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"A Night Out" with Karen White, Jennifer Hart (aka "Book Club Girl"),
Lauren Willig, Carol Fitzgerald and Beatriz Williams
Reporting on Some Terrific Events
of Interest to Book Groups…and More
I moderated the Book Club Girl event at HarperCollins last Wednesday night, interviewing Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White, authors of the collaborative novel THE GLASS OCEAN, a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick. They are a force of nature; I joked that occasionally I got to ask a question as I corralled them. They told great stories, and clearly are joined at the hip writing with “one unibrain.” You can read more about this fabulous evening here, in a well-done blog by our own Rebecca Munro. And if you would like to see a video of the event, you can find it here on Facebook Live. We'll be sure to let you know if they do another event like this. I loved seeing and meeting so many of our readers there!
Last Saturday, Rebecca had the pleasure of attending Hachette’s seventh annual Book Club Brunch, which was held at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, not too far from our office in midtown Manhattan. She had a wonderful time, as this year’s event featured both Fiction and Narrative Nonfiction panels; a spotlight on Luis Alberto Urrea, most recently the author of THE HOUSE OF BROKEN ANGELS, who she called “laugh-out-loud hilarious”; and a discussion with Stephanie Land, whose memoir, MAID: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive, will release in January and was a Book Expo buzz book. You can read all about Rebecca’s experiences that day in her very thorough blog here.
On Tuesday night, the finale of PBS’s “The Great American Read” aired (Rebecca and our intern, Ana, excitedly attended the taping on Sunday). TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD was voted by viewers as America’s best-loved novel. According to the program’s official website, it led the voting “from the first week, and kept the lead for the entire five months of voting, despite strong competition from the rest of our five finalists. It also topped the list of votes in every state except North Carolina (who went for Outlander) and Wyoming (who preferred The Lord of the Rings).”
I guessed this right from the start. When anyone asked me what book would win, I never wavered! Rounding out the top five were the Outlander series, the Harry Potter series, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and The Lord of the Rings series. Click here for the full results to see how viewers ranked the remaining 100 most-loved books in America. Then figure out how many you have read.
If you watched the finale, you know that TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is coming to Broadway. Host Meredith Vieira was joined by playwright Aaron Sorkin and cast members Jeff Daniels (who will star as Atticus Finch), LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Gbenga Akinnagbe to talk about the novel’s lasting impact. Previews begin next Thursday, November 1st, leading up to its official opening on December 13th at the Shubert Theatre. Click here for more info on this highly anticipated stage adaptation and to purchase your tickets. This would be a nice book group outing!
On Monday night, I attended a ceremony for the Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction. Bren McClain was named the recipient of its 2017 literary award for her novel, ONE GOOD MAMA BONE, and Ann Kidd Taylor received Special Recognition for her novel, THE SHARK CLUB. A major highlight of the night was a panel honoring the life and writings of Pat Conroy, which included Conroy’s widow, author Cassandra King, and was moderated by Jonathan Haupt, executive director of the Pat Conroy Literary Center. Haupt, along with author Nicole Seitz, served as the editors for the recently released OUR PRINCE OF SCRIBES, a collection of essays from 67 writers who were inspired, emboldened and championed by Conroy (with a foreword from Barbra Streisand and an afterword from Cassandra).
I loved the opportunity to catch up with Cassandra, as well as Sue Monk Kidd, who was in town to cheer on her daughter, Ann. I had not seen either in a while. Clair Lamb, who served as a judge for the award, gave a fabulous introduction to GOOD MAMA BONE. It was such a lovely evening.
I attended two separate events this week for celebrated cookbook writers Ina Garten and Yotam Ottolenghi, which I will share more about in the Bookreporter.com newsletter tomorrow.
Melanie, who edits our Word of Mouth and Sounding Off on Audio features on Bookreporter.com, attended last night’s Barnes & Noble Book Club event to discuss Hank Green’s AN ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE THING, which debuted on the New York Times bestseller list at #1. She reports to us about her experience at the Boynton Beach, FL store:
"There were 11 people, a smaller group than last time. I was surprised --- given the topic of the book and Green’s popularity with young people --- that there were no younger people in the audience. The group was split about 50/50 on their reaction to the book. There was a good discussion. The relevance of the story to today's world, political climate and social media served as discussion threads. Many felt there were things left unanswered and unexplained in the story, and that bothered them. At the end of the discussion, a YouTube video from Hank Green was shared, which mentions details of a sequel. There was no new book picked for the next book club event, most likely due to the upcoming holidays. The next book group will probably be in January sometime.”
