Yesterday, as the snow was falling, I was remembering the “olden days” when the boys' schools had a phone chain for snow days. The class mother would get the first call, and from there a chain reaction would happen...you bonded with the family who called you and the one you called. Later it was robocalls and the internet, but I took a moment to pause and remember the phone chain! Oh, and I also remembered the robocall that came in on my cell phone at 3am when I was on a business trip in Denver when the time on the east coast was 5am; not fun.
In the days before the internet, one could just enjoy a snow day; yesterday I barely looked up from my laptop. It was nice to be able to churn through some projects uninterrupted, but I longed for the days when the boys and their friends would traipse in with wet clothes, and I would be doling out hot chocolate and cookies. And the dryer would run all day. I miss those memory-making interruptions.
Since the fall, I feel like I have been on so many burners (including the newsletter transition that took up so much of my so-called "free time") that I have not enjoyed the pure unadulterated escape of reading enough. When I flew to Minneapolis a few weeks ago, there were no interruptions on the plane (the advantage of not purchasing the in-flight Wi-Fi) and miraculously I had an aisle to myself. The result: I found myself really unwinding as I read manuscripts on my iPad. Last weekend I took some time to ride my exercise bike (mine is a recumbent bike where typically the seat works really well for holding stacks of paperwork instead of my butt!) and read. It was a blissful hour, and I got off the bike feeling far more relaxed. Turning off the rest of my life to read is something I treasure, and I did not realize how much I actually need this!
We’re happy to announce the return of our Sneak Peek contest, where we let readers preview an early copy of a book months before its release and share their feedback on it with us. This time it’s THE RADIUM GIRLS: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore, which examines the Curies’ newly discovered element of radium. While it is being touted as the wonder drug of the medical community, hundreds of girls toil amidst the glowing dust of the radium-dial factories and eventually begin to fall mysteriously ill. But the factories that once offered golden opportunities are now ignoring all claims of the gruesome side effects of being exposed to radium, and these brave shining girls find themselves embroiled in one of the biggest scandals of America’s early 20th century.
I had the pleasure of meeting Kate at a luncheon a couple of weeks ago, and her talk on this subject had me completely intrigued. I am 100 pages into THE RADIUM GIRLS, and it’s such interesting narrative nonfiction about a subject I knew nothing about. I love moments like this with a book!
We have 25 advance copies of THE RADIUM GIRLS to give away to readers who can commit to previewing the book, which doesn’t release until May 2nd, and sharing their comments on it by Friday, March 31st. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, February 23rd at noon ET.
J. D. Robb delivers the next hotly anticipated installment of her In Death police procedural series: ECHOES IN DEATH. As Lt. Eve Dallas and her billionaire husband Roarke are driving home, a young woman suddenly stumbles out in front of their car. Daphne Strazza is rushed to the ER, but it’s too late for her husband, Dr. Anthony Strazza. A brilliant orthopedic surgeon, he now lies dead amid the wreckage of his obsessively organized town house, his three safes opened and emptied. Daphne would be a valuable witness, but in her terror and shock, the only description of the perp she can offer is repeatedly calling him “the devil.” What does the devil look like? And where will he show up next?
According to reviewer Joe Hartlaub, “Robb continues to do what she does in fine fashion and without misstep. ECHOES IN DEATH…gives Eve Dallas fans what they have come to expect, which is familiar characters in an exotic setting --- what could be more exotic than New York, four decades in the future? --- wrapped around a puzzling and exciting mystery.” To celebrate its release, the folks at Robb's publisher, St. Martin’s Press, lit up the façade of their Flatiron Building office with a promotion for it. You can see part of that above; very cool!
Min Jin Lee’s PACHINKO follows one Korean family through the generations, beginning in early 1900s Korea with Sunja, the prized daughter of a poor yet proud family, whose unplanned pregnancy threatens to shame them all. Readers familiar with Korean history will enjoy the author’s perspective, while those who find the landscape distant will be immersed in the rich portrayal of culture and character. Lee explores an exceptional family in exile from its homeland, caught in the indifferent arc of history. Through desperate struggles and hard-won triumphs, its members are bound together by deep roots as they face enduring questions of faith, family and identity.
Maya Gittelman opens her rave review with this: “There are some books you walk away from feeling like a fuller version of yourself. There are certain rare reads that don’t feel finished after the final page, that you can quietly recognize will resonate within you always. Min Jin Lee’s PACHINKO is, undoubtedly and triumphantly, one of these books.” She goes on to call the novel “an absolute must-read for any lover of astonishingly beautiful, necessary literature.” We also have a discussion guide for PACHINKO here. And here is an NPR interview with Min.
