April 26, 2019
 April 26, 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 $26,707 of our $50,000 goal, with online donations and checks!  Pictured here are this year's Edgar Award winners. In the center is Martin Cruz Smith, who received the Grand Master Award, which is Mystery Writers of America's lifetime achievement award.   Carol's latest preview video for Bookreporter (left) and her first ReadingGroupGuides video (right)   Carol's planter reminds her of the "Game of Thrones" throne (she added daffodils to spruce it up a bit). A Quietish WeekThis week has had a really crazy vibe to it. There definitely are a lot of people away for Easter and Passover week. About half the emails that I have been sending have been getting replies; the others are getting away messages. It’s the kind of week that I can pretend I am going to catch up when in reality I know this is not going to happen because those who I need answers from are on vacation! We have been shooting videos to promote the books that we are featuring on both Bookreporter.com and ReadingGroupGuides.com. We now have both a YouTube channel and an Instagram page for The Book Report Network where we feature our videos. We also are adding them to our Facebook pages for Bookreporter and ReadingGroupGuides. May we suggest that you subscribe to or follow us on YouTube, Instagram and/or Facebook? And if you like what you see, share it with your friends! Lots more to come with video as we are knocking around many ideas here on what we want to do (I have notes all over the place; we are going to try some longer videos in the next couple of weeks). Please note that videos will be uploaded to every platform, but longer ones will only be on YouTube and Facebook. Video is just one way that we are planning to grow The Book Report Network, which is part of what we are doing with the dollars raised by our fundraiser. We were going to start with a podcast, but somehow the videos moved onto the list and those plans took off! On Tuesday night, my good friend Beverley Wilson attended an event at Random House where Anna Quindlen launched her new book, NANAVILLE: Adventures in Grandparenting. She gave the night a rave review and shared some thoughts on the evening. She noted that Anna was brilliantly interviewed by Taffy Brodesser-Akner from the New York Times, whose own book, FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE, is coming out from Random House on June 18th. Taffy opened by describing NANAVILLE as a book where a friend is whispering in your ear and telling you what to expect. Beverley came away thinking about the idea that grandparents have the ability to savor and remember things; parents have to care too much about what can be categorized as “dumb stuff,” the day-to-day things and skills as kids progress, like reading-readiness and other such things. As an example, Anna loved showing her grandson the effects of his shadow as they were walking --- something she hadn’t thought about in years. She has enjoyed the journey in observing how when your children have their own children, it makes them become better humans and enriches their lives --- which she experienced when she decided to have children herself. But the conflict for her as a new parent was: Could she still be a prolific writer while raising children? What’s the balance? It's one parents still face today. We both loved learning that Anna has gathered first editions of each of her books for her own children so that someday they might want to read them and know who she was --- and also can share them with her grandchildren. Taffy ended the interview by reading this from the book: "In Nanaville there is always in the back of my mind the understanding that I am building a memory out of spare parts and that, someday, that memory will be all that’s left of me." There were lots of audience questions; Anna is clearly a favorite to so many of us! For humor, my friend from my Condé Nast days, Donna Truglio, was at the event with her husband, Joe. They lived around the corner from Anna in Hoboken for years. I love when my worlds collide like that. We are reviewing NANAVILLE this week, and my Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary about the audio edition will run next week. We have 15 other reviews to share with you this week. Among them are NEON PREY by John Sandford, which finds Lucas Davenport tracking a prolific serial killer; MACHINES LIKE ME, Ian McEwan’s latest that takes place in an alternative 1980s London and revolves around one of the first synthetic humans; THE MOTHER-IN-LAW by Sally Hepworth, a twisty novel about one woman’s complicated relationship with her mother-in-law that ultimately ends in death (this, too, will be a Bets On selection next week); MIRACLE CREEK, Angie Kim’s much-buzzed-about debut novel about how far we’ll go to protect our families and our deepest secrets (I’m reading this now, and I can see why it’s been getting so much attention); and THE EIGHTH SISTER, a pulse-pounding