Publishers Weekly | April 27, 2020

“Maizes’s quirky debut novel (after the collection We Love Anderson Cooper) traces the belated coming of age of La La, a 20-something veterinary student whose empathy toward animals doesn’t quite extend to her human counterparts. La La has been able to feel intensely what the animals around her experience ever since a mysterious black dog rescued her from drowning when she was eight. La La has had good reason to distrust people: her mother took off shortly after the near-drowning, and then her locksmith father, Zev, took her out of school and began training her to assist him in home burglaries, which she did until she was a teenager. When Zev is arrested in the present, she returns to burglary to raise money to pay his lawyer, justifying the crimes to herself by choosing houses where she senses pets are in trouble—until Zev wiggles his way out of house arrest and La La, who has dropped out of veterinary school, notices that her life is falling apart and resolves to form connections with humans. Despite the novel’s farfetched premise, Maizes keeps the narrative anchored in reality, with believable details about the mechanics of a burglar’s life and a large cast of well-rounded characters. This is a beguiling twist on the familiar formula of breaking unhealthy bonds with the past.”

Follow the link above to read the full review on Publishers Weekly!

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Times | April 24, 2020

“The national emergency and consequent economic crisis triggered by COVID-19 has exposed one of America’s greatest needs: adequate and safe housing. After a period of decline, in the past three years homelessness has climbed — to 567,715 people as of 2019— and these numbers don’t even capture those who live in substandard or inadequate housing. But with unemployment insurance claims reaching 22 million in the month ending April 16, and even eviction moratoriums not fully protecting renters, the housing crisis in America is likely about to get far worse.”

Jill Watts, author of the forthcoming The Black Cabinet, has a fascinating op-ed published on Time.com. Follow the link above to read the full piece.

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LibraryReads | April 22, 2020

The Wife Stalker by Liv Constantine is a LibraryReads pick for May 2020! Follow the link above to see the full list.

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The New York Times | April 20, 2020

“These days, an uncommonly large number of people are cooking every meal, and while recipes are not in short supply, inspiration might be. Cookbooks are still one of the best ways to pull yourself out of meal-planning fatigue and find an idea — a pasta sauce, a flavor combination, a technique — that can change your cooking forever.

Book publishing, like so many other businesses, has been upended by the coronavirus pandemic. But now, when we truly need them, some wonderful new cookbooks are queued up and ready for order. Our staff made these selections with the limits of quarantine in mind, but also knowing that some people read cookbooks for the same reasons they would any other literature: learning, exploration, escape.”

Meals, Music, and Muses by Alexander Smalls was included in this fabulous round-up. Follow the link above to see the full list!

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April 14, 2020

The Black Cabinet: The Untold Story of African Americans and Politics during the Age of Roosevelt by Jill Watts will be published by Grove/Atlantic May 12, 2020. Click the link above to see the fabulous book trailer!

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Kirkus Reviews | April 13, 2020

“When helping dad means quitting school and committing felonies.

‘La La has crime in her blood as surely as the Flying Wallendas have acrobatics, and the Kennedys, politics. Maybe it’s pointless to resist it. Especially now that Zev needs her.’ The protagonist of Maizes’ first novel—after We Love Anderson Cooper (2019), a collection of short stories—is the daughter of an ill-starred family. Her mother, Elissa, who never wanted children and preferred animals to people, disappeared without a trace after a nearly fatal parenting error went large in the media. Her father, Zev, left on his own with 8-year-old La La, withdrew her from school and made her his partner in a combination locksmith/burglary operation. Like her mother, La La is passionate about animals, but with her, it goes a step farther. She is an animal empath who can actually read animals’ minds and feel their aches and pains. Both parents’ legacies play a positive role in early adulthood—La La’s a star in veterinary school, and she meets her fiance, Clem, when she helps him break into his locked chiropractic office. But when Zev leaves his phone at the scene of a bungled job, the darker side of the family history takes hold: ‘It’s Sunday, a good day to rob churchgoing families.’ Rationalizing her crimes by tending to the pets she finds locked inside the homes she breaks into, La La sacrifices almost everything in the attempt to raise legal fees for her father—and what’s left gets tossed into the flames of the torch she carries for her missing mother. While its quirky combination of fictional elements and adroit, deadpan writing give the novel a wryly comedic atmosphere, La La’s story is melancholy and moving.

An uncanny, appealing blend of suspense, irony, tragedy, and how-to for lock-picking, burgling, and ankle monitor removal.”

Follow the link above to read the review!

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Cookery by the Book | April 13, 2020

The #1 cookbook podcast, Cookery by the Book, interviewed Alexander Smalls about his new cookbook, Meals, Music, and Muses. Follow the link above to listen to the full podcast.

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Everett Herald | April 12, 2020

“Reading books, writing books, talking about books.

And walking the talk about books.

Seattle’s favorite librarian, Nancy Pearl, is known the world over for the shushing-librarian action figure bearing her likeness.

‘I’m one of those people, I think, who just has trouble sitting still,’ Pearl, 75, said in an interview following her annual ‘Nancy Pearl’s Picks’ book talk to a packed auditorium in Langley on Whidbey Island. ‘I need something to think about and keep myself mentally active.’

She’s no slouch in the physical department, either.

Last year, Pearl started combining her two greatest pleasures — reading and walking. Her love of books dates back to her childhood in Detroit, where she found words and refuge at the local library.

About seven years ago, Pearl took up walking. The loop route from her Seattle home gradually increased to about 5 miles.

Then, she added a good book between her ears and racked up even more miles.”

Follow the link above to read more about America’s librarian!

