January 4, 2013

Did you miss us? While I enjoyed our break, I found myself writing little notes of things I wanted to share with you these past few weeks! First, a bit of trivia. Do you know that 2013 marks the first time since 1987 that a year does not have two or more of the same numbers in it? Leave it to my son Greg to have noted that --- and yes, I can see you all scribbling to see if it’s right. I personally was happy when 2010 hit, and we did away with those silly glasses that everyone peered through on New Year’s Eve from 2000-2009.

We had a great time on the Outer Banks. We decorated the house there just enough that it felt like Christmas, but not so much that we were stressing packing up at the end of the trip. We had not decorated at home at all except for a wreath and candles in the windows, and thus this week has been a lot calmer than usual. My amaryllis and cyclamen plants have made the house feel very festive. Packing these for our trip was quite an adventure. I very smartly put the five plants in the back hallway where we were stacking things to go in the car without a word. Afterwards I heard some very ahem “grownup only” words flying about packing them from the men of the house. I smartly avoided the car-packing strategizing to not be part of this dialogue (my husband engineers this with drill sergeant precision). When they bloomed, I got a consensus vote that they were worth bringing!

The weather in North Carolina was sunny most days and warmer than here. No snow! And thus I had time for looong walks, which I never seem to make time for here. I walked on the beach around the golf community, and in what can only be described as a “good wife” moment, I even walked all 18 on the golf course with Tom on Christmas Day. The course officially is closed that day, but folks can walk it if they'd like. Have no worries, I am not abandoning my books to “chase the little white ball,” but it was nice to see where Tom spends his time every trip!

I got a lot of reading done, including CHANEL BONFIRE, a stunning memoir by Wendy Lawless, which comes out next Tuesday, January 8th. Growing up in the ’70s, Wendy and her sister Robbie had a mom who was unstable (to put it mildly), and the sisters united to take care of themselves while spinning around in a world that was centered on their mother’s eccentricities. Their survival instincts are stunningly smart for girls who were just kids. As an example, when Wendy’s mom took an ax to her sister’s door when it was locked one day, Robbie hung fabric over the hole and Wendy hid the ax so it would not happen again. Over and over again, their mother’s actions (harassing Wendy’s boyfriends, ruining Robbie’s graduation) both stunned and surprised me to the point where I had to remind myself that this was someone’s life, not a novel. The mom was perpetually dressed in a blue nightgown, prompting a blurb from Tim Gunn that he “will never look at a blue nightgown the same way again.” I agree. Something to remember when you read it. How different would this story have been today when we have cell phones and the Internet? We’ll have our review next week.

Also, I am crazy about A CERTAIN SUMMER by Patricia Beard, which will be out on May 21st and will be a perfect summer book. Set in 1948 at an idyllic beach community called Wauregan, Helen Wadsworth, whose husband has been declared missing since an OSS operation in France during the War, is vacationing with her 14-year-old son, Jack, as they have always done. While she waits for news about what happened to her husband and longs for his return, two other men fall for her, which brings drama to the summer. For anyone who has a summer place that they have adored, this book will bring up memories. Layer in the mystery of what happened in the war, and you have one really satisfying read. Patricia is known for her nonfiction work, and that background definitely infused this work.

Lots more reading happened this trip….but I want to get to this week’s update. While it’s nice that this week started with Wednesday (that should happen more often), we needed to speed things up to bring this update to you.

Here at Bookreporter.com, we know that contests are the perfect way to ring in the new year and welcome you back to the site after our holiday break. And we have PLENTY of them for you this week!

Our first Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight of the year is Melanie Benjamin, who many of you may remember as the author of ALICE I HAVE BEEN and THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MRS. TOM THUMB. Her latest, which I read a couple of months ago and chatted up here as a "winner," is THE AVIATOR’S WIFE and it is all about the complicated marriage of Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh. It will be on sale on January 15th.

Anne Morrow, the shy daughter of the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, has stood in the shadows of those around her, including her millionaire father and vibrant older sister. Then Anne, a college senior with hidden literary aspirations, travels to Mexico City to spend Christmas with her family. There she meets Colonel Charles Lindbergh, fresh off his celebrated 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic. Enthralled by Charles’s assurance and fame, Anne is certain the celebrated aviator has scarcely noticed her. But she is wrong. Charles sees in Anne a kindred spirit, a fellow adventurer, and her world will be changed forever.

We have 25 copies of THE AVIATOR'S WIFE to give away to those would like to read the book and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, January 17th at noon ET.

