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Bookreporter.com Newsletter |
May 13, 2016 |
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Greetings from the Windy City!
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Greetings from Chicago, where I have spent a whirlwind three days at BookExpo America (BEA), the industry’s annual trade show. BEA always has special meaning for me as it was the first industry event that I attended in 1996 when we were planning the site that became Bookreporter.com. I knew NO ONE. I was walking around telling people that the internet was going to be this great place to learn about books and authors. I told this to about six publishers before I adopted a new strategy --- only after they told me that they did not yet have email. I grabbed a few boxes, tossed catalogs in them and went to the mail area to ship to our office. Then I left the convention, and as Bookreporter lore will have it, I went to the movies to see Mission: Impossible, which seemed oddly prophetic about what we were trying to do.
Turns out, the internet DID end up to be “a thing,” publishers did get email and, alas, even websites. Twenty years later, we are a destination for readers online who appreciate books and authors. It’s special for me that this year’s event is in Chicago, as that is where it ALL began at BEA in 1996. I love when things come full circle. And trust me, I will not meet anyone without an email address. Now it will be all about social media.
Lots happened, so here are some highlights:
On Thursday, I had the pleasure of interviewing six authors whose upcoming books have been selected as Buzz Books, titles that will be generating lots of attention in the months to come. You can see five of them pictured above, from left to right: Nathan Hill, author of THE NIX (August 30th), a debut novel about a son, the mother who left him as a child, and how his search to uncover the secrets of her life leads him to reclaim his own; Thomas Mullen, author of DARKTOWN (September 13th), a police procedural set in 1948 Atlanta, exploring a murder, corrupt police and strained race relations; Emily Fridlund, author of THE HISTORY OF WOLVES (January 5, 2017), a coming-of-age story seen through the eyes of a teenage girl in a remote northern town; Emma Flint, author of LITTLE DEATHS (January 17, 2017), in which a single mother is accused of murdering her two small children; and Brit Bennett, author of THE MOTHERS (October 11th), a debut novel about a forbidden teen romance, the pregnancy that results from it and the subsequent cover-up. Not pictured is Gary Younge (he dashed off before I had a chance to take out my camera). His book, ANOTHER DAY IN THE DEATH OF AMERICA (October 4th), tells the stories of the lives lost during the course of a single day in the United States.
I also had a wonderful time interviewing Chris Cleave about EVERYONE BRAVE IS FORGIVEN, one of my latest Bookreporter.com Bets On picks, and Fredrik Backman, whose new novel, BRITT-MARIE WAS HERE, we’ll be reviewing in the next couple of weeks. You can see a picture of us above (Fredrik is on the left).
Since interviewing eight authors was not enough, I jumped onto the Facebook Live couch and interviewed two more: Eoin Colfer, whose new book for kids, IRON MAN: THE GAUNTLET, releases on October 25th; and Emily Giffin, whose novel, FIRST COMES LOVE, will be available on June 28th. Head on over to our Bookreporter.com and Kidsreads.com Facebook pages to check out these interviews! Above is a screenshot of Emily and me.
I wanted to be a talk show host years ago. I came pretty close to that this week!
And, of course, there were parties and tons of opportunities to meet more authors. I capped off Thursday night at the PGW party where Mavis Staples was the musical guest; she rocked it with everyone as she took the house down.
Our Book Group Speed Dating event was a HUGE success, and we will be sharing the PowerPoint document that includes all the titles that were presented there shortly.
Now on to this week’s update, with a promise to share more about the books I heard about and the authors I met in the weeks ahead.
Don DeLillo is back with his first novel since POINT OMEGA in 2010. His latest effort, ZERO K, is an ode to language, a meditation on death and an embrace of life. The book’s narrator, Jeffrey Lockhart, is at odds with his father, Ross. Ross is a billionaire in his 60s and married to a younger woman, Artis Martineau, whose health is failing. He is also the primary investor in a remote and secret compound where death is controlled and bodies are preserved until a future time when biomedical advances can return them to life. Ross feels a deep need to enter another dimension and awake to a new world. For his son, this is indefensible. Jeff is committed to living, to experiencing as fully as possible the time we are given.
Stuart Shiffman has our review and says, “One hopes that [DeLillo] has at least one more novel to present, but if ZERO K should be his final book, it will be one of consequence and style.”
Richard Russo returns to North Bath, in upstate New York, and the characters from 1993’s NOBODY'S FOOL. In EVERYBODY’S FOOL, the irresistible Sully is staring down a cardiologist’s estimate that he has only a year or two left to live. He works hard to keep this dire news from the people closest to him, and in the process introduces us to a twisted web of vibrant and somewhat dysfunctional characters.