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Kirkus Reviews | April 12, 2020

“Two roommates become friends at a prestigious boarding school.

Juniper, who goes by Jun, leaves her public school after winning a scholarship to the elite Ellsmere Academy. After scaring away her roommate, Cassie, during their first meeting, Jun later redeems herself when she stands up to Emily, queen bee and bully, for calling Cassie an orphan. Jun’s confrontation with Emily is the beginning of their rivalry, each vying to be the best student for her own reasons. Jun’s sarcasm and wit serve her well when dealing with Emily, but as the school year goes on, the bullying gets more and more severe. Driven by her desire to become a doctor, Jun finds her life at Ellsmere is constantly at risk due to Emily’s scheming. All the while Jun and Cassie’s friendship blossoms as the two get to know each other. A fantastical element involving the Ellsmere family and the dark forest next to the academy is woven into the story but lacks development. Fans of Hicks’ visually appealing artwork in Rainbow Rowell’s Pumpkinheads (2019) will enjoy the familiar art style and bold lines. Characters are expressive and cleanly drawn, complementing the straightforward text and accessible storytelling. Jun is illustrated with beige skin, dark hair, and dark eyes while her roommate, Cassie, has pale skin, light-brown hair, and green eyes. Several pages of notes on the illustrations are appended.

Kindness and friendship prevail in this charming story.”

Follow the link above to see the full review! One Year at Ellsmere will be published July 14, 2020.

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BookPage | April 9, 2020

“It’s not often a contemporary novel is narrated by an inanimate object. In the 18th century, this convention was quite a bit more popular, referred to as ‘it-narratives’ or ‘object narratives.’ Francesca Momplaisir takes this classic form and combines it with contemporary issues in My Mother’s House, narrated by the titular dwelling.

[…]

In Momplaisir’s novel, cracks of light are always there to penetrate the dark.”

Follow the link above to read the full review!

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Why Food? | April 9, 2020

Episode 119 Alexander Smalls: From Opera Singer to Restaurateur

“Alexander Smalls is a James Beard Award winning chef, author, and raconteur, and the visionary co-owner of renowned restaurants Minton’s and The Cecil, which was named ‘Best New Restaurant in America’ by Esquire in 2014. His new book, Meals, Music and Muses: Recipes From My African American Kitchen was published in February 2020 from Flatiron Books. Smalls is also a world-renowned opera singer and the winner of both a Grammy Award and a Tony Award for the cast recording of Porgy and Bess, by George Gershwin, with the Houston Grand Opera.”

Follow the link above to hear the full interview!

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BuzzFeed | April 9, 2020

“This week, Goodreads is highlighting mysteries and thrillers — and they've rounded up the 40 most popular mysteries and thrillers of the past five years, based on reader ratings and reviews. Here are some of the best.”

The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter, The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine, and The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen were all included in this fabulous round-up! Follow the link above to read more!

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Chowhound | April 8, 2020

“Alexander Smalls, a James Beard Award-winning chef and famous opera singer, unites his two favorite things in life—food and music—in his cookbook Meals, Music, and Muses: My African American Kitchen. The Southern chef showcases just how influential both food and music have been in his life, infusing this book with recipes, anecdotes from a childhood spent in Low Country, and the genres of music that help influence his cooking.”

Follow the link above to read the full article and get the recipe!

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Seattle Book Review | April 3, 2020

“Been There, Married That by Gigi Levangie Grazer is written in a light, colloquial tone that I have not come across in books before. It was a refreshing new take to read, as if you’re having a conversation with a friend. I enjoyed the author putting Agnes’ additional true thoughts and feelings in parenthesis to let us know how Agnes really feels about the subject at hand. Been There, Married That is a light, fun read, perfect for your next vacation or to get away from reality for a bit.”

Follow the link above to read the entire review!

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Modern Farmer | April 3, 2020

“The COVID-19 pandemic has paused a number of life’s simple pleasures: being with friends and family, travelling to new places, dining out.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the need to eat. Staying home will likely encourage some to perfect their culinary skills while those less experienced might attempt to crack open a cookbook for the first time.

To provide you with some kitchen inspiration, Modern Farmer connected with a number of top chefs to check in on what they’ve been cooking since staying isolated.”

Follow the link to see what top chefs are cooking while practicing self-isolation. Alexander Smalls is making bourbon pecan pie!

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PBS Books | April 2, 2020

“2020 marks an important year for US democracy. This year, America will celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, officially granting women the right to vote, and PBS will launch multiplatform programming focused on ‘Trailblazers’ in order to commemorate the fight for women’s suffrage in the US and the stories of modern women, who continue to shatter the glass ceiling and transform modern history. We hope your children (ages 0-12) will enjoy learning about some trailblazing women, who have made a difference throughout the world, but especially in the US.”

Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Slade and Cozbi A. Cabrera was included on this fabulous list! Follow the link above to read the entire article.

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Taste | March 30, 2020

“Alexander Smalls might be the only person we know who has a Grammy, a Tony, and a James Beard Award, and his new book, Meals, Music, and Muses, tells the story of how music and food interweave throughout Southern culture.”

The newest cookbook from Alexander Smalls, Meals, Music, and Muses, was included in this lovely article. Click the link above to read more.

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Publishers Weekly | March 30, 2020

“Francis-Sharma (’Til the Well Runs Dry) delivers a satisfying and perceptive transnational family saga… In this masterly epic, the pleasure lies in piecing everything together.”

Book of the Little Axe by Lauren Francis-Sharma was reviewed in the most recent edition of Publishers Weekly! Follow the link above to read the entire review.

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