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This was one very brisk week --- the five days flew by.
Yesterday Tom and I went to an appointment together, and as we sat in the waiting room, I was busy answering emails. Tom had forgotten his book in the car, so I handed him an advance copy of Robert Dugoni's book that I was reading and had been enjoying, THE WORLD PLAYED CHESS. He was completely absorbed in it as quickly as I had been. So he sauntered off to read more of it last night as I continued to work on the couch. Luckily I have a finished copy upstairs, so I can pick up where I left off.
I have been a longtime fan of Bob's books, and for those of you who loved THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF SAM HELL, this one will be right up your alley. We are featuring our review of it this week. Also, there is a great interview on Facebook Live where Kristin Hannah was in conversation with Bob last Sunday night. You can catch that here.
And Kristin is going to be interviewing William Kent Krueger on Wednesday, September 22nd at 7pm ET virtually from The Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, CT. It’s on Crowdcast, and free advance registration is required; click here to sign up.
We hosted this month's “Bookaccino Live” event on Wednesday afternoon. I presented 30 books releasing between now and October 5th, along with nine from November, that I wanted to get on your radar. You can watch it here and see a list of the featured titles here.
Next month’s "Bookaccino Live" event will take place on Wednesday, October 13th at 2pm ET. I will talk about titles releasing between October 12th and November 2nd, along with a few from December, that I think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up. Those attending the live event will be asked to answer a survey about the books from the presentation that they are most interested in reading and will be eligible to win a prize.
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström, whose debut novel, IN EVERY MIRROR SHE’S BLACK, is our current Fiction Author Spotlight title and a Bookreporter.com Bets On selection. Lolá was born in Nigeria and lived in the States for a long time before moving to Sweden. She is an award-winning author, speaker and photographer who has traveled the globe for her work.
The book is told through the perspectives of three women. Kemi Adeyemi is a marketing executive living in the United States. She is hired by a major Swedish marketing company to help them with their diversity efforts with respect to branding; they are recovering from a brutal faux pas. Brittany-Rae Johnson is a former model who is now working as a flight attendant, and she is charmed by the owner of the marketing company. The third woman, Muna Saheed, is a refugee who is seeking residency in Sweden. She is working at a cleaning company, and one of their clients is the marketing company. Each woman is Black, and that is what people see first. But from there, each is perceived differently according to her station in life.
In the interview, Lolá talks about how Swedish racism differs from the racism commonly experienced in America. She explains how she decided to use her characters to show this through their actions and reactions in ways that are both believable and realistic. We also discuss some of the challenges that Sweden still has left to overcome, and what we all can take away from them. This is the kind of book that can spur a terrific book club discussion. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My other Bets On picks this week are LIGHTNING STRIKE by William Kent Krueger and A SLOW FIRE BURNING by Paula Hawkins. Click on each of the titles for my commentary. If you missed my “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Kent, you can watch it here and listen to the podcast here.
Colson Whitehead, the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author of THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD and THE NICKEL BOYS, is back with his highly anticipated new novel, HARLEM SHUFFLE, which revolves around heists, shakedowns and rip-offs set in Harlem in the 1960s. Stuart Shiffman has our review and has this to say: “Colson Whitehead is a New Yorker, and his parents and family lived in the Harlem recreated on these pages. As I prepared this review, the New York Times published an interview with the author that sums up his delightful and amazing book perfectly: ‘I’m describing a Harlem that’s in decline in the ’50s and ’60s. And now it’s gentrified and revitalized. And that’s the city. It’s always being laid low. By 9/11, by COVID, and we bounce back.’ Come back quickly, New York. America needs you.”
Sally Rooney follows up CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS and NORMAL PEOPLE with her much-talked-about new novel, BEAUTIFUL WORLD, WHERE ARE YOU. Our reviewer Harvey Freedenberg says, “Eileen and Simon and Felix and Alice. They’re the quartet of Irish young adults whose lives and loves provide the subject matter of Sally Rooney’s reflective third novel… Rooney is an expert guide to the geometry of these relationships, carefully tracing their waxing and waning over time, and is especially well-attuned to how they manifest the delayed adulthood of her fellow Millennials…. [T]here is undeniable physical and emotional chemistry in these pairings, and Rooney effectively maintains our uncertainty about whether they will flower or wilt.”
