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June 12, 2009

Bookreporter.com Newsletter June 12, 2009
 
Hammock Time
Last weekend the weather was amazing, so it was time for outdoor reading. I started with PERFECTION, a memoir by Julie Metz. After her husband’s sudden death, Julie learned that for years, unbeknownst to her, he had been having affairs with women, one of whom was the mother of her daughter’s best friend. In the days after his death, her brother and some friends learned his story, but no one wanted to tell her. Little by little it came out, and instead of burrowing herself in sorrow, Julie contacted these women. They had the story that Henry had never told her --- and through these conversations she learned a lot about the man she had loved and the double life he led. She writes with honesty, but there is no "woe is me" on these pages, which keeps it interesting. If you are in a book group, you may want to check out a contest we are running on ReadingGroupGuides.com in which 10 book clubs will have the opportunity to win a copy of the title. Click here for more details.

Sunday I read THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU by Jonathan Tropper, which will be in stores on August 6th. It was one of the big buzz books at BookExpo America (BEA), and it was so well presented that I was looking forward to it. I really enjoyed Tropper’s previous books, THE BOOK OF JOE, EVERYTHING CHANGES and HOW TO TALK TO A WIDOWER, but this one definitely is his best. The plot goes like this. Judd Foxman comes home on the afternoon of his wife’s birthday with flowers in hand and finds her in bed with another man, his boss. And if that was not enough bad news, he also learns his dad has died, and his last request was that the family sit shiva for seven days, which is even more incredulous to him as his dad was not even religious! So now his family gets to hunker down and mourn together where they are locked in the inevitable question of how they all can be related and still be sane. It’s so funny that I was laughing --- loudly --- so loudly that I am glad the new neighbors were working on their house next door with lots of banging so they did not wonder WHAT was going on next door.

I failed to mention a book that I read a few weeks ago called AFTER ETAN: The Missing Child Case That Held America Captive by Lisa R. Cohen. I remembered this story all too well. On May 25, 1979, six-year-old Etan Patz left his home and walked to the school bus two blocks away. It was the first time he ever had been allowed to walk to the bus on his own. He never was seen again. I remember this story when it broke. It seemed that everywhere --- even my quiet suburban town in NJ because his uncle was the local rabbi --- there were pictures of this smiling young blond boy. It was a watershed story in that it changed how we raised our children. Reading it I cannot believe it’s been 30 years since this happened. Cohen, who covered the story for "60 Minutes" and "Primetime Live," had the background to deliver this story with the details that many of us never knew. I was describing this story in the office and suddenly realized how young many of our staffers are, as few were even born when this story broke, so they had no perspective on life before there were children on milk cartons.

Our Father’s Day Contest ends on Monday, and thus we encourage you to enter to win a cooler bag with some very manly dad-like prizes and six books that dads will love. They all are terrific suggestions for those of you who are doing some dad shopping this weekend. We also have two sports features going up this week: a Summer Golf Roundup from Stuart Shiffman and a New York Baseball Roundup from Ron Kaplan.

THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN, which is a book I just loved last year and was the inspiration for Bookreporter.com Bets On, is now out in paperback. If you missed it last year, take a look at it now.

I have the equivalent of a walk-on part in THE ACCIDENTAL BESTSELLER by Wendy Wax, which is now in stores. Wendy, who is a friend, approached me last year and asked if she could use my name and my persona in a book she was writing that took place in the publishing business. The part where I appear happens after an awards ceremony where one of the four protagonists has lost a book award she wanted to win. She runs into Daisy Maryles (formerly from Publishers Weekly), Bette Lee Fox (from Library Journal) and me, and we all murmur our regrets on what happens. My line sounds so much like me that I was smiling as I read it. Most amusing. Very enjoyable.

