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We are coming to you on Wednesday so we can have a much-needed long weekend. If you will miss us on Friday night or Saturday morning, apologies for this! Or you can stop reading now and read on then.
Ah, Thanksgiving! A time for time-tested recipes, as well as at least one new one. I am making an Ina Garten carrot recipe. Let’s not discuss how many stores we visited to get the perfect tri-colored carrots. I wish there was video of Tom and me trying to figure out which bunch had the most colors, and the right sizes, at three stores. But now we have a blend of two shades of purple, yellow and orange. I know all about the Thanksgiving food hunt. We have been to four stores and one farmers' market. The table is set, the flowers are arranged and the pies are baked. Now we just have to take care of all the rest of it.
For humor, I baked a strawberry rhubarb pie on Monday night and a triple cherry one. Wait, that is not quite right. I made the filling for the cherry pie and then saw the directions (because WHY read the whole recipe in advance?) --- "cool for at least four hours." It was 10pm, and I decided to let it cool for nine hours and plunked it in the oven at 7am. Reason #1,000,000 why working from home is a good thing. Instead of commuting, I was baking pie!
How many more times will we hit the food store? Well, we are now out of sugar and one pie was baked with cane sugar.
There is so much to be grateful for this year. First is you, our readers. You give us the privilege to do what we do every day. We so appreciate you, along with your notes, comments and suggestions.
We also are so grateful for your donations, which I am woefully behind sending thank-you notes about. Each one is so appreciated. I need ESP mail!
Second, I am grateful to our amazing team. About a month ago, we realized that we have not seen each other in person since last December. We seriously had not noticed! We talk every day, and Slack chat, text and occasionally Zoom, so I confess that I totally forgot we have not been together in person. When I shared this, I was not the only one who was surprised. We have been too busy coming up with new programs and content.
Thanks to Tom Donadio for all he does. I cannot tell you how much he juggles. And he never, ever misses a beat. His steady hand on the tiller allows me to develop new programs and ideas, since I know he has everything covered --- from reviews, to newsletters, to putting eagle eyes on everything we do. This week, he sent me a list of authors he had in mind to write holiday blogs for us. He forgets nothing!
Austin Ruh has been instrumental in growing our video/podcast presence. His ideas for programming and his skill at sound and film editing are superb. We have a few fun ideas that we are going to work on together in the next few weeks, and he has at least one solo interview on tap. Lisa manages our many contests and tracks down missing books; the latter alone often feels like a full-time job. Melanie is on top of editing Word of Mouth, and yes, she catches your typos. Amanda runs our social media, and I love the artwork she creates each week. Be sure to check out what she is doing on Instagram @thebookreportnetwork.
Greg has the blessing and curse of being in business with his mom, which means he gets to live this company 24/7 --- until he says, “We are not in the office now; we are in the kitchen.” He is right as we each have an office here at the house --- on opposite sides of the house. He does say that since we moved the office home, we see each other less than we have in the last 10 years! We meet in the middle at the kitchen table. That said, he has brought so many ideas to the table for streamlining everything from production to accounting, as well as his production work with our long list of author clients.
Vicky is working with us on the author websites that we create at AuthorsOnTheWeb.com. She was with us for years, and it is nice to have her back on site development. Jenni has been out on maternity leave since September as "the first TBRN baby" was born on October 11th. Amusingly I finished knitting a baby blanket for her that day...and I still need to mail it to her!
It's a great team. I am very grateful to them and proud of all that they do for the company.
Third, I am grateful to our reviewers, who nail their reviews week after week. We are so proud of their contributions. You will meet some of them on Wednesday, December 8th as they gather on Zoom starting at 8pm ET to talk about their three favorite books of the year. If you'd like to attend this special 25th anniversary event, click here to sign up. It promises to be quite a fun evening!
