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March
30, 2001
Dear
Reader:
When
we change the clocks this weekend, my favorite pastime is going
to suffer. These last few weeks, the early entry of sunlight through
my bedroom window has awakened me in time to do some serious reading
before the rest of the house gets out of bed. It's been wonderfully
relaxing to rise at the crack of dawn and spend a peaceful hour
or so with a great book before beginning my hectic day.
I am
especially glad that these stolen moments gave me a chance to read
THE
BLACK MADONNA, a novel by Louisa Ermelino. Ermelino draws
from her experiences growing up in New York City's Little Italy
to paint a colorful and highly comical picture of this lively immigrant
neighborhood in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. The story centers on the
powers of the Black Madonna, protector of villagers in Southern
Italy and, it seems, of women in Little Italy who need a bit of
divine intervention to keep their sons under control. Ermelino's
characterizations of old-school Italian-American women had me laughing
as I recalled my Italian relatives living their lives by the same
quirky superstitions. If you're looking for a warmhearted story
about Italian-Americans that's antidote to the corrupt gangster
world of The Sopranos, I recommend this book.
Sunday
is not only the day of the changing of the clocks --- it's also
April Fool's Day (sounds like a dangerous combination to me). In
the spirit of fun, we pose as the
Question of the Week, "What is the funniest book you ever read?"
We're looking forward to making a list of the books that make you
laugh! To reply, click
here.
Last
week's question was, What female author do you feel had a significant
influence on literature? Read the responses here.
Publisher's
Pick
Big Red: Three Months on Board a Trident
Nuclear Submarine by Douglas C. Waller
In
chilling detail, Big Red reveals the top-secret procedures for
starting World War Three--the secret codes, the elaborate fail-safe
mechanisms, the highly classified battle tactics for nuclear combat.
http://www.douglascwaller.com/dw/
NEW
THIS WEEK
Bookreporter.com
Talks to ...
Amy
Tan
With THE BONESETTER'S DAUGHTER on bestseller lists across the county,
Amy Tan talks to Bookreporter.com's Jami Edwards about the emotional
bonds, personal denouement, and responsibilities inherent to her
writing.
Adair
Lara
Adair Lara, author of HOLD ME CLOSE, LET ME GO, reflects on her
own adolescence and offers some tips for both parents and teens
in an interview with Bookreporter.com's Melanie Okadigwe.
Give your kids a trip to Clever Island! Clever Island's online learning
fun is trusted by parents and endorsed by teachers to develop the
skills kids need to learn and grow. Perfect for kids ages 3-7.
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Features
1ST
TO DIE by James Patterson A quartet of heroines nicknamed
the Women's Murder Club investigate a series of newlyweds' deaths
in this complex thriller that's soon to be a television miniseries.
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub and excerpted.
REAGAN,
IN HIS OWN HAND: The Writings of Ronald Reagan That Reveal His Revolutionary
Vision for America by Ronald Reagan, et al. Taken
from actual radio addresses, this volume reveals a man of eloquence
and vision who's often been misjudged. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
and excerpted.
HILLARY'S
TURN: Inside Her Improbable, Victorious Senate Campaign by Michael
Tomasky A balanced and colorful examination of the media-frenzied
political campaign that rocked New York. Reviewed by Robert Finn
and excerpted.
HOLD
ME CLOSE, LET ME GO: A Mother, A Daughter, and an Adolescence Survived
by Adair Lara An honest, deeply revealing account of a mother-daughter
relationship that takes a hard look at teenage pressures and the
broad scope of family dynamics. Reviewed by Melanie Okadigwe and
excerpted.
New
and Newish In Paperback
"The paperback is very interesting, but I find it will
never replace the hardcover book - it makes a very poor doorstop".
----- Alfred Hitchcock Hitch may have a point, but Sarah Brennan
sees real value in these new paperbacks.
Written
in the Stars: Aries Disappointed by "must read" recommendations?
Astrology might prove to be your best guide to the right books.
Sci
Fi and Fantasy Fans:
Try these magazines Risk-Free for 90 days!
Asimov's
Science Fiction
Sci-Fi
Entertainment
Analog
Science Fiction
The
Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Realms
of Fantasy
Reviews
ROBBERS
by Christopher Cook A pair of unsavory characters star in
this suspenseful and chillingly unpredictable ride along the backroads
of rural East Texas. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
DREAM
BROTHER: The Lives and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley by David Brown
The distant yet entangled relationship of father and son is captured
in this poignant biography about parallel music careers and tragically
short lives. Reviewed by Scott Dietsch.
THE
LAST LIFE by Claire Messud A young French girl comes of
age while attempting to uncover the truth about her convoluted and
rapidly disintegrating family circle. Reviewed by Laura Carter.
TRAILER
GIRL by Therese Svoboda A collection of stories depicting
disconcerting images of sorrowful lives. Reviewed by Stephanie Sorensen.
(PB)
THE COLLECTED SHORT FICTION OF BRUCE JAY FRIEDMAN
Entertaining and insightful, Friedman's short stories embody
his remarkable mastery of satirical prose when applied to the human
experience. Reviewed by Ann Bruns
(PB) SUCCESSFUL WOMEN, ANGRY
MEN by Bebe Moore Campbell
A re-issue of the 1986 book about the stresses and perils of
successful, ambitious women juggling marriage, children and careers.
Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
A PAINTED HOUSE by John Grisham,
read by David Lansbury
In a departure from his usual work, Grisham delivers a powerful
story of sharecroppers, migrant workers, and the complexion of rural
Southern society in the '50s. Reviewed by Marge Fletcher.
Browse
more new and upcoming releases here.
Perspectives:
Women's History Month
THE
INJUSTICES OF WIDOWHOOD: A Long Overdue Look Into A Much Neglected
Area of Human Rights Abuse
Margaret Owen, author of A WORLD OF WIDOWS, shares some eye-opening
revelations about the state of widowhood in other societies around
the globe.
Comfy
reading chairs...bright reading lamps...
smooth fountain pens...inspiring journals...
Luxuries for readers and writers at
Levenger.com.
A
revealing peek inside Lisa Scottoline's world, the growing popularity
of Ira Glass's PBS radio show, and a brief history of the evolution
of the short story are in this month's BOOK
magazine.
If
you've been keeping an eye on the weather report for the New York
City area, you know that this weekend it's supposed to rain, rain,
rain. You know how I'll be spending the rainy afternoons --- book
in hand! Hope you have a great weekend, too.
---
Carol Fitzgerald ( Carol@Bookreporter.com)
for The Book Report Network: Bookreporter.com * ReadingGroupGuides.com * Teenreads.com * Kidsreads.com *AuthorsOnTheWeb*
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