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December 12, 2014

Bookreporter.com Newsletter December 12, 2014
Elf Wanted!
I had a great birthday last weekend, the celebration of which extended well into the week. I love the flowers above that were brought to me by my friends Cathy and Sarah (I am very into Ball jars and want to try chalk painting on some clear ones)! And my burger at lunch on Sunday arrived with the above blue toothpick; Tom and Cory’s burgers had red and green toothpicks, thus I know I must have been exuding turquoise thoughts. Greg was in Florida on a lighthouse trip and brought me a fabulous painting of a fish whose frame was made from used lobster traps. Really unusual and fun!

The Santa countdown in the photo above reminds me that I need an elf. Forget a list for Santa; I have a daunting “to do” list for the next two weeks, and I could use an elf. Shopping, wrapping, baking, decorating, packing, knitting, cooking, reading, writing and working = juggling too much. I have pared down what I plan to actually accomplish --- except for reading and writing and working --- but I can see the lists will beget lists next week. For some reason, I am not caught up in the holiday spirit yet. Caroling and all of the hoopla is not yet front and center on my radar. Should I chalk this up to a late Thanksgiving?

I AM thoroughly enjoying our Author Holiday Blogs. This annual Bookreporter.com tradition, now in its seventh year, gives us a chance to share pieces from authors about memorable moments of gift-giving and gift-getting with books. These “from the heart” stories are both heartwarming and inspiring. You can sign up to have them delivered to your mailbox daily via an RSS feed here, or you can click here each day to find the latest piece. We will be adding them from now until the beginning of the year.

This week, we heard from Laura Lane McNeal, Katherine Reay, Daniel Palmer, Mallory Kasdan and Steve Berry. This weekend’s pieces will be written by Robin Antalek and Ann Hood. And still to come are contributions from Debbie Macomber, Walter Mosley, Lynne Hinton, Amanda Eyre Ward, Kim Wright, and many more. As always, we appreciate all the authors who have taken the time to share these wonderful holiday memories with us. And thank you to Emily, who has been doing a fabulous job of making this feature happen each day!

This week in our Holiday Cheer contests, we gave away THE 13TH GIFT: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle by Joanne Huist Smith, THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN by Paula Hawkins, HORRORSTÖR by Grady Hendrix and SHOPAHOLIC TO THE STARS by Sophie Kinsella. Our 2014 contests wrap up next week with our final three prize books: THE BROTHERS' KEEPERS by NLB Horton, MY SUNSHINE AWAY by M.O. Walsh, and STILL ALICE by Lisa Genova. Our next prize book will be announced on Monday the 15th at noon ET.

Note this! As one round of daily contests end, another will begin --- specifically our "Winter Reading Dedicated Contests." On select days in January and February, we’ll be awarding new and upcoming releases to lucky readers. Our Winter Reading newsletters will be coming soon, so be sure you’re signed up to receive them so you know what book we’re giving away on each of the contest days. We do not send you our themed newsletters unless you opt-in, so sign up here. If you are having trouble doing so, please write John Maher at [email protected].

And while the focus is on the holidays, we’d like to remind you to answer our latest poll question. When it comes to gifts, are you buying more, less, or about the same this holiday season compared to last year? Click here and let us know! Reading above, do you know MY answer?

And now on to the non-holiday themed part of the newsletter!

For a detailed and heartfelt look at early 20th-century America, we bring you THE BOSTON GIRL by Anita Diamant. When 85-year-old Addie’s granddaughter asks how she became the woman she is today, Addie begins a riveting account of her life, starting in 1915. Born to immigrant parents who were suspicious of flashy American influences, Addie dreamed of the opportunities available to her outside of her home --- from college to a career to true love. In 1915, she made the friends who would shape the rest of her life, setting the stage for many exciting adventures.

According to reviewer Roz Shea, “THE BOSTON GIRL is not preachy, but lovingly exemplifies a smart, courageous lady, not unlike many of our grandmothers and mothers who overcame numerous barriers to become the women we know and appreciate.”

Picking up after the legendary Reichenbach Falls encounter of Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty comes MORIARTY by Anthony Horowitz, sanctioned by the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle estate. Pinkerton detective agent Frederick Chase flies from New York to meet with Scotland Yard Inspector Athelney Jones to tend to the dangerous chaos following Moriarty’s death. While criminals from all corners of Europe are vying to take his place, one sinister man in particular stands out --- and it is up to Chase and Athelney to catch him.

