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And Suddenly It Was Summer in the City
When the weather warmed up on Monday, I found myself trying to remember what I wear when the weather is warm. I got to rediscover a whole other side of my wardrobe! And it also was a fabulous week of book events and book releases.
A few weeks ago, I shared my appreciation of Allison Pataki’s memoir, BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN PLACES, which is the story of her 30-year-old husband’s stroke and recovery; this took place when they were eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child. This week, I attended two events for the book. The first was held at the home of Aidan Donnelley Rowley, who regularly holds book salons at her home. Close to 60 people, mostly young women, were there. The evening started with fun mingling, and then both Allison and her husband, Dave, candidly spoke and took questions from Aidan and the audience. Right after the incident, Lee Woodruff, a fellow author, reached out to suggest that she do what she knew how to do --- to write --- and Allison started to take notes on what was happening in the form of letters to Dave. It was something therapeutic for her to do as the outcome of this event was uncertain. That writing formed the backbone of the book.
The following day, I went downtown to BUILD, where they film interviews in front of a small studio audience; we were seated on couches close to the stage, which made it a very intimate setting. The event opened with Marcia Gay Harden (yes, she is the well-known actress) being interviewed by Lee Woodruff about her new book, THE SEASONS OF MY MOTHER: A Memoir of Love, Family, and Flowers, in which Marcia shared the story of her mother’s Alzheimer’s disease. Lee knows this subject well as her father suffered from it, too. Their conversation flowed beautifully, and then Allison joined them (see the photo of them above) and shared another dimension of her experience with Dave. You could say that the theme was about the brain. I am happy to share that you can see this interview in its entirety here.
This week, we have our review of BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN PLACES, written by Barbara Bamberger Scott, who says, “The focal point of Allison’s memoir is the birth of her daughter Lilly, with Dave remarkably present just months after his massive trauma and able to participate like a mostly regular father in the labor and delivery. The tale, one senses, is far from over for Allison, Dave and Lilly.” This will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick; don’t miss my commentary in next week’s newsletter.
BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN PLACES is also one of our Word of Mouth prizes; the other is THE HIGH TIDE CLUB by Mary Kay Andrews (MKA, as we like to call her around here), which we plan to review next week. She's definitely kicking off the beach read season! Let us know by Friday, May 11th at noon ET what books you’ve finished reading, and you’ll be in the running to win both titles.
Our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight of LOVE AND RUIN wraps up this week with our review and interview. In THE PARIS WIFE (a Bets On title), Paula McLain focused on Ernest Hemingway’s marriage to his first wife, Hadley Richardson. This time, she shifts her attention to Martha Gellhorn, one of the great war correspondents of the 20th century, who became Hemingway’s third wife. Paula is a fabulous writer, and I love hearing her speak about her work, which is one reason I am so glad to bring you an interview with her. If you ever get an opportunity to attend an event with Paula, go! She is both informed and gracious.
Amy Haddock has this to say in her review: “With prose as rich and complex as the historical landscape McLain covers, the past comes alive in her latest novel. LOVE AND RUIN is expertly written with well-timed pacing, wonderful descriptions, and themes that will inspire and stay with you long after the final page has been turned.” As I noted, Amy also had the opportunity to ask Paula some questions about the book and why she decided to write about Hemingway again. You can read the interview here. LOVE AND RUIN also will be a Bets On pick; find out why in next week’s newsletter. Paula has made me want to reread so many Hemingway titles, as well as Gellhorn’s writing; she is brilliant at bringing the women in Hemingway’s life to the forefront for us.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include the much-talked-about memoir of former FBI director James Comey, A HIGHER LOYALTY; THE MARS ROOM, the buzzworthy new novel from Rachel Kushner, whose previous two books --- TELEX FROM CUBA and THE FLAMETHROWERS --- were finalists for the National Book Award; and THE DEVIL’S REWARD by Emmanuelle de Villepin, which we gave away advance copies of in our Sneak Peek contest and featured in our New Release Spotlight.
