Maggie Griffin, and her ever-present glass of white wine, is a familiar figure on daughter Kathy’s show, My Life on the D-List. You usually get the impression that the ninety-year-old Maggie needs that boxed wine because she gets so exasperated with her outrageous and controversial daughter. Maggie’s fans will be happy to know that she has now written a memoir, Tip It!: The World According to Maggie. I think this is great news because, as I said in my review of Kathy Griffin’s memoir last year, my favorite parts of Official Book Club Selection were the stories about Maggie and her late husband, Johnny. They seem like they were a couple of characters and I can’t wait to find out more about them.

Here’s the publisher’s summary of Tip It!, which is available now.

Dear Readers,
There are at least five good reasons to Tip It! right now.

My daughter Kathy put out her memoir last year, which was real nice except for the controversial parts. And it got to be a #1 New York Times bestseller. Congratulations, Kathleen! But now it’s my turn. I’ve written my own book. I have things to say, too, without having to be all controversial like you were. Tip it!

People recognize me on the street a lot now and come over, nicely, and say “Maggie, you remind me of my own mother.” And they say “Maggie, I love your show”–referring to Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List as my show. Sometimes I correct them, I say, “Oh, it’s not my show.” But sometimes . . . I don’t correct them. It’s kind of fun being a star, isn’t it? Tip it!

If you want to know a few things about my daughter Kathleen that only a mother could know (How the heck did she get this way? Did she always swear so much, for Chrissake?), you have come to the right book. Tip it!

You know how a box of wine is never empty just because the spigot seems to have run dry? (There’s always a little more if you just tip it!) This book is like that. There’s so much in it–never-before-published Griffin family photos!, a love story (me and my dear departed husband Johnny), a whole guide to good living (including how to survive on what’s in your purse), and a lot of funny business in this book from Kathleen (she made comments in this book; readers, I was not able to stop her!). So take this book and Tip It!

And be sure to get the last drop out of living. Isn’t it nice that “Tip It” acts as a toast? I’m 90 years old, and I think “Tip It!” even works pretty well as a motto for living to the fullest. So, Tip It! today.
Yours,

Maggie Griffin

A funny thing happened on the way to Kathy Griffin’s skyrocketing stardom. The more she told stories about her mother, Maggie, in her stand-up act and on her Emmy-winning television show, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, the more popular her mother became. (At the mere mention of Maggie, a stadium full of fans will cheer, “Tip It! Tip It!”)

Shocked by Kathy, exasperated by Kathy, grudgingly amused by Kathy, and at the end of the day, always a loving mother to Kathy, Maggie Griffin has become the darling Gracie to Kathy’s George Burns, the wry Cher to Kathy’s Sonny Bono, the spry, sweet Roadrunner to Kathy’s Wile E. Coyote.

Maggie Griffin grew up in Chicago, the youngest of sixteen children born to Irish immigrant parents. She met Johnny, the love of her life, in Chicago, started dating him after high school (while working at the Form Fit Bra factory in the returns department), and they fell in love and married during the War. Together they raised five children, the youngest a cutie named Kathleen, who never gave them a moment’s trouble throughout her childhood–though it’s been payback time ever since.

As Kathy’s comedy career took off, more and more stories of Maggie magically worked their way into Kathy’s routines. And as a regular on Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, Maggie takes more guff from her daughter than any other mom on national television. Well, after having her life put on comic display by the loudmouthed redhead she fed, clothed, and cared for well into the comedian’s adulthood, Maggie finally has the floor, and she has some business to share with you.

So get out your Franzia, stir up some Hamburger Helper, and dive into the world according to Maggie.

It’s hard to believe that 2009 is coming to a close and we’re about to enter a new decade. As the end of the year approaches, I’ve been looking back at all the books I’ve read in 2009 and I made a list of a few that stood out from the rest. These might not be the best books of the year, but they are books that I had fun reading.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The Help is easily the best book I read all year (maybe even the past few years) and you can read my full review here. I rated it 5 out of 5 stars because it has a page turning plot and characters that are so real that they feel like old friends by the end of the novel. The Help became a sleeper hit over the summer thanks to word-of-mouth recommendations (I know I’ve told anyone who will listen that they MUST read this book) and it’s still holding steady on the NYT bestseller list. It’s set in the 1960′s but the story is timeless and I think it has a universal appeal that makes it an excellent choice for gift giving.

