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A LOOOOONG Week!
And Just Like That, It’s Almost October!
This was one looooong week with way too much rain and crazy traffic with the UN General Assembly meeting in the city. There were sirens blaring all week as delegates and their motorcades moved around the city. Trust that each year this is the week when I wish the UN headquarters was anywhere except in NYC.
When we left off last week, I was in a Paul Simon state of mind. Note that when one heads to Flushing Meadows Corona Park for the final concert on the Paul Simon Farewell Tour, there is something really fun about skipping putting a blanket on the lawn and instead heading to the front of the lawn near the stage in the “no blankets” section and hanging out with other uber-fans. It was the best, though I definitely felt the effects of five hours on my feet the next day. Above is a photo of the stage, which shows how close we were. For humor, I knew there was going to be a lot of waiting time at the show as we were getting there early to get good seats. I was thinking of bringing along my knitting. Greg said, “No, they said no weapons. In Linwood Barclay’s film, Never Saw It Coming [based on the book of the same name], he proved that knitting needles can be a weapon.” That totally made me laugh, and Linwood got a kick out of it, too. And I did not bring the knitting!
Two Sundays ago, I attended a sad but beautiful memorial service for Sandy DeMille, the wife of Nelson DeMille, a woman who always had a smile, a kind word and a keen interest in whatever my family and I were up to when I saw her at events over the past 15+ years. Nelson announced her passing to his readers this week in a brief newsletter, saying, “In lieu of a newsletter from Nelson, he would like you to know that his wife Sandy passed away after a courageous four-year battle with lung cancer. She was 54, and leaves a 12-year-old son. Megyn Kelly, who is a friend of Nelson & Sandy, did a beautiful tribute to Sandy on her show.” You can see that here. Such a huge loss!
I finished listening to HEARTLAND; one of the benefits of lots of car traveling time is lots of listening time. Sarah Smarsh, the author, narrates and is perfect for it, with her Midwestern roots coming through in her pronunciations of many words and her passion for sharing her family's story. We reviewed it last week, and Jane Krebs' thoughts on it were dead-on. I will have more on it next week as it will be a Bookreporter Bets On selection.
Now I am listening to DRY by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman, who are a father/son writing team. I just started it; it has an ensemble cast, which means it has more than one narrator. The plot is about a teen girl who has to take big risks for her family when a drought in California reaches a critical point, leaving no water available. They first head to Costco to get water, and when there is none left (picturing this scene at Costco vividly), she instead buys ice. So smart! I confess that I am thirsty listening to it!
Kate Atkinson returns with her first novel in three years, TRANSCRIPTION, following the release of A GOD IN RUINS (winner of the 2015 Costa Book Award). In 1940, 18-year-old Juliet Armstrong is sent to an obscure department of MI5 that monitors the comings and goings of British Fascist sympathizers. Ten years later, Juliet --- who is now a radio producer at the BBC --- is unexpectedly confronted by figures from her past, and she finds herself once more under threat.
Reviewer Eileen Zimmerman Nicol calls TRANSCRIPTION a “smart, tantalizing mystery” and goes on to say, “Juliet, with her intelligence and stubborn, sardonic cynicism, is a winning protagonist. Whoever said ‘the plot thickens’ has described this absorbing novel to a T.” Note that at a publisher preview, they noted that Atkinson said this is her last book about World War II. I think we shall see about that.
TRANSCRIPTION is one of the prizes in our current Word of Mouth contest; the other is A SPARK OF LIGHT by Jodi Picoult, which we plan to review next week. Let us know by Friday, October 5th at noon ET what books you’ve read for your chance to win both these highly anticipated novels.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include Bob Woodward’s explosive book on President Trump, FEAR; DARK TIDE RISING, Anne Perry’s latest William Monk mystery that finds the commander of the River Police faced with an unthinkable possibility --- betrayal by his own men; AN ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE THING, the much-anticipated debut novel of Hank Green (YA author John Green’s brother), about a young woman who becomes an overnight celebrity before realizing she's part of something bigger --- and stranger --- than anyone could have possibly imagined (this is the latest Barnes & Noble Book Club title and will be discussed on October 24th); and THE CAREGIVER by the late Samuel Park, a moving story about a daughter who unearths the hidden life of her enigmatic mother (sadly, Park died of stomach cancer at the age of 41 shortly after finishing the novel).
