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Bookreporter.com Newsletter |
June 26, 2015 |
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Page-Turning Nonfiction Grabs My Attention
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I am not an outdoor adventurer. I like biking on flat land and gentle hikes. Once, while hiking alone (which was incredibly stupid) on Crested Butte Mountain, I caught up with a family who was happy to have me join them. Good thing, as I was wandering off on my own at one point and was steered back to them by one of the younger sons. He told me that if I went the way I was headed, it would add eight hours to my hike; it already was 2pm!
That said, I am intrigued by those who push themselves with adventure travel. Back in 1996, there was a climb on Everest that was fraught with problems; in fact, until 2014 when an avalanche hit and killed 16, it was the deadliest recorded day and year on the mountain. The recent Nepal earthquake again tapped this area and resulted in 18 deaths. It was --- and still is --- a big story about a climbing Mecca. A friend of mine, Carl Lennertz, who knows my reading taste and has often steered me to books I love, told me about AFTER THE WIND: 1996 Everest Tragedy --- One Survivor's Story by Lou Kasischke. Lou was on the 1996 climb and survived. Quite simply, he was close to the top, with the prize in view, but he turned around. He did this because of a promise he had made to his wife --- that he would come home.
Lou is a seasoned climber; a list of the other peaks he climbed in the back of the book is impressive. Thus his perspective on what went right --- and wrong --- intrigued me. His wife’s faxes to him and his replies lent a very personal tone to the story. The book is full of wonderful illustrations and easy-to-follow maps that gave me an easy-to-follow insight into the story. I literally read it in a day but keep thinking about it. By the way, a film about Everest will be in theaters in September. Nikki and Emily saw a preview in IMAX and said it looks incredible. Lou consulted on the movie, and AFTER THE WIND, along with Jon Krakauer’s bestseller INTO THIN AIR, provided foundation for the film’s script. I highly recommend AFTER THE WIND, and it would be great for a book group discussion, with its multi-layered story of a man connecting from one very big mountain to the woman he loves. We will have more on it in the weeks to come.
Since the fall, we’ve been exploring audiobooks on Bookreporter.com. I love that, with them, readers are able to find time to read more books. As part of our continued discussion, we have a wonderful opportunity for current listeners and curious newcomers alike. From now until Friday, July 17th at noon ET, we are giving away five three-month subscriptions to Audiobooks.com. This site allows readers to download books straight from their app, making the process easy and efficient. Click here to learn more about Audiobooks.com and --- if you’re already intrigued --- start a free one-month trial. Then enter for your chance to win here. Please note that starting a one-month trial does not exclude you from the contest; winners who already have signed up will receive an additional free three-month subscription to Audiobooks.com.
I, like many of you, had not tried digital downloading for audio. I did this and, bam, within minutes I was listening. Very easy to do!
And speaking of audiobooks, we’ve been thrilled by the number of entries we’ve received so far in our new “Sounding Off on Audio” feature. Keep ’em coming! For those of you who aren’t aware of this feature, 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.
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 July 10th.
We are excited to present our latest Sneak Peek feature on HOUSE OF THIEVES by Charles Belfoure, which releases on September 15th. His last book, THE PARIS ARCHITECT, was one of my Bookreporter.com Bets On titles, so I cannot wait to dive into this one! Set during New York City’s Gilded Age, it paints a vivid portrait of John Cross, an ambitious architect focused not only on making a name for himself, but on maintaining his family’s spotless record. But when his oldest son racks up an insurmountable gambling debt, he must bargain with Kent, the city’s most notorious criminal. Using his architectural genius, he agrees to help Kent rob the homes of his peers until the debt is paid in full. As his exploits begin to catch the attention of detectives, John must fight to protect his family and their flawless reputation.
As part of our Sneak Peek feature, we will be giving away 75 advance copies of HOUSE OF THIEVES to readers who can commit to previewing it and sharing their comments about it by Friday, August 21st. Entry in our Sneak Peek contests means you HAVE to commit to read the book by our deadline, so please consider this when you enter. To do so, please fill out this form by Thursday, July 9th at noon ET. We are looking forward to hearing what you have to say about this book!
