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Margaret Atwood (r) announced that a sequel to THE HANDMAID'S TALE will release next September
Carol's mom baked these turkey-shaped cookies for Thanksgiving
Yes, Tomorrow It’s December
The Countdown to the Holidays is Officially On!
For the record, Thanksgiving weekend did not feel like it lasted 4½ days. It whooshed right on by. Dinner was really fun, and even the new dishes that we tried turned out really well. My Triple Berry Crisp was a big hit; I do not really like apple or pumpkin pie, so I tried this and it was perfect. My mom baked the adorable cookies that you see above --- one of her traditions! As I loathe days and days of leftovers (turkey is fine, but the veggies do not have the same attraction for me four days later), this year I wised up and made goody bags of leftovers for everyone who was here. No looking at Brussels sprouts later in the week. Hallelujah!
Last weekend, I realized that there were a number of 2018 books that I had missed reading when they first came out, and I wanted to consider them for Bookreporter.com Bets On. Thus I have a small stack of books that were published earlier this year that I want to tackle before we announce our annual End-of-the-Year Bets On Contest next Friday. The pressure to read quickly is on! I already selected one: WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens, a Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club pick. Click here to find out why I’m betting you’ll love it.
I also know that THE LIBRARY BOOK by Susan Orlean will be another selection. This is a perfect gift for any booklover. She takes readers behind the scenes at the library to places like the shipping room, where intra-library books are trafficked. The book opens with a shocker as she walks us through a fire at the main branch of the Los Angeles Public Library that was horrific; she takes us down the road to explore if the fire was set on purpose and, if so, who did it. I am listening to the audiobook, which is narrated by Susan, and I am learning something new on every page --- or, should I say, every 350 spoken words. And I am now reading THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF SAM HELL by Robert Dugoni, which came out in April. I am not sure how I missed it! I feel another Bets On for this one. I will share more next week.
Oprah’s latest Book Club pick is Michelle Obama’s memoir, BECOMING. The former First Lady, the first African American to serve in that role, invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her --- from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. Says Michelle, “I’m an ordinary person who found herself on an extraordinary journey. In sharing my story, I hope to help create space for other stories and other voices, to widen the pathway for who belongs and why.”
Roberta O’Hara has our review and says, “With humor, intelligence, faith and just a bit of hindsight, BECOMING is the wonderful, inspiring story of an American upbringing, a romance, and the chance for an average girl to become a voice for the American people.” We also have a Q&A with Michelle from the publisher, along with a discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com --- and for Oprah’s thoughts on the book and why she chose it for her book club, click here. Please note that BECOMING will be a Holiday Cheer prize title the week of December 10th.
KINGDOM OF THE BLIND, the 14th installment in Louise Penny’s mystery series starring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, is our latest New Release Spotlight title. When a peculiar letter arrives inviting Gamache to an abandoned farmhouse, the former head of the Sûreté du Québec discovers that a complete stranger has named him one of the executors of her will. Still on suspension, Gamache accepts and soon learns that the other two executors are Myrna Landers, the bookseller from Three Pines, and a young builder. None of them had ever met the elderly woman. When a body is found, the terms of the bizarre will suddenly seem less peculiar and far more menacing.
According to reviewer Roz Shea, KINGDOM OF THE BLIND is “Penny’s most intriguing novel yet. She artfully laces the history of long-held misbegotten greed with current-day drug smuggling into a morality tale for the times."
The audio version of KINGDOM OF THE BLIND (read by Robert Bathurst) is one of the prizes in this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest; the other is Barbara Taylor Bradford’s MASTER OF HIS FATE (read by Joan Walker), which we’re also reviewing this week. Let us know what audiobooks you’ve listened to, and you’ll be in the running to win both these audio titles. You only have until this Monday, December 3rd at noon ET to submit your entries, so please do so before it’s too late.
Other books we’re reviewing this week include ROBERT B. PARKER’S BLOOD FEUD, the seventh Sunny Randall novel and the first to be penned by famed sports journalist and longtime friend of Parker, Mike Lupica; A CHRISTMAS REVELATION, Anne Perry’s latest holiday mystery, in which an orphan boy investigates a woman’s kidnapping --- and discovers there’s more at stake than a disappearance; and EVENING IN PARADISE, a collection of previously uncompiled stories from the late Lucia Berlin, who many of you know as the author of the New York Times bestseller A MANUAL FOR CLEANING WOMEN.