Our Fall Preview contests return next week with our sixth giveaway. The prize book will be THE LITTLE SHOP OF FOUND THINGS by Paula Brackston, which releases on October 16th, and the contest kicks off on Tuesday, October 2nd at noon ET. If you’d like to receive a special newsletter that spotlights each of these 24-hour giveaways, all you have to do is sign up here.
We’ve updated our Young Adult Books You Want to Read feature, books we've recently reviewed on Teenreads.com that we think will appeal to an adult audience. This month’s titles are PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE by Ellen Hopkins, WHEN ELEPHANTS FLY by Nancy Richardson Fischer, and MARY SHELLEY: The Strange True Tale of Frankenstein's Creator by Catherine Reef.
You only have until this Monday, October 1st at noon ET to enter this month’s Sounding Of on Audio contest, where we’re giving away the audio versions of LAKE SUCCESS, read by Arthur Morey and Soneela Nankani, and Christina Dalcher's VOX, read by Julia Whelan. Submit your comments about the audiobooks you’ve listened to, and you’ll be in the running to win both these audio titles.
Our poll continues to ask if you look at the New York Times bestseller lists. So many authors, publishers and agents gauge the success of a book by whether or not it appears on these lists, so we’re curious if you pay attention to them. Click here to let us know.
Sarah Jessica Parker has selected SHE WOULD BE KING by debut novelist Wayétu Moore (one of this year’s Book Expo buzz books) as her latest ALA Book Club Central Pick. According to Parker, "This novel dazzles with beauty and transcendent, transformative humanity. Through the stories of Gbessa, June Dey, and Norman Aragon, Wayétu Moore illuminates what it means to be of and from places that are both faraway and inescapably familiar. I treasured every moment I spent in the pages of this book, and I’m thrilled to be able to share it with all of you." We reviewed the book when it released two weeks ago (click here to read the review), and we also have a discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com, which you can check out here.
Kirkus Reviews has announced the finalists for the fifth annual Kirkus Prize in Fiction, Nonfiction and Young Readers’ Literature. The winners in each of these categories will be announced at a special ceremony in Austin, Texas, on Thursday, October 25th.
You have been great with suggestions for book groups in the past. I have a new challenge for you. I had lunch with a publishing colleague the other day. She told me her dad is in a book group; they are trying to decide what to read next and can use suggestions. They read books like Amor Towles' A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW and are looking for that kind of accessible fiction. I recommend BENEATH A SCARLET SKY by Mark Sullivan (the hardcover even has the discussion guide that we wrote in it), but we want to hear what YOU have to say. Shoot me a note at Carol@bookreporter.com with the subject line “Men’s Book Club.”
I just added an event to my calendar for Sunday, November 4th at 2pm at the White Plains Public Library in Westchester, NY. It’s open to book groups and enthusiastic readers, so if you're interested, please make note of this. My events calendar is here. I already am scheduling events for 2019, beginning with one on Sunday, February 24th at the Bernardsville Public Library in NJ. The schedules for the Morristown Festival of Books (I am moderating panels at 10am with Fiona Davis and Kate Quinn and 12:20pm with Kate Morton and Diane Chamberlain), the Boston Book Festival and the Brattleboro Literary Festival are up!
And speaking of book festivals, the Baltimore Book Festival is taking place this weekend at Baltimore Inner Harbor. If you're interested in going, click here for the full lineup of events.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Phyllis wrote this about winning a copy of THE 7½ LIVES OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE: “You have just made my day! Winning a book that I'm looking forward to reading is exciting! Thanks to all of you at Bookreporter.com for all the info about books (current and future) and for the great contests! I will definitely post a comment on THE 7½ LIVES OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE after I receive and read it.” Thank you for your kind words, Phyllis.
