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October 29, 2010

Bookreporter.com Newsletter October 29, 2010
 
Blowing in the Wind

Well, the wind is whipping outside today, and I am humored by the folks on our block who have landscapers blowing their leaves, which is an exercise in futility. The way I see it, the leaves have been whipped up and down the street all day, and I am fairly sure at this point that no one has a leaf-free lawn. I have this handy-dandy little weather forecaster on my desk, and I see no temperatures to be above 60 for the next five days, thus my theory holds true. No matter how warm the fall is in the Northeast, by Halloween the temperatures plunge and the heat goes on. This is the first Halloween in almost 20 years that no one here at the house is dressing up for the holiday. I have not even pulled out the large lighted pumpkins that usually fete the place; will have to get something up by Sunday lest the trick-or-treaters be disappointed! While no one is dressing up here, there are requests for the black bean chili (I do not like red kidney beans) that I make each Halloween. Nice to know SOME tradition remains.

In my jet-lagged post-San Francisco haze last week, I managed to overlook a tribute to Belva Plain, who passed away at the age of 95. Suzanne, one of our readers, wrote last Saturday morning to remind me of this and very rightly chastised me for not mentioning this to you. My shelves hold copies of six Belva Plain books, but not EVERGREEN, which many tout as her signature best. I’m wondering if that was one I passed along in the years I rarely kept books, or if it was one I read in the years when I spent hours at the library. When I read the piece on her passing, I noted that she passed away in a town very near my house. Made me regret never having written her a note to tell her how much her books had meant to me. These days we communicate with writers easily via email and websites and all kinds of social networking, while she was from a time when that was not possible. I do regret I never slipped a snail mail note to thank her for all the hours of pleasure she gave me through the years. I heard from Selma, another reader, asking me if it was true there would be a new Plain book in February. I did some research and learned that HEARTWOOD will be released on February 8th, and it will be a sequel to EVERGREEN. It was interesting to see this week that EVERGREEN popped up as one of the top-selling titles on Kindle.

I spent a fun Tuesday night in Greenwich Village doing a literary walking tour of historical spots in the lives of famous female authors to celebrate the publication of THE HEROINE’S BOOKSHELF: Life Lessons, from Jane Austen to Laura Ingalls Wilder by Erin Blakemore (pictured with me above). Erin and Jessica Siegel, a Glamour magazine columnist, were the guides for more than 100 of us that evening as we wandered these narrow streets picturing that part of the city in an earlier age. It was a lovely night. The book is an exploration of classic heroines and their authors. There is a lot that women today can think about --- and talk about --- after reading about these women. Book clubs, are you listening?

This week, I also want to share with you this great profile on editor Pamela Dorman. You may not recognize her name, but chances are good that you’ve read at least one of the bestsellers she’s edited over the years, a list that includes Sue Monk Kidd’s THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES, BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY by Helen Fielding and, most recently, SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT by Beth Hoffman. SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT was my first Bets On pick for the year and was released in paperback earlier this week. You can read the article from The Journal News (Westchester, NY) here. Behind the books you read are the editors who buy the manuscripts and work with the authors to shape them; they are their first cheerleaders. Thus it’s fun to share a look at one editor with you here.

SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT was my first Bets On pick of 2010, and Susan Casey’s THE WAVE: In Pursuit of Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean is my latest. While it was published about a month ago, it’s been one that I keep talking about, thus I decided it has to be a Bets On. It’s about surfers who chase the biggest waves all over the world, but also the science behind waves. Needless to say, I’ve learned a lot and have a newfound respect for these surfers who think nothing of charging into a wave just for the thrill of it. Sarah Rachel Egelman has our review this week and says, “While the waves are the star of the book, those in pursuit of them are equally fascinating. Most interesting (to readers and obviously to Casey as well) are the big-wave surfers who risk life and limb to make contact with the pure wave energy of the earth's oceans. Their stories are fun to read and often jaw-dropping.” You can also watch a BookTV segment with Susan and one of surfing’s legendary watermen, Laird Hamilton, talking about THE WAVE here. The clip is about an hour long and a little slow to load, but worth it.