A CHRISTMAS REVELATION is one of the books we’re giving away in our new Word of Mouth contest; the other is YOU DON’T OWN ME by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke, which we’ll review in two weeks. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read by Friday, December 14th at noon ET, and you’ll have a chance to win both these novels.
In this week’s Holiday Cheer contests, we gave away THE GLASS FOREST by Cynthia Swanson, the aforementioned KINGDOM OF THE BLIND by Louise Penny, LADY OF A THOUSAND TREASURES by Sandra Byrd, and MARK OF THE RAVEN by Morgan L. Busse. Next week’s prizes will be two books by Debbie Macomber --- ALASKAN HOLIDAY and COTTAGE BY THE SEA --- along with IN PIECES by Sally Field. The first contest of the week will go live on Monday, December 3rd at noon ET.
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 THE LYING WOODS by Ashley Elston, THE COLOR OF LIES by CJ Lyons, and THAT NIGHT by Amy Giles.
For our latest poll, we want to know if you use Goodreads and, if so, all the ways you interact with the site. Click here to enlighten us! We have a reason for asking.
Our previous poll asked if you’re planning to give books as gifts this holiday season. 70% of you are intending to give print books (hardcovers and/or paperbacks), while 27% are planning to give a gift card that will allow the recipient to buy a print book, eBook or audiobook. Click here for all the results.
Sarah Jessica Parker has selected Sarah Smarsh’s HEARTLAND: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth as her latest ALA Book Club Central Pick. According to Parker, “Ms. Smarsh writes with authority and urgency about the entrenched deprivation of overlooked Americans born into poverty across the country. Her straightforward, empathetic storytelling is motivated by a deeply-saturated love for her family and Kansas home and brings readers into the heart of what it means to live with brokenness and resilience every day.” You may remember that I recently made the audiobook a Bets On title; we also have a review of the hardcover and a discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com. This would be a great book to discuss.
The December pick for the PBS NewsHour-New York Times “Now Read This” book club is THERE WILL BE NO MIRACLES HERE, Casey Gerald's coming-of-age memoir that we reviewed last month and was one of this year's Book Expo buzz books, which gave me an opportunity to interview Casey at the conference. You can read more about this latest pick here.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail: Annie said this about last week’s newsletter: ”It's very interesting to me that I have four of the books sitting behind me that you just mentioned. Almost finished with NINE PERFECT STRANGERS. I volunteered to take my grandson to the dentist today because he had oral surgery. It took over 2½ hours, and I was bummed at having to put the book down to drive home. I have TARGET: ALEX CROSS to read during dinner preparations tomorrow.” We love uber readers who are on our wavelength.
BIG Margaret Atwood News: The author announced this week that she's writing a sequel to THE HANDMAID'S TALE, called THE TESTAMENTS, which is set to be published on September 10, 2019. Click here for all the exciting details.
Jonathan Santlofer on NPR: Listen to this excellent interview with Jonathan talking about his memoir, THE WIDOWER'S NOTEBOOK, and how he has coped with the challenges that came from his wife's passing.
Bruce: A trailer promoting Bruce Springsteen’s Netflix special, "Springsteen on Broadway," that airs on Sunday, December 16th can be found here. By the way, as I watched this trailer, I was reminded of how terrific the audiobook for his memoir, BORN TO RUN, was. It was narrated by him.
If Beale Street Could Talk: Nicole on our staff attended a screening for this film based on the James Baldwin 1974 novel of the same name. Here’s her commentary on it:
"It tells the story of a young couple, Fonny and Tish, who must navigate their relationship and the racial and social injustices of the 1970s. Twenty-two-year-old Fonny is falsely accused of rape and thrown in jail. While he awaits his trial, his young 19-year-old lover, Tish, finds out she’s pregnant and works tirelessly to prove Fonny innocent. It’s directed by Barry Jenkins, whose most famous 2016 movie, Moonlight, took home the Academy Award for Best Picture. I am a huge Jenkins fan, so I had high expectations going in. Thankfully, they were all met. In true Jenkins form, he chose a powerful and topical story. Also in true Jenkins form, it is exquisitely done. It’s moving, romantic at times and jarringly upsetting at others.The two rising stars have an undeniable chemistry, and Jenkins’ captivating lens on every angle of the movie really makes the whole thing a masterpiece. In true Nikki form, I cried a handful of times."
