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Bookreporter.com Newsletter |
June 19, 2015 |
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Drumroll for Our New Audiobooks Feature...and Happy Father's Day!
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Summer arrives on Sunday; it’s my FAVORITE day of the year as it’s the day with the most daylight. Bah, it looks like we are going to have rain here. Typically I love to sit outside reading and enjoy every lingering second of the day. Ever notice how people are so much more upbeat when it’s bright out?
Our flowers are looking spectacular. Instead of growing Morning Glory flowers from seeds, I opted for plants this year. This was a very wise choice as they already look as lush as they typically look in August. Somehow we have little bits of Morning Glory flowers everywhere. They seem to have wintered over and can be found growing up the rock walls and down the sides of the steps. My husband is lecturing me that this will destroy the walls, but I have to say that for the moment it looks pretty.
Where we live is pretty rural, and there have been a couple of bears spotted around town, who can be friends with the coyote and foxes. The bears were sighted crossing the interstate and then roaming the grounds of the high school the other day. It sounds like a kids’ picture book come to life! Our town Facebook page has instructions on what to do when you see a bear; I will bring this up on my phone to read if I see one of them, as I read enough to know not to run.
As you know, we have been exploring audiobooks more in the past few months. I have been able to maximize my reading time by layering in audio listening. As an example, every day this week there was an accident headed each way to and from the office (I am blaming distracted driving and want EVERYONE to read Matt Richtel’s A DEADLY WANDERING), and thus I spent a lot more time behind the wheel than I wanted to (2.5 hours one way to work is a drag). Having something to listen to made it a lot better, though!
Thus --- drumroll here --- we are so excited to bring you our newest feature, “Sounding Off on Audio”! Think of it as “Word of Mouth” for audiobooks. Between now and Friday, July 10th at noon ET, we’re inviting readers to tell us their current audiobook listening recommendations, along with comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. We’re asking you to rate both the audio performance and the content of the story, as we know a narrator can be stellar even when a story is weak, while likewise a narrator who is not strong can weaken the storytelling.
In our first contest, three winners will be randomly chosen to receive either a digital version or CD of both IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT by Judy Blume, narrated by Kathleen McInerney, and THE WRIGHT BROTHERS by David McCullough, narrated by the author. Just like with Word of Mouth, a new contest will feature different prize books once the first contest period ends on Friday, July 10th. Looking forward to reading about what you are listening to; I always am looking for suggestions.
Jump on board and participate --- and please share this new feature with your friends. We want it to be a huge success and need your help to make that happen!
Would you and a friend like to be my guest at an author event on Saturday, July 11th in Hudson, New York, minutes away from the Hudson Amtrak station? Random House’s Off The Page event brings a day of inspiration and fun in New York’s scenic Hudson Valley. Attendees will receive a complimentary Random House tote bag filled with summer reads, goodies and gifts. The day will kick off with a talk from Ruth Reichl, bestselling author and legendary food critic. I will be hosting a book group session, and there will be other sessions with lots of lifestyle topics, like cooking, traveling and living your best life. Gretchen Rubin --- the author of the bestselling THE HAPPINESS PROJECT --- will wrap up the day. More details are here. If you would like to enter a contest for you and a friend to be my guests, click here.
Now for the rest of this week’s update…
Historian and bestselling thriller author Brad Meltzer returns with THE PRESIDENT’S SHADOW, a riveting look at the men charged with protecting the Presidency. National Archives staffer Beecher White may appear ordinary, but when he is not handling the government’s most important documents, he is a member of a powerful secret society. The Culper Ring is a 200-year-old group founded by George Washington to guard the President. When a buried arm is found on the White House grounds with a puzzle in its hand, it is up to Beecher to solve the riddle. But when it becomes clear that the message was not intended for the President, but for Beecher himself, he must investigate a long, carefully hidden history.