We also have an interview with Tatiana de Rosnay, author of the international bestseller SARAH’S KEY. Although it’s been out since 2007, we were still proud to feature it in our One to Watch Author Spotlight, and the timing couldn’t be better as it was one of the Top 10 Discussion Books as voted upon by readers in the ReadingGroupGuides.com 10th Anniversary Contest. This is one of those of books that everyone seems to love. We also featured Tatiana’s latest, A SECRET KEPT, earlier this fall.

This week, we also have a review of THE TRUE MEMOIRS OF LITTLE K by Adrienne Sharp, a historical novel about a former top dancer in the Russian ballet who’s reflecting on her life. Adrienne herself was a trained ballet dancer, so there’s a lot of realism here, as well as rich detail about Russian history. Kathy Weissman, our reviewer, has been practicing ballet for years and recently was fitted for her first pointe shoes, thus I was thrilled to see her review: “The setting, for a balletomane, is iconic: the wondrous era in which many of today’s classics --- from Swan Lake to Le Corsaire, Don Quixote to Nutcracker --- were created and feats like the Black Swan’s 32 fouettés first accomplished (Kschessinska learned how to do them from the Italian ballerinas who dominated the Russian dance scene at the time). Storied choreographers, composers and impresarios like Petipa, Tchaikovsky and Diaghilev people the pages of this novel, and backstage politicking abounds.”

I have been reading Lisa Scottoline’s latest addictive collection of essays, MY NEST ISN’T EMPTY, IT JUST HAS MORE CLOSET SPACE: The Amazing Adventures of an Ordinary Woman since last night. I say addictive since, like peanut M&Ms, I keep saying “just one more.” And then six essays later, I think, I really need to write, but just one more! Most of you probably know Lisa as the bestselling author of suspense/thriller titles like LOOK AGAIN, THINK TWICE and LADY KILLER, but she really shows another side of herself with her nonfiction works. Her collection from last year, WHY MY THIRD HUSBAND WILL BE A DOG, had me laughing at every page. For her latest, her daughter, Francesca Scottoline Serritella, joins her as a co-writer. I have seen Lisa and Francesca together in person, and this book really captures their personalities. When Lisa talks in the book about her conversations with Francesca, I remember how a couple of years ago she was on a panel and her cell phone rang; Paul Levine answered it while she continued her panel conversation, and it was Francesca calling from school! Carole Turner has our review and says, “Readers of MY NEST ISN'T EMPTY, IT JUST HAS MORE CLOSET SPACE (great title, by the way) will be snickering, laughing out loud, and cheering on this unique mother/daughter writing team with "You go, girls!".”

We’re moving into the final week of our Sneak Peek feature for BURIED SECRETS by Joseph Finder. As I mentioned last week, I really enjoyed this one and think Finder has got something special with his “private spy” Nick Heller. The book won’t be in stores until June, but we have 50 specially formatted advance reader editions for those who want to answer some questions and preview the book. We ask that you only enter if you will be able to read and answer some questions by Tuesday, November 23rd. Enter here by Thursday, November 4th at noon ET to preview BURIED SECRETS. Just to remind you that we post all our contests throughout the week on our Facebook page. If you’re not on Facebook, you can still keep track of our posts here.

In other big book news, LIFE by Keith Richards, the legendary Rolling Stones guitarist, came out this week, and from all accounts it does not disappoint! We don’t have a review here on Bookreporter.com, but you can read Jesse Kornbluth’s excellent review on HeadButler.com here. Sure, there are all the tales of the rock and roll life in these pages, and about the writing of some of rock’s most famous songs, and his life of excess, but what some people may be surprised to read is Keith’s love of books. He talks at length about his love of reading and the influence it’s had on his life. If his gig in the Stones didn’t work out, Keith strongly considered becoming a librarian. I really want to read this one!

