November 22, 2013

Today is a day when everyone born in 1958 and earlier has a story of “where they were” 50 years ago when they heard “THE news.” (I am guessing anyone younger than that does not have this memory.) For me, I was in second grade. An announcement came over the loudspeaker sharing the news of John F. Kennedy’s assassination, and our teacher flipped on the television that usually was reserved for watching educational programs and moon launches. From there came a number of other memories: of Jackie, “the salute,” the riderless horse, and so many more. The other night, I tuned in to the CNN documentary "The Sixties: The Assassination of President Kennedy" just at the point where they were showing Lee Harvey Oswald being shot. I remembered watching that live; seeing it again, it was just as I remembered it. Watching this, I am happy that Caroline Kennedy left for Japan last week. The endless footage and commentary here would have been so difficult for her.

Earlier this week, I was watching an HBO documentary about Moms Mabley produced by Whoopi Goldberg. During it, Moms sang “Abraham, Martin and John,” and Whoopi commented how “these assassinations took so much out of everyone.” You actually can see it on people’s faces in the footage of people who lined the funeral route and to think that this was just the start of what was to come. A reminder: we have one of our signature bookshelves with Kennedy titles here. And my son, Greg, was going through some books in his room and found FOUR DAYS, which you can see above. My dad brought that home from his job at The Jersey Journal, a New Jersey newspaper, in the weeks after the shooting. It was compiled by UPI and American Heritage Magazine. I remember reading it more than once.

On Wednesday night, I watched the National Book Awards on C-SPAN 2, which was a fun way to catch the event and have a chance to multi-task doing some email and some knitting. I never would have gotten away with the latter at this black-tie event, though the idea of it is pretty humorous. James McBride won for fiction with THE GOOD LORD BIRD, George Packer took the nonfiction prize with THE UNWINDING: An Inner History of the New America, Mary Szybist won for Poetry with INCARNADINE: Poems, and Cynthia Kadohata’s prize was for THE THING ABOUT LUCK in the Young People’s Category. You can watch the event online here, including speeches by Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou and E.L. Doctorow.

This weekend, I would have loved to be in Miami for the Miami Book Fair, but since a really hectic schedule at work and home has me grounded here, I am happy to share that some of the coverage of the event will be broadcast on C-SPAN 2. The Saturday schedule is here, and the Sunday schedule is here. If you will be at the Fair, let me know. We will send you some interview questions so you can share what you enjoyed.

When we left off last week, I was reading YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN by Jean Hanff Korelitz, which will be in stores on March 18th. It’s terrific, the kind of book that “works” on so many levels and tracks well right to the end. In it, Grace Reinhart Sachs is gearing up to do publicity for her advice book on the mistakes that women make in relationships that they “should have known about” if they paid careful attention to early signals. It too is called You Should Have Known. Grace is married to a successful pediatric cancer doctor and has a 12-year-old son, Henry, to whom she gives lots of attention. She is living her parents’ life in the apartment that they once owned, and Henry attends the tony private school, which she attended as a child. It’s a “perfect” world until it unravels. The trigger for her that something is wrong? She calls her husband while he is on a business trip and she hears the phone ring; it’s stuffed in the back of the night table next to their bed, with a fading signal. And from that moment on, Grace’s very predictable world is anything but. I am predicting great things for this one. So make a note that it is coming NOW. And it will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection.

It’s a week of mourning for the book world. Among the greats who died are Doris Lessing, whose THE GOLDEN NOTEBOOK was embraced by the '70s feminist movement (she told NPR that she found that notion “stupid”). Also, Barbara Park, author of the Junie B. Jones series, passed away this week way too young from ovarian cancer. She helped found sistersinsurvival.org to raise money for women with ovarian cancer.

And one more 50-year-old obit note. C.S. Lewis passed away 50 years ago today, and his death was largely overshadowed by Kennedy's.

On a brighter note...this week I spent a lot of time on the subway zipping from meeting to meeting. On three separate occasions, I saw moms and/or nannies reading to young children on the train. The children were really engaged. Nice way to spend "track time" and foster reading as something to do on the train! Let me know if you have seen parents “share” reading with kids any other interesting ways. I was picturing these children as future Kidsreads.com readers!

