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Bookreporter.com Newsletter |
April 30, 2010 |
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Authors, Awards, Prizes ... What a Week ... |
When I left you, I was in the clouds heading to L.A. Once I hit the ground, it was one whirlwind of a trip. Friday I had a lovely lunch with Lisa See; we were thrilled to find fish tacos on the menu as we had dined on those in the Caymans a few years ago. Lisa shared stories from her months of traveling and meeting readers for her tour for the paperback release of SHANGHAI GIRLS, which took her across the country. We had great fun comparing the stores that we both have visited and talking about how interesting it is to meet readers as we travel. She’s working on the follow-up to SHANGHAI GIRLS and is so excited about it. I never quiz authors on what they are writing since I know ideas germinate before they can be shared, but she clearly is loving writing it, which means we should be in for a treat.
In the early evening, Karin Slaughter and I moseyed our way over to The Mystery Bookstore in Westwood; I joked with her that I was on page 175 of her upcoming book, BROKEN, and she should not tell me how it ended. As soon as I walked into the store, I met one of our readers, Merilee, and her daughter, who had traveled in from Arizona for the Festival after learning about it on Bookreporter.com. They assumed it was me since I was wearing turquoise and came over to introduce themselves, which was humorous. They had great fun talking to Rachel Caine and John Vorhaus, two of their favorite authors.
I quickly was swept to another part of the room to catch up with some other folks, including Mary Higgins Clark (who was celebrating her latest #1 New York Times bestseller, THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE), Robert Dugoni (we have a suspense/thriller feature on his upcoming legal thriller, BODILY HARM, which I am crazy about, launching next week), Gregg Hurwitz (his THEY’RE WATCHING is in stores on July 6th), Paul Levine (who is writing a new Jake Lassiter book), Alafair Burke (who was signing 212) and way too many more to mention. For a book person this is the perfect setting since you can pick up books you love and chat about them with fellow readers, because, after all, authors ARE readers, too. Usually you then find yourself headed to the cash register as the next step.
While I did not attend the L.A. Times Book Prize ceremony on Friday night, I did get a list of the winners, which you can see here.
Saturday I walked up Hilgard to the UCLA campus for the Festival, which is one of my favorite walks since there are amazingly beautiful flowers that usually are in bloom along the way. This year you can tell L.A. has had a cold spring since many of the blossoms were not yet out. Funny how much those scents are ones I always think of in conjunction with the Festival!
I stepped onto the campus around 10 and already there were crowds making their ways to booths and panels. I heard there were record-breaking crowds this year, and I do believe it. There was a flurry of excitement both days. I started my morning with a panel with Karin Slaughter, Gregg Hurwitz, David Ellis and Andrew Gross. I was familiar with everyone except Ellis, but found myself wanting to track down a copy of his book, THE HIDDEN MAN. Their discussion about thrillers and what makes them special for readers was excellent. By the way, on my way into this event, I met Terrye (I think I have that spelling right), who is one of our readers. She had discovered Karin's work on our site and read through a number of her books in anticipation of this event. I love when moments like that happen. She raced to have Karin sign them all after the formal presentation ended.
From there I went to a room where three "tween" authors, all of whom have been featured on our Kidsreads.com site --- D.J. MacHale, Gordon Korman and Pseudonymous Bosch --- were met with wild applause when they came on stage, and their presentation gave us all a lot of laughs.
Next up were Erica Bauermeister (whose THE SCHOOL OF ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS made me want to cook and have a book discussion), Pamela Ribon (I had read her book, GOING IN CIRCLES, a few weeks ago) and Karen Stabiner (whose novel GETTING IN about the college admission process should be required reading for all hyper high school parents). They weighed in on how their books are about forging ahead. I love how you can watch different authors play off each other at events like this.
From there I moseyed over to hear Carolyn and Lisa See. What’s interesting here is that I have seen them speak together on at least three occasions, but they never repeat stories and they always have a lively conversation. I loved how they talked here about how for them writing happens without a lot of pomp and circumstance. They told a story about writing a book together right after Lisa gave birth to her first son. They passed the baby back and forth as they each wrote, knowing they were sharing two roles --- writer and co-caregiver --- right then. They clearly just love writing and the joy of the craft. They have written a Mother's Day blog piece for us that will be live on Saturday.
