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Best Weekend of the Year!
I told you last week that if there was leftover candy, it meant that we had very few trick-or-treaters. Well, above you can see the remains. There would have been way more candy if the full-sized Hershey bars were not such a big hit, or if we were not telling the children to take two or three.
There was one little boy who managed to grab at least a dozen pieces of candy, lamenting that he had been to only a few houses. He also had an adorable accent as he continued to shove candy into his bag. We were amused; it was like he was getting candy therapy at our house.
We wanted the doorbell to ring a lot more, but alas the driveways here are long, and little legs do not want to walk up and down them. I literally waved --- vigorously beckoning to them from my window --- to one family with a toddler as they walked by. They waved back at me.
I also made our traditional black bean chili for Halloween dinner. We skipped that last year, and the holiday just was not the same!
My latest “Bookreporter Talks To” interview is with Jessica Knoll, whose new novel, BRIGHT YOUNG WOMEN, is a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. This book is a fictional look at the victims of a serial killer, based on Ted Bundy, though he is never called by name here.
Jessica talks about the structure of the novel, where the crimes that open the book are captured hour by hour and day by day. She explores the three characters in the book, as well as the research that she did to get the right tone and tenor for the story. Jessica realizes that if the victims had survived, they would be in their 50s and 60s today. She also touches on the television series adaptation that she has been tapped to write, as well as her experience with the film adaptation of LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
Tess Gerritsen, who is best known for her Rizzoli & Isles novels, is back with a brand-new series. THE SPY COAST is her first Martini Club thriller, and it will be a Bets On selection. Here, we are introduced to retired CIA operative Maggie Bird, who tackles the ghosts of her past in small-town Maine.
Ray Palen has our review and says, “Readers can just sit back and wait for the next danger or past revelation to drop into Maggie’s lap. The question will be whether or not she and her crew of fellow retirees still has what it takes to overcome these obstacles and walk away unscathed. I am thrilled that Gerritsen has decided to make this a series. She is so good at the spy game and has created characters who are immediately engaging and interesting.”
As I told Tess when I talked to her this week, I think this is her best book. She got the idea for it after she learned that there were retirees in her town in Maine who had been with the CIA, and she started wondering about their past missions. We will share my interview with Tess in next week's newsletter and my Bets On commentary later this month.
National Book Award winner Tim O’Brien has delivered his first novel in two decades. In AMERICA FANTASTICA, a bank robbery by a disgraced journalist sparks a cross-country chase through a nation corroded by shameless delusion and deceit.
According to our reviewer Harvey Freedenberg, “If Elmore Leonard had collaborated with the Coen brothers to produce a screenplay, the result might loosely resemble AMERICA FANTASTICA…. As O’Brien, who celebrated his 77th birthday last month, recognized in DAD’S MAYBE BOOK, if he hasn’t reached the end of his literary career, he’s close. While it’s natural to hope that AMERICA FANTASTICA signals a late-in-life burst of creativity, if it turns out to be his final novel, it will be a treasured gift to anyone who has cherished his work.”
An aside here: When we were first pitching the idea of The Book Report (which was what this site was called back in our AOL days) in 1995, we brought each of the attendees at our pitch meeting a copy of Tim's bestseller, THE THINGS THEY CARRIED.
We all know Henry Winkler as “The Fonz” from “Happy Days” and his roles on such shows as “Arrested Development,” “Parks and Recreation” and “Barry.” Now, the Emmy Award-winning actor, author, comedian, producer and director has written BEING HENRY, a deeply thoughtful memoir of the lifelong effects of stardom and the struggle to become whole.
Bronwyn Miller has this to say in her review: “BEING HENRY is a charming and entertaining chronicle of Winkler’s amazing life and career, told in a breathless, fast-paced, conversational style. It’s as if he’s sharing his best stories over lunch with a friend, and the reader is that lucky friend. In addition to his incredible work ethic, what’s abundantly evident about Winkler is his sweetness and his desire to encourage and inspire young creatives. Also palpable is his gratitude for it all.”
