Book Buzz

• Mitch Albom was a guest on The Colbert Report last night. Stephen Colbert suggested Albom is a “member of the grief industrial complex.” I can only agree. Albom’s novel, For One More Day, was released in paperback a few weeks ago.

• The New York Times was surprised and delighted when Jhumpa Lahiri’s Unaccustomed Earth (read my review tomorrow) reached #1 on its bestselling fiction list: “It’s hard to remember the last serious, well-written work of fiction, particularly a book of stories, that leapt straight to No. 1; it’s a powerful demonstration of Lahiri’s newfound commercial clout.”

• Sophie Uliano appeared on Oprah’s Earth Day episode on Tuesday. Her book, Gorgeously Green, is now #6 on Amazon’s bestsellers list. It also doesn’t hurt that Uliano is a friend of Julia Roberts, who also appeared on the show.

• I can’t turn on a day- or nighttime talk show without running into Chelsea Handler promoting her book Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea. Handler’s humor is an acquired taste, but the media blitz is working since the book is now in Amazon’s top 15.

• My one-sided love-hate relationship/obsession with Stephenie Meyer continues. Here is an article about the filming of the Twilight movie. And here is an interview with Meyer on MTV.com about the film. I stay up at night debating whether or not to see this movie.