The Song of Achilles, Madeline Miller’s debut novel, is one of the most engaging and worthwhile reads of the year, especially for those of you interested in Troy and Homer (My review). Her book, which has been shortlisted for the Orange Prize, will bring you inside that most iconic of heroes. Since the Iliad is [...]
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Rough Cut from A&E’s trailer for LONGMIRE
For all of the Craig Johnson fans out (and soon to be Craig Johnson fans, from the looks of this trailer) we present the trailer of LONGMIRE which debuts on A&E June 3rd. Craig will be at The Poisoned Pen this Friday to sign the latest Walt Longmire, AS THE CROW FLIES. (Order an autographed [...]
Flavia De Luce series optioned by creator of AMERICAN BEAUTY
From THE GLOBE AND MAIL: American Beauty director Sam Mendes has bought the rights to Canadian author Alan Bradley’s New York Times-bestselling Flavia de Luce mysteries. Mendes, who also directed Revolutionary Road and is working on the next James Bond film, plans to develop the popular whodunnit series into TV movies. The 10-part Flavia de [...]
Review of The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Madeline Miller says the idea for her novel The Song of Achilles arose from wondering about the extremity of grief Achilles suffers when his closest friend Patroclus dies in the ancient Homeric poem the Iliad. What kind of relationship did they have that Achilles loved Patroclus that much? She answers that question with depth and [...]
DOVE SEASON BY JOHNNY SHAW A SHADOW REVIEW
Johnny Shaw, a native of California’s Imperial Valley, takes us into the heart of his home stomping ground with a first novel that is compelling, funny, and a page-turning crime drama. At 378 pages Shaw has the luxury of putting down every thing he knows about both sides of the border. At times tender, tough, and [...]
A Titanic Sophomore Effort
As anyone with access to the media couldn’t help but know, April 15th was the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. According to CBS Sunday Morning, over 100 books about the Titanic have been published—just in English—this year alone. Why is this disaster still so fresh in our minds? I don’t credit James [...]
Writers and Publicists Tell All About Readings and Book Tours (via theawl.com)
The Poisoned Pen is in no way a stranger to visiting authors. So when I see an article printed with the title “Nine Writers And Publicists Tell All About Readings And Book Tours” it definitely piques my interest. It’s curious and even a little frightening to see what the other half (authors/publicists) think about the [...]
Meet Brad Parks – Thursday, April 5 7:00PM
THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, the third in Brad Parks’ Carter Ross series (following the Shamus and Nero Award-winning FACES OF THE GONE and EYES OF THE INNOCENT) begins with the hit-and-run death of Nancy Marino, who delivers newspapers for the Eagle-Examiner where Ross works. After reading her obituary, Ross decides to make her the focus [...]
IDENTITY: LOST BY PASCAL MARCO A STUNNING DEBUT A SHADOW REVURB
Pascal Marco, an obvious fan of the national pastime, has stepped up to the plate and hit his book out of the park. In this, his first novel, he has taken on the task of telling a complicated story covering two locales (Chicago 35 years ago and Phoenix today) and bringing them both to life. [...]
Atkins, for hire, helps keep detective ‘Spenser’ on the case – Boston.com
(from The Boston Globe) March 21, 2012|By Bella English Joan Parker and Ace Atkins Photo:Essdras M. Suarez It wasn’t just the detective sitting in his office at the corner of Berkeley and Boylston, munching on a doughnut and “drinking coffee with a little milk and sugar,’’ that got to Joan Parker. Sure, she loved the [...]