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I am trying to remember when Halloween became such a big holiday. Sure, when we were little we would plan costumes and the candy hunt, but now you drive through our neighborhood and there are orange lights and all kinds of decorations everywhere. We are way beyond cutting a face on a pumpkin and sticking a candle in it.
On Sunday, we are organizing trick-or-treating in our semi-rural neighborhood. Houses here are pretty far apart with long driveways, and that means a lot of walking for the little kids. So we came up with an idea that we will offer treats at the end of the driveways (we started this last year, leaving treats out during the height of COVID), and some of us have decided that we will be manning our tables from 3:00 to 6:00. My next-door neighbor Stacey and I are going to combine our plans to set up a table…and decorate! I want Tom to run electricity up to the street for some of the decorating ideas I have. I am sure that he is going to find this to be really fun; I can see the eye roll from here.
Oh, and we have lots of candy. Greg represented the historic committee here in town at a fall event a few weeks ago, and they had candy on the table (which seems to be what happens at every trade show and program). So last night he walked the candy aisle of Walgreens advising me what candy had been a big hit. Greg, my candy concierge!
For this week’s “Bookreporter Talks To” interview, I had such fun catching up with Wade Rouse about his latest novel, THE SECRET OF SNOW, which he wrote under the pen name Viola Shipman (his grandmother’s name). Set in Northern Michigan, it’s the story of a Palm Springs meteorologist who heads back to her frigid hometown after she’s replaced by a virtual meteorologist that will never age, gain weight or renegotiate its contract. Now she has to confront her past --- and try to move forward in the town she ran from years ago.
In the interview, Wade explains how deeply personal this book was for him. He talks about Ginger Zee, the chief meteorologist for “Good Morning America” and ABC News; the history of snowmen; winter sports; and his snowbird life in Palm Springs. He also reveals what’s next for him in fiction, writing as Viola Shipman --- THE EDGE OF SUMMER, releasing next July --- and in nonfiction with a new memoir, MAGIC SEASON: A Son’s Story, which will be available next May. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
Lee Child and his brother, Andrew Child, team up once again for a brand new Jack Reacher thriller. In BETTER OFF DEAD, the drifter and ex-military policeman faces the riskiest job of his life when an army veteran turned FBI agent asks him to locate her twin brother, who might be mixed up with some very dangerous people. Ray Palen has our review and says that the book is "full of breathtaking action and skirmishes that will delight Reacher fans. It’s what any reader of Lee Child’s work has come to expect, even though Reacher has grown far wiser after all these years. The natural succession of Lee to Andrew hopefully guarantees us that Reacher will continue his personal mission for many years to come." Lee and Andrew were author guests at The Poisoned Pen Bookstore on Monday night. You can watch that interview here.
Word of Mouth Reminder
BETTER OFF DEAD is one of our current Word of Mouth prizes; the other is Katie Couric’s much-talked-about memoir, GOING THERE, which we plan to review next week. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win both these titles. Be sure to enter by Friday, November 5th at noon ET.
Emmy Award-winning TV host and journalist Tamron Hall makes her fiction debut with AS THE WICKED WATCH, the opening entry in a new thriller series starring Jordan Manning, a crime reporter who unravels the disturbing mystery around the deaths of two Black girls --- the work of a serial killer terrorizing Chicago. According to Ray Palen, "Tamron Hall definitely leans on her own experience to give us an up-close and personal depiction of the TV journalist and the incredibly fast pace with which they must work on a daily basis. She is off to a good start here, and I dare readers not to be moved by her dedication, which reads: "'To the countless children missing or taken by the darkness of the world. You are more than a story. You are more than words on a page. You are loved, you are missed, and you are not forgotten.'"
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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A LINE TO KILL: Anthony Horowitz, the bestselling author of THE WORD IS MURDER and THE SENTENCE IS DEATH, returns with his third literary whodunit featuring intrepid detectives Hawthorne and Horowitz.