Word of Mouth Reminder
BEAUTIFUL WORLD, WHERE ARE YOU is one of our current Word of Mouth prizes; the other is APPLES NEVER FALL by Liane Moriarty, an upcoming Bets On pick that we will review next week. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll have an opportunity to win both these titles.
THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED is Lisa Jewell’s latest psychological thriller, following such bestsellers as WATCHING YOU, THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS and INVISIBLE GIRL. It’s about a web of people whose lives are forever changed in the wake of a young couple’s disappearance. According to our reviewer Ray Palen, "Lisa Jewell has a unique style all her own, and you never know quite where you stand with any of her novels --- they have a way of sneaking up on you in unexpected ways. THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED is no exception. In fact, the entire truth of what is going on is held back until the final pages, keeping readers on the edge of their seats throughout."
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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THE LOVE SONGS OF W.E.B. DU BOIS by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers: This debut novel, which is Oprah’s latest book club pick, chronicles the journey of one American family, from the centuries of the colonial slave trade through the Civil War to our own tumultuous era. Oprah’s conversation with Honorée will stream on Apple TV+ next Friday, September 24th.
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HER PERFECT LIFE by Hank Phillippi Ryan: Beloved television reporter Lily Atwood has it all --- fame, fortune, Emmys, an adorable seven-year-old daughter, and the hashtag her loving fans created: #PerfectLily. To keep it, all she has to do is protect one life-changing secret.
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TALK TO ME by T.C. Boyle: What if it were possible to speak to the members of another species --- to converse with them, not just give commands or coach them but to really have an exchange of ideas and a meeting of minds? Find out the answer to this burning question and many more in T.C. Boyle’s thought-provoking new novel.
Fall Preview Update
Our Fall Preview contests kicked off this week. We gave away THE INHERITANCE by JoAnn Ross, THE RIVIERA HOUSE by Natasha Lester, and ROCK PAPER SCISSORS by Alice Feeney, the latter of which will be a Bets On pick. We don’t have any giveaways scheduled for the next couple of weeks; we will resume the week of October 4th when our prize books will be THE BOOK OF MAGIC by Alice Hoffman, THE REDEMPTION OF BOBBY LOVE by Bobby and Cheryl Love with Lori L. Tharps, and TRUE CRIME STORY by Joseph Knox. In the meantime, be sure to take a look at our featured titles for some great fall reading selections that you may want to add to your TBR list.
Remember to Vote in Our Poll!
Our poll continues to ask which of 30 fiction titles releasing this month you’re planning to read. Click here to let us know.
Prize season is in the air...book prize season, that is!
Also announced this week was the shortlist for this year’s Man Booker Prize for Fiction. The six titles are A PASSAGE NORTH by Anuk Arudpragasam, THE PROMISE by Damon Galgut, NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT THIS by Patricia Lockwood, THE FORTUNE MEN by Nadifa Mohamed, BEWILDERMENT by Richard Powers, and GREAT CIRCLE by Maggie Shipstead. The judges will reveal the winning book during a prize ceremony at the BBC Radio Theatre on November 3rd.
Last but certainly not least, Kirkus Reviews has announced the finalists for the eighth annual Kirkus Prize in Fiction, Nonfiction and Young Readers’ Literature. They include the aforementioned HARLEM SHUFFLE by Colson Whitehead and THE LOVE SONGS OF W.E.B. DU BOIS by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers (Fiction), PUNCH ME UP TO THE GODS: A Memoir by Brian Broome (Nonfiction), and THE LIFE I'M IN by Sharon G. Flake (Young Readers’ Literature). Click here for all the nominees. The winners will be announced at a virtual ceremony livestreamed from the Austin Public Library on October 28th.
Are you in a book group?
If so, we are running a poll on ReadingGroupGuides.com asking about your group's recent meeting habits. Are you meeting in person these days or keeping it virtual? Let us know here.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Joe Hartlaub was so touched by the huge outpouring of love that he got from readers after we marked his retirement as one of our reviewers. Thanks from me as well for your kind words. If you missed our tribute to him last week, you can see it here. And if you would like to drop Joe a note, write him here.
