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Just One More Book Club Meeting for 2024!
Our last book club pick for the year is BE READY WHEN THE LUCK HAPPENS, and we are planning a fun evening with a potluck holiday celebration. I am looking forward to seeing what reading Ina Garten's memoir inspired us to plan for food and beverages. I highly recommend the audio edition of this book, which is read by Ina and is about a lot more than food!
I took away a couple of great business lessons. Take a look at your business to see what is worth spending time on, and where you may be spending time that is not valuable. For Ina, it was realizing that she was spending 95% of her time on catering, which brought in 5% of the revenue. This was a BIG revelation. I always kick myself when I see my own version of this and think, How did I not see this sooner? The best part about the holidays --- after the frenzy of shopping, wrapping and baking --- is the time I have available to think instead of just doing.
This month, we read ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK by Chris Whitaker. A couple of group members understood why I suggested they read it in big chunks instead of more piecemeal. While the chapters are very short (1-3 pages), to me the writing was best read by settling in for a time. To most, the last 200 pages flew by! At least one member said it was her favorite book of the year.
On November 8th, we hosted our 13 ½ Annual Book Group Speed Dating event for booksellers, librarians, book club leaders and bloggers. Representatives from nine publishers presented more than 25 titles perfect for book groups that will be published between now and next May. You can watch the event here --- and if you would like to hear from a specific publisher, we have included timestamps for each of them.
To learn more about the books, click here to access a PDF of the PowerPoint presentation of the featured titles, as well as an Excel spreadsheet that lists the books both by publisher and alphabetically by title, along with a sheet to take notes.
This is a favorite event of ours, and we love sharing it with you!
This is your last ReadingGroupGuides newsletter reminder to sign up for our final “Bookaccino Live” Book Group event of the year, which will take place on Tuesday, December 3rd at 8pm ET.
Our guest will be Ariel Lawhon, and she will be talking about her New York Times bestseller, THE FROZEN RIVER, a “Good Morning America” Book Club pick and an NPR Book of the Year that is newly released in paperback. This gripping historical mystery is inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history.
You can register for the event by clicking here. If you have a question for Ariel, please email it to me using the subject line “Ariel” by December 3rd at noon ET. Be sure to also include your name, city and state, and indicate if you’d like to be on camera during the event so you can ask Ariel the question yourself, or if you’d prefer me to ask it for you. Those who appear on camera will be able to chat with Ariel in our virtual green room before the program starts.
We are so excited to announce our “Bookaccino Live” Best of 2024 event on Wednesday, December 11th at 8pm ET. Join us as some of our Bookreporter reviewers will be talking about their favorite books of the year. You can sign up by clicking here. We always look forward to hearing which titles resonated the most with our reviewers.
It’s that time of year again --- the announcement of our End-of-the-Year contest! Once again, we are asking you and your book group to help us compile our own “Best Books of the Year” list.
Click here to share both your favorite book that you read with your group and your favorite book that you read outside your group this year. One Grand Prize winner will receive seven outstanding book group titles releasing next year: THE FLOAT TEST by Lynn Steger Strong, A FORTY YEAR KISS by Nickolas Butler, GOOD DIRT by Charmaine Wilkerson, MORE OR LESS MADDY by Lisa Genova, PRESUMED GUILTY by Scott Turow, THE QUEENS OF CRIME by Marie Benedict, and THE STOLEN QUEEN by Fiona Davis.
The deadline for your entries is Monday, January 13th at noon ET. We will share our reader-compiled "Best Of" list with you shortly after the contest ends.
It was announced this month that JAMES by Percival Everett is the Barnes & Noble Book of the Year. And on Wednesday night, this instant New York Times bestseller and Kirkus Prize winner was the recipient of the 2024 National Book Award for Fiction. This action-packed reimagining of ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN is told from the enslaved Jim’s point of view.
