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Have you heard Tina Fey’s “Bossypants” audio book?

Its book review day!

There has been so much coverage of Tina Fey’s new book, Bossypants, I thought I’d help spread the news.

At last, Tina Fey’s story comes to life through her new book that takes you through her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live. A great success story for any aspiring woman comedians, this is novel that truly allows the reader to get into Tina Fey’s head. Scary thought? Witty and funny, this memoir is full of clever blurbs from a smart, unyielding woman who forced her way to the top.

Don’t miss out on this great memoir where Tina Fey reveals all. Click here.

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Pulitzer Prize Winners Announced

For those of you who haven’t heard yet, the Pulitzer Prize winners were announced for 2011. Among the winners were Jennifer Egan’s novel A Visit from the Goon Squad and Ron Chernow’s novel Washington: A Life.

Jennifer Egan’s novel A Visit from the Goon Squad won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. It’s the story of an indie record label owner who has a wide network of loosely connected characters. The Pulitzer board called the book “an inventive investigation of growing up and growing old in the digital age, displaying a big hearted curiosity about cultural change at warp speed.”

Ron Chernow’s novel Washington: A Life, won for the Biography and autobiography category known to be the landmark biography of George Washington.

Although I have yet to listen to both of these audio books, I am looking forward to starting them soon. I hope you do as well!

Below is the full list of winners and finalists for the “Letters, Drama, and Music” categories:

FICTION
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
FINALISTS:
The Privileges by Jonathan Dee
The Surrendered by Chang-rae Lee

DRAMA
Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris
FINALISTS:
Detroit by Lisa D’Amour
A Free Man of Color by John Guare

HISTORY
The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery by Eric Foner
FINALISTS:
Confederate Reckoning: Power and Politics in the Civil War South by Stephanie McCurry
Eden on the Charles: The Making of Boston by Michael Rawson

BIOGRAPHY OR AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow
FINALISTS:
The Publisher: Henry Luce and His American Century by Alan Brinkley
Mrs. Adams in Winter: A Journey in the Last Days of Napoleon by Michael O’Brien

POETRY
The Best of It: New and Selected Poems by Kay Ryan
FINALISTS:
The Common Man by Maurice Manning
Break the Glass by Jean Valentine

GENERAL NONFICTION
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee
FINALISTS:
The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brain by Nicholas Carr
Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History by S.C. Gwynne

MUSIC
Madame White Snake by Zhou Long
FINALISTS:
Arches by Fred Lerdahl
Comala by Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon

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Have you heard the “Three Cups of Tea” audio book?

The inspirational New York Times bestseller, Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, has been making headlines this week for supposedly being rampant with inaccuracies. Greg Mortenson, one of the co-writers is a mountaineering humanitarian who co-founded and directs the Central Asia Institute, a non-profit company that’s supposedly built 170 schools in rural Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, CBS is claiming that many of the schools the Institute built were either built by someone else, or don’t even exist.

Last night, 60 minutes cited author Jon Krakauer who wrote Into the Wild, saying he too doubted Mortenson’s experiences in his book. In the novel, Mortenson attempted to climb K2, and instead stumbled upon a Pakistani village, where he was so inspired from the communities’ hospitality, he decide to build a school there.

There were many accounts where Steve Kroft’s 60 Minutes contradicted essential parts of this Mortenson’s story, calling into question the way funds were even allocated by the charity.

Although 60 Minutes did pose many questions, Greg Mortenson did return with written response answers today. One in particular had to do with whether or not he failed to climb K2. According to the two porters who accompanied him on the journey down from K2, told 60 Minutes he did not. Evidence does suggest that he did not step foot in Korphe until about a year later. However, according to Greg Mortenson he states:

“Yes, I first visited Korphe village, Braldu valley, Baltistan, Pakistan, after failing to summit K2 in 1993, and met Haji Ali, a long time dear mentor and friend.”

He also goes on to explain that “The time about our final days on K2 and ongoing journey to Korphe village and Skardu is a compressed version of events that took place in the fall of 1993. As the co-author of the book, along with David Oliver Relin, I am responsible for the content in the book. There were many people involved in the story and also those who produced the manuscript. What was done was to simplify the sequence of events for the purposes of telling what was, at times, a complicated story.”

Which makes me wonder, if simplifying a story actually creates inaccuracies? Although I have never listened or read the novel, I’ve heard plenty of people state that it is written as though Greg is very smug and sometimes makes you think certain events are impossible. However, aren’t memoirs full of stories that seem unbelievable, I’ve always thought that’s what makes them inspirational?

What are your thoughts on this novel?

