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Bookreporter.com Newsletter |
February 14, 2014 |
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S-N-O-W! B-O-O-K! R-E-A-D!
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I need some color in my life. There is way, way too much white and gray. Due to the weather, we all have not put in a full week at the office in weeks, and while we all can work anywhere, I am a tad tired of the stress of wondering what the week’s weather will bring and the lack of rhythm that accompanies that. Yesterday, Greg, Nikki and I spent almost two hours on the phone ironing out some promotion plans for the sites. Tom Donadio, our Editorial Director, was the only one who made it into the office on Thursday --- and it was his birthday! Given that Tom is the person who shapes so much of what you see on these pages, I am sharing his email address here so you can shoot him a belated birthday greeting --- and your own thanks to him for all he does! It’s [email protected].
I currently have four knitting projects going --- two in shades of blue (shocking, I know), one in black and turquoise, and one in periwinkle. I am surrounding myself with color. Perhaps recognizing my need to see something bright, two of the three hibiscus plants that I have been wintering over in the kitchen have bloomed with lovely apricot and yellow flowers. Looking beyond the sliding door is about two feet of snow, providing some smash-up of seasons separated by glass. I am sharing this touch of summer with you in the photo above.
We are an Olympic-watching family. Greg and Tom watch curling, which I do not understand and is way too complicated, pensive and slow for me. Slopestyle skiing and snowboarding amaze me. As a mom, I am wondering how I would have reacted if Cory or Greg told me that they wanted to ski backwards, rotate in a 1,040, or triple flip. I thought sliding down the banister or jumping from one landing to the next was treacherous! Skating is often so beautiful to watch, and it always amazes me what makes one skater more composed and technically perfect than another.
As always, my constant escape this week was reading. Most recently, I have been enjoying a manuscript of THE FORTUNE HUNTER by Daisy Goodwin, which will be on sale on July 29th. I loved THE AMERICAN HEIRESS, which was a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection, and though I am only about 150 pages in, I know THE FORTUNE HUNTER will be one as well. Set in the 19th century, the characters of Charlotte Baird, the plucky heiress; Bay Middleton, the dashing horseman; and Empress Elizabeth of Austria, known as "Sisi" (a woman who, as I am reading, seems to be the person who will come between them) are setting up a juicy story with wonderful period details. I also am reading THE WEIGHT OF BLOOD by Laura McHugh, which will be on sale on March 11th and was a contest prize title a few weeks ago. It was selected as the #1 Library Reads selection for March. It’s a thriller set in the Ozarks that has a very intriguing storyline, in which two girls have disappeared a generation apart. Are there parallels? I keep turning pages to find out; so far, I am intrigued.
On Sunday morning, I read this piece in the New York Times about unplugging from social media and email, and what it meant for one young woman. What did she do? She read a book! I have been talking about this article all week, and reactions from people have been interesting. One young publishing contact who we met with said that she just subscribed to the print New York Times. She likes the act of sitting down with the paper and reading it. I feel very strongly that talking shorthand in 140 characters and reading in sound bites is getting old and will get older. Last weekend, I felt myself unwinding, relaxing and wrapping myself around every book that I read. I was submerged into stories, and from there I escaped. It was blissful, and I intend to hit rewind on this for the three-day weekend ahead. Does reading relax you, too?
I also realize that the availability of eBooks made reading a lot easier these past few weeks when travel has been treacherous and the temperatures have dipped dangerously low. Have you found yourself reading more eBooks these past few weeks?
In stores this week is Laura Lippman’s latest novel, AFTER I’M GONE, a mystery that explores how one man's disappearance echoes through the lives of the five women he left behind --- his wife, his daughters and his mistress. Norah Piehl reviews the book for us and has this to say: “Lippman is not one to tell a crime story straightforwardly or simply, and that's the case here, too. Instead of focusing on one character or telling her story chronologically, she moves freely through time and various characters' perspectives…. [L]ongtime Lippman fans will be particularly pleased by cameo appearances by the author’s beloved PI heroine Tess Monaghan, as well as her husband and daughter.”
