February 4, 2011

What a Cold, Snowy Winter Means

This is a signal of how bad the weather has been. The artificial Christmas tree that I brought to my office in New York for a client holiday party in mid-December is still there. I have stripped the tree of ornaments, but the weather has been so inclement that I have not dismantled it and taken it to my car. Visitors to the office have to think I am daft, but between my travel schedule in January and the weather, I have had no time for this. Maybe next week!

My younger son has missed so much school because of bad weather that he has not put in a full week since somewhere around mid-December. I am a tad weary of the calls for delayed opening, early dismissal and no school that arrive around 5 or 6AM. And I shake my head when I look at the calendar and realize that in two weeks he will be off for a five-day Winter Break, though I am not sure what they are breaking from this year; it’s surely not the school routine!

With the weather so frightful, I'm curious how this has impacted your ability to get to your bookstore and shop or browse. Our new poll asks "/span>What best describes your ONLINE book purchases in January?" You can vote here! Also, one last request for those with iPads; I have a few questions that I would like to ask iPad owners, thus if you own an iPad and have time to answer some questions in email next week, shoot me a note here if you'd like to share. If you have been in touch already, thank you! I'd love to hear how you're using it and what you read on it.

Cold, snow and general winter weather meant I had a lovely weekend of reading last weekend and am planning for the same this weekend. THE FATES WILL FIND THEIR WAY by Hannah Pittard and THESE THINGS HIDDEN by Heather Gudenkauf both were so very well done. Heather proved that her talent runs deep with this sophomore release after THE WEIGHT OF SILENCE, and after meeting Hannah in Arlington, VA, last month, it was really nice to settle in with her book. In case you missed them last week, you can see our reviews by clicking on the links above.

Continuing my theme of books about teens, I read EXPOSURE by Therese Fowler, which will be in stores on May 3rd, about two teens who are caught sexting one another with dramatic consequences. In the afterword, Therese talks about how this book began when her own son came home one day and told her that he was being arrested for sexting. While this is not his story, it’s very clear that she understood the emotions that roll over a family when something like this happens. Lots to think about here, including the perils of the freedoms afforded by our digital age as well as the interpretations of arcane laws that can shed very different light on actions that happen virtually between two people today.

This week I’m thrilled to announce Paula McLain’s novel, THE PARIS WIFE, which will be in stores on February 22nd, as our latest One to Watch Author Spotlight title. I read this book during the summer, and I have not stopped talking about it since then! You’ll be hearing a lot about it both here and on ReadingGroupGuides.com in the weeks to come. If you're in a book club, you can read details here about registering your group to win an author chat with Paula. You can check out the reading guide here, too. It’s a wonderful exploration of the life of Hadley Richardson, the first wife of Ernest Hemingway, before and during their marriage. As I read, I kept underlining phrases, folding down pages, and by the time I was finished I was searching my shelves for the Hemingway books written during this period, like A MOVEABLE FEAST, as well as the Hemingway genealogy tree.

McLain’s insights into Hemingway’s world during this blissful and exciting time in Paris are so vivid you will feel you were seated at a table somewhere in the room. Asked for a comparable title, I would say that for those who loved Nancy Horan’s LOVING FRANK, this is a book you will not want to miss. I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Paula in San Diego last month and hearing her read from the opening chapter; as she read, I found myself recalling the rush I had when I first read the book. Want to see what I am talking about? We have 20 advance reader copies of THE PARIS WIFE for those who would like to read and comment on it. Enter here by Friday, February 11th at noon ET for your chance to win a copy.

Paris seems to be a theme for me this week. Our Sneak Peek contest to preview Ellen Sussman’s FRENCH LESSONS is entering its final week. I started reading this one during the week and look forward to spending more time with it this weekend ensconced on my couch with a roaring fire. FRENCH LESSONS follows the lives of three strangers and how their lives intersect during one day in Paris. Ellen spent several years living in Paris, and her knowledge of the city shows as she brings the city, its neighborhoods and people to life. We have 25 advance reader copies for those who would like to preview the book and give their feedback on it. To be eligible, click here to answer some questions about your reading habits by Friday, February 11th at noon ET. Please only enter if you’re able to read FRENCH LESSONS and answer some questions about it by Monday, March 7th.

