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October 1, 2013

20SomethingReads.com Newsletter October 1, 2013
THe Sweet EsCape
Special Series Feature: A TERRIBLE LOVE + A BRUTAL TENDERNESS
Want to Write for Us? We're Looking for More Contributors!
What's NEW on 20SomethingReads.com?
Young Adult Reviews
Adult Reviews
THe Sweet EsCape

We're celebrating the first of October over here, and that means many things. The most obvious? The autumn equinox (which means shorter days and longer nights --- ow ow!), Oktoberfest and, the one that stands out above the rest, the end of “Breaking Bad.” We really “broke” it down in our last newsletter, listing some reasons why this epic show resonated with 20Somethings. Basically, we all have a little Walter White in us, minus the whole meth thing.

Sunday night’s finale marked the end of a TV era and we’re still feeling the loss, le sigh. While it was exciting to see how the story would wrap up, it was also oddly depressing to say bye. Not only did the brilliant plot and incredible acting keep us on our toes from week to week, it was the perfect antidote to the Sunday night blues. At a time when we could wind down from the weekend’s shenanigans and gear up for the work week, “Breaking Bad” regularly gave us an hour to “escape” from our personal lives.

We weren’t kidding when we said there’s a little of Walter White in all of us. For an hour each week, every viewer connected with Walt, identified with his struggle and kept on believing in his humanity (or balked at his non-humanity, for all of you who were on Team Hank).

But actually watching the show was only half the fun. When Monday morning rolled around, we couldn’t keep our mouths shut. Talking about the previous night’s episode became a shared experience, in which we all reaped the benefits. We discussed the parts of the story that meant the most to each of us. Some of us felt more strongly about different aspects of the show --- Emily nursed a soft spot for Jesse, while Nikki got very caught up in Todd’s ringtone choices --- but often we were pleased to find that we had a lot in common. Even if that just meant feeling obsessive about a fictional television show.

The real point we’re trying to make here is that these two distinct feelings --- escaping and connecting --- are what makes the whole experience of watching a TV show like “Breaking Bad” meaningful for us 20Somethings. What’s that phrase? Having our cake and eating it, too? Each week we got to do just that --- lose ourselves in a compelling story and characters, but still remain a part of a community through our discussion and mutual geeking out. And isn’t that the real 20Something dream? To be an individual and to also be a part of the gang? (Editorial note: Call us crazy, but the answer is Yes.)

Speaking of our Sunday nights being freed up, we have three books featured on the 20SomethingReads homepage right now that shouldn’t be missed. THIS SONG WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE by Leila Sales will transport you back to your angsty high school years. Elise Dembowski feels like a bit of an outsider until she discovers her passion for DJing. Through music she is able to escape (see what we did there?) the everyday obstacles of teenage life. THE INFINITE MOMENT OF US by Lauren Myracle (ha!) is a story about first love...obviously. It’s passionate and tender, and there may be just enough scenes of “kissing under the stars.” Last, but definitely not least, is Thomas Pynchon’s BLEEDING EDGE (not to be confused with the Leona Lewis song, “Bleeding Love"). You’ve probably heard a lot about it already, but to give you the brief rundown…Pynchon brings us to Manhattan’s Upper West Side during the early era (more like, error!) of the Internet. Since we know you have some time to spare now, collect them all!

Connect (get it?) with us via social media on our Facebook page or Twitter handle!

--- Nicole Sherman (Nicole@bookreporter.com) and Emily Hoenig (Emily@bookreporter.com)

 

Special Series Feature: A TERRIBLE LOVE + A BRUTAL TENDERNESS

The sexy series from the NY Times bestselling author Marata Eros, A TERRIBLE LOVE and A BRUTAL TENDERNESS, the companion novel, are steamy and electrifying stories that tap into your inner fantasies. A TERRIBLE LOVE is the first book in the series and was originally released as an eBook in April 2013. The story is told from the female perspective of Jess Mackey, a ballet dancer, making every effort to keep her identity concealed behind a fabricated lie that a lover threatens to unravel. A BRUTAL TENDERNESS is the second book in the series and is now out as an eBook. This companion novel is told from the male perspective of FBI agent Cas Steele, who cannot deny his desire for the woman who he must protect. A TERRIBLE LOVE released last week in paperback for those of you who are more into paper than digital reading!

