|
Journeys with Authors Through Their Books
When you have been running Bookreporter for 25 years, you get a chance to see the growth of authors whose careers you have followed for a while. This week, we are reviewing the latest books from two of those authors: Mary Kay Andrews and Wade Rouse.
I still remember when Stuart Krichevsky, the agent for Mary Kay Andrews (or MKA, as we all have come to call her), slipped me a manuscript for a book called SAVANNAH BLUES that I just loved. It had a great voice and lured me in with its look at what MKA calls “house porn,” where we all covet reading how homes are restored and “fluffed up.” For years, MKA had written mysteries under her real name, Kathy Hogan Trocheck, but she wanted to try something new. This sparked a whole new trajectory to her career, and this week we are reviewing and celebrating her 30th book, THE HOMEWRECKERS, her 20th as MKA. And yes, there is “house porn” in it. Thirty books is a lot of plotting and a lot of writing to please readers. Our congratulations to her on this very special milestone!
Our reviewer Pamela Kramer says, “We always root for the underdog, and Hattie is certainly that as she fights to complete the [restoration] project the right way, despite pressure to get it done quickly and on time. While she might not have a college degree or a fancy pedigree, Hattie has spunk and a sense of honor. And we are pulling for her to get her happy ending professionally and personally. Solving the murder mystery will just be icing on the cake.”
I first read Wade Rouse when he wrote his first humorous memoir, AMERICA’S BOY, and I did laugh. A lot. I followed him through three more books in that vein, and I can quote you funny lines from each of them. Then he started writing fiction under a pen name, Viola Shipman, which he chose as a homage to his grandmother. These nine "Viola" books remind us of the simpler moments in life, that we should slow down a bit and think about what we actually are doing with our lives --- a chance to think about living more intentionally wrapped up into storytelling.
Wade's latest, MAGIC SEASON, is his most personal and most serious book to date. Through it, he tells the story of his relationship with his dying father, set against the backdrop of their mutual love of baseball. It’s a memoir that gives you insight into not only their often cantankerous relationship, but also how love does transcend when it most matters --- and how baseball helps to get them there. And we see the moment when Wade realized that he wanted to write the fiction that so many of us have come to love. MAGIC SEASON gave me the chance to see what has driven Wade through the years --- and I thank him for sharing that story. It is also worth noting that the audiobook is read by Wade himself, which makes for a very special listening experience.
Here's what Sarah Rachel Egelman has to say in her review: “Framed inning by inning during Game 4 of the 2015 National League Division Series between the Cardinals and the Cubs, MAGIC SEASON contemplates and considers some very challenging realities, and does so with an uncommon grace and honesty. This weighty account is often made more digestible with humor and lightness --- a fine balance of a profound and difficult personal examination, and a readable and welcoming writing style.”
Watching authors’ writing ebb and flow has been one of the most fun parts of this last quarter-century for me. Both of these authors took risks with the changes in their careers. You can say they reinvented themselves. It’s been a joy to bring them to you. And I so look forward to seeing which other authors will take a leap, make a new move and bring us books to enjoy.
As promised, I am happy to share with you the interview that I did a few weeks ago with Nelson DeMille and Janet Evanovich as part of Simon & Schuster’s Spring 2022 AuthorFest event. Nelson and Janet have created some of the most iconic recurring characters in fiction, and I talked to them about how they keep their characters interesting, surprising and fresh, novel after novel. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast. Janet’s latest book is THE RECOVERY AGENT and introduces readers to a new protagonist, recovery agent Gabriela Rose. Nelson’s upcoming book, THE MAZE, releases on October 11th and marks the return of former NYPD homicide detective John Corey.
Today we kicked off a new contest for Casey Sherman’s upcoming book, HELLTOWN: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer on Cape Cod, which Hank Phillippi Ryan calls “an immaculately researched and rivetingly propulsive chronicle illustrating a pivotal part of our history.”
In the winter of 1969, the bodies of four young women were discovered in a cemetery near the tip of Cape Cod. In a place once known as Helltown, the victims had been shot, stabbed, dismembered and mutilated. As investigators would soon learn, the perpetrator was a young, handsome serial killer named Tony Costa. A bizarre former taxidermist with a split personality and penchant for violence, Costa ultimately mobilized friends in the hippie community for support and retribution, and captivated literary icons and rivals Kurt Vonnegut and Norman Mailer. Costa embarked on a daring cat-and-mouse game with investigators, who --- as the body count kept growing --- were desperate to put an end to the killing season on Cape Cod.
In anticipation of the book’s July 12th release, we’re awarding an advance copy to 25 readers. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, May 20th at noon ET.