ECHOES IN DEATH and PACHINKO are the two prizes in our current Word of Mouth contest. Let us know by Friday, February 17th at noon ET what books you’ve finished reading for your chance to win both novels.
Sophie Kinsella of Shopaholic fame delivers a new stand-alone novel, MY NOT SO PERFECT LIFE. Everywhere Katie Brenner looks, someone else is living the life she longs for, particularly her boss, Demeter Farlowe. Katie’s life, meanwhile, is a daily struggle. Then, just as she’s finding her feet --- not to mention a possible new romance --- Demeter fires her. Shattered but determined, Katie retreats to her family’s farm in Somerset to help them set up a vacation business. London has never seemed so far away --- until Demeter unexpectedly turns up as a guest. Secrets are spilled and relationships rejiggered, and as the stakes for Katie’s future get higher, she must question her own assumptions about what makes for a truly meaningful life.
Melanie Reynolds has our review and says, “Katie’s pluck and perseverance, as well as her unfailing sense of humor and hope for the future, take her back and forth from her country home to her beloved London. There just might be a fabulous job and an amazing future (not to mention a new love interest) for her there…if she can just endure her horrible boss!”
Piet Barol, who readers first met in Richard Mason's 2011 novel, HISTORY OF A PLEASURE SEEKER, is back in WHO KILLED PIET BAROL? Piet and his wife, Stacey, are impersonating French aristocrats while living in Cape Town, South Africa. However, their furniture business is on the verge of collapse, and they are in need of cheap, top-quality wood. So Piet enlists two Xhosa men to lead him into a vast forest, all in the hopes of finding a fabled tree. But he underestimates the Xhosa, and when his powers of persuasion fail him, he resorts to darker, more dangerous talents to get what he is determined to have.
Roz Shea has a plethora of amazing things to say about the book in her review. Here's just a sample: "This mesmerizing novel...will grip the reader from the opening sentences to its shattering climax.... When you encounter entire passages that lead you to share them aloud with fellow book enthusiasts, you know that you have in your hands a creation by a writer of exquisite talent." Richard is in town from the UK, and I am hoping to catch up with him Wednesday night at his event at Book Culture on 81st & Columbus at 7pm.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include A BOOK OF AMERICAN MARTYRS, in which Joyce Carol Oates tells the story of two very different yet intimately linked American families; ALL OUR WRONG TODAYS by Elan Mastai, a debut novel that imagines our 2016 as the dystopia; and THIS CLOSE TO HAPPY (courtesy of Jesse Kornbluth from HeadButler.com), Daphne Merkin’s rare, vividly personal account of what it feels like to suffer from clinical depression.
In this week’s Winter Reading contests, we gave away THE ARRANGEMENT by Ashley Warlick (loving this one!) and GHACHAR GHOCHAR by Vivek Shanbhag. There won’t be any contests next week, but please check back on Tuesday, February 21st for the next one. The prize books that week (our final three for this year’s Winter Reading feature) will be GLORY OVER EVERYTHING by Kathleen Grissom (a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection), IF I COULD TELL YOU by Elizabeth Wilhide, and THE MOTHER'S PROMISE by Sally Hepworth (a future Bets On title).
Time is winding down to enter our Valentine’s Day contest, where five readers will win eight love-themed books and some irresistible chocolate. The deadline is Tuesday, February 14th at noon ET, so if you haven’t submitted your entry yet, the time to do so is now!
We’ve updated our New in Paperback feature for February. Among this month’s highlights are previous Bets On picks A MOTHER’S RECKONING: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy by Sue Klebold, THE SUMMER BEFORE THE WAR by Helen Simonson, and ALL THINGS CEASE TO APPEAR by Elizabeth Brundage, in addition to MOST WANTED by Lisa Scottoline, WILDE LAKE by Laura Lippman, BRITT-MARIE WAS HERE by Fredrick Backman (which is the prize book in February’s “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month” contest on ReadingGroupGuides.com), and many more.
Thinking about books, over the last few months, have you been reading more, less or about the same? That’s our latest poll question; click here to cast your vote!
In this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest, you’ll have an opportunity to win the audio versions of Faye Kellerman's BONE BOX: A Decker/Lazarus Novel, performed by Richard Ferrone, and Christina Baker Kline's A PIECE OF THE WORLD, performed by Polly Stone (an upcoming Bets On selection). Let us know by Wednesday, March 1st at noon ET what audiobooks you’ve finished listening to, and you’ll be in the running to win both prizes.
Speaking of audiobooks, the Audio Publishers Association has announced the finalists for their annual Audie Awards. Winners will be revealed at a gala on June 1st at the French Institute Alliance Française in New York City. Click here to see all the nominees.
