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Bookreporter.com Newsletter |
November 14, 2003 |
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What's Happening This Week |
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This week we announce our latest suspense/thriller author, Joseph Finder whose new book PARANOIA will be in stores on January 20th. As the story opens we meet Adam Cassidy, a low-level employee at a high-tech corporation who hates his job. When he manipulates the system to do something nice for a friend, he finds himself charged with a crime. Corporate Security gives him a choice: prison --- or become a spy in the headquarters of their chief competitor, Trion Systems. From this point Adam becomes a pawn in a game where someone else is controlling the moves, but who is it? It's a corporate espionage thriller that will keep you guessing till the end. I read the last line and still wonder what Adam did in answer to the final question.
If you would like to submit your name to be one of 20 advance readers of PARANOIA, please send mail to Contests@bookreporter.com with your street mailing address by Friday, November 21st. Please note the different email address we are using for this particular giveaway. For more about this book and Joseph Finder, visit ParanoiaNovel.com.
If you were an aspiring author, wouldn't you love the chance to be mentored by a Nobel Prize winning author? Julia Leigh, an Australian author had this opportunity as Toni Morrison worked with her over the past year in the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative. The program pairs gifted young artists with renowned artists in their fields, allowing them to working closely together over the course of a year. See details below and explore the link to the program's website, which details the program, the participants and gives a look at the closing ceremonies held this week in New York.
One of our readers, Peter Quagliana wrote that he is interested in reading some humorous books that men would enjoy --- similar to Bill Bryson's A WALK IN THE WOODS. Please send your suggestions to editorial@bookreporter.com so we can forward them to Peter.
Quick reminder as you start your holiday shopping. You can support Bookreporter.com by making your Amazon holiday purchases via the links on our website. We receive a percentage of those sales, which allows us to continue to deliver the quality editorial we do each week.
Next week we will launch FaithfulReader.com, our new website for Christian readers. Keep an eye out for it! Also next week, we'll have the National Book Award winners for you.
Don't forget to check out our current featured Chick Lit author, Sophie Kinsella. Click on the link below to read an interview, and read further in the newsletter for details about a special contest we are running through early December.
Have a great week.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com) |
Read our interview with Sophie Kinsella here.
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WOLVES OF THE CALLA: The Dark Tower V by Stephen King |
WOLVES OF THE CALLA: The Dark Tower V by Stephen King (Fantasy)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Stephen King's long-awaited fifth novel in this saga continues the adventures of Roland the Gunslinger and his quest for the Dark Tower. This time, he and his companions approach a tranquil community of farmers and ranchers on Mid-World's borderlands --- and they soon learn that one of the town's residents has a connection to the Tower. |
Read our review of WOLVES OF THE CALLA: The Dark Tower V by Stephen King here.
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Suspense/Thriller Spotlight: Read about THE CONSPIRACY CLUB by Jonathan Kellerman and We Introduce Our Next Author, Joseph Finder, author of PARANOIA |
Jonathan Kellerman, author of THE CONSPIRACY CLUB (due in stores on November 25th)
In Case You Missed Last Week:
-Read Chapters Two and Three from THE CONSPIRACY CLUB
-Read our Advance Readers' comments on THE CONSPIRACY CLUB
This week we announce Joseph Finder, author of PARANOIA (due in stores on January 20th).
Enter to be one of our 20 advance readers by sending a note to Contests@bookreporter.com with your name and street address mailing information by Friday, November 21st.
-Read about PARANOIA
-Read about Joseph Finder
-Visit ParanoiaNovel.com to play the Paranoia game, take a quiz to find out how paranoid you are and get details on how to win a Paranoia T-shirt by pre-ordering your copy of PARANOIA now! |
Read our Suspense/Thriller feature here.
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Chick Lit: An Interview With Sophie Kinsella, author of CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC and Enter to Win A $100 American Express Gift Cheque |
New This Week:
Interview with Sophie Kinsella: Sophie Kinsella reveals her inspiration for her bestselling Shopaholic series, shares a few of the most memorable letters she has received from readers and talks about her future writing plans --- which include a new stand-alone novel and a fourth Shopaholic book.
