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Bookreporter.com Newsletter |
September 30, 2016 |
Quick Links to Features on Bookreporter.com
Reviews, Features, Bookreporter.com Bets On, Upcoming Bets On
Word of Mouth, Sounding Off on Audio
Coming Soon, New in Paperback, On Sale This Week, Carol's 2016 Reads
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Instead of Counting Sheep...Read...
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My new wetsuit is a huge success in the water; I spent an hour and a half working out both last Saturday and Sunday. On land, it’s another story. Getting in and out of it is an extra 15 minutes of a workout; I wonder if anyone has ever gotten a sports injury while tugging themselves in or out of their wetsuit, especially tripping while extracting one’s feet. I was cautioned to sit down for this. I was googling tips, which included spraying Pam on my wrists/forearms and ankles. Um…no! When I googled, the tips were all provided by triathletes. Relax, there is no way I am running or biking beyond the treadmill and my recumbent bike.
My friend, Cathy, came over for a visit last weekend. You may remember that this summer some of you had shared suggestions on authors for her to binge read. She printed out the list and asked me to thank all who contributed to it. She is kicking off her author binge with Linwood Barclay after noting he had the most votes. That said, she will be working her way through many of your recommendations. She also will be keeping up with her current favorites, including Harlan Coben. She had HOME downloaded at 12:01 the day it came out and stayed up 'til the wee hours for a few nights reading --- and this was one of her big textile market weeks!
My husband did the same with Gregg Hurwitz’s ORPHAN X, which he just got to a few weeks ago, though it released back in January. He was bleary-eyed more than one morning, and when I handed him an advance copy of THE NOWHERE MAN, the second book in the Evan Smoak series, which is coming on January 17th, he clocked another few late nights, even walking away from watching baseball to read. ORPHAN X was a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection, so those of you who want to prep for THE NOWHERE MAN, you may want to tee that up now!
Losing sleep over books is better than lying down, staring at the ceiling and counting sheep!
After last Friday’s author luncheon, I rushed to read THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE ON EARTH, a novel by Lindsey Lee Johnson, which will be in stores on January 10th. It’s set in privileged Marin County, CA, and is told through the eyes of a group of high school students and their young teacher. It was a quick read and a smart look into the lives of teens today. It will be an interesting choice for book groups to discuss this, as I agree with the author that there are some parallels between high schoolers today and those when I was in high school, though once you layer in the drama of social media today, the stakes are ramped a lot higher. I think this book has crossover appeal to YA readers, especially those who are millennials, not that far removed in age from the characters in the book. I look forward to reading more from Lindsey in the future.
On Wednesday night, I went to an industry event and by pure chance met Min Jin Lee, the author of FREE FOOD FOR MILLIONAIRES, and the upcoming PACHINKO, which will be in stores on February 17th. She was a complete delight, and we will have much more to share with you about PACHINKO in the weeks to come. All attendees of the Hachette Book Club Brunch are being sent copies of the book, so we will have our reporters’ feedback about it!
Now to this week’s update…
The boss is on the run! Bruce Springsteen’s memoir, BORN TO RUN, reminds us that the man seriously has a way with words. In 2009, Springsteen and the E Street Band performed at the Super Bowl’s halftime show. The experience was so impactful that he decided to write about it. That’s how this extraordinary autobiography began. Over the past seven years, Springsteen has privately devoted himself to writing the story of his life, bringing to these pages the same honesty, humor and originality found in his songs. BORN TO RUN will be revelatory for anyone who has ever enjoyed Springsteen, but this is so much more than a legendary rock star’s memoir. It’s a book for workers and dreamers, parents and children, lovers and loners, artists, outsiders, and anyone who loves rock and roll.
According to reviewer Rob Bentlyewski, a huge fan of The Boss, "BORN TO RUN is honest and extraordinarily humble for a rock star’s memoir, and it reaffirms the authenticity that makes Springsteen beloved by millions around the world." In the photo above, you can see Bruce with my good friend from my Mademoiselle magazine days, John “Rock ’n’ Roll” Messina (nicknamed by me, as he loves music and going to concerts --- and always posts great photos and videos from them), who is a HUGE Bruce fan. He was at the on-sale-day event in Freehold, NJ, where he waited two hours to get his photo op and signed book. He was very impressed with the way Barnes & Noble handled the crowd control for this event; it went really smoothly. For those wondering, there will be an audiobook narrated by Bruce; he’s been touring with the band and for the book, thus we do not have a confirmed date for that yet. But I will share as soon as we have it!
We recognize Elizabeth Vargas as the co-anchor of “20/20” on ABC News. She now candidly explores her struggle with alcoholism and her path to recovery in BETWEEN BREATHS: A Memoir of Panic and Addiction. Vargas discusses her accounts of growing up with debilitating anxiety --- which began abruptly at the age of six when her father served in Vietnam --- and how she dealt with this anxiety as she came of age, to her eventually turning to alcohol for relief. She describes how she found herself living in fierce denial about the extent of her addiction, and how she kept her dependency a secret for so long. She also addresses her time in rehab, her first year of sobriety, and the guilt she felt as a working mother who had never found the right balance.