Barely six months after the release of SAVING GRACE, Jane Green is back with a new book, SUMMER SECRETS, a perceptive and poignant summer read. We first meet 27-year-old Cat Coombs in June 1998. A Londonite, Cat is struggling to balance her job as a journalist and her hard-partying lifestyle. But when her disapproving father passes away, her mother shares a life-changing secret that sends Cat into a spiral. Her mistakes cost her nearly everything, including her friendships. Now the year is 2014, and Cat is ready to make amends to those she has hurt. Her journey takes her to the idyllic island of Nantucket, where the women in her family still live. As Cat seeks forgiveness, she learns that these women have secrets of their own --- secrets that will force her to confront her darkest depths.
Norah Piehl has our review and says, “Cat's story, dark as it is at times, also provides glimpses into Nantucket, which Green portrays as realistically flawed but also as sort of the quintessential summer place. This makes SUMMER SECRETS the perfect novel to tuck into one's beach bag this summer.”
Patti Callahan Henry spins a dramatic web of deceit in balmy South Carolina with THE IDEA OF LOVE. Ella Flynn is reeling from the tragic death of her husband when she meets Hunter Adderman, a travel writer --- or so it seems. In reality, Ella is suffering from a heartbreak of a different sort, and Hunter is a screenwriter looking for a hit love story. As the two trade stories and lies, it seems like the perfect match. While Hunter has found the cure for his writers’ block, Ella sees in him the chance to live out a fantasy life less painful than her own. But as the lies pile up, Hunter and Ella find themselves hopelessly tangled in a web so convoluted it seems there is no way out --- unless something stronger is holding them together.
Reviewer Bronwyn Miller raves, “Patti Callahan Henry once again has set the scenic stage for a beautiful but complicated romance, the course of which never runs smoothly. In THE IDEA OF LOVE, her complex characters must face thorny situations to make their own Hollywood happy ending. It is a welcome addition to Henry’s canon and should be a favorite among book clubs that will enjoy dissecting the big issues of life, love and little white lies.” We have a discussion guide here. I have had the pleasure of spending time with Patti. For those of you who have not been able to meet her, here is a great clip from an interview she did with an Alabama television station. Her passion for her writing really comes through.
Gossip travels at lightning speed on Nantucket Island in Elin Hilderbrand’s 15th novel, THE RUMOR. Best friends Madeline King and Grace Pancik are the envy of the island for their perfect marriages to devoted husbands and their beautiful children. But when rumors begin to spread about Madeline’s struggling writing career and Grace’s relationship with her landscaper, everything starts to change. Now rumors are flying, not only about the two best friends, but about their husbands and children as well. With their happy lives at risk, Grace and Madeline must try to clear the air --- but what if the truth is worse than the gossip?
According to reviewer Vivian Payton, "Elin Hilderbrand, queen of the romance novel, never disappoints her readers --- and here she is at the top of her game once again. She details every character superbly, her themes and plotlines are well thought out, and you can picture every scene in your mind so vividly."
Our latest Paperback Spotlight features DOLLBABY by Laura Lane McNeal, which was also a Bets On pick when it released in hardcover. Set in Civil War-era New Orleans, this heartfelt debut now available in paperback follows young Ibby Bell as she is deposited at her eccentric grandmother’s home after her father’s death. Ibby is quickly taken under the wing of her grandmother’s cook, Queenie, and her daughter, Dollbaby. These two women take it upon themselves to introduce Ibby to the real south, with its grand traditions and dark secrets. As Ibby comes to know Queenie, Dollbaby and her grandmother, she learns that family can be found in even the most unexpected of places.
We gave away DOLLBABY in this week’s Summer Reading contests, along with BLUEPRINTS by Barbara Delinsky and the aforementioned THE IDEA OF LOVE by Patti Callahan Henry. Next week will be a shorter week than usual as we head out early to celebrate the 4th of July weekend, so we’re giving away just one prize book: FLAME TREE ROAD by Shona Patel. We’ll be announcing the contest and opening up the entry form on Monday, June 29th at noon ET.
