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Bookreporter.com Newsletter |
July 10, 2015 |
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Big Week for Books and Publishing
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On July 11, 1960, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD was published. GO SET A WATCHMAN will be published this Tuesday, 55 years later almost to the day. It’s a fabulous moment for readers and book publishing. The Wall Street Journal is running the first chapter, which you can read here. You can use the same link to listen to the first chapter read by Reese Witherspoon, who is the narrator of the audiobook (scroll down a bit on the right). I did both and look forward to reading/listening more on Tuesday. I was interviewed by the Journal, but you need to be a subscriber to read the whole piece, thus here is what I had to say: I am intrigued in part because it was written more than half a century ago. The book was written during the start of the Civil Rights era, and is told from the point of view of Scout as an adult. There is so much to talk about, as it was written first, before MOCKINGBIRD. I cannot wait to read the whole thing and see what readers have to say.
A few trivia bits on TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD that Greg and I found this week: In hardcover, it first hit the New York Times list on August 7, 1960 and stayed there until June 17, 1962. It rose to number two for many weeks before it moved back down and then fell off the list; it never hit number one. THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY and FRANNY AND ZOOEY kept it from the top slot, with each sitting at #1 for months. Of all-time NYT bestsellers, it comes in at #24, with 97 weeks on the list; the top book is MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL, which was on for 216 weeks! The movie came out on December 25, 1962. You would think that this would bring the book back on to the list, but there was a New York newspaper strike from December 8, 1962 until March 31, 1963, lasting for a total of 114 days. Thus, we can now watch to see if Harper Lee --- whose debut novel has sold 40 million copies globally since it was published in 1960, continues to sell more than a million copies a year, and has been translated into more than 40 languages --- will finally get a #1 New York Times hardcover!
I have lots more links for you about Harper Lee and GO SET A WATCHMAN in the News and Pop Culture section below. Also, we have a real treat for our readers, as GO SET A WATCHMAN will be a Summer Reading featured title next week!
Last weekend, I read THREE wonderful books, each of which will be Bookreporter.com Bets On selections. First up was Chevy Stevens' THOSE GIRLS. I can depend on Chevy to deliver me a page-turning thriller. And she does. Three sisters are bonded together in a tough life that explodes and has them on the run. We have our review later in this newsletter.
Next up was WHEN THE MOON IS LOW by Nadia Hashimi. I loved her debut book, THE PEARL THAT BROKE ITS SHELL, and thus approached her sophomore novel with trepidation. But oh, does she deliver! This book was just as brilliant. I loved the characters, the pacing, the story, and the way I empathized for all those who struggle each day to find new homes and lands when the worlds that they know have been forsaken by violence. The fear and sadness that is part of these people's lives is quite overwhelming. It will be out on July 21st and is one of our Word of Mouth prize books for this contest period.
Finally, I devoured THE RACE FOR PARIS by Meg Waite Clayton. It’s historical fiction about a newswoman and a female photographer, who have their eye on the prize of getting to Paris to cover the liberation. War is still raging, and there are endless military regulations restricting them. The two women bond with a British male journalist who they persuade to escort them. And the race is on. Based on real-life reporters like Margaret Bourke-White and Martha Gellhorn, it is a very compelling read. Those who enjoyed THE NIGHTINGALE will want to give this one a look for another perspective on women during the war! It’s out on August 11th. By the way, I have noticed that I am in a much better mood when I am reading books that I love and very grumpy when I am trying to get settled in with a book that I cannot wrap my head around!
Our very first Sounding Off on Audio contest ended today, and it proved to be a huge success! Many thanks to all of you who submitted your very thoughtful and insightful comments about the audiobooks you’ve listened to. Three lucky readers won the digital version or a CD of both IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT by Judy Blume, narrated by Kathleen McInerney, and THE WRIGHT BROTHERS written and read by David McCullough.
