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August 1, 2008

Bookreporter.com Newsletter

August 1, 2008

This Week on Bookreporter.com

California: Land That I Love

Bookreporter.com Talks to C. W. Gortner, Author of THE LAST QUEEN

Our Summer Beach Bag Contest: Spotlight This Week on a Collection of Titles from Penguin Group (USA)

Author Talk: Heather Terrell, Author of THE MAP THIEF
Now in Stores: ROBERT LUDLUM'S THE BOURNE SANCTION by Eric Van Lustbader

Now in Stores: THE TURNAROUND by George Pelecanos

Now in Stores: THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows 

New Featured Historical Fiction Author: Louis Bayard, Author of THE BLACK TOWER

Featured One to Watch Author: Andrew Davidson, Author of THE GARGOYLE

Featured One to Watch Author: DUMBFOUNDED by Matt Rothschild
This Week's Graphic Novel Reviews
HarperCollins's Free Books for a Year Sweepstakes

This Week's Reviews

Poll and Question of the Week: Gas Prices and Bookbuying

Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading --- THREE Prizes

Quick Links to Features On The Book Report Network
 
Bookreporter.com
Past Reviews
Can't See the Graphics? Read This Newsletter Online
Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight Promotion
Debut Suspense/Thriller One to Watch Promotion
Mystery Mayhem Promotion

Historical Fiction Promotion

One to Watch Promotion
Books Into Movies
Bestseller Lists
Coming Soon
New in Paperback
ReadingGroupGuides.com

California: Land That I Love

I am writing this note sitting on the curved windowseat in my room at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. Outside I can see the hustle and bustle of the city, but here it's wonderfully quiet, save for the sound of the cable cars and the hum of the traffic. My sons, Greg and Cory, are out exploring the city while I work. I have seen the two blocks between here and the Romance Writers of America convention hotel; they have been all over town. Clearly all those hours of watching "Flipper" and learning how to be good brothers that I mentioned last week worked since "Sandy and Bud" have been having a grand old time together this week, with maybe one or two meltdowns.
 
We drove up the coast from San Diego with the following: one GPS system, two cell phones, two BlackBerrys, three iPods, two digital cameras and three laptops. We are carrying more cables and chargers than I can count. Remember how you used to check under the beds for things you left behind? I now check the electrical sockets --- and hotels with power strips get big points from me. How times have changed. The last time I was in San Francisco I was 14. None of the above devices had been invented. We had the radio in the car and maps. This trip Greg rode shotgun and was in charge of navigation. He has this terrific program called Streets and Trips loaded on his laptop that is great for orientating town by town while the GPS does the big picture. Cory played DJ in the back with an iPod plugged into a power jack. We took lots of detours. We made a lot of unplanned stops to watch things like kite surfing or to catch the perfect light on a mountain, or okay, I admit it, to buy yarn in a great shop called The Black Sheep in Encinitas as we walked to the beach.
 
I was really busy before this trip, so I did not do much planning. I booked hotels in San Diego and San Francisco and decided to "wing it" for the two nights and days in between. All I knew was that I wanted to drive up the PCH for as much of the drive as possible. I did not think finding a hotel would be an issue. Gas prices are high. There were fires burning along the PCH these past weeks. But it's summer. Tourist season. And I am in California. Thus Monday night, actually Tuesday early AM, became an adventure as I pulled into Santa Barbara with almost no gas and saw lots and lots of No Vacancy signs.

I am not one to panic, but I was tired, so at one point I saw a collection of lights that I thought spelled out VACANCY. The boys told me I was looking at the lights on the side of the International House of Pancakes and I must be delirious. I wondered how many pancakes we could eat between then and daylight and if we could sleep in shifts in the restaurant. I coaxed directions to a 24-hour gas station out of the hotel manager who refused to rent me the honeymoon suite that was still vacant since we had three people, not two. Seriously, was he expecting a bride and groom to pull up at that hour? We finally found gas, and a hotel with two rooms where they charged me $20 extra for the suite (trust me, suite was a stretch of the imagination) with the kitchen, though I assured them I was not going to cook! And the next morning I booked a room at a hotel in Monterey before we even left the Santa Barbara city limits. (I would have been happier in Carmel; Monterey is not the charming town that I remembered.)