Jo Nesbo’s second Harry Hole novel, COCKROACHES (originally published in Nesbo’s native Norway in 1998), is now available in the US for the first time. When the Norwegian ambassador to Thailand is found dead in a Bangkok brothel, Inspector Harry Hole is dispatched from Oslo to help hush up the case. Harry wanders the streets of Bangkok trying to piece together the story of the ambassador’s death, even though no one asked him to or wants him to --- not even Harry himself. According to reviewer Joe Hartlaub, “COCKROACHES is much more than a book for Nesbo completists. Some of his best writing and plotting are contained within its pages, which also provides insight into the tangled web of Harry’s personality that has affected him over the subsequent novels in the series.”
Our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight of Emylia Hall and her latest novel, THE SWISS AFFAIR, enters its final week, and we have our review for you. Hadley Dunn is spending her second year of college abroad in Lausanne. This glamorous Swiss city is imbued with the boundless sense of freedom Hadley has been seeking, and it is here she meets Kristina, a beautiful but mysterious Danish girl. The two bond quickly, but then tragedy strikes. Reviewer Alexis Burling says, “Hall successfully captures the essence of what it’s like to muddle through loss. Above all, she has penned a page-turner full of wanderlust, forbidden romance, and plenty of intrigue.” We also have a Q&A with Emylia, which you can see here.
Last week, we reviewed Carla Buckley’s latest psychological thriller, THE DEEPEST SECRET (which follows her previous two novels, THE THINGS THAT KEEP US HERE and INVISIBLE). I loved the book so much that I’m making it my latest Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Click here to read all my thoughts on what I think is Carla’s best novel to date.
Congratulations to the five winners of our Valentine's Day contest, who received a copy of each of our 12 featured books and some delicious Ghirardelli chocolate. Those who entered had the option of responding to this question: “Who is your all-time literary crush?” We were delighted to see that many of you chose to answer it. We had so much fun compiling your top 10 Literary Loves and Lusts, along with a few Honorable Mentions, which you can see here. Many thanks to all who participated!
As one big contest ends, we gear up for another series of them to begin…
We’re about five weeks away from the official start of spring (and for many of us, it cannot come soon enough!). To celebrate the warmer and calmer days that we’re all looking forward to, we’re launching our Spring Preview Feature, where we spotlight a number of hot new books releasing in the spring that you will want to consider adding to your reading list. Starting Thursday, February 20th at noon ET and continuing through Thursday, March 20th, we’ll be hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these books. We know you LOVE these contests! You’ll have to check the site each day to see which title is being given away --- or you can sign up here for our Spring Preview newsletter to be notified when contests go live. Next week, we’ll be awarding THE SIGNATURE OF ALL THINGS by Elizabeth Gilbert, which will be out in paperback on June 24th, to the winners of our first contest. Click here to see some of the titles we’re giving away (more will be added soon!).
I also wanted to let you know about an offer we're featuring via ads on Bookreporter.com on the homepage and most other pages for THE INNOCENT SLEEP by Karen Perry where five readers will receive a copy of the book, which is releasing this Tuesday the 18th. Enter by February 25th for your chance to win. Click here for all the details. And, in the meantime, be on the lookout for our review of the book next Friday! I read it over the holidays and still am thinking about it.
Our Historical Fiction Author Spotlight of Deanna Raybourn and her upcoming novel, CITY OF JASMINE, continues for another week. Famed aviatrix Evangeline Starke's husband, adventurer Gabriel Starke, died suddenly with the sinking of the Lusitania. Five years later, Evie embarks upon a flight around the world, collecting fame and admirers along the way. In the midst of her triumphant tour, she is shocked to receive a mysterious --- and recent --- photograph of Gabriel. She tracks the source of the photo to the ancient City of Jasmine, Damascus, where she discovers that nothing is as it seems. We have 30 advance copies of the book, which releases on February 25th, to give away to readers who would like to read and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, February 20th at noon ET. As I mentioned last week, I have been a huge fan of Deanna’s since her first book, SILENT IN THE GRAVE, so I’m thrilled to be featuring her latest effort.
