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Just Like That, It’s October!
This week, the devastation from Hurricane Helene has made most of the rest of what is going on feel pretty unnewsworthy. I was in Asheville, North Carolina, about six or seven years ago (the COVID years make everything before that seem like ancient history) for the American Booksellers Association's Winter Institute. We stayed at the Omni Grove Park Inn and spent time at so many fabulous locations around town. I went book shopping at Malaprop’s, which is one very special bookstore. Both places are now closed at what is a very important time of year for them as October typically is one of their biggest months for tourism.
The damaged area is so vast. The huge swaths of roads that are either tree-laden or gone completely is astonishing, and the loss of life is beyond sad. One of my friends, Tracey, lives in Tryon, which is southeast of Asheville. She has been doing regular Facebook posts for her neighbors about where Wi-Fi is available, when the post office will be open, where to get prescriptions handled, and when and where water and food are available.
This part of the country does not typically see storms like this, and the idea that water treatment facilities have been damaged along with other infrastructure, as well as homes, is mind-boggling. Twelve years ago, we lost power for about two weeks during Hurricane Sandy, but we were not without necessities like drinking water.
Our thoughts are with our readers in this part of the country, and we are exploring some ways to support bookstores in the hardest hit areas. We will have more details on that to come. We are gathering information from the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance.
It's been a long time since we surveyed our Bookreporter readers. We know that much has changed over the past few years, so we thought now would be a great time to reach out to you and ask some questions. The results of our 2024 Reader Survey will help us determine how to enhance your experiences with Bookreporter and our programs, especially as we look ahead to 2025.
We are awarding three readers who finish the survey a $50 gift card to the bookstore of their choice, while five others will be selected to win a book from Bookreporter's shelves. The survey, which should take about 10-15 minutes to complete, will be open until Friday, October 18th at noon ET.
We are looking forward to hearing what you have to say!
Click here to take our 2024 Reader Survey.
Francesca and I met up with Tom in New York City early on Wednesday morning (we left here at what felt like dawn at 7am) for a really fun event at the McNally Jackson bookstore in Rockefeller Center. Three authors were on hand to talk about their work: Ann Napolitano, Susan Rieger and Allegra Goodman.
The author talks were great. You can see Susan and Allegra above; sadly, we didn't snap a photo of Ann. We already interviewed Ann about HELLO BEAUTIFUL, which releases in paperback on November 19th, during a “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event. I look forward to talking to Susan in a few weeks about LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER, which publishes on October 29th. And in January, I will schedule an interview with Allegra about ISOLA, which goes on sale January 21st. I interviewed Allegra last January about her previous novel, SAM.
It also was such fun to see our Dial Press publishing friends and other media. But I do confess that sitting in traffic for two hours on the way in made me wonder HOW I did that commute for decades!
I just started listening to Ina Garten’s memoir, BE READY WHEN THE LUCK HAPPENS, which is out this week. I have been looking forward to this book for a while, and it’s really a terrific listen. Yes, Ina is the narrator, which makes it all the more special. We will feature our review in next week's newsletter.
As promised, our “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event with GO AS A RIVER author Shelley Read is now available as a video and podcast. As this was a book group-style discussion, we did talk spoilers. Four audience members joined us to ask Shelley questions, all of which looked at the novel from different angles.
Shelley shared her inspiration for the book and how she created her characters. She talked about prejudice and how it influenced her work. As a fifth-generation Coloradan, she explained how that history in her family gave her a perspective on her writing. The conversation was insightful, and readers clearly were passionate about GO AS A RIVER. Click here to watch the event or here to listen to the podcast.
And remember to sign up for our next “Bookaccino Live” Book Group program on Tuesday, October 29th at 8pm ET. Our guest will be Amanda Peters, and she will be talking about her national bestseller, THE BERRY PICKERS.
This is your last Weekly Update newsletter reminder to sign up for this month’s “Bookaccino Live” book preview event, which will take place on Wednesday, October 9th at 2pm ET.
The focus will be on titles releasing between October 8th and November 5th, in addition to a few from December, 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.
Jean Hanff Korelitz is back with THE SEQUEL, the aptly titled follow-up to her 2021 novel, THE PLOT. After taking care of her husband, bestselling novelist Jacob Finch Bonner, and publishing her own debut novel, Anna Williams-Bonner begins to receive excerpts of a novel she never expected to see again. Someone out there knows far too much: about her late brother, her late husband…and, quite possibly, Anna herself. What does this person want, and what are they prepared to do?
According to Eileen Zimmerman Nicol in her review, “Set in the world of publishing, this book is especially a treat for writers and wannabe writers…. Chapters are named after other sequels of well-known contemporary novels, and the mechanics of writing, pitching and publishing are part of the plot. Intricately plotted and fast-paced, THE SEQUEL will keep you turning the pages.”