Many thanks to Melanie for this coverage. If anyone else would like to share what happened at their local B&N, shoot me a note.
We have three new guides to share with you for this update: ALASKAN HOLIDAY by Debbie Macomber, a magical Christmas tale set in the Alaskan wilderness about finding love where it’s least expected; THE WITCH ELM, a stand-alone suspense novel from Tana French that “turns a crime story inside out”; and Jean Thompson’s A CLOUD IN THE SHAPE OF A GIRL, a moving family saga about three generations of women who struggle to find freedom and happiness in their small Midwestern college town (this will be a Bets On pick; you can read my commentary in the November 2nd Bookreporter.com newsletter).
Please keep in mind the three contests that we currently have running on the site. Three groups will win 12 copies of these books, and each giveaway has a deadline of Wednesday, November 7th at noon ET.
Our latest “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest title is Liza Mundy’s CODE GIRLS, which is now available in paperback. This award-winning New York Times bestseller is about the American women who secretly served as codebreakers during World War II.
We turn to historical fiction for our two special contests; both titles are inspired by actual events. The prize book for our first contest is THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER’S DAUGHTER by Hazel Gaynor, which revolves around the extraordinary female lighthouse keepers of the past 200 years. For the second contest, we’re giving away Marjorie Herrera Lewis’ debut, WHEN THE MEN WERE GONE, which introduces readers to high school teacher Tylene Wilson --- a woman who surprises everyone as she breaks with tradition to become the first high school football coach in Texas.
Which of the books that appeared on our Top 15 list of "Most Popular Book Group Selections" for September have you read, or do you plan to read, with your group? That’s our latest poll question; let us know by clicking here.
BEARTOWN by Fredrik Backman is the October pick for Simon & Schuster’s Book Club Favorites program. Three members of the S&S team talked about the novel in a Facebook Live chat on Wednesday. If you missed it, you can catch their entire discussion here…and be sure to check out what readers had to say about the book in the comments section. November’s pick will be THE ROOM ON RUE AMÉLIE by Kristin Harmel, which releases in paperback on November 6th and also will be the Target Book Club Pick for November.
If a book group was brand new, what book would you suggest that they start with? Write me at [email protected] with the subject line “New Book Group,” and we will share your suggestions in November. And here's a reminder that our Men's Book Group suggestions are here.
My book group is reading A PLACE FOR US by Fatima Farheen Mirza. Be sure to tell us what yours is reading here.
Here’s to a great discussion with your book group. We will be back with our next newsletter the week of November 5th.
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!
Special Contest: Enter to Win 12 Copies of
THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER’S DAUGHTER
by Hazel Gaynor for Your Group
We are celebrating the release of THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER'S DAUGHTER by Hazel Gaynor --- a historical novel inspired by true events, and the extraordinary female lighthouse keepers of the past 200 years --- with a special contest that will give three groups the chance to win 12 copies of the book. To enter, please fill out this form by Wednesday, November 7th at noon ET.
THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER'S DAUGHTER by Hazel Gaynor (Historical Fiction)
“They call me a heroine, but I am not deserving of such accolades. I am just an ordinary young woman who did her duty.”
1838: Northumberland, England. Longstone Lighthouse on the Farne Islands has been Grace Darling’s home for all of her 22 years. When she and her father rescue shipwreck survivors in a furious storm, Grace becomes celebrated throughout England, the subject of poems, ballads and plays. But far more precious than her unsought fame is the friendship that develops between Grace and a visiting artist. Just as George Emmerson captures Grace with his brushes, she in turn captures his heart.
1938: Newport, Rhode Island. Nineteen years old and pregnant, Matilda Emmerson has been sent away from Ireland in disgrace. She is to stay with Harriet, a reclusive relative and assistant lighthouse keeper, until her baby is born. A discarded, half-finished portrait opens a window into Matilda’s family history. As a deadly hurricane approaches, two women, living a century apart, will be linked forever by their instinctive acts of courage and love.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
Click here to enter the contest.