According to reviewer Jana Siciliano, “EVERYBODY’S FOOL reminds us of the most dire aspects of being human --- the life, death and love conundrums that have haunted homo sapiens for millions of years.”
Last week in our New Release Spotlight, we featured THE CURIOUS CHARMS OF ARTHUR PEPPER, Phaedra Patrick’s much-buzzed-about debut novel in which a lovable widower embarks on a life-changing adventure. As promised, we have our review this week from Jane Krebs, who says, “The satisfaction in reading THE CURIOUS CHARMS OF ARTHUR PEPPER comes at two levels. The first is the universal fun of imagining that Arthur’s good-humored, rewarding adventure is something we all could do. The second is more introspective as he develops into a wiser, more compassionate man.”
We’re awarding the audio versions of THE CURIOUS CHARMS OF ARTHUR PEPPER (performed by James Langton) and Mary Kubica’s DON’T YOU CRY (performed by Kate Rudd and Kirby Heyborne) to the winners of this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest. Let us know by Wednesday, June 1st at noon ET what audiobooks you’ve finished listening to, and you’ll be entered to win both prizes.
We have two special contests to share with you. First up is BEHIND CLOSED DOORS by B. A. Paris, which will be a Bets On pick shortly after its August 9th publication. Jack and Grace seem to be a couple many of us would envy --- he with his good looks and tremendous wealth, she with her charm and elegance. But there’s plenty of mystery surrounding this seemingly perfect couple: Why does Grace never answer the phone? How can she never meet up with friends, even though she doesn’t work? And is there any reasonable explanation as to why there would be bars on her bedroom window? If you’d like to know the answers to these and other burning questions sooner rather than later, why not enter for a chance to win an advance copy of the book? We have 35 to give away; all you have to do is fill out this form by Thursday, May 26th at noon ET. This is the kind of psychological drama that grips you; I literally had to look away a few times as I was reading it.
The second new contest of the week is for THE NEW NEIGHBOR by Leah Stewart. In this chilling page-turner, 90-year-old Margaret Riley, until now content hiding from the world, develops a dangerous obsession when a woman and her young son move into the long-empty house across the pond. The woman, Jennifer Young, is also looking to hide. In her, Margaret sees both a potential companion for her loneliness and a mystery to be solved. We’re giving 10 readers the chance to win a copy of the book, which releases in paperback on June 28th. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, May 26th at noon ET.
Our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight contest continues for THE PROGENY, in which Tosca Lee brings a modern twist to an ancient mystery surrounding the most notorious female serial killer of all time. If you’d like to be one of the 25 readers who will receive a copy of the book and share their comments on it, then fill out this form by Thursday, May 19th at noon ET.
Speaking of contests, we have a big one for you (or, rather, a series of big ones), and it’s definitely a Bookreporter.com fan favorite: our Summer Reading contests! We’ll be giving away a different book on select days through August 25th, and the fun gets underway on Tuesday, May 17th at noon ET when contest #1 kicks off. Our first three prize books will be DEAD WAKE: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson, JUST LIFE by Neil Abramson, and THE WEEKENDERS by Mary Kay Andrews. We also will be sending a special newsletter to announce each day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Congratulations to the five winners of our Mother’s Day contest! Each received a prize package that includes all nine of our featured titles and some delicious Ghirardelli chocolate.
In addition to the aforementioned EVERYONE BRAVE IS FORGIVEN, I LET YOU GO by Clare Mackintosh, which we reviewed last week, is a Bets On pick for this week. Click on the titles to see why I’m betting you’ll love these books.
Our Books on Screen feature has been updated for May. Though it’s a fairly light month for book-to-screen adaptations, there’s still Alice Through the Looking Glass and Love & Friendship (based on Jane Austen’s novella, LADY SUSAN) in theaters, the TV premieres of “Wallander” (based on Henning Mankell’s Kurt Wallander mystery series) and “Roots,” and the DVD release of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
Also updated for May is our History Books roundup with a whopping 33 titles. Here we have books about Ronald Reagan, Orville and Wilbur Wright, Henry Ford, Robert E. Lee, Joan of Arc, Herbert Hoover, Queen Elizabeth and Ty Cobb, along with compelling histories of paper and the US Postal Service, and much more.
Considering how many big fiction titles are releasing this month (as you can probably tell already from our first two May newsletters), we’re curious about which of them you’re planning to read. Click here to vote in our latest poll and let us know!
