June 22, 2012

Greetings from California. It’s been a while since I have been up in the friendly skies and on the road, but I am here to report that all the little niceties of plane travel, like removing shoes, standing on line and being looked at like a potential criminal, have not changed. In case you were wondering.

Today and through Monday, I will be attending the American Library Association Conference in Anaheim. I flew in a day early to visit with Edie Locke, who was Editor-in-Chief of Mademoiselle magazine when I started there back in 1978. It’s been 32 years since we have seen each other. We had not even been in touch with each other until this last January when I wrote her a note on Facebook. From there we’ve had a lively email exchange that included my reading pages of the manuscript of her memoir that chronicles her life from her childhood in Austria to life under the Nazi regime to her move to the States as a teen during the war and to her ascendancy to editor-in-chief, as well as her career beyond her “Mlle days” with the first fashion and style show, which aired on cable television. And, of course, in between are great stories about the fashion and magazine scene during those years. It’s quite a story from a vibrant woman who’s led one amazing life.

Edie always loved to read, and I am thrilled that she now is one of our newsletter subscribers. I love her Saturday morning notes where she talks about the books we tempted her to purchase. Like many of you who write me, Edie jokes that we are “an expensive habit.” You can see a photo of us above taken during a wonderful afternoon of reminiscing and sharing great stories. And I will tell you that back in 1978, when I was fresh out of college working at the magazine, I never would have thought that we would be spending a day together like this --- and in California no less!

Days at Conde Nast sprang back into my memory at BEA earlier this month as I met Janet Groth, author of THE RECEPTIONIST: An Education at The New Yorker. Janet was the receptionist at The New Yorker from 1957 to 1978 (which is amusing, as my career in magazines was starting as she was wrapping up hers). Her memoir makes readers feel like she had “the best seat in the house” as she talks about her role as a greeter to such literary luminaries as J.D. Salinger, Calvin Trillin and E.B. White. If you love The New Yorker --- or want to look behind the pages --- you will enjoy this book.

I found myself thinking of Mercedes Murphy, who had the receptionist role at Mademoiselle. I may date myself here, but I confess that I HATE office phone mail systems and miss receptionists greeting me in offices instead of a phone outside a locked door with a list of extensions to dial for entry. People answer the phones at our offices, and I do not see that changing any time soon --- old-fashioned though it may be. And I am sure this is surprising from someone who started an Internet company in 1995!

We have a fabulous lineup of reviews for you this week. Among them is my latest Bookreporter.com Bets On selection, THE WORLD WITHOUT YOU by Joshua Henkin. The novel takes place in the summer months of 2005, with the Frankel family commemorating the one-year passing of their son and brother Leo, by unveiling a tombstone in Lenox, MA. Leo died during a journalistic assignment in Iraq covering the war, and his absence is felt heavily in the family --- recollections of Leo’s life amplify the tender emotions experienced by all, creating a very touching narrative. As the story develops, readers are faced with a major secret that the parents plan to unveil over the course of the family gathering. We have no doubt that readers --- especially book groups --- will fall in love with this beautiful and deeply affecting novel as much as we have. Click here for my thoughts about the book. Our reviewer, Michael Magras, says, “[F]or a modern-day family drama to work, it needs many intersecting conflicts and richly drawn characters. In that respect, THE WORLD WITHOUT YOU is a generous work of literature.” Click here to read Michael's review.

We also have a review of the highly-anticipated THE RECKONING, a follow-up to Alma Katsu’s THE TAKER. This book picks up where the first one left off, following Lanny in her path to redemption. It’s a haunting tale of an immortal woman learning firsthand that the heart wants what the heart wants, no matter how high the stakes. Reviewer Amy Gwiazdowski says, “Katsu has a skill for building characters with extensive pasts that continue to fascinate…. It’s a character-driven story with incredibly interesting and sometimes hateful characters, which is keeping me firmly attached to the story.”

In TUMBLEWEEDS by Leila Meacham (you may remember that she is the author of ROSES), three young friends --- the saint, the sinner and the angel --- grow up together in the sort of small Texas Panhandle town that lives and dies by its Friday night football games. A fateful event casts a long shadow over these three intertwined lives and leaves the reader turning the pages desperately to see how it all plays out. Reviewer Terry Miller Shannon says, “We know that Trey and John have not spoken for decades, leaving us to wonder what on earth could have happened to their once-tight friendship --- and turning pages late into the night in order to find out.” This book has one GORGEOUS cover!