The movie hits theaters in limited engagement today. Check out the trailer here. Also, listen to Jenkins talk about Beale Street with the New York Times here.
I have a busy weekend planned. Tonight I am headed to the wrap party for the Morristown Festival of Books. Yes, it’s a few weeks after the fact, but it will be fun to see the group of organizers when we are not all bleary-eyed from the weekend’s activities. On Saturday, we are going to our friend Moe’s 95 birthday party!
In between all of this celebrating, I want to get the house decorated. I have an idea for outside decorating that includes white birch sticks, and my husband has been anointed with sainthood for tracking them down for me at a local craft store. I am hoping this comes together as I planned. I also bought a 7’ pre-lit tree that is super narrow. It’s not fun to have to move furniture around to fit the Christmas tree in the house. I got it on a super sale; if it works, I may invest in more! Greg is flying to Key West in the morning for a quick lighthouse trip and will be back on Monday night. I am not sure of Cory’s plans.
Oh, and on the yoga challenge, I fear I am not going to be able to finish it. I have been off the mat since last Friday when I managed to aggravate a chronic pain by taking a harder class than usual. Jennifer, our designer who lives in Ohio, told me that I should have just laid down in the child’s pose. But, oh no, I was in the front of the room where I was between two very flexible 20somethings. The speed of the class is what did me in, not the poses. I will be back on the mat soon; I really missed it this week.
Happy Hanukkah to our readers who are celebrating! Hmmm eight books for presents?
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, perhaps as you do your holiday shopping!
An Interview with Michelle Obama
and a Review of Her Memoir, BECOMING,
Oprah's Latest Book Club Pick
In her memoir, BECOMING, Michelle Obama describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it --- in her own words and on her own terms. In this interview, the former First Lady discusses her inspiration for writing the book and what she hoped to accomplish; offers advice to people who are unsure about their path in life and who need some help figuring out their passion; and explains how she has dealt with self-doubt, those moments in your life when you question whether or not you’re good enough.
BECOMING by Michelle Obama (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Michelle Obama
As First Lady of the United States of America --- the first African American to serve in that role --- Michelle Obama established herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. In her memoir, Michelle invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her --- from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. Reviewed by Roberta O’Hara.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Read the review and interview.
New Release Spotlight:
KINGDOM OF THE BLIND by Louise Penny
KINGDOM OF THE BLIND: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Robert Bathurst
When a peculiar letter arrives inviting Armand Gamache to an abandoned farmhouse, the former head of the Sûreté du Québec discovers that a complete stranger has named him one of the executors of her will. Still on suspension, and frankly curious, Gamache accepts and soon learns that the other two executors are Myrna Landers, the bookseller from Three Pines, and a young builder.
None of them had ever met the elderly woman.
The will is so odd and includes bequests that are so wildly unlikely that Gamache and the others suspect the woman must have been delusional. But what if, Gamache begins to ask himself, she was perfectly sane?
Unknown Object
When a body is found, the terms of the bizarre will suddenly seem less peculiar and far more menacing.
But it isn’t the only menace Gamache is facing.
The investigation into what happened six months ago --- the events that led to his suspension --- has dragged on, into the dead of winter. And while most of the opioids he allowed to slip though his hands, in order to bring down the cartels, have been retrieved, there is one devastating exception.
Enough narcotic to kill thousands has disappeared into inner city Montreal. With the deadly drug about to hit the streets, Gamache races for answers.
As he uses increasingly audacious, even desperate, measures to retrieve the drug, Armand Gamache begins to see his own blind spots. And the terrible things hiding there.
- Click here to read a review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to visit the series' website.
- Click here to read Louise Penny's bio.
- Click here to visit Louise Penny's website.
- Click here to connect with Louise Penny on Facebook.
Click here to read more in our New Release Spotlight.