- Click here to read an interview with author Marata Eros.
- Click here to learn more about the series.

More about A TERRIBLE LOVE:
Jess Mackey’s whole life is a meticulously fabricated lie. She escaped the violent tragedy of her past and is forging ahead with a clean slate far removed from her powerful political family and its dark secrets. But Jess can’t ignore her passions --- not her love for ballet, nor her tumultuous desire for the unexpected lover who threatens to jeopardize her carefully constructed identity.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for an excerpt.

More about A BRUTAL TENDERNESS:
FBI agent Cas Steele has been charged with an unsavory task: manipulate the hauntingly beautiful Jewell MacLeod --- a woman he has every reason to hate --- and slowly gain her trust in order to use her as bait to lure in a killer. But as the killer draws closer, Cas realizes that he can’t deny the scorching chemistry that ignites between him and Jewell, even if giving into his physical desire for her means jeopardizing his mission...and opening himself up to the possibility of a real and terrible love.

- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for an excerpt.


 

Want to Write for Us? We're Looking for More Contributors!

We resonate with the American attitude, and maybe the world feeling, of always wanting MORE, MORE and MORE!

So aligning with that behavior, we are still on the lookout for more CONTRIBUTORS!

Do you enjoy reading? Planning your Halloween costume way too early? Catching the midnight showing of Gravity in theaters this coming Friday? Still crying over the end of "Breaking Bad?"

If so, we want to hear from you. We are looking for ongoing contributors for book reviews and blog posts who would like to impart their wisdoms on life, love, books, TV, movies, pop culture and all the other stuff we 20Somethings just can't get enough of. Send a cover letter and writing samples to Nicole@bookreporter.com and Emily@bookreporter.com. Write for us enough and we'll add you to our Contributors page.

 

What's NEW on 20SomethingReads.com?

BLOG: Books of a Different Color
Austin "Dallas" gives a well-rounded reading list of classics written by a diversified collection of authors.

BLOG: Throwback Thursday: Long Post, Don't Coast
The 20SomethingReads staff pulls together quite an interesting mix of books in this TBT blast from the past.

BLOG: Of Cover Letters and Begging
Austin "Dallas" discusses the 20Something process of navigating the job market.

BLOG: Throwback Thursday: So Many Cheers for Banned Books Week!
We will not be silenced! This TBT post features books that have all been on the Banned Books list at one point or another.

BLOG: Villains and Anti-Villains and Anti-Heroes, Oh My!
All wrapped into one, Nate shares his thoughts on villains, anti-villains and anti-heroes in some of pop culture's greatest icons and hits --- Superman, Batman, "Breaking Bad" and LORD OF THE FLIES, just to name a few.

BLOG: Whiteout for Your Brain: Banned Books Week 2013
Austin "Dallas" talks more in depth about Banned Books Week, how it came about and what it still means for us today. In his own words, "...Spread the word. Don’t let people tell you what you can and can’t do. Stand up for yourself. Go read something inappropriate for your age group. "


 

Young Adult Reviews

3:59 by Gretchen McNeil (Science Fiction)
Josie Byrne's life is spiraling out of control. And just when she thinks it can't get worse, she wakes to an image of herself in the bedroom mirror. Except it's not her at all --- the girl in the mirror is blonder and prettier. And her name is Jo. Reviewed by Sabrina Abballe.

BATTLE MAGIC by Tamora Pierce (Action Adventure)
On their way to the first Circle temple in Gyongxi, mages Briar, Rosethorn, and Evvy pay a visit to the emperor's summer palace. Although treated like royalty when they first arrive, the mages soon discover that the emperor plans to invade Gyongxi, posing a fatal threat to the home temple of the Living Circle religion. Reviewed by Carly Silver.

