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Bookreporter.com Newsletter |
June 12, 2015 |
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Book, Take Me Away!
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I love when I pick up a book, and it takes me on a journey beyond its pages. That happened this week as I was reading THE SILVER SWAN by Elena Delbanco. It got on my radar as I heard that at Elena’s event at Politics & Prose in Washington, DC last weekend, they sold out of books! I had to see what people were excited about. It’s the story of a young woman who is coping with the passing of her father, a famous cellist, when she learns a number of secrets about his life --- and the surprising plan for his Stradivarius cello. Elena writes about this subject with authority as her own father, Bernard Greenhouse, was a famous cellist from the Beaux Arts Trio. When he died, she sold his Stradivarius cello, specifically the Countess of Stainlein ex-Paganini Stradivarius violoncello of 1707.
Our offices are located a block away from Carnegie Hall, and in the blocks surrounding here, there are a number of piano showrooms, as well as buildings that house repair shops for various instruments and practice studios. Reading THE SILVER SWAN, I feel like I am peering into those spaces, albeit better educated on what happens there. I have learned that the person who repairs cellos and other string instruments is called a luthier. I am three-quarters of the way through the story and am thoroughly enjoying it. It’s brisk and smart. We’re lucky enough to have Elena kick off our Father’s Day Blog series with a lovely piece about her dad --- and the one day a year when she knew she could expect him to be home to read to her. We also have a clip of him performing embedded in that blog; wonderful to have that on in the background as I read.
Two of my friends --- Gene and Lourdes --- both love and play the cello; I need to get this book on their radar. Oh, and we’ve added it to our Summer Reading list, and it will be one of our contest titles next week!
This week, I made a big stride in my audiobook journey; I downloaded a title from Audiobooks.com to my phone as I sat in the garage wondering what to listen to next. From downloading the app to actually listening took mere minutes. I had been reluctant to use my phone for this as I typically have Waze running for navigation as I drive and often get/make calls via my Bluetooth headset. But this proved to be soooo easy that I am surprised I did not do it sooner. We listened through the phone until Greg rummaged through the pile of cords in the center console of my car and unearthed a cord to run the sound through the car speakers. In the midst of a hectic week, I wanted something light, so Greg and I opted for THE BOOK OF JOAN: Tales of Mirth, Mischief, and Manipulation by Melissa Rivers. We were amused.
Wondering what some big book group-friendly titles will be? As you may recall, we hosted a Book Group Speed Dating session at BEA; 27 publishers presented 138 titles in under two hours. Click here for the list of titles, as well as the presentation of the featured titles.
In a book group? People always ask us about book groups and what they do. We want to be sure we are on top of the latest trends for what groups are doing, and for that we turn to YOU! Click here to answer our 2015 Book Group Survey. Respondents are telling us that they love the opportunity to think about their book group as they answer our questions, and others have said that they noted ideas for their own groups. Oh, and there are prizes that you can enter to win once you complete the survey --- $2,500 of them! We REALLY want to know what you think!
And now on to the rest of this week’s update…
Bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank invites readers back to her beloved Carolina Lowcountry with her latest witty and poignant novel, ALL THE SINGLE LADIES. Devoted nurse Lisa St. Clair has seen it all, from single motherhood to the return of her deadbeat ex and the ensuing fight that has divided her from her daughter. When her favorite patient, Kathy Harper, loses her battle with cancer, Lisa finds herself drawn to Carrie and Suzanne, Kathy’s best friends. As these three women begin to bond, they share concerns, life stories and wisdom. At the heart of their friendship, however, is the mystery of Kathy’s life and the effect her death had on each of them.
Amie Taylor has our review and says, “ALL THE SINGLE LADIES is a fine addition to the considerable library of books already penned by inveterate southerner Dorothea Benton Frank. Imbued with the details that easily transport readers to the South Carolina Lowcountry, the novel proves that it's never too late to follow a new path in life and find the happiness and joy that one might have missed out on in earlier years.” On ReadingGroupGuides.com, we’re giving five book groups the chance to win 10 copies of the book. Click here to enter the contest if you’re in a book group and here for the reading group guide.
