Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday ~ The Marriage Plot; Jeffrey Eugenides

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating! Want to participate? Post your own WOW entry on your blog, and leave your link at Breaking the Spine. Here's my pick for this week:


The Marriage Plot - I squealed with excitement when I heard about this author's fall 2011 book. (2) of his earlier books were favorites of mine, and definite keepers: Middlesex and The Virgin Suicides. Run out and read these if you haven't already done so.
 Jeffrey Eugenides
The Marriage Plot (no cover image yet)
Oct. 11, 2011 - Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Madeleine Hanna was the dutiful English major who didn't get the memo. While everyone else in the early 1980s was reading Derrida, she was happily absorbed with Jane Austen and George Eliot: purveyors of the marriage plot that lies at the heart of the greatest English novels. Madeleine was the girl who dressed a little too nicely for the taste of her more Bohemian friends, the perfect girlfriend whose college love life, despite her good looks, hadn't lived up to expectations.

But now, in the spring of her senior year, Madeleine has enrolled in a semiotics course "to see what all the fuss is about," and, for reasons that have nothing to do with school, life and literature will never be the same. Not after she falls in love with Leonard Morton?charismatic loner, college Darwinist, and lost Oregon boy?who is possessed of seemingly inexhaustible energy and introduces her to the ecstasies of immediate experience. And certainly not after Mitchell Grammaticus?devotee of Patti Smith and Thomas Merton?resurfaces in her life, obsessed with the idea that Madeleine is destined to be his mate.

The triangle in this amazing and delicious novel about a generation beginning to grow up is age-old, and completely fresh and surprising. With devastating wit, irony, and an abiding understanding of and love for his characters, Jeffrey Eugenides resuscitates the original energies of the novel while creating a story so contemporary that it reads like the intimate journal of our own lives.

The author of two beloved novels, Middlesex (bestselling winner of the 2003 Pulitzer Prize, with more than 3 million copies sold) and the now classic The Virgin Suicides (made into a haunting film by Sofia Coppola), is back?with a brilliant, funny, and heartbreaking novel about the glories and vicissitudes of young love.
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39 comments:

  1. MishaApril 20, 2011 at 12:25 AM

    Omg! Thank you for the info. I love this author too! I can't wait to read The Marriage Plot.

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  2. Playing LibrarianApril 20, 2011 at 12:58 AM

    Oooh, I can't wait!! I love Middlesex and The Virgin Suicide too. Thanks for sharing this.

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  3. TracyApril 20, 2011 at 2:55 AM

    I've just reserved Middlesex at my library - it's the next bookclub book I need to read - so I'm interested to find out whether I'll like Eugenidies novels - certainly sounds promising.

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  4. PaulitaApril 20, 2011 at 7:07 AM

    This does look intriguing. I'll put it on my list.

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  5. Laurel-Rain SnowApril 20, 2011 at 8:13 AM

    Oh, you are so right! This sounds fabulous, and since I haven't read Middlesex or The Virgin Suicides, I must.

    This one sounds unique and familiar, all at the same time.

    Here's MY WOW POST

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  6. AnonymousApril 20, 2011 at 8:44 AM

    I'm so excited to hear about this one. I loved MIDDLESEX so much. I've not read THE VIRGIN SUICIDES but I did watch the movie. Guess I need to read the book. Great choice, Diane!

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  7. ZibileeApril 20, 2011 at 9:05 AM

    I love Jeffrey Eugenides and want to get the chance to read this when it comes out. I thought that Middlesex was a wonderful read. Have you read that one?

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  8. bermudaonionApril 20, 2011 at 9:24 AM

    Ooh, that should be fabulous!

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  9. DarleneApril 20, 2011 at 9:42 AM

    I've never read any of this author's work but this certainly sounds good.

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  10. JillApril 20, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    I hate to say that I haven't read any of his previous books, but I definitely have this one on my list!

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  11. AnneApril 20, 2011 at 10:01 AM

    This one sounds great! I haven't read anything from this author before, I will be checking some of his books out. Thanks for posting.

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  12. Brian's Home BlogApril 20, 2011 at 10:07 AM

    We have heard of him but not read anything, that must change!

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  13. AnonymousApril 20, 2011 at 12:26 PM

    Holy crap! I had no idea he had a new book coming out! Can't wait!

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  14. nomadreaderApril 20, 2011 at 12:35 PM

    I'm really excited for this one too! I loved The Virgin Suicides but still need to make time for Middlesex.