THE PLOT was a Bets On pick, and so will THE SEQUEL. Don’t miss my “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Jean in next week’s newsletter, followed by my Bets On commentary in two weeks.
In the newly released THE MIGHTY RED, which is this month’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author Louise Erdrich tells a story of love, natural forces, spiritual yearnings and the tragic impact of uncontrollable circumstances on ordinary people’s lives. Jenna says, “This is a book about family and community. It is a book about upward mobility and finding our true passions. You will love Kismet.”
Norah Piehl has our review and says, “Some of the elements of Erdrich’s prior novels, especially her most recent work, that have stuck with me months or even years later are those that address the environment, the climate and the land. So I was pleased to discover that, although THE MIGHTY RED is in many ways a deeply intimate story about the intertwined lives of individuals and families, it also has geography at its center.”
THE MIGHTY RED is also this month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. On Tuesday, November 12th at 3pm ET, B&N will host a live virtual event with Louise, which you can sign up for here.
We also are spotlighting reviews of these two books:
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THE BOYFRIEND: Freida McFadden’s new thriller is a dark story about obsession and the things we'll do for love. Our reviewer Ray Palen says that the book “boasts [McFadden’s] great pacing and a twisty plot that is often difficult to predict. I did catch the big twist in this one…or at least I thought I did, only to realize that she once again was two steps ahead of me.”
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BONE OF THE BONE: Now collected for the first time in one volume are the brilliant and provocative essays that established National Book Award finalist Sarah Smarsh as one of the most important commentators on socioeconomic class in America. The book also features a previously unpublished essay and a new introduction. I have been reading these pieces, and they are powerful!
I’m Betting You’ll Love…
THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM by Laura Dave, an instant New York Times bestseller and October’s #1 Indie Next pick, is my latest Bets On selection. Click here for my commentary. For those who haven’t seen or heard my “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Laura from last week, be sure to tune in to the video or podcast.
You have until Friday, October 11th at noon ET to enter our contest for THE GRAYS OF TRUTH by Sharon Virts and be one of 25 winners who will receive an advance copy of the book, which releases on October 29th.
According to Mark Sullivan, “[T]he underbelly of high society Reconstruction Era Baltimore is brought brilliantly to life in Sharon Virts’ atmospheric and deeply absorbing murder mystery…” And Susan Meissner calls the book “[a] vivid and compelling tale that is equal parts murder mystery and well-researched historical fiction. Devotees of true crime featuring heroines who refuse to give up, you’re in for a well-crafted ride!”
Sharon is really a terrific writer. She brings you right into the story!
This Month’s New in Paperback Feature
Our New in Paperback roundups for October are now up. We’re featuring paperback fiction reprints from such bestselling authors as Jeffery Deaver (THE WATCHMAKER’S HAND), Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille (BLOOD LINES), Lauren Groff (THE VASTER WILDS), Mary Kay Andrews (BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CHRISTMAS), Alice McDermott (ABSOLUTION), and Gilly Macmillan (THE MANOR HOUSE); nonfiction titles, including SPARE by Prince Harry and THE SIX: The Untold Story of America's First Women Astronauts by Loren Grush; and paperback originals like RUN by Blake Crouch and BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT by Robert Dugoni.
Revisiting My “Bookreporter Talks To” Interview with Douglas Brunt
Out in paperback this week is THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF RUDOLF DIESEL by Douglas Brunt, which reopens the hundred-year-old mystery of what really became of one of the world’s greatest inventors, Rudolf Diesel. I talked to Doug about the book last December following its hardcover release. So if you missed the discussion or would like to check it out again, you can watch it here or listen to the podcast here.
Books on Screen Offerings for October
We’ve also updated our Books on Screen feature for this month. October’s roundup includes the season premieres of "Tracker" on CBS and "The Lincoln Lawyer" on Netflix; the conclusion of Apple TV+'s "Bad Monkey"; the season finales of "Pachinko" on Apple TV+, "The Chicken Sisters" on Hallmark+, and "Tell Me Lies" on Hulu; the films Conclave, The Radleys and White Bird in theaters, as well as 'Salem's Lot on Max and A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery on Hallmark Mystery; the series premieres of Apple TV+'s "Disclaimer" and Netflix's "The Last Night at Tremore Beach"; the continuation of "Three Women" on STARZ and "My Brilliant Friend" on HBO; and the DVD releases of The Thicket, Deadpool & Wolverine, The Convert and Harold and the Purple Crayon.
Fall Reading Contest Update
We gave away LIBBY LOST AND FOUND by Stephanie Booth in this week’s Fall Reading contest. Next week’s prize book will be THE LOVE ELIXIR OF AUGUSTA STERN by Lynda Cohen Loigman, which Shelby Van Pelt calls “a sparkling ode to second chances.” The contest will be up at noon ET on the day of its release, Tuesday, October 8th.