In our previous poll, we asked if you tend to read more during the week or over the weekend. Not surprisingly, almost three-quarters of you (72%) read equally as much during the week as you do over the weekend. 15% read more during the week, while 13% of you are primarily weekend readers.
We have a new Word of Mouth contest up and running now. Let us know by Friday, May 27th at noon ET what books you’ve finished reading, and you’ll have the chance to win BOAR ISLAND, Nevada Barr’s latest Anna Pigeon mystery, and THE FIREMAN by Joe Hill.
On Monday night, our staffer Rebecca Munro attended an event at Random House featuring Lucy Kalanithi, the wife of the late Dr. Paul Kalanithi, who was suddenly diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer and died just two years later at the too-young age of 37. Lucy helped finish writing Paul’s memoir, WHEN BREATH BECOMES AIR, which became a huge bestseller when it released in January. Elisabeth Egan, author and books editor at Glamour magazine, talked to Lucy about Paul and the process of completing his book. You can read all about their conversation in Rebecca’s blog piece here. WHEN BREATH BECOMES AIR is a book I have thought about every day since I read it. If you have read it, you will know why; it’s that special! I wish I could have been at this event, but my schedule was just too crazy this week.
News and Pop Culture:
Mother’s Day Blogs as part of Mother’s Week!: Got some nice notes from readers who loved the blog pieces that we ran where authors talked about their mothers inspiring them as readers, or inspiring their own children. Have you read them yet? If not, click here.
Audie Awards: The winners were announced this week. These awards recognize distinction in audiobooks and spoken word entertainment.
“Grace and Frankie”: I binge-watched 11 episodes. Such a fun show. Lily Tomlin is one of the funniest actresses. Love watching her.
“The Good Wife”: I think I may be one of the few people on the planet who actually liked the way it ended! Here’s what the producers had to say about it.
“Saturday Night Live”: The segment last Saturday on Jon Snow’s death was incredibly funny.
Global Entry/TSA Pre-Clear: Got approved for this the other night with one intent. I NEVER want to stand on the non-TSA line in Denver again. And I hope to be spared taking off my shoes, too. Let’s see how this works out!
Friday the 13th, while Mercury is retrograde: Need I say more? I’m hoping my flight tonight leaves on time with no weather delays. Fingers and toes crossed. I also hope that either Tom or one of the boys remembers to pick me up tonight!
I am really enjoying THE ATOMIC WEIGHT OF LOVE by Elizabeth J. Church; it will be a Bets On selection next week. I am listening to WHERE THE LIGHT GETS IN: Losing My Mother Only to Find Her Again by Kimberly Williams-Paisley, which the author narrates herself. It’s the very sad story of her mom’s decline from dementia.
Tom just finished reading BOURBON EMPIRE: The Past and Future of America's Whiskey by Reid Mitenbuler and highly recommends it. As he says, “It's a good history and backstory of the many choices and tastes out there.” This from a man whose drink of choice is single malt whiskey over ice, and dare not take the glass away even when it looks empty --- the ice is still melting down flavor.
This weekend, if I can get out of bed by Saturday afternoon, I’m going to a charity baseball game that Cory is playing in to raise money for his frat brother who passed away. His classes and exams finally are done, and thus he moves along to being a senior. This is going way, way too fast!
The rest of the weekend will be devoted to sleep, reading, knitting and maybe unpacking my suitcase. And…having a meal that requires utensils instead of finger cocktail food --- and not talking after a week of gabbing about books and authors.
Read on, and have a great week.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
P.S. For those of you who are doing online shopping, 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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Featured Review: ZERO K by Don DeLillo
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ZERO K by Don DeLillo (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Thomas Sadoski
Jeffrey Lockhart’s father, Ross, is a billionaire in his 60s, with a younger wife, Artis Martineau, whose health is failing. Ross is the primary investor in a remote and secret compound where death is exquisitely controlled and bodies are preserved until a future time when biomedical advances and new technologies can return them to a life of transcendent promise. Jeff joins Ross and Artis at the compound to say “an uncertain farewell” to her as she surrenders her body. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to read the review. |
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Featured Review: EVERYBODY'S FOOL by Richard Russo
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EVERYBODY'S FOOL by Richard Russo (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Mark Bramhall
In this long-awaited follow-up to 1993’s NOBODY’S FOOL, the irresistible Sully is staring down a cardiologist’s estimate that he has only a year or two left. It’s hard work trying to keep this news from the most important people in his life: Ruth, the married woman he carried on with for years; the ultra-hapless Rub Squeers, who worries that he and Sully aren’t still best friends; and Sully’s son and grandson, for whom he was mostly an absentee figure (and now a regretful one). Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
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Click here to read the review. |
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Featured Review: THE CURIOUS CHARMS OF ARTHUR PEPPER by Phaedra Patrick
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THE CURIOUS CHARMS OF ARTHUR PEPPER by Phaedra Patrick (Fiction)
Audiobook available, performed by James Langton
Sixty-nine-year-old Arthur Pepper lives a simple life. But on the one-year anniversary of his wife Miriam’s death, something changes. Sorting through Miriam’s possessions, Arthur finds an exquisite gold charm bracelet he’s never seen before. What follows is a surprising and unforgettable odyssey that takes Arthur from London to Paris and as far as India in an epic quest to find out the truth about his wife’s secret life before they met --- a journey that leads him to find hope, healing and self-discovery in the most unexpected places. Reviewed by Jane Krebs.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here for advance readers’ comments.