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WE ARE NOT LIKE THEM: In this month’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick, Christine Pride and Jo Piazza explore complex questions of race and how they pervade and shape our most intimate spaces in a deeply divided world.
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THREE SISTERS: Heather Morris, the bestselling author of the multi-million-copy bestseller THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ and CILKA'S JOURNEY, is back with a story of family, courage and resilience, which is inspired by actual events.
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BAGGAGE: In his second memoir, following 2014's NOT MY FATHER'S SON, Alan Cumming chronicles his life in Hollywood and explains how he has become who he is today: "a happy, flawed, vulnerable, fearless middle-aged man, with a lot of baggage."
Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask which of 30 books releasing in October you have read or are planning to read. Click here to let us know. Yes, we do look at what you are interested in!
Join Us for THREE Events in November
As I mentioned in last week’s newsletter, November will be a busy month for us as we are hosting THREE virtual events --- our “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event featuring author Jim DeFede talking about his 2002 book, THE DAY THE WORLD CAME TO TOWN: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland; our “10 ½ Annual” Book Group Speed Dating event (as this is a “trade only event,” we are restricting attendance to booksellers, librarians and book club leaders who run a number of book groups); and our last “Bookaccino Live” preview event of 2021. Be sure to scroll further down the newsletter for all the details on these events and how you can attend them.
This week, Kirkus Reviews announced the winners of the eighth annual Kirkus Prize in the categories of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. They are HARROW by Joy Williams (Fiction); PUNCH ME UP TO THE GODS: A Memoir by Brian Broome (Nonfiction), and ALL THIRTEEN: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team, by Christina Soontornvat (Young Readers’ Literature).
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail: Linda wrote, “Today I received my copy of THE RIVIERA HOUSE, which I won in the latest contest sponsored by you. I was thrilled to win and cannot wait to start this book. This, by the way, is a book I would have bought but can now use that money for more books! Thanks! I love reading the newsletter each week and look forward to all the reviews to help me pick out my next best read! Thanks again.”
"American Rust" on Showtime: I watched the first seven episodes during the week and then previewed the eighth episode, which is coming on Sunday. It stars Jeff Daniels and Maura Tierney. Based on Philipp Meyer’s celebrated debut novel, "American Rust" is a "compelling family drama and a timeless story of wanting a brighter future while being held prisoner by the past. The story of survival and transcendence is told through the eyes of complicated and compromised chief of police Del Harris (Daniels) of a Pennsylvania Rust Belt town full of good people making bad choices. When news of a murder rips through the town, Harris must decide what lengths he is willing to take to protect the son of the woman he loves." It's gritty and tough, but it has a lot of heart and soul.
The 12-Foot-Tall Skeleton on Many Lawns: Someone in our neighborhood has one of these. And I wondered who came up with that idea! Well, there was a story in Morning Brew this week that told me what I needed to know.
Joe Exotic: Okay, just in case we are getting way too intellectual for everyone, here’s a lowbrow moment. Remember this character from the Netflix series when the pandemic first hit? Well, he’s back in "Tiger King 2," and here’s the trailer. I know, how low can you go?
I have been making salads all week, plucking lettuce that I have grown. I love farro with greens, mint, parsley, cashews and pepitos. While I have been working from home for 19 months now, I think I have eaten lunch at the kitchen table maybe twice. I run downstairs, quickly make something, and eat in front of the keyboard upstairs in my office.
I am reading MY DARLING HUSBAND by Kimberly Belle, one of those thrillers that I still have not quite figured out, but I am completely intrigued. Next up is the aforementioned GOING THERE by Katie Couric. There has been sooooo much media about this book, and I am looking forward to reading it for myself. Here’s a big piece from The Cut about it, which is very interesting.
We are having dinner with my parents tomorrow night; Tom and I are cooking. We keep playing with the menu. I see this going right down to the last minute!
