March 23, 2001

Dear Reader:

For me, one of the nicest things about working at The Book Report Network is the opportunity to meet authors and talk to them about their books. This week I interviewed Jonathan Hull, author of the novel LOSING JULIA. You might remember that a few weeks ago I mentioned that Word of Mouth readers were raving about this book, and that my sister had told me it was one of the best books she had ever read. Needless to say, I couldn't resist reading it. In my opinion all of the praise readers have been heaping on the book is more than justified. It was an incredibly moving and satisfying story that I'll be thinking about for a long time. Talking to Hull about LOSING JULIA added layers of insight and deepened the reading experience. I hope you enjoy the interview with him, as well as our conversation with Sara Backer, a poet and short story writer who recently made her debut as a novelist with AMERICAN FUJI, about a single American woman living in Japan.

After sending this newsletter to press (so to speak) today, I'm headed to Charlottesville, Virginia, for the Virginia Festival of the Book, an annual book fair for kids and adults. I am a judge in the first-ever Independent e-Book Awards, which honors authors whose have made their work available digitally, either through self-publishing or an independent publisher, for outstanding accomplishments. Winners will be announced at the Festival. With eBooks only in their infancy, writers who publish in this medium are often truly innovative, and it's exciting to be involved in discovering and honoring some of these talented authors. Next week, we'll announce the award winners on Bookreporter.com, so stay tuned.

When I think about eBooks, I always think that children will be a great market for them. Watching my children read and play online makes me realize that their world always had computers in it, unlike so many of the rest of us.

Stuck on what to do with a child on a computer? Bored with buying software and games? We recommend Clever Island, a subscription service for kids ages 3-7, offering online games that help kids develop important skills in language, numbers and critical thinking. Clever Island's advanced technology makes learning fun with colorful graphics, animation and sounds. This multimedia approach makes it possible for children to use the website even without reading skills. Clever Island is designed for family use, allowing more than one child to register under each subscription, and providing parents with information about what skills their children are learning. Clever Island is offering a free 30-day trial for Bookreporter.com users. To learn more, click here.

Question of the Week

In honor of Women's History Month, we turn the spotlight onto literary history in particular and ask, What female author do you feel had a significant influence on literature? To reply, click here.

Last week's question was, What book about your cultural heritage would you recommend to other readers? Read the responses here.

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NEW THIS WEEK

Bookreporter.com Talks to ...

Jonathan Hull Jonathan Hull, author of LOSING JULIA, reveals his thoughts on love, war and aging in this in-depth interview with Bookreporter.com's Carol Fitzgerald.

Sara Backer Sara Backer highlights some cultural dissimilarities between America and Japan and tells how her own experiences impacted her novel, AMERICAN FUJI, in an interview with Bookreporter.com's Jana Siciliano.

Features

DREAMCATCHER by Stephen King When hunters encounter terror in a Maine woods, readers get a double dose of chills from a horrifying alien and the psychopath sent to destroy it. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub and excerpted.

THE VILLA by Nora Roberts Treachery and murder abound when two renowned wineries attempt to conduct a merger. Reviewed by Debbie Ann Weiner and excerpted.

POTSHOT by Robert B. Parker Spenser, Hawk, and a few faces from the past are in for some surprises when they join forces against a gang terrorizing an Arizona resort town. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub and excerpted.

CRACKS by Sheila Kohler At a reunion of women who once comprised the elite swim team of a small South African girls' school, horrifying secrets from their past resurface. Reviewed by Dana Schwartz and excerpted.

LOSING JULIA by Jonathan Hull A beautifully crafted story of love, reflection, hope and regret, LOSING JULIA is a multilayered book that readers will reflect on for a long time. Reviewed by Carol Fitzgerald.

AMERICAN FUJI by Sara Backer As Americans trying to assimilate into Japanese society, a single woman and a father mourning his son's death face a complexity of social obstacles. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano and excerpted.

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Reviews

WITHIN FOUR WALLS edited by Lotte Kohler From lover's correspondence to historical references, the letters exchanged between Hannah Arendt and Heinrich Blucher have an emotional impact. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.

WHEN WE WERE GODS: A Novel of Cleopatra by Colin Falconer An imaginative portrait of Egypt's most fascinating queen that adds far more dimension to her character than legend and Hollywood ever have. Reviewed by Laura Carter.

FLIGHT: An Irene Kelly Mystery by Jan Burke A challenging investigation into four ten-year-old murders takes readers back in time to acquaint them with the victims and their intersecting lives. Reviewed by Michelle Calabro Hubbard.

(PB) GHOST WRITER by Rene Gutteridge A senior editor juggling personal and professional dilemmas begins receiving anonymous manuscripts that reveal every private, painful moment of his life. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

(PB) SPEAKING WITH THE ANGEL by Nick Hornby A collection of twelve original, first-person stories from today's hottest and hippest authors. Reviewed by Lazarus Penultimate.

(AUDIOBOOK) IN THE HEART OF THE SEA: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick Winner of last year's National Book Award for nonfiction, this historic chronicle of the perils of whaling is an incredible journey. Reviewed by Marge Fletcher.

Perspectives: Women's History Month

Better Late...Than Never Ann Bruns reflects on the contributions of Pearl S. Buck as China ends a decades-long embargo of her work.

Rewriting Herstory Jennifer Abbots comments on the importance of books to the women's movement and recommends titles to inspire and educate feminist readers.

One Word of Mouth contributor this week will win AIDING AND ABETTING by Muriel Spark. For details, visit Word of Mouth.

Every month one Bookreporter.com newsletter subscriber wins a $50 Amazon.com gift certificate. To subscribe to the newsletter and automatically be entered to win, send an e-mail to newsletter@bookreporter.com with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. If you already receive this newsletter in your e-mailbox every week, why not forward it to a friend? (For the official contest rules, click here.)

Spring is finally here! Hope this week brings you sunny weather and good reading.

--- Carol Fitzgerald ( Carol@Bookreporter.com) for The Book Report Network: Bookreporter.com * ReadingGroupGuides.com * Teenreads.com * Kidsreads.com *AuthorsOnTheWeb*