10.09.09
Audrey’s Door nods to haunted house classics
In honor of my favorite month and holiday (Halloween – duh!), I’ve got a number of eerie, nerve-wracking tales to review, and for once, I won’t worry that people will be annoyed that I recommend so much horror. We’ll start with this fresh twist on the classic haunted house genre, Audrey’s Door, written by Sarah Langan, a direct descendant of all that we loved about Stephen King’s glory days.
In her preface, Langan acknowledges her debt to classics like The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, The Shining by master King, and Ira Levin’s Rosemary’s Baby. Huge shoes to fill, and Langan steps up with bravado, weaving a creepy sense of foreboding from the first pages. No simple ghost story, the haunted history of a New York City apartment building (built in Langan’s brilliantly devised philosophy of Chaotic Naturalism) is made palpable by superbly crafted characters that breathe air as real as that in your lungs.
Check out the video trailer for the book (my new favorite thing – book trailers!)
New Releases this week:
The Maze Runner by James Dashner — For fans of The Hunger Games or The Inferior!
The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks by Max Brooks — a grapic novel adaptation of Zombie encounters from the author of World War Z (who also happens to be the son of my hero Mel Brooks!), just in time for World Zombie Day this Sunday, October 11!
The Education of a British-Protected Child by Chinua Achebe — a collection of old and new essays by the revered author of Things Fall Apart. His first book in over 20 years!
–Whitney
10.06.09
What the heck’s a Vook?!
Obviously, here at Schuler, we are big fans of the artifact that is a book, as well as the physical act of curling up with a book to read. Having said that, we are not blind to the evolving nature of the book, be it in the form of audio books, E-books, or even Simon & Schuster’s newly devised Vook.
No, that is not a typo – the Vook is the pub’s newly unveiled multimedia creation combining traditional books with enhancing video. I suppose they can explain it better than I:
“INTRODUCING THE VOOK: Read and Watch it.
Available now for your computer or iPhone and iPod Touch.
An entirely new concept, a vook blends text and video into a single, complete story.
With a vook you can:
• Read your book
• Watch videos that highlight key moments in the story
• View visual how-to’s
• Connect with authors and other readers.
And you can do it all in one place! Gone are the days of switching between applications or websites to read, watch, and connect.
You can purchase a vook to view on any computer: Watch it whenever you’re online. No special software is required.”
09.29.09
Schuler Books Purchases Espresso Book Machine
(Grand Rapids, MI)
Brick and Mortar Bookstore Interfaces With the Digital World
Over the past decade, advances in technology and the growing popularity of digital media have made bookstores throughout the world rethink their approach to bookselling. To adapt to the ever-changing book retail market Bill & Cecile Fehsenfeld, co-owners of Schuler Books, have made “room on their shelves” for innovation by purchasing an Espresso Book Machine (EBM) that is scheduled to ship to the 2660 28th St. location in Grand Rapids on October 23rd, 2009.
The Espresso Book Machine is a patented high-speed automatic book-making machine. In a few minutes it can print, bind and trim a single-copy library-quality paperback book complete with a full-color cover. The EBM allows for all types of published content including out of print, public domain and rare books to be produced on the spot in any language. Read the rest of this entry »
09.28.09
Let the Princesses Pillage and Play!
Check out this recent article from the Lansing City Pulse about popular Lansing fantasy author Jim C. Hines! The Schuler of Lansing is hosting a Release Party for Jim’s new book The Mermaid’s Madness next week on October 8 @ 7 p.m.
Distressing damsels
Local fantasy writer makes girls kick butt in latest book, series
Lansing fantasy writer Jim C. Hines and his “twisted sisters” are back with Hines’ new book, “The Mermaid’s Madness,” which tells what really happened to a young mermaid who saves the life of a handsome prince.
The book is the second in a series of wayward looks at traditional “princesses,” which includes the likes of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, whom Hines calls literary “Charlie’s Angels.” They all play major roles in Hines’ new book and get in the swim of things to save the “merfolk.”
09.23.09
Artist Scott McKowen owns the Lansing City Pulse!
Internationally renowned artist — and Lansing native — Scott McKowen visited our Lansing store this past Sunday for the U.S. book launch of his collection A Fine Line: Scratchboard Illustrations. He gave a fascinating talk about the technique of scratchboard art to a crowd of over 50 (on a sunny Sunday!) before signing copies of a A Fine Line, as well as books from the Sterling Classics series for which he created cover art and interior illustrations.
We got a highlight for the event in the Lansing City Pulse last week (as well as a Meet the Author highlight on the Lansing State Journal Sunday Book Page), but this week Scott landed the cover story! Check it out after the jump.
09.21.09
Speak Your Mind in Best of National Book Awards Vote!
The National Book award has opened up voting for its Best of the National Book Awards Fiction survey. They’ve narrowed the field down to 6 choices, and boy are they heavy hitters. I’m seriously torn and couldn’t tell you right now what my vote will be.
The finalists are:
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
The Collected Stories of William Faulker
The Complete Stories of Flannery O’Connor
Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon
The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty
When you vote you can enter your email address to win two tickets to the 60th National Book Awards on November 18, 2009 and two nights in the Marriott Hotel Downtown, compliments of Marriott!
Head over the National Book Awards Website to cast your vote!
08.14.09
Tour for fall Postsecret Book announced.
Frank Warren has announced the tour dates for the fall release of Postsecret: Confessions on Life, Death, and God.
There are two dates in Michigan (though sadly, none in Grand Rapids or Lansing):
Univ. of Michigan: 7:30 p.m. Friday, December 4. Click here for event Facebook page.
Western Michigan Univ: 8 p.m. Wednesday, November 4. Click here for event Facebook page.
Check out the PostSecret blog, and peep a video of the PostSecret 2009 Event Tour.
08.10.09
Neil Gaiman sweeps another award with The Graveyard book
Neil Gaiman has won yet another award with his young adult novel The Graveyard Book. Last night The Graveyard Book was dubbed the Best Novel of 2009 by the Hugo Awards, awards for excellence in the field of science fiction and fantasy. The Hugo Awards are awarded each year at the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), with voting for the awards open to all members of the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS).
This is the latest in a long list of recognition for The Graveyard Book — including winning the 2009 Newberry Medal, a Locust Award for best Young Adult Novel, and being nominated as an ALA Booklist Editor’s Choice and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults — making it one of the most heavily awarded children’s books in recent history.
Last January Gaiman announced that the film adaption of The Graveyard Book will be written and directed by Neil Jordan.
Check the book out online at www.thegraveyardbook.com.
07.23.09
Schuler of Lansing to host ICAS animal adoption this Sunday!
Sadly, the Ingham County Animal Shelter is full to capacity, so Schuler Books of Lansing, located in the Eastwood Towne Center, will host an offsite animal adoption this Sunday, July 26, from noon to 4 p.m.
The last time ICAS came, the adoption was a huge success, so we hope this weekend will be the same. Come on down and rescue a needy dog or cat, and add some more love to your family!