I am off to traipse through the attic to dig out the Halloween decorations --- and the pièce de résistance: my witch hat. For humor, I have a really lovely full-length layered designer skirt from St. John Knits that works really well as part of my witch costume. I bought it 20 years ago, and it’s actually the same designer skirt that I wore for years to the National Book Awards. I would race after the boys trick-or-treating, hoping to not snag it on a tree since I only had a week or two before the awards. People would say, "I just love your costume." The boys would laugh knowing the story behind it, totally amused that THAT was part of my costume. It’s still in the closet, and it’s coming out again on Sunday. But no worries about wearing it to the awards this year as the show is virtual.
One last thing. While we pride ourselves on staying politically free on this site, I am going to share the one piece of political advice that I give this time of year, every year: Vote on Tuesday. Get out there, pull the lever, fill in the dots, check the boxes or whatever you need to do to vote.
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: BETTER OFF DEAD
by Lee Child and Andrew Child
BETTER OFF DEAD: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child and Andrew Child (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Scott Brick
Reacher is heading west, walking under the merciless desert sun --- until he comes upon a curious scene. A Jeep has crashed into the only tree for miles around. A woman is slumped over the wheel. Dead? No, nothing is what it seems. The woman is Michaela Fenton, an army veteran turned FBI agent trying to find her twin brother, who might be mixed up with some dangerous people. Most of them would rather die than betray their terrifying leader, who has burrowed his influence deep into the nearby border town. The mysterious Dendoncker rules from the shadows, out of sight and under the radar, keeping his dealings in the dark. Bringing him down will be the riskiest job of Reacher's life. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: AS THE WICKED WATCH by Tamron Hall
AS THE WICKED WATCH: The First Jordan Manning Novel by Tamron Hall (Mystery/Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Susan Dalian
When crime reporter Jordan Manning leaves her hometown in Texas to take a job at a television station in Chicago, she’s one step closer to her dream: a coveted anchor chair on a national network. She is smart and aggressive, with unabashed star-power, and often the only woman of color in the newsroom. Again and again, she is called to cover the murders of Black women --- many of them sexually assaulted, most brutalized and all of them quickly forgotten. All until Masey James, a 15-year-old girl whose body was found in an abandoned lot. Putting the rest of her work and her (fraying) personal life aside, Jordan does everything she can to give the story the coverage it desperately requires, and that Black children rarely receive. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: A LINE TO KILL by Anthony Horowitz
A LINE TO KILL by Anthony Horowitz (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Rory Kinnear
Ex-Detective Inspector Daniel Hawthorne and his sidekick, author Anthony Horowitz, are invited to an exclusive literary festival on Alderney, an idyllic island off the south coast of England. Upon arrival, they meet the festival’s other guests --- an eccentric gathering that includes a bestselling children’s author, a French poet, a TV chef turned cookbook author, a blind psychic and a war historian --- along with a group of ornery locals embroiled in an escalating feud over a disruptive power line. When a local grandee is found dead under mysterious circumstances, Hawthorne and Horowitz become embroiled in the case. The island is locked down, no one is allowed on or off, and it soon becomes horribly clear that a murderer lurks in their midst. But who? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: WE ARE NOT LIKE THEM
by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza
October’s “Good Morning America” Book Club Pick
WE ARE NOT LIKE THEM by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza (Fiction)
Audiobook available; read by Marin Ireland and Shayna Small, with Kevin R. Free and Chanté McCormick
Jen and Riley have been best friends since kindergarten. As adults, they remain as close as sisters, though their lives have taken different directions. Jen married young and is finally pregnant after years of trying. Riley pursued her childhood dream of becoming a television journalist and is poised to become one of the first Black female anchors of the top news channel in their hometown of Philadelphia. But the deep bond they share is severely tested when Jen’s husband, a city police officer, is involved in the shooting of an unarmed Black teenager. Six months pregnant, Jen is in freefall as her future, her husband’s freedom and her friendship with Riley are thrown into uncertainty. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THREE SISTERS by Heather Morris