Barbara Delinsky takes a DIY approach to mother-daughter bonds with her latest novel, BLUEPRINTS. Skilled carpenter Caroline and her architect daughter, Jamie, are the stars of “Gut It!,” a popular home makeover show featuring their family business, MacAfee Homes. But on Caroline’s 65th birthday, she learns that she will no longer be hosting the program, as the producers are trying to attract a young audience by promoting Jamie. Although the decision tears the women apart, it is quickly overshadowed by the death of MacAfee Home’s best marketer --- Caroline’s ex-husband and Jamie’s father, Roy. With Jamie left to care for Roy’s young son, the two women must learn how to fit into their new roles, both in the company and out.
According to reviewer Rebecca Munro, “Delinsky’s prose is never lacking for drama, which would make BLUEPRINTS a terrific read to begin with, but her extensive research into architecture and carpentry are what really makes this book special. Anyone who has ever spent a sick day binge-watching HGTV will appreciate Delinsky’s careful attention to detail and beautiful imagery, particularly when she describes stately Victorian homes under lush greenery.”
By the way, HGTV is one of my go-to networks in the evening when I am writing notes for this newsletter opener or answering emails. The shows are so scripted and formulaic that it is easy to glance at the screen and watch as I write. I still like to try to guess which house they will select...and yes, I know this is a lot more pre-scripted than we are supposed to think!
You can win a copy of ALL THE SINGLE LADIES and BLUEPRINTS, along with THE TRUTH ACCORDING TO US by Annie Barrows (which we’re reviewing next week), in our Word of Mouth contest. Please let us know by Friday, June 19th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win all three books.
From BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP author S. J. Watson comes SECOND LIFE, an unrelenting new psychological thriller. When wife and mother Julia learns that her sister has been violently murdered, she must figure out why. But her quest for information soon begins to reveal more about herself than her sister. She quickly becomes involved with an alluring, dangerous stranger online, putting her happy family life in jeopardy. As her second life begins to take control, she risks losing herself in her secret identity.
Reviewer Joe Hartlaub says, “Things start exploding near the beginning of the final fourth of the book, and when they do, it is as if a rocket has been set off between the covers. Of the book, that is. Think FIFTY SHADES OF GREY meets Fatal Attraction, and you’ll get a very general idea of what you’re in store for in SECOND LIFE.” We also have a guide for this book available on ReadingGroupGuides.com; check it out here. And I have a copy here (love the jacket) that I am looking forward to reading.
Our special contest for CIRCLING THE SUN, Paula McLain’s highly anticipated new book, continues. Set in 1920s Kenya, the novel follows the story of Beryl Markham, a woman who was brought to Kenya as a child and raised by both her father and the native Kipsigis tribe that shares his estate. Taught to maintain the balance of nature, Beryl embarks upon a career as a horse trainer --- but when she attracts the eye of a community of bohemian European expats, her whole life changes. First the rugged Denys Finch Hatton steers her towards flight, beginning her award-winning aviation career. Soon, however, she finds herself caught in a passionate love triangle between Denys and Karen Blixen, author of OUT OF AFRICA. I love, love, love this book! In celebration of the July 28th release of CIRCLING THE SUN, we’re giving away 50 advance copies to readers who would like to read the book and share their comments on it. Click here to enter by Thursday, June 18th at noon ET.
With Father’s Day just a handful of days away, please be sure to enter our 10th Annual Father’s Day Contest if you haven’t already. Five readers will be awarded a prize package that includes all of this year’s featured titles, including RADIANT ANGEL by Nelson DeMille (hitting the New York Times list at #1!) and THE COST OF COURAGE by Charles Kaiser (kicking myself that I have not read this already), along with some goodies we know Dad will love. Be sure to enter here by Monday, June 22nd at noon ET.
In anticipation of next week’s US Open --- and Father’s Day --- our reviewer Stuart Shiffman is back with his annual roundup of golf books for your summer reading. Whether you’re looking to improve your swing, read about some of golf’s greatest players, or simply find the perfect gift for the special man in your life, our roundup is sure to be a hole in one. I will peruse these for ideas for my husband!
And speaking of summer reading… In this week’s Summer Reading contests, we gave away the aforementioned ALL THE SINGLE LADIES and THE TRUTH ACCORDING TO US, along with DINNER WITH BUDDHA by Roland Merullo and KITCHENS OF THE GREAT MIDWEST by J. Ryan Stradal (this book is getting huge buzz). Next week’s prize books will be the aforementioned BLUEPRINTS and THE SILVER SWAN, in addition to THE BOOK OF SPECULATION by Erika Swyler and EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU by Celeste Ng. We will post the first 24-hour contest of the week on Monday, June 15th at noon ET. Have you looked at all the books we are featuring this summer? It’s just a fabulous lineup!