Reviewer Christine M. Irvin says, "[Vargas] tells quite a moving story; her writing style is very personal and insightful, and you can almost feel her pain. She holds nothing back, sharing all her guilt, anxiety and fears with the reader."
Two Women’s Fiction Author Spotlights wrap up this week with reviews and interviews for these featured titles. First up is Robyn Carr’s THE LIFE SHE WANTS. Emma Shay is living the dream --- until her financier husband commits suicide. Richard Compton stole his clients’ life savings to fund a lavish life in New York City. Although she was never involved in the business, Emma must now bear the burden of her husband’s crimes alone and is left with nothing. Only one old friend stands by her and encourages her to come home to Sonoma County. But starting over isn’t easy, and Sonoma is full of unhappy memories, too. Now, trying to stand on her own two feet, Emma can’t escape her husband’s reputation and is forced to turn to the last person she thought she’d ever ask for help.
Rebecca Munro has this to say in her review: "Robyn Carr paints an emotional, engaging portrait of two former best friends and their wildly different life paths. With her signature talent for character development and passion for women’s stories, Carr pens a truly heartwarming novel that will make readers consider their biggest regrets." Rebecca also had the pleasure of interviewing Robyn, and you can read their conversation here.
Next up is MENDING FENCES by Sherryl Woods, which originally published in 2007, but has been re-released because the issues that the book raises are (sadly) so timely. Emily Dobbs and Marcie Carter have been best friends for many years. But that friendship will be put to a major test when it’s revealed that Marcie's son, a college freshman sports star, is arrested for date rape. As the Carters try to wrap their heads around the unthinkable, Emily discovers that her daughter has been hiding a terrible secret --- a secret that threatens the futures of both families.
Megan Elliott has our review and says, “The epidemic of sexual assault on campus is in the media spotlight, and MENDING FENCES tackles the difficult subject with grace and sensitivity… Woods is adept at depicting the complicated relationship mothers have with their children and the way those relationships can change as they grow up.” We also have an interview that Megan conducted with Sherryl, which you can read here.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include THRICE THE BRINDED CAT HATH MEW’D, which marks the return of Flavia de Luce in a new Christmas mystery from award-winning author Alan Bradley; IRENA’S CHILDREN, in which Tilar J. Mazzeo recounts the amazing true story of Irena Sendler, who risked her own life to save 2,500 children from death and deportation in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II (click here to read a Q&A with the author); and THE BIRTH OF A NATION: Nat Turner and the Making of a Movement, the official movie tie-in companion to The Birth of a Nation, which will be in theaters on October 7th.
Attention binge readers, mystery/thriller aficionados and fans of the aforementioned Linwood Barclay’s work! In anticipation of the November 1st release of THE TWENTY-THREE, the jaw-dropping conclusion to Linwood’s Promise Falls trilogy, we’re giving 23 readers a chance to win all three books in the series (BROKEN PROMISE and FAR FROM TRUE are the first two) and share their comments on them by Tuesday, November 29th. To enter, all you have to do is fill out this form by Thursday, October 6th at noon ET. We would love to hear feedback on the trilogy from all 23 winners, so please only enter this contest if you can read and comment on all three books by the November 29th deadline.
After a one-week hiatus, our Fall Preview contests are back! Our next three prize books will be CROSSING THE HORIZON by Laurie Notaro, FRIDAY ON MY MIND: A Frieda Klein Mystery by Nicci French, and THE SECRET CHORD by Geraldine Brooks. The first contest of the week will go live on Tuesday, October 4th at noon ET.
We’ve updated our Young Adult Books You Want to Read feature, books we've recently featured on Teenreads.com that we think will appeal to an adult audience. This month’s titles are GHOSTS by Raina Telgemeier, THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES by Mindy McGinnis, THE CABIN by Natasha Preston, and GIRL ON A PLANE by Miriam Moss.
Our poll continues to ask what you’ve borrowed from your local library in the last year. Choices include print books, eBooks, audiobooks on disc, digital audio, DVDs, CDs, newspapers and magazines. Click here to share what you do!
CRUEL BEAUTIFUL WORLD by Caroline Leavitt (an upcoming Bets On selection) and TWO BY TWO by Nicholas Sparks are the latest prize titles in our Word of Mouth contest. Let us know by Friday, October 7th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win both novels.
Time is running out on this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest. Tell us about the audiobooks you’ve finished listening to, and you’ll be in the running to win the audio versions of Sophie Hannah's CLOSED CASKET: The New Hercule Poirot Mystery, performed by Julian Rhind-Tutt, and Ann Patchett's COMMONWEALTH, performed by Hope Davis. You only have until THIS Monday, October 3rd at noon ET to send in your submissions, so the time to do so is now!
We have a terrific report from Denise Neary on the events at the National Book Festival in Washington, DC that you can read here. As she was walking around, she got a chance to say hi to Kristin Hannah for me!