Cindy wrote about attending “Bookaccino Live”: This was my first time joining 'Bookaccino Live,' and I wonder why I haven't done this before now!!! There are so many books I've added to my list and can't wait to get started. Thank you for all you do. I'm meeting a group of friends/readers tonight for dinner, and I'll be passing along your link. I'm sure they'll love it as much as I do.” We so appreciate your doing that! If everyone introduced just one or two friends to this program, it would be such fun. We already host more than 200 for this event each month, but there is room for more!
Diana wrote, “Thank you so much! I just came home from out of town and received a delightful gift of the book LIGHTNING STRIKE, which I won in a contest. On a personal note, I have been following your advice since Bookaccino days on AOL (although I didn’t know then that it was you). I’ve always found your recommendations to be closest to my personal taste. I was always the woman who would run up to you and Nicole at the Random House events and ask you for the next powerhouse book (embarrassing my sister!). I’d then bring the title back to my book club, and there was never a discussion about whether or not it should be a selection. Please know that the hard work you and your team put into your platforms is greatly appreciated!”
The Emmys: The Emmys air on Sunday night. I have found recent awards shows to be rather dull, so let's see what happens here. The small screen has some great programming!
"Come From Away": Wow, the theater production of this is showing on Apple TV+. I highly recommend it! Last week, I reiterated how much I loved THE DAY THE WORLD CAME TO TOWN. This Broadway show has the same storyline, and 19 years later I found myself recognizing so many of the familiar characters from the book. I want to chase down the book's author, Jim DeFede, for an interview. I should have done this sooner!
"Ted Lasso": We are all caught up! Bring on the next episode!
"Billions": The latest two episodes were brilliant! Bobby Axelrod, how we love to loathe you.
"Succession": They're back on HBO on October 17th. Mark your calendars for a new wave of family infighting.
Austin and I are hatching the next wave of our 25th anniversary plans. We spent part of the afternoon lining things up.
Jennifer Lai, our brilliant designer, ducked out for maternity leave today as her first baby, a daughter, is due in mid-October. She is the first person working with us to have a baby, so needless to say, we are pretty excited about what we are calling “The First TBRN Baby”!
My dad's 92nd birthday is coming up on Wednesday, and we are getting together for dinner. Dad is very spry for his age. Yesterday he played golf during the day (walking the course, naturally), and then got to catch a sports bonanza with both the Giants playing football and the Yankees playing baseball.
Greg is still in British Columbia on another epic photography trip. Cory swung by for dinner on Monday night; Tom's chicken piccata lured him back.
We had an impromptu, really fun dinner with friends last weekend. So far there is nothing on tap for this weekend as I really need to catch up on reading. I am going to be interviewing five authors for a book trade association event the last week in September, so I have reading ahead of me like I am studying for finals for a favorite class! Let the reading and page-folding...I mean, the note-taking...begin. The famed Cleopatra tent here awaits me!
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 Review:
HARLEM SHUFFLE by Colson Whitehead
HARLEM SHUFFLE by Colson Whitehead (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Dion Graham
To his customers and neighbors on 125th Street, Ray Carney is an upstanding salesman of reasonably priced furniture, making a decent life for himself and his family. Few people know he descends from a line of uptown hoods and crooks, and that his façade of normalcy has more than a few cracks in it. Cracks that are getting bigger all the time. As Ray navigates this double life, he begins to see who actually pulls the strings in Harlem. Can he avoid getting killed; save his cousin, Freddie, who falls in with a crew who plan to rob the Hotel Theresa (the “Waldorf of Harlem”); and grab his share of the big score, all while maintaining his reputation as the go-to source for all your quality home furniture needs? Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
BEAUTIFUL WORLD, WHERE ARE YOU
by Sally Rooney
BEAUTIFUL WORLD, WHERE ARE YOU by Sally Rooney (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Aoife McMahon
Alice, a novelist, meets Felix, who works in a warehouse, and asks him if he’d like to travel to Rome with her. In Dublin, her best friend, Eileen, is getting over a break-up and slips back into flirting with Simon, a man she has known since childhood. Alice, Felix, Eileen and Simon are still young, but life is catching up with them. They desire each other, they delude each other, they get together, they break apart. They have sex, they worry about sex, they worry about their friendships and the world in which they live. Are they standing in the last lighted room before the darkness, bearing witness to something? Will they find a way to believe in a beautiful world? Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED by Lisa Jewell
THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED by Lisa Jewell (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Joanne Froggatt
On a beautiful summer night in a charming English suburb, a young woman and her boyfriend disappear after partying at the massive country estate of a new college friend. One year later, a writer moves into a cottage on the edge of the woods that border the same estate. Known locally as the Dark Place, the dense forest is the writer’s favorite area for long walks, and it’s on one such walk that she stumbles upon a mysterious note that simply reads “DIG HERE.” Could this be a clue towards what has happened to the missing young couple? And what exactly is buried in this haunted ground? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Fiction Author Spotlight:
IN EVERY MIRROR SHE’S BLACK
by Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Pick
IN EVERY MIRROR SHE'S BLACK by Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström (Fiction)
Successful marketing executive Kemi Adeyemi is lured from the U.S. to Sweden by Jonny von Lundin, CEO of the nation’s largest marketing firm, to help fix a PR fiasco involving a racially tone-deaf campaign. A killer at work but a failure in love, Kemi’s move is a last-ditch effort to reclaim her social life.
