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Bookreporter.com Newsletter	May 9, 2003
This Week on Bookreporter.com Mother's Day --- Bookreporter.com Style Bookreporter Talks to William Lashner, author of FATAL FLAW Bookreporter.com Talks to D.W. Buffa, author of STAR WITNESS, Announcing a D.W. Buffa Contest and an Update on Lisa Gardner, our June Author Mother's Day Roundup Bookreporter.com Talks To Anne Ford, author of LAUGHING ALLEGRA Author Talks: Barbara Corcoran, Kristin Hannah and Allison Pearson This Week's Book Reviews Poll: Which of the following May books are you most looking forward to reading? Question of the Week Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading	On The Book Report Network Bookreporter.com Past Reviews Past Poll: Are you a "reading snob"? Tell us which best describes your reading behavior. What book(s) are you most proud to have on your bookshelf?
Mother's Day --- Bookreporter.com Style Happy Mother's Day to all the moms reading this newsletter. Just think, a day where you can kick back and read with no guilt. It's YOUR day. Whether you are lolling around in bed, curling up on the couch or swinging away on a hammock, we've got a book suggestion for you. For any of you still stumped on what to buy mom, Bookreporter.com Writer Tom Donadio has pulled together 17 great suggestions. Even if your mom (like his) tells you, "I don't need anything," we all know that mom would love to get the perfect book. So before you hit the store for last minute shopping, see our list. And while you are there, you can add a book or two for yourself to the pile. Many of you have told us that you would love to meet authors, but often your schedules do not allow for this, or authors are not appearing in your area. We think the next best thing to meeting an author is reading an interview with him or her as they explore their work in their own words. We have a special lineup with a number of great interviews including conversations with two of our suspense/thriller authors --- William Lashner (author of FATAL FLAW) and D.W. Buffa (author of STAR WITNESS). I have read every book by these authors and encourage you to explore their work. Need some more prompting? Then read these interviews. This week I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Anne Ford, the author of LAUGHING ALLEGRA, a memoir about raising a child with learning disabilities. I read this book over vacation and was impressed with her candor in writing so well about such a personal subject. We are featuring this book to remind people that there are some moms who face special challenges. See my interview and review below. Also, since it's Mother's Day, we rounded up Author Talks with three female authors --- Barbara Corcoran, who wrote a memoir about how her mom's unconventional life lessons influenced her life and career (note that I have tried some of these on my boys and they WORK!); Kristin Hannah, who has a terrific new book about two sisters and Allison Pearson, the woman who penned the title that is the anthem of women everywhere --- I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT. One more thing...we are running a survey on Teenreads.com (see the button above) where we are asking teens about their reading and buying habits. If you have a teen in your house, or know a teen, would you be so kind as to share this link with them? Enjoy this week's newsletter. Happy reading. --Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
Bookreporter Talks to William Lashner, author of FATAL FLAW In this special interview with Bookreporter.com's Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight team (Carol Fitzgerald, Joe Hartlaub, and Wiley Saichek), William Lashner, author of FATAL FLAW, discusses his legal background, his characters' personalities, and his future writing plans. FATAL FLAW by William Lashner (Suspense) Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub Guy Forrest is accused of murdering his fiancee, and Philadelphia lawyer Victor Carl is convinced that Guy is the killer. But Victor agrees to defend him anyway, all the while secretly vowing to see that justice is done. But when Victor realizes that he may be very wrong about Guy, he begins to follow a trail that goes from one end of the country to the other --- and he uncovers the truth about the life of a woman he thought he loved. Read an interview with William Lashner, a review of FATAL FLAW and an excerpt.
Bookreporter.com Talks to D.W. Buffa, author of STAR WITNESS, Announcing a D.W. Buffa Contest and an Update on Lisa Gardner, our June Author In this special interview with Bookreporter.com's Suspense/Thriller team (Carol Fitzgerald, Joe Hartlaub, and Wiley Saichek), D. W. Buffa discusses his latest Joseph Antonelli novel STAR WITNESS, Hollywood, the role that secondary characters play in his fiction and what readers can expect in future books. Click on Buffa's picture above to get to the interview. -See Buffa's replies to reader questions. -Enter our D.W. Buffa Contest Announcing Lisa Gardner, our June Author THE SURVIVORS CLUB is now out in paperback and THE KILLING HOUR will be in stores on July 15th. -Have a question for Gardner? Be sure to submit it at our Suspense/Thriller mailbox -See Gardner's Author Bibliography -Visit: LisaGardner.com -Read About THE SURVIVORS CLUB -Read About THE KILLING HOUR -Read Gardner's bio Read our Suspense/Thriller feature here.
