New Leaf Nominations for October • The Times They Are a'Changin': Revolution

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Victoria

not sure I follow. Why’s that a strike against a book? Sometimes a chart / graph is the perfect way to illustrate what the author wants to convey.

I'm pointing it out in case it matters to anyone.

Personally, I would like to know if a book is heavily illustrated.

[astrangerhere]

I'll nominate the esteemed Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower.

From goodreads:

In 2025, with the world descending into madness and anarchy, one woman begins a fateful journey toward a better future.

Lauren Olamina and her family live in one of the only safe neighborhoods remaining on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Behind the walls of their defended enclave, Lauren’s father, a preacher, and a handful of other citizens try to salvage what remains of a culture that has been destroyed by drugs, disease, war, and chronic water shortages. While her father tries to lead people on the righteous path, Lauren struggles with hyperempathy, a condition that makes her extraordinarily sensitive to the pain of others.

When fire destroys their compound, Lauren’s family is killed and she is forced out into a world that is fraught with danger. With a handful of other refugees, Lauren must make her way north to safety, along the way conceiving a revolutionary idea that may mean salvation for all mankind.

This is a revolution of ideas, less an actual uprising. I also thought it was an excellent opportunity to introduce a BIPOC author as we have not yet had one this year in the New Leaf Book Club.

[CRussel]

I'll second Parable of the Sower. Not one I've read, and it's been a while since I read anything from Octavia Butler. Seems like a good opportunity.

ETA: ARRRGGGHHH -- a 13 week wait at one of my libraries, and the other one doesn't even have it! And the book is $11 at Amazon. Ah, well, at least the audio book is available. And maybe I'll get lucky and the second library will buy it? And maybe we should be watching the skies for porcine aviators.

ETA2: Ah, should have looked at AmazonUK. It's only £4.99 there, so $6.65 USD, roughly. That's more in my price range. Bought.

[Catlady]

I nominate The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (2017, 447 pp.).

8 starred reviews ∙ Goodreads Choice Awards Best of the Best ∙ William C. Morris Award Winner ∙ National Book Award Longlist ∙ Printz Honor Book ∙ Coretta Scott King Honor Book ∙ #1 New York Times Bestseller!

"Absolutely riveting!" —Jason Reynolds

"Stunning." —John Green

"This story is necessary. This story is important." —Kirkus (starred review)

"Heartbreakingly topical." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A marvel of verisimilitude." —Booklist (starred review)

"A powerful, in-your-face novel." —Horn Book (starred review)

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

Available as both ebook and audiobook. It can be borrowed through Overdrive, Hoopla, Scribd, and Axis360.

Amazon U.S., $11.99

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I'm pointing it out in case it matters to anyone.

Personally, I would like to know if a book is heavily illustrated.

There's a copy of the book over at Internet Archive. "Heavily illustrated" is an understatement. There are charts and graphs on almost every page.

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

I'll nominate the esteemed Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower.

I see that there's a second book, Parable of the Talents--do you know if the first book is self-contained?

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I see that there's a second book, Parable of the Talents--do you know if the first book is self-contained?

From what I understand it is fine as a standalone. It was supposed to be a trilogy, but Butler passed away before she could complete it.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Catlady

There's a copy of the book over at Internet Archive. "Heavily illustrated" is an understatement. There are charts and graphs on almost every page.

That's why I said it has "way way too many charts/graphs". To me, it feels like a report given by a middle manager at a business meeting.

[Victoria]

Thanks for the explanations re: charts and graphs. I guess I haven’t run into issues on an ereader yet, but the caution makes good sense.

[CRussel]

Apologies to all. I missed that gmw had actually nominated Factfulness, and didn't include it. Now corrected.

[JSWolf]

I'll second The Hate U Give.

[fantasyfan]

I’ll second The Secret Life of Bletchley Park

[JSWolf]

I've managed to find the movie for The Hate U Give on my TV provider. I plan on watching it even if the book doesn't win.

[JSWolf]

I'll nominate The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.

The Chicago World's Fair of 1893 and its amazing 'White City' was one of the wonders of the world. This is the incredible story of its realization, and of the two men whose fates it linked: one was an architect, the other a serial killer.

The architect was Daniel H. Burnham, the driving force behind the White City, the massive, visionary landscape of white buildings set in a wonderland of canals and gardens. The killer was H. H. Holmes, a handsome doctor with striking blue eyes. He used the attraction of the great fair - and his own devilish charms - to lure scores of young women to their deaths. While Burnham overcame politics, infighting, personality clashes and Chicago's infamous weather to transform the swamps of Jackson Park into the greatest show on Earth, Holmes built his own edifice just west of the fairground. He called it the World's Fair Hotel. In reality it was a torture palace, a gas chamber, a crematorium.

These two disparate but driven men together with a remarkable supporting cast of colourful characters, including as Buffalo Bill, George Ferris, Thomas Edison and some of the 27 million others who converged on the dazzling spectacle of the White City, are brought to life in this mesmerizing, murderous tale of the legendary Fair that transformed America and set it on course for the twentieth century.

This is cheaper at Kobo and eBooks.com then Amazon in the UK.

Overdrive Amazon US Kobo UK Kobo US eBooks.com UK eBooks.com US Amazon UK

[CRussel]

An interesting looking book, Jon, and within my preferred genres. But too expensive here in North America. And a really long wait at both of my libraries. I'm saving my last ticket for the moment, but I hope it gets through. And I'll put it on hold at both of my libraries and hope it comes in soon enough.

[Victoria]

With my final ticket, I second Factfulness. Despite the graphs, it sounds right up my alley.