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Chugging Our Way Out of Mercury Retrograde;
Hang On 'til the 18th!
Ahhh there were so many Mercury retrograde moments this week that my head is spinning. Seriously. After a really lovely three-day weekend, we plunged merrily into a fast-paced four-day work week where the staff literally stopped Thursday afternoon to talk by phone about everything that had gone on!
During evenings this week, I have been escaping with TASTE: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci, which has been perfect late night reading for me. I have been relishing his stories of family and food. I have found myself picturing his family around the table with simple evening meals, and then at other more complex celebrations. There is something so calming and relaxing about his writing and storytelling. I missed his series on CNN, "Searching for Italy," and I need to see if I still can watch it. Between this book and my continued savoring of BOURDAIN: The Definitive Oral Biography, I have had some lovely kickback time with people who love to cook. I know, this is how I unwind, right?
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Stephanie Land, whose New York Times bestselling memoir, MAID: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive, was a Bets On pick and is now a brilliant 10-episode series on Netflix. Before its publication, Stephanie wrote a piece for Vox that went viral, which led literary agents to ask for a book on the topic. She discusses her meetings with the producers and writers of the Netflix series, where she shared both memories and photos, and points to scenes that still resonate with her. We also talk about elements that enhanced the show that weren't in the book, and I ask her where she is now in life and what she's writing next. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
Next month’s “Bookaccino Live” event will take place on Wednesday, November 10th at 2pm ET. I will present titles releasing from November 9th through the end of the year, along with a few from January and February, 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.
We hosted this month's “Bookaccino Live” event on Wednesday afternoon. I talked about 31 books releasing between now and November 2nd, along with a couple from December, that I wanted to get on your radar. The presentation will be up on our YouTube channel next week, and we will share the link to the video in next Friday's newsletter. In the meantime, you can see a list of all the titles that I talked about here.
John le Carré, the master of the spy novel, passed away last December. His final book, SILVERVIEW, is now in stores, and here he turns his focus to the world that occupied his writing for the past 60 years --- the secret world itself. Kate Ayers has our review and says, “The literary community mourns the loss of a writer as great as John le Carré. Fortunately, we as readers are blessed with this final contribution by the author of some of the top spy thrillers ever to hit bookshelves. Read it as a fitting tribute to this superb literary giant.”
On Wednesday, October 20th at 6pm ET, Harper's Magazine and The Mark Twain House & Museum will present a panel conversation on SILVERVIEW with crime writer Walter Mosley, le Carré's son Nick Cornwell (aka novelist Nick Harkaway), NPR White House Correspondent Scott Detrow, and Harper's Editor Christopher Beha. Click here to learn more about this very special event and register.
Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic series began over 25 years ago, and this week it comes to a triumphant end with the release of THE BOOK OF MAGIC. The Owens family has been cursed in matters of love for over 300 years, but that is all about to change in this final installment, which celebrates mothers and daughters, sisters and brothers, and anyone who has ever been in love. According to our reviewer Jana Siciliano, "THE BOOK OF MAGIC holds all the beautiful discoveries and endings for these beloved characters that any fan of Hoffman’s could possibly desire.... There is a great calm and feeling of warm, cozy fall nights that accompany all of Hoffman’s books, so this latest release is right on time." Hoffman offers her own thoughts about the conclusion of the series and what’s next for her in this Q&A.
Our new Paperback Spotlight title is FAYE, FARAWAY by Helen Fisher, a debut novel that follows a woman who travels back in time to be reunited with the mother she lost when she was a child. We reviewed this book when it came out in hardcover at the beginning of the year, and here’s what Rebecca Munro had to say about it: “Fisher writes gorgeous, lyrical prose, and every scene is infused with magic and heart. With a skillful hand, she focuses on tiny, life-changing moments with a keen and compassionate eye, drawing natural but thought-provoking questions in a way that feels universal and timeless. You’ll have to suspend your disbelief a little, of course, but Faye’s delivery of her straight-out-of-science fiction tale is so straightforward and honest that even the more fantastical elements feel perfectly real and authentic.”
Continuing this week is our “In Case You Missed Them…and a Look Ahead” Feature & Contest. Here you will have the opportunity to win one of Kimberly Belle’s three backlist titles “in case you missed them”: THE MARRIAGE LIE, DEAR WIFE and STRANGER IN THE LAKE. All you have to do is read their plot summaries and let us know which one you’d like to receive. We are awarding three copies of each book, so there will be nine winners in all. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, October 22nd at noon ET.