In NEVER TELL, Alafair Burke’s latest scintillating thriller, 16-year-old Julia Whitmore is found dead in her bathtub. Although a handwritten suicide note is left on her bed, her parents insist that their daughter would never take her own life. When they use their power to force a criminal investigation, NYPD detective Ellie Hatcher’s resistance (she’s convinced the case is a suicide) causes trouble for her both at work and in her personal life. Reviewer Joe Hartlaub says, “There is room to question if Hatcher does the right thing at the end --- I feel that she did, but reasonable minds could differ --- and the result will leave the reader thinking about this book long after the last page has been turned.”

As promised, we have our review of Claire McMillan’s GILDED AGE, one of last week’s Bets On titles. In this contemporary re-telling of Edith Wharton’s THE HOUSE OF MIRTH, Eleanor Hart had made a brilliant marriage in New York, but it ended in a scandalous divorce and 30 days in rehab. Now she finds that she will still need a husband to be socially complete. However, through one misstep after another, Ellie mishandles her second act. Her options narrow and future prospects contract, until she faces a desperate choice. According to reviewer Norah Piehl, “McMillan remains true to Wharton's novel even as she effectively satirizes an exclusive community and simultaneously satisfies people's thirst to read about how the other 1% lives.” So many times as I read her reviews, I realize that Norah and I have the same taste in books!

We’re happy to announce that once again we’re featuring John Lutz in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight. In PULSE, his latest thriller, the killer's depravity is insatiable. Homicide detective turned P.I. Frank Quinn has seen this M.O. before. A demented ritual, it's the work of Daniel Danielle --- a notorious serial killer who blurs the line between male and female, human and monster. Danielle disappeared 10 years ago. Is a copycat repeating the crimes? Or has Danielle made a deadly return? Either way, this time the killing won't stop. If this book sounds like your cup of tea, then be sure to enter here by Thursday, July 5th at noon ET, when 20 lucky victims…I mean, readers….will win a copy of the book.

Sally Koslow, who many of you know from her novels that have been reviewed here, including THE LATE, LAMENTED MOLLY MARX and WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE, has written a very thought-provoking nonfiction book called SLOUCHING TOWARD ADULTHOOD: Observations from the Not-So-Empty Nest. It looks at twentysomethings and explores what’s keeping them from maturing the way previous generations did. Lots of provocative threads to discuss in this book! On Tuesday, “The Today Show” interviewed Sally, and you can watch that here. And yes, my son Greg is living at home. My husband would love a four-car garage, as he collects cars like I do books and yarn. I am sure Greg would be lobbying for an apartment above it if that dream comes true, though moving 100 feet from the house is not what Sally had in mind.

This week Judy Blume interviewed Tayari Jones, the author of SILVER SPARROW, a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection, in a terrific interview that you can see here. There is a wonderful backstory about how the two of them met and what that meant for Tayari, besides a fabulous conversation about the book.

Last weekend, I read ACCELERATED, a debut novel by Bronwen Hruska, which is coming out in October. In it, Sean Benning, a young father, is encouraged to put his son, Toby, on medication after he receives a diagnosis of ADD. But what’s really going on? Ends up Toby attends a competitive New York prep school where medicating students has been de rigueur to improve focus and test scores. It reads like a thriller as Sean tries to uncover what is going on. There’s a lot to talk about once you finish it; I can see book groups weighing in on all sides of the meds issue as there is much to explore. When I was reading it, I saw a piece in the New York Times talking about kids snorting drugs before the SATs to improve their focus. Wild!

Summer is officially here, and we are soooooo loving the longer days of daylight, though I find myself working later in the office not realizing it’s already 8:30 but still light out. Dark is a cue to get packed up! Our Summer Reading Contest and Feature continues with Daily Contests that you can sign up for here. Next week’s featured titles are I COULDN’T LOVE YOU MORE by Jillian Medoff; an audio edition of MACBETH written by William Shakespeare and performed by Alan Cumming (audiobooks are perfect for summer travel) and RULES OF CIVILITY by Amor Towles.

Our poll this week picks up on a theme that we queried you about a couple of weeks ago --- bookshelves. How do you organize the books on them? By title? Author? Genre? Or some other way? Click here to let us know! And our Word of Mouth contest continues through Friday, June 29th at noon ET. Let us know what you’re reading for a chance to win CRIMINAL by Karin Slaughter, GOLD by Chris Cleave and HEARTBROKEN by Lisa Unger. Again, I’ve read all three and have to say that you want to share what you’ve been reading to have a chance to win.

