Amazon today announced that it has launched a new series with “America’s favorite librarian” (and PW columnist) Nancy Pearl. Based on the work of Pearl’s popular Book Lust blog, Amazon’s Book Lust Rediscoveries series will create a line of Pearl’s favorite but presently out-of-print books. The series will publish approximately six books a year in print editions via Amazon.com, and as audiobooks via Amazon.com and Audible.com, and, according to Amazon, will be available nationally online, as well as at bookstores, wholesalers and libraries nationwide. They will also be available as e-books in the Kindle Store.
"I’m thrilled that Book Lust Rediscoveries makes it possible to republish many of my all-time favorite novels, all of which have long been out of print,” said Pearl in a statement. “Helping these wonderful books find new readers is, for me, a joy and a delight.” Pearl, based in Seattle, said she was “blown away” by Amazon Publishing's enthusiasm for the project. And buying the books will help libraries—Pearl has committed to donate a portion of the proceeds from sales of books in the series to the Nancy Pearl Endowment for Public Librarianship at the University of Washington’s Information School.
A Seattle public librarian, blogger, and NPR commentator, Pearl is a longtime trusted source of book recommendations. She is the author of Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment and Reason,” which contains approximately 1,800 book recommendations. And, currently, she compiles a monthly list as part of her column for PW, “Books to Read Before You Die.” She says the idea for the Amazon series came to her after receiving numerous letters from readers who were eager to read the books she recommended, but couldn’t find copies. Each book will now be widely available, complete with an introduction written by Pearl, a list of discussion questions for book groups and suggestions for other titles that may also appeal to the reader.
The first two books to be published in the Book Lust Rediscoveries series, with descriptions from Nancy Pearl, are: A Gay and Melancholy Sound, by Merle Miller, set for April of this year; and After Life, by Rhian Ellis, set for June.