We also are giving you “a look ahead” to Kimberly’s upcoming thriller, MY DARLING HUSBAND, which releases on December 28th (this was one of the December books I presented during Wednesday’s “Bookaccino Live” event).
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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THE BOYS: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family: Join award-winning filmmaker Ron Howard and audience-favorite actor Clint Howard as they frankly and fondly share their unusual family story of navigating and surviving life as sibling child actors.
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THE JEALOUSY AND OTHER STORIES: Jo Nesbø’s debut short story collection takes us on a journey of twisted minds and vengeful hearts. The publisher calls the book “[a] veritable crime lover’s delight from a true master of mystery and suspense.”
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THE DEATH OF JANE LAWRENCE: Caitlin Starling’s latest novel is this month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. Set in a dark-mirror version of post-war England, this Crimson Peak-inspired story assembles, and then upends, every expectation set in place by Shirley Jackson and REBECCA.
Please keep in mind that on Tuesday, November 9th at 3pm ET, B&N will host a virtual event featuring Starling, who will be in conversation with Victoria Lee. Click here to sign up. This week, Lauren Groff talked to Jamie Quatro about MATRIX, which was September’s B&N selection. Click here to watch the interview.
Fall Preview Update
Our Fall Preview contests wrapped up this week with our final three giveaways: the aforementioned FAYE, FARAWAY by Helen Fisher, along with SMILE: The Story of a Face by Sarah Ruhl, and WHEN TWO FEATHERS FELL FROM THE SKY by Margaret Verble. Congratulations to the winners of our nine contests, and many thanks to all who entered!
Our next series of 24-hour giveaways will be our Holiday Cheer contests, which kick off in mid-November. If you would like to receive a special newsletter announcing each day’s Holiday Cheer title, all you have to do is sign up here.
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
My latest Bets On picks are APPLES NEVER FALL by Liane Moriarty, THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED by Lisa Jewell, and ROCK PAPER SCISSORS by Alice Feeney. Click on each of the titles for my commentary. If you missed my recent “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Lisa, you can watch it here and listen to the podcast here.
Remember to Enter Our Word of Mouth Contest and Vote in Our Poll!
Submit your comments about the books you’ve read in our Word of Mouth contest, and you’ll have a chance to win THE JUDGE’S LIST by John Grisham and OH WILLIAM! by Elizabeth Strout, both of which we plan to review next week. Be sure to enter by Friday, October 22nd at noon ET.
Our poll continues to ask how you feel about reading novels with a pandemic theme. Let us know your thoughts by clicking here.
On Wednesday, we learned the sad news that Gary Paulsen passed away at the age of 82. The author of more than 200(!) books for children and adults, his many critically acclaimed novels for young people include three Newbery Honor books: THE WINTER ROOM, HATCHET and DOGSONG. In 1997, he won the Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association for his lifetime achievement in young adult literature. Publishers Weekly has written an extensive tribute to Paulsen, which includes remembrances from several publishing professionals who worked closely with him throughout his illustrious career. Paulsen’s final novel, NORTHWIND, will release in January.
I had the pleasure of sitting next to him at a lunch many years ago, and his stories were legendary. His editor at the time, Wendy Lamb, talked about adventuring with him on a research trip where life was never dull. I remember my boys reading HATCHET and so many others by him!
News & Pop Culture:
StoryWorth: Harvey Freedenberg, one of our longtime reviewers, shared a very special gift that he received.
“For Father’s Day 2020, my daughter’s family got me a subscription to StoryWorth. Once a week for the next year, I received a question to answer. The questions included everything from “What do you think is the meaning of life?” to “What is the stupidest thing you have ever done?” (The site offers hundreds of questions to choose from if you don’t like one you received in a given week.) It took some work for me to answer all the questions, but I enjoyed the exercise. At the end of the year (54 weeks), all of your answers, which are stored on your page on the StoryWorth website, are compiled and put into an attractive book. Above is the cover of mine. This is a great gift for a family member who might enjoy this kind of project. Or if you don’t otherwise have plans to write a memoir and just want to preserve some of your own stories, you can give it to yourself. Your family may thank you someday.”