On Sunday night, I got a note from Knit-a-Bit, a yarn shop in Westfield that sends perky weekly emails. This issue had a feature book that combined two of my favorite hobbies: knitting and reading. LITERARY KNITS is “a book filled with 30 patterns inspired by favorite literary characters from classic fiction. From WUTHERING HEIGHTS to THE GREAT GATSBY, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE to A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN, the patterns in this book offer ideas and inspiration for all ages and skill levels. The book is divided into 4 sections: Women's Accessories, Women's Shawls and Garments, Knits for Men, and Knits for Children. Some of the outstanding patterns in the first 2 sections include the Meg Mittens and Jo Mittens from LITTLE WOMEN, The Daisy Cloche from THE GREAT GATSBY, the Jane Eyre Shawl, and the Lady Brett Ashley Pullover from THE SUN ALSO RISES.” Sounds like fun!

Now for this week’s lineup.

David Baldacci returns with what is sure to be the must-read of the month, KING AND MAXWELL. Teenager Tyler Wingo is shocked and confused to receive a message from his father, believed to be killed fighting in Afghanistan. Wary but hopeful, he hires two investigators to solve the mystery. As they delve deeper into the message’s origins, it becomes clear that nothing is what it seems. According to reviewer Kate Ayers, “With everything in the news about the Middle East, oil, arms, terrorists and endless scandals, David Baldacci’s latest thriller is not only highly relevant, it is also well timed. And the details seem so real that it’s hard not to wonder if the author is an insider; the tone is that authentic.”

Joshilyn Jackson’s humorous and touching new novel, SOMEONE ELSE’S LOVE STORY, tells the story of a young woman juggling an education, a child, and two bitterly divorcing parents. The last thing she needs is to stumble upon a robbery, and even worse, maybe fall for the man who steps between the robber and her son to protect him. Reviewer Terry Miller Shannon raves, “I've read a string of truly excellent books lately, but I believe SOMEONE ELSE'S LOVE STORY just might top them all. I literally could not wait to get to this book each day, with its blend of humor, tragedy, mystery, secrets, and love of all kinds.” This book is on my shelf…and Terry’s comments have me thinking it’s moving to the top of my pile. I am kicking myself that I did not read it sooner. Not enough hours in the days to read all that I want!

In MY MISTAKE, Daniel Menaker looks back on his career at The New Yorker, where he began as a fact checker in 1969. When he started, Daniel was bluntly assured he wouldn’t be around for long, but wound up staying for more than 20 years. We hear about the ups and downs of a writing life, along with his own story, both of which combine for a witty and gritty memoir that only a lifelong lover of language could write. Harvey Freedenberg has our review and says, “[Menaker’s] 26 years at [The New Yorker], followed by 12 years as an editor at Random House and HarperCollins, form the spine of this charming memoir. At its heart, however, lies the story of how one intelligent and sensitive man has carried on with patient good humor in the face of an ample share of what life hands out in the way of both sadness and joy.”

On a personal note, a few years ago, I was racing downtown to a black-tie book awards event (I think it was the National Book Awards) and could not find a cab, so I hopped on the downtown bus. A man got on behind me, also wearing black tie, and as he had walked out of the Random House office, I realized he was on the way to the same event. We chatted a bit, and as we walked off the bus, the heavens opened and it began to rain. He popped open an umbrella and beckoned me to step under it as we raced to the event. And there in my little black dress, I felt like I was Audrey Hepburn in a movie. My knight with the umbrella was….Daniel Menaker. Fun memory.

We’re continuing to honor the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s assassination by spotlighting four new reviews of recently released JFK titles: FIVE DAYS IN NOVEMBER, Secret Service agent Clint Hill’s chilling firsthand account of that fateful day in Dallas; END OF DAYS, in which James L. Swanson brings to life the minute-by-minute details of the assassination; IF KENNEDY LIVED, an alternate history by Jeff Greenfield, who takes a look at Kennedy’s presidency after November 22, 1963; and TOP DOWN, a work of fiction in which Jim Lehrer tells the story of two men haunted by the events leading up to the assassination.