WHEN SHADOWS FALL, book three in J.T. Ellison’s series starring forensic pathologist Dr. Samantha Owens, is the latest title in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight, which will also be up for one more week. Samantha thought life was finally returning to normal until she receives a disturbing letter from a dead man imploring her to solve his murder. There's only one catch: Timothy Savage's death was so obviously the suicide of a demented individual that the case has been closed. The investigation takes Sam into the shadows of a 20-year-old mystery that must be solved to determine what really happened to Savage. We have 25 copies of the book, which releases on February 25th, to give away to readers who would like to read and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, February 20th at noon ET.
We’ve posted our latest History Books roundup with titles chosen by our very own Greg Fitzgerald. Among our featured selections this month are DARK INVASION: 1915: Germany's Secret War and the Hunt for the First Terrorist Cell in America by Howard Blum; THE RACE UNDERGROUND: Boston, New York, and the Incredible Rivalry That Built America's First Subway by Doug Most; DOWN TO THE CROSSROADS: Civil Rights, Black Power, and the Meredith March Against Fear by Aram Goudsouzian; and THE BOMBERS AND THE BOMBED: Allied Air War Over Europe 1940-1945 by Richard Overy.
History is also the topic of our latest poll. When you’re reading nonfiction about history, do you prefer that the book reads more like a novel or more like an academic work (i.e., a more straightforward account of events)? Click here to let us know! Even if you’re just a casual reader of nonfiction about history, we want to hear what you have to say.
I wanted to call attention to another title that we are reviewing this week --- PIGS CAN’T SWIM by Helen Peppe. This was selected as an “Indies Introduce” title, one of the second season of debut titles selected by Indie publishers. The Indies Introduce promotion “was inspired by the relationship between independent booksellers and debuting authors: booksellers seek new voices to offer their customers and debuting authors look for readers. The panelists, who come from bookstores across the country, have sifted through dozens of books submitted by publishers in order to find the best voices of the spring season.” One of our readers, Nancy Simpson-Brice, is an Indie bookseller from The Book Vault in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and was on the selection committee; she recommended that I read PIGS CAN’T SWIM. Nancy, if you are reading, I will pick it up on your recommendation! By the way, THE UNAMERICANS, which we reviewed last week, also was an “Indies Introduce” title.
Our current Word of Mouth contest is up for another week. Let us know the books you’ve read, and you’ll be entered to win the aforementioned AFTER I’M GONE by Laura Lippman, along with THE FOREVER GIRL by Alexander McCall Smith (which we’re also reviewing this week) and THE MUSEUM OF EXTRAORDINARY THINGS by Alice Hoffman (our review will be posted next week). All you have to do is fill out the form on this page by Friday, February 21st at noon ET for your chance to win all three.
The longlist has been announced for the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction & Nonfiction, and we have those titles for you here. The six-title shortlist --- three each for the fiction and nonfiction medals --- will be announced in late April, and the two winners will be announced on June 29th.
I am looking forward to a three-day weekend before returning to what I HOPE is a normal --- though short --- work week! I am determined to kick the lingering respiratory infection that I have; yesterday I finally caved and called the doctor for a prescription, but of course the pharmacy was closed due to the weather. Mercury IS retrograde, and it’s really been kicking butt! I am counting down the days --- no, make that the hours --- until February 28th. I took one pill today and already feel soooo much better.
The second season of "House of Cards" kicks off on Netflix this weekend. As my husband has not speed-watched Season One the way I suggested, we may have a television dilemma on our hands!