We have added the discussion guide, and be sure to take a look at our rave review on Bookreporter if you missed it earlier this year. According to Jana Siciliano, “Everett should be lauded for this daring and successful reimagining. Our creative cultural signatories give us so many reboots that don’t matter, but Everett has made sure that this one has a real point. JAMES is a masterful and engaging work that should find a wide and hungry audience.”
Jana, it certainly has! I didn’t have a chance to read the book when it released in March, but I am reading it now. Better late than never!
We have two new “Bookreporter Talks To” interviews to share with you in this newsletter.
First up is Paula Hawkins. We included the guide for her new novel, THE BLUE HOUR, in our last update. It’s November’s "Good Morning America" Book Club pick, a Bookreporter.com Bets On title, and one of the books we’re featuring in our “What to Give, What to Get” Guide on Bookreporter. According to the publisher, the book “recalls the sophisticated suspense of Shirley Jackson and Patricia Highsmith.”
Paula discusses her inspiration for the novel’s setting, which came to her when she was on vacation, as well as her love of art. The characters and the way they move in and out of each other’s lives is key to the storylines, and she explains how their roles changed as the book went on. Paula also shares where the title came from and what she loves about the cover. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast.
I also had the pleasure of speaking with Sharon Virts about her latest historical mystery, THE GRAYS OF TRUTH, which was inspired by true events involving one of Baltimore’s most powerful families. It will be a Bets On selection, and we continue to feature the guide in this month’s update.
Sharon discusses why the Reconstruction era is such a poignant time in American history. She also explains the challenges of creating Jane, her protagonist, and the Edgar Allan Poe quotes that lead off sections of the book. In addition to giving us hints about what is next for her, Sharon talks about the work of the Virts Miller Foundation, as well as the large online book club that she hosts. Click here to watch the video or here to listen to the podcast. And don't miss my Bets On commentary in the next newsletter.
Along with JAMES, we have added guides for these four books in this month’s update:
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THIS MOTHERLESS LAND: November’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick is Nikki May’s new novel, which Jenna calls a “beautiful” reimagining of Jane Austen’s MANSFIELD PARK. This sweeping examination of identity, culture, race and love asks how we find belonging and if a family’s generational wrongs can be righted.
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WE WILL BE JAGUARS: Reese’s Book Club pick for this month is, according to Reese, “an unforgettable memoir about fighting for your home and your heart. WE WILL BE JAGUARS follows the life of internationally acclaimed activist Nemonte Nenquimo and her journey to protect her people and indigenous lands, alongside her husband and writing partner Mitch Anderson. I was so moved by this story.”
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ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY: Perfect for fans of Mary Kay Andrews and Julie Murphy, Susan Mallery’s latest novel is about a mother who isn’t exactly heartbroken when her kids ask to skip a big Christmas. It’ll give her a chance to spend some holiday alone time with the much younger man she’s secretly dating. But her plans soon go from cozy to chaotic.
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TIME OF THE CHILD: Set over the course of one December in the same village as Niall Williams' beloved THIS IS HAPPINESS, this compassionate, life-affirming novel is a tender return to Faha for readers who know its charms, and a heartwarming welcome to those entering for the first time.
For more November selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here.
Our Most Popular Book Group Selections from October’s Monthly Contest
In our recent “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest, where we gave away copies of the aforementioned THE FROZEN RIVER, here are the five books mentioned most frequently by book groups that they have read: THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah, THE RIVER WE REMEMBER by William Kent Krueger, WEST WITH GIRAFFES by Lynda Rutledge, THE GOD OF THE WOODS by Liz Moore, and GO AS A RIVER by Shelley Read. Scroll further down the newsletter to see the Top 15.
We hosted our final “Bookaccino Live” book preview event of 2024 last Wednesday afternoon. I talked about 23 books releasing between now and the end of the year, plus 25 from January and February, that we wanted to get on your radar. You can watch the presentation here and see a list of the featured titles here.
Voting is now underway for the 16th Annual Goodreads Choice Awards, the only major book awards decided by readers. Two rounds of voting are open to all registered Goodreads members, with the opening round ending TOMORROW, Sunday, November 24th. Click here to cast your votes in 15 categories, and check out the voting schedule here. The winners will be announced on December 5th.
