April 3, 2020
 April 3, 2020Quick Links to Features on Bookreporter.com Reviews | Features | Bookreporter.com Bets On | Upcoming Bets On   We have two new "Bookreporter Talks To" interviews to share with you.  Our second interview is with Diane Chamberlain, whose latest novel is   Carol was asked by her Long Hill Book Group to choose an uplifting book for their April selection. Carol was fascinated by the four-part Netflix series, "Unorthodox," which is based on Deborah Feldman's   Carol talks about this week's Bookreporter update (left) From Our Homes to Yours… Greetings from our homes to yours. I have been making notes for this newsletter all week, of things I am reading, seeing and watching. We appreciate that you are reading this --- and also that you are reading so many books. I have gotten notes about how book groups are meeting via Zoom and how people are buying from indies, and borrowing e-books from libraries. I am getting ---- and trying to answer as many as I can --- notes from readers. I am stumped on one note and wanted to see if you can help Hedy with her question: "I am driving myself crazy trying to find an author name from a series where the latest book came out about a month ago. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the author of former titles and thought you might with your vast knowledge of books. They are about a group of people who have left mainstream society for varied reasons and are living in a remote town in the backwoods of Canada. They are not allowed in and out, and can stay for three years. I thought the name of the town was Rockman, but nothing came up, and I believe the author's first name was Amy. If you happen to know, please let me know. It's driving me nuts. Stay well, and keep up the great newsletters.” Last week, my Long Hill Book Group asked me to come up with an uplifting book for April. For days I was ticking off books that I had read, and none fit the bill. Then I remembered one of the best books that I have read that would be perfect: THE DAY THE WORLD CAME TO TOWN by Jim DeFede. This is the story of the town of Gander, Newfoundland, where 38 international planes landed on 9/11. They were stuck there as airspace was closed in the States. For four days, the town population swelled from 10,000 to 17,000. It’s a beautifully heartwarming story of how a town pulled together. The Broadway play "Come from Away" is based on the same topic, though I am not sure that the book gets credit. I am not a huge Broadway fan, but when theaters reopen, I am getting tickets to this one. I have recommended THE DAY THE WORLD CAME TO TOWN so many times through the years. Now I need to find my copy here in this house! We are planning to meet via Zoom. And my neighborhood book group wants to try the same thing. Are you doing anything inventive to keep reading during these days of social isolation? If so, let me know! My dining room recording studio was open again, and I was happy to interview two authors --- Lisa See and Diane Chamberlain, both of whom I was to interview at the Tucson Festival of Books. Diane’s novel, BIG LIES IN A SMALL TOWN, had so many twists and turns --- and I loved the opportunity to ask her about her inspiration, as well as her writing process. I recently made the audiobook, read by Susan Bennett, a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast. I had the pleasure of meeting Diane in 2018 at the Morristown Festival of Books, where I interviewed her, along with Kate Morton. Lisa See is an author whose career I have followed since 2005 when she wrote SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN (a copy of which I found on my shelf before the interview). We talked about her latest book, THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN (a Bets On pick that is now in paperback), as well her research process and her long history of talking to book clubs. And she shares some insight about her next novel, where she is moving again in a new direction. It’s always lovely to talk to Lisa, and I hope you enjoy our discussion as much as I did. You can watch the video here and listen to the podcast here. Looking to catch up on our interviews? You can see a list of all our "Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts here. Thanks to Tom Donadio, our Editorial Director, for pulling these together. We’re currently giving away 12 copies of THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN in our “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest on ReadingGroupGuides.com. To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, April 8th at noon ET. Also, be sure to check out these links: our review, my Bets On commentary and the discussion guide. Dean Koontz is back with a new stand-alone