The drive up through Big Sur was amazing. All through the switchbacks the boys kept telling me to look at the view. I told them that if I looked at the view we would be part of it ---- and that they should take LOTS of pictures. Okay, full disclosure here. I had done so little planning for this trip I actually thought the 17-mile drive up through Carmel and the surrounding area was the tough drive. I had not connected that THIS was the big one until we were about 20 switchbacks in. Hey, at least we had gas! We did miss a place I had wanted to get back to that I remembered from my last trip up the coast --- Nepenthe. Somehow, while I was looking for it, I missed it. Next time!

So back to bookish business. I spent last weekend at Comic-Con in San Diego, which was the coolest conference I ever have been to. While it began years ago as an annual comic book event, it's evolved into a pop culture experience as major entertainment companies showcase upcoming movies and television shows with an eye on making hits evolve from the buzz at the show. That said, there were many bookish moments. I attended a number of panels with writers and artists and met a number of the creators on the show floor. I caught Dean Koontz's presentation on Saturday where he told some great stories. He also said a few things that really stayed with me. 1) Smart up your writing; don't drive it down. He loves to challenge his readers with smart prose and feels they love it too. 2) Don't plan to write the same book every time. Change it up so people are surprised. 3) To get to number one on the bestseller list means people liked your last book, so they are buying the next one.
 
Friday I spent time walking the show floor with Gregg Hurwitz, who, in addition to being a novelist, is writing for Marvel. We had fun watching the scene, and I had fun watching him shop. Later, John Hogan and I caught up with Brad Meltzer where we talked about his upcoming novel, THE BOOK OF LIES --- and his work with DC Comics. Saturday Brad won an Eisner Award for his work on Justice League of America #11: Walls. Also, Y: THE LAST MAN by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra and Jose Marzan, Jr, which we reviewed three weeks ago, won the award for Best Continuing Series.
 
And yes, I did have my total fan girl moment when I went to the panel where they showcased the upcoming season of "Prison Break." When they announced that the character of Sara Tancredi is coming back, I was screaming with the rest of the crowd. I also was howling in disappointment when Wentworth Jones did not show since he was shooting a retake. Okay, I know...not bookish, but total fan girl. I also was endlessly impressed by the costumes at this convention. The creativity and striving for authenticity blew me away. My friend Alita Friedman's Uglydolls booth was a HUGE hit with my publishing pals. She got to meet many of my friends as they stopped by picking up the stuffed toys for their kids! They were the perfect presents to bring home.
 
Here in San Francisco I have been meeting with authors. This morning I had breakfast with Kristin Hannah where we talked about her next book, TRUE COLORS, which will be out in February. It has strong themes about sisters and horseback riding. Some of the other authors who I have spent time with include Debbie Macomber (who organized a Yarn Crawl before I got here), Linda Lael Miller (who is writing fast and furiously), Wendy Corsi Staub (who has her boys along too, so we are comparing notes on what to do), Jane Porter (her FLIRTING WITH FORTY book will be a Lifetime movie this fall) and Marie Bostwick (whose upcoming book with a quilting theme is tucked in my bag). And that is just what comes to mind off the top of my head. There are three more parties tonight, so there will be more to report next week.
 
With the driving and meetings and conferences, I have not had much time to read. But since we have an amazing staff back in New York, we still are bringing you a stellar lineup this week. Our Beach Bag of Books Contest again has three titles in it --- LOVE AND BIOLOGY AT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE by Jennie Shortridge, THE LAST SUMMER (OF YOU & ME) by Ann Brashares and LOTTERY by Patricia Wood --- and the prizes include a very cool popout raft. I know it's cool because I have one!

Our new featured Historical Fiction author is Louis Bayard, whose new historical mystery, THE BLACK TOWER, crafts a suspenseful tale about a detective in the Parisian underworld of 1818. Many of you may remember Bayard as the author of THE PALE BLUE EYE. I had the pleasure of meeting him in Charlottesville a few years ago. We have 10 copies of THE BLACK TOWER to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and comment about it. If you are interested, please fill out this form by Friday, August 8th.

Last week, we featured an interview with Brandon Massey, author of DON’T EVER TELL. This week, we have received responses from our advance readers of his new book, which you can read here.

This weekend the boys and I are going to be sightseeing before we catch the redeye home on Sunday night. I want to drive them down Lombard Street and test the brakes of the rental car on some of the hills. I will be sad to leave California since I really have enjoyed the four trips that I have done here these past months. But there are more adventures to come! Have a great weekend. Read something for me!


Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])

PS: Just when I thought everything was under control, "Sandy and Bud" just called to say they walked across the Golden Gate Bridge and are too tired to come back, and asked if I could come pick them up. Life is never dull. Grabbing my keys...


 

Bookreporter.com Talks to C. W. Gortner, Author of THE LAST QUEEN

Historical fiction author C. W. Gortner follows up his acclaimed debut novel, THE SECRET LION, with the newly released THE LAST QUEEN, which chronicles the rise and fall of Juana of Castile, the last Spanish monarch to inherit her country's throne. In this interview with Bookreporter.com's Colleen Quinn, Gortner explains why this legendary figure in Spanish history is hardly known on this side of the Atlantic and elaborates on some of the hardships she endured in her lifetime, including the betrayal of her husband and son, and being labeled as “mad” for not adhering to the accepted conventions of women during that period. He also provides insight into why many strong female political figures in history --- such as Cleopatra and Elizabeth I --- were often portrayed in a negative light and shares details on his upcoming novel, THE CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE DE MEDICI, to be released in 2009.

THE LAST QUEEN by C. W. Gortner (Historical Fiction)
Juana of Castile, the last queen of Spanish blood to inherit her country's throne, has been for centuries an enigmatic figure shrouded in lurid myth. Was she the bereft widow of legend who was driven mad by her loss, or has history misjudged a woman who was ahead of her time? C. W. Gortner challenges the myths about Queen Juana, unraveling the mystery surrounding her to reveal a brave, determined woman we can only now begin to fully understand. Reviewed by Colleen Quinn.

-Click here to read a review of THE LAST QUEEN.
-Click here to read an excerpt from THE LAST QUEEN.

 
Click here to read our interview with C. W. Gortner.

 

Our Summer Beach Bag Contest: Spotlight This Week on a Collection of Titles from Penguin Group (USA)

Whether your "beach" is on sand, your backyard deck or a grassy meadow in the country, the summer months mean it's time for "beach reading." Bookreporter.com is celebrating the lazy days of summer reading with our Fourth Annual "Bookreporter.com Beach Bag of Books."

Every week from May 16th through August 29th, a different title or collection of titles will be featured with a review and contest prize --- a beach bag stocked with the featured book(s), plus summertime essentials that tie in to the weekly theme. Five FABULOUS beach bags will be given away each week, as well as five copies of the featured book(s) to additional winners.

This week we’re spotlighting a collection of titles from Penguin Group (USA), including LOVE AND BIOLOGY AT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE by Jennie Shortridge, THE LAST SUMMER (OF YOU & ME) by Ann Brashares and LOTTERY by Patricia Wood. In a white canvas beach tote with red trim, winners will find two blue THE LAST SUMMER (OF YOU AND ME) towels, navy and aqua beach pillows, two cocktail glasses, blue plaid flip-flops, a bottle of H2O+ Grapefruit Bergamot Shimmering Body Souffle, blue and green novelty lights, an icicle pop mold, a blow-up spring float that pops out into a raft for the pool and a novelty cookie with a summer theme, as well as a copy of LOVE AND BIOLOGY AT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE, THE LAST SUMMER (OF YOU & ME) and LOTTERY. We have five to give away, as well as five additional prizes of copies of LOVE AND BIOLOGY AT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE, THE LAST SUMMER (OF YOU & ME) and LOTTERY.

To enter, fill out this form and answer the following question by Thursday, August 7th at 11:59PM. You can find the answer by reading an excerpt from LOVE AND BIOLOGY AT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE here.

What is the name of Mira's husband's shop?


LOVE AND BIOLOGY AT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE by Jennie Shortridge (Fiction)
Running away from home is usually reserved for children, but nobody told 45-year-old Mira Serafino. Faced with an unfaithful husband, a wayward daughter and a phony life that no longer fits her, Mira sets out on her own in a delightful journey of self-discovery. Reviewed by Amie Taylor.


-Read more about Jennie Shortridge and LOVE AND BIOLOGY AT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE here.

THE LAST SUMMER (OF YOU & ME) by Ann Brashares (Fiction)
Can Alice and Paul, two people who were emotionally brother and sister, continue to love each other as adults while leaping the divide into romantic intimacy? And what of the third "sibling," tomboy Riley? Find out in this first adult novel from the bestselling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.