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Karen White, whose new novel, THE ATTIC ON QUEEN STREET, concludes her Tradd Street series. Karen discusses the importance of giving her characters a good wrap-up and how she wove little clues into the book that will tie into her next series, which will be set in New Orleans. The first installment, THE SHOP ON ROYAL STREET, will release on March 29th. She also announces her upcoming collaboration with Beatriz Williams and Lauren Willig, THE LOST SUMMERS OF NEWPORT, and explains how writing during a pandemic impacted their usual writing style. In addition, she talks about her love for Charleston as a setting and what social media means to her --- both as a connection with her readers and as a huge time commitment. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
Beloved New York Times bestselling author Ann Patchett reflects on home, family, friendships and writing in THESE PRECIOUS DAYS, a deeply personal collection of essays. Harvey Freedenberg has our review and says, “As is true of her fiction, [Patchett’s] writing is graceful and unpretentious, and she possesses a refreshing self-deprecating quality when examining her own thoughts and actions…. In its recounting of many closely observed moments, both sublime and mundane, THESE PRECIOUS DAYS eloquently charts some of Ann Patchett’s passage through life. The glimpses she provides of these joys and sorrows might serve as touchstones for any of us as we experience similar moments of our own.”
Word of Mouth Reminder
THESE PRECIOUS DAYS is one of our current Word of Mouth prizes; the other is THE POSTMISTRESS OF PARIS by Meg Waite Clayton, which we plan to review next Friday. 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, December 3rd at noon ET.
What would happen if we called on God for help and God actually appeared? In Mitch Albom’s new novel, 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. According to our reviewer Kayla Provencher, “Much like his rendition of God, Albom’s writing works in mysterious ways. He leaves his readers with a gamut of unanswerable questions and a life-affirming message. Evocative, tragic and beautiful, THE STRANGER IN THE LIFEBOAT is a book with the potential to reach far beyond its own pages.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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FEAR NO EVIL: In James Patterson’s latest bestseller, Alex Cross enters the final battle with the all-knowing genius who has stalked him and his family for years.
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THE BECOMING: This second entry in Nora Roberts’ Dragon Heart Legacy series is a new epic of love and war among gods and humans.
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BOTH/AND: A Life in Many Worlds: Huma Abedin, Hillary Clinton’s famously private top aide and longtime advisor, grapples with family, legacy, identity, faith, marriage, motherhood and work in her much-talked-about memoir.
A Conversation with Dirk Cussler
This week, we are featuring an interview with Dirk Cussler courtesy of Michael Barson from Melville House. Michael was a longtime publicist of Dirk’s father, Clive Cussler, who passed away in February 2020. The newly released CLIVE CUSSLER’S THE DEVIL’S SEA is the 26th installment in Clive’s Dirk Pitt adventure series and the first to be written solely by his son. Among many other topics, Dirk talks about collaborating with his father and if the book’s plot has any parallels to his own involvement in real-life NUMA explorations. Click here to read the interview. You may remember that Michael wrote a fabulous piece for us two years ago about his friendship with Clive, who had just turned 88 at the time. Here's the link in case you missed it.
Holiday Cheer Update
In this week’s Holiday Cheer contests, we gave away AND THE BRIDGE IS LOVE by David Biro and RUBY FALLS by Deborah Goodrich Royce. Next week’s prizes will be DAVA SHASTRI’S LAST DAY by Kirthana Ramisetti, HOOKED: How Crafting Saved My Life by Sutton Foster, VERITY by Colleen Hoover (which has been referenced more than once at my book group), and WISH YOU WERE HERE by Jodi Picoult. The first contest of the week will be up on Monday, November 29th at noon ET.
Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask which of 30 fiction titles releasing this month and next month you are planning to read, if any. Click here to let us know what you are looking forward to reading!
Please keep in mind that this Saturday is Indies First, a national campaign of activities and events in support of independent bookstores. It’s held every year in conjunction with Small Business Saturday. Roxane Gay, the New York Times bestselling author and creator of the new imprint Roxane Gay Books from Grove Atlantic, will be promoting this year’s celebration. She says, “Independent booksellers are passionate about books and community, and it is because of their work that I am thrilled to serve as this year’s spokesperson for Indies First.”
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Sharon wrote about the amaryllis bulbs from Trader Joe’s: “My Trader Joe’s had them yesterday. Location in Chicago. Hope your Trader Joe’s receives them too. Thanks for all you do. I so enjoy your book reviews and chatty emails.” I hightailed it to our local Trader Joe’s, scooped up three and then proceeded to tell the cashier why she wants to buy these for herself. I was very enthusiastic about this.