According to reviewer Ray Palen, “Brad Meltzer pulls out all the stops in a novel that will have your head spinning with U.S. history and conspiracy theories…. THE PRESIDENT'S SHADOW is a must-read for those who seek to dig deeper into the often untold history that our great country is founded on and the unsung heroes who will stop at nothing to protect it.” We also have a Q&A with Brad about the book, which you can see here.
Robert Kurson takes readers on a high seas adventure in PIRATE HUNTERS: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship, the true story of two men and their search for an infamous pirate. With exploits that rivaled that of Blackbeard himself, Joseph Bannister should be immortalized as one of the most notorious pirates in history. But his story was lost along with his ship, the Golden Fleece. Now two men, John Chatterton and John Mattera, are prepared to risk everything to find and identify his ship. Using cutting-edge technology and historic documents, they travel the globe, facing off against rivals, governments and experts to tell the true story of Joseph Bannister.
Jana Siciliano has our review and says, "Robert Kurson of SHADOW DIVERS fame is a fine writer who builds the tension of the adventure gradually.... [PIRATE HUNTERS] will fulfill all your needs for an intriguing summer getaway --- without having to go anywhere but your couch."
Both devoted Elmore Leonard fans and newcomers alike will be delighted to learn that CHARLIE MARTZ AND OTHER STORIES is now in stores. Over his long and prolific career, Leonard was hailed as one of the greatest crime writers of all time, with many of his bestsellers even adapted for film. Now readers can take a look at the early works of this inimitable artist with this collection of 15 short stories --- 11 of which have never been previously published. These stories take readers from small town New Mexico to a film set in Hollywood and even a military base in Kuala Lumpur, all while introducing classic characters such as lawman Charlie Martz and former matador Eladio Montoya.
Reviewer Joe Hartlaub raves, “There is something for everyone in this collection, but the greatest thrill to be had is to see in each story the first tentative steps taken by a budding literary master. And, of course, the question must be asked: Is there anything else in the archives that have yet to see the light of day? We’ll keep watching and hoping.”
From Kate White, the former editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine and author of the Bailey Weggins mystery series, comes THE WRONG MAN, her fourth stand-alone suspense novel. Although Manhattan business owner Kit Finn is known for her bold interior designs, she is actually quite tame in her personal life. While on vacation in the Florida Keys, however, she decides to change that after bumping into a charming stranger. But when she returns to New York and heads to the man’s luxury apartment to pick up where they left off, the man she finds is unrecognizable. What seems like a cruel joke quickly becomes something more sinister. It is up to Kit to find out the man’s true identity or risk losing her business, loved ones and life.
Joe Hartlaub has this to say in his review: “White’s target audience will have a lot of fun with the book, and, as an added bonus, she gets into the heads of interior designers and reveals the thought processes that lead them to do what they do so well. THE WRONG MAN should be a beach vacation companion to anyone who wants to have fun but also wishes to stay busy enough to keep out of trouble. Or not.”
I’m happy to announce my latest Bookreporter.com Bets On picks: DISCLAIMER by Renée Knight, which we reviewed last week, and THE SILVER SWAN by Elena Delbanco, which I talked about in last week’s newsletter and was one of the prizes this week in our Summer Reading contests. Click here for my thoughts on DISCLAIMER and here for a more detailed commentary on THE SILVER SWAN. By the way, I read both last weekend, and it was such a pleasure to read two books back-to-back that I enjoyed so much.
Along with THE SILVER SWAN, we gave away THE BOOK OF SPECULATION by Erika Swyler and EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU by Celeste Ng in the Summer Reading contests. Next week’s prize books will be BLUEPRINTS by Barbara Delinsky (we had planned to give it away this week, but because of technical issues on the site, we decided to move it to next week); DOLLBABY by Laura Lane McNeal and THE IDEA OF LOVE by Patti Callahan Henry. The first 24-hour contest of the week will go live on Tuesday, June 23rd at noon ET.
Time is running out to enter our 10th Annual Father’s Day contest. So if you haven’t filled out our entry form yet, please do so now! Five readers will be awarded a prize package that includes all eight of our featured titles, along with some goodies we know Dad will love. The deadline for your entries is Monday, June 22nd at noon ET.
