April 5, 2019
 April 5, 2019Quick Links to Features on Bookreporter.com Reviews | Features | Bookreporter.com Bets On | Upcoming Bets On  Latest Update on Our GoFundMe Campaign Thank you to those of you who already have donated to our GoFundMe campaign. So far we have raised $26,200 of our $50,000 goal, with online donations and checks! Louise: "I have been on the Bookreporter newsletter list for many years. Carol's personal, humorous and insightful reports have opened my world to so many authors and mediums. I never read via a Kindle app or listened to books until I began reading the reviews, and then a move overseas made me realize I cannot pack dozens of books. But with devices I can. I have even won a few books, which I have enjoyed very much. Cheers to Carol and her team. Keep up the great work." Dale: “I donated because I have been a reader of the newsletter for several years. I have a huge book collection, but now I read on a Kindle or iPad when I'm out alone, and really am a serious Audible listener. If I'm home or in the car, there is a book playing." Linda: "I donated because I wait patiently on Fridays to read your post. It has cost me a lot of money because I find so many books with reviews that I buy! Love the newsletter --- keep them coming! Love it!" If you have not donated yet, may we ask that you consider it? Any level of donation that you would be comfortable with is sincerely appreciated. You can read more about our plans and donate here. If you would rather donate via check, our address is: The Book Report, Inc. Thank you again for your consideration and your donation. And I still owe lots of thank-you notes! My apologies for the delay.   Carol is currently reading THE STATIONERY SHOP by Marjan Kamali (on sale June 18th)  Carol attended an event at the Bernardsville Public Library where Fiona Davis (center)  Carol and her friend, Cathy (pictured above), attended an event featuring Harlan Coben,  Harry Carson, the Hall of Fame linebacker for the New York Giants, is a friend of Harlan Coben Such a FULL Week of Book and Author Events!As I am writing this, I am eating Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies. I am on the second sleeve of the second box. I want to finish these so I do not eat any more. You know what I am talking about, right? However, if I do not finish them, you can bet that Tom will. They are addicting, and the sooner that they leave this house, the better! I have eaten four as I wrote this one paragraph. On Sunday, I had such fun at the Bernardsville Public Library where Fiona Davis was interviewed by Julie Maloney as part of Julie's "Women Reading Aloud" series; Julie also is the author of A MATTER OF CHANCE, which was published last year. This intimate interview was done in a fun, breezy style where Fiona talked about her career path --- from being an actor to becoming a journalist and then a novelist. Their lively conversation went on for an hour and touched upon all of her work, including her upcoming novel, THE CHELSEA GIRLS (on sale July 30th), of which I was just finishing an advance copy. It is SO well done, right down to the ending. There is a terrific twist in it that I dare readers to see coming. The story, which delves into the impact of the McCarthy hearings on the theater world, was so well told, and it will make people think critically about that dark time and what it meant for culture. To me, I think of all the great talent that was squandered during that time…and what could have been in the arts that was sequestered. If those people had not been blacklisted, what other theater history may we have had? And yes, this will be my fourth Bookreporter.com Bets On selection from Fiona. And it was nice to see some of our Bookreporter readers in the audience! On Monday night, I was not able to attend the Book Club Girls' Night Out event with Taya Kyle, author of AMERICAN SPIRIT: Profiles in Resilience, Courage, and Faith, and Claire Gibson, author of BEYOND THE POINT, but I am very happy that Annmarie Puleio, one of our longtime readers, was there and filed a terrific report for us that you can read here. And we have some great photos that were done by Kate Hudkins from William Morrow. Also, I am happy to share that I am going to be moderating the next "Night Out" event on June 19th, where the author guests will be Joshilyn Jackson (NEVER HAVE I EVER) and Meg Mitchell Moore (THE ISLANDERS). You can buy tickets here. And speaking of Lisa See, please keep in mind that on Tuesday at 7pm local time, Barnes & Noble will be hosting a free Book Club