A chance meeting with Jonny in business class en route to the U.S. propels former model-turned-flight-attendant Brittany-Rae Johnson into a life of wealth, luxury and privilege --- a life she’s not sure she wants --- as the object of his unhealthy obsession.
And refugee Muna Saheed, who lost her entire family, finds a job cleaning the toilets at Jonny’s office as she works to establish her residency in Sweden and, more importantly, seeks connection and a place she can call home.
Told through the perspectives of each of the three women, IN EVERY MIRROR SHE'S BLACK is a fast-paced, richly nuanced yet accessible contemporary novel that touches on important social issues of racism, classism, fetishization and tokenism, and what it means to be a Black woman navigating a white-dominated society.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström's bio.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
- Click here to visit Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström's website.
- Connect with Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström on Facebook and Twitter.
Click here to read Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
Click here to read more in our Fiction Author Spotlight.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
LIGHTNING STRIKE by William Kent Krueger
and A SLOW FIRE BURNING by Paula Hawkins
LIGHTNING STRIKE by William Kent Krueger (Historical Mystery)
William Kent Krueger’s ORDINARY GRACE and THIS TENDER LAND are such favorite books of mine. They have details that are memorable, which is the sign of a gifted writer. So when I heard that Kent was writing a prequel to his Cork O’Connor series, which is set in Tamarack County, Minnesota, I was intrigued. LIGHTNING STRIKE takes readers back to the youth of a beloved character with a backstory that is pitch perfect. Readers will connect with the Cork they have come to know and love, and embrace the story of his youth.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with William Kent Krueger.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
- Visit William Kent Krueger's website and see his schedule of upcoming virtual events.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on LIGHTNING STRIKE.
A SLOW FIRE BURNING by Paula Hawkins (Mystery/Thriller)
I tiptoed my way into Paula Hawkins’ new novel, A SLOW FIRE BURNING. I enjoyed THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN but was disappointed in her second book, INTO THE WATER. However, a few chapters in, I felt that Paula once again had hit her stride. The more I read, the more I saw how she had ratcheted up her game. The book is full of moments when you’re sure that you know who killed Daniel on his houseboat, but then you get another equally plausible culprit presented to you.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on A SLOW FIRE BURNING.