And finally, Happy Valentine’s Day to you! May you be celebrating this Hallmark- and florist-driven holiday --- a friend calls it "Girl Christmas" --- in your own special way. Given the weather, I am lucky that I was shopping a few weeks ago and picked up a card for Tom in advance instead of my usual day before. I need forward thinking like that more often. I am making the family tradition heart-shaped cake with pink whipped cream and raspberries or strawberries. It’s a lovely breakfast treat as well. Here’s hoping that you have a wonderful weekend --- remembering Washington and Lincoln on Monday --- and a fabulous week ahead!
Read on….
Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
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Now in Stores: AFTER I’M GONE by Laura Lippman
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AFTER I'M GONE by Laura Lippman (Mystery)
The acclaimed bestselling author of THE MOST DANGEROUS THING, I'D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE and WHAT THE DEAD KNOW returns with an addictive story that explores how one man's disappearance echoes through the lives of the five women he left behind --- his wife, his daughters and his mistress. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Now in Stores: KILLER by Jonathan Kellerman
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KILLER: An Alex Delaware Novel by Jonathan Kellerman (Psychological Thriller)
At the behest of the court, Dr. Alex Delaware becomes embroiled in a bizarre child custody dispute initiated by physician Constance Sykes against her sister and begins to realize that there is much about the siblings he has failed to comprehend. When the court battle between the Sykes sisters erupts into cold, calculating murder and a rapidly growing number of victims, Alex knows he’s been snared in a toxic web of pathology. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Now in Stores: ONE MORE THING by B.J. Novak
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ONE MORE THING: Stories and Other Stories by B.J. Novak (Fiction/Short Stories)
Finding inspiration in questions from the nature of perfection to the icing on carrot cake, actor B.J. Novak’s debut short story collection has at its heart the most human of phenomena: love, fear, hope, ambition, and the inner stirring for the one elusive element that just might make a person complete. Reviewed by Jane Krebs.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Now in Stores: THE COUNTERFEIT AGENT by Alex Berenson
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THE COUNTERFEIT AGENT: A John Wells Novel by Alex Berenson (Thriller)
In an Istanbul hotel, a deep source warns a CIA agent that Iran intends to kill a CIA station chief. John Wells is called in to investigate, but before he can get far, the tip comes true. Which means that the next warning the source gives will be taken very seriously indeed. And it’s a big one. We’ve put a package on a ship from Dubai to the United States. A radioactive one. A bomb? Not yet. It’s a test run. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
-Click here to read more about the book. |
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Click here to read a review. |
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An Interview with Emylia Hall, Author of THE SWISS AFFAIR
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Emylia Hall's debut novel, THE BOOK OF SUMMERS, was a Richard and Judy book club pick in 2012 and was translated into eight languages. Now she returns with her highly anticipated second book, THE SWISS AFFAIR. In it, Hadley Dunn decides to shake up her predictable life by spending her second year of college abroad in the glamorous Swiss city of Lausanne. But when tragedy strikes, a guilt-ridden Hadley resolves to find the truth about what really happened that night. In this interview, Hall talks about her own time abroad in Lausanne and how her “golden year” there (loosely!) influenced THE SWISS AFFAIR. She also reveals her fascination with the way people behave on vacation, why she keeps revisiting the theme of identity, and what she wants readers to take away from her fiction.
THE SWISS AFFAIR by Emylia Hall (Fiction)
For Hadley Dunn, life has been predictable and uneventful. But that is before she spends her second year of college abroad in Lausanne, a glamorous Swiss city on the shores of Lake Geneva. Lausanne is imbued with the boundless sense of freedom Hadley has been seeking, and it is here she meets Kristina, a beautiful but mysterious Danish girl. The two bond quickly, but as the first snows of winter arrive, tragedy strikes. Reviewed by Alexis Burling.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Emylia Hall's bio.
-Visit Emylia Hall's official website and blog.
-Connect with Emylia Hall on Facebook and Twitter.
-Click here to see the 25 winners selected to read and comment on the book.
-Click here to read more in our Women's Fiction Author Spotlight.
