Kicking Off Summer Reading and Celebrating Moms!
I had a terrific evening interviewing Lisa Jewell at Watchung Booksellers on Monday night. Lisa is such fun to talk to; we dashed from topic to topic, including talk about her latest book, THEN SHE WAS GONE, which was an instant New York Times bestseller. In the audience were some huge fans of hers, some of whom had traveled quite a ways to meet her. She recognized them by name from social media, and I loved how they fell into deep conversation following the event. You can see the two of us above. And for me, there was a lovely surprise that night, as my cousin Maryann was in the audience!
In case people were wondering what Paul Simon was doing on Tuesday night, the publication day for the terrific biography about him, PAUL SIMON: The Life by Robert Hilburn, I spotted him and Edie Brickell on TV at the Yankees game. We will have our review for you in two weeks. In the meantime, here’s a good interview with Hilburn about writing the book.
We’re happy to announce the return of our Sneak Peek contest, where we let readers preview an early copy of a book months before its release and share their feedback on it with us. This time, we’re featuring MAKE ME EVEN AND I’LL NEVER GAMBLE AGAIN, a debut novel in which hedge fund pioneer Jerrold Fine blends a heartfelt story of a young man fiercely intent on achieving independence with a fascinating insider’s look at the perks and pitfalls of a high-stakes life in the world of financial markets. We have 50 advance copies to give away to readers who can commit to previewing the book, which releases on August 14th, and sharing their comments on it by July 25th. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, May 24th at noon ET. My two cents, with much more to come about this sharp and brisk debut novel: I love the voice of the book’s protagonist, Rogers Stout. The story is fast-paced, just like life on the Street. Trust that once you start reading it, you will not want to put it aside. The sharpness of it reminded me a lot of Molly’s Game.
Summer does begin with Mary Kay Andrews (MKA, as we call her here in the office). Her latest novel, THE HIGH TIDE CLUB, came out this week, and after a signing the other night, she swung by a local Target store and snapped the photo that you see at the top of the newsletter. In this new book, 99-year-old heiress Josephine Bettendorf Warrick summons attorney Brooke Trappnell to her 20,000-acre barrier island home. She is hiring Brooke for two reasons: to protect her island from those who would despoil her land, and to help her make amends with the heirs of the women who were her closest friends: the girls of The High Tide Club. To fulfill a dying Josephine’s wishes, Brooke must find her friends’ descendants and bring them together for a reunion of sorts (they have actually never met). 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.
Amie Taylor has our review and raves,“THE HIGH TIDE CLUB is a remarkable novel in which Mary Kay Andrews cleverly intertwines vignettes from the past with a modern-day narrative to give us a cohesive story that compels us to turn the pages to solve one mystery after another. No matter how good you are at guessing what's coming next, this book will surely hold shocking surprises and unexpected smiles throughout.” I was lucky enough to snag an advance copy, which I read on a very snowy weekend. Reading it, I could feel sand between my toes and hear the surf crashing. Just perfect. I loved the pacing, as well as the sense of atmosphere that she created.
Back in March, our Editorial Director Tom Donadio and I attended a Simon & Schuster preview event, where Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar delivered a passionate presentation of her debut novel, THE MAP OF SALT AND STARS, which you can see in its entirety here. The book, which is being compared to THE KITE RUNNER, is the story of Nour, a Syrian American girl reeling from the recent loss of her beloved Baba (father) to cancer. After returning to Syria before the war breaks out, Nour and her family then must flee across the Middle East and North Africa in a desperate and dangerous search for safety. Her journey intertwines with the story of Rawiya and the legendary mapmaker al-Idrisi, who made the same journey 800 years before in their quest to map the world.
Reviewer Melanie Reynolds calls THE MAP OF SALT AND STARS a “lyrical debut” and goes on to say, “Nour --- equipped with the courage she doesn’t yet know she has, her color sense, and her mother’s special map --- searches for a safe place for her family to land, as Rawiya traces the same geographical journey 800 years before. Perhaps the salt and stars will lead both girls back home.” We’re also happy to share this Q&A with Jennifer where she talks about her inspiration for writing the novel, the meaning of the book’s title, and much more.