THE LORD OF OPIUM by Nancy Farmer (Dystopian)
Matt has always been nothing but a clone --- grown from a strip of old El Patron’s skin. Now, at age 14, he finds himself suddenly thrust into the position of ruling over his own country. The Land of Opium is the largest territory of the Dope Confederacy, which ranges on the map like an intestine from the ruins of San Diego to the ruins of Matamoros. But while Opium thrives, the rest of the world has been devastated by ecological disaster --- and hidden in Opium is the cure. Reviewed by Benjamin Boche.

NOT A DROP TO DRINK by Mindy McGinnis (Dystopian)
Fans of classic frontier survival stories as well as readers of dystopian literature will enjoy this futuristic story where water is worth more than gold. Teenage Lynn has been taught to defend her pond against every threat: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most important, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty or doesn't leave at all. Reviewed by Alice Dalrymple.

STEELHEART by Brandon Sanderson (Fantasy)
Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. But with incredible gifts came the desire to rule. Nobody fights these Epics but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they study Epics, find their weaknesses and then assassinate them. And David wants in. He wants Steelheart. The Epic who killed David's father. Reviewed by Benjamin Boche.

THIS SONG WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE by Leila Sales (Fiction)
Making friends has never been Elise Dembowski’s strong suit. All throughout her life, she’s been the butt of every joke and the outsider in every conversation. When a final attempt at popularity fails, Elise nearly gives up. Then she stumbles upon a warehouse party where she meets Vicky, a girl in a band who accepts her; Char, a cute, yet mysterious disc jockey; Pippa, a carefree spirit from England; and most importantly, a love for DJing. Reviewed by Caroline Osborn.

THE WAKING DARK by Robin Wasserman (Horror)
They called it the killing day. Twelve people dead, all in the space of a few hours. Five murderers: neighbors, relatives, friends. All of them so normal. All of them seemingly harmless. All of them now dead by their own hand...except one. And that one has no answers to offer the shattered town. She doesn't even know why she killed --- or whether she'll do it again. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.


 

Adult Reviews

BELOVED ENEMY: A Jack McClure Novel by Eric Van Lustbader (Thriller)
Shortly after Jack McClure leaves a late-night meeting with Dennis Paull, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Paull is found dead. The President is furious but equally frightened of a scandal, since McClure is one of their own --- an operative and Paull's friend. With top officials in the CIA and FBI after him, McClure goes on the run. Someone framed him for Paull's murder, possibly to prevent him from accomplishing Paull's last request --- a task vital to U.S. National Security. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

BITTER RIVER by Julia Keller (Mystery)
County prosecuting attorney Bell Elkins's latest case is a bad one: pregnant 16-year-old Lucinda Trimble’s body has been found at the bottom of Bitter River, and she was dead before she hit the water. But that’s not all Bell is coping with these days: her daughter is now living hours away with her ex-husband, one of her closest friends is behaving oddly, and a face from her past has resurfaced. Searching for the truth will lead Bell down a path that could put her very life at risk. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

BLEEDING EDGE by Thomas Pynchon (Fiction)
It is 2001 in New York City, in the lull between the collapse of the dot-com boom and the terrible events of September 11th. Silicon Alley is a ghost town, Web 1.0 is having adolescent angst, Google has yet to IPO, Microsoft is still considered the Evil Empire. There may not be quite as much money around as there was at the height of the tech bubble, but there's no shortage of swindlers looking to grab a piece of what's left. Reviewed by Alexis Burling.

BREED by Chase Novak (Gothic Horror)
Alex and Leslie Twisden want a child so badly that they will do anything, no matter the cost, to make it happen. When their parental dreams come true, what they end up living is a nightmare with no escape and greater ramifications than anyone ever thought possible. As the Twisden children grow, so do a few parental urges that are absolutely horrifying and very difficult to ignore. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski Minchak.