News and Pop Culture:
Reader Mail: Ann wrote with a question about our newsletters and shared this: “I love every email from you all!! I will continue to read and treasure all that comes from Bookreporter. I will buy more bookcases.” I quipped back that maybe we should give away bookcases!
Ingrid wrote this lovely note from the Netherlands: "Just finished reading your weekly newsletter with a big smile on my face. A big big thank you for all your great reads on either Friday nights or Saturday mornings! I love reading about your personal life, at times irresistibly funny, moving and often simply recognizable (my husband, too, is an enthusiastic golfer, my two daughters bring me joy, and sometimes anxiety as well, and being a secondary school teacher, I recognize the busy and sometimes tight schedule, although you seem to possess an infinite stamina!), the great books you share, the knitting stories, the tips on Netflix series (btw have you heard of the great 'Velvet' series, a truly romantic, funny and fashionable story about a renowned department store in Madrid in the 1950s?), your love for your parents, which you show through pictures and stories (they remind me of my 95-year-old mum, who I love so dearly but is definitely getting more fragile), your life in NY (a city we experienced in 2014 and loved!), and last but not least, you strike me as such a nice lady who I claim to know a little and even think of as a friend overseas, crazy as it may sound!” I think of our readers as friends and love hearing about their lives. I love her suggestion about the "Velvet" series. And if I visit the Netherlands, Ingrid will be getting a call!
Sharon wrote, “Had I read your latest email sooner, I would have asked for a list of questions to answer when I attended the National Book Festival in DC this year. I live in Maryland and work in DC, so I attend this event every year and am never disappointed. I had the pleasure of meeting Harlan Coben, who is ever so charming. He took his time with each person standing in line to get his autograph, he was happy to be in pictures with the readers, and he chatted about your favorite book and why. I also met Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kristin Hannah, Geraldine Brooks and Salman Rushdie, all of whom were absolutely fabulous with their readers. I look forward to who will be there next year! Thank you for your newsletter; I appreciate everything you and all your staff go through to put this together for us.”
A Yarn Store on Wheels: I love this --- a mobile home as a knitting store.
Smart Television Show: I highly suggest that you watch "This is Us" on NBC. It’s moving to Tuesday at 9pm ET next time it airs. Terrific premise that is pulled off so very well. Twists that work in both episodes.
"Pitch": Another television debut on Fox that is well done; will see how it goes.
Love This from Italy: Young adults in Italy are given $600 to spend on books, music and movies.
On the Subject of Race: David Joy, the author of WHERE ALL THE LIGHT TENDS TO GO, has an essay here that is interesting reading.
Tonight my husband and I are headed to Morristown, where Sebastian Junger is the keynote speaker at the Morristown Festival of Books. Tomorrow I am moderating two morning panels at the Festival and am looking forward to seeing some of our readers there. Be sure to introduce yourselves if you are going and see me there! Yes, I will be wearing turquoise!
Also, here’s news that we will have more about in the weeks to come. I am doing a panel for book groups at the Miami Book Fair International on Saturday, November 19th at 10am, where my special guest will be Gayle Forman, whose latest book, LEAVE ME, was published earlier this month!
Next week is New York Comic Con, which is sure to keep my schedule busy for a few days. Greg is headed to Switzerland for a week on Tuesday with a terrific itinerary. Tom is headed to compete in the BMW Golf Championship on Wednesday. I am going to relish some downtime!
Happy New Year to those who are celebrating Rosh Hashanah next week. Have fun celebrating!
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: BORN TO RUN by Bruce Springsteen
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BORN TO RUN by Bruce Springsteen (Memoir)
Over the past seven years, Bruce Springsteen has privately devoted himself to writing the story of his life, bringing to these pages the same honesty, humor and originality found in his songs. BORN TO RUN will be revelatory for anyone who has ever enjoyed the Boss, but this book is much more than a legendary rock star’s memoir. This is a book for workers and dreamers, parents and children, lovers and loners, artists, freaks, or anyone who has ever wanted to be baptized in the holy river of rock and roll. Reviewed by Rob Bentlyewski.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to read the review. |
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Featured Review: BETWEEN BREATHS by Elizabeth Vargas
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BETWEEN BREATHS: A Memoir of Panic and Addiction by Elizabeth Vargas (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Elizabeth Vargas
From the moment she uttered the brave and honest words, "I am an alcoholic," to interviewer George Stephanopoulos, Elizabeth Vargas began writing her story. Now, in BETWEEN BREATHS, Vargas discusses her accounts of growing up with anxiety and how she dealt with it as she came of age, to her eventually turning to alcohol for relief. She tells of how she found herself living in denial, about the extent of her addiction and keeping her dependency a secret for so long. She addresses her time in rehab, her first year of sobriety, and the guilt she felt as a working mother who had never found the right balance. Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to read the review. |
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Bookreporter.com Talks to Robyn Carr, Author of THE LIFE SHE WANTS --- a Women's Fiction Author Spotlight Title
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In THE LIFE SHE WANTS, #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr delivers yet another moving story that will leave readers laughing and crying, about two friends who must confront their pasts in order to move toward their futures. In this interview with Bookreporter.com's very own Rebecca Munro, Carr explains why she loves to write about women’s friendship and why women’s issues will always be at the foreground of all her novels. She also opens up about why she has moved on from historical fiction and what readers can expect from her next.