Featured Review:
THE LOVE SONGS OF W.E.B. DU BOIS
by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers
Oprah’s Latest Book Club Pick
THE LOVE SONGS OF W.E.B. DU BOIS by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Adenrele Ojo, Karen Chilton and Prentice Onayemi
The great scholar, W.E.B. Du Bois, once wrote about the Problem of race in America, and what he called “Double Consciousness,” a sensitivity that every African American possesses in order to survive. Since childhood, Ailey Pearl Garfield has understood Du Bois’ words all too well. Bearing the names of two formidable Black Americans --- the revered choreographer Alvin Ailey and her great-grandmother Pearl, the descendant of enslaved Georgians and tenant farmers --- Ailey carries Du Bois’ Problem on her shoulders. To come to terms with her own identity, Ailey embarks on a journey through her family’s past, uncovering the shocking tales of generations of ancestors --- Indigenous, Black and white --- in the deep South. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to see why the book is Oprah's latest book club pick.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THE WORLD PLAYED CHESS by Robert Dugoni
THE WORLD PLAYED CHESS by Robert Dugoni (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Todd Haberkorn
In 1979, Vincent Bianco has just graduated high school. His only desire: collect a little beer money and enjoy his final summer before college. So he lands a job as a laborer on a construction crew. Working alongside two Vietnam vets, one suffering from PTSD, Vincent gets the education of a lifetime. Now 40 years later, with his own son leaving for college, the lessons of that summer --- Vincent’s last taste of innocence and first taste of real life --- dramatically unfold in a novel about breaking away, shaping a life and seeking one’s own destiny. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
HER PERFECT LIFE by Hank Phillippi Ryan
HER PERFECT LIFE by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Angela Dawe
Beloved television reporter Lily Atwood has it all --- fame, fortune, Emmys, an adorable seven-year-old daughter, and the hashtag her loving fans created: #PerfectLily. To keep it, all she has to do is protect one life-changing secret. Her own. Lily has an anonymous source who feeds her story tips --- but suddenly, the source begins telling Lily inside information about her own life. How does he --- or she --- know the truth? Lily understands that no one reveals a secret unless they have a reason. Now she’s terrified someone is determined to destroy her world --- and with it, everyone and everything she holds dear. How much will she risk to keep her perfect life? Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: TALK TO ME by T.C. Boyle
TALK TO ME by T.C. Boyle (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Stacey Glemboski
When animal behaviorist Guy Schermerhorn demonstrates on a TV game show that he has taught Sam, his juvenile chimp, to speak in sign language, Aimee Villard, an undergraduate at Guy's university, is so taken with the performance that she applies to become his assistant. A romantic and intellectual attachment soon morphs into an interspecies love triangle that pushes hard at the boundaries of consciousness and the question of what we know and how we know it. What if it were possible to speak to the members of another species --- to converse with them, not just give commands or coach them but to really have an exchange of ideas and a meeting of minds? Reviewed by Eileen Zimmerman Nicol.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's 11th Annual
Fall Preview Contests and Feature
Fall is known as the biggest season of the year for books. The titles that release during this latter part of the year often become holiday gifts, and many are blockbusters. To celebrate the arrival of fall, we are spotlighting a number of outstanding books that we know people will be talking about in the days and months to come.
We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days in September and October, 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 Monday, October 4th at noon ET.
This year's featured titles include:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
BREATHE by Joyce Carol Oates (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell
A married couple from Cambridge, MA takes residency at a distinguished academic institute. When the husband is stricken with a mysterious illness, misdiagnosed at first, their lives are uprooted and husband and wife each embarks upon a nightmare journey. At 37, Michaela faces the terrifying prospect of widowhood --- and the loss of Gerard, whose identity has greatly shaped her own. She cares desperately for him in his final days as she comes to realize that her love for her husband, however fierce and selfless, is not enough to save him and that his death is beyond her comprehension. A love that refuses to be surrendered at death --- is this the blessing of a unique married love, or a curse that must be exorcized? Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
NEVER SAW ME COMING by Vera Kurian (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Brittany Pressley
Chloe Sevre is a freshman honor student, a legging-wearing hot girl next door who also happens to be a psychopath. She spends her time on yogalates, at frat parties and plotting to kill Will Bachman, a childhood friend who grievously wronged her. Chloe is one of seven students at her DC-based college who are part of an unusual clinical study of psychopaths --- students like herself who lack empathy and can’t comprehend emotions like fear or guilt. The study, led by a renowned psychologist, requires them to wear smart watches that track their moods and movements. When one of the students in the study is found murdered in the psychology building, a dangerous game of cat and mouse begins, and Chloe goes from hunter to prey. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
THE LAST CHANCE LIBRARY by Freya Sampson (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Nathalie Pownall
Shy and reclusive, 30-year-old librarian June Jones would rather spend her time buried in books than venture out into the world. But when her library is threatened with closure, she is forced to emerge from behind the shelves to save the heart of her community and the place that holds the dearest memories of her mother. Joining a band of eccentric yet dedicated locals in a campaign to keep the library, June opens herself up to other people for the first time since her mother died. It just so happens that her old school friend, Alex Chen, is back in town and willing to lend a helping hand. The kindhearted lawyer's feelings for her are obvious to everyone but June, who won't believe that anyone could ever care for her in that way. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
THE CHARM OFFENSIVE by Alison Cochrun (Romantic Comedy)
Audiobook available; read by Vikas Adam and Graham Halstead, with Cassandra Campbell
Dev Deshpande has always believed in fairy tales. So it’s no wonder then that he’s spent his career crafting them on the long-running reality dating show “Ever After.” As the most successful producer in the franchise’s history, Dev always scripts the perfect love story for his contestants, even as his own love life crashes and burns. But then the show casts disgraced tech wunderkind Charlie Winshaw as its star. Charlie doesn’t believe in true love and only agreed to the show as a last-ditch effort to rehabilitate his image. As Dev fights to get Charlie to connect with the contestants on a whirlwind, worldwide tour, they begin to open up to each other, and Charlie realizes he has better chemistry with Dev than with any of his female co-stars. Reviewed by Kayla Provencher.