Other books we’re reviewing this week include:
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THE WOMAN IN ME: In June 2021, Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. Here, she reveals for the first time her incredible journey.
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A MEMOIR OF MY FORMER SELF: In addition to her celebrated career as a novelist, the late Hilary Mantel contributed for years to newspapers and journals, unspooling stories from her own life and illuminating the world as she found it. This book collects the finest of this writing over four decades.
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SISTERS UNDER THE RISING SUN: Heather Morris’ latest work of historical fiction, which we featured in our New Release Spotlight last week, is a story of women in war: a novel of sisterhood, bravery and friendship in the darkest of circumstances.
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THE HOUSE OF LOVE AND DEATH: In this third installment of Andrew Klavan’s Cameron Winter series, the ex-spy-turned-English professor defies accepted narratives and corrupt local authorities to investigate the murder of a wealthy family in the Chicago suburbs.
Books on Screen Offerings for November
We’ve updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. November’s roundup includes the series premieres of Netflix's "All the Light We Cannot See" and Hulu's "Black Cake" (scroll down to the "News & Pop Culture” section for my thoughts on these shows); the conclusion of "Lessons in Chemistry" on Apple TV+; the season finales of Apple TV+'s "The Morning Show" and Amazon Freevee's "Bosch: Legacy"; the season three premiere of "Slow Horses" on Apple TV+; the films The Marsh King’s Daughter, Leave the World Behind and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes; and the DVD releases of Oppenheimer, Desperation Road and A Haunting in Venice.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, November 17th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win CLASS (a follow-up to Stephanie Land’s 2019 memoir, MAID) and THE MANOR HOUSE by Gilly Macmillan. We plan to feature our reviews of both these titles in next week’s newsletter. I am reading and enjoying THE MANOR HOUSE now.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
For our latest poll, we’ve listed 25 fiction titles releasing this month, and we’re asking you which, if any, you’re planning to read. Click here to let us know by Friday, November 17th at noon ET.
Our previous poll asked which recently released or soon-to-be-released nonfiction titles you have read or are planning to read. Below are your top five picks, and you can see all the results here.
This is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to sign up for our final “Bookaccino Live” book preview event of 2023, which will take place on Wednesday, November 8th at 2pm ET. The focus will be on titles releasing between November 7th and the end of the year, in addition to a few from January and February 2024, that we would like to tell you about. 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.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
Monica wrote about winning copies of MAD HONEY in a recent contest on ReadingGroupGuides.com after learning that she won books for her entire group: “I was happy with one book! Now I am really excited. I will pick this for my book club to read the next time it is my turn to choose. Again, thank you. I have enjoyed Bookreporter, ReadingGroupGuides and your other newsletters for years. I have read so many great books because of your recommendations.”
A reader wrote about our “Bookaccino Live” Book Group events and asked what the next book will be. It’s SIGNAL FIRES by Dani Shapiro. She commented, “Incidentally so far I've loved every book you've suggested and thoroughly enjoyed 'meeting' the authors! Thank you so much.” You can sign up for the event here.
Matthew Perry’s Memoir: When Matthew Perry passed away last Saturday, his book, FRIENDS, LOVERS, AND THE BIG TERRIBLE THING, popped to the top of a few online stores. We covered the book when it came out, and you can read the review here.
It was a very book-themed week of screen watching this week.
“Black Cake” on Hulu: Readers know that I loved BLACK CAKE and the way Charmaine Wilkerson told the story. This series adaptation has been terrific, too. I watched two episodes the other night.
“All the Light We Cannot See” on Netflix: I already had screened the first episode a month or so ago. Last night I re-watched it with Husband Tom, and we also saw the second episode. It’s so beautifully done. Here’s a terrific interview with Shawn Levy, the director of the series; he directed all four episodes. We will watch the last two episodes this weekend.
“Fellow Travelers” on Showtime: I tuned into this series not having read the book by Thomas Mallon and knowing little about it. In it, two political staffers --- Hawkins Fuller and Tim Laughlin --- cross paths in the 1950s, fight and then succumb to their passion for each other. Their romance continues through the Vietnam War, the disco scene of the 1970s, and the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. They are hiding their attraction and living divided lives.