thriller, DEVOTED, which is about a terrifying killer and the singular compassion it will take to defeat him. Kate Ayers has our review and says, “Koontz’s love for dogs shines through brilliantly in this wonderful, frightening tale…. This is a page-turner for certain, but sometimes it’s so scary you might want to resist turning that next page. Koontz has a flawless intuition for knowing precisely how much tension to mount before backing off. Nonetheless, you may need to read some parts of DEVOTED with one eye closed.” Another recently released canine-themed novel is THE K TEAM, which marks the beginning of a new series for David Rosenfelt, a spinoff of his beloved Andy Carpenter mysteries. Here, readers are introduced to the investigative team of former cop Corey Douglas and his loyal German Shepherd, Simon Garfunkel. Being a huge Simon & Garfunkel fan, as many of you know, I was very amused by this! According to our reviewer Pamela Kramer, “Carpenter fans, fear not. Corey is just as funny, smart and charmingly naughty as our dog-loving defense attorney protagonist.... THE K TEAM is a true page-turner, filled with wackiness, wit, charm and real suspense. Rosenfelt has done it again!" Other books we’re reviewing this week include CODE NAME HÉLÈNE by Ariel Lawhon, a novel based on the real-life story of socialite spy Nancy Wake, who killed a Nazi with her bare hands and went on to become one of the most decorated women in World War II (Ariel’s previous work of historical fiction, I WAS ANASTASIA, was a New York Times bestseller); Olen Steinhauer’s THE LAST TOURIST, which marks the return of CIA agent Milo Weaver following an eight-year absence (the last time we saw him was in 2012's AN AMERICAN SPY); and I WANT YOU TO KNOW WE’RE STILL HERE, a memoir by Esther Safran Foer, who found out that her father had a previous wife and daughter --- both of whom were killed in the Holocaust --- and resolved to find out who they were, and how her father survived. This story served as the inspiration for the 2002 novel EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED, written by Esther’s son, Jonathan Safran Foer. Our Spring Preview contests resume next week with our next two giveaways: THE BOOK OF LOST FRIENDS by Lisa Wingate (we will review it next Friday and feature my “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Lisa) and THE ENGINEER’S WIFE by Tracey Enerson Wood. The first contest of the week will be up on Monday, April 6th at noon ET. We’ve updated our Books on Screen feature for April. Although all feature films releasing this month have been postponed due to the pandemic, there are plenty of book-to-screen adaptations on television that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home. This month's roundup includes the season one finale of Hulu's "Little Fires Everywhere"; season six of "Bosch" on Amazon Prime"; and the series premieres of "Normal People" on Hulu and "Defending Jacob" on Apple TV+. Among April's DVD releases are Little Women, Just Mercy, The Turning, The Rhythm Section and Escape from Pretoria. For our latest poll, we’ve listed a number of titles releasing in April, and we’re asking you which, if any, you’re planning to read. Click here to let us know. Have your reading habits changed during these uncertain times? That was our previous poll question. For 38% of you, your reading habits have not changed. 34% have been reading more physical books, and 24% have been delving into more e-books. Click here for all the results. We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll have the opportunity to win BROKEN by Don Winslow (I am excited to interview Don soon) and ONE FATAL FLAW: A Daniel Pitt Novel by Anne Perry, both of which we will be reviewing this month. Be sure to enter by Friday, April 17th at noon ET. April’s Sounding Off on Audio contest kicked off this week. Let us know by Friday, May 1st at noon ET what audiobooks you’ve listened to, and you’ll be in the running to win the audio versions of Julia Spencer-Fleming's HID FROM OUR EYES: A Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mystery, read by Suzanne Toren, and D.J. Palmer's THE NEW HUSBAND, read by January LaVoy and Rebecca Soler. We also will be reviewing the hardcover editions of these novels in the weeks to come. While the in-store Barnes & Noble Book Club event for A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD has been canceled, that doesn’t mean you can’t talk about Therese Anne Fowler’s bestselling novel. On Tuesday, April 7th at 7pm ET, you can join Therese for a virtual #BNBookClub event, as she will be LIVE on Facebook @barnesandnoble to host a discussion. Having chatted with Therese last week for a “Bookreporter Talks To” interview, I know this will be a lively and