Featured Review: ROBERT B. PARKER’S
BLOOD FEUD by Mike Lupica
ROBERT B. PARKER’S BLOOD FEUD: A Sunny Randall Novel by Mike Lupica (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Kate Burton
Sunny Randall is "on" again with Richie, the ex-husband she never stopped loving and never seemed to be able to let go, despite her discomfort with his Mafia connections. When Richie is shot and nearly killed, Sunny is dragged into the thick of his family's business as she searches for answers and tries to stave off a mob war. But as the bullets start flying in Boston's mean streets, Sunny finds herself targeted by the deranged mastermind of the plot against the Burke family, whose motive may be far more personal than she could have anticipated. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review:
A CHRISTMAS REVELATION by Anne Perry
A CHRISTMAS REVELATION by Anne Perry (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Rosalyn Landor
Formerly a river urchin living on the banks of the Thames, nine-year-old Worm has never experienced a family Christmas. But thanks to a job at Hester Monk’s clinic, he’s found a makeshift family in kindly volunteer Miss Claudine Burroughs and curmudgeonly old bookkeeper Squeaky Robinson. When Worm witnesses the abduction of a beautiful woman by a pair of ruffians just days before Christmas, he frantically turns to Squeaky for help. What neither of the would-be saviors expects, however, is that the damsel in distress already has her dilemma well in hand…and is taking steps to bring her captors to justice for crimes far worse than kidnapping. But the rogues, as cunning as they are deadly, are not to be underestimated. 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: MASTER OF HIS FATE
by Barbara Taylor Bradford
MASTER OF HIS FATE by Barbara Taylor Bradford (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Joan Walker
Victorian England is a country of sharp divides between rich and poor, but James Lionel Falconer, who spends his days working at his father’s market stall, is determined to become a merchant prince. Even as a child, he is everything a self-made man should be: handsome, ambitious, charming and brimming with self-confidence. James quickly rises through the ranks, proving himself both hardworking and trustworthy, and catching the eye of Henry Malvern, head of the most prestigious shipping company in London. But when threats against his reputation --- and his life --- begin to emerge, James will have to prove that he truly is the master of his fate. Reviewed by Rebecca Wasniak.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens
A Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick
WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens (Fiction)
I am playing catch-up on some books that are getting great buzz that came out this year that I never got to at the time of their release. One is WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens, which was published in August. I have been hearing friends talk about it for weeks, and those with such varied tastes loved it, so I was drawn to make time for it instead of doing my usual “reading ahead.” And I am glad that I did. It is a beautifully written story that will stay with me.
The character of Kya Clark is called the “Marsh Girl” by locals. She lives alone in the marshlands off the North Carolina coast in a town called Barkley Cove. She is abandoned there first by her mother, who had endured years of domestic abuse, and then by her father, whose fondness for alcohol brought out his violent side. Kya lives off the grid in a cabin that is ramshackle at best. She is unschooled and hides from the truant officer, who insists that she belongs in school. What she is best at is surviving. She sells mussels to make some cash so she can buy food and gasoline for her boat. She barters and lives simply with no creature comforts. She’s wild, free and very alone.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary.
Bookreporter.com's Holiday Cheer Contests and Feature
At Bookreporter.com, we kick off the holiday season in style with our Holiday Cheer Contests and Feature. As our gift to you, on select days in November and December, we are spotlighting a book and giving five lucky readers the chance to win it. You have to visit the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter the 24-hour contest. As always, we are sending our special Holiday Cheer newsletter on the days when there are contests. Click here to sign up for these email alerts.
Our next prize book will be announced on Monday, December 3rd at noon ET.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
Mystery Mayhem Author Spotlight:
ONCE UPON A RIVER by Diane Setterfield
ONCE UPON A RIVER by Diane Setterfield (Mystery)
On a dark midwinter’s night in an ancient inn on the river Thames, an extraordinary event takes place. The regulars are telling stories to while away the dark hours, when the door bursts open on a grievously wounded stranger. In his arms is the lifeless body of a small child. Hours later, the girl stirs, takes a breath and returns to life. Is it a miracle? Is it magic? Or can science provide an explanation? These questions have many answers, some of them quite dark indeed.
Those who dwell on the river bank apply all their ingenuity to solving the puzzle of the girl who died and lived again, yet as the days pass the mystery only deepens. The child herself is mute and unable to answer the essential questions: Who is she? Where did she come from? And to whom does she belong? But answers proliferate nonetheless.
Three families are keen to claim her. A wealthy young mother knows the girl is her kidnapped daughter, missing for two years. A farming family reeling from the discovery of their son’s secret liaison stand ready to welcome their granddaughter. The parson’s housekeeper, humble and isolated, sees in the child the image of her younger sister. But the return of a lost child is not without complications, and no matter how heartbreaking the past losses, no matter how precious the child herself, this girl cannot be everyone’s. Each family has mysteries of its own, and many secrets must be revealed before the girl’s identity can be known.