A few more comments on my interview with Jim DeFede:
Diane wrote, “I too loved his book, THE DAY THE WORLD CAME TO TOWN. After watching your interview with him, I promptly ordered the newer version of his book…and will share it with friends. Thanks for recommending such interesting books.”
Nancy wrote, “I went out and purchased it on Wednesday. I'm almost finished reading it. It is really good. It makes you feel like you are there in Gander.”
Since this is a short week, I have not had time to watch much that will be new to you. As I was cooking on Sunday, I watched a special presentation on all the contenders for awards in the documentary category. It was terrific and kept me intrigued as I prepped for the holiday.
Jagged on HBO: I watched this documentary about Alanis Morissette last night. I never knew she was a singer before Jagged Little Pill. One of my favorite songs of hers is "Ironic."
My parents, my mother-in-law and my niece are all coming for Thanksgiving, as well as Greg’s friend, Angela, who is in from the UK. Cory is coming over to help me cook this afternoon, and I am making beef stir-fry for dinner in between the other cooking. I have lists and am checking them at least twice.
The holiday decorating will begin on Friday. Yes, I plan to do some relaxing, too. Really.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, and to those celebrating, Happy Hanukkah. Here's hoping you make some great memories. Oh, and if you meet up with friends who are readers at your celebrations, be sure to let them know about our websites and our newsletters!
Read on, and have a great 1 ½ weeks.
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: THESE PRECIOUS DAYS
by Ann Patchett
THESE PRECIOUS DAYS: Essays by Ann Patchett (Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Ann Patchett
“Any story that starts will also end.” As a writer, Ann Patchett knows what the outcome of her fiction will be. Life, however, often takes turns we do not see coming. Patchett ponders this truth in these wise essays that afford a fresh and intimate look into her mind and heart. At the center of THESE PRECIOUS DAYS is the title essay, a surprising and moving meditation on an unexpected friendship. When Patchett chose an early galley of actor and producer Tom Hanks’ short story collection to read one night before bed, she had no idea that this single choice would be life-changing. It would introduce her to a remarkable woman --- Tom’s assistant, Sooki --- with whom she would form a profound bond that held monumental consequences for them both. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
THE STRANGER IN THE LIFEBOAT
by Mitch Albom
THE STRANGER IN THE LIFEBOAT by Mitch Albom (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Mitch Albom
Adrift in a raft after a deadly ship explosion, nine people struggle for survival at sea. Three days pass. Short on water, food and hope, they spot a man floating in the waves. They pull him in. “Thank the Lord we found you,” a passenger says. “I am the Lord,” the man whispers. Is this strange and quiet man really who he claims to be? What actually happened to cause the explosion? Are the survivors already in heaven, or are they in hell? The story is narrated by Benji, one of the passengers, who recounts the events in a notebook that is later discovered --- a year later --- when the empty life raft washes up on the island of Montserrat. It falls to the island’s chief inspector, Jarty LeFleur, a man battling his own demons, to solve the mystery of what really happened. Reviewed by Kayla Provencher.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: FEAR NO EVIL by James Patterson
FEAR NO EVIL: An Alex Cross Thriller by James Patterson (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Cary Hite
Dr. Alex Cross and Detective John Sampson venture into the rugged Montana wilderness --- where they will be the prey. They’re not on the job, but on a personal mission. Until they’re attacked by two rival teams of assassins, controlled by the same mastermind who has stalked Alex and his family for years. Darkness falls. The river churns into rapids. Shots ring out through the forest. No backup. No way out. Fear no evil. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE BECOMING by Nora Roberts
THE BECOMING: The Dragon Heart Legacy, Book 2 by Nora Roberts (Paranormal Fantasy/Romance)
Audiobook available, read by Barrie Kreinik
The world of magick and the world of man have long been estranged from one another. But some can walk between the two, including Breen Siobhan Kelly. She has just returned to Talamh with her friend, Marco, who is dazzled and disoriented by this realm --- a place filled with dragons, faeries and mermaids. He is welcomed kindly by her people, and by Keegan, leader of the Fey. Keegan has trained Breen as a warrior, and his yearning for her has grown along with his admiration of her strength and skills. But one member of Breen’s bloodline is not there to embrace her. Her grandfather, the outcast god Odran, plots to destroy Talamh --- and now all must unite to defeat his dark forces. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: BOTH/AND by Huma Abedin