To celebrate the mass market release of CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC, Bookreporter.com is hosting a special contest sure to delight readers --- and shoppers! One lucky reader will win a $100 American Express Gift Cheque for holiday shopping.
To enter the contest, please send an email to ChickLit@bookreporter.com sharing a favorite shopping story by December 5, 2003. The subject line should read CHICK LIT CONTEST. This can be a story about something you enjoyed the experience of buying, or a time where your shopping habits, like Becky Bloomwood's got WAY ahead of your financial means. |
Read our Chick Lit feature here.
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Julia Leigh is Toni Morrison's Protegee in the Rolex Mentor and Protege Arts Initiative |
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Literature may soon have a new star. She is Julia Leigh, a 33-year-old Australian novelist who has just completed a year as the Protégée of Nobel Prize-winner Toni Morrison as part of the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative. Launched in 2002, this international philanthropic programme pairs extraordinarily gifted young artists with renowned artists in their fields, allowing them to working closely together over the course of a year. |
Read more about the Rolex Mentor and Protege Arts Initiative, and Toni Morrison's Protegee here.
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Author of the Month: Patricia Cornwell |
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The success of series books depends largely on whether or not the author can create a protagonist who the audience can identify with on some level --- a multidimensional character who will repeatedly draw readers in and bring them back for more. Patricia Cornwell has achieved this brilliantly with medical examiner Kay Scarpetta, a compelling heroine who confronts horrifying crimes with intelligence and determination. The popularity of these novels has made Cornwell one of the world's bestselling and most prolific female novelists.
Cornwell made national headlines in 2002 with the publication of Portrait of a Killer, in which she claims to know the identity of the infamous Jack the Ripper. This controversial and much talked about book marked her first appearance on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list.
This year, Cornwell returns to fiction with Blow Fly, the 12th installment in the Kay Scarpetta series. To celebrate its release, AuthorsOnTheWeb has chosen Patricia Cornwell as our Author of the Month. Readers can learn more about Cornwell's life and works through fast facts and biographical information, as well as links to her website, bibliography and book reviews.
Win a free copy of Blow Fly by Patricia Cornwell. Just subscribe to the AuthorsOnTheWeb.com newsletter to become eligible. |
Read our Author of the Month feature about Patricia Cornwell here.
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This Week's Book Reviews and Features |
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RED, WHITE & LIBERAL: How Left Is Right & Right Is Wrong by Alan Colmes (Current Affairs)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub and Jesse Kornbluth
Alan Colmes, the liberal half of Fox News Channel's Hannity and Colmes, addresses a fundamental question: In this time of uncertainty, how can we protect our freedom without diminishing our liberties and remain the beacon of democracy? Colmes urges Americans to see past the tactics of the vocal right and combat the problems that threaten our liberties.
Our dueling reviewers weigh in as follows: Although Joe Hartlaub strongly disagrees with much of what Colmes says, he believes that Colmes's assertions are "argued reasonably," while Jesse Kornbluth considers Colmes to be a "wimp of a liberal" and calls the book "flat."
WOLVES OF THE CALLA: The Dark Tower V by Stephen King (Fantasy)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Stephen King's long-awaited fifth novel in this saga continues the adventures of Roland the Gunslinger and his quest for the Dark Tower. This time, he and his companions approach a tranquil community of farmers and ranchers on Mid-World's borderlands --- and they soon learn that one of the town's residents has a connection to the Tower.
CAPITAL CRIMES by Stuart Woods (Political Thriller)
Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum
Stuart Woods has written a compelling thriller that takes readers into the underbelly of partisan politics and works as a cautionary tale of betrayals, hypocrisy and dirty deals, but in the end offers a kind of redemption.
A PERFECT DAY by Richard Paul Evans (Fiction)
Reviewed by Bethanne Kelly Patrick
Following the runaway success of his recently published novel, Robert Harlan finds himself swept into a new world far from his wife and home. He loses track of the things he loves most --- until he meets a stranger who begins telling him intimate details about his past, his present and, most importantly, the brevity of his future.