Our next Sounding Off on Audio kicks off today. Fill out the form on this page by Friday, July 31st at noon ET for your chance to win the digital version or a CD of both DRUNKEN FIREWORKS by Stephen King, read by Tim Sample (who was hand-selected by King to narrate this short story, which I have heard and is rocking good fun in Sample’s grisly backwater voice), and DOES THIS BEACH MAKE ME LOOK FAT?: True Stories and Confessions written and read by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella.
While we’re on the subject of audiobooks, I’d like to remind you about our Audiobooks.com contest. From now until Friday, July 17th at noon ET, we’re giving away five three-month subscriptions to Audiobooks.com, a site that allows readers to download books straight from their app, making the process easy and efficient. Click here to learn more about Audiobooks.com, which I have been using and enjoying. This is a great time to start a free one-month trial; just click here to get started. Trust me, it is VERY easy to do, and this is coming from someone who was a slave to discs going into the CD player for YEARS! Then enter for your chance to win OUR contest here. And if you’re one of our five winners, you’ll be bonused three extra months!
Jeff Lindsay’s iconic serial killer, Dexter Morgan, makes his final appearance in DEXTER IS DEAD, the eighth book in the series. After burning the candle at both ends for several years, Dexter has finally seen the collapse of his world. Arrested on charges of murder, he has lost not only his freedom, but his wife, children and previously loyal sister. In an ironic twist, Dexter’s arrest has nothing to do with his prolific career as a killer, but rather a murder he did not even commit. Although his brother, Brian, has a plan to prove Dexter’s innocence, the stakes are higher than ever before and his demise seems unavoidable.
Joe Hartlaub, who isn’t entirely convinced that the series has come to an end, reflects, “If this eighth volume is indeed the last, author Jeff Lindsay has brought his ‘A’ game to this farewell, wrapping things up in fine fashion…. Either way, you will want to read DEXTER IS DEAD, whether you are a longtime fan of the series or a casual visitor.”
Chevy Stevens returns with her latest psychological thriller, the aforementioned THOSE GIRLS. Jess, Courtney and Dani Campbell are three teenage sisters who live on a remote ranch in Western Canada. Their mother passed away many years ago, and now the girls must make do with their violent alcoholic father and meager jobs as ranch hands. But when his temper gets the best of him and changes everything, they flee, only to find themselves in a far more horrifying situation. Left with no choice but to change their names and bury their pasts, the girls believe the worst is behind them --- until 18 years later, when one sister goes missing, followed by her niece. Now they must fight not only to survive, but for revenge.
According to reviewer Rebecca Munro, “This is no easy read, as Stevens spares no detail when it comes to the brutalities endured by her characters, but I found that I could not put the book down. If you are looking for a riveting mix of survival, redemption and sheer terror, THOSE GIRLS is not to be missed.” I thoroughly agree with Rebecca. I read this last weekend and was completely caught up in the story from page one. Chevy fully delivers, and next week I will tell you why this is a Bets On selection.
As mentioned above, unstoppable mother-daughter duo Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella have penned DOES THIS BEACH MAKE ME LOOK FAT?: True Stories and Confessions, a new collection of witty, bitingly honest stories. Here, Lisa and Francesca share tales of identity theft, college reunions, summer beach visits and much more. Perfect for all ages, this humorous book bridges generational gaps to look at everyday occurrences from the eyes of mothers and daughters. Even amidst all the crazy twists the world can throw at us, this unbreakable team writes to remind readers to laugh and love along the way.
Carole Turner has our review and calls the authors “intrepid women who meet life head on and aren't afraid to tell their stories truthfully. While this book is a terrific beach read, I enjoyed it from the depths of my old recliner.”
From bestselling author Marian Keyes comes THE WOMAN WHO STOLE MY LIFE, a charming and funny novel about the pursuit of dreams. Stella Sweeney is a beautician with a husband and two teenage children. Her ordinary life is interrupted when she is struck by a serious illness and hospitalized for months. Upon recovering, Stella discovers that her neurologist, Dr. Mannix Taylor, has published a memoir about her illness to great acclaim. Still struggling to adapt to her new life, Stella explores her relationship with Dr. Taylor and relocates to a glamorous new life in New York City.
