December Breadline Open

Greetings, Whos! The breadline is open now for December. Just click the Request a book button in the sidebar to send us your wish list. The best part is, it doesn't even matter if you've been naughty.

House of Leaves

The November drawing is finished, and Chris L. of somehow both Minnesota and Nova Scotia emerges victorious. A good book for autumn is House of Leaves, a tale about a creepy house that defies the laws of physics.

 
"It's something that caught my eye years ago," Chris said. "I was just getting into reading and the structure and plot really grabbed me. I've tried reading the book multiple times, but always got distracted by something or another. But it's always been there in the back of my mind, waiting to be read because I know I'm going to love it."

An Einsteinian Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has come and gone, but we know of at least one thing Kristin of Bellevue, Washington is thankful for...

There's still time to get in line before the November drawing, although not much. If you'd like to be entered, just click on the "Request a book" button in the sidebar and email us your choice. Good luck!

Being and Time and a Photo

Now equipped with a copy of Being and Time, Sam W. of Orinda, California is ready to reach self-actualization.

If you haven't won a book yet, click the orange link in the sidebar to request a book. The November drawing is happening soon!

Moonwalking With Einstein

Kristin of Bellevue, Washington was second in line this month, and chose Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer. In his first book, Foer recounts his journey to becoming U.S. Memory Champion, and advises on how to unlock the power of memory within ourselves.

Kristin said she's had her eye on the book for awhile. "I saw Moonwalking with Einstein on one of Amazon's best of 2012 lists early this year," she said, "and it's been on my mind ever since. I've heard a lot of great things about his research into the art of memory, and I'm always looking to learn about interesting things."

Being and Time

Sam W. of Orinda, California was first in line this month, requesting Being and Time by Martin Heidegger. Apparently, the philosopher gives his take on the age-old question, What is the meaning of existence? We'll ask Sam what the answer is later.

"I've been meaning to read Being and Time for years," Sam said. "Heidegger is one of the most importantly and notoriously difficult philosophers ever, and this is supposed to be his masterwork.

"I love philosophy, but Heidegger seemed so daunting that I never could bring myself to buy a copy. Now that I've got a copy on the way, I'll finally be motivated enough to dive in (or so I hope!)"

November Breadline Open

The breadline is now officially open for November, so let us know what you'd like to read! Just click the request button over on the sidebar and we'll get back to you.

As always, the first two participants in line are automatic winners, and everyone else has a shot at the November drawing. Good luck!

Keturah and Lord Death

Happy Halloween and congratulations to our October drawing winner, Tiffany D. of Belton, Missouri. Tiffany selected Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt.

"What's better than the a love story about a girl and Death?" Tiffany said. "If you're going to fall for a god, he's definitely one of the more brooding and dangerous gods out there. As long as you ignore the creepy metaphor behind the whole thing, it's a lot of fun!"

In Line with Martin Kee

First time author Martin Kee joins us to talk about his novel, A Latent Dark, and his upcoming 2013 book, Bloom.

Kee is one of eight horror and dark fantasy authors featured in Story Bundle's Halloween Horror Bundle, which is a pay-what-you-want ebook package. Check it out!

Breadline Books: Can you talk about the process of how A Latent Dark came into existence, from concept to the final edits?

Martin Kee: Conceptually, I was inspired by the idea of how fear of death shapes religion. I began to wonder what it would be like for someone who already knew what came after. What if they already saw the truth? What if they knew that it wasn't anything like what they tell you in church? What if it was a dark, alien place with predators?

I started with a very, very loose outline, nothing more than a page really. I'm somewhere between a pantzer and a plotter, in that I like a very small amount of loose structure when I write. I call these tentpole ideas, main plot points that must be included to hold the story up. The rest is discovery.

I wrote the first words of the rough draft in February 2010 with very little idea where it would take me. It started with Skyla wandering the streets after the awful events in her house had just occurred. Most of the chapters from there on started as backstory and had to be removed. It was a huge learning process for about two years.

Which author would you be most flattered to be compared to?

Oh gosh. If I were to go out on a limb here, I'd say Stephen King? He is certainly one of my first influences and the author who originally inspired me to start writing fiction in the first place. His book ON WRITING was immensely helpful when I started on my novel.

I have a long way to go before that comparison works, in my opinion.

Your next book is called Bloom. Can you give us a little hint of what to expect?

Bloom is equal parts bio-horror and dark fairy tale. There are two main characters, each with their own unique world and story, yet the two eventually merge towards the end. It's unlike any book I have written or read, and I hope you'll forgive me if it's a little hard to explain. Think Darwin's Radio or The Andromeda Strain meets Grimm's Fairy Tales. It is very gory, very violent, and very adult.