I grabbed a drink that night with Katie Arnoldi out in Malibu. Her new novel, POINT DUME, explores the world of drug cartels that, with the stringent border patrols, have taken to growing marijuana on federal and national park lands here in this country. It’s just wild. Raced back and grabbed dinner with Dan Fost, who I used to babysit for and who is now a journalist and the author of GIANTS PAST & PRESENT about the San Francisco Giants baseball team. We had great fun reminiscing and talking about newspapers and books; I am so proud of him.
Sunday was back to the Festival, where again everyone was up and at it early. I started my morning with an event where Sebastian Junger was interviewed about his upcoming book, WAR, due out May 11th. I had spent some time reading the book on Friday, which is intense, honest and gives in-depth detail to what has happened with the war in Afghanistan in one valley. Junger’s descriptions of the conditions and fighting were so descriptive that I found myself somewhere beyond the auditorium setting as he spoke. It clearly was a profoundly moving experience for him. After the formal part of the presentation, we moved to the Q&A. Typically at that time, some audience members race out to other events. Junger asked them to stop for a moment as he wanted to introduce a soldier who had been in the Company that he had embedded with, who was on his way back to Afghanistan in a couple of weeks. As a mom, that was quite a moment for me.
Later in the day, I went to an event where Herman Wouk was interviewed by Tim Rutten, who clearly is a scholar of Wouk’s work. Wouk is one of my favorite authors and just seeing his name made me want to re-read MARJORIE MORNINGSTAR, THE WINDS OF WAR and WAR AND REMEMBRANCE. As he made his way onto the stage, flashbulbs went off and he benignly smiled from the podium. While I would have loved to hear him talk only about his earlier works, instead he talked about his latest book, THE LANGUAGE GOD TALKS: On Science and Religion. He wove in such wonderful stories of his life that I knew I was having one of those literary moments that you will reach back and grab in the future.
I wrapped up the day at a YA panel that was brilliantly moderated by Sonya Sones; a great moderator CAN make a panel, and Gayle Forman was there talking about one of my favorite YA books, IF I STAY. And that wrapped up my whirlwind weekend. Trust you just got the high notes. There are a lot of memories stored about this weekend, and I so urge you to try to get out and explore book festivals like this if you can.
Continuing my bookish week, last night I was at the Edgar Awards, the Mystery Writers of America’s annual awards ceremony. It was another evening spent chatting with authors and cheering on the written word. I was thrilled to see John Hart, whose book THE LAST CHILD was one of our featured Suspense/Thriller titles last year, take home the prize for Best Novel. It was even more lovely as the Wall Street Journal had run a piece yesterday on how few times authors have repeated Edgar wins. Hart won two years ago for DOWN RIVER, thus this really has solidified his place at the table.
I also cheered when Dave Cullen won Best Fact Crime for his brilliant book, COLUMBINE, which I also loved. I confess that this evening I always am humbled as there are MANY authors and books that everyone at the table nods and acknowledges as wonderful that I have never heard of. I usually leave thinking I just need to read faster. It’s also a lovely time to catch up with folks you only see once a year. Con Lehane and John Billingham were both at my table, and they recounted stories when I moderated events with them at the Virginia Festival of the Book years ago. You can see a full list of the winners here.
This week we have a contest where 20 readers can win a copy of M.J. Rose’s new book, THE HYPNOTIST, the latest in her Reincarnationist series. To enter, click here by Friday, May 7th at noon ET. I read this book while I was on vacation last month and agree with Joe Hartlaub’s rave review where he says, “THE HYPNOTIST has something for everyone: murder, suspense, history, romance, the supernatural, mystery and erotica. These elements are woven together so skillfully that the whole becomes something new and different. The plot, as one would expect, is complex, yet the prose gently tugs the reader along through the deeper parts of the work while moving things rapidly along in others. This is one of those rare books that puts the reader in the zone, where reality is hijacked by the printed page and the story that lays upon it.” The descriptions of art will have you wanting to visit a museum; the descriptions of episodes of reincarnation will give you pause about your own “past life” --- or, should I say, lives? Enjoy!
