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The Power of Reading Together
Last night, I attended one of Random House’s “Big Ideas Nights,” where an author is interviewed and there is plenty of time for interacting with the featured speaker. The evening’s guest was Tara Westover, whose book EDUCATED was an instant New York Times bestseller and a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. I had the pleasure of reading an advance copy of this book last summer and had met Tara in the fall at a media lunch. It was so lovely to see her interviewed by Amy Chua, author of BATTLE HYMN OF THE TIGER MOTHER and the recently published POLITICAL TRIBES: Group Instinct and the Fate of Nations. The room was packed, and clearly many had read EDUCATED and had insightful questions for Tara. The Random House team taped the event for Facebook Live, and you can watch it here. Tara was a thoughtful speaker. I was impressed to hear the amount of self-evaluation she put into her writing, as well as how carefully she wanted to vet it to ensure that her perspective was clear on various portions of it.
There was so much positive energy in the room about books and reading. I chatted with the woman next to me, eagerly sharing ideas about the book with her as we were waiting for the session to start. There is a huge power in readers gathering together to talk about books and ideas. Even strangers can engage in such interesting conversations. I loved seeing the depth of questions that came from the audience.
I am going to be doing a number of book and author events over the next few months, and I finally took the time to post them all here. I hope to see many of you at them!
We have two new contests to tell you about. First up is AUNTIE POLDI AND THE SICILIAN LIONS, the opening installment in a cozy mystery series that marks Mario Giordano’s debut in the U.S. (thanks to the translation efforts of John Brownjohn). On her 60th birthday, Auntie Poldi retires to Sicily, hoping for some peace and quiet, and lots of rest and relaxation. But Sicily isn’t quite the tranquil island she thought it would be. When her handsome young handyman goes missing --- and is discovered murdered --- she has so many questions. Soon there’s an investigation, a smoldering police inspector, a romantic entanglement, one false lead after another and a rooftop showdown --- not quite the retirement Auntie Poldi had in mind. We’re awarding three groups 12 copies of the book; to enter, all you have to do is fill out this form by Wednesday, April 18th at noon ET.
According to the publisher, fans of A MAN CALLED OVE and Adriana Trigiani’s novels will especially fall in love with Sicily’s newest amateur sleuth. Bobbie, who is one of our longtime readers, shared this with me about AUNTIE POLDI AND THE SICILIAN LIONS: “I read an advance copy of this, and it was a delightful book!”
For our second new contest, we’re giving three groups the chance to win 12 copies of THE BRIGHTEST SUN, Adrienne Benson’s debut novel. Leona is an isolated American anthropologist who gives birth to a baby girl in a remote Maasai village. She wonders how she can be a good mother when her own childhood was so grim. Jane is a lonely expat wife who follows her husband to the tropics and learns just how fragile life is. Simi is a barren Maasai woman who must confront her infertility in a society in which females are valued by their reproductive roles. These three very different women grapple with motherhood, recalibrate their identities, and confront unforeseen tragedies and triumphs. To enter the contest, please fill out this form by Wednesday, April 18th at noon ET.
You only have until Wednesday, April 4th at noon ET to enter our other two contests, which we talked about in the last newsletter: our “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest for EXIT WEST by Mohsin Hamid, March’s pick for the PBS NewsHour-New York Times book club “Now Read This” (now available in paperback), and our contest for Iris Martin Cohen’s debut novel, THE LITTLE CLAN, which the publisher describes as “a wickedly fun yet sharply insightful look at friendship, feminism and finding yourself in your twenties.”
We’re also featuring new guides for EVERY NOTE PLAYED by Lisa Genova, in which an accomplished concert pianist battles ALS while trying to make amends with his ex-wife before time runs out (this will be a Bets On selection); Chris Bohjalian’s latest psychological thriller, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT, which finds the title character waking up in the wrong hotel, in the wrong bed, with a dead man --- and no idea what happened; and THE BABY PLAN, Emmy Award-winning writer Kate Rorick’s first novel for adult readers, who enter the wild, bewildering world of modern pregnancies.
I have received a number of requests for great nonfiction titles for discussion, so in the late February newsletter I asked readers to share their recommendations with us --- specifically, nonfiction books they read in the last year that sparked a good discussion. We received MANY wonderful suggestions, and you can see them all in our blog post here. Last month, we shared a list of what we were calling “happy books.” They actually are calling these books “Up Lit” in this article in The Guardian. I love that expression. I think we need more “Up Lit”!