Marnie from Issaquah, WA, wrote with some suggestions for Elaine, our reader who wanted some lighter reading: “I'd like to recommend Stuart McLean's many Vinyl Café books. McLean is a Canadian radio personality, currently on leave as he battles health issues. His focus for many years has been on this mythical family: Dave the husband, who owns the Vinyl Café record shop; his wife Morley; and his two kids. Dave, sort of hapless, is always getting into pickles, like hopping onto a motorized cart in the supermarket, a cart with defective brakes that he cannot stop; or being stranded for ages in a broken elevator, while carrying a huge birthday cake to a waiting party. These stories are funny, touching and wistful. There are many books, and time passes, and the family faces new situations. Elaine will laugh, I promise!”
Mary Beth also wrote, “I’m with the reader who asked for ‘light’ reading. I, too, want to escape the everyday depressing news." I feel like there have been NO funny books the last few years, and Mary Beth agreed, saying, "That is EXACTLY what my book club said. Last one we read was Fannie Flagg’s THE ALL-GIRL FILLING STATION’S LAST REUNION. Love your newsletter. Have shared it with my book club, which meets at our library.”
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Carol wrote, “After receiving your first newsletter, the list of books I want to read has become a volume! You are doing an excellent job of turning suggestions into an interesting, friendly format. Now I have an author to add to your list. I don't think he's ever been mentioned. I discovered Corban Addison right after he published his first book, A WALK ACROSS THE SUN, a well-researched novel about human trafficking. Since then he has written three others based on other issues: THE GARDEN OF BURNING SAND, THE TEARS OF DARK WATER and A HARVEST OF THORNS. I'm making myself wait to read the latter while I recover from surgery. Corban Addison is an attorney with a passion for storytelling. His extremely well-researched and intelligently written novels show his concern for human rights within the world's many cultures. They are compelling reads. I would strongly suggest reading the Author's Notes before starting the books. I think his books would be excellent for reading groups. So far I'm not sure he has been 'discovered,' which is too bad. Thanks again for your newsletter. Hope you had a great time in Minneapolis --- my stomping grounds.”
Fiona wrote, “I just wanted to write and say how much I enjoy seeing the Bookreporter in my inbox --- and I totally agree with you about "The Affair"!! Thanks for everything you do for authors and readers.” By the way, Fiona is Fiona Davis, the author of THE DOLLHOUSE, one of my Bets On selections in 2016. Her upcoming title, coming on August 1st, is THE ADDRESS, and it’s set at The Dakota, another iconic New York location. I cannot wait to get my hands on it.
Reeves also wrote about my comments from last week about Showtime’s “The Affair”: “Totally agree --- AFFAIRS!!!! I stuck with it, but midway realized I did not like any of these people with the exception of the too-forgiving doctor boyfriend. I also took issue with how the ending of the one before the last one has Noah really off the rails and ready for the loony bin. Then he is AOK in Paris in the last episode! It reminded me of a line from ROSEMARY'S BABY (the book) where Rosemary dreams she sees Jack Kennedy. ‘He looks great and is completely recovered from the assassination’!” She also referred to my comment about CITY OF WOMEN: “Not many have heard of it, but CITY OF WOMEN was on my list of top ten reads I send around to all my reading pals a few years back.”
Debbie wrote, “First I'd like to say how much I look forward to and enjoy the weekly Bookreporter. I get so many ideas to add to my 'want to read' lists. I loved your anecdote about making all your (and your friend's) books fit the luggage in Minneapolis. My good friend and I went to the UK a few years ago, and both of us bought so many books we each had to buy a new piece of luggage to be able to get them home again. Good times! Thank you for all you do to promote the love of reading."
The New York Times Profiles Quirk Books Publisher Jason Rekulak: "After writing ‘about a dozen’ Quirk titles under pseudonyms and handing off multiple book ideas to Quirk authors, Rekulak 'has finally written a novel he wants to take credit for,' THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTRESS."
Lady Gaga at the Super Bowl: Three thoughts: 1) I would have loved to be in the room when the insurance underwriters got word about her ideas to descend from the top of the stadium; also, how cool to have a stadium roof open just for you, 2) The costume, makeup and hairstyle changes floored me as much as the performance. I was trying to figure out HOW she did the multiple onstage costume changes while seeming to never stop moving/playing/dancing, and 3) The entire production was done while she was wearing, what, 6” heels? I cannot even walk in those, let alone dance on flat ground, let alone steps! Wonder if that was considered with the insurance.