Ray Palen has our review and raves, “While reading MORIARTY, it is easy to become so engaged in the tale that you forget the fact that the title character is nowhere to be seen. Or could he actually be operating right under everyone's nose? In the nimble hands of Anthony Horowitz, this mystery moves along at frightening speed and is a worthy entry in the continuing saga involving characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.” I personally love that fans who grew up reading Horowitz’s popular middle-grade Alex Rider series that started in 2001 are old enough to read MORIARTY now. Cory was one of those early Rider readers!

We’re giving away THE BOSTON GIRL and MORIARTY in our Word of Mouth contest, along with A QUILT FOR CHRISTMAS by Sandra Dallas. All you have to do is let us know by Friday, December 19th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have the chance to win these three new releases.

We’re happy to be sharing with you a wonderful tribute that author Lorenzo Carcaterra has given to his cousin, legendary actor Danny Aiello, who recently penned his memoir, the cleverly titled I ONLY KNOW WHO I AM WHEN I AM SOMEBODY ELSE: My Life on the Street, On the Stage, and in the Movies. Many thanks to both of them for making this fun and informative piece possible. From what we hear, their conversation about this piece took place over a lovely Italian lunch with lots of wine!

Our special contest in celebration of the January 20th release of Sarah Addison Allen’s FIRST FROST continues. Including characters from GARDEN SPELLS --- which we have featured in the past --- FIRST FROST focuses on the Waverley women as they prepare for the changing season. Claire has recently opened a successful candy shop, but the business is keeping her distant from her family. Sydney, meanwhile, is so desperate for a new baby that she loses focus on the joys she already has, including her daughter, Bay, who is suffering from an unrequited love. We’re offering 25 readers the chance to win an advance copy and share their comments on it. Click here to enter the contest by Thursday, December 18th at noon ET.

Our History Books roundup has been updated for December. Among this month’s featured titles are THE ITALIAN AMERICANS: A History by Maria Laurino, WATERLOO: A New History by Gordon Corrigan, THE GREATEST KNIGHT: The Remarkable Life of William Marshal, the Power Behind Five English Thrones by Thomas Asbridge, and EMPIRE OF COTTON: A Global History by Sven Beckert.

In this week’s “Sounding Off on Audio,” we hear from Lee Woodruff, co-author (with her husband, Bob Woodruff) of the #1 New York Times bestseller IN AN INSTANT. If you are an audiobook aficionado and would like to be interviewed, then drop me a note at [email protected] with the subject line "Audiobook Lover."

In television news, be on the lookout for “Sacred Journeys with Bruce Feiler,” hosted by the star of “Walking the Bible,” bestselling author and adventurer Bruce Feiler. In this new series airing on PBS, Feiler will travel to ancient temples and holy sites around the world as a contemporary American traveler, exploring the history of each site. The program will air Tuesdays at 8pm and 9pm beginning December 16th and ending December 30th. On Showtime, “The Affair” is heating up (I previewed this week’s episode), and “Homeland” is downright terrifying. And in movie news, I watched Chef last Friday and enjoyed it; I have Mixed Nuts lined up for the weekend.

And speaking of movies: How would you like to win 12 books that are coming to the big screen in 2015, as well as a $360 movie gift card (for the theater of your choice)? That is the mega prize package courtesy of Word & Film, “a website dedicated to keeping a literary eye on what’s entertaining the world on screens both big and small.” Click here for more info and to enter the contest; the deadline for entries is midnight ET on Tuesday, January 6th. What a GREAT prize! Our whole team wants to win it!

I am reading and enjoying WOMAN WITH A GUN by Phillip Margolin, which we reviewed last week. I also am pulling together a stack of books that I plan to read over the holidays, which is one of my favorite times to just kick back in front of the fire. To me, that is the best present: time to read and relax!

Wishing those who celebrate Hanukkah a fabulous holiday when it kicks off on the 16th. Find time to read this week; I find that when cookies are in the oven baking, you can grab a nice short reading break. Timed reading…like back at school. When the buzzer goes off, book down and oven open!

Cory has all his exams jammed into a few days early next week, so I am planning on dropping off a big tray of lasagna this weekend at his dorm. I also then can retrieve the cake baking pans that he borrowed from me a while back and has yet to return.