Mother's Day Roundup Stuck on what to buy for Mom? The answer is here! Bookreporter.com Writer Tom Donadio shares a roundup of seventeen books that are perfect for Mother's Day gift giving. Whether she likes fiction or nonfiction, something light or something heavy, we've got a title for you to wrap up. Remember that while you are shopping for mom, you also may want to pick up a book for yourself! Read our Mother's Day Roundup here.
Bookreporter.com Talks To Anne Ford, author of LAUGHING ALLEGRA In this interview with Bookreporter.com Co-Founder Carol Fitzgerald, Anne Ford, co-author of LAUGHING ALLEGRA, discusses her motivation for writing this candid and moving memoir about raising a daughter with learning disabilities and shares her wisdom with those facing the same challenges. LAUGHING ALLEGRA by Anne Ford, with John-Richard Thompson (Memoir/Parenting/Education) Reviewed by Carol Fitzgerald Anne Ford has written a poignant and inspiring memoir in which she talks candidly about raising a daughter with serious learning disabilities --- her feelings of pain, frustration, shame and guilt; the challenges and struggles faced by Anne and her daughter; and their eventual triumphs. Read our interview with Anne Ford, a review of LAUGHING ALLEGRA, and an excerpt.
Author Talks: Barbara Corcoran, Kristin Hannah and Allison Pearson Barbara Corcoran is the founder of the Corcoran Group, New York's premier real estate company, and is one of the most powerful brokers in the nation. In USE WHAT YOU'VE GOT, AND OTHER BUSINESS LESSONS I LEARNED FROM MY MOM, Corcoran attributes much of her success to her mother's wisdom and insight. In this interview, Corcoran talks about readers' reactions to the book, how she developed her list of "lessons" and her views on male and female business executives. Kristin Hannah shares an intro to an excerpt from her book, BETWEEN SISTERS. And look for details on how you can win a copy of this book for YOUR sister! Allison Pearson's debut novel, I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT, introduces readers to Kate Reddy, a working mother with a schedule very few people would envy. In this interview, Allison Pearson talks about her reasons for writing the novel, the various issues addressed, and some of her favorite "Kate Reddy moments." This book would make a perfect Mother's Day gift. But instead of a conventional greeting card, why not accompany the book with a special ecard that both working mothers and stay-at-home moms are sure to enjoy. Read our Author Talks here.
This Week's Book Reviews MASSACHUSETTS, CALIFORNIA, TIMBUKTU by Stephanie Rosenfeld (Fiction) Reviewed by Maggie Harding Twelve-year-old Justine Hanley and her younger sister are taken by their mother across the country in search of a grand adventure and the next great boyfriend. Justine reveals the thoughts and insights of a precocious mind as she struggles to understand the "Mystery of Mom." A FOUNTAIN FILLED WITH BLOOD by Julia Spencer-Fleming (Mystery) Reviewed by Ava Dianne Day Two gay men are brutally attacked in the small Adirondack town of Millers Kill, New York. The Reverend Clare Fergusson believes the attacks are related and that the police should notify the community, but Police Chief Russ Van Alstyne disagrees. His refusal to act creates tension between the two, which is further complicated by their mutual attraction to each other --- even though Russ is married. WINTERKILL by C.J. Box (Mystery) Reviewed by Ava Dianne Day Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett sets out to find the person who murdered a forest service supervisor. His pursuit of the killer through the rugged mountains that surround the snow-packed town of Saddlestring takes a horrifying turn when his beloved foster daughter is kidnapped. Now it's personal --- and Joe will stop at nothing to get her back. HUNGER by Elise Blackwell (Fiction) Reviewed by Roberta O'Hara A daring scientist has spent his life collecting rare plants for the Soviet Union's premier botanical institute. But when German troops surround Leningrad in the fall of 1941, he and his colleagues become captives in the city. With food supplies dwindling, the institute's scientists make a pact: no matter how desperate conditions become, they will protect the precious