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Melanie Benjamin stopped by the office to tape our first "Bookreporter Talks To" interview.
She chatted with Carol about her newly released novel, MISTRESS OF THE RITZ.
The official trailer for The Art of Racing in the Rain is finally here! The movie releases on August 9th.
Take a look at Carol's latest preview videos for this week's Bookreporter update (left)
and next week's Summer Reading contests (right).
Julia Phillips appeared at Watchung Booksellers in Montclair, NJ,
to talk about her debut novel, DISAPPEARING EARTH.
Carol isn't a huge fan of Lindt chocolate, but she loves their
Excellence bar with red chili flavoring as there's a nice bite to it.
Happy Memorial Day Weekend,
THE Unofficial Start of Summer!
Last weekend, it was nice both days of the weekend, which was just lovely and something rare this year (okay, it rained buckets on Sunday night, but at least the daylight hours were lovely). It was so wonderful to be outside. Tom and I wrestled the cover off the pool and started the vacuuming process. There was lots of weeding (lots of weeding) and planting accomplished. The herbs are planted, and all look great in their pots. It’s such a time of beginnings.
Speaking of beginnings... I love interviewing authors, and we taped our first “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Melanie Benjamin, the author of MISTRESS OF THE RITZ, on Tuesday, which also was its publication day. I have enjoyed Melanie’s work through the years, and as she was in town on tour, the timing was perfect for her to come by the office. There is a plan to do many more of these interviews going forward. We have one more interview set up, and I am noodling a few more. All of this is part of expanding The Book Report Network. We want to have “Bookreporter Talks To” interviews available both on video and podcast, so stay tuned for much more to come about this. The ideas are coming together fast and furiously.
We have a rave review of MISTRESS OF THE RITZ this week from Bronwyn Miller, who says that the novel “skillfully crafts a perilous love story intertwined with a wartime adventure that grabs readers right from the jump,” and you “will be captivated until the very last page.” We also posted a discussion guide for the book on ReadingGroupGuides.com, and don’t miss my Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary in next week’s newsletter. I agree with Bronwyn's review!
Our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight of THE FAVORITE DAUGHTER, Kaira Rouda’s latest novel of domestic suspense and an upcoming Bets On pick, wraps up this week with our review and interview. According to our reviewer, Rebecca Munro, "Presenting a mother so far removed from what we believe mothers to be is an edgy choice for Rouda --- and one that she handles remarkably well. We have seen countless thrillers featuring evil husbands and manipulative wives, but to villainize a mother requires a keen psychological understanding of the world and some flawless characterizations. Fortunately, for me and all the other favorite daughters out there, Rouda has both." Rebecca also had an opportunity to chat with Kaira about her latest thriller; click here for the Q&A. And find out why I’m betting you’ll love this book in next week’s newsletter.
Thomas Harris, the creator of Hannibal Lecter and THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, is back with his first novel since 2006’s HANNIBAL RISING. In CARI MORA, we are introduced to the ruthless Hans-Peter Schneider, who has been tracking 25 million dollars in cartel gold that lies hidden beneath a mansion on the Miami Beach waterfront. Cari Mora, the caretaker of the house, catches the eye of Hans-Peter as he closes in on the treasure. But Cari has surprising skills, and her will to survive has been tested before.
Our reviewers Joe Hartlaub and Ray Palen have been anticipating this book so much that we decided to post TWO reviews. According to Joe, “CARI MORA will stay with you long after you read it, and perhaps will make you yearn for another tale featuring at least some of these characters.” Ray calls it “extremely well-written from start to finish” that “gives us a heroine to both root for and respect.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include THE NIGHT WINDOW, the conclusion of Dean Koontz’s series starring rogue FBI agent Jane Hawk; RESISTANCE WOMEN, Jennifer Chiaverini’s latest historical saga about Mildred Fish Harnack and her circle of female friends, who waged a clandestine battle against Hitler in Nazi Berlin; THE PARIS DIVERSION, which marks the return of American expat Kate Moore (from Chris Pavone’s debut novel, THE EXPATS), who discovers that a massive terror attack across Paris is not what it seems; and BITCOIN BILLIONAIRES by Ben Mezrich, which tells the fascinating story of twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss' big bet on cryptocurrency and its dazzling payoff (you may remember that Armie Hammer portrayed both Tyler and Cameron in The Social Network, which was based on Ben’s 2009 book, THE ACCIDENTAL BILLIONAIRES). I heard Ben speak about this book at a publisher luncheon. He told such fun stories about clandestine meetings with the brothers in stairwells to snag documents to ferret to Aaron Sorkin when they were making The Social Network. There is no love lost between the twins and Mark Zuckerberg.