Many thanks to the authors who contributed pieces to this year’s Father’s Day Author Blog series. Our final contribution is from Malcolm Brooks, whose much-talked-about debut novel, PAINTED HORSES, is now available in paperback. And don’t miss the wonderful essays written by Daniel Palmer, along with the aforementioned Elena Delbanco and Robert Kurson, who were all kind enough to share memories of their dads with us. I have read books from each of these authors, and I love the very personal stories that they shared with us.
We’ve updated our History Books roundup for this month. June’s selections include the just-released hardcovers SHAKESPEARE AND THE COUNTESS: The Battle that Gave Birth to the Globe by Chris Laoutaris and ONCE UPON A TIME IN RUSSIA: The Rise of the Oligarchs by Ben Mezrich, along with titles that are soon to be in paperback, such as THE EXPLORERS: A Story of Fearless Outcasts, Blundering Geniuses, and Impossible Success by Martin Dugard and CLOUDS OF GLORY: The Life and Legend of Robert E. Lee by Michael Korda.
In anticipation of the publishing event of the summer --- the July 14th release of GO SET A WATCHMAN, a sort-of sequel to Harper Lee’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD --- we’re curious to know if you’re planning to read the book and, if so, whether or not you’ll be reading (or re-reading) MOCKINGBIRD. Click here to cast your vote!
In our previous poll, we wanted to know this: If a book was being compared to one of the titles we listed, which comparison(s), if any, would make you want to read that book? A whopping 68% of you chose THE HELP, while 50% would like to read the next THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES and 46% the next WATER FOR ELEPHANTS. And three tied with 43%: THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, GONE GIRL and THE KITE RUNNER. Click here for all the results.
We have a new Word of Mouth contest up this week. Let us know by Friday, July 10th at noon ET what books you’ve finished reading, and you’ll be in the running to win the aforementioned THE IDEA OF LOVE by Patti Callahan Henry, along with DEXTER IS DEAD by Jeff Lindsay and THE ENGLISH SPY by Daniel Silva.
News and Pop Culture:
"The Astronaut Wives Club": Watched the debut episode last night. Very enjoyable. Wish I had read the book. I loved the space program; the '60s were made a lot more fun when there was a rocket launch to watch in school.
"Game of Thrones" finale: No one is safe! If you are an actor, check your contract. I am not a prude, but I truly think the “walk of shame” could have been about one quarter as long and we would have gotten the point!
"Orange is the New Black": Who has watched it? I have not had time yet.
Our Book Group Survey: In a book group? Then answer our ReadingGroupGuides.com Book Group Survey here! We want as much feedback as possible, so answer and share this please!
GREY vs. GO SET A WATCHMAN: Two VERY different big books this summer. Click here to read a fun piece where they are both looked at.
Me on GREY: This week, I was quoted in USA Today about GREY; note that I used “wrapped up” deliberately --- my ode to reader bondage. You can read the full story here.
Father’s Day Weekend around our house means the U.S. Open. Tom has told me that it will be on until 11pm each evening! "How nice!" is what I am supposed to say, right? I must say I cannot get my head around the FOX golf commentators; they do not whisper the same way as the CBS and NBC guys. Tradition is that we celebrate with my dad on Saturday night, so Tom can then enjoy Sunday on his own. Watching golf. I guess the best present would be batteries for the remote.
I am reading THE MISTAKE I MADE by Paula Daly. Time got away from me, and I missed reading JUST WHAT KIND OF MOTHER ARE YOU?, which came out last year. But reading this, I am going to go back to it.
