Floating May Mean a Wetsuit Now
Last weekend, there was a lot of floating in the pool and reading time. It was warmer than the week I was on vacation in August! Fall reality is kicking in this weekend when I know I will be seeing steam rise off the pool, which has the solar covers on it, as the temps dip down. I may sneak in a day or two before I pull my wetsuit back on. For humor, when I hang the wetsuit to dry, I put it on a line in the garage. More than once, my husband has walked into the garage and been sure that there is an intruder in the garage. Reminders about this will go out this week.
I read THE VISITORS by Catherine Burns, which is one of our Fall Preview titles. I heard the editor present it at a preview a few weeks ago. and her reference to it having an overtone of Grey Gardens piqued my interest. In it, a brother and sister live together in a house, shutting out most of the world. There’s lots of family money. There also are people in the locked basement who the sister hears, but does not see. Told from her perspective, it’s creepy. Not for the faint of heart!
Also, I read A SEPARATION by Katie Kitamura, as I will be interviewing her at the Morristown Festival of Books. In A SEPARATION, a London woman is separated from her cheating husband, Christopher. They have chosen not to make their news public, though they are living separately. Christopher is off in Greece on a research trip. His mother cannot reach him, and when she learns that no one at the hotel has seen him either, she asks his wife to travel there to find him. His wife naturally has mixed feelings about this. She travels to the small town where he was last seen and stays in a quaint hotel trying to follow his steps in the last days that he was there. There's lots of cerebral action at work here, and it is the kind of book that’s paced slowly. I am looking forward to interviewing her. Also, I finished Megan Miranda’s THE PERFECT STRANGER, as I am interviewing her in Morristown as well, along with Riley Sager, who wrote FINAL GIRLS, for a thriller panel. One more book of “assigned reading” for this festival.
So yes, the reading and floating project of last weekend went extremely well!
Last night, Greg and I went to New York’s 92nd Street Y to see Art Garfunkel interviewed by Anthony DeCurtis, who has written a book on Clive Davis and who has a book about Lou Reed coming in October. Years ago, at a small private concert, Art was telling stories in between sets. During a Q&A session, I asked if he had thought about doing a book, and indeed his agent was shopping one. As I mentioned last week, WHAT IS IT ALL BUT LUMINOUS is not a typical memoir, but rather musings plucked from his diaries that he has kept over the last three decades. He is always making notes on things that interest him --- words, phrases and ideas. The book riffs on some of the ideas in depth while others are mere lines.
On stage, he mused as well, in what was a really interesting evening. I was impressed that DeCurtis moved from question to question with no notes. As someone who does a lot of interviews, I know this is not easy. Art reminisced about his days with Paul Simon, mostly kindly, and spoke lovingly about the simplicity of his life with his wife and sons. His stories about breaking into the cutthroat music world as a teenager and again in his 20s were fun and clearly sparked nostalgia of simpler times. He talked about an evening spent with Donovan, who played him two songs he loved and had not heard before. "Yesterday" by The Beatles was one, and the other was a Rolling Stones song I cannot recall the title of. It was interesting to hear him reflect on that moment with some kind of wonder. In fact, for most of the evening he was caught up in a trip down memory lane, looking at the ceiling instead of the audience.
I wish he had been able to reference the book more (he read one passage), but questions from the formal interview and the audience did not head in that direction. Somewhat surprisingly, he listens to almost no music today, but is a very avid reader. It was a fun night with a legendary performer who still loves performing and rolls through life with wonder. Greg and I came away saying that he is the kind of person who would be interesting to spend an afternoon or evening with, just to see life through his eyes for a while.
Bronwyn Miller has our review of WHAT IS IT ALL BUT LUMINOUS, which you can read here. Oh, and I promised I would share something special about the print book. The text of it was set in a digitized version of Art’s handwriting, created specifically for this project, by North Market Street Graphics. I still want to know how he came to mention my childhood friend, Kelly Tripucka, the basketball star, in the book as someone having a name he found interesting, I should have asked that question last night!