Coming out on Tuesday, November 26th is CITY OF LOST DREAMS by Magnus Flyte, the sequel to CITY OF DARK MAGIC and the latest book in our Paperback Spotlight. In search of a cure for her sick friend, Sarah Weston becomes the target in a deadly web of intrigue that involves a scientist on the run, stolen art, seductive pastries, a few surprises from long-dead alchemists, a distractingly attractive horseman who's more than a little bloodthirsty, and a trail of secrets and lies. But nothing will be more dangerous than the brilliant and vindictive villain who seeks to bend time itself. Click here for more.

Long before he was a bestselling author and successful screenwriter, the late Michael Crichton was an honors student at Harvard Medical School and wrote hard-boiled mysteries and pulp adventures on the side under the pen name “John Lange.” Now, for the first time, the Lange books are being republished under the author’s real name by the publisher Hard Case Crime. On November 1st, our reviewer Tom Callahan took a look at four of the books in the series --- SCRATCH ONE, EASY GO, GRAVE DESCEND and BINARY --- which released that week. As promised, we now have Part Two of Tom's piece, in which he discusses the other four books in the series --- ODDS ON, ZERO COOL, THE VENOM BUSINESS and DRUG OF CHOICE --- which came out this week.

Our Holiday Cheer contests continue for a second week. On select days this holiday season, we’re posting a number of 24-hour contests that will give you the opportunity to win some fabulous books. As always, we’ll be sending our special Holiday Cheer newsletter on the days when there are contests. If you would like to sign up for these email alerts, click here. This week, we gave away THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL by Jane Maas, MORNING GLORY by Sarah Jio and TUSCAN ROSE by Belinda Alexandra. Next week’s prize books will be DUKE: A Life of Duke Ellington by Terry Teachout and WHEELMEN by Reed Albergotti and Vanessa O'Connell. Our first giveaway of the week will go live on Monday, November 25th at noon ET. You can see the complete list of Holiday Cheer titles here, which are perfect for gift giving and gift receiving!

This week’s poll continues to ask about your holiday shopping plans. When are you planning to start this year? And if you’re giving books as presents, when exactly will you shop for them? Please let us know by voting in our poll, which will be open until Friday, December 6th at noon ET.

Also, be sure to let us know what you’re reading in our Word of Mouth contest, and you’ll have a chance to win a copy of the aforementioned KING AND MAXWELL by David Baldacci and SOMEONE ELSE’S LOVE STORY by Joshilyn Jackson, along with THE SUPREME MACARONI COMPANY by Adriana Trigiani (which we’ll be reviewing next week). All you have to do is fill out the form found on this page by Friday, December 6th at noon ET.

A few weeks ago, Greg asked us if we would like to have a fresh turkey for Thanksgiving this year. A friend of a friend raises a small number of turkeys for Thanksgiving. They have a small list of turkey recipients, but this year, one of the usual gobbler fans is out of town --- and as all turkeys survived the summer (a real issue), we were asked if we wanted one. The turkey will be about 20 pounds and will cost $3.50 a pound. Now given that most grocery stores give turkeys away, or run them as some sort of promotion, we now will have our most expensive Thanksgiving turkey ever. At this point, we are doing dinner with just my parents, thus I see lots and lots of leftovers in our future. Confession: I fear there still will be feathers on the bird!

I am on an organizing tear around the house. Books are moving from room to room…and a big batch were moved to the office this week. Greg put together three IKEA bookshelves for me in our New York office, and they already are pretty filled in. I keep finessing and organizing and moving things around. I am “decorating with books.” As I look at the covers, it’s a trip down memory lane as I recall plots and where I was when I read most of the titles. There are also lots of books that I “will get to!”

Next week, the newsletter will be out on Wednesday instead of Friday so the staff will be able to enjoy the long weekend. Here’s to a great five days ’til you hear from us again. Read on…..

