Every month, one subscriber to the Bookreporter.com newsletter wins 5 free hardcover books! This month's selection includes FOUR BLIND MICE by James Patterson, THE LAST PROMISE by Richard Paul Evans, NIGHT WATCH by Terry Pratchett, PREY by Michael Crichton, REVERSIBLE ERRORS by Scott Turow. (See the complete contest rules.)

Click here to SUBSCRIBE to the
Bookreporter.com Newsletter!

Also check out our other newsletters on ReadingGroupGuides.com, AuthorsOnTheWeb.com, Teenreads.com, and Kidsreads.com.

Bookreporter.com Newsletter November 22, 2002 This Week on Bookreporter.com Bookish Nights Bookreporter Talks To: Richard Paul Evans Author Talk: James Patterson Holiday Book Roundup --- Part 2 PORTRAIT OF A KILLER: Jack the Ripper-Case Closed by Patricia Cornwell KITCHEN PRIVILEGES by Mary Higgins Clark This Week's Reviews Question of the Month Poll Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading On The Book Report Network Bookreporter.com Past Reviews Can't See the Graphics? Read This Newsletter Online How many books are on your reading pile right now? What did you think of THE LOVELY BONES? Bookish Nights It was a bookish week with the National Book Awards and a couple of other evening events. The buzz this year at the awards show was that none of the nominated books were expected choices. As an example, we had reviewed none of the books at Bookreporter.com. In the past there typically were one or two titles that we all rallied behind in the office. Jay McInerney, one of the fiction judges was at my table. My tablemates and I spent a fair share of the evening asking him why each of our favorites were not on the nominated list. To his credit, he took us through the committee's feedback on each one even as we became passionate about our own choices. A list of the award winners can be found in the Awards section on the home page of Bookreporter.com. I spent last evening at a bookstore author event where Jim Fusilli read from A WELL-KNOWN SECRET, the new book in his Terry Orr series. I have known Jim for a while now, and know a lot about the book, but listening to him read gave me a whole new take on it. I heard the characters with the inflections he wanted in their voices. The questions from readers after the reading were great, and gave Jim time to share a lot more background that readers might likely miss. I rarely have the time to attend readings and signings, but always enjoy them when I do. A New Year's resolution will be to do this more. Monday night I went to a unique event for ABRAHAM by Bruce Feiler. This event was billed as a "Salon" and had a lively discussion about the role of Abraham in three faiths --- Christianity, Judaism and Islam. There is so much common ground in religions that the conversation turned to talk about how to achieve peace. These salons are being held all over the country this month. Readers have galvanized to this topic since this book came out. For those who are wondering, the new Harry Potter movie was great. We found it to be better than the first one --- and a lot more scary. The spiders made us a tad squeamish! This week's poll again has been prompting some lively voting about the books you are most looking forward to reading. The books getting voted the second and third picks have been moving back and forth all week. Be sure to cast your vote. Heads up. Next week's newsletter will come to you on Wednesday instead of Friday. And we will get our Reader Survey into your hands next week as well. Lots to do before we head off to celebrate the holiday. Onto this week's lineup, which I think you are going to enjoy. --- Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com) Read the list of National Book Award winners here. Bookreporter Talks To: Richard Paul Evans Toni Fitzgerald and Bookreporter.com Co-Founder Carol Fitzgerald (no relation) talk with New York Times bestselling author Richard Paul Evans about his new novel THE LAST PROMISE, which is set in Italy. Read on to find out about his inspiration for Elianna, his immersion into Italian culture and what his now-classic holiday story, THE CHRISTMAS BOX means to him. THE LAST PROMISE by Richard Paul Evans (Fiction) Lush detail adds depth to Richard Paul Evans' THE LAST PROMISE, the story of an American wife who finds true love in Italy --- but not with her husband. Reviewed by Toni Fitzgerald and excerpted. Read an interview with Richard Paul Evans, a review of THE LAST PROMISE and an excerpt Author Talk: James Patterson Suspense master James Patterson is back with FOUR BLIND MICE, the latest novel in his bestselling Alex Cross series. In this interview Patterson discusses his works-in-progress, his fans' reactions to his non-Alex Cross books, and how he feels about the upcoming NBC miniseries of 1ST TO DIE. Read an interview with James Patterson here. Holiday Book Roundup --- Part 2 With fewer shopping days this year between Thanksgiving and Christmas, books can save a lot of shopping angst. This week we add three new titles to our list of holiday books --- CHRISTMAS IN HARMONY by Phillip Gulley, GIOVANNI'S LIGHT by Phyllis Theroux and THE CHRISTMAS BASKET by Debbie Macomber. For many, we'll be making suggestions on how to "package them" with a special treat to make their presentation even more special. Read our holiday books feature here. CHRISTMAS IN HARMONY by Philip Gulley Quaker minister Sam Gardner reflects on the true meaning of Christmas as church elder Dale Hinshaw embarks on yet another of his hare-brained schemes --- a progressive Nativity scene involving the whole town. GIOVANNI'S LIGHT by Phyllis Theoux (Fiction) A pre-Christmas blizzard alters the emotional and physical landscape of the idyllic village