Mary Lou also wrote about THE 7½ LIVES OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE: "So excited to receive this book! Thank you so much. I still love your newsletter so much (after all these years --- been reading it since the days of AOL), and look forward to it every weekend. I especially enjoy your notes about your weekend plans and suggestions for TV and movies, in addition to books. As for my own update: I am enjoying exploring my new city, Denver, as I moved here from SoCal six months ago to be closer to family. I am going to my first Tattered Cover event later this month when Anne Lamott will be in town. She is one of my faves, I’ve read many of her books, follow her on Twitter, and am looking forward to seeing her in person." We appreciate your being a longtime reader, and Denver is on a short list of cities that I would like to live in. One reason: I love Tattered Cover!
"This Is Us": Here are seven things you might have missed during Tuesday’s show. And if you are wondering who Alex Hanan was (the show was dedicated to him on Tuesday night), here is the answer.
"Making a Murderer": It has a season two release date; 10 new episodes will air on Netflix starting on October 19th. Here is more about the show.
A Star Is Born: In theaters October 5th. It looks terrific! Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga star. Check out the trailer here.
Beautiful Boy: Looking forward to this book-to-screen adaptation, which releases on October 12th and stars Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet. It is based on the memoirs BEAUTIFUL BOY: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction by David Sheff and TWEAK: Growing Up on Methamphetamines by David's son, Nic Sheff. Click here to watch the trailer.
Paul Simon: While he is not doing big tours any more, he is celebrating his 77th(!) birthday as the musical guest on "Saturday Night Live" on October 13th.
"The Miniaturist" on PBS: Has anyone watched it? I have not watched it yet, but did read the book when it was a Book Expo Buzz selection. Wondering what you think.
None of us around our house has big weekend plans, which I am so happy about, especially since the next three weekends are filled, and next week I think I have four nights out. I am tired just thinking about that. I am hoping to snag some more pool time, which would mean that the sun has to come out; what a rainy last few weeks we have had. And I am going to give Pilates a try. While I am enjoying yoga, I want to explore this as well. A new studio is opening by our house, and they are offering a free trial session.
Oh, and a few of you wrote to ask the name of the pretty purple flowers in the newsletter a while back. I realized I forgot to share what I learned. They are Streptocarpus, also known as Cape Primrose. They have stopped blooming now, but they were lovely.
October rolls in on Monday. Where did this year go?
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: FEAR by Bob Woodward
FEAR: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward (Politics)
Audiobook available, read by Robert Petkoff
With authoritative reporting honed through eight presidencies from Nixon to Obama, author Bob Woodward reveals in unprecedented detail the harrowing life inside President Donald Trump’s White House and precisely how he makes decisions on major foreign and domestic policies. Woodward draws from hundreds of hours of interviews with firsthand sources, meeting notes, personal diaries, files and documents. The focus is on the explosive debates and the decision-making in the Oval Office, the Situation Room, Air Force One and the White House residence. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: TRANSCRIPTION by Kate Atkinson
TRANSCRIPTION by Kate Atkinson (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Fenella Woolgar
In 1940, 18-year-old Juliet Armstrong is reluctantly recruited into the world of espionage. Sent to an obscure department of MI5 tasked with monitoring the comings and goings of British Fascist sympathizers, she discovers the work to be by turns both tedious and terrifying. But after the war has ended, she presumes the events of those years have been relegated to the past forever. Ten years later, now a radio producer at the BBC, Juliet is unexpectedly confronted by figures from her past. A different war is being fought now, on a different battleground, but Juliet finds herself once more under threat. A bill of reckoning is due, and she finally begins to realize that there is no action without consequence. Reviewed by Eileen Zimmerman Nicol.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: DARK TIDE RISING by Anne Perry
DARK TIDE RISING: A William Monk Novel by Anne Perry (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by David Colacci
Kidnappers have chosen Jacob’s Island as the site of a ransom exchange for Kate Exeter, the wife of wealthy real estate developer Harry Exeter. Harry asks the Thames River Police to secretly accompany him to the spot and ensure that no harm comes to him or his captive wife. But on arrival, Monk and five of his best men are attacked from all sides, and Monk is left wondering who could have given away their plans. As Monk follows leads from Kate’s worried cousin and a crafty clerk at the bank where Exeter gathered the ransom money, it seems undeniable that one of his own men has betrayed him. Delving into their pasts, he realizes how little he knows about the people he works with every day. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: AN ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE THING by Hank Green