BOTH/AND: A Life in Many Worlds by Huma Abedin (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Huma Abedin
The daughter of Indian and Pakistani intellectuals and advocates, Huma Abedin grew up in the United States and Saudi Arabia and traveled widely. BOTH/AND grapples with family, legacy, identity, faith, marriage, motherhood and work. Abedin launched full steam into a college internship in the office of the First Lady in 1996, never imagining that her work at the White House would blossom into a career in public service, nor that her career would become an all-consuming way of life. Her relationship with Hillary Clinton has seen both women through extraordinary personal and professional highs, as well as unimaginable lows. Here, for the first time, is a deeply personal account of Clinton as mentor, confidante and role model. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
An Interview with Dirk Cussler, Author of
CLIVE CUSSLER’S THE DEVIL’S SEA
THE DEVIL’S SEA is the 26th novel starring National Underwater and Marine Agency Director Dirk Pitt and the first written solely by Dirk Cussler, who worked with his father, the late great Clive Cussler, on eight previous adventures in the series. In this interview conducted by Michael Barson, Senior Publicity Executive at Melville House (and Clive’s former publicist), Dirk talks about collaborating with his dad on these books and how the writing process has changed, if at all, now that he is doing 100% of the writing. He also touches on the plot of this latest thriller and if it has any connection to his own real-life NUMA explorations; reveals his all-time favorite novelist, who happened to be a major influence on his father; and offers his thoughts on Dirk Pitt possibly resurfacing in a film or miniseries.
CLIVE CUSSLER'S THE DEVIL'S SEA: A Dirk Pitt Novel by Dirk Cussler (Thriller/Adventure)
Audiobook available, read by Scott Brick
In 1959 Tibet, a Buddhist artifact of immense importance was seemingly lost to history in the turmoil of the Communist takeover. But when National Underwater and Marine Agency Director Dirk Pitt discovers a forgotten plane crash in the Philippine Sea over 60 years later, new clues emerge to its hidden existence. But Pitt and his compatriot, Al Giordino, have larger worries when they are ordered to recover a failed hypersonic missile from Luzon Strait. Only someone else is after it, too: a rogue Chinese military team that makes their own earth-shattering discovery, hijacking a ship capable of stirring the waters of the deep into a veritable Devil’s Sea.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the interview.
Bookreporter.com's
Holiday Cheer Contests and Feature
At Bookreporter.com, we kick off the holiday season in style with our Holiday Cheer Contests and Feature. As our gift to you, on select days in November and December, we are spotlighting a book and giving five lucky readers the chance to win it. You have to visit the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter the 24-hour contest. As always, we are sending our special Holiday Cheer newsletter on the days when there are contests. Click here to sign up for these email alerts.
Our next prize book will be announced on Monday, November 29th at noon ET.
This year's contest titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
ReadingGroupGuides.com’s 10 ½ Annual Book Group Speed Dating Event: Great Books for Book Groups
On November 12th, we hosted our 10 ½ Annual Book Group Speed Dating event for booksellers, librarians and book club leaders. More than 75 books that would make great book group selections for Winter/Spring 2022 were presented by 17 publishers. You can watch the entire presentation here. The video is timestamped, so if you would like to jump ahead to a specific publisher, be sure to use the links below.
Bloomsbury • Grove Atlantic • Hachette Book Group • Harlequin Trade Publishing • Ingram Publishing Group (Godine, Keylight Books, Restless Books, Scribe US, Zando) • Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group • Random House Publishing Group • Simon & Schuster • Soho Press • Sourcebooks • Tom Doherty Associates • William Morrow • W. W. Norton
If you would like to know more about these books, here is a link to a page with the PowerPoint presentation of the featured titles, as well as an Excel spreadsheet that lists the books both by publisher and alphabetically by title.