THE WOMEN OF TROY by Pat Barker (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Kristin Atherton
Troy has fallen, and the victorious Greeks are eager to return home with the spoils of an endless war --- including the women of Troy themselves. They await a fair wind for the Aegean. It does not come, because the gods are offended. The body of King Priam lies unburied and desecrated, and so the victors remain in suspension, camped in the shadows of the city they destroyed as the coalition that held them together begins to unravel. Old feuds resurface, and new suspicions and rivalries begin to fester. Largely unnoticed by her captors, the one-time Trojan queen Briseis, formerly Achilles' slave, forges alliances when she can, with Priam's aged wife, the defiant Hecuba, and with the disgraced soothsayer Calchas, all the while shrewdly seeking her path to revenge. Reviewed by Kayla Provencher.
INSEPARABLE written by Simone de Beauvoir, translated by Sandra Smith (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Julia Whelan and Gabra Zackman
From the moment Sylvie and Andrée meet in their Parisian day school, they see in each other an accomplice with whom to confront the mysteries of girlhood. For the next 10 years, the two are the closest of friends and confidantes as they explore life in a post-World War I France, and as Andrée becomes increasingly reckless and rebellious, edging closer to peril. Sylvie sees a France of clashing ideals and religious hypocrisy --- and at an early age is determined to form her own opinions. Andrée is inclined to melodrama and romance. Despite their different natures, they rely on each other to safeguard their secrets while entering adulthood in a world that did not pay much attention to the wills and desires of young women. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
BULLET TRAIN by Kotaro Isaka (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Pun Bandhu
Nanao, nicknamed Lady Bird --- the self-proclaimed “unluckiest assassin in the world” --- boards a bullet train from Tokyo to Morioka with one simple task: grab a suitcase and get off at the next stop. Unbeknownst to him, the deadly duo Tangerine and Lemon are also after the very same suitcase --- and they are not the only dangerous passengers onboard. Satoshi, “the Prince,” is also in the mix and has history with some of the others. Risk fuels him as does a good philosophical debate...like, is killing really wrong? Chasing the Prince is another assassin with a score to settle for the time the Prince casually pushed a young boy off of a roof, leaving him comatose. When the five assassins discover they are all on the same train, they realize their missions are not as unrelated as they first appear. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
MONSTER HUNTER BLOODLINES by Larry Correia (Urban Fantasy/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by Oliver Wyman
The chaos god Asag has been quiet since the destruction of the City of Monsters, but Monster Hunter International knows that he is still out there. When Owen and the MHI team discover that one of Isaac Newton's Ward Stones is being auctioned off by Reptoids who live deep beneath Atlanta, they decide to steal the magical superweapon and use it to destroy Asag once and for all. But before the stone can be handed off, it is stolen by a mysterious thief with ties to MHI and the Vatican's Secret Guard. It's a race against time, the Secret Guard, a spectral bounty hunter and a whole bunch of monsters to acquire the Ward Stone and use it against Asag. For as dangerous as the chaos god is, there is something much older --- and infinitely more evil --- awakening deep in the jungles of South America. Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.