We have three new author spotlight features beginning this week. The first is BY FIRE, BY WATER by Mitchell James Kaplan. This title is drawing a lot of comparisons to some beloved historical classics like THE RED TENT by Anita Diamant and PEOPLE OF THE BOOK by Geraldine Brooks. These comparisons are not just because of the time period and culture Kaplan recreates, but also due to the strong writing that draws you in. The book won’t be out until May 18th, but we have 50 copies to give away to those who would like to read and comment on it. Enter here by Friday, May 7th at noon ET.
Sigmund Brouwer’s FLIGHT OF SHADOWS is a dystopian novel about social classes and a genetic experiment gone wrong that threatens them all. The book won’t be in stores until May 18th, but we have 20 copies to give away to those who would like to read and comment on it. Enter here by Friday, May 7th at noon ET.
Finally, we spotlight Lynn Kurland, who tells the story of a knight and a seamstress forced to rebuild and renovate a castle in feudal England in ONE ENCHANTED EVENING. The book is out now, but we’re still giving away 20 copies to readers who would like to comment on it. Enter here by Friday, May 7th at noon ET.
John Hogan, our Editorial Director for GraphicNovelReporter.com, just got back from a vacation to Barcelona, which coincided with the Sant Jordi festival, an annual Barcelona event celebrating love and Catalonian pride. As he says, “It’s like Valentine’s Day and the 4th of July rolled into one, but bigger. The tradition is for men to give the women they love a rose, and in return, the women give men a book. It’s an important holiday, so most everyone was off work and wandering the streets, which were lined with rose stands and book-selling tents.” Now wouldn’t it be lovely to have a day like that here, though I think I would take the book over the rose!
Speaking of celebrating with a book, our Mother’s Day feature will give you ideas on how to celebrate MOM. We have 36 suggested titles and you have until Monday, May 3rd at noon ET to enter our contest. See details below. We also continue our Mother’s Day blogs featuring authors and their moms. Click here to see today’s piece with Kathy and Kerry Reichs. I loved what Kerry shared about her mom bringing her work home when she was in high school. The boys will be happy I just bring books with me. We're posting all our blog pieces on Facebook, too, and you can follow our other postings from the book world here.
Looking forward to the weekend when the weather will be summer-like. I am halfway through Lisa Unger’s FRAGILE and also looking forward to finishing WAR by Sebastian Junger. I usually have at least a two-book juggle going on! Here’s wishing you all a great weekend.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
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Now in Stores: THE 9th JUDGMENT by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro |
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THE 9th JUDGMENT by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (Thriller)
A young mother and her infant child are ruthlessly gunned down while returning to their car in the garage of a shopping mall. Detective Lindsay Boxer is left with only one shred of evidence: a cryptic message scrawled across the windshield in bloodred lipstick. That same night, the wife of an A-list actor is killed by a cat burglar who steals millions of dollars' worth of precious jewels. These two senseless crimes throw San Francisco into hysteria. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
-Click here to read an excerpt from THE 9th JUDGMENT.
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Click here to read a review of THE 9th JUDGMENT.
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Author Talk: P.J. Tracy, Author of SHOOT TO THRILL |
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P.J. Tracy --- the pseudonym for mother-daughter writing team P.J. and Traci Lambrecht --- recently published SHOOT TO THRILL, the fifth installment in their award-winning Monkeewrench series that follows a group of eccentric cyber investigators who solve Internet-based crimes. In this interview, the authors discuss the initial inspiration behind these quirky and rather timely novels, and share their thoughts on the influence of the Web on society as a whole. They also detail the technical and procedural research that goes into writing each story, attempt to describe the secret to their collaborative success, and humorously explain what they found so rewarding about this latest project.