Speaking of Sneak Peek, one of the titles we featured back in August is now in stores. THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X by Keigo Higashino (who in Japan is as popular as Stephen King is here), is a literary crime novel that keeps you guessing until the very last page, where there’s a big surprise. (NO reading ahead!) Those who previewed it for us in August had some rave reviews. Joe Hartlaub has our review and says, “It will haunt you, prick you, and make you doubt yourself and wonder about those around you, the ones you see every day and barely notice. And you will read the last 50 or so pages multiple times.”

This week we also have a review of Kate Mosse’s THE WINTER GHOSTS, another literary thriller. Kate's last two books, LABYRINTH and SEPULCHRE, blended French history and the supernatural. THE WINTER GHOSTS follows that pattern as a stranded motorist learns a bizarre secret while waiting out a storm in a remote French village circa World War I. Reviewer Ray Palen says, “Mosse deftly weaves medieval and 20th-century stories of grief.” We also have an interview with Kate here, and I encourage you to check out her website, www.KateMosse.com.

We also have a review of Eleanor Brown’s debut novel, THE WEIRD SISTERS, which has been getting a lot of notice. This sister story has a Shakespearean twist as three sisters --- all named after famous characters from the Bard --- try to figure out where their lives went wrong as they care for their ailing mother. I grabbed a copy from the office, and it’s on top of my stack now. Norah Piehl adds another strong review, saying “THE WEIRD SISTERS is both a loving portrait of a family of inveterate readers and a complicated inquiry into the nature of fate and the bonds of family.” There's also an interview with Eleanor available here.

On the nonfiction side, Wade Rouse’s latest memoir, IT’S ALL RELATIVE: Two Families, Three Dogs, 34 Holidays, and 50 Boxes of Wine, will have you laughing out loud, or trying to suppress it if you’re in public. It’s about Wade’s quirky family and how they handle the hysteria of the holidays. There’s sure to be something relatable to everyone in here, especially with Valentine’s Day bearing down on us. I read this one during my Christmas vacation, and it had me reading aloud to anyone who would listen. Harvey Freedenberg says, “[Wade] reminds us that our lives, for better or worse, are inescapably rooted in family" in his review. The book came out Tuesday, and I went back to look to see if Wade considered Groundhog Day to be a celebrated holiday. He did not, though once you read IT’S ALL RELATIVE, you will be able to imagine every holiday celebrated Wade-style. You can visit his website, www.WadeRouse.com, for more.

We had two contests end this week. Our Millennium Series Survey ended Monday, and we thank all of you who participated. It’s been a lot of fun to see so many different reactions to the bestselling series. You can see our three lucky winners of the Millennium boxed sets here. Our annual Valentine’s Day contest ended today, and you can see our five lucky winners here. Those winners will receive their collection of our six featured titles and some delicious Godiva chocolate goodies in the coming days, just in time for Valentine’s Day! You can check out the featured titles here.

Facebook makes the world a lot smaller, and thus I got to feel like I was in the room Monday night as the beloved Mystery Bookstore in Westwood hosted a closing night party as Gregg Hurwitz and Christopher Rice uploaded photos. This was a haven for mystery readers everywhere, and to give you an idea just how much this store meant to authors, Michael Connelly flew in from Florida for this final get-together and was just one of the authors on hand that night.