Norah Piehl has our review and says, “THE WOMAN WHO STOLE MY LIFE is perhaps not as dark as some of her earlier work, but it does tackle serious topics in a more lighthearted way. Readers may or may not be surprised by the plot twist that defines the book's final sections, but they are likely to be consistently frustrated, outraged and absorbed by the stories of Stella and the people who surround her.” We also share a Q&A with Keyes, which you can see here.
Internationally bestselling author Tatiana de Rosnay (she wrote SARAH'S KEY) explores forbidden loves in A PARIS AFFAIR, a passionate collection of short stories set in one of the world’s most romantic cities. Drawing upon her skill for prose, de Rosnay perceptively portrays tragic, humorous and romantic loves that occur in hotel rooms, secret texts and late nights at the office. With her unflinching eye and incomparable wit, she asks readers to consider the appeal of the prohibited --- and whether the illicit is, in fact, always the most pleasurable.
Reviewer Amy Gwiazdowski raves, “The next time de Rosnay writes a short story collection, I’m full on in. These stories are delightfully wicked in a wonderful storied way. It’s all about love going straight to hate and so intensely passionate that it’s easy to absorb this tiny book in what feels like one huge setting. A PARIS AFFAIR is an emotional ride and so fantastic.”
Which books releasing in July are you planning to read? We have listed 20 titles (including the five just mentioned) and are curious to know which ones have piqued your interest. Click here to cast your vote(s)!
In this week’s Summer Reading contests, we gave away FAST SHUFFLE by David Black, THE FLYING CIRCUS by Susan Crandall, LUCKY US by Amy Bloom and PRETTY IS by Maggie Mitchell. Next week’s prize books will be the aforementioned GO SET A WATCHMAN (which, of course, is one of the titles included in our current poll) and THE INSECT FARM by Stuart Prebble. The first contest of the week will go up on Monday, July 13th at noon ET.
GO SET A WATCHMAN was the subject of our previous poll that just ended today. 76% of you plan to read Harper Lee’s highly anticipated second novel either as soon as it releases on Tuesday or sometime after its release. In addition, 31% of you plan to re-read TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD before delving into WATCHMAN. Click here for the complete results.
We’ve updated our New in Paperback feature for July. Among this month’s notable titles are THE SHORT AND TRAGIC LIFE OF ROBERT PEACE by Jeff Hobbs, WATCH ME by Anjelica Huston, LOVE LETTERS: A Rose Harbor Novel by Debbie Macomber, THE ROSIE EFFECT by Graeme Simsion, and NO SAFE HOUSE by Linwood Barclay.
Our Books on Screen feature also has been updated this month. In theaters July 24th is Paper Towns, based on the 2008 novel by the mega-popular YA author John Green. Two days later on the small screen is the premiere of the TV movie Aurora Teagarden: Real Murders, based on Charlaine Harris’ mystery novel, REAL MURDERS. And available on DVD are The Longest Ride and Woman in Gold.
We have a new Word of Mouth contest going up this week. Let us know by Friday, July 24th at noon ET what books you’ve finished reading, and you’ll be in the running to win BETWEEN THE WORLD AND ME by Ta-Nehisi Coates, SPEAKING IN BONES by Kathy Reichs, and the aforementioned WHEN THE MOON IS LOW by Nadia Hashimi.
In a book group? Our 2015 Book Group Survey closes on Wednesday, July 15th. If you have not answered, may I ask you to do so now? Click here. We know this is a lengthy survey; we had a lot to ask and thought one comprehensive survey was better than a number of little ones. So pour a glass of wine, a mug of coffee, or whatever your favorite beverage is (these suggestions courtesy of Jamie Ford, author of HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET, who is in a book group --- all men --- and answered the survey).
News and Pop Culture:
Reminder to Watch Harper Lee: Hey, Boo: A newly updated version of Mary McDonagh Murphy’s 2012 documentary, Harper Lee: Hey, Boo, airs tonight on PBS (check local listings).