The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly

Newspaper crime reporter Jack McEvoy, last seen in The Poet, returns in The Scarecrow and gets tangled up with another serial killer. Through the old-school journalist, Connelly gives the reader a glimpse into the world of newspaper reporting and it’s state of decline. It’s a gripping and suspenseful novel that’s a step above most crime thrillers.

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Dan Brown’s books get a lot of criticism and certain people like to claim that his blockbusters are killing the publishing industry. I say whatever gets people reading is a good thing and I thought The Lost Symbol was a highly entertaining read (full review). It presented interesting information about the founding fathers and the Freemasons in an accessible way. It also inspired me to read more about noetic science, a topic I had never heard of until this book. Any book that compels me to read more is definitely a success.

This Charming Man by Marian Keyes

This Charming Man is my favorite chick-lit book of 2009 (read full review here). Marian Keyes is one of my favorite authors because she writes about emotional issues, like depression, in such a real way since it’s something she’s dealt with in her own life. In This Charming Man, her characters face domestic abuse and alcoholism, and she explores the emotions that accompany these problems. It’s darker than her previous novels, but there are still plenty of funny moments where Keyes displays her great sense of humor.

The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner

The Neighbor is one of the best audiobooks I listened to this year (read full review here). It stands out because it’s spine-tingling suspense kept me up late for several nights listening to the book on my iPod. The story is read by three very talented narrators who delivered great performances. The Neighbor was the perfect thriller for me because it created a lot of tension but wasn’t so scary that it gave me nightmares.

Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin

Kathy Griffin’s memoir is my favorite non-fiction book of the year (read full review here). I love how Kathy isn’t afraid to tell it like it is or call out hypocrisy when she sees it, no matter how many people she pisses off. Despite its hilarious title, Official Book Club Selection didn’t make in into Oprah’s book club, but who cares? Kathy’s the queen of the D-list and her devoted fans wouldn’t have it any other way.

Take a look at the September releases I think you’ll be interested in:

Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin (Order on Amazon)

Available September 8, 2009

From the publisher:

Official Book Club Selection is Kathy Griffin unplugged, uncensored, and unafraid to dish about what really happens on the road, away from the cameras, and at the star party after the show. (It’s also her big chance to score that coveted book club endorsement she’s always wanted. Are you there, Oprah? It’s me, Kathy.)

Kathy Griffin has won Emmys for her reality show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, been nominated for a Grammy, worked and walked every red carpet known to man, and rung in the New Year with Anderson Cooper. But the legions of fans who pack Kathy’s sold-out comedy shows have heard only part of her remarkable story. Writing with her trademark wit, the feisty comic settles a few old scores, celebrates the friends and mentors who helped her claw her way to the top, and shares insider gossip about celebrity behavior—the good, the bad, and the very ugly. She recounts the crazy ups and downs of her own career and introduces us to some of the supertalented people she encountered before they got famous (or, in some cases, after fame went to their heads). Word to the wise: If you’ve ever crossed Kathy Griffin at some point in your life, check the index for your name.

Along the way, Kathy reveals intimate details about her life before and after she made the big time. She opens up about everything from growing up with a dysfunctional family in suburban Illinois to bombing as a young comedian in L.A., from her well-publicized plastic surgery disasters to her highly publicized divorce, and more. Only in this book will you learn how the dinner table is the best training ground for a career in stand-up, how speaking your mind can bite you on the ass and buy you a house, and which people in Kathy’s life have taught her the most valuable lessons—both inside and outside the entertainment industry.

Refreshingly candid, unflinchingly honest, and full of hilarious “Did she really say that?” moments, Official Book Club Selection will make you laugh until you cry, or just puke up a little bit.

