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Bookreporter.com Newsletter |
October 30, 2015 |
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Happy Halloween! And Enjoy an Extra Hour This Sunday!
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I feel like the Halloween equivalent of the Grinch in our neighborhood as I have yet to even put out a pumpkin for the holiday! I have five orange mums on the porch, but nothing that screams Halloween. We have boxes and boxes of decorations that we have accumulated through the years, but the last months have been hectic with weekend business events, and I have not gotten around to traipsing around the attic to gather them. I am determined to at least have the three big pumpkins in the windows by later today! I also need to buy some candy --- the kind we want to have leftovers of!
It’s lovely when Halloween is on a Saturday, which leaves Sunday for the wee candymeisters to recuperate and for the 20something and 30something revelers to nurse their hangovers.
In our town, there is a man whose lawn decorations are legendary for every holiday. Earlier this year there were no decorations, and we learned that he was hospitalized with a lengthy illness. We have a terrific community forum on Facebook, and the news about him spread quickly. As the months dragged on, we all missed the giant daffodils and the bunnies at Easter, the literally thousands of daffodils that pop up from bulbs each spring and the patriotic celebrations over the summer. A few weeks ago, I drove by the house --- and, lo and behold, the Halloween decorations were out in full force. The Facebook page quickly spread the word that Bill was back and feeling better. Nice to see literally hundreds of people welcoming him back home.
On Tuesday night, Shara Zaval, our Kidsreads.com and Teenreads.com Editorial Manager, and I had a fun night at the Plaza Hotel celebrating the 60th(!) anniversary of Eloise. Above are some photos of the Eloise swag that was given at the event, including the new book just out this week --- THE 365 DAYS OF ELOISE. To prep for the event, that morning I drove into the city listening to an audiobook of the Eloise stories, which is narrated by Bernadette Peters. By the time I got to the city, I had listened to ELOISE and ELOISE IN PARIS. Still left to hear are ELOISE AT CHRISTMASTIME and ELOISE IN MOSCOW. They reminded me of all things pink! By the way, Peters' narration took a bit for me to get used to, especially since I always think of a child’s voice when I read the pages of Eloise, but she has grown on me!
Staying on a kids theme here for just a moment, for those of you with children and grandchildren, please note that we have just completed a major project on Kidsreads.com, with an update to our Series Books feature. It now has close to 200 series listed, and you can search them both by age and alphabetically! It was a HUGE undertaking that took months to complete, and I thank Shara for championing it. We know that children love series titles, and thus we feel that this feature will give them some terrific direction on books to read and enjoy. We will be adding and updating in the months to come, probably quarterly. For those thinking of buying books for children for the holidays, this is a great resource.
I am a big fan of "Scandal" and also have gotten into "How to Get Away with Murder," thus I was happy to get my hands on a copy of the audiobook of Shonda Rhimes' book, YEAR OF YES: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person, which will be in stores on November 10th. She runs a company called ShondaLand, which produces those shows, as well as "Grey’s Anatomy." Watching, and seeing her strong female characters, I would assume she would be a big outgoing personality who loves to be out being seen. But before writing this book, she was anything but. She turned down many invites and moments, like going on Jimmy Kimmel, and Oprah filled her with paralyzing terror. Sheer terror. A comment from her oldest sister at Thanksgiving prompted her to commit to a year of saying “YES” to things. First up, she agreed to be the commencement speaker at Dartmouth, her alma mater. Still listening, but curious as to how this year will go. For celebrity memoirs, I love when they narrate their own and will more often listen than read the books.
By the way, I think I need to learn the word “no.” I have mastered “yes”!
Now onward to this week’s update:
Forensic pathologist Dr. Kay Scarpetta returns in Patricia Cornwell’s DEPRAVED HEART. Scarpetta is working a suspicious death scene in Cambridge, Massachusetts, when she gets an emergency alert on her phone. A video link in her inbox appears to be from her genius niece, Lucy, but mysteriously directs her to a surveillance film of Lucy taken almost 20 years ago. As more film clips come in, Scarpetta learns terrifying secrets about her niece, who she has raised like a daughter. Afraid of attracting attention, Scarpetta isolates herself from her FBI husband, investigative partner and especially Lucy. But as the videos keep coming, Scarpetta’s entire world --- and everyone she loves --- is put at risk.