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Click here to read the review. |
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New Special Contest: Enter to Win an Advance Copy of BEHIND CLOSED DOORS by B. A. Paris
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We are celebrating the August 9th release of BEHIND CLOSED DOORS by B. A. Paris --- a debut psychological thriller that exposes the realities of a "perfect marriage" ---with a special contest that will give 35 readers the opportunity to win an advance copy of the book. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, May 26th at noon ET.
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS by B. A. Paris (Psychological Thriller)
Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace: he has looks and wealth, she has charm and elegance. You'd like to get to know Grace better. But it's difficult, because you realize Jack and Grace are never apart. Some might call this true love.
Picture this: a dinner party at their perfect home, the conversation and wine flowing. They appear to be in their element while entertaining. And Grace's friends are eager to reciprocate with lunch the following week. Grace wants to go, but knows she never will. Her friends call --- so why doesn't Grace ever answer the phone? And how can she cook such elaborate meals but remain so slim?
And why are there bars on one of the bedroom windows?
The perfect marriage? Or the perfect lie?
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read B. A. Paris' bio.
-Click here to connect with B. A. Paris on Twitter.
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Click here to enter the contest. |
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New Special Contest: Enter to Win a Paperback Copy of THE NEW NEIGHBOR by Leah Stewart
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We are celebrating the June 28th paperback release of THE NEW NEIGHBOR by Leah Stewart --- in which an old woman’s curiosity turns into a dangerous obsession as she becomes involved in her mysterious new neighbor’s complicated life --- with a special contest that will give 10 readers the opportunity to win a copy of the book. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, May 26th at noon ET.
THE NEW NEIGHBOR by Leah Stewart (Psychological Thriller)
Ninety-year-old Margaret Riley is content hiding from the world. Stoic and independent, she rarely leaves her Tennessee home, finding comfort in the mystery novels that keep her company --- until she spots a woman moving into the long-empty house across the pond.
Her new neighbor, Jennifer Young, is also looking to hide. On the run from her old life, she and her four-year-old son, Milo, have moved to a quiet town where no one from her past can find her.
In Jennifer, Margaret sees a potential companion for her loneliness and a mystery to be solved. But Jennifer refuses to talk about herself, her son, his missing father or her past. Frustrated, Margaret crosses more and more boundaries in pursuit of the truth, threatening to unravel the life Jennifer has so painstakingly created --- and reveal some secrets of her own.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Leah Stewart's bio.
-Click here to visit Leah Stewart's official website.
-Click here to connect with Leah Stewart on Twitter.
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Click here to enter the contest. |
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Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight & Contest: THE PROGENY by Tosca Lee --- Enter to Win a Copy and Share Your Feedback on It
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We have 25 copies of THE PROGENY by Tosca Lee --- a supernatural thriller that brings a modern twist to an ancient mystery surrounding the most notorious female serial killer of all time --- to give away to readers who would like to read the book, which releases on May 24th, and share their comments on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, May 19th at noon ET.
THE PROGENY by Tosca Lee (Supernatural Thriller)
Emily Jacobs is the descendant of a serial killer. Now, she’s become the hunted.
She’s on a quest that will take her to the secret underground of Europe and the inner circles of three ancient orders --- one determined to kill her, one devoted to keeping her alive, and one she ultimately must save.
Filled with adrenaline, romance and reversals, THE PROGENY is the present-day saga of a 400-year-old war between the uncanny descendants of “Blood Countess” Elizabeth Bathory, the most prolific female serial killer of all time, and a secret society dedicated to erasing every one of her descendants. It is the story about the search for self amidst centuries-old intrigues and Europe’s underground scene…and one woman’s mission to survive.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Tosca Lee's bio.
-Click here to visit Tosca Lee's official website.
-Connect with Tosca Lee on Facebook and Twitter.
