5 new books not to miss this week, including Andrew Lloyd Webber's memoir
Paste BN’s Jocelyn McClurg scopes out the hottest books on sale each week.
1. Unmasked by Andrew Lloyd Webber (Harper, non-fiction, on sale March 6)
What it’s about: A memoir by the British composer, whose many hit musicals include Sunset Boulevard, School of Rock, Cats and The Phantom of the Opera.
The buzz: Arrives as NBC gears up for an Easter Sunday (April 1) live broadcast of the ’70s Webber-Tim Rice rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, starring John Legend.
2. I’ve Loved You Since Forever by Hoda Kotb, illustrated by Suzie Mason (HarperCollins, fiction, ages 4-8, on sale March 6)
What it’s about: An illustrated picture book for kids that celebrates the bond between parent and child.
The buzz: Today show co-anchor Kotb was inspired to write her first children’s book after adopting her baby daughter, Haley Joy.
3. The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote by Elaine Weiss (Viking, non-fiction, on sale March 6)
What it’s about: The fight for women’s suffrage in the USA came down to a crucial vote in Tennessee, and this history looks at the fierce forces aligned on both sides of the issue.
The buzz: “Page-turning…remarkably entertaining,” Publishers Weekly says in a starred review.
4. 3 Kings: Diddy, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, and Hip-Hop’s Multibillion-Dollar Rise by Zack O’Malley Greenburg (Little, Brown, non-fiction, on sale March 6)
What it’s about: The author of Empire State of Mind (a Jay-Z bio) returns with a look at how three titans of hip-hop, including Shawn Carter, made it to the top.
The buzz: “Engaging…will satisfy neophytes and devotees alike,” says Kirkus Reviews.
5. Speak No Evil by Uzodinma Iweala (Harper, fiction, on sale March 6)
What it’s about: Niru, a Harvard-bound track star in Washington, D.C., is hiding a secret from his conservative Nigerian parents: he’s gay.
The buzz: It’s an Indie Next pick of independent booksellers. “Heartbreakingly beautiful,” says Jill Zimmerman of Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Mich.