THREE SISTERS by Heather Morris (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Finty Williams
Against all odds, three Slovakian sisters have survived years of imprisonment in the most notorious death camp in Nazi Germany: Auschwitz. Livia, Magda and Cibi have clung together, nearly died from starvation and overwork, and the brutal whims of the guards in this place of horror. But now the allies are closing in, and the sisters have one last hurdle to face: the death march from Auschwitz, as the Nazis try to erase any evidence of the prisoners held there. Due to a last-minute stroke of luck, the three of them are able to escape formation and hide in the woods for days before being rescued. And this is where the story begins. From there, the three sisters travel to Israel, to their new home, but the battle for freedom takes on new forms. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: BAGGAGE by Alan Cumming
BAGGAGE: Tales from a Fully Packed Life by Alan Cumming (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Alan Cumming
Much of BAGGAGE chronicles my life in Hollywood and how, since I recovered from a nervous breakdown at 28, work has repeatedly whisked me away from personal calamities to sets and stages around the world. It is also about marriage(s): starting with the break-up of my first (to a woman) and ending with the ascension to my second (to a man) with many kissed toads in between! But in everything, each failed relationship or encounter with a legend (Liza! X-Men! Gore Vidal! Kubrick! Spice Girls!), in every bad decision or moment of sensual joy I have endeavored to show what I have learned and how I’ve become who I am today: a happy, flawed, vulnerable, fearless middle-aged man, with a lot of baggage. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Sign Up for November’s “Bookaccino Live”
Book Group Event Featuring Jim DeFede,
Author of THE DAY THE WORLD CAME TO TOWN
We have our next "Bookaccino Live" Book Group event lined up for Tuesday, November 16th at 8pm ET. Our author guest will be Jim DeFede, whose 2002 book, THE DAY THE WORLD CAME TO TOWN: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland, served as the basis for the smash hit Broadway musical "Come From Away," which is now streaming on Apple TV+.
When 38 jetliners bound for the United States were forced to land at Gander International Airport in Canada by the closing of U.S. airspace on September 11th, the population of this small town on Newfoundland Island swelled from 10,300 to nearly 17,000. The citizens of Gander met the stranded passengers with an overwhelming display of friendship and goodwill. Over the course of four days, many of the passengers developed friendships with Gander residents that they expect to last a lifetime.
If you have a question for Jim DeFede that you would like to ask on camera during the event, please send Carol an email with the subject line “Question for Jim DeFede.” We hope you will join us as we talk to Jim about his inspiration for writing the story of the people of Gander --- and how he went about researching this very special book.
Click here to sign up for our "Bookaccino Live" Book Group event.
Sign Up for ReadingGroupGuides.com’s
“10 ½ Annual” Book Group Speed Dating Event
Our “10 ½ Annual” Book Group Speed Dating event will take place on Friday, November 12th from 1pm ET to 3pm ET. Representatives from 17 publishers will present books that will be published from November 2021 to May 2022 that they think will be perfect for book groups to discuss.
If you have not joined us before --- and you are a librarian, bookseller or book club leader of multiple book groups --- and would like to attend this program virtually, please send Carol an email with the subject line "Speed Dating" and tell her about your trade affiliation so we can add you to the signup list.
Email Carol to sign up for our 10 ½ Annual” Book Group Speed Dating event.
Sign Up for November’s “Bookaccino Live” Preview Event
Our next "Bookaccino Live" preview event will take place on Wednesday, November 10th at 2pm ET. Carol will talk about a number of titles that are coming out between November 9th through the end of the year, along with a few from January and February, that she thinks will appeal to you. 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.
Click here to sign up for our "Bookaccino Live" preview event.