According to reviewer Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum, "DEPRAVED HEART is Patricia Cornwell at her best. She sprinkles in enough red herrings to satisfy those readers looking for clues, and ponders in Scarpetta’s mind what is really happening to her, her family and her close friends. This is one not to miss."
Gregory Maguire, the bestselling author of WICKED, takes on a new classic favorite in AFTER ALICE, published to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s beloved masterpiece. Readers all around the world are familiar with Wonderland, the magical world Alice found when she took her famous fall down the rabbit hole, but that’s only half of the story. As Alice met with fantastic creatures and vicious villains, 1860s Oxford was left behind to question her disappearance. In AFTER ALICE, readers meet Ada, a friend of Alice’s who came to visit her but arrived a moment too late. In a magical twist, Ada takes her own fall and embarks on an incredible journey to find Alice and take her away from the surreal realm of Wonderland.
Norah Piehl has our review and says, "Maguire alternates locations by chapter, which offers plenty of opportunity for interesting parallels between the two worlds.... AFTER ALICE will inspire readers to think anew about both historical realities and classic fantasies." Our reviewer Bronwyn Miller had a chance to chat with Maguire, and you can read the interview here. We also have a reading group guide for the book, which you can check out here.
Although Ruth Rendell passed away in May, fans can still celebrate one final novel from the beloved author with the release of DARK CORNERS. When his father dies, Carl Martin inherits a house in one of London’s richest and trendiest neighborhoods. Carl still needs money, however, so he rents the upstairs room and kitchen to Dermot McKinnon, the first person he interviews. Shortly after Dermot moves in, Carl discovers his father’s collection of homeopathic “cures,” including a stash of controversial diet pills. But when he sends these pills to a friend, she is soon found dead. Before Carl can recover from the loss of his friend, Dermot begins to blackmail him, turning Carl’s life into a living hell full of obsession and instability.
Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum calls DARK CORNERS "a psychological thriller with many twists and turns along with well-limned characters. When you are sure you know what is going to happen, the story changes. Ruth Rendell, a world-renowned mystery writer who died earlier this year, has left behind an enormous body of work for all to savor." Barbara, a longtime fan of Rendell’s, wrote a lovely tribute to her shortly after her passing; click here to read it.
In FIND A WAY, long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad relays the remarkable story of her historic swim from Cuba to Florida at the age of 64. In a feat of endurance and willpower, Diana completed the 111-mile swim in 53 hours, crossing hazardous, shark-infested waters without the aid of a shark cage. Although she was a world champion in her 20s, setting numerous records, Diana was blown completely off course when she first attempted the Cuba swim at the time. Her dramatic failure caused her to stop swimming for three decades. In her 60s, however, Diana emerged more inspired than ever, drawing upon her boundless tenacity and perseverance to become a hero for millions of people around the world. In FIND A WAY, she meditates on the inner resources that allowed her to complete her epic accomplishment and encourages readers to live without regrets.
Miriam Tuliao has this to say in her review: “FIND A WAY tells the captivating story of one proud ocean traveler’s journey to achieve her Impossible Dream. Nyad’s memoir is an inspiring personal account of persistence and endurance…perseverance and courage…and unwavering belief... But it’s also a call to action.”
We’re giving away the audio version of FIND A WAY, read by Diana herself, in our current Sounding Off on Audio contest, in addition to CAREER OF EVIL: A Cormoran Strike Novel written by Robert Galbraith and read by Robert Glenister. Submit your comments about the audiobooks you’ve listened to, and you’ll have a chance to win both of these audiobooks. Be sure to enter by Monday, November 2nd at noon ET; a new contest will be announced shortly after this one ends.