Our Historical Fiction Author Spotlight is back, and this time we’re featuring Kim Michele Richardson’s latest novel, THE BOOK WOMAN’S DAUGHTER, which is the highly anticipated sequel to 2019’s THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK.
In the ruggedness of the beautiful Kentucky mountains, Honey Lovett has always known that the old ways can make a hard life even more difficult. As the daughter of the famed blue-skinned, Troublesome Creek packhorse librarian, Honey and her family have been hiding from the law all her life. But when her parents are imprisoned, Honey realizes she must fight to stay free, or risk being sent away for good. Picking up her mother's old packhorse library route, Honey begins to deliver books to the remote hollers of Appalachia. But the route can be treacherous, and some folks aren't as keen to let a woman pave her own way.
According to our reviewer Megan Elliott, “Readers who enjoyed Richardson’s previous tale of a woman fighting stubborn prejudice will warm to this book, which features a robust, vividly drawn cast of strong female characters…. Honey’s life may be hard, but it’s also filled with joy, and her story will bring a smile to the face (and tears to the eyes) of readers.” I look forward to conducting a “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Kim Michele soon!
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
-
UNMASKED: This fascinating memoir is written by Paul Holes, a retired cold case investigator who is perhaps best known for tracking down the Golden State Killer. Says Holes, “Crime solving for me is more complex than the challenge of the hunt, or the process of piecing together a scientific puzzle. The thought of good people suffering drives me, for better or worse, to the point of obsession.”
-
REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES: Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel --- this month’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick --- is a charming and witty exploration of friendship, reckoning and hope that traces a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus. Says Jenna, “Not since LIFE OF PI have I found a book with such creativity and such a strong voice.”
-
LOVE MARRIAGE: Yasmin Ghorami’s life seems to be right on track: she is a doctor in training, she’s engaged to a doctor named Joe Sangster, and both her family and Joe’s are thrilled about the union. However, all is not as idyllic as it might seem in this long-awaited new novel from Monica Ali, the Booker Prize-shortlisted author of BRICK LANE.
Our Summer Reading Contests Are Up and Running!
This year’s series of 24-hour Summer Reading contests began this week with our first two giveaways: the aforementioned THE BOOK WOMAN’S DAUGHTER by Kim Michele Richardson and A FAMILY AFFAIR by Robyn Carr. Next week’s prizes will be THE SUMMER PLACE by Jennifer Weiner and ALL’S FAIR AND OTHER CALIFORNIA STORIES by Linda Feyder. The first contest of the week will go live on Tuesday, May 10th at noon ET.
Don’t Miss Our Mother’s Day Author Blogs
We wrapped up our 13th Annual Mother’s Day Author Blog series this week. Six authors contributed lovely pieces about reading with their mothers and their own children, and how their mothers inspired them to become readers and writers. Many thanks to Zain E. Asher, Kimberly Belle, Kimberly Brock, Chloé Cooper Jones, Sarah McCoy and Deborah Goodrich Royce for taking time out of their busy schedules to share these very special bookish memories with us. Please take time to read these pieces; one is more heartwarming than the next.
While we’re on the subject, thank you to all who entered our Mother’s Day contest, where we gave you the opportunity to win eight fabulous fiction and nonfiction titles for yourself or the special lady in your life. We will announce the winners in next week’s newsletter, so please be on the lookout for that!
This Month’s New in Paperback Feature
Our New in Paperback roundups are now available for May. We’re featuring paperback reprints from such bestselling authors as Louise Penny (THE MADNESS OF CROWDS), Taylor Jenkins Reid (MALIBU RISING), Kristin Harmel (THE FOREST OF VANISHING STARS), Lisa Taddeo (ANIMAL), and Alex Michaelides (THE MAIDENS); nonfiction titles, including THE CODE BREAKER: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race by Walter Isaacson and THE LOST BOYS OF MONTAUK: The True Story of the Wind Blown, Four Men Who Vanished at Sea, and the Survivors They Left Behind by Amanda M. Fairbanks; and paperback originals like OUR LAST DAYS IN BARCELONA by Chanel Cleeton and THE LAST QUEEN: A Novel of Courage and Resistance by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.
Revisiting Four “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews
Out in paperback this week are THE TURNOUT by Megan Abbott, DAMNATION SPRING by Ash Davidson, THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED by Lisa Jewell, and THE PLOT by Jean Hanff Korelitz. I talked to Megan, Ash, Lisa and Jean when their books came out in hardcover, so if you’d like to check out these interviews, you can watch the videos or listen to the podcasts using these links:
Books on Screen Offerings for May
We’ve also updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. May’s roundup includes the series premieres of "Bosch: Legacy" on Amazon Freevee (more on that later), "The Lincoln Lawyer" on Netflix, "Conversations with Friends" on Hulu, "The Time Traveler's Wife" on HBO, and "Joe Pickett" on Paramount+; the season finales of Starz's "Outlander," HBO Max's "The Flight Attendant," and ABC's "Big Sky"; the films Firestarter and Operation Mincemeat; and the DVD release of The Batman.
