Newsletter Opportunies from The Book Report Network
September 2003
Contest Books
Previous
Newsletters
September 19, 2003
September 12, 2003
September 5, 2003
August 22, 2003
August 15, 2003
August 8, 2003
August 1, 2003
July 25, 2003
July 18, 2003
July 11, 2003
July 3, 2003
June 27, 2003
June 20, 2003
June 13, 2003
June 6, 2003
May 30, 2003
May 23, 2003
May 16, 2003
May 9, 2003
May 2, 2003
April 25, 2003
April 18, 2003
April 11, 2003
April 4, 2003
March 28, 2003
March 21, 2003
March 14, 2003
March 7, 2003
February 28, 2003
February 21, 2003
February 14, 2003
February 7, 2003
January 31, 2003
January 24, 2003
January 17, 2003
January 10, 2003
December 20, 2002
December 13, 2002
December 6, 2002
November 27, 2002
November 22, 2002
November 15, 2002
November 8, 2002
November 1, 2002
October 25, 2002
October 18, 2002
October 11, 2002
October 4, 2002
September 27, 2002
September 20, 2002
September 13, 2002
September 6, 2002
August 23, 2002
August 16, 2002
August 9, 2002
August 2, 2002
July 26, 2002
July 19, 2002
July 12, 2002
July 3, 2002
June 28, 2002
June 21, 2002
June 14, 2002
June 7, 2002
May 31, 2002
May 24, 2002
May 17, 2002
May 10, 2002
May 3, 2002
April 26, 2002
April 19, 2002
April 12, 2002
April 5, 2002
March 29, 2002
March 22, 2002
March 15, 2002
March 8, 2002
March 1, 2002
February 22, 2002
February 15, 2002
February 8, 2002
February 1, 2002
January 25, 2002
January 18, 2002
January 11, 2002
January 4, 2002
December 21, 2001
December 14, 2001
December 7, 2001
November 30, 2001
November 21, 2001
November 16, 2001
November 9, 2001
November 2, 2001
October 26, 2001
October 19, 2001
October 12, 2001
October 5, 2001
September 28, 2001
September 24, 2001
September 14, 2001
September 24, 2001
September 7, 2001
August 31, 2001
August 24, 2001
August 17, 2001
August 10, 2001
August 3, 2001
July 27, 2001
July 20, 2001
July 13, 2001
June 29, 2001
June 22, 2001
June 15, 2001
June 8, 2001
June 1, 2001
May 25, 2001
May 18, 2001
May 11, 2001
May 4, 2001
April 27, 2001
April 20, 2001
April 6, 2001
March 30, 2001
March 23, 2001
March 16, 2001
March 9, 2001
March 2, 2001
February 23, 2001
February, 16, 2001
February, 9, 2001
February, 2, 2001
January 26, 2001
January 19, 2001
January 12, 2001
January 5, 2001
December 22, 2000
December 15, 2000
|
|
|
 |
|
Every month, one subscriber to the Bookreporter.com newsletter wins 5 free hardcover books! This month's selection includes THE LAST NAZI by Stan Pottinger, SOUTHERN LIVING by Ad Hudler, FOUL MATTER by Martha Grimes, THE OTHER SIDE OF AIR by Jeanne Braselton, EXIT WOUNDS by JA Jance. (See the complete contest rules.)
Click here to SUBSCRIBE to the
Bookreporter.com Newsletter!
Also check out our other newsletters on ReadingGroupGuides.com, AuthorsOnTheWeb.com, AuthorYellowPages.com, Teenreads.com, and Kidsreads.com.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Reading The Movies.... |
| This week I am proud to say that we are bringing you 17 new reviews. Among them is THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN by Mitch Albom. I read this book in June and since then the concept of the "five people" I would meet has played through my head. It was great to see our reviewer, Roberta O'Hara, feel the same way. You voted Albom as our Author of the Month for September, and we have a robust feature about him to share.