Fiona Davis recently shared some exciting news on social media: “Earlier this year, Corinne Horowitz Levine from the travel agency Novel Travels reached out to me. She wanted to put together a tour of the New York City locations featured in my books. I thought it was a great idea, and now it's ready for lift off. It includes five days in late March 2025 in the Big Apple, one Broadway show, two hangs with yours truly, and the chance to hit all the hot spots of my novels in the hands of a professional tour guide.”
This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for fans of Fiona to meet her and “walk the pages of her novels,” while spending five fun days (March 27-31, 2025) in New York City. Click here for the full itinerary. And for more information, be sure to reach out to Corinne at [email protected], or call 561-596-6960.
Do let us know if you will be participating in this fabulous experience. Corinne has thought about so many of the details to make this a very special trip!
Earlier this year, I asked readers to share some clever refreshments that they have served at their book group meetings. Here’s a lovely note from our reader, Lynn, that I missed including in an earlier newsletter.
“We try to serve food mentioned in the book or something fun that goes well with the book. We did REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES in two out of my three book clubs and had two great discussions. I've attached pictures of the octopus cake, napkins, shrimp and octopus veggie dip tray. In my third book club, Ladies Literary Luncheon Society, which has only five members, we do a full luncheon based on the book. Each person does one luncheon and discussion per year about every other month. It's so much fun. Thank you for all your information.”
Lynn, thank YOU for the pictures and letting us know about your meeting eating tie-ins!
If any of you have gotten creative with your book group meetings when it comes to food, drinks or decorations, please send us photos. We would love to see them!
Here's wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. We are so grateful to you. We will be back with one last newsletter for 2024 in mid-December!
Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
P.S. For those of you who shop online, if you use the store links that appear on our site for shopping, ReadingGroupGuides.com gets a small affiliate fee on your purchases from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and IndieBound. As you check out the discussion guides and various features on our site, we would appreciate your considering this as you buy!
ReadingGroupGuides.com’s 13 ½ Annual Book Group Speed Dating Event: Great Books for Book Groups
New Special Contest:
Share Your Favorite Books of 2024
and Enter to Win SEVEN Outstanding Book Group Titles Releasing in 2025!
This is the time of year when we start seeing “Best Books of the Year” lists. We would like you and your book group to help us compile ours by entering our special End-of-the-Year contest!
All you have to do is fill out this form, sharing both your favorite book that you discussed with your group and your favorite book that you read outside your group in 2024, by Monday, January 13th at noon ET.
One Grand Prize winner will be awarded SEVEN fabulous book group titles releasing in 2025:
Please note: Your favorite book that you discussed with your group CAN be the same as your favorite book that you read outside your group. And they don't need to have been published in 2024.
We will share our reader-compiled "Best Of" list with you shortly after the contest ends. We cannot wait to see what you select!
Click here to share your favorite books of 2024 and enter the contest.
New Guide: JAMES by Percival Everett
Winner of the National Book Award for Fiction
and Barnes & Noble’s Book of the Year
JAMES by Percival Everett (Historical Fiction)
When the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he decides to hide on nearby Jackson Island until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father, who recently has returned to town. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and too-often-unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond. While many narrative set pieces of ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN remain in place, Jim’s agency, intelligence and compassion are shown in a radically new light.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to see why the book is Barnes & Noble's Book of the Year.