BITCOIN BILLIONAIRES is one of the five books you can win for yourself or your dad in our Father’s Day contest. The others are BLUFF by Jane Stanton Hitchcock, REDEMPTION by David Baldacci, THINGS MY SON NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THE WORLD by Fredrik Backman, and THIS IS THE BOOK YOU GIVE YOUR DAD: Everything an Awesome Father Wants to Know by Matt Goulet. To enter to be one of our five winners, please fill out this form by Wednesday, June 12th at noon ET.
THE NIGHT BEFORE by Wendy Walker, which we featured in last week’s newsletter, is my latest Bets On selection. Click here to find out why.
In this week’s Summer Reading contests, we gave away THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK by Kim Michele Richardson, CAPE MAY by Chip Cheek, THE GUEST BOOK by Sarah Blake (a Bets On pick), and THE SUMMER I MET JACK by Michelle Gable. Next week’s prizes will be ASK AGAIN, YES by Mary Beth Keane (an upcoming Bets On selection), A BEND IN THE STARS by Rachel Barenbaum, and BEFORE WE WERE YOURS by Lisa Wingate (which is now available in paperback).
Do you give your books at home a “spring cleaning”? That’s our latest poll question; let us know what you do by clicking here.
Our previous poll asked in what genre was the last book you read, and in what genre was the last audiobook you listened to. The top three genres were the same for both questions: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Fiction and Historical Fiction. Click here for all the results.
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, June 7th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll be in the running to win THE FRIENDS WE KEEP by Jane Green and QUEEN BEE by Dorothea Benton Frank, the latter of which we will review next week.
There’s still time to enter this month’s Sounding Off on Audio contest. Submit your comments about the audiobooks you’ve listened to by Monday, June 3rd at noon ET, and you’ll have a chance to win the audio versions of Karen Cleveland's KEEP YOU CLOSE, read by Erin Bennett, and John Sandford's NEON PREY: A Lucas Davenport Novel, read by Richard Ferrone.
The 10th Annual Gaithersburg Book Festival took place last Saturday in Gaithersburg, MD. Our reader Denise Neary was there, and she shares her thoughts on what was a fun afternoon of books and authors in this report.
Richard Ford won the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction, to be presented during the 2019 Library of Congress National Book Festival on August 31st. Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said, "He has been called our Babe Ruth of novelists, and there is good reason why. He is quintessentially American, profoundly humane, meticulous in his craft, daring on the field, and he hits it consistently out of the park."
In other awards news, Jokha Alharthi's CELESTIAL BODIES, translated by Marilyn Booth from Arabic, won the Man Booker International Prize. Bettany Hughes, the chair of judges for this year's awards, said, "A book to win over the head and the heart in equal measure, worth lingering over. Interweaving voices and timelines are beautifully served by the pacing of the novel. Its delicate artistry draws us into a richly imagined community --- opening out to tackle profound questions of time and mortality and disturbing aspects of our shared history."
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Jani wrote this about THE GUEST BOOK: “Oh my, what a fabulous tale! I could not put this book down and finished it at 1:00 this morning. The characters are so real, so human, and each of their stories are both poignant and honest. Thank you! It made my week.”
Patrice wrote this about winning a book prize: “Thank you so much for the book that I have won! Nothing is better! I am thrilled and anxious to read SUCH A PERFECT WIFE."