Harper Lee at a Luncheon to Celebrate WATCHMAN: Nice pieces in the New York Times and USA Today about this.
Security Abounds for GO SET A WATCHMAN: Read how the book is being kept under wraps!
Indie Bookstore Event Plans for WATCHMAN in Monroeville, AL: Here's how they will celebrate in the store in Harper Lee's hometown.
Harper Lee’s Advice to a Young Writer: Loved this piece from the New York Times this week.
Barnes & Noble Hosts Read-A-Thons of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD: In all stores on July 13th from 9am – 9pm. Details here.
"Ray Donovan" and "Masters of Sex": Both have season openers on Showtime on Sunday night. I have seen both of the openers, and they both grabbed me to keep watching.
WHEN I STOP TALKING, YOU'LL KNOW I'M DEAD: Jerry Weintraub passed away at 77. REALLY enjoyed his book, which had that title that was apt this week. Also, there is a terrific HBO documentary on him called "His Way." He had great Hollywood stories.
John Maxtone-Graham: A few months ago, Greg went to see this legendary authority on ocean liners at a World Ship Society Meeting. He was itching to get on his way that evening, but stayed to have a book signed. He is now glad he did, as Maxtone-Graham passed away on July 6th.
Tomorrow I am headed up to Hudson, New York, for Random House’s “Off the Page” event, where I am going to participate in a panel on book groups before racing back to the city for the ThrillerFest Awards ceremony, where Nelson DeMille is being honored as Thrillermaster. I caught up with Nelson last night at ThrillerFest’s opening cocktail party, along with Steve Berry, Paul Levine, Keith Raffel, Hank Phillippi Ryan, and a number of authors whose first books are forthcoming. In the photo in the center above, you can see Paul Levine with Greg and Jenni Lai, our designer. They caught up with him at ThrillerFest today!
Busy, busy week!
Read on, and have a great week&helliphellip;
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: DEXTER IS DEAD by Jeff Lindsay
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DEXTER IS DEAD by Jeff Lindsay (Thriller)
Dexter is arrested on charges of murder. He has lost everything --- including his wife, his kids and the loyalty of his sister. Now completely alone, Dexter faces a murder charge (for a crime, ironically, he did not actually commit). His only chance for freedom lies with his brother, Brian, who has a dark plan to prove his innocence. But the stakes are deadly, and the epic showdown that lies in Dexter's path may lead to his demise once and for all. 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: THOSE GIRLS by Chevy Stevens
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THOSE GIRLS by Chevy Stevens (Psychological Thriller)
Jess, Courtney and Dani Campbell live on a remote ranch in Western Canada where they work hard and try to stay out of the way of their father's temper. One night, a fight gets out of hand, and the sisters are forced to go on the run. As events spiral out of control, they find themselves in a horrifying situation and are left with no choice but to change their names and create new lives. Eighteen years later, they are still trying to forget what happened that summer. But when one of the sisters goes missing, followed closely by her niece, they are pulled back into the past. 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: DOES THIS BEACH MAKE ME LOOK FAT? by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella
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DOES THIS BEACH MAKE ME LOOK FAT?: True Stories and Confessions by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella (Humor/Essays)
From identity theft to the hazards of bicycling to college reunions and eating on the beach, Lisa Scottoline and her daughter, Francesca Serritella, tackle the quirks, absurdities and wonders of everyday life with wit and warmth. As Lisa says, "More and more, especially in the summertime when I'm sitting on the beach, I'm learning not to sweat it. To go back to the child that I used to be. To see myself through the loving eyes of my parents. To eat on the beach. And not to worry about whether every little thing makes me look fat. In fact, not to worry at all." Reviewed by Carole Turner.