Tennyson Middlebrook is a boy growing up in the California Central Valley as a new disease emerges. Bloom is a highly contagious fungal affliction that effects memory, physical appearance, and personality. It seems to have infected his best friend and love interest Allison--though she has other health issues as well. As bloom spreads throughout the world, causing horrific deaths, Tennyson attempts to regain contact with Allison, perhaps even rescue her. This involves returning to his home town despite the obvious health risks.

Lil'it is not human. She is small, fragile, and beautiful. She lives in a cage, her saliva used to create potions for a hag. It isn't until she is sold to a local prince as a plaything that she realizes just how dangerous and terrifying her world really is. Her journey, like Tennyson's is one of survival and the need to find human connection amid atrocity and cruelty.

It should be out early in 2013.

Gatsby in Michigan

Masood of East Lansing, Michigan added The Great Gatsby to an already tasteful collection this week. There should be plenty of time for Masood to reread the classic novel before the movie comes out, especially now that the film has been pushed to next summer.

More Moore

Here's Dirk F. of Cincinnati with his new Chris Moore book. The novel is actually so intense it can't be read while wearing a shirt. Good luck, Dirk!

The Great Gatsby

And yet another classic novel joins the bookshelf this month. Masood from Michigan was second in line this month, and selected The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

"Recently, I've been rereading books that were part of my school's curriculum," said Masood. "A few weeks ago, I read Catcher in the Rye and it stunned me as to how much I didn't appreciate it during high school. I'm currently reading The Giver. I want to read The Great Gatsby again because it was one of my favorites in high school.

"At the time, however, I was more focused on passing the quizzes we had after different chapters, and what my thesis for my paper would be. I want to read it this time for the writing and the story. I want to read it for the amazing book that it is."

Bloodsucking Fiends

Bloodsucking Fiends is probably the one vampire book most unlike anything by Stephenie Meyer. Dirk F. of Cincinnati was at the front of the line this month, and chose this instant cult classic by Christopher Moore.

Dirk said,

I am a fan of Moore--love Lamb, A Dirty Job, and Practical Demonkeeping. I have not read Bloodsucking Fiends, so I am really looking forward to it. Keeping with the October spirit, I think this would make a good pair with the other book on my list this month, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. He proposed All Hallow's Read recently and I plan to lend out these books to my sister and a close friend.

And now that we are on the subject of All Hallow's Read, Neil Gaiman is suggesting that everyone give a scary book this year for Halloween. We think it is a great idea. Check out the video and website for more information.

October Breadline Open

It's almost Halloween time again, the perfect season to grab a terrifying book and let it consume you long into the deep night hours. With that in mind, we'd love to see some requests this month for your favorite October reads.

The monthly drawing is back now as well, so anyone who gets in line this month has a chance of winning. Good luck!

Jack always manages to get to the front breadline

eGunslinger

Our friend Stephen from Australia shows off his fancy ebook. Also, look for the breadline to open again very soon!

Suttree Arrives

Our good friend Daniel C. can now add Suttree to his McCarthy collection. In fact, he loves it so much he cleared his mantel of all family photos to make room for it!

The Gunslinger

Second in line this month was Stephen G. from Adelaide, South Australia. It would be a long way to send a book from the U.S., but luckily Stephen has a Kindle and this whole process went zippity-zip and in a matter of seconds there was a book there under the screen, waiting to be read.

The Gunslinger is the first book in The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. Stephen from Australia said:

After watching HBO's adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, I went back and read the books. Which only left me craving more solid epic fantasy stories. Coupled with this desire was to beat a TV show book adaptation, so I landed on The Dark Tower series. Which apparently is being made into a television series soon. Can't wait to start reading. Thanks, Breadline!

Suttree

Cormac McCarthy is becoming a popular pick around here, as Daniel C. of San Diego selected McCarthy's Suttree after jumping quickly to the front of the breadline.

Daniel said, "I chose Suttree because I recently read McCarthy's The Road, and I really enjoyed it. I have been looking into his other works, and I have heard great things about Suttree.

"People have said McCarthy will be one of the authors of our generation who is read 100 years from now. I want to read the best books by the best authors of our generation, and I think Suttree by McCarthy will fall into that list. Thanks again Breadline Books, you are fantastic. I can't wait till I can read it." 

September! Books!

If you have followed this blog at all, you are probably long used to the stopping and going that defines this book-giving business. It is not uncommon for the blog here to suddenly fall into a state of hibernation, leaving readers confused and disappointed. This is not on an intentional thing, although unfortunately it is real. For now.

But don't be sad! Funding here at Breadline Books has reached promising levels, and board members have given the go ahead to start production again. We are hopeful that everyone here can pick up where we left off back in March like nothing happened. Let's pretend this long, awkward silence didn't exist and move on!

So, how about we make a deal? Let's open the breadline right now, and give away two books in September. As in the past, the first two people in line will get a book. And in case anyone forgot, getting in line is super easy. Just email us with your book request and you're in line. Still confused? Read this.