Nancy attended an event that Julia Phillips, the author of DISAPPEARING EARTH, did at Watchung Booksellers in New Jersey and shared her thoughts about it:
“Everywhere you turn, it seems, there’s a wonderful review of DISAPPEARING EARTH, Julia Phillips' debut novel. In case you haven’t heard, it’s the story of the kidnapping of two young sisters living in Kamchatka, Russia. The girls are kidnapped in the beginning of the book, and each subsequent chapter is told from the perspective of a different female character. The experiences of all these characters come together, and that's where the reader can solve the mystery of the sisters' disappearance. Julia is a 2006 graduate of Montclair (NJ) High School, and one of the early events on her book tour was at Watchung Booksellers in Montclair. She’s the friend of a friend, and my guess is that the shop was filled with lots of other friends and family. You could feel the love! Julia said that she always wanted to be a novelist growing up and had a fascination/obsession with Russia.
"After college (where she majored in English and minored in Russian), she decided the best way to combine her interests was to live in Russia and write a novel. A fellowship supported her time living in Kamchatka, a peninsula that juts into the Bering Strait, and is now, apparently, a hot spot for global adventure tourism. Her experiences in Kamchatka fortunately did not involve a kidnapping, but her feelings initially of being alone, vulnerable and having to trust the kindness of strangers formed the foundation for DISAPPEARING EARTH, which she began writing in 2014.
"While the conversation about the book, her writing process and authors who inspire her was very interesting, we especially enjoyed her comments about her love for Watchung Booksellers and other independent bookstores. She said that the bookstore offered her portals to thousands of places and opened her mind and heart to infinite possibilities, filling her with hope. Julia is a beautiful speaker, and it was such a treat to have seen her in her hometown. DISAPPEARING EARTH is definitely on my TBR list!”
I heard Julia speak at an event last month, and Nancy did a brilliant job of capturing her here!
The Art of Racing in the Rain: The long-awaited movie trailer is here. It'll be in theaters on August 9th. And here are the stars, Amanda Seyfried and Milo Ventimiglia, talking about the film on "Today."
"Knitting is Coding" and Yarn is Programmable in This Physics Lab: I know that math is being applied to knitting and yarn, but here we are talking science. Here's a terrific article in the New York Times about this.
Two on Netflix: I watched a documentary called Studio 54, about the iconic NYC nightclub. I watched another, John & Yoko: Above Us Only Sky, about John Lennon and Yoko Ono making the Imagine album.
Salad I Have Been Enjoying: I am notorious for sitting at my desk all day and not going out for lunch. In an effort to eat healthy, I have been doing Sunday night food prep of salads. My current favorite is Charlie Bird’s Farro Salad, which I saw Ina Garten make a couple of weeks ago on her show. The recipe is in COOK LIKE A PRO, but I also found it online here. My spin on making it: I add an extra ¼ cup of lemon to the drained farro. Also, I store the farro separately from the green and toss it together just before eating it. I can make three salads with this recipe.
Chocolate with Chili: I am on a quest for great dark chocolate with chili and cinnamon. I had a great one in Santa Fe that was made by Olive and Sinclair, which was pricey, but so good. I am not a huge fan of Lindt chocolates, but their dark chocolate with red chili flavoring has a nice bite to it!
Spreading Indie Bookstore Love via Baseball: I read about this in the Wall Street Journal. Washington Nationals relief pitcher Sean Doolittle is planning to visit an independent bookstore on every road stop he makes with the team. And he will be sharing these stops on Twitter. I love to see him supporting local businesses.
Audible Headquarters: “Audible, the audiobook company owned by Amazon, opened new offices on Friday in a restored historic cathedral in Newark. The company, which has been located in New Jersey’s largest city since 2007, restored an 80,000-square-foot 1913 church and modernized it with open workspace, a four-lane bowling alley and cafes. Dubbed the Innovation Cathedral, the new offices on Washington Street will hold 400 employees.” Read more and see the stunning pictures of the cathedral here. Oh, and the bowling alley is called "AudiBowl."
I am loving the idea of a long weekend. The town parade on Monday will give me time to reflect on the meaning of the holiday --- it's a real small town heart-warmer. Also, another way I am reminded that I live in a rural town and not in suburbia is when this appeared on our town's Facebook page, along with a picture: "If anyone is missing a goat, please contact the police department."