Stephanie Land: Her aforementioned book, CLASS, releases on Tuesday. She wrote a really terrific op-ed piece about her financial worries in spite of being a New York Times bestselling author (MAID) and having a wildly watched Netflix series. You can read it here; I unlocked it, so even if you are not a subscriber, you still can access it.
Owning and Organizing Books: You have to read this survey about how many books Americans own and how they organize them.
I am contemplating how to spend my extra hour this weekend. Of course, I will be reading. I also will be heading to the farmers' market on Sunday in search of watermelon radishes, and I may get there earlier than I ever have before. There is yard cleanup, closets that I want to organize, and thinking about the upcoming holidays and celebrations. And plants need to get watered. Am I missing anything? Oh, wait, it’s just one hour, not an extra day! And then next week: “Hello Darkness, My Old Friend, Soon You’ll Start at 5pm.” A friend in the UK shared that with me. The time change in the UK happened a couple of weeks ago.
Read on, and have a great week (and an extra hour, unless you are in Arizona or Hawaii, where daylight saving time is not observed).
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
P.S. For those of you who shop online, if you use the store links that appear on our site for shopping, Bookreporter.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and IndieBound. As you read our reviews and features, we would appreciate your considering this as you buy!
Featured Review: THE SPY COAST by Tess Gerritsen
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE SPY COAST by Tess Gerritsen (Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Hillary Huber and Brittany Pressley
Former spy Maggie Bird came to the seaside village of Purity, Maine, eager to put the past behind her after a mission went tragically wrong. These days, she’s living quietly on her chicken farm, still wary of blowback from the events that forced her early retirement. But when a body turns up in Maggie’s driveway, she knows it’s a message from former foes who haven’t forgotten her. Maggie turns to her local circle of old friends --- all retirees from the CIA --- to help uncover the truth about who is trying to kill her, and why. This “Martini Club” of former spies may be retired, but they still have a few useful skills that they’re eager to use again, if only to spice up their rather sedate new lives. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
THE SPY COAST will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Tess Gerritsen in next week's newsletter and her Bets On commentary later this month.
Featured Review: AMERICA FANTASTICA by Tim O’Brien
AMERICA FANTASTICA by Tim O’Brien (Fiction/Satire)
Audiobook available, read by Oliver Wyman
Boyd Halverson --- star journalist turned notorious online disinformation troll turned JCPenney manager --- robs a bank and takes the teller, Angie Bing, as a hostage and for a ride. Haunted by his past and weary of his present, Boyd has one goal before the authorities catch up with him: settle a score with the man who destroyed his life. By Monday, Boyd and Angie reach Mexico; by winter, they are in a lakefront mansion in Minnesota. On their trail are hitmen, jealous lovers, ex-cons, an heiress, a billionaire shipping tycoon, a three-tour veteran of Iraq, and the ghosts of Boyd’s past. Everyone, it seems, except the police. Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: BEING HENRY by Henry Winkler
BEING HENRY: The Fonz...and Beyond by Henry Winkler (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Henry Winkler
Henry Winkler, who was launched into prominence as “The Fonz” in “Happy Days,” has transcended the role that made him who he is. In this achingly vulnerable memoir, Henry shares the disheartening truth of his childhood, the difficulties of a life with severe dyslexia, the pressures of a role that takes on a life of its own, and the path forward once your wildest dream seems behind you. Since the glorious era of “Happy Days” fame, Henry has endeared himself to a new generation with roles in such adored shows as “Arrested Development,” “Parks and Recreation” and “Barry,” where he’s been revealed as an actor with immense depth and pathos, a departure from the period of his life when he was so distinctly typecast as The Fonz, he could hardly find work. Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: THE WOMAN IN ME by Britney Spears
THE WOMAN IN ME by Britney Spears (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Michelle Williams with an introduction by Britney Spears
In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice --- her truth --- was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. THE WOMAN IN ME reveals for the first time her incredible journey --- and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history. Written with remarkable candor and humor, Spears’ groundbreaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love --- and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: A MEMOIR OF MY
FORMER SELF by Hilary Mantel
A MEMOIR OF MY FORMER SELF: A Life in Writing by Hilary Mantel (Memoir)
Audiobook available; read by Anne Enright, Aurora Dawson-Hunte, Ben Miles, Bill Hamilton, Jane Wymark, Lydia Leonard, Nicholas Pearson and Sarah Waters