Click here to watch our 10 ½ Annual Book Group Speed Dating event.
THE CHRISTMAS BOOKSHOP by Jenny Colgan (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Eilidh Beaton
Laid off from her department store job, Carmen has perilously little cash and few options. The prospect of spending Christmas with her perfect sister Sofia does not appeal. Frankly, Sofia doesn’t exactly want her prickly sister Carmen there either. But Sofia has yet another baby on the way, a mother desperate to see her daughters get along, and a client who needs help revitalizing his shabby old bookshop. So Carmen moves in and takes the job. Thrown rather suddenly into the inner workings of Mr. McCredie’s ancient bookshop on the picturesque streets of historic Edinburgh, Carmen is intrigued despite herself. The store is dusty and disorganized but undeniably charming. Can she breathe some new life into it in time for Christmas shopping? Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
THE CITY OF MIST: Stories by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (Fiction/Short Stories)
Audiobook available, read by Daniel Weyman
A boy decides to become a writer when he discovers that his creative gifts capture the attentions of an aloof young beauty who has stolen his heart. A labyrinth maker flees Constantinople to a plague-ridden Barcelona, with plans for building a library impervious to the destruction of time. A strange gentleman tempts Cervantes to write a book like no other, each page of which could prolong the life of the woman he loves. And a brilliant Catalan architect named Antoni Gaudí reluctantly agrees to cross the ocean to New York, a voyage that will determine the fate of an unfinished masterpiece. Carlos Ruiz Zafón conceived of this collection of stories as an appreciation to the countless readers who joined him on the extraordinary journey that began with THE SHADOW OF THE WIND. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
WOODROW ON THE BENCH: Life Lessons from a Wise Old Dog by Jenna Blum (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Ann Marie Gideon
Since she adopted him as a puppy 15 years earlier, Jenna Blum and Woodrow have been inseparable. Known to many as “the George Clooney of dogs” for his good looks and charm, Woodrow and his “Mommoo” are fixtures in their Boston neighborhood. But Woodrow is aging. As he begins to fail, the true nature of his extraordinary relationship with Jenna is revealed. Jenna may be the dog parent, but it is Woodrow, with his amazing personality and trusting nature, who has much to teach her. A divorcée who has experienced her share of sadness and loss, Jenna discovers, over the months she spends caring for her ailing dog, what it is to be present in the moment, and what it truly means to love. Reviewed by Cindy Burnett.
DOLPHIN JUNCTION: Stories by Mick Herron (Crime Fiction/Short Stories)
Audiobook available; read by David Thorpe, Emma Powell, Gerard Doyle and Julia Franklin
Mick Herron, author of the Slough House novels, is on his way to becoming one of the most critically acclaimed and culturally important crime fiction writers of the 21st century. He has been awarded both the Gold and Steel Daggers by the Crime Writers’ Association and has been called “the John le Carré of the future” (BBC). Now, for the first time, his short fiction has been collected into one volume. Five stand-alone nerve-rackingly thrilling crime fiction stories are complemented by four mystery stories featuring the Oxford wife-and-husband detective team of shrewd Zoë Boehm and hapless Joe Silvermann. The collection also includes a peek into the past of Jackson Lamb, the irascible top agent at Slough House. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
THE DAYS TO COME by Tom Rosenstiel (Political Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by David Colacci
Billionaire entrepreneur David Traynor has big dreams for fixing a broken government in his first term as president of the United States. Everyone in the capital is scrambling to adapt to the new disruptor in chief’s bold agenda, though many also want to see him fail. Unsure of whom he can trust, Traynor intends to turn to an unusual group of people to advise him, including the savvy and sometimes ruthless DC fixers Peter Rena and Randi Brooks. Though he is at the height of his career, Rena finds his world in chaos. When malicious, untraceable cyberattacks related to his past start seeping from the dark corners of the internet, his doubts overwhelm him. Then an unpredictable tragedy throws the country into crisis, and he must come out of his stupor. Reviewed by Lorraine W. Shanley.