BEST IN SNOW: An Andy Carpenter Mystery by David Rosenfelt (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Grover Gardner
Christmas has come early to the town of Paterson, New Jersey, in the form of a snowstorm that dumps two feet of snow on the ground. Lawyer Andy Carpenter likes snow, but it can cause problems for the walks he takes his dogs on every day. When Andy’s golden retriever, Tara, goes to play in the snow and instead discovers a body, Andy ends up on the phone with the local newspaper editor. The murder victim is Mayor Alex Oliva, who had an infamous relationship with the newspaper. Last year a young reporter published an expose, and Oliva had him fired for libel. Now, the young reporter --- and prime suspect --- is in need of a lawyer. Andy agrees to take the case, though it’s not looking good this holiday season. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
APRIL IN SPAIN by John Banville (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by John Lee
On the idyllic coast of San Sebastian, Spain, Dublin pathologist Quirke is struggling to relax. When he glimpses a familiar face in the twilight at Las Acadas bar, it's hard at first to tell if his imagination is just running away with him. Because this young woman can't be April Latimer. She was murdered by her brother years ago --- the conclusion to an unspeakable scandal that shook one of Ireland's foremost political dynasties. Unable to ignore his instincts, Quirke makes a call back home to Ireland, and soon Detective St. John Strafford is dispatched to Spain. But he's not the only one en route. A relentless hit man is on the hunt for his latest prey, and the next victim might be Quirke himself. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
WHERE THEY WAIT by Scott Carson (Supernatural Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Robert Petkoff
Recently laid-off from his newspaper and desperate for work, war correspondent Nick Bishop takes a humbling job: writing a profile of a new mindfulness app called Clarity. It’s easy money, and a chance to return to his hometown for his first visit in years. The app itself seems like a retread of old ideas, but then there are the “Sleep Songs.” A woman’s hauntingly beautiful voice sings a ballad that is anything but soothing --- it’s disturbing, more of a warning than a relaxation --- but it works. Deep, refreshing sleep follows. So do nightmares. Vivid and chilling, they feature a dead woman who calls Nick by name and whispers guidance --- or are they threats? And soon her voice follows him long after the song is done. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
FEMLANDIA by Christina Dalcher (Dystopian Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Brittany Pressley and Cassandra Morris
Miranda Reynolds always thought she would rather die than live in Femlandia. But that was before the country sank into total economic collapse and her husband walked out, leaving her and her 16-year-old daughter with nothing. The streets are full of looting, robbing and killing, and Miranda and Emma no longer have much choice --- either starve and risk getting murdered, or find safety. And so they set off to Femlandia, the women-only colony that Miranda's mother established decades ago. There are no men allowed in the colony, but babies are being born --- and they're all girls. Miranda discovers just how the all-women community is capable of enduring, and it leads her to question how far her mother went to create this perfect, thriving, horrifying society. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
12 BYTES: How We Got Here. Where We Might Go Next by Jeanette Winterson (Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Jeanette Winterson
In 12 BYTES, the New York Times bestselling author of WHY BE HAPPY WHEN YOU CAN BE NORMAL? draws on her years of thinking and reading about artificial intelligence in all its bewildering manifestations. In her brilliant, laser-focused, uniquely pointed and witty style of storytelling, Jeanette Winterson looks to history, religion, myth, literature, the politics of race and gender, and computer science to help us understand the radical changes to the way we live and love that are happening now. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
HER HONOR: My Life on the Bench...What Works, What's Broken, and How to Change It by LaDoris Hazzard Cordell (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by LaDoris Hazzard Cordell
Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell, the first African American woman to sit on the Superior Court of Northern California, knows firsthand how prejudice has permeated our legal system. And yet, she believes in the system. From ending school segregation to legalizing same-sex marriage, its progress relies on legal professionals and jurors who strive to make the imperfect system as fair as possible. HER HONOR is an entertaining and provocative look into the hearts and minds of judges. Cordell takes you into her chambers where she haggles with prosecutors and defense attorneys, and into the courtroom during jury selection and sentencing hearings. She uses real cases to highlight how judges make
difficult decisions, all the while facing outside pressures. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
ON GIRLHOOD: 15 Stories from the Well-Read Black Girl Library edited by Glory Edim (Fiction/Short Stories)
Since founding the beloved Well-Read Black Girl book club in 2015, Glory Edim has emerged as a literary tastemaker for a new generation. Continuing her life’s work to brighten and enrich American reading lives through the work of legendary Black authors, she now launches her Well-Read Black Girl Library Series with ON GIRLHOOD. This meticulously selected anthology features a wide range of unique voices, finally illuminating a distinctly robust sector of contemporary literature: groundbreaking short stories that explore the thin yet imperative line between Black girlhood and womanhood. Reviewed by Jane T. Krebs.