Jim Fusilli is celebrating being nominated for a Macavity Award for NARROW’S GATE for Best Historical Mystery by running a contest where you can enter to win a copy of Frank Sinatra's "Best of Best," a 42-track boxed set.

To enter, here's the two-part question: In NARROW’S GATE, a man is killed with a lollipop. A) Who is the victim? B) Who is the killer? One winner will be chosen at random. Send your answers to jimfusillibooks@gmail.com. The drawing will be held July 2nd.

When we left off last week, my husband Tom was headed to caddy in the USGA’s U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links. His golfer, Lauren Diaz-Yi from Thousand Oaks, California, made the cut after two rounds, which was really exciting, and went on to the first round of match play where she lost by one stroke on Wednesday afternoon, which was wickedly hot. I was following the leaderboard online from the office, and when Lauren was eliminated, I had the same emotions I would have had if one of the boys had lost --- and I had not even met her! Really fun experience for him --- a chance to get an insider view of another side of a sport that he loves, which I guess is like my attending book conferences. He toted golf clubs while I tote books. And as a result, I learned a lot too. No worries about my hitting the links; my game is reading --- and I still probably will have to be reminded what’s better: a bogey or a birdie.

Cory wrapped up school this week and is now a senior in high school, which is hard to believe. I spent an evening the other night writing his teachers, a tradition I started when Greg was back in pre-K. I always think teachers deserve thanks, and it’s a nice way to look back over the school year. It’s going to be a fun summer as Son 2A and Son 2B are not at camp or traveling for the first time, and thus there will be a migration from house to house as they come up with plans of things to do. Cory is going to be working with Tom as his interest is in engineering.

Lots of fabulous authors in Anaheim this weekend. As usual, I have a crazy, packed schedule and will have little time for reading. So you get some reading done for me so the world count of words read does not drop off. Enjoy!

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

THE LONG EARTH by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter (Science Fiction/Fantasy)
Police officer Monica Jansson is exploring the burned-out home of a reclusive scientist who seems to have vanished. Sifting through the wreckage, Jansson finds a curious gadget: a box containing some rudimentary wiring, a three-way switch, and…a potato. It is the prototype of an invention that will change the way humankind views the world forever. Reviewed by Roz Shea.

-Click here to read more about the book.

THE KINGS OF COOL: A Prequel to “Savages” by Don Winslow (Thriller)
In SAVAGES, Don Winslow introduced Ben and Chon, twenty-something best friends who risk everything to save the girl they both love, O. Now, in this prequel, Winslow reaches back in time to tell the story of how Ben, Chon and O became the people they are. As the trio does battle with a cabal of drug dealers and crooked cops, they come to learn that their future is inextricably linked with their parents’ history. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read more about the book.

THE WORLD WITHOUT YOU by Joshua Henkin (Fiction)
Many of you may remember Joshua Henkin’s book of a few years ago, MATRIMONY, which was eagerly embraced by both book clubs and readers. Just out this week is THE WORLD WITHOUT YOU, which is set over a few days around the 4th of July in 2005 as the Frankel family gathers at their vacation home in Lenox, MA, to commemorate the unveiling of their son/brother Leo’s tombstone on the first anniversary of his death. Leo, the only son, was a journalist who loved adventure, and his death while on assignment in Iraq was devastating. The book opens with his parents awaiting the arrival of the rest of the family, and we learn the bombshell of a secret that they plan to share over the next few days.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to read an interview with Joshua Henkin.
-Click here to read Joshua Henkin’s bio.
-Click here to see all the books we're betting you'll love.

We have 25 copies of PULSE by John Lutz, which will be in stores June 26th, to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. If you are interested, please fill out this form by Thursday, July 5th at noon ET.

PULSE: A Frank Quinn Novel by John Lutz (Thriller)
The killer’s depravity is insatiable; what he does to his victims is unthinkable. Homicide Detective turned P.I. Frank Quinn has seen this M.O. before. A demented ritual, it’s the work of Daniel Danielle --- a notorious serial killer who blurs the line between male and female, human and monster. Danielle disappeared 10 years ago. Is a copy cat repeating the crimes, or has Danielle made a deadly return? Either way, this time the killing won’t stop…

-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read John Lutz’s bio.
-Click here to visit John Lutz’s official website.
-Connect with John Lutz on Facebook and Twitter.