From Julie Checkoway comes THE THREE-YEAR SWIM CLUB, the inspiring story of a group of impoverished children who became world-class swimmers. Checkoway takes readers back to Maui in 1937, where schoolteacher Soichi Sakamoto took a group of poverty-stricken sugar plantation children under his wing and asked them to dream of more. Malnourished, barefoot and filthy, these incredible Japanese-American children trained in dirty irrigation ditches with a teacher who could barely tread water. In spite of their dire situation and the anti-Japanese sentiment of the 1930s, the children managed to outrace Olympic athletes in their first year. In the second, they became national and international champions, shattering world records with ease. And, finally, in their third year they faced their greatest obstacle: the beginning of a world war and subsequent cancellation of the Olympic Games. Still, they fought bravely on the battlefield and, in 1948, took one last chance for Olympic Gold.
Melanie Reynolds has our review and says, “This story of one (at first) seemingly unremarkable man and his effect on camp children and the world of swimming is both inconceivable and dazzling. You won’t want to miss it!” This was a Buzz Book at BookExpo America. I love books like this, which share slices of American life that we are not aware of. I read an early manuscript and saw this was a story not just of these children and their accomplishments, but also of life in Hawaii during this time period.
Mystery fans of prolific author Max Allan Collins will be delighted to learn that the publisher Hard Case Crime will be re-releasing the first five Quarry books over the next few months. This fictional series was the first of its kind to feature a paid assassin as its main character. Although three Quarry novels were published in the 1970s and ’80s, Quarry disappeared until 2006, when Hard Case Crime teamed up with Collins to release an original novel. Since then, the Quarry books have become cult classics, with an eight-episode show coming to Cinemax in 2016. In anticipation of the release of the earliest installments, our reviewer Tom Callahan explains his fascination with Quarry and what makes these books such enduring favorites.
We’ve updated our Young Adult Books You Want to Read feature, reviews we’ve posted on Teenreads.com that we think will appeal to our adult readers. This month’s titles are JUBA! by the late Walter Dean Myers; HALF A CREATURE FROM THE SEA: A Life in Stories written by David Almond and illustrated by Eleanor Taylor; and IF YOU’RE LUCKY by Yvonne Prinz.
YA books continues to be the theme of our current poll question. With their rise in popularity over the last few years, especially with a non-teen audience, we’re curious to find out if you read them. Click here to let us know!
John Irving, Michael Connelly and John Grisham are three heavyweights whose newest books have published or will publish soon --- and you have an opportunity to win all three of these major releases. All you have to do is enter our Word of Mouth contest and let us know by Friday, November 6th at noon ET the books that you’ve finished reading for your chance to win AVENUE OF MYSTERIES, THE CROSSING: A Bosch Novel and ROGUE LAWYER.
News and Pop Culture:
Reader Mailbox: Thanks to all of you who wrote with comments about my soapbox piece concerning the way commenters on Amazon have been treating the book CHOOSING HOPE (for those who missed it; here’s a link to last week’s newsletter). I appreciate those who echoed my frustrations and shared them by calling and writing Amazon. Also, I heard from a number of you who are enjoying The Skimm, the daily news newsletter that I have written about. I love when writing has voice, tone and attitude!
"The Affair": I previewed Sunday night’s episode, which is told from Alison and Cole's POV. It is one of those episodes that both ties some things together and propels the story along with more dialogue than action. For book lovers, there are scenes with the literary agent that will make you smile. I still am laughing about the episode where she talked about the writers who lived at her guesthouse to write their books. I could picture NONE of them in that scenario.
Jonathan Franzen on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert": Reading a parody of "Little Red Riding Hood" clearly directed at Amazon.
Kids and Sports: This is a great piece about kids and sports and what they learn beyond the game. For all those who are running with their kids like crazy on nights and weekends, this piece is well worth reading.
Broadway Shows Streaming: I read this week about a new subscription service that offers live streaming of Broadway shows.
Humorous for Halloween: Ellen as Karla Kardashian. I loathe what the Kardashians and their non-talents have wrought, but I salute Ellen here.