-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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An Interview with Marian Keyes, Author of THE WOMAN WHO STOLE MY LIFE
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Marian Keyes is a celebrated author with a loyal (and vocal!) fan base and two #1 Sunday Times bestsellers under her belt. Her latest book, THE WOMAN WHO STOLE MY LIFE, introduces Stella Sweeney, who becomes a newly minted self-help memoirist when she learns that her doctor compiled and published a memoir about the illness for which he was treating her. As things become more complicated, Stella must learn who she was before her illness --- and who she is now. In this interview, Keyes reveals what inspired Stella’s journey and shares details of her own journey as an author (and, believe it or not, how the two overlap!). She also talks about auctioning off her character’s name, and why she believes films are lovely but books are and always will be enough.
THE WOMAN WHO STOLE MY LIFE by Marian Keyes (Fiction)
After recovering from a serious illness, Stella Sweeny finds out that her neurologist, Dr. Mannix Taylor, has compiled and self-published a memoir about her illness. Her discovery comes when she spots a photo of the finished copy in an American tabloid --- and it’s in the hands of the vice president’s wife! As her relationship with Dr. Taylor gets more complicated, Stella struggles to figure out who she was before her illness, who she is now, and who she wants to be while relocating to New York City to pursue a career as a newly minted self-help memoirist. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
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Click here to read the interview. |
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Now in Stores: A PARIS AFFAIR by Tatiana de Rosnay
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A PARIS AFFAIR by Tatiana de Rosnay (Romance/Short Stories)
In her new collection of short stories, Tatiana de Rosnay takes the notion of Paris as the city of love and makes it something so much more passionate. In each story, she manipulates both characters and readers into believing that everything is as it should be, then changes the dynamics completely, leaving them in a tangled mess. It’s a little book full of intensity, love and agony. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.
-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 BILLION DOLLAR SPY by David E. Hoffman
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THE BILLION DOLLAR SPY: A True Story of Cold War Espionage and Betrayal by David E. Hoffman (History)
While driving out of the American embassy in Moscow one evening in 1978, the chief of the CIA’s Moscow station heard a knock on his car window. A man on the curb handed him an envelope whose contents stunned U.S. intelligence: details of top-secret Soviet research and developments in military technology that were totally unknown to the United States. In the years that followed, the man, Adolf Tolkachev, an engineer in a Soviet military design bureau, used his high-level access to hand over tens of thousands of pages of technical secrets. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
-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 HAND THAT FEEDS YOU by A.J. Rich
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THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU by A.J. Rich (Psychological Thriller)
Morgan Prager, who is completing her thesis on victim psychology, is newly engaged to Bennett, a seductive but possessive and secretive man. She returns from class one day to find Bennett mauled to death and her dogs covered in blood. When Morgan tries to locate Bennett’s parents to tell them about their son’s hideous death, she discovers he was not the man he said he was. Suddenly Morgan’s research into Bennett takes on the urgency of survival: to stay alive, she must find out who is killing the women to whom Bennett was closest. 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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July's New in Paperback Roundups
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July’s roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes Anne Rice's PRINCE LESTAT, a long-awaited novel that picks up where THE VAMPIRE LESTAT left off more than a quarter of a century ago; LOVE LETTERS, Debbie Macomber's latest book set at Cedar Cove’s cozy Rose Harbor Inn, a celebration of the power of love --- and a well-timed love letter --- to inspire hope and mend a broken heart; and NO SAFE HOUSE, the follow-up to Linwood Barclay's NO TIME FOR GOODBYE, in which a family’s troubled past is about to return in more ways than one --- and this time, they may not be able to escape.
Among this month’s nonfiction offerings are THE SHORT AND TRAGIC LIFE OF ROBERT PEACE by Jeff Hobbs, a riveting account of the short life of a talented young African-American man who escapes the slums of Newark for Yale University only to succumb to the dangers of the streets --- and of one’s own nature --- when he returns home; WATCH ME, a follow-up memoir to A STORY LATELY TOLD, in which Academy Award-winning actress Anjelica Huston chronicles her 17-year love affair with Jack Nicholson, her rise to stardom, and her mastery of the craft of acting; and I MUST SAY, Martin Short's witty, wise and heartfelt memoir of how a showbiz-obsessed kid from Canada transformed himself into one of Hollywood's favorite funnymen.
-Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of July 6th, July 13th, July 20th and July 27th. |
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July's Books on Screen Feature
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July is the month for sun-soaked blockbusters, sweet and sour superheroes, and thunderous sound effects. It’s also the time when we get those more somber summer movies, the kind that hum along gently and are as quietly refreshing as air conditioning on a mid-July day. Fortunately, we have both kinds this month!
Ant-Man finally hits theaters this month after navigating a road to production that was as byzantine as an ant colony. The always affable Paul Rudd stars as the thief-turned-microscopic superhero, and the film looks really good. If you’ve sworn off MCU movies for good (#TeamDC), then check out the intelligent-looking Mr. Holmes, which arrives in mid-July. Ian McKellen is particularly compelling as the aged detective, who is finally taking stock of his legacy and revising his narrative.
Millennials and Gen Xers will have plenty to talk about with the releases of Paper Towns, the follow-up to John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, and the David Foster Wallace road trip movie The End of the Tour. In Paper Towns, one boy’s fixation on the girl next door leads him on a journey of self-discovery. And Jason Segel brings David Foster Wallace (back) to life in The End of the Tour, alongside Jesse Eisenberg as reporter David Lipsky, his interviewer, peer and foil.
Summer television is heating up indoors. “The Astronaut Wives Club” has a small but steadfast following, and BBC’s under-the-radar “Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell” is supposedly the best show you’re not watching. We're also hearing some in-house love for “Rizzoli & Isles” and "Pretty Little Liars." And if you missed the second season of Lifetime’s campy “Witches of East End,” then you can catch it on DVD this month, as well as The Longest Ride.
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Click here to see all the movies, TV shows and DVDs featured in July’s Books on Screen. |
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Bookreporter.com's Summer Reading Contests and Feature
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Summer has arrived! 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, July 13th 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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INVASION OF PRIVACY by Christopher Reich (Thriller)
FBI agent Joe Grant and a confidential informant are killed in a deadly shootout. The official report places blame for the deaths on Joe's shoulders, but the story just doesn't add up, and Joe’s wife, Mary, has too many troubling questions that need answers. Stonewalled by the FBI, Mary will be drawn into a deadly conspiracy that puts her in the crosshairs of the richest and most powerful men in America…and the newest and most terrifying surveillance system known to man. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN: A Detective Peter Diamond Mystery by Peter Lovesey (Mystery)
In a Sussex town on the south coast of England, a widely disliked art teacher at a posh private girls’ school disappears without explanation. Meanwhile, a Sussex detective has been suspended for failing to link DNA evidence of a relative to a seven-year-old murder case. When detective Peter Diamond realizes that the suspended officer is an old friend who is not known to make such mistakes, he begins to notice unsettling connections between the cold case and the missing art teacher. Could the two mysteries be connected? Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
SPEAK by Louisa Hall (Fiction)
Each of the characters in SPEAK is attempting to communicate across gaps --- to estranged spouses, lost friends, future readers, or a computer program that may or may not understand them. Louisa Hall explores how the chasm between computer and human --- shrinking rapidly with today’s technological advances --- echoes the gaps that exist between ordinary people. Though each speaks from a distinct place and moment in time, all five characters share the need to express themselves while simultaneously wondering if they will ever be heard or understood. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
DINNER WITH BUDDHA by Roland Merullo (Fiction)
The first 50 or so years of Otto's journey were pretty good. He felt he had it all until one day he didn’t. Looking for answers, he calls on his enlightened brother-in-law, Volya Rinpoche, a wise man with Russian roots, a Tibetan heritage, and an international reputation as a spiritual teacher. They embark on a road trip over highways and back roads across the middle of America, hoping to sort out what’s troubling them. They encounter a diverse cast of characters along the way as they look for answers to life’s mysteries. Reviewed by Miriam Tuliao.
