You should be reading: The Silence of Our Friends

The Silence of Our Friends was a joy to edit. From early conversations with the two authors and the artist about the story structure and the nature of autobiography to the moment the printed book landed in my hot little hands, I've had nothing but joy in this project. And I could not be prouder of it.

(Note the typically gorgeous cover, designed by :01 book designer Colleen AF Venable)

Based on co-author Mark Long's childhood in Texas, where his father was a television reporter focusing on the civil rights struggle, The Silence of Our Friends is a very personal story but it also tackles one of the defining moments of the United States of America. It does this with understated, nuanced writing by Long and his co-author Demonakos, and gorgeous, immersive artwork by artist Nate Powell.

 It seems like I'm not the only person who loves this book (though I'm probably the least objective!)--The Silence of Our Friends has spent three weeks so far on the New York Times bestseller list, and it's been getting very gratifying media attention.

For a taste of what this book is all about, check out Mark Long's essay for the Wall Street Journal "Speakeasy" blog, or the exerpt available at the book's website.

Robot Limericks

There once was a robot and a dog

They went together, like the gears of a cog.

The dog went away

He's gone to this day

While the robot must continue the daily slog. 

This is one of my favorite books that we have published.  Ever. 

JOANN SFAR documentary screening in NY

Hear ye! Here's the first chance to see the new documentary by Sam Ball, about the excellent and prolific and deliriously talented Joann Sfar!

Check out this preview first:

 

Joann Sfar Draws From Memory, director Sam Ball’s documentary portrait of the French comics artist and filmmaker (Dungeon, The Rabbi’s Cat, Little Vampire) will receive its world-premiere screening at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theater in New York City.

The film follows Sfar to his favorite neighborhood spots and muses about his artistic process and the influence of his Algerian and Eastern European heritage. Tickets are still available for the screening, which also includes the U.S. premiere of The Silent Historian and a Q&A with Ball and executive producer Valerie Joseph.

 

Flatiron Snacks: Le Pain Quotidien

(photo ganked from here)

We've got a Le Pain Quotidien down the block from us (actually looking at the 'coming soon' signs down the street, it looks like there may be another within reasonable walking distance in the very near future), and they are an excellent thing.

(When you order hot chocolate at Le Pain Quotidien, you get a bown of steamed milk and a pitcher of chocolate syrup.  To make hot chocolate, combine.  It is like fun interactive activity + breakfast!)

The best part of breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien is the bread.  You can order a basket, and they'll give you multiple kinds -- plus jams and chocolate spread and hazelnut spread to put on top of them.  This clearly rates among the top breakfasts to ever exist. 

World War II Limericks

There were three siblings who lived in France

In the days of World War II, they had no chance

To live without strife

So all of their life

Was lived out from a defensive stance. 

This book won a Sidney Taylor Honor for Jewish Literature.  So it is officially very good!

Flatiron Snacks: Laut Thai

(photo ganked from here)

Laut Thai is a (relatively) new Thai-Malaysian restaurant down on 18th Street.  The last time I went there it was the middle of a snowstorm and my friend and I both ended up soaked and very grateful for their delicious hot soup.

However!  As we have already established, delicious hot soup does not make a good snack, so instead I will discuss Laut's ginger tea.

You know those chewy ginger candies that you find in NYC corner grocery stores, presumably because they are sweet and spicy and delicious and also some sort of palate cleanser? 

Well.  This tea is like that, except it is a tea.  That makes it excellent. 

Book Give-Away: Friends With Boys

While you're catching up with Friends With Boys over the holidays, you can also enter to win a copy of your very own over on GoodReads, where we're doing a give-away.  We just got books in the office, and they look wonderful and lovely and you all should have copies of your very own!

(Probably in February, when the book actually comes out, but until then you can be excited!)

Catch Up with Friends With Boys

It is now officially the nondenominational winter holidays, and we have some time off, so hopefully you do, too!

We recommend that you use this time to catch up on one of our favorite webcomics, Faith Erin Hicks' Friends With Boys.  Not only is it a delightful saga of ghosts and siblings and high school, we are going to be publishing it as a book at the end of February!  Which is a thing we are excited about. 

When tor.com, io9, and Wired all agree that something is good, you know it's worth checking out!

Ethel & Ernest

You all may remember a picture book (later turned into an animated short) called The Snowman -- written and illustrated by Raymond Briggs.  It's a lovely and wonderful thing, and if you're in your twenties, you probably know it well (and may be re-reading or re-watching it for the holidays).

While thus enjoying yourself, you might also check out one of Briggs' other books: his biography of his parents, Ethel & Ernest.  It's a quiet, lovely story about two people spending their lives together as the twentieth century unrolls itself around them.  We recommend it. 

Consequences Limericks

These were some boys who went to war

It was not at all what they were looking for.

They wanted to know

To learn and to grow;

There are fewer choices when you grow up poor. 

This is a really lovely and thought-provoking book; you should check it out.