Tayari Jones has been touring the country discussing AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE, which is a recent Oprah's Book Club selection and was a Bets On pick. You can see her talking about it on "Late Night with Seth Meyers" here.
Happy Easter and Happy Passover to those of you who are celebrating! And here’s to your next great book group discussion.
Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
P.S. For those of you who are doing online shopping, if you use the store links below, ReadingGroupGuides.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases. We would appreciate your considering this!
New Special Contest: Enter to Win 12 Copies of
AUNTIE POLDI AND THE SICILIAN LIONS
by Mario Giordano for Your Group
AUNTIE POLDI AND THE SICILIAN LIONS is Mario Giordano's first novel translated into English (courtesy of John Brownjohn) and is the opening installment of a series starring Auntie Poldi, Sicily’s newest amateur sleuth. We are celebrating its release with a special contest that will give three readers the chance to win 12 copies of the book for their group. To enter, please fill out this form by Wednesday, April 18th at noon ET.
AUNTIE POLDI AND THE SICILIAN LIONS written by Mario Giordano, translated by John Brownjohn (Cozy Mystery)
On her 60th birthday, Auntie Poldi retires to Sicily, intending to while away the rest of her days with good wine, a view of the sea and few visitors. But Sicily isn’t quite the tranquil island she thought it would be, and something always seems to get in the way of her relaxation. When her handsome young handyman goes missing --- and is discovered murdered --- she can’t help but ask questions.
Soon there’s an investigation, a smoldering police inspector, a romantic entanglement, one false lead after another, a rooftop showdown, and finally, of course, Poldi herself, slightly tousled but still perfectly poised.
This “masterly treat” (Times Literary Supplement) will transport you to the rocky shores of Torre Archirafi, to a Sicily full of quirky characters, scorching days and velvety nights, alongside a protagonist who’s as fiery as the Sicilian sun.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to enter the contest.
New Special Contest: Enter to Win 12 Copies of
THE BRIGHTEST SUN by Adrienne Benson for Your Group
We are celebrating the release of THE BRIGHTEST SUN by Adrienne Benson --- an illuminating debut following three women in sub-Saharan Africa as they search for home and family --- with a special contest that will give three readers the chance to win 12 copies of the book for their group. To enter, please fill out this form by Wednesday, April 18th at noon ET.
THE BRIGHTEST SUN by Adrienne Benson (Fiction)
Leona, an isolated American anthropologist, gives birth to a baby girl in a remote Maasai village and must decide how she can be a mother, in spite of her own grim childhood. Jane, a lonely expat wife, follows her husband to the tropics and learns just how fragile life is. Simi, a barren Maasai woman, must confront her infertility in a society in which females are valued by their reproductive roles. In this affecting debut novel, these three very different women grapple with motherhood, recalibrate their identities, and confront unforeseen tragedies and triumphs.
In beautiful, evocative prose, Adrienne Benson brings to life the striking Kenyan terrain as these women’s lives intertwine in unexpected ways. As they face their own challenges and heartbreaks, they find strength traversing the arid landscapes of tenuous human connection. With gripping poignancy, THE BRIGHTEST SUN explores the heartbreak of loss, the struggle to find a sense of belonging, and the surprising ways we find our family and home.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to enter the contest.
"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest: Enter to Win 12 Copies of
EXIT WEST by Mohsin Hamid for Your Group
Each month, we ask book groups to share the titles they are reading that month and rate them. From all entries, three winners will be selected, and each will win 12 copies of that month’s prize book for their group. Note: To be eligible to win, let us know the title of the book that YOUR book group is CURRENTLY reading, NOT the title we are giving away.
This month's prize book is EXIT WEST by Mohsin Hamid, which is March’s pick for the PBS NewsHour-New York Times book club “Now Read This.” Now available in paperback, this finalist for the Man Booker Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Awards is an astonishingly visionary love story that imagines the forces that drive ordinary people from their homes into the uncertain embrace of new lands. To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, April 4th at noon ET.
EXIT WEST by Mohsin Hamid (Fiction)
In a country teetering on the brink of civil war, two young people meet --- sensual, fiercely independent Nadia and gentle, restrained Saeed. They embark on a furtive love affair, and are soon cloistered in a premature intimacy by the unrest roiling their city. When it explodes, turning familiar streets into a patchwork of checkpoints and bomb blasts, they begin to hear whispers about doors --- doors that can whisk people far away, if perilously and for a price. As the violence escalates, Nadia and Saeed decide that they no longer have a choice. Leaving their homeland and their old lives behind, they find a door and step through.