THE MAPS OF CHAOS by Felix J. Palma (Historical Fantasy/Mystery)
When the person he loves most dies in tragic circumstances, the mysterious protagonist of THE MAP OF CHAOS does all he can to speak to her one last time. A session with a renowned medium seems to offer the only solution, but the experience unleashes terrible forces that bring the world to the brink of disaster. Salvation can only be found in The Map of Chaos, an obscure book that he is desperate to uncover. In his search, he is given invaluable help by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Lewis Carroll, and, of course, H. G. Wells, whose Invisible Man seems to have escaped from the pages of his famous novel to sow terror among mankind. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
SWERVE by Vicki Pettersson (Psychological Thriller)
It’s high summer in the Mojave Desert, and Kristine Rush and her fiancé, Daniel, are en route from Las Vegas to Lake Arrowhead, California, for the July Fourth holiday weekend. But when Daniel is abducted from a desolate rest stop, Kristine is forced to choose: return home unharmed, but never to see her fiancé again, or plunge forward into the searing desert to find him…where a killer lies in wait. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.
THE BEE COTTAGE STORY: How I Made a Muddle of Things and Decorated My Way Back to Happiness written by Frances Schultz, principal photography by Trevor Tondro (Memoir)
Frances Schultz taps into what she learned during her renovations of her East Hampton house, Bee Cottage --- determining how each area in the house and garden would be used and furnished --- to unravel the question of how a mature, intelligent, successful woman could have made such a mess of her personal life. As she figures out each room over a period of years, Frances finds a new path in life. She comes to learn that, like decorating a home, our lives must adapt to who we are and what we need at different points along the way. Reviewed by Jesse Kornbluth, founder of HeadButler.com. |
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Our Latest Poll: Which July Books Are You Anticipating?
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Which of the following titles releasing in July are you planning to read? Please check all that apply.
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BADLANDS by C.J. Box
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BETWEEN THE WORLD AND ME by Ta-Nehisi Coates
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BROKEN PROMISE by Linwood Barclay
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BRUSH BACK: A V. I. Warshawski Novel, by Sara Paretsky
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BUM RAP by Paul Levine
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CIRCLING THE SUN by Paula McLain
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CODE OF CONDUCT by Brad Thor
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DEXTER IS DEAD by Jeff Lindsay
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DOES THIS BEACH MAKE ME LOOK FAT?: True Stories and Confessions, by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella
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GO SET A WATCHMAN by Harper Lee
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HOW TO BE A GROWN-UP by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
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IDEAL by Ayn Rand
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THE NAKED EYE by Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen
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NAKED GREED: A Stone Barrington Novel, by Stuart Woods
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THE NOVEL HABITS OF HAPPINESS: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel, by Alexander McCall Smith
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THE OTHER DAUGHTER by Lauren Willig
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A PARIS AFFAIR by Tatiana de Rosnay
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THE REDEEMERS: A Quinn Colson Novel, by Ace Atkins
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SPEAKING IN BONES by Kathy Reichs
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THOSE GIRLS by Chevy Stevens
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THE WOMAN WHO STOLE MY LIFE by Marian Keyes
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None of the above
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Click here to vote in 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 about the books you’ve finished reading with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from July 10th to July 24th, five lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of BETWEEN THE WORLD AND ME by Ta-Nehisi Coates, SPEAKING IN BONES by Kathy Reichs, and WHEN THE MOON IS LOW by Nadia Hashimi.
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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Sounding Off on Audio Contest: Tell Us What You're Listening to --- and You Can Win Two Audiobooks!
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Tell us about the audiobooks you’ve finished listening to with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars for both the performance and the content. During the contest period from July 10th to July 31st, THREE lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the digital version or a CD of both DOES THIS BEACH MAKE ME LOOK FAT?: True Stories and Confessions written and read by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella, and DRUNKEN FIREWORKS by Stephen King, read by Tim Sample.
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.
-To see reader comments from the previous contest period, 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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