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Click here to read the interview. |
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Announcing Bookreporter.com's Spring Preview Contests and Feature
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Spring is in the air (or will be in a few weeks)! We’ve already caught the fever --- and it’s being fueled by a list of great upcoming books! Here are some picks that we know people will be talking about over the next few months. We will be hosting a number of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through March 20th. You will need to check the site to see the featured book and enter to win. We also will be sending a special newsletter to announce each title, which you can sign up for here.
Our first prize book will be announced on Thursday, February 20th at noon ET.
This year's featured titles include the following (with more to come!):
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Click here to see our Spring Preview feature and sign up for our special newsletter. |
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Historical Fiction Author Spotlight & Contest: CITY OF JASMINE by Deanna Raybourn
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We have 30 advance copies of CITY OF JASMINE by Deanna Raybourn, which releases on February 25th, to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, February 20th at noon ET.
CITY OF JASMINE by Deanna Raybourn (Historical Fiction)
Famed aviatrix Evangeline Starke never expected to see her husband, adventurer Gabriel Starke, ever again. They had been a golden couple, enjoying a whirlwind courtship amid the backdrop of a glittering social set in prewar London until his sudden death with the sinking of the Lusitania.
Five years later, beginning to embrace life again, Evie embarks upon a flight around the world, collecting fame and admirers along the way. In the midst of her triumphant tour, she is shocked to receive a mysterious --- and recent --- photograph of Gabriel, which brings her ambitious stunt to a screeching halt.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read Deanna Raybourn's bio.
-Visit Deanna Raybourn's official website and blog.
-Connect with Deanna Raybourn on Facebook and Twitter.
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Click here to read more in our Historical Fiction Author Spotlight and enter the contest. |
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Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight & Contest: WHEN SHADOWS FALL by J.T. Ellison
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We have 25 copies of WHEN SHADOWS FALL: A Samantha Owens Novel by J.T. Ellison, which releases on February 25th, to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, February 20th at noon ET.
WHEN SHADOWS FALL: A Samantha Owens Novel by J.T. Ellison (Thriller)
Forensic pathologist Dr. Samantha Owens thought life was finally returning to normal after she suffered a terrible personal loss. Settling into her new job at Georgetown University, the illusion is shattered when she receives a disturbing letter from a dead man imploring her to solve his murder.
There’s only one catch. Timothy Savage’s death was so obviously the suicide of a demented individual that the case has been closed. When Sam learns Savage left a will requesting she autopsy his body, she feels compelled to look into the case. Sam’s own postmortem discovers clear signs that Savage was indeed murdered. And she finds DNA from a child who went missing years earlier and has never been found.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read J.T. Ellison's bio.
-Click here to visit J.T. Ellison's official website.
-Connect with J.T. Ellison on Facebook and Twitter.
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Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight and enter the contest. |
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Bookreporter.com Bets On: THE DEEPEST SECRET by Carla Buckley
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THE DEEPEST SECRET by Carla Buckley (Psychological Suspense)
When reading THE DEEPEST SECRET by Carla Buckley, I felt the same way that I did reading DEFENDING JACOB by William Landay; it’s that good! This book is destined to be BIG. When I was three chapters in, I said to my husband, “I am in trouble…this one is an all-nighter.” There is a really exciting feeling that comes when you find a book like this.
Here’s the setup. Eve Lattimore is the very vigilant mother of Tyler, a young boy who must be watched like a hawk --- a boy who literally cannot see the light of day as it will kill him due to a rare skin condition. Eve has devoted her life to Tyler. She works to bring him joy from things like jumping on a trampoline at night and excursions to places like zoos under the cover of darkness. She chides neighbors to not use halogen lights and fears the beams of headlights as they too carry scary UV rays. She works each day to make Tyler’s world as “normal” as it can be while she still is hyper-vigilant.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to see advance readers' comments for the book.
-Click here to see more books we're betting you'll love.
