10th Anniversary Page and Pictures

While we have a very tasteful holiday display here at the house with the front columns wrapped in red bows, a big decorated wreath and hand-painted candy canes on the front walk, I have a confession. I love checking out the houses with really gaudy, over-the-top lighting displays. You know the ones I mean ---- they have been the subject of endless holiday movies and they are the ones where you just picture the electric meter whirring around and around when you drive by.
 
Last Friday night I stopped the car with a screeching halt and leapt out to check out one house that had a note on their lawn inviting people to walk around and check out their display. They had trains and an entire Department 56 village set up  (I really love to see these villages) as well as every holiday inflatable that I have ever seen. There were themed sections --- candyland, trains, a creche. Pretty amazing. Though I do not want this kind of thing on my lawn, I do love checking these out. A few years ago, when we were on the Outer Banks, I drove down to Nags Head to see one over-decorated house that had been featured on the "Today Show." For the record, at the risk of insulting some of our readers, I do not like blowup displays when they are not part of one of these over-the-top extravaganzas. I especially loathe the way they sink to the ground during the day and look like uninflated pool toys! I just needed to share that lest you all run out this weekend and buy inflatables thinking that this is holiday magic.
 
This week we are sharing a new Mystery Mayhem author with you, Deanna Raybourn, whose book SILENT IN THE GRAVE will be in stores on January 1st. I read this book months ago and just loved it. I typically do not love historical mysteries, but this one is a brilliantly done debut and the start of what promises to be a great series. It has so many details of the period that I found myself just absorbing all kinds of historical facts in a way I never would have enjoyed them in nonfiction history. Fans of Jacqueline Winspear will love this book. We have 10 advance reader copies to give away to readers who send us a note at Mystery@bookreporter.com by Friday, December 15th.
 
For those of you who are doing holiday shopping, be sure to check out the What to Give/What to Get section, as well as our last contest for Holiday Cheer, which features A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, a fun and sexy trio of holiday tales. Also, if you have boys on your list we have our Great Books for Boys feature. Still stuck on what to give or get? Or have a reader on your list who you have NO idea what to buy for? Well then think about an Amazon.com gift certificate or think about buying a Booksense gift certificate so your reader can shop in their favorite independent bookstore. 
 
This weekend my younger son and I are baking three-dimensional holiday cookies. I got this kit at Williams-Sonoma that just looks too cute. Of course, I am sure that my cookies will puff up too much and the 3-D effect will come from my jabbing frosting all over these parts to "glue" them together once I chisel them down with a knife. I am determined to get this phase of baking and all the wrapping done this weekend. I know, how ambitious AM I?
 
If anyone has an address where people can send books to servicemen in the military, please let me know. I want to send some out next week. We will share what we find on this and also give you some last-minute charity ideas for booklovers next week as well. 
 
Here's to the spirit of the season...do not let the holidaze get the best of you. I already am plotting out a book to read when the cookies are baking.

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

List of titles reviewed and featured on December 8th

List of titles reviewed and featured on December 1st.

NEXT by Michael Crichton (Thriller)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Michael Crichton blends fact and fiction into a breathless tale of a new world where nothing is what it seems and a set of new possibilities can open at every turn. NEXT challenges our sense of reality and notions of mortality, shatters our assumptions and reveals shocking new choices where we least expect.

-Click here to read an excerpt from NEXT.
-Click here to visit Michael Crichton's website for NEXT.

Bestselling author Stan Pottinger tackles the timely topic of the oil industry in his fourth novel, THE BOSS. In this interview, Pottinger discusses the similarities and differences between himself and his characters, and explains how his previous career in law has helped to shape his writing. He also addresses the moral questions his book raises and shares his thoughts on the status of white-collar crime.

THE BOSS by Stan Pottinger (Thriller)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Stan Pottinger's fourth novel is an unsettling and bold work of fiction set in the high stakes, no-holds-barred world of oil exploration. It combines new oil technology and corporate greed, resulting in an action-packed thriller that proves oil is the most precious commodity on earth.

-Click here to visit Stan Pottinger's website, StanPottinger.com.

Our newest featured Mystery Mayhem author is Deanna Raybourn, whose compelling blend of historical suspense and intelligent prose puts her in the Jacqueline Winspear category of smart thrills and chills. SILENT IN THE GRAVE is Raybourn's debut novel, and it hits shelves January 1st.

We have 10 advance copies of SILENT IN THE GRAVE to share with readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. Interested? Then send your name and mailing address to Mystery@bookreporter.com by Friday, December 15th.

More about SILENT IN THE GRAVE:
A psychotic murderer is about to make his one mistake.

Underestimating Lady Julia.

To say that Lady Julia met Nicholas Brisbane over her husband's dead body is not entirely accurate. Edward -- it should be noted -- was still twitching upon the floor.