We are launching a new Suspense/Thriller feature for THE SHIMMER, David Morrell’s latest novel releasing on July 7th. In it, a police officer’s search for his missing wife leads him to a remote Texas town where unexplained phenomena attract hundreds of spectators every night. Since the 1970s, Morrell has consistently delivered masterful storytelling, and this book is certainly no different. We have 10 copies of THE SHIMMER to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and comment about it. If you are interested, please fill out this form by Friday, June 19th.

This week we have three books that are part of the Bookreporter.com Beach Bag of Books Contest:
DRIFTWOOD SUMMER by Patti Callahan Henry, SUMMER HOUSE by Nancy Thayer and THE UNIT by Ninni Holmqvist. I love pulling together these colorful bags each week, and I confess that I usually end up buying at least a few of them for myself.

Many thanks to those of you who submitted ideas that you wanted me to share with publishers, booksellers and librarians during the recent BookExpo America (BEA) events in New York. Over the course of the three panels that I moderated about book clubs and trade paperbacks, I was able to communicate your feedback. A podcast of one of the panels where I was joined by four book club facilitators and members can be heard here.

It’s been so cold here these last weeks that the pool is still a chilly 60 degrees. I jumped in last weekend and jumped about a bit before I jumped out. Lots of jumping is not the same as swimming. Here’s to warmer days ahead so I can swim and not jump. Another quiet weekend is planned here. I have a wicked business travel schedule in July, so I am trying to clock as much time here as possible doing as little as possible these next weeks. Here’s wishing you good weather, a better week and a book to read that makes you say, “THAT was great."


Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])

 
Now in Stores: ROBERT LUDLUM'S THE BOURNE DECEPTION by Eric Van Lustbader
ROBERT LUDLUM’S THE BOURNE DECEPTION by Eric Van Lustbader (Thriller)
The mysterious Arkadin is still hot on Jason Bourne's trail and the two continue their struggle, reversing roles of hunter and hunted. When Bourne is ambushed and badly wounded, he fakes his death and goes into hiding. In safety, he takes on a new identity, and begins a mission to find out who tried to assassinate him. Meanwhile, an American passenger airliner is shot down over Egypt by what seems to be an Iranian missile. A global investigative team is assembled to get to the truth of the situation before it escalates into an international scandal.

-Visit Eric Van Lustbader’s official website, www.EricVanLustbader.com.

 
Click here to read more about THE BOURNE DECEPTION.

 
Our Summer Beach Bag Contest: Spotlight This Week on THREE Titles
Whether your "beach" is on sand, your backyard deck or a grassy meadow in the country, the summer months mean it's time for "beach reading." Bookreporter.com is celebrating the lazy days of summer reading with our Fifth Annual Bookreporter.com Beach Bag of Books feature and contests.

During select weeks from May 22nd through September 4th, a different title or collection of titles will be featured with a contest prize --- a beach bag stocked with the featured book(s) and summertime essentials. Five FABULOUS beach bags will be given away each week, as well as five copies of the featured book(s) to additional winners.


This week we’re spotlighting a collection of three titles: DRIFTWOOD SUMMER by Patti Callahan Henry, SUMMER HOUSE by Nancy Thayer and THE UNIT by Ninni Holmqvist. In a cute yellow plaid shoulder-style beach bag, winners will find a striped beach towel, green and yellow fish-shaped towel clips to hold a beach towel in place, green and blue flip-flops, an inflatable beach float, a colorful striped coffee mug, a lime wedge-shaped tissue box and a bottle of Banana Boat water resistant sunscreen, as well as a copy of DRIFTWOOD SUMMER, SUMMER HOUSE and THE UNIT. We have five to give away, as well as five additional prizes of copies of DRIFTWOOD SUMMER, SUMMER HOUSE and THE UNIT.

To enter, fill out this form and answer ONE of the following questions by Thursday, June 18th at 11:59PM.

Question for DRIFTWOOD SUMMER:
Why is the Driftwood Cottage Bookstore holding a party?

You can find the answer by reading the excerpt here.

Question for SUMMER HOUSE:
What is the size of Charlotte’s garden?

