Every month, one subscriber to the Bookreporter.com newsletter wins 5 free hardcover books! This month's selection includes BACK STORY by Robert B. Parker, THE DA VINCI CODE by Dan Brown, DROP CITY by T.C. Boyle, SOUL CIRCUS by George P. Pelecanos, TROPIC OF NIGHT by Michael Gruber. (See the complete contest rules.)

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Bookreporter.com Newsletter	March 7, 2003
This Week on Bookreporter.com Announcing AuthorYellowPages.com Author Talk: George P. Pelecanos Suspense/Thriller Feature: New This Week about Jeffery Deaver and William Lashner What's Nelson DeMille Reading? Author of the Month: Phillip Margolin Looking for Ideas for ReadingGroupGuides.com This Week's Book Reviews Poll: What Do You Want From Bookreporter.com Reviews? Question of the Week Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading	On The Book Report Network Bookreporter.com Past Reviews Past Poll: Do you ever laugh out loud when you're reading a book? Which book or author has made you laugh out loud the most?
Announcing AuthorYellowPages.com Many of you know that Bookreporter.com is a part of a growing group of websites about books and reading called The Book Report Network. These websites include ReadingGroupGuides.com, AuthorsOnTheWeb.com, Teenreads.com and Kidsreads.com. This week I am pleased to announce the launch of our latest website AuthorYellowPages.com, a directory of author websites that can be searched by author last name or genre. We developed this website after hearing from readers that they found it frustrating to use search engines to gather book and author information. They found it cumbersome to get 100,000 links to sort through when 10-15 really great ones would suffice. On AuthorYellowPages.com authors can list their official site, publisher sites, fan sites and information about online media mentions, as well as newsletter signup information. Our goal is to provide readers with a place to find the exact information they need about their favorite authors. We have 5,000 authors listed at this time and are adding more every day. By the way, if you are an author who wants to be listed, click on the "Get Listed" link on the home page. If you have ideas on how we can improve this website, please write Feedback@authoryellowpages.com. 903 of you answered our last poll about books that made you laugh. Thanks again to Heringbess@aol.com for the suggestion for this question. We learned that only 8 readers share her trait of not laughing out loud! This week's question has to do with reviews on Bookreporter.com and other review sources. On Bookreporter.com our mission is to encourage reading. As a result, we tell our reviewers that if they do not like a book, they may skip it and, instead, write about another book that they do enjoy --- unless they would like to finish it and write a critical review. Typically our reviewers opt to select another title. We are wondering what you think. Vote in our poll below. ALL of our websites have been growing rapidly. ReadingGroupGuides.com has attracted a terrific group of book club readers. We would like to add some new community features to this website, but wanted to see which matter most to readers. Read on to find out how to cast your vote. Enjoy this week's issue... --Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com) Look for Author Information on AuthorYellowPages.com
Author Talk: George P. Pelecanos George P. Pelecanos, author of SOUL CIRCUS, the latest in a series of bestselling series of novels set in and around Washington, D.C., enjoys listening to music while on book tours. Read on as Pelecanos talks about some of the music he will listen to during his month-long tour promoting SOUL CIRCUS. If you would like to learn more about George P. Pelecanos and his books, be sure to visit his website, www.GeorgePelecanos.com. Read more about George Pelecanos and the music he is touring with here.
Suspense/Thriller Feature: New This Week about Jeffery Deaver and William Lashner Jeffery Deaver, author of THE VANISHED MAN (in stores THIS TUESDAY, March 11th): -Read what our advance readers had to say about THE VANISHED MAN...we have more of their replies this week In case you missed last week.... -Read the third chapter of THE VANISHED MAN William Lashner, author of FATAL FLAW (in stores May 9th)is our April Author of the Month -Read a second excerpt of BITTER TRUTH (coming in paperback on March 25th) In case you missed last week.... -Read about FATAL FLAW -Read about BITTER TRUTH and the first of three excerpts -Submit a question to William Lashner Read our suspense/thriller feature here.