Haven’t read it? Check it out here and find out what everyone’s talking about.

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The Great Gatsby Coming to a Theater Near You in 3D

Often referred to as “The Great American Novel”, the novel that has been adored for years will finally be hitting the big screen in 3D. Yes, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald will be coming to a theater near you.

Said to be directed by Baz Luhrmann, the man behind the elaborate Moulin Rouge, will be filming this epic tale in 3D. But who shall join the cast you ask? Currently Ben Affleck has been reported to play Tom Buchanan, the rich and shallow man who is the philandering husband of Daisy, but it has not been confirmed. Also on board the film are Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby and Tobey Maguire as the narrator/protagonist Nick Carraway and finally Daisy herself, played by Carey Mulligan.

The film seems to be shaping up pretty well thus far. But there have been further reports that Baz Luhrmann has ditched the iconic New York Setting of the novel as a shooting location and instead will be bringing the production to Fox Studios in Sydney. For those of you who aren’t aware, this is where Moulin Rouge was also shot.

Apparently this was a big win for Australia as the New South Wales premier Kristina Kenneally states, “This comes at a good time for the film industry. Australia was thought to be losing international filmmaking due to the strong Aussie dollar – put simply, this is a big win.”

Although the story has been adapted many times before, I can’t wait to see how Baz Luhrmann envisions it with his elaborate style of filmmaking.

What do you think of Baz Luhrmann retelling the story in 3D? Are you looking forward to this adaptation of this “cautionary tale about the American Dream?”

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My Father’s Daughter – Released today!

Do you remember your favorite moments in the kitchen cooking with mom or dad, licking the spoons when baking cupcakes, or just helping them out in general? Gwyneth Paltrow does. So much so, her new cookbook released today, My Father’s Daughter: Delicious, Easy Recipes Celebrating Family & Togetherness, takes you through her experience in the kitchen with fun and practical recipes. You won’t get caught up on the topic of healthy eating either; rather Paltrow manages to ensure she is not preachy. The book beholds useful and interesting recipes that could be made every day, amongst them are a few soups, a pasta with homemade sauce, and fewer than 3 burger recipes perfect for grilling in the summer. She also ensures that there are vegetarian options as well, so there is a sumptuous collection of recipes for any palette.

Yet, the book goes beyond your typical cookbook. This novel takes you through the Paltrow family, with side notes paying homage to her father, her family’s favorite burgers and her stories of making broccoli negotiations with her kids. The tone throughout is not what you would typically expect from a dramatic actor, rather it’s quite the opposite from being sappy or dreary. She states that “a meal made for your family is an expression of love, a source of pleasure.” It is this culinary philosophy that makes this cook book that more intriguing to learn from.

It was nice to see that in the first few opening pages Paltrow quickly points out that she had a lot of professional help testing recipes and writing the book from the well-known food writer Julia Turshen. This is also great to see because it does lend itself to more credibility to the actual recipes at hand; however, it is still a cookbook by a home cook.

Complete with 150 delicious ideas for breakfast, sandwiches and burgers, soups, salads, main dishes, sides, and desserts, this impressively illustrated book also includes full-color photos throughout. One of my favorite recipes I’ve read so far is the Fried Zucchini & Spaghetti. Why not have a look for yourself and share it with the rest of the audio book community. I know this isn’t your typical book review, but I was truly excited to share the new release of this inspiring cookbook for any cook at home. It definitely serves more than great recipes but also inspiration to get you cooking.

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Do you know what the top ten most challenged books of 2010 are?

The American Library Association tallied up the number of challenges made at libraries across the country in 2010 and now has released the top ten most challenged books. They define a challenge as an effort “to remove or restrict materials from school curriculum and library bookshelves.”

Here is the full list of 2010’s most frequently challenged books:

1. And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
Reasons: homosexuality, religious viewpoint, and unsuited to age group

2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: offensive language, racism, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, and violence

3. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Reasons: insensitivity, offensive language, racism, and sexually explicit

4. Crank by Ellen Hopkins
Reasons: drugs, offensive language, and sexually explicit

5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Reasons: sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, and violence

6. Lush by Natasha Friend
Reasons: drugs, offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group

7. What My Mother Doesn’t Know by Sonya Sones
Reasons: sexism, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group

8. Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich
Reasons: drugs, inaccurate, offensive language, political viewpoint, and religious viewpoint

9. Revolutionary Voices edited by Amy Sonnie
Reasons: homosexuality and sexually explicit

10. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Reasons: religious viewpoint and violence

There were a total of 348 challenges in 2010.