You can find the answer by reading the excerpt here.

Question for THE UNIT:font>
What are the names of Dorrit’s section orderlies?

You can find the answer by reading the excerpt here.


DRIFTWOOD SUMMER by Patti Callahan Henry (Fiction)
In her latest intriguing tale, Patti Callahan Henry skillfully weaves together the lives of three sisters --- Riley, Maisy and Adalee --- who reunite in an attempt to save the family bookstore. Conflicts arise with the return of Mack Logan, who unwittingly instigated the long-standing rift between Riley and Maisy. Both still yearn for him. When the choice is between "the true love of your life" romance and family healing, what will happen? Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

-Read more about Patti Callahan Henry and DRIFTWOOD SUMMER here.


SUMMER HOUSE by Nancy Thayer (Fiction)
From the New York Times bestselling author of MOON SHELL BEACH comes a moving new novel about an unexpectedly magical summer for three generations of women. Artfully written and set on the glorious island of Nantucket, Nancy Thayer’s SUMMER HOUSE is a vibrant and stirring work of fiction about family, love and daily choices that affect entire lives.

-Read more about Nancy Thayer and SUMMER HOUSE here.

THE UNIT by Ninni Holmqvist (Fiction)
One day in early spring, Dorrit Weger is checked into the Second Reserve Bank Unit for biological material. Here, women over the age of 50 and men over 60 --- single, childless, and without jobs in progressive industries --- are expected to contribute themselves for the good of society. Despite the ruthless nature of this practice, Dorrit finds her conditions pleasant and comfortable. But when she meets a man and falls in love, the extraordinary becomes a reality and Dorrit is faced with compliance or escape.

-Read more about Ninni Holmqvist and THE UNIT here.


Click here to read all the details of our Summer Beach Bag Contest.

 
Bookreporter.com's Fourth Annual Father's Day Contest: Best Books for Dad
Father’s Day is a time to celebrate the men in our lives who have raised and inspired us. Why not show Dad your appreciation by inspiring him with a great book? From May 29th through June 15th, readers will have the chance to win one of our five Father’s Day Tote Bag Coolers, which are stocked with handy and fun items for Dad as well as one copy of all six of our featured titles. Whether he is a fan of suspense novels, uplifting stories --- or if he’s just looking for great summer cooking ideas --- Bookreporter.com has the perfect gift suggestions for the dad in your life.

*We've extended the contest entry deadline to Monday, June 15th, so click here to enter this contest!

Our featured Father’s Day titles are:

-BOBBY FLAY'S BURGERS, FRIES, AND SHAKES by Bobby Flay
-THE BOOK OF DADS: Essays on the Joys, Perils, and Humiliations of Fatherhood edited by Ben George
-DIAMONDHEAD by Patrick Robinson
-HURRY DOWN SUNSHINE: A Memoir by Michael Greenberg
-NUDGE: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein
-THE SHADOW OF THE WIND by Carlos Ruiz Zafón


 
Click here to read all the contest details.

 
New Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: David Morrell, Author of THE SHIMMER
Creator of Rambo and cofounder of the International Thriller Writers Organization, award-winning and New York Times bestselling author David Morrell has been called “the father of the modern action novel.” In THE SHIMMER, his new novel releasing on July 7th, a police officer’s search for his missing wife leads him to a small Texas town that is the site of a mysterious --- and possibly deadly --- phenomenon.

We have 10 advance copies of THE SHIMMER to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and comment about it. If you are interested, please fill out this form by Friday, June 19th.

-Click here to read David Morrell’s bio.
-Visit David Morrell’s official website, www.DavidMorrell.net.
-Visit the official book website, www.ShimmerBook.com.

More about THE SHIMMER:
In New York Times bestselling author David Morrell’s new novel, THE SHIMMER, bizarre phenomena draw hundreds of people to a remote Texas town, including a Santa Fe police officer and his wife who find themselves plunged into violence and bloodshed that quickly spiral out of control. But has the military known about --- and exploited --- these inexplicable phenomena for decades, thus unleashing forces they may not be able to control?