I have loved "Nurse Jackie" on Showtime, which has its final episode airing on Sunday night, closing out a stellar seventh season. Edie Falco is brilliant as Jackie Peyton, and the writing on this show is sharp! As it ends, I highly recommend THE NURSES: A Year of Secrets, Drama, and Miracles with the Heroes of the Hospital by Alexandra Robbins. It’s a fabulous nonfiction book that follows the ER nurses at four big city hospitals. Robbins interviewed hundreds of nurses, and what emerged is an inside look into the healthcare system, where life and death are managed daily. It literally is a page-turner as it is handled so well in Robbins’ hands; I found myself turning to it each night and morning eager to see what happened next. And for those of you who, like me, will miss "Nurse Jackie," read this now --- and smile.
Congratulations to the winners of our 10th Annual Father’s Day Contest! Each winner is the proud owner of all eight of this year’s featured titles and received some special treats for good measure.
We’ve updated our Young Adult Books You Want to Read feature, books we’ve reviewed on Teenreads.com that we think our adult readers will enjoy. This month’s titles are EVERY LAST WORD by Tamara Ireland Stone, THE SACRED LIES OF MINNOW BLY by Stephanie Oakes and MAKE IT MESSY: My Perfectly Imperfect Life by Marcus Samuelsson with Veronica Chambers.
In anticipation of the publishing event of the summer --- the July 14th release of GO SET A WATCHMAN, a sequel of sorts to Harper Lee’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD --- we'd like 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 take the poll!
Let us know by Friday, July 10th at noon ET what books you’ve finished reading, and you’ll have a chance to win THE IDEA OF LOVE, along with DEXTER IS DEAD by Jeff Lindsay and THE ENGLISH SPY by Daniel Silva, in our Word of Mouth contest.
This week brought some brutally long commutes home; it’s wearying to spend three hours in a car to go a route that on another evening takes less than an hour. The unexpectedness of it is really stressful. I finished THE GUEST COTTAGE by Nancy Thayer on one drive. The narrator, Janet Metzger, did a wonderful job of defining the voices of each of the characters. The story is light; it made me want to visit Nantucket.
Currently, I am listening to LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE by debut novelist Jessica Knoll, narrated by Madeline Maby. It’s a bestselling thriller with a really edgy protagonist, Ani (pronounced On-ee), who is inventing a new life for herself that is “perfect,” but rattling around is a past and a big secret that can take the whole perfect setup down. It’s edgy, dark, and I know a big reveal is coming. I am down the rabbit hole with this one and will see where I end up. Maby’s narration is very well done. And amusingly, seeming to take my life full circle, Ani, at one point in the story, is reading INTO THIN AIR in her English class.
Quiet weekend on tap. Loathing the rain prediction in the forecast. The Japanese beetles are back attacking the roses, though I have tried a number of remedies. Annoying! The rest of the garden is looking great; the hydrangeas came back this year, though I think this winter was more brutal than the year before. Go figure! Herbs are growing in pots on the deck, and I got the wise idea to plant seeds now and will re-seed again in August --- with a goal to keep using fresh herbs throughout the winter.
Cory wrapped up one of his two summer classes last night; the other ends in early July. He has been working as a parking valet; besides being polite and conscientious, he knows how to drive a stick shift, unlike me, who has clear memories of hopping a Volkswagen Rabbit through downtown Aspen. Well, the car had the right name!
Next week, we will be sending our newsletter on Thursday afternoon as we take a long weekend to celebrate the Fourth.