Enter Our New Word of Mouth Contest
We have a new Word of Mouth contest to tell you about. Let us know by Friday, October 18th at noon ET what books you’ve read, and you’ll have a chance to win THE PUZZLE BOX by Danielle Trussoni and WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE? by Sophie Kinsella. We plan to feature reviews of both titles next week.
Vote in Our New Poll --- and Check Out Results from the Last Poll
For our latest poll, we’ve listed 30 fiction titles releasing this month, and we’re asking you which, if any, you have read or are planning to read. Click here to let us know by Friday, October 18th at noon ET.
In our previous poll, we were curious to know which books that are now available in paperback you have read or are planning to read. Below are your top five picks, and you can see all the results here.
SOCIETY OF LIES by debut novelist Lauren Ling Brown is Reese’s Book Club pick for October. Here’s how Reese describes the book: “This gripping thriller follows Maya as she returns to Princeton for her sister’s graduation, only to be thrust into a chilling mystery surrounding her sister’s death and a secret society she knows all too well. If you’re looking for a page-turner that keeps you on the edge of your seat this spooky season, this one is a must-read!”
This month’s “Good Morning America” Book Club pick is A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS. Inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China, Ann Liang’s latest novel is steeped in myth about womanhood, war, sacrifice and love against all odds as the fate of two kingdoms hangs in a delicate balance. Shelley Parker-Chan says, “Liang has given us a new classic that achingly captures the will of kings, the intelligence of women, and the heartbreak of war.”
For more October selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here.
The National Book Awards finalists have been announced. They include ALL FOURS by Miranda July (Fiction); KNIFE: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie (Nonfiction); WRONG NORMA by Anne Carson (Poetry); WHERE THE WIND CALLS HOME by Samar Yazbek, translated from the Arabic by Leri Price (Translated Literature); and THE GREAT COOL RANCH DORITO IN THE SKY by Josh Galarza (Young People’s Literature). Click here for all the nominees.
The winners will be announced at the 75th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner on Wednesday, November 20th at 8pm ET. You can watch the livestream by signing up here.
News & Pop Culture
Reader Mail:
We got a lovely comment on last week’s newsletter from Patrice: “Such great books today to look through. Excellent job. This is pure heaven. Thank you.” It had been a really crazy week, so I loved sharing this with both Tom and Francesca.
Kate wrote, “I’m buying a Nelson DeMillle book to gift, but I can’t find a link on Bookreporter to order one.” First, thank you, Kate. And second, you can purchase a book from wherever you would like. We do have buy links on the pages where we feature Nelson's books, but our goal is that his work continues to be shared with readers.
The New York Times has a tour of Nicholas Sparks’ house, which you can see here. His latest novel, COUNTING MIRACLES, is a #1 New York Times bestseller. For those of you on Instagram, he is sharing his chicken salad recipe that he talks about in the article. And he explains why he uses Splenda. He says that Hellmann's mayonnaise has sugar in it, whereas Duke's mayonnaise does not. Who says you just learn about books at Bookreporter?
Also from the Times, here is a terrific interview with Sophie Kinsella where she talks about her diagnosis with glioblastoma, as well as her new novel, the aforementioned WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?, which is out Tuesday. In this book, Sophie's character goes through much of the same treatment that she went through, and we meet an imaginary family who supports her through these harrowing months. Fiction was a much easier way to share her ordeal.
Yotam Ottolenghi was on “Today” this week making Puttanesca-style sheet-pan salmon, and on “CBS Mornings Plus” he explained his philosophy about cooking. I am a huge fan of his way of cooking, and I own every cookbook he has done. So yes, I am looking forward to delving into his latest one, OTTOLENGHI COMFORT, which releases on Tuesday.
Last Saturday, I did an hour-long outdoor swim at the health club while it was raining (yes, that is dedication). And Monday, I kicked my way through 10 laps after a water aerobics class to bid goodbye to outdoor swimming as that pool closed that day. Here at the house the pool is still open, but the water is a bit brisk (60 degrees) since the heater is not working. If the weather cooperates the way that it looks like it will, I may try to give pool reading another go, either floating in a tube or standing in my usual spot at the water’s edge. I already am thinking about what exercises I can do in the hot tub, also while reading. Multitasking is my middle name.
This weekend, I am going to be wrapping up the last two books that I am reading for the three sets of interviews I am doing at the Morristown Festival of Books on Saturday, October 19th. (Check the schedule to see the three panels that I will be moderating.) And I am planning to read WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?
Our friends Adrienne and Mark are coming for dinner on Saturday night, and we are planning to make pizza on the grill. We love doing this. The asters still are in bloom, and the refreshing of the flowers around the pool was a huge success. I need to do another round of photos for myself to remember what worked where.
Read on, and have a great week.