Word of Mouth Reminder
The aforementioned THE HOMEWRECKERS by Mary Kay Andrews and THE LIONESS by Chris Bohjalian are our latest Word of Mouth prizes. Submit your comments about the books you’ve read by Friday, May 13th at noon ET, and you’ll have a chance to win both these titles.
Remember to Vote in Our Poll
Our poll continues to ask which of 30 fiction titles releasing this month you are planning to read. Let us know by clicking here.
It was announced this week that THE CHANGE is May’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick. Billed as "Big Little Lies" meets The Witches of Eastwick, Kirsten Miller’s adult debut is a feminist revenge fantasy about three women whose midlife crisis brings unexpected new powers --- putting them on a collision course with the evil that lurks in their wealthy beach town. Don’t miss our review in next week’s newsletter.
THE DICTIONARY OF LOST WORDS, which is now available in paperback, is this month’s Reese’s Book Club pick. Set during the height of the women’s suffrage movement and with the Great War looming, Pip Williams’ debut novel reveals a lost narrative, hidden between the lines of a history written by men. We covered this book last year when it released in hardcover; click here to read our review.
It also was announced this week that May’s Barnes & Noble Book Club pick is ELEKTRA by Jennifer Saint. The author of the beloved international bestseller ARIADNE is back with a spellbinding reimagining of the story of Elektra, one of Greek mythology’s most infamous heroines. On Tuesday, June 7th at 3pm ET, B&N will welcome Jennifer for a live virtual event to discuss the book. Click here to sign up. We will feature our review later this month.
For more May selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here.
This is your last Bookreporter newsletter reminder to sign up for this month’s “Bookaccino Live” preview event, which will take place on Wednesday, May 11th at 2pm ET. I will talk about titles releasing between May 10th and June 7th, along with a few from July, that I would like to get on your radar. Click here to register. 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.
For more than 10 years, Buzz Books have predicted which books will land on bestseller, awards and critics’ lists. Publishers Lunch offers excerpts from 59 of the most buzzed-about books scheduled for publication this fall and winter in an exclusive, free e-book, Buzz Books 2022: Fall/Winter. As always, there’s also a comprehensive preview from Publishers Lunch of more than 500 additional noteworthy Fall/Winter books to have on your radar.
Buzz Books will hold a free virtual event for booksellers, librarians, media and other tastemakers on Wednesday, May 18th at 7pm ET. Join six editors in conversation with their authors, as they describe exciting forthcoming titles excerpted in Buzz Books. The special guest host will be Bobby Finger, the co-host of the entertainment podcast “Who? Weekly” and the author of THE OLD PLACE, his forthcoming debut novel. Click here to register.
Our 11th Annual Book Group Speed Dating Event
We are hosting our big Book Group Speed Dating event next Friday, May 13th from 1pm to 2:30pm ET, where 14 publishers will be sharing the titles that they think will resonate with book clubs over the next six months. If you are a bookseller, librarian or book group leader who runs multiple book groups, you will not want to miss this event. Drop me a note at Carol@bookreporter.com and tell me about yourself, and I can send you the link to sign up. This is a trade-only event, so it's not open to the public. We will share the video and some materials with our readers later.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail: Sharon wrote this poignant note about buying books and our poll from a couple of weeks ago: “On buying books. I took the survey, but feel that my response might be a bit skewed. You see, my husband and I are both 85, and our bookshelves are crammed with our two lifetime purchases. And our children have begged us to not accumulate more that they will need to decide what to do with them. So we frequent our public library or find books on Overdrive. Our book club can borrow multiple copies from our State library. I am of two minds about this. One, I love that we can get books through our library for free, but on the other hand, I regret that we are not supporting authors and the indie booksellers. So I buy books for my grandchildren and great-grandchildren to assuage my guilt.” I think that buying books for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren seems like a perfect thing to do.
“The Staircase” on HBO Max: I watched the true-crime doc, but now I am intrigued to watch this adaptation about the novelist Michael Peterson and his wife Kathleen’s death. It stars Colin Firth and Toni Collette.
“Bosch: Legacy” on Amazon Freevee (formerly IMDb TV): For those of you who, like me, want more Bosch, here is our chance to see what happens next! I have been told it rolls seamlessly and actually feels like it's season eight.
“CBS Sunday Morning”: Last week, we featured our review of A.J. Jacobs' book, THE PUZZLER. A.J. was on last week’s edition of “CBS Sunday Morning”; you can watch it here.