 
Click here to read more about David Morrell and THE SHIMMER.

 
Feautured Women's Fiction Author: Mary Kay Andrews, Author of THE FIXER UPPER

Mary Kay Andrews is the New York Times bestselling author of many acclaimed books, including DEEP DISH and SAVANNAH BREEZE. In THE FIXER UPPER, which will be available on June 23rd, Andrews offers a hilarious novel about one woman's quest to redo an old house...and her life.

-Click here to read an excerpt from THE FIXER UPPER.
-Click here to read Mary Kay Andrews’s bio.
-Click here to see Mary Kay Andrews's backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for THE FIXER UPPER.
-Visit Mary Kay Andrews’s official website, www.MaryKayAndrews.com.
-Click here to watch a video in which Mary Kay Andrews discusses THE FIXER UPPER.
-Click here to read Mary Kay Andrews's blog.
-Become of fan of Mary Kay Andrews on Facebook here.
-Follow Mary Kay Andrews on Twitter here.
-Click here to see our finished copy winners.

More about THE FIXER UPPER:
After her boss in a Washington PR firm is caught in a scandal, lobbyist Dempsey Jo Killebrew is left broke, unemployed and homeless. Out of options, she reluctantly accepts her father's offer to help refurbish Birdsong, a dilapidated, Pepto Bismol–pink Victorian house he recently inherited in Guthrie, Georgia. The delightful New York Times bestselling author returns with a hilarious novel about one woman's quest to redo an old house...and her life.

 

Click here to read more about Mary Kay Andrews and THE FIXER UPPER.

 
Featured Debut Suspense/Thriller Author: Henry Perez, Author of KILLING RED

Henry Perez has worked as a newspaper reporter for more than a decade. In his debut thriller novel, KILLING RED, a reporter’s dream story --- an interview with a notorious serial killer --- leads to a frightening race again time. KILLING RED is now available in stores.

-Click here to read an excerpt from KILLING RED.
-Click here to read Henry Perez’s bio.
-Click here to read critical praise for KILLING RED.
-Visit Henry Perez's official website, www.HenryPerezBooks.com.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.

More about KILLING RED:
On death row, serial killer Kenneth Lee Grubb has six days to live, and his last request is an interview with reporter Alex Chapa. What begins as a dream story soon turns into a nightmare for Alex. For amidst Grubb’s taunts and boasts lies the horrific claim that someone is carefully repeating his past crimes. When nine people suddenly turn up dead, Alex realizes Grubb is telling the truth. Now the copycat killer is ready to pay his ultimate tribute to his idol. He’s set his sights on Annie “Red” Sykes, the only survivor of his bloodlust 15 years ago.

 

Click here to read more about Henry Perez and KILLING RED.

 
Featured Mystery Mayhem Author: Dorothy Howell, Author of HANDBAGS AND HOMICIDE

Now available in paperback, HANDBAGS AND HOMICIDE is the first novel in Dorothy Howell’s Haley Randolph Mystery series. When a fashion-obsessed salesclerk finds her boss dead, she must team up with the store’s head of loss prevention to search for the killer. The second novel in the series, PURSES AND POISON, will be in stores on June 30th.

-Click here to read an excerpt from HANDBAGS AND HOMICIDE.
-Click here to read Dorothy Howell’s bio.
-Click here to read critical praise for HANDBAGS AND HOMICIDE.
-Visit Dorothy Howell’s official website, www.DorothyHowellNovels.com.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.

More about HANDBAGS AND HOMICIDE:
Witty, smart and always chic, Haley Randolph has it all: Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Coach, Burberry, and she’d kill for the newest Louis Vuitton handbag...but it seems she’s not the only one. When someone’s passion for designer purses leads to murder, Haley goes shopping for a killer and to clear her name.