Our Books on Screen feature has been updated for June. In theaters today is Madame Bovary; on the small screen tomorrow is the debut of “Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell” on BBC, and on Thursday is the series premiere of “The Astronaut Wives Club” on ABC; and available on DVD are Wish You Well, World War Z and Serena.
When we are in meetings with publishers, we always hear about new books being compared to older, usually bestselling titles in their genre. Our favorite is when we are told that it can be compared to two or even three books. It can position a book in our heads (though later we may not agree with the comparison). Thus, in our latest poll, we want to know which title comparisons would make you want to read the book. Click here to check out the titles we've listed and let us know what you think! One book clearly is trending on this; let’s see what happens after you weigh in this week.
News and Pop Culture:
World Wide Knit in Public Day: This will be celebrated tomorrow, Saturday, June 13th. I may need to sit in front of the house and knit!
Tony Awards: I loved that the BIG prizes were for plays based on books: “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” and “Fun Home.” Books are such fertile ground for other work.
"Orange Is the New Black" season three: It was supposed to kick off today, but the timing got pushed UP six hours, so it was available last night.
NBA Finals: I have nicknamed this “The LeBron James Show.” Trivia: I was staying at the same hotel as the Cavs in 2009 when they were playing in Miami (the dead giveaway was lots of tall guys by the pool). The next year (2010), he was playing for Miami. Flash forward, and I was in Cleveland for Bouchercon in the fall of 2012, and the taxi driver was telling me how James had driven a revitalization of downtown by invigorating the Cavs before he left. I thought of that when he headed back to Cleveland. Last night as I watched, the Golden State Warriors tied it up with a big win.
Tomorrow night, Tom, Cory and I are headed to a Bat Mitzvah where the color scheme is Tiffany Blue! Needless to say, I have an outfit that will fit in. Greg, meanwhile, is headed to a Quinceañera celebration for our housekeeper’s daughter with our friend, Cathy. (So sad to be missing this event!) The dress code is black and white, so he is wearing a tux. He has been researching the present and customs for this all week. Love that!
The rest of the weekend will be about swimming, water aerobics, reading and sleeping. I do need to do book organizing. I went through ALL of my stacks looking for a book last weekend, only to find that it did not arrive at the house until this week! I thought I was losing my mind. Organizing goes something like this: I start out doing really well, sorting what I have read and not read. Then I find something I like, and the organizing project falls completely by the wayside. Again. Now back to THE SILVER SWAN.
Read on...and have a great week!
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!
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Now in Stores: ALL THE SINGLE LADIES by Dorothea Benton Frank
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ALL THE SINGLE LADIES by Dorothea Benton Frank (Fiction)
Dorothea Benton Frank once again takes us deep into the heart of the magical Lowcountry where three amazing middle-aged women are bonded by another amazing woman’s death. Through their shared loss, they forge a deep friendship, asking critical questions. Who was their friend and what did her life mean? Are they living the lives they imagined for themselves? Will they ever be able to afford to retire? How will they maximize their happiness? Security? Health? And, ultimately, their own legacies? Reviewed by Amie Taylor.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Now in Stores: BLUEPRINTS by Barbara Delinsky
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BLUEPRINTS by Barbara Delinsky (Fiction)
Caroline MacAfee is a skilled carpenter, and her daughter Jamie is a talented architect. Together they are the faces of “Gut It!,” a home renovation series on local public television. But when Caroline is told the network wants her daughter to replace her as host, she is devastated. For Jamie, life changes overnight when, soon after learning of the host shift, her father and his new wife die in a car accident that orphans their two-year-old son. Who am I? Both women ask, as the blueprints they've built their lives around suddenly need revising. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Now in Stores: THE INVASION OF THE TEARLING by Erika Johansen
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THE INVASION OF THE TEARLING by Erika Johansen (Historical Fantasy/Adventure)
With each passing day, Kelsea Glynn is growing into her new responsibilities as Queen of the Tearling. By stopping the shipments of slaves to the neighboring kingdom of Mortmesne, she crossed the Red Queen, who is sending her fearsome army into the Tearling to take what is hers. But as the Mort army draws ever closer, Kelsea develops a mysterious connection to a time before the Crossing, and she finds herself relying on a strange and possibly dangerous ally: a woman named Lily, fighting for her life in a world where being female can feel like a crime. Reviewed by Carly Silver.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Special Contest: Win an Advance Copy of CIRCLING THE SUN by Paula McLain --- and Share Your Comments On It
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We are celebrating the July 28th release of CIRCLING THE SUN by Paula McLain with a special contest that will give 50 readers the opportunity to win an advance copy of the book and submit their comments on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, June 18th at noon ET.