I asked Harvey if I could share this with our readers, and he said, "It might be the most exclusive book you’ve ever written about, because for now it’s only published in a limited edition of one copy. It’s fun (and a little humbling) to think that decades from now one of my descendants may pick it and learn some family history that otherwise would have been lost." It's a great holiday gift idea!
"Ted Lasso" on Apple TV+: I Ioved the season two finale. For those wondering why the arc here was not what they expected or wanted, I read that the series was always outlined to be three seasons.
"The Morning Show" Season Two on Apple TV+: I do find it humorous that the storyline is set in February 2020. As a news organization, they are way out of touch with the coming pandemic but super obsessed with the Iowa debate. Hey, we sooooo know what is coming up. Brace yourself. Soon it'll be time to grab some "Morning Show" masks and prepare for Zooming from home, folks.
The Many Saints of Newark on HBO Max: I enjoyed watching this prequel film to "The Sopranos." I feel like they captured both the vibe of Newark and the surrounding suburbs in 1967-1968. The riots. The unrest. And yes, the Mafia hits one after another. We definitely see where Tony got his ideas for running “the family.” James Gandolfini’s son, Michael, who is one of the stars of the movie, nails so many of his dad’s mannerisms. And for fun, Holsten’s, which is featured not only in the final episode of "The Sopranos" but also in this film, is where we used to go for ice cream on special occasions when we were kids. They made the cutest ice cream turkeys at Thanksgiving --- a tradition.
"Succession" on HBO: It returns for season three on Sunday. Let's go! I cannot wait to see what this infighting, backstabbing family has to show us!
"Squid Game" on Netflix: I watched the first episode, and I am not sure what it says about us as a culture that this is Netflix’s biggest-ever series launch...as in move over "Bridgerton." As per CNN, the dystopian series where “contestants who are deeply in need of money play deadly children’s games to win cash prizes, has been viewed by 111 million accounts since debuting on Netflix Sept. 17." "Bridgerton" had 82 million accounts within its first 28 days. I do confess that I am not sure I need to watch more of this one as it’s wickedly disturbing, but so many friends are raving about it that I just might have to plunge in.
Netflix Book Club: Why should Netflix not have a book club? Everyone else does! So they have partnered with Starbucks on their new club. Actress Uzo Aduba will serve as the inaugural host of the series “But Have You Read the Book?” and announce monthly book selections that the streamer is adapting. Aduba will also speak with the cast, creators and authors, presumably over a cup of coffee at Starbucks since, you know, we now can all leave the house again! Their first title is Nella Larsen’s 1929 novel, PASSING; the film drops on November 10th. They just better not be drinking coffee called Bookaccino!
Adele: Her new highly anticipated single, “Easy On Me,” is out. You can see the video for it here.
When we left off last week, we were headed to see the new Bond film, No Time to Die. We really enjoyed it. And I cried at the ending. I know, I'm a total softy...but hey, the woman next to me did too. And we sat through the final credits. When we got home, I remembered that we owned the Bond 50: Celebrating 5 Decades of Bond box set, which features three of the Daniel Craig Bond films. So far we have re-watched Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, and there is Skyfall to go. I think we also have a copy of Spectre somewhere. I wish we had watched these before we went to see the latest movie as there is a real story arc. But hey, that is what happens when there are years between films.
Today’s the day to bring in the houseplants, which have been “vacationing on the patio” for the summer. The lettuce plants will be moving onto that plant rack. For humor, I might have overdone the lettuce planting. A couple of weeks ago, I was so proud that I had planned six new Vigoroot planters and was clapping my garden gloves. Then I turned and found another whole flat to plant. I then overstuffed the six planters and snapped up another planter for the leftover plants. Last weekend, I sent photos of my lettuce planting to the garden center asking if I had overplanted each container. Their text response: “Girl, start eating that lettuce.” Salads for all this week!
I have no weekend plans except trying to get more summer plants cleaned up and finding Halloween décor in the attic. And maybe relaxing after what was a super hectic four days!
But speaking of plans, now that Captain Kirk has gone to space, what author do we think should head there? I am sure there is someone writing science fiction or fantasy who is due a slot in space, especially if Jeff Bezos is paying for it.