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 SEQUEL by Jean Hanff Korelitz
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE SEQUEL by Jean Hanff Korelitz (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Julia Whelan
Anna Williams-Bonner has taken care of business. That is to say, she’s taken care of her husband, bestselling novelist Jacob Finch Bonner, and laid to rest those anonymous accusations of plagiarism that so tormented him. Now she is living the contented life of a literary widow, enjoying her husband’s royalty checks in perpetuity. But for the second time in her life, a work of fiction intercedes, and this time it’s her own debut novel, The Afterword. When Anna publishes her book and indulges in her own literary acclaim, she begins to receive excerpts of a novel she never expected to see again, a novel that should no longer exist. Someone out there knows far too much: about her late brother, her late husband, and just possibly...Anna herself. What does this person want, and what are they prepared to do? Reviewed by Eileen Zimmerman Nicol.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here to read our review.
THE SEQUEL will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. Don't miss Carol's interview with Jean Hanff Korelitz in next week's newsletter, followed by her Bets On commentary in the October 18th newsletter.
Featured Review: THE MIGHTY RED by Louise Erdrich
October's Barnes & Noble and "Read with Jenna"
Today Show Book Club Picks
THE MIGHTY RED by Louise Erdrich (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Marin Ireland
In Argus, North Dakota, a collection of people revolve around a fraught wedding. Gary Geist, a terrified young man set to inherit two farms, is desperate to marry Kismet Poe, an impulsive, lapsed Goth who can't read her future but seems to resolve his. Hugo, a gentle red-haired, home-schooled giant, is also in love with Kismet. He is determined to steal her and is eager to be a home wrecker. Kismet's mother, Crystal, hauls sugar beets for Gary's family, and on her nightly runs, she tunes into the darkness of late-night radio, sees visions of guardian angels, and worries for the future --- her daughter’s and her own. Human time, deep time, Red River time, the half-life of herbicides and pesticides, and the elegance of time represented in fracking core samples from unimaginable depths is set against the speed of climate change, the depletion of natural resources, and the sudden economic meltdown of 2008-2009. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
» THE MIGHTY RED is October's Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. On Tuesday, November 12th at 3pm ET, B&N will host a live virtual event with Louise Erdrich. Click here to sign up.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to see why the book is October's "Read with Jenna" pick.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM by Laura Dave
THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM by Laura Dave (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
As she did with THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME, Laura Dave hits all the right notes with THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM. In it, family patriarch Liam Noone is found dead at the bottom of a cliff near the craftsman home on the California coast that he loved. He was a hotel magnate who developed properties that were both high-end and eco-friendly. While Liam’s death is first ruled an accident, one of his sons thinks that there was nothing accidental about it. He enlists the help of his half-sister, who very reluctantly joins him. Their investigation leads them deeper and deeper into their father’s life --- and the people closest to him. As Sam and Nora explore what happened, they have as tentative a relationship as Hannah and Bailey did in THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Laura Dave.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's Bets On commentary.
Special Contest:
Enter to Win One of 25 Copies of THE GRAYS OF TRUTH by Sharon Virts, Releasing on October 29th
Inspired by true events involving one of Baltimore’s most powerful families, THE GRAYS OF TRUTH is the story of one woman’s quest for answers in her fight for redemption --- and to save the man she loves. We have 25 advance copies of Sharon Virts' new novel to give away to those who would like to read the book, which releases on October 29th. To enter, please fill out this form by Friday, October 11th at noon ET.
THE GRAYS OF TRUTH by Sharon Virts (Historical Mystery)
In Reconstruction-era Baltimore, members of the city’s elite keep turning up dead. Below the polished surface of high society, there are illicit affairs, jilted lovers, financial hardships and countless motives for murder. When Jane Gray Wharton’s husband, Ned, dies unexpectedly while overnighting at his brother’s home, Jane has no reason to question the circumstances of his death. But on a visit to the same house a few weeks later, both Jane and her daughter fall gravely ill, and Jane begins to suspect foul play.
Though a trained chemist and former nurse, Jane is haunted by a history of delusion, loss and institutionalization. As the unexpected and devastating deaths begin to multiply, Jane’s grip on reality starts to slip. When a respected army officer falls terribly ill after visiting the Whartons’ Baltimore home, Jane’s greatest fears become all too real. The time has come to act. But who will believe her? And can she even trust her own mind?
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Sharon Virts' bio.
- Click here to visit Sharon Virts' website.
- Connect with Sharon Virts on Facebook and Instagram.
Click here to enter the contest.
