Hello, 2011

Now that the best books of 2010 lists are wrapped up, attention is turning to the most anticipated books of the new year.


The first up to offer their takes, are The Huffington Post (40 titles through March) and The Book Beast (17 titles through May). The selections tend to focus on the more literary; not necessarily the ones your customers will be clamoring for. However, there are a few possible exceptions.

January

My Father at 100: A Memoir, Ron Reagan, Viking/Penguin (January 18, 2011), 9780670022595; Nostalgia for Reagan continues (even President Obama took a book about Reagan with him on his Christmas vacation), so this memoir by his son may be a hit. Selected by The Book Beast.

O: A Presidential Novel, Anonymous, Simon & Schuster (January 25, 2011), 9781451625967; According to The Book Beast, this anonymous novel “about just what President Obama will do to win in 2012″ will cause a sensation similar to Primary Colors, about the Clinton administration. There is, however, very sketchy information on wholesalers’ and bookseller’ sites and none on S&S’s, making us wonder if it’s been delayed. Libraries we checked have not ordered it.

February

A Widow’s Story: A Memoir, Joyce Carol Oates, Ecco/HarperCollins, (February 15, 2011) 9780062015532; if you”ve read the excerpt in The New Yorker, you’ll agree with The Book Beast that “Oates’ memoir will join Antonia Fraser and Joan Didion on the shelf of essential works on loss.” It’s also picked by The Huffington Post.

Townie, Andre Dubus III, Norton, (February 28, 2011), 9780393064667; we’ve been hearing advance buzz on this. If you’re going to MidWinter, be sure to stop by Norton’s booth for an advance readers edition.

April

The Uncoupling, Meg Wolitzer, Riverhead, (April 5, 2011), 9781594487880; A staging of Lysistrata has unexpected effects on female teachers and students. The Book Beast predicts it “will provoke.”

from: EarlyWord