SHOOT TO THRILL: A Monkeewrench Novel by P.J. Tracy (Thriller)
When Minneapolis homicide cops Gino Rolseth and Leo Magozzi are called to a derelict stretch of the Mississippi River, they see the bride dead in the water. And when the Monkeewrench crew are invited by the FBI to investigate a series of murder videos posted to the Web, it's not long before the group discovers the frightening link between the unlucky bride and the latest, most horrific use of the Internet yet. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
-Click here to read a review of SHOOT TO THRILL.
-Click here to read an excerpt from SHOOT TO THRILL.
-Click here to read P.J. Tracy's Mother's Day blog post.
-Visit P.J. Tracy’s official website, www.PJTracy.net.
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Click here to read an interview with P.J. Tracy.
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Bookreporter.com's Fifth Annual Mother's Day Contest: Books Mom Will Love
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Mother’s Day is a time to recognize the woman who raised and nurtured you. Why not brighten her special day with some great books? From April 16th through May 3rd, readers will have the chance to win one of our 15 Bookreporter.com Mother’s Day Gift Baskets. Each basket is filled with a selection of 12 books from our 36 featured titles, giving mom a book to read each month and making Mother’s Day truly a yearlong celebration. Also included are a variety of gifts to treat her: a plush blanket, a Crabtree & Evelyn Shower Flower, H2O+ Body Butter, a Jane Sun Tea soothing mask, Rose Garden Sachets, garden gloves, and, of course, some chocolates. (Please note: Colors may vary on items.)
Our featured Mother’s Day titles can be found here. With books that are moving, uplifting, humorous and informative, look no further than Bookreporter.com for the perfect gift for mom.
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Click here for all the contest details.
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Special Contest: Win a Copy of THE HYPNOTIST by M.J. Rose
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We are celebrating the release of THE HYPNOTIST --- the latest thrilling, inventive volume in M.J. Rose’s bestselling Reincarnationist series --- with a special contest. 20 readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of the book, which is now in stores. The deadline for entries is Friday, May 7th at noon ET.
THE HYPNOTIST by M.J. Rose (Thriller)
An FBI agent, tormented by a death he wasn't able to prevent, a crime he's never been able to solve and a love he's never forgotten, discovers that his true conflict resides not in his past, but in a … Past Life. International bestselling author M.J. Rose's THE HYPNOTIST is her most mesmerizing novel yet. An adventure, a love story, a clash of cultures, a spiritual quest, it is above all a thrilling capstone to her unique Reincarnation novels, THE REINCARNATIONIST and THE MEMORIST.
-Click here to read a review of THE HYPNOTIST.
-Click here to read an excerpt from THE HYPNOTIST.
-Visit M.J. Rose’s official website, www.MJRose.com.
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Click here for all the contest details.
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New Featured Historical Fiction Author: Mitchell James Kaplan, Author of BY FIRE, BY WATER
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Mitchell James Kaplan's debut novel, BY FIRE, BY WATER, is being compared to such modern-day classics as Anita Diamant's THE RED TENT and Geraldine Brooks's PEOPLE OF THE BOOK --- not just for its exploration of religious oppression and New World adventure during the Spanish Inquisition, but also for its lush prose and captivating storytelling.
BY FIRE, BY WATER will be in stores on May 18th, but we have 50 copies to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and comment about it. If you are interested, please fill out this form by Friday, May 7th at noon ET.
-Click here to read an excerpt from BY FIRE, BY WATER.
-Click here to read Mitchell James Kaplan's bio.
-Click here to read critical praise for BY FIRE, BY WATER.
More about BY FIRE, BY WATER:
Luis de Santángel, chancellor to the court and longtime friend of the lusty King Ferdinand, has had enough of the Spanish Inquisition. Santángel is from a family of conversos, and his Jewish heritage makes him a target of the brutal Inquisitor Tomás de Torquemada. When a dear friend’s demise brings the violence close to home, Santángel takes retribution into his own hands, simultaneously growing ever closer to a beautiful Jewish silversmith, Judith Migdal.
