We would be remiss if we didn’t mention Melissa Maerz’s extremely well-written Book Review for David Radkoff’s new book titled: LOVE, DISHONOR, MARRY, DIE, CHERISH, PERISH (Doubleday). The article, which can be read by clicking RIGHT HERE, does two things extremely well. First, it gives you a very good idea about what the book is about. Second, it ends in a very heart-felt way about the Author, David Rakoff. You see, this will be his very last book.

David died last year from Cancer and this book was published post-humorously. Now, obviously, knowing about his death does add some slight melancholy to a book that already deals with many of life’s tribulations. One of them being the issue of “dealing with illness leading to death”.

LOVE, DISHONOR, MARRY, DIE, CHERISH, PERISH comes out on July 16th, 2013. Hey, at the time of this writing, that’s tomorrow!

Over at THE NEW YORK TIMES online edition, in their “Books” section, they recently published a very special Book Review for David Rakoff’s last book to be published, "Love, Dishonor, Marry, Die, Cherish, Perish" (Doubleday, a Division of Random House). The thing that made it special was that the Reporter, Joel Lovell, went the extra-mile and not only wrote a very touching story about this new book, but he also shared a lot about the late Author as well and even included a ton of extra visual material.

If you visit their site, CLICK HERE, then you’ll see what we’re talking about. There’s a video of David Rakoff reading an excerpt from the book titled, “Mindy’s Toast”. There are also a ton of great reference photos showcasing both the design of the book (Designed by Chip Kidd) and some random photos of David and his friends. It’s all very well done and kind of touching as well.

Then, they even included a few audio clips from the audiobook. I mean, WOW! Like I said, they went the extra-mile on this and we could not be more thankful or proud. It’s a great tribute to him as both an Author and person. The book is wonderful, it’s almost like a gift from David and we really miss him. But it’s a wonderful thing that his insight and humor will live on. This book will be made available on July 16th, 2013.

David Rakoff was a mainstay on public radio’s “This American Life”, and the best-selling author of Fraud, Don’t Get Too Comfortable, and Half Empty. He died of cancer in 2012 at the age of 47, shortly after finishing “Love, Dishonor, Marry, Die, Cherish, Perish, a short novel” in verse that jumps from decade to decade, tracking a panoply of American characters across the 20th century: 1920′s slaughterhouse workers, 1950′s office girls, AIDS victims and 1980′s yuppies.

Rakoff marries deft, humane observation with jauntily tripping verse structure - in places, you’ll find yourself thinking of Dr. Seuss - to create a series of jewel-toned interlocking miniatures. NPR reviewer Alan Cheuse said, “Rakoff makes such pairings as virago and Chicago, ceases and paresis, skittish and Yiddish, antelope and envelope, horas and Torahs, Alzheimer’s and climbers, for 100 cleverly rendered and entertaining pages.”

In this excerpt, set in the 1980s, never-satisfied Susan is about to marry shallow lawyer Josh, and cruelly, she has invited her ex-boyfriend Nathan to give a toast at the wedding. “Love, Dishonor, Marry, Die, Cherish, Perish” was published by Doubleday (a division of Random House) on July 16th, 2013.

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Thank you NPR Books and R. I. P. David Rakoff.

Over at THE NEW YORKER Magazine Website, in their PAGE-TURNER section, they have a special monthly feature they like to call “Books To Watch Out For”. They usually list about 9 or 10 new titles coming out in that period that have caught their attention and the choices are always very good and also very well-thought out. Well, we’re really proud to say that for JULY they added David Rakoff’s new book, "Love, Dishonor, Marry, Die, Cherish, Perish: A Novel" (Doubleday) to the list!

Now, this book won’t officially be out until July 16th, but right now you can read their extremely excellent review (and story description) by following this link RIGHT HERE. We want to thank them for adding this important book to the list. What an honor!

OK, just to clarify. We say “important book” because it is, quite sadly, David Rakoff’s very last book he wrote before he passed away last year at the age of 47. For many years his work has been enjoyed by a large group of serious fans and this has all been very sad news. Also, for people who just love reading books in general, and have never read him before, they should check him out as well because his writing is extremely clever and he has always had a really great sense of humor. We should also mention that the cover was designed by his friend, Chip Kidd, with artwork supplied by the cartoonist Seth.

We have some important “Publishing News” to share here that is both kind of sad and also a reason to celebrate. Doubleday Books (Random House) has plans to posthumously publish David Rakoff’s last book, “”Love, Dishonor, Marry, Die, Cherish, Perish: A Novel”, and it should be available at your favorite bookstores around mid-July, 2013.

Sadly, David Rakoff passed away last year but this is not keeping his latest book from making it to the presses. We’re sure that David would love knowing that his fans will get one more chance to be entertained by his stories. Seriously, David was truly an original and he always had a very unique writing style. He is one of the finest and funniest essayists of our time. He was also a really great guy.