EXIT WEST follows these remarkable characters as they emerge into an alien and uncertain future, struggling to hold on to each other, to their past, to the very sense of who they are. Profoundly intimate and powerfully inventive, it tells an unforgettable story of love, loyalty and courage that is both completely of our time and for all time.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here to enter the contest.
Special Contest: Enter to Win 10 Advance Copies of
THE LITTLE CLAN by Iris Martin Cohen for Your Group
We are celebrating the April 17th release of Iris Martin Cohen's debut novel, THE LITTLE CLAN --- a love letter to classic literature and an illuminating look at newfound adulthood --- with a special contest that will give five groups the chance to win 10 advance copies of the book. To enter, please fill out this form by Wednesday, April 4th at noon ET.
THE LITTLE CLAN by Iris Martin Cohen (Fiction)
Ava Gallanter is the librarian in residence at the Lazarus Club, an ancient, dwindling Manhattan arts club full of eccentric geriatric residents stuck in a long-gone era. Twenty-five-year-old Ava, however, feels right at home. She leads a quiet life, surrounded by her beloved books and sequestered away from her peers.
When Ava’s enigmatic friend, Stephanie, returns after an unplanned year abroad, the intoxicating opportunist vows to rescue Ava from a life of obscurity. Stephanie, on the hunt for fame and fortune, promises to make Ava’s dream of becoming a writer come true, and together they start a Victorian-inspired literary salon at the Lazarus Club. However, Ava’s romanticized idea of the salon quickly erodes as Stephanie’s ambitions take the women in an unexpected --- and precarious --- direction.
In this humorous yet keenly observant coming-of-age story, Cohen brings us into a boisterous literary world bathed in hubris and ambition. With eloquent prose and affecting storytelling, THE LITTLE CLAN is both a wickedly fun yet sharply insightful look at friendship, feminism and finding yourself in your 20s.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to enter the contest.
New Guide: EVERY NOTE PLAYED by Lisa Genova
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
EVERY NOTE PLAYED by Lisa Genova (Fiction)
An accomplished concert pianist, Richard received standing ovations from audiences all over the world in awe of his rare combination of emotional resonance and flawless technique. Every finger of his hands was a finely calibrated instrument, dancing across the keys and striking each note with exacting precision. That was eight months ago.
Richard now has ALS, and his entire right arm is paralyzed. His fingers are impotent, still, devoid of possibility. The loss of his hand feels like a death, a loss of true love, a divorce --- his divorce.
He knows his left arm will go next.
Three years ago, Karina removed their framed wedding picture from the living room wall and hung a mirror there instead. But she still hasn’t moved on. Karina is paralyzed by excuses and fear, stuck in an unfulfilling life as a piano teacher, afraid to pursue the path she abandoned as a young woman, blaming Richard and their failed marriage for all of it.
When Richard becomes increasingly paralyzed and is no longer able to live on his own, Karina becomes his reluctant caretaker. As Richard’s muscles, voice and breath fade, both he and Karina try to reconcile their past before it’s too late.
As poignant and powerful as Jojo Moyes’ ME BEFORE YOU, EVERY NOTE PLAYED is a masterful exploration of redemption and what it means to find peace inside of forgiveness.
EVERY NOTE PLAYED will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. You can read Carol's commentary in the March 30th edition of the Bookreporter.com Weekly Update newsletter.
- Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to read an interview with Lisa Genova.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT by Chris Bohjalian
THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT by Chris Bohjalian (Psychological Thriller)
Cassandra Bowden is no stranger to hungover mornings. She's a binge drinker, her job with the airline making it easy to find adventure, and the occasional blackouts seem to be inevitable. She lives with them, and the accompanying self-loathing. When she awakes in a Dubai hotel room, she tries to piece the previous night back together, counting the minutes until she has to catch her crew shuttle to the airport. She quietly slides out of bed, careful not to aggravate her already pounding head, and looks at the man she spent the night with. She sees his dark hair. His utter stillness. And blood, a slick, still wet pool on the crisp white sheets.