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Click here to read more of Carol's thoughts on the book. |
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Bookreporter.com’s History Books Roundup for February
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February's roundup of History titles includes DARK INVASION, Howard Blum’s true-life tale of German espionage and terror on American soil during World War I, and the NYPD Inspector who helped uncover the plot (the basis for the film to be produced by and starring Bradley Cooper); THE RACE UNDERGROUND, in which Doug Most chronicles the competition between Boston and New York to construct America's first subway; DOWN TO THE CROSSROADS by Aram Goudsouzian, the story of the last great march of the Martin Luther King, Jr. era, and the first great showdown of the turbulent years that followed; Richard Overy's THE BOMBERS AND THE BOMBED, the ultimate history of the Allied bombing campaigns in World War II; and THE ART OF BETRAYAL by Gordon Corera, which provides a unique and unprecedented insight into the British Secret Service and the reality that lies behind the fiction.
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Click here to see our History Books roundup for February. |
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New Contests and Guides on ReadingGroupGuides.com
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The following contests now appear on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
Win a Chat and Dinner with Robyn Carr --- and Copies of FOUR FRIENDS --- for Your Group
We are celebrating the March 25th release of FOUR FRIENDS by Robyn Carr with a very special contest. Robyn will fly to meet with one book group and take them to dinner to discuss FOUR FRIENDS. She will host this special evening at a restaurant local to you and your group on one of these three nights: Monday, March 31st, Tuesday, April 1st, or Wednesday, April 2nd. Also, each member of the group will be awarded a copy of the book, which will be shipped to the group coordinator in early March once the contest ends. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, February 26th at noon ET.
Win a Copy of ORPHAN TRAIN by Christina Baker Kline
We're giving 10 groups the opportunity to win 10 copies of the New York Times bestseller ORPHAN TRAIN by Christina Baker Kline, a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, second chances, unexpected friendship, and the secrets we carry that keep us from finding out who we are. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, March 5th at noon ET.
What's Your Book Group Reading This Month? Contest
This month's prize book is WHISTLING PAST THE GRAVEYARD by Susan Crandall, a coming-of-age story about a nine-year-old girl who runs away from her Mississippi home in 1963, befriends a lonely woman suffering loss and abuse, and embarks on a life-changing road trip. We have 12 copies of the book, which is now available in paperback, to give away to three groups. The deadline for entries is Friday, March 7th at noon ET.
The following guides are now available:
CITY OF JASMINE by Deanna Raybourn (Historical Fiction)
Aviatrix Evie Starke embarks upon a journey to see the world in 1920, tracking a mysterious photograph to Damascus, the ancient City of Jasmine, where intrigue, danger and a love beyond all reason await.
EVIDENCE OF LIFE by Barbara Taylor Sissel (Mystery/Suspense)
Barbara Taylor Sissel delivers a gripping tale of a mother’s search for her missing husband and daughter, and the lies she uncovers that challenge everything she once believed about her marriage and family.
FOUR FRIENDS by Robyn Carr (Romance)
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr comes the story of four friends determined to find their stride. Ultimately, they'll discover what it means to be a wife, mother, lover, friend...and most important: your true self.
THE GOOD LUCK OF RIGHT NOW by Matthew Quick (Fiction/Humor)
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK comes the funny, feel-good story of a young man who, in the aftermath of his mother’s untimely death, forms an unlikely family with three other outsiders.
THE GRACE OF CROWS by Tracy Shawn (Fiction)
THE GRACE OF CROWS is a story about how an anxiety-ridden woman finds happiness through the most unexpected of ways --- and characters.
THE HANGING JUDGE by Michael Ponsor (Legal Thriller)
Based on the experience of the author, a federal judge who in 2000 presided over the first capital case in Massachusetts in more than 50 years, this extraordinary thriller offers an unprecedented inside view of a federal death penalty trial.
RIPPER by Isabel Allende (Mystery)
RIPPER by New York Times bestselling author Isabel Allende is an atmospheric, fast-paced mystery involving a brilliant teenage sleuth who must unmask a serial killer in San Francisco.