THE UNHEARD by Nicci French (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Olivia Vinall
Maybe Tess is overprotective, but passing her daughter off to her ex and his new young wife fills her with a sense of dread. It hurts to see him enjoying married life with someone else. Still, she owes it to her daughter Poppy to make this arrangement work. But Poppy returns from the weekend tired and withdrawn. And when she shows Tess a crayon drawing --- an image so simple and violent that Tess can hardly make sense of it --- Poppy can only explain with the words, “He did kill her.” Jason insists the weekend went off without a hitch. Doctors advise that Poppy may be reacting to her parents’ separation. And as the days go on, even Poppy’s disturbing memory seems to fade. But a mother knows her daughter, and Tess is determined to discover the truth. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum.
GOD REST YE, ROYAL GENTLEMEN: A Royal Spyness Mystery by Rhys Bowen (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Jasmine Blackborow
Darcy’s aunt Ermintrude has moved to a house on the edge of the Sandringham estate, near the royal family, and wants to invite her nephew and his new bride, Georgie, for Christmas. Georgie soon learns that the notorious Mrs. Simpson, mistress to the Prince of Wales, also will be in attendance. It is now crystal clear to Georgie that the Queen expects her to do a bit of spying. There have been a couple of strange accidents at the estate recently. Two gentlemen of the royal household have died under mysterious circumstances, and another has been shot by mistake during a hunt. Georgie begins to suspect that a member of the royal family is the real target, but her investigation will put her new husband and love of her life in the crosshairs of a killer. Reviewed by Carly Silver.
GRAVE RESERVATIONS by Cherie Priest (Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Ulka Mohanty
Meet Leda Foley: devoted friend, struggling travel agent and inconsistent psychic. When Leda, sole proprietor of Foley's Flights of Fancy, impulsively re-books Seattle PD detective Grady Merritt’s flight, her life changes in ways she couldn’t have predicted. After watching his original plane blow up from the safety of the airport, Grady realizes that Leda’s special abilities could help him with a cold case he just can’t crack. Despite her scattershot premonitions, she agrees for a secret reason: her fiancé’s murder remains unsolved. Leda and Grady set out to catch a killer --- and learn how the two cases that haunt them have more in common than they ever suspected. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN QUEENS: An Oral History of the 1986 Mets by Nick Davis (Sports)
October 2021 marks the 35th anniversary of the 86 Mets’ World Series win. ESPN recently aired a multi-part "30 for 30" documentary series on the subject, which was produced by ESPN Films, Jimmy Kimmel, Cousin Sal Iacono and Major League Baseball and directed by Nick Davis. The show features never-before-seen footage, as well as remembrances from almost all of the key players. This tie-in book is an oral history with new contributions from Keith Hernandez, Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, Lenny Dykstra and many others. Also included are unique photographs of the team and the era. A foreword by Kimmel, discussing what the Mets and their triumph means to him, rounds out this fantastic package. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan (www.RonKaplansBaseballBookshelf.com).
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on November 2nd
Below are some notable titles releasing on November 2nd 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 November 1st, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
THE ATTIC ON QUEEN STREET by Karen White (Mystery)
Return to the house on Tradd Street one last time in this hauntingly spectacular finale to the bestselling series featuring psychic medium Melanie Trenholm.
BOTH/AND: A Life in Many Worlds by Huma Abedin (Memoir)
In this beautifully written and propulsive memoir, Huma Abedin --- Hillary Clinton’s famously private top aide and longtime advisor --- emerges from the wings of American political history to take command of her own story.