Greg is back from his whirlwind trip to Moab, Utah, with fabulous photos and notes for an article about it. Cory spent most of the week in Texas and Mexico on business, and has zipped down to Sam’s house for the holiday weekend.
Next week is Book Expo, the book industry’s annual big trade show. We are hosting our 8th Annual Book Group Speed Dating event on Friday, and I am interviewing Jennifer Weiner on one of the stages on Wednesday. In addition, there are education sessions, lots of interviews and five parties that promise to be a great deal of fun. I will have much to share next week.
This is the week that the peonies typically burst into bloom, but as it’s been so cold and rainy, they appear to be behind schedule with just a few flowers popped open. I hope they stay slowed down as I want to be home to enjoy them.
I got up early yesterday and hit the garden center; it was pouring rain, and when I arrived, I was the only one there except for the staff, which was rather lovely. The goal was to have flowers and plants at the house so I could just get planting today instead of having to spend time shopping. It worked out well. They even had marjoram and plumbago that I had been looking for last week. It's time to hit the dirt before I find a hammock in which to read and knit. I promised myself that I am going to try to kick it back a big notch this weekend. Let's see if that works. Next week is going to be very busy, and this is the first weekend that we have been free in a while. The pool is just open, and the water is too cool for swimming, but 'tis almost the season for that.
I hope you have some nice holiday plans, and a book or two to enjoy. Remember the meaning of Memorial Day and the memories of those who are gone who we honor. 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 Reviews: CARI MORA by Thomas Harris
CARI MORA by Thomas Harris (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Thomas Harris
Twenty-five million dollars in cartel gold lies hidden beneath a mansion on the Miami Beach waterfront. Ruthless men have tracked it for years. Leading the pack is Hans-Peter Schneider. Driven by unspeakable appetites, he makes a living fleshing out the violent fantasies of other, richer men. Cari Mora, caretaker of the house, has escaped from the violence in her native country. She stays in Miami on a wobbly Temporary Protected Status, subject to the iron whim of ICE. She works at many jobs to survive. Beautiful and marked by war, Cari catches the eye of Hans-Peter as he closes in on the treasure. But Cari Mora has surprising skills, and her will to survive has been tested before. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub and Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Read reviews by Joe Hartlaub and Ray Palen.
Featured Review:
MISTRESS OF THE RITZ by Melanie Benjamin
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Pick
MISTRESS OF THE RITZ by Melanie Benjamin (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Barbara Rosenblat
Blanche Auzello and her husband, Claude, the mistress and master of the Ritz, allow the glamour and glitz of the hotel to take their minds off their troubled marriage, and off the secrets that they keep from their guests --- and each other. Until June 1940, when the German army sweeps into Paris, setting up headquarters at the Ritz. Suddenly, Blanche and Claude must navigate a terrifying new reality. In order to survive, and strike a blow against their Nazi “guests,” they must spin a web of deceit that ensnares everything and everyone they cherish. But one secret is shared between Blanche and Claude alone --- the secret that, in the end, threatens to imperil both of their lives, and to bring down the legendary Ritz itself. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to watch Carol's interview with Melanie Benjamin.
Click here to read the review.
MISTRESS OF THE RITZ will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in next week's newsletter.
Our Interview with Kaira Rouda
and Review of THE FAVORITE DAUGHTER
A Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight Title
and an Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Pick
The perfect home. The perfect family. The perfect lie. That’s the intriguing tagline of Kaira Rouda’s latest domestic thriller, THE FAVORITE DAUGHTER, which is set in an upscale Southern California community. In this interview, conducted by Bookreporter.com reviewer Rebecca Munro, Rouda introduces us to the book’s main character, Jane Harris, who is determined to refocus on her family after the loss of her oldest daughter the previous year. She explains what attracts her to write about narcissists and why she’s a big fan of unreliable narrators, her decision to “break the fourth wall” in this novel, and how she has used technology (which, she points out, “is completely overtaking our lives”) to her advantage as she’s plotting out her chilling, page-turning stories.