Read on, and here’s to a great week ahead.


Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])

P.S. For those of you who are doing online holiday shopping, if you use the store links below, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases. We would appreciate your considering this!
Now in Stores: THE BOSTON GIRL by Anita Diamant
THE BOSTON GIRL by Anita Diamant (Historical Fiction)
Eighty-five-year-old Addie Baum tells the story of her life to her 22-year-old granddaughter, who has asked her “How did you get to be the woman you are today?” She begins in 1915, the year she found her voice and made friends who would help shape the course of her life. From the one-room tenement apartment she shared with her parents and two sisters, to the library group for girls she joins at a neighborhood settlement house, to her first, disastrous love affair, Addie recalls her adventures with compassion for the naïve girl she was and a wicked sense of humor. Reviewed by Roz Shea.

-Click here to read more about the book.
 
Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: MORIARTY by Anthony Horowitz
MORIARTY by Anthony Horowitz (Historical Mystery)
Days after the encounter at the Reichenbach Falls, Pinkerton detective agent Frederick Chase arrives in Europe from New York. Professor Moriarty’s death has left an immediate, poisonous vacuum in the criminal underworld, and there is no shortage of candidates to take his place --- including one particularly fiendish criminal mastermind. Chase and Scotland Yard Inspector Athelney Jones must pursue this sinister figure, a man much feared but seldom seen, who is determined to stake his claim as Moriarty’s successor. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

-Click here to read more about the book.
 
Click here to read a review.
Special Contest: Win a Copy of FIRST FROST by Sarah Addison Allen --- and Share Your Comments On It
We are celebrating the January 20th release of FIRST FROST by Sarah Addison Allen with a special contest that will give 25 readers the opportunity to win an advance copy of the book and submit their comments on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, December 18th at noon ET.

FIRST FROST by Sarah Addison Allen (Fiction)
Claire Waverley has started a successful new venture, Waverley’s Candies. Though her handcrafted confections --- rose to recall lost love, lavender to promote happiness, and lemon verbena to soothe throats and minds --- are singularly effective, the business of selling them is costing her the everyday joys of her family, and her belief in her own precious gifts.

Sydney Waverley, too, is losing her balance. With each passing day, she longs more for a baby --- a namesake for her wonderful Henry. Yet the longer she tries, the more her desire becomes an unquenchable thirst, stealing the pleasure out of the life she already has.

Sydney’s daughter, Bay, has lost her heart to the boy she knows it belongs to…if only he could see it, too. But how can he, when he is so far outside her grasp that he appears to her as little more than a puff of smoke?

When a mysterious stranger shows up and challenges the very heart of their family, each of them must make choices they have never confronted before. And through it all, the Waverley sisters must search for a way to hold their family together through their troublesome season of change, waiting for that extraordinary event that is FIRST FROST.

-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Sarah Addison Allen's bio.
-Click here to visit Sarah Addison Allen's official website.
-Connect with Sarah Addison Allen on Facebook and Twitter.
 
Click here to enter the contest.
Lorenzo Carcaterra Reflects on the Life and Times of Danny Aiello, Author of I ONLY KNOW WHO I AM WHEN I AM SOMEBODY ELSE
Danny Aiello is the kind of beloved actor who slips into roles as if they were a worn pair of shoes --- comfortably, with grace and no discernible effort. This chameleon-like quality resonates in his real life, a theme he explores in his recent memoir, I ONLY KNOW WHO I AM WHEN I AM SOMEBODY ELSE. In it, he reveals what is obvious to those who know him: his heart, his passion and his guts. Lorenzo Carcaterra, bestselling author and Danny's cousin, shares a close account of Danny's amazing life. From living hand-to-mouth on the rough streets of New York City to his illustrious on- and off-screen career, Danny certainly has overcome some amazing odds. Lorenzo reveals the surprisingly sensitive man behind the legend, a true fighter whose path lies along a Samuel Beckett quote.
 
Click here to read Lorenzo Carcaterra's blog post about Danny Aiello.
Enter to Win a Movie & Book Prize Pack from Word & Film!
Enter to win free movie tickets and books for a year from Word & Film! You can win one of five adaptation prize packages that includes a $360 movie gift card and 12 books coming to the big screen in 2015: 50 SHADES OF GREY, ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES, FALLEN, FRANKENSTEIN, IN THE HEART OF THE SEA, THE JUNGLE BOOK, THE MARTIAN, THE MAZE RUNNER, PAPER TOWNS, PETER PAN, STAR WARS: A NEW DAWN and PRIDE & PREJUDICE & ZOMBIES.
 