-Read more about Ann Brashares and THE LAST SUMMER (OF YOU & ME) here.

LOTTERY by Patricia Wood (Fiction)
Perry L. Crandall knows what it's like to be an outsider. With an IQ of 76, he's an easy mark. Before his grandmother died, she armed Perry well with what he'd need to know: the importance of words and writing things down, and how to play the lottery. Most important, she taught him whom to trust --- a crucial lesson for Perry when he wins the multimillion-dollar jackpot. Reviewed by Alexis Burling.

-Read more about Patricia Wood and LOTTERY here.

 

Click here to read all the details of our Summer Beach Bag Contest.


 
Author Talk: Heather Terrell, Author of THE MAP THIEF

In Heather Terrell's second novel, THE MAP THIEF, Mara Coyne --- the protagonist of 2007's historical thriller THE CHRYSALIS --- returns with a new art-related mystery, this time involving stolen artifacts from an archaeological dig that may reveal more about history than expected. In this interview, Terrell describes what inspired the original plot and explains how she first became interested in Chinese Admiral Zheng He, who may have "unofficially discovered" the world decades before the European explorers typically credited for these feats. She also draws parallels between the Ming Dynasty's Forbidden City and present-day Beijing, and shares what she has in store for Mara in her next work, THE BOOK OF KILDARE.

THE MAP THIEF by Heather Terrell (Thriller)
From Hong Kong to the Italian countryside, from Lisbon to the remote reaches of Communist China, and literally around the world on the ships of 15th-century explorers, Heather Terrell --- following up on the success of her debut novel, THE CHRYSALIS --- takes readers on a globe-trotting adventure of epic proportions. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read a review of THE MAP THIEF.
-Click here to read an excerpt from THE MAP THIEF.
-Visit the author's official website, www.HeatherTerrell.com.

 

Click here to read an interview with Heather Terrell.

 
Now in Stores: ROBERT LUDLUM'S THE BOURNE SANCTION by Eric Van Lustbader
ROBERT LUDLUM'S THE BOURNE SANCTION by Eric Van Lustbader (Thriller)
Jason Bourne returns to Georgetown University and the mild world of his alter ego, David Webb, hoping for normalcy. But after so many adrenaline-soaked years of risking his life, Bourne finds himself chafing under the quiet life of a linguistics professor. Aware of his frustrations, his academic mentor, Professor Specter, asks for help investigating the murder of a former student by a previously unknown Muslim extremist sect. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read an excerpt from THE BOURNE SANCTION.
-Visit the author's official website, www.EricVanLustbader.com.

 
Click here to read a review of THE BOURNE SANCTION.

 

Now in Stores: THE TURNAROUND by George Pelecanos

THE TURNAROUND by George Pelecanos (Mystery)
Noted mystery writer and independent film producer George Pelecanos's latest novel is a provocative exploration of the consequences of a crime committed a generation earlier. THE TURNAROUND is a worthy addition to a growing body of widely admired work by this talented novelist. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

-Click here to read an excerpt from THE TURNAROUND.

Click here to read a review of THE TURNAROUND.


 
Now in Stores: THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows 

THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (Fiction)
A unique collaboration between the late Mary Ann Shaffer and her niece, Annie Barrows, results in a captivating historical epistolary novel. Set in the emotional rebuilding years after World War II, THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY illustrates the power of resilience, romance --- and reading. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.


-Click here to read an excerpt from THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY.

 

Click here to read a review of THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY.


 

New Featured Historical Fiction Author: Louis Bayard, Author of THE BLACK TOWER

Louis Bayard is the author of THE PALE BLUE EYE, a national bestseller nominated for both the Edgar and Dagger awards, and MR. TIMOTHY, a New York Times Notable Book and one of People magazine's 10 best books of 2003. In THE BLACK TOWER, which releases on August 26th, Bayard weaves a suspenseful historical novel about a lost king and the real-life convict who transformed himself into the world’s first modern detective.

We have 10 copies of THE BLACK TOWER to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and comment about it. If you are interested, please fill out this form by Friday, August 8th.

-Click here to read Louis Bayard’s bio.
-Visit the author’s official website, www.LouisBayard.com.