- Click here to watch the 75th Annual National Book Awards Ceremony.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: THIS MOTHERLESS LAND by Nikki May
November’s “Read with Jenna”
Today Show Book Club Pick
THIS MOTHERLESS LAND by Nikki May (Fiction)
Quiet Funke is happy in Nigeria. But when tragedy strikes, she’s sent to England, a place she knows only from her mother’s stories. To her dismay, she finds the much-lauded estate dilapidated, the food tasteless, the weather gray. Worse still, her mother’s family is cold and distant. With one exception: her cousin, Liv. Free-spirited Liv has always wanted to break free of her joyless family. She becomes fiercely protective of her little cousin, and her warmth and kindness give Funke a place to heal. The two girls grow into adulthood the closest of friends, but the choices their mothers made haunt them. And when a second tragedy occurs, their friendship is torn apart. Against the long shadow of their shared family history, each woman will struggle to chart a path forward, separated by country, misunderstanding and ambition.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to see why the book is this month's "Read with Jenna" pick.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: WE WILL BE JAGUARS
by Nemonte Nenquimo and Mitch Anderson
Reese’s Book Club Pick for November
WE WILL BE JAGUARS: A Memoir of My People by Nemonte Nenquimo and Mitch Anderson (Memoir)
Born into the Waorani tribe of Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest --- one of the last to be contacted by missionaries in the 1950s --- Nemonte Nenquimo had a singular upbringing. She was taught about plant medicines, foraging, oral storytelling and shamanism by her elders. At age 14, she left the forest for the first time to study with an evangelical missionary group in the city. Eventually, her ancestors began appearing in her dreams, pleading with her to return and embrace her own culture. She listened. Two decades later, Nemonte has emerged as one of the most forceful voices in climate change activism. In WE WILL BE JAGUARS, she partners with her husband, Mitch Anderson, founder of Amazon Frontlines, digging into generations of oral history, uprooting centuries of conquest, and hacking away at racist notions of indigenous peoples.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to visit the Reese's Book Club website.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY by Susan Mallery
ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY by Susan Mallery (Fiction)
Julie Parker’s kids are her greatest gift. Still, she’s not exactly heartbroken when they ask to skip a big Christmas. Her son, Nick, is taking a belated honeymoon with his bride, Blair, while her daughter, Dana, will purge every reminder of the guy who dumped her. Again. Julie feels practically giddy for one-on-one holiday time with Heath, the (much) younger man she’s secretly dating. But her plans go from cozy to chaotic when Nick and Dana plead for Christmas at the family cabin in memory of their late father, Julie’s ex. She can’t refuse, even though she dreads their reactions to her new man when they realize she’s been hiding him for months. As the guest list grows in surprising ways, from Blair’s estranged mom to Heath’s precocious children, Julie’s secret is one of many to be unwrapped.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: TIME OF THE CHILD by Niall Williams
TIME OF THE CHILD by Niall Williams (Historical Fiction)
Doctor Jack Troy was born and raised in Faha, but his responsibilities for the sick and his care for the dying mean that he has always been set apart from the town. His eldest daughter, Ronnie, has grown up in her father's shadow and remains there, having missed one chance at love --- and passed up another offer of marriage from an unsuitable man. But in the Advent season of 1962, as the town readies itself for Christmas, Ronnie and Doctor Troy's lives are turned upside down when a baby is left in their care. As the winter passes, father and daughter's lives, the understanding of their family and their role in their community are changed forever.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here for the discussion guide.
Featured Guide:
THE GRAYS OF TRUTH by Sharon Virts
An Upcoming Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
THE GRAYS OF TRUTH by Sharon Virts (Historical Mystery)
In Reconstruction-era Baltimore, members of the city’s elite keep turning up dead. Below the polished surface of high society, there are illicit affairs, jilted lovers, financial hardships and countless motives for murder. When Jane Gray Wharton’s husband, Ned, dies unexpectedly while overnighting at his brother’s home, Jane has no reason to question the circumstances of his death. But on a visit to the same house a few weeks later, both Jane and her daughter fall gravely ill, and Jane begins to suspect foul play.
Though a trained chemist and former nurse, Jane is haunted by a history of delusion, loss and institutionalization. As the unexpected and devastating deaths begin to multiply, Jane’s grip on reality starts to slip. When a respected army officer falls terribly ill after visiting the Whartons’ Baltimore home, Jane’s greatest fears become all too real. The time has come to act. But who will believe her? And can she even trust her own mind?