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads and granddads among our readers. To all of you who have lost your dads, here’s to memories of special moments being part of your day. 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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An Interview with Brad Meltzer, Author of THE PRESIDENT’S SHADOW
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Brad Meltzer is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE INNER CIRCLE, THE BOOK OF FATE and seven other thrillers. In addition to his fiction, Meltzer is one of the only authors to ever have books on the bestseller list for nonfiction, advice, children's books and graphic novels. Now, brilliant archivist Beecher White returns in Meltzer's latest book, THE PRESIDENT’S SHADOW, when an arm is discovered buried in the White House Rose Garden with an alarming message intended for Beecher. In this interview, Meltzer reveals the inspiration behind his vivid premise and why he’ll never forget his first manuscript’s rejection. He also suggests a reason political thrillers will never go out of style and --- unrelated --- why it’s good to have friends in the Secret Service.
THE PRESIDENT’S SHADOW by Brad Meltzer (Thriller)
A young staffer with the National Archives in Washington, D.C., Beecher White is also a member of the Culper Ring, a 200-year-old secret society founded by George Washington and charged with protecting the Presidency. The alarming discovery of a buried arm has the President's team in a rightful panic. Who buried the arm? How did they get past White House security? And most important: What's the message hidden in the arm's closed fist? Indeed, the puzzle inside has a clear intended recipient, and it isn't the President. It's Beecher himself. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
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Click here to read the interview. |
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Now in Stores: PIRATE HUNTERS by Robert Kurson
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PIRATE HUNTERS: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship by Robert Kurson (History/Adventure)
Finding and identifying a pirate ship is the hardest thing to do under the sea. But two men --- John Chatterton and John Mattera --- are willing to risk everything to find the Golden Fleece, the ship of the infamous pirate Joseph Bannister. Soon, however, they realize that cutting-edge technology and a willingness to lose everything aren’t enough to track down Bannister’s ship. They must travel the globe in search of historic documents and accounts of the great pirate’s exploits, face down dangerous rivals, and battle the tides of nations, governments and experts. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Now in Stores: CHARLIE MARTZ AND OTHER STORIES by Elmore Leonard
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CHARLIE MARTZ AND OTHER STORIES: The Unpublished Stories by Elmore Leonard (Fiction/Short Stories)
The stories in CHARLIE MARTZ AND OTHER STORIES, produced early in Elmore Leonard’s career, reveal a writer in transition. Here, he explores new voices and locations --- from the bars of small-town New Mexico and Michigan to a film set in Hollywood, a hotel in Southern Spain, even a military base in Kuala Lumpur. They also introduce us to classic Leonard characters, some of whom recur throughout the collection, such as aging lawman Charlie Martz and weary former matador Eladio Montoya. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Now in Stores: THE WRONG MAN by Kate White
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THE WRONG MAN by Kate White (Psychological Thriller)
While on vacation in the Florida Keys, Kit Finn meets Matt Healy, a rugged stranger she literally bumps into at her hotel. He offers to cook her dinner when they’re both back in the city. But when Kit arrives at his luxury apartment ready for the date of a lifetime, she is shocked. How could she have been taken in by the deceptions of a con man? And why has he targeted her? Now the only way out is to expose the vicious puppet master who’s turned her life upside down. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Announcing Bookreporter.com's Newest Feature: Sounding Off on Audio: Tell Us What You're Listening to --- and You Can Win TWO Audiobooks!
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Tell us your current audiobook listening recommendations with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars for both the performance and the content. During the contest period from June 16th to July 10th, THREE lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the digital version or a CD of both IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT by Judy Blume, narrated by Kathleen McInerney, and THE WRIGHT BROTHERS by David McCullough, narrated by the author.
To make sure other readers will be able to find the audiobook, 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.
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Click here to enter the contest. |
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Bookreporter.com Bets On: DISCLAIMER by Renée Knight and THE SILVER SWAN by Elena Delbanco
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DISCLAIMER by Renée Knight (Psychological Thriller)
I relish a good psychological thriller, and this is precisely what I got with DISCLAIMER, Renée Knight’s debut novel. In it, Catherine Ravenscroft has received a book in the mail. As she opens and reads it, she realizes that she is reading pages about a story from her own life. Detailed is a precise portrait of a very difficult time --- a time that unraveled her world and spun it around. She cannot figure out where it came from, as the only person who could tell this story is dead.