ONCE UPON A RIVER is a glorious tapestry of a book that combines folklore and science, magic and myth. Suspenseful, romantic and richly atmospheric, the beginning of this novel will sweep you away on a powerful current of storytelling, transporting you through worlds both real and imagined, to the triumphant conclusion whose depths will continue to give up their treasures long after the last page is turned.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to visit the book’s website.
- Click here to read Diane Setterfield’s bio.
- Connect with Diane Setterfield on Facebook and Twitter.
- Click here to see the 25 winners selected to read and comment on the book.
Click here to read more in our Mystery Mayhem Author Spotlight.
ONCE UPON A RIVER releases on December 4th. Don't miss our review
of the book and our interview with the author in next week's newsletter.
FOX 8: A Story by George Saunders (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by George Saunders
Fox 8 has always been known as the daydreamer in his pack, the one his fellow foxes regard with a knowing snort and a roll of the eyes. That is, until he develops a unique skill: He teaches himself to speak “Yuman” by hiding in the bushes outside a house and listening to children’s bedtime stories. The power of language fuels his abundant curiosity about people --- even after “danjer” arrives in the form of a new shopping mall that cuts off his food supply, sending Fox 8 on a harrowing quest to help save his pack. Reviewed by Eileen Zimmerman Nicol.
EVENING IN PARADISE: More Stories by Lucia Berlin (Fiction/Short Stories)
Audiobook available, read by Kyla Garcia
In 2015, Farrar, Straus and Giroux published A MANUAL FOR CLEANING WOMEN, a posthumous story collection by a relatively unknown writer, to widespread acclaim. The book’s author, Lucia Berlin, earned comparisons to Raymond Carver, Grace Paley, Alice Munro and Anton Chekhov. EVENING IN PARADISE is a careful selection from Berlin’s remaining stories --- 22 gems that showcase the gritty glamour that made readers fall in love with her. From Texas to Chile, Mexico to New York City, Berlin finds beauty in the darkest places and darkness in the seemingly pristine. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
SLOWHAND: The Life and Music of Eric Clapton by Philip Norman (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Peter Coates
For half a century, Eric Clapton has been acknowledged to be one of music's greatest virtuosos, the unrivalled master of an indispensable tool, the solid-body electric guitar. Winner of 17 Grammys, the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame's only three-time inductee, he is an enduring influence on every other star soloist who ever wielded a pick. Now, with Clapton's consent and access to family members and close friends, rock music's foremost biographer returns to the heroic age of British rock and follows Clapton through his distinctive and scandalous childhood, early life of reckless rock 'n' roll excess, and twisting and turning struggle with addiction in the ’60s and ’70s. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE MUSEUM OF MODERN LOVE by Heather Rose (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Laurel Lefkow
Unexpectedly separated from his wife, Arky Levin suddenly has the space he needs to work composing film scores --- but none of the peace of mind he needs to create. As he wanders the city, it’s almost by chance that he stumbles upon an exhibition that will change his life. Visitors to the Museum of Modern Art sit across a table from the performance artist Marina Abramović, for as short or long a period as they choose. Although some go in skeptical, almost all leave moved. And the participants are not the only ones to find themselves changed by this unusual experience: Arky finds himself drawn to the exhibit. He returns day after day to watch other people sit with Abramović --- and he begins to understand what might be missing in his life and what he must do. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
NEWCOMER by Keigo Higashino (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by P. J. Ochlan
Detective Kyochiro Kaga of the Tokyo Police Department has just been transferred to a new precinct in the Nihonbashi area of Tokyo. Newly arrived, but with a great deal of experience, Kaga is promptly assigned to the team investigating the murder of a woman. But the more he investigates, the greater number of potential suspects emerges. It isn’t long before it seems that nearly all the people living and working in the business district of Nihonbashi have a motive for murder. To prevent the murderer from eluding justice, Kaga must unravel all the secrets surrounding a complicated life. Buried somewhere in the woman’s past, her family history and the last few days of her life is the clue that will lead to the murderer. Reviewed by Megan Elliott.