Special Contest: Enter to Win 12 Copies of
WHEN THE MEN WERE GONE
by Marjorie Herrera Lewis for Your Group
Marjorie Herrera Lewis’ debut historical novel, WHEN THE MEN WERE GONE, tells the inspiring true story of high school teacher Tylene Wilson, a woman who surprises everyone as she breaks with tradition to become the first high school football coach in Texas. We are celebrating its release with a special contest that will give three groups the chance to win 12 copies of the book. To enter, please fill out this form by Wednesday, November 7th at noon ET.
WHEN THE MEN WERE GONE by Marjorie Herrera Lewis (Historical Fiction)
Football is the heartbeat of Brownwood, Texas. Every Friday night for as long as assistant principal Tylene Wilson can remember, the entire town has gathered in the stands, cheering their boys on. Each September brings with it the hope of a good season and a sense of unity and optimism.
Now, the war has changed everything. Most of the Brownwood men over 18 and under 45 are off fighting, and in a small town the possibilities are limited. Could this mean a season without football? But no one counted on Tylene, who learned the game at her daddy’s knee. She knows more about it than most men, so she does the unthinkable, convincing the school to let her take on the job of coach.
Faced with extreme opposition --- by the press, the community, rival coaches and referees, and even the players themselves --- Tylene remains resolute. And when her boys rally around her, she leads the team --- and the town --- to a Friday night and a subsequent season they will never forget.
Based on a true story, WHEN THE MEN WERE GONE is a powerful and vibrant novel of perseverance and personal courage.
While no guide is available at this time, be sure to check out our historical fiction discussion questions, which may help you in your group's discussion of the book.
Click here to enter the contest.
"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest: Enter to Win 12 Copies of CODE GIRLS
by Liza Mundy 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 the paperback edition of CODE GIRLS by Liza Mundy, the award-winning national bestseller about the American women who secretly served as code breakers during World War II. To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, November 7th at noon ET.
CODE GIRLS: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy (History)
Recruited by the U.S. Army and Navy from small towns and elite colleges, more than 10,000 women served as code breakers during World War II. While their brothers and boyfriends took up arms, these women moved to Washington and learned the meticulous work of code-breaking. Their efforts shortened the war, saved countless lives, and gave them access to careers previously denied to them. A strict vow of secrecy nearly erased their efforts from history.
Now, through dazzling research and interviews with surviving code girls, Liza Mundy brings to life this riveting and vital story of American courage, service and scientific accomplishment.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here to enter the contest.
New Guide: ALASKAN HOLIDAY by Debbie Macomber
ALASKAN HOLIDAY by Debbie Macomber (Romance)
Before beginning her dream job as sous chef in one of Seattle’s hottest new restaurants, Josie Avery takes a summer position cooking at a lakeside lodge in the remote Alaskan town of Ponder. Josie falls for the rustic charms of the local community --- including Jack Corcoran, the crotchety keeper of Ponder’s famed sourdough starter, and, in particular, the quiet and intense Palmer Saxon, a famed master swordsmith.
Josie and Palmer become close during the long Alaskan summer days, but Josie knows that, come fall, she’ll be returning to reality and the career she’s worked so hard for. Palmer, on the other hand, would like nothing better than to make Josie his wife and to keep her in Ponder. But Josie can’t imagine abandoning her mother back in the Emerald City and sacrificing her career to stay in this isolated town --- not even for a man she’s quickly coming to love.
Fate has other plans. Josie misses the last boat out of town before winter sets in, stranding her in Ponder and putting her dream job at risk. As the holidays approach, Josie and Palmer must grapple with the complications that arise when dreams confront reality, and the Christmas magic that can happen when they put their faith in love.
Debbie Macomber is at her best in this beautiful holiday story about the far journeys we travel to find a place to call home.
- Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: THE WITCH ELM by Tana French
THE WITCH ELM by Tana French (Thriller)
Toby is a happy-go-lucky charmer who has dodged a scrape at work and is celebrating with friends when the night takes a turn that will change his life --- he surprises two burglars who beat him and leave him for dead. Struggling to recover from his injuries, beginning to understand that he might never be the same man again, he takes refuge at his family’s ancestral home to care for his dying uncle Hugo. Then a skull is found in the trunk of an elm tree in the garden --- and as detectives close in, Toby is forced to face the possibility that his past may not be what he has always believed.