informative conversation! We have some new ways for you to support booksellers in these dark times. Here’s a page of resources that is being updated constantly. There are many ideas there for shopping and donating. Here’s an idea: Pick a place you have wanted to travel to. Find a local bookseller in that area and buy a book. That page lists the stores that are still open and shipping. Every little bit helps! One book, or two, or three. YOU can make a real difference. Also, think about puzzles and board games. It was lovely to read yesterday that James Patterson has donated $500,000 to indie bookstores to help them stay alive. You can read more about this here. News & Pop Culture Reader Mail: LouAnn wrote, “Thank you, Bookreporter. I just received the copy of A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD by Therese Anne Fowler that I won. It couldn’t have come at a better time while I am sheltering in place. Thanks so much. Can’t wait to read it. I so look forward to your newsletters. They have added many, many books to my To Be Read list!” Jenny wrote this about winning THE FRIENDSHIP LIST in our Spring Preview contest last week: "Thank you so much. You've just made my day! I look forward to reading THE FRIENDSHIP LIST when it arrives. Stay home and read. Stay safe and healthy!" Eleanor wrote, “I enjoy reading Bookreporter so much, and have sent it to many of my friends. Thank you. I read many of your book selections. I belong to two book clubs and share your book selections with them.” Cheryle wrote, “I just finished reading this week's newsletter. Thank you for all the background work you and your staff do to keep us readers informed. I did the poll and wanted to comment. The options you gave are good to a point. While my reading habits have not changed dramatically, my reading options have. Our local library is closed at present, and since I finished reading all the books I had checked out, I needed to start on the books I already own (this was not an option in the poll). I finished THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH by Ken Follett, which I had wanted to read for some time, but due to the length I had always passed it up. I am glad I finally read it. Now I have some reading to do for an awards program our library sponsors yearly, the High Plains Book Awards. This year we had 250 submissions from the High Plains regions of the US and Canada. I have read for this program for several years, and it is always a highlight of my reading year to read these books and see how each author is interpreting our region of the country. Thank you again for your great weekly opportunity to catch up with you and all that is going on in the book world. Keep healthy and safe.” Nancy wrote to ask, “Do you have a recipe for chocolate muffins? It might be a good activity for my grandsons during this chaotic time. Their parents are ready to go nuts. I have been so busy myself. I am trying to finish Erik Larson’s latest book, THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE. I enjoy his books. Good following to LADY CLEMENTINE. Yes, ladies first! Keep up your great newsletter. Stay safe and sane. It is scary out there.” I had to confess to Nancy that my recipe was from Duncan Hines, or maybe Betty Crocker. I did add extra chocolate chips. This week, I made fudge marble “muffins.” Greg felt that the ones with more fudge were better. That was because some were just fudge as I misjudged the recipe. Again, credit to Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker. Jean wrote, “Because of you, and Bookeporter, my list of books to look for is never-ending. The week before we got our stay-at-home orders in MN, there was a sale at a local bookstore. I felt 'lucky' that I got four books...all because of you and your staff at Bookreporter. I read MERCY HOUSE last week, and have recommended it to three friends and also my book club. As I told them, it's not a mystery, it's not a romance, it's not a thriller...it's just a very good, well-written book. Hope everything is going well for you. Stay safe and healthy." "Unorthodox" on Netflix: I was riveted to this four-episode series last Sunday. It’s based on the instant New York Times bestselling memoir of the same name by Deborah Feldman, who left the Hasidic Jewish community in Brooklyn with her son at age 19. It is so well done. Deborah is Berlin-based and worked closely with the crew. It is a predominantly Jewish production, from cast to crew, filmed in both Yiddish and English, and shot in New York City and Berlin. "My Brilliant Friend" on HBO: This second season (based on Elena Ferrante's THE STORY OF A NEW NAME) is terrific. The characters are pushing in new directions, and often those take them away from each other…and then pull