In addition to her celebrated career as a novelist, Hilary Mantel contributed for years to newspapers and journals, unspooling stories from her own life and illuminating the world as she found it. A MEMOIR OF MY FORMER SELF collects the finest of this writing over four decades. Her subjects are wide-ranging, sharply observed and beautifully rendered. She discusses nationalism and her own sense of belonging; our dream life popping into our conscious life; the many themes that feed into her novels --- revolutionary France, psychics, Tudor England; and other novelists, from Jane Austen to V.S. Naipaul. She writes fiercely and heartbreakingly about the battles with her health that she endured as a young woman, and the stifling years she found herself living in Saudi Arabia. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: SISTERS UNDER
THE RISING SUN by Heather Morris
SISTERS UNDER THE RISING SUN by Heather Morris (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Laura Carmichael
In the midst of World War II, English musician Norah Chambers places her eight-year-old daughter, Sally, on a ship leaving Singapore, desperate to keep her safe from the Japanese army. Sister Nesta James, a Welsh Australian nurse, has enlisted to tend to Allied troops. But as Singapore falls to the Japanese, she joins the terrified cargo of people, including the heartbroken Norah, crammed aboard the Vyner Brooke merchant ship. Only two days later, they are bombarded from the air off the coast of Indonesia. After surviving a brutal 24 hours in the sea, Norah and Nesta are captured by the Japanese and held in one of their notorious POW camps. These sisters in arms fight side by side every day, discovering in themselves and each other extraordinary reserves of courage, resourcefulness and determination. 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: THE HOUSE OF
LOVE AND DEATH by Andrew Klavan
THE HOUSE OF LOVE AND DEATH: A Cameron Winter Mystery by Andrew Klavan (Hard-boiled Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Adam Barr
Three members of a wealthy family, along with their live-in nanny, are pulled from their burning mansion, already dead from gunshot wounds. The only survivor is a young boy whose memory of the event raises more questions than answers. The police seem happy to settle on a simple explanation and arrest the most obvious suspect, but Cameron Winter knows that obvious solutions are seldom the correct ones, and all too often they hide a darker truth. While Winter’s investigation is welcomed by many who knew the victims, the lead detective makes it clear he wants Winter not only to stop looking for answers, but to stay out of his town altogether. Winter begins to understand why as he slowly uncovers crimes and unsavory behavior that had been ignored long before the killings. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
November’s Books on Screen Feature
THE REFORMATORY by Tananarive Due (Historical Fiction/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt
Twelve-year-old Robbie Stephens, Jr., is sentenced to six months at the Gracetown School for Boys, a reformatory, for kicking the son of the largest landowner in town in defense of his older sister, Gloria. So begins Robbie’s journey further into the terrors of the Jim Crow South and the very real horror of the school they call The Reformatory. Robbie has a talent for seeing ghosts, or haints. But what was once a comfort to him after the loss of his mother has become a window to the truth of what happens at the reformatory. Boys forced to work to remediate their so-called crimes have gone missing, but the haints Robbie sees hint at worse things. Meanwhile, Gloria is rallying every family member and connection in Florida to find a way to get Robbie out before it’s too late. Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
THE PALEONTOLOGIST by Luke Dumas (Literary Thriller/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Graham Halstead
Curator of paleontology Dr. Simon Nealy never expected to return to his Pennsylvania hometown, let alone the Hawthorne Museum of Natural History. He was just a boy when his six-year-old sister, Morgan, was abducted from the museum under his watch. After a recent breakup and the death of the aunt who raised him, Simon feels drawn back to the place where Morgan vanished. But from the moment he arrives, things aren’t what he expected. The Hawthorne is a crumbling ruin and plummeting toward financial catastrophe. Worse, Simon begins seeing and hearing things he can’t explain. Terrified he’s losing his grasp on reality, Simon turns to the handwritten research diaries of his predecessor and uncovers a blood-soaked mystery 150 million years in the making that could be the answer to everything. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW by Adrienne Young (Mystery & Romance/Magical Realism)
Audiobook available, read by Brittany Pressley
The Farrow women are known for their thriving flower farm --- and the mysterious curse that has plagued their family line. The whole town remembers the madness that led to Susanna Farrow’s disappearance, leaving June to be raised by her grandmother and haunted by rumors. It’s been a year since June started seeing and hearing things that weren’t there. But she is determined to end the curse once and for all, even if she must sacrifice finding love and having a family of her own. After her grandmother’s death, June discovers a series of cryptic clues regarding her mother’s decades-old disappearance, except they only lead to more questions. But could the door she once assumed was a hallucination be the answer she’s been searching for? Reviewed by Rebecca Munro.