THE FAVORITE DAUGHTER by Kaira Rouda (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Kathleen McInerney
Exactly one year ago, Jane Harris’ oldest daughter, Mary, died in a tragic accident. Lost in a haze of anti-depressants, Jane barely has even left the house. Now that’s all about to change. It’s time for Jane to reclaim her life and her family. Jane’s husband, David, has planned a memorial service for Mary; three days later, their youngest daughter, Betsy, graduates high school. Yet as Jane reemerges into the world, it’s clear her family has changed without her. Her husband has been working long days --- and nights --- at the office. Her daughter seems distant, even secretive. And her beloved Mary was always such a good girl. But does someone know more about Mary, and about her last day, than they’ve revealed? Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Kaira Rouda's bio.
- Click here to visit Kaira Rouda's website.
- Connect with Kaira Rouda on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
- Click here to see the 30 winners selected to read and comment on the book.
- Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight.
Read the review and interview.
THE FAVORITE DAUGHTER will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in next week's newsletter.
Featured Review: THE NIGHT WINDOW by Dean Koontz
THE NIGHT WINDOW: A Jane Hawk Novel by Dean Koontz (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Elisabeth Rodgers
A visionary young filmmaker hunted for sport across a vast Colorado ranch by the celebrated billionaire at the heart of a monstrous cabal. A brilliant computer hacker slipping through top-secret databases a whisper ahead of security trackers, gathering the facts to fight the all-powerful perpetrators of mass murder. A Vegas mob boss teamed with a homicidal sociopath, circling a beloved boy and his protectors, aiming to secure him as leverage against his fugitive mother. And that fugitive mother herself, ex-agent Jane Hawk, closing in on the malevolent architects of ruin she has stalked as they stalk her. These are some of the people and circumstances of THE NIGHT WINDOW, the stunning conclusion to Dean Koontz’s acclaimed Jane Hawk series. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: RESISTANCE WOMEN
by Jennifer Chiaverini
RESISTANCE WOMEN by Jennifer Chiaverini (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Saskia Maarleveld
After Wisconsin graduate student Mildred Fish marries brilliant German economist Arvid Harnack, she accompanies him to his German homeland, where a promising future awaits. In the thriving intellectual culture of 1930s Berlin, the newlyweds create a rich new life filled with love, friendships and rewarding work --- but the rise of a malevolent new political faction inexorably changes their fate. As Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party wield violence and lies to seize power, Mildred, Arvid and their friends resolve to resist. For years, Mildred’s network stealthily fights to bring down the Third Reich from within. But when Nazi radio operatives detect an errant Russian signal, the Harnack resistance cell is exposed, with fatal consequences. Reviewed by Jane Krebs.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the review.
Featured Review: THE PARIS DIVERSION by Chris Pavone
THE PARIS DIVERSION by Chris Pavone (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Mozhan Marnò
American expat Kate Moore drops her kids at the international school, makes her shopping rounds, and meets her husband Dexter at their regular café. Across the Seine, tech CEO Hunter Forsyth stands on his balcony, perplexed that his police escort just departed, and frustrated that his cell service has cut out; Hunter has important calls to make, not all of them technically legal. And on the nearby rue de Rivoli, Mahmoud Khalid climbs out of an electrician’s van, and elbows his way into the crowded courtyard of the world’s largest museum, in the epicenter of Western civilization. He sets down his metal briefcase and removes his windbreaker. That’s when people start to scream. Reviewed by Melanie Reynolds.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to read the review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE NIGHT BEFORE by Wendy Walker
THE NIGHT BEFORE by Wendy Walker (Psychological Thriller)
THE NIGHT BEFORE by Wendy Walker has a striking cover, a tension-filled plot and some great twists. Two sisters, Rosie and Laura, live very different lives. Rosie is settled, whereas Laura lives life more on the edge, running from some things in her past. Laura recently has moved back in with Rosie after going through a relationship breakup. One night, she goes on a blind date with someone she met on a dating website and does not come home. What happened the night before? While Laura is fearful, she also is reckless and is nothing like her suburbanite sister, Rosie, who knows just how much trouble Laura can get into.