Whenever I was in L.A., I made sure there was time to wander around the store, talk to Bobby and Linda, the store managers, and I always picked up something they told me I “had to read.” There were two great video tributes to the store that made the rounds on the Internet. The first is a slideshow courtesy of Jen’s Book Thoughts, which was the winner of the Best Thriller/Mystery/Suspense/Crime Book Blog during Book Blogger Appreciation Week. Watch it here. (I am in the background in one of the shots that was taken during a party one night last April when I was in the store.) And watch another video shot during the last night here.

These will give you an idea of how much respect authors and readers had for The Mystery Bookstore and how much it will be missed!

Hearing this news and watching these videos, I implore you to support your local booksellers as I really do not want to see more video tributes like these that mark the closing of stores. We need places where readers can gather to discuss books and authors. Thinking for instance about THE PARIS WIFE, I can’t help but think how fabulous it would be for stores around the country to conduct year-long Hemingway chats for readers who like me would love to explore his work after reading this book. Yes, there's lots of discussion online, and I of course embrace that as I own a company that has MANY places to talk about books online. But there are moments when bookish conversation in person is just one of the nicest things. End of sermon.

This being Super Bowl weekend, I feel obligated to make a pick, so I’m taking the Green Bay Packers. Looking back through past newsletters, I was surprised to see I’ve picked the winner in three of the past four Super Bowls! Let’s see if my pick changes the Vegas odds. Note that I have never understood “the points spread,” so no quotes about that from me. I understand the spread of food that goes on the table during the game. WHY do I think this weekend calls for Hebrew National mini hot dogs? Here’s to reading, bookish chatter and, yes, football. And NO snow! Have a great week…read on….

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

 

THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X by Keigo Higashino (Psychological Thriller)
Yasuko thought she had finally escaped her abusive ex-husband. Then he showed up looking for money and ends up dead on her floor. Her neighbor, a math teacher named Ishigami, offers to help with the cover-up. But then his old friend, Dr. Manubu Yukawa, is brought in on the case, and an epic battle of wits ensues --- with Yukawa facing his most clever opponent yet. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

-Click here to read an excerpt from THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X.
 

IT’S ALL RELATIVE: Two Families, Three Dogs, 34 Holidays, and 50 Boxes of Wine: A Memoir by Wade Rouse (Memoir)
In his latest memoir, viewing family life through the prism of the holidays, Wade Rouse helps us laugh and cry along with him as we recall our own family moments, happy or grim, transcendent or mundane. With a matchless comic voice, tempered by real humanity, he reminds us that our lives, for better or worse, are inescapably rooted in family. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

-Click here to read an excerpt from IT’S ALL RELATIVE.
-Click here to see the reading group guide for IT’S ALL RELATIVE.
-Visit Wade Rouse’s official website, www.WadeRouse.com.
 

The co-founder and honorary director of the Orange Prize for Fiction, British author Kate Mosse returns to the literary scene herself with THE WINTER GHOSTS, which tells the story of a traumatized World War I veteran who crosses paths with a mysterious woman in the Pyrenees mountains and unearths an almost-forgotten mystery --- and a past that is, perhaps, more haunted than his own. In this interview, Mosse reflects on the remote region of France that inspired her latest novel, elaborating on its ancient beauty and the tragic story she stumbled upon while researching another book. She also speculates on the differences between heroes and heroines, muses on the merits of ghost stories, and explains why she always keeps her eye on the present when writing about the past.

THE WINTER GHOSTS by Kate Mosse (Mystery)
Freddie Watson is grieving the loss of his beloved brother, a British soldier killed in action during World War I. He takes solace and a much-needed rest in a quiet French mountain village. It is there that he finds himself immersed in an ancient tragedy and a heartbreaking mystery that is centuries old and may still haunt the mountains outside Tarascon. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

-Click here to read a review of THE WINTER GHOSTS.
-Click here to read an excerpt from THE WINTER GHOSTS.
-Visit Kate Mosse’s official website, www.KateMosse.com.
 

