What I'm Reading This Week - September 26, 2010- The publicists are coming, the publicists are coming
Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky.
My pile of books
Are a mile high.
How I love them!
How I need them!
I'll have a long beard
By the time I read them.
~ Arnold Lobel
I almost have my pile under control. Almost. But it's teetering like wearing heels as high as the ones on the cover Lauren Weisberger's fourth best seller Last Night At Chateau Marmont. I loved Devil Wears Prada, so I wondered if the girl could deliver again. She does, and whoever said chick lit is dead is dead wrong. This dishy novel set in glammed up New York and Hollywood is about an ordinary girl who marries a man destined for fame and tabloid fodder. The author has a clever website Lauren Weisberger but why, why, why
pose with this kind of body language? The crossed arms and legs denote a defensive barrier. She's a beautiful and successful woman, well aware of her brand, so what is she hiding behind that unhappy smile? By contrast, look at this arresting portrait of author Elizabeth Brundage. Her fierce intelligence shines. Doesn't this look like a brilliant writer? Yeah, I'm crushing because I'm deep in love with her novel set in Hollywood, but this is no chick lit, but a thriller with a wickedly delicious premise every writer can relate to. A Stranger Like You is what happens when a writer almost grabs the brass ring and it's taken away from him.
Elizabeth Brundage explains about it here.
The book's cover design is a good example of why I photograph both sides.
The publicists are coming, the publicists are coming. Books don't sell themselves. The machinations of getting a book published and into your lap require more tricks than Houdini. At the top of the totem pole of magicians are the publicists. I get offers for free review copies all the time, but today is the first time I've taken them up an their offer. I don't get paid for this. There is nothing in it for me, so my opinion is unbiased as always. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much with Treat Me Not My Age by Dr. Mark Lachs a leading gerontologist, a Professor of Medicine as well as the Co-Chief of the Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology at Weill Medical College. My initial thought was do we really need another boring 'expert' book written by a doctor? I examined the hardcover book with the impressive blurbs and credentials and then I cracked it open. Surprise surprise, the dear doctor can write. Whew. Clearly laid out and written without wordy jargon, I dove into how to we can get the best possible medical care as we or our loved ones age. Ageism is alive and well in our culture and there's plenty we can do sidestep it. Knowledge is power, and as the baby boomer generation ages (my self included) the practical advice in this timely book is just what the doctor ordered. More at Treat Me Not My Age
This week's magazine selection. My prediction trend for more black and white covers is coming true with the elegant Harper's Bazaar and Elle. Rolling Stone has my favorite cover and article about my favorite TV show Mad Men.
Categories: What I'm Reading This Week
Tags: Dr. Mark Lachs the publicists are coming chick lit is not dead Lauren Weisberger Elizabeth Brundage Treat me not my age body language Mad Men
This is the best one yet. So, what if you get a book to review and you hate it?
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Thanks. I would be honest. It's what my readers expect.
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Oh I must read Elizabeth Brundage; have heard so much about her, of late.
Not such a fan of Lauren; La Lady Lisa Westerfield said a while back of Weisberger: She writes in a way that reminds me that yes, the rest of us can write bestsellers, too.
And Treat Me, not my Age !!! yeah
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Good La Lady quote. Hope springs eternal.
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Wow for such a SHARP lure of Laurens cover, impressions plummet when looking her pic. I have to totally agree - Lauren's body language in her picture has to be one of the weirdest I've ever seen. I tried to replicate it to figure out what she was thinking and feeling - and it just felt CONTRIVED, STAGED, UNNATURAL. The feeling it gave me was "I dont want to be here" - It'a shame that for such a talented figure, she allowed that pic of herself to be taken let alone used. Hope the books better!? We all make mistakes. Good luck Lauren.
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What often happens when ordinary folk suddenly get famous is the need to listen to their stylist, publicist etc. instead of their own common sense. The red carpet is littered with such casualties.
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I always spread the book jacket, just to see what greatness the artist have come up with (I usually get funny looks at bookstores) I should print out your posts and keep with me for next time!
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Good Idea!
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I'm looking forward to reading Last Night at Chateau Marmont - I love Weisberger's novels, reading them is one of my guilty pleasures. Will also add A Stranger Like You to my list.
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Guilty pleasures, yes!
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Thanks for your kind words Layla. I put my heart and soul into the book, and your comments mean the world to me.
Mark
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Mark, thank-you. I wish you much success with your book.
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I found Dr. Mark Lachs' book very helpful in dealing with my elderly father...family and even thinking about my own old age! As we say at Omhu, life is imperfect and beautiful!
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Normally, this would be in my span file but I actually like your products!
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