Featured Review: THE BOYFRIEND by Freida McFadden
THE BOYFRIEND by Freida McFadden (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Victoria Connolly and Adam Blanford
Sydney Shaw has terrible luck with dating. She's seen it all: men who lie in their dating profile, men who stick her with the dinner bill, and men who can't shut up about their mothers. But finally, she hits the jackpot. Her new boyfriend is utterly perfect. He's charming and handsome, and he works as a doctor at a local hospital. Sydney is swept off her feet. Then the brutal murder of a young woman --- the latest in a string of deaths across the coast --- confounds police. The primary suspect? A mystery man who dates his victims before he kills them. Sydney should feel safe. After all, she is dating the guy of her dreams. But she can't shake her own suspicions that the perfect man may not be as perfect as he seems. Because someone is watching her every move, and if she doesn't get to the truth, she'll be the killer's next victim. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Featured Review: BONE OF THE BONE by Sarah Smarsh
BONE OF THE BONE: Essays on America by a Daughter of the Working Class by Sarah Smarsh (Essays)
Audiobook available, read by Sarah Smarsh
In BONE OF THE BONE, National Book Award finalist Sarah Smarsh brings her graceful storytelling and incisive critique to the challenges that define our times --- class division, political fissures, gender inequality, environmental crisis, media bias, the rural-urban gulf. Smarsh, a journalist who grew up on a wheat farm in Kansas and was the first in her family to graduate from college, has long focused on cultural dissonance that many in her industry neglected until recently. Now, this thought-provoking collection of more than 30 of her highly relevant, previously published essays from the past decade (2013–2024) --- ranging from personal narratives to news commentary --- demonstrates a life and a career steeped in the issues that affect our collective future. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read our review.
Bookreporter.com's 14th Annual
Fall Reading Contests and Feature
Fall is known as the biggest season of the year for books. The titles that release during this latter part of the year often become holiday gifts, and many are blockbusters. In our Fall Reading Contests and Feature, we are spotlighting a number of outstanding books that we know people will be talking about this fall.
We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through October, 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 contest will be up on Tuesday, October 8th at noon ET. The prize book will be THE LOVE ELIXIR OF AUGUSTA STERN by Lynda Cohen Loigman, which Sarah Penner calls "a feel-good story brimming with twists, tinctures, and a few love spells gone wrong."
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
October’s New in Paperback Roundups
October's roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes BLOOD LINES, a pulse-pounding novel from Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille featuring the return of Army Criminal Investigation Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor, who are on the hunt for the cold-blooded murderer of one of their fellow agents; THE VASTER WILDS, a taut and electrifying novel from Lauren Groff about one spirited girl alone in the wilderness, trying to survive; ABSOLUTION by Alice McDermott, a riveting account of women’s lives on the margins of the Vietnam War; and THE BERRY PICKERS, a rich and layered debut novel from Amanda Peters, in which a four-year-old Mi’kmaq girl goes missing from the blueberry fields of Maine, sparking a mystery that will haunt the survivors, unravel a family and remain unsolved for nearly 50 years.
Among our nonfiction highlights are Prince Harry's internationally bestselling memoir, SPARE, which is full of insight, revelation, self-examination and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief; THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF RUDOLF DIESEL, a rich saga from Douglas Brunt that reopens the hundred-year-old mystery of what really became of Rudolf Diesel, one of the world’s greatest inventors, who disrupted the status quo and then disappeared into thin air on the eve of World War I; and EVERYTHING I LEARNED, I LEARNED IN A CHINESE RESTAURANT, a savory coming-of-age memoir that tells the story of Curtis Chin’s time growing up as a gay Chinese American kid in 1980s Detroit.
October’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 October's offerings, please click here.
Film Releases
Conclave
Release Date: October 25th (wide release in theaters)
Based on: CONCLAVE by Robert Harris
Series Premiere
"Disclaimer" (7-episode limited series)
Release Dates: Fridays on Apple TV+; Series Premiere on October 11th (the first two episodes will be available)
Based on: DISCLAIMER by Renée Knight
Season Premieres
THE GREAT WHEN: A Long London Novel by Alan Moore (Historical Fantasy)
Audiobook available, read by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
London, 1949. Amidst the smog of the capital stumbles Dennis Knuckleyard, a hapless 18-year-old employed by a secondhand bookshop. One day, on an errand to acquire books for sale, Dennis discovers a novel that simply does not exist. It is a fictitious book, a figment from another novel. Yet it is physically there in his hands. How? Dennis has stumbled on a book from the Great When, a magical version of London beyond time and space, where reality blurs with fiction and concepts such as Crime and Poetry are incarnated as wondrous, terrible beings. But this other, magical London must remain a secret. If Dennis cannot find a way to return this book to where it belongs, he risks repercussions, such as his body being turned inside out (or worse). Soon he finds himself at the center of an explosive series of events that may alter and endanger both Londons forever. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
DRAWN TESTIMONY: My Four Decades as a Courtroom Sketch Artist by Jane Rosenberg (Memoir)
Audiobook available, read by Gabra Zackman
For over 40 years, Jane Rosenberg has been at the heart of the news cycle, covering almost every major trial that has passed through the New York justice system as a courtroom sketch artist, including the most recent Donald Trump hush money trial. In DRAWN TESTIMONY, Rosenberg brings us into the dramatic high-stakes world of her craft, where art, psychology and courtroom drama collide. Over the course of her legendary career, Jane has had a front-row seat to some of the most iconic and notorious moments in our nation’s recent history. Readers will learn how she has honed her unique powers of perception and what her portraits reveal, not only about her subjects, but about the human condition in general. Reviewed by Ron Kaplan (www.RonKaplansBaseballBookshelf.com).