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Click here to read more about Mitchell James Kaplan and BY FIRE, BY WATER.
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New Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: Sigmund Brouwer, Author of FLIGHT OF SHADOWS |
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In the not-too-distant future of Sigmund Brouwer's FLIGHT OF SHADOWS, society has been sharply divided into classes of the haves and have-nots. Caitlyn, the result of a genetic experiment gone wrong, finds herself pursued by all the battling classes and at the center of a crisis in this dystopian future.
FLIGHT OF SHADOWS will be in stores on May 18th, but we have 20 copies to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and comment about it. If you are interested, please fill out this form by Friday, May 7th at noon ET.
-Click here to read an excerpt from FLIGHT OF SHADOWS.
-Click here to read Sigmund Brouwer's bio.
-Click here to read critical praise for FLIGHT OF SHADOWS.
More about FLIGHT OF SHADOWS:
She escaped the religious enclave of Appalachia. But peace and freedom are even further out of reach for Caitlyn as the myriad dangers pursuing her threaten to crush her last shred of hope. Will she ever discover the truth of her origin? A lightning-fast chase through an all-too-plausible future, bestselling author Sigmund Brouwer is at his best in this terrifying ride into the heart of compelling moral questions about science and society.
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Click here to read more about Sigmund Brouwer and FLIGHT OF SHADOWS.
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New Featured Fantasy Author: Lynn Kurland, Author of ONE ENCHANTED EVENING
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In ONE ENCHANTED EVENING, bestselling fantasy/romance novelist Lynn Kurland tells the story of a duty-bound knight who has taken on the task of rebuilding the most dilapidated castle in all of England and a costume designer who gets her chance to shine by showcasing her designs. The magic that whispers along the castle's hallways is about to orchestrate an improbable happily-ever-after.
We have 20 copies of ONE ENCHANTED EVENING to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment about it. If you are interested, please fill out this form by Friday, May 7th at noon ET.
-Click here to read an excerpt from ONE ENCHANTED EVENING.
-Click here to read Lynn Kurland's bio.
-Click here to read critical praise for ONE ENCHANTED EVENING.
More about ONE ENCHANTED EVENING:
Montgomery de Piaget attracts responsibilities like blossoms lure bees. Where other knights have bonny brides, laughing children and noble quests, he has the task of rebuilding the most dilapidated castle in all of England. A bit of magic might aid him --- if only he still believed in that sort of thing. When Pippa Alexander is invited to England to provide costumes for an upscale party, she jumps at the chance to showcase her own line of fairytale-inspired designs. Not that she believes in fairy tales, or magic that whispers along the hallways of an honest-to-goodness medieval castle… But the castle is full of more than cobwebs, and danger lurks in unexpected places.
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Click here to read more about Lynn Kurland and ONE ENCHANTED EVENING.
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Featured Women's Fiction Author: Emily Giffin, Author of HEART OF THE MATTER |
New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin returns with her much-anticipated new novel, HEART OF THE MATTER. Here, she further explores the seemingly idyllic marriage of Tessa and her surgeon husband Nick, who finds himself tempted by the mother of one of his young patients.
-Click here to read a second excerpt from HEART OF THE MATTER.
-Click here to read Emily Giffin's bio.
-Click here to see Emily Giffin's backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for HEART OF THE MATTER.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.
More about HEART OF THE MATTER:
Tessa Russo is the mother of two young children and the wife of a renowned pediatric surgeon. Valerie Anderson is an attorney and single mother to six-year-old Charlie --- a boy who has never known his father. Although both women live in the same Boston suburb, the two have relatively little in common aside from a fierce love for their children. But one night, a tragic accident causes their lives to converge in ways no one could have imagined.
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Click here to read more about Emily Giffin and HEART OF THE MATTER.
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Featured One to Watch Author: Ben Farmer, Author of EVANGELINE
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Inspired by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic poem of the same name, EVANGELINE is a brilliant debut novel by Ben Farmer. As the British drive the French out of mid-18th-century Acadia (present-day Nova Scotia), two lovers are separated on the eve of their wedding. They desperately search for each other during the course of 10 years across the landscape of pre-Revolutionary America.