THE ADULTS by Caroline Hulse (Fiction/Humor)
Audiobook available; read by Penelope Rawlins, Peter Kenny and Sarah Ovens
Claire and Matt are no longer together but decide that it would be best for their daughter, Scarlett, to have a “normal” family Christmas. They can’t agree on whose idea it was to go to the Happy Forest holiday park, or who said they should bring their new partners. But someone did, and it’s too late to pull the plug. Claire brings her new boyfriend, Patrick, a seemingly sensible, eligible from a distance Ironman in Waiting. Matt brings the new love of his life, Alex, who’s funny, smart and extremely patient. They all drink a little too much after Scarlett’s bedtime, overshare classified secrets about their pasts…and before you know it, their holiday is a powder keg that ends where this novel begins --- with a tearful, frightened call to the police. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
JOHN MARSHALL: The Man Who Made the Supreme Court by Richard Brookhiser (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Robert Fass
In 1801, a genial and brilliant Revolutionary War veteran and politician became the fourth chief justice of the United States. He would hold the post for 34 years (still a record), expounding the Constitution he loved. Before he joined the Supreme Court, it was the weakling of the federal government, lacking in dignity and clout. After he died, it could never be ignored again. Through three decades of dramatic cases involving businessmen, scoundrels, Native Americans and slaves, Marshall defended the federal government against unruly states, established the Supreme Court's right to rebuke Congress or the president, and unleashed the power of American commerce. Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds.
ALL THE LIVES WE NEVER LIVED by Anuradha Roy (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Vikas Adam
This is the story of Myshkin and his mother, Gayatri, a rebellious, alluring artist who abandons parenthood and marriage to follow her primal desire for freedom. Though freedom may be stirring in the air of India, across the world the Nazis have risen to power in Germany. At this point of crisis, a German artist from Gayatri’s past seeks her out. His arrival ignites passions she has long been forced to suppress. What follows is her life as pieced together by her son, a journey that takes him through India and Dutch-held Bali. Excavating the roots of the world in which he was abandoned, he comes to understand his long-lost mother, and the connections between strife at home and a war-torn universe overtaken by patriotism. Reviewed by Katherine B. Weissman.
ZERO SUM GAME by S. L. Huang (Science Fiction/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Lauren Fortgang
Cas Russell is good at math. Scary good. The vector calculus blazing through her head lets her smash through armed men twice her size and dodge every bullet in a gunfight, and she'll take any job for the right price. As far as Cas knows, she’s the only person around with a superpower...until she discovers someone with a power even more dangerous than her own. Someone who can reach directly into people’s minds and twist their brains into Möbius strips. Someone intent on becoming the world’s puppet master. Cas should run, like she usually does, but for once she's involved. There’s only one problem: she doesn’t know which of her thoughts are her own anymore. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
MERCURY’S CHOICE by Kyler James (Psychological Thriller/Urban Fantasy)
What happens when a genius of a painter meets a wealthy autograph dealer in New York City? Will they live happily ever after, or will their worlds collide? Only Davis Jarvey, our gifted painter, will know for sure on that dreaded day when he is forced to make...Mercury's Choice. Reviewed by Bianca Ambrosio.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on December 4th
Below are some notable titles releasing on December 4th 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 available the week of December 3rd, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
BROKEN GROUND: A Karen Pirie Novel by Val McDermid (Mystery/Thriller)
Six feet under in a Highland peat bog lies Alice Somerville’s inheritance, buried by her grandfather at the end of World War II. But when Alice finally uncovers it, she finds an unwanted surprise --- a body with a bullet hole between the eyes. Meanwhile, cold case detective Karen Pirie is called in to unravel a case where nothing is quite as it seems.
BRYANT & MAY: HALL OF MIRRORS: A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery by Christopher Fowler (Historical Mystery)
London, 1969. With the Swinging Sixties underway, Detectives Arthur Bryant and John May find themselves caught in the middle of a good, old-fashioned manor house murder mystery.
JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT by Catherine Ryan Hyde (Fiction)
No longer tolerating her husband’s borderline abuse, Faith escapes to her parents’ California beach house to plan her next move. She never dreamed her new chapter would involve befriending Sarah, a 14-year-old on the run from her father and reeling from her mother’s sudden and suspicious death.
KITCHEN YARNS: Notes on Life, Love, and Food by Ann Hood (Essays)
From her Italian-American childhood through raising and feeding a growing family and cooking with her new husband, food writer Michael Ruhlman, Ann Hood has long appreciated the power of a good meal. In this warm collection of personal essays and recipes, she nourishes both our bodies and our souls.