"Z": I have two more episodes of "Z" on Amazon Prime to watch; loving it and recommend it. Remembering the time a teen wrote me at Teenreads.com to ask me if my husband was F. Scott Fitzgerald. Very humorous moment.
The last few weeks have been super busy, and I have been remiss in thanking Barbara, our reader, for the lovely knitting project bags that she made for me, which you can see above. It was a really lovely gesture, and I am very impressed with her talent!
The guest room is coming along really nicely. Tom built the nightstand above; I love smelling the wood being cut from the saw in his workshop. I gave him some ideas of what I want for it (rustic feeling; inside storage and a wooden slat handle), but beyond that, this project was all his. He has to be inspired. I have an idea for a headboard made of license plates of the places where we have traveled in the US to give the room a travel feel; not sure he is going for that idea. I need to work on that level of inspiration. Next up: bookshelves, of course! What is a guest room without bookshelves?
Tonight we will have a full moon (February's full moon is called the "snow moon"), a green comet and a lunar eclipse. “The eclipse will be best viewed from the eastern portions of North America, after sunset tonight. For East Coasters, it is expected to begin at 5:32pm Eastern Standard Time and will peak at 7:43pm, according to Space.com.” Planning to venture outside to see this!
The rest of the weekend will be reading, knitting (stuck on two projects where the directions have me stymied and enjoying the one where it is 600 stitches of straight knitting for a scarf, which is "reading knitting"), and searching the attic for art work for the guest room. We joke that it’s kind of amazing what we have stored in that attic that we forgot about.
Read on, and have a great week…and…Happy Valentine’s Day; we love our readers!
Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
P.S. For those of you who are doing online shopping, if you use the store links below, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases. We would appreciate your considering this!
Featured Review: ECHOES IN DEATH by J. D. Robb
ECHOES IN DEATH by J. D. Robb (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Susan Ericksen
As Lt. Eve Dallas and her billionaire husband Roarke are driving home, a young woman suddenly stumbles out in front of their car. Daphne Strazza is rushed to the ER, but it’s too late for her husband, Dr. Anthony Strazza. A brilliant orthopedic surgeon, he now lies dead amid the wreckage of his obsessively organized town house, his three safes opened and emptied. Daphne would be a valuable witness, but the only description of the perp she can offer is repeatedly calling him “the devil.” While it emerges that Dr. Strazza was cold, controlling and widely disliked, this is one case where the evidence doesn’t point to the spouse. What does the devil look like? And where will he show up next? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: MY NOT SO PERFECT LIFE
by Sophie Kinsella
MY NOT SO PERFECT LIFE by Sophie Kinsella (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Fiona Hardingham
Everywhere Katie Brenner looks, someone else is living the life she longs for, particularly her boss, Demeter Farlowe. But just as she’s finding her feet --- not to mention a possible new romance --- Demeter fires Katie. Shattered but determined to stay positive, Katie retreats to her family’s farm in Somerset to help them set up a vacation business. London has never seemed so far away --- until Demeter unexpectedly turns up as a guest. Secrets are spilled and relationships rejiggered, and as the stakes for Katie’s future get higher, she must question her own assumptions about what makes for a truly meaningful life. Reviewed by Melanie Reynolds.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: A BOOK OF AMERICAN MARTYRS by Joyce Carol Oates
A BOOK OF AMERICAN MARTYRS by Joyce Carol Oates (Fiction)
Audiobook available; performed by Neil Hellegers, Tavia Gilbert and Kirsten Potter
In A BOOK OF AMERICAN MARTYRS, Joyce Carol Oates tells the story of two very different and yet intimately linked American families. Luther Dunphy is an ardent Evangelical who envisions himself as acting out God’s will when he assassinates an abortion provider in his small Ohio town. Augustus Voorhees, the idealistic doctor who is killed, leaves behind a wife and children scarred and embittered by grief. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
New Sneak Peek Contest: Win an Advance Copy of
THE RADIUM GIRLS by Kate Moore
and Share Your Comments on It
Our latest Sneak Peek Feature spotlights THE RADIUM GIRLS: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore, the incredible true story of the women who fought America’s Undark danger. The book doesn’t release until May 2nd, but we have 25 advance copies to give away to readers who can commit to previewing it and sharing their comments on it by Friday, March 31st. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, February 23rd at noon ET.
For our Sneak Peek program, your commitment to participate is critical, so please only enter this contest if you truly will have time to read THE RADIUM GIRLS and give us your feedback by the March 31st deadline.
THE RADIUM GIRLS: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore (Social History/Biography)
The Curies’ newly discovered element of radium makes gleaming headlines across the nation as the fresh face of beauty, and wonder drug of the medical community. From body lotion to tonic water, the popular new element shines bright in the otherwise dark years of the First World War.