-Click here to read a third excerpt from EVANGELINE.
-Click here to read Ben Farmer's bio.
-Click here to read critical praise for EVANGELINE.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.
More about EVANGELINE:
EVANGELINE is both a sweeping love story and a harrowing journey from Nova Scotia to New Orleans in pre-Revolutionary America. As the British drive the French out of mid-18th-century Acadia (present-day Nova Scotia), the beautiful 17-year-old Evangeline Bellefontaine is torn by British soldiers from her fiancé, Gabriel Lajeunesse, on the eve of their wedding. Heartbroken but determined, Evangeline --- along with illegal trapper Bernard Arseneau and priest Felician Abadie --- sets out on an extraordinary 10-year journey to the French-Spanish colony of Louisiana to seek her long-lost love.
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Click here to read more about Ben Farmer and EVANGELINE.
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Featured Suspense/Thriller Author: Kristen Heitzmann, Author of INDIVISIBLE
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A down-on-his luck police chief makes a startling discovery in the serene Colorado mountain town of Redford in INDIVISIBLE, a psychological thriller from Kristen Heitzmann that releases on May 4th. What Jonah Westfall uncovers could threaten the civilians of this small town with catastrophic events.
-Click here to read a third excerpt from INDIVISIBLE.
-Click here to read Kristen Heitzmann's bio.
-Visit Kristen Heitzmann's official website, www.KristenHeitzmann.com.
-Click here for more information about INDIVISIBLE.
-Click here to see our advance copy winners.
More about INDIVISIBLE:
Police Chief Jonah Westfall knows the dark side of life and has committed himself to eradicating it. When a pair of raccoons are found mutilated in Redford, Colorado, Jonah investigates the gruesome act, knowing the strange event could escalate and destroy the tranquility of his small mountain town. With never-ending conflict with Tia Manning, a formidable childhood friend with whom he has more than a passing history, Jonah fights for answers --- and his fragile sobriety.
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Click here to read more about Kristen Heitzmann and INDIVISIBLE.
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This Week's Reviews |
LUCID INTERVALS: A Stone Barrington Novel by Stuart Woods (Mystery)
It seems like just another quiet night at Elaine's. Stone Barrington and his former cop partner, Dino, are enjoying some pasta when in walks former client Herbie Fisher with a briefcase containing $14 million in cash. Herbie claims to have won the money on a lucky lotto ticket, but he also says he needs a lawyer. After a single gunshot breaks the window above his head, Stone and Dino suspect Herbie might also need a bodyguard and a private investigator. Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.
THIS BODY OF DEATH: An Inspector Lynley Novel by Elizabeth George (Mystery)
Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley is on compassionate leave after the murder of his wife. But when the body of a woman is found in an isolated London cemetery, he is prevailed upon to help the new temporary department head tackle the case. He and his former partner, Barbara Havers, are stunned when the investigation leads them to an outcome that is both tragic and shocking. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
RECKLESS by Andrew Gross (Thriller)
Private security investigator Ty Hauck --- with the assistance of Naomi Blum, a tenacious agent from the U.S. Department of Treasury --- unravels the evidence that joins seemingly unrelated events, revealing a reckless scheme that stretches from New York to London to central Europe and gives new meaning to the phrase "too big to fail." Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.
A TICKET TO THE CIRCUS: A Memoir by Norris Church Mailer (Memoir)
A great American love story, this warm, funny and revealing memoir introduces the world to Norman Mailer’s greatest inspiration: his wife of more than 30 years. Like Zelda Fitzgerald before her, Norris Church Mailer has led a life as large and as colorful as her husband’s --- and every bit as engaging. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
THE MOONLIT EARTH by Christopher Rice (Psychological Thriller)
Christopher Rice, the author of four New York Times bestselling novels by the age of 30, returns with his first female protagonist since THE SNOW GARDEN. In THE MOONLIT EARTH, he delivers a compelling psychological thriller about a young woman who must act to save her brother’s reputation and life when he is accused of being involved in a terrorist event. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.