Click here to enter the sweepstakes.
December’s Books on Screen Feature
Between the Sony hack and cheesy award bait, movie magic seems harder to come by this holiday season. Fortunately, we have a great roundup of books on screen to keep you spellbound until the new year!

Wild, based on Cheryl Strayed’s powerful, searingly honest memoir, is in theaters now. Reese Witherspoon, back in Serious Actress mode, stars as Strayed in a performance that already has earned her a Golden Globe nod. If you like your protagonists (and plotlines) a little loopier, be sure to check out Inherent Vice, Paul Thomas Anderson’s adaptation of the classic Thomas Pynchon novel. The movie --- a noir odyssey that has drug-addled private eye Doc Sportello navigating 1960s Los Angeles --- has been called both “hypnotic” and “infuriating,” sometimes even in the same sentence.

For more family-friendly fare, don’t miss the latest reboot of Annie, with 11-year-old Academy darling Quvenzhané Wallis as the ever-optimistic orphan girl. In inspired casting choices, the movie also stars Jamie Foxx as Will Stacks, a Daddy Warbucks for 2014, and Cameron Diaz as the scheming Miss Hannigan. A bit darker but equally uplifting is the Angelina Jolie-helmed adaptation of UNBROKEN, Olympic athlete Louis Zamperini’s moving memoir of how he survived World War II against the odds.

If you missed Lifetime’s two-part adaptation of Anita Diamant’s THE RED TENT, you can still watch it on demand. Hallmark Channel aired their version of Debbie Macomber’s MR. MIRACLE, which is the story of an overwhelmed young woman and her earnest guardian angel. But it also will be shown throughout the month, so be sure to check their site for upcoming air dates. And if you’re looking to escape all the holiday fluff, tune in as Showtime wraps up its stellar fourth season of “Homeland.”

 
Click here to see all the movies, TV shows and DVDs featured in December’s Books on Screen.
Bookreporter.com's History Books Roundup for December
December’s roundup of History titles includes WATERLOO, a new military history of one of the key battles in world history, by veteran historian Gordon Corrigan, who brings the campaign and battle, its armies and their commanders to fresh and vivid life; THE ITALIAN AMERICANS, a gorgeous companion book to the PBS series, in which Maria Laurino strips away stereotypes and nostalgia to tell the complicated, centuries-long story of the true Italian-American experience; THE GREATEST KNIGHT, Thomas Asbridge’s portrait of one of history's most illustrious knights --- William Marshal --- that evokes the grandeur and barbarity of the Middle Ages; and EMPIRE OF COTTON by Sven Beckert, the epic story of the rise and fall of the empire of cotton, its centrality to the world economy, and its making and remaking of global capitalism.
 
Click here to see our History Books roundup for December.
Bookreporter.com's Author Holiday Blogs: Authors Write About Their Favorite Holiday Memories of Giving or Receiving Books
We continue to bring you our Author Holiday Blogs, which we’ve brought back for a SEVENTH consecutive year. From now until the start of the new year, we’ll be featuring new blog posts from authors every day talking about the books that they have given and received.

Thus far, we have heard from Lacy Crawford, Jamie Metzl, Hazel Gaynor, Sarah Addison Allen, Camille DeAngelis, Kristin Harmel, Phillip Margolin, Laura Lane McNeal, Katherine Reay, Daniel Palmer, Mallory Kasdan and Steve Berry. In the days ahead, you can look forward to contributions from Lynne Hinton, Debbie Macomber, Walter Mosley, Amanda Eyre Ward, Kim Wright and many more.

As always, we appreciate all the authors who have taken the time to share these wonderful holiday memories with us.
 
Click here to read Bookreporter.com's 2014 Author Holiday Blogs.
Bookreporter.com's Holiday Cheer Contests and Feature
At Bookreporter.com, we kick off the holiday season in style with our Holiday Cheer Contests and Feature. This year’s Holiday Cheer titles include books that you want to give and get, as well as a couple of “hot” 2015 titles. The contests kick off at noon ET on select days through December 17th, and run for just 24 hours, so you have to check the site to see what is being featured. As always, we’ve been sending our special Holiday Cheer newsletter on the days when there are contests. Click here to sign up for these email alerts.