Afraid to call the police --- she's a single woman alone in a hotel room far from home --- Cassie begins to lie. She lies as she joins the other flight attendants and pilots in the van. She lies on the way to Paris as she works the first class cabin. She lies to the FBI agents in New York who meet her at the gate. Soon it's too late to come clean --- or face the truth about what really happened back in Dubai. Could she have killed him? If not, who did?
Set amid the captivating world of those whose lives unfold at 40,000 feet, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT unveils a spellbinding story of memory, of the giddy pleasures of alcohol and the devastating consequences of addiction, and of murder far from home.
THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT already has been optioned by Warner Brothers and Kaley Cuoco of “The Big Bang Theory” for a limited series. Learn more here.
- Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: THE BABY PLAN by Kate Rorick
THE BABY PLAN by Kate Rorick (Fiction)
Meet the mothers...
Nathalie Kneller: Nathalie’s plan: to announce her pregnancy now that she’s finally made it past 12 weeks! But just as she’s about to deliver (so to speak) the big news to her family, her scene-stealing sister barfs all over the Thanksgiving centerpiece. Yup, Lyndi’s pregnant too, swiping the spotlight once more...
Lyndi Kneller: Lyndi’s plan: finally get her life together! She’s got a new apartment, new promotion, new boyfriend. What she didn’t count on --- a new baby! She can barely afford her rent, much less a state-of-the-art stroller...
Sophia Nunez: Sophia’s plan: Once she gets her daughter Maisey off to college, she’ll finally be able to enjoy life as make-up artist to one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, and girlfriend to one of rock’s hottest musicians. But after 18 years, she discovers the stork is once again on its way...
Now these women are about to jump headlong into the world of modern-day pregnancy. It’s a world of over-the-top gender reveal parties (with tacky cakes and fireworks); where every morsel you eat is scrutinized and discussed; where baby names are crowd-sourced and sonograms are Facebook-shared. And where nothing goes as planned...
Click here for the discussion guide.
Featured Guide: THE RELUCTANT FORTUNE-TELLER
by Keziah Frost
THE RELUCTANT FORTUNE-TELLER by Keziah Frost (Fiction/Humor)
Norbert Zelenka has always lived life on the sidelines. It’s why at 73 years old he’s broke and alone except for the company of a Chihuahua. But when “Carlotta’s Club” --- three strong-willed seniors with plenty of time on their hands --- decides to make Norbert their latest project, he reluctantly agrees to their scheme: establishing himself as the town’s fortune-teller. Soon his life begins changing in unexpected ways.
It turns out that years of observing other people make Norbert an excellent card reader. As Norbert’s lonesome world expands with new friendships and a newfound self-confidence, he finally finds himself in a place where he belongs. But disaster looms on the horizon. When a troubled young woman goes missing after a bad reading, Norbert must find a strength beyond the cards to bring her home safely.
A heartfelt story of coming-of-age late in life, THE RELUCTANT FORTUNE-TELLER is a poignant reminder that we’re never too old to learn new tricks.
Click here for the featured guide.
March Releases of Interest to Book Groups
ALL THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS by Elizabeth J. Church (Historical Fiction)
When she was eight years old, Lily Decker somehow survived the auto accident that killed her parents and sister, but neither her emotionally distant aunt nor her all-too-attentive uncle could ease her grief. Dancing proves to be Lily’s only solace, and eventually she receives a “scholarship” to a local dance academy --- courtesy of a mysterious benefactor.
ALTERNATE SIDE by Anna Quindlen (Fiction)
Some days, Nora Nolan thinks that she and her husband, Charlie, lead a charmed life. And why not? New York City was once Nora’s dream destination, and her clannish dead-end block has become a safe harbor, a tranquil village amid the urban craziness. Then one morning, Nora returns from her run to discover that a terrible incident has shaken the neighborhood, and the enviable dead-end block turns into a potent symbol of a divided city.
AUNTIE POLDI AND THE SICILIAN LIONS written by Mario Giordano, translated by John Brownjohn (Cozy Mystery)
On her 60th birthday, Auntie Poldi retires to Sicily, intending to while away the rest of her days with good wine, a view of the sea and few visitors. But Sicily isn’t quite the tranquil island she thought it would be, and something always seems to get in the way of her relaxation. When her handsome young handyman goes missing --- and is discovered murdered --- she can’t help but ask questions.