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: SUMMER SECRETS by Jane Green
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SUMMER SECRETS by Jane Green (Fiction)
When a shocking family secret is revealed, twenty-something journalist Cat Coombs finds herself falling into a dark spiral. Wild, glamorous nights out in London and raging hangovers the next day become her norm, leading to a terrible mistake one night while visiting family in America. When she returns home, she confronts the unavoidable reality of her life and knows it's time to grow up. As the years pass, Cat grows into her 40s, a struggling single mother, coping with a new-found sobriety and determined to finally make amends. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
-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 IDEA OF LOVE by Patti Callahan Henry
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THE IDEA OF LOVE by Patti Callahan Henry (Fiction)
Ella is young, beautiful and deeply in love --- until her husband dies in a tragic sailing accident while trying to save her. Or so she'll have everyone believe. Screenwriter Hunter needs a hit, but crippling writers' block and a serious lack of motivation are getting him nowhere. He's on the lookout for a love story. It doesn't matter who it belongs to. When Hunter and Ella meet in Watersend, South Carolina, it feels like the perfect match, something close to fate. But one lie leads to another, and soon they find themselves caught in a web of deceit. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to visit Patti Callahan Henry's official website.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Now in Stores: THE RUMOR by Elin Hilderbrand
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THE RUMOR by Elin Hilderbrand (Fiction)
Madeline King and Grace Pancik are best friends and the envy of Nantucket for their perfect marriages, their beautiful kids, and their Sunday night double dates with their devoted husbands. But this summer, something's changed, and if there's anything Nantucket likes better than cocktails on the beach at sunset, it's a good rumor. As the gossip escalates, and they face the possible loss of the happy lives they've worked so hard to create, Grace and Madeline try mightily to set the record straight --- but the truth might be even worse than rumor has it. Reviewed by Vivian Payton.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to read a review. |
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New Sneak Peek Contest: Win an Advance Copy of HOUSE OF THIEVES by Charles Belfoure and Share Your Comments On It
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Our latest Sneak Peek Feature spotlights HOUSE OF THIEVES by Charles Belfoure, a novel that takes readers on a breathless journey from the wealthy halls of high society to the sewers of the criminal underworld during the Gilded Age in New York City. The book doesn’t release until September 15th, but we have 75 advance copies to give away to readers who can commit to previewing it and sharing their comments on it by Friday, August 21st. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, July 9th at noon ET.
For our Sneak Peek program, your commitment to participate is critical, so please only enter this contest if you truly will have time to read HOUSE OF THIEVES and give us your feedback by Friday, August 21st. We take these project deadlines seriously. If you cannot commit, don’t worry…we will have more opportunities like this in the future.
HOUSE OF THIEVES by Charles Belfoure (Historical Fiction)
John Cross only cares about two things: becoming the most prominent society architect in New York and upholding his family’s spotless reputation. His entire life changes the day he discovers that his oldest son, George, has racked up an unfathomable gambling debt to Kent, the city’s most notorious criminal mastermind. Desperate to save his son’s life and uphold his family’s good name, he uses his architectural knowledge to help Kent and his gang of thieves pillage the homes of his friends and clients until the debt is paid in full.
When his exploits catch the attention of detectives, John realizes that it’s only a matter of time before they find out that he’s the culprit. With the cops breathing down his neck and Kent refusing to let him off the hook, John realizes that if he’s not careful, his entire life --- and his family’s --- will come crashing down.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Charles Belfoure’s bio.
-Click here to visit Charles Belfoure’s official website.
-Connect with Charles Belfoure on Facebook and Twitter.
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Click here to read more in our Sneak Peek feature and enter the contest. |
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New Special Contest: Win a Three-Month Subscription to Audiobooks.com!
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Love audiobooks? Or eager to try them out? Here's an opportunity to listen to books wherever you are!
Since last fall, we've been enjoying --- and talking about --- audiobooks at Bookreporter.com. To share our growing passion for this great way to enjoy books (we see it as a way to read a lot more books), we have a very special opportunity for both current listeners and those who are curious about audiobooks.
From now until Friday, July 17th at noon ET, we are giving away five (5) three-month subscriptions to Audiobooks.com. With quick, easy downloads straight from their app, Audiobooks.com makes the process of downloading and enjoying your audiobooks seamless. And with a free one-month trial, you cannot go wrong on testing out this experience!
Click here to learn more about Audiobooks.com and start a free one-month trial today. Oh, and those who start free trials on Audiobooks.com now, and then are selected as one of the five winners of our contest, will receive an additional free three-month subscription to Audiobooks.com. (Each winner will receive a gift code via email that they can enter on Audiobooks.com to activate the three-month subscription.) Talk about a win-win!
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Click here to enter to win a three-month subscription to Audiobooks.com! |
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New Paperback Spotlight: DOLLBABY by Laura Lane McNeal
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DOLLBABY by Laura Lane McNeal (Historical Fiction)
When Ibby Bell’s father dies unexpectedly in the summer of 1964, her mother unceremoniously deposits Ibby with her eccentric grandmother Fannie and throws in her father’s urn for good measure. Fannie’s New Orleans house is like no place Ibby has ever been --- and Fannie, who has a tendency to end up in the local asylum --- is like no one she has ever met. Fortunately, Fannie’s black cook, Queenie, and her smart-mouthed daughter, Dollbaby, take it upon themselves to initiate Ibby into the ways of the South, both its grand traditions and its darkest secrets.