MIDNIGHT AT THE CHRISTMAS BOOKSHOP by Jenny Colgan (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Eilidh Beaton
Christmas comes early to McCredie’s little Old Town bookshop in Edinburgh. It’s summer, but an American production company has decided that McCredie’s is the perfect location to film a very cheesy Christmas movie. Carmen Hogan, the bookshop’s manager, is amused and a bit horrified by the goings-on, but the money the studio is paying is too good to pass up. She uses the little windfall from filming to create new displays and fend off a buyout offer from an obnoxious millionaire who wants to turn McCredie’s into a souvenir shop selling kilts made in China and plastic Nessies. Still reeling slightly from a breakup, Carmen is not particularly looking forward to the holidays. But just as snow begins to fall and the lights of Christmas blink on, all sorts of lovely new possibilities present themselves. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
THE SECRET LIFE OF JOHN LE CARRÉ by Adam Sisman (Biography)
Audiobook available, read by Sean Barrett
Secrecy came naturally to John le Carré, and there were some secrets that he fought fiercely to keep. Adam Sisman's definitive biography, published in 2015, provided a revealing portrait of this fascinating man. Yet some aspects of his subject remained hidden. Nowhere was this more so than in his private life. Apparently content in his marriage, the novelist conducted a string of love affairs over five decades. To these relationships, he brought much of the tradecraft that he had learned as a spy. In trying to manage his biography, the novelist engaged in a succession of skirmishes with his biographer. While he could control what Sisman wrote about him in his lifetime, he accepted that the truth would eventually become known. Following his death in 2020, what had been withheld can now be revealed. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
JANE AND THE FINAL MYSTERY: Being a Jane Austen Mystery by Stephanie Barron (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Kate Reading
March 1817: As winter turns to spring, Jane Austen’s health is in slow decline and threatens to cease progress on her latest manuscript. But when her nephew, Edward, brings chilling news of a death at his former school, Winchester College, not even her debilitating ailment can keep Jane from seeking out the truth. Arthur Prendergast, a senior pupil at the prestigious all-boys’ boarding school, has been found dead in a culvert near the schoolgrounds --- and in the pocket of his drenched waistcoat is an incriminating note penned by the young William Heathcote, the son of Jane’s dear friend, Elizabeth. Winchester College is a world unto itself, with its own language and rites of passage, cruel hazing and dangerous pranks. Can Jane clear William’s name before her illness gets the better of her? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE DEAD TAKE THE A TRAIN by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey (Dark Fantasy/Horror)
Audiobook available, read by Natalie Naudus
Julie is a coked-up, burnt-out 30-year-old whose only retirement plan is dying early. She’s been trying to establish herself in the NYC magic scene, and she’ll work the most gruesome gigs, exorcize the nastiest demons, and make deals with the cruelest gods to claw her way to the top. But nothing can prepare her for the toughest job yet: when her best friend, Sarah, shows up at her door in need of help. Keeping Sarah safe becomes top priority. Julie is desperate for a quick fix to break the dead-end grind and save her friend. But her power grab sets off a deadly chain of events that puts Sarah --- and the entire world --- directly in the path of annihilation. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
ILLUMINATION: A Guide to the Buddhist Method of No-Method by Rebecca Li (Spirituality/Personal Growth)
Silent illumination, a way of penetrating the mind through curious inquiry, is an especially potent, accessible and portable meditation practice perfectly suited for a time when there is so much fear, upheaval and sorrow in our world. It is a method of reconnecting with our true nature, which encompasses all that exists and where suffering cannot touch us. The practice of silent illumination is simple, allowing each moment to be experienced as it is in order to manifest our innate wisdom and natural capacity for compassion. After guiding readers through the history and practice of silent illumination, Rebecca Li shows us how we can recognize and unlearn our “modes of operation” --- habits of mind that get in the way of being fully present and engaged with life. Reviewed by Eileen Zimmerman Nicol.