THE MAP OF SALT AND STARS is one of our current Word of Mouth prizes, along with THE PERFECT MOTHER by Aimee Molloy, a psychological thriller that is one of the most anticipated books of the summer and is soon to be a major motion picture starring Kerry Washington. Let us know by Friday, May 25th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win both novels.
By the way, I am reading like I am studying for college finals right now, as I am interviewing seven authors at BookExpo later this month. I cheated and read 150 pages of THE PERFECT MOTHER, and I see why it’s been so well received. In it, there is a group of mothers whose babies all were born in May. They met while they were pregnant and continued to bond after their babies were born. One night when they are enjoying an evening out, one of the babies goes missing. Who took the baby? Right now, I have no clue! I must finish my “required reading” so I can get back to this.
I still am listening to Jessica Knoll's THE FAVORITE SISTER, which is now twisting in some directions that I did not see coming. The world of reality TV is exposed here for the very scripted scenarios that are actually showcased. There are many funny lines (at one point, Brett refers to an episode of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," a rerun from a few seasons earlier, as “Khloe had her old face”), as well as sharp and edgy thriller storytelling. It is in stores on Tuesday.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include WARLIGHT, a new novel from Michael Ondaatje (best known as the author of THE ENGLISH PATIENT) that tells a dramatic story set in the decade after World War II through the lives of a small group of unexpected characters and two teenagers whose lives are indelibly shaped by their unwitting involvement; THE CROOKED STAIRCASE, the third book in Dean Koontz’s thriller series starring Jane Hawk, who this time faces the fight of her life, against the threat of a lifetime; and MISS SUBWAYS, actor David Duchovny’s reimagining of the Irish mythological figure of Emer in a New York City setting.
LOVE AND RUIN by Paula McLain and BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN PLACES: A Memoir of Love, Faith, and Resilience by Allison Pataki, both of which we featured and reviewed in last week’s newsletter, are my two latest Bookreporter.com Bets On picks. Click on the titles to see why I’m betting you’ll love these books.
This year’s Summer Reading contests (which we know you LOVE) will launch on Tuesday, May 15th at noon ET. On select days through August 24th, we will be hosting a series of 24-hour contests and on each of the contest days awarding five readers a book that we think is a great summer read. You will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also will be sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, along with a Summer Reading Preview newsletter on Monday. Click here to sign up for these dedicated newsletters. Our first three prize books will be the aforementioned THE FAVORITE SISTER by Jessica Knoll, MY EX-LIFE by Stephen McCauley, and A NANTUCKET WEDDING by Nancy Thayer.
Our Mother’s Day Author Blog series wrapped up today with a wonderful contribution from Karen White, whose new novel, DREAMS OF FALLING, releases on June 5th. If you haven’t had a chance to read the equally wonderful pieces from our other participating authors --- Janelle Brown, Julie Clark, Abby Fabiaschi, Lisa Genova, Lisa Wingate and Brianna Wolfson --- we strongly recommend that you do. Perhaps you can binge-read them all on Mother’s Day! My sincere thanks to all seven of these authors for sharing their very heartwarming stories with us.
And while we’re on the subject, our Mother’s Day contest will be ending soon. Five readers will win all 15 of our prize books for themselves or the moms in their lives. To enter, please fill out this form by this coming Monday, May 14th at noon ET.
With the baseball season in full swing (and our New York Yankees looking very strong at the moment; the New York Mets, not so much), our MLB maven Ron Kaplan is back with another roundup of books about our national pastime. Here, he takes a look at the volatile relationship between Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth; the Yankees in American culture; the “Baby Bombers,” who may very well be the next Yankees dynasty; a historian’s take on “why baseball matters”; and the best and worst of the Mets’ “amazin’” history.