Homeless in Hawaii: I saw this piece last week about homeless folks in Hawaii. While this is a crisis all over the country, the numbers here are quite chilling.
I have been craving the extra hour that comes when we change the clocks on Sunday. Yes, I loathe the early evening darkness that will come starting next week with a passion, but I am swooning over an extra hour. How will I spend it? Let me count the ways! Okay, I need 12 hours.
Last weekend, I bought amaryllis bulbs to give as holiday gifts. I brought one to a friend for her birthday on Saturday night. I got an idea at the plant nursery to grow it hydroponically. I am going to try this with a few of mine to see what happens. It did make for a dramatic-looking gift, especially since the bulbs on their own are not that elegant. See what I did above. I think it needs one or two more rows of rocks to be perfect!
Here’s to a weekend of candy, an extra hour, Mets victories...and, I hope, a whole lot of good reading.
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: DEPRAVED HEART by Patricia Cornwell
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DEPRAVED HEART: A Scarpetta Novel by Patricia Cornwell (Thriller)
Dr. Kay Scarpetta is working a suspicious death scene in Cambridge, Massachusetts, when an emergency alert sounds on her phone. A video link lands in her text messages and seems to be from her computer genius niece Lucy. But how can it be? It’s clearly a surveillance film of Lucy taken almost 20 years ago. The diabolical presence behind what unfolds seems obvious --- but strangely, not to the FBI. Certainly that’s the message they send when they raid Lucy’s estate and begin building a case that could send her to prison for the rest of her life. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.
-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: A BANQUET OF CONSEQUENCES by Elizabeth George
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A BANQUET OF CONSEQUENCES: A Lynley Novel by Elizabeth George (Mystery)
As Inspector Thomas Lynley investigates the London angle of an ever more darkly disturbing case, his partner, Barbara Havers, is looking behind the peaceful façade of country life to discover a twisted world of desire and deceit. The suicide of William Goldacre is devastating to those left behind who will have to deal with its unintended consequences. Could there be a link between the young man’s leap from a Dorset cliff and a horrific poisoning in Cambridge? Reviewed by Katherine B. Weissman.
-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: SLADE HOUSE by David Mitchell
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SLADE HOUSE by David Mitchell (Paranormal Thriller)
Down the road from a working-class British pub, along the brick wall of a narrow alley, if the conditions are exactly right, you’ll find the entrance to Slade House. A stranger will greet you by name and invite you inside. At first, you won’t want to leave. Later, you’ll find that you can’t. Every nine years, the house’s residents --- an odd brother and sister --- extend a unique invitation to someone who’s different or lonely. But what really goes on inside Slade House? For those who find out, it’s already too late. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Bookreporter.com Talks to Gregory Maguire, Author of AFTER ALICE
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Gregory Maguire is no stranger to rewriting classic children’s fairy tales for adults. His first try was an overwhelming success; WICKED --- a vividly realized revisionist take on L. Frank Baum’s THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ --- was adapted into one of the most popular Broadway shows of all time. Now he returns with AFTER ALICE, a magical new twist on ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND, which was recently published to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s beloved classic. In this interview with Bookreporter.com’s Bronwyn Miller, Maguire discusses what interests him about rewriting children’s stories and how he chooses his subject matter. He also talks about the importance of books in children’s lives --- a subject he is deeply passionate about --- and how he’s careful to avoid a fistfight with Harper Lee.
