March 6, 2015

Are you ready for the clocks to change on Sunday? While the whole staff is excited about the extra hour of daylight in the evening, I am mourning the loss of an hour on Sunday. I guess I am too shortsighted, or I know I am dreading next week when everyone drags a bit at the beginning before catching up on lost sleep. After snow this past Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, I am ready to see green grass and flowers again.

On Tuesday night, during an evening when my commute home was a three-hour odyssey, I lamented that I did not have an audiobook with me. The next night, I made sure not to repeat that mistake, and I was prepared with the audiobook of LEAVING BERLIN by Joseph Kanon (just in stores this week), which is read by Corey Brill. Last week, I realized something about my listening. I am not as fond of British narrators as I thought I would be. While the narrators of both ALAN TURING: The Enigma --- which The Imitation Game was based on --- and THE END OF THE AFFAIR, narrated by Colin Firth, were excellent, I could not wrap myself around their accents. My dad has the same issue with British television shows. I need to look into this more!

I typically write from home on Fridays, but today I was happy to go into the city to meet two authors. First was Bill Clegg, who has written a novel called DID YOU EVER HAVE A FAMILY, which I tore through over the holidays and am just wild about. It’s not being published until September 15th, but you need to take note of it now. When it opens, a woman is dealing with a tragedy at her home, trying to piece together what happened and cope with the loss of many she loved. To me, the varying interconnected characters were reminiscent of OLIVE KITTERIDGE. I confess, though, that in the latter book, I did not like the main character, thus it was not one of my favorites --- though the conclusion was satisfying.

Conversely, in DID YOU EVER HAVE A FAMILY, I immediately became attached to the characters, and the twists and turns kept me reading. I was invested in the story and loved how it spread across a broad canvas, but came together in a realistic way. It reminded me how, while we are far-flung these days, there are many connections binding us together, some completely unexpected. Bill worked on this book for seven years; in his "day job" he is a literary agent. He spoke about the fact that he has not lost someone dear to him in his life, but he was inspired to write this book by the fear of losing someone and found exploring that to be an intriguing idea. The way you are empathetic towards the characters speaks to how his goal was accomplished. This will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. See a photo of me with Bill in the upper left.

I caught up with Paula McLain today at a pre-publication lunch for her new novel, CIRCLING THE SUN, which I devoured. It will be in stores on July 28th. Her subject here is the life of Beryl Markham, and it is set in Kenya. As I loved THE PARIS WIFE, I approached CIRCLING THE SUN with some trepidation as I wanted to enjoy it as much. I am happy to report that I did, and that it, too, will be a Bets On pick. The story swells and rolls with equal parts passion and drama. Paula clearly loved the character of Beryl, who she discovered after reading her book, WEST WITH THE NIGHT. It inspired her to want to know more about this woman. The more she read, the more she was intrigued by Beryl --- and it shows as she has created a very vivid picture of her.

Paula was just back from Africa where she spent two weeks traveling to places that were pivotal to Markham's life. She shared a story about being in the house that Markham's father had built for her, and she was transported by place and time by being there.

To give this story a bit of spice, Beryl was close friends with Karen Blixen, the writer, and Denys Finch Hatton, the English big game hunter, and they are key characters in this book. Both Beryl and Karen had love affairs with Denys. Note that Karen and Denys were portrayed in the movie Out of Africa, which I am planning to rent to explore more about the time period. Also note that Beryl was not portrayed in that movie, nor was she in the book. And Karen had no place in Beryl's book either. Such a juicy tidbit, eh? Book groups are going to love this one! Paula and I are pictured above on the right.

Last weekend, I lost myself in a memoir that grabbed me from the first page, DANGEROUS WHEN WET by Jamie Brickhouse. I know Jamie professionally, and a while ago, he shared that he was writing a book. I knew that part of the theme had to do with his overcoming his addiction to alcohol, but I was not aware how complicated his story was. His mother was larger than life and hugely dominated his world. He left Beaumont, Texas, first for college and then to come to New York to take a publishing course because his mother always thought he should be a writer. With blistering prose that contrasts with laugh-out-loud funny sections, Jamie pours out his story of coming out, going wild, getting even more out of control, and getting his life back on course. To do that, the influence of Mama Jean was something he needed to come to grips with. In some parts, he truly unravels, and I found myself trying to parse that information with the person I know. We will have more on this aptly named novel, but note its publication date of April 28th.