Our next prize book will be announced on Monday, December 15th at noon ET.

This year's featured titles are:

Click here to read all the contest details and see our featured titles.
Sounding Off on Audio: Interviews with Listeners About Their Love of Audiobooks
As we continue to explore the world of audiobooks, we bring you our newest Bookreporter.com feature, “Sounding Off on Audio,” where we interview listeners about their love of audiobooks. Find out what they listen to, who their favorite narrators are, why they enjoy audiobooks, and much more. Whether you are a seasoned listener of audiobooks or have only a passing curiosity, we hope that you find these interviews to be fun and informative --- and perhaps come across a title or two that you can add to your audiobook listening list. Whenever possible, we will try to provide samples for your listening pleasure as well.

This week, we chat with Lee Woodruff, who writes books and articles for a living, but most recently has embraced audiobooks and can now be found whipping out her iPhone to listen to them while walking the dog, hiking and driving. Along with her husband, Bob Woodruff, Lee is the co-author of the #1 New York Times bestseller IN AN INSTANT, as well as the author of THOSE WE LOVE MOST and the essay collection PERFECTLY IMPERFECT. Here, she talks about her audiobook habits and her favorite books to listen to.

-Click here to read our interview with Lee Woodruff.
 
Click here for more "Sounding Off on Audio" interviews.
Women's Fiction Author Spotlight: SAVING GRACE by Jane Green
SAVING GRACE by Jane Green (Fiction)
Grace and Ted Chapman are widely regarded as the perfect literary power couple. Ted is a successful novelist and Grace, his wife of 20 years, is beautiful, stylish, carefree and a wonderful homemaker. But what no one sees, what is churning under the surface, is Ted’s rages. His mood swings. And the precarious house of cards that their lifestyle is built upon. When Ted’s longtime assistant and mainstay leaves, the house of cards begins to crumble and Grace, with dark secrets in her past, is most vulnerable. She finds herself in need of help but with no one to turn to...until the perfect new assistant shows up out of the blue.

To the rescue comes Beth, a competent young woman who can handle Ted and has the calm efficiency to weather the storms that threaten to engulf the Chapman household. Soon, though, it’s clear to Grace that Beth might be too good to be true. This new interloper might be the biggest threat of all, one that could cost Grace her marriage, her reputation and even her sanity. With everything at stake and no one to confide in, Grace must find a way to save herself before it is too late.

-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Jane Green's bio.
-Click here to visit Jane Green's official website.
-Connect with Jane Green on Facebook and Twitter.
-Click here to read about Jane Green's latest cookbook, HAPPY FOOD.
 
Click here to read more in our Women's Fiction Author Spotlight.
More Reviews This Week
THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL: The Real Story of My Mother and Me by Brooke Shields (Memoir)
Brooke Shields never had what anyone would consider an ordinary life. She was raised by her Newark-tough single mom, Teri, a woman who loved the world of show business and was often a media sensation all by herself. As Brooke became an adult, the pair made choices and sacrifices that would affect their relationship forever. In this memoir, Brooke reveals stories and feelings that are relatable to anyone who has been a mother or daughter. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.

A NEW YORK CHRISTMAS by Anne Perry (Historical Mystery)
Twenty-three-year-old Jemima Pitt, the daughter of Thomas Pitt and head of Britain’s Special Branch, is crossing the Atlantic. She is traveling with an acquaintance, Delphinia Cardew, who is to marry the aristocratic Brent Albright in a high-society New York wedding. When Harley, the groom’s charismatic brother, asks Jemima to help him search for Delphinia’s disgraced mother, Maria, and forestall the scandal that would surely follow if the prodigal parent turned up at the wedding, she agrees to assist him. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

-Click here to read an excerpt.

HAVANA STORM: A Dirk Pitt Novel by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler (Thriller/Adventure)
While investigating a toxic outbreak in the Caribbean Sea that may ultimately threaten the United States, Dick Pitt unwittingly becomes involved in something even more dangerous --- a post-Castro power struggle for the control of Cuba. Meanwhile, Pitt’s children, marine engineer Dirk and oceanographer Summer, are on an investigation of their own, which brings them both to Cuba as well --- and squarely into harm’s way. Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.