There are three timelines --- the night before, the present day and therapy sessions from the recent past. And it’s told from three different viewpoints --- Rosie’s, Laura’s and the therapist’s notes. While this may sound like it’s confusing, it’s not. The switches in point of view and timing are carefully written so the reader does not get lost. We peel away Laura’s past and fear for her, knowing what she has been through. Her high school boyfriend was murdered, and for a long time fingers pointed to her as the suspect. While she was cleared, there are scars from this that keep her looking over her shoulder.
Wendy writes a brisk thriller --- the kind you can read in a day, as you say to yourself Just one more chapter. If you start reading too late in the day, you may read way into the morning, which will make THE NIGHT BEFORE a title that also could sum up your experience reading the book!
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read a review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to visit Wendy Walker's website.
Click here for more books we're betting you'll love.
Bookreporter.com's 14th Annual
Father's Day Contest: Best Books for Dad
Father’s Day is a time to celebrate the men in our lives who have raised and loved us. Why not show him your appreciation by inspiring him with a great book? In our 14th annual "Best Books for Dad" contest, we have a selection of books that are perfect gift-giving suggestions for Dad, keeping him busy through the rest of the year. Five readers will be awarded a copy of each of our featured titles. To enter, please fill out this form by Wednesday, June 12th at noon ET.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com's Summer Reading
Contests and Feature
Summer will be here before you know it! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through August 23rd, 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, May 28th at noon ET.
This year’s prize books include:
Click here to read all the contest details
and see the prize books being awarded in May, June, July and August.
What’s New This Month on ReadingGroupGuides.com
We currently have three contests running on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
Win 12 Copies of MANHATTAN BEACH for Your Group and an Opportunity to Chat with Jennifer Egan
Winner of the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, MANHATTAN BEACH tells the haunting story of Anna Kerrigan, who becomes the Brooklyn Naval Yard's first female diver during World War II, and her search for her missing father. We are giving five groups the chance to win 12 copies of this New York Times bestselling novel, plus the opportunity to chat with its author, Jennifer Egan. Ten additional readers will be awarded a copy of the book, which was last year's "One Book, One New York" pick. Enter here by Thursday, June 27th at noon ET.
Win 12 Copies of THE GUEST BOOK by Sarah Blake for Your Group
Moving through three generations and back and forth in time, THE GUEST BOOK tells the story of a family and a country that buries its past in quiet, until the present calls forth a reckoning. We are celebrating the release of Sarah Blake's triumphant new novel --- following 2010's THE POSTMISTRESS --- with a special contest that will give three groups the chance to win 12 copies of the book. Enter here by Thursday, June 6th at noon ET.
"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?": Win 12 Copies of LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE by Celeste Ng for Your Group
Each month in our "What's Your Book Group Reading This Month" contest, we ask book groups to share the titles they are reading that month and rate them. From all entries, three winners will be selected, and each will win 12 copies of that month’s prize book for their group. Our current prize book is LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE by Celeste Ng, which is now available in paperback and is soon to be a limited series on Hulu starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington. This riveting novel traces the intertwined fates of the picture-perfect Richardson family and the enigmatic mother and daughter who upend their lives. Enter here by Thursday, June 6th at noon ET.
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.
BITCOIN BILLIONAIRES: A True Story of Genius, Betrayal, and Redemption by Ben Mezrich (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Will Damron
Ben Mezrich's 2009 bestseller, THE ACCIDENTAL BILLIONAIRES, is the definitive account of Facebook's founding and the basis for the Academy Award–winning film The Social Network. Two of the story's iconic characters are Harvard students Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss: identical twins, Olympic rowers and foils to Mark Zuckerberg. BITCOIN BILLIONAIRES is the story of the brothers’ redemption and revenge in the wake of their epic legal battle with Facebook. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.