AFTER ALICE by Gregory Maguire (Fantasy)
Ada, a friend of Alice’s mentioned briefly in ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND, is off to visit her friend, but arrives a moment too late --- and tumbles down the rabbit hole herself. Ada brings to Wonderland her own imperfect apprehension of cause and effect as she embarks on an odyssey to find Alice and see her safely home from this surreal world below the world. If Eurydice can ever be returned to the arms of Orpheus, or Lazarus can be raised from the tomb, perhaps Alice can be returned to life. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
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Click here to read our interview. |
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Now in Stores: DARK CORNERS by Ruth Rendell
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DARK CORNERS by Ruth Rendell (Psychological Thriller)
When his father dies, Carl Martin inherits a house in an increasingly rich and trendy London neighborhood. Carl needs cash, so he rents the upstairs room and kitchen to the first person he interviews: Dermot McKinnon. That was colossal mistake number one. Mistake number two was keeping his father’s bizarre collection of homeopathic “cures” that he found in the medicine cabinet, including a stash of controversial diet pills. Mistake number three was selling 50 of those diet pills to a friend, who is then found dead. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum’s tribute to Ruth Rendell.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Now in Stores: FIND A WAY by Diana Nyad
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FIND A WAY by Diana Nyad (Sports/Memoir)
On September 2, 2013, at the age of 64, Diana Nyad emerged onto the sands of Key West after swimming 111 miles, nation to nation, Cuba to Florida, in an epic feat of both endurance and human will, in 53 hours. Millions of people around the world cheered this maverick on, moved by her undeniable tenacity to be the first to make the historic crossing without the aid of a shark cage. In FIND A WAY, Diana engages us with a unique, passionate story of this heroic adventure and the extraordinary life experiences that have served to carve her unwavering spirit. Reviewed by Miriam Tuliao.
-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 THREE-YEAR SWIM CLUB by Julie Checkoway
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THE THREE-YEAR SWIM CLUB: The Untold Story of Maui's Sugar Ditch Kids and Their Quest for Olympic Glory by Julie Checkoway (Sports/History)
In 1937, a schoolteacher on the island of Maui challenged a group of poverty-stricken sugar plantation kids to swim upstream against the current of their circumstance. The goal? To become Olympians. In spite of everything --- including the virulent anti-Japanese sentiment of the late 1930s --- by their third year, they'd be declared the greatest swimmers in the world, but they'd also face their greatest obstacle: the dawning of a world war and the cancellation of the Games. Still, in 1948, they'd have one last chance for Olympic glory. Reviewed by Melanie Reynolds.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to read a review. |
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The Early Quarry Novels of Max Allan Collins
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The fictional series about Quarry the hitman was the first to feature a paid assassin as the lead character. Created by acclaimed mystery author Max Allan Collins in the early 1970s, the first five Quarry books --- QUARRY, QUARRY'S LIST, QUARRY'S DEAL, QUARRY'S CUT and QUARRY'S VOTE --- will be re-released by Hard Case Crime over the next few months. In this feature article, Bookreporter.com reviewer and Quarry superfan Tom Callahan reports on these reissues and provides some fascinating details about the creation and evolution of the series.
QUARRY (Now in Stores)
The assignment was simple: stake out the man's home and kill him. Easy work for a professional like Quarry. But when things go horribly wrong, Quarry finds himself with a new mission: learn who hired him and make the bastard pay.
QUARRY'S LIST (Releases December 8th)
When the man he worked for abruptly exits the business, Quarry finds himself in the crosshairs as a rival tries to take over. But what does Quarry have that the new man wants? And how did the beautiful blonde in the swimming pool become a target?
QUARRY'S DEAL (Releases January 12th)
Putting his plan in motion to target other hitmen, Quarry follows one from steamy Florida to the sober Midwest. But this killer isn't a man at all --- she's a sloe-eyed beauty, as dangerous in bed as she is deadly on the job. Has Quarry finally met his match?
QUARRY'S CUT (Releases February 9th)
It's normal to see bodies on the set of an adult film. But when they're dead bodies --- and the cast and crew discover they're trapped in a house with a serial killer --- Quarry has his work cut out for him.
QUARRY'S VOTE (Releases March 8th)
Now retired and happily married, Quarry turns down a million-dollar contract to assassinate a presidential candidate. It's not the sort of assignment you can just walk away from without consequences --- but coming after Quarry has consequences, too.
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Click here to read Tom Callahan's piece on the early Quarry novels. |
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Coming November 15th: Miami Book Fair International 2015
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The Miami Book Fair International, now in its 32nd year, is an eight-day event that opens Sunday, November 15th with the popular Evenings With… series, featuring six nights of readings and discussions with noted authors from the United States and around the world.