Having read some of these books, it sent chills up my back knowing that these books are actual novels people are discouraged to read. How do you feel about the list? I find it hard to understand why these books would be removed from libraries in the first place, especially when a parent can prevent their children from reading them anyways.

A lot of these novels do deal with mature themes throughout, however, I strongly disagree that because of certain issues they are taken off bookshelves. I believe everyone equally has the right to access these books. However, by demanding they be banned from a library prevents someone who is mature enough to understand the content, from reading great novels – which is very unfortunate. Who has the right to decide what everyone else’s children should or shouldn’t be reading anyways? What do you think about the list?

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The wait will soon be over for all you Twilight fans.

The countdown will soon be over for all Twilight fans. The Twilight Saga Official Illustrated Guide by Stephenie Meyer comes out tomorrow. It has been confirmed that it will be available not only in hardcover but as well as an ebook.

The must-have hardcover edition – the only official guide- will feature maps, character profiles & histories, genealogical charts, outtakes, and illustrations from various artists including some sweet drawings from the official Twilight graphic novel and even Bella’s wedding dress just to name a few. The guide will also include conversations from Stephenie Meyer herself, so you can probably read some new quotes from the author. So if you think you already know everything there is to know about Twilight, this book will allow you to further explore the unforgettable world that Stephenie has created in Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, and The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner.

Don’t miss this essential book for any Twilight Saga fan. With nearly 100 gorgeous illustrations and photographs you need to add it to your book collection.

Soon the wait will be over. Just one more sleep.

Below is a sneak peak of Bella’s wedding dress:

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Every Wednesday read a book review!

For those of you who crave reading book reviews and always stay on top of the next audio book to check out, mark your calendars. Starting on April 13, 2011, Simply Audiobooks will be posting a book review every Wednesday.

Now you can start setting expectations and know when you truly want to tune in. So keep Wednesday’s blog on your radars. Be the first to know what’s coming, what’s worth listening too and what isn’t.

We’ll keep you updated on the hottest releases. You won’t want to miss this!

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Billy Joel Cancels His Memoir

For those of you who have been waiting to read or listen to The Book of Joel, the wait is over. Billy Joel, known as the piano man, has decided to stay silent and cancel his planned memoir that was scheduled for publication in June.

It was this past Thursday when HarperCollins confirmed the deal had been cancelled because Billy Joel changed his mind. In his statement to The Associated Press he said “It took working on writing a book to make me realize that I’m not all that interested in talking about the past, and that the best expression of my life and its ups and downs has been and remains my music.”

That being said, the book which was well into the editing process, will no longer be hitting the bookshelves. Instead Billy Joel is expected to return the $3 million he was paid for the memoir.

I do appreciate the fact that he walked away from $3 million dollars to keep his life private but I was looking forward to an audio book version of this memoir.

However, he isn’t the only musician to cancel a book. Mick Jagger, back in the 1980s also did the same, stating he couldn’t remember anything of interest.

Nonetheless, there are still other memoirs you might be interested in by rock stars that have had major success including Bob Dylan and most recently, Keith Richards.

So even though you won’t be seeing Billy Joel’s memoir, are you disappointed about the cancellation? Do you respect his decision about keeping his life private even though he had spent most of his life in the public eye?

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If you’re a fan of the Millennium Trilogy by Larsson, guess what?!

For those who are unfamiliar with Stieg Larsson’s literary appeal, check out the video above.

For those of you who are huge fans, you might have something else to look forward too.

There have been some new details regarding a fourth book in the popular Millennium Trilogy. Apparently, Kurdo Bakasi, a friend of the late Stieg Larsson told a Swedish newspaper that the estranged sister of Lisbeth Slander, will play a large role in the fourth installment. Currently Camilla has only been in the second book briefly, The Girl Who Played with Fire. It’s also been noted that Larsson had planned on having 5 parts to the series.

And now, others have come out stating certain ideas that Larsson had for the fourth novel, like the setting, whereby Lisbeth Salander would be “jetting off to Banks Island, a remote area of northern Canada”.

But even with these small tidbits, fans and publishers will most likely have to wait awhile before seeing the fourth Millennium novel. Larsson’s partner Eva Gabroelsson is said to have 200 pages of the manuscript and even the working title of it, “God’s Revenge” on a computer she owns. However, with a bitter dispute over Larsson’s estate with his family members, she has stated the pages will never be published as long as they remain in her possession.

So as much as we could all be looking forward to a new novel, we might just have to deal with looking forward to the Hollywood version of the first installment of the series, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, opening December 21st this year.

To check out the audio books click here.