-Click here to read more of Carol's thoughts on the book.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
THE SILVER SWAN by Elena Delbanco (Fiction)
I love when I pick up a book, and it takes me on a journey beyond its pages. That happened as I was reading THE SILVER SWAN by Elena Delbanco. It got on my radar as I heard that during Elena’s event at Politics & Prose in Washington, DC, they sold out of books! I had to see what people were excited about.
It’s the story of a young woman, Mariana Feldmann, 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.
-Click here to read more of Carol's thoughts on the book.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
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Click here for more books we're betting you'll love. |
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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.
Please enjoy this year's wonderful and heartfelt contributions as we inch ever closer to Dad's big day!
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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 is fast approaching! 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 are 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 are 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 Tuesday, June 23rd 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 History Books Roundup
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June's roundup of History titles includes THE COST OF COURAGE by Charles Kaiser, the heroic true story of the three youngest children of a bourgeois Catholic family who worked together in the French Resistance; STALIN'S DAUGHTER, Rosemary Sullivan's painstakingly researched, revelatory biography of Svetlana Stalin, a woman fated to live her life in the shadow of one of history’s most monstrous dictators --- her father, Josef Stalin; Nancy Goldstone's THE RIVAL QUEENS, the riveting true story of mother-and-daughter queens Catherine de' Medici and Marguerite de Valois, whose wildly divergent personalities and turbulent relationship changed the shape of their tempestuous and dangerous century; and THE SCORPION'S STING, in which award-winning historian James Oakes illuminates the strategy for ending slavery that precipitated the crisis of civil war.
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Click here to see our History Books roundup for June. |
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New Guides Now Available on ReadingGroupGuides.com
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The following guides are now available on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
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Click here to visit ReadingGroupGuides.com. |
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More Reviews This Week
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THE TRUTH ACCORDING TO US by Annie Barrows (Historical Fiction)
In the summer of 1938, Layla Beck’s father, a United States senator, cuts off her allowance and demands that she find employment on the Federal Writers’ Project, a New Deal jobs program. Within days, Layla has been assigned to cover the history of the remote mill town of Macedonia, West Virginia. But once she secures a room in the home of the unconventional Romeyn family, she is drawn into their complex world and soon discovers that the truth of the town is entangled in the thorny past of the Romeyn dynasty. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
PARADISE SKY by Joe R. Lansdale (Western)
Young Willie is on the run, having fled his small Texas farm when an infamous local landowner murdered his father. A man named Loving takes him in and trains him in the fine arts of shooting, riding, reading and gardening. When Loving dies, Willie re-christens himself Nat Love in tribute to his mentor and heads west. But the hellhounds are still on his trail, and they brutally attack Nat's love. Pursuing the men who have driven his wife mad, Nat heads south for a final showdown against those who would strip him of his life. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
SEVENEVES by Neal Stephenson (Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction)
A catastrophic event renders the earth a ticking time bomb. In a feverish race against the inevitable, nations around the globe band together to devise an ambitious plan to ensure the survival of humanity far beyond our atmosphere. But the complexities and unpredictability of human nature threaten the intrepid pioneers until only a handful of survivors remain. Five thousand years later, their progeny embark on yet another audacious journey into the unknown…to an alien world utterly transformed by cataclysm and time: Earth. Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.