THE DEVIL’S REWARD is just one of the many titles we’re giving away in our 13th annual Mother’s Day contest. Five readers will win all 15 prize books for themselves or the mothers in their lives. To enter, please fill out this form by Monday, May 14th at noon ET.
The authors of three of these books have been kind enough to participate in our Mother’s Day Author Blog series, which we’ve brought back for a ninth year. Janelle Brown, Abby Fabiaschi and Brianna Wolfson, along with Julie Clark, Lisa Genova, Karen White and Lisa Wingate, are this year’s contributors. Each of their pieces revolves around memories they have of reading books with their moms, or with their own children, and how their moms influenced them to become readers and writers. We kicked off the series yesterday with Lisa Genova, followed by Brianna Wolfson today. You can look forward to hearing from the remaining authors next week, as we will feature one blog post a day leading up to Mother’s Day weekend. You may also want to consider “binge reading” all seven pieces on Mother’s Day!
This month’s New in Paperback feature is now live. Among May’s most notable releases are SING, UNBURIED, SING by Jesmyn Ward, winner of the National Book Award for Fiction; HILLBILLY ELEGY, J. D. Vance’s “memoir of a family and culture in crisis”; and LESS by Andrew Sean Greer, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction a few weeks ago. We also have paperback reprints from such bestselling authors as John le Carré', David Sedaris, Haruki Murakami and Beatriz Williams, and paperback originals like EVERYTHING THAT FOLLOWS by Meg Little Reilly, TWO STEPS FORWARD by Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist, REGRETS ONLY by Erin Duffy (whose debut novel, BOND GIRL, I just loved), and WICKED RIVER by Jenny Milchman (which we review this week).
Also updated for May is our Books on Screen roundup. Feature films include On Chesil Beach and The Seagull; on the small screen will be the series premiere of "Sweetbitter" on Starz and season two of "13 Reasons Why" on Netflix, along with the season finale of "Rise" on NBC; and among this month’s DVD releases are Fifty Shades Freed, Wonderstruck and 12 Strong.
We’re offering two major prizes for this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest. Submit your comments about the audiobooks you’ve listened to, and you’ll have a chance to win Ruth Ware's THE DEATH OF MRS. WESTAWAY, read by Imogen Church, and Stephen King's THE OUTSIDER, read by Will Patton. Be sure to enter by Monday, June 4th at noon ET.
Our poll continues to ask how many books are currently on your to-be-read list. Click here to let us know!
Our staffer Rebecca Munro also had a very bookish week, as she attended two really fun events. On Tuesday night, she joined the Dutton team to celebrate Hank Green (the brother of John Green and one half of the siblings’ “Vlogbrothers” YouTube channel) and the upcoming release of his debut, AN ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE THING, which will be in stores on September 25th. In this book, a twenty-something is surprised to discover a giant sculpture on her way home from work in midtown Manhattan. Delighted by the sheer size and craftsmanship of the Transformer-like creation, she takes a video of it --- and immediately goes viral when news spreads that similar statues have popped up in major cities across the world. Hank explained that he was inspired by books like DUNE, characters like Harry Bosch and, of course, his own experience with YouTube. The party also featured a signature drink called the Carl (made with gin, lime juice, maraschino liqueur and green chartreuse) as a nod to the name of the statues from the book. Check out the drink, along with the book, above,
On Wednesday night, Rebecca attended Barnes & Noble’s inaugural book club event for THE FEMALE PERSUASION by Meg Wolitzer. This event was held at every B&N across the country; she attended the one here in New York. Prompted by the questions included in the back of the special B&N edition, Meg discussed her inspiration for her characters, writing about two generations of feminism, and what she hoped readers would learn about female friendships and betrayals. When it came to writing about the different waves of feminism and how they affected women of each age, Meg humorously recounted how she would call her editor and, when being patched through by assistants, would stop to say, “Hey, thanks so much for patching me through, but first, what kind of feminist are you?” Meg also shared some news about a film adaptation led by Nicole Kidman, which you can read more about here. By the way, the woman interviewing Meg in the photo above is Maya Gittelman, who runs events at B&N’s Upper West Side store; she interned with us for a while and currently reviews for us, so it was fun to see her connecting here again.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Linda wrote and said, “I have to ask, Carol. How many books are on your to-be-read list? I thought the poll should have had a category with 100+ or 1,000+. I'd be in that last category and then some.” I agree with Linda. We were very conservative on our poll question. On my immediate to-be-read list, there are probably 50 titles. On the bookshelves here at the house, hundreds more.