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

KING AND MAXWELL by David Baldacci (Thriller)
Teenager Tyler Wingo learns that his father was killed in action in Afghanistan. Then the extraordinary happens: Tyler receives a communication from his father after his supposed death. Tyler hires Sean King and Michelle Maxwell to solve the mystery surrounding his father. But their investigation quickly leads to deeper, more troubling questions. Could Tyler's father really still be alive? What was his true mission? Could Tyler be the next target? Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to visit David Baldacci’s official website.

TAKEDOWN TWENTY: A Stephanie Plum Novel by Janet Evanovich (Mystery)
When powerful mobster Salvatore “Uncle Sunny” Sunucchi goes on the lam in Trenton, it’s up to New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum to find him. Uncle Sunny is charged with murder for running over a guy (twice), and nobody wants to turn him in. Even Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, has skin in the game. The godfather is his actual godfather, and his grandmother is doing everything she can to throw Stephanie off the trail. Reviewed by Maggie Harding.

-Click here to read more about the book.

WHITE FIRE by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (Thriller)
Special Agent Pendergast’s arrival at an exclusive Colorado ski resort to rescue his protégée, Corrie Swanson, from serious trouble with the law coincides with the first attack of a murderous arsonist who begins burning down mansions with the families locked inside. Eventually, he uncovers a mysterious connection between several miners who were killed 150 years earlier and a fabled, long-lost Sherlock Holmes story --- one that might just offer the key to the modern-day killings as well. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.

-Click here to read more about the book.

CITY OF LOST DREAMS by Magnus Flyte (Fantasy)
In this action-packed sequel to CITY OF DARK MAGIC, we find musicologist Sarah Weston in Vienna in search of a cure for her friend Pollina, who is now gravely ill and who may not have much time left. Meanwhile, Nicolas Pertusato, in London in search of an ancient alchemical cure for the girl, discovers an old enemy is one step ahead of him. In Prague, Prince Max tries to unravel the strange reappearance of a long-dead saint while being pursued by a seductive red-headed historian with dark motives of her own.

In the city of Beethoven, Mozart and Freud, Sarah becomes the target in a deadly web of intrigue that involves a scientist on the run, stolen art, seductive pastries, a few surprises from long-dead alchemists, a distractingly attractive horseman who's more than a little bloodthirsty, and a trail of secrets and lies. But nothing will be more dangerous than the brilliant and vindictive villain who seeks to bend time itself. Sarah must travel deep into an ancient mystery to save the people she loves.

CITY OF LOST DREAMS releases on November 26th.
 

-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to visit Magnus Flyte’s official website.
-Connect with Magnus Flyte on Facebook and Twitter.

SOMEONE ELSE'S LOVE STORY by Joshilyn Jackson (Fiction)
In this delightful and nuanced tale, young single mom Shandi Pierce stumbles into the middle of a mini-mart robbery. Although her main concern is for her three-year-old son, Natty, the actions of a stranger named William Ashe cause her to plunge irrevocably in love with him. Considering that Shandi has issues with her parents and with circumstances surrounding the virgin birth (yes, virgin birth) of Natty, and that William has considerable baggage of his own, the hopeful romantic is in for quite the ride. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.

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

MY MISTAKE: A Memoir by Daniel Menaker (Memoir)
Daniel Menaker started as a fact checker at The New Yorker in 1969. With luck, hard work, and the support of William Maxwell, he was eventually promoted to editor. Never beloved by William Shawn, he was advised early on to find a position elsewhere; he stayed for another 24 years. Now Menaker brings us a new view of life in that wonderfully strange place and beyond, throughout his more than 40 years working to celebrate language and good writing. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.

-Click here to read more about the book.

FIVE DAYS IN NOVEMBER by Clint Hill, with Lisa McCubbin (Memoir)
On the night JFK was assassinated, a photo ran on the front pages of newspapers across the world, showing a Secret Service agent jumping on the back of the presidential limousine in a desperate attempt to protect the President and Mrs. Kennedy. Now Secret Service Agent Clint Hill commemorates the 50th anniversary of the tragedy with a book containing more than 150 photos, each accompanied by Hill’s insider account of those terrible days. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.

