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October 26, 2012

Bookreporter.com Newsletter October 26, 2012
Reading and Charging All Electronics Before Frankenstorm

“Frankenstorm.” In the Tri-State area, this is the current buzz word on everyone’s lips with the pending storm. I wonder WHO comes up with these names. I want you to know that we have done our part to ensure that the storm does not arrive. We bought a generator. As I started to hear these predictions, I said to my husband, “I have one word for you: ‘Generator.’” Now I am on a campaign to fill every gas tank we have lest we are siphoning from the cars like we are in an episode of “The Walking Dead.” By the way, I watch that show and marvel at how they drive and drive and rarely are we seeing plotlines about running out of gas. Of course, when that happens, they are being chased by zombies. Something I do not need to worry about. Another question being bantered about: Will Halloween be canceled again? I think that if so, we will have to read children scary stories. Actually, I think the concept of another canceled Halloween may scare them enough!

On Thursday afternoon, Greg; our Editorial Director, Tom Donadio; our Content Coordinator for Teenreads.com and Kidsreads.com, Liz Kossnar; and our intern, Jon Baker, all walked up to Columbus Circle to see the “Discovering Columbus” art exhibition. Tatzu Nishi is the Japanese artist “known internationally for his temporary works of art that transform our experience of monuments, statues, and architectural details. His installations give the public intimate access to aspects of our urban environment and at the same time radically alter our perceptions.” Here we were given access to the statue of Columbus that sits 75 feet up on top of a granite column. A six-story stairway has been constructed that brought us into a living room setting that surrounded the statue. There we were able to explore the statue more closely --- we had no idea that there was a rudder behind Columbus --- and also check out the view from the windows (we could see our office from the south window). What we loved as part of the furnishings were the bookshelves on one wall of the living room. We spied MOBY DICK, THE POWER BROKER and 1776 among the titles shelved there. It was just perfect that books were factored into the look of this room!

This week I have been noting people “lost in books” as I make my way around the city. The other day on the elevator ride from the 12th floor, one man never took his eyes off of PINSTRIPE EMPIRE. Yesterday, as we waited on line, we saw someone sitting and reading one of the Harry Potter titles. The dust jacket-less book was spotted by our staffers who think from the two-tone color palette on the binding that it was the last title in the series. I love that books are visible like this, besides the various electronic devices all over the subways and buses.

Last weekend, I read “backwards,” which is what I call it when I read something already published. I plucked SALVATION OF A SAINT by Keigo Higashino from my shelf, which we had reviewed a couple of weeks ago. I loved Higashino’s first book, THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X, and SALVATION OF A SAINT was just as much of a delight. The premises of these books are very tight, and the way they unfold is just brilliant. If you have not explored his work yet, give him a whirl. By the way, he is as popular in Japan as John Grisham is here. Reading “backwards” is an indulgence for me as I usually am reading ahead.

Right now I am reading GRACE, a memoir by Grace Coddington, which will be out on November 20th. Coddington is the Creative Director of Vogue magazine. Those who saw The September Issue, the film about making the September issue of Vogue that was done a few years ago, may remember how she stole the spotlight away from Anna Wintour in that movie, something she talks about in the opening of the book. Interestingly, she had fought being a part of the film for a long time, seeing it as intrusive on her craft. I have been a long admirer of Coddington’s fashion shoots, which are so over the top. I often say that she creates art with fashion instead of pictures with clothes. So many of the photos that she styles are frameable. You may recall she shot the piece based on Edith Wharton’s work this summer in honor of her 150th birthday that I referenced in a previous newsletter.

I had lunch with Jasper Fforde this week. Okay, it was not just Jasper and me, but rather a media lunch where he was being feted for his first YA book, THE LAST DRAGONSLAYER. I asked him what the differences are between his adult and YA writing. He said that he first parses out allusion since most teens do not have the literary background to be able to contemplate that. Then he thinks about what characters that age would know. We also talked about how the YA writing is tighter and more concise as the stories are told in fewer words. He was delightful company --- a real treat in the middle of the week!

Now on to this week’s lineup…which starts off with another BIG fall title….