Our latest poll question revolves around “The Great American Read,” which we talked about a few weeks ago. This eight-part series on PBS, premiering Tuesday, May 22nd, focuses on America’s 100 best-loved novels. Throughout the course of the series, viewers can vote for their favorites among the 100, and the top best-loved novel in America will be revealed in October. Are you planning to watch this series and participate in the voting? Let us know by clicking here!
We’re also curious as to how many of these 100 books you have read, so we created a survey for you to complete. Take a look at the list of titles here and check off the ones you have read by May 22nd at noon ET. We’ll share the top picks with you in the May 25th newsletter.
Our previous poll asked how many books are on your to-be-read list right now. A whopping 70% of you said more than 20. Hmmm…I wonder if, by “more than 20,” some of you had 50 or 100 books in mind. I admit we were a bit conservative in our qualifiers! We will remember that the next time we ask a question like this.
Please keep in mind 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 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. Please do so by Monday, June 4th at noon ET.
News & Pop Culture:
Reader Mail: Cheryl wrote, “Thank you so much for sending me a copy of BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN PLACES. It was a beautifully written memoir that, for me, was hard to put down. I posted my review to my Goodreads page and will definitely recommend it to my friends!" She went on to add, “Thank you to Bookreporter, Random House and author Allison Pataki for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC of this unforgettable book. I had read Ms. Pataki's book SISI in December 2015 and thought it was such an interesting tale of historical fiction. I never knew that she was facing such a daunting challenge personally while this book was in progress! Again, thank you so much.” As you can see from our coverage above, I agree with Cheryl about the power of this book.
Harlan Coben’s "Safe": At 4:50am yesterday, Netflix shot me an email to inform me that they thought I would like this show based on my past viewing. Ha, I did not need Netflix to tell me that; I already had heard it from Harlan himself. And down into the viewing rabbit hole I go.
Linwood Barclay’s Film, Never Saw it Coming: Linwood shared this week that the movie version of his novel NEVER SAW IT COMING (he also wrote the screenplay) has been accepted into the SOHO International Film Festival in New York, with a June 15th screening. Gail Harvey directs; Eric Roberts, Emily Hampshire and Katie Boland star. If you're in NY then, or already live there, you can get tickets here. And I have it on good authority that Linwood will be in town for this.
"Patrick Melrose": I previewed the first episode of this show, which debuts on Showtime on Sunday night. Benedict Cumberbatch is excellent in the role of Patrick Melrose, in what is a very physically challenging performance that unfolds with whip-sharpness. The series is based on the semi-autobiographical novels of Edward St. Aubyn.
"Billions": I love this show, but did not love the way episode seven came together. It was ambitious, but a tad too neat. Let's see what happens this week.
Greg is back from his epic cross-country trek, and his 1994 Land Rover is back in its corner of the driveway. For 17 days, my best news source from him was his Instagram feed where he shared photos of some stunning places from across the country. I loved seeing it through his eyes, though I am very happy that he is back home now! I still want to see the rest of the photos; he is a gifted photographer.
I will be celebrating Mother’s Day with my mom and Tom’s mom on Saturday night --- a tradition that we started a few years ago, so I could then enjoy Sunday with Tom and the boys instead of entertaining. It became a win-win. I want to get all the plants that I have harbored inside all winter back outside this weekend, adding some new colorful geraniums.
Cory is graduating from college on Tuesday, which is a huge milestone. I am looking forward to celebrating with him; I am planning a picnic here at the house and will be serving two Cory favorites: ribs and fudge marble cake. He is easy to please. The ceremony kicks off at 8:40am, and we need to be there by 7:30am to go through security. And I thought that you only had early mornings in freshman year; I guess this is taking us full circle!
Happy Mother’s Day to those who will be celebrating! And our thoughts are with those whose moms are missed as they are no longer with them, especially those experiencing this for the first time this year.