Last night we celebrated my mother's 93rd birthday. We had a terrific night of celebrating her! You can see her above blowing out the candle on her slice of cake: lemon, her favorite.
I have lots of reading to do for interviews, which we will be bringing you in the weeks to come. We have quite a lineup in progress that we are scheduling.
Mother’s Day weekend is here. We will be celebrating with both my mom and Tom’s mom on Sunday. Happy Mother’s Day to all of you who are celebrating or being celebrated. And for those of you who are missing your mom, or may be estranged, be kind to yourself this weekend.
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: THE HOMEWRECKERS
by Mary Kay Andrews
THE HOMEWRECKERS by Mary Kay Andrews (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Kathleen McInerney
Hattie Kavanaugh went to work restoring homes for Kavanaugh & Son Restorations at 18, married the boss’s son at 20, and became a widow at 25. When Hattie falls head-over-heels for a money pit of a house, she’s determined to make it work. But disaster after disaster occurs, and her dream might cost Kavanaugh & Son their livelihood. When a slick Hollywood producer shows up in her hometown of Savannah, she gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: star in a beach house renovation reality show, cast against a male lead who may be a love interest or the ultimate antagonist. But during the demolition, evidence comes to light that points to the mysterious disappearance of a young wife and mother years before. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to visit Mary Kay Andrews' website.
Click here to read our review.
New Historical Fiction Author Spotlight:
THE BOOK WOMAN’S DAUGHTER
by Kim Michele Richardson
THE BOOK WOMAN’S DAUGHTER by Kim Michele Richardson (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Katie Schorr
In the ruggedness of the beautiful Kentucky mountains, Honey Lovett has always known that the old ways can make a hard life harder. As the daughter of the famed blue-skinned, Troublesome Creek packhorse librarian, Honey and her family have been hiding from the law all her life. But when her mother and father are imprisoned, Honey realizes she must fight to stay free, or risk being sent away for good.
Picking up her mother's old packhorse library route, Honey begins to deliver books to the remote hollers of Appalachia. Honey is looking to prove that she doesn't need anyone telling her how to survive. But the route can be treacherous, and some folks aren't as keen to let a woman pave her own way.
If Honey wants to bring the freedom books provide to the families who need it most, she's going to have to fight for her place, and along the way learn that the extraordinary women who run the hills and hollers can make all the difference in the world.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read Kim Michele Richardson's bio.
- Click here to visit Kim Michele Richardson's website.
- Connect with Kim Michele Richardson on Facebook and Instagram.
- Watch our "Bookaccino Live" Book Group event with Kim Michele Richardson and listen to the podcast.
Click here to read our review.
Click here to read more in our Historical Fiction Author Spotlight.
Don't miss Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with
Kim Michele Richardson later this month.
New Special Contest:
Enter to Win an Advance Copy of HELLTOWN
by Casey Sherman, Releasing July 12th
HELLTOWN by Casey Sherman transports us back to the turbulent late 1960s, revealing the secrets of notorious serial killer Tony Costa --- the most dangerous man on Cape Cod --- and unspooling the threads connecting Costa, Kurt Vonnegut and Norman Mailer in the seaside city that played host to horrors unlike any ever seen before. The book doesn't release until July 12th, but we have 25 advance copies to give away to readers. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, May 20th at noon ET.
HELLTOWN: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer on Cape Cod by Casey Sherman (True Crime)
1969: The hippie scene is vibrant in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Long-haired teenagers roam the streets, strumming guitars and preaching about peace and love...and Tony Costa is at the center of it all. To a certain group of smitten young women, he is known as Sire --- the leader of their counter-culture movement, the charming man who speaks eloquently and hands out hallucinogenic drugs like candy. But beneath his benign persona lies a twisted and uncontrollable rage that threatens to break loose at any moment. Tony Costa is the most dangerous man on Cape Cod, and no one who crosses his path is safe.
When young women begin to disappear, Costa's natural charisma and good looks initially protect him from suspicion. But as the bodies are discovered, the police close in on him as the key suspect. Meanwhile, local writers Kurt Vonnegut and Norman Mailer are locked in a desperate race to secure their legacies as great literary icons --- and they both set their sights on Tony Costa and the drug-soaked hippie culture that he embodies as their next promising subject, launching independent investigations that stoke the competitive fires between two of the greatest American writers.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Casey Sherman's bio.
- Click here to connect with Casey Sherman on Twitter.
Click here to enter the contest.