John Grisham is back with another sizzling legal thriller, THE RACKETEER, and we have our review. A former attorney and current resident of a federal prison camp, Malcolm Bannister’s life has taken a few bad turns. But things are looking up --- he knows who’s behind the recent murder of a federal judge. And he might be willing to hand over the information…for a price. Reviewer Stuart Shiffman believes Grisham is at the top of his game with this one: “Two decades have passed [since 1991’s THE FIRM], and his latest has the same elements: exciting characters, enthralling plot twists, and page-turning action. Grisham is a baseball fan, and so I will pay him the ultimate baseball compliment. In 20 years of writing, he appears to have lost nothing off his fastball.”

I found a great interview with Grisham in the New York Times Sunday Book Review just as we were wrapping up the newsletter, and I wanted to make sure I shared it with you this week. Click here to check it out.

Also reviewed this week is the much talked-about THE MIDDLESTEINS by Jami Attenberg. A compassionate and humorous look at the triumphs and travails of a modern American family, it tells the story of a family forced to bear the weight of their mother’s unhealthy lifestyle. Edie Middlestein’s girth has increased over the years, causing her husband Richard to leave the marriage. Now it’s up to Edie’s dysfunctional children to try and save Edie from herself and heal the family in the process. Reviewer Terry Miller Shannon raves, “I absolutely devoured THE MIDDLESTEINS, reading the entire thing compulsively in one night. I became absorbed by the characters' dilemmas and by their unexpected connections, and I marveled at author Jami Attenberg's attention to detail and her lyrical way with words.”

Turning from the perils of the suburbs, we delve into the dark underbelly of the art world. We have a review of B.A. Shapiro’s sophisticated literary thriller, THE ART FORGER, which we spotlighted in our Fall Preview feature this summer. Struggling painter Claire Roth is hired to reproduce a Degas masterpiece and is inadvertently trapped in a maze of intrigue that leads back to the largest unsolved art heist in history --- the theft of 500 million dollars’ worth of artwork from Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum on March 18, 1990. Reviewer Michael Magras calls it “a highly entertaining book. If you love the process of creating art, or want to learn more about it, you’ll enjoy the scenes of Claire’s labors and investigations.... The scenes in which Claire creates her own paintings and studies the Degas for authenticity are among the book’s strongest. And one could learn a lot about pacing from Shapiro’s novel.”

Next up this week, the man in the white suit returns with another spectacular literary event. Tom Wolfe has refocused his keen eye for social realism in a southerly direction in BACK TO BLOOD, and Miami may never be the same. With his ability to focus on the tiniest details of modern life while at the same time giving us a panoramic view of a teeming American city, Wolfe shows us the world we think we know from a whole new angle. According to Stuart Shiffman, “[Wolfe] has once again captured that certain spirit that mixes compelling characters, unique ethnicity and a modicum of craziness…. Thanks for another opportunity to appreciate once again the zaniness of America.”

We also have a review of an intoxicating book about a curious little bookshop: MR. PENUMBRA’S 24-HOUR BOOKSTORE. Robin Sloan tells the story of Clay Jannon, a down-on-his-luck web designer who takes a job in a little shop, only to find that the customers never buy anything and seem to be behaving according to some elaborate, uncanny logic. Soon Clay finds that the mysteries stretch far beyond the shop’s front door. Reviewer Kate Ayers declares, “I haven’t had this much fun reading a book since the first Harry Potter was released. It’s a literary adventure full of imaginary companies, websites, books, authors and games interwoven with real ones. Clay Jannon is a delightfully naïve character with a clever and refreshing wit.”


Finally this week, we review LAURA LAMONT’S LIFE IN PICTURES, which examines one of the most mythical of American stories: the birth of the movie star. Author Emma Straub takes us on a journey from small-town Wisconsin to the glittering lights of Hollywood. We follow young Elsa Emerson as she encounters tragedy in her Midwestern family, escapes to Los Angeles, and is discovered by one of Tinseltown’s most powerful executives. Terry Miller Shannon says, “Emma Straub skillfully introduces the down-to-earth woman behind the acclaimed actress, while evading every movie star stereotype…. [T]his is a very enjoyable read about a fascinating time in Hollywood's history, starring a character worth rooting for.” I read this one a few months ago when we were running an advance reader contest for it on ReadingGroupGuides.com, and it was really such fun.