thriller of espionage, spy games and treachery from Robert Dugoni, a longtime favorite author of ours. The audio version of THE MOTHER-IN-LAW (read by Barrie Kreinik) is one of the prizes in this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest, along with D.J. Palmer's SAVING MEGHAN (read by Mary Stuart Masterson and Rebecca Soler). Let us know by this Wednesday, May 1st at noon ET what audiobooks you’ve listened to for your chance to win both these audio titles. Last month, you may remember I raved about Viola Shipman’s new book, THE SUMMER COTTAGE, which I enjoyed so much that I decided to make it a Bets On pick. It’s now in stores, and so I’m pleased to share with you my Bets On commentary. Our Fiction Author Spotlight & Contest for THE GUEST BOOK continues for another week. This long-awaited new work from Sarah Blake, whose 2010 novel THE POSTMISTRESS was a Bets On pick, releases on May 7th and promises to be one of the summer’s most-talked-about books. We’re giving 35 readers the chance to win an advance copy and give us their feedback on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, May 2nd at noon ET. This also will be a Bets On selection. Also continuing is our Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight & Contest for THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK by Kim Michele Richardson, a novel inspired by the true blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the brave and dedicated Kentucky Pack Horse library service of the 1930s. We have 50 copies to give away to those who would like to read the book, which also releases on May 7th, and share their comments on it with us. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, May 2nd at noon ET. There’s still time to enter our Mother’s Day contest. From now through Wednesday, May 8th at noon ET, readers can enter to win one of our five prize packages, which includes 11 fiction and nonfiction titles that we think moms will love. Click here to learn more about the books and fill out the entry form. This year’s Spring Preview contests wrapped up this week with our final three prize books: I KNOW WHO YOU ARE by Alice Feeney (which we review this week), and the aforementioned THE MOTHER-IN-LAW by Sally Hepworth and THE SUMMER COTTAGE by Viola Shipman. Congratulations to the winners of our 13 contests, and many thanks to all who entered! Please note: The winners of the last three giveaways will be posted on the site early next week. Over on ReadingGroupGuides.com, we’re hosting a very special contest for William Kent Krueger’s upcoming work of historical fiction, THIS TENDER LAND, which releases on September 3rd and will be a Bets On pick. I LOVE this book! For those of you who remember his bestseller, ORDINARY GRACE, this one is just as special. We’re giving 10 book groups the chance to win up to 10 advance copies of the book, provided that they can give us their feedback on it by Friday, August 16th. To enter, all you have to do is fill out this form by Wednesday, May 15th at noon ET. We will add discussion questions as soon as they become available. We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win THE PARIS DIVERSION by Chris Pavone and SUNSET BEACH by Mary Kay Andrews. Be sure to enter by Friday, May 10th at noon ET. In what year was the book that you’re currently reading published? That’s our latest poll question. Click here to cast your vote! Our previous poll asked which of 15 paperbacks releasing this month you have read or are planning to read. Here are your top five picks: THE DEATH OF MRS. WESTAWAY by Ruth Ware (45%), ALL WE EVER WANTED by Emily Giffin (35%), TRANSCRIPTION by Kate Atkinson (29%), PAST TENSE: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child (25%), and BY INVITATION ONLY by Dorothea Benton Frank (24%). Click here for all the results. Last night, Mystery Writers of America (MWA) announced the winners of this year’s Edgar Awards, which honor the best in mystery fiction, nonfiction and television published or produced in 2018. Among the recipients were DOWN THE RIVER UNTO THE SEA by Walter Mosley (Best Novel), BEARSKIN by James A. McLaughlin (Best First Novel by an American Author), and IF I DIE TONIGHT by Alison Gaylin (Best Paperback Original). Click here for all the winners, whom you can see in the photo above. Many thanks to Luisa Smith, Martin Cruz Smith's daughter, for allowing us to use it! Martin received the Edgar Grand Master Award, which is MWA's lifetime achievement award. Please keep in mind that tomorrow, April 27th is Independent Bookstore Day, which their official website describes as "a one-day national party that takes place at indie bookstores across the country on the last Saturday in April. Every store is unique and independent, and every party is different. But in addition to authors, live music, cupcakes, scavenger hunts, kids events, art tables, readings, barbecues, contests and other fun stuff, there are exclusive books and literary items that you can only get