On Friday, November 20th, the Street Fair gets underway. The highlight of the Street Fair is the Festival of Authors, with more than 450 authors reading and discussing their work, including the Latin American and Spanish authors who participate in the IberoAmerican Authors Program. Thousands of South Florida schoolchildren will help kick off the Street Fair, making the trip downtown Friday to hear authors and participate in Children’s Alley activities, including theater, arts-and-crafts, storytelling and readings by children’s book authors. Comics and graphic novels are once again featured, and a new section just for kids and teens, as well as presentations over the weekend by renowned graphic novelists and illustrators.
During Street Fair weekend, more than 250 publishers and booksellers exhibit and sell books, with special features like the antiquarians, who showcase signed first editions, original manuscripts and other collectibles.
Authors attending the event this year include Mitch Albom, Elizabeth Alexander, Charles Belfoure, Bill Clegg, Ann Hood, Paula McLain, Garth Risk Hallberg and Amy Tan. See the full list here.
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Click here for more information about Miami Book Fair International 2015. |
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More Reviews This Week
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MY LIFE ON THE ROAD by Gloria Steinem (Memoir)
Gloria Steinem had an itinerant childhood. When she was a young girl, her father would pack the family in the car every fall and drive across country searching for adventure and trying to make a living. And so began a lifetime of travel, of activism and leadership, of listening to people whose voices and ideas would inspire change and revolution. MY LIFE ON THE ROAD is the story of Gloria’s growth and also the growth of a revolutionary movement for equality --- and the story of how surprising encounters on the road shaped both. Reviewed by Maya Gittelman.
THE WOMAN WHO WALKED IN SUNSHINE: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (16) by Alexander McCall Smith (Mystery)
Business is slow at the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency --- so slow, in fact, that for the first time in her estimable career, Precious Ramotswe has reluctantly agreed to take a holiday. The promise of a week of uninterrupted peace is short-lived, however, when she meets a young boy named Samuel, a troublemaker who is in some trouble himself. Once she learns more about Samuel’s sad story, Mma Ramotswe feels compelled to step in and help him find his way out of a bad situation. Reviewed by Amie Taylor.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
CUSTER'S TRIALS: A Life on the Frontier of a New America by T. J. Stiles (Biography)
T. J. Stiles paints a portrait of Gen. George Armstrong Custer both deeply personal and sweeping in scope, proving how much of Custer’s legacy has been ignored. He demolishes Custer’s historical caricature, revealing a volatile, contradictory, intense person --- capable yet insecure, intelligent yet bigoted, passionate yet self-destructive, a romantic individualist at odds with the institution of the military (he was court-martialed twice in six years). Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
SWEET CARESS by William Boyd (Historical Fiction)
When Amory Clay was born, her disappointed father gave her an androgynous name and announced the birth of a son. But this daughter was not one to let others define her; Amory became a woman who accepted no limits to what that could mean, and, from the time she picked up her first camera, one who would record her own version of events. Moving freely between London and New York, between photojournalism and fashion photography, and between the men who love her on complicated terms, Amory establishes her reputation as a risk taker and a passionate life traveler. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE KING'S JUSTICE: Two Novellas by Stephen R. Donaldson (Fantasy)
Stephen R. Donaldson may have been quiet since the release of THE LAST DARK in 2013, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t busy during that time. While he is most well known for his 10-volume series featuring Thomas Covenant --- a vast epic rivaling those who garner more press raves than he does --- it is an often overlooked fact that Donaldson is just as comfortable with shorter works as he is with sprawling page counts. With THE KING’S JUSTICE, Donaldson provides readers with two finely crafted and riveting page-turners. Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.