This week we’re launching a Romantic Suspense Author Spotlight for Kylie Brant’s DEADLY INTENT, the fourth book in her Mindhunters series. We’ve featured the past books --- WAKING NIGHTMARE, WAKING EVIL and WAKING THE DEAD --- here before, so we’re glad to keep the trend going. Forensic linguist Macy Reid and her team are back and on the trail of an abducted teen, which forces Macy to confront her own troubled past. We have 20 finished copies for readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. Enter here by Friday, November 5th at noon ET.

Our latest Young Adult Books You Won’t Want to Miss feature is up this week, and we also have the nominees for the Books for a Better Life Awards here. I was at the reception for this last night, and as I was on the nominating committee, it was really nice to see all the books on display. The awards will be given on March 7th. An event you may want to get on your calendar is the special web event with Michael J. Sandel, author of JUSTICE: What’s the Right Thing to Do? Michael teaches a class by the same name at Harvard, which has become so popular that the school has started webcasting the class to alumni. This special event will allow all participants to interact with Michael in real time, ask questions and debate some moral and philosophical questions. The event is scheduled for Sunday, November 7th, and you can register here. You can learn more about the class here, and read our review of JUSTICE here. I’ve already signed up to call in!

Due to the Cablevision/Fox argument about carriage, we are not seeing the World Series at our house, which means it’s a good thing the Yankees are not in the Series! Since I don’t have a team I follow in the fight here, I am cheering for the Giants. Why? Well, as always, it’s about a book. This time it’s my friend Dan Fost’s book, GIANTS PAST & PRESENT. I used to babysit for Dan, and thus I am really excited about this book about the team’s history and players. Back in April when I was in L.A., I got to catch up with Dan and it was great to reminisce. I missed him on my most recent trip, but I’m sure he’s been having quite a time with the Giants in the playoffs and now the Series.

This weekend or early next week, I hope to get to the movie theater to catch The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, the third film version of Stieg Larsson’s huge Millennium series. I’ve really enjoyed the first two and how faithful they’ve been to the books, though some of the details were transposed in one book or another. The movies were shot in Sweden and have English subtitles, but you hardly notice as everything is done so well. Noomi Rapace, who plays Lisbeth Salander, really brings that character to life. Check out the official trailer here.

This weekend, "The Walking Dead" will be airing on AMC, which is based on the comic book/graphic novel series. I find some really interesting people in my travels, and thus I think you might enjoy this interview that we just posted on GraphicNovelReporter.com with Christina Blanch, who teaches THE WALKING DEAD as part of her anthropology curriculum at Ball State University. John Hogan and I met Christina at Comic-Con in San Diego last summer, and it was a real treat to follow up and bring you this piece. You can check out some more about the graphic novel here and the GraphicNovelReporter.com review here.

I steer clear of politics on these pages, but I want to remind you to get out on Tuesday and exercise your right to vote. It always pains me how few people actually take advantage of this privilege. On that note, have a great week, enjoy Halloween, and try to read some pages in between answering the door with the trick-or-treaters!

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

 

Now in Stores: THE CONFESSION by John Grisham

THE CONFESSION by John Grisham (Legal Thriller)
For every innocent sent to prison, there’s a guilty man outside. Travis Boyette is one of them. He raped and strangled a cheerleader, then watched as police and prosecutors sent football star Donté Drumm to death row. Now it’s nine years later, and Donté is days away from execution. For the first time in his life, Boyette decides to do what’s right. But how can a criminal convince lawyers, judges and politicians that they have the wrong guy? Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.

-Click here to read an excerpt from THE CONFESSION.
 

Click here to read a review of THE CONFESSION.

 
An Interview with Tatiana de Rosnay, Author of SARAH’S KEY

 

Tatiana de Rosnay is a Bookreporter.com favorite and the author of A SECRET KEPT and SARAH’S KEY, the international bestseller about a 10-year-old girl who was brutally abducted by the French police during the 1942 Vel’ d’Hiv roundup and the daring Parisian journalist who rediscovers her story 60 years later. In this interview, de Rosnay discusses the events that inspired her US debut novel, elaborating on how places and houses hold memories and the importance of breaking the silence surrounding historical taboos. She also explains why her book is different from other works of fiction on similar subjects, talks about what it was like to return to her native tongue after years of writing in French, and reveals how she likes to spend her time --- when she isn’t thinking about ideas for her next bestseller.