on that day. Not before. Not after. Not online." Click here for more on this special day and how you can help celebrate it. Tomorrow is also Local Yarn Store Day, so knitters and crocheters out there, I expect you to be clicking your needles or hooks…and reading. You can do it! This upcoming week beginning on the 29th, Children’s Book Week will be celebrating its 100th(!) anniversary. A complete list of more than 1,300 events for kids and teens across the country may be found here. This Tuesday, April 30th at 7:00pm, I will return to the Fairfield County Library in Fairfield, CT for “What Should We Read Next? An Event for Book Groups and Other Passionate Readers.” I would love to see our readers there; you can register by clicking here. News & Pop Culture Reader Mail: An unnamed reader (I only have her email address and do not want to share that publicly) wrote this about last week’s video: “I absolutely loved it! I really can't think of anything better unless it's a bit longer. Thank you so much for such a wonderful website for all of us book lovers. I have read so many books that I would have overlooked if not for your site. I love your personal stories also. Keep up the fantastic job.” Jean wrote, "I saw this excellent documentary about Ursula K. Le Guin and got to speak with its director, Arwen Curry. It tells the story of Le Guin's life and career and how instrumental she was in getting science fiction recognized as literature. Go to https://worldsofukl.com for more info and a list of upcoming screenings. A DVD should be available soon." Ray wrote, “I was happy to see that someone else liked 'Mrs. Wilson.' Like her, I want to read the book. I am glad she gave me the name. Also, all of your 'Bets On' books look great.” Wimpy Kid Creator and Audiobooks: I loved this interview with Jeff Kinney about his love of listening to audiobooks as he works, Social Animals: I watched this documentary on Netflix, and it's really terrifying about kids and social media, specifically the impact of Instagram. Towards the end, one mom talked about how great it is when teenage girls are focused on helping others and not on social media. They live in a very, very artificial world online! Yes, there are a lot of terrific things happening online, but watching this I really wonder about the impact of social media on kids. FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened: I finally watched the documentary about this on Netflix the other night. Two thoughts: The organizers could have pulled the plug on this multiple times and instead chose greed. There are a lot of people with way too much money that bought into this dream of an event. "Game of Thrones" Planter: I have had the planter that is photographed above for years. I just realized that it looks so much like the "Game of Thrones" throne. I added some daffodils to it to make it look less heinous! Lavender Shortbread Cookies: For one of our Easter desserts, Sam, Cory's girlfriend who loves lavender, made Lavender Shortbread Cookies, and they were a huge hit. Here’s a link to the recipe. I am building a couple of slide presentations for events these next few weeks. I keep playing around with the titles that I am presenting, trying to get the lineup right. I will be doing this right up until the last minute! This weekend, Greg is in Mendocino (aka Mendo), CA with his West Coast Land Rover group. This is the 25th year that they have gathered, but they are in a new location, as the spot that they used to go to was destroyed in the Camp Fire last year, which definitely gave people pause. Tomorrow night, Cory and our friend Cathy are headed with us to Princeton for the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, which is one of our favorite events. They show 7-8 outdoor adventure films, and it’s such fun. We are planning to grab dinner at a favorite Mexican place right before. It will be the third year that we have done this, and it's always a good time! The rest of the weekend will be about kicking it back and trying to catch up, which is my endless mission. I am juggling a couple of books and a couple of knitting projects. In other words, nothing new! 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!    Featured Review: NEON PREY by John Sandford  NEON PREY: A Lucas Davenport Novel by John Sandford (Mystery/Thriller) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read the review. Featured Review: MACHINES LIKE ME by Ian McEwan  MACHINES LIKE ME by Ian McEwan (Speculative Fiction) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read the review. Featured Review: NANAVILLE by Anna Quindlen  NANAVILLE: Adventures in Grandparenting by Anna Quindlen (Memoir) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read the review. The audio version of NANAVILLE will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.  