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Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight and enter the contest. |
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Announcing Bookreporter.com's Summer Reading Contests and Feature
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Summer will be here before you know it! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We will be hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through August 25th, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also will be sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Our first prize book will be announced on Tuesday, May 17th at noon ET.
This year's featured titles include:
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Click here to read all the contest details and learn more about our featured titles. |
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Bookreporter.com Bets On: EVERYONE BRAVE IS FORGIVEN by Chris Cleave and I LET YOU GO by Clare Mackintosh
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EVERYONE BRAVE IS FORGIVEN by Chris Cleave (Historical Fiction)
EVERYONE BRAVE IS FORGIVEN by Chris Cleave is based on the story of his grandfather’s service on Malta, as well as his grandmother’s life in the UK during the same time period.
Three characters --- Mary North, Tom Shaw and Alistair Heath --- bring the story to life here. Mary has volunteered to teach a small group of kids who have been left behind in the evacuation of the children, something I had not been aware of. The infirmed, those mentally handicapped and the non-whites typically were rejected by the families in the countryside who boarded the evacuees, or they were not sent at all. Tom is the school administrator who does not wish to join the war effort, preferring to stay behind and help those who were not wanted. Mary and Tom quickly become enamored with each other.
-Click here to read more of Carol's thoughts on the book.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an interview with Chris Cleave.
I LET YOU GO by Clare Mackintosh (Psychological Thriller)
I read I LET YOU GO by Clare Mackintosh in a day, and boy is it good. Psychological thrillers are so courant, and endlessly compared to this one or that one. You all know what I mean. I LET YOU GO is not to be compared. It has set a new standard with a twist that I did not see coming. When you hit it, the entire narrative shifts. Just brilliant.
At the start, a young single mother is walking her five-year-old son home from school. He darts into the road and is killed by a driver who speeds away. A full-press investigation is ordered to find the driver. Gradually the story of the mother and son emerge, and the killer is doggedly tracked by Detective Inspector Ray Stevens and a young Detective Constable, Kate Evans. The case goes cold until a clue opens it wide open again.
-Click here to read more of Carol's thoughts on the book.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
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Click here for more books we're betting you'll love. |
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May's History Books Roundup
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May's roundup of History titles includes FIVE PRESIDENTS, in which Secret Service agent Clint Hill reflects on his 17 years protecting the most powerful office in the nation, walking alongside Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford; VALIANT AMBITION by Nathaniel Philbrick, a surprising account of the middle years of the American Revolution, and the tragic relationship between George Washington and Benedict Arnold; THE ROMANOVS: 1613-1918, Simon Sebag Montefiore’s gripping chronicle that reveals the secret world of the Romanovs' unlimited power and ruthless empire-building; PAPER, Mark Kurlansky's definitive history of paper and the astonishing ways it has shaped today’s world; and DRIVE!, a revelatory new history of the birth of the automobile from Lawrence Goldstone, who tells the fascinating story of how the internal combustion engine, a “theory looking for an application,” evolved into an innovation that would change history.
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Click here to see our History Books roundup for May. |
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Women's Fiction Author Spotlight: THE WEEKENDERS by Mary Kay Andrews
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THE WEEKENDERS by Mary Kay Andrews (Fiction)
Some people stay all summer long on the idyllic island of Belle Isle, North Carolina. Others come only for the weekends --- and the mix between the regulars and “the weekenders” can sometimes make the sparks fly. Riley Griggs has a season of good times with friends and family ahead of her on Belle Isle when things take an unexpected turn. While waiting for her husband to arrive on the ferry one Friday afternoon, Riley is confronted by a process server who thrusts papers into her hand. And her husband is nowhere to be found.
So she turns to her island friends for help and support, but it turns out that each of them has their own secrets, and the clock is ticking as the mystery deepens...in a murderous way. Cocktail parties aside, Riley must find a way to investigate the secrets of Belle Island, the husband she might not really know, and the summer that could change everything.
THE WEEKENDERS releases on May 17th.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Mary Kay Andrews' bio.
-Visit Mary Kay Andrews' official website and Pinterest.
-Connect with Mary Kay Andrews on Facebook and Twitter.
-Click here to see the 25 winners selected to read and comment on the book.
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Click here to read more in our Women's Fiction Author Spotlight. |
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Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight: DON'T YOU CRY by Mary Kubica
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DON'T YOU CRY by Mary Kubica (Psychological Thriller)
In downtown Chicago, a young woman named Esther Vaughan disappears from her apartment without a trace. A haunting letter addressed to My Dearest is found among her possessions, leaving her friend and roommate, Quinn Collins, to wonder where Esther is and whether or not she’s the person Quinn thought she knew.