THE BABY PLAN by Kate Rorick (Fiction)
Nathalie Kneller’s plan is to announce her pregnancy now that she’s finally made it past 12 weeks! Lyndi Kneller’s plan is to finally get her life together. What she didn’t count on was a new baby! Sophia Nunez’s plan is to finally be able to enjoy life as a make-up artist to one of Hollywood’s biggest stars and girlfriend to one of rock’s hottest musicians. But after 18 years, she discovers the stork is once again on its way.
THE BRIGHTEST SUN by Adrienne Benson (Fiction)
Leona, an isolated American anthropologist, gives birth to a baby girl in a remote Maasai village and must decide how she can be a mother, in spite of her own grim childhood. Jane, a lonely expat wife, follows her husband to the tropics and learns just how fragile life is. Simi, a barren Maasai woman, must confront her infertility in a society in which females are valued by their reproductive roles.
EVERY NOTE PLAYED by Lisa Genova (Fiction)
An accomplished concert pianist, Richard now has ALS, and his entire right arm is paralyzed. Three years ago, Karina removed their framed wedding picture from the living room wall, but she still hasn’t moved on. When Richard becomes increasingly paralyzed and is no longer able to live on his own, Karina becomes his reluctant caretaker --- and both try to reconcile their past before it’s too late.
THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR by Sally Hepworth (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
Few of Essie’s friends know her secret shame: that in a moment of maternal despair, she once walked away from her newborn. When a new woman named Isabelle moves in next door to Essie, she is an immediate object of curiosity in the neighborhood. As the two women grow closer, it starts to become clear that Isabelle’s choice of neighborhood was no accident. And that her presence threatens to bring shocking secrets to light.
THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT by Chris Bohjalian (Psychological Thriller)
Cassandra Bowden, a flight attendant, is no stranger to hungover mornings. When she awakes in a Dubai hotel room, she tries to piece the previous night back together. She quietly slides out of bed and looks at the man she spent the night with. What she sees is blood, a slick, still wet pool on the crisp white sheets. Afraid to call the police, Cassie begins to lie. Could she have killed him? If not, who did?
IF I DIE TONIGHT by Alison Gaylin (Psychological Thriller)
Late one night in the quiet Hudson Valley town of Havenkill, a distraught woman stumbles into the police station --- and lives are changed forever. Aimee En, once a darling of the ’80s pop music scene, claims that a teenage boy stole her car, then ran over another young man who had rushed to help. As Liam Miller’s life hangs in the balance, the events of that fateful night begin to come into focus. But is everything as it seems?
I'LL BE YOUR BLUE SKY by Marisa de los Santos (Fiction)
On the weekend of her wedding, Clare Hobbes meets an elderly woman named Edith Herron, who gives her the courage to break off her engagement to her overly possessive fiancé. Three weeks later, Clare learns that Edith has died and has given her another gift: Blue Sky House. As she peels back the layers of Edith’s life, Clare discovers a story of dark secrets, passionate love, heartbreaking sacrifice and incredible courage.
LET ME LIE by Clare Mackintosh (Psychological Thriller)
Last year, Tom and Caroline Johnson chose to end their lives, one seemingly unable to live without the other. Their daughter, Anna, is struggling to come to terms with her parents' deaths, unwilling to accept the verdict of suicide. Now with a baby herself, Anna feels her mother's absence keenly and is determined to find out what really happened to her parents. But as she digs up the past, someone is trying to stop her. Sometimes it's safer to let things lie.
THE OTHER MOTHER by Carol Goodman (Psychological Thriller)
When Daphne Marist is diagnosed with Post Partum Mood Disorder, her downward spiral feels unstoppable --- until she meets Laurel Hobbes, who also has a daughter named Chloe. They immediately form an intense friendship, revealing secrets to one another they thought they’d never share. But Daphne realizes only too late that being friends with Laurel will come at a very shocking price.
THE RECIPE BOX by Viola Shipman (Fiction)
Samantha Mullins felt trapped on her family’s orchard and pie shop, so she left with dreams of making her own mark in the world. But life as an overworked, undervalued sous chef at a reality star’s New York bakery is not what Sam dreamed. When the chef embarrasses Sam, she quits and returns home. Unemployed, single and defeated, she spends a summer working on her family’s orchard cooking and baking alongside the women in her life.
THE RELUCTANT FORTUNE-TELLER by Keziah Frost (Fiction/Humor)
At 73, Norbert Zelenka is broke and alone except for the company of a Chihuahua. But when “Carlotta’s Club” --- three strong-willed seniors --- decides to make Norbert their latest project, he reluctantly agrees to their scheme: establishing himself as the town’s fortune-teller. Soon his life begins changing in unexpected ways.