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Sharon Virts.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here for the featured guide, which includes
discussion questions, an excerpt, critical praise and more.
THE GRAYS OF TRUTH will be a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick.
Don't miss Carol's commentary in the next newsletter.
Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks for November
Each month, we share top book picks from Indie Next and LibraryReads. We also feature a number of other prominent selections, including the Barnes & Noble Book Club, the "Good Morning America" Book Club, Oprah’s Book Club, the PBS Books Readers Club, the "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club, Reese's Book Club, and the Target Book Club.
Below is a preview of November's "Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks." For the complete Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, as well as additional links pertaining to this month's selections, please click here.
Indie Next
#1 Pick: LOST AND LASSOED: A Rebel Blue Ranch Novel by Lyla Sage
THE BLUE HOUR by Paula Hawkins
PONY CONFIDENTIAL by Christina Lynch
BLOOD OVER BRIGHT HAVEN by M. L. Wang
LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER by Susan Rieger
LibraryReads
Top Pick: LOST AND LASSOED: A Rebel Blue Ranch Novel by Lyla Sage
THE SONGBIRD & THE HEART OF STONE by Carissa Broadbent
ELEANORE OF AVIGNON by Elizabeth DeLozier
THE CO-OP by Tarah DeWitt
THE LAKE OF LOST GIRLS by Katherine Greene
Barnes & Noble Book Club
LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER by Susan Rieger
"Good Morning America" Book Club
THE BLUE HOUR by Paula Hawkins
PBS Books Readers Club
LEONARD DA VINCI by Walter Isaacson
"Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club
THIS MOTHERLESS LAND by Nikki May
Reese's Book Club
WE WILL BE JAGUARS: A Memoir of My People by Nemonte Nenquimo and Mitch Anderson
Target Book Club
A COUNCIL OF DOLLS by Mona Susan Power
Our Most Popular Book Group Selections from October's "What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest
New November Releases of Interest to Book Groups
Here are a number of books releasing in November for the first time, which we aren't currently featuring on the site or in the newsletter, that we think will be of interest to book groups.
APRIL STORM by Leila Meacham (Domestic Thriller/Mystery)
A seemingly perfect suburban housewife is being pursued by a private detective --- and hunted by a murderer --- in this riveting, much-anticipated posthumous novel from the beloved author of ROSES and DRAGONFLY.
THE AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO MURDER by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White (Mystery)
Agatha Christie meets “Murder, She Wrote” in this witty locked room mystery and literary satire by New York Times bestselling novelists Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White.
CITY OF NIGHT BIRDS by Juhea Kim (Fiction)
A once-famous ballerina faces a final choice --- to return to the world of Russian dance that nearly broke her, or to walk away forever --- in this incandescent novel of redemption and love.
LAZARUS MAN by Richard Price (Fiction)
In this electrifying novel, Richard Price, the author of CLOCKERS and a writer on "The Wire," gives us a razor-sharp anatomy of an ever-changing Harlem.
LOST AND LASSOED: A Rebel Blue Ranch Novel by Lyla Sage (Romance/Western)
From the bestselling author of DONE AND DUSTED and SWIFT AND SADDLED comes the highly anticipated next book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, a small-town romance in which enemies turn to lovers when they’re forced to work together during one hot summer.
ROLLING TOWARD CLEAR SKIES by Catherine Ryan Hyde (Fiction)
A foster mother must contend with the emotional turmoil of her new blended family in a heartfelt novel of hope and second chances by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde.
SHELL GAMES by Bonnie Kistler (Psychological Thriller)
SHELL GAMES is a dazzling thriller about a young woman whose fabulously wealthy mother might be the victim of an elaborate con or might be losing her mind --- and the daughter can’t tell where the truth lies.
TRIAL BY FIRE by Danielle Steel (Fiction)
In this inspiring novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel, the life of a Parisian woman changes in a heartbeat when she’s trapped by wildfires in Napa Valley.