DEXTER'S FINAL CUT by Jeff Lindsay (Thriller)
When mega-star Robert Chase and a group of actors descend on the Miami Police Department for "research," Chase becomes fixated on blood spatter analyst Dexter Morgan. To perfect his role, Chase is obsessed with shadowing Dexter's every move and learning what really makes him tick. There is just one tiny problem: Dexter's favorite hobby involves hunting down the worst killers to escape legal justice, and introducing them to his special brand of playtime. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE FACADES by Eric Lundgren (Comic Mystery)
One night, in the once-great Midwestern city of Trude, the theater’s most celebrated mezzo-soprano vanishes during rehearsal. When police come up empty-handed, the star’s husband, a disconsolate legal clerk named Sven Norberg, must take up the quest on his own. But to discover the secret of his wife’s disappearance, Norberg must descend into Trude’s underworld and confront the menacing and bizarre citizens of his hometown. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny (Mystery)
When Chief Inspector Armand Gamache receives a message from Myrna Landers that a longtime friend has failed to arrive for Christmas in the village of Three Pines, he welcomes the chance to get away from the city. Mystified by Myrna's reluctance to reveal her friend's name, Gamache soon discovers the missing woman was once one of the most famous people in the world, and now goes unrecognized by virtually everyone except the mad, brilliant poet Ruth Zardo. Reviewed by Roz Shea.

JAPANTOWN by Barry Lancet (Thriller)
In Barry Lancet’s debut thriller, readers are introduced to Jim Brodie, an American antique dealer-turned-reluctant-private eye who must use his knowledge of Japanese culture to unravel a major murder in San Francisco --- even as he and his daughter, Jenny, become targets for the same mysterious killer. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

LINEUP by Liad Shoham (Thriller)
A brutal rape in a quiet Tel Aviv neighborhood has the police baffled. There are no witnesses, suspects or clues, until the victim’s father steps in and finds overwhelming evidence pointing to Ziv Nevo. Veteran detective Eli Nahum questions Nevo, but can’t get anything out of him. That’s because Nevo has a secret. He works for the mafia, and telling the truth about why he was near the crime scene could get him killed. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE LONGEST RIDE by Nicholas Sparks (Fiction)
Ira and Ruth. Sophia and Luke. They are two couples who have little in common, and are separated by years and experience. Yet their lives will converge with unexpected poignancy, reminding us all that even the most difficult decisions can yield extraordinary journeys: beyond despair, beyond death, to the farthest reaches of the human heart. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

MADDADDAM by Margaret Atwood (Dystopian/Speculative Fiction)
Bringing together ORYX AND CRAKE and THE YEAR OF THE FLOOD, this final book in Margaret Atwood's speculative fiction trilogy points toward the ultimate endurance of community and love. MADDADDAM combines adventure, humor and romance to create a moving and dramatic conclusion to this internationally celebrated dystopian series. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

MEN WE REAPED: A Memoir by Jesmyn Ward (Memoir)
In five years, Jesmyn Ward lost five young men in her life --- to drugs, accidents, suicide, and the bad luck that can follow people who live in poverty, particularly black men. Dealing with these losses, one after another, made Jesmyn ask the question: Why? And as she began to write about the experience of living through all the dying, she realized the truth --- and it took her breath away. Reviewed by Alexis Burling.

MY MOTHER'S SECRET: A Novel Based on a True Holocaust Story by J.L. Witterick (Historical Fiction)
Based on a true story, MY MOTHER'S SECRET is a profound, captivating and ultimately uplifting tale intertwining the lives of two Jewish families in hiding from the Nazis, a fleeing German soldier, and the clever and "righteous" mother and daughter who teamed up to save them. Reviewed by Jane Krebs.