Greg is on the board of the World Ship Society, which meets monthly in NYC. Last week, the speaker was John Maxtone-Graham, whose latest book is SS UNITED STATES: Red, White and Blue Riband, Forever. He signs them in two colors of fountain pen, and then attendees leave them open to dry. A very special moment and signature, and we are sharing a photo above.

This begs our latest poll question: How do you feel about signed books? Do you actively try to get books signed at author events? Do you go to stores where you can get signed books? Or do you have no interest whatsoever in signed books? Let us know your thoughts about this in our latest poll! In our previous poll, we wanted to know which books releasing this month you’re planning to read. AT THE WATER’S EDGE by Sara Gruen received the most votes at 41%; this was followed by THE STRANGER by Harlan Coben (36%), WORLD GONE BY by Dennis Lehane (27%) and A DANGEROUS PLACE: A Maisie Dobbs Novel, by Jacqueline Winspear (23%). Click here for all the results.

Now on to the rest of this week’s lineup….

From Booker Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro comes THE BURIED GIANT, his first novel in a decade. Following war and the Romans’ departure, Britain is falling to ruin in this post-Arthurian tale. Axl and Beatrice, an elderly couple, decide that now is their chance to journey across the turbulent and misty land to find their son. Though they expect to face many dangers --- some otherworldly --- they are soon joined by a Saxon warrior, his orphan charge and a knight. As the unlikely group crosses the country to find what they have lost, they discover the remarkable power of memory.

Michael Magras offers his take on the book in his review: “This is Ishiguro as Tennyson by way of Tolkien…. As always, Ishiguro writes eloquently about memory and denial... This book is straight-up fantasy. It’s entertaining, and, for fantasy fans, that may be enough…”

Jennifer Chiaverini, New York Times bestselling author of MRS. LINCOLN’S RIVAL, turns her eye to another First Lady in MRS. GRANT AND MADAME JULE. Although Julia Grant was a beloved Civil War general’s wife and First Lady, she struggled with a profound relationship with her slave, Jule. Aside from performing typical servant duties, Jule protected her mistress’s secrets about her poor vision and clairvoyance, becoming her eyes to the world. Following Julia’s marriage to Ulysses and his rise to general in chief of the Union Army, Julia began to struggle with her feminist views and conflicting role as a slaveholder. With the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, however, Jule claimed her freedom and became a prominent businesswoman, crossing paths with the First Lady throughout her life.

Reviewer Jana Siciliano says, “MRS. GRANT AND MADAME JULE manages to put a very deep and incisive specificity to the women’s lives that makes us feel as if we are living with them each step of their journey together. It is a real joy to read about the friendship of deeply caring and intelligent females in a time when the whole world and all its rules and regulations were being reconsidered.”

Debut novelist David Joy takes readers outside the town of Cashiers, North Carolina, in WHERE ALL LIGHT TENDS TO GO. High school dropout Jacob McNeely has worked for his father for years helping him run his meticulously organized meth ring. With the police on his payroll, Jacob’s father is practically unstoppable and Jacob’s life is miserable. His only joy comes from reuniting with his first love, Maggie, a girl destined for greater things than Cashier has to offer. When a tragic mistake changes everything, Jacob must decide whether to stay and appease his cruel father, or leave the only life he’s ever known with the girl he loves.

Joe Hartlaub has our review and says, “[T]his book is a surprise, a master work of southern literature that puts one in the mind of William Faulkner or Cormac McCarthy in some spots, and Ace Atkins in others.” I had the pleasure of meeting David back in October when he was on a pre-publication tour. He shared that before signing the contract for this deal, he had never been on a plane, and thus being published really had him floating on a cloud, literally. I am moving this to the top of my list after reading Joe’s review.

We’re delighted to present our newest Women's Fiction Author Spotlight featuring Katherine Center, whose novel, HAPPINESS IS FOR BEGINNERS, releases on March 24th. Thirty-two-year-old Helen Carpenter is still struggling to find herself after her divorce. In a moment of weakness, she allows her annoying brother, who is 10 years her junior, to talk her into signing up for a wilderness survival course. Before she knows it, Helen is trekking the remote wilderness of a mountain range in Wyoming, battling mosquitoes, a surprise blizzard and, worst of all, a group of sorority sisters. Despite everything, the wilderness seems to help Helen, teaching her some tough --- but very necessary --- lessons along the way. In anticipation of its release, we’re offering 25 readers the chance to win a copy of the book and share their comments about it. The deadline for entries is Thursday, March 19th at noon ET.