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: THE HIGH TIDE CLUB
by Mary Kay Andrews
THE HIGH TIDE CLUB by Mary Kay Andrews (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Kathleen McInerney
Ninety-nine-year-old heiress Josephine Bettendorf Warrick summons attorney Brooke Trappnell to her 20,000-acre barrier island home. She is hiring Brooke for two reasons: first, to protect her island from those who would despoil her land, and second, to help her make amends with the heirs of the women who were her closest friends, the girls of The High Tide Club. To fulfill a dying woman’s wishes, Brooke must find Josephine’s friends’ descendants and bring them together on Talisa for a reunion of women who've actually never met. 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. Reviewed by Amie Taylor.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to visit Mary Kay Andrews' website.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: WARLIGHT by Michael Ondaatje
WARLIGHT by Michael Ondaatje (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Steve West
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? And what does it mean when the siblings' mother returns after months of silence without their father, explaining nothing, excusing nothing? A dozen years later, Nathaniel begins to uncover all that he didn't know and understand in that time. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
New Sneak Peek Contest: Enter to Win an Advance Copy of MAKE ME EVEN AND I’LL NEVER GAMBLE AGAIN
by Jerrold Fine and Share Your Comments on It
Our latest Sneak Peek Feature spotlights MAKE ME EVEN AND I'LL NEVER GAMBLE AGAIN by Jerrold Fine, an intriguing look at human aspiration and the interplay of honor, greed, fear and individuality that reveals a time when a new generation upended the status quo on Wall Street and forever changed investing. The book doesn’t release until August 14th, but we have 50 advance copies to give away to readers who can commit to previewing it and sharing their comments on it by Wednesday, July 25th. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, May 24th at noon ET.
For our Sneak Peek program, your commitment to participate is critical, so please only enter this contest if you truly will have time to read MAKE ME EVEN AND I'LL NEVER GAMBLE AGAIN and give us your feedback by the July 25th deadline.
MAKE ME EVEN AND I'LL NEVER GAMBLE AGAIN by Jerrold Fine (Fiction)
Drawing from his own experiences in the turbulent '70s and '80s, hedge fund pioneer Jerrold Fine blends a heartfelt story of a young man fiercely intent on achieving independence with a fascinating insider’s look at the perks and pitfalls of a high-stakes life in the world of financial markets in his debut novel.
Rogers Stout has the gambler’s gifts --- a titanic brain, an uncanny ability to read people, and a risk-taker’s daring. As an apathetic high school student who loves baseball but lacks a 90-mph fastball, he knows that the game does not begin until the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand. But his life needs direction.
Everything changes the summer he is invited into the boisterous environment of an investment bank’s trading room, and to a gambling hall dive where he immediately wins big at poker, capturing the attention of his co-workers with his card-playing skills. Intrigued by trading markets, Rogers’ intellectual curiosity takes him to Wharton and then Wall Street, where he faces challenges as an outsider who thinks and acts differently from the white-shoe establishment. With his intuition and prowess, he’s ready to rewrite the rules and tackle markets with a flair that leaves his employers flabbergasted.
Rogers senses opportunity and willingly accepts the challenge that awaits him. He leans heavily on his gut instincts and the unusual cadre of friendships he cultivates, but learns the hard way to be alert to the perils that await him. He longs to prove himself and achieve his goals, yet is torn between the thrill of trading and investing, and pursuing a higher purpose in life. And through it all, he still feels the loss of his mother, who died when he was too young to remember her --- an open wound that refuses to heal.
As Rogers plays his career hand, life plays another. Should he follow the temptress Elsbeth and her ravishing beauty, or Charlotte, his high-spirited first love?
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Jerrold Fine’s bio.
- Click here to visit Jerrold Fine’s website.
Click here to enter the contest.
An Interview with Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar,
Author of THE MAP OF SALT AND STARS
Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar’s debut novel, THE MAP OF SALT AND STARS, is the story of two girls living 800 years apart --- a modern-day Syrian refugee seeking safety and a medieval adventurer apprenticed to a legendary mapmaker. In this interview, Joukhadar explains how she thinks her book can help readers understand the Syrian refugee crisis, and why she decided to make 12-year-old Nour the narrator. She also talks about the significance of the book’s title and her interpretation of it, offers some wonderful advice to new writers, mentions the authors who have influenced her writing the most, and gives us a sneak peek at her second stand-alone novel, which is currently in the works.
