If you’re a hip hop fan and enjoy graphic songs about drug use, violence and, well, everything that depics the “thug life”, this is probably the last thing you’d expect from this hip hop artist. The popular rap artist, 50 Cent is said to have turned a new leaf these days. No, he will not be rapping about the joys of life and ice cream, rather writing a children’s book that discourages bullying. Although the rapper has been through a lot, dealing crack at the age of 12, his new novel Playground, will be semi-autobiographical.
According to Penguin Young Readers’ Group, the story is about a 13-year-old bully who learns to stop by witnessing the harm he has caused.
Curtis Jackson, 50 Cent’s real name, had this to say about the upcoming novel:
“I had a strong desire to write because I wanted to explore how a kid becomes a bully. I drew on events from my own childhood and adolescence, but was excited to see the story take on its own life.”
So you’re a sports fanatic but one night you miss a game, you have no choice but to wait out the score. What do you do? The answer is easy; you hook yourself up with ESPN. This is the sports obsessed network that will give any sport fanatic exactly what they need. But how did ESPN start? Well, instead of watching ESPN, why not try something different and listen to the audio book ESPN: Those Guys Have All The Fun by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales. Enter the world of ESPN and find out how a “PR man, an oil company slickster, and a lot of sports nuts created ESPN.”
Of course in the 1980s, when ESPN first came to be, the concept of a 24-hour sports channel seemed unrealistic and even a bit radical. But the sports-obsessed mind of Bill Rasmussen and his son turned their dream into a reality, when they decided to go the entrepreneurial route to ensure a cable channel was devoted entirely to sports.
Throughout the audio book, you’ll find plenty of juicy gossip about your favorite SportsCenter anchors and even have a little fun going behind-the-scenes with all sorts of characters you’ve probably grown up to love.
This time around, the story is about the Heffley family being snowed in for the holidays and the claustrophobia that it creates. The idea behind the novel as Jeff Kinney the author points out, “is that as you’re growing up you’re forging your identity, and that identity becomes hard to escape later on”. You never really forget your roots, or where you’ve come from when you are surrounded by the people in your family, or the people you grew up with, how it’s difficult to forge a new identity. Something many of us can relate too. Although quirky at times, this series denotes life in its every day form, all in a single family, the Heffley’s.
Currently, Jeff Kinney is deciding on whether or not to release Wimpy kid e-books. But what does that matter, we love the audio books anyways!
Harry Potter Fans: Something you don’t have yet, but soon will!
Calling out to all Harry Potter fans! With the abundance of attention Harry Potter has been getting over the years, there has been something fans haven’t been able to get their hands on: Harry Potter novels available in digital form.
You may have already heard that come October 2011 the Harry Potter series will be sold exclusively through Pottermore.com. J.K. Rowling announced that the story will remain the same with a few crucial additions. Fans will now have something else to look forward too, since there will be new books or movies.
Specifically for this Pottermore.com project, J.K. Rowling has written new material about the characters, places and objects in the Harry Potter stories. So fans, don’t fret, there is still some new material waiting to be read!
How is an audio book made? Find out with Scott Brick.
We may all enjoy snuggling up to a good audio book, but do you ever stop and wonder how they get made? How these narrators never stop for a sip of water, how they can constantly transition from a female voice, to a male voice? I know I do. Not all the time, but when I hear a great narrator I wonder what makes them so great. Well, I came across a wonderful You Tube channel that outlines, with a new video everyday, how an audio book is made. Scott Brick, the narrator of many great science fiction novels, takes you through how an audio book is made with various narrators giving their two cents in honour of June is Audiobook Month!
Check out my favorite clip below:
Or, if you have a few minutes visit Mr. Scott Brick’s Your Tube channel by clicking here and catch all the videos thus far.
If you’ve watched the clips, let me know which one was your favorite!