And if you can’t get enough Emma Straub, or want to know more about her adventures in writing the story of Elsa Emerson’s journey to Hollywood, we have an interview with her conducted by Lauren Groff, bestselling author of THE MONSTERS OF TEMPLETON. These two young authors are making a lot of noise in the literary world, and their conversation is not to be missed!

We continue our poll about the kinds of books, if any, you download for free, and which of those you have actually read. And we’re still offering the aforementioned THE RACKETEER, along with FLIGHT BEHAVIOR by Barbara Kingsolver and LOOKING FOR YESTERDAY: A Sharon McCone Mystery by Marcia Muller, in our Word of Mouth contest. Let us know what you’re reading by Friday, November 2nd at noon ET for your chance to win.

Many thanks to our reader Ricki for correctly pointing out a couple of weeks ago that RED RAIN is R.L. Stine’s second book for adults, not his first, as we had stated in the October 12th newsletter. His debut novel for adults, SUPERSTITIOUS, released in 1995. I forgot to note that last week.

We got a sneak peek this week at the program for the Miami Book Fair International, and the schedule of events and author lineup are just fabulous for this 29th Anniversary of the Fair. You can see a list of the authors who will be there here and watch the Miami Book Fair website for the complete schedule to be released shortly. Our Kidsreads.com, Teenreads.com and GraphicNovelReporter.com websites are sponsors of a Day of Education for Teachers and Librarians called “Teacher Fun Day: Perfect Your Craft and Inspire Creativity --- A Full Day of Programming for Teachers, Librarians and Educators," which will be held on Thursday, November 15th from 10:00am-3:00pm. We have four speakers lined up --- Chris Grabenstein, Mathew Reinhart, Scott Hutchins and Raina Telgemeier. You can see more about this event here.


Also, we read today in Shelf-Awareness, an industry publication, that Books & Books, one of my favorite bookstores, is celebrating its 30th Anniversary with a daylong celebration at their Coral Gables store on November 3rd. Children's and family activities take place from 11am-2pm. The evening street party with food from the chefs, drinks on the house and live music takes place from 7-9pm. The events are free and open to the public. In addition, there will be a 30% sale all day at the Coral Gables store. Wishing I could be there next Saturday; I was there for the 25th anniversary and had a wonderful time. By the way, Mitchell Kaplan, who runs Books & Books, is co-founder and Board member of the Miami Book Fair.

A family tradition took place in our house this week as Cory submitted his college applications, and he asked me to join him to press the “Submit” button as he turned them in. I had done the same thing with Greg. Quite a moment! Another milestone that I am glad I got to share.

This weekend, I fear that my reading life will be interrupted to prepare for the pending storm. So annoying! In between work projects today, I am making my "Executive Camping Checklist," the things I will need for "Home Camping" during the storm. It includes a list of all items that need charging. And a list of meals to be made on the grill. Working is a lot more fun than working on my "Home Survivalist Skills." May this just blow off to sea and the generator stay in the box, but at the same time I am wondering what is in the freezer that should be cooked!

To baseball fans, here’s hoping the World Series gets at least a little tension. I am rooting for San Francisco for no reason except that I love that city. By the way, I cannot name one player on either team!

And to everyone --- Happy Halloween. Indulge and enjoy some of the candy you have put out for your costumed guests!

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

PS. When you use the links below to purchase books, you also support Bookreporter.com as we have affiliate arrangements with each of them. Please consider this when purchasing books!

Now in Stores: THE RACKETEER by John Grisham

THE RACKETEER by John Grisham (Legal Thriller)
Given the importance of what they do, the controversies that often surround them, and the violent people they sometimes confront, it is remarkable that in the history of this country only four active federal judges have been murdered. Judge Raymond Fawcett has just become number five. Who is the Racketeer? And what does he have to do with the judge’s untimely demise? Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.

-Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: THE MIDDLESTEINS by Jami Attenberg

THE MIDDLESTEINS by Jami Attenberg (Fiction)
For more than 30 years, Edie and Richard Middlestein shared a solid family life together in the suburbs of Chicago. But now things are splintering apart, seemingly for one reason: Edie's enormous girth. When Richard abandons her, it is up to the next generation of Middlesteins to take control. Do Edie's devastating choices rest on her shoulders alone, or are others at fault, too? Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

-Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: THE ART FORGER by B.A. Shapiro

THE ART FORGER by B.A. Shapiro (Literary Thriller)
Claire Roth makes her living by painting reproductions of famous works. One day, the owner of a prestigious Boston gallery comes to her studio with a provocative request: He asks her to paint a copy of Degas’s After the Bath, one of the paintings stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990. But when she studies the stolen masterpiece, she begins to suspect that the painting may not be the original after all. Reviewed by Michael Magras.

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

Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: BACK TO BLOOD by Tom Wolfe

BACK TO BLOOD by Tom Wolfe (Fiction)
As a police launch speeds across Miami's Biscayne Bay --- with officer Nestor Camacho on board --- Tom Wolfe introduces the Cuban mayor; the black police chief; a wanna-go-muckraking young journalist and his Yale-marinated editor; an Anglo sex-addiction psychiatrist and his Latina nurse; a billionaire porn addict; a nest of shady Russians; and many more unforgettable characters. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.

-Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: MR. PENUMBRA’S 24-HOUR BOOKSTORE by Robin Sloan

MR. PENUMBRA’S 24-HOUR BOOKSTORE by Robin Sloan (Fiction)
Clay Jannon has landed a new gig working the night shift at Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. But after just a few days on the job, Clay begins to realize that the store is even more curious than the name suggests. He concludes it must be a front for something larger, and soon he’s embarked on a complex analysis of the customers’ behavior. It turns out the secrets extend far outside the walls of the bookstore. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

-Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read a review.
Lauren Groff Interviews Emma Straub, Author of LAURA LAMONT’S LIFE IN PICTURES

Lauren Groff, bestselling author of ARCADIA and THE MONSTERS OF TEMPLETON, talks with Emma Straub about her new novel, LAURA LAMONT’S LIFE IN PICTURES. In the book, we follow a young actress from the idyllic countryside of early 20th-century Wisconsin to her success in the dazzling world of Hollywood. Groff asks Straub about her “opposite” trajectory from Brooklyn to Wisconsin, her favorite Hollywood starlets, and the pleasures of living with cats.

LAURA LAMONT’S LIFE IN PICTURES by Emma Straub (Fiction)
Elsa Emerson relishes appearing onstage, where she soaks up the approval of her father and the embrace of the audience. But when tragedy strikes her family, her acting becomes more than a child's game of pretend. While still in her teens, Elsa marries and flees to Los Angeles. There she is discovered by Irving Green, one of the most powerful executives in Hollywood, who refashions her as a serious, exotic brunette and renames her Laura Lamont. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here for the reading group guide.

Click here to read the interview.
Now in Stores: THE SECRET KEEPER by Kate Morton

THE SECRET KEEPER by Kate Morton (Fiction)
Sixteen-year-old Laurel Nicolson witnessed a shocking crime that challenged everything she knew about her family, especially her mother, Dorothy. Now, 50 years later, Laurel is a successful and well-regarded actress. A family gathering for Dorothy’s 90th birthday leads Laurel to search for answers to the questions that still haunt her from that long-ago day --- answers that can only be found in Dorothy’s past. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

-Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: BLASPHEMY by Sherman Alexie

BLASPHEMY: New and Selected Stories by Sherman Alexie (Fiction/Short Stories)
Included in this collection of new and classic stories by Sherman Alexie are some of his most esteemed tales, including “What You Pawn I Will Redeem," “This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona,” “The Toughest Indian in the World” and “War Dances.” His new stories are about donkey basketball leagues, lethal wind turbines, the reservation, marriage, and all species of contemporary American warriors. Reviewed by Jane Krebs.