COKIE: A Life Well Lived by Steven V. Roberts (Biography)
In this loving tribute, legendary journalist Cokie Roberts’ husband of 53 years, Steve Roberts, reflects not only on her many accomplishments, but on how she lived each day with a devotion to helping others.
THE COLLECTIVE by Alison Gaylin (Psychological Thriller)
The Edgar Award–winning author of NEVER LOOK BACK and IF I DIE TONIGHT plumbs the dark side of justice and the depths of diabolical revenge in this propulsive novel of psychological suspense that melds the driving narrative of THEN SHE WAS GONE with the breathtaking twists of THE CHAIN and the violent fury of Kill Bill.
EVERYTHING WE DIDN’T SAY by Nicole Baart (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
From the author of LITTLE BROKEN THINGS comes a “race-to-the-finish family drama” (People) following a mother who must confront the dark summer that changed her life forever in order to reclaim the daughter she left behind.
GAME ON: A Stephanie Plum Novel by Janet Evanovich (Mystery)
Stephanie Plum returns to hunt down a master cyber-criminal operating out of Trenton in this 28th installment of the wildly popular series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Janet Evanovich.
THE LEAST OF US: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth by Sam Quinones (Social Science)
From the New York Times bestselling author of DREAMLAND comes a searing follow-up that explores the terrifying next stages of the opioid epidemic and the quiet yet ardent stories of community repair.
LIGHTNING DOWN: A World War II Story of Survival by Tom Clavin (History)
On August 13, 1944, Joe Moser set off on his 44th combat mission over occupied France. Soon, he would join almost 170 other Allied airmen as prisoners in Buchenwald, one of the most notorious and deadly of Nazi concentration camps. Tom Clavin's LIGHTNING DOWN tells this largely untold and riveting true story.
MURDER, SHE WROTE: DEBONAIR IN DEATH by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran (Mystery)
When a local art shop owner is murdered, Jessica Fletcher is surprised to once again be working alongside her old friend, MI-6 agent Michael Haggerty, to solve the case.
OUR COUNTRY FRIENDS by Gary Shteyngart (Fiction/Humor)
Eight friends, one country house, four romances and six months in isolation. OUR COUNTRY FRIENDS is a novel about love, friendship, family and betrayal, a book that reads like a great Russian novel, or Chekhov on the Hudson.
THE STRANGER IN THE LIFEBOAT by Mitch Albom (Fiction)
What would happen if we called on God for help and God actually appeared? In Mitch Albom’s profound new novel of hope and faith, a group of shipwrecked passengers pull a strange man from the sea. He claims to be “the Lord.” And he says he can only save them if they all believe in him.
WOKE UP THIS MORNING: The Definitive Oral History of The Sopranos by Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa, with Philip Lerman (Performing Arts/Oral History)
In this definitive oral history of the landmark television series and streaming hit "The Sopranos," stars Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa --- whose "Talking Sopranos" podcast has become a sensational fan favorite --- talk intimately with virtually everyone who has been involved with the show. And they're ready to spill it all.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Gary Shteyngart, Nicole Baart, Mitch Albom
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.
Monday, November 1st at 7:30pm ET: The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center: Mitch Albom will join the Streicker Center to discuss his new work, THE STRANGER IN THE LIFEBOAT. A group of shipwrecked passengers pull a strange man from the sea. He claims to be “the Lord.” And he says he can only save them if they all believe in him.
Tuesday, November 2nd at 12pm ET: Simon & Schuster's Book Club Favorites: Anthony Doerr will join members of the Simon & Schuster team for a Facebook Live Book Club chat about CLOUD CUCKOO LAND, which is October's pick for S&S's Book Club Favorites.
Tuesday, November 2nd at 8pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's, in partnership with William Morrow, will host Alison Gaylin as she discusses her new novel, THE COLLECTIVE, with Laura Lippman.