TEN INNINGS AT WRIGLEY: The Wildest Ballgame Ever, with Baseball on the Brink by Kevin Cook (Sports)
Audiobook available, read by Barry Abrams
It was a Thursday at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, mostly sunny with the wind blowing out. Nobody expected an afternoon game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs on May 17, 1979, to be much more than a lazy early-season contest matching two teams heading in opposite directions --- the first-place Phillies and the Cubs, those lovable losers --- until they combined for 13 runs in the first inning. “The craziest game ever,” one player called it. “And then the second inning started.” TEN INNINGS AT WRIGLEY is Kevin Cook’s vivid account of a game that only could have happened at this ballpark, in this era, with this colorful cast of heroes and heels. Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds.
LIGHT FROM OTHER STARS by Erika Swyler (Fiction)
Eleven-year-old Nedda Papas is obsessed with becoming an astronaut. In 1986 in Easter, a small Florida Space Coast town, her dreams seem almost within reach --- if she can just grow up fast enough. Theo, the scientist father she idolizes, is consumed by his own obsessions. Laid off from his job at NASA and still reeling from the loss of Nedda's newborn brother several years before, Theo turns to the dangerous dream of extending his living daughter's childhood just a little longer. The result is an invention that alters the fabric of time. Amidst the chaos that erupts, Nedda must confront her father and his secrets, the ramifications of which will irrevocably change her life, her community and the entire world. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
DECEPTION COVE by Owen Laukkanen (Thriller/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by Kevin Stillwell and Courtney Patterson
Former US Marine Jess Winslow reenters civilian life a new widow, with little more to her name than a falling-down house, a medical discharge for PTSD, and a loyal dog named Lucy. After 15 years in state prison, Mason Burke owns one set of clothes, a wallet, and a photo of Lucy, the service dog he trained while behind bars. When Jess' late husband piloted his final "fishing" expedition, he stole and stashed a valuable package from his drug dealer associates. Now the package is gone, and the sheriff's department has seized Jess' dearest possession --- her dog. Unless Jess turns over the missing goods, Lucy will be destroyed. To rescue Lucy, Jesse and Mason will have to forge an uneasy alliance. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE YANKEE WIDOW by Linda Lael Miller (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Jack Garrett
THE YANKEE WIDOW is the story of Caroline, the young wife and childhood sweetheart of Jacob, who together live on a farm raising their daughter, Rachel, just outside of Gettysburg. When Jacob joins the Northern army to do his duty and help save the Union, no one anticipates he will not return. Caroline gets news that he is wounded and has been taken to Washington, DC, with his regiment, and so she must find her way there and navigate the thousands of other wounded soldiers to find him. Thus begins this novel that focuses on the strong women and men of both sides and both races who sacrificed so much and loved so well during this critical juncture in American history. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
THE ISLAND by Ragnar Jonasson (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Amanda Redman
Autumn of 1987 takes a young couple on a romantic trip in the Westfjords holiday --- a trip that gets an unexpected ending and has catastrophic consequences. Ten years later, a small group of friends go for a weekend in an old hunting lodge in Elliðaey --- a place completely cut off from the outside world --- to reconnect. But one of them isn't going to make it out alive. And Detective Inspector Hulda Hermannsdóttir is determined to find the truth in the darkness. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
THE UNLIKELY ADVENTURES OF THE SHERGILL SISTERS by Balli Kaur Jaswal (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Soneela Nankani and Deepti Gupta
The British-born Punjabi Shergill sisters were never close and barely got along growing up. Rajni, a school principal, is a stickler for order. Jezmeen, a 30-year-old struggling actress, fears her big break may never come. Shirina, the peacemaking "good" sister, married into wealth and enjoys a picture-perfect life. On her deathbed, their mother voices one last wish: that her daughters will make a pilgrimage together to the Golden Temple in Amritsar to carry out her final rites. Arriving in India, these sisters will make unexpected discoveries about themselves, their mother and their lives --- and learn the real story behind the trip Rajni took with their mother long ago, a momentous journey that resulted in Mum never being able to return to India again. Reviewed by Catherine Rubino.