-Click here to read more about the book.

Click here to read a review.
Miami Book Fair International: November 11-18, 2012

Miami Book Fair International
November 11-18, 2012
Street Fair: November 16-18
The Center for Literature and Theater @ Miami Dade College


Enjoy the 29th edition of the nation’s finest and largest literary gathering presented by the Florida Center for the Literary Arts at Miami Dade College.

Come see hundreds of great authors like Tom Wolfe, who will be talking about his new novel, BACK TO BLOOD, on Sunday, November 11th at 6pm; Junot Diaz, author of THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE HER, who will speak on Monday, November 12th at 6:30pm; and Robert A. Caro, who will be discussing his latest bestseller, THE PASSAGE OF POWER, on Thursday, November 15th at 6:30pm. Click here to see the complete list of authors who will be in attendance.

There will be a number of intriguing panel discussions and conversations on literature, politics and more. They include “On the Book Beat: Meet the Reporters Who Cover the Book Business,” “Kurt Vonnegut: Life and Letters,” “So Spoke the Earth: Giving Haiti Voice,” and “On Tolkien’s The Hobbit.”

On Friday, November 16th, the Street Fair gets underway. The highlight is the Festival of Authors, with more than 350 authors reading and discussing their work. During Street Fair weekend, more than 250 publishers and booksellers exhibit and sell books, with special features like the antiquarians, who showcase signed first editions, original manuscripts and other collectibles.

In addition, our Kidsreads.com, Teenreads.com and GraphicNovelReporter.com websites are sponsors of a Day of Education for Teachers and Librarians called “Teacher Fun Day: Perfect Your Craft and Inspire Creativity --- A Full Day of Programming for Teachers, Librarians and Educators, which will be held on Thursday, November 15th from 10am-3pm. We have four speakers lined up: Chris Grabenstein, Matthew Reinhart, Scott Hutchins and Raina Telgemeier. You can read more about this event here.


-Visit this page beginning November 1st for the full programming schedule.

Click here for more information about Miami Book Fair International.
Historical Fiction Reading Lists on Teenreads.com and Kidsreads.com

Because history is not typically a favorite subject for kids and teens, we at Teenreads.com and Kidsreads.com have decided to create Historical Fiction Reading Lists to inject some fun into exploring the past. Forget fantasy! Historical eras are worlds in themselves. Escape an arranged marriage in the Middle Ages! Be a spy in Regency England! Defend your country in a brutal war! Anything is possible when you are free from the limits of time. So please be sure to spread the word to the young people in your life about our lists, which are NOT to be missed.

-See our Historical Fiction Reading Lists on Teenreads.com and Kidsreads.com.

This Week’s Reviews

DOES THIS CHURCH MAKE ME LOOK FAT?: A Mennonite Finds Faith, Meets Mr. Right, and Solves Her Lady Problems by Rhoda Janzen (Memoir)
What does it mean to give church a try when you haven't really tried since you were 12? At the end of her bestselling memoir, MENNONITE IN A LITTLE BLACK DRESS, Rhoda Janzen had reconnected with her family and her roots, though her future felt uncertain. But when she starts dating a churchgoer, this skeptic begins a surprising journey to faith and love. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.


ON THE SEVENTH DAY by T.D. Jakes (Mystery/Suspense)
Based on the film Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day, executive-produced by T.D. Jakes, this novel follows the lives of a couple whose love and commitment are tested when their only child is kidnapped right from under them in their gated community in New Orleans. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.


THE LITTLE BOOKSTORE OF BIG STONE GAP: A Memoir of Friendship, Community, and the Uncommon Pleasure of a Good Book by Wendy Welch (Memoir)
Wendy Welch and her husband had always dreamed of owning a bookstore, so when they left their high-octane jobs for a simpler life in an Appalachian coal town, they seized an unexpected opportunity to pursue their dream. Against all odds, but with optimism, the help of their Virginian mountain community, and an abiding love for books, they succeeded in establishing more than a thriving business --- they built a community. Reviewed by Sarah Hannah Gómez.