THE LIFE SHE WANTS by Robyn Carr (Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Therese Plummer
In the aftermath of her financier husband’s suicide, Emma Shay Compton’s dream life is shattered. She bears the burden of Richard's crimes and is left with nothing. When a friend encourages her to come home to Sonoma County, Emma must decide if she can face Riley Kerrigan, her ex-best friend. It turns out she can’t escape her husband’s reputation and is forced to turn to the last person she thought she’d ever ask for help --- Riley. It’s an uneasy reunion as both women face the mistakes they’ve made over the years. Only if they find a way to forgive each other --- and themselves --- can each of them find the life she wants. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here for the discussion guide.
-Click here to read Robyn Carr's bio.
-Click here to visit Robyn Carr's official website.
-Connect with Robyn Carr on Facebook and Twitter.
-Click here to see the 10 winners selected to read and comment on the book.
-Click here to read more in our Women's Fiction Author Spotlight.
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Click here to read our interview. |
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Bookreporter.com Talks to Sherryl Woods, Author of MENDING FENCES --- a Women's Fiction Author Spotlight Title
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A former journalist, Sherryl Woods is now the bestselling author of over 100 mystery and romance books. In 2007, she published MENDING FENCES --- the story of how a rape accusation threatens to shatter the bond between two families --- and is now re-releasing it because the issues are so timely. In this interview with Bookreporter.com's Megan Elliott, Woods discusses what led her to write about such a difficult subject, the unfortunate reason she was able to empathize with victims of abuse, and why she remains so interested in and moved by female friendship.
MENDING FENCES by Sherryl Woods (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Tanya Eby
For 10 years, Emily Dobbs and Marcie Carter have been the closest of friends. They've raised their kids together, shared joy and heartache, and exchanged neighborhood gossip over tea. But when Marcie's son, now a college freshman sports star, is arrested for date rape, the bond between the families could be shattered forever. As the Carters try to deal with the unthinkable, Emily discovers her daughter has been hiding a terrible secret…a secret that threatens the futures of both families. Recently divorced, Emily struggles to keep it all together --- to support her terrified daughter, to maintain her friendship with Evan's mother, and to have faith in the detective who could change all of their lives. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.
Be sure to tune in to Hallmark Channel every Sunday night at 9/8c for "Chesapeake Shores," a new TV series based on Sherryl Woods' novels of the same name.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here for the discussion guide.
-Click here to read Sherryl Woods' bio.
-Click here to visit Sherryl Woods' official website.
-Connect with Sherryl Woods on Facebook and Twitter.
-Click here to see the 15 winners selected to read and comment on the book.
-Click here to read more in our Women's Fiction Author Spotlight.
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Click here to read our interview. |
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Special Contest: Binge Read Linwood Barclay's Promise Falls Trilogy and Share Your Comments on Them
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We are celebrating the November 1st release of THE TWENTY-THREE, the third and final installment in Linwood Barclay's Promise Falls trilogy, with a special contest. We are giving away copies of all three books in the series: BROKEN PROMISE (which is now available in paperback), FAR FROM TRUE (which is now available in hardcover), and the aforementioned THE TWENTY-THREE. We are looking for 23 readers who can commit to reading the books and sharing their comments on them by Tuesday, November 29th. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, October 6th at noon ET.