Also, as a side-note, we want to mention that the cover for this book was designed by Chip Kidd, who was both a business colleague, and most importantly, a good friend. Knowing this is what makes everything sort of bittersweet. But this book getting out there is really a tribute to David Rakoff’s genius, we hope you enjoy reading it.

Since David Rakoff’s next book, “Love, Dishonor, Marry, Die, Cherish, Perish: a Novel” will be published posthumously this year by Doubleday (Random House) we thought we would mention an extremely wonderful thing done by WBEZ Chicago Radio at their Official Website for THIS AMERICAN LIFE.

Besides being a very talented Author, David Rakoff also made many appearances at Book Tours, Lectures, and, most notably, on a Radio Show called THIS AMERICAN LIFE. Down below is a “Special Tribute to David” they broadcasted after he passed away. Please give it a listen. Then, on their site, you can listen to many different shows that David actually appeared in. There are some really good ones like “Who’s Canadian?”, “Poultry Slam 1998″, “Office Politics”, and many more. There are even some very good interviews. So, to be very entertained, please CLICK HERE.

Also, you can look for David’s last book to hit bookstores around mid-July, 2013.

David Rakoff, recipient of two Lambda Book Awards for Humor, insists that optimism is an irresponsible fad in his book “Half Empty.” Meanwhile, author of “The Official Preppy Handbook,” Lisa Birnbach and book jacket designer and novelist Chip Kidd team up with hilarious results to bring you “True Prep.” This lecture was presented by the Boston Book Festival and recorded on 10/16/10.

It’s with a heavy heart that we remember our Good Friend, the Author, David Rakoff. He recently passed away and over at the BIOGRAPHILE Website a Writer named Rose Nagle-Yndigoyen wrote a wonderful tribute to him that we wanted to share. She talks about his work and the books he created but, more importantly, she touches on what he was truly like as a person. The piece is well thought out & very touching. So, Thank You Rose. I’m sure his Family would love this. Plus, we know many of our Readers here will enjoy reading it. Thanks again.

A statement from David Rakoff’s longtime hardcover editor, Bill Thomas:

“It is with a deeply heavy heart that I tell you our dear friend and beloved author David Rakoff passed away today at the age of 47. As many of you know David had battled cancer over the last few years; quite recently it became apparent that the cancer had returned in a form that could not be treated.

David wrote three bestselling books for Doubleday - FRAUD, DON'T GET TOO COMFORTABLE and HALF EMPTY. Because David's writing was so goddamn funny, he was often mischaracterized as a satirist, but a satirist employs exaggeration to drive home social criticism, and David saw and portrayed the world clearly. Underneath the indelible wit and perfect turns of phrase lay a sadness that people can be so cruel and selfish, and a belief that the only weapon against the world's brutality was kindness and beauty. And so he lived - he was the most gracious and considerate of men. Civility mattered a great deal to David, but for him manners were not merely a social lubricant; he believed deeply that every person was due true and meaningful attention.

It is one of the reasons hundreds of people loved David. Of course he was incredibly charming, witty and learned, a brilliant raconteur with the quickest mind imaginable. And though his life was cut infuriatingly short, it was rich beyond measure. In addition to his writing, David was a stage and screen actor, a playwright, a screenwriter (the short film for which he adapted the screenplay and starred in, "The New Tenants," won an Academy Award), a brilliant radio essayist for "This American Life," and an accomplished visual artist. He was also one of us - David spent nine years working at HarperCollins, and I urge everyone, especially assistants, to read his essays "Lush Life" (from FRAUD) and "The Satisfying Crunch of Dreams Underfoot" (from HALF EMPTY) for excruciating but uproarious portrayals of this our publishing culture. For publicists, go to YouTube and view "David Rakoff and Dave Hill Go On a Book Tour." He really did understand.

David called me five weeks ago and told me had finished his new book, which was not due until the Fall. He also told me we would be publishing it posthumously. (Characteristically, he apologized for giving me this news on the phone. Canadian to the end.) The book is a novel, in verse, called LOVE, DISHONOR, MARRY, DIE; CHERISH, PERISH. I had my doubts about the project when he proposed it, but I was wrong. It is written with humor and sympathy and tenderness, and proves him to be the master of an altogether different art form. The story leaps cities and decades as David sings the song of an America whose freedoms can be intoxicating, or devastating. It is the clearest expression of David's insistence on beauty and the necessity of kindness in a selfish world. I can think of no more fitting tribute to David than publishing the hell out of it.”

Here is a personal statement that Chip Kidd would like to express:

“It is with infinite sadness that I note the death this week of writers David Rakoff and Mark O’Donnell, two dear friends I had the privilege of knowing and working with for many years. They were also mutual friends, and that they would die within a few days of each other in the prime of their lives is a gut-punch to say the least. I had been trying to prepare myself for David because I knew for some time he was quite ill, but then for Mark to go so suddenly, well, there just aren’t words for it. Here is how I’ll remember them, in a photo booth together in 2004, at my 40th birthday. Their lives and work were proof that there is some good in the world. Now less so. Xxoo CK”