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: SILVERVIEW by John le Carré
SILVERVIEW by John le Carré (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Toby Jones
Julian Lawndsley has renounced his high-flying job in the city for a simpler life running a bookshop in a small English seaside town. But only a couple of months into his new career, Julian’s evening is disrupted by a visitor. Edward, a Polish émigré living in Silverview, the big house on the edge of town, seems to know a lot about Julian’s family and is rather too interested in the inner workings of his modest new enterprise. When a letter turns up at the door of a spy chief in London warning him of a dangerous leak, the investigations lead him to this quiet town by the sea. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
An Interview with Alice Hoffman
and Our Review of THE BOOK OF MAGIC
Alice Hoffman brings us the conclusion of her Practical Magic series in a spellbinding and enchanting final Owens novel, THE BOOK OF MAGIC, which celebrates mothers and daughters, sisters and brothers, and anyone who has ever been in love. In this interview, Hoffman talks about her research process, why she incorporated a true historical figure into the book, how libraries have played a major role in her life, and what she has learned from these characters since first imagining them more than 25 years ago.
THE BOOK OF MAGIC by Alice Hoffman (Fiction/Magical Realism)
Audiobook available, read by Jennifer Ehle
The Owens family has been cursed in matters of love for over 300 years, but all of that is about to change. The novel begins in a library, the best place for a story to be conjured, when beloved aunt Jet Owens hears the deathwatch beetle and knows she has only seven days to live. Jet is not the only one in danger --- the curse is already at work. A frantic attempt to save a young man’s life spurs three generations of the Owens women, and one long-lost brother, to use their unusual gifts to break the curse as they travel from Paris to London to the English countryside where their ancestor Maria Owens first practiced the Unnamed Art. The younger generation discovers secrets that have been hidden from them in matters of both magic and love by Sally, their fiercely protective mother. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Read our review and the interview.
New Paperback Spotlight:
FAYE, FARAWAY by Helen Fisher
FAYE, FARAWAY by Helen Fisher (Fiction/Magical Realism)
Audiobook available, read by Sophie Roberts
Every night, as Faye puts her daughters to bed, she thinks of her own mother, Jeanie, who died when she was eight. The pain of that loss has never left her, and that’s why she wants her own girls to know how very much they are loved by her --- and always will be, whatever happens.
Then one day, Faye gets her heart’s desire when she is whisked back into the past and is reunited not just with her mother but with her own younger self.
Jeanie doesn’t recognize grown-up Faye as her daughter, even though there is something eerily familiar about her. But the two women become close friends and share all kinds of secrets --- except for the deepest secret of all, the secret of who Faye really is. Faye worries that telling the truth may prevent her from being able to return to the present day, to her dear husband and beloved daughters. Eventually she’ll have to choose between those she loved in the past and those she loves in the here and now, and that knowledge presents her with an impossible choice.
If only she didn’t have to make it....
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Helen Fisher's bio.
- Click here to connect with Helen Fisher on Twitter.
Click here to read more in our Paperback Spotlight.
Spotlight Feature & Contest:
Bookreporter.com’s "In Case You Missed Them…and a Look Ahead" Featuring Kimberly Belle’s Books
Sometimes you hear about a book and just do not have time to read it. Other times, you have missed hearing about a book, and we would like to tell you about it. We do not want you to miss books that we think you will enjoy! In our "In Case You Missed Them...and a Look Ahead" feature, we are sharing books that you might not have read, and we also are getting the author’s next book on your radar. So then you never will need to say, “I missed them!”
Here we are spotlighting four books by Kimberly Belle: the previously released THE MARRIAGE LIE, DEAR WIFE and STRANGER IN THE LAKE, and the forthcoming MY DARLING HUSBAND, which will be in stores on December 28th.
Enter Our Special Contest!
We are hosting a special contest where readers will be awarded a copy of either THE MARRIAGE LIE, DEAR WIFE or STRANGER IN THE LAKE. All you have to do is take a look at the plot summary of each title here and let us know which one you would like to read the most. Three copies of each book will be given away, so there will be nine total winners. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, October 22nd at noon ET.
Click here to read more in our "In Case You Missed Them...and a Look Ahead" feature and enter the contest.