THE MAP OF SALT AND STARS by Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Lara Sawalha
In the summer of 2011, just after Nour loses her father to cancer, her mother moves Nour and her sisters from New York City back to Syria to be closer to their family. In order to keep her father’s spirit as she adjusts to her new home, Nour tells herself their favorite story --- the tale of Rawiya, a 12th-century girl who disguised herself as a boy in order to apprentice herself to a famous mapmaker. When a stray shell destroys Nour’s house and almost takes her life, she and her family are forced to choose: stay and risk more violence, or flee across seven countries of the Middle East and North Africa in search of safety --- along the very route Rawiya and her mapmaker took 800 years before in their quest to chart the world. Reviewed by Melanie Reynolds.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
Click here to read the interview.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
LOVE AND RUIN by Paula McLain
and BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN PLACES by Allison Pataki
LOVE AND RUIN by Paula McLain (Historical Fiction)
To me, Paula McLain is a gold standard writer of historical fiction. THE PARIS WIFE, with its brilliant account of Ernest Hemingway’s first wife, Hadley Richardson, brought readers a new look at the writer through the eyes of a woman he loved. Her latest book, LOVE AND RUIN, gives us another look at a wife of Hemingway as here she explores the life of his third wife, Martha Gellhorn.
Paula never thought she would write about Hemingway again, but as she shares, “I had a crazily vivid and powerful dream. I was fishing with Hemingway on his boat, the Pilar, and Martha Gellhorn was there, hand-feeding a marlin that had leapt from the sea. The next morning, still gripped by the dream and feeling it was some sort of sign,” she started researching Gellhorn, who she knew surprisingly little about. The more she read, the more she wanted to tell her story --- not just as the wife of Hemingway, but also for the brilliant writer she was in her own right. And that she does.
- 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 Paula McLain.
- Click here to read more in our Women's Fiction Author Spotlight.
Click here for more of Carol's commentary on LOVE AND RUIN.
BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN PLACES: A Memoir of Love, Faith, and Resilience by Allison Pataki (Memoir)
A couple of years ago, I was at a party for Allison Pataki’s historical novel, SISI. Though we had not met before, she was so warm and gracious, spending time with every person in the room. I thought to myself, She really has it all.
Someone mentioned that her life had had a twist the year before. When she was five months pregnant, she and her husband, Dave, had gone on a babymoon to Hawaii. They left from Chicago, planning a stop in Seattle on the way to see her brother-in-law. Shortly after they took off, Dave, who was just 30 years old at the time, asked her to look at his eye, as he could not see out of it. She looked and realized something was dreadfully wrong as his pupil had widened so much that she could not see the iris of his eye. Moments later, he was unconscious, she was seeking help from the flight crew, and not long afterwards they made an emergency landing in Fargo, ND, where he was diagnosed with a stroke.
BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN PLACES is their story of the years that led up to that moment, as well as the time that followed as Dave recovered and their baby daughter was born.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here for more of Carol's commentary on
BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN PLACES.
Announcing Bookreporter.com's
Summer Reading Contests and Feature
Summer will be here before you know it! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We will be hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through August 24th. You will need to check the site to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also will be sending a special newsletter to announce each title, which you can sign up for here.
Our first prize book will be announced on Tuesday, May 15th at noon ET.
This year’s prize books include:
Click here to read all the contest details
and see the prize books being awarded in May, June, July and August.
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
Click here to read this year's Mother's Day Author Blogs.