Meanwhile, hundreds of girls toil amidst the glowing dust of the radium-dial factories. The glittering chemical covers their bodies from head to toe; they light up the night like industrious fireflies. With such a coveted job, these “shining girls” are the luckiest alive --- until they begin to fall mysteriously ill.
But the factories that once offered golden opportunities are now ignoring all claims of the gruesome side effects, and the women’s cries of corruption. And as the fatal poison of the radium takes hold, the brave shining girls find themselves embroiled in one of the biggest scandals of America’s early 20th century, and in a groundbreaking battle for workers’ rights that will echo for centuries to come.
Written with a sparkling voice and breakneck pace, THE RADIUM GIRLS fully illuminates the inspiring young women exposed to the “wonder” substance of radium, and their awe-inspiring strength in the face of almost impossible circumstances. Their courage and tenacity led to life-changing regulations, research into nuclear bombing, and ultimately saved hundreds of thousands of lives.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Kate Moore's bio.
- Click here to connect with Kate Moore on Twitter.
Click here to enter the contest.
Featured Review: PACHINKO by Min Jin Lee
PACHINKO by Min Jin Lee (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Allison Hiroto
PACHINKO follows one Korean family through the generations, beginning in early 1900s Korea with Sunja, the prized daughter of a poor yet proud family, whose unplanned pregnancy threatens to shame them. Betrayed by her wealthy lover, Sunja finds unexpected salvation when a young tubercular minister offers to marry her and bring her to Japan to start a new life. In Japan, Sunja's family members endure harsh discrimination, catastrophes and poverty, yet they also encounter great joy as they pursue their passions and rise to meet the challenges this new home presents. Reviewed by Maya Gittelman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: WHO KILLED PIET BAROL?
by Richard Mason
WHO KILLED PIET BAROL? by Richard Mason (Historical Fiction)
Piet Barol was a tutor before he came to South Africa, his wife, Stacey, an opera singer. In Cape Town they are living the high life, impersonating French aristocrats --- but their lies are catching up with them. The Barols’ furniture business is on the verge of collapse, and they need cheap, top-quality wood. Piet enlists two Xhosa men to lead him into a vast forest, in search of a fabled tree. He’s sure he’ll be able to buy what he needs for a few glass trinkets. But he’s underestimating the Xhosa, who believe the spirits of their ancestors live in this sacred forest. Battle lines are drawn. When Piet’s powers of persuasion fail him, he resorts to darker, more dangerous talents to get what he is determined to have. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
Bookreporter.com's 12th Annual Valentine's Day Contest: Enter to Win Books and Sweet Treats
for Yourself or Your Valentine!
Valentine's Day is only a few heartbeats away. We can't think of a better way to celebrate this special day than to cuddle up with your loved one...and a good book, of course!
We're giving readers the chance to win one of our five Bookreporter.com Valentine's Day prize packages, which includes one copy of each of our featured titles and some delicious chocolates. Enter between now and Tuesday, February 14th at noon ET for your opportunity to be a lucky (and beloved!) winner.
If you're feeling frisky, share with us your all-time book character crush. Don't be shy, we all got 'em! We'll post the top 10 literary loves and lusts --- along with the five winners --- right after Valentine's Day.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to enter the contest.
February’s New in Paperback Roundups
February’s roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes Kathleen Grissom's GLORY OVER EVERYTHING, a heart-racing story about a man’s treacherous journey through the twists and turns of the Underground Railroad on a mission to save the boy he swore to protect; BRITT-MARIE WAS HERE, Fredrick Backman's novel that celebrates the unexpected friendships that change us forever, and the power of even the gentlest of spirits to make the world a better place; THE SUMMER BEFORE THE WAR by Helen Simonson, a breathtaking novel of love on the eve of World War I that reaches far beyond the small English town in which it is set; and ALL THINGS CEASE TO APPEAR by Elizabeth Brundage, which combines noir and the gothic in a story about two families entwined in their own unhappiness, with, at its heart, a gruesome and unsolved murder.
Among this month’s nonfiction offerings are A MOTHER'S RECKONING, the acclaimed national bestseller by Sue Klebold about living in the aftermath of Columbine as she tries to come to terms with the incomprehensible; IN OTHER WORDS, Jhumpa Lahiri’s meditation on the process of learning to express herself in another language; SEX OBJECT, a memoir that reveals the painful, embarrassing and sometimes illegal moments that shaped Jessica Valenti’s adolescence and young adulthood in New York City; and THE BLACK CALHOUNS, in which Gail Lumet Buckley --- daughter of actress Lena Horne --- delves deep into her family history, detailing the experiences of an extraordinary African-American family from Civil War to Civil Rights.
Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of
February 6th, February 13th, February 20th and February 27th.
An Interview with Frederick Ramsay,
Author of COPPER KETTLE
Frederick Ramsay has authored mysteries set in Virginia (the Ike Schwartz Mysteries) and Botswana (PREDATORS, REAPERS), as well as a number of stand-alones. His latest, COPPER KETTLE, is set right after World War I and has war hero Jesse Sutherlin returning to his home a changed man. When a murder ignites an old family feud, Jesse must investigate before tensions come to a head. In this interview, Ramsay discusses his decision to go back in history with the Sutherlin family, who are featured prominently in his Ike Schwartz books. He also opens up about his research methods, how readers’ comments have affected his writing, and whether or not COPPER KETTLE will be expanded into its own series.
COPPER KETTLE by Frederick Ramsay (Historical Mystery)
Jesse Sutherlin has returned to Buffalo Mountain a war hero, after having survived the trenches of World War I. His cousin and fellow soldier, Solomon McAdoo, was less fortunate in his war service. He's suffering from shell shock. One day, up on the mountain while tending to a family moonshine still owned by Big Tom McAdoo, he's shot in the back. When Jesse hears this, he knows violence is going to boil up. The west side of the mountain is McAdoo territory, while the east side belongs to the Lebruns. The dispute ignited by Solomon's murder will be like the feud between the West Virginia Hatfields and McCoys, with no winners, only more dead men. Jesse decides to head off the violence by investigating the crime.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the interview.
ALL OUR WRONG TODAYS by Elan Mastai (Science Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Elan Mastai
In Tom Barren’s 2016, humanity thrives in a techno-utopian paradise of flying cars, moving sidewalks and moon bases. But he just can’t seem to find his place in this dazzling, idealistic world. In a time-travel mishap, Tom finds himself stranded in our 2016, what we think of as the real world. For Tom, our normal reality seems like a dystopian wasteland. But when he discovers wonderfully unexpected versions of his family, his career, and --- maybe, just maybe --- his soul mate, Tom has a decision to make. Does he fix the flow of history, bringing his utopian universe back into existence, or does he try to forge a new life in our messy, unpredictable reality? Reviewed by Amy Haddock.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
THIS CLOSE TO HAPPY: A Reckoning with Depression by Daphne Merkin (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Suzanne Toren
Daphne Merkin has been hospitalized three times: first, in grade school, for childhood depression; years later, after her daughter was born, for severe postpartum depression; and later still, after her mother died, for obsessive suicidal thinking. Recounting this series of hospitalizations, as well as her visits to myriad therapists and psychopharmacologists, Merkin fearlessly offers what the child psychiatrist Harold Koplewicz calls “the inside view of navigating a chronic psychiatric illness to a realistic outcome.” In this dark yet vital memoir, Merkin describes not only the harrowing sorrow that she has known all her life, but also her early, redemptive love of reading and gradual emergence as a writer. Reviewed by Jesse Kornbluth for HeadButler.com.
AUTUMN by Ali Smith (Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Melody Grove
Autumn. Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. That’s what it felt like for Keats in1819. How about Autumn 2016? Daniel is a century old. Elisabeth, born in 1984, has her eye on the future. The United Kingdom is in pieces, divided by a historic, once-in-a-generation summer. Love is won, love is lost. Hope is hand-in-hand with hopelessness. The seasons roll round, as ever. Ali Smith’s new novel is a meditation on a world growing ever more bordered and exclusive, on what richness and worth are, on what harvest means. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
GARDEN OF LAMENTATIONS by Deborah Crombie (Mystery)
Audiobook available, performed by Gerard Doyle
A young woman named Reagan Keating has been murdered in one of Notting Hill’s private gardens, and the lead detective, DI Kerry Boatman, turns to Gemma James for help. Gemma soon discovers that Reagan’s death is the second tragedy in this exclusive London park; a few months before, a young boy died in a tragic accident. But when still another of the garden residents meets a violent end, it becomes clear that there are more sinister forces at play. While his wife is consumed with her new case, Duncan Kincaid finds himself plagued by disturbing questions about several previous --- and seemingly unrelated --- cases involving members of the force. If his suspicions are correct and the crimes are linked, are his family and friends in mortal danger as well? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
ALWAYS by Sarah Jio (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Brittany Pressley
Enjoying a romantic candlelit dinner with her fiancé, Ryan, Kailey Crain can’t believe her good fortune: She has a great job as a journalist and is now engaged to a guy who is perfect in nearly every way. As she and Ryan leave the restaurant, Kailey spies a thin, bearded homeless man on the sidewalk. She approaches him to offer up her bag of leftovers, and is stunned when their eyes meet: The man is the love of her life, Cade McAllister. Over the next few weeks, Kailey helps Cade begin to piece his life together, something she initially keeps from Ryan. As she revisits her long-ago relationship, Kailey realizes that she must decide exactly what --- and whom --- she wants. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
WHAT YOU BREAK by Reed Farrel Coleman (Hard-boiled Noir Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Keith Szarabajka
