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September 2003
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Every month, one subscriber to the Bookreporter.com newsletter wins 5 free hardcover books! This month's selection includes THE LAST NAZI by Stan Pottinger, SOUTHERN LIVING by Ad Hudler, FOUL MATTER by Martha Grimes, THE OTHER SIDE OF AIR by Jeanne Braselton, EXIT WOUNDS by JA Jance. (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, AuthorYellowPages.com, Teenreads.com, and Kidsreads.com.
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| Book Parties... |
| This has been quite a week. There were many book-ish events punctuated by news alerts and the arrival of a hurricane/tropical storm, or whatever you want to call Isabel depending upon where you are.
I am tapping out this note on my laptop at my parents' house as we have no power at ours and I did not want to head into the office in New York today. I forgot how much fun it was to log onto the Internet on a dialup connection. Mom and dad, you now know what your Christmas present is going to be --- a cable modem! To all our readers who live in the path that Isabel took, may you find yourselves and your homes safe today.
September means that book parties and celebrations start up again after a very quiet July and August. Tuesday night the staff and I attended the Mayor's Party for New York is Book Country at Gracie Mansion. It was a lovely evening celebrating books and reading. I spent some time talking to Nelson DeMille, who is one of my favorite authors. His fans will be pleased to know he is working to complete his new novel, which again will feature John Corey last seen in from PLUM ISLAND and THE LION'S GAME. While I wish he wrote more quickly as I love his work, I admire DeMille because he takes his time crafting his work. I am a tad tired of seeing authors who are banging out words and asking readers to plunk down bucks for mediocre work that should have been hatched more!
Also, I spent time with Mary Higgins Clark, who may be the classiest woman in publishing and her daughter Carol, who is always fun to chat with. They always tell stories that make me laugh.
Speaking of laughing...yesterday I attended a luncheon for Wendy Holden, a British Chick Lit author who has built a wonderful following in the U.S. She was lovely and witty. This was her first trip to New York and she regaled us with her experience stopping in at Dean and DeLuca at Rockefeller Center to get coffee while David Bowie was outside the window of the shop playing for the Today Show. She loved that such a big thing happens on a side street in New York. Listening to her at lunch, I am looking forward to exploring --- and laughing my way through --- her work.
Last night was the New York is Book Country 25th Anniversary Gala. Authors including Clark, Donald Westlake, Peter Straub, and R.L. Stine read their pieces from METROPOLIS FOUND, a book celebrating the 25th Anniversary of New York is Book Country. While I had read much of the book already, there was nothing like hearing the words read by the author.
A reminder for those of you who love bookish events and authors --- this weekend is the New York is Book Country Street Fair on Fifth Avenue. Authors, books and bookish events dominate the agenda. Click on the graphic above to go to the New York is Book Country website for more details.
This week our lineup includes two terrific author interviews, a chance to win footballs signed by John Grisham celebrating BLEACHERS, a debut teen fantasy author who you will want to read AND a review of Madonna's children's book through the eyes of an 18-month-old girl named Boogins. By the way, I truly think that people writing children's books --- even when they are mega-stars --- should behave in public. I think Madonna might have thought of that before pulling that little stunt with Britney Spears at the MTV Awards. Okay, before I sound like People magazine, I will direct you to keep reading.
And be sure to check out our Poll Question this week --- and answer it HONESTLY!
One more note...this week our newsletter company did an upgrade to their software. Some of you wrote during the week to tell us you were unable to access links. Please note that this was the reason and we apologize for any inconvenience.
Have a great week.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
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| Two Author Interviews: Bookreporter.com Talks to Karin Slaughter, Author of A FAINT COLD FEAR and Molly Moynahan, Author of STONE GARDEN |
| Karin Slaughter has written two thrillers based on the adventures of pediatrician and part-time medical examiner Sara Linton. A FAINT COLD FEAR is the third and latest installment in the series, which is set in Grant County, Georgia. In this interview conducted by Bookreporter.com reviewer Bethanne Kelly Patrick, Slaughter talks about the characters in her novels and the relationships among them, her writing routine, and news about an exciting new work of crime fiction due out in May 2004. Click on Karen's picture on the above left to read the interview and an excerpt from A FAINT COLD FEAR. Our review will run next week.
Bookreporter.com co-Founder Carol Fitzgerald and reviewer Roberta O'Hara interview Molly Moynahan, whose second novel STONE GARDEN centers on the sudden death of a teenage boy. Moynahan talks about her inspiration for STONE GARDEN, recalls the difficulties she experienced when she tried to have her first novel published, and speaks lovingly about the influence her father has had on her writing. Click on Molly's picture on the upper right to read our interview, as well as a review and excerpt from STONE GARDEN.