Featured Review: THE BOYS
by Ron Howard and Clint Howard
THE BOYS: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family by Ron Howard and Clint Howard (Memoir)
Audiobook available; read by Ron Howard, Clint Howard and Bryce Dallas Howard
“What was it like to grow up on TV?” Ron Howard has been asked this question throughout his adult life. In THE BOYS, he and his younger brother, Clint, examine their childhoods in detail for the first time. For Ron, playing Opie on "The Andy Griffith Show" and Richie Cunningham on "Happy Days" offered fame, joy and opportunity --- but also invited stress and bullying. For Clint, a fast start on such programs as "Gentle Ben" and "Star Trek" petered out in adolescence, with some tough consequences and lessons. With the perspective of time and success --- Ron as a filmmaker, producer and Hollywood A-lister, Clint as a busy character actor --- the Howard brothers delve deep into an upbringing that seemed normal to them yet was anything but. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE JEALOUSY MAN
AND OTHER STORIES by Jo Nesbø
THE JEALOUSY MAN AND OTHER STORIES written by Jo Nesbø, translated by Robert Ferguson (Mystery & Thriller/Short Stories)
Audiobook available; read by Nicholas Guy Smith, Christian Coulson, Mark Deakins, Simon Vance, Euan Morton, Alex McKenna, Edoardo Ballerini, Anthony Mark Barrow and Lara Sawalha
Famed for his deft characterization, hair-raising suspense and shocking twists, Jo Nesbø’s dexterity with the dark corners of the human heart is on full display in these inventive and enthralling stories. A detective with a nose for jealousy is on the trail of a man suspected of murdering his twin; a bereaved father must decide whether vengeance has a place in the new world order after a pandemic brings about the collapse of society; a garbage man fresh off a bender tries to piece together what happened the night before; a hired assassin matches wits against his greatest adversary in a dangerous game for survival; and an instantly electric connection between passengers on a flight to London may spell romance, or something more sinister. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE DEATH OF JANE LAWRENCE
by Caitlin Starling
October’s Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick
THE DEATH OF JANE LAWRENCE by Caitlin Starling (Gothic Fantasy/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Mandy Weston
Practical, unassuming Jane Shoringfield has decided that the most secure path forward is this: a husband, in a marriage of convenience, who will allow her to remain independent and occupied with meaningful work. Her first choice, the dashing but reclusive doctor Augustine Lawrence, agrees to her proposal with only one condition: that she must never visit Lindridge Hall, his crumbling family manor outside of town. Yet on their wedding night, an accident strands her at his door in a pitch-black rainstorm, and she finds him changed. Gone is the bold, courageous surgeon, and in his place is a terrified, paranoid man --- one who cannot tell reality from nightmare, and fears that Jane is an apparition that has come to haunt him. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
» On Tuesday, November 9th at 3pm ET, Caitlin Starling will talk about THE DEATH OF JANE LAWRENCE with Victoria Lee during a B&N Book Club virtual event. Click here to sign up.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
APPLES NEVER FALL by Liane Moriarty,
THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED by Lisa Jewell,
and ROCK PAPER SCISSORS by Alice Feeney
APPLES NEVER FALL by Liane Moriarty (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
Liane Moriarty returns with APPLES NEVER FALL, which is a family tale. Bring on the Delaneys, who are well-known and loved in their Sydney suburb. For years, Joy and Stan ran a tennis academy that turned out champions, including their own four children. Now they have sold this family business and are trying to kick their lives back a notch, but this is proving to be pretty challenging. They seem to miss the sound of the ball smacking its way onto the court just a bit too much. They miss the energy of competition.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on APPLES NEVER FALL.
THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED by Lisa Jewell (Psychological Thriller)
Lisa Jewell has told me that her books always start with some little idea that she expands upon. For THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED, I guessed that it was a sign that read “Dig Here,” but alas I was wrong. She said that the impetus was thinking about a posh boarding school and the people who went there. What would happen to them as they moved together on this campus? And how about layering in a student who does not come from money? What happens then?
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Lisa Jewell.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on
THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED.
ROCK PAPER SCISSORS by Alice Feeney (Psychological Thriller)
I am a huge fan of Alice Feeney’s writing. She is an author who knows how to write a killer twist, but more importantly, she never makes you feel like you’ve been tricked. Instead, she shows you how you just might have missed what happened with her ever so sleight of hand. In ROCK PAPER SCISSORS, we have Mr. and Mrs. Wright, which are just perfect wry names for the lead characters. With names like these, truly what could go wrong
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on ROCK PAPER SCISSORS.