Meanwhile, in a small Michigan harbor town an hour outside Chicago, a mysterious woman appears in the quiet coffee shop where 18-year-old Alex Gallo works as a dishwasher. He is immediately drawn to her charm and beauty, but what starts as an innocent crush quickly spirals into something far more dark and sinister than he ever expected.
As Quinn searches for answers about Esther, and Alex is drawn further under the stranger's spell, master of suspense Mary Kubica takes readers on a taut and twisted thrill ride that builds to a stunning conclusion and shows that no matter how fast and far we run, the past always catches up with us in the end.
DON'T YOU CRY releases on May 17th.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Mary Kubica's bio.
-Click here to visit Mary Kubica's official website.
-Connect with Mary Kubica on Facebook and Twitter.
-Click here to see the 25 winners selected to read and comment on the book.
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Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight. |
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More Reviews This Week
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LaROSE by Louise Erdrich (Fiction)
Audiobook available, performed by Louise Erdrich
Hunting along the edge of his property, Landreaux Iron accidentally kills his neighbor's five-year-old son, Dusty Ravich. Horrified at what he’s done, the recovered alcoholic turns to an Ojibwe tribe tradition --- the sweat lodge --- for guidance and finds a way forward. Following an ancient means of retribution, he and his wife, Emmaline, will give their son, LaRose, to Dusty's grieving parents. But when a vengeful man with a long-standing grudge against Landreaux begins raising trouble, hurling accusations of a cover-up the day Dusty died, he threatens the tenuous peace that has kept these two fragile families whole. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.
PAUL McCARTNEY: The Life by Philip Norman (Biography)
Audiobook available, narrated by Jonathan Keeble
Since the age of 21, Paul McCartney has lived one of the ultimate rock-n-roll lives played out on the most public of stages. Now, McCartney’s story is told by rock music's foremost biographer, with his consent and access to family members and close friends who have never spoken on the record before. PAUL McCARTNEY reveals the complex character behind the façade and sheds new light on his childhood --- blighted by his mother's death but redeemed by the father who introduced him to music. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.
THE NOISE OF TIME by Julian Barnes (Historical Fiction)
In 1936, Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich fears for his livelihood and his life. Joseph Stalin has taken a sudden interest in his work and denounced his latest opera. Now, certain he will be exiled to Siberia (or, more likely, executed on the spot), Shostakovich reflects on his predicament. Though a stroke of luck prevents him from becoming yet another casualty of the Great Terror, for decades to come he will be held fast under the thumb of despotism: made to represent Soviet values at a cultural conference in New York City, forced into joining the Party, and compelled to weigh appeasing those in power against the integrity of his music. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
PAPER: Paging Through History by Mark Kurlansky (History)
Audiobook available, read by Andrew Garman
Paper is one of the simplest and most essential pieces of human technology. For the past two millennia, the ability to produce it in ever more efficient ways has supported the proliferation of literacy, media, religion, education, commerce and art; it has formed the foundation of civilizations, promoting revolutions and restoring stability. By tracing paper’s evolution from antiquity to the present, with an emphasis on the contributions made in Asia and the Middle East, Mark Kurlansky challenges common assumptions about technology’s influence, affirming that paper is here to stay. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
HIDE AWAY: An Eve Duncan Novel by Iris Johansen (Thriller)
Audiobook available, narrated by Elizabeth Rodgers
World-famous forensic sculptor Eve Duncan has landed in a well-guarded hospital room in Carmel, California. But hidden danger looms for Eve, her beloved Joe Quinn, and Cara Delaney, the young girl they’ve both sworn to protect. With Cara’s enemies on the move, Eve has no choice but to flee the hospital. She turns to her daughter, Jane MacGuire, for help in getting out of the country. For years, Jane has been avoiding pressure to find a treasure thought to be buried in Scotland, but she’s finally succumbed to John MacDuff’s pleas to track it down. Eve and Cara join Jane in the remote mountains, but soon realize that nowhere is far enough away from the ruthless predators who are on their trail. Reviewed by Judy Gigstad.