Featured Review: MAGIC SEASON by Wade Rouse
MAGIC SEASON: A Son's Story by Wade Rouse (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Wade Rouse
Before his success in public relations, his loving marriage and his storied writing career, Wade Rouse was simply Ted Rouse's son. A queer kid in a conservative Ozarks community, Wade struggled at a young age to garner his father's approval and find his voice. For his part, Ted was a hard-lined engineer, offering little emotional support or encouragement. But Wade and Ted had one thing in common: an undying love of the St. Louis Cardinals. For decades, baseball offered Wade and his father a shared vocabulary --- a way to stay in touch, to connect and to express their emotions. But when his father's health takes a turn for the worse, Wade returns to southwest Missouri to share one final season with his father. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to visit Wade Rouse's website.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: UNMASKED by Paul Holes,
with Robin Gaby Fisher
UNMASKED: My Life Solving America's Cold Cases by Paul Holes, with Robin Gaby Fisher (True Crime/Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Paul Holes
In UNMASKED, cold case investigator Paul Holes takes us through his memories of a storied career and provides an insider account of some of the most notorious cases in contemporary American history, including the hunt for the Golden State Killer, Laci Peterson's murder and Jaycee Dugard's kidnapping. This is also a revelatory profile of a complex man and what makes him tick: the drive to find closure for victims and their loved ones, the inability to walk away from a challenge --- even at the expense of his own happiness. Holes opens up the most intimate scenes of his life: his moments of self-doubt and the impact that detective work has had on his marriage. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review:
REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES
by Shelby Van Pelt
May’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club Pick
REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Marin Ireland and Michael Urie
After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her 18-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over 30 years ago. Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors --- until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova. Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now he must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late. 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 "Read with Jenna" pick.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's 18th Annual
Summer Reading Contests and Feature
Summer will be here before you know it! At Bookreporter.com, this means it's time for us to share some great summer book picks with our Summer Reading Contests and Feature. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through the end of August, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next prize book will be announced on Tuesday, May 10th at noon ET.
This year’s prize books include:
Click here to read all the contest details and learn more about our prize books.
Bookreporter.com’s 13th Annual
Mother’s Day Author Blogs
Our Mother's Day Author Blogs are back for a 13th year! We are excited to be sharing pieces from six authors who reminisce about reading books with their moms, or with their own children, and talk about how their moms influenced them to become readers and writers.
As always, we appreciate all the authors who took the time to participate in this annual feature.
Click here to read this year's Mother's Day Author Blogs.
May’s New in Paperback Roundups
May's roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED, an edge-of-your seat thriller from Lisa Jewell about a young couple’s disappearance on a gorgeous summer night, and the mother who will never give up trying to find them; MALIBU RISING by Taylor Jenkins Reid, in which four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer --- but over the course of 24 hours, the family drama that ensues will change their lives forever; Jean Hanff Korelitz's THE PLOT, a propulsive read about a story too good not to steal, and the writer who steals it; DAMNATION SPRING by Ash Davidson, a stunning novel about love, work and marriage that asks how far one family and one community will go to protect their future; and ANIMAL, Lisa Taddeo's depiction of female rage at its rawest, and a visceral exploration of the fallout from a male-dominated society.
Among our nonfiction highlights are THE CODE BREAKER, Walter Isaacson's gripping account of how Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna and her colleagues launched a revolution that will allow us to cure diseases, fend off viruses and have healthier babies; WALK IN MY COMBAT BOOTS, a compilation of moving and powerful recollections of war, told by the men and women who lived them, crafted from hundreds of original interviews by James Patterson and First Sergeant US Army (Ret.) Matt Eversmann; COUNTDOWN BIN LADEN, Chris Wallace's deeply reported, revelatory and thrillingly told account of the final months of the hunt for Osama bin Laden; and Amanda M. Fairbanks' THE LOST BOYS OF MONTAUK, an immersive account of a tragedy at sea whose repercussions haunt its survivors to this day.
May’s Books on Screen Feature
Here is a preview of this month's movies, TV shows and DVDs that are based on books. For a complete list of May's offerings, please click here.