Fiction Author Spotlight & Contest:  Moving through three generations and back and forth in time, THE GUEST BOOK is Sarah Blake's triumphant new novel that tells the story of a family and a country that buries its past in quiet, until the present calls forth a reckoning. We have 35 advance copies to give away to those who would like to read the book, which releases on May 7th, and share their comments on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, May 2nd at noon ET. THE GUEST BOOK by Sarah Blake (Fiction) In 1959 New York City, two strangers enter the Miltons’ circle. One captures the attention of Kitty’s daughter, while the other makes each of them question what the family stands for. This new generation insists the times are changing. And in one night, everything does. So much so that in the present day, the third generation of Miltons doesn’t have enough money to keep the island in Maine. Evie Milton’s mother has just died, and as Evie digs into her mother’s and grandparents’ history, what she finds is a story as unsettling as it is inescapable, the story that threatens the foundation of the Milton family myth. Click here to read more in our Fiction Author Spotlight and enter the contest.  Women’s Fiction Author Spotlight & Contest:  A young outcast braves the hardships of Kentucky’s Great Depression and brings truly magical objects to her people --- books --- in THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK, Kim Michele Richardson's new novel inspired by the brave women of the Pack Horse Library Project. We have 50 copies to give away to those who would like to read the book, which releases on May 7th, and share their comments on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, May 2nd at noon ET. THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK by Kim Michele Richardson (Historical Fiction) Cussy's not only a book woman, however; she’s also the last of her kind, her skin a shade of blue unlike most anyone else. Not everyone is keen on Cussy’s family or the Library Project, and a Blue is often blamed for any whiff of trouble. If Cussy wants to bring the joy of books to the hill folks, she’s going to have to confront prejudice as old as the Appalachias and suspicion as deep as the holler. Click here to read more in our Women's Fiction Author Spotlight Featured Review: THE MOTHER-IN-LAW by Sally Hepworth  THE MOTHER-IN-LAW by Sally Hepworth (Psychological Thriller/Mystery) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read the review. THE MOTHER-IN-LAW will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. Featured Review: MIRACLE CREEK by Angie Kim  MIRACLE CREEK by Angie Kim (Legal Thriller/Mystery) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read the review.  Bookreporter.com Bets On:  THE SUMMER COTTAGE by Viola Shipman (Fiction) In this book, Adie Lou Kruger (I must ask where that name came from) is getting divorced from her professor husband, who took a shine to one of his grad students. As they are splitting up their assets, she realizes that she wants Cozy Cottage, a summer home that needs a lot of love to be restored. While it’s short on the latest design features, it’s big on memories as Adie Lou’s grandparents were big on rules for enjoying life at the cottage, and she intends to keep forging these traditions and transform the house into a B&B. I loved reading about the home restoration --- and all the crazy moments that she went through before the place was ready to rent. And from there, it was as much fun to see life from the other side of the front desk, as Adie Lou caters to demanding guests --- but also encourages them to adapt her grandparents’ rules. Click here to read more of Carol's commentary.  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.    What’s New This Month on ReadingGroupGuides.com We currently have two contests running on ReadingGroupGuides.com: Win Up to 10 Advance Copies of THIS TENDER LAND by William Kent Krueger for You and Your Group and Share Your Group's Comments on It "What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?": Win 12 Copies of ALL WE EVER WANTED by Emily Giffin for Your Group Here are our latest featured guides:
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
Click here to visit ReadingGroupGuides.com.    More Reviews This WeekTHE DEPARTMENT OF SENSITIVE CRIMES: A Detective Varg Novel by Alexander McCall Smith (Mystery/Humor) I KNOW WHO YOU ARE by Alice Feeney (Psychological Thriller) THE EIGHTH SISTER by Robert Dugoni (Thriller) COURTING MR. LINCOLN by Louis Bayard (Historical Fiction) THE ASH FAMILY by Molly Dektar (Fiction) STRONG AS STEEL by Jon Land (Thriller) THE WAR WITHIN: The Great God's War by Stephen R. Donaldson (Fantasy) ODD PARTNERS: An Anthology edited by Anne Perry (Mystery/Short Stories) THE PANDORA ROOM by Christopher Golden (Supernatural Thriller) THE BINDING by Bridget Collins (Historical Fantasy/Magical Realism) TRAVEL ANYWHERE (AND AVOID BEING A TOURIST): Travel Trends and Destination Inspiration for the Modern Adventurer by Jeralyn Gerba and Pavia Rosati (Travel)   
Next Week’s Notables:
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