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  15. AnonymousApril 20, 2011 at 2:31 PM

    Oh Hurray, a new book. I loved Middlesex-I have bumped a book club pick so my book club could read it. I can't wait to see what the new book will bring. Thanks for letting us know.

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  16. Beth FApril 20, 2011 at 2:57 PM

    I'm looking forwaqrd to this one too.

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  17. StaciApril 20, 2011 at 4:17 PM

    If you squealed then I really need to read one of his books!!

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  18. KathleenApril 20, 2011 at 5:32 PM

    I've yet to read any of his work so am quite excited that this new one will push me to read his other stuff so I can then read this latest work!

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  19. AnonymousApril 20, 2011 at 6:08 PM

    I'm so excited! I loved Middlesex, I can't wait to read this new book. Thanks for the info!

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  20. SukoApril 20, 2011 at 7:20 PM

    I thought that Middlesex was outstanding. I wonder if this will be as good.

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  21. JennersApril 20, 2011 at 8:30 PM

    Awesome!!!! Now I'm totally excited! I loved Middlesex! And you can't say he is churning out books...it has been awhile! Thanks for the headsup!

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  22. AthiraApril 21, 2011 at 9:57 AM

    This sounds good. I still haven't read Middlesex but someday I will!

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  23. AlayneApril 21, 2011 at 10:52 AM

    Ooh I can't wait! I loved Middlesex. Thanks for sharing!

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  24. agujaApril 21, 2011 at 11:12 AM

    Your blog posts are always so exciting - sort of like an adventure. I may not always comment, but I read them.

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  25. Laura at Library of Clean ReadsApril 21, 2011 at 11:55 AM

    I haven't read his books although I have heard of them. It's fun to anticipate the new novel of a well-liked author!

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  26. Michelle (Red Headed Book Child)April 21, 2011 at 1:40 PM

    I have only read The Virgin Suicides and I really liked it. He is going to be at BEA this year and I signed on to hear him speak at one of the Author's breakfasts. :)

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  27. AnonymousApril 21, 2011 at 7:29 PM

    This made my day! I LOVE Eugenides and I had no idea he was coming out with a new book, much less one that sounds so ridiculously delicious. Thanks for the heads up, can't wait to read!

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  28. AnonymousApril 21, 2011 at 7:59 PM

    I loved both, The Virgin Suicides and Middlesex. I didn't even know that Eugenides had another book coming out. Thank you for the heads up and I'm a new follower!

    Melissa's WoW

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  29. AnonymousApril 22, 2011 at 9:46 AM

    Well, where have I been? I'm going to find his books now. His new one sounds like my kind of reading.

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  30. UnknownApril 22, 2011 at 12:01 PM

    This is exciting! I loved Middlesex and The Virgin Suicides. I read Suicides not long after it was published and then re-read it after enjoying Middlesex so much. I've been waiting for Jeffrey Eugenides to write a nother book. Not if only Mark Haddon would publish a new one!

    Thank you for posting about this!

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  31. Melissa (Avid Reader)April 22, 2011 at 1:12 PM

    I'm a big fan of Eugenides' work too, but I hadn't heard of this one yet. So glad you posted on it!

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  32. DCMetroreaderApril 22, 2011 at 1:16 PM

    Sounds like a fascinating novel! In the meantime, guess I should check out the Virgin Suicides and Middlesex.

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  33. What Book TodayApril 22, 2011 at 2:04 PM

    I can't wait! Thanks so much for posting about this!

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  34. SariJApril 22, 2011 at 10:17 PM

    Oh an new book by Eugenides? I can't wait. Middlesex is one of my all time favorite books.

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  35. BookQuoterApril 22, 2011 at 11:13 PM

    I hope it's another hit. I will be first in line. I have been waiting for so long! Thanks for the info.

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  36. Dawn @ sheIsTooFondOfBooksApril 23, 2011 at 2:23 PM

    yes, squee! Can't wait for this next Eugenides book!

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  37. Julie April 23, 2011 at 9:47 PM

    I recently read Middlesex - definitely a great book! I need to get The Virgin Suicides on my shelf, and this one is going to go right on my to-buy list as well!

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  38. BooksnycApril 23, 2011 at 9:55 PM

    I loved Middlesex - even more so because I thought I wouldn't like it based on the subject matter. He is a talented author so I am looking forward to his next book - great pick!

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  39. JillAugust 5, 2011 at 1:36 PM

    I ran out of books at the beach last week and pulled Middlesex off the house bookshelves...and loved it! So, I'm guessing I need to go back and read The Virgin Suicides, too?

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