AN ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE THING by Hank Green (Science Fiction/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Kristen Sieh and Hank Green
The Carls just appeared. Coming home from work at 3am, 23-year-old April May stumbles across a giant sculpture. Delighted by its appearance and craftsmanship, April and her friend Andy make a video with it, which Andy uploads to YouTube. The next day, April wakes up to a viral video and a new life. News quickly spreads that there are Carls in dozens of cities around the world, and April, as their first documentarian, finds herself at the center of an intense international media spotlight. Now April has to deal with the pressure on her relationships, her identity and her safety that this new position brings, all while being on the front lines of the quest to find out not just what the Carls are, but what they want from us. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: THE FABULOUS BOUVIER SISTERS
by Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger
THE FABULOUS BOUVIER SISTERS: The Tragic and Glamorous Lives of Jackie and Lee by Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Bernadette Dunne
When 64-year-old Jackie Kennedy Onassis died in her Fifth Avenue apartment, her younger sister Lee wept inconsolably. Then Jackie’s 38-page will was read. Lee discovered that substantial cash bequests were left to family members, friends and employees --- but nothing to her. "I have made no provision in this my Will for my sister, Lee B. Radziwill, for whom I have great affection, because I have already done so during my lifetime," read Jackie’s final testament. Drawing on the authors’ candid interviews with Lee Radziwill, THE FABULOUS BOUVIER SISTERS explores their complicated relationship, placing them at the center of 20th-century fashion, design and style. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: THE CAREGIVER by Samuel Park
THE CAREGIVER by Samuel Park (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell
With no other family or friends her own age, Ana eclipses her little girl Mara’s entire world. They take turns caring for each other --- in ways big and small. However, their arrangement begins to unravel when Ana becomes involved with a civilian rebel group attempting to undermine the city's torturous Police Chief, who rules over 1980s Rio de Janeiro with terrifying brutality. Ana makes decisions that indelibly change their shared life. When Mara is forced to escape, she emigrates to California where she finds employment as a caregiver to a young woman dying of stomach cancer. It’s here that she begins to grapple with her turbulent past and starts to uncover vital truths --- about her mother, herself, and what it means to truly take care of someone. Reviewed by Catherine Rubino.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Bookreporter.com's Fall Preview Contests and Feature
Fall is known as the biggest season of the year for books. The titles that release during this latter part of the year often become holiday gifts, and many are blockbusters. To celebrate the arrival of fall, we are spotlighting a number of outstanding books that we know people will be talking about in the days and months to come.
We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days in September and October, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next prize book will be announced on Tuesday, October 2nd at noon ET.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
An Interview with Reavis Z. Wortham,
Author of GOLD DUST
Reavis Z. Wortham is the critically acclaimed author of the Red River Mysteries, which takes place in rural Northeast Texas in the 1960s, and a contemporary thriller series featuring Texas Ranger Sonny Hawke. In this interview, Wortham discusses the research he conducted for GOLD DUST, the seventh and latest Red River mystery; why he expanded the setting of the current storyline from Lamar County, Texas, to Washington, D.C.; the crime fiction authors who have influenced him the most; and his decision to alternate viewpoints from the third person to the first person for the chapters that revolve around Constable Ned Parker’s grandson, Top.
GOLD DUST: A Red River Mystery by Reavis Z. Wortham (Historical Mystery)
As the 1960s draw to a close, the rural northeast Texas community of Center Springs is visited by two nondescript government men in dark suits and shades. Their delivery of a mysterious microscopic payload called Gold Dust from a hired crop duster coincides with 14-year-old Pepper Parker's discovery of an ancient gold coin in her dad's possession. Her adolescent trick played on a greedy adult results in the only gold rush in north Texas history. Add in modern-day cattle-rustlers and murderers, and Center Springs is once again the bull's-eye in a deadly target. The biological agent deemed benign by the CIA has unexpected repercussions, putting Pepper's near-twin cousin, Top, at death's door.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the interview.