SOMETIMES I LIE by Alice Feeney (Psychological Thriller)
Amber Reynolds wakes up in a hospital. She can’t move. She can’t speak. She can’t open her eyes. She can hear everyone around her, but they have no idea. Amber doesn’t remember what happened, but she has a suspicion her husband had something to do with it. Alternating between her paralyzed present, the week before her accident, and a series of childhood diaries from 20 years ago, Alice Feeney's debut psychological thriller asks: Is something really a lie if you believe it's the truth?
Recent Bookreporter.com Bets On Selections:
SOMETIMES I LIE by Alice Feeney
and ALL THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS by Elizabeth J. Church
SOMETIMES I LIE by Alice Feeney (Psychological Thriller)
I both listened to and read SOMETIMES I LIE by Alice Feeney. The narrator, Stephanie Racine, is a very strong performer, and she had my attention from her opening lines. Here's the setup for the novel: "My name is Amber Reynolds. There are three things you should know about me. 1. I’m in a coma. 2. My husband doesn't love me anymore. 3. Sometimes I lie." The storyline moves from present day (opening on Boxing Day, December 26th) to the weeks before Amber's accident. Also, entries from her childhood diary are sprinkled in here, giving the listener/reader even more to ponder. The pace is brisk; you do need to pay attention to the time frame if you are listening. The pieces of the story are very carefully woven together. I would love to know how Alice constructed the story.
- Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here for more of Carol's commentary on SOMETIMES I LIE.
ALL THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS by Elizabeth J. Church (Historical Fiction)
ALL THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS by Elizabeth J. Church is set in 1960s Las Vegas and features a troupe dancer named Ruby Wilde, who gives readers a fabulously well-written look into life behind the scenes on the Strip. Ruby grew up as Lily Decker in Salina, Kansas. Her parents and sister are killed in a traffic accident, and she is sent to live with her aunt and uncle. Her uncle sexually abuses her, and she is pretty lost and alone.
Lily’s protector comes from an unexpected place --- it’s the man who is responsible for the deaths of her parents and sister, a military pilot stationed nearby. He is referred to as “the Aviator,” and he fuels her passion for dance. When her dance teacher suggests that Lily go professional, she guides her to Las Vegas instead of to New York or L.A. Lily becomes a showgirl, and from there we learn all about the life of these performers on the Strip.
- Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here for more of Carol's commentary on ALL THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS.
Bookreporter.com's Spring Preview Contests and Feature
Spring is in the air! We’ve caught the fever --- and it’s being fueled by some wonderful new and upcoming releases. Our seventh annual Spring Preview Contests and Feature spotlights many of these picks, which we know people will be talking about over the next few months. We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through April 20th. You will need to check the site to see the featured book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce each title, which you can sign up for here.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
Enter Our Ongoing Bookreporter.com Contests:
"Word of Mouth" and "Sounding Off on Audio"
Word of Mouth Contest:
Tell Us What You're Reading --- and You Can Win Two Books!
Tell us about the books you’ve finished reading with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars. During the contest period from March 16th to March 30th at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of ALTERNATE SIDE by Anna Quindlen and THE BISHOP'S PAWN by Steve Berry.
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.
Click here to enter the contest.
Please note: A new Word of Mouth contest will be up
on Friday, March 30th at noon ET.
Sounding Off on Audio Contest:
Tell Us What You're Listening to --- and You Can Win Two Audiobooks!
Tell us about the audiobooks you’ve finished listening to with your comments and a rating of 1 to 5 stars for both the performance and the content. During the contest period from March 1st to April 2nd at noon ET, two lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of J.A. Jance's DUEL TO THE DEATH: An Ali Reynolds Mystery, read by Karen Ziemba, and Lisa Genova's EVERY NOTE PLAYED, read by Dennis Boutsikaris and Dagmara Dominczyk.
To make sure other readers will be able to find the audiobook, please include the full title and correct author names (your entry must include these to be eligible to win). For complete rules and guidelines, click here.
Click here to enter the contest.
Please note: A new Sounding Off on Audio contest will be up
on Monday, April 2nd at noon ET.
We currently are featuring the following guides on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
ALL THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS by Elizabeth J. Church (Historical Fiction)
ALL THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS is a powerful novel about a gutsy showgirl who tries to conquer her past amongst the glamour of 1960s Las Vegas --- and finds unexpected fortune, friendship and love.