BROKEN PROMISE
After his wife’s death and the collapse of his newspaper, David Harwood has no choice but to uproot his nine-year-old son and move back into his childhood home in Promise Falls, New York. David believes his life is in free fall, and he can’t find a way to stop his descent. Then he comes across a family secret of epic proportions that will affect not only his family, but the entire town.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
FAR FROM TRUE
When private investigator Cal Weaver looks into a break-in at the home of a recently deceased man, he uncovers far more than he is prepared for after he finds a hidden room that was used for salacious activities. Detective Barry Duckworth is doggedly trying to solve two murders, one of which is three years old. He believes the killings are connected, since each featured a similar distinctive wound. And the key to his mystery may lie with Cal Weaver’s own case. As the lies begin to unravel, and another murder occurs, Cal and Barry find themselves headed straight into the heart of dark secrets as they uncover more startling truths about Promise Falls.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
THE TWENTY-THREE
It’s May 23rd, and the small town of Promise Falls, New York, has found itself in the midst of a full-blown catastrophe. Hundreds of people are going to the hospital with similar flu-like symptoms, and dozens have died. Investigators quickly zero in on the water supply. But the question for many, including private investigator Cal Weaver, remains: Who would benefit from a mass poisoning of this town? Meanwhile, a college student has been murdered, and Detective Barry Duckworth has seen the killer’s handiwork before --- in the unsolved homicides of two other women in town. Suddenly, all the strange things that have happened in the last month start to add up.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to enter the contest. |
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Featured Review: THRICE THE BRINDED CAT HATH MEW'D by Alan Bradley
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THRICE THE BRINDED CAT HATH MEW'D: A Flavia de Luce Novel by Alan Bradley (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Jayne Entwistle
Only too eager to run an errand for the vicar’s wife, 12-year-old Flavia de Luce hops on her trusty bicycle, Gladys, to deliver a message to a reclusive wood-carver. Finding the front door ajar, Flavia enters and stumbles upon the poor man’s body hanging upside down on the back of his bedroom door. The only living creature in the house is a feline that shows little interest in the disturbing scene. Curiosity may not kill this cat, but Flavia is energized at the prospect of a new investigation. However, what awaits Flavia will shake her to the very core. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
-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: SHIRLEY JACKSON by Ruth Franklin
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SHIRLEY JACKSON: A Rather Haunted Life by Ruth Franklin (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Bernadette Dunne
Still known to millions primarily as the author of “The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson (1916–1965) has been curiously absent from the mainstream American literary canon. A genius of literary suspense and psychological horror, Jackson plumbed the cultural anxiety of postwar America more deeply than anyone. Now, biographer Ruth Franklin reveals the tumultuous life and inner darkness of the author of such classics as THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE and WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to read the review. |
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An Interview with Tilar J. Mazzeo, Author of IRENA'S CHILDREN
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Tilar J. Mazzeo is the New York Times bestselling author of multiple nonfiction books that tell stories of strong, resourceful women in impossible situations. In this interview, Mazzeo opens up about the joys and obstacles of historical storytelling, including --- as is the case with her latest book, IRENA’S CHILDREN, about a real-life social worker who risked her life to save 2,500 children from the Holocaust --- becoming emotionally attached to her subjects. She also discusses why the telling of history, be it personal or national, can never be subjective.
IRENA'S CHILDREN: The Extraordinary Story of the Woman Who Saved 2,500 Children from the Warsaw Ghetto by Tilar J. Mazzeo (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Amanda Carlin
In 1942, social worker Irena Sendler was granted access to the Warsaw ghetto as a public health specialist. While there, she reached out to the trapped Jewish families, going from door to door and asking the parents to trust her with their young children. She started smuggling them out of the walled district, convincing her friends and neighbors to hide them. Driven to extreme measures and with the help of a network of local tradesmen, ghetto residents, and her star-crossed lover in the Jewish resistance, Irena ultimately smuggled thousands of children past the Nazis. In IRENA’S CHILDREN, Tilar Mazzeo tells the incredible story of this courageous and brave woman who risked her life to save innocent children from the Holocaust. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
-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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Bookreporter.com's Fall Preview Contests and Feature
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Fall is known as the biggest season of the year for books. The titles that release during this latter part of the year often become holiday gifts, and many are blockbusters. To celebrate the arrival of fall, we are spotlighting a number of outstanding books that we know people will be talking about in the days and months to come.
We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days in September and October, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next prize book will be announced on Tuesday, October 4th at noon ET.
This year's featured titles are:
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Click here to read all the contest details and learn more about our featured titles. |
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Women's Fiction Author Spotlight: THE WANGS VS. THE WORLD by Jade Chang
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THE WANGS VS. THE WORLD by Jade Chang (Fiction)
Charles Wang is mad at America. A brash, lovable immigrant businessman who built a cosmetics empire and made a fortune, he’s just been ruined by the financial crisis. Now all Charles wants is to get his kids safely stowed away so that he can go to China and attempt to reclaim his family’s ancestral lands --- and his pride.
Charles pulls Andrew, his aspiring comedian son, and Grace, his style-obsessed daughter, out of schools he can no longer afford. Together with their stepmother, Barbra, they embark on a cross-country road trip from their foreclosed Bel-Air home to the upstate New York hideout of the eldest daughter, disgraced art world it-girl Saina. But with his son waylaid by a temptress in New Orleans, his wife ready to defect for a set of 1,000-thread-count sheets, and an epic smash-up in North Carolina, Charles may have to choose between the old world and the new, between keeping his family intact and finally fulfilling his dream of starting anew in China.
Outrageously funny and full of charm, THE WANGS VS. THE WORLD is an entirely fresh look at what it means to belong in America --- and how going from glorious riches to (still name-brand) rags brings one family together in a way money never could.
THE WANGS VS. THE WORLD releases on October 4th.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to visit the book's official website.
-Click here to read Jade Chang's bio.