Our Sneak Peek: An Early Look at an Upcoming Book feature is back! This time we’re spotlighting ORDINARY GRACE by William Kent Krueger, which I read in manuscript last August when I was on vacation. I came back raving about it on my vacation blog. It’s a departure for Krueger, best known for his Cork O’Connor mysteries, but the writing chops that he has honed with his previous work definitely show through here. For 13-year-old Frank Drum, 1961 was a grim summer in which death visited frequently and assumed many forms. When tragedy unexpectedly strikes his family --- which includes his Methodist minister father; his passionate, artistic mother; Juilliard-bound older sister; and wise-beyond-his-years kid brother --- he finds himself thrust into an adult world full of secrets, lies, adultery and betrayal, suddenly called upon to demonstrate a maturity and gumption beyond his years.

As I said when I read it, “it’s beautifully told in a style that reminds me of some of my favorite Southern writers. It wraps around you and suddenly you look up and wonder where you are as the writing has been so vivid and clear that your sense of place has been redefined.”

ORDINARY GRACE doesn’t release until March 26th, but we have 50 advance copies to give away to readers who would like to preview the book and share their comments about it by Tuesday, February 19th. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, January 17th at noon ET. For our Sneak Peek program, participation is critical, so please only enter this contest if you truly will have time to read ORDINARY GRACE and give us feedback by February 19th. If not, we will have more opportunities like this in the future.

Also releasing March 26th is Therese Anne Fowler’s latest, Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald. Before F. Scott Fitzgerald was a literary darling, he was a young WWI army lieutenant who fell hard for a spirited Southern belle named Zelda Sayre. The life he and Zelda would lead together in New York, Long Island, Paris, Hollywood, and on the French Riviera made them legends even in their own time. Set amidst the glamour of the Jazz Age and the The Lost Generation’s vivid world abroad, Z brings Zelda and Scott’s romantic, tumultuous, extraordinary journey to life. Z has been getting huge early buzz; I’ve read it and I can see why. Just as we were able to see into the life of Hadley, the first Mrs. Hemingway in THE PARIS WIFE, here we meet Zelda, who meant so much to Fitzgerald. Many of the same characters swing in and out of this book, so those who loved THE PARIS WIFE will want to read this.

We’re giving 50 readers the chance to win a copy of Z now. All you have to do is fill out this form by Thursday, January 17th at noon ET.

Our new Paperback Spotlight title is Kristin Hannah’s HOME FRONT, which releases in paperback next Tuesday, January 8th. In this memorable and thought-provoking New York Times #1 bestseller, Michael and Jolene Zarkades must face the pressures of day-to-day life while their 12-year marriage crumbles around them. This isn’t helped when Jolene is deployed into a dangerous war zone. She hates being away from her family, but understands the responsibilities she has toward her country. When tragedy strikes, Michael must face his worst fear and fight for what is important to his family. Be sure to take a look at our review, an excerpt, and the reading group guide. For book groups, there is soooo much to talk about here.

We continue our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight for FEAR COLLECTOR with a review of the book and an interview with author Gregg Olsen. For two women, Ted Bundy --- America’s most notorious serial killer --- is the ultimate obsession. One is a cop whose sister may have been one of Bundy’s victims. The other is a deranged groupie who corresponded with Bundy in prison and raised her son to finish what Bundy started. Reviewer Joe Hartlaub says, “Though a work of fiction, FEAR COLLECTOR is built upon the meticulous research that has become a trademark of Olsen’s true crime works, and is all the more frightening for it.” Click here to see what Gregg has to say about the book’s themes and his future writing plans.

There has been tons of buzz the past month for THE TWELVE TRIBES OF HATTIE, Ayana Mathis’s debut novel and the latest selection for Oprah’s Book Club 2.0. In 1923, 15-year-old Hattie Shepherd flees Georgia and settles in Philadelphia, hoping for a chance at a better life. Instead, she marries a man who will bring her nothing but disappointment and watches helplessly as her firstborn twins succumb to an illness a few pennies could have prevented. Hattie gives birth to nine more children whom she raises with grit and mettle and not an ounce of the tenderness they crave. Melanie Smith has our review and says, “THE TWELVE TRIBES OF HATTIE is a realistic, well-written novel with sound historical appeal, excellent caricatures, and a wide range of unique storylines and experiences. This is a serious, engaging book that offers much food for thought on family matters and heritage, and the importance of simple understanding among loved ones.”

We’ve updated our New in Paperback feature for January. Among the books releasing in paperback this month are THE COLUMBUS AFFAIR by Steve Berry, CRIMINAL by Karin Slaughter, HOME by Toni Morrison, THE LIFEBOAT by Charlotte Rogan, HEADING OUT TO WONDERFUL by Robert Goolrick, CROSSING THE BORDERS OF TIME: A True Love Story of War, Exile, and Love Reclaimed by Leslie Maitland, and THE STARBOARD SEA by Amber Dermont.