ANATOMY OF A MIRACLE by Jonathan Miles (Fiction)
ANATOMY OF A MIRACLE is a profound new novel about a paralyzed young man’s unexplainable recovery --- a stunning exploration of faith, science, mystery and the meaning of life.
AUNTIE POLDI AND THE SICILIAN LIONS written by Mario Giordano, translated by John Brownjohn (Cozy Mystery)
For fans of A MAN CALLED OVE and the novels of Adriana Trigiani comes a charming, delightfully sexy and bighearted novel starring Auntie Poldi, Sicily’s newest amateur sleuth.
THE BABY PLAN by Kate Rorick (Fiction)
Kate Rorick's adult fiction debut introduces readers to the wacky world of modern pregnancies, where everything is Google-able and crowdsourced; where over-the-top "gender reveal" parties happen before the baby is even born; and where every move a mother makes is scrutinized and criticized.
THE BRIGHTEST SUN by Adrienne Benson (Fiction)
THE BRIGHTEST SUN is an illuminating debut following three women in sub-Saharan Africa as they search for home and family.
EVERY NOTE PLAYED by Lisa Genova (Fiction)
From neuroscientist and New York Times bestselling author of STILL ALICE comes a powerful and heartbreaking exploration of regret, forgiveness, freedom and what it means to be alive.
THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT by Chris Bohjalian (Psychological Thriller)
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE GUEST ROOM comes a powerful story about the ways an entire life can change in one night. A flight attendant wakes up in the wrong hotel, in the wrong bed, with a dead man --- and no idea what happened.
IF I DIE TONIGHT by Alison Gaylin (Psychological Thriller)
Told from a kaleidoscope of viewpoints, IF I DIE TONIGHT is a story of family ties and dark secrets --- and the lengths we'll go to protect ourselves.
THE LITTLE CLAN by Iris Martin Cohen (Fiction)
With eloquent prose and affecting storytelling, THE LITTLE CLAN by Iris Martin Cohen is at once a love letter to classic literature and an illuminating exploration of newfound adulthood.
THE RELUCTANT FORTUNE-TELLER by Keziah Frost (Fiction/Humor)
A retired accountant becomes the town's fortune-teller in this witty and charming debut.
THE WHOLE WAY HOME by Sarah Creech (Fiction)
For everyone who’s ever loved a great country music song: two rising Nashville musicians and childhood first loves are forced to confront a secret from their small town past, creating a true ballad of romance, heartbreak and scandal.
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
THE CONFESSIONS OF YOUNG NERO by Margaret George (Historical Fiction)
The New York Times bestselling and legendary author of HELEN OF TROY and ELIZABETH I now turns her gaze on Emperor Nero, one of the most notorious and misunderstood figures in history.
THE DEVIL AND WEBSTER by Jean Hanff Korelitz (Fiction)
From the New York Times bestselling author of YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN and ADMISSION comes a twisty new novel about a college president, a baffling student protest, and some of the most hot-button issues on today's college campuses.
EXIT WEST by Mohsin Hamid (Fiction)
A New York Times bestseller, EXIT WEST is the astonishingly visionary love story that imagines the forces that drive ordinary people from their homes into the uncertain embrace of new lands.
This Month's Poll: Our Reader-Selected
Best Books of 2017 --- Which Have You Read, or Are You Planning to Read, with Your Group?
Which of the titles that appeared on our “Reader-Selected Best Books of 2017” list have you read, or do you plan to read, with your group? Please check all that apply.
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BEARTOWN by Fredrik Backman
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BEFORE WE WERE YOURS by Lisa Wingate
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BENEATH A SCARLET SKY by Mark Sullivan
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CITY OF THIEVES by David Benioff
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ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE by Gail Honeyman
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A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW by Amor Towles
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THE HANDMAID’S TALE by Margaret Atwood
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LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE by Celeste Ng
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A MAN CALLED OVE by Fredrik Backman
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NEWS OF THE WORLD by Paulette Jiles
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THE NIGHTINGALE by Kristin Hannah
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ORDINARY GRACE by William Kent Krueger
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SMALL GREAT THINGS by Jodi Picoult
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THE TEA GIRL OF HUMMINGBIRD LANE by Lisa See
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None of these
Click here to vote in the poll by Wednesday, April 4th at noon ET.
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