EBHere at Harper Perennial, we all have our favorites—and that’s okay. I once told a room of people (all of whom worked in publishing in some way) that I didn’t like every book we publish, and got some gasps. But it’s true! I know my tastes, and I also know that just because I don’t like a book, it doesn’t mean it’s not good.
However! Sometimes we publish a book that we all absolutely love from the first time we read the manuscript on submission. That’s what’s happening now with Domestic Violets by Matthew Norman. I’ve mentioned this one here on the olive reader and on twitter before, but now I’d like to share some praise from the rest of Harper Perennial—the people you don’t always get to hear from but who also work hard to promote and sell our books (and, in one case, run the whole company.)
“I read Domestic Violets in two sittings. A week later, I am still thinking about the book and how much I enjoyed it. I almost wrote, ‘it’s surprising that this is Matthew Norman’s first novel,’ but realize it makes sense. Like many first novels, every scene and every character seem like they were written without effort. There is something so special, so pure and heartfelt about it. I think we are witnessing the start of a very exciting career.”
—Michael Morrison, president and publisher, HarperCollins
“It is a rare, rare thing when a debut novel delivers with such wit, wisdom, and wonder—that the moment you close the last page you a) call someone to discuss, b) recommend it to everyone you run into, and c) want to start from page one again. I did all three with Domestic Violets. I really think you are going to love it.”
—Carrie Kania, senior vice president and publisher, Harper Perennial (aka @youritlist)
“I just had the pleasure of reading Domestic Violets and it is with sadness that I let go of such a memorable cast of characters. Matthew Norman’s writing reminds me of the intelligence and insight on display in a Don DeLillo novel, while also possessing the tenderness of Frank Conroy’s writing. The read is brilliant, hilarious, and beguiling.”
—Kristin Bowers, vice president, internet retail sales
“I loved this book. I laughed out loud reading it. It’s heartbreaking and nearly hard to read at points, as the reader becomes a voyeur into the mind of a man struggling with family obligations and devotion, self expression, fidelity and infidelity, his understanding of manhood, living up to the expectations of having a famous father, and living up to his own expectations. But it’s redemptive and very well written. And did I mention that it’s really damn funny?”
—Samantha Hagerbaumer, director, international sales
“Domestic Violets is a layered fiction about an American family living with the side effects of the grandfather’s fame. Each family member plays an important role: to learn from the father’s mistakes and avoid similar fates for themselves. The book is easy to read, but many parallels hold it together. Curtis Violet doesn’t appear to know much about maintaining a family, but he’s won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and he may know more important life lessons that help his son, Tom, avoid complete disaster.”
—Robert Alunni, telesales representative
So! Are you intrigued? There are a few ways you can read Domestic Violets and see for yourself if all the hype is deserved:
1. Enter the contest at Beth Fish Reads to win a galley, which ends April 24th.
2. Request an electronic galley through NetGalley (if you’re a blogger, reviewer, bookseller, or librarian.)
3. Come see Matt when he signs books at BEA (time TK, but I’ll update the blog with the info, of course.)
And if you want more Matthew Norman, check out his blog, follow him on twitter, or friend him on facebook. Or do all three! I have.