Lady Julia Grey is a London aristocrat with a wildly eccentric family and a husband she does not love. When her husband dies, she discovers that Edward was the target of menacing notes. Enlisting the help of detective Nicholas Brisbane, Julia begins to sleuth for clues to unravel the mystery of Edward's death. As she does so, she discovers that she has more in common with her unconventional family than she would like to admit, and also finds herself increasingly attracted to Nicholas, a man with a few mysteries of his own.

Headed out to do some holiday shopping? Before you go, check out our What to Give/What to Get feature with ideas in 13 categories.

Books that teach and offer tips for living make perfect gifts. Our Healthy, Wealthy & Wise category has everything from the funny to the informative.

Our featured titles in this category are:

BETWEEN THE WINGTIPS: The Secret Life of Birds by Brutus Ostling and Magnus Ullman

PHIL HELLMUTH PRESENTS READ 'EM AND REAP: A Career FBI Agent's Guide to Decoding Poker Tells by Joe Navarro, Marvin Karlins and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.

SAVING GRACES: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers by Elizabeth Edwards

SIMPLY GREEN GIVING: Create Beautiful and Organic Wrappings, Tags, and Gifts from Everyday Materials by Danny Seo

YOU CAN DO IT! The Boomer's Guide to a Great Retirement by Jonathan D. Pond

Got a trivia buff, a humor-lover or just looking to fill some stockings? Check out our Just for Fun, Trivia & Games and Stocking Stuffers categories and you're bound to find exactly what you're looking for.

Just for Fun:

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS: The Making of a Tradition by Lee Mendelson 

THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART PRESENTS AMERICA (THE BOOK)TEACHER'S EDITION: A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction by Jon Stewart

Click here to see our Just for Fun category.

Trivia & Games:

CRUCIVERBALISM: A Crossword Fanatic's Guide to Life in the Grid by Stanley Newman and Mark Lasswell

The New York Times Holiday Cheer Crossword Puzzles: Festive, Fun and Easy Puzzles edited by Will Shortz

Click here to see our Trivia & Games category.

Stocking Stuffers:

CHRISTMASLAND by Ralph Del Pozzo and David High

MIXTIONARY by John Nee, Scott Lobdell and Mia Christou

Click here to see our Stocking Stuffers category

Getting into the holiday spirit is a piece of cake with these sweet holiday-inspired treats that will put you in the mood for mistletoe, snowmen and reading by the fire.

Our featured titles in this category are:

BLUE CHRISTMAS by Mary Kay Andrews

CHRISTMAS LETTERS by Debbie Macomber 

GIFT OF THE MAGI AND THE PURPLE DRESS by O. Henry

HOME: The Blueprints of Our Lives by Former Senator John Edwards

Got a foody, a wine connoisseur or a cook on your list? The books in our Eat, Drink & Be Merry category will make mouths water and aspiring cooks eager to get into the kitchen.

Our featured titles in this category are:

THE ESSENCE OF CHOCOLATE by John Scharffenberger and Robert Steinberg

HEMINGWAY & BAILEY'S BARTENDING GUIDE TO GREAT AMERICAN WRITERS by Mark Bailey, illustrated by Edward Hemingway

I LIKE YOU: Hospitality Under the Influence by Amy Sedaris

JAMIE'S ITALY by Jamie Oliver

THE UNITED STATES OF ARUGALA: How We Became a Gourmet Nation by David Kamp

We're bringing back our Fantasy Feature with Alan Campbell and SCAR NIGHT, which comes out December 26th and is Campbell's first novel. With its distinctive blend of mystery, thrills and the fantastic, Campbell is destined to make a name for himself in the fantasy genre.

-Click here to read a new excerpt from SCAR NIGHT.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.

More about SCAR NIGHT:
Suspended by chains over a seemingly bottomless abyss, the ancient city of Deepgate is home to a young angel, an assassin, and a psychotic murderer hungry for revenge --- or redemption. But soon a shocking betrayal will unite all three in a desperate quest.....

One of our two new featured One to Watch authors is Julia Navarro --- a Madrid-based journalist whose mesmerizing biblically-inflected tale, THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE HOLY SHROUD, was a publishing phenomonen in Spain. The English translation of the novel hits shelves on December 26th and is bound to garner a whole new audience for the talented and fiercely intelligent writer.

-Click here to read a new excerpt from THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE HOLY SHROUD.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.

More about THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE HOLY SHROUD:
A fire at the Cathedral of Turin and the discovery of a strangely mutilated body attract the attention of Italy's special Art Crimes Department. For the fire is only the latest in a troubling series of arsons and break-ins at the cathedral, which houses what millions believe to be the authentic burial shroud of Jesus Christ.

Spanning centuries and continents, from the storm-rent skies over Calvary, through the glories of Byzantium and the intrigue and treachery of the Crusades, to the modern-day citadels of Istanbul, New York, London, Paris, and Rome, BROTHERHOOD OF THE HOLY SHROUD is a provocative page-turner of the highest order-one that will challenge you to believe.