CIRCLING THE SUN by Paula McLain (Historical Fiction)
Paula McLain, author of the phenomenal bestseller THE PARIS WIFE, now returns with her keenly anticipated new novel, transporting readers to colonial Kenya in the 1920s. CIRCLING THE SUN brings to life a fearless and captivating woman --- Beryl Markham, a record-setting aviator caught up in a passionate love triangle with safari hunter Denys Finch Hatton and Karen Blixen, author of the classic memoir OUT OF AFRICA.
Brought to Kenya from England as a child and then abandoned by her mother, Beryl is raised by both her father and the native Kipsigis tribe who share his estate. Her unconventional upbringing transforms Beryl into a bold young woman with a fierce love of all things wild and an inherent understanding of nature’s delicate balance. But even the wild child must grow up, and when everything Beryl knows and trusts dissolves, she is catapulted into a string of disastrous relationships.
Beryl forges her own path as a horse trainer, and her uncommon style attracts the eye of the Happy Valley set, a decadent, bohemian community of European expats who also live and love by their own set of rules. But it’s the ruggedly charismatic Denys Finch Hatton who ultimately helps Beryl navigate the uncharted territory of her own heart. The intensity of their love reveals Beryl’s truest self and her fate: to fly.
-Click here to read Paula McLain’s bio.
-Click here to connect with Paula McLain on Instagram.
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Click here to enter the contest. |
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Now in Stores: SECOND LIFE by S. J. Watson
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SECOND LIFE by S. J. Watson (Psychological Thriller)
How well can you really know another person? How far would you go to find the truth about someone you love? When Julia learns that her sister has been violently murdered, she must uncover why. But Julia's quest quickly evolves into an alluring exploration of her own darkest sensual desires. Becoming involved with a dangerous stranger online, she's losing herself, losing control, perhaps losing everything. Her search for answers will jeopardize her marriage, her family and her life. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Now in Stores: THE FELLOWSHIP by Philip Zaleski and Carol Zaleski
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THE FELLOWSHIP: The Literary Lives of the Inklings: J.R.R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Owen Barfield, Charles Williams by Philip Zaleski and Carol Zaleski (Biography)
For three decades, C. S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and their closest associates formed a literary club known as the Inklings, which met every week in Lewis' Oxford rooms and in nearby pubs. They discussed literature, religion and ideas; read aloud from works in progress; took philosophical rambles in woods and fields; gave one another companionship and criticism; and, in the process, rewrote the cultural history of modern times. In THE FELLOWSHIP, Philip and Carol Zaleski offer the first complete rendering of the Inklings' lives and works. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Bookreporter.com's Father's Day Author Blogs: Celebrating Authors and Their Fathers
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Once again, we’re celebrating Father’s Day with authors who have been kind enough to share with us memories of their fathers reading to them or their own experiences reading to their children. First up is Elena Delbanco, whose debut novel, THE SILVER SWAN, is now available. Click here to read her blog post, "In the Groves on Father’s Day."
Among next week's contributors are Robert Kurson, whose latest book, PIRATE HUNTERS: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship, releases on Tuesday the 16th; and Daniel Palmer, who currently has two thrillers out --- CONSTANT FEAR and TRAUMA, the latter of which he inherited from his late father, bestselling author Michael Palmer, who had been working on the manuscript of the book at the time of his passing.
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Click here to read our Father's Day Author Blogs. |
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Bookreporter.com's 10th Annual Father's Day Contest and Feature: Best Books for Dad
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Father’s Day is a time to celebrate the men in our lives who have raised and loved us. Why not show him your appreciation by inspiring him with a great book? In our 10th annual "Best Books for Dad" contest, we have eight titles that are perfect gift-giving suggestions for Dad, keeping him busy through the rest of the year. Five readers will be awarded a prize package that includes these titles, along with some special treats.