Bookreporter.com's 11th Annual
Fall Preview 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. While our series of 24-hour Fall Preview contests have ended, we encourage you to take a look at our featured titles. These are just some of the outstanding books that we know people will be talking about over the next few months.
This year's featured titles are:
» Click here to see the winners of this year's Fall Preview Contests.
Click here to learn more about our featured titles.
THE TAKING OF JEMIMA BOONE: Colonial Settlers, Tribal Nations, and the Kidnap That Shaped America by Matthew Pearl (History)
Audiobook available, read by Jeremy Arthur
On a quiet midsummer day in 1776, 13-year-old Jemima Boone and her friends Betsy and Fanny Callaway disappear near the Kentucky settlement of Boonesboro. A Cherokee-Shawnee raiding party has taken the girls as the latest salvo in the blood feud between American Indians and the colonial settlers who have decimated native lands and resources. Hanging Maw, the raiders’ leader, recognizes one of the captives as Jemima Boone, daughter of Kentucky's most influential pioneers, and realizes she could be a valuable pawn in the battle to drive the colonists out of the contested Kentucky territory for good. But ultimately the raiding party is ambushed by Daniel Boone and the rescuers in a battle with reverberations that nobody could predict. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE SPECKLED BEAUTY: A Dog and His People by Rick Bragg (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Rick Bragg
Speck is not a good boy. He is a terrible boy, a defiant, self-destructive, often malodorous boy, a grave robber and screen door moocher who spends his days playing chicken with the FedEx man, picking fights with thousand-pound livestock and rolling in donkey manure, and his nights howling at the moon. He has been that way since the moment he appeared on the ridgeline behind Rick Bragg's house, a starved and half-dead creature, 76 pounds of wet hair and poor decisions. Speck arrived in Rick's life at a moment of looming uncertainty. A cancer diagnosis, chemo, kidney failure and recurring pneumonia had left Rick lethargic and melancholy. Speck helped, and he is helping, still, when he is not peeing on the rose of Sharon. Reviewed by Cindy Burnett.
UNBOUND: My Story of Liberation and the Birth of the Me Too Movement by Tarana Burke (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Tarana Burke
As a child, Tarana Burke reeled from her sexual assault, believing she was responsible. Unable to confess what she thought of as her own sins for fear of shattering her family, her soul split in two. One side was the bright, intellectually curious third-generation Bronxite steeped in Black literature and power, and the other was the bad, shame-ridden girl who thought of herself as a vile rule breaker, not of a victim. Tarana fought to reunite her fractured soul, through organizing, pursuing justice and finding community. In her debut memoir, she shares her extensive work supporting and empowering Black and brown girls, and the devastating realization that to truly help these girls she needed to help that scared, ashamed child still in her soul. Reviewed by Dunja Bonacci Skenderović.
FAN FICTION: A Mem-Noir: Inspired by True Events by Brent Spiner (Thriller/Humor)
Audiobook available; read by LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Genie Francis, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Patrick Stewart and a full cast
Set in 1991, just as "Star Trek: The Next Generation" has rocketed the cast to global fame, the young and impressionable actor Brent Spiner receives a mysterious package and a series of disturbing letters that take him on a terrifying and bizarre journey that enlists Paramount Security, the LAPD and even the FBI in putting a stop to the danger that has his life and career hanging in the balance. Featuring a cast of characters from Patrick Stewart to Levar Burton to "Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry, to some completely imagined, this is the fictional autobiography that takes readers into the life of Brent Spiner, and tells an amazing tale about the trappings of celebrity and the fear he has carried with him his entire life. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
DUNE: THE LADY OF CALADAN by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson (Science Fiction/Space Opera)
Audiobook available, read by Scott Brick
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. Meanwhile, events in the greater empire are accelerating beyond the control of even the Reverend Mother, and Lady Jessica's family is on a collision course with destiny. Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.