SARAH’S KEY by Tatiana de Rosnay (Fiction)
Two gripping stories intersect over time, sharing one incredible connection. One is of a 10-year-old girl named Sarah in occupied Paris in 1942 --- taken from her apartment with her parents by the French police during a raid of Jewish homes during a black period of French history known as Vel’ d’Hiv’. The other is of an American journalist living in Paris in 2002 who begins to investigate the roundup and stumbles upon a decades-old web of deceit that connects her to young Sarah. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.

-Click here to read a review of SARAH’S KEY.
-Click here to read an excerpt from SARAH’S KEY.
-Click here to read Tatiana de Rosnay’s bio.
-Click here to see Tatiana de Rosnay’s backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for SARAH’S KEY.
-Click here to see our finished copy winners.

 

Click here to read an interview with Tatiana de Rosnay.

 
New Featured Romantic Suspense Author: Kylie Brant, Author of DEADLY INTENT

Kylie Brant returns with DEADLY INTENT, the fourth installment in her Mindhunters series, in which forensic linguist Macy Reid searches for the kidnapped daughter of a Denver tycoon. However, Macy must first confront her own demons with help from an unlikely source.

We have 20 copies of DEADLY INTENT
, which releases on November 2nd, 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, November 5th at noon ET.

-Click here to read an excerpt from DEADLY INTENT.
-Click here to read Kylie Brant’s bio.
-Click here to see Kylie Brant’s backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for DEADLY INTENT and the Mindhunters series.


More about DEADLY INTENT:
No one knows the patterns and nuances of communication like forensic linguist Macy Reid. She is also an expert on kidnapping, having experienced firsthand the stark terror of being abducted when she was a child. So she is the perfect investigator to be called in when a Denver tycoon's 11-year-old daughter is abducted --- for the second time. The biggest stumbling block for Macy may be a member of her own team: Kellan Burke, the wisecracking, rule-breaking investigator who relishes getting under Macy's skin. Their styles couldn't be more different; the attraction between them, more explosive. And when it becomes apparent that Macy can't solve this case without confronting the demons from her past, Kell is just the man to take her there --- and back.
 

Click here to read more about Kylie Brant and DEADLY INTENT.

 
Bookreporter.com's Sneak Peek Feature: Our Latest Featured Title: BURIED SECRETS by Joseph Finder

At Bookreporter.com, we have the opportunity to read many great books well in advance of their release dates. Now, with our Sneak Peek Feature/Contest, we are offering our readers the chance to preview select early picks --- and share feedback on them. We know that readers champion books that they love, and we want you to be part of the excitement of upcoming releases as early as possible.

Our latest Sneak Peek Feature spotlights BURIED SECRETS, New York Times bestselling author Joseph Finder’s second thriller featuring “private spy” Nick Heller, which releases in June 2011. We have 50 specially formatted early reader editions to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and share their comments about it.
We really want to hear what you have to say about BURIED SECRETS, so if you will have time to read it and answer some questions by November 23rd, please enter this contest. If not, we plan to have more opportunities like this in the future.

More about BURIED SECRETS:
Joseph Finder introduced Nick Heller, a "private spy" who finds out things powerful people want to keep hidden, to widespread acclaim from the critics and wild enthusiasm from the readers, in the New York Times bestselling novel VANISHED. Now, in BURIED SECRETS, Nick Heller returns, finding himself in the middle of a life-or-death situation that’s both high-profile and intensely personal. Heller races the clock to save the teenage daughter of a longtime friend, while uncovering the deep, dark conspiracy behind the abduction.
 

Click here to read all the details of our Sneak Peek Feature/Contest.