THE COTTAGE by Daniel Judson (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Lauren Ezzo
When Kate Burke is awakened one night by a sound outside her window, her PTSD is triggered. She still lives with the dreadful memories of her husband’s murder during a seemingly random home invasion two years before. When she discovers the unsettling ways her property has been vandalized the next day, Kate is forced to conclude the worst: someone is watching her. She decides to rent out her estranged sister’s one-time cottage, which sits on her property, for the summer. But the vandalism is escalating. So are the anonymous late-night calls and texts, each one more disturbing and violating than the last. Whoever is targeting Kate, whatever their motive or terrifying endgame, the footsteps in the dark are getting closer. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on November 30th
Below are some notable titles releasing on November 30th 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 29th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
ALL ABOUT ME!: My Remarkable Life in Show Business by Mel Brooks (Autobiography)
At 95, the legendary Mel Brooks continues to set the standard for comedy across television, film and the stage. Now, for the first time, this EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) winner shares his story in his own words.
AUTOPSY: A Scarpetta Novel by Patricia Cornwell (Mystery/Thriller)
In this relaunch of the electrifying, landmark #1 bestselling thriller series, chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta hunts those responsible for two wildly divergent and chilling murders.
BROTHERS AND WIVES: Inside the Private Lives of William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan by Christopher Andersen (Biography)
Featuring unreported details and stunning revelations, the long-awaited follow-up to the New York Times bestseller DIANA'S BOYS explores the last 20 years in the lives of Princes William and Harry and the evolution of their relationship as adults, with one brother the designated heir, and the other doomed to life as the spare.
DAVA SHASTRI'S LAST DAY by Kirthana Ramisetti (Fiction)
In this thought-provoking and entertaining debut novel about a multicultural family, a dying billionaire matriarch leaks news of her death early so she can examine her legacy --- a decision that horrifies her children and inadvertently exposes secrets she has spent a lifetime keeping.
THE MIDNIGHT LOCK: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel by Jeffery Deaver (Thriller)
Jeffery Deaver delivers the latest thriller featuring his beloved protagonists Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs as they search for a criminal whose fascination with breaking locks terrorizes New York City.
THE POSTMISTRESS OF PARIS by Meg Waite Clayton (Historical Fiction)
The New York Times bestselling author of THE LAST TRAIN TO LONDON revisits the dark early days of the German occupation in France in this haunting novel --- a love story and a tale of high-stakes danger and incomparable courage --- about a young American heiress who helps artists hunted by the Nazis escape from war-torn Europe.
SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE by Claire Keegan (Fiction)
Already a bestseller in France and certain to be read worldwide for generations to come, SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE is a deeply affecting and inspiring story of hope, quiet heroism and empathy from one of our most critically celebrated and iconic writers.
WISH YOU WERE HERE by Jodi Picoult (Fiction)
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult comes a deeply moving novel about the resilience of the human spirit in a moment of crisis.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Jodi Picoult, Patricia Cornwell, Meg Waite Clayton
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 29th at 7pm ET: Emily Giffin's Book Club: Patti Callahan will be in conversation with Emily Giffin about her new novel, ONCE UPON A WARDROBE, which Emily selected as her November book club pick. They will talk all things magic and fairy tale and story and friendship.
Monday, November 29th at 8pm ET: JCC Literary Consortium: MJCCA Book Fest In Your Living Room presents a virtual event --- in partnership with the National JCC Literary Consortium, A Cappella Books and Books & Books --- featuring Jodi Picoult, who will be in conversation with Emily Henry about her new novel, WISH YOU WERE HERE.
Tuesday, November 30th at 12pm ET: The Country Bookshop: Kirthana Ramisetti will be in conversation with Kimberly Daniels Taws of The Country Bookshop about her debut novel, DAVA SHASTRI'S LAST DAY.
Tuesday, November 30th at 7pm ET: Murder By The Book: Patricia Cornwell will be in conversation with fellow award-winning author Harlan Coben about her new Kay Scarpetta novel, AUTOPSY.
Tuesday, November 30th at 8pm ET: Books Inc.: Award-winning and nationally acclaimed author Meg Waite Clayton joins Books Inc. for a Virtual Book Launch in celebration of her haunting, unforgettable new novel, THE POSTMISTRESS OF PARIS.