A spellbinding stand-alone from one of the best suspense writers working today, THE WITCH ELM asks what we become, and what we’re capable of, when we no longer know who we are.
- Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: A CLOUD IN THE SHAPE OF A GIRL
by Jean Thompson
A CLOUD IN THE SHAPE OF A GIRL by Jean Thompson (Fiction)
A CLOUD IN THE SHAPE OF A GIRL is a poignant novel about three generations of the Wise family --- Evelyn, Laura and Grace --- as they hunt for contentment amid chaos of their own making.
Evelyn set aside her career to marry, late, and motherhood never became her. Her daughter Laura felt this acutely and wants desperately to marry, but she soon discovers her husband Gabe to be a man who expects too much of everyone in his life, especially his musician son. Grace has moved out from Laura and Gabe’s house, but can’t seem to live up to her potential --- whatever that might be.
In A CLOUD IN THE SHAPE OF A GIRL, we see these women and their trials, small and large: social slights and heartbreaks; marital disappointments and infidelities; familial dysfunction; mortality. Spanning from World War II to the present, Thompson reveals a matrilineal love story that is so perfectly grounded in our time --- a story of three women regressing, stalling, and yes, evolving, over decades. One of the burning questions she asks is: By serving her family, is a woman destined to repeat the mistakes of previous generations, or can she transcend the expectations of a place, and a time? Can she truly be free?
Evelyn, Laura and Grace are the glue that binds their family together. Tethered to their small Midwestern town --- by choice or chance --- Jean Thompson seamlessly weaves together the stories of the Wise women with humanity and elegance, through their heartbreaks, setbacks, triumphs and tragedies.
- Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to read an interview with Jean Thompson.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New October Releases of Interest to Book Groups
Below are a number of books releasing in October for the first time (which we aren't currently featuring on the site) that we think will be of interest to book groups.
BECOMING MRS. LEWIS by Patti Callahan (Historical Fiction)
From New York Times bestselling author Patti Callahan comes an exquisite novel of Joy Davidman, the woman C. S. Lewis called “my whole world.”
THE CHRISTMAS STAR by Donna VanLiere (Fiction)
Amy volunteers at Glory’s Place, an after school program where she meets seven-year-old Maddie, a precocious young girl who has spent her childhood in foster care. Unbeknownst to Amy, Maddie is a mini-matchmaker, with her eye on just the right man for Amy.
EVERY BREATH by Nicholas Sparks (Romance)
Nicholas Sparks returns with a story about a chance encounter that becomes a touchstone for two vastly different individuals --- transcending decades, continents and the bittersweet workings of fate.
FAMILY TRUST by Kathy Wang (Fiction)
A compelling tale of cultural expectations, career ambitions and our relationships with the people who know us best, FAMILY TRUST draws a sharply loving portrait of modern American family life.
GONE SO LONG by Andre Dubus III (Fiction)
Andre Dubus III’s first novel in a decade explores how the wounds of the past afflict the people we become, and probes the limits of recovery and absolution.
MARILLA OF GREEN GABLES by Sarah McCoy (Historical Fiction)
This marvelously entertaining and moving historical novel, set in rural Prince Edward Island in the 19th century, imagines the young life of spinster Marilla Cuthbert, and the choices that will open her life to the possibility of heartbreak --- and unimaginable greatness.
THE NEXT PERSON YOU MEET IN HEAVEN by Mitch Albom (Fiction)
In this enchanting sequel to THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN, Mitch Albom tells the story of Eddie’s heavenly reunion with Annie --- the little girl he saved on earth --- in an unforgettable novel of how our lives and losses intersect.
THE RAIN WATCHER by Tatiana de Rosnay (Fiction)
THE RAIN WATCHER is the first new novel in four years from the author of SARAH'S KEY, a heartbreaking and uplifting story of family secrets and devastating disaster, set against a Paris backdrop, fraught with revelations and resolutions.
A SPARK OF LIGHT by Jodi Picoult (Fiction)
How do we balance the rights of pregnant women with the rights of the unborn they carry? What does it mean to be a good parent? Jodi Picoult’s new novel will inspire debate, conversation and, hopefully, understanding.