I came across an unusual article the other day regarding the author of the hit novel I Am Number Four. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the author, the article stated he was more of an alien author. His name is Pittacus Lore and it is nearly impossible to get an interview out of him. But Entertainment Weekly did it…over the phone. But it wasn’t his voice they were hearing, he wanted to protect his identity (the Mogadarians intend on killing him and invading Earth you see) by using a voice changer.
However, a big fan of the novel I Am Number Four, this recent interview shed some light on this “out there” character, like how the author is an extraterrestrial Elder from Lorien. Pittacus wants to inform Earth that we, the inhabitants, are in danger, that there is a war going on amongst us.
The interview goes on about the war, but also how the author is writing books a year or two behind the actual events. The sequel, The Power of Six, will cover events that happened last year. Number Four is in that novel too.
To read more about the war check out the article here.
They say a good book always stays with us, it changes us, and sometimes we even feel so inclined that we pass it on. The novel, Thirteen Reasons Why is a teen-suicide novel that was released in Oct of 2007. It may have been years ago, but it is still making an impact today on its readers. The novel is even said to be saving lives during an interview with the author, Jay Asher.
The novel that has just been released on paperback yesterday, has grown into a major phenomenon over the years. Although a great read, it is a heavy one about a teen suicide. The story is about a school junior, Clay Jensen, who comes home from school one day and finds a box containing seven cassettes. When he listens to the first tape, he hears the voice of a classmate, Hannah Baker, the girl who has just killed herself. “I’m about to tell you…why my life ended,” she says calmly. “And if you’re listening to these tapes, you’re one of the reasons why.” Hannah then tells the whole sad story and takes Clay on an emotional journey.
From the beginning of the novel, the story is intense, with readers connecting to the books messages of tolerance and compassion. However, before hitting the hearts of many readers today, the manuscript did in fact get rejected twelve times. But what does it matter now, having changed so many people’s lives.
Hollywood has also tried to get their hands on it; however Asher has turned down several offers already, stating that the producers in question didn’t seem to understand the novel. That being said, he did meet up with Selena Gomez to talk about a possible future for the novel on the big screen, stating they both had the same vision for the movie.
If you’ve heard this novel or have read it, what did you think about it? It does make me upset that there is now a Disney star involved….on a topic that is hardly Disney related. What are they thinking?!
June is quite the audio book month with so many new releases! They are perfect for your summer reading list of course. From a new Tom Clancy thriller to a family drama from David Baldacci to a new Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants book from Ann Brashares, you’re bound to find something you’ll love. This week (just in time for Father’s Day) the new adult book that’s been a huge hit is also out called Go the F- to Sleep – perfect for those frustrated parents.
So if you find yourself booking a road trip this summer or just sitting back and relaxing on a beach, make sure to check out this week’s new releases:
Against All Enemies by Tom Clancy and Peter Telep
Before I Go to Sleep: A Novel by S.J. Watson
One Summer by David Baldacci
Sisterhood Everlasting: A Novel (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) by Ann Brashares
Passion: A Fallen Novel by Lauren Kate
Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard
Go the F**K to Sleep by Adam Mansbach and Ricardo Cortes (Illustrator)
Have you checked out the winners for the Moby Awards?
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Moby Awards, they are strictly awards that recognize the best and worst book trailers. From the sublime to the ridiculous, judges see it all. Categories include best trailers as an art object and worst author performances.
Here are a few of my favorite clips. Let me know what you think. Do you love them or hate them?
Lifetime Achievement Award: Acceptance Speech by Ron Charles
Grand Jury/ We’re Giving You This Award Because Otherwise You’d Win Too Many Other Awards: Super Sad True Love Story” by Gary Shteyngart
It may be startling to some, but fans of James Patterson know exactly why his books are a huge hit and why he is regarded as an eBook mega-seller.
The Hachette Book Group announced on June 1st that e-sales for the prolific author of the huge hit series Maximum Ride had topped 3 million, with 2 million coming just in the last 11 months.
Although this may have a lot to do with how many books he releases a year, usually several, fans just can’t seem to get enough.
How about you? Is there a series you just can’t seem to get enough of by Patterson?