THE SEVEN GOOD YEARS: A Memoir by Etgar Keret (Memoir)
The seven years between the birth of Etgar Keret’s son and the death of his father were good years, though still full of reasons to worry. Lev is born in the midst of a terrorist attack. Etgar’s father gets cancer. The threat of constant war looms over their home and permeates daily life. Etgar’s siblings, all very different people who have chosen radically divergent paths in life, come together after his father’s shivah to experience the grief and love that tie a family together forever. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
A PERFECT HERITAGE by Penny Vincenzi (Fiction)
The House of Farrell is a prolific skincare company and home of The Cream, an iconic face product. But the world of cosmetics is changing, and the once glorious House of Farrell is now in decline, its customers tempted away by more fashionable brands. With no idea how to right the ship, company figurehead Athina Farrell hires Bianca Bailey, a formidable businesswoman. Athina and Bianca lock horns over the future of the House of Farrell, but it’s the past that tells its devastating tale of ambition and ego, passion and wonder. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE SUNLIT NIGHT by Rebecca Dinerstein (Fiction)
In the beautiful, barren landscape of the Far North, Frances and Yasha are surprised to find refuge in each other. Frances has fled heartbreak and claustrophobic Manhattan for an isolated artist colony; Yasha arrives from Brooklyn to fulfill his beloved father's last wish: to be buried "at the top of the world." They have come to learn how to be alone. But in Lofoten, an archipelago of six tiny islands in the Norwegian Sea, they form a bond that fortifies them against the turmoil of their distant homes, offering solace amidst great uncertainty. Reviewed by Stephen Febick.
DAY FOUR by Sarah Lotz (Thriller)
Hundreds of pleasure-seekers stream aboard The Beautiful Dreamer cruise ship for five days of fun in the Caribbean sun. But on the fourth day, disaster strikes, and the ship is stranded in the Gulf of Mexico. Soon supplies run low, a virus plagues the ship, and there are whispered rumors that the cabins on the lower decks are haunted by shadowy figures. When, at last, the ship is spotted drifting off the coast of Key West, the world's press reports it empty. But the gloomy headlines may be covering up an even more disturbing reality. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
SHADOWS OF LADENBROOKE MANOR by Melanie Dobson (Mystery/Romance)
Libby, a free spirit who can’t be tamed by her parents, finds solace with her neighbor Oliver, the son of Lord Croft of Ladenbrooke Manor. But then she finds herself pregnant and alone when her father kicks her out, and Oliver mysteriously drowns in a nearby river. Sixty years later, Heather Toulson, returning to her family’s cottage in the shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor, is mourning her father’s passing but can’t let go of the anger and resentment over their strained relationship. What she uncovers while sorting through her family’s belongings will change everything she thought she knew about her family’s history. Reviewed by Melanie Reynolds.
FIVE BRIDES by Eva Marie Everson (Historical Fiction)
Five single, fiercely independent women live together in a Chicago apartment in the early 1950s but rarely see one another. One Saturday afternoon, they spy a wedding dress in a storefront window. After trying it on --- without a single boyfriend or date between the five of them --- they decide to pool their money to purchase it. Can one dress forever connect five women who live together only a short time before taking their own journeys to love and whatever comes happily ever after? Reviewed by Melanie Reynolds.
FINDING ME by Kathryn Cushman (Fiction)
All her life, Kelli Huddleston has been told the story of a fire --- a fire that killed her mother and two siblings when she was an infant. After her father's death, though, she uncovers evidence of a different story, including clippings about a boat accident that killed a young father and his infant daughter. And Kelli quietly realizes that the story of her life has been made up. When a trip to Tennessee to uncover the truth threatens to open doors to a past better left shut, and her plans for the future are jeopardized, Kelli is faced with an agonizing choice that will change her life forever. Reviewed by Lynda Lee Schab. |
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Our Latest Poll: Anticipating Harper Lee’s New Novel
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Are you planning to read GO SET A WATCHMAN, a sequel (of sorts) to Harper Lee’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, releasing July 14th?
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Yes, as soon as it releases
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Yes, sometime after it releases
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No
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Maybe
Are you planning to re-read TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD before you read GO SET A WATCHMAN?
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Yes
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No
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That is a good idea!
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I have not read TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, but will do so before reading GO SET A WATCHMAN.
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I have not read TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and do not plan on doing so before reading GO SET A WATCHMAN.
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I am not planning to read GO SET A WATCHMAN.
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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 19th to July 10th, FIVE lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of DEXTER IS DEAD by Jeff Lindsay, THE ENGLISH SPY by Daniel Silva, and THE IDEA OF LOVE by Patti Callahan Henry.
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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