Lori wrote, "I just loved BENEATH A SCARLET SKY. It was so good. You mentioned a reader communicating with Pino Lella's son. He participates in a discussion thread of the book on Goodreads' 'The Life of a Book Addict' club. You join the thread and he responds, sometimes in Italian! Very cool. I also recently read THE TEA GIRL OF HUMMINGBIRD LANE and was very, very impressed. I haven't been able to sit back and watch the “Off the Shelf” discussion with Lisa See herself, but I love how she has so graciously offered herself time and time again to participate in discussions of her book --- so many questions to ask.”
Deb wrote about winning a book: "I was excited to receive my copy of BEFORE I LET YOU GO and breezed through it. It is a great vacation read with depth. The story gave interesting insight into addiction and how we treat and care for people who are struggling with this disease. The characters were well rounded, and it addressed families --- the good, the bad and the ugly --- honestly. Sam may have been a little too perfect, but every woman needs her Prince Charming. The ending was tied into a neat bow, but it wasn’t rushed and fit with how the rest of the story was developed. I would recommend this book to my friends and my sisters. The review is also on Goodreads with a 4-star rating.”
One Book, One New York: Throughout the month of April, New Yorkers voted for the book they would like the whole city to read together as part of the “One Book, One New York” initiative, which is now in its second year. The winning book was announced yesterday, and it’s a great choice: MANHATTAN BEACH by Jennifer Egan. As Media and Entertainment Commissioner Julie Menin said, “MANHATTAN BEACH is steeped in New York history and is a deep dive into the city’s waterfront neighborhoods. Because it features such a strong and compelling female protagonist who defies the gender stereotypes of her day, it feels especially timely today.” Click here to read more about this worthwhile program.
Book Club (the movie): The book club has Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen as its members. And Don Johnson, Andy Garcia, Richard Dreyfuss and Craig T. Nelson appear to be the objects of their affection. It hits theaters on May 18th. You can see the trailer here.
Fahrenheit 451 on HBO: The drama based on Ray Bradbury’s classic novel of the same name debuts Saturday, May 19th (8:00-9:30pm ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.
The Art of Racing in the Rain: The voices have been cast. Enzo will be played by Kevin Costner. Read here to see who else has been cast.
Kodachrome: This is a new Netflix film (and no, the Paul Simon song of the same name is not in the soundtrack), which I enjoyed. A man who lived his life traveling the world taking photos is dying. He asks his estranged son to join him on a road trip to develop some of his Kodachrome film before the last lab that is developing it is shut down. It’s written by Jonathan Tropper, who wrote one of my favorite books, THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU. When the last lab was closing down, many drove there, making the site a mecca for film lovers. You can read more about it here.
Tom, Cory and I are celebrating my mom’s birthday at dinner tomorrow on what we call “The Really Really Day.” Greg is due back from his epic cross-country trip on Sunday. Last night, he texted from Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I feel like the drive from Jackson Hole to New Jersey is still quite a hike, and I am looking forward to having him home. He's been having a great time; it's been such fun seeing the photos that he has taken along the way! Greg, like me, has friends all over the country, and he has been able to catch up with many of them during this trip.
The rest of the weekend will be quiet, which is good as I still am woefully behind on my reading…and the rushed arrival of summer-like weather has reminded me of how much work needs to be done outside, as in the weeds are back!
I am listening to THE FAVORITE SISTER by Jessica Knoll, which will be in stores on May 15th. The story is set in the world of a reality show (which will remind you that these shows are anything but spontaneous), and it’s filled with tons of pop culture references. I am loving that I am able to listen to this book, so I can maximize my reading time. I am scouring the audiobook preview lists for other titles that I want to be sure to cover to double my reading time.