THE CIRCLE by Bernard Minier (Mystery)
In the middle of a World Cup match in June 2010, Martin Servaz receives a call from a long-lost lover. A few miles away in the town of Marsac, Classics professor Claire Diemar has been brutally murdered. As if that weren't disturbing enough, Servaz receives a cryptic email indicating that Julian Hirtmann, the most twisted of all serial killers, is back…and hitting a little too close to home. With the help of detectives Irene Ziegler and Esperandieu, Servaz will have to uncover a world of betrayal and depravity to connect the dots between these gruesome murders that keep reopening wounds from his past. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
PUDGE: The Biography of Carlton Fisk by Doug Wilson (Sports/Biography)
Carlton Fisk retired having played in more games and hit more home runs than any other catcher before him. A baseball superstar in the 1970s and ’80s, Fisk was known not just for his dedication to the sport and tremendous plays but for the respect with which he treated the game. Doug Wilson uses his own extensive research and interviews with childhood friends and major league teammates to examine the life and career of a leader who followed a strict code and played with fierce determination. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan.
THE BLOODFORGED: A Bloodbound Novel by Erin Lindsey (Fantasy)
When the war between Alden and Oridia began, Lady Alix Black played a minor role, scouting at the edge of the king’s retinue in relative anonymity. Though she’s once again facing an attacking Oridian force determined to destroy all she holds dear, she is now bodyguard to the king and wife to the prince. Erik is willing to take drastic measures to defend his domain, even if it means sending Prince Liam into a deadly web of intrigue and traveling into the perilous wild lands of Harram himself. Only the biggest threat to the kingdom might be one that neither Alix nor Erik could have imagined or prepared for. Reviewed by Carly Silver. |
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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:
JUBA! by Walter Dean Myers (Historical Fiction)
Walter Dean Myers' last novel is based on the true story of the meteoric rise of an immensely talented young black dancer, William Henry Lane, who influenced today's tap, jazz and step dancing. With meticulous and intensive research, Myers has brought to life Master Juba's story. The book includes photographs, maps and other images from Juba's time and an afterword from Myers' wife about the writing process of JUBA!
HALF A CREATURE FROM THE SEA: A Life in Stories by David Almond (Fiction/Short Stories)
May Malone is said to have a monster in her house, but what Norman finds there may just be the angel he needs. Joe Quinn’s house is noisy with poltergeists, or could it be Davie’s raging causing the disturbance? Fragile Annie learns the truth about herself in a photograph taken by a traveling man near the sea. Set in the northern English Tyneside country of the author’s childhood, these eight short stories by the incomparable David Almond evoke gritty realities and ineffable longings, experiences both ordinary and magical. In autobiographical preludes to each story, the writer shows how all things can be turned into tales, reflecting on a time of wonder, tenderness and joy.
IF YOU’RE LUCKY by Yvonne Prinz (Mystery)
When 17-year-old Georgia’s brother drowns while surfing halfway around the world in Australia, she refuses to believe Lucky’s death was just bad luck. Then a stranger named Fin arrives in False Bay, claiming to have been Lucky’s best friend. Soon Fin is working for Lucky’s father, charming Lucky’s mother and dating his girlfriend. Georgia begins to wonder if Fin murdered Lucky in order to take over his whole life. She is certain she’s getting closer and closer to the truth, but as she does, her mental state becomes more and more precarious, and no one seems to trust what she’s saying.
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Click here for more young adult books we recommend you read. |
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Our Latest Poll: YA Books for Adults
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Young adult (YA) books have been growing in popularity. They clearly are not just for teens anymore! Do you read them?
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Often
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Sometimes
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Rarely
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No, but I would be interested in doing so.
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I have no interest in reading YA books.
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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 October 23rd to November 6th at noon ET, five lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of AVENUE OF MYSTERIES by John Irving, THE CROSSING: A Bosch Novel by Michael Connelly, and ROGUE LAWYER by John Grisham.
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 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 October 1st to November 2nd at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of both Robert Galbraith’s CAREER OF EVIL: A Cormoran Strike Novel, read by Robert Glenister, and FIND A WAY, written and read by Diana Nyad.
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 previous contest periods, click here.
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Click here to enter the contest. |
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