Film Releases
Firestarter
Release Date: May 13th in theaters (wide release) and on Peacock
Based on: FIRESTARTER by Stephen King
Series Premieres
LOVE MARRIAGE by Monica Ali (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Ayesha Dharker
Yasmin Ghorami is 26, in training to be a doctor (like her Indian-born father), and engaged to the charismatic, upper-class Joe Sangster, whose formidable mother, Harriet, is a famous feminist. The gulf between families is vast. So, too, is the gulf in sexual experience between Yasmin and Joe. As the wedding day draws near, misunderstandings, infidelities and long-held secrets upend both Yasmin’s relationship and that of her parents, a “love marriage,” according to the family lore that Yasmin has believed all her life. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
SEARCH by Michelle Huneven (Fiction/Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Cassandra Campbell
Dana Potowski is a restaurant critic and food writer, and a longtime member of a progressive Unitarian Universalist congregation in Southern California. Just as she’s finishing the book tour for her latest bestseller, Dana is asked to join the church search committee for a new minister. Under pressure to find her next book idea, she agrees, and resolves to secretly pen a memoir, with recipes, about the experience. That memoir, Search, follows the travails of the committee and their candidates --- and becomes its own media sensation. Ultimately, the committee faces a stark choice between two very different paths forward for the congregation. And Dana will fight the entire committee, if necessary, to win the day for her side. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
IN A TIME OF DISTANCE: And Other Poems written by Alexander McCall Smith, with illustrations by Iain McIntosh (Poetry)
Audiobook available, read by Alexander McCall Smith
What matters most in life? For Alexander McCall Smith, it is friendship, love and travel --- the themes found throughout his work that have made him a cherished writer the world over. This first collection of Smith’s poems reflects on these topics with all his characteristic wit and charm. There are moments of sweeping insight and soaring feeling, and moments that will have you laughing along as they subtly shift your worldview. This inimitable writer shares his distinctively astute and good-natured observations on life, love and beauty, reminding us of the deep satisfaction that can be found when we open ourselves up to the world with our whole heart, and watch as it takes on a kinder and gentler shape. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
TRULY, MADLY: Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, and the Romance of the Century by Stephen Galloway (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Molly Parker Myers
In 1934, a friend brought fledgling actress Vivien Leigh to see "Theatre Royal," where she would first lay eyes on Laurence Olivier in his brilliant performance as Anthony Cavendish. That night, she confided to a friend that he was the man she was going to marry. There was just one problem: she was already married --- and so was he. TRULY, MADLY is the biography of a marriage, a love affair that still captivates millions, even decades after both actors' deaths. Vivien and Larry seemed to have it all. Yet, in their own minds, they were doomed, blighted by her long-undiagnosed mental illness, which transformed their relationship from the stuff of dreams into a living nightmare. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
OUR LITTLE WORLD by Karen Winn (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Jesse Vilinsky
July 1985. It’s a normal, sweltering New Jersey summer for soon-to-be seventh grader Bee Kocsis. Her thoughts center only on sunny days spent at Deer Chase Lake, on evenings chasing fireflies around her cul-de-sac with the neighborhood kids, and on Max, the boy who just moved in across the street. There's also the burgeoning worry that she'll never be as special as her younger sister, Audrina, who seems to effortlessly dazzle wherever she goes. But when Max’s little sister, Sally, goes missing at the lake, Bee’s long-held illusion of stability is shattered in an instant. As the families in her close-knit community turn inward, suspicious and protective, things in Bee’s own home become increasingly strained, most of all with Audrina, when a shameful secret surfaces. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
LUCKY TURTLE by Bill Roorbach (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Brittany Pressley
When 16-year-old Cindra Zoeller is sent to a reform camp in Montana after being involved in an armed robbery, she is thrust into a world of mountains, cowboys, prayers, miscreants, and people from all walks of life like she’s never seen in suburban Massachusetts. At Camp Challenge, she becomes transfixed by Lucky, a camp employee of mysterious origin, and the chemistry between them is instant and profound. The pair escape together into the wilderness to create an idyllic life far from the reach of the law. But they can run from the outside world for only so long, and the consequences of their naïve fantasy of a future together --- and circumstances shaped by skin color --- will keep them apart for decades. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.
MAGPIE by Elizabeth Day (Domestic Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Tanya Reynolds
Marisa and Jake are a perfect couple. And Kate, their new lodger, is the perfect roommate --- and not just because her rent payments will give them the income they need to start trying for the baby of their dreams. Except --- no one is truly perfect. Sure, Kate doesn’t seem to care much about personal boundaries and can occasionally seem overly familiar with Jake. But Marisa doesn’t let it concern her, knowing that soon Kate will be gone. Conceiving a baby is easier said than done, though, and Jake and Marisa’s perfect relationship is put to the test through months of fertility treatments and false starts. To make matters worse, Kate’s boundary-pushing turns into an all-out obsession --- with Jake, with Marisa and with their future child. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
KAIKEYI by Vaishnavi Patel (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Soneela Nankani
The only daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya, Kaikeyi is raised on tales of the gods. Yet she watches as her father unceremoniously banishes her mother, and listens as her own worth is reduced to how great a marriage alliance she can secure. And when she calls upon the gods for help, they never seem to hear. Desperate for some measure of independence, she turns to the texts she once read with her mother and discovers a magic that is hers alone. With this power, Kaikeyi transforms herself from an overlooked princess into a warrior, diplomat and most favored queen. But as the evil from her childhood stories threatens the cosmic order, the path she has forged clashes with the destiny the gods have chosen for her family. Reviewed by Carly Silver.