Night in stores across the country for their current selection, which is THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN. If you’d like to attend, click here to sign up. And if you do attend, we would love to hear about your experience! On Wednesday night, my friend Cathy and I went to an event for Harlan Coben’s latest thriller, RUN AWAY. Cathy is a huge fan of Harlan's work; she has read every book, so it was really fun to share this evening with her. Harlan always bring his A game to events, and this time it was made all the more special by his being interviewed by his good friend, Harry Carson, the Hall of Fame linebacker for the New York Giants. The event was held in Livingston, NJ, which is where Harlan grew up, and he recognized many faces in the packed room. Harry was an excellent interviewer, and their banter was so much fun. Harlan spoke about the moment when the idea for the book’s opener came to him, as he was standing in Central Park near Strawberry Fields. During the Q&A, Harry moved through the audience in “Phil Donahue style,” handing the mike to questioners, making this even more of a fun and intimate evening. Towards the end of the interview, Harlan talked about the five-year deal that he has with Netflix; he will be working with them to create series programs based on many of his stand-alone books, not the Myron Bolitar series. He said that the very cool thing about Netflix is that when a show goes live with them, it automatically streams to 107 countries around the world. His shows are being shot in Europe, and he will be on set, which he loves. They will be subtitled. You can see a photo of Cathy and me with Harlan above and another of us with Harry. The event was held at LifeTown, which has as its focal point “Life Village,” a simulated Main Street that will help prepare participants with special needs for independent living. It offers real-world experiences in a safe and controlled environment, including a bookstore that is run by [words] Bookstore. Yesterday, Tom Donadio and I spent a terrific day at Penguin Random House getting a handle on some of their upcoming books --- and my reading list grew exponentially! Now I am reading THE STATIONERY SHOP by Marjan Kamali, which will be in stores on June 18th. It is set in Tehran in 1953 against the backdrop of the political upheaval in Iran. In it, Roya has fallen in love with Bahman, a young boy who loves Rumi's poetry. The small stationery shop is where they meet, and their relationship blossoms. They plan to be married, but an uprising thwarts their plans, and Roya loses track of Bahman in the tumultuous days that follow. Sixty years later, they meet again, and Roya will get a moment to ask the questions that have haunted her for decades. The writing is beautiful, and I look forward to reading more of it. My audiobook listening has been fabulous this week. I finished Ruth Reichl’s memoir of her years at Gourmet magazine, SAVE ME THE PLUMS, which is my latest Bets On selection. Remember a few weeks ago when I finished Isaac Mizrahi’s memoir, I.M., and I said I wanted a sequel? I felt the same way after hearing the acknowledgements of Ruth’s book. But I realized there is a sequel: MY KITCHEN YEAR, which came out a few years ago, is her book about the year after Gourmet was shuttered when she cooked her way through the year. I need to get this on audio, which she narrates. And I just learned that COMFORT ME WITH APPLES, about her early years as a restaurant critic, is being made into a Netflix series. I now am listening to NANAVILLE: Adventures in Grandparenting by Anna Quindlen, which will be in stores on April 23rd. In this honest and oft-times wry memoir, Anna talks about being the grandmother to her first grandchild, Arthur. She nails the role of grandparents in a child’s life and “offers thoughtful and telling observations about her new role, no longer mother and decision-maker but secondary character and support to the parents of her grandson. She writes, ‘Where I once led, I have to learn to follow.’ Eventually a close friend provides words to live by: ‘Did they ask you?’” Our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight of Martha Hall Kelly’s LOST ROSES, which releases on Tuesday, kicks off this week. Set in 1914, this highly anticipated follow-up to Martha’s 2016 debut, LILAC GIRLS, features Eliza Ferriday, who is excited to be traveling to St. Petersburg with Sofya Streshnayva, a cousin of the Romanovs who has become a close confidante. But when Austria declares war on Serbia and Russia's imperial dynasty begins to fall, Eliza heads back to America, while Sofya and her family escape to their country estate. In need of domestic help, they hire the local fortuneteller's daughter, Varinka, unknowingly bringing intense danger into their household. Meanwhile, Eliza is doing her part to help the White Russian families find safety as they escape the revolution. But when Sofya's letters suddenly stop coming, she fears the worst for her best friend. We will have our review of the book and an interview with Martha in next week’s newsletter, and my Bets On commentary will run the following week. A reminder that on Tuesday, “A Special Evening with Martha Hall Kelly” will take place at the Random House offices in New York City beginning at 6:30pm. Martha will be in conversation with Christina Baker Kline (author of ORPHAN TRAIN and A PIECE OF THE WORLD), and attendees will have the chance to meet her and receive a signed copy of LOST ROSES. Click here for more info and to purchase your tickets. I am planning to attend and hope to see some of you there. You can see all of Martha’s upcoming events and appearances here. One notable event is an author talk and signing she will be doing at the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden in Bethlehem, CT, which is Eliza Ferriday’s former home, on Saturday, June 22nd at noon. I have heard this is a stunning setting, and I think it would be enormous fun to spend the day there. You can see more info about it and buy tickets here. Among this week’s reviews are THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW, Tracey Garvis Graves’ novel about two former lovers who reunite after being apart for 10 years --- but will their second chance end before it truly begins?; STONY THE ROAD, Henry Louis Gates, Jr.’s profound new rendering of the struggle by African-Americans for equality after the Civil War and the violent counter-revolution that resubjugated them; and THE CORNWALLS ARE GONE by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois, in which Amy Cornwall, an Army intelligence officer, must locate and liberate an unnamed captive in 48 hours, or her kidnapped husband and 10-year-old daughter will be murdered. THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW was one of the books we gave away in this week’s Spring Preview contests; the other was MAYBE YOU SHOULD TALK TO SOMEONE: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb. Next week’s prizes will be THE AGE OF LIGHT by Whitney Scharer, a Bets On pick, and THE FARM by Joanne Ramos, which releases on May 7th. The first contest of the week will go live on Wednesday, April 10th at noon ET. Our Mother's Day contest is back for a 14th year! Once again, we’re featuring a number of fiction and nonfiction titles that we think moms will love. Over the next four weeks, readers will have the chance to win one of our five prize packages, which includes all 11 books to treat yourself or your mom. The deadline for your entries is Wednesday, May 8th at noon ET. Click here to take a look at our featured titles and enter to win. April’s New in Paperback roundups are now available. We're featuring paperback reprints from such bestselling authors as Lee Child (PAST TENSE: A Jack Reacher Novel), Emily Giffin (ALL WE EVER WANTED, which is our current “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” prize book on ReadingGroupGuides.com), Dorothea Benton Frank (BY INVITATION ONLY), Ruth Ware (THE DEATH OF MRS. WESTAWAY), and Linwood Barclay (A NOISE DOWNSTAIRS); nonfiction titles, including LOOK ALIVE OUT THERE: Essays by Sloane Crosley, HARRY AND MEGHAN: Life, Loss, and Love by Katie Nicholl, and EUNICE: The Kennedy Who Changed the World by Eileen McNamara; and paperback originals like THE PEACOCK EMPORIUM by Jojo Moyes, THE EIGHTH SISTER by Robert Dugoni, and THE SUMMER COTTAGE by Viola Shipman. We’ve also updated our Books on Screen feature for April. This month’s roundup includes the feature films Avengers: Endgame, Pet Sematary and The Best of Enemies; the return of HBO's "Game of Thrones" for its eighth and final season, along with the season five release of "Bosch" on Amazon Prime, the Netflix premiere of "Quicksand," and the season finales of "The Magicians" on Syfy and "American Gods" on Starz; and the DVD releases of A Dog's Way Home, The Aspern Papers and Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase. We’re giving away SOMEONE KNOWS by Lisa Scottoline and the aforementioned SAVE ME THE PLUMS by Ruth Reichl in our current Word of Mouth contest. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read by Friday, April 12th at noon ET for your chance to win both these titles. Don’t miss our review of SOMEONE KNOWS in next week’s newsletter and SAVE ME THE PLUMS in the April 19th edition. April’s Sounding Off on Audio contest is now up and running. Let us know by Wednesday, May 1st at noon ET what audiobooks you’ve listened to, and you’ll be in the running to win the audio versions of Sally Hepworth's THE MOTHER-IN-LAW, read by Barrie Kreinik, and D.J. Palmer's SAVING MEGHAN, read by Mary Stuart Masterson and Rebecca Soler. Our poll continues to ask which of 20 titles releasing this month you are planning to read, if any. Click here to let us know. Voting for the One Book, One New York program --- the nation’s largest book club --- has begun and will continue throughout the month. For the first time ever, the five books chosen as the finalists are all written by women: ANOTHER BROOKLYN by Jacqueline Woodson, FREE FOOD FOR MILLIONAIRES by Min Jin Lee, JUST KIDS by Patti Smith, NILDA by Nicholasa Mohr, and A PLACE FOR US by Fatima Farheen Mirza. Click here to cast your vote and to find out more about this worthwhile initiative, which is now in its third year. News & Pop Culture Reader Mail: Donna wrote this about our blog piece last week from Kathryn B.: "I noticed that you didn’t mention THE TRAIN TO CRYSTAL CITY by Jan Jarboe Russell when offering suggestions for additional reading for those who liked THE LAST YEAR OF THE WAR. It was the Gulf Coast Read several years ago. The author actually interviewed some of the people who lived there, so it’s a very powerful book. I love your news and recommendations, but most of all, I love the friendship that you share. Since I live in Houston, Texas, I will likely never have the opportunity to attend an event where we could meet you. But I love getting to know you through Bookreporter. (You have my DREAM job!!)" Donna, thank you for your kind words, and never say never. My husband does business in the Houston area, and one day I may just hop on a flight when he heads there! Alice wrote, “We finally met at the White Plains Library, not that long ago, when you gave a wonderful book talk. We had corresponded a few times before that, but there is nothing like in person. Longtime reader of Bookreporter that I am, I was very excited when you asked if it was okay and published the picture we took together. Actually, you made me famous. There are three libraries near where I live and I frequent all of them. I was in one where we know each other's faces, and always have wonderful book conversations, but not names. Now the librarian calls me by name because she, too, is a Bookreporter reader. "I live near the Schoolhouse Theater and actually went there for the first time last year. When I got the email about Jesse Kornbluth's play, I knew the name from your writing about him and realized I had to go to this show. My friend and I already have tickets and are anxiously awaiting the date. Once again, I love the newsletter, but am somewhat jealous of the fact that you read so quickly and I am so slow. Continued luck with the fundraising.” Alice, Jesse and I both love everything about this note! Recommendation from a reader: Vickie wrote, “I just read an ARC of KEEP YOU CLOSE by M.J. Ford and it was amazing! This is the second in a series with DS Josie Masters as the central character, but it can be read as a stand-alone. Lots of action and twists in this one. Happy Anniversary, Carol!” Thanks, Vickie! A bookstore has a very valuable wall: This store is up for sale, but the wall is something that they would like to sell intact. Why? The author’s signatures that are scrawled onto it. "This Is Us": After what I thought was a disappointing season, I thought the finale was redemptive. The last few minutes brought so many questions about the future. "Mrs. Wilson" on PBS: Ruth Wilson is starring in this new series, which is based on the true story of Ruth’s grandmother, Alison, who upon her husband’s death learned that he had a whole other family. There are so many secrets being unraveled here. I thoroughly enjoyed the first episodes on Sunday night. "Younger": This fun series based on the book business was supposed to move from TV Land to Paramount, but in a swift turn of events, it’s now back on TV Land and will return to the air later this year. I am planning to watch the aforementioned "Quicksand" on Netflix this weekend. It is based on the book by Malin Persson Giolito that was a Bets On pick two years ago. Final Four weekend! I think I am pulling for