THE DOLL-MASTER AND OTHER TALES OF TERROR by Joyce Carol Oates (Horror/Short Stories)
In the title story of Joyce Carol Oates’ haunting collection of six “tales of terror,” a young boy becomes obsessed with his cousin’s doll after she tragically passes away from leukemia. As he grows older, he begins to collect “found dolls” from the surrounding neighborhoods and stores his treasures in the abandoned carriage house on his family's estate. But just what kind of dolls are they? Joyce Carol Oates evokes the “fascination of the abomination” that is at the core of the most profound, the most unsettling and the most memorable of dark mystery fiction. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
I'M FASCINATED BY SACRIFICE FLIES: Inside the Game We All Love by Tim Kurkjian (Sports)
ESPN baseball commentator Tim Kurkjian is fascinated by sacrifice flies. In fact, he is fascinated by so many aspects of baseball that he's written a book to show baseball fans where this fascination comes from and how they, too, can find it. In the aftermath of the Steroid Era that stained the game, at a time when so many players are so rich and therefore have a sense of entitlement that they haven't earned, Kurkjian shows readers how to love the game more than ever, with incredible insight and stories that are hilarious, heartbreaking and revealing. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan.
ROUGH RIDERS: Theodore Roosevelt, His Cowboy Regiment, and the Immortal Charge Up San Juan Hill by Mark Lee Gardner (History)
Audiobook available, read by Danny Campbell
Two months after the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor in February 1898, Congress authorized President McKinley to recruit a volunteer army to drive the Spaniards from Cuba. From this army emerged the legendary “Rough Riders,” a mounted regiment drawn from America’s western territories and led by the indomitable Theodore Roosevelt. Mark Lee Gardner synthesizes previously unknown primary accounts, as well as period newspaper articles, letters and diaries from public and private archives in Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Boston and Washington, DC, to produce this authoritative chronicle. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.
-Click here for the discussion guide.
THE LONEY by Andrew Michael Hurley (Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Richard Burnip
When the remains of a young child are discovered during a winter storm on a stretch of the bleak Lancashire coastline known as the Loney, a man named Smith is forced to confront the terrifying and mysterious events that occurred 40 years earlier. At that time, his devoutly Catholic mother was determined to find healing for Hanny, his disabled older brother. And so the family embarked on an Easter pilgrimage to an ancient shrine. When the two brothers found their lives entangling with a glamorous couple staying at a nearby house, they became involved in more troubling rites. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
NEITHER SNOW NOR RAIN: A History of the United States Postal Service by Devin Leonard (History)
Audiobook available, read by L. J. Ganser
Journalist Devin Leonard tackles the fascinating, centuries-long history of the USPS, from the first letter carriers through Benjamin Franklin’s days, when postmasters worked out of their homes and post roads cut new paths through the wilderness. Under Andrew Jackson, the post office was molded into a vast patronage machine, and by the 1870s, over 70% of federal employees were postal workers. As the country boomed, USPS aggressively developed new technology --- from mobile post offices on railroads and air mail service to mechanical sorting machines and optical character readers. Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds.
LIFE WITHOUT A RECIPE: A Memoir of Food and Family by Diana Abu-Jaber (Memoir)
On one side, there is Grace: prize-winning author Diana Abu-Jaber’s tough, independent sugar-fiend of a German grandmother, wielding a suitcase full of holiday cookies. On the other, Bud: a flamboyant, spice-obsessed Arab father, full of passionate argument. The two could not agree on anything: not about food, work, or especially about what Diana should do with her life. Grace warned her away from children. Bud wanted her married above all --- even if he had to provide the ring. Caught between cultures and lavished with contradictory “advice” from both sides of her family, Diana spent years learning how to ignore others’ well-intentioned prescriptions. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
UNKNOWN REMAINS by Peter Leonard (Thriller)
Jack McCann is a high-stakes Wall Street trader who sneaks into his office early one morning to try and clear out his things and get out of Dodge; he knows he’s in trouble, deep legal trouble. Outside his office window, he hears a booming sound, and then the worst noise imaginable. He works in the World Trade Center, and it's September 11, 2001. His wife, Diane, is visited the next day by a grief counselor, and then the mob. She learns that Jack owes them $750,000; their personal bank accounts have been emptied, and she's totally broke. Lost in grief and shock, Diane soon discovers that her husband was not the loving spouse he appeared to be. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub. |
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Next Week's Notables: Noteworthy Books Releasing on May 17th
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Below are some notable titles releasing on May 17th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks releasing the week of May 16th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
BEYOND THE ICE LIMIT: A Gideon Crew Novel by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (Thriller)
Gideon Crew and his colleagues discover that a meteorite that was the object of a recovery mission that ended in tragedy is not simply a rock. It is a complex organism that has a mind of its own and has no intention of going quietly.
BOAR ISLAND: An Anna Pigeon Novel by Nevada Barr (Mystery)
Trying to evade a cyber-stalker, Heath Jarrod and her adopted daughter, Elizabeth, move into a house on Boar Island with the help of Heath’s friend, Anna Pigeon. However, Heath and Elizabeth are not alone on the otherwise deserted island.