Next Week’s Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on November 7th
Below are some notable titles releasing on November 7th 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 6th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
AGAIN AND AGAIN by Jonathan Evison (Fiction)
From one of America’s greatest, most creative novelists comes AGAIN AND AGAIN, a poignant and endlessly surprising story about love lost, found and redeemed.
BAUMGARTNER by Paul Auster (Fiction)
Rich with compassion, wit and Paul Auster’s keen eye for beauty in the smallest, most transient moments of ordinary life, BAUMGARTNER asks: Why do we remember certain moments and forget others?
BETRAYAL: A Robin Lockwood Novel by Phillip Margolin (Legal Thriller)
In Phillip Margolin's BETRAYAL, attorney Robin Lockwood finds herself defending her old nemesis in a multiple murder case with too many suspects, where success might cost her own life.
BREAKING TWITTER: Elon Musk and the Most Controversial Corporate Takeover in History by Ben Mezrich (Business & Economics)
BREAKING TWITTER takes readers inside the darkly comic battle between one of the most intriguing, polarizing, influential men of our time --- Elon Musk --- and the company that represents our culture’s dearest hope for a shared global conversation.
A CHRISTMAS VANISHING by Anne Perry (Historical Mystery)
Charlotte Pitt’s clever grandmother investigates the sudden disappearance of her dear friend in this chilling holiday whodunit by New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry.
CLASS: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education by Stephanie Land (Memoir)
From the New York Times bestselling author who inspired the hit Netflix series about a struggling mother barely making ends meet as a housecleaner comes a gripping memoir about college, motherhood, poverty and life after MAID.
CLIVE CUSSLER THE CORSICAN SHADOW: A Dirk Pitt Novel by Dirk Cussler (Thriller/Adventure)
Intrepid adventurer Dirk Pitt must unravel an enduring historical mystery in this latest installment of the beloved New York Times bestselling series created by the “grand master of adventure” Clive Cussler.
FOUNDING PARTISANS: Hamilton, Madison, Jefferson, Adams and the Brawling Birth of American Politics by H. W. Brands (History)
From bestselling historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist H. W. Brands comes a revelatory history of the shocking emergence of vicious political division at the birth of the United States.
IRON FLAME by Rebecca Yarros (Fantasy)
Violet Sorrengail knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College --- and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.
THE MADSTONE by Elizabeth Crook (Western)
With echoes of LONESOME DOVE and NEWS OF THE WORLD, THE MADSTONE is the riveting story of a pregnant young mother, her child and the frontier tradesman who helps them flee vengeful outlaws, even as an unlikely love blossoms.
THE MANOR HOUSE by Gilly Macmillan (Psychological Thriller)
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE NANNY and WHAT SHE KNEW comes the terrifying story of what can happen after all your dreams come true.
MY NAME IS BARBRA by Barbra Streisand (Memoir)
The legendary Barbra Streisand tells her own story about her life and extraordinary career, from growing up in Brooklyn to her first star-making appearances in New York nightclubs to her breakout performance in Funny Girl on stage and winning the Oscar for that performance on film.
THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING: A Royal Spyness Mystery by Rhys Bowen (Historical Mystery)
Lady Georgiana Rannoch is looking forward to her first-ever turn as hostess for her very own house party when the festivities lead to murder.