INVISIBLE BOY by Cornelia Read (Mystery)
The smart-mouthed but sensitive runaway socialite Madeline Dare is shocked when she discovers the skeleton of a brutalized three-year-old boy in her own weed-ridden family cemetery outside Manhattan. She finds herself examining her own troubled personal history, and the sometimes hidden, sometimes all-too-public class and racial warfare that penetrates every level of society in the savage streets of New York City during the early 1990s. Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds.
THE OTHER FAMILY by Joanna Trollope (Fiction)
When her music star husband dies suddenly, Chrissie Rossiter is plunged into a morass of despair, complicated by the fact that she and Richie never actually married, despite having three daughters together. Her feeling of unbalance is worsened by a most unexpected provision in his will --- one that causes Chrissie to question everything she thought was true about their relationship. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.
THE HEIGHTS by Peter Hedges (Fiction)
Tim Welch is a popular history teacher at the Montague Academy, an exclusive private school in Brooklyn Heights. His wife, Kate Oliver, stays home with their two young sons in a modest apartment trying desperately to become the parent she never had. They are seemingly the last middle-class family in the Heights, whose world is turned upside down by Anna Brody, the new neighbor who moves into the most expensive brownstone in Brooklyn. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.br />
THE OVERLOADED LIBERAL: Shopping, Investing, Parenting and Other Daily Dilemmas in an Age of Political Activism by Fran Hawthorne (Current Events)
In 21st-century America, even a trip to the grocery store has become a political event. Consumers vote with their pocketbook. Do their purchases support unions, sweatshops, or the sponsors of radio and television celebrities they despise? THE OVERLOADED LIBERAL is an entertaining look at consumerism in modern political times. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
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Click here to read this week's reviews.
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Poll and Question of the Week: In Honor of Children’s Book Week |
Poll:
Children’s Book Week is May 10-16. With this in mind, we ask the following question: Do you buy books for your children?
Yes, all the time
Yes, sometimes
No
No, I borrow books from the library for them.
I don’t have children.
-Click here to answer our poll.
Question:
What book did you read as a child that you would like to give to a child today? Name up to five.
-Click here to answer our question.
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Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading --- and You Can Win THREE Books! |
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Tell us what books YOU are reading and loving --- or even those you don't.
This week we have three great prizes: FIVE readers each will win a copy of FEVER DREAM by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, INNOCENT by Scott Turow and THE LONELY POLYGAMIST by Brady Udall. Tell us what you are reading and rate the titles 1-5 by noon ET on Friday, May 14th to ensure that you are in the running to win these books.
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Need more details about Word of Mouth? Click here.
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As always, here are a few housekeeping notes. If you are seeing this newsletter in a text version, and would prefer to see the graphics, you can either read it online or change your preferences below.
Those of you who wish to send mail to Bookreporter.com, please see the form on the Write to Us page. If you would like to reach me, please write Carol@bookreporter.com. Writing any of the respond buttons below will not get to us.
Those who are subscribed to the Bookreporter.com newsletter by April 30, 2010 automatically are entered in our Monthly Newsletter Contest. This month, one winner will be selected to win the following five books: THE BLACK CAT: A Richard Jury Mystery by Martha Grimes, DELIVER US FROM EVIL by David Baldacci, THE DOUBLE COMFORT SAFARI CLUB: The New No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Novel by Alexander McCall Smith, EVERY LAST ONE by Anna Quindlen and THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE by Mary Higgins Clark. Audri from Westmont, IL was last month's winner. She won CAUGHT by Harlan Coben, HELL GATE by Linda Fairstein, HUSH by Kate White, SHATTERED by Karen Robards and THINK TWICE by Lisa Scottoline.
Happy reading! Don't forget to forward this newsletter to a friend or to visit our other websites from TheBookReportNetwork.com: ReadingGroupGuides.com, GraphicNovelReporter.com, FaithfulReader.com, Teenreads.com, Kidsreads.com, AuthorsOnTheWeb.com and AuthorYellowPages.com.
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