Eleanor Brown is stunning audiences with her debut novel, THE WEIRD SISTERS, a quirky coming-of-age tale about three incredibly bookish sisters (who don’t happen to like each other very much) who return home to lick wounds and bury secrets, only to find that each of the others is already there --- and might have more to offer than any of them ever expected. In this interview, Brown talks about the evolution of the story that became this book, elaborating on its intriguing title and why she decided to name her heroines after some of Shakespeare’s most famous female characters. She also reflects on her own struggles with sisterhood --- and how the Andreas girls are a bit like her --- shares her thoughts on the birth order theory, and reveals why the Bard played such a big role in her first stab at a novel.

THE WEIRD SISTERS by Eleanor Brown (Fiction)
The Andreas family is one of readers. Their father speaks almost entirely in verse and has named his three girls after famous Shakespearean women. Under the guise of caring for their mother, the sisters come home to bury their secrets --- and each is horrified to find the others there. But soon they discover that the things they’ve been running from might offer more than they expected. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

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

Paula McLain revisits the Jazz Age in her beautifully written novel, THE PARIS WIFE, an account of the troubled relationship between legendary author Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley Richardson.

We have 20 copies of THE PARIS WIFE, which will be in stores February 22nd, 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, February 11th at noon ET.

-Click here to read an excerpt from THE PARIS WIFE.
-Click here to read critical praise for THE PARIS WIFE.
-Click here to see the reading group guide for THE PARIS WIFE.
-Click here to read Paula McLain’s bio.
-Click here to see Paula McLain’s backlist.
-Visit Paula McLain’s official website, www.PaulaMcLain.com.

More about THE PARIS WIFE:
A deeply evocative story of ambition and betrayal, THE PARIS WIFE captures a remarkable period of time and a love affair between two unforgettable people: Ernest Hemingway and his wife Hadley.

Chicago, 1920: Hadley Richardson is a quiet 28-year-old who has all but given up on love and happiness --- until she meets Ernest Hemingway and her life changes forever. Following a whirlwind courtship and wedding, the pair set sail for Paris, where they become the golden couple in a lively and volatile group --- the fabled “Lost Generation”--- that includes Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. A heartbreaking portrayal of love and torn loyalty, THE PARIS WIFE is all the more poignant because we know that, in the end, Hemingway wrote that he would rather have died than fallen in love with anyone but Hadley.
 

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 FRENCH LESSONS --- a story of three strangers whose lives intersect one day along the streets of Paris --- which releases in July 2011. We have 25 specially formatted early reader editions of Ellen Sussman's novel 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 FRENCH LESSONS, so if you will have time to read it and answer some questions by Monday , March 7th, please enter this contest. If not, we plan to have more opportunities like this in the future.

More about FRENCH LESSONS:
How much can your life change in just 24 hours? Three Americans --- a heartbroken and pregnant young woman, a neglected ex-pat housewife, and the handsome, middle-aged husband of a powerhouse film star --- each spend a stormy day crisscrossing the city with three separate French tutors in this charming story of love and yearning. As they wander the avenues of Paris, exploring the language and rediscovering the pieces of themselves that have been missing, the city begins to work its magic on each of them, and at the end of the day, none will be left untouched.

-Click here to read an excerpt from FRENCH LESSONS.
 

The countdown to Valentine's Day is on! Stuck on what to buy your Valentine? Our featured titles have the bookish answer. Recently we gave readers the chance to win one of our five Bookreporter.com Valentine's Day prize packages, which included one copy of each of our featured books and some delicious gourmet chocolate from Godiva. Thanks to all who entered the contest and told us which character in a book they would want to share a Valentine moment with. Click here to see our winners and their responses.

Even if you weren't a winner, may we suggest you take a look at our featured titles? These are books you or your Valentine will want to read any time of the year.

