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Bookreporter.com Newsletter |
June 18, 2004 |
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Happy Father's Day |
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Happy Father's Day to all the dads among our readers. May Sunday find you swinging in a hammock with a book in hand, enjoying a day on the links or spending time any other way that pleases you. My typical Father's Day finds me in front of a grill cooking up steaks. This year we are going for a surf and turf motif with some lobster as well. My inspiration is a book called THE SECRET LIFE OF LOBSTERS by Trevor Corson, which we will tell you more about next week.
This week New York had that sauna-like feel to it. You know what I mean --- the kind of weather where your skin gets that "dewy feel" as soon as you walk outside. I spent part of this week making a pile of my planned summer reading. Looking at it this afternoon, I think I need to read a book a day to get through all the books I want to read! Looking forward to sharing these with you this summer.
We are announcing a new Mystery Mayhem author this week, Leslie Forbes, the author of WAKING RAPHAEL, which will be in stores on June 29th. Some of you may have read Forbes' earlier books, which were literary fiction. This is her first mystery title. Want to be one of our 10 advance readers? Send your name and mailing address to Mystery@bookreporter.com by Friday, June 25th if you would like to be part of our drawing.
Summer often means that your reading takes on a lighter note. I saw this in my selections. Curious what to read in this category? There's a new free online newsletter that you want to subscribe to called Written in Pink. (We love that title.) They promise to bring you "the funniest, sexiest books with lovable heroines that every woman can relate to." Now, doesn't that just sound like the perfect summer reading? Read more and sign up by clicking on the link below.
Lots to read here this week...hope you find a book to enjoy.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com) |
Go to WrittenInPink.com here.
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Bookreporter.com Talks To KRISTIN HANNAH, Author of THE THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE |
Bookreporter.com Co-Founder Carol Fitzgerald talks to Kristin Hannah, author of THE THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE, about the challenge of writing her characters and how she conducts research for her books. Kristin also explains her fascination with women in fiction, what she loves (and does not love) about cooking and her plans for future writing.
THE THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE by Kristin Hannah (Fiction)
Reviewed by Jocelyn Maeve Kelley
Kristin Hannah has written a moving novel about two women --- a recent divorcee and an ambitious but lonely 18-year-old --- whose paths cross in an incredibly important and heartbreakingly honest way. This story explores the complex relationships of mothers, daughters and families.
For more about Kristin Hannah, go to KristinHannah.com. Win one of five signed copies of THE THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE for signing up for her newsletter, |
Read our interview with Kristin Hannah and a review of THE THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE here.
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Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight: Tami Hoag, Author of KILL THE MESSENGER and Perri O'Shaughnessy, Author of UNLUCKY IN LAW |
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Tami Hoag, author of KILL THE MESSENGER, is our June Suspense/Thriller Author. KILL THE MESSENGER hits bookstores July 6th.
New This Week for Tami Hoag:
-Read another excerpt from KILL THE MESSENGER
Previous Weeks:
-Read about KILL THE MESSENGER
-Read about DARK HORSE (mass market paperback, on sale 6/1)
-Read more about Tami Hoag
KILL THE MESSENGER
At the end of a long day, bike messenger Jace Damon has one last drop to make. But en route to delivering a package for one of L.A.'s sleaziest defense attorneys, he's run down by a car, chased through back alleys and shot at. He narrowly manages to escape with his life --- and a package someone would kill for. Now he finds himself suspected of murder, and he's on the run from both the cops and a brutal killer. The key to saving himself and his ten-year-old brother may be the envelope with a message no one wants delivered: the truth.
Perri O'Shaughnessy, author of UNLUCKY IN LAW, is our latest featured Suspense/Thriller author. UNLUCKY IN LAW will be in stores July 13th.