Gus Murphy and his girlfriend, Magdalena, are put in harm’s way when Gus is caught up in the distant aftershocks of heinous crimes committed decades ago in Vietnam and Russia. Gus’ ex-priest pal, Bill Kilkenny, introduces him to a wealthy businessman anxious to have someone look more deeply into the brutal murder of his granddaughter. The businessman, Spears, offers big incentives if Gus can supply him with what the cops cannot --- a motive. Later that same day, Gus witnesses the execution of a man who has just met with his friend, Slava. As Gus looks into the girl’s murder and tries to protect Slava from the executioner’s bullet, he must navigate a minefield populated by hostile cops, street gangs, and a Russian mercenary who will stop at nothing to do his master’s bidding. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR by Yewande Omotoso (Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Anna Bentinck and Bea Holland
Hortensia James and Marion Agostino are neighbors. One is black, the other white. Both are successful women with impressive careers. Both have recently been widowed, and are living with questions, disappointments and secrets that have brought them shame. And each has something that the woman next door deeply desires. Sworn enemies, the two share a hedge and a deliberate hostility, which they maintain with a zeal that belies their age. But, one day, an unexpected event forces Hortensia and Marion together. As the physical barriers between them collapse, their bickering gradually softens into conversation and eventually the two discover common ground. But are these sparks of connection enough to ignite a friendship, or is it too late to expect these women to change? Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
RISE: How a House Built a Family by Cara Brookins (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Cara Brookins
After escaping an abusive marriage, Cara Brookins had four children to provide for and no one to turn to but herself. In desperate need of a home but without the means to buy one, she did something incredible. Equipped only with YouTube instructional videos, a small bank loan and a mile-wide stubborn streak, Cara built her own house from the foundation up with a work crew made up of her four children. With no experience nailing together anything bigger than a bookshelf, she and her kids poured concrete, framed the walls and laid bricks for their two-story, five-bedroom house. She had convinced herself that if they could build a house, they could rebuild their broken family. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
RUSH OF BLOOD by Mark Billingham (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Toby Longworth
Three British couples meet around the pool on their Florida holiday and become fast friends. But on Easter Sunday, the last day of their vacation, tragedy strikes: the 14-year-old daughter of an American vacationer goes missing, and her body is later found floating in the mangroves. When the shocked couples return home to the UK, they remain in contact, and over the course of three increasingly fraught dinner parties, they come to know one another better. But buried beneath these apparently normal exteriors are some unusual kinks and unpleasant vices. Then a second girl goes missing, in Kent --- not far from where any of the couples lives. Could it be that one of these six has a secret far darker than anybody can imagine? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
FOR TIME AND ALL ETERNITIES: A Linda Wallheim Mystery Set in Mormon Utah by Mette Ivie Harrison (Mystery)
Audiobook available, narrated by Kirsten Potter
Mormon bishop's wife Linda Wallheim is stunned to learn that her son, Kenneth, has gotten engaged to a young woman from a polygamous family. Stephen Carter, Naomi's father, invites the Wallheims over to their family compound; he wishes to extend an olive branch to his future in-laws and introduce them to his five wives and 22 children. Upon their arrival, Linda has her eyes peeled for signs that Stephen's wives and children are unhappy or abused. Although she can't find concrete evidence of mistreatment, Linda's gut instinct tells her that something on the Carter family compound is deeply wrong. She can't quite put her finger on what --- until it's too late, and one of the family members is found murdered. Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.
THE SECRET LIFE OF SOULS by Jack Ketchum and Lucky McKee (Psychological Suspense)
Audiobook available, read by Casey Turner
Eleven-year-old actress Delia Cross is beautiful, talented and charismatic. A true star in the making, her days are a blur of hard work on set, auditions and tutors. Her family --- driven, pill-popping stage mother Pat, wastrel dad Bart, and introverted twin brother Robbie --- depends on her for their upscale lifestyle. Delia, in turn, depends on Caity, her beloved ginger Queensland Heeler --- and loyal friend --- for the calming private space they share. Delia is on the verge of a professional breakthrough. But just as the contracts are about to be signed, there is a freak accident that puts Delia in the danger zone with only Caity to protect her. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on February 14th
Below are some notable titles releasing on February 14th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks releasing the week of February 13th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
THE CHILBURY LADIES' CHOIR by Jennifer Ryan (Historical Fiction)
As the early days of World War II descend onto England, the women of Chilbury village defy the Vicar’s stuffy edict to shutter the church’s choir in the absence of men and instead “carry on singing.” Resurrecting themselves as “The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir,” the women of this small village come to use their collective voice to lift up themselves and the community as the war tears through their lives.