THE MANSION by Ezekiel Boone (Horror/Thriller)
A family moves into a home equipped with the world’s most intelligent, cutting-edge and intuitive computer ever --- but a buried secret leads to terrifying and catastrophic consequences.
NOT OF THIS FOLD: A Linda Wallheim Mystery Set in Mormon Utah by Mette Ivie Harrison (Mystery)
The fourth installment in Mette Ivie Harrison's Linda Wallheim mystery series, set in Mormon Utah, explores the effects of alienation, immigration and extortion from the inner workings of the Mormon church.
OF BLOOD AND BONE: Chronicles of The One, Book 2 by Nora Roberts (Dystopian Fantasy)
Nora Roberts, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the epic YEAR ONE, returns with OF BLOOD AND BONE, a new tale of terror and magick in a brand new world.
ONCE UPON A RIVER by Diane Setterfield (Mystery)
On a dark midwinter’s night in an ancient inn on the river Thames, an extraordinary event takes place. The regulars are telling stories to while away the dark hours, when the door bursts open on a grievously wounded stranger. In his arms is the lifeless body of a small child. Hours later, the girl stirs, takes a breath and returns to life. Is it a miracle? Is it magic? Or can science provide an explanation?
THE SONGBIRD by Marcia Willett (Fiction)
When Tim confides in Mattie that he needs a sabbatical from work and a fresh place to live, she suggests he move into one of the cottages at her family's home in the beautiful English countryside. As he gets to know the warm jumble of family who share their lives, Tim discovers that everyone there has their secrets.
THE THREE SECRET CITIES by Matthew Reilly (Thriller/Adventure)
When Jack West, Jr. won the Great Games, he threw the four legendary kingdoms into turmoil. Now these dark forces are coming after Jack...in ruthless fashion. With the end of all things rapidly approaching, Jack must find the Three Secret Cities, three incredible lost cities of legend.
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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:
THE LYING WOODS by Ashley Elston (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Adam Verner and Stephen Dexter
When Owen Foster's mother shows up at his elite boarding school, he learns that his privileged life has been funded by stolen money. After using the family business to embezzle millions and drain his employees' retirement accounts, Owen's father vanished without a trace. Owen returns to his small hometown to finish his senior year, where people he hardly remembers despise him for his father's crimes. His only refuge is the sprawling orchard he works at after school, owned by a man named Gus, who seems to know Owen better than he knows himself. As Owen uncovers a terrible injustice, he must face a shocking truth about his past --- and write a better future.
THE COLOR OF LIES by CJ Lyons (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Emily Sutton-Smith
High school senior Ella Cleary has always been good at reading people. Her family has a rare medical condition called synesthesia that scrambles the senses --- her Gram Helen sees every sound, and her uncle Joe can literally taste words. Ella’s own synesthesia manifests itself as the ability to see colors that reveal people’s true emotions…until she meets a guy she just can’t read. Alec is a mystery to Ella, a handsome, enigmatic young journalist who makes her feel normal for the first time in her life. That is, until he reveals the real reason why he sought her out --- he wants to learn the truth behind her parents’ deaths, the parents Ella had always been told died in a fire. Alec turns Ella’s world upside down when he tells her that their deaths were definitely not an accident.
THAT NIGHT by Amy Giles (Fiction)
The year since a mass shooting shook their Queens neighborhood has played out differently for Jess and Lucas, both of whom were affected by that night in eerily similar and deeply personal ways. As Jess struggles to take care of her depressed mother and Lucas takes up boxing under the ever-watchful eye of his overprotective parents, their paths converge. They slowly become friends and then something more, learning to heal and move forward together. But what does it mean to love after an unspeakable tragedy?
Click here for more young adult books we recommend you read.
Our Latest Poll: Do You Use Goodreads?
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I am not interested in Goodreads.
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, December 14th 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 November 30th to December 14th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of A CHRISTMAS REVELATION by Anne Perry and YOU DON'T OWN ME by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke.
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 November 1st to December 3rd at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Louise Penny's KINGDOM OF THE BLIND: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel, read by Robert Bathurst, and Barbara Taylor Bradford's MASTER OF HIS FATE, read by Joan Walker.
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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