BELICHICK: The Making of the Greatest Football Coach of All Time by Ian O'Connor (Sports/Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Brian Hutchison
Bill Belichick is perhaps the most fascinating figure in the NFL --- the infamously dour face of one of the winningest franchises in sports. As head coach of the New England Patriots, he’s led the team to five Super Bowl championship trophies. In Ian O’Connor’s revelatory biography, readers will come to understand and see Belichick’s full life in football --- from watching college games as a kid with his father, a Naval Academy scout, to orchestrating two Super Bowl–winning game plans as defensive coordinator for the Giants, to his dramatic leap to New England, where he has made history. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
ELIZA HAMILTON: The Extraordinary Life and Times of the Wife of Alexander Hamilton by Tilar J. Mazzeo (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by January LaVoy
A strong pioneer woman, a loving sister, a caring mother and, in her later years, a generous philanthropist, Eliza Hamilton had many sides. Tilar J. Mazzeo’s biography follows Eliza through her early years in New York, into the ups and downs of her married life with founding father Alexander Hamilton, beyond the aftermath of his tragic murder, and finally to her involvement in many projects that cemented her legacy as one of the unsung heroes of our nation’s early days. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.
CHARLESGATE CONFIDENTIAL by Scott Von Doviak (Hard-boiled Thriller)
A group of criminals in 1946 pull off the heist of the century, stealing a dozen priceless works of art from a Boston museum. But while the thieves get caught, the art is never found. Forty years later, the last surviving thief gets out of jail and goes hunting for the loot, involving some innocent college students in his dangerous plan --- and 30 years after that, in the present day, the former college kids, now all grown up, are drawn back into danger as the still-missing art tempts a deadly new generation of treasure hunters. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE THREE ESCAPES OF HANNAH ARENDT: A Tyranny of Truth by Ken Krimstein (Graphic Biography)
One of the greatest philosophers of the 20th century and a hero of political thought, the largely unsung and often misunderstood Hannah Arendt is best known for her landmark 1951 book on openness in political life, THE ORIGINS OF TOTALITARIANISM, which, with its powerful and timely lessons for today, has become newly relevant. She led an extraordinary life. This was a woman who endured Nazi persecution firsthand, survived harrowing "escapes" from country to country in Europe, and finally had to give up her unique genius for philosophy, and her love of a very compromised man --- the philosopher and Nazi-sympathizer Martin Heidegger --- for what she called "love of the world." Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
THE CONFESSION by Jo Spain (Psychological Thriller)
Late one night, a man walks into the luxurious home of disgraced banker Harry McNamara and his wife, Julie. And when the man launches an unspeakably brutal attack on Harry, a horror-struck Julie watches her husband die. Just one hour later, J. P. Carney hands himself into the police and confesses to beating Harry to death. Except he also claims that the assault was not premeditated and that he didn’t know the identity of his victim. With a man as notorious as Harry McNamara, who was just found innocent in a highly sensationalized fraud trial, the detectives cannot help but wonder: Was this really a random act of violence? Was Julie really powerless to stop JP? When Harry’s many sins are unveiled to include corruption, greed and betrayal, nothing is for sure. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE BETRAYALS by Fiona Neill (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Kate Lock, Sarah Ovens, Huw Parmenter and David Thorpe
Best friends Rosie and Lisa's families had always been inseparable. But that summer, Lisa had an affair with Rosie's husband, Nick. None of them would forget that week on the wild Norfolk seacoast. Relationships were torn apart, friendships shattered and childish innocence destroyed. Now, after years of silence, a letter arrives that begs for help --- a letter that exposes dark secrets. Then Rosie’s daughter Daisy's fragile hold on reality begins to unravel. Teenage son Max blames himself for everything that happened that long hot summer, and Nick must confront his own version of events. As long-repressed memories bubble to the surface, the past has never seemed more present and the truth murkier. Reviewed by Roberta O’Hara.