New This Week for Perri O'Shaughnessy:
-Read another excerpt from UNLUCKY IN LAW
Previous Weeks:
-Read about UNLUCKY IN LAW
-Read about PRESUMPTION OF DEATH
-Read more about Perri O'Shaughnessy
UNLUCKY IN LAW
Nina Reilly takes on the most dangerous and difficult case of her career in New York Times bestselling author Perri O'Shaughnessy's latest thriller. An ingenious blend of forensic science, history, and gripping suspense, UNLUCKY IN LAW pits the tough but compassionate attorney against the most unbeatable adversary of all: the law. |
Read our Suspense/Thriller feature here.
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MYSTERY MAYHEM Author Spotlight: Leslie Forbes, Author of WAKING RAPHAEL |
Leslie Forbes is our latest Mystery Mayhem Author. While she has written two literary fiction titles, WAKING RAFAEL, which will be in stores on June 29th is her first mystery title.
Here is more about the book:
Amidst a country rocked by scandal and corruption, inhabitants of the idyllic city of Urbino, Italy, birthplace of Raphael, are more concerned with a sudden outbreak of miracles than with politics. What unspeakable secret lies hidden in Raphael's enigmatic painting? Its restoration will drive a living mute to a shocking act of violence and spark an investigation into a nearly forgotten war crime and a series of events that will shatter the silence gripping this community forever.
We have 10 advanced reading copies of WAKING RAPHAEL by Leslie Forbes to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and comment about it. If you are interested, please send your name and mailing address to Mystery@bookreporter.com by Friday, June 25th. |
Read more about Leslie Forbes and WAKING RAPHAEL here.
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ONE TO WATCH: Elizabeth Brundage, Author of THE DOCTOR'S WIFE |
Elizabeth Brundage truly is One to Watch. From the moment you start reading THE DOCTOR'S WIFE, you are drawn to the four characters --- Michael, the doctor; Annie, the doctor's wife; Simon, the painter and Lydia, the painter's wife. Brundage creates a story that is told in their four voices, and keep you on your toes from start to finish in a complex psychological tale of literary suspense.
The book is on sale on June 21st. Read more about the book, as well as an excerpt. And see a list of our 10 advance readers here.
For more about Elizabeth, go to her new website, ElizabethBrundage.com. |
Click here to read more about Elizabeth Brundage and THE DOCTOR'S WIFE.
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ERAGON by Christopher Paolini |
ERAGON by Christopher Paolini celebrates 41 weeks on the New York Times Chapter Book List! The deluxe edition of ERAGON--which hits stores August 11th--contains a chapter excerpt from the next book ELDEST, a foldout map, new art, and a guide to ancient languages!
Sign up for the Random House Alagaësia and Strange Lands Newsletter in the month of June and enter to win an autographed copy of the book! Click on the link below to sign up for the newsletters.
Visit the Official ERAGON Fan Center for exclusive content and sweepstakes.
http://www.eragonfan.com
"An authentic work of great talent." -The New York Times
"Christopher Paolini make[s] literary magic with his precocious debut." -People |
Click here for more about ERAGON and to sign up for the newsletters.
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This Week's Book Reviews and Features |
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BLOWOUT by Catherine Coulter (Thriller)
Reviewed by Judy Gigstad
FBI agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock, and their son Sean, are looking forward to a long weekend getaway at a secluded cabin in the Pennsylvania woods. But their much-needed vacation is cut short when the agents are summoned back to Washington --- where a nightmare awaits them.
STRANGER THAN FICTION: True Stories by Chuck Palahniuk (Social Science/Popular Culture)
Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman
Chuck Palahniuk's world has always been different from yours and mine. The essays that comprise STRANGER THAN FICTION, his first nonfiction collection, prove just how different he really is.
THE HEARTBREAKER by Susan Howatch (Fiction)
Reviewed by Pauline Finch
In THE HEARTBREAKER, Susan Howatch continues her fascinating and sometimes troubling journey through modern British Christianity and those caught up in the challenging, often misunderstood, vocation of spiritual healing.
TRUE NORTH by Jim Harrison (Fiction)
Reviewed by Andrew Musicus
The scion of a family of wealthy timber barons, David Burkett realizes that he must come to terms with his forefathers' rapacious destruction of the woods of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, as well as with the working people who made their wealth possible.