-Click here to connect with Jade Chang on 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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More Reviews This Week
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WOMAN OF GOD by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Therese Plummer
Faith has never come easy for Brigid Fitzgerald. From her difficult childhood with drug-addled parents to her career as a doctor healing the wounded in Sudan to a series of trials that test her beliefs at every turn, Brigid's convictions and callings have made her the target of all those who fear that the Church has lost its way --- dangerous adversaries who abhor challenges to tradition. Locked in a deadly, high-stakes battle with forces determined to undermine everything she believes in, Brigid must convert her enemies to her cause before she loses her faith...and her life. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
LONER by Teddy Wayne (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by David Bendena
David Federman has never felt appreciated. An academically gifted yet painfully forgettable member of his New Jersey high school class, the withdrawn, mild-mannered freshman arrives at Harvard fully expecting to be embraced by a new tribe of high-achieving peers. Initially, however, his social prospects seem unlikely to change, sentencing him to a lifetime of anonymity. Then he meets Veronica Morgan Wells and becomes instantly infatuated. Determined to win her attention and an invite into her glamorous world, he begins compromising his moral standards for this one, great shot at happiness. But both Veronica and David, it turns out, are not exactly as they seem. Reviewed by Allison Sharp.
RECKLESS CREED: A Ryder Creed Novel by Alex Kava (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Graham Winton
In Chicago, a young man jumps from his 30th-story hotel room; along the Missouri River, a hunter and his son stumble upon a lake whose surface is littered with snow geese, all of them dead; and in southern Alabama, Ryder Creed and his search-and-rescue dog, Grace, find the body of a young woman who went missing in the Conecuh National Forest...and it appears she filled her pockets with rocks and walked into the river. Before long, Ryder and FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell will discover the ominous connection among these mysterious deaths. What they find may be the most prolific killer the United States has ever known. Reviewed by Maggie Harding.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
REVENGE IN A COLD RIVER: A William Monk Novel by Anne Perry (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, narrated by David Colacci
When Commander Monk of the Thames River Police is called to investigate the drowning of an escaped prisoner, he’s forced to contend with customs officer McNab, who clearly bears a bitter grudge against him. But the reason is a mystery in itself. Monk’s memory loss --- a secret he guards closely --- leaves him vulnerable to repercussions from his missing past, especially his exploits overseas in the tumultuous Gold Rush days of San Francisco. And now McNab appears intent on using whatever damning facts he can find to his advantage to ruin Monk’s future as an officer of the law. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
LADY COP MAKES TROUBLE: A Kopp Sisters Novel by Amy Stewart (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Christina Moore
After besting (and arresting) a ruthless silk factory owner and his gang of thugs in GIRL WAITS WITH GUN, Constance Kopp became one of the nation’s first deputy sheriffs. But when the wiles of a German-speaking con man threaten her position and her hopes for this new life, and endanger the honorable Sheriff Heath, Constance may not be able to make things right. LADY COP MAKES TROUBLE sets Constance loose on the streets of New York City and New Jersey --- tracking down victims, trailing leads, and making friends with female reporters and lawyers at a hotel for women. Cheering her on, and goading her, are her sisters Norma and Fleurette. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
SOUL AT THE WHITE HEAT: Inspiration, Obsession, and the Writing Life by Joyce Carol Oates (Literary Criticism/Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Susan Ericksen
"Why do we write?" With this question, Joyce Carol Oates begins an imaginative exploration of the writing life, and all its attendant anxieties, joys and futilities, in this collection of seminal essays and criticism. Leading her quest is a desire to understand the source of the writer’s inspiration. Do subjects haunt those that might bring them back to life until the writer submits? Or does something "happen" to us, a sudden ignition of a burning flame? Can the appearance of a muse-like Other bring about a writer’s best work? In SOUL AT THE WHITE HEAT, Oates deploys her keenest critical faculties, conjuring contemporary and past voices whose work she dissects for clues to these elusive questions. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
THE BIRTH OF A NATION: Nat Turner and the Making of a Movement by Nate Parker (History)
Audiobook available, read by Nate Parker
This official tie-in to the highly acclaimed film The Birth of a Nation surveys the history and legacy of Nat Turner, the leader of one of the most renowned slave rebellions on American soil, while also exploring Turner’s relevance to contemporary dialogues on race relations. Beautifully illustrated with stills from the movie and original illustrations, the book also features an essay by writer/director Nate Parker, contributions by members of the cast and crew, and commentary by educator Brian Favors and historians Erica Armstrong Dunbar and Daina Ramey Berry, who place Nat Turner and the rebellion he led into historical context. Reviewed by Maya Gittelman.
THE BLACK NOTEBOOK written by Patrick Modiano, translated by Mark Polizzotti (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Bronson Pinchot
In the aftermath of Algeria's war of independence, Paris was a city rife with suspicion and barely suppressed violence. Amid this tension, Jean, a young writer adrift, met and fell for Dannie, an enigmatic woman fleeing a troubled past. A half century later, with his old black notebook as a guide, he retraces this fateful period in his life, recounting how, through Dannie, he became mixed up with a group of unsavory characters connected by a shadowy crime. Soon Jean, too, was a person of interest to the detective pursuing their case --- a detective who would prove instrumental in revealing Dannie's darkest secret. Reviewed by John Bentlyewski.