We also bring you THE DISTANCE FROM NORMANDY, the sophomore effort from Jonathan Hull, who is one of my favorite authors. He writes character and emotion with a depth that I always enjoy. We added comments from four Bookreporter.com advance readers to my review. Last week you read our interview with Karin Slaughter. This week we bring you Norah Piehl's review of A FAINT COLD FEAR. Kathy Brown Weissman, who worked with me in my magazine days does a great job of reviewing I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT, which is now out in paperback. Kathy was juggling teenage stepchildren when I first met her. Her perspective on this book is such fun.
A couple of months ago, the publisher of THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE told me that the buzz on this book was building. I read Melissa Morgan's review and moved it onto my "read now" stack. Please note that this is a Today Show pick as well.
This week we have an author interview with Whitney Gaskell, the author of PUSHING 30. On a lighter note, I love her hair color story! I knew she had a good one to share when I read the opening of her book. We also have our advance reader comments about the book.
In the features area Tom Donadio takes a look at 19 of the movies based on books this fall/winter. Read the movie first by picking up the book. Tom also chronicles our New In Paperback titles for September. Both overviews will have you making lists!
We enjoyed the New York is Book Country Festival in the city last weekend. Next weekend is the National Book Festival in Washington, DC. They have a wonderful lineup of authors and programming. For more details, please click on the logo above. I attended this event last year with my family and encourage you to check this out if you are in the DC area next weekend.
Note our great list of Word of Mouth prizes this week, which includes SPLIT SECOND by David Baldacci, A FAINT COLD FEAR by Karin Slaughter and BLEACHERS by John Grisham, along with a FOOTBALL signed by him! See details below.
Like what you see today? Forward this newsletter to a friend.
To all our Jewish friends, Happy Holidays.
Have a great week.
-Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
|
Read about this fall's movies based on books here.
| |
| Author of the Month: Mitch Albom, author of THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN |
THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN by Mitch Albom (Fiction)
Reviewed by Roberta O'Hara
A wounded war veteran who is killed in a tragic accident soon discovers that heaven isn't merely a destination but a place where five people help the deceased understand the significance and value of their life on earth.
Mitch Albom is a bestselling author who has written eight books, including the phenomenally popular Tuesdays With Morrie. Published in 1997, it stayed on the New York Times bestseller list for four straight years. To celebrate the release of The Five People You Meet in Heaven, AuthorsOnTheWeb has chosen Mitch Albom as our Author of the Month. Readers can learn more about Albom's life and works through fast facts and biographical information, as well as links to his website, bibliography and book reviews.
|
Read review of THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN and our feature about Mitch Albom here.
| |
|
|
| Suspense/Thriller Spotlight: Read Advance Reader Comments about HELLO, DARKNESS and Excerpts of BALANCE OF POWER and HELLO, DARKNESS |
Sandra Brown, author of HELLO, DARKNESS, which will be out in hardcover on October 7th:
New This Week:
-Sandra Brown answers reader questions
-Read Fast Facts about Brown
-Read the third chapter of HELLO, DARKNESS
In Case You Missed Last Week:
-See what our advance readers had to say.
-Read the second chapter of HELLO, DARKNESS.
-Read the first chapter of HELLO, DARKNESS.
Richard North Patterson, author of BALANCE OF POWER, which will be in stores on October 14th.
New This Week:
-Read Chapter Two of BALANCE OF POWER
-Read praise for BALANCE OF POWER
In Case You Missed Last Week:
-Read Chapter One of BALANCE OF POWER
-See who our 20 advance readers are.
|
Read our Suspense/Thriller feature here.
| |
|
|
| Our Chick Lit Feature: Read Our Interview with Whitney Gaskell, Our Advance Reader Comments and a NEW Excerpt from PUSHING 30 |
Whitney Gaskell, author of the debut novel PUSHING 30, talks with Bookreporter.com Co-Founder Carol Fitzgerald about the Chick Lit genre, turning 30, what's next for her and her new role --- being a mom.
See what readers had to say about PUSHING 30 by Whitney Gaskell and then enjoy previewing our second excerpt as we celebrate our first Chick Lit title.