 
Featured Debut Suspense/Thriller Author: Rick Reed, Author of THE CRUELEST CUT

Before committing to writing full-time, author Rick Reed was a police detective who once tracked and apprehended one of the Midwest's most notorious killers. This experience gives THE CRUELEST CUT, his first novel, a jolt of realism.

-Click here to read a second excerpt from THE CRUELEST CUT.
-Click here to read Rick Reed’s bio.
-Click here to see Rick Reed’s backlist.
-Click here to read critical praise for THE CRUELEST CUT.

-Visit Rick Reed’s official website, www.RickReedBooks.com.
-Click here to see our finished copy winners.


More about THE CRUELEST CUT:
When a killer plays mind games with a cop, there are no rules.

The first victim is attacked in her home. Tied to her bed. Forced to watch every unspeakable act of cruelty --- but unable to scream. The second murder is even more twisted. Signed, sealed and delivered with a message for the police, stuffed in the victim’s throat. A fractured nursery rhyme that ends with a warning: “There will be more.” For detective Jack Murphy, it’s more than a threat. It’s a personal invitation to play. And no one plays rougher than Jack. Especially when the killer’s pawns are the people he loves…
 

Click here to read more about Rick Reed and THE CRUELEST CUT.

 
Bookreporter.com Bets On: THE WAVE by Susan Casey

THE WAVE: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean by Susan Casey (On Sale Now): I read THE WAVE by Susan Casey about a month ago when it first came out, and thus I am a tad late selecting it as a Bets On. I was not thinking about it for this distinction, but then I realized that I consistently am bringing this book up in conversation when I talk about what I am reading with booksellers, librarians, friends, and okay, just about everyone I come in contact with. What’s been interesting is how this book about waves and where they come from and big wave surfing has led to passionate conversations with folks I never thought would love it, as in people like me who are not going to be jumping on a surfboard any time soon.

-Click here to read more of Carol Fitzgerald's thoughts about THE WAVE.

-Click here to read a review of THE WAVE.
-Click here to read an excerpt from THE WAVE.
-Click here to see the reading group guide for THE WAVE.

 

Click here to see all the titles we’re betting you’ll love.

 
Now in Stores: COMING BACK by Marcia Muller

COMING BACK: A Sharon McCone Mystery by Marcia Muller (Mystery)
Five months after a shot to the head resulted in her suffering from locked-in syndrome, Sharon McCone is slowly regaining some semblance of normalcy. Her words are starting to make sense, she’s learning to walk again, and some of her former spunk is beginning to surface. Will she be up to the task of returning to her place as the head of McCone Investigations? Even those closest to her have their doubts. Reviewed by Maggie Harding.


-Visit Marcia Muller’s official website, www.MarciaMuller.com.
 

Click here to read a review of COMING BACK.

 
Now in Stores: THE CHARMING QUIRKS OF OTHERS by Alexander McCall Smith

THE CHARMING QUIRKS OF OTHERS: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel by Alexander McCall Smith (Mystery)
When the local boys’ school starts seeking a new headmaster, Isabel is called in to sort out a tricky situation: The board has three final candidates, but received an anonymous letter with some serious allegations. And when Isabel starts looking into it, what she discovers about all three candidates is surprising…but not nearly as revealing as what she finds out about herself and the father of her son. Reviewed by Roz Shea.

-Click here to read an excerpt from THE CHARMING QUIRKS OF OTHERS.
 

Click here to read a review of THE CHARMING QUIRKS OF OTHERS.

 
Now in Stores: MY NEST ISN’T EMPTY, IT JUST HAS MORE CLOSET SPACE by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Scottoline Serritella

MY NEST ISN'T EMPTY, IT JUST HAS MORE CLOSET SPACE: The Amazing Adventures of an Ordinary Woman by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Scottoline Serritella (Humor/Essays)
Following on the heels of WHY MY THIRD HUSBAND WILL BE A DOG is another humorous, honest and heartfelt look at everyday life through the eyes of bestselling author Lisa Scottoline and her daughter, Francesca Scottoline Serritella. MY NEST ISN'T EMPTY, IT JUST HAS MORE CLOSET SPACE is filled with stories of these two strong, independent women and their adventures. And, thankfully, we get to read more about that now-famous octogenarian, Mother Mary, matriarch of the Scottoline clan. Reviewed by Carole Turner.
 