To enter, please fill out this form by Monday, June 22nd at noon ET.
This year's featured titles are:
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Click here to enter the contest and see our featured titles. |
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Bookreporter.com's Summer Reading Contests and Feature
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Summer will be here before you know it! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We will be hosting a number of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days throughout the summer, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also will be sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next prize book will be announced on Monday, June 15th at noon ET.
This year's featured titles include:
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Click here to read all the contest details and see our featured titles. |
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June's Books on Screen Feature
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June is here, and, like the dinosaurs in Jurassic World, movies this month are bigger, faster and full of strange sound effects. As it turns out --- in a plot twist so predictable it could be straight out of Jurassic Park III --- our latest books on screen happen to be a more genteel bunch.
Fans of “Game of Thrones” surely have been satisfied these past few weeks, what with *spoiler* happening and *spoiler* getting *spoilered* on his *spoiler*. And although the season finale is airing mid-month, Jon Snow fans can soothe their separation pains by checking out Testament of Youth in theaters, starring Kit Harington and Alicia Vikander. Based on nurse Vera Brittain’s wistful WWI memoir, it’s the story of love and loss, set during one of the most brutal wars the world has ever known. Fans of 19th-century French literature won’t want to the miss the latest adaptation of MADAME BOVARY; it may be one of countless movie versions of the classic, but it’s the first to be helmed by a female director.
Although we say goodbye to some favorites on the small screen --- like the aforementioned “Games of Thrones” and the charming, if a little uneven, “Younger” --- old summer standbys and a crop of bright, new shows are premiering. ABC’s “The Astronaut Wives Club” --- based on the book of the same name about the seven women married to the astronauts of the Mercury Space Program, America’s first human spaceflight initiative --- looks like glossy period fun, and may be the perfect antidote to our “Mad Men” hangover. Another standout is CBS's “Zoo,” adapted from the James Patterson/Michael Ledwidge thriller, about a global animal uprising.
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Click here to see all the movies, TV shows and DVDs featured in June’s Books on Screen. |
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Summer Golf Reading for 2015
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The world of golf is undergoing change. On June 18th, as the U.S. Open makes its maiden appearance in the Pacific Northwest at Chambers Bay in the State of Washington, there will be a new television team presenting the game to viewers. For decades, NBC broadcast the event, but this year FOX has been given the task of covering the second of golf’s four grand slam tournaments.
There also will be a number of new faces challenging for the title. Many of golf’s long-time major championship contenders seem to have their best days behind them. Tiger Woods’ difficulties are known to all, while former champions Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott are plagued with inconsistent games. The new golf heroes are Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth. Earlier this year, Spieth won the Masters when most of his golfing contemporaries were still preparing for the NCAA college tournament.
Thankfully, in a changing golf world, those who enjoy the game can always rely on a spate of golf publications to appear during the time period between the Masters in April and the U.S. Open in June. This year is no different, and there are some new books that truly merit attention. Reviewer Stuart Shiffman takes a look at five of these offerings.
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Click here for Stuart Shiffman’s roundup of summer golf titles. |
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More Reviews This Week
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THE FIXER by Joseph Finder (Thriller)
When former investigative reporter Rick Hoffman loses his job, fiancée and apartment, his only option is to move back into --- and renovate --- the home of his miserable youth, now empty and in decay since the stroke that put his father in a nursing home. As Rick starts to pull apart the old house, he makes an electrifying discovery: millions of dollars hidden in the walls. Yet the more of his father’s hidden past that Rick brings to light, the more dangerous his present becomes. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
BOOK OF NUMBERS by Joshua Cohen (Fiction)
The enigmatic billionaire founder of Tetration hires failed novelist Josh Cohen to ghostwrite his memoirs. The mogul, known as Principal, brings Josh behind the digital veil, tracing the rise of Tetration, which started in the earliest days of the Internet by revolutionizing the search engine before venturing into smartphones, computers and the surveillance of American citizens. Principal takes Josh on a mind-bending world tour, initiating him into the secret pretext of the autobiography project and the life-or-death stakes that surround its publication. Reviewed by Michael Magras.