Wednesday, December 1st at 7pm ET: Books-A-Million: Join Patricia Cornwell in conversation with Soledad O’Brien as they celebrate the launch of AUTOPSY, Cornwell's newest Scarpetta novel.
Wednesday, December 1st 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 thriller writers Christopher Swann and John Hart.
Wednesday, December 1st at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Meg Waite Clayton will talk about her latest novel, THE POSTMISTRESS OF PARIS, a love story and a tale of high-stakes danger and incomparable courage.
Thursday, December 2nd at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome bestselling crime author Patricia Cornwell for a live, virtual event to celebrate the release of AUTOPSY, as part of their B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Cornwell will be in conversation with Jamie Lee Curtis.
Thursday, December 2nd at 3pm ET: Simon & Schuster's Book Club Favorites: Julia Kelly will join members of the Simon & Schuster team for a Facebook Live Book Club chat about THE LAST GARDEN IN ENGLAND, which is November's pick for S&S's Book Club Favorites.
Thursday, December 2nd at 6:30pm ET: Rain Taxi: Join Rain Taxi as they celebrate the publication of THESE PRECIOUS DAYS, the much anticipated new essay collection by Ann Patchett. She will be in conversation with one of the book's very subjects, renowned children’s book author Kate DiCamillo --- an incredible pairing that is not to be missed!
Thursday, December 2nd at 8pm ET: The King's English Bookshop: The King's English Bookshop proudly joins other independent bookshops around the country to present an evening with Ann Patchett for a discussion of her new collection of essays, THESE PRECIOUS DAYS. Patchett will be in conversation with actress Laura Dern.
"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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Xochitl Gonzalez (OLGA DIES DREAMING)
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James Rollins (THE STARLESS CROWN)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: November and December
Fiction Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following fiction titles releasing in November and December are you planning to read? Please check all that apply.
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THE ATTIC ON QUEEN STREET by Karen White
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AUTOPSY: A Scarpetta Novel, by Patricia Cornwell
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THE BECOMING: The Dragon Heart Legacy, Book 2 by Nora Roberts
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A CHRISTMAS LEGACY by Anne Perry
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THE CHRISTMAS PROMISE by Richard Paul Evans
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THE CITY OF MIST: Stories, by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
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CLIVE CUSSLER'S THE DEVIL'S SEA: A Dirk Pitt Novel, by Dirk Cussler
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THE COLLECTIVE by Alison Gaylin
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CRIMINAL MISCHIEF: A Stone Barrington Novel, by Stuart Woods
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THE DARK HOURS: A Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch Novel, by Michael Connelly
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THE EVERY by Dave Eggers
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EVERYTHING WE DIDN’T SAY by Nicole Baart
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THE FAMILY by Naomi Krupitsky
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FEAR NO EVIL: An Alex Cross Thriller, by James Patterson
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GAME ON: A Stephanie Plum Novel, by Janet Evanovich
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GO TELL THE BEES THAT I AM GONE by Diana Gabaldon
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THE ISLAND OF MISSING TREES by Elif Shafak
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THE JOY AND LIGHT BUS COMPANY: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (22) by Alexander McCall Smith
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A MAN OF HONOR by Barbara Taylor Bradford
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MERCY: An Atlee Pine Thriller, by David Baldacci
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THE MIDNIGHT LOCK: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel, by Jeffery Deaver
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NEVER by Ken Follett
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OUR COUNTRY FRIENDS by Gary Shteyngart
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THE POSTMISTRESS OF PARIS by Meg Waite Clayton
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THE SENTENCE by Louise Erdrich
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SHARPE'S ASSASSIN by Bernard Cornwell
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STILL LIFE by Sarah Winman
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THE STRANGER IN THE LIFEBOAT by Mitch Albom
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TRUE CRIME STORY by Joseph Knox
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WISH YOU WERE HERE by Jodi Picoult
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, December 3rd 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 November 19th to December 3rd at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE POSTMISTRESS OF PARIS by Meg Waite Clayton and THESE PRECIOUS DAYS: Essays by Ann Patchett.
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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