Click here to read a review of MY NEST ISN’T EMPTY, IT JUST HAS MORE CLOSET SPACE.

 
Now in Stores: THE TRUE MEMOIRS OF LITTLE K by Adrienne Sharp

THE TRUE MEMOIRS OF LITTLE K by Adrienne Sharp (Historical Fiction)
Everything was not beautiful at the ballet as imperial Russia went up in flames, giving violent birth to the Soviet Union. This engrossing historical novel --- from the author of WHITE SWAN, BLACK SWAN --- is framed as the reminiscences of legendary ballerina Mathilde Kschessinska, notorious mistress of the Romanovs…including the last, doomed tsar. Reviewed by Kathy Weissman.


-Click here to read an excerpt from THE TRUE MEMOIRS OF LITTLE K.
 

Click here to read a review of THE TRUE MEMOIRS OF LITTLE K.

 
This Week’s Reviews

BY NIGHTFALL by Michael Cunningham (Fiction)
Michael Cunningham, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of THE HOURS, returns with his first novel in five years. At the heart of BY NIGHTFALL is a trio of conflicted characters in modern-day New York City: an art dealer, his wife, and her troubled and drug-addicted younger brother who is staying with them temporarily. Reviewed by Ray Palen.


DRIVING ON THE RIM by Thomas McGuane (Fiction)
In countless, very funny scenes, Thomas McGuane's endearingly clueless hero struggles to make sense of his world --- and of himself. The novel's picaresque format, sprawling topics and unusually detached narrative style give it an old-fashioned feel, but its ironic self-commentary marks it as undeniably contemporary. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.


THE SPIDER’S WEB: A Wind River Mystery by Margaret Coel (Mystery)
When Arapaho Ned Windsong is shot to death, his fiancée Marcy is the only witness. She identifies two troublemakers, but Ned's family thinks that Marcy was responsible. Convinced of Marcy’s innocence, Vicky Holden agrees to represent her --- and finds herself at odds with her own people, even Father John O’Malley. But when the accused men are found dead, both of them realize they’re caught in a web of lies woven by a master. Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.


DANGEROUS TO KNOW by Tasha Alexander (Historical Mystery)
In the days of Monet, the body of a young woman is found savagely mutilated. Could it be that Jack the Ripper has left London in favor of the French countryside? Lady Emily Hargreaves and her husband, Colin, think it may be someone else, and they set out to prove it. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.


ON THE LINE: A Bill Smith/Lydia Chin Novel by S.J. Rozan (Mystery)
When a modified voice informs P.I. Bill Smith that his occasional partner, Lydia Chin, has been kidnapped, he is immediately sent on a high-stakes chase. In order to keep her alive, he has to play the kidnapper’s elaborate game. But when the first move sends him to a corpse, Bill finds himself running from the police. Can he stay ahead of the cops and uncover the key to his tormentor’s identity before it’s too late? Reviewed by Roz Shea.


BOOK OF SHADOWS by Alexandra Sokoloff (Thriller)
When a wealthy college girl is found ritualistically murdered, Boston PD’s rising star Adam Garrett and his partner Carl Landauer catch a case that could make their careers. All evidence points towards another student, so the partners make an arrest. But Garrett’s case turns upside down when a practicing witch insists that the perpetrator is still at large. According to her visions, other teens are being sacrificed…and a powerful demon is being summoned. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.


MONSTER HUNTER VENDETTA by Larry Correia (Science Fiction/Horror)
When last we left Owen Zastava Pitt, he was blasting away with the forces of Monster Hunter International to defeat Lord Machada and stop his nefarious plot to bring the Old Ones to Earth. In MONSTER HUNTER VENDETTA, the warriors are back to save us all again. The Old Ones still seek to enter our reality, but they have a new leader: a necromancer named Shadow Man who does some very interesting things with zombies. Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.