A reminder that I will be at Watchung Booksellers in Montclair, NJ, on Monday evening at 7pm interviewing Lisa Jewell, whose most recent book is THEN SHE WAS GONE. This is the last stop on her US tour; she is from the UK, so if you live in the area, I hope to see you there!
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!
Bookreporter.com Talks to Paula McLain,
Author of LOVE AND RUIN
Our Latest Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight Title
and a Bookreporter.com Bets On Pick
Paula McLain’s 2011 novel, THE PARIS WIFE, captured the love affair between Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley Richardson. Seven years later, McLain revisits the literary giant in LOVE AND RUIN, this time focusing on his passionate, stormy marriage to his third wife, Martha Gellhorn, who would become one of the greatest war correspondents of the 20th century. In this interview, conducted by Bookreporter.com’s Amy Haddock, McLain discusses what drew her to Gellhorn’s story and why she felt compelled to write about Hemingway again. She also describes her research process, explains how she was able to maintain a strong sense of place throughout the novel, and even shares the recipe for a Hemingway-esque daiquiri that can be enjoyed while reading the book or discussing it with your book group.
LOVE AND RUIN by Paula McLain (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by January LaVoy
In 1937, 28-year-old Martha Gellhorn travels alone to Madrid to report on the atrocities of the Spanish Civil War and becomes drawn to the stories of ordinary people caught in the devastating conflict. It’s the adventure she’s been looking for and her chance to prove herself a worthy journalist in a field dominated by men. But she also finds herself unexpectedly falling in love with Ernest Hemingway, a man on his way to becoming a legend. When Ernest publishes the biggest literary success of his career, FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS, they are no longer equals, and Martha must make a choice: surrender to the confining demands of being a famous man’s wife, or risk losing Ernest by forging a path as her own woman and writer. Reviewed by Amy Haddock.
LOVE AND RUIN will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. Don't miss Carol's commentary in the May 11th newsletter.
- Click here to read a review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Paula McLain’s bio.
- Click here to visit Paula McLain’s website.
- Connect with Paula McLain on Facebook and Instagram.
- 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: A HIGHER LOYALTY by James Comey
A HIGHER LOYALTY: Truth, Lies, and Leadership by James Comey (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by James Comey
In A HIGHER LOYALTY, former FBI director James Comey shares his never-before-told experiences from some of the highest-stakes situations of his career in the past two decades of American government, exploring what good, ethical leadership looks like, and how it drives sound decisions. His journey provides an unprecedented entry into the corridors of power, and a remarkable lesson in what makes an effective leader. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN PLACES
by Allison Pataki
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Pick
BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN PLACES: A Memoir of Love, Faith, and Resilience by Allison Pataki (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Allison Pataki
When Allison Pataki's husband suffers a stroke, he wakes up with a complete loss of memory. At five months pregnant, Allison has lost the Dave she knew and loved. Within a few months, she found herself caring for both a newborn and a sick husband, struggling with the fear of what was to come. As a way to make sense of the pain and chaos of their new reality, Allison started to write daily letters to Dave. Not only would she work to make sense of the unfathomable experiences unfolding around her, but her letters would provide Dave with the memories he could not make on his own. She was writing to preserve their past, protect their present, and fight for their future. Those letters became the foundation for this beautiful, intimate memoir. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN PLACES will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. Don't miss Carol's commentary in the May 11th newsletter.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: THE MARS ROOM by Rachel Kushner
