice on FX's Archer, or seen her co-host on CBS' The Talk. For her second book, Tyler has written a series of essays entitled Self-Inflicted Wounds: Heartwarming Tales of Epic Humiliation. In it, she shares some of her most embarrassing stories and how she's been able to turn them from terrible tales to life lessons. Self-Inflicted Wounds goes on sale July 9th. Tyler will be embarking on a short tour with stops in New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here. You can follow Aisha on Facebook and Twitter.

Classical Clairvoyance

Classical Clairvoyance is where we ask our Tators which books they predict will win for the upcoming poll. For September's poll, our winner is Laura who was the only one to pick The Handmaid's Tale!  Go Laura!  Our scores for right guesses so far are as follows: 
Angie -1
Heather - 1
Jared - 1
Jeane - 2
Karena - 2
Laura - 3

Laura is 3 for 3. Will this month be her 4th? 

For the month of October our category is pre-1910 and our choices are Persuasion, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Rob Roy, Bartleby, the Scrivener, and Great Expectations.

Angie

Persuasion 

Heather

Bartleby, the Scrivener

Jared

Great Expectations

Jeane

Great Expectations

Karena

Persuasion

Laura

The Scarlet Pimpernel

Which book do you think will win for October's poll? Do you think Laura will win yet again? Let us know!