GONE FOR GOOD by Joanna Schaffhausen (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Kelsey Navarro
The Lovelorn Killer murdered seven women, ritually binding them and leaving them for dead before penning them gruesome love letters in the local papers. Then he disappeared, and there hasn’t been a trace of him in 20 years. Grace Harper, who uses her snooping skills as part of an amateur sleuth group, believes that the Lovelorn Killer is still living in the same neighborhoods in which he hunted. If she can figure out how he selected his victims, she will have the key to his identity. Detective Annalisa Vega lost someone she loved to the killer. Now she's at a murder scene with the worst kind of déjà vu: Grace Harper lies bound and dead on the floor, surrounded by clues to the biggest murder case that Chicago homicide never solved. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on September 20th and 21st
Below are some notable titles releasing on September 20th and 21st 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 September 20th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
September 20th
THE JAILHOUSE LAWYER by James Patterson and Nancy Allen (Legal Thriller)
A young lawyer takes on the judge who is destroying her hometown --- and ends up in jail herself.
September 21st
BEWILDERMENT by Richard Powers (Fiction)
BEWILDERMENT marks Richard Powers’ most intimate and moving novel. At its heart lies the question: How can we tell our children the truth about this beautiful, imperiled planet?
THE BOOK OF FORM AND EMPTINESS by Ruth Ozeki (Fiction/Magical Realism)
With its blend of sympathetic characters, riveting plot and vibrant engagement with everything from jazz, to climate change, to our attachment to material possessions, THE BOOK OF FORM AND EMPTINESS is classic Ruth Ozeki --- bold, wise, poignant, playful, humane and heartbreaking.
THE BURNING by Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman (Mystery/Thriller)
Things get personal for Deputy Coroner Clay Edison when a murder hits close to home in this riveting, emotional thriller from the bestselling father-son team who write “brilliant, page-turning fiction” (Stephen King).
A DARKER REALITY: An Elena Standish Novel by Anne Perry (Historical Mystery)
A personal trip turns perilous for Elena Standish after the murder of a British spy forces her to face dark family secrets in this exciting 1930s mystery by bestselling author Anne Perry.
DAUGHTER OF THE MORNING STAR: A Longmire Mystery by Craig Johnson (Mystery)
When Lolo Long's niece Jaya begins receiving death threats, Tribal Police Chief Long calls on Absaroka County Sheriff Walt Longmire along with Henry Standing Bear as lethal backup.
DUNE: THE LADY OF CALADAN by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson (Science Fiction/Space Opera)
Lady Jessica, mother of Paul and consort to Leto Atreides. The choices she made shaped an empire, but first the Lady of Caladan must reckon with her own betrayal of the Bene Gesserit. She has already betrayed her ancient order, but now she must decide if her loyalty to the Sisterhood is more important than the love of her own family.
AN IMPOSSIBLE PROMISE: A Providence Falls Novel by Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets (Romance)
They can’t be together, but they can’t stay apart. Liam O’Connor knows this is the last chance to save his soul. But does he love Cora McLeod enough to let her go?
THE SPECKLED BEAUTY: A Dog and His People by Rick Bragg (Memoir)
From the bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTIN' comes the warmhearted and hilarious story of how his life was transformed by his love for a poorly behaved, half-blind stray dog.
VANDERBILT: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe (History)
New York Times bestselling author and journalist Anderson Cooper teams up with New York Times bestselling historian and novelist Katherine Howe to chronicle the rise and fall of a legendary American dynasty --- his mother’s family, the Vanderbilts.
WHEN GHOSTS COME HOME by Wiley Cash (Mystery)
This eagerly awaited novel from the New York Times bestselling author of A LAND MORE KIND THAN HOME tells the tender and haunting story of a father and daughter, crime and forgiveness, race and memory.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Ruth Ozeki, Anderson Cooper, Liane Moriarty
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
As so many book and author events are happening online these days, we are highlighting a number of them that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links below for more info and to register.
Saturday, September 18th at 3pm ET: Tattered Cover Book Store: William Kent Krueger will be in conversation with Sandra Dallas about LIGHTNING STRIKE, the prequel to his Cork O'Connor mystery series.
Saturday, September 18th at 7pm ET: Vroman's Bookstore: T.C. Boyle will discuss his wide-ranging and hilarious new novel, TALK TO ME, which explores what it means to be human, to communicate with another, and to truly know another person --- or animal.
Monday, September 20th at 12pm ET: Simon & Schuster's Book Club Favorites: Alice Hoffman will join members of the Simon & Schuster team for a Facebook Live Book Club chat about MAGIC LESSONS, which is September's pick for S&S's Book Club Favorites.