THE MARS ROOM by Rachel Kushner (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Rachel Kushner, with music by Kim Gordon
It’s 2003 and Romy Hall is at the start of two consecutive life sentences at Stanville Women’s Correctional Facility, deep in California’s Central Valley. Outside is the world from which she has been severed: the San Francisco of her youth and her young son, Jackson. Inside is a new reality: thousands of women hustling for the bare essentials needed to survive; the bluffing and pageantry and casual acts of violence by guards and prisoners alike; and the deadpan absurdities of institutional living. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: THE DEVIL’S REWARD
by Emmanuelle de Villepin
THE DEVIL’S REWARD written by Emmanuelle de Villepin, translated by C. Jon Delogu (Fiction)
Christiane, 86 years old with a vibrant sense of humor, lives alone in a large apartment in the heart of Paris. Her daughter, Catherine, is her total opposite: sullen and uptight, filled with resentment toward her unfaithful Milanese husband. After discovering yet another affair, Catherine takes refuge in Paris at her mother’s home, accompanied by her own daughter, Luna. Christiane --- who, in spite of occasional dalliances on both sides, lived a beautiful love story with her late husband --- uses all of her freethinking charm in an effort to change Catherine’s rigid, self-pitying attitude. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Bookreporter.com's 13th Annual
Mother's Day Contest: Books Mom Will Love
Mother’s Day is a time to recognize the woman who raised and nurtured us. To celebrate, we're giving you the opportunity to win books for yourself or the special lady in your life in our 13th annual "Books Mom Will Love" contest. From now through Monday, May 14th at noon ET, readers can enter to win one of our five prize packages, which includes 15 great fiction and nonfiction titles we think moms will love.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com’s 2018 Mother’s Day Author Blogs
Our Mother's Day Author Blogs are back for a ninth year! Once again, we are excited to be sharing pieces from authors who reminisce about reading books with their moms, or with their own children, and talk about how their moms influenced them to become readers and writers.
So far, we have heard from Lisa Genova (whose latest book, EVERY NOTE PLAYED, is now in stores and was a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection) and Brianna Wolfson (whose debut novel, ROSIE COLORED GLASSES, released earlier this year and also was a Bets On pick).
Next week, we look forward to contributions from Janelle Brown, Julie Clark, Abby Fabiaschi, Karen White and Lisa Wingate.
Click here to read this year's Mother's Day Author Blogs.
May’s New in Paperback Roundups
May’s roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes the National Book Award winner SING, UNBURIED, SING by Jesmyn Ward, the story of a family on a journey through rural Mississippi; A LEGACY OF SPIES, John le Carré's first novel to feature George Smiley of the British Secret Service in more than 25 years; the psychological thriller THE BREAKDOWN, B. A. Paris' follow-up to her debut, the instant New York Times bestseller BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, which poses the intriguing question: If you can’t trust yourself, who can you trust?; and LESS by Andrew Sean Greer, the winner of the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, in which a struggling novelist travels the world to avoid an awkward wedding.
Among our nonfiction highlights are HILLBILLY ELEGY, J. D. Vance's passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisis --- that of white working-class Americans; THEFT BY FINDING, the first of two volumes in which David Sedaris shares with the world his private writings from a diary he has kept for over 40 years; MOCKINGBIRD SONGS, a collection of letters between Harper Lee and Wayne Flint, one of her closest friends, that reveals the famously private writer as never before, in her own words; and Thomas Oliphant and Curtis Wilkie's THE ROAD TO CAMELOT, a behind-the-scenes, revelatory account of John F. Kennedy’s wily campaign to the White House, beginning with his bold, failed attempt to win the vice presidential nomination in 1956.
Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of
April 30th, May 7th, May 14th, May 21st and May 28th.
May’s Books on Screen Feature
Here is a preview of this month's movies, TV shows and DVDs that are based on books. For a complete list of May’s offerings, please click here.