DEAD CATS: And Other Reflections on Parenthood by Jesse McKinnell (Fiction/Humor)
Joel Peterson's rock bottom is deeper and darker than he ever imagined, but with the help of the ghost of Kurt Cobain, he hatches a plan to capture the attention of his estranged family and reclaim his life. DEAD CATS is a dark comedy that tracks the descent of Peterson, a once-successful dentist and proud member of the upper middle-class as he falls into a spiral of drugs and vanity. When a car crash leaves him battered and homeless, he finds comfort in the restless lost soul of Cobain. Together, the two cut a path across southern Maine, chasing the meaning in their lives, desperately trying to be the men they expected to become. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
NEW FRED: How a Middle-Aged Corporate Guy Created a Sitcom, Hired Ed Asner, and Rediscovered Career Passion by Fred Knowles (Self-Help/Humor)
When you lose a sibling just as you're losing the passion for your life's work, how do you fill the void? You join a dysfunctional band of amateur writers and create a sitcom, of course. Join Fred as he tells his improbable story of his transition from corporate life to sitcom producer. This "commuter" book takes a light-hearted approach to dealing with two of life's most challenging events --- death of a loved one and a career change. Chock full of lessons (so called "learnings"), this book may very well be the funniest self-help book ever written. Reviewed by Roberta O’Hara.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on October 2nd
Below are some notable titles releasing on October 2nd that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks releasing the week of October 1st, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
ALASKAN HOLIDAY by Debbie Macomber (Romance)
Debbie Macomber brings us to the Alaskan wilderness for a magical Christmas tale about finding love where it’s least expected.
BECOMING MRS. LEWIS by Patti Callahan (Historical Fiction)
From New York Times bestselling author Patti Callahan comes an exquisite novel of Joy Davidman, the woman C. S. Lewis called “my whole world.”
BLOOD COMMUNION: A Tale of Prince Lestat by Anne Rice (Paranormal Thriller/Fantasy)
The Vampire Chronicles continue with a riveting, rich saga of Prince Lestat and the story of the Blood Communion as he tells the tale of his coming to rule the vampire world.
CONSUMED by J.R. Ward (Romantic Suspense)
Arson investigator Anne Ashburn is consumed by her troubled past, her family’s scorched legacy and her current case: chasing a deadly killer.
THE DEAD RINGER: An Agatha Raisin Mystery by M. C. Beaton (Mystery)
Agatha Raisin convinces lawyer Julian Brody to hire her to investigate the mystery of Bishop Peter Salver-Hinkley’s ex-fiancée, who went missing years ago and whose body was never found.
DRACUL by Dacre Stoker and J. D. Barker (Supernatural Thriller/Gothic Horror)
Inspired by notes and texts left behind by Bram Stoker, this prequel to DRACULA is a supernatural thriller that reveals not only Dracula’s true origins but Stoker’s --- and the tale of the enigmatic woman who connects them.
THE DREAM DAUGHTER by Diane Chamberlain (Fiction)
When Carly Sears learns that her unborn baby girl has a heart defect, she is devastated. But her brother-in-law tells her that perhaps there is a way to save her baby. What he suggests is something that will shatter every preconceived notion that Carly has.
AN EASY DEATH by Charlaine Harris (Dark Fantasy/Thriller)
The beloved author of the Sookie Stackhouse mysteries is back with a new series, introducing readers to young gunslinging mercenary Lizbeth Rose.
GONE SO LONG by Andre Dubus III (Fiction)
Andre Dubus III’s first novel in a decade explores how the wounds of the past afflict the people we become, and probes the limits of recovery and absolution.
THE GREATEST LOVE STORY EVER TOLD: An Oral History by Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally (Memoir)
Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman reveal the full story behind their epic romance --- presented in a series of intimate conversations between the couple, including photos, anecdotes and the occasional puzzle.