Claire McMillan offers an updated version of Edith Wharton’s THE HOUSE OF MIRTH in her debut novel, GILDED AGE, replete with scandal, tricky social terrain and decisions that change the course of the heroine Ellie’s life. In this interview, McMillan talks about her attraction to Wharton’s work, the way Cleveland inspires her daily, and the difficulties in revitalizing classic novels.

GILDED AGE by Claire McMillan (Fiction)
Eleanor Hart had made a brilliant marriage in New York, but it ended in a scandalous divorce and 30 days in rehab. Now she finds that she will still need a husband to be socially complete. However, through one misstep after another, Ellie mishandles her second act. Her options narrow and future prospects contract, until she faces a desperate choice. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to see our Bets On feature for the book.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to read Claire McMillan’s bio.

TUMBLEWEEDS by Leila Meacham (Fiction)
In an emotional and dramatic novel spanning many decades, Cathy Benson grows close to the two males who will shape her life. John Caldwell and Trey Don Hall are best friends who both adore Cathy. Their triangular friendship grows and changes in surprising (and sometimes shocking) ways over the course of a lifetime. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

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

NEVER TELL by Alafair Burke (Thriller)
When 16-year-old Julia Whitmire is found dead in her bathtub, a handwritten suicide note left on her bed, her parents insist that their daughter would never take her own life. When they use their power to force a criminal investigation, NYPD detective Ellie Hatcher’s resistance (she’s convinced the case is a suicide) causes trouble for her both at work and in her personal life. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

We have a number of contests currently running on our other sites in TheBookReportNetwork.com. Please take a look at them below, and enter for your chance to win some fabulous books!

ReadingGroupGuides.com

A Celebration of Edith Wharton’s 150th Birthday
We are celebrating the 150th anniversary of Edith Wharton’s birthday and the release of two new novels inspired by her writing with a special contest. 20 readers each will receive a copy of THE INNOCENTS by Francesca Segal and THE AGE OF INNOCENCE by Edith Wharton, while 20 other readers each will be awarded a copy of GILDED AGE by Claire McMillan and THE HOUSE OF MIRTH by Edith Wharton. The deadline for entries is Thursday, June 28th at 11:59PM ET. Note: To win, entrants must agree to share their feedback on the two novels between now and August 10th!

Enter Your Group for a Chance to Meet Bestselling Author Robert Goolrick...And More!
We have a special opportunity for book groups to attend a special reception to meet Robert Goolrick, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A RELIABLE WIFE, whose latest book HEADING OUT TO WONDERFUL is on sale now. This opportunity is available to book groups in select cities, but all readers are invited to enter to win additional prizes.

CITY OF WOMEN by David R. Gillham
We are celebrating the forthcoming release of CITY OF WOMEN by David R. Gillham --- a steamy page-turner about a seemingly perfect Nazi soldier’s wife and her clandestine life --- with a special contest. 50 readers will have the opportunity to each win an advance copy of the book, which will be in stores August 7th, for their group. The deadline for entries is Friday, July 6th at noon ET.

THE BOOK OF SUMMERS by Emylia Hall
We are celebrating the release of THE BOOK OF SUMMERS by Emylia Hall --- the story of a woman who is forced to confront the betrayal that destroyed her years earlier --- with a special contest. 25 readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of the book, which is now in stores, for their group. The deadline for entries is Friday, July 6th at noon ET.

Newsletter Contest
To be a group to win 20 free copies of THE RED HOUSE by Mark Haddon, all you have to do is sign up for the ReadingGroupGuides.com newsletter by July 1st. If you are receiving the ReadingGroupGuides.com newsletter in your mailbox, you already are signed up!

Teenreads.com

Beach Bag of Books
In our Sixth Annual Beach Bag of Books contest, five winners each will receive a beach bag filled with a number of outstanding books. We'll be adding more titles in the days to come, so please be on the lookout for that! Along with the books, winners will find their striped beach bag stocked with a polka-dot beach towel, Coppertone Sport Sunblock, and a plastic sports bottle. The deadline for entries is Monday, July 16th at noon ET.