THERE WILL BE NO MIRACLES HERE: A Memoir by Casey Gerald (Memoir)
THERE WILL BE NO MIRACLES HERE is the testament of a boy and a generation who came of age as the world came apart --- a generation searching for a new way to live.
A WELL-BEHAVED WOMAN: A Novel of the Vanderbilts by Therese Anne Fowler (Historical Fiction)
With a nod to Jane Austen and Edith Wharton, Therese Anne Fowler paints a glittering world of enormous wealth contrasted against desperate poverty, of social ambition and social scorn, of friendship and betrayal, and an unforgettable story of a remarkable woman.
WINTER IN PARADISE by Elin Hilderbrand (Fiction)
Join Elin Hilderbrand on the stunning beaches of St. John for the beginning of her thrilling new winter series, The Paradise. WINTER IN PARADISE has everything that readers have come to know and love about an Elin Hilderbrand novel, plus a healthy dose of intrigue.
ReadingGroupGuides.com Blog Post:
Book Club Girl’s Second
Book Club Girls’ Night Out with "Team W"
On Wednesday, October 17th, Book Club Girl hosted its second Girls’ Night Out at William Morrow’s New York City office. For this event, the featured authors were New York Times bestselling authors Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White --- or "Team W," as they are adoringly known. Their feisty, funny and wine-fueled conversation was moderated by Carol Fitzgerald from The Book Report Network. At only $40, the tickets were a steal, and included a tote bag of books, wine, hors d'oeuvres and, of course, a scintillating night of conversation about Team W's latest book, THE GLASS OCEAN.
Click here to read more about "A Night Out"
in a blog post from Rebecca Munro.
ReadingGroupGuides.com Blog Post:
Hachette’s Seventh Annual Book Club Brunch
On Saturday, October 20th, Hachette Book Group held their seventh annual Book Club Brunch, a day for readers and book clubs to hear about new books directly from the authors. This year's event boasted readers from all over the tri-state area...and a bit beyond as well. I attended for the fourth year in a row, and I can honestly say that this program has gotten better and better each year.
Click here to read more about Hachette's Book Club Brunch
in a blog post from Rebecca Munro.
Bookreporter.com’s Latest New Release Spotlight:
THE COLLECTOR’S APPRENTICE by B. A. Shapiro
THE COLLECTOR’S APPRENTICE by B. A. Shapiro (Historical Thriller)
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE ART FORGER and THE MURALIST comes a new novel of art and intrigue, shifting identities and desire --- THE COLLECTOR'S APPRENTICE.
It’s the summer of 1922, and 19-year-old Paulien Mertens finds herself in Paris --- broke, disowned and completely alone. Everyone in Belgium, including her own family, believes she stole millions in a sophisticated con game perpetrated by her then-fiancé, George Everard. To protect herself from the law and the wrath of those who lost everything, she creates a new identity, a Frenchwoman named Vivienne Gregsby, and sets out to recover her father’s art collection, prove her innocence --- and exact revenge on George.
When the eccentric and wealthy American art collector Edwin Bradley offers Vivienne the perfect job, she is soon caught up in the Parisian world of expatriates and post-Impressionists --- including Gertrude Stein and Henri Matisse, with whom Vivienne becomes romantically entwined. As she travels between Paris and Philadelphia, where Bradley is building an art museum, her life becomes even more complicated: George returns with unclear motives...and then Vivienne is arrested for Bradley’s murder.
B. A. Shapiro has made the historical art thriller her own. In THE COLLECTOR'S APPRENTICE, she gives us an unforgettable tale about the lengths to which people will go for their obsession, whether it be art, money, love or vengeance.
- Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here to read more in our New Release Spotlight.
Bookreporter.com Bets On: A WELL-BEHAVED WOMAN Audiobook by Therese Anne Fowler
and NOVEMBER ROAD by Lou Berney
A WELL-BEHAVED WOMAN: A Novel of the Vanderbilts (Audiobook) written by Therese Anne Fowler, read by Barrie Kreinik (Historical Fiction)
I enjoyed listening to A WELL-BEHAVED WOMAN by Therese Anne Fowler, which is narrated by Barrie Kreinik. This work of historical fiction tells the story of Alva Vanderbilt and her illustrious family. When it begins, Alva Smith is positioning herself to find a husband who will secure her financially and pull her family out of the tight financial straits in which they find themselves. With a marriage to William Vanderbilt firmly in hand, she pursues her next quest: to have the Vanderbilts, who are known as “new money,” accepted by the Astors and those with “old money.”