Our second new Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight of the week is on Sylvia True, whose novel, THE WEDNESDAY GROUP, features five women battling shameful secrets. Gail, a Boston judge, is plagued by letters from her husband’s girlfriend, even though her husband claims to have stopped having sex with grad students. Hannah, a devoted housewife, is shocked to catch her husband having sex with a male prostitute in a public restroom. Bridget, a psychiatric nurse, is happily in love with her husband, until she learns that he is addicted to chat rooms. Similarly, Lizzy, a high school teacher, is married to a man addicted to porn. Last of all is Flavia, who is working at the library when she learns that her husband has been arrested for groping a young girl on the subway. The women all meet in a support group run by Kathryn, a woman with secrets of her own. To celebrate its March 24th release, we’re offering 25 readers the chance to win a copy of the book and share their comments about it. The deadline for entries is Thursday, March 19th at noon ET. This is a book sure to spur discussion for book groups, and we have a guide to give you some direction for the conversation.

New from Suzanne Woods Fisher comes ANNA’S CROSSING, an Amish Beginnings novel. The year is 1737, and young Anna König is reluctantly boarding the Charming Nancy with her fellow Amish worshippers to journey across the Atlantic for a chance at religious freedom. Anna is the only one in her community who speaks English, so she feels compelled to go, but she has every intention of returning to her beloved Rotterdam --- if she survives the dangerous trip. When Anna meets Bairn, the ship’s carpenter, she is anything but lovestruck by his hardened nature. But when Anna is caught in a perilous situation, Bairn discovers that his faith may still save them both. To celebrate the book's release, Suzanne will be giving away an iPad and a Kindle. Click here for all the details.

HAPPINESS FOR BEGINNERS, THE WEDNESDAY GROUP and ANNA’S CROSSING are just three of the nearly 100 books we’re featuring in this month’s New in Paperback roundups. Others include CHINA DOLLS by Lisa See (which we’re giving away on ReadingGroupGuides.com in our “What’s Your Book Group Reading?” monthly contest), KEEP QUIET by Lisa Scottoline, THE FORTUNE HUNTER by Daisy Goodwin, and GEMINI by Carol Cassella (the last two of which were Bookreporter.com Bets On selections when they released in hardcover).

Author Jonathan Odell has been kind enough to share a blog post about his experiences with racism. Set in pre-Civil Rights Mississippi, his novel, MISS HAZEL AND THE ROSA PARKS LEAGUE (which we reviewed a few weeks ago), follows two young mothers, Hazel and Vida, battling race and the devastating losses of their sons. In his piece, Jonathan discusses how his upbringing encouraged him to be racist and how he “recovered” by discovering a greater empathy. Also, be sure to watch this video where he further explores the issue of race in America. Jana Siciliano had this to say in her review: "The book is a recommended read, especially for those who are looking for something that matches the intensity and offers the possibility for discussion that THE HELP brought to reading groups all over the world." (You can see the rest of that review here.)

The official start of spring is just two weeks away, and it seriously cannot come soon enough, especially this year. To celebrate the warmer and calmer days that we’re all anticipating, we’re bringing back our Spring Preview Feature, where we spotlight a number of hot new books releasing in the spring that you will want to consider adding to your reading list. Starting Tuesday, March 10th at noon ET and continuing through Tuesday, April 21st, we’ll be hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these books on select days. You’ll have to check the site each day to see which title is being given away --- or you can sign up here for our Spring Preview newsletter to be notified when contests go live. Next week, we’ll be awarding these books to the winners of our first three contests: THE CAIRO AFFAIR by Olen Steinhauer, DEAD WAKE: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson and GOLDENEYE: Where Bond Was Born: Ian Fleming’s Jamaica by Matthew Parker (Greg cannot stop raving about this one; he quoted from it over the entire Christmas holiday.) Click here to see all the titles we’re giving away.

We have a new Word of Mouth contest up this week. Let us know by Friday, March 20th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have the chance to win DEAD WAKE by Erik Larson, along with LAST ONE HOME by Debbie Macomber and WORLD GONE BY by Dennis Lehane (we’ll be reviewing all three in next week’s newsletter).