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Read our author interviews with Karin Slaughter and Molly Moynahan here.
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| Suspense/Thriller Spotlight: Read Advance Reader Comments about HELLO, DARKNESS and Excerpts of BALANCE OF POWER and HELLO, DARKNESS |
Sandra Brown, author of HELLO, DARKNESS, which will be out in hardcover on October 7th:
New This Week:
-See what our advance readers had to say.
-Read the second chapter of HELLO, DARKNESS.
In Case You Missed Last Week:
-Read the first chapter of HELLO, DARKNESS.
Richard North Patterson, author of BALANCE OF POWER, which will be in stores on October 14th.
New This Week:
Read Chapter One of BALANCE OF POWER
In Case You Missed Last Week:
-See who our 20 advance readers are.
-About Richard North Patterson
-About BALANCE OF POWER
-Send a comment or question about Richard North Patterson
-Books by Richard North Patterson
-Author Bibliography
-Read an excerpt of BALANCE OF POWER
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Read our Suspense/Thriller feature here.
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| Our Chick Lit Feature: Read an Excerpt of PUSHING 30 by Whitney Gaskell |
Read an excerpt of PUSHING 30 by Whitney Gaskell this week as we celebrate our first Chick Lit title.
Here are two lines that sum up the story. Ellie Winters, a woman who is dependable and loyal and has a near-phobic aversion to conflict. But as her thirtieth birthday looms ever closer, she starts to feel like she's lost the instruction manual to her life.
Hope you smile reading it as much as we did!
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Read our Chick Lit feature here.
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| ERAGON by Christopher Paolini: A Special Contest and Interview With the Author |
We're excited about a new fantasy title called ERAGON. It's the first book in the Inheritance Trilogy, written by Christopher Paolini. He started to write this book when he graduated school at 15 and now he is only 19! And for those of you who care about such things, it came onto the NYT bestseller list at number 3! While the book is billed as a YA title, it resonates with older readers as well. Wiley Saichek on our staff is wild about it and interviewed Paolini for Teenreads.com
To celebrate this book, the publisher is hosting a special contest running through November 1. By signing up for Paolini's newsletter and the Random House Strange Lands newsletter, U.S. readers who are 13 or older on 11/1/2003 have a chance to win three books --- ERAGON by Christopher Paolini, TRICKSTER'S CHOICE by Tamora Pierce, and LYRA'S OXFORD by Philip Pullman.
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See more contest information here, as well as a Teenreads.com interview with Christopher Paolini.
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| Don't Miss: Kids -- THE ENGLISH ROSES by MADONNA |
She sings. She acts. And now Madonna has written five children's books. No surprise that this week's release of the first one, The English Roses, was like a worldwide movie premiere. Now that the fanfare's quieting down, it's time to ask: Is it any good? We turned to an expert, our young friend Boogins. And the 18-month-old, who's wise beyond her months, reports: "I'm confused."
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Read our review of THE ENGLISH ROSES here.
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| This Week's Book Reviews and Features |
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THE WEDDING by Nicholas Sparks (Fiction)
Reviewed by Judy Gigstad
Wilson Lewis, son-in-law to Noah and Allie (from Sparks's debut novel THE NOTEBOOK), is forced to admit after 30 years that the romance has gone out of his marriage. With his daughter's upcoming wedding, he realizes how close he is to losing his wife. But Wilson's love for her has only intensified over the years, and he wants nothing more than to make their marriage work.
THE TEETH OF THE TIGER by Tom Clancy (Fiction)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
In suburban Maryland, the firm Hendley Associates does a profitable business in stocks, bonds and international currencies, but its true mission is to identify and locate terrorist threats. Among its new recruits is none other than Jack Ryan, Jr., the son of former President John Patrick Ryan.
THE FOOTPRINTS OF GOD by Greg Iles (Thriller)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
In the heart of North Carolina's Research Triangle stands a corporate laboratory that is similar to the others nearby. But behind its walls, America's top scientists work around the clock to build a supercomputer that surpasses the power of the human mind.
COMING BACK TO ME by Caroline Leavitt (Fiction Paperback)
Reviewed by Bethanne Kelly Patrick
Caroline Leavitt's seventh novel finds her on familiar turf (dysfunctional siblings, a health crisis) with new characters (a confused husband, a burnout of a sister) in this quiet tale of responsibility and redemption.
THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE by Jonathan Lethem (Fiction)
Reviewed by Andi Shechter
Dylan Ebdus and Mingus Rude don't share the same skin color, but that doesn't prevent them from becoming friends in their predominantly black Brooklyn neighborhood in the 1970s. Their story is one of loyalty, betrayal and --- ultimately --- different paths in life.