- Click here to read a review of the hardcover on Bookreporter.com.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on A WELL-BEHAVED WOMAN.
NOVEMBER ROAD by Lou Berney (Historical Thriller)
I literally read NOVEMBER ROAD by Lou Berney in a day, as it was what I call a propulsive read. The events in Dallas in November 1963 easily could have happened the way Lou plots them out. After all, for decades there have been questions about what really happened to John F. Kennedy. The country was so mob-run in those days; their reach was everywhere. They could have ordered the murder of JFK as the ultimate hit.
- Click here to read a review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on NOVEMBER ROAD.
Enter Our Ongoing Bookreporter.com Contests:
"Word of Mouth" and "Sounding Off on Audio"
We currently are featuring the following guides on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
ALASKAN HOLIDAY by Debbie Macomber (Romance)
Debbie Macomber brings us to the Alaskan wilderness for a magical Christmas tale about finding love where it’s least expected.
THE CLOCKMAKER'S DAUGHTER by Kate Morton (Historical Fiction)
Told by multiple voices across time, THE CLOCKMAKER'S DAUGHTER is a rich, spellbinding story of murder, mystery and thievery, of art, love and loss.
A CLOUD IN THE SHAPE OF A GIRL by Jean Thompson (Fiction)
From the National Book Award finalist and the New York Times bestselling author of THE YEAR WE LEFT HOME comes a moving family saga about three generations of women who struggle to find freedom and happiness in their small Midwestern college town.
CODE GIRLS: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy (History)
CODE GIRLS is the award-winning national bestseller about the American women who secretly served as code breakers during World War II --- a "prodigiously researched and engrossing" (New York Times) book that "shines a light on a hidden chapter of American history" (Denver Post).
KICK-ASS KINDA GIRL: A Memoir of Life, Love, and Caregiving by Kathi Koll (Memoir)
Kathi Koll's powerfully moving memoir is both a love story and a warrior's tale. With unflinching honesty and refreshing humor, Koll unveils an unexpected life of joy, adventure and great sadness as she shares the realities of being a full-time caregiver.
THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER'S DAUGHTER by Hazel Gaynor (Historical Fiction)
From Hazel Gaynor, the New York Times bestselling author of THE GIRL WHO CAME HOME, comes a historical novel inspired by true events, and the extraordinary female lighthouse keepers of the past 200 years.
WHEN THE MEN WERE GONE by Marjorie Herrera Lewis (Historical Fiction)
In Marjorie Herrera Lewis’ debut historical novel, the inspiring true story of high school teacher Tylene Wilson --- a woman who surprises everyone as she breaks with tradition to become the first high school football coach in Texas --- comes to life.
WHITE DANCING ELEPHANTS: Stories by Chaya Bhuvaneswar (Fiction/Short Stories)
In 16 remarkable stories, Chaya Bhuvaneswar spotlights diverse women of color --- cunning, bold and resolute --- facing sexual harassment and racial violence, and occasionally inflicting that violence on each other.
THE WITCH ELM by Tana French (Thriller)
From the writer who “inspires cultic devotion in readers” (The New Yorker), and has been called “incandescent” by Stephen King, “absolutely mesmerizing” by Gillian Flynn, and “unputdownable” (People), comes a gripping new novel that turns a crime story inside out.
This Month's Poll: Which of September’s
“Most Popular Book Group Selections” Have You Read,
or Will You Read, with Your Group?
Which of the books that appeared on our list of "Most Popular Book Group Selections" for September have you read, or do you plan to read, with your group? Please check all that apply.
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THE ALICE NETWORK by Kate Quinn
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AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE by Tayari Jones
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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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EDUCATED: A Memoir, by Tara Westover
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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 GREAT ALONE by Kristin Hannah
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KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, by David Grann
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LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE by Celeste Ng
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LOVE AND OTHER CONSOLATION PRIZES by Jamie Ford
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ORDINARY GRACE by William Kent Krueger
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PACHINKO by Min Jin Lee
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A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN by Betty Smith
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WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens
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None of these
Click here to vote in the poll by Wednesday, November 7th at noon ET.
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