In Theaters
The Seagull
Release Date: May 11th (limited)
Based on: THE SEAGULL by Anton Chekhov
On Chesil Beach
Release Date: May 18th (limited)
Based on: ON CHESIL BEACH by Ian McEwan
On TV
"Sweetbitter"
Air Dates: Sundays at 8pm ET/PT on Starz; Series Premiere on May 6th
Based on: SWEETBITTER by Stephanie Danler
"Patrick Melrose" (5-part series)
Air Dates: Saturdays at 9pm ET/PT on Showtime; Series Premiere on May 12th
Based on: PATRICK MELROSE by Edward St Aubyn
Fahrenheit 451
Air Date: Saturday, May 19th at 8pm ET/PT on HBO
Based on: FAHRENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury
On DVD
Fifty Shades Freed
DVD Release Date: May 8th
Based on: FIFTY SHADES FREED by E L James
Red Sparrow
DVD Release Date: May 22nd
Based on: RED SPARROW by Jason Matthews
Wonderstruck
DVD Release Date: May 22nd
Based on: WONDERSTRUCK by Brian Selznick
THE 17th SUSPECT by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by January LaVoy
A series of shootings exposes San Francisco to a methodical yet unpredictable killer, and a reluctant woman decides to put her trust in Sergeant Lindsay Boxer. The confidential informant's tip leads Lindsay to disturbing conclusions, including that something has gone horribly wrong inside the police department itself. The hunt for the killer lures Lindsay out of her jurisdiction, and gets inside her in dangerous ways. She suffers unsettling medical symptoms, and her friends and confidantes in the Women's Murder Club warn Lindsay against taking the crimes too much to heart. With lives at stake, the detective can't help but follow the case into ever more terrifying terrain. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
ROBERT B. PARKER'S OLD BLACK MAGIC: A Spenser Novel by Ace Atkins (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Joe Mantegna
The heist was legendary, still talked about 20 years after the priceless paintings disappeared from one of Boston's premier art museums. Most thought the art was lost forever. But when paint chips from the most valuable piece stolen, Gentlemen in Black by a Spanish master, arrives at the desk of a Boston journalist, the museum finds hope and enlists Spenser's help. Soon the cold art case thrusts Spenser into the shady world of black market art dealers, aged Mafia bosses and old vendettas. A five-million-dollar-reward by the museum's top benefactor sets Spenser and pals Vinnie Morris and Hawk onto a trail of hidden secrets, jailhouse confessions and decades-old murders. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE FIRST FAMILY by Michael Palmer and Daniel Palmer (Political/Medical Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Fred Berman
The White House is not an easy place to grow up, so when President Geoffrey Hilliard’s son Cam, a 16-year-old chess champion, experiences extreme fatigue, moodiness and an uncharacteristic violent outburst, doctors are quick to dismiss his troubles as teen angst. But Secret Service agent Karen Ray is convinced that Cam’s issues are serious --- serious enough to summon her physician ex-husband for a second opinion. Dr. Lee Blackwood’s concerns are dismissed by the president's team --- until Cam gets sicker. As Lee and Karen race for a cure to Cam’s mysterious and deadly disease, they begin to uncover betrayals that breach the highest levels of national security. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE PISCES by Melissa Broder (Fiction/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Melissa Broder
Lucy has been writing her dissertation on Sappho for nine years when she and her boyfriend break up in a dramatic flameout. After she bottoms out in Phoenix, her sister in Los Angeles insists Lucy dog-sit for the summer. But Lucy can find little relief from her anxiety --- not in the Greek chorus of women in her love addiction therapy group, not in her frequent Tinder excursions, not even in Dominic the foxhound's easy affection. Everything changes when Lucy becomes entranced by an eerily attractive swimmer while sitting alone on the beach rocks one night. But when Lucy learns the truth about his identity, their relationship, and Lucy’s understanding of what love should look like, take a very unexpected turn. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
MURDER, SHE WROTE: A DATE WITH MURDER by Jessica Fletcher, Donald Bain and Jon Land (Mystery)
Jessica Fletcher takes up the case of her good friend, Barbara "Babs" Wirth, after Babs' husband, Hal, suffers a fatal heart attack that Jessica has reason to believe was actually murder. At the heart of her suspicions lies a sinister dating site Hal had used while he and Babs were having marital issues, a site that may be complicit in somehow swindling him out of millions. Jessica's investigation reveals that Hal was far from the only victim, and when his former business partner is also killed, a deadly pattern emerges. Jessica teams up with a brilliant young computer hacker to follow the trail, but as she gets closer to the truth, two near misses force her to realize that she may very well be the next victim. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
ALTER EGO by Brian Freeman (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Joe Barrett
When a freak auto accident kills a driver on the remote roads outside Duluth, Jonathan Stride is disturbed to discover that the victim appears to be a "ghost," with a false identity and no evidence to suggest who he really was. Alarmingly, a gun is found in the car --- and the gun has recently been fired. The next day, Stride learns that a Duluth college student has also vanished, and he worries that the two incidents are related. His investigation of the girl's disappearance leads him into the midst of a film crew in Duluth, where a movie is being made based on a case in his own past. The actor playing Stride is Hollywood royalty, but Stride soon hears whispers that his cinematic alter ego has a dark side. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE NEUROSCIENTIST WHO LOST HER MIND: My Tale of Madness and Recovery by Barbara K. Lipska with Elaine McArdle (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Emma Powell
In January 2015, Barbara Lipska --- a leading expert on the neuroscience of mental illness --- was diagnosed with melanoma that had spread to her brain. Within months, she descended into madness, exhibiting dementia- and schizophrenia-like symptoms that terrified her family and co-workers. But miraculously, just as her doctors figured out what was happening, the immunotherapy they had prescribed began to work. Just eight weeks after her nightmare began, Lipska returned to normal. With one difference: she remembered her brush with madness with exquisite clarity. In THE NEUROSCIENTIST WHO LOST HER MIND, Lipska describes her extraordinary ordeal and its lessons about the mind and brain. Reviewed by John Bentlyewski.