SO SAY THE FALLEN by Stuart Neville (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
Audiobook available, narrated by Deirdre O’Connell
Henry Garrick, a local car dealer who was maimed in an accident five months before, has apparently taken his own life. A simple case, it should be wrapped up in a few days. But something doesn’t feel right to Belfast detective Serena Flanagan, despite the fact that there is no evidence of foul play. As she investigates, Flanagan interviews Roberta Garrick, Henry’s widow, who is comforted in her grief by Reverend Peter McKay, rector of the local church and a close family friend. But with the secrets McKay is keeping, he is in no position to help anyone. As Flanagan picks at the threads of the dead man’s life, a disturbing picture emerges, and she realizes that Roberta is not what she seems. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
ASYLUM: A Survivor's Flight from Nazi-Occupied Vienna Through Wartime France by Moriz Scheyer (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Robert Blumenfeld and Peter Ganim
As arts editor for one of Vienna's principal newspapers, Moriz Scheyer knew many of the city's foremost artists, and was an important literary journalist. With the advent of the Nazis, he was forced from both job and home. In 1943, in hiding in France, Scheyer began drafting what was to become this book. Tracing events from the Anschluss in Vienna, through life in Paris and unoccupied France, including a period in a French concentration camp, contact with the Resistance, and clandestine life in a convent caring for mentally disabled women, he gives an extraordinarily vivid account of the events and experience of persecution. Reviewed by John Bentlyewski.
BOY, 9, MISSING by Nic Joseph (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, narrated by Danny Campbell
It should have been just a quiet evening with friends. But Francis lost his brother that night in what was ruled a tragic accident. He's tried to move on in the last 23 years, even though his father certainly hasn't. Indeed, his father still blames the lone witness, Sam, the nine-year-old son of friends. Perhaps if Sam would have just said something, anything, about what happened that night, but Sam still seems unable --- or unwilling --- to utter a word about the accident. And now, 23 years later, Sam's own nine-year-old son has disappeared. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
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Next Week's Notables: Noteworthy Books Releasing on October 4th
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Below are some notable titles releasing on October 4th 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 October 3rd, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
ANOTHER DAY IN THE DEATH OF AMERICA: A Chronicle of Ten Short Lives by Gary Younge (Current Affairs)
On an average day in America, seven children and teens will be shot dead. In ANOTHER DAY IN THE DEATH OF AMERICA, award-winning Guardian journalist Gary Younge tells the stories of the lives lost during one such day.
BELICHICK & BRADY: Two Men, the Patriots, and How They Revolutionized Football by Michael Holley (Sports)
Featuring interviews from New England Patriots players and coaches, Michael Holley presents a fascinating portrait of the partnership between Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Chockful of behind-the-scenes anecdotes, this is required reading for any Patriots fan and students of the game of football.
CROSSING THE HORIZON by Laurie Notaro (Historical Fiction)
Before Amelia Earhart was even on the radar, aviatrixes around the world were gearing up to follow in the footsteps of Charles Lindbergh and his record-breaking flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Inspired by true events, Laurie Notaro’s latest novel follows three women all bitten by the flying bug in 1927.
CRUEL BEAUTIFUL WORLD by Caroline Leavitt (Historical Fiction)
As Lucy’s default caretaker for most of their lives, Charlotte’s youth has been marked by the burden of responsibility, but never more so than when Lucy’s dream of a rural paradise turns into a nightmare. Set in 1969, CRUEL BEAUTIFUL WORLD explores what happens when you’re responsible for things you cannot fix.
THE LOST BOY by Camilla Läckberg (Psychological Thriller)
A murder case concerning Fjällbacka’s dead financial director, Mats Sverin, is a grim but useful distraction from his recent family misfortunes. As the investigation stalls, the police have many questions. But there is only one that matters: Is there anything a mother would not do to protect her child?
MY OWN WORDS by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, with Mary Hartnett and Wendy W. Williams (Political Science)
MY OWN WORDS offers Ruth Bader Ginsburg on wide-ranging topics, including gender equality, the workways of the Supreme Court, being Jewish, and the value of looking beyond US shores when interpreting the US Constitution. The book’s sampling is selected by Justice Ginsburg and her authorized biographers, Mary Hartnett and Wendy W. Williams.
NEWS OF THE WORLD by Paulette Jiles (Historical Fiction)
It is 1870, and Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd must return Johanna, raised by a band of Kiowa raiders who killed her parents and sister, to her next of kin. But on their 400-mile journey, Captain Kidd and Johanna forge a deep bond, making it difficult for Kidd to give her up. But can he risk becoming --- in the eyes of the law --- a kidnapper himself?
STRONG COLD DEAD: A Caitlin Strong Novel by Jon Land (Thriller)
The terrorist organization ISIS is after a deadly toxin that could be the ultimate weapon of mass destruction. The same toxin holds the potential to eradicate cancer. There is a frantic race to see who can get to it first, even as Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong begins to assemble the disparate pieces of a deadly puzzle.