What's Nelson DeMille Reading? Get Inside Today's Best Books Enjoy all the values and benefits of Book-of-the-Month Club Great Books Chosen by Great Authors Like Nelson DeMille "Scott Turow all but invented the legal thriller... The premise of REVERSIBLE ERRORS is not new: a lowlife is accused and convicted of a vicious murder that he may not have committed and is awaiting execution. But what always sets all of Scott Turow's novels apart from his contemporaries is his elegant writing style, his absolutely convincing characterizations and his perceptive insights into American society... In fact, from PRESUMED INNOCENT to REVERSIBLE ERRORS, the man who invented the genre has always transcended it."-Nelson DeMille Get up to 75% off REVERSIBLE ERRORS, plus one for FREE! Join today and get FREE shipping and handling! Click for Details
Author of the Month: Phillip Margolin Do not let this man's smile fool you! He writes some of the most gripping thrillers that I have ever read. Phillip Margolin has used his extensive knowledge of the law and his many years of experience in the courtroom to write a series of highly successful and popular legal thrillers, all of which have been New York Times bestsellers. His latest effort is Ties That Bind and, if his past successes are any indication, this novel will be the next great "edge-of-your-seat" thriller. To celebrate the release of Ties That Bind, AuthorsOnTheWeb has chosen Phillip Margolin as our Author of the Month. Readers can learn more about Margolin's life and works through trivia questions, fast facts and biographical information, as well as links to his website, bibliography and book reviews. And visit his website, PhillipMargolin.com Read more about Phillip Margolin here.
Looking for Ideas for ReadingGroupGuides.com We added over 30 new reading group guides to ReadingGroupGuides.com this month. This website has been growing by leaps and bounds. For any of you in book clubs, we are looking for your thoughts on some features we are thinking of adding to this website. Interested? Click on the link below and answer our poll. Trust that you will be shaping the direction of these features with your votes! Share your ideas for new features on ReadingGroupGuides.com here.
This Week's Book Reviews THE JESTER by James Patterson and Andrew Gross (Fiction) Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub Disillusioned over what he experiences and witnesses during the First Crusades, Hugh De Luc returns home to discover that his village has been ransacked and his wife abducted by knights in search of a priceless relic. Seeking revenge, Hugh disguises himself as a jester in order to infiltrate the duke's court, where he thinks his wife is being held captive. SOUL CIRCUS by George P. Pelecanos (Thriller) Reviewed by Bob Rhubart Granville Oliver is a violent drug dealer facing the death penalty. Private Investigator Derek Strange has found a woman who may be able to help Granville regain his freedom --- but she is being watched and soon receives threats against herself and her son. Strange must find a way to ensure their safety. REVENGE OF THE MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN by Elizabeth Buchan (Fiction) Reviewed by Roberta O'Hara For 25 years, Rose Lloyd has been remarkably successful --- as a wife, as a mother and as a career woman. She is full of happiness and is at such peace with herself. However, Rose's life suddenly comes crashing down around her when both her marriage and career fall apart in the course of just a few days. THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY by Erik Larson (History) Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub Erik Larson takes his readers on a fascinating tour of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair --- its excruciating planning, building and ultimate creation --- but he also tells the chilling story of Henry Holmes, a man who preyed upon unsuspecting visitors to the Fair and committed a number of unspeakable acts against them. A FRENCH COUNTRY MURDER by Peter Steiner (Mystery) Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub When former State Department expert Louis Morgon finds a murdered body on the doorstep of his house, he must find the killer in order to protect his new life in rural France. WHAT I LOVED by Siri Hustvedt (Fiction) Reviewed by Andrew Musicus Art historian Leo Hertzberg buys an extraordinary painting in a SoHo gallery and tracks down the artist, Bill Weschler. Together, they embark on a lifelong friendship filled with both joys and sorrows. THE BOY ON THE BUS by Deborah Schupack (Fiction) Reviewed by Jim Gladstone In this inventive and riveting tale of domestic suspense, Meg Landry expects her asthmatic 8 year-old son to step off the school bus as he always does and go home with her. On this day, however, the boy on the bus is not Meg's son --- or at least he doesn't appear to be. WAGES OF SIN by Penelope Williamson (Suspense) Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum Detective Damon Rourke is investigating the crucifixion death of a local priest, but the shocking information he learns about the victim and the murder puts him and his family in immediate danger. A PRESUMPTION OF DEATH: A New Lord Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane Mystery by Jill Paton Walsh and Dorothy L. Sayers (Mystery) Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum In Jill Walsh's second Lord Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane whodunit, Harriet Vane, now Lady Wimsey, is called upon to solve the murder of a young woman during World War II. RED CARPET DIARIES: Confessions of a Glamour Boy by Steven Cojocaru (Memoir/Pop Culture) Reviewed by Shannon Bloomstran Steven Cojocaru, the fashion correspondent for the Today show and style editor for People magazine, discusses his unique childhood and his start in the entertainment business --- but he also gives readers the inside scoop on Hollywood with celebrity gossip and a few jabs at some top stars. MRS. KIMBLE by Jennifer Haigh (Fiction) Reviewed by Shannon Bloomstran In Jennifer Haigh's fast-paced and enjoyable debut novel, we meet three women who marry the same man --- a choir director turned real estate agent named Ken Kimble who has the highly developed ability to appeal to women. BIAS: A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distorts the News by Bernard Goldberg (Current Events) Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub A fixture at CBS News for nearly 30 years, reporter Bernard Goldberg critically examines his own industry and comes to the conclusion that the news media is slanted to the left, ignoring their primary mission to provide fair and objective reporting. CLOSE TO HOME by Peter Robinson (Mystery) Reviewed by Maggie Harding Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks has never forgiven himself for having possibly caused the disappearance and presumed death of his best friend. When the bones are shockingly unearthed and identified near Bank's childhood home more than 35 years later, Banks becomes drawn into an investigation that hits dangerously close to home. THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS by Olen Steinhauer (Mystery) Reviewed by Maggie Harding Inexperienced homicide detective Emil Brod struggles to investigate a murder, blackmail and a politician's cover-up of his wartime crimes amid the lawlessness of post-World War II Eastern Europe. Read this week's reviews here.
Poll: What Do You Want From Bookreporter.com Reviews? On Bookreporter.com our mission is to encourage reading. As a result, we tell our reviewers that if they do not like a book, they may skip it and, instead, write about another book that they do enjoy --- unless they would like to finish it and write a critical review. Typically our reviewers opt to select another title. We are wondering what you think: Which of the following would you like to see on Bookreporter.com? Reviews and commentary about only the books we like and would like to encourage readers to read Reviews and commentary on the books we like and those we do not Not sure what I would like to see If you read a negative review of an author you like or a book you have heard about and were planning to read, what do you typically do? Still buy the book Think twice before buying it Eliminate it from my shopping list Not sure Has a negative review of a book ever made you want to read that book even more, so that you could find out for yourself if all the criticism was justified? Yes No Not sure Which of the following print or online review sources do you trust? Amazon.com Booklist Bookreporter.com Kirkus LA Times New York Times Publisher's Weekly USA Today My local newspaper Other Answer the Poll here.
Question of the Week Here's our question of the week: What was the latest book you bought because of a review? Did it live up to your expectations? Why or why not? Answer the Question of the Week.
Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading Tell us what books YOU are reading and loving --- or even those you don't. Five lucky reader will each win a copy THE JESTER by James Patterson & Andrew Gross. 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 (see the link on the upper right) or change your preferences below. Those of you who wish to send mail to the general mailbox at Bookreporter.com, please write to: Mail@bookreporter.com. If you would like to reach me, please write Carol@bookreporter.com. Writing any of the respond buttons below will not get to us. Quick observation --- we have noticed that many of you have been changing your Internet providers in the past month. If you do, please be sure to "take us along" by signing up for the newsletter in your new name! Happy reading....and don't forget to forward this newsletter to a friend. --- Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com) Back to top.