This week's picks come from Libby Jordan, who handles the Marketing, Publicity, and Social Media for Unbridled Books.
Fall 2011
The Mistress Contractby She and He
October 2011
This one’s the “conversation starter” on our Fall list. Everyone who reads it, has something they must share afterwards. From “[It] just about made my brain explode!” to “My brain is on fire.” and all points in between. This one made me think — about things like: How far we’ve come in our revolution as women . . . and how far we still have to go as human beings. It made me think about the vulnerability of men and how we, as women, don’t always see that for what it is. And, especially, it made me to think about my own point of view when answering the question: Would I have put forth — and signed — that contract?
THE MISTRESS CONTRACT opens with a piece of paper that was signed in 1981 by a woman and her wealthy lover. The contract establishes an exchange that she thinks fair: If he will provide an adequate and separate home for her and cover her expenses, she will provide him with “mistress services”: “All sexual acts as requested, with suspension of historical, emotional, psychological disclaimers.”
For the duration of the agreement, she will become his sexual property. Then — on a small recorder that fit in her purse — this extraordinary and unconventional couple began to tape their conversations about their relationship, conversations that took place while traveling, over dinner at home and in restaurants, on the phone, even in bed.
This book is based on those tapes. It is a candid — and true — account of what they had to say to each other privately about the arrangement and its power relations, their physical relationship and the sexual forces that shaped it. As private and intimate as it is, though, the book also turns an unblinking light on a period of intense upheaval between men and women.
Looking back now, thirty years later, this extraordinary couple — who are still together — are willing to reveal their most private moments to our scrutiny. What they capture in THE MISTRESS CONTRACT is an unapologetic revelation and a bold provocation.
October 2011
This one’s the “conversation starter” on our Fall list. Everyone who reads it, has something they must share afterwards. From “[It] just about made my brain explode!” to “My brain is on fire.” and all points in between. This one made me think — about things like: How far we’ve come in our revolution as women . . . and how far we still have to go as human beings. It made me think about the vulnerability of men and how we, as women, don’t always see that for what it is. And, especially, it made me to think about my own point of view when answering the question: Would I have put forth — and signed — that contract?
THE MISTRESS CONTRACT opens with a piece of paper that was signed in 1981 by a woman and her wealthy lover. The contract establishes an exchange that she thinks fair: If he will provide an adequate and separate home for her and cover her expenses, she will provide him with “mistress services”: “All sexual acts as requested, with suspension of historical, emotional, psychological disclaimers.”
For the duration of the agreement, she will become his sexual property. Then — on a small recorder that fit in her purse — this extraordinary and unconventional couple began to tape their conversations about their relationship, conversations that took place while traveling, over dinner at home and in restaurants, on the phone, even in bed.
This book is based on those tapes. It is a candid — and true — account of what they had to say to each other privately about the arrangement and its power relations, their physical relationship and the sexual forces that shaped it. As private and intimate as it is, though, the book also turns an unblinking light on a period of intense upheaval between men and women.
Looking back now, thirty years later, this extraordinary couple — who are still together — are willing to reveal their most private moments to our scrutiny. What they capture in THE MISTRESS CONTRACT is an unapologetic revelation and a bold provocation.
TOUCH AND GOby Thad Nodine
September 2011
You’ve heard me talk about this one before — yep . . . time for a Road Trip! This is the one that makes me smile and glad to be alive. Think As I Lay Dying meets Little Miss Sunshine with a hint of On the Road. Jonathan Franzen called it “a high-velocity vision quest that keeps surprising and surprising.” I call it: A darn good read!
To escape an addiction, a young blind man in California steps into a station wagon with his slightly off-kilter friends and their foster kids to deliver a handmade casket [strapped to the roof of the car] to a dying grandfather in Florida. As they battle their way across the southern half of the nation, this rag-tag American family falls prey to love and lies, greed and violence, crime and Katrina — and all manner of strange things up there in that casket.
With a voice reminiscent of John Irving, Nodine produces a classic “road-picture” novel.
A rich and rangy story about the careful and careless ways we treat each other—and ourselves—in a fast-paced, changing world. Kevin, the novel’s blind narrator, is one of the most perceptive figures in recent fiction. And his desire to do no harm is positively contagious. Through Kevin’s rich senses and boundless compassion, Nodine gives us a multicultural portrait of a true America. The Real Deal. And he does so with deep affection for everyone along the way.
AN ACCIDENTAL MOTHERby Katherine Kindred
September 2011
Our second nonfiction title on the list this season, AN ACCIDENTAL MOTHER pulled on my heartstrings long after I closed the book. This is the one that made me cry.
After her divorce, Kate Kindred decided that she would live her life without children. But then she fell in love with Jim, a handsome, caring man who had custody of his two-year-old son, Michael. And she fell in love with the boy, too. During the six years they all lived together, Kate learned the deep joys of motherhood—that was the gift that Michael gave her. But when her relationship with Jim ended, he denied her any contact with Michael.
And her heart was broken.
AN ACCIDENTAL MOTHER beautifully describes the joys of mothering a young boy through complicated times. With sweet simple anecdotes and complex emotions, Kate Kindred marks every page with tears, including those that the most loving laughter can bring to any parent.
About LibbyI've been working on marketing, publicity and social media with the Unbridled Books team for the past three years. What's my favorite genre, you ask? That's a little like asking what's my favorite kind of candy — it changes with the season! Summertime, for me, is very definitely all about nonfiction. I'm sure once the Fall arrives, I'll slip into something a little more noir.
All these books sound amazing, they are definitely being added to my "must read" list ... a list that seems to be growing a mile a minute! :P
ReplyDeleteI read An Accidental Mother and loved it. I'm anxious to read The Mistress Contract; I've read some awesome reviews of it!
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