PEARL by Josh Malerman (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Sarah Mollo-Christensen
There's something strange about Walter Kopple's farm. At first it seems to be his grandson, who cruelly murders one of Walter's pigs in an act of seemingly senseless violence. But then the rumors begin --- people in town whisper that Walter's grandson heard a voice that commanded him to kill. And that the voice belongs to a most peculiar creature: Walter's pig, Pearl. Walter is not sure what to believe. He knows that he's always been afraid of the strangely malevolent Pearl. But as madness and paranoia grip the town and the townspeople descend on Walter's farm with violent wrath, they begin to discover that true evil wears a human face. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE MYSTERIOUS BOOKSHOP PRESENTS THE BEST MYSTERY STORIES OF THE YEAR: 2021 edited by Lee Child, series edited by Otto Penzler (Mystery/Short Stories)
Audiobook available, read by Matt Godfrey and Emily Sutton-Smith
Under the auspices of New York City's legendary mystery fiction specialty bookstore, The Mysterious Bookshop, and aided by Edgar Award-winning anthologist Otto Penzler, international bestseller Lee Child has selected the 20 most suspenseful, most confounding and most mysterious short stories from the past year, collected now in one entertaining volume. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
WHAT STORM, WHAT THUNDER by Myriam J. A. Chancy (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Ella Turenne
At the end of a long, sweltering day, as markets and businesses begin to close for the evening, an earthquake of 7.0 magnitude shakes the capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince. Award-winning author Myriam J. A. Chancy charts the inner lives of the characters affected by the disaster --- including Richard, an expat and wealthy water-bottling executive with a secret daughter; the daughter, Anne, an architect who drafts affordable housing structures for a global NGO; a small-time drug trafficker, Leopold, who pines for a beautiful call girl; Sonia and her business partner, Dieudonné, who are followed by a man they believe is the vodou spirit of death; and Didier, an emigrant musician who drives a taxi in Boston. Reviewed by Kayla Provencher.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on October 19th
Below are some notable titles releasing on October 19th 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 October 18th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
BEST IN SNOW: An Andy Carpenter Mystery by David Rosenfelt (Mystery)
In this Christmas mystery, lawyer Andy Carpenter and his golden retriever, Tara, are on the beat after a body turns up in the snow and a journalist is the prime suspect.
CHILD OF LIGHT by Terry Brooks (Fantasy)
This electrifying first novel in an all-new fantasy series from the legendary author behind the Shannara saga is about a human girl struggling to find her place in a magical world she’s never known.
DEAR SANTA by Debbie Macomber (Romance)
A special holiday wish list brings about hope, love and second chances in this nostalgic novel from the queen of Christmas stories, #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.
DIAMOND AND THE EYE: A Peter Diamond Investigation by Peter Lovesey (Mystery)
A Bath antiques dealer has disappeared, and detective Peter Diamond has been saddled with the "help" of a hardboiled Philip Marlowe wannabe private investigator in cracking the case.
FEMLANDIA by Christina Dalcher (Dystopian Thriller)
FEMLANDIA is a chilling look into an alternate near future where a woman and her daughter seek refuge in a women-only colony, only to find that the safe haven they were hoping for is the most dangerous place they could be.
IT'S A WONDERFUL WOOF: A Chet & Bernie Mystery by Spencer Quinn (Mystery)
Spencer Quinn's IT'S A WONDERFUL WOOF presents a holiday adventure for Chet the dog, “the most lovable narrator in crime fiction” (Boston Globe), and his human partner, PI Bernie Little.
THE JUDGE'S LIST by John Grisham (Legal Thriller)
Investigator Lacy Stoltz follows the trail of a serial killer and closes in on a shocking suspect --- a sitting judge.
A LINE TO KILL by Anthony Horowitz (Mystery)
The New York Times bestselling author of the brilliantly inventive THE WORD IS MURDER and THE SENTENCE IS DEATH returns with his third literary whodunit featuring intrepid detectives Hawthorne and Horowitz.
OH WILLIAM! by Elizabeth Strout (Fiction)
Pulitzer Prize winner Elizabeth Strout explores the mysteries of marriage and the secrets we keep, as a former couple reckons with where they’ve come from --- and what they’ve left behind.
ONCE UPON A WARDROBE by Patti Callahan (Historical Fiction)
From Patti Callahan, the bestselling author of BECOMING MRS. LEWIS, comes another enchanting story that pulls back the curtain on the early life of C. S. Lewis.
OVER MY DEAD BODY by Jeffrey Archer (Mystery/Thriller)
At the heart of three investigations are Detective Chief Inspector William Warwick, rising star of the department, and ex-undercover agent Ross Hogan, brought in from the cold. But can they catch the killers before it’s too late?