Bookreporter.com’s “What to Give, What to Get” Guide: “Reader Perfect” Suggestions
for Holiday Giving and Getting
We at Bookreporter.com know that readers crave ideas for gift-giving --- and getting --- at the holidays. With this in mind, we are offering a "What to Give, What to Get" Guide with four "Reader Perfect" suggestions.
THE BLUE HOUR by Paula Hawkins (Psychological Thriller)
This masterful novel, as page-turning as it is unsettling, recalls the sophisticated suspense of Shirley Jackson and Patricia Highsmith and cements Paula Hawkins’ place among the very best of our most nuanced and stylish storytellers.
EVERYONE THIS CHRISTMAS HAS A SECRET: A Festive Mystery by Benjamin Stevenson (Mystery)
Unwrap all the Christmas staples in Benjamin Stevenson's new Ernest Cunningham mystery: presents, family, an impossible murder or two, and a deadly Advent calendar of clues. If Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club kissed under the mistletoe.
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AT DUNDER MIFFLIN written by Brian Baumgartner and Ben Silverman, illustrated by Maël Gourmelen (Fiction/Humor)
Spend “The Night Before Christmas” at Dunder Mifflin in this hilarious and timeless illustrated retelling of the beloved poem, featuring a visit from Michael Scott as Santa and narrated by Kevin Malone (author Brian Baumgartner).
SANTA OVERBOARD: A Potomac Shores Holiday by Carolyn McBride (Romantic Comedy)
Filled with heartwarming humor, time-honored tradition, the soul-stirring natural world, and even some yummy holiday recipes, the second book in Carolyn McBride’s Potomac Shores series is a delightful, feel-good escape to the enchanting banks of Virginia’s Potomac and Occoquan Rivers.
Click here to see our "What to Give, What to Get" Guide.
Bookreporter.com Bets On:
THE BLUE HOUR by Paula Hawkins,
LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER by Susan Rieger,
BE READY WHEN THE LUCK HAPPENS by Ina Garten,
and THE MISTLETOE MYSTERY by Nita Prose
THE BLUE HOUR by Paula Hawkins (Psychological Thriller)
THE BLUE HOUR by Paula Hawkins is set on the Scottish island of Eris. There is one house, Fairburn House, and it is unreachable from the Scottish mainland for 12 hours each day as the tide comes in. It’s the perfect setting for the story.
Vanessa Chapman, a famous artist who worked in numerous mediums, lived there for years before she passed away. Now it is home to Grace Haswell, a doctor who loves the solitude and isolation of the place. When a piece of Vanessa’s art is found to contain a human bone, an investigation is called for. James Becker, a noted art historian, is charged with figuring out how the bone may have gotten there. What happened out on that island? And what happened to Julian, Vanessa’s husband who disappeared two decades ago?
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Paula Hawkins.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on THE BLUE HOUR.
LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER by Susan Rieger (Fiction)
Mothers! They are the subject of Susan Rieger’s terrific novel, LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER. Here we get a look at three generations of mothers.
Lila Pereira is the first mother we meet in a section called “Lila.” She has spent her life in the limelight as the renowned executive editor of The Washington Globe. She’s been a rather absentee mother --- the kind who bore three daughters and seems to drop in and out of their lives, there when summoned but perhaps in body only and ready to zip off to another program or event. For the steadying force in their lives, her children rely on their father, Joe. He nurtures them and is their main rudder.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Susan Rieger.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on
LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER.
BE READY WHEN THE LUCK HAPPENS: A Memoir by Ina Garten (Memoir)
I so enjoyed Ina Garten’s memoir, BE READY WHEN THE LUCK HAPPENS. I have been looking forward to this book for a while, and I listened to it on audio. Ina is the narrator, which makes it all the more special.
I have cooked from her cookbooks (and this book inspired me to do that a lot more), I went to the Barefoot Contessa store when it was in East Hampton, and I watched her show on Food Network, always getting ideas from her. But what I took away from this book was advice from a savvy businesswoman far beyond how to make a brilliant dinner party, or how to use a knife or an interesting ingredient. While cooking is at the heart of what she does, there are lessons on when to go big, when to fold and when to say, “This really is not worth the time that I am putting into it.”