____________________________________________________________

The Golden City by John Twelve Hawks (Order on Amazon)

Available September 8, 2009

From the publisher:

A world that exists in the shadow of our own . . . the thrilling conclusion to John Twelve Hawks’ Fourth Realm trilogy, The Golden City is packed with the knife-edge tension, intriguing characters, and startling plot twists that made The Traveler and The Dark River international hits.

John Twelve Hawks’ previous novels about the mystical Travelers and the Brethren, their ruthless enemies, generated an extraordinary following around the world. The Washington Post wrote that The Traveler “portrays a Big Brother with powers far beyond anything Orwell could imagine . . .” and Publishers Weekly hailed the series as “a saga that’s part A Wrinkle in Time, part The Matrix and part Kurosawa epic.” Internet chat rooms and blogs have overflowed with speculation about the final destiny of the richly imagined characters fighting an epic battle beneath the surface of our modern world.

In The Golden City, Twelve Hawks delivers the climax to his spellbinding epic. Struggling to protect the legacy of his Traveler father, Gabriel faces troubling new questions and relentless threats. His brother Michael, now firmly allied with the enemy, pursues his ambition to wrest power from Nathan Boone, the calculating leader of the Brethren. And Maya, the Harlequin warrior pledged to protect Gabriel at all costs, is forced to make a choice that will change her life forever.

A riveting blend of high-tech thriller and fast-paced adventure, The Golden City will delight Twelve Hawks’ many fans and attract a new audience to the entire trilogy.

____________________________________________________________

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown (Order on Amazon)

Available September 15, 2009

From the publisher:

The Lost Symbol, available wherever books are sold on 9.15.09, once again features Dan Brown’s unforgettable protagonist, Robert Langdon. The book’s narrative takes place in a twelve-hour period, and from the first page, readers will feel the thrill of discovery as they follow Langdon through a masterful and unexpected landscape. Dan Brown’s prodigious talent for storytelling, infused with history, codes and intrigue, is on full display in this riveting new novel.

____________________________________________________________

Just After Sunset by Stephen King (Order on Amazon)

Available September 22, 2009

From the publisher:

Stephen King — who has written more than fifty books, dozens of number one New York Times bestsellers, and many unforgettable movies — delivers an astonishing collection of short stories, his first since Everything’s Eventual six years ago. As guest editor of the bestselling Best American Short Stories 2007, King spent over a year reading hundreds of stories. His renewed passion for the form is evident on every page of Just After Sunset. The stories in this collection have appeared in The New Yorker, Playboy, McSweeney’s, The Paris Review, Esquire, and other publications.

Who but Stephen King would turn a Port-O-San into a slimy birth canal, or a roadside honky-tonk into a place for endless love? A book salesman with a grievance might pick up a mute hitchhiker, not knowing the silent man in the passenger seat listens altogether too well. Or an exercise routine on a stationary bicycle, begun to reduce bad cholesterol, might take its rider on a captivating — and then terrifying — journey. Set on a remote key in Florida, “The Gingerbread Girl” is a riveting tale featuring a young woman as vulnerable — and resourceful — as Audrey Hepburn’s character in Wait Until Dark. In “Ayana,” a blind girl works a miracle with a kiss and the touch of her hand. For King, the line between the living and the dead is often blurry, and the seams that hold our reality intact might tear apart at any moment. In one of the longer stories here, “N.,” which recently broke new ground when it was adapted as a graphic digital entertainment, a psychiatric patient’s irrational thinking might create an apocalyptic threat in the Maine countryside…or keep the world from falling victim to it.

Just After Sunset — call it dusk, call it twilight, it’s a time when human intercourse takes on an unnatural cast, when nothing is quite as it appears, when the imagination begins to reach for shadows as they dissipate to darkness and living daylight can be scared right out of you. It’s the perfect time for Stephen King.

____________________________________________________________

An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon (Order on Amazon)

Available September 22, 2009

From the publisher:

Diana Gabaldon’s brilliant storytelling has captivated millions of readers in her bestselling and award-winning Outlander saga. Now, in An Echo in the Bone, the enormously anticipated seventh volume, Gabaldon continues the extraordinary story of the eighteenth-century Scotsman Jamie Fraser and his twentieth-century time-traveling wife, Claire Randall.

