We've wanted to start a Jezebel book club for a while, and now, thanks to our new discussion system, it's the perfect time to get going — especially since a bunch of lazy summer holidays/weekends/afternoons are coming up.
We know publishing and book marketing follow a formula that involves mashing up previously successful books. We know self-help involves bullet points, and that Ladies Love Makeovers. We know paranormal and memoir (novel/memoir even!) remain sought-after genres. The people behind this book know all of these things too,…
When people ask me how I met my fiance, I always have a moment when I consider lying.
Children's giggles have forced Catholic bishops to cleanse their translation of the bible of the word "booty." It will be replaced with "the spoils of war."
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--usPCW_CV--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18izkyy4ke9l3jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Dp0roqYm--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18izkyy4ke9l3jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--q8kRHEKK--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18izkyy4ke9l3jpg.jpg, (large)])
In this excerpt from Cinderella Ate My Daughter, Peggy Orenstein wonders what effect growing up among Disney Princesses, American Girl Place, and Miley Cyrus has on older girls' sexuality. She's answering your questions (on any book-related topic) in the comments.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--iblbEyQk--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/1866hvrqs4nwcpng.png, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--9gu5zEP4--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/1866hvrqs4nwcpng.png, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--EnbbYsD0--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/1866hvrqs4nwcpng.png, (large)])
Anyone who loved the Little House series is in for a treat, because in a new book, writer Wendy McClure really put her money where her sunbonnet is.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--r3EFK3nC--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j0fhoh5n6p1jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--c7PZL5pd--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j0fhoh5n6p1jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--xx7dOaeK--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j0fhoh5n6p1jpg.jpg, (large)])
Over a year ago, author Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez optioned the TV rights to her bestselling novel, The Dirty Girls Social Club. Christmas eve, Valdes-Rodriguez called the TV project racist on her blog. For Christmas she got a cease and desist letter.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Egu4Q4Lb--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j13nh9rhdvmjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--AwXKyyY---/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j13nh9rhdvmjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--8ZQUPhPK--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j13nh9rhdvmjpg.jpg, (large)])
Did you miss her? She'll be back in August 2011 with a book that will go "behind the scenes of her race for the Senate and embody O'Donnell's identification with America's frustrations and concerns with the current political climate."
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--uIiFo2Jc--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j18waj4hwu0jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--7hmUGeS5--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j18waj4hwu0jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--8iaU6UYk--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j18waj4hwu0jpg.jpg, (large)])
Mine, Citrus County by John Brandon, did not make the cut :( But the annual release of the year's "100 Notable Books" list remains a beloved Thanksgivingtime tradition. Which have you loved, and which should be avoided? [New York Times]
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--RGLvBi82--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j1cgvdj5yx9png.png, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--9DNRdjpa--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j1cgvdj5yx9png.png, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--t-0Mow27--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j1cgvdj5yx9png.png, (large)])
Angelina Jolie is a movie star, humanitarian, mother of six and special ladyfriend of Brad Pitt. Can she be summed up in a comic book? The folks at Bluewater Productions think so.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--0m0FKTrZ--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j1fe3owchd2jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--pjWumtwX--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j1fe3owchd2jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--oDORQ5YM--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j1fe3owchd2jpg.jpg, (large)])
Hey, remember when people were concerned about the summary way abortion was treated in Juno and Knocked Up? Sarah Palin loved that shit. Especially because it wasn't all "European." God bless America.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--5Y2PrlDv--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j45f0fuwq1sjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--kMvIWM0x--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j45f0fuwq1sjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--jqBCfI8S--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j45f0fuwq1sjpg.jpg, (large)])
"Women are willing to buy books by male writers, but men seem much more reluctant to buy books by women," notes a (male) Atlantic writer. His solution: To read one female writer's novel for every one by a man.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--_yflAaAs--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j4g5coql8v2jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--67b0hy24--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j4g5coql8v2jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--8N_EC7S6--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j4g5coql8v2jpg.jpg, (large)])
With The Book Depository's new Watch People Shop feature, you can indeed watch people virtually book-shop in real time all over the world. Surprisingly addictive! But so much for buying those romance novels from the privacy of your own home...
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--X2I_qz5B--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/1867fjkk9hpmyjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--lfiUkvuY--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/1867fjkk9hpmyjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--3P00cY5c--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/1867fjkk9hpmyjpg.jpg, (large)])
Andrew Morton's unauthorized biography of Angelina Jolie hit stores in the U.S. this week, and it's obvious that the book attempts to paint the actress and humanitarian as a vain control freak-cum-psychotic homewrecking succubus who feeds on married men.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--RBQgGrQC--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18eqzfh43ohy4jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--JhogKb24--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18eqzfh43ohy4jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--9zBcg3Pk--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18eqzfh43ohy4jpg.jpg, (large)])
The discussion has started on Shelf Discovery's Facebook page. Brush up on Tiger Eyes with one of the columns that inspired the book of the Facebook page, then comment here about the movie based on Judy's tweet. Multiplatform! Synergy!
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--6szYBI_r--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j4u87qnd6dljpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--39IkON-G--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j4u87qnd6dljpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--_ZuGJns0--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j4u87qnd6dljpg.jpg, (large)])
You asked, we answered! If you're getting a sugar crash from trashy-reading but still want to spend the remaining summer months with a completely absorbing book, you're in luck: We've assembled 10 of our all-time favorite respectable page-turners!
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--tTilUHqI--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/1867iwuzkjkmvjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--ZLWiyYq1--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/1867iwuzkjkmvjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--iSDwDwop--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/1867iwuzkjkmvjpg.jpg, (large)])
Sadie's trashy reads series and revisiting of the rapey romance novel inspired me to reread a rape-laden book that scandalized me in my adolescence. This one was called The Conqueror, and it had Fabio on the cover.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--r5QBTd4w--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j53f578gqz2jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--jN3v7rSt--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j53f578gqz2jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--cnHIRm4t--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j53f578gqz2jpg.jpg, (large)])
Allison Janney — aka CJ from West Wing — joins Emma Stone, Viola Davis and Bryce Dallas Howard in the film adaptation of The Help, a story about black maids raising white children in 1960s Mississippi.
How, you asked, could we neglect solid-gold trashiness like Harold Robbins! And Jilly Cooper! And Anne Rice! Don't worry, kids, we're not done: herewith, more titles, suggested by you, that make an argument for the anonymous benefits of a kindle...