Our featured Valentine’s Day titles are:

-BRAVA, VALENTINE by Adriana Trigiani
-EVERY ZOMBIE EATS SOMEBODY SOMETIME: A Book of Zombie Love Songs written by Michael P. Spradlin and illustrated by Jeff Weigel
-MARRYING DAISY BELLAMY: The Lakeshore Chronicles by Susan Wiggs
-THE PERFECT MISTRESS by Victoria Alexander
-PICTURES OF YOU by Caroline Leavitt
-WILD MAN CREEK: A Virgin River Novel by Robyn Carr
 

February’s roundup of New in Paperback titles includes THE POSTMISTRESS, Sarah Blake’s spellbinding story of two women who deliver the news to a small town in Massachusetts during the darkest hours of World War II; Robert B. Parker’s SPLIT IMAGE, a Jesse Stone novel that finds the Paradise police chief teaming up with private eye Sunny Randall to solve the murder of a high-ranking crime figure; HUSH by Kate White, in which a recently divorced marketing consultant has a one-night-stand with a colleague --- and wakes up to find his throat slashed and herself a suspect for murder; THINK TWICE, Lisa Scottoline’s terrifying tale of a woman who finds herself buried alive by her identical twin; THE SECRET LIFE OF EMILY DICKINSON, Jerome Charyn’s literary masterpiece about the inner world of one of the greatest American poets; ONE GOOD DOG by Susan Wilson, which explores the unique bond between a troubled man and his canine companion; and MAKING TOAST, Roger Rosenblatt’s heart-wrenching account of how he and his wife helped raise their grandchildren after losing their daughter to heart failure at the age of 38.
 

The Oscars are right around the corner, and in honor of the occasion, February’s Books into Movies feature is spotlighting three must-see films that will help you get ready for the red carpet.

First up is The Eagle, an action-packed rendering of Rosemary Sutcliff’s THE EAGLE OF THE NINTH. Travel back in time to the heyday of the Roman Empire and join a young warrior named Marcus as he sets out with his slave, Esca, to investigate the disappearance of his father --- the famed commander of the Ninth Legion. If you’re in the mood for something a bit more contemporary, I Am Number Four will be exploding onto the big screen on February 18th. This highly anticipated film version of the sci-fi novel of the same name by James Frey and Jobie Hughes (aka Pittacus Lore) follows a fugitive teen with extraordinary talents --- and an incredible destiny that is guaranteed to blow the minds of book-loving film fanatics everywhere. But if you’d rather watch a thriller with a psychological twist, there’s Unknown, a mind-boggling flick based on OUT OF MY HEAD, Didier van Cauwelaert’s book about a man who wakes up from a car wreck and discovers that someone has stolen his identity.

But February is also a month for love and romance, so if you’d rather stay at home with your sweetheart, then don’t miss this month’s DVD releases, which include It’s Kind of a Funny Story, Let Me In, Never Let Me Go and Tamara Drewe.
 

February is Black History Month, a time when America honors the struggles and successes of African Americans. This year, we at Kidsreads.com have complied a number of fiction and nonfiction titles about slavery, the civil rights movement, and the unforgettable contributions black artists and athletes have made to American culture. From legendary jazz musician Louis Armstrong to "the mother of the freedom movement," Rosa Parks, these individuals all deserve to be remembered and celebrated not only during Black History Month, but throughout the entire year as well. We hope readers of all ages will be moved and inspired by their remarkable stories.
 

FADEAWAY GIRL by Martha Grimes (Mystery)
In this suspenseful sequel to BELLE RUIN, Emma Graham continues investigating the disappearance of a baby from the Belle Ruin Hotel more than 20 years before. And when the child’s father shows up, it makes her even more determined to learn the truth. But then a mysterious drifter arrives at the Hotel Paradise, ingratiating himself with everyone there. Everyone, that is, except Emma. Reviewed by Roz Shea.

THE LAST DAYS OF PTOLEMY GREY by Walter Mosley (Fiction)
Ptolemy Grey is a 91-year-old man suffering from dementia, living all alone in a cluttered, bug-invested apartment in a tough LA neighborhood when a 17-year-old girl without a family enters his life. Award-winning author Walter Mosley has written a novel about the possibility of finding dignity, love and redemption even in the final days of a long life. Reviewed by Tom Callahan.