END OF DAYS: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy by James L. Swanson (History)
The assassination of John F. Kennedy has been the subject of enduring debate, speculation and numerous conspiracy theories. But James L. Swanson's account follows the event hour-by-hour, from the moment Lee Harvey Oswald conceived of the crime three days before its execution, to his own murder two days later at a Dallas Police precinct at the hands of Jack Ruby, a two-bit nightclub owner. Reviewed by Rebecca Kilberg.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.

IF KENNEDY LIVED: The First and Second Terms of President John F. Kennedy: An Alternate History by Jeff Greenfield (Alternative History)
How would America and the world have been different if President Kennedy survived his trip to Dallas on 11/22/63? This is the question five-time Emmy Award-winning political commentator Jeff Greenfield asks and answers in IF KENNEDY LIVED. He finds that the JFK assassination was a historical moment literally when everything changed. Reviewed by Tom Callahan.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.

TOP DOWN: A Novel of the Kennedy Assassination by Jim Lehrer (Historical Fiction)
As Air Force One touches down in Dallas, ambitious young newspaper reporter Jack Gilmore races to get the scoop on preparations for President Kennedy’s motorcade. Will the bubble top on the presidential limousine be up or down? Down, according to veteran Secret Service agent Van Walters. The decision to leave the top down and expose JFK to fire from above will weigh on Van’s conscience for decades. But will it also change the course of history? Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.

NO ESCAPE by Mary Burton (Romantic Suspense)
Even behind bars, serial killer Harvey Lee Smith exudes menace. Psychologist Jolene Granger has agreed to hear his dying confession, vowing not to let the monster inside her head. And Harvey has secrets to share --- about bodies that were never found, and about the apprentice who is continuing his grisly work...

He buries his victims alive the way his mentor Harvey did, relishing their final screams as the earth rains down. And as one last gift to the only father he knew, he'll make the most perfect kill of all.

Everything about this investigation is unnerving Jo, from Harvey's fascination with her to the fact that she's working alongside Texas Ranger Brody Winchester, her ex-husband. Harvey's protégé is growing bolder and more vicious every day. And soon the trail of shallow graves will lead them to the last place Jo expected, and to the most terrifying truth of all...

-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Mary Burton’s bio.
-Click here to visit Mary Burton’s official website.
-Click here to read more about Mary Burton on the publisher’s website.
-Connect with Mary Burton on Facebook and Twitter.
-Click here to see the 25 winners selected to read and comment on the book.

THE ANTIDOTE: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking by Oliver Burkeman: Thought-provoking, counterintuitive and ultimately uplifting, THE ANTIDOTE is the intelligent person’s guide to understanding the much-misunderstood idea of happiness.

THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak: Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II, Death tells the story of Liesel --- a young German girl whose book-stealing and story-telling helps sustain her foster parents and the Jewish man they are hiding in their basement, as well as their neighbors.

HILD by Nicola Griffith: Bringing to life a dynamic woman at the center of early medieval British history, HILD is a captivating novel of a beautiful, brutal world, where kingdoms are shaped by the sword and love often depends on the whims of politics.

THE HOUSE GIRL by Tara Conklin: Lina Sparrow, an ambitious first-year associate in an elite Manhattan law firm, is given a difficult, highly sensitive assignment that can make her career: find the “perfect plaintiff” to lead a historic class-action lawsuit worth trillions of dollars in reparations for the descendants of American slaves.

THE LOST ART OF MIXING by Erica Bauermeister: National bestselling author Erica Bauermeister returns to the enchanting world of THE SCHOOL OF ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS in this luminous sequel about the power of love, food and companionship.

THE MELODY OF SECRETS by Jeffrey Stepakoff: Jeffrey Stepakoff's THE MELODY OF SECRETS is an epic love story set against the 1960s U.S. space program, when deeply buried secrets could threaten not just a marriage, but a country.

THE RETURNED by Jason Mott: A spellbinding and stunning debut New York Times bestseller, THE RETURNED is an unforgettable story that marks the arrival of an important new voice in contemporary fiction.

