Dear Reader:

A few weeks ago I told you how much I wanted to visit Vietnam after reading UP COUNTRY by Nelson DeMille. This week I share another book with you that made an impact on me --- Terrence Cheng's SONS OF HEAVEN. It's the fictionalized account of events in China surrounding the uprising in Tiananmen Square. The story is brilliant as it takes you into the lives of two brothers --- one a student and one a soldier --- and explores how they live in a world steeped in old world culture and new world dreams.

SONS OF HEAVEN is not due in bookstores till April 30th, but we are offering 10 Bookreporter.com readers a chance to read an advanced reading copy now --- and share their thoughts about it. If you have time to read this in the next 3 weeks and share your feedback with me, please drop a note with your name and snail mail address to me at Carol@bookreporter.com. We'll choose 10 people at random. By the way, if you are not chosen for this reading, we will have other opportunities like this in the weeks and months ahead. For more about Terrence Cheng and the story behind SONS OF HEAVEN read Author Talk: Terrence Cheng.

Monday marks six months since the tragic events of September 11th. There are so many human interest stories that have been shared in newspapers, magazine pieces and books about this day that changed America. A newly released book came across my desk this week called LOVE, GREG and LAUREN by Greg Manning. It is the story of Lauren Manning, who was critically burned in the lobby of the Trade Center. The story is told by her husband Greg through a series of emails to their friends, updating them on her progress, and signed "Love, Greg and Lauren." I started this book last night and read till my eyes closed. This morning I reached for it again when I woke up. A sign of a good book.

Months ago I read a piece of mail where people were saying that we cannot afford to forget September 11th. Just as in World War II we said, Remember Pearl Harbor, remembering and sharing these stories will keep us realizing this is an ongoing battle. You may feel the same way reading Manning's book.

For all of our readers in Georgia, here is a link to the book that Georgia is reading as part of their statewide reading initiative --- ECOLOGY OF A CRACKER CHILDHOOD. So many cities and states are doing this. In the next few weeks, we are planning to build an area accessible from Bookreporter.com and ReadingGroupGuides.com where you will be able to see lists of these titles. If your city or state is involved in one of these initiatives, please let me know by writing me at Carol@bookreporter.com.

Some of the most interesting features on Bookreporter.com are written by our readers at both Question of the Week and Word of Mouth. I got mail from many of you about the responses to Have you ever read a book more than once? If so, which book have you re-read the most and how many times? With over 200 responses, this feature is worth exploring. And then do not forget to answer this week's question and note that our Poll continues for another week. Over 500 of you have voted thus far!

This Week's Question

Do you have trouble finding the books that you want in stock when you are shopping in bookstores?

Respond to the question of the week by sending mail to: Question@bookreporter.com.


Bookreporter Readers Say...
Have you ever read a book more than once? If so, which book have you re-read the most and how many times? See how readers responded.


Poll:

When you shop for books, do you always know what you want before you shop? Vote here.

I always know what I plan to buy.
Most of the time I know what I plan to buy.
Some of the time I know what I want to buy.
I usually just know I want to read a book.


Word of Mouth
Tell us what YOU are reading and you could win a copy HELL TO PAY by George Pelecanos. Need more details on how to participate in Word of Mouth? Click here. Send your replies to WordOfMouth@bookreporter.com.

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