More about THE BLACK TOWER:
1818. Hector Carpentier, a medical student, lives with his widowed mother in Paris’s Latin Quarter. When his name is found in the pocket of a murdered man, the case is turned over to Eugène François Vidocq, the most feared man in the Paris police. At first suspicious of Hector’s role in the murder, Vidocq gradually draws him into an exhilarating --- and dangerous --- search that leads them to the true story of what happened to the son of the murdered royal family.

 

Click here to read more about Louis Bayard and THE BLACK TOWER.

 

Featured One to Watch Author: Andrew Davidson, Author of THE GARGOYLE

Andrew Davidson’s debut novel, THE GARGOYLE, is the product of seven years' worth of research and composition. Releasing on August 5th, THE GARGOYLE weaves a riveting love story about the redemptive power of suffering and a romance that transcends the limits of space and time.

-Click here to read an excerpt from THE GARGOYLE.
-Click here to read Andrew Davidson's bio.
-Click here to read critical praise for THE GARGOYLE.
-Visit these two pages about THE GARGOYLE: www.doubleday.com/thegargoyle and www.BurnedByLove.com
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.

More about THE GARGOYLE:
Marianne Engel is a beautiful sculptress of gargoyles who appears in the burn unit one day and tells the narrator of this mesmerizing tale that they were lovers in medieval times, when she was a scribe and he was a mercenary. Is she simply mad? Or is she truly the angel of mercy who will save him from his suicidal despair?

 
Click here to read more about Andrew Davidson and THE GARGOYLE.

 
Featured One to Watch Author: DUMBFOUNDED by Matt Rothschild

In his debut memoir, DUMBFOUNDED, Matt Rothschild writes a laugh-out-loud narrative of a precocious and sexually confused boy raised by his grandparents --- the only Jews in an elite Manhattan apartment building. DUMBFOUNDED will be available in stores on August 12th.

-Click here to read a second excerpt from DUMBFOUNDED.
-Click here to read Matt Rothschild’s bio.
-Click here to read critical praise for DUMBFOUNDED.
-Visit the author’s official website, www.MattRothschild.com.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.

More about DUMBFOUNDED:
The only Jewish family in a luxury Fifth Avenue building of WASPs, the senior Rothschilds took over the responsibility of raising their grandson, Matt, after his mother left him for Italy and a fourth husband. But rearing Matt was no small task --- even for his sharp-tongued grandmother, a cross between Lauren Bacall and Bea Arthur, and a lady who Matt grew to love deeply.

 

Click here to read more about Matt Rothschild and DUMBFOUNDED.

 
This Week's Graphic Novel Reviews
THE NEW YORK FOUR by Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly
Four female college students meet in New York City and attempt to navigate the city’s wild streets (and difficult housing market). As they develop a newfound closeness, one of the women holds a deep secret that may break up the group. Reviewed by John Hogan.

INVINCIBLE, Volume 9: Out of This World by Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley
A teenager with extraordinary powers protects the world from all manner of threats --- including an impending invasion planned by his own superpowered father. Fun and boisterous, INVINCIBLE is the kind of lighthearted adventure that takes the superhero genre seriously without turning too dark. Reviewed by John Hogan.

 
Click here to see all our graphic novel reviews and features.

 
HarperCollins's Free Books for a Year Sweepstakes
Win a Year's Worth of Books for Your Book Club!

Don't miss this opportunity to win 12 copies of a specially selected title for every month of the year! The winner will receive books by celebrated authors including Ann Patchett, Barbara Kingsolver, Louise Erdrich, Gregory Maguire, Paulo Coelho, Debra Dean, Thrity Umrigar, Zora Neale Hurston, Lionel Shriver, Joyce Carol Oates, Michael Chabon and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Encourage all your book club members to enter!

 
Click here to enter the contest.

 

This Week's Reviews

CHASING DARKNESS: An Elvis Cole Novel by Robert Crais (Thriller)
Could a former client who Elvis Cole cleared of murder charges actually turn out to be a serial killer? The private detective is confident that the man is innocent --- but the odds are stacked against him as he attempts to prove this in the wake of seven deaths at the hands of a brutal monster. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

PHARMAKON by Dirk Wittenborn (Fiction)
This semi-autobiographical novel masterfully tells the story of the ever-struggling psychopharmacologist Will Friedrich and his family as he seeks a cure for misery in the form of a pill. Will tirelessly strives to achieve his academic ambitions while providing his own family with happiness --- or something resembling it, at least. Reviewed by Max Falkowitz.