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Elizabeth Strout, John Grisham, Patti Callahan
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, October 16th at 7pm ET: Adventures by the Book: Grab a glass of wine or hot cocoa and curl up in your favorite chair for an exclusive Fireside Adventure where you can chat live with Patti Callahan (ONCE UPON A WARDROBE), in conversation with Debbie Macomber (DEAR SANTA), to discuss their new books, ask questions and converse live “on stage.”
Sunday, October 17th at 3pm ET: Beyond the Book Jacket: Join Beyond the Book Jacket for a pre-launch celebration of Patti Callahan's new book, ONCE UPON A WARDROBE. Patti will be joined in conversation by Paula McLain, author of WHEN THE STARS GO DARK.
Monday, October 18th at 6pm ET: Harvard Book Store: Harvard Book Store, in partnership with Books & Books and Politics and Prose, will welcome Elizabeth Strout for a discussion of her latest novel, OH WILLIAM! She will be joined in conversation by fellow bestselling author Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney.
Monday, October 18th at 7:30pm ET: Anderson's Bookshops: Join Anderson's Bookshops for a virtual event with #1 New York Times bestselling authors Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny to discuss their new novel, STATE OF TERROR.
Monday, October 18th at 9pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's, in partnership with Farrar, Straus and Giroux, will host Jonathan Franzen as he discusses his new book, CROSSROADS, in conversation with Mona Simpson.
Tuesday, October 19th at 3pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: John Connolly will discuss his latest Charlie Parker thriller, THE NAMELESS ONES, a heart-pounding race to hunt down the deadliest of war criminals.
Tuesday, October 19th at 7pm ET: Midtown Scholar Bookstore: Join Amor Towles for an exclusive live-stream conversation about his latest novel, THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY, with renowned filmmaker Ken Burns. This event is in partnership with A Likely Story, Books Are Magic, and Politics and Prose.
Tuesday, October 19th at 7pm ET: Square Books: Join longtime staff writer at The New Yorker Susan Orlean in conversation with novelist and science writer Nathaniel Rich to celebrate the release of Susan's newest book, ON ANIMALS.
Wednesday, October 20th at 6pm ET: Harper’s Magazine and The Mark Twain House & Museum: A powerhouse lineup will discuss legendary spy novelist John le Carré’s new posthumous release, SILVERVIEW. Bestselling novelist Walter Mosley, NPR White House Correspondent Scott Detrow, and le Carré’s son John Cornwell (who writes novels under the pen name Nick Harkaway) join Harper’s Editor Christopher Beha for a conversation on le Carré’s career, legacy and what it took to publish his final work.
Wednesday, October 20th 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 Alice Hoffman about her latest novel, THE BOOK OF MAGIC, the conclusion of her Practical Magic series.
Wednesday, October 20th at 7:15pm ET: Parnassus Books: Parnassus Books, in partnership with Nashville Public Library, Nashville Public Library Foundation, Humanities TN and BookPage, is thrilled to welcome Susan Orlean and Elizabeth Strout, in conversation with Ann Patchett, for a special edition of their Salon@615 speaker series. These three authors will discuss Orlean's ON ANIMALS and Strout's OH WILLIAM!
Thursday, October 21st at 12pm ET: Doubleday: Join America's favorite storyteller, John Grisham, for a live virtual event to benefit Graves Memorial Public Library in Kennebunkport, Maine. Grisham will talk about his new legal thriller, THE JUDGE'S LIST.
Thursday, October 21st at 7pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Amor Towles to discuss his new novel, THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY. Towles will talk about how he created the idea for the book and will share visuals from his writing process and research that will be shown exclusively for this program.
"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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Stephanie Land (MAID: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive)
Video | Podcast
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Sarah Ruhl (SMILE: The Story of a Face)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: Reading Pandemic-Themed Fiction
How interested are you in reading a novel with a pandemic theme? Please check all that apply.
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I would read it now.
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It depends on the plot of the book.
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It depends on the author.
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I am not ready yet, but I may be open to reading these books at a later time.
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I am not interested in reading these books.
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Let’s skip timelines of 2020 and 2021 for books!
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I am not sure.
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, October 22nd 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 October 8th to October 22nd at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE JUDGE'S LIST by John Grisham and OH WILLIAM! by Elizabeth Strout.
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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