Our second featured One to Watch author is Lalita Tademy, whose newest title, RED RIVER, is a powerful tale of racial strife and the bonds of family that hits bookstores on January 3rd.

-Click here to read a new excerpt from RED RIVER.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.

More about RED RIVER:
Hailed as "powerful," "accomplished," and "spellbinding," Lalita Tademy's first novel CANE RIVER was a New York Times bestseller and the 2001 Oprah Book Club Summer Selection. Now with her evocative, luminous style and painstaking research, she takes her family's story even further, back to a little-chronicled, deliberately-forgotten time...and the struggle of three extraordinary generations of African-American men to forge brutal injustice and shattered promise into a limitless future for their children... RED RIVER.

WALT DISNEY: The Triumph of the American Imagination by Neal Gabler (Biography)
Reviewed by Ron Kaplan
Neal Gabler's exhaustive biography of one of America's iconic figures follows his subject from a humble Missouri childhood to his (relatively) sudden death at age 65. Gabler is the first writer to be given complete access to the Disney archives, and it shows in this meticulously researched book.

EMPIRE by Orson Scott Card (Science Fiction)
Reviewed by Pauline Finch
The American Empire has grown too fast, and the fault lines at home are stressed to the breaking point. The war of words between Right and Left has collapsed into a shooting war, though most people just want to be left alone. In his latest book, Orson Scott Card takes a chilling look at a near-future scenario of a new American Civil War.

FINDING NOEL by Richard Paul Evans (Fiction)
Reviewed by Marie Hashima Lofton
FINDING NOEL is a love story about Macy and Mark, two young people from different worlds. Richard Paul Evans wrote this Christmas novel --- his first since THE CHRISTMAS BOX --- in honor of his beloved mother, who passed away earlier this year.

THE LADIES OF GRACE ADIEU: And Other Stories by Susanna Clarke (Fantasy/Short Stories)
Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman
Following the enormous success of JONATHAN STRANGE & MR NORRELL, Susanna Clarke delivers a collection of 10 stories set in the same fairy-crossed world of 19th-century England. These dark, enchanting tales unfold in a slightly distorted version of our own world, where people are bedeviled by mischievous interventions from the fairies.

ALMOST A CRIME by Penny Vincenzi (Fiction)
Reviewed by Norah Piehl
Recently, the Overlook Press brought Penny Vincenzi's talent from her native England to the United States with the publication of her popular Spoils of Time trilogy. Now it is releasing some of Vincenzi's other smash hits for her new American fans, starting with ALMOST A CRIME, a sprawling saga about family, money, love and revenge.

THE SENATOR AND THE PRIEST by Andrew M. Greeley (Fiction)
Reviewed by Amie Taylor
While the wind blows and the snow flies, curl up in your easy chair with bestselling author Father Andrew M. Greeley's latest book --- an explosive novel about the corrosive political culture tearing apart America and a riveting tale of two Irish Catholic brothers who couldn't be more different.

THE FAMILY THAT COULDN'T SLEEP: A Medical Mystery by D. T. Max (Medicine)
Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon
In a medical detective story as gripping as any thriller, we learn how a tiny protein called a prion links several bizarre and deadly diseases. The author introduces the reader to an inherited fatal insomnia, to a disease in which afflicted sheep scrape their itching hides bloody before they die, to a New Guinea tribe's mysterious illness, and to mad cow disease.

AN ALPHABETICAL LIFE: Living it Up in the World of Books by Wendy Werris (Memoir)
Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg
Wendy Werris has spent a lifetime in the bookselling business. In this engaging account of that career, she generously shares her love of books and the people who make their living creating and selling them. Avid readers will find much to satisfy themselves here.

AMERICAN SKIN by Ken Bruen (Thriller)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Stephen Blake and his girlfriend Siobhan, best friend Tommy, IRA terrorist Stapleton, and a particularly American sort of psychopath named Dade are all on a collision course somewhere on the road between the dive bars of New York and the pitiless desert of the Southwest.

DEATH'S WITNESS by Paul Batista (Mystery)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
When Tom Perini, a legendary Heisman Trophy winner turned criminal lawyer, is found brutally murdered in Central Park, his widow Julie not only must unravel the mysteries of her husband's secret double life, but survive long enough to discover the truth.

Poll:

This fall we have seen a number of blockbuster authors release books, which has us wondering. Think about your own book buying habits compared to last year. Are you buying:
 
More books
The same number of books
Less books
Not sure what I am doing
 
-Click here to answer our Poll.


Question:

What author would you like to have join you for a holiday meal?

-Click here to answer our Question of the Week. 

Tell us what books YOU are reading and loving --- or even those you don't.

This week we have two great prizes: FIVE readers each will win a copy of HANNIBAL RISING by Thomas Harris and NEXT by Michael Crichton.

Please note that our next Word of Mouth update will be on December 15th.