Jamie Fraser, former Jacobite and reluctant rebel, is already certain of three things about the American rebellion: The Americans will win, fighting on the side of victory is no guarantee of survival, and he’d rather die than have to face his illegitimate son–a young lieutenant in the British army–across the barrel of a gun

Claire Randall knows that the Americans will win, too, but not what the ultimate price may be. That price won’t include Jamie’s life or his happiness, though–not if she has anything to say about it.

Meanwhile, in the relative safety of the twentieth century, Jamie and Claire’s daughter, Brianna, and her husband, Roger MacKenzie, have resettled in a historic Scottish home where, across a chasm of two centuries, the unfolding drama of Brianna’s parents’ story comes to life through Claire’s letters. The fragile pages reveal Claire’s love for battle-scarred Jamie Fraser and their flight from North Carolina to the high seas, where they encounter privateers and ocean battles–as Brianna and Roger search for clues not only to Claire’s fate but to their own. Because the future of the MacKenzie family in the Highlands is mysteriously, irrevocably, and intimately entwined with life and death in war-torn colonial America.

With stunning cameos of historical characters from Benedict Arnold to Benjamin Franklin, An Echo in the Bone is a soaring masterpiece of imagination, insight, character, and adventure–a novel that echoes in the mind long after the last page is turned.

____________________________________________________________

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger (Order on Amazon)

Available September 29, 2009

From the publisher:

Six years after the phenomenal success of The Time Traveler’s Wife, Audrey Niffenegger has returned with a spectacularly compelling and haunting second novel set in and around Highgate Cemetery in London.

When Elspeth Noblin dies of cancer, she leaves her London apartment to her twin nieces, Julia and Valentina. These two American girls never met their English aunt, only knew that their mother, too, was a twin, and Elspeth her sister. Julia and Valentina are semi-normal American teenagers–with seemingly little interest in college, finding jobs, or anything outside their cozy home in the suburbs of Chicago, and with an abnormally intense attachment to one another.

The girls move to Elspeth’s flat, which borders Highgate Cemetery in London. They come to know the building’s other residents. There is Martin, a brilliant and charming crossword puzzle setter suffering from crippling Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; Marjike, Martin’s devoted but trapped wife; and Robert, Elspeth’s elusive lover, a scholar of the cemetery. As the girls become embroiled in the fraying lives of their aunt’s neighbors, they also discover that much is still alive in Highgate, including–perhaps–their aunt, who can’t seem to leave her old apartment and life behind.

Niffenegger weaves a captivating story in Her Fearful Symmetry about love and identity, about secrets and sisterhood, and about the tenacity of life–even after death.

____________________________________________________________

Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby (Order on Amazon)

Available September 29, 2009

From the publisher:

From the beloved New York Times- bestselling author, a quintessential Nick Hornby tale of music, superfandom, and the truths and lies we tell ourselves about life and love.

Annie loves Duncan-or thinks she does. Duncan loves Annie, but then, all of a sudden, he doesn’t. Duncan really loves Tucker Crowe, a reclusive Dylanish singer-songwriter who stopped making music ten years ago. Annie stops loving Duncan, and starts getting her own life.

In doing so, she initiates an e-mail correspondence with Tucker, and a connection is forged between two lonely people who are looking for more out of what they’ve got. Tucker’s been languishing (and he’s unnervingly aware of it), living in rural Pennsylvania with what he sees as his one hope for redemption amid a life of emotional and artistic ruin-his young son, Jackson. But then there’s also the new material he’s about to release to the world: an acoustic, stripped-down version of his greatest album, Juliet-entitled, Juliet, Naked.

What happens when a washed-up musician looks for another chance? And miles away, a restless, childless woman looks for a change? Juliet, Naked is a powerfully engrossing, humblingly humorous novel about music, love, loneliness, and the struggle to live up to one’s promise.