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on
BE READY WHEN THE LUCK HAPPENS.
THE MISTLETOE MYSTERY: A Maid Novella by Nita Prose (Mystery)
I love novellas. There are times when I am busy, and reading a short book from an author I love is just the trick. It gives me the feeling of accomplishment, albeit on a smaller scale than usual. I loved every minute of THE MISTLETOE MYSTERY, Nita Prose’s latest title featuring Molly the Maid. It has everything that the longer Molly books have had --- great characters in Molly, Juan Manuel and the others at the Regency Grand Hotel, clever writing, and a plot that showcases a mystery to be unraveled but in a shorter time frame.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here to read more of Carol's commentary on THE MISTLETOE MYSTERY.
From left to right: Susan Rieger, Ina Garten, Ariel Lawhon
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
Here are a number of upcoming virtual book and author events that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links for more info and to register.
Monday, November 25th at 8pm ET: The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: Mike Lupica will talk about his new mystery, ROBERT B. PARKER'S HOT PROPERTY, the latest installment in Robert B. Parker’s beloved series, which finds Spenser investigating a case that hits dangerously close to home.
Wednesday, November 27th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Craig Johnson about TOOTH AND CLAW, a short novel that follows Walt Longmire and Henry Standing Bear up to Alaska as they look for work after they both returned from serving in Vietnam.
Tuesday, December 3rd at 3pm ET: Barnes & Noble Book Club: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome Susan Rieger for a live virtual event to discuss LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER, November's B&N Book Club pick. Susan will be in conversation with Lexie Smyth, B&N's Fiction Category Manager, and Jenna Seery, the Associate Producer of B&N's “Poured Over” podcast.
Tuesday, December 3rd at 8pm ET: “Bookaccino Live” Book Group: Carol Fitzgerald will talk to Ariel Lawhon about her national bestseller, THE FROZEN RIVER. Ariel also will answer questions from guests who will be “on stage,” as well as from other members of the audience.
Wednesday, December 4th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Signe Pike about THE SHADOWED LAND, the third entry in her Lost Queen series, which boldly reimagines King Arthur and his contemporaries.
Monday, December 9th at 7pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome beloved Food Network personality, Instagram sensation and cultural icon Ina Garten for a live virtual discussion of her long-awaited memoir, BE READY WHEN THE LUCK HAPPENS. Ina will be in conversation with a special guest.
Tuesday, December 10th at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda will talk to Benjamin Stevenson about EVERYONE THIS CHRISTMAS HAS A SECRET, his third Ernest Cunningham mystery.
Wednesday, December 11th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Jillian Cantor about her new novel, THE GREATEST LIE OF ALL, in which a glamorous romance novelist and an aspiring starlet share an unexpected secret.
Wednesday, December 11th at 8pm ET: “Bookaccino Live” Reviewer Event: Join us for a special “Bookaccino Live” evening event as some of our Bookreporter reviewers share their favorite books of 2024.
Thursday, December 12th at 7pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Join Barnes & Noble as they welcome bestselling authors Tessa Bailey, Ally Carter, Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone for a live virtual holiday romance panel. They will be in discussion about their latest, and spiciest, holiday rom-coms: Tessa's WINDOW SHOPPING, Ally's THE MOST WONDERFUL CRIME OF THE YEAR, and Julie and Sierra's A JINGLE BELL MINGLE.
Tuesday, December 17th at 9pm ET: Killer Author Club: Kimberly Belle, Heather Gudenkauf and Kaira Rouda will talk to Jeneva Rose about her latest book, HOME IS WHERE THE BODIES ARE, a chilling family thriller about the (sometimes literal) skeletons in the closet.
Wednesday, December 18th at 7pm ET: “Friends & Fiction”: Join “Friends & Fiction” for a conversation with Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb about CHRISTMAS WITH THE QUEEN. “The Crown” meets When Harry Met Sally in their latest heartwarming historical novel, which is the F&F Pick of the Month.