Here are two lines that sum up the story. Ellie Winters, a woman who is dependable and loyal and has a near-phobic aversion to conflict. But as her thirtieth birthday looms ever closer, she starts to feel like she's lost the instruction manual to her life.
|
Read our Chick Lit feature here.
| |
|
|
| AN ECHO OF WAR by Grant Blackwood |
In 1918, four Allied soldiers stumble across a biological weapon in the Alps that could wreak devastation on the world -- and take a vow to keep it from falling into the wrong hands. Decades later, their descendants guard this deadly substance, code-named Kestrel.
Flash forward to Chesapeake Bay in August 2003. The wife of former CIA director Jonathon Root has been kidnapped. No one except Root knows his grandfather had been one of the soldiers responsible for stealing Kestrel. Enter agent Briggs Tanner. His mission follows a trail through the Alps, to the heart of where it all began -- before millions of lives are lost.
About Grant Blackwood's Books:
"The action and intrigue keep accelerating without any attempt to brake." -- Clive Cussler
"Fans of international political, military, and espionage tales will want to read Grant Blackwood" -- Midwest Book Review
|
Click here for excerpts and more information about Grant Blackwood's work.
| |
| New In Paperback |
This month's roundup of New in Paperback titles features bestselling authors Joyce Carol Oates, Anne Lamott, Sandra Cisneros and Michel Faber with their respective books: I'LL TAKE YOU THERE, BLUE SHOE, CARAMELO and THE CRIMSON PETAL AND THE WHITE (which our readers selected as one of the ten best hardcovers of 2002). We also have great works of nonfiction, including Carol Ann Lee's thought-provoking biography of Anne Frank's father and Rachel Simon's heartwarming memoir about her mentally challenged sister.
|
Read our New In Paperback titles here.
| |
| This Week's Book Reviews and Features |
|
A FAINT COLD FEAR by Karin Slaughter (Suspense)
Reviewed by Norah Piehl
Karin Slaughter combines grisly crime scene details with astute psychological suspense in this third novel featuring pediatrician and part-time medical examiner Sara Linton.
THE DISTANCE FROM NORMANDY by Jonathan Hull (Fiction)
Reviewed by Carol Fitzgerald
Mead, a World War II veteran and recent widower, has agreed to spend time with his 16-year-old grandson following his expulsion from school. To save the boy from getting into further trouble, Mead ultimately decides to take him to Normandy, where both of them confront the secrets they have been trying to forget.
STREET DREAMS by Faye Kellerman (Mystery)
Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman
In Faye Kellerman's latest Rina Lazarus/Peter Decker mystery, Detective Decker teams up with his wife and daughter to solve a crime rooted in both the past and present.
THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE by Audrey Niffenegger (Fiction)
Reviewed by Melissa Morgan
Audrey Niffenegger's debut novel is the story of Clare, a beautiful art student, and Henry, an adventuresome librarian who finds himself periodically displaced in time, pulled to moments of emotional gravity from his life --- past and future.
SOON by Jerry Jenkins (Fiction)
Reviewed by Carol Fitzgerald
Paul Stepola, an agent working for the National Peacekeeping Organization, has been assigned to enforce compliance with the world government's prohibition on religion. He is determined to expose and kill underground religion --- until his life is turned upside down and he is forced to look at life in a different way.
BIG LIES: The Right-Wing Propaganda Machine and How It Distorts the Truth by Joe Conason (Current Affairs/Political Science)
Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman
In response to popular conservatives such as Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh, Joe Conason, national correspondent for the New York Observer, takes on what he believes are common arguments, myths and fallacies propounded by the right --- and exposes them as damaging "lies."
POLITICIANS, PARTISANS, AND PARASITES: My Adventures In Cable News by Tucker Carlson (Current Events)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
In his first book, political pundit and Crossfire co-host Tucker Carlson details his experiences in television journalism and reporting, while offering his own opinions on politics and the media.