of Ryland Falls and its citizens will never celebrate Christmas the same way again. THE CHRISTMAS BASKET by Debbie Macomber (Fiction) Noelle McDowell returns home for the first time in ten years to celebrate Christmas with her family, but the one person she doesn't want to see is her old boyfriend Thomas Sutton, who she planned to elope with --- until he jilted her. Read our holiday books feature here. PORTRAIT OF A KILLER: Jack the Ripper-Case Closed by Patricia Cornwell PORTRAIT OF A KILLER: Jack the Ripper-Case Closed (Nonfiction) by Patricia Cornwell Bestselling mystery author Patricia Cornwell applies state-of-the-art forensic techniques to one of the world's greatest real life mysteries. Reviewed by Roberta O'Hara Read a review of PORTRAIT OF A KILLER: Jack the Ripper-Case Closed here. KITCHEN PRIVILEGES by Mary Higgins Clark KITCHEN PRIVILEGES by Mary Higgins Clark (Memoir) In her long-awaited memoir, Mary Higgins Clark recounts the early experiences that shaped her as a person and that influenced her as a writer. Reviewed by Carol Fitzgerald Read a review of KITCHEN PRIVILEGES here. This Week's Reviews WHITE DOVES AT MORNING by James Lee Burke (Historical Fiction) Set in rural Louisiana during the Civil War and early Reconstruction, this engrossing novel demonstrates the rippling effect that an act of bravery and simple kindness can have upon people. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub BREAKOUT by Richard Stark (Suspense) Master criminal Parker is back in jail, but even after he escapes with the help of two fellow prisoners, Parker's troubles are far from over and the ultimate jailbreak for him is about to begin. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub HOW TO BE ALONE by Jonathan Franzen (Essays) In this collection of 14 essays, Jonathan Franzen discusses the erosion of civic life and private dignity, as well as the hidden persistence of loneliness in postmodern, imperial America. Reviewed by Eileen Zimmerman-Nicol NO WAY TO TREAT A FIRST LADY by Christopher Buckley (Fiction) Christopher Buckley returns to Washington, D.C. and introduces readers to the First Lady of the United States, Elizabeth Tyler MacMann, who has been charged with killing her philandering husband and will be defended in court by her former lover. Reviewed by Andrew Musicus SUSANNAH MORROW: A NOVEL OF SALEM by Megan Chance (Historical Fiction) Megan Chance combines high drama, sweeping romance and historical accuracy in this highly entertaining novel that offers a fresh perspective on the Salem witch trials. Reviewed by Karen Jenkins Holt THE LAST PLACE by Laura Lippman (Mystery) Laura Lippman has written a first-rate mystery featuring Baltimore private investigator Tess Monaghan. Our reviewer, an author herself, thinks Lippman is poised to be a bestseller. Reviewed by Ava Dianne Day ALICE IN EXILE by Piers Paul Read (Fiction) The sweeping love story of a passionate, strong-willed young woman torn between two men set against the backdrop of World War I and The Russian Revolution. Reviewed by Melissa Morgan JANE AUSTEN IN BOCA: A Novel by Paula Marantz Cohen (Fiction) This clever update of Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE offers a sweet and gentle look into the lives of some very funny senior citizens who reside in a Jewish retirement community in Boca Raton, Florida. Reviewed by Shannon Bloomstran THE GLORIOUS CAUSE: A Novel of the American Revolution by Jeff Shaara (Historical Fiction) A rich and detailed retelling of the major battles of the Revolutionary War, marred by poor characterization. Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: A Democrat and a Republican Take On The 10 Most Important Issues Women Face by Julianne Malveaux and Deborah L. Perry (Nonfiction) Democrat Dr. Julianne Malveaux and Republican Deborah Perry critically examine the ten issues women care about the most, debating such topics as reproductive rights, childcare, taxes, the economy, crime and violence, education and equal pay and benefits. Reviewed by Alvin C. Romer EVERYDAY GRACE by Marianne Williamson (Inspiration) With an attitude of hope, a call to forgive, a celebration of miracles and the promise of strength and grace, Marianne Williamson helps readers find their sacred footing on ordinary ground. Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum L. FRANK BAUM: CREATOR OF OZ by Katharine M. Rogers (Biography) The first full-fledged biography of the man who gave us THE WIZARD OF OZ and 13 subsequent Oz books is an engaging, well-researched account of a very American fairyland and how it grew. Warning: It is not about the movie. Reviewed by Kathy Weissman. Read this week's reviews here. Question of the Month Even if you are NOT in a book group, what book would you love to discuss with a group of readers? Send your responses to Question@bookreporter.com Poll Poll: Which of the following book releases are you most excited about (Please check as many as apply.): CHESAPEAKE BLUE by Nora Roberts CHILD OF MY HEART by Alice McDermott THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN by David Baldacci ESTHER'S GIFT by Jan Karon FOUR BLIND MICE by James Patterson HORNET FLIGHT by Ken Follett THE LAST PROMISE by Richard Paul Evans NIGHT WATCH by Terry Pratchett NINE by Jan Burke PREY by Michael Crichton VAGABOND by Bernard Cornwell UTOPIA by Lincoln Child None of the above Vote in our Poll here. Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading Tell us what books YOU are reading and loving --- or even those you don't. FIVE lucky readers will win a copy of THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN by David Baldacci. Need more details about Word of Mouth? Click here.