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts
“Bookreporter Talks To” is a video and podcast series that delivers a long-form, in-depth author interview every week. For years, Carol has moderated book festivals and author events around the country. But we know that readers often do not live where they can attend an author event. Our goal is to bring these author interviews to readers, wherever they may be. Watch on video, or listen as a podcast. (The podcasts include audio excerpts.)
Here are our latest interviews:
Other authors we've interviewed this year include:
Click here for a complete list of our
"Bookreporter Talks To" videos and podcasts.
We currently are featuring the following guides on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
THE BLUE HOUR by Paula Hawkins (Psychological Thriller)
A masterful novel that is as page-turning as it is unsettling, THE BLUE HOUR recalls the sophisticated suspense of Shirley Jackson and Patricia Highsmith and cements Paula Hawkins’ place among the very best of our most nuanced and stylish storytellers.
THE FABLED EARTH by Kimberly Brock (Historical Fiction)
Southern mythology and personal reckoning collide in this sweeping story inspired by the little-known history of Cumberland Island when a once-in-a-century storm threatens the natural landscape.
THE GRAYS OF TRUTH by Sharon Virts (Historical Mystery)
Inspired by true events involving one of Baltimore’s most powerful families, THE GRAYS OF TRUTH is the story of one woman’s quest for answers in her fight for redemption --- and to save the man she loves.
THE GREY WOLF by Louise Penny (Mystery)
Louise Penny pulls the curtain back on what modern terrorism could look like in THE GREY WOLF as Armand Gamache, head of homicide at the Sûreté, must figure out who he can trust in a race-against-time hunt for clues in a terrifying case.
JAMES by Percival Everett (Historical Fiction)
Both harrowing and ferociously funny, JAMES is a brilliant, action-packed reimagining of ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN, told from the enslaved Jim's point of view.
LIBBY LOST AND FOUND by Stephanie Booth (Fiction)
LIBBY LOST AND FOUND is a book for people who don't know who they are without the books they love. It's about the stories we tell ourselves and the chapters of our lives we regret. Most importantly, it's about the endings we write for ourselves.
LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER by Susan Rieger (Fiction)
LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER is an enthralling novel about three generations of strong-willed women, unknowingly shaped by the secrets buried in their family’s past.
OF ONE MIND by JB Maerten (Science Fiction)
A brilliant debut novel that challenges all we know about consciousness and existence, OF ONE MIND explores the depths of love, loss, belief --- and the wonders of the universe.
ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY by Susan Mallery (Fiction)
Susan Mallery, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE BOARDWALK BOOKSHOP, returns with the joyful and utterly irresistible story of a mother who couldn't love her kids more but hopes that, just this once, they please don't come home for Christmas.
THIS MOTHERLESS LAND by Nikki May (Fiction)
From the acclaimed author of WAHALA comes a “vibrant” (Charmaine Wilkerson) decolonial retelling of MANSFIELD PARK, exploring identity, culture, race and love.
TIME OF THE CHILD by Niall Williams (Historical Fiction)
From the author of THIS IS HAPPINESS comes a compassionate, life-affirming novel about the Christmas season that transforms the small Irish town of Faha.
WE WILL BE JAGUARS: A Memoir of My People by Nemonte Nenquimo and Mitch Anderson (Memoir)
From a fearless, internationally acclaimed activist comes an impassioned memoir about an indigenous childhood, a clash of cultures and the fight to save the Amazon rainforest.
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
THE FROZEN RIVER by Ariel Lawhon (Historical Mystery)
This gripping historical mystery is inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history.
THE HEIRESS by Rachel Hawkins (Gothic Thriller)
New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins returns with a twisted new gothic suspense about an infamous heiress and the complicated inheritance she left behind.
HELLO BEAUTIFUL by Ann Napolitano (Fiction)
From the New York Times bestselling author of DEAR EDWARD comes a poignant and engrossing family story that asks: Can love make a broken person whole?
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