SAY YOU'RE SORRY by Michael Robotham (Psychological Thriller)
Three years after the disappearance of two teenage girls, a husband and wife are brutally killed in the farmhouse where one of the teens once lived. A troubled young man who can hear voices claims that he saw a girl that night being chased by a snowman. Convinced that at least one of the girls might still be alive, Joe O'Loughlin and Vincent Ruiz race against time to save the girls from someone with an evil, calculating and twisted mind. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.


ISLAND OF BONES by Imogen Robertson (Historical Mystery)
When an extra skeleton is found in a supposedly undisturbed crypt in the Lake District, Mrs. Westerman and Gabriel Crowther are asked to investigate. Mrs. Westerman, a woman looking to escape the sadness of her husband’s death, convinces Crowther they should examine the evidence. The mystery only deepens when family legacies come into play as well as an ancient relic thought to be lost. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.


NEVSKY by Ben McCool and Mario Guevara (Graphic Novel)

It’s been almost 75 years since Sergei Eisenstein’s epic battle film Alexander Nevsky was released. The 1938 movie told the tale of one of Russia’s greatest heroes, a 13th-century prince who rallied the battle to fend off the Golden Horde of Mongolia. But the film did not represent Eisenstein’s complete vision, nor did it greatly adhere to the truth. Now, an intense and groundbreaking graphic novel picks up the pieces of the great film. Reviewed by John Hogan.

THE THREE-DAY AFFAIR by Michael Kardos (Mystery)
One night, when three longtime friends are out for a drive, Jeffrey tells the others to stop at a convenience store and shocks them when he drags a young woman out from the store and into the car. Obeying Jeffrey's orders to drive, Will and Nolan suddenly find themselves guilty of harboring a kidnapped hostage, and a thrilling three days result before the fate of the car's four occupants is decided. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.


THE BARCELONA BROTHERS written by Carlos Zanon, translated by John Cullen (Thriller)
THE BARCELONA BROTHERS, Carlos Zanón's first novel to be published in English (thanks to the efforts of translator John Cullen), is a hard look at what people are capable of when they have no other options, and a portrait of a modern, multicultural Barcelona. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

Contests Running on Other Sites in TheBookReportNetwork.com

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

THE PAINTED GIRLS by Cathy Marie Buchanan
We are celebrating the forthcoming release of THE PAINTED GIRLS by Cathy Marie Buchanan --- a romantic, exhilarating novel set during Belle Époque Paris and inspired by the real-life model of Degas’s Little Dancer Aged 14 --- with a special contest. 50 readers will have the opportunity to each win an advance copy of the book, which will be in stores on January 10th, for their group. The deadline for entries is Monday, November 5th at noon ET.

EVERYTHING WAS GOOD-BYE by Gurjinder Basran
We are celebrating the forthcoming release of EVERYTHING WAS GOOD-BYE by Gurjinder Basran --- a heartbreaking and riveting story about a young woman caught between a clash of cultures and the intricate bond between mothers and daughters that transcends boundaries --- with a special contest. 50 readers will have the opportunity to each win an advance copy of the book, which will be in stores on December 31st, for their group. The deadline for entries is Monday, November 5th at noon ET.

“What Are You Reading?” Monthly Contest Feature
Let us know what your group is reading in October, and you’ll be entered in a giveaway to win multiple copies of a book for your group! Our latest prize book is THE END OF YOUR LIFE BOOK CLUB by Will Schwalbe, the inspiring true story of a son and his mother who start a “book club” that brings them together as her life comes to a close. We have 12 copies of the book, which is in stores now, to give away to three groups. The deadline for entries is Monday, November 5th at noon ET.

Teenreads.com

Fierce Reads
This month, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group gets Fierce...again! Fierce Reads is an online home and a brand where teens can interact with books they love and be a part of the discovery of new books. Fierce Reads will promote books across all of Macmillan's publishing divisions, with a mix of debut and well-known authors. To celebrate the release of six books that are being featured in this exciting campaign, we're giving five readers the opportunity to win them all!