Monday, September 20th at 6:30pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Barnes & Noble will welcome Anderson Cooper for a live virtual event as he discusses his new book, VANDERBILT: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty, with Kelly Ripa.
Monday, September 20th at 8pm ET: Anderson's Bookshops: Join Anderson's Bookshops for a virtual event with USA Today bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan to celebrate the release of her next thrilling stand-alone novel, HER PERFECT LIFE. Hank will be in conversation with fellow bestselling author Mary Kubica.
Tuesday, September 21st at 7:30pm ET: Harvard Book Store and Community Bookstore: Harvard Book Store and Community Bookstore welcome Ruth Ozeki for a discussion of her latest novel, THE BOOK OF FORM AND EMPTINESS. She will be joined in conversation by beloved novelist Madeline Miller.
Tuesday, September 21st at 8pm ET: Murder By The Book: William Kent Krueger will be in conversation with David Heska Wanbli Weiden about his latest Cork O'Connor mystery, LIGHTNING STRIKE.
Wednesday, September 22nd at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Patti Callahan Henry and Mary Alice Monroe --- will talk to Wiley Cash, whose latest novel is WHEN GHOSTS COME HOME.
Wednesday, September 22nd at 7pm ET: The Mark Twain House & Museum: The Mark Twain House & Museum is delighted to welcome back THIS TENDER LAND author William Kent Krueger to discuss his newest novel, LIGHTNING STRIKE, with Kristin Hannah.
Thursday, September 23rd at 7pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's, in partnership with Henry Holt & Company, will host a virtual conversation with New York Times bestselling author Liane Moriarty as she discusses her new novel, APPLES NEVER FALL, with Leigh Haber.
Thursday, September 23rd at 9pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: The bestselling father-and-son team of Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman will talk about their latest Clay Edison thriller, THE BURNING.
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts
“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers a long-form, in-depth author interview every week. For years, Carol has 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 is to bring these author interviews to readers, wherever they may be. Watch on video, or listen as a podcast. (The podcasts include audio excerpts.)
Here is our latest interview:
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Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström (IN EVERY MIRROR SHE'S BLACK) Video | Podcast
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: September Fiction Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following fiction titles releasing in September are you planning to read? Please check all that apply.
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APPLES NEVER FALL by Liane Moriarty
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BEAUTIFUL WORLD, WHERE ARE YOU by Sally Rooney
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BEWILDERMENT by Richard Powers
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THE BOOK OF FORM AND EMPTINESS by Ruth Ozeki
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THE BURNING by Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman
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A CALLING FOR CHARLIE BARNES by Joshua Ferris
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CLOUD CUCKOO LAND by Anthony Doerr
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A DARKER REALITY: An Elena Standish Novel, by Anne Perry
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DAUGHTER OF THE MORNING STAR: A Longmire Mystery, by Craig Johnson
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DEFENDING BRITTA STEIN by Ronald H. Balson
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ENEMY AT THE GATES: A Mitch Rapp Novel, by Vince Flynn and Kyle Mills
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FORGOTTEN IN DEATH by J. D. Robb
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FRIENDS LIKE THESE by Kimberly McCreight
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THE GREAT GLORIOUS GODDAMN OF IT ALL by Josh Ritter
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HARLEM SHUFFLE by Colson Whitehead
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HER PERFECT LIFE by Hank Phillippi Ryan
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HIGH STAKES by Iris Johansen
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AN IMPOSSIBLE PROMISE: A Providence Falls Novel, by Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets
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IN EVERY MIRROR SHE'S BLACK by Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström
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L.A. WEATHER by María Amparo Escandón
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THE MAGICIAN by Colm Tóibín
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MATRIX by Lauren Groff
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THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED by Lisa Jewell
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ROBERT B. PARKER’S STONE’S THROW: A Jesse Stone Novel, by Mike Lupica
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ROCK PAPER SCISSORS by Alice Feeney
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THE SANTA SUIT by Mary Kay Andrews
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TALK TO ME by T.C. Boyle
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WHEN GHOSTS COME HOME by Wiley Cash
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THE WISH by Nicholas Sparks
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THE WORLD PLAYED CHESS by Robert Dugoni
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, September 24th 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 September 10th to September 24th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of APPLES NEVER FALL by Liane Moriarty and BEAUTIFUL WORLD, WHERE ARE YOU by Sally Rooney.
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.
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