TODAY WILL BE DIFFERENT by Maria Semple (Fiction)
Eleanor knows she's a mess. But today, she will shower and get dressed. She will have her yoga lessons after dropping off her son, Timby. She won't swear. But before she can put her modest plan into action, life happens. An encounter with a former colleague produces a graphic memoir, the dramatic tale of which threatens to reveal a buried family secret.
THE TRESPASSER by Tana French (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
It seems as if partner Stephen Moran is the only person who is glad Detective Antoinette Conway is on the Murder squad. Their new case looks like nothing unusual --- except that Antoinette has seen the victim somewhere before. Is this case another step in the campaign to force her off the squad, or are there darker currents flowing beneath its polished surface?
TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS by Debbie Macomber (Romance)
Julia Padden has decided to kill her new annoying neighbor with kindness and document her success --- or lack thereof --- for all the world to see. To her surprise, her blog is an instant success, with Julia’s followers contributing their own suggestions for breaking through Cain’s cold exterior. And little by little, these small acts of kindness start to have a major effect.
TWO BY TWO by Nicholas Sparks (Fiction)
No one is more surprised than Russell Green when he finds every aspect of the life he took for granted gone. In a matter of months, Russ finds himself without a job or a wife, caring for his young daughter. Throwing himself into single parenting, Russ embarks on a journey that will test his abilities and emotional resources beyond anything he ever imagined.
THE WANGS VS. THE WORLD by Jade Chang (Fiction)
An immigrant businessman, Charles Wang has just been ruined by the financial crisis. Now all he wants is go to China and attempt to reclaim his family’s ancestral lands --- and his pride. But Charles may have to choose between the old world and the new, between keeping his family intact and finally fulfilling his dream of starting anew in China.
WINTER STORMS by Elin Hilderbrand (Fiction)
For the Quinn family, there’s one holiday that brings them together: Christmas. But a historic once-in-a-century blizzard bears down on Nantucket as the special day approaches, threatening to keep the Quinns away from the place and people they love the most.
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Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter. |
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Young Adult Books You Want to Read
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Here are this month's books we featured on Teenreads.com that we think will appeal to an adult audience:
GHOSTS by Raina Telgemeier (Graphic Novel)
Catrina and her family are moving to the coast of Northern California because her little sister, Maya, is sick. Cat isn't happy about leaving her friends for Bahía de la Luna, but Maya has cystic fibrosis and will benefit from the cool, salty air that blows in from the sea. As the girls explore their new home, a neighbor lets them in on a secret: There are ghosts in Bahía de la Luna. Maya is determined to meet one, but Cat wants nothing to do with them. As the time of year when ghosts reunite with their loved ones approaches, Cat must figure out how to put aside her fears for her sister's sake --- and her own.
THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES by Mindy McGinnis (Thriller)
Three years ago, when her older sister, Anna, was murdered and the killer walked free, Alex uncaged the language she knows best --- the language of violence. While her own crime goes unpunished, Alex knows she can’t be trusted among other people. Not with Jack, the star athlete who wants to really know her but still feels guilty over the role he played the night Anna’s body was discovered. And not with Peekay, the preacher’s kid with a defiant streak who befriends Alex while they volunteer at an animal shelter. As their senior year unfolds, Alex’s darker nature breaks out, setting these three teens on a collision course that will change their lives forever.
THE CABIN by Natasha Preston (Mystery/Thriller)
A weekend partying at a remote cabin is just what Mackenzie needs. She can't wait to let loose with her friends. But a crazy night of fun leaves two of them dead --- murdered. With no signs of a forced entry or struggle, suspicion turns to the five survivors. Someone isn't telling the truth. And Mackenzie's first mistake? Assuming the killing is over…
GIRL ON A PLANE by Miriam Moss (Historical Fiction)
Bahrain, 1970. After a summer spent with her family, 15-year-old Anna is flying back to boarding school in England when her plane is hijacked by Palestinian terrorists and taken to the Jordanian desert. Demands are issued. If they are not met, the terrorists will blow up the plane, killing all hostages. The heat becomes unbearable; food and water supplies dwindle. All alone, Anna begins to face the possibility that she may never see her family again. Inspired by true events in the author’s life, this is a story about ordinary people facing agonizing horror with courage and resilience.
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Click here for more young adult books we recommend you read. |
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Our Latest Poll and Word of Mouth/Sounding Off on Audio Contests
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Poll:
Which of the following have you borrowed from your local library in the last year? Please check all that apply.
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Print books
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eBooks
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Audiobooks on disc
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Digital audio
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Streaming video
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DVDs
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Streaming music
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CDs
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Magazines
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Newspapers
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I do not use my local library.
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Other (Please specify)
-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 September 23rd to October 7th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of CRUEL BEAUTIFUL WORLD by Caroline Leavitt and TWO BY TWO by Nicholas Sparks.
-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 September 6th to October 3rd at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Sophie Hannah's CLOSED CASKET: The New Hercule Poirot Mystery, performed by Julian Rhind-Tutt, and Ann Patchett's COMMONWEALTH, performed by Hope Davis.
-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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