THREE SOULS by Janie Chang (Historical Fiction)
Suffused with history and literature, THREE SOULS is an epic tale of revenge and betrayal, forbidden love, and the price we are willing to pay for freedom.
TWO SISTERS by Mary Hogan (Fiction)
Mary Hogan’s powerful and poignant debut novel is about two sisters --- opposites in every way --- plus their mother and the secrets and lies that define them all.
UNDER THE WIDE AND STARRY SKY by Nancy Horan (Historical Romance)
From Nancy Horan, the New York Times bestselling author of LOVING FRANK, comes her much-anticipated second novel, which tells the improbable love story of Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson and his tempestuous American wife, Fanny.
THE WEDDING BEES: A Novel of Honey, Love, and Manners by Sarah-Kate Lynch (Romance)
THE WEDDING BEES is a novel about finding sweetness where you least expect it and learning to love your way home.
WHISTLING PAST THE GRAVEYARD by Susan Crandall (Historical Fiction)
A nine-year-old girl runs away from her Mississippi home in 1963, befriends a lonely woman suffering loss and abuse, and embarks on a life-changing road trip.
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
ABOVE ALL THINGS by Tanis Rideout (Historical Fiction)
ABOVE ALL THINGS tells the harrowing story of George Mallory’s third and final attempt to summit Mount Everest in 1924.
THE FEVER TREE by Jennifer Haigh (Historical Fiction)
THE FEVER TREE is a compelling portrait of colonial South Africa, its raw beauty and deprivation alive in equal measure.
THE PAINTED GIRLS by Cathy Marie Buchanan (Historical Fiction)
THE PAINTED GIRLS is a romantic, exhilarating novel set during Belle Époque Paris and inspired by the real-life model of Degas’s Little Dancer Aged 14.
THE PERFUME COLLECTOR by Kathleen Tessaro (Historical Fiction)
From the author of ELEGANCE and DEBUTANTE comes a stunning novel about secret histories, desire, memory, and the power of scent.
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Click here to visit ReadingGroupGuides.com. |
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More Reviews This Week
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PRIVATE L.A. by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan (Thriller)
When movie stars Thom and Jennifer Harlow disappear, facts are hard to find. They live behind such a high wall of security and image control that even world-renowned Private Investigator Jack Morgan can't get to the truth. But as Jack keeps probing, secrets sprout thick and fast --- and the world's golden couple may emerge as hiding behind a world of desperation and deception that the wildest reality show couldn't begin to unveil. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
COCKROACHES: The Second Inspector Harry Hole Novel by Jo Nesbo (Mystery/Thriller)
When the Norwegian ambassador to Thailand is found dead in a Bangkok brothel, Inspector Harry Hole is dispatched from Oslo to help hush up the case. Surrounded by round-the-clock traffic noise, Harry wanders the streets of Bangkok lined with go-go bars, temples, opium dens and tourist traps, trying to piece together the story of the ambassador’s death, even though no one asked him to or wants him to --- not even Harry himself. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
THE FOREVER GIRL by Alexander McCall Smith (Fiction)
Alexander McCall Smith's THE FOREVER GIRL is a novel about love and following one’s heart, and the unexpected places to which this can lead us. Through the lives of Clover and James, and Amanda and David, the author of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series tells a tale full of love and heartbreak, humor and melancholy, that demonstrates the myriad ways in which love shapes our lives. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
THE GOOD LUCK OF RIGHT NOW by Matthew Quick (Fiction)
In a series of extremely personal letters to actor Richard Gere, a mentally challenged man in his late 30s named Bartholomew shares his confusing, complicated search for the meaning of life. No letters are actually mailed. The letter writer also imagines Gere's answers and is encouraged by them. Reviewed by Carole Turner.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
THE MARTIAN by Andy Weir (Science Fiction/Thriller)
Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him? Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.