THE SUPREME MACARONI COMPANY by Adriana Trigiani: THE SUPREME MACARONI COMPANY takes readers from the cobblestone streets of Greenwich Village, to lush New Orleans, and home to Italy, while exploring the tricky dynamics between old world craftsmanship and new world ambition, and the ultimate love affair that fuels one woman’s determination to have it all.

THE TULIP EATERS by Antoinette van Heugten: In a riveting exploration of the power the past wields over the present, critically acclaimed author Antoinette van Heugten writes the story of a woman whose child’s life hangs in the balance, forcing her to confront the roots of her family’s troubled history in the dark days of World War II.

WE ARE WATER by Wally Lamb: From New York Times bestselling author Wally Lamb comes a disquieting and ultimately uplifting novel about a marriage, a family, and human resilience in the face of tragedy.

THE YELLOW EYES OF CROCODILES by Katherine Pancol: LE DIVORCE meets THE ELEGANCE OF THE HEDGEHOG in this hilariously entertaining mega-bestseller from France.
 

THE MINOR ADJUSTMENT BEAUTY SALON: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith (Mystery)
Precious Ramotswe has taken on two puzzling cases. Lawyer Mma Sheba, the executor of a deceased farmer’s estate, has a feeling that the young man who has stepped forward may be falsely impersonating the farmer’s nephew in order to claim his inheritance. Meanwhile, rumors are swirling that the Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon is using dangerous products that burn people’s skin. Could someone be trying to put the salon out of business? Reviewed by Roz Shea.

-Click here to read an excerpt.

REPORT FROM THE INTERIOR by Paul Auster (Memoir)

REPORT FROM THE INTERIOR is Paul Auster’s follow-up to last year’s WINTER JOURNAL, a memoir in which, at age 64, he looked back on joyous as well as painful memories of his life. In his latest book, he writes about the salient events of his childhood, analyzes films that affected him in middle school, and shares letters he wrote in his late teens and early 20s to Lydia Davis, who would become his first wife. Reviewed by Michael Magras.

THE SPYMISTRESS by Jennifer Chiaverini (Historical Fiction)

Surrounded by rabid Confederate supporters and soldiers in her native Virginia in 1861, abolitionist Elizabeth Van Lew risks everything she holds dear to help the Union and its troops through covert operations and smuggled messages in this fascinating novel that tells the tale of one of America's bravest women. Reviewed by Amie Taylor.

LOSS OF INNOCENCE by Richard North Patterson (Historical Fiction)
The time is June 1968, and America is in turmoil, engulfed in civil unrest in the midst of an unpopular war. As seen through the eyes of 21-year-old Whitney Dane, the summer with her family at Martha’s Vineyard should provide certainty and safety. By the end of that summer, the lives of Whitney and all those closest to her will change in dramatic ways. Reviewed by Ray Palen.

THE HUNTER AND OTHER STORIES by Dashiell Hammett, edited by Richard Layman and Julie M. Rivett(Crime Fiction/Short Stories)
THE HUNTER AND OTHER STORIES includes new Dashiell Hammett stories gleaned from his personal archives along with screen treatments long buried in film-industry files. The best of Hammett's unfamiliar treasures have been rescued from deep in these archives: screen stories, unpublished and rarely published fiction, and intriguing unfinished narratives. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.

BECOMING MR. OCTOBER by Reggie Jackson, with Kevin Baker (Memoir)
BECOMING MR. OCTOBER is a revelatory self-portrait of baseball icon Reggie Jackson at the height of his public fame and private anguish. Filled with anecdotes about the notorious “Bronx Zoo” Yankees of the late 1970s and bluntly honest portrayals of his teammates and competitors, this is baseball history as can be told only by the man who lived it. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan.

FOUND: A Matt Royal Mystery by H. Terrell Griffin (Mystery)
The quiet of Longboat Key, Florida, is shattered when an old man is shot to death, and his murderer is killed while fleeing the police. Retired attorney Matt Royal and Detective Jennifer Diane (J.D.) Duncan are pursued by men who would do them harm. As the mystery deepens, a ragtag group of devious and dangerous characters intrudes on the lives of the islanders, creating a kind of havoc unusual for a sun-splashed island full of retirees and beach bums. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.