A GRAVE DENIED by Dana Stabenow (Mystery)
Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman
When the body of a local handyman is found frozen at the edge of a glacier, State trooper Jim Chopin quickly calls in consulting investigator Kate Shugak to help him solve the murder. She takes the case knowing that this will help provide for the teenaged boy in her care --- but little does she know that this very act may endanger their lives.
THREE WEEKS IN OCTOBER: The Manhunt for the Serial Sniper by Charles A. Moose and Charles Fleming (Current Events)
Reviewed by David Exum
Montgomery County Chief of Police Charles A. Moose chronicles the three weeks of horror that swept across America in October 2002, when deadly sniper attacks terrorized people in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
JUDGMENT RIDGE: The True Story Behind the Dartmouth Murders by Dick Lehr and Mitchell Zuckoff (True Crime/Current Events)
Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman
Dick Lehr and Mitchell Zuckoff recount the events surrounding the murder of Half and Susanne Zantop, well-known Dartmouth College professors --- and the subsequent arrest of two teenage boys who committed this heinous act.
NO HORIZON IS SO FAR by Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen, with Cheryl Dahle (Adventure/Memoir)
Reviewed by Robert Finn
In February 2001, former schoolteachers Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen became the first women to cross the Antarctic continent on foot against all odds. This fascinating book traces the birth of their dream and chronicles the dramatic details of this historic expedition.
SAVE KARYN: One Shopaholic's Journey to Debt and Back by Karyn Bosnak (Memoir)
Reviewed by Joni Rendon
In this charming cautionary tale of fiscal irresponsibility, shopaholic Karyn Bosnak details her descent into debt --- and her creative solution for digging out of it.
SOME THINGS I NEVER THOUGHT I'D DO by Pearl Cleage (Fiction)
Reviewed by Roberta O'Hara
Regina Burns, a recovering drug addict who is on the verge of losing her family home, reluctantly takes a temporary assignment in Atlanta. Her job is to oversee a memorial to the man she would have married if it weren't for his overprotective mother --- Regina's former and now current employer.
HAWKE by Ted Bell (Thriller)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Lord Alexander Hawke, a direct descendant of the legendary English pirate Blackhawke, witnessed the brutal murder of his parents when he was just seven years old. Now all grown up, Hawke finds himself in the same Caribbean waters where the killing took place on a secret mission for the U.S. government.
GRASS FOR HIS PILLOW: Tales of the Otori, Book Two by Lian Hearn (Fantasy)
Reviewed by Marie Hashima Lofton
Lian Hearn's second book in the internationally bestselling TALES OF THE OTORI trilogy details the saga of a young man's journey as he develops his skills as a Samurai-type warrior and goes in search of his destiny.
LOST by Joy Fielding (Romantic Suspense)
Reviewed by Ava Dianne Day
This well-written novel by bestselling author Joy Fielding centers on the disappearance of a gorgeous young actress and a mother whose life is thrown into turmoil as a result.
DEPARTMENT THIRTY by David Kent (Suspense)
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Ryan Elder's life was shattered following his parent's double suicide. One day, out of the blue, Ryan receives a letter containing only a phone number and the words "Department Thirty" written in his mother's hand. Lured back to his boyhood home in Oklahoma City, he learns shocking secrets about his parents and the life they left behind.
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Read this week's reviews and features here.
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| Poll: What percentage of the books on your bookshelves have you read? |
We all do it. We buy more books than we actually read. Okay, let's have the truth. How many of the on your bookshelves how many have you actually read?
100% (Note: be HONEST)
75-99%
50-74%
25-49%
Less than 25%
In the past six months do you find yourself buying fewer books you "might" read?
These days I am only buying books I plan to read.
I am still buying books that I "hope" to read while also buying those that I KNOW I will read.
I always only buy books that I will read.
I am not sure what I am doing.
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Answer the Poll here.
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| Question of the Week |
Here's our question of the week:
Name up to three books on your bookshelves that have been there at least one year that you still want to read.
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Answer the Question of the Week.
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| Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading -- Special Prizes This Week! |
Tell us what books YOU are reading and loving --- or even those you don't.
This week we have some great prizes:
FIVE readers each will win SPLIT SECOND by David Baldacci AND A FAINT COLD FEAR by Karin Slaughter.
TWO winners will win footballs signed by John Grisham, as well as a copy of BLEACHERS.
Please note that our next Word of Mouth update will be on October 3rd.
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Need more details about Word of Mouth? Click here.
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As always, here are a ew 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)
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