The finalists for the 2014 Los Angeles Times Book Prizes have been announced. Among the nominees are THE SHORT AND TRAGIC LIFE OF ROBERT PEACE by Jeff Hobbs (Current Interest), THE INNOVATORS by Walter Isaacson (History) and AFTER I’M GONE by Laura Lippman (Mystery/Thriller). The winners will be announced on April 18th, but we already know that T.C. Boyle is the 2014 Robert Kirsch Award Winner and Levar Burton is the recipient of the 2014 Innovator’s Award. Click here for all the nominees.


News and Pop Culture:

"House of Cards": I finished the last of the 13 episodes last night. For all the critics who said this was a slow-to-start season, I am not in agreement. I really enjoyed it in the crazy way that one dives into this show. One of our readers, Reeves, mentioned that she has been binging on Netflix this month and not reading as aggressively as she has done since her kids were “itty bitty.” I laughed reading this as it was like she was confessing. I dropped her a note and told her that for penance she should read at least a book a week for four weeks!

HBO Documentary for Book Lovers: Debuting March 23rd is "It's Me, Hilary: The Man Who Drew Eloise, The Story of Hilary Knight, Who Brought the Beloved Children’s Book Icon to Life."

The Postal Service has unveiled their design for a Maya Angelou stamp, based on a portrait by artist Ross Rossin. The stamp will be issued on April 7th.

For those crazy about "Downton Abbey," here are two interesting pieces about it AFTER you have watched the finale: one is a recap, and the second is an interview with Julian Fellowes.

More from the Family of Kelly Corrigan: Last week, I shared some words from Kelly Corrigan upon the passing of her dad, and she mentioned he was the best person in her life. I wondered how her husband felt reading that. Then I read this piece by her husband and smiled.

Jeff Kinney, the author of the Wimpy Kid series, is opening a bookstore. Read more about his thoughts on why he is doing that here.


Last weekend, I decided to make hummus from scratch. This included looking for tahini in the grocery store (located next to the peanut butter) and adopting the Ottolenghi method of soaking beans the night before as I read in their cookbook and then boiling them. Somehow I got the idea that I should remove the skins from the beans as well, thus for TWO HOURS on Sunday I did this while watching "House of Cards." I learned later this was NOT a necessary step. Tell this to my webbed fingertips that needed hours to unshrivel from peeling. The end result was great, but it really needed more lemon to offset the tahini (tip from Nicole in our office). And next time I am going to mix the tahini and lemon before I add in the chickpeas.

Quiet weekend ahead…may there be no snow!

Read on and have a great week…albeit a one-hour shorter one. I vote the hour should be taken from Monday, not Sunday! Who is with me on this?

Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)

P.S. For those of you who shop online, if you use the store links below, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases. We would appreciate your considering this!

• THE 13th DISCIPLE: A Spiritual Adventure by Deepak Chopra
• ALENA by Rachel Pastan
• AT THE WATER'S EDGE by Sara Gruen
• BLOSSOM STREET BRIDES: A Blossom Street Novel by Debbie Macomber
• THE CAIRO AFFAIR by Olen Steinhauer
• THE CAVENDON WOMEN by Barbara Taylor Bradford
• THE DAYLIGHT MARRIAGE by Heidi Pitlor
• DEAD WAKE: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson
• GOLDENEYE: Where Bond Was Born: Ian Fleming's Jamaica by Matthew Parker
• THE HEADMASTER'S WIFE by Thomas Christopher Greene
• THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD: A Memoir by Elizabeth Alexander
• MADEMOISELLE CHANEL by C.W. Gortner
• THE MYSTERY WRITERS OF AMERICA COOKBOOK: Wickedly Good Meals and Desserts to Die For edited by Kate White
• ORHAN'S INHERITANCE by Aline Ohanesian
• PART TIME COWBOY: A Copper Ridge Novel by Maisey Yates
• THE PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER: A Treasures of the Nile Novel by Mesu Andrews
• THE PRECIOUS ONE by Marisa de los Santos
• RE JANE by Patricia Park
• THE ROCKS by Peter Nichols
• THIS HEART OF MINE: A New Whiskey Creek Novel by Brenda Novak
• VISIBLE CITY by Tova Mirvis