BETRAYAL AT BLACKTHORN PARK: An Evelyne Redfern Mystery by Julia Kelly (Historical Mystery)
Audiobook available, read by Marisa Calin
Freshly graduated from a rigorous training program in all things spy craft, former typist Evelyne Redfern is eager for her first assignment as a field agent helping Britain win the war. However, when she learns her first task is performing a simple security test at Blackthorn Park, a requisitioned manor house in the sleepy Sussex countryside, she can’t help her initial disappointment. Making matters worse, her handler is to be David Poole, a fellow agent who manages to be both strait-laced and dashing in annoyingly equal measure. However, Evelyne soon realizes that Blackthorn Park is more than meets the eye, and an upcoming visit from Winston Churchill means that security at the secret weapons research and development facility is of the utmost importance. When Evelyne discovers Blackthorn Park’s chief engineer dead in his office, her simple assignment becomes more complicated. Reviewed by Pamela Kramer.
THE LAST DREAM written by Pedro Almodóvar, translated by Frank Wynne (Fiction & Nonfiction/Short Stories)
Audiobook available; read by Colman Domingo, Rachel Weisz, Juan Diego Botto, Norbert Leo Butz, Taylour Paige, Michael Cera and Edoardo Ballerini
With this debut collection, two-time Academy Award-winning writer and director Pedro Almodóvar delivers a tantalizing glimpse into his world, formed by 12 stories carefully selected from his personal writings dating from the late ‘60s to the present. Almodóvar writes: “I’ve been asked to write my autobiography more than once, and I’ve always refused…. I’ve never kept a diary, and whenever I’ve tried, I’ve never made it to page two; in a sense, then, this book represents something of a paradox. It might be best described as a fragmentary autobiography, incomplete and a little enigmatic.” Each entry reflects Almodóvar's most intimate obsessions, as well as his evolution as an artist. Reviewed by Jana Siciliano.
THE USUAL SILENCE: An Arles Shepherd Thriller by Jenny Milchman (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Sarah Mollo-Christensen
Psychologist Arles Shepherd treats troubled children, struggling with each case to recover from her own traumatic past. Having just set up a new kind of treatment center in the remote Adirondack wilderness, Arles longs to heal one patient in particular: a 10-year-old boy who has never spoken a word --- or so his mother, Louise, believes. Hundreds of miles away, Cass Monroe is living a parent’s worst nightmare. His 12-year-old daughter has vanished on her way home from school. With no clues, no witnesses and no trail, the police are at a dead end. Fighting a heart that was already ailing, and struggling to keep both his marriage and himself alive, Cass turns to a pair of true-crime podcasters for help. Arles, Louise and Cass will soon find their lives entangled in ways none of them could have anticipated. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
QUEEN MACBETH by Val McDermid (Historical Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Lesley Harcourt
A thousand years ago in an ancient Scottish landscape, a woman is on the run with her three companions --- a healer, a weaver and a seer. The men hunting her will kill her --- because she is the only one who stands between them and their violent ambition. She is no lady: she is the first queen of Scotland, married to a king called Macbeth. As the net closes in, what unfurls is a tale of passion, forced marriage, bloody massacre and the harsh realities of medieval Scotland. At the heart of it is one strong, charismatic woman, who survived loss and jeopardy to outwit the endless plotting of a string of ruthless and power-hungry men. Her struggle won her a country. But now it could cost her life. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF ROSE DOUCETTE by Harry Hunsicker (Mystery/Thriller)
Dallas private investigator Dylan Fisher hasn’t seen his ex-wife, Rose, in three years --- which is why he’s surprised when she asks him to meet her at a hotel. Rose Doucette is a homicide detective, and she wants Dylan’s help with a murder investigation that she’s been asked to step back from but can’t seem to let go. They review the details of the case and part ways --- but as Rose is leaving the parking lot, Dylan sees a suspicious car begin to follow her. He tails the car and tries to warn Rose, but he’s too late --- the driver of the car shoots her, killing her instantly. The police are determined to pin the murder on Dylan, so he’s left with no choice but to find the killer himself. Teaming up with Rose’s widower, the pair dive into Rose’s past to figure out who could’ve wanted to kill the woman they both loved --- and what they were trying to hide. Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy.