LINCOLN’S BOYS: John Hay, John Nicolay, and the War for Lincoln’s Image by Joshua Zeitz (Biography)
Abraham Lincoln’s official secretaries, John Hay and John Nicolay, enjoyed more access, witnessed more history, and knew Lincoln better than anyone outside of the president’s immediate family. As Joshua Zeitz shows, the image of a humble man with uncommon intellect who rose from obscurity to become a storied wartime leader and emancipator is very much their creation. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
THE SWAN GONDOLA by Timothy Schaffert (Historical Fiction)
The 1898 Omaha World’s Fair has just concluded. In a small Nebraska town, a Civil War balloon formerly on display at the Fair lands on the home of two elderly sisters. The pilot is Ferret Skerritt, a young ventriloquist. In THE SWAN GONDOLA, Ferret tells the sisters the story of his romance with an actress who worked at the Chamber of Horrors, and of the wealthy magnate who tried to insinuate himself into their affair. Reviewed by Michael Magras.
THE BOOK OF JONAH by Joshua Max Feldman (Fiction)
A bizarre, unexpected biblical vision at a party changes everything for young Manhattan lawyer Jonah Jacobstein. This disturbing sign is only the first of many Jonah will witness, and before long his life is unrecognizable. Though this perhaps divine intervention will be responsible for more than one irreversible loss in Jonah’s life, it will also cross his path with that of Judith Bulbrook, an intense, breathtakingly intelligent woman who is no stranger to loss herself. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
CUT ME LOOSE: Sin and Salvation After My Ultra-Orthodox Girlhood by Leah Vincent (Memoir)
CUT ME LOOSE tells the story of one woman's harrowing struggle to define herself as an individual. Through Leah Vincent's eyes, we confront not only the oppressive world of religious fundamentalism, but also the broader issues that face even the most secular young women as they grapple with sexuality and identity. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
PIGS CAN'T SWIM: A Memoir by Helen Peppe (Memoir)
With everything happening on Helen Peppe’s backwoods Maine farm --- ferocious sibling rivalry, rock-bottom poverty, feral male chauvinism, sex in the hayloft --- life was out of control, even for the animals. Despite the chaos, in telling her family’s story, Peppe manages deadpan humor, an unerring eye for the absurd, and a touching compassion for her utterly overwhelmed parents. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
TRILEMMA by Jennifer Mortimer (Thriller)
Maverick executive Lin Mere takes over as CEO for a new telecommunications company. She has followed her father's trail to New Zealand to try to establish a relationship with her father's estranged family and solve the mystery of why they want nothing to do with her...and while in New Zealand, she's intent on rekindling a romance. When danger secretly enters Lin's life from an unexpected source, she has to face an ordeal even more challenging than the battles in the boardroom. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.
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Our Latest Poll: How Do You Like Your History?
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Which of the following best describes your nonfiction reading preferences about history?
I prefer nonfiction that reads more like a novel.
I prefer nonfiction that reads more like an academic work (i.e., a more straightforward account of events).
I don’t have a preference.
I typically don't read nonfiction books about history.
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Click here to answer the poll. |
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Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What You've Read --- and You Can Win THREE Books!
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Tell us your current reading recommendations with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from February 7th to February 21st, FIVE lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of AFTER I'M GONE by Laura Lippman, THE FOREVER GIRL by Alexander McCall Smith, and THE MUSEUM OF EXTRAORDINARY THINGS by Alice Hoffman.
To make sure other readers will be able to find the books you write about, please include the full title and correct author names (your entry must include these to be eligible to win). For complete rules and guidelines, click here.
Please note: You must enter your full address, using correct capitalization and filling in all fields if you would like to be eligible to win a prize.
Also, we realize that many times, your opinion of a book will change as you get further along into the story. Thus, to ensure that your comments and ratings accurately reflect your entire reading experience, we ask that you finish reading the book before you submit your comments about it.
One important technical note: If you're using an iPad or another iOS device to access the Word of Mouth page and you would like to enter the contest, you must wait for the page to fully load before you can rate your book. Only then will the stars be clickable.
-To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
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Click here to enter the contest. |
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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.
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