My audiobook listening this week has been COMING TO MY SENSES: The Making of a Counterculture Cook by Alice Waters, which is narrated by her. I love reading about chefs and how they work their menus, staffs and restaurants. Her “little French restaurant,” Chez Panisse, in Berkeley, which she opened in 1971 at the age of 27, has long been on a list of places I would love to dine. She shares stories about food and food culture, as well as reflecting on defining moments of the times that she drew on. Her travels throughout Europe influenced her cooking in many ways. She was a radical chef breaking many barriers in cooking. I loved how she brought mesclun lettuce to New York in a suitcase for one cooking event that she participated in. I am enjoying this and will finish it this weekend.
My own culinary experiment last weekend was trying to replicate a tomato/prosciutto/burrata dish that I had at Zero Otto Nove last week. It’s a hollowed tomato lined with prosciutto and then filled with a burrata. Good first attempt, but my technique needs refining to get it to be less watery. I have a plan for this!
And now to this week’s update...
Harlan Coben’s new thriller, DON’T LET GO, introduces readers to Detective Napoleon “Nap” Dumas, who hasn't been the same since his twin brother Leo and Leo’s girlfriend Diana were found dead --- and Maura, the girl Nap thought was the love of his life, broke up with him and disappeared without explanation. Nap has been trying to locate Maura and discover the real reason behind his brother's death for 15 long years. When Maura's fingerprints turn up in the rental car of a suspected murderer, Nap embarks on a quest for answers that only leads to more questions --- mostly about Leo and Diana, whose deaths are darker and far more sinister than Nap ever imagined.
Kate Ayers has our review and calls DON’T LET GO “a one-day read. I say that because you won’t be able to put it down once you open it. You’ll love Nap Dumas, a no-nonsense guy who doesn’t pussyfoot around. He gets the job done without feeling the need for a great deal of witness coddling, worthless finesse or sugary platitudes. This is a fellow who wants to cut to the chase, even when dealing with cops.” Here is a piece from the New York Times in which Harlan visits a decommissioned base that is a pivotal scene in his book.
DON’T LET GO is one of our current Word of Mouth prizes, along with MANHATTAN BEACH by Jennifer Egan (which we plan to review next week). Let us know by Friday, October 6th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win both titles.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include THE LAST CASTLE by Denise Kiernan, the fascinating true story behind the magnificent Gilded Age mansion Biltmore --- the largest, grandest residence ever built in the United States; ALONE, in which Michael Korda chronicles the outbreak of World War II and the great events that led to Dunkirk; DINNER AT THE CENTER OF THE EARTH by Pulitzer Prize finalist Nathan Englander, a political thriller that unfolds in the highly charged territory of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and FIVE-CARAT SOUL, a collection of short stories from James McBride, his first work of fiction since his National Book Award–winning novel, THE GOOD LORD BIRD.
Our latest New Release Spotlight title is HANNA WHO FELL FROM THE SKY by award-winning author Christopher Meades. Hanna has never been outside her secluded community of Clearhaven. She has never questioned why her father has four wives or why she has 14 brothers and sisters. And in only one week, on her 18th birthday, Hanna will follow tradition and become the fifth wife of a man more than twice her age. But just days before the wedding, Hanna meets a stranger who challenges her to question her fate and to follow her own will. And when her mother reveals a secret --- one that could grant her the freedom she's known only in her dreams --- Hanna is forced to decide whether she was really meant for something greater than the claustrophobic world of Clearhaven.
We gave away HANNA WHO FELL FROM THE SKY in this week’s Fall Preview contests, along with THE TRUST by Ronald H. Balson, VICTORIA by Daisy Goodwin, and the aforementioned THE VISITORS by Catherine Burns. Next week’s prizes will be AFTER THE ECLIPSE: A Mother's Murder, a Daughter's Search by Sarah Perry, ALL THE UGLY AND WONDERFUL THINGS by Bryn Greenwood, BEST DAY EVER by Kaira Rouda, and THE DARK LAKE by Sarah Bailey. The first contest of the week will be up on Monday, October 2nd at noon ET.
In last week’s newsletter, we featured our review of BEST DAY EVER, which is also our latest Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight title, along with our interview with Kaira. This week, we feature my Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary on the book, which you can see here.
We’ve updated our Young Adult Books You Want to Read feature, books we've recently reviewed on Teenreads.com that we think will appeal to an adult audience. This month’s titles are GENUINE FRAUD by E. Lockhart (a Bets On pick) and DISAPPEARED by Francisco X. Stork.
Time is running out to enter this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest. Be sure to submit your comments about the audiobooks you’ve listened to for your chance to win the audio versions of Nelson DeMille's THE CUBAN AFFAIR, read by Scott Brick, and Stephen King and Owen King's SLEEPING BEAUTIES, read by Marin Ireland. The deadline for your entries is Monday, October 2nd at noon ET.
Our poll continues to ask if reading news and articles online and being active on social media take time away from your book reading. Click here to let us know.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail
Jane wrote, “Carol, I always feel like I just got off of the phone with a good friend when I read your newsletters. I especially appreciate the diversity of books that you feature. I just finished Jamie Ford's LOVE AND OTHER CONSOLATION PRIZES and loved it. He does not shy away from writing about some of the more unpleasant facts about our history, but he does it without beating the reader over the head. Thanks for what you do, and Happy Birthday to your Dad.” Thanks Jane for the nice wishes for my dad, and I do agree with you about Jamie Ford. I am glad you recognize the diversity of the books that we feature; Tom Donadio, our Editorial Director, is fabulous at getting "the mix" right!
Helen wrote, “Through a link in the newsletter, I won an advance copy of ALL THE UGLY AND WONDERFUL THINGS by Bryn Greenwood. It’s a most unusual book, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to read it. At first I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue to read about this very flawed and unlovable family, but there is so much love and honesty in Wavy and Kellen that I couldn’t put it down. What could they make of their circumstances, and how would the author work it all out? I hope this book gets the attention it deserves. It’s an unusual and fascinating story, well told. I won’t soon forget it and can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next. Thank you so much for the opportunity. I love this newsletter and only wish I could read as fast as you obviously do!” Glad to hear you enjoyed it, Helen!
Brenda won VICTORIA in one of this week’s Fall Preview contests. She wrote and said, “I am so excited! I love to read and share. This book will travel! Thank you so much.”
My mea culpa as Debbie wrote, “Thank you for mentioning the interview with Mr. Cornwell (aka John le Carré) and for adding the link, but it was not Scott Pelley who did this wonderful interview. Steve Kroft was the actual journalist who conducted the outstanding interview.” She was so right. When I was writing fast on deadline last week, something told me to doublecheck the interviewer’s name, especially as for some reason I frequently mix those two up. So thank you, Debbie, for the correction.
Authors in the Columbus Day Parade: Len Riggio, the founder of Barnes & Noble, will be the grand marshal of the Columbus Day parade in New York City. Marching with him on Monday, October 9th will be 100 Italian American authors. You can see more about it here. Love this. For the record, my maiden name is Cicetti!
"CBS Sunday Morning": Their guest was Ann Patchett, talking about her bookstore and her work.
NPR's "Morning Edition": Stephen King and Owen King, the authors of SLEEPING BEAUTIES, were guests this week. You can give it a listen here.
Jesmyn Ward on Late-Night TV: The National Book Award-longlisted author of SING, UNBURIED, SING was on "Late Night with Seth Meyers." You can watch that here. I had the pleasure of hearing Jesmyn speak at a BookExpo dinner back in late May. Her infant son was at our table being held by her editor as she spoke. Such a fun moment to see him as well.
"Gaga: Five Foot Two": This Netflix documentary about Lady Gaga documents the events around the production and release of her fifth studio album, Joanne, and the time leading up to her halftime performance at the Super Bowl. Filmed in cinéma vérité, it is raw and shares the dedication she has to the details. She definitely thinks through every aspect of her celebrity status. I love when her grandmother calls her Stefani.
"This Is Us": I thought the season opener was merely okay, until the end. And for the record, I do not think Jack died in a fire. Just saying. The way this show is layered, like a book, I think we really do not know what happened. I can toss out some theories.
"Our Souls at Night": This Netflix movie based on the book by Kent Haruf premieres today, and stars Jane Fonda and Robert Redford. Yes, I will be watching this weekend.
Quiet weekend on tap. Tom is away playing golf for three days. Greg is heading out for a two-day lighthouse trip. Cory may make an appearance. My plan is to hit some farmers' markets to get eucalyptus (besides what I grew here), mulch, swim, read, knit, and maybe unpack a box or two from the 20 now neatly lining my office (my ode to straightening my office was to buy 20 bankers’ boxes and fill them so they all match; it does look better, but I still want them gone!). And if that was not enough fun, sorting the computer cords beyond my desk and tying them with Velcro. I know. How much fun can life be? Book I am reading? AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE by Tayari Jones, which is coming on February 6th. I am going to a media lunch for her next week and want to be able to talk about it with her.
Next week is hectic with New York Comic Con and events surrounding that and those early AM meetings. Let me add “sleep” to the list above.
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!
Featured Review: DON’T LET GO by Harlan Coben
DON'T LET GO by Harlan Coben (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Steven Weber
Suburban New Jersey Detective Napoleon “Nap” Dumas hasn't been the same since senior year of high school, when his twin brother Leo and Leo’s girlfriend Diana were found dead on the railroad tracks --- and Maura, the girl Nap considered the love of his life, broke up with him and disappeared without explanation. For 15 years, Nap has been searching, both for Maura and for the real reason behind his brother's death. And now, it looks as though he may finally find what he's been looking for. When Maura's fingerprints turn up in the rental car of a suspected murderer, Nap embarks on a quest for answers that only leads to more questions --- mostly about Leo and Diana, whose deaths are darker and far more sinister than Nap ever dared imagine. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: THE LAST CASTLE by Denise Kiernan
THE LAST CASTLE: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation's Largest Home by Denise Kiernan (History)
Audiobook available, read by Denise Kiernan
Orphaned at a young age, Edith Stuyvesant Dresser claimed lineage from one of New York’s best known families. She grew up in Newport and Paris, and her engagement and marriage to George Vanderbilt was one of the most watched events of Gilded Age society. But none of this prepared her to be mistress of Biltmore House --- the largest, grandest residence ever built in the United States. When fortunes shifted and changing times threatened her family, her home and her community, it was up to Edith to save Biltmore --- and secure the future of the region and her husband’s legacy. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: WHAT IS IT ALL BUT LUMINOUS
by Art Garfunkel
WHAT IS IT ALL BUT LUMINOUS: Notes from an Underground Man by Art Garfunkel (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Art Garfunkel
Art Garfunkel writes about his life before, during and after Simon & Garfunkel --- about their folk-rock music in the roiling age that embraced and was defined by their pathbreaking sound. He writes about growing up in the 1940s and '50s (the son of a traveling salesman); meeting Paul Simon in school; their going to a recording studio in Manhattan to make a demo of their song, "Hey Schoolgirl," (for $7!) and the actual record (with Paul's father on bass) going to #40 on the national charts, selling 150,000 copies; their becoming Simon & Garfunkel, taking the world by storm; his slow unfolding split with Paul and its aftermath; and so much more. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
New Release Spotlight: HANNA WHO FELL
FROM THE SKY by Christopher Meades
HANNA WHO FELL FROM THE SKY by Christopher Meades (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Caitlin Kelly
Hanna has never been outside her secluded community of Clearhaven. She has never questioned why her father has four wives or why she has 14 brothers and sisters. And in only one week, on her 18th birthday, Hanna will follow tradition and become the fifth wife of a man more than twice her age.
But just days before the wedding, Hanna meets an enigmatic stranger who challenges her to question her fate and to follow her own will. And when her mother reveals a secret --- one that could grant her the freedom she’s known only in her dreams --- Hanna is forced to decide whether she was really meant for something greater than the claustrophobic world of Clearhaven. But can she abandon her beloved younger sister and the only home she’s ever known? Or is there another option --- one too fantastical to believe?
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Christopher Meades’ bio.
- Click here to visit Christopher Meades’ website.
- Connect with Christopher Meades on Facebook and Twitter.
Click here to read more in our New Release Spotlight.
Featured Review: ALONE by Michael Korda
ALONE: Britain, Churchill, and Dunkirk: Defeat Into Victory by Michael Korda (History)
Audiobook available, read by John Lee
May 1940 was a month like no other. The superior German war machine blazed into France, as the Maginot Line, supposedly "as firmly fixed in place as the Pyramids," crumbled in days. With the fall of Holland and Belgium, the imminent fall of Paris, the British Army stranded at Dunkirk, and Neville Chamberlain’s government in political freefall, Winston Churchill became prime minister on this historical nadir of May 10, 1941. Britain, diplomatically isolated, was suddenly the only nation with the courage and the resolve to defy Hitler. Against this vast historical canvas, Michael Korda relates what happened and why. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: DINNER AT THE CENTER
OF THE EARTH by Nathan Englander
DINNER AT THE CENTER OF THE EARTH by Nathan Englander (Political Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Mark Bramhall
A prisoner in a secret cell. The guard who has watched over him a dozen years. An American waitress in Paris. A young Palestinian man in Berlin who strikes up an odd friendship with a wealthy Canadian businessman. And The General, Israel's most controversial leader, who lies dying in a hospital, the only man who knows of the prisoner's existence. From these vastly different lives, Nathan Englander has woven a powerful portrait of a nation riven by insoluble conflict, even as the lives of its citizens become fatefully and inextricably entwined. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
BEST DAY EVER by Kaira Rouda
A Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight Title
BEST DAY EVER by Kaira Rouda (Psychological Thriller)
In BEST DAY EVER by Kaira Rouda, Paul Strom, an advertising executive, has planned a wonderful day for his wife, Mia, keeping in mind all of the things that will make her happy. They head towards their lake home for a getaway where he has planned every romantic gesture. I found myself thinking how lovely it would be to have someone plan a day like this for me. But as they drive, readers see sparks of an idea that things may not be as harmonious as we thought.
I do not want to give away much here as part of the reason the book works is in the reveal, but let’s just say that Paul is not the loving husband he wants us to think he is. It’s an addictive read that’s completely compulsive. Friends who I gave advance copies to all loved it; I love calls when people say “That was great” and want to talk about it.
Those who loved THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR (another Bets On title) will want to take note of BEST DAY EVER. For book groups who enjoy thrillers, this is a good one to think about for a discussion, including the construction of the book, which makes it work. I cannot wait to see what Kaira writes next!
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read our interview with Kaira Rouda.
- Click here to read Kaira Rouda's bio.
- Visit Kaira Rouda's website, Pinterest and Instagram.
- Connect with Kaira Rouda on Facebook and Twitter.
- Click here to see the 50 winners selected to read and comment on the book.
- Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight.
Click here for more books we're betting you'll love.
An Interview with Michael Brandman,
Author of MISSING PERSONS
Michael Brandman is the author of three Jesse Stone novels, each based on characters created by Robert B. Parker. With his longtime partner, Tom Selleck, he has produced and co-wrote nine Jesse Stone movies and three westerns. MISSING PERSONS is the opening installment in his new mystery series starring Buddy Steel, an LAPD homicide detective who returns home to care for his father, a legendary sheriff who has fallen ill with Lou Gehrig's disease. In this interview, Brandman talks about what differentiates Buddy from other protagonists in today's crime fiction, why he considers the made-for-television movie Stone Cold to be his favorite collaboration with Robert B. Parker, and his working relationship with Tom Selleck as they currently write the 10th Jesse Stone film.
MISSING PERSONS: A Buddy Steel Mystery by Michael Brandman (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Alex Knox
Buddy Steel has been content working homicide at the LAPD until his father, the legendary Sheriff Burton Steel, falls ill with Lou Gehrig's disease. Sheriff Steel asks Buddy to come home to cover his back and to groom him to be his successor. No sooner does he hit town than Buddy learns that the wife of the high-flying star of a world-renowned television ministry has gone missing. A visit to the woman's home leads to a hostile confrontation with her husband's family and Buddy’s realization that something greater than simply a missing person is at stake.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the interview.
Bookreporter.com's Fall Preview Contests and Feature
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 Monday, October 2nd at noon ET.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
AN ECHO OF MURDER: A William Monk Novel by Anne Perry (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by David Colacci
A Hungarian warehouse owner lies in the middle of his blood-sodden office, pierced through the chest with a bayonet and eerily surrounded by 17 candles, their wicks dipped in blood. Suspecting the murder may be rooted in ethnic prejudice, Commander William Monk turns to London’s Hungarian community in search of clues but finds his inquiries stymied by its wary citizens and a language he doesn’t speak. Only with the help of a local pharmacist acting as translator can Monk hope to penetrate this tightly knit enclave, even as more of its members fall victim to identical brutal murders. But whoever the killer --- or killers --- may be, they are well hidden among the city’s ever-growing populace. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
FIVE-CARAT SOUL by James McBride (Fiction/Short Stories)
Audiobook available; read by Arthur Morey, Nile Bullock, Prentice Onayemi and Dominic Hoffman
The stories in FIVE-CARAT SOUL --- none of them ever published before --- spring from the place where identity, humanity and history converge. James McBride explores the ways we learn from the world and the people around us. An antiques dealer discovers that a legendary toy commissioned by Civil War General Robert E. Lee now sits in the home of a black minister in Queens. Five strangers find themselves thrown together and face unexpected judgment. An American president draws inspiration from a conversation he overhears in a stable. And members of The Five-Carat Soul Bottom Bone Band recount stories from their own messy and hilarious lives. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
RANGER GAMES: A Story of Soldiers, Family and an Inexplicable Crime by Ben Blum (True Crime/Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Johnathan McClain
Alex Blum had one goal in life: endure a brutally difficult selection program, become a U.S. Army Ranger, and fight terrorists for his country. He poured everything into achieving his dream. In the first hours of his final leave before deployment to Iraq, Alex was supposed to fly home to see his family and girlfriend. Instead, he got into his car with two fellow soldiers and two strangers, drove to a local bank in Tacoma, and committed armed robbery. Why would he ruin his life in such a spectacularly foolish way? In the midst of his own personal crisis, and in the hopes of helping both Alex and his splintering family cope, Ben Blum, Alex’s first cousin, delved into these mysteries, growing closer to Alex in the process. Reviewed by Bianca Ambrosio.
THE GOOD PEOPLE by Hannah Kent (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Caroline Lennon
Based on true events in 19th-century Ireland, Hannah Kent's new novel tells the story of three women, drawn together to rescue a child from a superstitious community. Nora, bereft after the death of her husband, finds herself alone and caring for her grandson Micheál, who can neither speak nor walk. A handmaid, Mary, arrives to help Nóra just as rumors begin to spread that Micheál is a changeling child who is bringing bad luck to the valley. Determined to banish evil, Nora and Mary enlist the help of Nance, an elderly wanderer who understands the magic of the old ways. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
MAGICIANS IMPOSSIBLE by Brad Abraham (Urban Fantasy)
Audiobook available, read by Bradford Hastings
Twenty-something bartender Jason Bishop’s world is shattered when his estranged father commits suicide. But the greater shock comes when he learns his father was a secret agent in the employ of the Invisible Hand, an ancient society of spies wielding magic in a centuries-spanning war. Now the Golden Dawn --- the shadowy cabal of witches and warlocks responsible for Daniel Bishop’s murder, and the death of Jason’s mother years before --- have Jason in their sights. His survival will depend on mastering his own dormant magic abilities, provided he makes it through the training. Jason's journey through the realm of magic will be fraught with peril. But with enemies and allies on both sides of this war, whom can he trust? Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds.
THE WAYS OF WOLFE: A Border Noir by James Carlos Blake (Noir Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Rudy Sanda
Twenty years ago, college student Axel Prince Wolfe --- heir apparent to his Texas family's esteemed law firm and its "shade trade" criminal enterprises --- teamed up with his best friend, Billy, and a Mexican stranger in a high-end robbery that went wrong. Abandoned by his partners, he was captured and imprisoned, his family disgraced, his wife absconded, his infant daughter Jessie left an orphan. Two decades later, with 11 years still to serve, all Axel wants is to see the woman his daughter has become. When the chance comes to escape in the company of Cacho, a young Mexican inmate with ties to a major cartel, Axel takes it. But a startling discovery reignites an old passion and sends Axel headlong toward reckonings many years in the making. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
UNDER A POLE STAR by Stef Penney (Historical Fiction/Adventure)
Audiobook available, narrated by Cathleen McCarron
A whaler's daughter, Flora Mackie first crossed the Arctic Circle at the age of 12, falling in love with the cold and unforgiving terrain and forging lifelong bonds with the Inuit people who have carved out an existence on its icy plains. She sets out to become a scientist and polar explorer, despite those who believe that a young woman has no place in this harsh world, and in 1892, her determination leads her back to northern Greenland at the head of a British expedition. Yearning for wider horizons, American geologist Jakob de Beyn joins a rival expedition led by the furiously driven Lester Armitage. When the path of Flora's expedition crosses theirs, the three lives become intertwined. Reviewed by Katherine B. Weissman.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on October 3rd
Below are some notable titles releasing on October 3rd 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 2nd, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
ALI: A Life by Jonathan Eig (Biography)
Muhammad Ali went from being one of the most despised men in the country to one of the most beloved. But until now, he has never been the subject of a complete, unauthorized biography. Jonathan Eig breaks new ground and radically reshapes our understanding of the slippery figure who was Muhammad Ali.
DUNBAR by Edward St. Aubyn (Fiction)
Henry Dunbar, the once all-powerful head of a global media corporation, is not having a good day. In his dotage he hands over care of the corporation to his two eldest daughters, Abby and Megan, but as relations sour he starts to doubt the wisdom of past decisions. Now imprisoned in Meadowmeade, an upscale sanatorium in rural England, with only a demented alcoholic comedian as company, Dunbar starts planning his escape.
FRESH COMPLAINT: Stories by Jeffrey Eugenides (Fiction/Short Stories)
Ranging from the bitingly reproductive antics of “Baster” to the dreamy, moving account of a young traveler’s search for enlightenment in “Air Mail,” Jeffrey Eugenides’ first collection of short fiction presents characters in the midst of personal and national emergencies.
GHOST ON THE CASE: A Bailey Ruth Ghost Novel by Carolyn Hart (Mystery)
Susan Gilbert receives a $100,000 ransom demand for her younger sibling. When the caller wants Susan to pay a visit to her wealthy boss and take the cash from his safe, Bailey Ruth follows Susan to the home. While Susan waits to hear back from the kidnappers, Bailey Ruth attempts to piece together how the criminals targeted Susan and how they know about her boss’s money.
GOING INTO TOWN: A Love Letter to New York by Roz Chast (Graphic Memoir)
For native Brooklynite Roz Chast, adjusting to life in the suburbs was surreal. But she recognized that for her kids, the reverse was true. On trips into town, they would marvel at the strange world of Manhattan. Their wonder inspired GOING INTO TOWN --- part playful guide, part New York stories, and part love letter to the city.
HER BODY AND OTHER PARTIES: Stories by Carmen Maria Machado (Fiction/Short Stories)
In HER BODY AND OTHER PARTIES, Carmen Maria Machado blithely demolishes the arbitrary borders between psychological realism and science fiction, comedy and horror, fantasy and fabulism.
I'M FINE...AND OTHER LIES by Whitney Cummings (Memoir)
After getting her start as a stand-up comic and then breaking out with her wildly successful CBS sitcom “2 Broke Girls” (she’s the creator, writer and executive producer), Whitney Cummings has seen a few things and is turning to the written word to tell us all the stuff she doesn’t say on stage.
LOGICAL FAMILY: A Memoir by Armistead Maupin (Memoir)
Realizing that the South was too small for him, Armistead Maupin packed his earthly belongings into his Opel GT and took to the road in search of adventure. Reflecting on the profound impact those closest to him have had on his life, Maupin shares his candid search for his "logical family," the people he could call his own.
MANHATTAN BEACH by Jennifer Egan (Historical Fiction)
Anna Kerrigan accompanies her father to visit Dexter Styles, a man who, she gleans, is crucial to the survival of her father and her family. Years later, her father has disappeared and the country is at war. One evening at a nightclub, Anna meets Dexter again, and begins to understand the complexity of her father’s life and the reasons he might have vanished.
MERRY AND BRIGHT by Debbie Macomber (Romance)
Without her knowledge, Merry Knight’s well-meaning mom and brother create an online dating profile for her --- minus her photo --- and the matches start rolling in. Soon Merry finds herself chatting with a charming stranger. But meeting face-to-face is altogether different, and her special friend is the last person Merry expects --- or desires.
ORIGIN by Dan Brown (Thriller)
Robert Langdon arrives at the ultramodern Guggenheim Museum Bilbao to attend the unveiling of a discovery that “will change the face of science forever.” The evening’s host is Edmond Kirsch, who is about to reveal an astonishing breakthrough that will answer two of the fundamental questions of human existence. But the evening suddenly erupts into chaos, and Kirsch’s precious discovery teeters on the brink of being lost forever.
THE RELIVE BOX AND OTHER STORIES by T.C. Boyle (Fiction/Short Stories)
From the title story, featuring a Halcom X1520 Relive Box that allows users to experience anew almost any moment from their past, to "The Five-Pound Burrito," the tale of a man aiming to build the biggest burrito in town, the 12 stories in this collection speak to the humor, the pathos and the struggle that is part of being human while relishing the whimsy of wordplay and the power of a story well told.
WE WERE EIGHT YEARS IN POWER: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates (Essays)
“We were eight years in power” was the lament of Reconstruction-era black politicians as the American experiment in multiracial democracy ended with the return of white supremacist rule in the South. In this sweeping collection of new and selected essays, Ta-Nehisi Coates explores the tragic echoes of that history in our own time.
WINTER SOLSTICE by Elin Hilderbrand (Fiction)
It's been too long since the entire Quinn family has been able to celebrate the holidays under the same roof, but that's about to change. With Bart back safe and sound from Afghanistan, the Quinns are preparing for a holiday more joyous than any they've experienced in years. But it just wouldn't be a Quinn family gathering if things went smoothly.
THE WITCHES' TREE: An Agatha Raisin Mystery by M. C. Beaton (Mystery)
Margaret Darby, an elderly spinster, has been murdered --- and the villagers are bewildered as to who would commit such a crime. Agatha Raisin rises to the occasion. But Sumpton Harcourt is a small and private village that poses more questions than answers. And when two more murders follow the first, Agatha begins to fear for her reputation --- and even her life.
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Our Latest Poll: Book Reading Distractions
Does reading news and articles online and being active on social media take time away from your book reading? Please check all that apply.
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Reading news online often takes time away from my book reading.
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Reading news online sometimes takes time away from my book reading.
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Reading news online never takes time away from my book reading.
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Reading articles online often takes time away from my book reading.
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Reading articles online sometimes takes time away from my book reading.
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Reading articles online never takes time away from my book reading.
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Social media often takes time away from my book reading.
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Social media sometimes takes time away from my book reading.
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Social media never takes time away from my book reading.
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I rarely read news online.
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I rarely read articles online.
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I am not on any social media platforms.
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, October 6th at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You're Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!
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 22nd to October 6th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of DON'T LET GO by Harlan Coben and MANHATTAN BEACH by Jennifer Egan.
To make sure other readers will be able to find the books you write about, please include the full title and correct author names (your entry must include these to be eligible to win). For rules and guidelines, click here.
- To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
Sounding Off on Audio Contest: Tell Us What
You're Listening to --- and You Can Win Two Audiobooks!
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 2nd at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Nelson DeMille's THE CUBAN AFFAIR, read by Scott Brick, and Stephen King and Owen King's SLEEPING BEAUTIES, read by Marin Ireland.
To make sure other readers will be able to find the audiobook, please include the full title and correct author names (your entry must include these to be eligible to win). For complete rules and guidelines, click here.
- To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
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