THE WOMAN WHO LIED by Claire Douglas (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Ayesha Antoine and Gemma Whelan
Emilia Ward lives in suburban London with her husband, their young son, and a teenager from her first marriage. Emilia is an ordinary mom --- and she’s also the bestselling author of the Miranda Moody detective novels. But when writing her 10th --- and most difficult --- book, life takes a disturbing turn: an incident mimicking the plot of one of her novels occurs in real life. Just an unsettling coincidence, right? Until it happens again. And again. Then someone she knows dies in the same way as a victim in the book she's currently writing. Why is someone doing this? What do they want? How could they possibly know what she’s thinking --- and writing? Is Emilia and her family next? Reviewed by Ray Palen.
THE WEE ICE MON COMETH: Ben Hogan's 1953 Triple Slam and One of Golf's Greatest Summers by Ed Gruver (Sports/History)
It is considered by many the greatest season in golf history. In 1953, Ben Hogan provided a fitting exclamation point to his miraculous comeback from a near-fatal auto accident by becoming the first player to win golf’s Triple Crown --- the Masters, the U.S. Open and the British Open --- within a span of four months. It was closer than anyone had gotten to the modern-day Grand Slam of winning all four of golf’s major tournaments. THE WEE ICE MON COMETH is the first book to detail Hogan’s historic accomplishment. Ed Gruver weaves together interviews with members of Hogan’s family, golf historians, playing partners and business partners, along with extensive research and eyewitness accounts of each tournament. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
Next Week's Notables:
Noteworthy Books Releasing on October 8th
Below are some notable titles releasing on October 8th that we would like to make you aware of. We will have more on many of these books in the weeks to come. For a list of additional hardcovers and paperbacks available the week of October 7th, see our “On Sale This Week” newsletter here.
DARK SPACE by Rob Hart and Alex Segura (Science Fiction/Thriller)
Bestselling and acclaimed authors Rob Hart and Alex Segura join forces on DARK SPACE, a sweeping sci-fi spy thriller that blends the epic scope and character-driven spark of "Star Trek" with the intrigue of John le Carré's Smiley novels.
FROM HERE TO THE GREAT UNKNOWN: A Memoir by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough (Memoir)
Born to an American myth and raised in the wilds of Graceland, Lisa Marie Presley tells her whole story for the first time in this raw, riveting, one-of-a-kind memoir faithfully completed by her daughter, Riley Keough.
IDENTITY UNKNOWN: A Scarpetta Novel by Patricia Cornwell (Mystery/Thriller)
Summoned to an abandoned theme park to retrieve a body, Dr. Kay Scarpetta is devastated to learn that the victim is a man she once had an intense love affair with. Scarpetta knows an autopsy can reveal the dead’s secrets, but she is shocked to find that her friend seems to have deliberately left her a clue.
JOHN LEWIS: A Life by David Greenberg (Biography)
This comprehensive, authoritative biography of Civil Rights icon John Lewis, “the conscience of the Congress,” draws on interviews with Lewis and approximately 275 others who knew him at various stages of his life, as well as never-before-used FBI files and documents.
KILLING TIME: An Agatha Raisin Mystery by M. C. Beaton with R.W. Green (Mystery)
Agatha Raisin’s private detective agency has their work cut out for them when a series of shop burglaries disturbs their quiet Cotswolds village. When the break-ins take a violent turn and a murder occurs, it's all hands on deck to find the killer.
THE LOVE ELIXIR OF AUGUSTA STERN by Lynda Cohen Loigman (Historical Fiction)
On the cusp of turning 80, newly retired pharmacist Augusta Stern is adrift. When she relocates to Rallentando Springs, an active senior community in southern Florida, she unexpectedly crosses paths with Irving Rivkin, the delivery boy from her father’s old pharmacy --- and the man who broke her heart 60 years earlier.
MELANIA by Melania Trump (Memoir)
MELANIA is a compelling and inspirational memoir that offers a glimpse into the life of a remarkable woman who has navigated challenges with grace and determination.
MURDER ISLAND: A Doc Savage Thriller by James Patterson and Brian Sitts (Thriller)
They thought they found heaven on earth. But their paradise becomes a nightmare when Professor Brandt Savage and his girlfriend, Kira Sunlight, stumble on a terrifying conspiracy​.
MURDER, SHE WROTE: A KILLER CHRISTMAS by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran (Mystery)
It’s Christmastime in Cabot Cove, but there’s more homicide than ho-ho-ho in this newest entry in the USA Today bestselling Murder, She Wrote series.
PAPER BOAT: New and Selected Poems: 1961-2023 by Margaret Atwood (Poetry)
Tracing the legacy of Margaret Atwood --- a writer who has fundamentally shaped the contemporary literary landscapes --- PAPER BOAT assembles her most vital poems in one essential volume.