WICKED RIVER by Jenny Milchman (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Susie Berneis
Six million acres of Adirondack forest separate Natalie and Doug Larson from civilization. For the newlyweds, an isolated backcountry honeymoon seems ideal. But just as Natalie and Doug begin to explore the dark interiors of their own hearts, as well as the depths of their love for each other, it becomes clear that they are not alone in the woods. As they struggle with the worst the wilderness has to offer, a man watches them, wielding the forest like a weapon. He wants something from them more terrifying than death. And once they are near his domain, he will do everything in his power to make sure they never walk out again. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
AMERICAN BY DAY by Derek B. Miller (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Sean Mangan
She knew it was a weird place. She’d heard the stories, seen the movies, read the books. But now police Chief Inspector Sigrid Ødegård has to leave her native Norway and actually go there: to that land across the Atlantic where her missing brother is implicated in the mysterious death of a prominent African-American academic. AMERICA. Sigrid is plunged into a United States where race and identity, politics and promise reverberate in every aspect of daily life. Working with --- or, if necessary, against --- the police, she must negotiate the local political minefields and navigate the backwoods of the Adirondacks to uncover the truth before events escalate further. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
THE CITY OF LOST FORTUNES: A Crescent City Novel by Bryan Camp (Supernatural Fantasy/Mystery)
Audiobook available, narrated by Korey Jackson
The post–Katrina New Orleans of THE CITY OF LOST FORTUNES is a place haunted by its history and by the hurricane’s destruction. Street magician Jude Dubuisson is likewise burdened by his past and by the consequences of the storm, because he has a secret: the magical ability to find lost things, a gift passed down to him by the father he has never known --- a father who just happens to be more than human. Jude has been lying low since the storm; he is hiding from his own power, his divine former employer, and a debt owed to the Fortune god of New Orleans. But his six-year retirement ends abruptly when the Fortune god is murdered, and Jude is drawn back into the world he tried so desperately to leave behind. Reviewed by Maya Gittelman.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on May 8th
Below are some notable titles releasing on May 8th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks releasing the week of May 7th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
THE CROOKED STAIRCASE: A Jane Hawk Novel by Dean Koontz (Thriller)
Battling the strange epidemic of murder-suicides that claimed Jane Hawk’s husband, and is escalating across the country, has made the rogue FBI agent a wanted fugitive. Jane’s ruthless pursuers can’t stop her from drawing a bead on her prey. But nothing can prepare her for the chilling truth that awaits when she descends the crooked staircase to the dark and dreadful place where her long nightmare was born.
THE DESTINY THIEF: Essays on Writing, Writers and Life by Richard Russo (Essays)
In these nine essays, Richard Russo provides insight into his life as a writer, teacher, friend and reader. From a commencement speech he gave at Colby College, to a comprehensive analysis of Mark Twain's value, to his harrowing journey accompanying a dear friend as she pursued gender-reassignment surgery, THE DESTINY THIEF reflects the broad interests and experiences of one of America's most beloved authors.