 

Click here to read more about Dorothy Howell and HANDBAGS AND HOMICIDE.

 
Featured Literary Fiction Author: George Rabasa, Author of THE WONDER SINGER
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Throughout his career, George Rabasa’s work has been met with critical acclaim and recognized by numerous awards, including The Writer’s Voice Capricorn Award for Excellence in Fiction, the Minnesota Book Award for Short Stories and Minnesota Book Award for Fiction. Now available in paperback, Rabasa’s novel THE WONDER SINGER is an operatic literary caper about one grandly beautiful life and one young writer’s manic attempt to expand his world by capturing it.

-Click here to read a second excerpt from THE WONDER SINGER.
-Click here to read George Rabasa’s bio.
-Click here to see George Rabasa's backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for THE WONDER SINGER.
-Visit George Rabasa’s official website, www.GeorgeRabasa.com.
-Click here to listen to George Rabasa’s radio interview with Minnesota Public radio, October 3, 2008.
-To pay your respects to Ms. Casals, we invite you to check out the Diva’s fan page on Facebook.
-To hear opera selections that inspired this story, please click here.
-More about Mark Lockwood, his series for teens and his work with the Diva can be found at Unbridled Books and Facebook.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.

More about THE WONDER SINGER:
George Rabasa’s novel, THE WONDER SINGER, is an entertaining literary caper, often funny, beautifully told and rich with history.

For freelance writer Mark Lockwood, landing the job as ghost writer for opera diva Mercè Casals is a dream. But when she dies in her bath and her agent wants to give the project to a renowned celebrity biographer, Lockwood makes off with the interview tapes to save his last best chance at writing success.

 

Click here to read more about George Rabasa and THE WONDER SINGER.

 
Featured Women's Fiction Author: Heather Barbieri, Author of THE LACE MAKERS OF GLENMARA
Heather Barbieri has won international prizes for her short fiction. Her previous book, SNOW IN JULY, was a Book Sense Pick, a Glamour Magazine Riveting Read and a Library Journal Notable First Novel. THE LACE MAKERS OF GLENMARA, her new novel releasing on June 23rd, is an enchanting tale of love and friendship in which a young woman journeys to Ireland to mend her broken heart, and helps a group of local lace makers change their lives --- and ultimately her own.

-Click here to read a second excerpt from THE LACE MAKERS OF GLENMARA.
-Click here to read Heather Barbieri’s bio.

-Click here to see Heather Barbieri's backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for THE LACE MAKERS OF GLENMARA.
-Visit Heather Barbieri’s official website, www.HeatherBarbieri.com.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.

More about THE LACE MAKERS OF GLENMARA:
"You can always start again," Kate Robinson's mother once told her, "all it takes is a new thread." Overwhelmed by heartbreak and loss, the struggling 26-year-old fashion designer follows her mother's advice and flees to her ancestral homeland of Ireland, hoping to break free of old patterns and reinvent herself. An enchanting, romantic tale of friendship and love in which a young American woman helps a group of lace makers change their lives --- and, ultimately, her own.

 
Click here to read more about Heather Barbieri and THE LACE MAKERS OF GLENMARA.

 
Summer Golf Reading for 2009
Sunday, June 21st marks not only Father’s Day, but also the final round of the United States Open, the second major golf championship of the year. This year’s Open returns to Bethpage Black, one of the nation’s most famous and difficult public courses. In 2002, the course underwent substantial redesign and renovation in anticipation of the Open. Tiger Woods emerged victorious, and he returns to the New York course this year having won not only at Bethpage, but also at Torrey Pines in California last year. Father’s Day, the U.S. Open and summer usually signal the publication of a variety of enjoyable and entertaining books focusing on the game of golf. Once again, a number of excellent golf-related titles are available on the shelves of bookstores for golfers or for those looking for a gift for their golfing father or friend.
 
Click here to read our roundup of summer golf books.