HERE GOES NOTHING by Steve Toltz (Fiction/Dark Humor)
Audiobook available, read by Ben Chapple
Angus is a reformed ne'er-do-well looking forward to the birth of his first child when he's murdered by a man who's in love with his pregnant wife, Gracie. Having never believed in God, heaven or hell, Angus finds himself in the afterlife --- a place that provides more questions than answers. As a worldwide pandemic finally reaches the shores of Australia, the afterlife starts to get very crowded. Angus finds a way to reconnect with Gracie and maybe even seek revenge on his murderer. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
DISAPPEARED by Bonnar Spring (Mystery/Thriller)
Julie Welch’s sister, Fay Lariviere, disappears from their hotel in Morocco. Although she leaves a note that she’ll be back in two days, Fay doesn’t return. Julie’s anger shifts to worry --- and to fear when she discovers a stalker. Then, an attack meant for Julie kills another woman. Searching Fay’s luggage and quizzing the hotel staff, Julie discovers Fay’s destination --- a remote village in the Saharan desert. Convinced her sister is in danger and propelled by her own jeopardy, Julie rushes to warn Fay. By the time she reaches the village, Julie finds that Fay has traveled deeper into the desert. With a villager as her guide, Julie follows, only to be stranded in the Sahara when the guide abandons her. Julie is eventually reunited with Fay --- in a prison cell --- and learns the reasons for Fay’s secrecy. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.
TWO LITTLE GIRLS by Laura Jarratt (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Ana Clements and Hannah Curtis
When Lizzie's car crashes with her two daughters inside, she faces a terrible choice. And when she recovers from her injuries, she must deal with the impact of that tragedy and the police investigation into it. As Lizzie and her family struggle to come to terms with the events of that night, things take an even darker turn. What exactly happened on that remote country road? Who is responsible? And can the family get through this together...or will the truth finally tear them apart? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE UNVEILING OF POLLY FORREST by Charlotte Whitney (Historical Mystery)
During the throes of the Great Depression, Polly marries for money. After her husband, Sam, dies in a freak farm accident, new bride Polly assumes she is financially set to pursue her dream of opening a hat-making business. Instead, she becomes the prime suspect in Sam's murder. Secrets abound, and even Polly's family can't figure out the truth. Narrated by Polly; her self-righteous older sister, Sarah; and Sarah's well-meaning but flawed husband, Wesley, a Methodist minister, the story follows several twists through the landscape of the rural Midwest. Each narrator has a strong compelling voice. Polly's early letters to her mother both reveal and hide her naivete, her fears and her dreams. Sarah is both caring and critical. Wesley is dedicated to his calling and his parishioners, but his weaknesses are prominent. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on May 10th
Below are some notable titles releasing on May 10th 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 May 9th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
DECIMATE by Christopher Rice (Supernatural Thriller)
A desperate family confronts the mysteries that lie between life and death in this soul-gripping novel of supernatural suspense by Amazon Charts and New York Times bestselling author Christopher Rice.
THE LAST QUEEN: A Novel of Courage and Resistance by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (Historical Fiction)
She rose from commoner to become the last reigning queen of India’s Sikh Empire. In this dazzling novel, based on true-life events, bestselling author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni presents the unforgettable story of Jindan, who transformed herself from daughter of the royal kennel keeper to powerful monarch.
THE LAST WHITE ROSE: A Novel of Elizabeth of York by Alison Weir (Historical Fiction)
New York Times bestselling author Alison Weir explores the turbulent life of Henry VIII’s mother, Elizabeth, the first queen of the Tudor dynasty, in this stunning historical novel.
THE LIONESS by Chris Bohjalian (Historical Thriller)
A luxurious African safari turns deadly for a Hollywood starlet and her entourage in this riveting historical thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT.
MISS CHLOE: A Memoir of a Literary Friendship with Toni Morrison by A. J. Verdelle (Memoir)
Toni Morrison, born Chloe A Wofford, was a towering figure in the world of literature when she entered A. J. Verdelle’s life. Their literary friendship was a young writer’s dream --- simultaneously exhilarating, intimidating, fulfilling and challenging.
MUSTIQUE ISLAND by Sarah McCoy (Fiction)
From bestselling author Sarah McCoy comes a sun-splashed romp with a rich divorcee and her two wayward daughters in 1970s Mustique, the world’s most exclusive private island, where Princess Margaret and Mick Jagger were regulars and scandals stayed hidden from the press.
MY WIFE IS MISSING by D.J. Palmer (Domestic Thriller)
When a woman disappears with her two children, one husband will do anything to find them --- even confront the secrets of his own past --- in D.J. Palmer's MY WIFE IS MISSING, a twisty thriller from the author of THE NEW HUSBAND.