Bookreporter.com’s 2018 Spring Baseball Books Roundup
With the baseball season in full swing, our resident MLB expert Ron Kaplan is back with another roundup of books about our national pastime. This year’s feature includes GEHRIG AND THE BABE by Tony Castro, an examination of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig’s relationship away from the field; PINSTRIPE NATION, in which Will Bishop explores the myriad of ways in which the Yankees and their successes (or spectacular failures) became interwoven with the nation’s larger cultural narrative; WHY BASEBALL MATTERS, Susan Jacoby’s tough-minded look at America’s most traditional game in our 21st-century culture of digital distraction; Bryan Hoch’s THE BABY BOMBERS, which tracks the rise of today’s Yankees from fresh-faced rookies into a group that is destined for pinstriped greatness; and METS IN 10s by Brian Wright, which features top 10 lists that rank the most unforgettable memories (both the highs and the lows) in the history of the New York Mets franchise.
Click here for Ron Kaplan’s 2018 Spring Baseball Books roundup.
THE CROOKED STAIRCASE: A Jane Hawk Novel by Dean Koontz (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Elisabeth Rodgers
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: a cunning man with connections in high places, a twisted soul of unspeakable depths with an army of professional killers on call. Propelled by her righteous fury and implacable insistence on justice, Jane will confront head-on the lethal forces arrayed against her. 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. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
MISS SUBWAYS by David Duchovny (Fantasy/Humor)
Audiobook available; read by David Duchovny and Tea Leoni, with West Duchovny
Emer is just a woman living in New York City who takes the subway, buys ice cream from the bodega on the corner, has writerly aspirations, and lives with her boyfriend, Con. But is this life she lives the only path she’s on? Taking inspiration from the myth of Emer and Cuchulain, and featuring an all-star cast of mythical figures from all over the world, David Duchovny’s MISS SUBWAYS is one woman’s trippy, mystical journey down parallel tracks of time and love. On the way, Emer will battle natural and supernatural forces to find her true voice, power and destiny. Reviewed by Benny Regalbuto.
THE RECOVERING: Intoxication and Its Aftermath by Leslie Jamison (Memoir/Cultural Studies)
Audiobook available, read by Leslie Jamison
Leslie Jamison deftly excavates the stories we tell about addiction --- both her own and others' --- and examines what we want these stories to do and what happens when they fail us. All the while, she offers a fascinating look at the larger history of the recovery movement, and at the complicated bearing that race and class have on our understanding of who is criminal and who is ill. At the heart of the book is Jamison's ongoing conversation with literary and artistic geniuses whose lives and works were shaped by alcoholism and substance dependence --- including Raymond Carver, Denis Johnson and David Foster Wallace --- as well as brilliant lesser-known figures, lost to obscurity but newly illuminated here. Reviewed by Sarah Jackman.
BLACKOUT: A Pete Fernandez Mystery by Alex Segura (Hard-boiled Mystery)
Startling new evidence in a cold case that has haunted Pete Fernandez drags the exiled PI back to his hometown of Miami. But as Pete and his partner, Kathy Bentley, delve deeper into the unsolved murder, they become entangled in Miami’s obsession with a charismatic and dangerous cult leader and his even more menacing followers. At the same time, the detectives find themselves at odds with a Florida politician’s fixation on wealth, fame and power. It all converges in the heart of the Magic City, and Pete is left scrambling to pick up the pieces --- or die trying. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
MOTHERHOOD by Sheila Heti (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Sheila Heti
In her late 30s, when her friends are asking when they will become mothers, the narrator of MOTHERHOOD considers if she will do so at all. In a narrative spanning several years, casting among the influence of her peers, partner and her duties to her forbearers, she struggles to make a wise and moral choice. After seeking guidance from philosophy, her body, mysticism and chance, she discovers her answer much closer to home. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE DESTINY THIEF: Essays on Writing, Writers and Life by Richard Russo (Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Richard Russo
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 the story of how an oddly placed toilet made him reevaluate the purpose of humor in art and life, 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. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
OVERKILL: An Alex Hawke Novel by Ted Bell (Thriller/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by John Shea