cache of seeds that is their gift to their country's future. How will Elise Blackwell's unnamed protagonist react to such an agreement? WILLEM'S FIELD by Melinda Haynes (Fiction) Reviewed by Marie Hashima Lofton Willem Fremont has spent his entire adult life trying to cope with extreme panic attacks. Determined to break free from the clutches of this terrible disorder --- even as he reaches his twilight years --- Willem returns to his hometown of Purvis, Mississippi, where he believes the solution lies. COSMOPOLIS by Don DeLillo (Fiction) Reviewed by Rob Cline A white stretch limousine is supposed to take Eric Packer, a 28-year-old billionaire asset manager, across Manhattan to a barbershop. But this is no ordinary trip, thanks to a presidential motorcade, a music idol's funeral, a violent political demonstration, and a number of interesting activities that take place in the back of Eric's limo. FROM THE LISTENING HILLS by Louis L'Amour (Adventure) Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub The twelve short stories in this posthumous collection by Louis L'Amour, appearing for the first time in one complete volume, range in genre from westerns to crime stories, and from sports stories to war stories. MRS. LINCOLN AND MRS. KECKLY: The Remarkable Story of the Friendship Between a First Lady and a Former Slave by Jennifer Fleischner (History) Reviewed by Robert Finn Jennifer Fleischner presents parallel biographies of Mary Todd Lincoln and Elizabeth Keckly, the mulatto dressmaker who became Mary Todd's closest confidante, recreating their lives and their remarkable friendship. THE WHITE ROCK by Hugh Thomson (Travel/Memoir) Reviewed by Melissa Brown British documentary filmmaker Hugh Thomson reveals the fascinating details of his travels deep into the Inca empire 20 years ago and a second trip 17 years later to the last Inca stronghold in the Amazon basin. Thomson not only gives his readers insight into the history of the Inca people and their extraordinary culture, but also of his own discoveries and brushes with danger. WHO'S YOUR CADDY? by Rick Reilly (Sports) Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman Rick Reilly, one of the most popular sportswriters in America, temporarily vacates his desk at Sports Illustrated to caddy for some of the world's most famous golfers and a number of well-known celebrities. Read this week's reviews and features here.
Poll: Which of the following May books are you most looking forward to reading? Which of the following May books are you most looking forward to reading? ALL HE EVER WANTED by Anita Shreve AUTO DA FAY by Fay Weldon FATAL FLAW by William Lashner FOX EVIL by Minette Walters HAVANA RUN by Les Standiford MONEY FOR NOTHING by Donald E. Westlake NO SECOND CHANCE by Harlan Coben ONCE UPON A TIME: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier by J. Randy Taraborrelli ORYX AND CRAKE by Margaret Atwood SHEET MUSIC by M.J. Rose THE OTHER WOMAN by Eric Jerome Dickey A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING by Bill Bryson THE WANDERING HILL by Larry McMurtry WINTERKILL by C.J. Box Answer the Poll here.
Question of the Week Here's our question of the week: Who are some of your "favorite mothers" in books that you have read? Answer the Question of the Week.
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 one of 5 copies of A COLD HEART by Jonathan Kellerman. Need more details about Word of Mouth? Click here.
As always, here are a few housekeeping notes. If you are seeing this newsletter in a text version, and would prefer to see the graphics, you can either read it online (see the link on the upper right) or change your preferences below. Those of you who wish to send mail to the general mailbox at Bookreporter.com, please write to: Mail@bookreporter.com. If you would like to reach me, please write Carol@bookreporter.com. Writing any of the respond buttons below will not get to us. Quick observation --- we have noticed that many of you have been changing your Internet providers in the past month. If you do, please be sure to "take us along" by signing up for the newsletter in your new name! Happy reading....and don't forget to forward this newsletter to a friend. --- Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com) Back to top.