Tuesday, November 2nd at 9pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Janet Evanovich will discuss GAME ON, the 28th installment in her series starring Stephanie Plum, who returns to hunt down a master cyber-criminal operating out of Trenton.
Wednesday, November 3rd at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Patti Callahan Henry --- will talk to Zibby Owens, the creator and host of the award-winning podcast "Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books."
Wednesday, November 3rd at 7pm ET: Oblong Books: Gary Shteyngart will be in conversation with Darin Strauss about his new novel, OUR COUNTRY FRIENDS, in which a group of friends and friends-of-friends gathers in a country house to wait out the pandemic in March 2020.
Wednesday, November 3rd at 8pm ET: Murder By The Book: Nicole Baart will be in conversation with Kimberly Belle about her latest novel, EVERYTHING WE DIDN'T SAY, in which a mother must confront the dark summer that changed her life forever in order to reclaim the daughter she left behind.
Thursday, November 4th at 6pm ET: Northshire Bookstore: Northshire Bookstore is delighted to partner with Print: A Bookstore, RJ Julia Booksellers and Wellesley Books to present a virtual evening with bestselling author Amor Towles in honor of his new novel, THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY. Towles will be in conversation with Richard Russo.
Thursday, November 4th at 7:30pm ET: Howard County Library System: Mitch Albom will be in conversation with Professor Tara Hart about his captivating and thought-provoking new novel, THE STRANGER IN THE LIFEBOAT.
Thursday, November 4th at 8pm ET: Magic City Books: Magic City Books is thrilled to welcome bestselling author Gary Shteyngart for an exclusive virtual event in celebration of his brand new novel, OUR COUNTRY FRIENDS.
"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:
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Nicole Baart (EVERYTHING WE DIDN'T SAY)
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Alison Gaylin (THE COLLECTIVE)
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James Rollins (THE STARLESS CROWN)
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Karen White (THE ATTIC ON QUEEN STREET)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: October Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following titles releasing in October have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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AS THE WICKED WATCH: The First Jordan Manning Novel, by Tamron Hall
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BETTER OFF DEAD: A Jack Reacher Novel, by Lee Child and Andrew Child
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THE BOOK OF MAGIC by Alice Hoffman
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THE BOYS: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family, by Ron Howard and Clint Howard
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A CARNIVAL OF SNACKERY: Diaries (2003-2020) by David Sedaris
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CROSSROADS by Jonathan Franzen
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DEAR SANTA by Debbie Macomber
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THE DEATH OF JANE LAWRENCE by Caitlin Starling
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FIGHT NIGHT by Miriam Toews
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FOUL PLAY: A Stone Barrington Novel, by Stuart Woods
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GOING THERE by Katie Couric
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THE JEALOUSY MAN AND OTHER STORIES written by Jo Nesbø, translated by Robert Ferguson
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THE JUDGE'S LIST by John Grisham
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LAST GIRL GHOSTED by Lisa Unger
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THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY by Amor Towles
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A LINE TO KILL by Anthony Horowitz
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OH WILLIAM! by Elizabeth Strout
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ON ANIMALS by Susan Orlean
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ONCE UPON A WARDROBE by Patti Callahan
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OVER MY DEAD BODY by Jeffrey Archer
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THE PARTY CRASHER by Sophie Kinsella
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SANKOFA by Chibundu Onuzo
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THE SECRET OF SNOW by Viola Shipman
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SILVERVIEW by John le Carré
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SMILE: The Story of a Face, by Sarah Ruhl
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STATE OF TERROR by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny
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TASTE: My Life Through Food, by Stanley Tucci
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THREE SISTERS by Heather Morris
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WE ARE NOT LIKE THEM by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza
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THE WICKED WIDOW: A Wicked City Novel, by Beatriz Williams
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, November 5th 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 22nd to November 5th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of BETTER OFF DEAD: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child and Andrew Child and GOING THERE by Katie Couric.
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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