Fierce Reads
To celebrate the release of four books that are being featured in Macmillan's Fierce Reads campaign, we're giving five readers the opportunity to win them all! Enter by Tuesday, August 7th at noon ET for your chance to be awarded MONUMENT 14 by Emmy Laybourne, OF POSEIDON by Anna Banks, SHADOW AND BONE by Leigh Bardugo, and STRUCK by Jennifer Bosworth.

SEVENTEEN ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BEAUTY and SEVENTEEN ULTIMATE GUIDE TO STYLE
We are celebrating the July 10th release of SEVENTEEN ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BEAUTY: The Best Hair, Skin, Nails & Makeup Ideas for You, a girl's handbook to celebrating her natural beauty, with a special contest. 15 readers will have the opportunity to win a copy of the book, along with SEVENTEEN ULTIMATE GUIDE TO STYLE: How to Find Your Perfect Look. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 24th at noon ET.

FaithfulReader.com

FaithfulReader.com Monthly Contest
In our latest monthly contest, 25 readers will be awarded a copy of all three books in Linda Windsor’s historical fiction series, The Brides of Alba: HEALER, THIEF and REBEL. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, July 17th at noon ET.

MORTAL: The Books of Mortals, Book 2 by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee (Thriller)
Nine years have gone by since Rom Sebastian first discovered a secret and consumed an ancient potion of blood to bring himself back to life in FORBIDDEN. Surviving against impossible odds, Rom has gathered a secret faction of followers who have also taken the blood. But The Order has raised an elite army to hunt and crush the living. The final surviving hope for humanity teeters on the brink of annihilation, and no one knows the path to survival. Reviewed by Maggie Harding.

AN UNMARKED GRAVE: A Bess Crawford Mystery by Charles Todd (Historical Mystery)
World War I nurse and amateur sleuth Bess Crawford matches wits with a devious killer in the midst of battling the Spanish flu while on the French front. As the only potential witness to a killer, Bess finds herself running against time to find the identity of the assailant before she becomes his next victim. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

THE SINS OF THE FATHER by Jeffrey Archer (Historical Fiction)
As war is breaking out in Europe, the Barrington family of Bristol, England, is in turmoil. Young lovers Emma Barrington and Harry Clifton have been dealt a terrible blow. With the possibility that Harry is Emma’s brother, he finds a way to disappear from her life. But he ends up in far worse circumstances. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

THE MERYL STREEP MOVIE CLUB by Mia March (Fiction)
Two sisters and the cousin they grew up with after a tragedy are summoned home to their family matriarch's inn for a shocking announcement. When they join the innkeeper and the other guests for weekly Movie Night --- it's Meryl Streep month --- they find themselves sharing secrets and questioning everything they thought they knew about life, love and one another. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

I HATE EVERYONE...STARTING WITH ME by Joan Rivers (Humor)
An uncensored and totally uninhibited Joan Rivers gives the best of her worst to First Ladies, closet cases, hypocrites, Hollywood, feminists, and overrated historical figures. And even when letting herself have it, she doesn’t hold back in this honest, unabashedly hilarious love letter to the hater in all of us. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.

BILL VEECK: Baseball's Greatest Maverick by Paul Dickson (Biography)
Relying on primary sources, including more than a hundred interviews, Paul Dickson has crafted a richly detailed portrait of an American original: baseball impresario and innovator, independent spirit and unflinching advocate of racial equality, Bill Veeck. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.

FALSE NEGATIVE by Joseph Koenig (Hard-boiled Mystery)
Reporter Adam Jordan comes across the biggest story of his life when he is first on the scene of the murder of a beauty pageant contestant on the beach near Atlantic City. The story, set in the pulp world of the early 1950s, is the first published book by mystery writer Joseph Koenig in 20 years. Reviewed by Tom Callahan.

THE NEXT RIGHT THING by Dan Barden (Thriller)
Randy Chalmers has to admit he’d be dead or in prison were it not for his best friend, lawyer and Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor Terry Elias. Thanks to Terry’s coaching and an endless stream of caffeine-fueled AA meetings, Randy has been off the booze for eight years. All is well…until Terry, himself supposedly sober for 15 years, is found dead of a heroin overdose. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

Poll:

How do you organize your bookshelves? Please check as many as apply as we know you may do a combination of these things.

Alphabetically by author
Alphabetically by title
By size
By genre
By color
By series
Randomly
I once had a system, but I'm not following it now.
I’m not sure.
I don’t have any bookshelves.
Other (Please specify)

-Click here to answer the poll.

Word of Mouth: