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A Week of Great Author Events
What a fun week this was. On Tuesday night, Greg and I went to the launch event for Kristin Hannah’s new novel, THE GREAT ALONE. You can see some photos from that evening above. I had read this book months ago in manuscript, and I was struck by the beauty and grandeur of Alaska that she describes on the pages, as much as I was by the story. It’s a place that I have wanted to visit for a long time. The book opens in 1974 when the Allbright family moves there to "get off the grid." Living is primitive; one must always work on surviving, and for this family that posts a lot of challenges. Even in the '70s, people were homesteading; Alaska was the new frontier. It was, and still is, a location where the terrain and the weather make it a place that is not for everyone.
Kristin has done a number of interviews this week about the book, so for those of you who may not be able to catch her on tour, here are some links. Here’s a radio interview, here’s an interview on Goodreads, and here’s one from USA Today. Kristin comes from a family that has a long line of being adventurers. She talks about that in a video here. She traveled and moved a lot when she was young (the other night, I learned she went to four high schools in four years), and books were always her companions. We have much more about THE GREAT ALONE later in this newsletter. This was one very emotional read for me; my mom, who read it a few weeks ago, said the same thing. There has been a lot of excitement about it from readers all week.
Last night, I went to a press preview event for some late spring/early summer books. There I caught up with Paula McLain. As I mentioned last week, her new book, LOVE AND RUIN, will be in stores on May 1st. While I was a huge fan of THE PARIS WIFE and CIRCLING THE SUN, this book is her best; there is something about the writing that feels richer and more atmospheric, and you know that is saying something considering the other two books. She never thought she would write about Hemingway again, but Martha Gellhorn came to her in a dream and she had to know more about her. She clearly wants her to be known not just as the wife of Hemingway, but also for the brilliant writer she was in her own right. I am looking forward to sharing more about this with you!
I also got to catch up with Judy Blundell, whose first adult novel (she has written hundreds for children) is THE HIGH SEASON, which will be on sale May 22nd. I took a quick look at this book the other day, in anticipation of seeing Judy, and I can see this will be a great summer read. In it, the protagonist has a stunningly gorgeous home in the Hamptons. But to be able to afford to keep it, she needs to rent it out every summer. Thus on Memorial Day, she is packing to leave instead of to arrive. What happens that summer is what I cannot wait to read about.
Also at this event was Beck Dorey-Stein, whose memoir, FROM THE CORNER OF THE OVAL, chronicles her years as President Obama’s stenographer. Beck had very amusing stories about her interview to get the job and her travels around the globe; it will be out on July 10th. Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha shared a passionate backstory about her nonfiction book, WHAT THE EYES DON’T SEE: A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City, which is her look at the water crisis in Flint, Michigan; it releases on June 19th. She is a pediatrician; you can imagine how passionate she is about the lead-tainted waters and what they have meant to the children she sees.
Once I find a book I like, I love hearing what you have to say about it. Melanie, who edits our Word of Mouth feature, shared some comments from readers who weighed in about NEED TO KNOW by Karen Cleveland:
“One of the best books I have read in a long time.”
“If you are a fan of 'The Americans,' this will tide you over until March 28 when the new season begins. A captivating, page-turner that, hopefully, will have a sequel. Highly recommended!”
“This is the most engrossing book I’ve read in some while! The action starts from page one and just keeps on until the end. There were so many possibilities for where the story could go, it would be difficult to predict the next turn. Sometimes when a story is so gripping through the beginning and middle, it can be a letdown at the end. I found the end of NEED TO KNOW very satisfying! Hard to put down, you’ll be looking for extra moments away to stick your nose back between the pages. A strong debut, this should be your next read.”
“I love espionage thrillers, and when I read the description of this book, I knew I HAD TO read it. All I can say is that this book keeps the reader guessing --- even after the book is finished. If you love espionage thrillers, you're certain to devour this book.”
“WOW! The fast-moving plot will keep you on the edge of your seat and those pages turning.”
Word of Mouth is a great place to see what other Bookreporter readers are enjoying.
And now to the rest of this week’s update...
Our latest New Release Spotlight title is the aforementioned THE GREAT ALONE by Kristin Hannah, which is one of the most highly anticipated novels of 2018, and is an Indie Next pick and a LibraryReads Favorite. Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam War a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid. Thirteen-year-old Leni dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family. Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man she loves, even if means following him into the unknown. At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. But as winter approaches, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture.
We have a rave review from Norah Piehl, who says, “I’ve always loved survival stories, and Kristin Hannah has written a great one here. There are moments of real man-against-the-elements tension, but also a larger exploration of what kind of character is needed in order to survive the harsh and punishing conditions of frontier life.” THE GREAT ALONE will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick; find out why in next week’s newsletter.
On ReadingGroupGuides.com, we have a BIG contest where we’re giving 10 book groups the chance to win up to six digital or physical copies of the audiobook edition of THE GREAT ALONE and share their comments on it. We also are awarding 40 listeners a physical copy of the audiobook. Click here for all the details; the deadline for your entries is Thursday, March 8th at noon ET. Also, be sure to check out the discussion guide for the book here.
Our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight of THE MASTERPIECE by Francine Rivers wraps up this week with our review and interview. Although he appears to have everything he could possibly want, artist Roman Velasco is haunted by demons from his past. Meanwhile, his newly hired personal assistant, Grace Moore, is wrestling with ghosts and secrets of her own. She promised herself that she would never let love get in the way of her dreams again, yet she may need to rethink that as she gets to really know her enigmatic boss. But then something so unexpected happens that it changes the course of their relationship --- and both their lives --- forever.
According to reviewer Amy Haddock, “[T]he redemptive themes of the story will provide a nice escape from our real-life reality, offering light and hope in a world that sometimes seems deficient of both. Fans of Francine Rivers will eagerly devour THE MASTERPIECE and find exactly what they are looking for: a beautifully written story of faith, romance and the power that true freedom can bring.” Amy was honored to ask Francine some questions about the book; click here for the interview. I am about halfway through this book. Francine captures both character emotion and setting so well; I am caught up in Roman's formal paintings and his escape as a graffiti artist.
Tayari Jones’ last novel, SILVER SPARROW, released in 2011 and was a #1 Indie Next pick. She makes her triumphant return with AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE --- an Indie Next pick, a LibraryReads pick, and (it was just announced this week) Oprah’s new Book Club pick. Roy is a young executive, and Celestial is an artist on the brink of an exciting career. But these newlyweds are suddenly ripped apart when Roy is arrested and sentenced to 12 years for a crime Celestial knows he didn’t commit. Celestial finds herself taking comfort in Andre, her childhood friend and best man at their wedding. As Roy’s time in prison passes, she is unable to hold on to the love that has been her center. After five years, Roy’s conviction is suddenly overturned, and he returns to Atlanta ready to resume their life together.
Norah Piehl has our review and calls it "a novel that manages to be both epic in scope and deeply, at times painfully, intimate, giving readers vivid characters, dramatic situations and profound questions that will stick with them for a long time to come." AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE also will be a Bets On pick next week.
By the way, I wrote Tayari this week to tease her, reminding her that I was a fan of hers before Oprah; I picked SILVER SPARROW as a Bets On selection years ago. What’s really fun about this news is that Tayari has known she was going to be an Oprah selection since October. She said that for the past few months, when people asked her if anything was happening, she was quick to say, “No, nothing is going on. Nothing at all.” She was so afraid of the news getting out. I was at a media lunch for her on October 5th, and we had such a great discussion about the book and her writing of it. Seated right across from her was Leigh Haber from O magazine; Leigh helps scout for Oprah’s Book Club. I wonder who knew what when. If they knew, I am never playing poker with either of them. You can see a Facebook Live interview with Tayari and Leigh here.
AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE will be one of the books we’re awarding to the winners of next week’s Winter Reading contests; the others are THE LOST GIRLS OF CAMP FOREVERMORE by Kim Fu, A PERFECT UNIVERSE: Ten Stories by Scott O'Connor, and TWO GOOD DOGS by Susan Wilson. The first contest of the week will be up on Monday, February 12th at noon ET. This week, we gave away ALTERNATE SIDE by Anna Quindlen, the aforementioned THE MASTERPIECE, THINGS TO DO WHEN IT’S RAINING by Marissa Stapley, and THE UNFORGOTTEN by Laura Powell.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include LOOK FOR ME by Lisa Gardner, which finds Detective D. D. Warren and Flora Dane (from FIND HER) in a race against the clock to either save a young girl's life…or bring her to justice; Jane Harper’s FORCE OF NATURE, a mystery with the intriguing tagline “Five women go on a hike. Only four return.”; and A FALSE REPORT, in which Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong tell the true story of a teenager who was charged with lying about having been raped and the detectives who finally arrived at the truth.
Last week, we reviewed THIS COULD HURT, a novel that, according to the publisher, “captures the emotional complexities of five HR colleagues trying to balance ambition, hope and fear as their small company is buffeted by economic forces that threaten to upend them.” This week, we’re happy to share this insightful interview with the author, Jillian Medoff, conducted by Jesse Kornbluth of HeadButler.com.
BEARTOWN by Fredrik Backman (you know him as the author of A MAN CALLED OVE) --- an instant New York Times bestseller now available in paperback --- is the latest book we’re featuring in our Paperback Spotlight. The title refers to a tiny community nestled deep in the forest that is slowly losing ground to the ever-encroaching trees. Beartown’s saving grace, though, is their junior ice hockey team, whose members (all teenage boys) are about to compete in the national semifinals. However, this very match leads to an act of violence that leaves a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Accusations are made and travel through all of Beartown, impacting every single resident. Click here to read our review and here for a discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
BEARTOWN is just one of the titles we’re featuring in this month’s New in Paperback roundups. Others include paperback reprints from such bestselling authors as George Saunders (the Man Booker Prize-winning novel LINCOLN IN THE BARDO), Jodi Picoult (SMALL GREAT THINGS, which is soon to be a major motion picture) and Scott Turow (the legal thriller TESTIMONY); memoirs by Daphne Merkin and the late Coretta Scott King; and paperback originals like A TIME OF LOVE AND TARTAN: A 44 Scotland Yard Novel by Alexander McCall Smith and MISTER TENDER’S GIRL by Carter Wilson (the latter of which was the subject of our first Thriller Book Cover Survey last summer).
Our New Release Spotlight title HELLBENT, the third book in Gregg Hurwitz’s Orphan X series (which we reviewed last week), is my latest Bets On pick. Click here for my commentary.
In the spirit of Andrew Carnegie and his extensive philanthropic endeavors, the publisher Sourcebooks is celebrating the recent release of CARNEGIE'S MAID by Marie Benedict (which we reviewed in January and was a Bets On selection) with a very special contest. Vote for your library so they can win $2,000 --- and you will have the chance to receive a $100 gift card!
This is your last newsletter reminder to enter our Valentine’s Day contest, which ends on Wednesday, February 14th at noon ET. Five readers will win seven love-themed books and chocolates! Click here to fill out the entry form --- and if you're feeling frisky, share with us your all-time book character crush. We'll post the top 10 literary loves and lusts, along with the winners, in time for next Friday’s newsletter.
Our poll continues to ask if you reread books. Click here to let us know what you do!
The aforementioned THE GREAT ALONE and LOOK FOR ME are our current Word of Mouth prizes. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read by Friday, February 16th at noon ET, and you’ll have a chance to win both novels.
Let us know what audiobooks you’ve finished listening to, and you’ll be in the running to win Tara Westover's EDUCATED: A Memoir, read by Julia Whelan, and Sophie Kinsella's SURPRISE ME, read by Fiona Hardingham, in this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest. The deadline for your submissions is Thursday, March 1st at noon ET.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
My request for reader suggestions for “Happy” books and “Historical Fiction” titles garnered a HUGE response. We will be pulling these together for our next update (time got away from us this week). If you have a suggestion for a happy book for a book group to read, or a historical fiction title that was a fave of yours, you still can write me at Carol@bookreporter.com with the subject line of "Happy" or "Historical Fiction" (please do not combine the genres in one email!), and we will add them to the responses we already received. It’s fun crowdsourcing with all of you. Eve wrote, “Looked through my lists and cannot find one happy book! How sad. Please publish the list when you have it...I want a happy book.” Next week, Eve and all other readers, I promise!
Donald wrote, “Just wanted to thank you for hosting the End-of-the-Year contest. I recently received a box containing five books from that contest. After my wife and I read them, we will be donating them to our local library for others to enjoy.”
Stephanie wrote, "Just wanted to say thanks for your newsletter. I wait for it to land in my inbox every Friday evening. What a great treat!"
Two readers wrote, suggesting that I use Goodreads to keep track of what I read. It’s a good idea, but since so many of you ask what I have read, I want to get something up on the site, easy for all of you to see. It IS on my list!
Jennifer, who won WHITE HOUSES by Amy Bloom in our recent Winter Reading Contest, wrote, "Thank you! I am so excited!!"
"The Murder of Gianni Versace" on FX: I have been watching this. While clearing out some files last week, I found the above gem of a photo from, I think, 2005 of me with the authors Jonathan Santlofer and William Lashner at the gates of the Versace Mansion during a trip to Miami Beach. And, seriously, could I have been wearing more turquoise?
Philadelphia Eagles: Congratulations on their Super Bowl win. Was anyone else thinking “germs” when they all were kissing the Lombardi trophy? I was yelling at the television, “It's flu season!”
"This Is Us": Loving the layers of this show. Something simple like the Wagoneer is used to tell a story. Also, in a time when everything leaks, it’s nice that secrets about this show are kept.
Podcast: Still noodling this and playing with a lineup. Talking to a couple of podcast producers next week. Been listening to many podcasts. I keep making notes on what I see for a lineup. Keep your ideas coming to me at Carol@bookreporter.com with the subject line “Podcast.”
In case anyone missed it, the Olympics have started. Last night, there were some preliminary events. As I was watching the downhill trials, I appreciated the in-depth commentary of Bode Miller, whose eye was so keen. It made me wonder where the skiing stars of old are, like the Mahre brothers, Phil and Steve. It would be fun to see where some of them are now. Also, I cannot remember who won what medals four years ago, which reminds me that I still want to keep reading these next two weeks as I can remember the books that I read four years ago. Tonight is the Opening Ceremony; I truly hope the NBC coverage is better than four years ago. That and the Thanksgiving Day Parade coverage I find insufferable!
Greg has been teaching me a ton about curling; his curling club gets an influx of new members every four years. He joined four years ago. Cory has said he will cruise on by. I think the lure of a home-cooked meal is why he is not continuing to pretend that he is at a college far, far away.
For those who think I only make gourmet meals, my typical Friday lunch when writing the newsletter is Stoned Wheat Thins with peanut butter and black currant preserves. I think I want to try crunchy peanut butter for a change!
Quiet weekend on tap; maybe we finally will get a fire going in the fireplace. We have not had one so far this year, though we have wood stacked nicely. I have lots of reading to do. If only it was exercise to flip the pages; how slim I would be. And I am knitting both a skirt and a scarf on size two needles; there is no instant gratification in these projects.
Tom Donadio, our intrepid Editorial Director, has a birthday on Tuesday. If you want to drop him a note, he’s at Tom@bookreporter.com.
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!
New Release Spotlight:
THE GREAT ALONE by Kristin Hannah
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE GREAT ALONE by Kristin Hannah (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Julia Whelan
Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam War a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier.
Thirteen-year-old Leni, a girl coming of age in a tumultuous time, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family. She is desperate for a place to belong. Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man she loves, even if means following him into the unknown.
At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. In a wild, remote corner of the state, they find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the Allbrights’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources.
But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in 18 hours of night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: they are on their own. In the wild, there is no one to save them but themselves.
In this unforgettable portrait of human frailty and resilience, Kristin Hannah reveals the indomitable character of the modern American pioneer and the spirit of a vanishing Alaska --- a place of incomparable beauty and danger. THE GREAT ALONE is a daring, beautiful, stay-up-all-night story about love and loss, the fight for survival, and the wildness that lives in both man and nature.
THE GREAT ALONE will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. You can read Carol’s commentary in next week’s newsletter.
- Click here to read a review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read Kristin Hannah's bio.
- Click here to visit Kristin Hannah's website.
- Connect with Kristin Hannah on Facebook and Instagram.
Click here to read more in our New Release Spotlight.
Bookreporter.com Talks to Francine Rivers,
Author of THE MASTERPIECE
A Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight Title
Over the years, Francine Rivers has penned a number of bestselling novels ranging from inspirational to historical romance, most of which focus on Christianity or faith-based themes. In this interview conducted by Bookreporter.com's Amy Haddock, Rivers discusses how those themes play into her latest book, THE MASTERPIECE, the story of Roman and Grace, two orphans who couldn’t have grown up more differently. Read on to discover Rivers' thoughts on writing these characters, emotional and spiritual healing, and personal inspirations that drove the tale forward.
THE MASTERPIECE by Francine Rivers (Romance)
Audiobook available, read by Susan Bennett
Successful LA artist Roman Velasco appears to have everything he could possibly want. Only Grace Moore, his reluctant, newly hired personal assistant, knows how little he truly has. The demons of Roman’s past seem to echo through the halls of his empty mansion and out across his breathtaking Topanga Canyon view. Like Roman, Grace is wrestling with ghosts and secrets of her own. After a disastrous marriage threw her life completely off course, she vowed never to let love steal her dreams again. But as she gets to know the enigmatic man behind the reputation, it’s as if the jagged pieces of both of their pasts slowly begin to fit together...until something so unexpected happens that it changes the course of their relationship --- and both their lives --- forever. Reviewed by Amy Haddock.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Francine Rivers’ bio.
- Click here to visit Francine Rivers’ website.
- Click here to connect with Francine Rivers on Facebook.
- Click here to see the 25 winners selected to read and comment on the book.
- Click here to read more in our Women's Fiction Author Spotlight.
Click here to read our interview.
Featured Review:
AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE by Tayari Jones
Oprah’s Latest Book Club Pick
and a Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE by Tayari Jones (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Sean Crisden and Eisa Davis
Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of both the American Dream and the New South. He is a young executive, and she is an artist on the brink of an exciting career. But as they settle into the routine of their life together, they are ripped apart by circumstances neither could have imagined. Roy is arrested and sentenced to 12 years for a crime Celestial knows he didn’t commit. Though fiercely independent, Celestial finds herself bereft and unmoored, taking comfort in Andre, her childhood friend and best man at their wedding. As Roy’s time in prison passes, she is unable to hold on to the love that has been her center. After five years, Roy’s conviction is suddenly overturned, and he returns to Atlanta ready to resume their life together. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE is Oprah's latest Book Club selection and will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. You can read Carol’s commentary in next week’s newsletter.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
New Paperback Spotlight: BEARTOWN
by Fredrik Backman
BEARTOWN by Fredrik Backman (Fiction)
Beartown is a small community on the brink of disappearing into the surrounding forest as the town loses more and more young people and commerce to the larger surrounding towns. But down by the lake stands an old ice rink, home of the hockey club that has long been the sole source of entertainment and pride for the townspeople, and the only possible ticket out of town for the young men who grew up playing hockey there.
Now, the 17-year-old boys who make up Beartown’s junior ice hockey team carry the immense weight of all the town’s hopes and dreams on their shoulders. The team is about to compete in the national semifinals, and they actually have a shot at winning --- a win that could bring a new hockey school, commerce and prosperity back to Beartown.
The outcome of this semifinal match has the potential to change lives and make dreams come true. But when an act of violence leaves a young girl traumatized the night following the big game, the town is divided --- and the people of Beartown must decide what they stand for, what they’ll allow, and what they’re willing to give up on the road to victory.
- Click here to read a review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read Fredrik Backman's bio.
- Click here to visit Fredrik Backman's website.
- Connect with Fredrik Backman on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click here to read more in our Paperback Spotlight.
Special Contest on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
THE GREAT ALONE Audiobook
Get Listening with Your Group or On Your Own
ReadingGroupGuides.com is proud to host a very special audiobook contest for Kristin Hannah's latest novel, THE GREAT ALONE. Ten book groups will win up to six digital or physical copies of the audiobook. Additionally, we'll be giving 40 listeners a physical copy of the audiobook. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, March 8th at noon ET.
In order to qualify as a winning group, your group must be able to commit to listening to and discussing THE GREAT ALONE, and sharing your group's feedback with us, by Friday, May 18th. We strongly encourage all winners to share their experiences on social media, including reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and Bookreporter.com’s “Sounding Off on Audio” feature.
THE GREAT ALONE Audiobook written by Kristin Hannah, read by Julia Whelan (Historical Fiction)
The newest audiobook sensation from Kristin Hannah, bestselling author of THE NIGHTINGALE.
This program is read by acclaimed narrator Julia Whelan, whose enchanting voice brought GONE GIRL and FATES AND FURIES to life. Kristin Hannah reads the acknowledgments.
Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam War a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier. Thirteen-year-old Leni dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family. Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man she loves, even if means following him into the unknown. At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. But as winter approaches, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within.
- Click here to listen to a clip from the audiobook.
Click here to enter the contest.
Love Your Library Like a Carnegie!
Your Library Can Win $2,000 --- and
YOU Can Win a $100 Gift Card!
From the author of the acclaimed THE OTHER EINSTEIN comes a mesmerizing story of love, power and the woman who inspired an American dynasty. In celebration of Marie Benedict’s highly anticipated new novel, CARNEGIE'S MAID, its publisher, Sourcebooks, is giving the library who receives the most votes $2,000, and one lucky voter will win a $100 gift card!
Click here to enter the contest by Monday, March 19th.
Bookreporter.com's 13th Annual
Valentine's Day Contest: Enter to Win Books
and Sweet Treats for Yourself or Your Valentine!
Valentine's Day is only a few heartbeats away. We can't think of a better way to celebrate this special day than to cuddle up with your loved one...and a good book, of course!
We're giving readers the chance to win one of our five Bookreporter.com Valentine's Day prize packages, which includes one copy of each of our featured titles and some delicious chocolates. Enter between now and Wednesday, February 14th at noon ET for your opportunity to be a lucky (and beloved!) winner.
If you're feeling frisky, share with us your all-time book character crush. Don't be shy, we all got 'em! We'll post the top 10 literary loves and lusts --- along with the five winners --- right after Valentine's Day.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com's Fourth Annual
Winter Reading Contests and Feature
Our Winter Reading Contests and Feature have returned for a fourth year! On select days between now and February 23rd at noon ET, we are hosting a series of 24-hour contests spotlighting a book releasing this winter (or a book publishing in the spring that we would like to get on your radar now) and giving five lucky readers a chance to win it. 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, February 12th at noon ET.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
February’s New in Paperback Roundups
February’s roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes George Saunders' Man Booker Prize-winning novel, LINCOLN IN THE BARDO, a moving and original father-son story featuring none other than Abraham Lincoln, as well as an unforgettable cast of supporting characters, living and dead, historical and invented; SMALL GREAT THINGS, a page-turning novel from Jodi Picoult that will lead readers to question everything they know about privilege, power and race; EXIT WEST, Mohsin Hamid's astonishingly visionary love story that imagines the forces that drive ordinary people from their homes into the uncertain embrace of new lands; and UNRAVELING OLIVER, debut novelist Liz Nugent’s complex and disturbing psychological thriller about how and why a human being transforms into a sociopath.
Among our nonfiction highlights are CORETTA, the life story of Coretta Scott King as told fully for the first time, toward the end of her life, to the Reverend Dr. Barbara Reynolds; THIS CLOSE TO HAPPY, Daphne Merkin’s rare, vividly personal account of what it feels like to suffer from clinical depression; Helene Cooper's MADAME PRESIDENT, the harrowing but triumphant story of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf --- leader of the Liberian women’s movement, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, and the first democratically elected female president in African history; and LAST HOPE ISLAND by Lynne Olson, a groundbreaking account of how Britain became the base of operations for the exiled leaders of Europe in their desperate struggle to reclaim their continent from Hitler.
See what's New in Paperback for the weeks of
February 5th, February 12th, February 19th and February 26th.
LOOK FOR ME by Lisa Gardner (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Kirsten Potter
The home of a family of five is now a crime scene: four of them savagely murdered, one --- a 16-year-old girl --- missing. Was she lucky to have escaped? Or is her absence evidence of something sinister? Detective D. D. Warren is on the case --- but so is survivor-turned-avenger Flora Dane. Seeking different types of justice, they must make sense of the clues left behind by a young woman who, whether as victim or suspect, is silently pleading, Look for me. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
FORCE OF NATURE by Jane Harper (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Stephen Shanahan
When five colleagues are forced to go on a corporate retreat in the wilderness, they reluctantly pick up their backpacks and start walking down the muddy path. But one of the women doesn’t come out of the woods. And each of her companions tells a slightly different story about what happened. Federal Police Agent Aaron Falk has a keen interest in the whereabouts of the missing hiker. In an investigation that takes him deep into isolated forest, Falk discovers secrets lurking in the mountains, and a tangled web of personal and professional friendship, suspicion and betrayal among the hikers. But did that lead to murder? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE DECEIVERS: A John Wells Novel by Alex Berenson (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by George Guidall
The target was the American Airlines Center, the home of the Dallas Mavericks. The FBI had told Ahmed Shakir that his drug bust would go away if he helped them, and they'd supply all the weaponry, carefully removing the firing pins before the main event. It never occurred to Ahmed to doubt them, until it was too late. Vinnie Duto, the former CIA director and now president, wants John Wells to go to Colombia. An old asset there has information to share --- and it will lead Wells to the deadliest mission of his life, an extraordinary confluence of sleeper cells, sniper teams, false flag operations, double agents high in the U.S. government, and a Russian plot to take over the government itself. If it succeeds, what happened in Texas will be only a prelude. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE FRIEND by Sigrid Nunez (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Hillary Huber
When a woman unexpectedly loses her lifelong best friend and mentor, she finds herself burdened with the unwanted dog he has left behind. Her own battle against grief is intensified by the mute suffering of the dog, a huge Great Dane traumatized by the inexplicable disappearance of its master. While others worry that grief has made her a victim of magical thinking, the woman refuses to be separated from the dog except for brief periods of time. Isolated from the rest of the world and increasingly obsessed with the dog's care, she comes dangerously close to unraveling. But while troubles abound, rich and surprising rewards lie in store for both of them. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
A FALSE REPORT: A True Story of Rape in America by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong (True Crime)
Audiobook available, read by Hillary Huber
In 2008, 18-year-old Marie reported that a masked man broke into her apartment and raped her. Within days, police and even those closest to Marie became suspicious of her story. Confronted with inconsistencies in her story and the doubts of others, Marie broke down and said her story was a lie. Police charged Marie with false reporting. More than two years later, Colorado detective Stacy Galbraith was assigned to investigate a case of sexual assault, a case that bore an eerie resemblance to a rape that had taken place months earlier in a nearby town. She joined forces with the detective on that case, Edna Hendershot, and the two soon realized they were dealing with a serial rapist. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
BUILDING THE GREAT SOCIETY: Inside Lyndon Johnson's White House by Joshua Zeitz (History)
Audiobook available, read by Dan Woren
LBJ's towering political skills and his ambitious slate of liberal legislation are the stuff of legend: the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Medicare, Medicaid, Head Start and environmental reform. But what happened after the bills passed? One man could not and did not go it alone. Joshua Zeitz reanimates the creative and contentious atmosphere inside Johnson's White House as a talented and energetic group of advisers made LBJ's vision a reality. Bill Moyers, Jack Valenti, Joe Califano, Harry McPherson and the other staff members who comprised LBJ's inner circle were men as pragmatic and ambitious as Johnson, equally skilled in the art of accumulating power or throwing a sharp elbow. Reviewed by John Bentlyewski.
ENCHANTRESS OF NUMBERS: A Novel of Ada Lovelace by Jennifer Chiaverini (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Virginia Leishman
The only legitimate child of Lord Byron, the most brilliant, revered and scandalous of the Romantic poets, Ada Byron King was destined for fame long before her birth. Banishing fairy tales and make-believe from the nursery, Ada’s mother provides her daughter with a rigorous education grounded in mathematics and science. Any troubling spark of imagination --- or worse yet, passion or poetry --- is promptly extinguished. Or so her mother believes. When Ada is introduced into London society as a highly eligible young heiress, she at last discovers the intellectual and social circles she has craved all her life. Little does she realize that her delightful new friendship with inventor Charles Babbage will shape her destiny. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
WE ARE TAKING ONLY WHAT WE NEED: Stories by Stephanie Powell Watts (Fiction/Short Stories)
The 10 stories in Stephanie Powell Watts’ collection deal with both the ties that bind and the gulf that separates generations --- from children confronting the fallibility of their own parents for the first time to adults finding themselves forced to start over again and again. In “Highway 18,” a young Jehovah’s Witness going door to door with an expert field-service partner from up north is at a crossroads. Will she go to college or continue to serve the church? “If You Hit Randall County, You’ve Gone Too Far” tells of a family trying to make it through a tense celebratory dinner for a son just out on bail. And in the title story, a young girl experiences loss for the first time in the fallout from her father’s relationship with her babysitter. Reviewed by Maya Gittelman.
LULLABY ROAD by James Anderson (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, narrated by Graham Winton
Local truck driver Ben Jones, still in mourning over a heartbreaking loss, is just trying to get through another season of treacherous roads and sudden snowfall without an accident. But then he finds a mute Hispanic child who has been abandoned at a seedy truck stop along his route, far from civilization and bearing a note that simply reads “Please Ben. Watch my son. His name is Juan.” And then at the bottom, a few more hastily scribbled words: “Bad Trouble. Tell no one.” Despite deep misgivings, and without any hint of who this child is or the grave danger he’s facing, Ben takes the child with him in his truck and sets out into an environment that is as dangerous as it is beautiful and silent. From that moment forward, nothing will ever be the same. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
1947: Where Now Begins written by Elisabeth Åsbrink, translated by Fiona Graham (History)
The year 1947 marks a turning point in the 20th century. Peace with Germany becomes a tool to fortify the West against the threats of the Cold War. The CIA is created, Israel is about to be born, Simone de Beauvoir experiences the love of her life, an ill George Orwell is writing his last book, and Christian Dior creates the hyper-feminine New Look as women are forced out of jobs and back into the home. In the midst of it all, a 10-year-old Hungarian-Jewish boy resides in a refugee camp for children of parents murdered by the Nazis. This year he has to make the decision of a lifetime, one that will determine his own fate and that of his daughter yet to be born, Elisabeth. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on February 13th
Below are some notable titles releasing on February 13th 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 February 12th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
ALL THE PIECES MATTER: The Inside Story of “The Wire” by Jonathan Abrams (Performing Arts)
Since its final episode aired in 2008, HBO’s acclaimed crime drama "The Wire" has only become more popular and influential. With unparalleled access to all the key actors and writers involved in its creation, Jonathan Abrams tells the astonishing, compelling and complete account of "The Wire," from its inception and creation through its end and powerful legacy.
MISTER TENDER'S GIRL by Carter Wilson (Psychological Thriller)
At 14, Alice Hill was viciously attacked by two of her classmates and left to die. The teens claim she was a sacrifice for a man called Mister Tender, but that could never be true: Mister Tender doesn't exist. Over a decade later, Alice has changed her name and is trying to heal. But someone is watching her. They know more about Alice than any stranger could: her scars, her fears, and the secrets she keeps locked away.
NIGHT MOVES: An Alex Delaware Novel by Jonathan Kellerman (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
There’s no telling why the disfigured corpse of a stranger has appeared in an upscale L.A. family’s home. Chet Corvin, his wife and their two teenage children are certain the John Doe is unknown to them. Despite that, their cooperation seems guarded. And that’s more than LAPD homicide detective Milo Sturgis and psychologist Alex Delaware can elicit from the Corvins’ creepy next-door neighbor.
POISON: A Dismas Hardy Novel by John Lescroart (Legal Thriller)
Finally recovered from two glancing gunshot wounds, Dismas Hardy is looking forward to easing into retirement and reconnecting with his family. But he is pulled back into the courtroom when Grant Wagner, the steely owner of a successful family business, is murdered. Preparing for trial, Dismas investigates the Wagner clan, discovering dark, twisted secrets, jealous siblings, gold-digging girlfriends, betrayals and blackmail.
SURPRISE ME by Sophie Kinsella (Fiction)
After 10 years together, Sylvie and Dan decide to bring surprises into their marriage to keep it fresh and fun. But in their pursuit of Project Surprise Me, mishaps arise, with disastrous and comical results. Gradually, surprises turn to shocking truths. And when a scandal from the past is uncovered, they begin to wonder if they ever really knew each other at all.
WHITE HOUSES by Amy Bloom (Historical Fiction)
Lorena Hickok meets Eleanor Roosevelt in 1932 while reporting on Franklin Roosevelt’s first presidential campaign. Having grown up worse than poor in South Dakota and reinvented herself as the most prominent woman reporter in America, “Hick” is not quite instantly charmed by the idealistic, patrician Eleanor. But then, as her connection with the future first lady deepens into intimacy, what begins as a powerful passion matures into a lasting love.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
Our Latest Poll: Rereading Books
Do you reread books? Please check all that apply.
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I have favorites that I have read more than once.
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I have done this, but I do not make a habit of it.
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I do this all the time.
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This is an interesting idea, but I have not done it.
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I have a stack that I plan to reread.
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I do not have time to reread; there’s so much out there to read.
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I have done this by accident when I failed to note that I already had read a book!
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, February 16th 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 February 2nd to February 16th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE GREAT ALONE by Kristin Hannah and LOOK FOR ME by Lisa Gardner.
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 February 1st to March 1st at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Tara Westover's EDUCATED: A Memoir, read by Julia Whelan, and Sophie Kinsella's SURPRISE ME, read by Fiona Hardingham.
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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