OVERBOARD: A V.I. Warshawski Novel by Sara Paretsky (Mystery)
Legendary detective V.I. Warshawski uncovers a nefarious conspiracy preying on Chicago's weak and vulnerable in this thrilling novel from New York Times bestselling author Sara Paretsky.
THE SUMMER PLACE by Jennifer Weiner (Fiction)
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THAT SUMMER comes another heartfelt and unputdownable novel of family, secrets and the ties that bind.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Jennifer Weiner, Chris Bohjalian, Sarah McCoy
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, May 9th at 7pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Jennifer Weiner for a live virtual event to celebrate the publication of her new novel, THE SUMMER PLACE. She will be in conversation with bestselling romance author Eloisa James.
Monday, May 9th at 7pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Mike Lupica will discuss his new mystery, ROBERT B. PARKER'S REVENGE TOUR, in which PI Sunny Randall's newest case hits close to home in ways she never expected.
Monday, May 9th at 7pm ET: William Morrow: Join Sarah McCoy in celebrating the release of her new novel, MUSTIQUE ISLAND. She will be in conversation with Jane Green, the New York Times bestselling author of SISTER STARDUST.
Tuesday, May 10th at 3pm ET: American Jewish University: New York Times bestselling author A.J. Jacobs returns to AJU for a conversation with Rabbi Sherre Hirsch about his new book, THE PUZZLER, and the enduring power of puzzles of all kinds.
Tuesday, May 10th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble Book Club: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Emily St. John Mandel for a live virtual event to discuss SEA OF TRANQUILITY, April's B&N Book Club pick.
Wednesday, May 11th at 2pm ET: "Bookaccino Live: A Lively Talk About Books": Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between May 10th and June 7th, along with a few from July, that she would like to get on your radar.
Wednesday, May 11th at 4pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble for an Exclusive Barnes & Noble Member event as they welcome Chris Bohjalian for a live virtual discussion of his new book, THE LIONESS. He will be in conversation with Lisa Scottoline for this special event.
Wednesday, May 11th 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 Adriana Trigiani about her new novel, THE GOOD LEFT UNDONE. Robyn Carr, author of A FAMILY AFFAIR, will appear on the Aftershow.
Friday, May 13th at 7pm ET: Cuyahoga County Public Library: Sarah McCoy and Paula McLain will be in conversation about Sarah's latest novel, MUSTIQUE ISLAND.
"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:
-
Julie Clark (THE LIES I TELL)
-
David R. Gillham (SHADOWS OF BERLIN)
-
Sarah McCoy (MUSTIQUE ISLAND)
-
Kim Michele Richardson (THE BOOK WOMAN'S DAUGHTER)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll: May Fiction Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following fiction titles releasing in May do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
-
22 SECONDS by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
-
THE BOARDWALK BOOKSHOP by Susan Mallery
-
BOOK OF NIGHT by Holly Black
-
THE BOOK WOMAN’S DAUGHTER by Kim Michele Richardson
-
THE CHANGE by Kirsten Miller
-
DECIMATE by Christopher Rice
-
EVERY CLOAK ROLLED IN BLOOD by James Lee Burke
-
HALF-BLOWN ROSE by Leesa Cross-Smith
-
THE HOMEWRECKERS by Mary Kay Andrews
-
THE LATECOMER by Jean Hanff Korelitz
-
THE LIONESS by Chris Bohjalian
-
THE LOST SUMMERS OF NEWPORT by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White
-
LOVE MARRIAGE by Monica Ali
-
MEANT TO BE by Emily Giffin
-
MUSTIQUE ISLAND by Sarah McCoy
-
MY WIFE IS MISSING by D.J. Palmer
-
NIGHTWORK by Nora Roberts
-
OMEGA RULES: An Evan Ryder Novel, by Eric Van Lustbader
-
OVERBOARD: A V.I. Warshawski Novel, by Sara Paretsky
-
REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt
-
ROBERT B. PARKER'S REVENGE TOUR: A Sunny Randall Novel, by Mike Lupica
-
SPARRING PARTNERS by John Grisham
-
SUMMER LOVE by Nancy Thayer
-
THE SUMMER PLACE by Jennifer Weiner
-
TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY by Linwood Barclay
-
THIS TIME TOMORROW by Emma Straub
-
TRUST by Hernan Diaz
-
TWO NIGHTS IN LISBON by Chris Pavone
-
WITH A MIND TO KILL: A James Bond Novel, by Anthony Horowitz
-
YOU HAVE A FRIEND IN 10A: Stories, by Maggie Shipstead
-
None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, May 13th 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 April 29th to May 13th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE HOMEWRECKERS by Mary Kay Andrews and THE LIONESS by Chris Bohjalian.
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.
|