THE HIGH TIDE CLUB by Mary Kay Andrews (Fiction)
Ninety-nine-year-old heiress Josephine Bettendorf Warrick summons attorney Brooke Trappnell to her 20,000-acre barrier island home. To fulfill a dying woman’s wishes, Brooke must find Josephine’s friends’ descendants and bring them together on Talisa. But in doing so, Brooke unleashes the makings of a scandal that could make someone rich beyond their wildest dreams…or cause them to be in the crosshairs of a murderer.
MILK!: A 10,000-Year Food Fracas by Mark Kurlansky (History)
Before the Industrial Revolution, it was common for families to keep dairy cows and produce their own milk. But during the 19th century, mass production and urbanization made milk safety a leading issue of the day, with milk-borne illnesses a common cause of death. Tracing the liquid's diverse history from antiquity to the present, historian Mark Kurlansky details its curious and crucial role in cultural evolution, religion, nutrition, politics and economics.
PAUL SIMON: The Life by Robert Hilburn (Biography)
For more than 50 years, Paul Simon has spoken to us in songs about alienation, doubt, resilience and empathy in ways that have established him as one of the most beloved artists in American pop music history. But Simon is a deeply private person who has resisted speaking to us outside of his music. Finally, Simon has opened up --- for more than 100 hours of interviews --- to Robert Hilburn.
THE PERFECTIONISTS: How Precision Engineers Created the Modern World by Simon Winchester (History)
The rise of manufacturing could not have happened without an attention to precision. At the dawn of the Industrial Revolution in 18th-century England, standards of measurement were established, giving way to the development of machine tools --- machines that make machines. Simon Winchester takes us back to the origins of the Industrial Age, to England where he introduces the scientific minds that helped usher in modern production.
SEND DOWN THE RAIN by Charles Martin (Fiction)
When Joseph discovers a mother and her two small children lost in the forest, he helps them get back to their home in Florida. There he will return to his own hometown --- and witness the accident that launches a bittersweet reunion with his childhood sweetheart, Allie. When Joseph offers to help Allie rebuild her restaurant, it seems the flame may reignite --- until a 45-year-old secret from the past begins to emerge.
THE SOUL OF AMERICA: The Battle for Our Better Angels by Jon Meacham (History/Politics)
Our current climate of partisan fury is not new, and in THE SOUL OF AMERICA, Jon Meacham shows us how what Abraham Lincoln called the “better angels of our nature” have repeatedly won the day. Painting surprising portraits of Lincoln and other presidents, and illuminating the courage of such influential citizen activists as Martin Luther King, Jr. and early suffragettes Alice Paul and Carrie Chapman Catt, Meacham brings vividly to life turning points in American history.
SPRING by Karl Ove Knausgaard (Fiction)
SPRING is the recommencement of Karl Ove Knausgaard’s literary project of assembling a personal encyclopedia of the world addressed directly to his newly born daughter. But here Knausgaard must also tell his daughter the story of what happened during the time when her mother was pregnant, and explain why he now has to attend appointments with child services. In order to keep his daughter safe, he must tell a terrible story.
WARLIGHT by Michael Ondaatje (Historical Fiction)
In 1945, just after World War II, 14-year-old Nathaniel and his older sister, Rachel, stay behind in London when their parents move to Singapore, leaving them in the care of a mysterious figure named The Moth. They suspect he might be a criminal, and they grow both more convinced and less concerned as they come to know his eccentric crew of friends. But are they really what and who they claim to be? A dozen years later, Nathaniel begins to uncover all that he didn't know and understand in that time.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
Our Latest Poll: How Many Books Are on Your TBR List?
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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 April 27th to May 11th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN PLACES: A Memoir of Love, Faith, and Resilience by Allison Pataki and THE HIGH TIDE CLUB by Mary Kay Andrews.
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 May 1st to June 4th at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Ruth Ware's THE DEATH OF MRS. WESTAWAY, read by Imogen Church, and Stephen King's THE OUTSIDER, read by Will Patton.
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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