FOUR SPIRITS by Sena Jeter Naslund (Fiction)
Reviewed by Stephen M. Deusner
Birmingham native Sena Jeter Naslund explores the complexities of race and change in an epic novel set during the city's civil rights demonstrations.
THE WAY THE CROW FLIES (Fiction)
Reviewed by Melissa Morgan
It's 1962, and Jack McCarthy, a career officer in the RCAF, has just been assigned to the Centralia Air Force Station in Ontario and is accompanied by his loving wife and two sweet children. However, the fate of this idyllically happy family will soon be threatened by a secret mission Jack undertakes.
LOVE AND COUNTRY by Christina Adam (Fiction)
Reviewed by Marie Hashima Lofton
Fourteen-year-old Kenny Swanson and his mother have just moved to a small ranching town in Idaho. When Kenny learns that he isn't yet allowed to ride broncos in his new community, he is hugely disappointed --- but little does he know that a complex and poignant year of growth for him and others has just begun.
I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT by Allison Pearson (Fiction)
Reviewed by Kathy Weissman
The adventures of working mother Kate Reddy are as sharp and funny as a good sitcom, but this literate, soulful book is quite a few cuts above your average Chick Lit production.
STRAIGHT TALKING by Jane Green (Fiction)
Reviewed by Bethanne Kelly Patrick
From the author of BOOKENDS and BABYVILLE comes this early novel about a passion junkie named Tasha. Despite her fab figure, chic clothes and a great job, she has not found the relationship she so desperately wants --- or thinks she wants.
SIX WIVES: The Queens of Henry VIII by David Starkey (Biography/History)
Reviewed by Bethanne Kelly Patrick
Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived --- every British schoolchild knows this mnemonic about the wives of Henry VIII. But even if everyone in the world has heard of and read about them many times before, Cambridge historian David Starkey delivers an entertaining new history of the lives of six women who were queens for wildly varied periods of time.
NEW YORK: An Illustrated History by Ric Burns and James Sanders, with Lisa Ades (History)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
This lavish and handsomely produced book --- the companion volume to the PBS television series --- captures all of the beauty, complexity and power of New York City, complete with more than 500 full-color and black-and-white illustrations.
THE O. HENRY PRIZE STORIES 2003 edited by Laura Furman (Fiction Anthology)
Reviewed by Toni Fitzgerald
Since its establishment in 1919, the O. Henry Prize stories collection has offered an exciting selection of the best stories published in hundreds of literary magazines every year. Novelist and short story writer Laura Furman has read more than a thousand stories to identify the 20 winners, found in this exciting anthology.
WHO MOVED MY SOAP? The CEO's Guide to Surviving in Prison by Andy Borowitz (Humor)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Andy Borowitz, humorist for The New Yorker, has written a satirical guide from the perspective of a convicted CEO who has survived prison and is now sharing his expertise with others who find themselves in similar situations.
|
Read this week's reviews and features here.
| |
|
|
| Poll: What percentage of the books on your bookshelves have you read? |
We all do it. We buy more books than we actually read. Okay, let's have the truth. How many of the on your bookshelves how many have you actually read?
100% (Note: be HONEST)
75-99%
50-74%
25-49%
Less than 25%
In the past six months do you find yourself buying fewer books you "might" read?
These days I am only buying books I plan to read.
I am still buying books that I "hope" to read while also buying those that I KNOW I will read.
I always only buy books that I will read.
I am not sure what I am doing.
|
Answer the Poll here.
| |
| Question of the Week |
Here's our question of the week:
Name up to three books on your bookshelves that have been there at least one year that you still want to read.
|
Answer the Question of the Week.
| |
|
|
| Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading -- Special Prizes This Week! |
Tell us what books YOU are reading and loving --- or even those you don't.
This week we have some great prizes:
FIVE readers each will win SPLIT SECOND by David Baldacci AND A FAINT COLD FEAR by Karin Slaughter.
TWO winners will win footballs signed by John Grisham, as well as a copy of BLEACHERS.
Please note that our next Word of Mouth update will be on October 3rd.
|
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.
|
|
| |
|
|