ELECTRIC BARRACUDA by Tim Dorsey (Fiction)
Serge Storms, that loveable thermonuclear vigilante, has been leaving corpses throughout the Sunshine State for over a decade. The authorities have begun to notice, so they send a task force to track him down. To up the ante, Serge decides to resurrect his travel-tips website with a themed vacation: Experience Florida though the eyes of a fugitive. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

TOUGH WITHOUT A GUN: The Life and Extraordinary Afterlife of Humphrey Bogart by Stefan Kanfer (Biography)
What is it about Humphrey Bogart that has captured our collective imagination for so long? In this definitive biography, Stefan Kanfer answers that question, along the way illuminating the private man Bogart was and shining the spotlight on some of his great performances. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan.

GIDEON’S WAR by Howard Gordon (Thriller)
Gideon Davis is a peacemaker whose negotiating skills have gained him respect around the globe. After Earl Parker, a politically-connected family friend, requests Gideon to accompany him to Southeast Asia to return a rogue agent to Washington, D.C., Gideon is torn between loyalty to his country and to his family. Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt.

SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A NUT: Essays and Observations by Jill Kargman (Essays/Humor)
Jill Kargman is a mother, wife and writer living in New York City, a life that includes camping in a one-bedroom apartment, battling Momzillas, and coming to terms with her desire for gay men. In this entertaining collection, Kargman shares her unique insights as she zips around the city with three kids in tow, tackling issues with sharp wit and outrageous humor. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

THE GOOD DAUGHTER: A Memoir of My Mother's Hidden Life by Jasmin Darznik (Memoir)
Jasmin Darznik, shocked when she finds a wedding photo of her mother, Lili, with a mystery man, reveals the winding journey of a new and tenuous acquaintance with her mother in this touching memoir that casts new light on Lili's shocking life in Iran before she immigrated to America. Reviewed by Amie Taylor.

THE TUDOR SECRET by C.W. Gortner (Historical Mystery)
Born an orphan, Brendan Prescott may not be aware of his personal history, but he does know his place in the household. Brought to court in the summer of 1553 to be squire to Lord Dudley’s oldest son Robert, he stumbles upon a secret that must remain hidden or bring the fall of the Tudor reign in England. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.

THIS GLITTERING WORLD by T. Greenwood (Fiction)
An adjunct history professor feels trapped by his life choices but sees a way out when chance involves him in a Flagstaff hate crime. Events lead the teacher to secretly investigate the brutal death of an American Indian as he attempts to sort out his life and change his future. Reviewed by Melanie Smith.

THE IMPALER by Gregory Funaro (Thriller)
The crimes are barbaric. The victims are found in remote areas, impaled on wooden stakes. There is no evidence. Just a message on one broken body: “I have returned.” FBI Agent Sam Markham's last investigation ended with a serial killer's death and a promotion. But now, no one is safe. And as the clues slip into place, Sam will cross the line from hunter to hunted. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
 

Poll and Question of the Week: Online Book Purchases and Current Recommendations

Poll:
 

What best describes your ONLINE book purchases in January?

I only bought print books.

I only bought eBooks.

I bought more print books than eBooks.
I bought more eBooks than print books.
I bought the same number of print books and eBooks.
I did not buy any books in January.
I do not buy books online.
I do not buy books.

-Click here to answer our poll.


Question:

What books are you currently recommending to people? Name up to three.

-Click here to answer our question.

 

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 TREACHERY IN DEATH by J.D. Robb, WHEN THE KILLING'S DONE by T.C. Boyle and A WIDOW'S STORY: A Memoir by Joyce Carol Oates. Tell us what you are reading here and rate the titles 1-5 by noon ET on Friday, February 18th to ensure that you are in the running to win these books.