 

Click here to read this week's reviews.

 
Young Adult Books You Won’t Want to Miss

As you may or may not know, our company, The Book Report Network, has a number of websites about books and authors in addition to Bookreporter.com. Throughout the year, Bookreporter.com features adult books on Teenreads.com, our site for young adult readers, that we think will have definite appeal to a teen audience. In the spirit of sharing, we are now spotlighting a selection of titles each month from Teenreads.com that we believe are great reads that you might enjoy.

REVOLUTION by
Jennifer Donnelly
(Fiction)
Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi Alpers finds Alexandrine Paradis’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession.


FORGE by Laurie Halse Anderson
(Historical Fiction)
The Patriot Army was shaped by the desperate circumstances at Valley Forge, where Curzon the boy becomes Curzon the young man. But as an escaped slave passing for a freedman, Curzon must face the fear of discovery along with the hardships of being a soldier. And then there’s Isabel --- who’s there against her will. Can she and Curzon sort out the tangled threads of friendship and find the path to true freedom?


CONFESSIONS OF THE SULLIVAN SISTERS by Natalie Standiford
(Fiction)
In hopes of reinstating their family in their grandmother's will, sisters Norrie, Jane and Sassy write out confessions of their transgressions. Their letters are sometimes hilarious and at other times heartbreaking --- but always riveting --- in Natalie Standiford’s absorbing new novel.


TOUCH BLUE by Cynthia Lord (Fiction)

Newbery Honor author Cynthia Lord offers a warm-hearted, humorous and thoughtful look at what it means to belong --- and how lucky we feel when we do. TOUCH BLUE, sure as certain, will touch your heart.
 

Click here to see all the young adult books you won't want to miss.

 
Poll and Question of the Week: Books and Authors to Anticipate

Poll:

Which of the following books just out or coming out soon are you most looking forward to reading? Please check as many as apply.


AMERICAN ASSASSIN by Vince Flynn
THE CONFESSION by John Grisham
DON’T SING AT THE TABLE: Life Lessons from My Grandmothers, by Adriana Trigiani
EDGE by Jeffery Deaver

THE EMPEROR’S TOMB by Steve Berry
FULL DARK, NO STARS by Stephen King
HELL’S CORNER by David Baldacci
INDULGENCE IN DEATH by J.D. Robb
MOONLIGHT MILE by Dennis Lehane
MY NEST ISN'T EMPTY, IT JUST HAS MORE CLOSET SPACE: The Amazing Adventures of an Ordinary Woman, by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Scottoline Serritella
MY READING LIFE by Pat Conroy
RESCUE by Anita Shreve
THE REVERSAL by Michael Connelly
WORTH DYING FOR: A Reacher Novel, by Lee Child
None of the above


-Click here to answer our poll.


Question:

Which author(s) would you most like to see a new book from? We know you cannot pick just one, so you can name up to five!


-Click here to answer our question.

 

Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading --- and You Can Win THREE Books!
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 COMING BACK: A Sharon McCone Mystery by Marcia Muller, EDGE by Jeffery Deaver and MOONLIGHT MILE by Dennis Lehane. Tell us what you are reading and rate the titles 1-5 by noon ET on Friday, November 5th to ensure that you are in the running to win these books.

 
Click here for more details about Word of Mouth.
 

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 October 31, 2010 automatically are entered in our Monthly Newsletter Contest. This month, one winner will be selected to win the following five books: AMERICAN ASSASSIN by Vince Flynn, THE BRAVE by Nicholas Evans, CHASING THE NIGHT by Iris Johansen, OUR KIND OF TRAITOR by John le Carre, and WORTH DYING FOR: A Reacher Novel by Lee Child. Virginia from Tulsa, OK was last month's winner. She won FALL OF GIANTS: Book One of the Century Trilogy by Ken Follett, MINI SHOPAHOLIC by Sophie Kinsella, A NOSE FOR JUSTICE by Rita Mae Brown, SAFE HAVEN by Nicholas Sparks, and ZERO HISTORY by William Gibson.

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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