NINE INCHES: Stories by Tom Perrotta (Fiction/Short Stories)
NINE INCHES, Tom Perrotta’s first true collection, features 10 stories --- some sharp and funny, some mordant and surprising, and a few intense and disturbing. Whether he’s dropping into the lives of two teachers --- and their love lost and found --- in “Nine Inches,” or documenting the unraveling of a dad at a Little League game in “The Smile on Happy Chang’s Face,” Perrotta writes with a sure sense of his characters and their secret longings. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

THE RESIDUE YEARS by Mitchell S. Jackson (Fiction)
Mitchell S. Jackson grew up black in a neglected neighborhood in America’s whitest city, Portland, Oregon. In his commanding autobiographical novel, Mitchell writes what it was to come of age in that time and place. THE RESIDUE YEARS switches between the perspectives of a young man, Champ, and his mother, Grace, who, fresh out of a drug treatment program, is trying to stay clean and get her kids back. Reviewed by Rebecca Kilberg.

ROBERT B. PARKER’S DAMNED IF YOU DO: A Jesse Stone Novel by Michael Brandman (Mystery)
The woman on the bed was barely out of her teens. She wasn’t exactly beautiful, but she’d tried to make the most of her looks. And now, alone in a seedy beachfront motel, she was dead. Paradise Police Chief Jesse Stone doesn’t know her name. Whoever she is, she didn’t deserve to die. Jesse starts digging, only to find himself caught in the crosshairs of a bitter turf war between two ruthless pimps. And more blood will spill before it’s over. Reviewed by Maggie Harding.

THANKLESS IN DEATH by J. D. Robb (Thriller)
The Reinholds lie in their home stabbed and bludgeoned almost beyond recognition. Those who knew them are stunned by the evidence that they were murdered by their own son, Jerry. With the money he’s stolen from his parents and a long list of grievances, he intends to finally make his mark on the world. Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her team already know the who, how and why of this murder. What they need to pinpoint is where Jerry is going to strike next. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE THIRD KINGDOM: A Richard and Kahlan Novel by Terry Goodkind (Fantasy/Adventure)
In this sequel to THE OMEN MACHINE, the bloodthirsty Jit is dead, and Richard and Kahlan have survived. But Richard, infected with the essence of death itself and robbed of his power as a war wizard, must race against time to uncover and stop the infernal conspiracy assembling itself behind the wall far to the north. His friends and allies are already captives of this fell combination, and Kahlan, also touched by death's power, will die completely if Richard fails. Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.

UNBEATABLE: Notre Dame's 1988 Championship and the Last Great College Football Season by Jerry Barca (Sports History)
UNBEATABLE is the first book to tell the complete story of the incredible 1988 season that brought the fledgling Fighting Irish back to the top of college sports in what many consider to be the greatest unbeaten season of college football ever played. With a completely unlikely but forever memorable cast of characters, Notre Dame whipped millions of fans into a frenzy. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.

W IS FOR WASTED by Sue Grafton (Mystery)
Kinsey Millhone investigates two seemingly unrelated deaths: one a murder, the other apparently of natural causes. But as she digs deeper into the mystery of the John Doe, some very strange linkages begin to emerge. And before long, at least one aspect is solved as Kinsey literally finds the key to his identity. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.

WAYWARD: A Wayward Pines Thriller by Blake Crouch (Dystopian Thriller)
Welcome to Wayward Pines, population 461. Nestled amidst picture-perfect mountains, the idyllic town is a modern-day Eden...except for the electrified fence and razor wire, snipers scoping everything 24/7, and the relentless surveillance tracking each word and gesture. Ethan Burke has seen the world beyond. He’s sheriff, and one of the few who knows the truth --- Wayward Pines isn’t just a town. And what lies on the other side of the fence is a nightmare beyond anyone’s imagining. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

THE WRONG GIRL by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Thriller)
Does a respected adoption agency have a frightening secret? Tipped off by a determined ex-colleague on a desperate quest to find her birth mother, Boston newspaper reporter Jane Ryland begins to suspect that the agency is engaging in the ultimate betrayal --- reuniting birth parents with the wrong children. Reviewed by Amie Taylor.


 

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