BABYLON RISING by Tim LaHaye and Greg Dinallo (Fiction)
Reviewed by Maggie Harding
Michael Murphy is a scholar of Biblical prophecy, a field archaeologist who fearlessly hunts down and authenticates ancient artifacts from Biblical times. His latest discovery is his most amazing --- but it will send him hurtling from a life of excavation and revelations to a confrontation with the forces of the greatest evil.
FATAL TIDE by Iris Johansen (Thriller)
Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum
Iris Johansen's latest novel is a romantic thriller that involves a sunken city alleged to be more glorious than Atlantis, the role that dolphins play in the mythology of that city, and the young woman at the center of the search to find it.
WHY AMERICA SLEPT: The Failure to Prevent 9/11 by Gerald Posner (Current Affairs/Politics)
Reviewed by Harold V. Cordry
After an eighteen-month investigation, Gerald Posner reveals much previously undisclosed information about what was really going on behind the scenes with intelligence services and government leaders during the time preceding the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks.
CRY NO MORE by Linda Howard (Romantic Thriller)
Reviewed by Joni Rendon
Award-winning author Linda Howard takes us on a delicious and heartbreaking rollercoaster ride of emotions centering on a woman's harrowing and all-consuming struggle to find her lost child.
HARVARD YARD by William Martin (Historical Fiction)
Reviewed by Kate Ayers
William Martin brings us a grand sweeping epic spanning nearly four centuries, chronicling Harvard from its inception, told through the history of one family and wrapped around a highly engaging mystery.
THE CALLIGRAPHER by Edward Docx (Fiction)
Reviewed by Stephen M. Deusner
The "hero" of Edward Docx's debut novel is a young London calligrapher named Jasper who is professionally successful, socially confident, and (gasp!) hopelessly in love.
OVER THE EDGE OF THE WORLD: Magellan's Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe by Laurence Bergreen (History/Adventure)
Reviewed by Robert Finn
Acclaimed author Laurence Bergreen gives readers a detailed and riveting account of the three-year around-the-world voyage of Ferdinand Magellan --- "the single greatest feat in the history of maritime exploration."
THE LADY, THE CHEF, AND THE COURTESAN by Marisol (Romantic Fiction) Reviewed by Amie Taylor
While Pilar Castillo may be living and working in Chicago and adjusting to the American way of life, she finds that old habits die hard when she returns to her native land of Venezuela and to her loving, but somewhat claustrophobic, family for her beloved grandmother's funeral.
THE DARWIN AWARDS III: Survival of the Fittest by Wendy Northcutt (Humor)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Honoring those who improve our gene pool by inadvertently removing themselves from it, this brand new collection of hilariously macabre mishaps and misadventures features science and safety discussions and is filled with illustrations depicting inspiring examples of evolution in action. |
Read this week's reviews and features here.
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Poll: Holiday Shopping |
Do you buy books as holiday presents?
Yes
No
Not sure
When do you start your holiday shopping?
At the last possible moment
Sometime in mid-December
Sometime in early December
Right after Thanksgiving
I already started shopping.
(And for those of you who do this, go ahead and tell us) I already am finished shopping.
I do not buy holiday presents.
Other (Please specify) |
Answer the Poll here.
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Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading -- TWO Prizes This Week! |
Tell us what books YOU are reading and loving --- or even those you don't.
This week we have some great prizes: FIVE readers each will win a copy of WOLVES OF THE CALLA: The Dark Tower V by Stephen King and THE BIG BAD WOLF by James Patterson.
Please note that our next Word of Mouth update will be on December 5th. |
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 (see the link on the upper right) 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. We were forced to move to this format after we were inundated with SPAM at the other address. If you would like to reach me, please write Carol@bookreporter.com. Writing any of the respond buttons below will not get to us.
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Happy reading....and don't forget to forward this newsletter to a friend.
--- Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com) |
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