For Fannie’s own family history is fraught with tragedy, hidden behind the closed rooms in her ornate Uptown mansion. It will take Ibby’s arrival to begin to unlock the mysteries there. And it will take Queenie and Dollbaby’s hard-won wisdom to show Ibby that family can sometimes be found in the least expected places.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to read Laura Lane McNeal’s bio.
-Click here to visit Laura Lane McNeal’s official website.
-Connect with Laura Lane McNeal on Facebook and Twitter.
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Click here to read more in our Paperback Spotlight. |
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Now in Stores: TRUTH OR DIE by James Patterson and Howard Roughan
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TRUTH OR DIE by James Patterson and Howard Roughan (Thriller)
After a serious professional stumble, attorney Trevor Mann has found happiness with his girlfriend Claire Parker, a beautiful, ambitious journalist. But when Claire's newest story leads to a violent confrontation, Trevor's newly peaceful life is shattered as he tries to find out why. Chasing Claire's leads, Trevor unearths evidence of a shocking secret that --- if it actually exists --- every government and terrorist organization around the world would do anything to possess. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
-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 CARTEL by Don Winslow
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THE CARTEL by Don Winslow (Thriller)
DEA agent Art Keller has been fighting the war on drugs for 30 years in a blood feud against Adán Barrera, the head of the world’s most powerful cartel who brutally murdered Keller’s partner. Finally putting Barrera away cost Keller dearly --- the woman he loves, the beliefs he cherishes, the life he wants to lead. Then Barrera gets out, determined to rebuild the empire that Keller shattered. Unwilling to live in a world with Barrera in it, Keller goes on a 10-year odyssey to take him 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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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's Summer Reading Contests and Feature
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Summer is finally here! 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 Monday, June 29th 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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More Reviews This Week
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KILLING MONICA by Candace Bushnell (Fiction)
Pandy "PJ" Wallis is a renowned writer whose novels about a young woman making her way in Manhattan have spawned a series of blockbuster films. After the success of the Monica books and movies, Pandy wants to attempt a historical novel based on her ancestor Lady Wallis. But Pandy's publishers and audience only want her to keep cranking out more Monica, as does her greedy husband. When her marriage crumbles and the boathouse of her family home in Connecticut goes up in flames, Pandy suddenly realizes she has an opportunity to reinvent herself. Reviewed by Kathy Weissman.
THE BOOK OF SPECULATION by Erika Swyler (Fiction)
One June day, an old book arrives on Simon Watson's doorstep, sent by an antiquarian bookseller who purchased it on speculation. It is a log from the owner of a traveling carnival in the 1700s, who reports strange and magical things, including the drowning death of a circus mermaid. Since then, generations of "mermaids" in Simon's family have drowned --- always on July 24, which is only weeks away. Could there be a curse on Simon's family? What does it have to do with the book, and can he get to the heart of the mystery in time to save his sister? Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
THE FESTIVAL OF INSIGNIFICANCE by Milan Kundera (Fiction)
Set in Paris today, THE FESTIVAL OF INSIGNIFICANCE follows four friends who run into each other in the Luxembourg Gardens, attend parties, and conduct a long-running exchange on sex, desire, history, art, even the meaning of human existence. Alain, one of the friends, is fascinated by the exposed belly buttons of passing women --- the latest fashion --- and takes navel-gazing to imaginative, erotic heights. Another, who has just been told that he does not have cancer, tells a friend that his case is terminal. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
THE LITTLE PARIS BOOKSHOP by Nina George (Fiction)
From his floating bookstore in a barge on the Seine, Monsieur Perdu prescribes novels for the hardships of life. Using his intuitive feel for the exact book a reader needs, Perdu mends broken hearts and souls. The only person he can't seem to heal through literature is himself; he's still haunted by heartbreak after his great love disappeared. She left him with only a letter, which he has never opened. After Perdu is finally tempted to read the letter, he departs on a mission to the south of France, hoping to make peace with his loss and discover the end of the story. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
SECRET BROTHER by V.C. Andrews (Fiction)
In SECRET BROTHER, an all-new sequel to V.C. Andrews' FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC, a young boy suffers amnesia from a trauma he suffered in what feels like must have been another life. He’s adopted into a wealthy family. But what will happen when he learns the truth about his past? Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.
THE LOVE OBJECT: Selected Stories by Edna O'Brien (Fiction/Short Stories)
As John Banville writes in his introduction to THE LOVE OBJECT, Edna O'Brien "is, simply, one of the finest writers of our time.” The 31 stories collected in this volume provide, among other things, a cumulative portrait of Ireland, seen from within and without. Coming of age, the impact of class, and familial and romantic love are the prevalent motifs, along with the instinct toward escape and subsequent nostalgia for home. Some of the stories are linked, while others carry O'Brien's distinct sense of the comical. Reviewed by Jane Krebs.
THE MILLIONAIRE AND THE BARD: Henry Folger's Obsessive Hunt for Shakespeare's First Folio by Andrea Mays (History)
Today it is the most valuable book in the world. Recently one sold for over five million dollars. It is the book that rescued the name of William Shakespeare and half of his plays from oblivion. THE MILLIONAIRE AND THE BARD tells the miraculous and romantic story of the making of the First Folio, and of the American industrialist whose thrilling pursuit of the book became a lifelong obsession. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
THE TRUTH AND OTHER LIES by Sascha Arango (Literary Thriller)
On the surface, Henry Hayden seems like someone you could like or even admire. But his past is a secret, his methods more so. No one besides him and his wife know that she is the actual writer of the novels that made him famous. For most of Henry’s life, it hasn’t been a problem. But when his hidden-in-plain-sight mistress becomes pregnant and his carefully constructed facade is about to crumble, he tries to find a permanent solution, only to make a terrible mistake. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE CONVICTIONS OF JOHN DELAHUNT by Andrew Hughes (Historical Thriller)
Dublin, 1841. On a cold December morning, a small boy is enticed away from his mother and his throat savagely cut. It appears that the culprit --- a feckless student named John Delahunt --- is also an informant in the pay of the authorities at Dublin Castle. And strangely, this young man seems neither to regret what he did nor fear his punishment. Indeed, as he awaits the hangman in his cell in Kilmainham Gaol, John Delahunt decides to tell his story in this, his final, deeply unsettling statement. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
ROMANTIC OUTLAWS: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Her Daughter Mary Shelley by Charlotte Gordon (Biography/History)
Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley have each been the subject of numerous biographies, yet no one has ever examined their lives in one book --- until now. In ROMANTIC OUTLAWS, Charlotte Gordon reunites the trailblazing author who wrote A VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS OF WOMAN and the Romantic visionary who gave the world FRANKENSTEIN --- two courageous women who should have shared their lives, but instead shared a powerful literary and feminist legacy. Reviewed by Brandon Stickney. |
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Young Adult Books You Want to Read
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Here are this month's books we reviewed on Teenreads.com that we think will appeal to an adult audience:
EVERY LAST WORD by Tamara Ireland Stone (Fiction)
Samantha McAllister has a secret that her friends would never understand: She has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark thoughts and worries that she can't turn off. When Sam's friend, Caroline, introduces her to Poet's Corner, a hidden room and a tight-knit group of misfits who have been ignored by their school at large, she slowly begins to feel more "normal" than she ever has as part of the popular crowd...until she finds a new reason to question her sanity and all she holds dear.
THE SACRED LIES OF MINNOW BLY by Stephanie Oakes (Fiction)
The Kevinian cult has taken everything from 17-year-old Minnow. And when she rebelled, they took away her hands, too. Now their Prophet has been murdered and their camp set aflame, and it's clear that Minnow knows something --- but she's not talking. As she languishes in juvenile detention, she struggles to un-learn everything she has been taught to believe. But when an FBI detective approaches her about making a deal, Minnow sees she can have the freedom she always dreamed of --- if she’s willing to part with the terrible secrets of her past.
MAKE IT MESSY: My Perfectly Imperfect Life by Marcus Samuelsson (Memoir)
In this inspirational autobiography, world-famous chef Marcus Samuelsson tells his extraordinary story and encourages young people to embrace their mistakes and follow their dreams. Based on his highly praised adult memoir, YES, CHEF, this young adult edition includes an eight-page black-and-white family photo insert.
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Click here for more young adult books we recommend you read. |
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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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