EXIT WOUNDS edited by Paul B. Kane and Marie O'Regan (Mystery/Short Stories)
Featuring both original in-universe stories and rarely seen reprints, this collection of 19 masterful short stories brings together some of the genre’s greatest living authors. Tony Hill and Carol Jordan take on a delightfully twisted killer in Val McDermid’s “Happy Holidays.” In Fiona Cummin’s “Dead Weight,” an overbearing mother resorts to desperate measures to keep control of her teenage daughter. And in Dean Koontz’s “Kittens,” a young girl learns the truth about how her pets have been dying and devises a horrible revenge. Tense, twisted and disturbing, EXIT WOUNDS is a visceral and thrilling collection showcasing the very best modern crime fiction has to offer. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on May 28th
Below are some notable titles releasing on May 28th 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 May 27th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
ASK AGAIN, YES by Mary Beth Keane (Fiction)
ASK AGAIN, YES is a profoundly moving novel about two neighboring families in a suburban town, the friendship between their children, a tragedy that reverberates over four decades, and the power of forgiveness.
DARK SITE: A Sam Dryden Novel by Patrick Lee (Thriller)
Former Special Forces operative Sam Dryden comes under attack from unknown forces as an unremembered episode from his past threatens more than just his life.
THE FALL OF SHANNARA: THE STIEHL ASSASSIN by Terry Brooks (Fantasy)
After THE BLACK ELFSTONE and THE SKAAR INVASION comes the next chapter in the Fall of Shannara, a saga more than four decades in the making.
KEEP YOU CLOSE by Karen Cleveland (Thriller)
A woman must confront her sense of right and wrong when the one person she loves most is accused of an unimaginable crime.
LAST STAGE TO HELL JUNCTION: A Caleb York Western by Mickey Spillane and Max Allan Collins (Western)
Max Allan Collins again brings to life the legacy of crime-writing legend Mickey Spillane in another explosive chapter in this now-classic western saga. Caleb York has a tin star, a blazing gun and plenty of courage. All he needs is a little luck to deliver big justice.
MURDER, SHE WROTE: MURDER IN RED by Jessica Fletcher and Jon Land (Mystery)
In the latest entry in this USA Today bestselling series, Jessica Fletcher loses a loved one to unnatural causes and sets her sights on the mysterious local hospital before more people wind up dead on arrival.
QUEEN BEE by Dorothea Benton Frank (Fiction)
Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of New York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank’s Carolina Lowcountry in this evocative tale that returns at long last to her beloved Sullivan’s Island.
THE SENTENCE IS DEATH by Anthony Horowitz (Mystery)
Death, deception and a detective with quite a lot to hide stalk the pages of Anthony Horowitz's brilliant murder mystery, the second in the bestselling series starring Private Investigator Daniel Hawthorne.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
Our Latest Poll: Giving Your Book
Collection a Spring Cleaning
Do you ever give your book collection at home a "spring cleaning"? Please check all that apply.
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I reorganize my books according to whether or not I have read them.
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I reorganize my books alphabetically by title.
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I reorganize my books alphabetically by author.
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I reorganize my books according to genre.
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I reorganize my books according to format (hardcover/paperback).
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I reorganize my books according to publication date.
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I give away some of my books to friends or family.
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I sell some of my books to used bookstores.
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I donate some of my books to libraries.
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I donate some of my books to used bookstores.
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I donate some of my books to thrift stores.
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I donate some of my books to schools.
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I donate some of my books to our community center.
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No
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No, but this is a good idea.
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Other (Please specify)
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, June 7th at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You're Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve finished reading with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from May 24th to June 7th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE FRIENDS WE KEEP by Jane Green and QUEEN BEE by Dorothea Benton Frank.
To make sure other readers will be able to find the books you write about, please include the full title and correct author names (your entry must include these to be eligible to win). For rules and guidelines, click here.
- To see reader comments from previous contest periods, click here.
Sounding Off on Audio Contest: Tell Us What
You're Listening to --- and You Can Win Two Audiobooks!
Tell us about the audiobooks you’ve finished listening to with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars for both the performance and the content. During the contest period from May 1st to June 3rd at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Karen Cleveland's KEEP YOU CLOSE, read by Erin Bennett, and John Sandford's NEON PREY: A Lucas Davenport Novel, read by Richard Ferrone.
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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