BURY THE LEAD by David Rosenfelt (Mystery)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
BURY THE LEAD is the third novel featuring wisecracking defense attorney Andy Carpenter. This time, the intrepid lawyer is thrust into the spotlight where he risks becoming a media victim --- of the most fatal kind.
WHISKEY SOUR: A Jack Daniels Mystery by J.A. Konrath (Mystery)
Reviewed by Brandon M. Stickney
A frightening killer who calls himself "The Gingerbread Man" is dumping mutilated bodies outside Chicago-area 7-Elevens. Lieutenant Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels and her partner Herb must catch the maniac before he strikes again --- and Jack is next on his murder list.
LAZYBONES by Mark Billingham (Mystery)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Someone in London is murdering convicted rapists, and Detective Inspector Tom Thorne is having trouble finding any sympathy for the dead. But as the investigation continues, Thorne finally discovers a victim worth fighting for, whose identity becomes crucial to cracking this twisted case.
THE FRACTAL MURDERS by Mark Cohen (Mystery)
Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum
A brutal rape and murder. A robbery and bullet to the head. An apparent suicide. Three victims, three different states, and three apparently unrelated cases. But when Boulder math professor Jayne Smyers discovers that each victim had been researching the geometric shapes known as fractals, she knows that these unfortunate events are not merely coincidences.
BETTER HOMES & HUSBANDS by Valerie Ann Leff (Fiction)
Reviewed by Amie Taylor
Welcome to 980 Park Avenue! Let the doorman get the door for you as you enter the world of the filthy rich and become acquainted with the lives of those women who possess "better homes and husbands."
STAND UP, FIGHT BACK: Republican Toughs, Democratic Wimps, and the Politics of Revenge by E. J. Dionne, Jr. (Politics)
Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman
E. J. Dionne, syndicated columnist and author of the bestselling WHY AMERICANS HATE POLITICS, offers a tough critique of President George W. Bush and the Democratic opposition on the eve of a landmark presidential election --- and points to a way out of cynicism and defeatism. |
Read the reviews and features here.
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Poll: Which of these books are you most looking forward to reading? |
Which of the following books have you read, are you reading or are you looking forward to reading? (Please check as many as apply.)
Cold Case Squad by Edna Buchanan
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim: Essays by David Sedaris
The Drowning Tree by Carol Goodman
The Enemy by Lee Child
Kill the Messenger by Tami Hoag
Killer Smile by Lisa Scottoline
Monday Mourning by Kathy Reichs
Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination by Helen Fielding
The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason
Sam's Letters to Jennifer by James Patterson
Stranger Than Fiction: True Stories by Chuck Palahniuk
Ten Big Ones: A Stephanie Plum Novel by Janet Evanovich
The Things We Do for Love by Kristin Hannah
Unlucky in Law by Perri O'Shaughnessy
I am not interested in reading any of these books. |
Answer the Poll here.
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Question of the Week: What book do you think best depicts the romance between a married couple? |
Our question of the month was inspired both by watching Nancy Reagan at her husband's funeral and by thinking about the movie, The Notebook, based on the bestselling book by Nicholas Sparks, which is in theatres on June 25th.
What book do you think best depicts the romance between a married couple?
Our next question update will be on July 1st. |
Answer the Question of the Week.
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Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading -- TWO Prizes! |
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 COLD CASE SQUAD by Edna Buchanan and TRANSMISSION by Hari Kunzru. Please note that our next Word of Mouth update will be on July 1st. |
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.
Quick observation --- we have noticed that many of you have been changing your Internet providers in the past month. If you do, please be sure to "take us along" by signing up for the newsletter in your new name!
Happy reading! Don't forget to forward this newsletter to a friend or to visit our other websites from TheBookReportNetwork.com: ReadingGroupGuides.com, AuthorsOnTheWeb.com, FaithfulReader.com, AuthorYellowPages.com, Teenreads.com, and Kidsreads.com.
--- Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
The Book Report Network
250 W. 57th Street - Suite 1228
New York, New York 10107 |
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