 
2009 New York Baseball Roundup
As the Mets and Yankees prepare for another go-round of interleague play, fans might consider six recently published titles that highlight a few key players for each --- in some cases both --- of the teams, including Yogi Berra, Roger Clemens, Darryl Strawberry, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling. You know, for those interminable pitching changes or commercial breaks.
 
Click here to read our roundup of New York baseball books.

 
Books into Movies/Books into Movies on DVD for June
There's no shortage of drama this month, as June's Books into Movies feature spotlights three films heavily dosed with romance, heartbreak and tragedy. In limited release are Chéri --- a Stephen Frears-directed, turn-of-the-century period piece about a mismatched pair of lovers who discover their true feelings for one another too late --- and The Stoning of Soraya M., a Toronto Film Festival favorite that chronicles the haunting, true story of a woman's arranged marriage to an abusive husband in 1986 Iran. Hitting theaters on the same day is the guaranteed tear-jerker My Sister's Keeper, based on Jodi Picoult's bestselling emotional rollercoaster of a novel about an 11-year-old girl seeking emancipation from her parents, who have been using her to keep her older, cancer-stricken sister alive.

This month's DVD releases include the Oscar-nominated Revolutionary Road, the family-friendly adventure Inkheart, and the charming comedy Confessions of a Shopaholic.
 
Click here for more details about June's films.

 
This Week's Reviews
ROADSIDE CROSSES by Jeffery Deaver (Thriller)
ROADSIDE CROSSES, Jeffery Deaver’s latest novel, offers a bit of a departure from the work of one of thriller fiction’s most unpredictable and reliable practitioners. It marks both the return of Kathryn Dance, last seen in THE SLEEPING DOLL, and a continuation of that book, tying up one major loose end left over from its predecessor and creating a number of new ones. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read an excerpt from ROADSIDE CROSSES.

ROAD DOGS by Elmore Leonard (Thriller)
Legendary New York Times bestselling author Elmore Leonard returns with three of his favorite characters: Jack Foley from OUT OF SIGHT, Cundo Rey from LaBRAVA, and Dawn Navarro from RIDING THE RAP. They are back in action and working together. Or are they? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

FUGITIVE by Phillip Margolin (Legal Thriller)
Amanda Jaffe, the heroine of three previous Phillip Margolin thrillers (WILD JUSTICE, TIES THAT BIND, PROOF POSITIVE), is back in FUGITIVE, a twisting tale of international intrigue and murder that leads her deep into the past and the crosshairs of a killer. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

DARE TO DIE: A Death on Demand Mystery by Carolyn Hart (Mystery)
Annie and Max Darling are completely unprepared when the arrival of a mysterious young woman shocks their sea island and stirs up more than just gossip. It turns out that Iris, the beautiful stranger, is a former resident of Broward's Rock. Her presence throws the normally happy town into a downward spiral that pits neighbor against neighbor. Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.

SUNNYSIDE by Glen David Gold (Fiction)
Glen David Gold, author of the bestseller CARTER BEATS THE DEVIL, has written a novel with the brilliantly realized figure of Charlie Chaplin at its center that captures the moment when American capitalism, a world at war, and the emerging mecca of Hollywood intersect to spawn an enduring culture of celebrity. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

THE CITY & THE CITY by China Miéville (Urban Fantasy)
Two cities, long-time neighbors, exist in a state of contempt, each a home to people who are required to ignore the citizens of the other. Rules are enforced to keep the two separate, but one little murder throws all of it into chaos as two investigators, one from each city, must work together to get to the bottom of a growing, and sinister, case. Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.