On a ski vacation in the Swiss Alps, Alex Hawke and his young son, Alexei, are thrust into danger when the tram carrying them to the top of the mountain bursts into flames. Before he can reach Alexei, the boy is snatched from the burning cable car by unknown assailants in a helicopter. Meanwhile, high above the skies of France, Vladimir Putin is aboard his presidential jet after escaping a bloodless coup in the Kremlin. When two flight attendants collapse and slip into unconsciousness, the Russian leader realizes the danger isn’t over. Killing the pilots, he grabs a parachute, steps out of the plane…and disappears. Hawke has led his share of dangerous assignments, but none with stakes this high. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
HE by John Connolly (Historical Fiction)
Stan Laurel followed in the wake of Charlie Chaplin, who blazed a trail from the vaudeville stages of England to the dynamic, if often seedy and highly volatile, movie studios of Los Angeles in the early 20th century. Awed like everyone else by Chaplin's genius (and ambition and cruelty), Laurel despaired of ever finding his own path to success --- or happiness. But success and happiness did find Laurel, following the inspired decision by impresario Hal Roach to put him and Oliver Hardy together on screen. Initially a calculated marriage of opposites in an era of highly disposable short films, the partnership bloomed into a professional and personal relationship of lifelong depth. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
MR. FLOOD'S LAST RESORT by Jess Kidd (Mystery/Dark Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Aoife McMahon
Maud Drennan is a dedicated caregiver whose sunny disposition masks a deep sadness, as a tragic childhood event left her haunted. She keeps to herself, finding solace in her work and in her humble existence --- until she meets Mr. Flood. The lone occupant of a Gothic mansion, Cathal Flood has been waging war against his son’s attempts to put him into an old-age home. Maud is this impossible man’s last chance: if she can help him get the house in order, he just might be able to stay. So the unlikely pair begins to cooperate. Still, shadows are growing in the cluttered corners of the mansion, hinting at buried family secrets, and reminding Maud that she doesn’t really know this man at all. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
THE CACTUS by Sarah Haywood (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Katherine Manners
Susan Green has a flat that is ideal for one, a job that suits her passion for logic, and an “interpersonal arrangement” that provides cultural and other, more intimate, benefits. But suddenly confronted with the loss of her mother and the news that she is about to become a mother herself, Susan’s greatest fear is realized. She is losing control. When she learns that her mother’s will inexplicably favors her indolent brother, Edward, Susan’s already dismantled world is sent flying into a tailspin. As Susan’s due date draws near and her family problems become increasingly difficult to ignore, Susan finds help and self-discovery in the most unlikely of places. Reviewed by Leah DeCesare (www.leahdecesare.com).
IN DUST AND ASHES: A Hanne Wilhelmsen Novel by Anne Holt (Mystery)
In 2001, three-year-old Dina is killed in a tragic car accident. Not long thereafter, Dina’s mother dies under mysterious circumstances, and Dina’s father Jonas is convicted of her murder. Now it’s 2016, and the cold case ends up on the desk of Detective Henrik Holme, who tries to convince his mentor Hanne Wilhelmsen that Jonas might have been wrongly convicted. Holme and Wilhelmsen discover that the case could be connected to the suicide of an eccentric blogger, as well as the kidnapping of the grandson of a EuroJackpot millionaire. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE MERCY SEAT by Elizabeth H. Winthrop (Historical Fiction)
On the eve of his execution, 18-year-old Willie Jones sits in his cell in New Iberia awaiting his end. Across the state, a truck driven by a convict and his keeper carries the executioner’s chair closer. On a nearby highway, Willie’s father Frank lugs a gravestone on the back of his fading, old mule. In his office, the DA who prosecuted Willie reckons with his sentencing, while at their gas station at the crossroads outside of town, married couple Ora and Dale grapple with their grief and their secrets. As various members of the township consider and reflect on what Willie’s execution means, an intricately layered and complex portrait of a Jim Crow-era Southern community emerges. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on May 15th
Below are some notable titles releasing on May 15th 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 14th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
BY INVITATION ONLY by Dorothea Benton Frank (Fiction)
The Lowcountry of South Carolina is where BY INVITATION ONLY begins at a barbecue engagement party thrown by Diane English Stiftel to celebrate her son’s engagement. The bride’s father, Alejandro Cambria, discovers the limits and possibilities of cell phone range, while the mother of the bride, Susan Kennedy Cambria, learns about moonshine and dangerous liaisons. Soon the novel zooms to Chicago, where the unraveling accelerates.