them back. Neighborhood Bear Hunt: A neighbor wrote last week, “Let’s start a 'bear hunt' in our neighborhood for kids and families to enjoy while we continue to practice social distancing. You may have seen in the news that other towns across the country are participating in this fun scavenger hunt activity! To join in on the fun, you can place a teddy bear or other stuffed animal in your homes’ windows for families to view from the street on their walks or drives around the neighborhood. I know my four-year-old and two-year-old would find this exciting to do on our walks.” These are happening around the world as shown in this "NBC Nightly News" piece. Calming App: There are times when life these days can be overwhelming. I have an App called Insight Timer, which has a Yoga Nidra meditation that is a Guided Meditation for Sleep, that I highly recommend. And you do not need to do it when you are going to sleep. Trust me…it works. "The Good Doctor": The season finale had some moments that really gave me pause. Paul Simon: I have two videos to share with you. In the first, Paul is singing "All I Have to Do is Dream" with his wife, Edie Brickell; his daughter, Lulu; and Woody Harrelson. Yes, Woody Harrelson. In the second, Paul is singing "The Boxer" with just his guitar. "The Plot Against America" on HBO: How did I not read this book? The series is well done. I have to check out David Simon’s podcast where he talks about each episode. "I Know This Much Is True" on HBO: This six-part limited series, based on Wally Lamb’s award-winning New York Times bestseller of the same name, will now debut on Sunday, May 10th. The program was originally scheduled to premiere on Monday, April 27th. "Ozark" on Netflix: Whew, season three was wild…not that seasons one and two were calm. The ending! "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness" on Netflix: I am late to the party on this series. I watched one episode last night, and it was CRAZY. Yes, I will watch more. Lisa Scottoline's Weekly Humorous Essays Newsletter: Lisa is sending this newsletter on Sunday mornings. It’s her column from the Philadelphia Inquirer. She is spot-on with her humor about every situation. I highly recommend it. You can subscribe here. Cocktail Hour with Ina Garten: From her home to yours...how to make a Cosmopolitan. Thanks to my fave newsletter, Morning Brew, for the link. Yarn Store Love: Shibui Knits is encouraging people to "support what you love" by shopping with those that carry their yarns and are open. Shibui yarns are among my favorites. I am sharing two promo videos this week, both shot by Greg in our family room. The first features the titles we are talking about on ReadingGroupGuides.com, and the second talks about the titles we are featuring here this week. The latter includes my French pronunciations courtesy of Greg’s tutoring. They still need help. And you can see the scarf that I am making. The weekend includes many home improvement projects. I have been making lists. Right now, I think that Tom and Greg preferred the last few weekends when I was not feeling well and was collapsed on the couch with a book or the remote. Dust bunnies and things hidden in the attic should be warned! Also, I want to get some Easter decorating done to give the place a spring feel. And yes, there will be lots of cooking, reading and knitting. These days, the fact that I am such a homebody is a good thing. And I am going to color my hair. Yep, this should be interesting, folks. The salon is supplying the color and instructions. If you see me wearing a baseball cap in next week’s videos, you will know this did not go well. Happy Passover to those who are celebrating. There will be many virtual Seders this year. Read on, and have a great week. Please stay sheltered and safe. Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)    Featured Review: DEVOTED by Dean Koontz  DEVOTED by Dean Koontz (Thriller) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read our review. Featured Review: CODE NAME HÉLÈNE by Ariel Lawhon  CODE NAME HÉLÈNE by Ariel Lawhon (Historical Fiction) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read our review. Featured Review: THE K TEAM by David Rosenfelt  THE K TEAM by David Rosenfelt (Mystery) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read our review. Featured Review: THE LAST TOURIST by Olen Steinhauer  THE LAST TOURIST by Olen Steinhauer (Thriller) - Click here to read more about the book. Click here to read our review. Featured Review:  I WANT YOU TO KNOW WE'RE STILL HERE: A Post-Holocaust Memoir by Esther Safran Foer (Memoir) Click here to read our review.  Bookreporter.com's Ninth Annual Spring is in the air! We’ve caught the fever --- and it’s being fueled by some wonderful new and upcoming releases. Our ninth 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 24th at noon ET. 