IN THE DARK by Brian Freeman (Thriller)
Two young lovers. A sultry summer night. One brutal, cold-blooded murder. In this stunning, atmospheric thriller, Brian Freeman takes you deep into Detective Jonathan Stride’s complicated past. Can Stride put to rest the ghosts of his past, or will they devour him whole? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE WAY WE WERE by Marcia Willett (Fiction)
The lives of two friends intertwine and merge in this engrossing drama, which tantalizes readers with mysteries and secrets. Marcia Willett gradually unveils the puzzle pieces, some from the past and others from the present, to form a satisfying and poignant portrait of family and friendship. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

THE LAST WAR by Ana Menendez (Fiction)
Flash, a photojournalist, chases conflicts around the globe with her war correspondent husband, Brando. Now Brando is in Iraq, awaiting her arrival. Yet instead of racing to join him, Flash idles in Istanbul, vaguely aware that her marriage is faltering. THE LAST WAR reveals the personal costs of combat journalism while probing crucial questions of cruelty and violence, love and identity. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.

BURNT SHADOWS by Kamila Shamsie (Fiction)
This epic novel, spanning from 1945 Nagasaki to post-9/11 New York City, is a moving examination of the intertwining relationships of two families. The story is thoughtful, complex and elegantly written while remaining a page-turner. Most of all, it is absolutely unforgettable. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

BLACK WATER RISING by Attica Locke (Thriller)
In Atticka Locke’s debut thriller, an evening of celebration turns into a deadly night of murder. Jay Porter is afraid to share his information with the police, and someone is making sure he doesn’t change his mind. He must decide whether to risk his life or his integrity. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

THE ILLUSTRIOUS DEAD: The Terrifying Story of How Typhus Killed Napoleon's Greatest Army by Stephan Talty (History)
In a masterful dual narrative that pits the heights of human ambition and achievement against the supremacy of nature, New York Times bestselling author Stephan Talty tells the story of a mighty ruler and a tiny microbe, antagonists whose struggle would shape the modern world. Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds.

 
Read this week's reviews here.

 
Poll, Question and Word of Mouth

Poll:

In the past six months, have you been browsing in bookstores as much as you had in the past?

Yes, I still am a big browser.
No, I have been browsing a lot less.
No, I never browsed, but rather just went to the store knowing what to buy.
I am not sure what I am doing.


-Click here to answer our poll.


Question:

Name a book (up to three) that you discovered just by browsing in a store.

-Click here to answer our question.



Word of Mouth:

Tell us what books YOU are reading and loving --- or even those you don't.


This week we have three great prizes: FIVE readers each will win a copy of THE ANGEL’S GAME by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, AT LEAST IN THE CITY SOMEONE WOULD HEAR ME SCREAM by Wade Rouse and THE BOURNE DECEPTION by Eric Van Lustbader. Tell us what you are reading and rate the titles 1-5 by noon on June 19th to ensure that you are in the running to win these books.
 

Need more details about Word of Mouth? Click here.

 

As always, here are a few housekeeping notes. If you are seeing this newsletter in a text version, and would prefer to see the graphics, you can either read it online or change your preferences below.

Those of you who wish to send mail to Bookreporter.com, please see the form on the Write to Us page. If you would like to reach me, please write [email protected]. Writing any of the respond buttons below will not get to us.

Those who are subscribed to the Bookreporter.com newsletter by June 30, 2009 automatically are entered in our Monthly Newsletter Contest. This month, one winner will be selected to win the following five books: THE ANGEL’S GAME by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, THE BOURNE DECEPTION by Eric Van Lustbader, THE FIXER UPPER by Mary Kay Andrews, KILLER SUMMER by Ridley Pearson and THE STRAIN by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. Dan from Andover, NJ was last month's newsletter winner. He won GONE TOMORROW: A Reacher Novel by Lee Child, ROAD DOGS by Elmore Leonard, THE SCARECROW by Michael Connelly, SHANGHAI GIRLS by Lisa See and THE SIGN by Raymond Khoury

Happy reading! Don't forget to forward this newsletter to a friend or to visit our other websites from TheBookReportNetwork.com: ReadingGroupGuides.com, GraphicNovelReporter.com, FaithfulReader.com, Teenreads.com, Kidsreads.com, AuthorsOnTheWeb.com and AuthorYellowPages.com.

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