THE CAST by Danielle Steel (Fiction)
Inspired by the true story of her own indomitable grandmother, magazine columnist Kait Whittier creates the storyline for a TV series. And when she shares her work with television producer Zack Winter, he decides to make this his next big-budget project. But in the midst of this charmed year, she is suddenly forced to confront the greatest challenge a mother could ever know.
THE FAVORITE SISTER by Jessica Knoll (Thriller)
When five hyper-successful women agree to appear on a reality series set in New York City called “Goal Diggers,” the producers never expect the season will end in murder. THE FAVORITE SISTER explores the invisible barriers that prevent women from rising up the ranks in today’s America --- and offers a scathing take on the oft-lionized bonds of sisterhood, and the relentless pressure to stay young, relevant and salable.
HOW IT HAPPENED by Michael Koryta (Thriller)
Kimberly Crepeaux is a notorious jailhouse snitch, teen mother and heroin addict. So when she confesses to her role in the brutal murders of Jackie Pelletier and Ian Kelly, the daughter of a well-known local family and her sweetheart, the locals have little reason to believe her story. However, FBI investigator and interrogator Rob Barrett knows that Kimberly’s story is how it happened. But where are Jackie and Ian’s bodies?
I'M KEITH HERNANDEZ: A Memoir by Keith Hernandez (Sports/Memoir)
During his illustrious career with the World Series-winning St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets, Keith Hernandez was a perennial fan favorite, earning 11 consecutive Gold Gloves, a National League co-MVP Award, and a batting title. But it was his unique blend of intelligence, humor and talent that transcended the sport and propelled him to a level of renown that few other athletes have achieved.
JANE SEYMOUR, THE HAUNTED QUEEN by Alison Weir (Historical Fiction)
Jane is invited to the King’s court to serve as lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine of Aragon. The devout Katherine shows kindness to all her ladies, which makes rumors of Henry’s lustful pursuit of Anne Boleyn all the more shocking. But once Henry disavows Katherine and secures Anne as his new queen, he turns his eye to Jane herself. Urged to return the King’s affection and earn favor for her family, Jane is drawn into a dangerous political game that pits her conscience against her desires.
POPS: Fatherhood in Pieces by Michael Chabon (Memoir/Essays)
For the September 2016 issue of GQ, Michael Chabon wrote a piece about accompanying his then-13-year-old son to Paris Men’s Fashion Week. Possessed with a precocious sense of style, Abe was in his element chatting with designers he idolized and turning a critical eye to the freshest runway looks of the season. With the GQ story as its centerpiece, and featuring six additional essays, POPS illuminates the meaning, magic and mysteries of fatherhood.
ROBIN by Dave Itzkoff (Biography)
From his rapid-fire stand-up comedy riffs to his breakout role in “Mork & Mindy” and his Academy Award-winning performance in Good Will Hunting, Robin Williams was a singularly innovative and beloved entertainer. He often came across as a man possessed, holding forth on culture and politics while mixing in personal revelations. But as Dave Itzkoff shows, Williams’ comic brilliance masked a deep well of conflicting emotions and self-doubt.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
Our Latest Poll: “The Great American Read” on PBS
Will You Watch and Vote?
“The Great American Read” is an eight-part series on PBS premiering May 22nd that focuses on America’s 100 best-loved novels. Throughout the course of the series, viewers will be able to vote for their favorites among the 100, and the top best-loved novel in America will be revealed in October. Are you planning to watch this series and participate in the voting?
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I plan to watch the series and vote.
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I plan to watch the series, but probably will not vote.
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I plan to vote, but probably will not watch the entire series.
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I do not plan to watch the series or vote.
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I am not sure what I am going to do.
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, May 25th 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 May 11th to May 25th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE MAP OF SALT AND STARS by Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar and THE PERFECT MOTHER by Aimee Molloy.
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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