WHILE THEY SLEPT: An Inquiry into the Murder of a Family by Kathryn Harrison (True Crime)
Bestselling writer Kathryn Harrison uncovers the true story behind a shocking and unforgettable crime as she explores the impact of escalating violence and emotional abuse visited on the children of a deeply troubled family. Reviewed by Colleen Quinn.

IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT by Mary Jane Clark (Suspense)
Eliza Blake, host of the top-rated KEY News morning show, has witnessed tragedy and danger in her career. But nothing the accomplished professional has experienced prepares her for when her seven-year-old daughter, Janie, is snatched from summer camp. Reviewed by Amie Taylor.

JUST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE by E. Lynn Harris (Fiction)
In E. Lynn Harris's new novel about football, family and secrets, a star athlete --- pure in morals and deed --- has promised celibacy until his wedding day. Barrett, however, will try to get him to break that vow, and her intentions are not on the up and up. Reviewed by Marie Hashima Lofton.

THE GIRL OF HIS DREAMS: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery by Donna Leon (Mystery)
When a young waif of about 10 is found floating in the filthy water of a canal, Commissario Guido Brunetti and his colleagues vow they will not stop until they track down the killer. Sometimes, though, it's better to be careful what you wish for. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.
   
A FEW SECONDS OF PANIC: A 5-Foot-8, 170-Pound, 43-Year-Old Sportswriter Plays in the NFL by Stefan Fatsis
(Sports)
As players report to training camp for the 2008 National Football League season, sportswriter Stefan Fatsis offers gridiron fans a penetrating and insightful look behind the scenes. He portrays the modern NFL as a multi-billion dollar industry in which players, coaches and owners work towards one goal: winning. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman. 

 
Read this week's reviews here.

 

Poll and Question of the Week: Gas Prices and Bookbuying

Poll:

Have increased gas costs changed your bookbuying habits?
 

Yes, I am buying more online.
Yes, I am shopping more locally rather than traveling long distances to shop.
Yes, I am trying to plan my bookbuying trips in advance.
Yes, I am buying fewer books.
Yes, I am going to the library more.
I have always used the library, so there is no change.
No, there has been no change in my bookbuying habits.
I am not sure about this.


-Click here to answer our poll.


Question:

Name up to three authors whose books you HAVE to have, no matter how tight your budget is.


-Click here to answer our question.

 

Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading --- THREE Prizes

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

This week we have three great prizes: FIVE readers each will win a copy of THE MAP THIEF by Heather Terrell, ROBERT LUDLUM'S THE BOURNE SANCTION by Eric Van Lustbader and THE TURNAROUND by George Pelecanos. Tell us what you are reading and rate the titles 1-5 by noon on August 8th to ensure that you are in the running to win these books.

Please note that our next Word of Mouth update will be on August 8th.
 
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 or change your preferences below.

Those of you who wish to send mail to Bookreporter.com, please see the form on the
Write to Us page.  If you would like to reach me, please write [email protected]. Writing any of the respond buttons below will not get to us.

Those who are subscribed to the Bookreporter.com newsletter by August 31, 2008 automatically are entered in our Monthly Newsletter Contest. This month one winner will be selected to win the following five books: ALFRED & EMILY by Doris Lessing, DEVIL BONES by Kathy Reichs, ROBERT LUDLUM'S THE BOURNE SANCTION by Eric Van Lustbader, SMOKE SCREEN by Sandra Brown and THE TURNAROUND by George Pelecanos. Ely from Los Angeles, CA
was last month's newsletter winner. She won AT FIRST SIGHT: A Novel of Obsession by Stephen J. Cannell, FISHERMAN'S BEND: A Jane Bunker Novel by Linda Greenlaw, KILLER VIEW by Ridley Pearson, MOSCOW RULES by Daniel Silva and SAY GOODBYE by Lisa Gardner.

Happy reading! Don't forget to forward this newsletter to a friend or to visit our other websites from TheBookReportNetwork.com: ReadingGroupGuides.com, AuthorsOnTheWeb.com, FaithfulReader.com, AuthorYellowPages.com, Teenreads.com, and Kidsreads.com.

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