A SPARK OF LIGHT by Jodi Picoult (Fiction)
How do we balance the rights of pregnant women with the rights of the unborn they carry? What does it mean to be a good parent? Jodi Picoult’s new novel will inspire debate, conversation and, hopefully, understanding.
THERE WILL BE NO MIRACLES HERE: A Memoir by Casey Gerald (Memoir)
THERE WILL BE NO MIRACLES HERE is the testament of a boy and a generation who came of age as the world came apart --- a generation searching for a new way to live.
UNDER MY SKIN by Lisa Unger (Psychological Thriller)
What if the nightmares are actually memories? Lisa Unger’s latest psychological thriller revolves around a woman on the hunt for her husband’s killer.
WAR OF THE WOLF by Bernard Cornwell (Historical Fiction)
While Uhtred of Bebbanburg might have regained his family’s fortress, it seems that a peaceful life is not to be --- as he is under threat from both an old enemy and a new foe.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
Young Adult Books You Want to Read
Here are this month's books we reviewed on Teenreads.com that we think will appeal to an adult audience:
PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE by Ellen Hopkins (Fiction)
A gun is sold in the classifieds after killing a spouse, bought by a teenager for needed protection. But which was it? Each has the incentive to pick up a gun, to fire it. Was it Rand or Cami, married teenagers with a young son? Was it Silas or Ashlyn, members of a white supremacist youth organization? Daniel, who fears retaliation because of his race, who possessively clings to Grace, the love of his life? Or Noelle, who lost everything after a devastating accident, and has sunk quietly into depression? One tense week brings all six people into close contact in a town wrought with political and personal tensions. Someone will fire. And someone will die. But who?
WHEN ELEPHANTS FLY by Nancy Richardson Fischer (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Caitlin Davies
T. Lily Decker is a high school senior with a 12-year plan: avoid stress, drugs, alcohol and boyfriends, and take regular psych quizzes administered by her best friend to make sure she’s not developing schizophrenia. When she was seven, her mother, who had paranoid schizophrenia, tried to kill her. And a secret has revealed that Lily’s odds are even worse than she thought. But when a newspaper internship results in Lily witnessing a mother elephant try to kill her three-week-old calf, Swifty, Lily can’t abandon the story or the calf. With Swifty in danger of dying from grief, Lily must choose whether to risk everything --- including her sanity and a first love --- on a desperate road trip to save the calf’s life.
MARY SHELLEY: The Strange True Tale of Frankenstein's Creator by Catherine Reef (Biography)
The story of FRANKENSTEIN’s creator is a strange, romantic and tragic one, as deeply compelling as the novel itself. Mary ran away to Lake Geneva with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley when she was just 16. It was there, during a cold and wet summer, that she first imagined her story about a mad scientist who brought a corpse back to life. Success soon followed for Mary, but also great tragedy and misfortune. Catherine Reef brings this passionate woman, brilliant writer and forgotten feminist into crisp focus, detailing a life that was remarkable both before and after the publication of her iconic masterpiece.
Click here for more young adult books we recommend you read.
Our Latest Poll: Do You Pay Attention to the
New York Times Bestseller Lists?
Do you look at the New York Times bestseller lists?
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Yes, all of the time
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Yes, some of the time
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No
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No, but I plan to pay more attention to them.
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, October 5th at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You're Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve finished reading with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from September 21st to October 5th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of A SPARK OF LIGHT by Jodi Picoult and TRANSCRIPTION by Kate Atkinson.
To make sure other readers will be able to find the books you write about, please include the full title and correct author names (your entry must include these to be eligible to win). For rules and guidelines, click here.
- To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
Sounding Off on Audio Contest: Tell Us What
You're Listening to --- and You Can Win Two Audiobooks!
Tell us about the audiobooks you’ve finished listening to with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars for both the performance and the content. During the contest period from September 4th to October 1st at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Gary Shteyngart's LAKE SUCCESS, read by Arthur Morey and Soneela Nankani, and Christina Dalcher's VOX, read by Julia Whelan.
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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