THE DIME by Kathleen Kent (Mystery/Thriller)
Betty Rhyzyk is from a family of take-no-prisoners Brooklyn police detectives, but her Big Apple wisdom will only get her so far when she relocates to Dallas, Texas, where Mexican drug cartels and cult leaders, deadbeat skells and society wives all battle for sunbaked turf. Battling a group of unruly subordinates, a persistent stalker, a formidable criminal organization and an unsupportive girlfriend, the unbreakable Detective Betty Rhyzyk may be reaching her limit.
A DIVIDED SPY by Charles Cumming (Thriller)
A former MI6 officer, Thomas Kell devoted his life to the Service, but it left him with nothing but grief and rage against the Kremlin. Taking the law into his own hands, he embarks on a high-stakes mission to recruit a top Russian spy who is in possession of a terrifying secret. Meanwhile, the threat of a catastrophic terrorist attack looms over Britain. Kell is faced with an impossible choice: loyalty to MI6, or to his own conscience?
HEARTBREAK HOTEL: An Alex Delaware Novel by Jonathan Kellerman (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
At nearly 100 years old, Thalia Mars is a far cry from the patients child psychologist Alex Delaware typically treats. She convinces Alex to meet with her at a luxury hotel with a checkered past. Thalia wants answers to unsettling questions --- about guilt, criminal behavior and victim selection. The following morning, she’s found dead. Alex and homicide detective Milo Sturgis must embark on one of the most baffling investigations either of them has ever experienced.
LINCOLN IN THE BARDO by George Saunders (Historical Fiction)
It’s February 1862, and the Civil War is shaping up to be a long, bloody struggle. Meanwhile, President Lincoln’s beloved 11-year-old son, Willie, lies gravely ill. In a matter of days, he dies. The boy finds himself in a strange purgatory where ghosts mingle, quarrel and enact bizarre acts of penance. Within this transitional state --- called, in the Tibetan tradition, the bardo --- a monumental struggle erupts over young Willie’s soul.
ON TURPENTINE LANE by Elinor Lipman (Romantic Comedy)
At 32, Faith Frankel has returned to her claustro-suburban hometown. With her recent purchase of a sweet bungalow on Turpentine Lane, her life is finally on track. Never mind that her fiancé is off on a cross-country walk, too busy to text her back. And never mind her witless boss, or a mother who lives too close, or a philandering father. When she discovers mysterious artifacts in the attic of her new home, she wonders whether anything in her life is as it seems.
RACING THE DEVIL: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery by Charles Todd (Historical Mystery)
During a terrible storm, a driver loses control and is killed in the crash. Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge discovers that the truth is elusive --- and that the villages where the accident happened are adept at keeping secrets. This faceless killer is willing to strike again to stop Rutledge from finding him. This time, the victim he chooses is a child, and it will take all of Rutledge’s skill to stop him before an innocent life is brutally cut short.
THE SHIMMERING ROAD by Hester Young (Gothic Mystery)
When soon-to-be mother Charlotte “Charlie” Cates has recurring dreams about danger befalling her unborn daughter, she knows they are due to her mysterious gift. The mother who abandoned her has been the victim of a double murder. The other victim --- a half-sister Charlie never knew she had --- left behind a child, who speaks to Charlie in her dreams. To protect her niece and unborn child, Charlie must confront her painful ties to her mother and delve into her sister’s shadowy past.
WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES by Georgia Hunter (Historical Fiction)
It is 1939, and three generations of the Kurc family are doing their best to live normal lives. But soon the horrors overtaking Europe become unavoidable, and the Kurcs are flung to the far corners of the world, each desperately trying to navigate his or her own path to safety. Driven by an unwavering will to survive and by the fear that they may never see one another again, the Kurcs must rely on hope, ingenuity and inner strength to persevere.
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Tell us about the audiobooks you’ve finished listening to with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars for both the performance and the content. During the contest period from February 1st to March 1st at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Faye Kellerman's BONE BOX: A Decker/Lazarus Novel, performed by Richard Ferrone, and Christina Baker Kline's A PIECE OF THE WORLD, performed by Polly Stone.
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