WHEN BOOKS WENT TO WAR: The Stories that Helped Us Win World War II by Molly Guptill Manning (Literature/History)
When America entered World War II, we faced an enemy that had banned and burned over 100 million books and caused fearful citizens to hide or destroy many more. The War Department and the publishing industry stepped in with an extraordinary program: 120 million small, lightweight paperbacks, for troops to carry in their pockets and their rucksacks, in every theater of war. Comprising 1,200 different titles of every imaginable type, these paperbacks were beloved by the troops and are still fondly remembered today. Reviewed by Carole Turner.

THE LOST GOSPEL: Decoding the Ancient Text that Reveals Jesus' Marriage to Mary the Magdalene by Simcha Jacobovici and Barrie Wilson (History/Christianity)
Waiting to be rediscovered in the British Library is an ancient manuscript of the early Church, copied by an anonymous monk. The manuscript is at least 1,450 years old, possibly dating to the first century. And now, THE LOST GOSPEL provides the first-ever translation from Syriac into English of this unique document that tells the inside story of Jesus’ social, family and political lives. Reviewed by Carly Silver.

THE BIG FINISH: A Thorn Novel by James W. Hall (Mystery)
A year ago, Thorn’s son, Flynn Moss, disappeared into the eco-underground, his only contact with Thorn a series of postcards chronicling his exploits. But upon learning that Flynn has been executed, Thorn is determined to get his hands on his son’s killer. Little by little Thorn discovers that nothing he’s been told is true, and the trap they’re setting isn’t for Flynn’s killer, but for his partner, a woman who proves more daring and dangerous than any Thorn has ever met. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE WORLD OF RAYMOND CHANDLER: In His Own Words edited by Barry Day (Autobiography)
Raymond Chandler never wrote a memoir or an autobiography. The closest he came to writing either was in --- and around --- his novels, shorts stories and letters. There have been books that describe and evaluate Chandler’s life, but to find out what he himself felt about his life and work, Barry Day has chosen from Chandler’s writing, as well as the many interviews he gave over the years as he achieved cult status, to weave together an illuminating narrative that reveals the man, the work and the worlds he created. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.

ASYLUM CITY by Liad Shoham (Mystery/Thriller)
When young social activist Michal Poleg is found dead in her Tel Aviv apartment, officer Anat Nachmias is given the lead on her first murder investigation. Eager to find answers, she looks to the victim's past for clues, focusing on the last days before her death. Could one of the asylum seekers with whom Michal worked be behind this crime? Then a young African man confesses to the murder, and Anat's commanders say the case is closed. But the cop isn't convinced. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

PERFECT SINS by Jo Bannister (Mystery)
Four years ago, Gabriel Ash was working with the British government investigating hijackings in Somalia. But when his wife and sons disappeared, presumably taken --- and probably killed --- by pirates, his life fell apart. He has sudden reason to hope when a senior policeman suggests that his sons might still be alive --- until that policeman is murdered. Still, there seems to be some link to a local operation, and Ash, no longer a government agent, is determined to find it. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

TED AND I: A Brother's Memoir by Gerald Hughes (Memoir)
TED AND I is a unique portrait of a shared childhood between Gerald Hughes and his younger brother, Ted, one of the finest and best-loved poets of modern times. Ted's love for Gerald was probably one of the most enduring and sustaining forces in his life. Hughes brings alive a period when the two brothers would roam the countryside, camping, making fires, pitching tents, hunting rabbits, rats, wood pigeon and stoats. Ted's fascination with all wildlife subsequently fed directly into his sublime poetry. Reviewed by Stephen Febick.
Our Latest Poll: Holiday Purchases
When it comes to gifts this holiday season, are you buying more, less, or about the same compared to last year?

More
Less
About the same
I haven’t started my holiday shopping.

 
Click here to answer the poll.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What You're Reading --- and You Can Win THREE Books!
Tell us your current reading recommendations with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from December 5th to December 19th, FIVE lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE BOSTON GIRL by Anita Diamant, MORIARTY by Anthony Horowitz and A QUILT FOR CHRISTMAS by Sandra Dallas.

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 this 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, your review WILL NOT be posted if you have not finished the book.

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.
 
Click here to enter the contest.

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