Poll:

When are you planning to start your holiday shopping this year?

I already started.
I already am done.
I start right before Thanksgiving.
I start right after Thanksgiving.
I wait until December.
I wait until the absolute last minute.
I do not do holiday shopping.


Thinking about books as holiday presents, which best describes when you shop for them?

When I am doing the rest of my holiday shopping.
After most of my holiday shopping is done.
I make a special trip for buying books.
They are a last-minute purchase.
I buy them throughout the year.
I do not give books as holiday gifts.

-Click here to answer the poll.


Word of Mouth:

Tell us your current reading recommendations with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from November 15th to December 6th, FIVE lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of KING AND MAXWELL by David Baldacci, SOMEONE ELSE'S LOVE STORY by Joshilyn Jackson, and THE SUPREME MACARONI COMPANY by Adriana Trigiani.

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.

Please note: You must enter your full address, using correct capitalization and filling in all fields if you would like to be eligible to win a prize.

Also, we realize that many times, your opinion of a book will change as you get further along into the story. Thus, to ensure that your comments and ratings accurately reflect your entire reading experience, we ask that you finish reading the book before you submit your comments about it.

One important technical note: If you're using an iPad or another iOS device to access the Word of Mouth page and you would like to enter the contest, you must wait for the page to fully load before you can rate your book. Only then will the stars be clickable.

-Click here to enter the contest.
-To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.

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 LOST ART OF MIXING by Erica Bauermeister
We are celebrating the paperback release of THE LOST ART OF MIXING by Erica Bauermeister --- a luminous sequel to THE SCHOOL OF ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS about the power of love, food and companionship --- with a special contest. 10 groups will have the opportunity to chat with Erica Bauermeister and receive up to 12 copies of the book, which is now available in paperback. The deadline for entries is Thursday, December 5th at noon ET.

THE YELLOW EYES OF CROCODILES by Katherine Pancol
We are celebrating the upcoming release of THE YELLOW EYES OF CROCODILES by Katherine Pancol, a hilariously entertaining mega-bestseller from France, with a special contest. 25 readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of the book, which will be in stores on December 31st, for their group. The deadline for entries is Thursday, December 5th at noon ET.

THE RETURNED by Jason Mott
We are celebrating the release of THE RETURNED by Jason Mott --- a page-turning debut novel that explores timeless questions of faith and morality, love and responsibility --- with a special contest. 25 readers will have the opportunity to each win a copy of the book, which is now in stores, for their group. The deadline for entries is Thursday, December 5th at noon ET.

"What Are You Reading?" Monthly Contest Feature
Let us know what your group is reading in November, and you will be entered in a giveaway to win multiple copies of a book for your group! Our latest prize book is THE BOOK THIEF, Markus Zusak’s award-winning novel that will be released as a movie on November 15th. We have 12 copies of the book to give away to three groups. Enter here by Thursday, December 5th at noon ET for your chance to win copies for you and your group members.

Kidsreads.com

BATTLE BUNNY by Jon Scieszka, Mac Barnett and Matthew Myers
To celebrate the release of the hilarious mash-up from Jon Scieszka, Mac Barnett and Matthew Myers, we'd like to offer you the opportunity to make your very own Battle Bunny for a chance to win prizes! In BATTLE BUNNY, Alex is given a sappy book about a bunny's birthday, but decides to make it interesting by creating his own doomsday story on top of it. For this contest, we'd like you to grab a pencil, sharpen your creativity, and transform a page of this story! The deadline for entries is Friday, December 6th at noon ET.

FaithfulReader.com

FaithfulReader.com's Monthly Contest
In FaithfulReader.com's latest monthly contest, 10 readers will win a copy of CRITICAL REACTION by Todd M. Johnson, a riveting fictional journey though our legal system complete with danger, deception, and an unrelenting pursuit of truth. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, December 18th at noon ET.