THE PUZZLE BOX by Danielle Trussoni (Supernatural/Literary Thriller)
Two sisters. A lost imperial treasure. The world’s greatest puzzle master has 24 hours to solve the most dangerous mystery of his life...or die trying.
SHOCK INDUCTION by Chuck Palahniuk (Fiction/Satire)
From the bestselling author of FIGHT CLUB comes a dark, satirical parable about a string of mysterious high school disappearances, the seedy underbellies of billionaires, and the tough choices we make in the face of an uncertain future.
WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE? by Sophie Kinsella (Fiction)
From #1 bestselling author Sophie Kinsella comes an unforgettable story --- by turns heartbreaking and life-affirming --- of a renowned novelist facing a devastating diagnosis and learning to live and love anew.
Click here to see the latest "On Sale This Week" newsletter.
From left to right: Nita Prose, Robert Dugoni, Patricia Cornwell
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, October 8th at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome #1 New York Times bestselling author Nita Prose for a live virtual discussion of her new novella featuring Molly the Maid, THE MISTLETOE MYSTERY, as part of their B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. Nita will be in conversation with the co-author of THE NEXT MRS. PARRISH, Lynne Constantine.
Tuesday, October 8th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Lee Child will talk about his recently released book, SAFE ENOUGH. Meticulously plotted and packed with his trademark action and suspense, these 20 stories show Child's mastery of the short form. They’ve never been collected before now.
Tuesday, October 8th at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda will talk to Robert Dugoni about his latest thriller, BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT. When Jenna Bernstein, the disgraced wunderkind CEO of a controversial biotech company, is accused of murdering her former partner and lover, she turns to Seattle attorney Keera Duggan to defend her.
Wednesday, October 9th at 2pm ET: "Bookaccino Live" Book Preview: Carol Fitzgerald will present titles releasing between October 8th and November 5th, along with a few from December, that she would like to get on your radar. Included will be fiction; historical fiction; thrillers and mysteries; and memoirs, biographies and other nonfiction.
Thursday, October 10th at 7pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's presents Patricia Cornwell as she discusses her latest Scarpetta book, IDENTITY UNKNOWN, with Dan Aykroyd. Summoned to an abandoned theme park to retrieve a body, Dr. Kay Scarpetta is devastated to learn that the victim is a man with whom she once had an intense love affair.
"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 this year include:
Upcoming interviews include:
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Jean Hanff Korelitz (THE SEQUEL)
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Sharon Virts (THE GRAYS OF TRUTH)
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
Our Latest Poll:
October Fiction Releases to Anticipate
Which of the following fiction titles releasing in October have you read or do you plan to read? Please check all that apply.
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BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT by Robert Dugoni
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THE BLUE HOUR by Paula Hawkins
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THE BOYFRIEND by Freida McFadden
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A CHRISTMAS DUET by Debbie Macomber
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DON'T BE A STRANGER by Susan Minot
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THE FABLED EARTH by Kimberly Brock
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THE GRAYS OF TRUTH by Sharon Virts
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THE GREAT HIPPOPOTAMUS HOTEL: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (25) by Alexander McCall Smith
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THE GREAT WHEN: A Long London Novel, by Alan Moore
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THE GREY WOLF by Louise Penny
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IDENTITY UNKNOWN: A Scarpetta Novel, by Patricia Cornwell
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IN TOO DEEP: A Reacher Novel, by Lee Child and Andrew Child
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KARLA'S CHOICE: A John le Carré Novel, by Nick Harkaway
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LIBBY LOST AND FOUND by Stephanie Booth
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LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER by Susan Rieger
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THE LOVE ELIXIR OF AUGUSTA STERN by Lynda Cohen Loigman
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MIDNIGHT AND BLUE: An Inspector Rebus Novel, by Ian Rankin
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THE MIGHTY RED by Louise Erdrich
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THE MISTLETOE MYSTERY: A Maid Novella, by Nita Prose
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ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY by Susan Mallery
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THE PUZZLE BOX by Danielle Trussoni
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RUN by Blake Crouch
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THE SEQUEL by Jean Hanff Korelitz
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SHOCK INDUCTION by Chuck Palahniuk
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SHRED SISTERS by Betsy Lerner
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SOCIETY OF LIES by Lauren Ling Brown
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A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS by Ann Liang
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THIS GIRL’S A KILLER by Emma C. Wells
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THE WAITING: A Ballard and Bosch Novel, by Michael Connelly
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WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE? by Sophie Kinsella
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None of the above
Click here to vote in the poll by Friday, October 18th at noon ET.
Word of Mouth Contest: Tell Us What
You've Read --- 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 October 4th to October 18th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of THE PUZZLE BOX by Danielle Trussoni and WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE? by Sophie Kinsella.
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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