Since it is already so late in the month, we will not have the monthly drawing. However, once October starts we will be in full swing again, with the end-of-the-month drawing and everything else going strong. Here we go!

After After Dark

This is the second time someone has won and chosen After Dark by Haruki Murakami, so I'll let Duncan J. of New Mexico take it away:

Duncan: My cat and I love Haruki Murakami for what I imagine to be the same reasons. From the very first novel of his we read, 'Hard-Boiled Wonderland at the End of the World' to his latest endeavor, '1Q84', we have been consistently if not surprisingly mesmerized by his eerily profound storytelling. Even for a long time after reading many of his works my cat and I had never been able to conceive the notion of a 'favorite author'.

Slowly, over time, and after continuing to read and reread Murakami's work we somewhat shamefully confessed to ourselves that we had been bested. That Murakami was and is our favorite author. That is why on April 8th, 2011 I requested my very first Breadline Book. Lost within hundreds of other entries I was overlooked for another whom I pray was truly meant to be chosen. Since that kneecap-shattering realization that with Breadline Books I would almost assuredly never be chosen, I went about my days as usual. Reading. Watching. Listening. Loving.

Then, out of nowhere, just days ago I was in my gmail account. I was notified that I had a new email and it was Breadline Books! A message to the masses, the ones proud enough to proclaim their subscription to the Breadline Books newsletter and what was more - the line was back open for business! I thought this was it. It's morning, I'm probably the only uncool person subscribed to this thing not nursing a hangover via screwdrivers and Netflix. I responded. And I won! And this is now wholly too long but THIS is why I received my FREE, BRAND NEW, BOOK FROM BREADLINE BOOKS!

Also, here's a picture of the cat I share with the love of my life.

In Line with Dan Chaon

That's right, we have an interview here with a big time writer. Dan Chaon is the bestselling author of novels Await Your Reply and You Remind Me of Me, as well as three short story collections. His latest book of stories is called Stay Awake, and was released in February. And oh yeah, he plays Skyrim.

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Breadline Books: A popular question seems to be When did you first decide you wanted to be a writer? Have you ever not wanted to write for a living?


Dan Chaon: I wanted to tell stories ever since I was a little kid. I really liked pretend games that I would make up. Being a writer is just one of the quasi-legitimate ways that allows you to do that as an adult. Of course, there are times when writing is frustrating and boring and you want to beat your skull open with a brick; but generally I've been happy that I got a chance to do it for a living.  

BB: When it comes to writing, what do you wish you were better at? How do you work to improve that skill?

DC: I think that writing scene and action is the hardest for me. Obviously the best way to improve is through practice, but also through reading. I'm always looking for people who do scene really well. That's one of the reasons I'm enjoying Josh Bazell's book Wild Thing.

BB: Everyone procrastinates. How have you been wasting your time recently?

DC: Playing Skyrim on my PC.

BB: Do you write in areas other than fiction, like essays or poetry?

DC: I write poetry sometimes, but don't really publish it; I've also been working on screenplays, and I'm interested in comics as a medium. I write essays when I'm asked to for various things, but it's not really my thing. I'm especially not interested in memoir.  

BB: What authors or books do you enjoy that are most unlike your own work?

DC: I really like children's fantasy and adventure books. Some of my recent favorites are the Abhorsen books by Garth Nix and the Bartimaeus books by Jonathan Stroud.  

BB: As a teacher of creative writing, what's the most important message you want to get across to your students?

DC: That learning is a spiral rather than a ladder. You're always circling around the same stuff, again and again. You don't ever "master" the craft.  

BB: You're working on a screenplay for Await Your Reply. Will we see it in theaters eventually?

DC: Ha ha. I hope so! I have been working really hard on it! But a lot of movie making is about money, and finding money, so I can't say for sure.  

BB: Aspiring writers look up to accomplished authors. Who do accomplished authors admire?

DC: There's always someone more accomplished than you, in one way or another. I admire people whose stories and characters take me somewhere I've never been before. That's the thing I want more than anything else--that feeling of being transported. If someone can do that for me, they are my hero.

BB: If you won a free book, what would you choose?

DC: I would probably choose Denis Johnson's book Jesus' Son, because the students are always stealing it from me and then I have to buy extra copies.

Blood Red Road

Congrats to Lacey K. of Charlotte, MI for winning the first book of March. She chose Blood Red Road by Moira Young, and in case you didn't notice, there's a picture of it right here.

"Blood Red Road sounds like it would be a great survival story that includes a quest," Lacey commented. "All books should include an epic quest, and for that matter all lives. What is my quest? I don't think I've figured that out yet, but while I wait I think I'll read a few more books for some pointers."

March Breadline Open

The March breadline is now open, so let the madness begin!

WKU's "Big Red". Best mascot ever?

As always, send requests to breadlinebooks at gmail.com. Remember, if you don't win one of the first two books, there will be a drawing at the end of the month for the third. Good luck!