DON'T YOU CRY by Mary Kubica (Psychological Thriller)
A young woman named Esther Vaughan disappears from her apartment without a trace, leaving behind her roommate, Quinn. Meanwhile, a mysterious woman appears in the quiet coffee shop where 18-year-old Alex Gallo works as a dishwasher. Quinn searches for answers about Esther, and Alex is drawn under the stranger's spell.
THE FIREMAN by Joe Hill (Horror)
Known colloquially as Dragonscale, a terrifying new plague is spreading like wildfire across the country, which causes victims to burst into flames. Millions are infected, and blazes erupt everywhere. There is no antidote. No one is safe.
THE HIGHWAYMAN: A Longmire Story by Craig Johnson (Mystery)
Wyoming highway patrolman Rosey Wayman starts receiving “officer needs assistance” calls from Bobby Womack, a legendary patrolman who died almost a half-century ago. With an investigation that spans this world and the next, Sheriff Walt Longmire and Henry Standing Bear take on a case that pits them against a legend: The Highwayman.
MERCY by Michael Palmer and Daniel Palmer (Medical Thriller)
Dr. Julie Devereux is an outspoken advocate for the right to die --- until a motorcycle accident leaves her fiancé, Sam Talbot, a quadriplegic. Sam begs to end his life, but Julie sees hope in a life together. When he suddenly dies from an unexpected heart attack, Julie investigates similar cases and finds a frightening pattern.
PORCELAIN: A Memoir by Moby (Memoir)
Both a chronicle of a city and a time, and a deeply intimate exploration of finding one’s place during the most gloriously anxious period in life, PORCELAIN chronicles Moby’s young life, leading up to his multimillion-selling Play. Moby’s voice resonates with honesty, wit and, above all, an unshakable passion for his music.
TALL TAIL: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery by Rita Mae Brown (Mystery)
In the middle of a storm, Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen’s pickup nearly collides with a careening red car that swerves into a ditch. The woman at the wheel is Barbara Leader, and her death is ruled a heart attack, although dissenting opinions abound. Harry begins to suspect that someone with malevolent intent may be lurking just out of sight.
THE WEEKENDERS by Mary Kay Andrews (Fiction)
Riley Griggs has a season of good times with friends and family ahead of her on the idyllic island of Belle Isle, North Carolina, when things take an unexpected turn. When her husband never arrives, she turns to her island friends for help and support, but it develops that each of them has their own secrets.
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Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter. |
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Our Latest Poll and Word of Mouth/Sounding Off on Audio Contests
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Poll:
Which fiction titles releasing in May are you planning to read? Please check all that apply.
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15th AFFAIR by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
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ALL SUMMER LONG by Dorothea Benton Frank
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THE APARTMENT by Danielle Steel
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BEYOND THE ICE LIMIT: A Gideon Crew Novel, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
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BOAR ISLAND: An Anna Pigeon Novel, by Nevada Barr
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BRITT-MARIE WAS HERE by Fredrik Backman
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THE CITY OF MIRRORS by Justin Cronin
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THE CURIOUS CHARMS OF ARTHUR PEPPER by Phaedra Patrick
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DON'T YOU CRY by Mary Kubica
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EVERYBODY'S FOOL by Richard Russo
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EVERYONE BRAVE IS FORGIVEN by Chris Cleave
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THE FIREMAN by Joe Hill
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THE HIGHWAYMAN: A Longmire Story, by Craig Johnson
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I LET YOU GO by Clare Mackintosh
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LaROSE by Louise Erdrich
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MODERN LOVERS by Emma Straub
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REDEMPTION ROAD by John Hart
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ROBERT B. PARKER’S SLOW BURN: A Spenser Novel, by Ace Atkins
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THE VERSIONS OF US by Laura Barnett
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THE WEEKENDERS by Mary Kay Andrews
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WILDE LAKE by Laura Lippman
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ZERO K by Don DeLillo
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None of the above
-Click here to vote in the poll.
Word of Mouth:
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 May 13th to May 27th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of BOAR ISLAND: An Anna Pigeon Novel by Nevada Barr and THE FIREMAN by Joe Hill.
-Click here to enter the contest.
-To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
Sounding Off on Audio:
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 May 2nd to June 1st at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Phaedra Patrick's THE CURIOUS CHARMS OF ARTHUR PEPPER, performed by James Langton, and Mary Kubica’s DON'T YOU CRY, performed by Kate Rudd and Kirby Heyborne.
-Click here to enter the contest.
-To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
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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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