Auburn, just so I can see Charles Barkley with his Auburn paraphernalia, including his stuffed tiger. The Elite Eight games were so very good. We are having dinner at Cathy’s on Saturday night; she is making tomahawk steaks, which I am looking forward to. I am planning to organize books that I intend to read. In the office we have them shelved by month, and I think I want to do the same thing here. I am making a new turquoise and white skirt with that yarn that I bought in Albuquerque; I am using size 4 needles instead of size 2, thus it is going faster than usual. I also need to find one Easter bunny decoration that appears to be missing. Read on, and have a great week. P.S. For those of you who are doing online shopping, if you use the store links below, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases. We would appreciate your considering this!     New Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight:  LOST ROSES by Martha Hall Kelly (Historical Fiction) It is 1914, and the world has been on the brink of war so many times, many New Yorkers treat the subject with only passing interest. Eliza Ferriday is thrilled to be traveling to St. Petersburg with Sofya Streshnayva, a cousin of the Romanovs. The two met years ago one summer in Paris and became close confidantes. Now Eliza embarks on the trip of a lifetime, home with Sofya to see the splendors of Russia. But when Austria declares war on Serbia and Russia's imperial dynasty begins to fall, Eliza escapes back to America, while Sofya and her family flee to their country estate. In need of domestic help, they hire the local fortuneteller's daughter, Varinka, unknowingly bringing intense danger into their household. On the other side of the Atlantic, Eliza is doing her part to help the White Russian families find safety as they escape the revolution. But when Sofya's letters suddenly stop coming, she fears the worst for her best friend. From the turbulent streets of St. Petersburg to the avenues of Paris and the society of fallen Russian émigrés who live there, the lives of Eliza, Sofya and Varinka will intersect in profound ways, taking readers on a breathtaking ride through a momentous time in history. Click here to read more in our Women's Fiction Author Spotlight. Don't miss our review of LOST ROSES and our interview Featured Review: THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW  THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW by Tracey Garvis Graves (Romance) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read the review.  Bookreporter.com Bets On:  SAVE ME THE PLUMS: My Gourmet Memoir (Audiobook) written and read by Ruth Reichl (Memoir) At the start of the book, Ruth is a restaurant critic for the New York Times. S.I. Newhouse, who ran Conde Nast for decades, has his eye on her to edit the venerable Gourmet. The first few chapters are about S.I. and James Truman wooing her to come on board. She clearly is torn on taking the job, though she had been reading the magazine since she was eight. She longs for more time home with her young son, instead of sitting in restaurants critiquing cuisine, and is unsure about managing a staff and budgets. They want her creativity, eye and talent, and are quick to tell her that she will have a team to help with the nitty gritty she does not know. - Click here to read more about the audiobook. Click here to read more of Carol's commentary.  Announcing Bookreporter.com's 14th Annual 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 14th annual "Books Mom Will Love" contest. From now through Wednesday, May 8th at noon ET, readers can enter to win one of our five prize packages, which includes 11 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 Eighth Annual Spring is in the air! We’ve caught the fever --- and it’s being fueled by some wonderful new and upcoming releases. Our eighth annual Spring Preview Contests and Feature spotlights many of these picks, which we know people will be talking about over the next few months. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through April 26th. You will need to check the site to see the featured book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce each title, which you can sign up for here. Our next prize book will be announced on Wednesday, April 10th at noon ET. This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details    April’s New in Paperback Roundups April’s roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes Lee Child's PAST TENSE, in which family secrets come back to haunt Jack Reacher; ALL WE EVER WANTED, Emily Giffin's riveting novel about three very different people who must choose between their families and their most deeply held values; Man Booker Prize finalist WASHINGTON BLACK by Esi Edugyan, a dazzling adventure story about a boy who rises from the ashes of slavery to become a free man of the world; THE DEATH OF MRS. WESTAWAY, Ruth Ware’s fourth novel in which a tarot card reader mistakenly receives a mysterious letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance; and A NOISE DOWNSTAIRS, a haunting psychological thriller from Linwood Barclay about a man who is troubled by odd sounds for which there is no rational explanation. Among our nonfiction highlights are LOOK ALIVE OUT THERE, a brand-new collection of essays filled with Sloane Crosley's trademark hilarity, wit and charm; HARRY AND MEGHAN, royal expert Katie Nicholl's intimate and informative portrait of Prince Harry, his marriage to Meghan Markle, and how their union is modernizing the Royal Family; EUNICE, in which Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Eileen McNamara examines the life and times of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, arguing that she left behind the Kennedy family’s most profound political legacy; Kelly Corrigan's TELL ME MORE, a story-driven collection of essays on the 12 powerful phrases we use to sustain our relationships; and PATRIOT NUMBER ONE by Lauren Hilgers, the deeply reported story of one indelible family transplanted from rural China to New York City, forging a life between two worlds. Find out what's New in Paperback for the weeks of    April’s Books on Screen Feature Here is a preview of this month's movies, TV shows and DVDs that are based on books. For a complete list of April’s offerings, please click here. In Theaters The Best of Enemies Pet Sematary Avengers: Endgame On TV "Quicksand" "Game of Thrones" "Bosch" On DVD Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase The Aspern Papers A Dog's Way Home Our Interview with Dave Barry,  In Dave Barry’s latest book, LESSONS FROM LUCY: The Simple Joys of an Old, Happy Dog, the Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and bestselling author shows readers how to age gracefully, taking cues from his beloved and highly intelligent dog, Lucy. Michael Barson, the Director of Publicity at Poisoned Pen Press, recently chatted with Dave about how Lucy came to be a part of the Barry family, why he has her to thank for getting to know many of his neighbors, the most important life lesson he has learned from observing and living with her, and his honest feelings about those who believe that cats make better pets than dogs. LESSONS FROM LUCY: The Simple Joys of an Old, Happy Dog by Dave Barry (Humor) Click here to read the interview. An Interview with Jane Stanton Hitchcock,  Jane Stanton Hitchcock is a New York Times bestselling author, playwright and screenwriter. She is also an avid poker player who competes in the World Poker Tour and the World Series of Poker. The publication of her sixth novel, BLUFF, marks her return to the world of crime fiction following a nine-year hiatus. In this interview, Hitchcock talks about the inspiration for her latest work of fiction, which pays tribute to her passion for poker; why she refers to her protagonist, Maud Warner, as a “#MeToo murderer”; her satirization of so-called “high society”; and the writers who most influenced her at the start of her career as a novelist. BLUFF by Jane Stanton Hitchcock (Thriller) Click here to read the interview.    More Reviews This WeekSTONY THE ROAD: Reconstruction, White Supremacy, and the Rise of Jim Crow by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (History) THE CORNWALLS ARE GONE by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois (Thriller) A WOMAN IS NO MAN by Etaf Rum (Fiction) RADICALIZED by Cory Doctorow (Science Fiction) WHITE ELEPHANT by Julie Langsdorf (Fiction) SAVE ME FROM DANGEROUS MEN by S.A. Lelchuk (Thriller) THE PERFECT GIRLFRIEND by Karen Hamilton (Psychological Thriller) THE AFFAIRS OF THE FALCÓNS by Melissa Rivero (Fiction) MURDER BY THE BOOK: The Crime That Shocked Dickens's London by Claire Harman (True Crime/History) REDEMPTION POINT: A Crimson Lake Novel by Candice Fox (Thriller) NO BEAST SO FIERCE: The Terrifying True Story of the Champawat Tiger, the Deadliest Animal in History by Dane Huckelbridge (Nature/History) THE HOMECOMING by Andrew Pyper (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)   
Next Week’s Notables:
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