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 Monday, April 6th at noon ET. This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details    April’s Books on Screen Feature All feature films releasing in April have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Fortunately, there are plenty of book-to-screen adaptations on television that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Here is a preview of this month's TV shows and DVDs that are based on books. For a complete list of April's offerings, please click here. On TV "Belgravia" "Killing Eve" "Bosch" "Little Fires Everywhere" "Defending Jacob" (8-episode miniseries) "Normal People" On DVD Escape from Pretoria Little Women Just Mercy The Turning  “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?”  Each month on ReadingGroupGuides.com, 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. Note: To be eligible to win, let us know the title of the book that YOUR book group is CURRENTLY reading, NOT the title we are giving away. Our latest prize book is THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN by Lisa See. This Bookreporter.com Bets On title, which is now available in paperback, is an evocative tale of two best friends whose bonds are both strengthened and tested over decades by forces beyond their control. To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, April 8th at noon ET. THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN by Lisa See (Historical Fiction) Despite their love for each other, Mi-ja and Young-sook’s differences are impossible to ignore. THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN is an epoch set over many decades, beginning during a period of Japanese colonialism in the 1930s and 1940s, followed by World War II, the Korean War and its aftermath, through the era of cell phones and wet suits for the women divers. Throughout this time, the residents of Jeju find themselves caught between warring empires. Mi-ja is the daughter of a Japanese collaborator, and she will forever be marked by this association. Young-sook was born into a long line of haenyeo and will inherit her mother’s position leading the divers in their village. Little do the two friends know that after surviving hundreds of dives and developing the closest of bonds, forces outside their control will push their friendship to the breaking point. “This vivid…thoughtful and empathetic” novel (The New York Times Book Review) illuminates a world turned upside down, one where the women are in charge and the men take care of the children. “A wonderful ode to a truly singular group of women” (Publishers Weekly), THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN is a “beautiful story…about the endurance of friendship when it’s pushed to its limits, and you…will love it” (Cosmopolitan). Click here to enter the contest.   "Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts In late August 2019, we launched “Bookreporter Talks To,” a video and podcast series where we deliver a long-form, in-depth author interview every week. For years, I have moderated book festivals and author events around the country. But we know that readers often do not live where they can attend an author event. Our goal --- to bring these author interviews to readers, wherever they may be. Watch on video, or listen as a podcast. (The podcasts include audio excerpts.) By the way, this follows a long history of The Book Report Network delivering compelling programming to readers. Back in 1997, the company hosted the first online interview with John Grisham, which started a tradition of ongoing interviews with authors. Here are our latest interviews:
Other authors interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
Watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interviews and listen to our podcasts.    More Reviews This WeekTEXAS OUTLAW by James Patterson and Andrew Bourelle (Thriller/Western) THE CITY WE BECAME by N. K. Jemisin (Urban Fantasy) THE FACELESS OLD WOMAN WHO SECRETLY LIVES IN YOUR HOME: A Welcome to Night Vale Novel by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor (Fantasy/Horror) BEHELD by TaraShea Nesbit (Historical Fiction) HEX by Rebecca Dinerstein Knight (Fiction) AND THEY CALLED IT CAMELOT: A Novel of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis by Stephanie Marie Thornton (Historical Fiction) UNDERCOVER BROMANCE by Lyssa Kay Adams (Romantic Comedy) GONE BY MIDNIGHT: A Crimson Lake Novel by Candice Fox (Mystery/Thriller) THE EIGHTH GIRL by Maxine Mei-Fung Chung (Psychological Thriller)   
Next Week’s Notables:
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