The highly anticipated third season of “Downton Abbey” premieres this Sunday, January 6th at 9pm ET on PBS. To celebrate, we’ve assembled a bookshelf for all you die-hard fans: an assortment of 20 items related to the series, including DVD sets of all three seasons (the third season has already aired in the UK, and the DVD will be available on January 29th here), soundtracks of the show’s original music, and a number of books about the real-life people and places that inspired one of Masterpiece Classic’s most critically acclaimed features. I am looking forward to seeing where the storyline is headed. I did no peeking ahead!

For this week’s poll, we’d like to know if you belong to Goodreads. Thanks to all who answered our year-end poll question, where we asked how many books you read in 2012. 25% of you read 26-50 books, 20% read 51-75, and 10% read a whopping 150+ books. Click here for the full results.

We’ve extended our Question of the Week to Friday, January 18th at noon ET. What do you consider “The Book of the Year” in 2012? Let us know!

Over at ReadingGroupGuides.com, we’re asking a similar question of book groups: What are your favorite books of 2012 that you read with your group? Share your picks (you can name up to three) between now and January 31st by filling out the form found here. Please share this link with the members of your group as we want as many people to weigh in as possible. We’ll give you the results in February.

We have a new Word of Mouth contest this week. Let us know what you’re reading by Friday, January 18th at noon ET for your chance to win ASHENDEN by Elizabeth Wilhide, the aforementioned CHANEL BONFIRE by Wendy Lawless and THE FIFTH ASSASSIN by Brad Meltzer.

We’d like to fill you in on the details of World Book Night U.S., a celebration of books and reading held on April 23rd. On this night, 25,000 volunteers across America will be giving away 20 paperback books each from a select list within their communities to those who don’t regularly read. Last year, World Book Night was celebrated in the U.S., the UK, Ireland and Germany, and saw over 80,000 people gift more than 2.5 million books. You can see the complete list of this year’s titles, which were selected by a committee, here.

If you’re interested in becoming a World Book Night U.S. book giver, all you have to do is fill out the online application. Click here for all the details. You will be asked what your first, second and third book choices are, why you wish to share these books, and where you will go to personally hand out the books. The deadline for all applications is Wednesday, January 23rd. My application is in!

While we were away, Tom, Greg and I went to see Les Misérables, and I confess that none of us were fond of it. Perhaps I should have known better as I am not a huge fan of musicals or Broadway theater. Somehow Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman singing did not work for me, and I really should not have watched Batman two nights before we went to the theater as I saw Anne Hathaway and pictured Catwoman, not Fantine. Heresy I am sure to all Les Miz lovers. I would love to know what you thought if you saw it. And if any of you saw Jack Reacher, I would love to know what you thought. As I mentioned before, I got over the “Tom Cruise is not Jack Reacher” stumbling block and just enjoyed the movie, and I have heard many of you say the same thing.

I have been watching college football way, way too many nights this week. On all of the games I watched thus far, I noted that there are male sports commentators in the box and a woman on the field doing the commentary from there. Trying to figure out what that is about. In the office, Eric Rhodes is a loyal Notre Dame fan, while Josh Mallory is a diehard Alabama alum. They sit next to each other, and I can just imagine the conversation Tuesday morning after the National Championship game. The way I see it, someone is not going to be happy. I am pulling for Notre Dame.

Busy weekend on tap. My sister is going to be in town, so we are getting together to celebrate "post-New Year." As she is born on January 1st, we truly have a mishmash of holidays we can celebrate here. I am two-thirds of the way through making a sweater for her. It would be done if the very complicated pattern did not have the direction “now reverse” instead of actual directions written into it. Pattern writing often can take on the tone of a badly written or badly edited novel. And I fantasize about typing the designer up in yarn. We also are celebrating the holiday with my mother-in-law tomorrow night, and since it’s not yet January 6th, we are still within the 12 Days of Christmas.

Here’s wishing you all happy reading and happy contest entering! Oh, and we will have the winners of the Bookreporter.com Bets On Year-End Contest for you next week! Drum roll to precede that one!

Read on….

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

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

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We have 25 copies of THE AVIATOR'S WIFE by Melanie Benjamin, which will be in stores January 15th, to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, January 17th at noon ET.

THE AVIATOR'S WIFE by Melanie Benjamin (Historical Fiction)
For much of her life, Anne Morrow, the shy daughter of the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, has stood in the shadows of those around her, including her millionaire father and vibrant older sister, who often steals the spotlight. Then Anne, a college senior with hidden literary aspirations, travels to Mexico City to spend Christmas with her family. There she meets Colonel Charles Lindbergh, fresh off his celebrated 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic. Enthralled by Charles’s assurance and fame, Anne is certain the celebrated aviator has scarcely noticed her. But she is wrong. Charles sees in Anne a kindred spirit, a fellow adventurer, and her world will be changed forever.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Melanie Benjamin’s bio.
-Click here to visit Melanie Benjamin’s official website.
-Connect with Melanie Benjamin on Facebook and Twitter.