CASH LANDING by James Grippando (Thriller)
Every week, a hundred million dollars in cash arrives at Miami International Airport, shipped by German banks to the Federal Reserve. A select group of trusted workers moves the bags through Customs and loads them into armored trucks. Ruban Betancourt has always played by the rules. But the bank taking his house and his restaurant business going bust have driven him over the edge. He and his wife deserve more than life has handed them, and he’s come up with an elaborate scheme to get it. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
DISCLAIMER by Renée Knight (Psychological Thriller)
Finding a mysterious novel at her bedside plunges documentary filmmaker Catherine Ravenscroft into a living nightmare. Though ostensibly fiction, The Perfect Stranger recreates in vivid, unmistakable detail the terrible day she became hostage to a dark secret, a secret that only one other person knew --- and that person is dead. Now that the past is catching up with her, Catherine’s world is falling apart. Her only hope is to confront what really happened on that awful day…even if the shocking truth might destroy her. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
THE BREAKING POINT: A Body Farm Novel by Jefferson Bass (Mystery/Thriller)
It’s been 10 years since Dr. Bill Brockton created the Body Farm --- the world’s first postmortem research facility dedicated to advancing the frontiers of forensic science --- and the researcher is at the pinnacle of his career. Calling him in for a number of high-profile cases, the FBI now wants him to identify the charred remains of a maverick millionaire, killed in a fiery plane crash. But a storm is about to hit Brockton with cataclysmic force. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
FREEDOM’S CHILD by Jax Miller (Thriller)
Freedom Oliver was arrested for killing her husband, a cop, 20 years ago. She is now in witness protection, regretting ever making a deal with the Feds and missing her children with a heartache so strong it makes her ill. When she learns that her daughter possibly has been kidnapped, she ventures out on her own, and her troubled past comes roaring back at her: her husband’s vengeful, sadistic family; her brief, terrifying stint in prison; and the family she chose to adopt her kids who are keeping dangerous secrets. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
A HEAD FULL OF GHOSTS by Paul Tremblay (Psychological Thriller/Horror)
The lives of the Barretts are torn apart when 14-year-old Marjorie begins to display signs of acute schizophrenia. As their stable home devolves into a house of horrors, they turn to a local Catholic priest for help. Father Wanderly suggests an exorcism and contacts a production company that is eager to document the Barretts’ plight, resulting in what would become a hit reality TV show. Fifteen years later, a bestselling writer interviews Marjorie’s younger sister, Merry, at which point long-buried secrets and painful memories that clash with what was broadcast begin to surface. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
THE CHERRY HARVEST by Lucy Sanna (Historical Fiction)
With food rationed and money scarce, Charlotte struggles to keep her family well fed during World War II. When their upcoming cherry harvest is threatened, she helps persuade local authorities to allow German war prisoners from a nearby camp to pick the fruit. But when Charlotte’s husband befriends one of the prisoners, a teacher named Karl, and invites him to tutor their daughter, the implications of Charlotte’s decision become apparent --- especially when she finds herself unexpectedly drawn to Karl. Reviewed by Carole Turner. |
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Our Latest Poll: Comparing Books to Other Books
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If a book was being compared to a title listed below, which comparison(s), if any, would make you want to read that book? Please check as many as apply.
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THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN by Garth Stein
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BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP by S. J. Watson
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EAT, PRAY, LOVE: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, by Elizabeth Gilbert
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THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN by Paula Hawkins
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THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO by Stieg Larsson
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THE GLASS CASTLE: A Memoir, by Jeannette Walls
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GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn
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THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett
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INTO THE WILD by Jon Krakauer
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THE KITE RUNNER by Khaled Hosseini
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THE LOVELY BONES by Alice Sebold
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THE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morgenstern
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THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES by Sue Monk Kidd
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A WALK IN THE WOODS: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail, by Bill Bryson
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WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by Sara Gruen
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WILD: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, by Cheryl Strayed
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None of the above
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Click here to answer the poll. |
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Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What You're Reading --- and You Can Win THREE Books!
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Tell us your current reading recommendations with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from June 5th to June 19th, FIVE lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of ALL THE SINGLE LADIES by Dorothea Benton Frank, BLUEPRINTS by Barbara Delinsky, and THE TRUTH ACCORDING TO US by Annie Barrows.
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.
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Click here to enter the contest. |
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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.
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