Book O'Lantern
We are celebrating the season of ghouls and ghosts with our Third Annual Book O'Lantern Contest! Between now and Wednesday, October 31st, teens can enter to win a bag perfect for trick-or-treating, filled with a few special sweet treats, plus some spooky reads that will help make the scariest season of them all last well beyond Halloween.

Grab Bag of Books
Winners of our latest Grab Bag of Books contest will each receive a copy of THE DEAD GIRLS DETECTIVE AGENCY by Suzy Cox, FANG GIRL by Helen Keeble and SAFEKEEPING by Karen Hesse. The deadline for entries is Thursday, November 1st at noon ET.

Word of Mouth
Send us your current reading recommendations with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. This contest period, one teen reader will be randomly chosen to win a copy of SON by Lois Lowry and ZOM-B by Darren Shan. The deadline for entries is Thursday, November 1st at noon ET.

Kidsreads.com

THE GOLDEN DOOR
by Emily Rodda

To celebrate the release of THE GOLDEN DOOR, the start of a stirring fantasy trilogy from the internationally bestselling author of the Dragons of Deltora series, Kidsreads.com is giving 25 readers the chance to win a copy of the book. The deadline for entries is Monday, November 5th at noon ET.

FaithfulReader.com

RIVER OF MERCY: The Riverhaven Years, Book 3
by BJ Hoff

We are celebrating the release of RIVER OF MERCY with a special contest that will give 75 readers the opportunity to win a copy of this conclusion to BJ Hoff's Riverhaven Years trilogy. The deadline for entries is Monday, November 12th at noon ET.

BORDERS OF THE HEART by Chris Fabry
We are celebrating the release of BORDERS OF THE HEART by Chris Fabry with a special contest that will give 10 readers the opportunity to win a copy of the book, which centers on the relationship between a man and a mysterious girl he feels compelled to save. The deadline for entries is Monday, November 12th at noon ET.

The Reluctant Prophet Series by Nancy Rue
We are celebrating the release of TOO FAR TO SAY FAR ENOUGH, the conclusion to Nancy Rue's The Reluctant Prophet trilogy, with a special contest that will give 25 readers the opportunity to win all three books in the series (which also includes THE RELUCTANT PROPHET and UNEXPECTED DISMOUNTS). The deadline for entries is Monday, November 12th at noon ET.

FaithfulReader.com’s Monthly Contest
In our latest monthly contest, 10 readers will be awarded a copy of all four books in Mona Hodgson's historical romance series, The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek: TWO BRIDES TOO MANY, TOO RICH FOR A BRIDE, THE BRIDE WORE BLUE and TWICE A BRIDE. The deadline for entries is Monday, November 12th at noon ET.

This Week’s Poll

Which of the following do you download for free? Please check as many as apply.

Full-length eBooks
eShorts/Novellas written by authors you are familiar with
eShorts/Novellas that are part of a series you are familiar with
eShorts/Novellas written by authors whose work you are not familiar with as you would like to sample it
I do not download free eBooks.
I do not download eBooks.
Other (Please specify)


What percentage of the free eBooks that you have downloaded have you actually read?

100%
75%
50%
25%
Less than 25%
None
I do not download free eBooks.
I do not download eBooks.

Click here to answer the poll.
Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading --- and You Could Win THREE Books!

Tell us your current reading recommendations with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from October 19th to November 2nd, FIVE lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of FLIGHT BEHAVIOR by Barbara Kingsolver, LOOKING FOR YESTERDAY: A Sharon McCone Mystery by Marcia Muller, and THE RACKETEER by John Grisham.

To make sure other readers will be able to find the books you write about, please include the full title and correct author names (your entry must include these to be eligible to win). For complete rules and guidelines, click here.

-To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.

Click here to enter the contest.

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.

Happy reading! Don't forget to forward this newsletter to a friend or to visit our other websites from TheBookReportNetwork.com: www.20SomethingReads.com, www.Teenreads.com, www.Kidsreads.com, www.ReadingGroupGuides.com, www.GraphicNovelReporter.com, www.FaithfulReader.com and www.AuthorsOnTheWeb.com.

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