RESURRECTION WALK: A Lincoln Lawyer Novel by Michael Connelly (Legal Thriller)
Lincoln Lawyer Mickey Haller enlists the help of his half-brother, Harry Bosch, to prove the innocence of a woman convicted of killing her husband.
THE VULNERABLES by Sigrid Nunez (Fiction)
THE VULNERABLES offers a meditation on our contemporary era, as a solitary female narrator asks what it means to be alive at this complex moment in history and considers how our present reality affects the way a person looks back on her past.
THE WISHING BRIDGE by Viola Shipman (Fiction)
With unabashed winter charm, THE WISHING BRIDGE sparkles with the humor and heart that fans of Kristy Woodson Harvey, Nancy Thayer and Jenny Colgan love most.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Paul Auster, Janet Evanovich, Michael Connelly
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are five upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Tuesday, November 7th at 8pm ET: Book Passage: Paul Auster will be in conversation with Rachel DeWoskin about his new novel, BAUMGARTNER, which asks the question: Why do we remember certain moments and forget others?
Wednesday, November 8th at 2pm ET: "Bookaccino Live: A Lively Talk About Books": Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between November 7th and the end of the year, along with a few from January and February, that she would like to get on your radar.
Wednesday, November 8th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Michael Connelly for a live virtual discussion of RESURRECTION WALK, the seventh installment in his Lincoln Lawyer series, as part of their Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Michael will be in conversation with S. A. Cosby, the New York Times bestselling author of ALL THE SINNERS BLEED.
Wednesday, November 8th 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 Meg Cabot about ENCHANTED TO MEET YOU, the opening installment in her Witches of West Harbor series. A plus-size witch must team up with a handsome stranger to help protect her village from an otherworldly force.
Wednesday, November 8th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Janet Evanovich will talk about DIRTY THIRTY, the appropriately named 30th book in her series starring Stephanie Plum, who this time is on the trail of a stolen cache of dirty diamonds.
"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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Douglas Brunt (THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF RUDOLF DIESEL: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I)
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Tess Gerritsen (THE SPY COAST)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll:
November Fiction Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following fiction titles releasing in November are you planning to read? Please check all that apply.
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AGAIN AND AGAIN by Jonathan Evison
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ALEX CROSS MUST DIE by James Patterson
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BAUMGARTNER by Paul Auster
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BETRAYAL: A Robin Lockwood Novel, by Phillip Margolin
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A CHRISTMAS VANISHING by Anne Perry
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CLIVE CUSSLER THE CORSICAN SHADOW: A Dirk Pitt Novel, by Dirk Cussler
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DAY by Michael Cunningham
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THE EDGE: A 6:20 Man Thriller, by David Baldacci
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THE FICTION WRITER by Jillian Cantor
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INHERITANCE: The Lost Bride Trilogy, Book 1 by Nora Roberts
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IRON FLAME by Rebecca Yarros
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THE LITTLE LIAR by Mitch Albom
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THE LOST CAUSE by Cory Doctorow
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THE MADSTONE by Elizabeth Crook
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THE MANOR HOUSE by Gilly Macmillan
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THE MYSTERY GUEST: A Maid Novel, by Nita Prose
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RESURRECTION WALK: A Lincoln Lawyer Novel, by Michael Connelly
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ROBERT B. PARKER'S BROKEN TRUST: A Spenser Novel, by Mike Lupica
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SISTER OF STARLIT SEAS by Terry Brooks
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THE SPY COAST by Tess Gerritsen
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UNNATURAL DEATH: A Scarpetta Novel, by Patricia Cornwell
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A VERY INCONVENIENT SCANDAL by Jacquelyn Mitchard
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THE VULNERABLES by Sigrid Nunez
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THE WATCHMAKER'S HAND: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel, by Jeffery Deaver
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WE MUST NOT THINK OF OURSELVES by Lauren Grodstein
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, November 17th 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 read with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from November 3rd to November 17th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of CLASS: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education by Stephanie Land and THE MANOR HOUSE by Gilly Macmillan.
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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