|
Carol's latest "Bookreporter Talks To" interview is with Viola Shipman
(the pen name for Wade Rouse), whose new book, THE HEIRLOOM GARDEN, is now available.
Click on the photo above for the video and here for the podcast.
Goodbye to April...But First, News for Book Clubs
So what has your book group been up to? Are you meeting remotely? Are you still reading and emailing each other about the books you are reading? Are you postponing your discussions? Shoot me a note at [email protected]. PLEASE use the subject line (so I can find your comment) “My Group,” and in our next newsletter I will let you know what we are hearing from people around the country. If you are not reading the same book for discussion, I am going to recommend that you all share what you are reading in emails to each other. You know your fellow members' tastes, so your recommendations can be golden!
I have been reading --- a lot --- after a few weeks where I had trouble focusing. Right now, most of my reading is for author interviews. Between last Thursday and this Tuesday, we recorded four, which kept me very busy. And we have lots more scheduled for the next few weeks!
With so many libraries closed these days, I have been getting requests from librarians to use our “Bookreporter Talks To” interviews on their websites. If you are a librarian interested in this, just let me know! We like to keep track of where they are being used. The Rockville Centre Public Library and the Baldwin Public Library, both on Long Island, have booked me to do virtual events in June and August, respectively. If there is interest in this for either Summer Reading or Fall Preview presentations at libraries, please email me.
I have been getting notes from readers who are walking and biking while listening to our "Bookreporter Talks To" podcasts. Our listenership was up 25% last month and up another 50% this month. If you can share our interviews on video and/or podcast with your family and friends, I would be so grateful.
There is still time to enter our current “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest, where three readers will win 12 copies of CIRCE, Madeline Miller’s international bestseller that is now available in paperback. Our Bookreporter reviewer describes the book like this: “Those familiar with the millennia-old tales of the Greeks will recognize mythological figures leaping from the pages: wind-swift Hermes, Daedalus the craftsman, resilient Odysseus --- the list goes on. Make no mistake, though: as fresh as all of Miller’s renditions of these characters may be, they ultimately serve to reveal hidden facets of Circe. Although contained to her island of Aiaia, she is the heart and soul of this book, and her transformation as a character is as potent as any of her draughts.” The deadline for your entries is Wednesday, May 6th at noon ET. CIRCE will soon be an eight-episode series on HBO’s new streaming service, HBO Max. More details on this upcoming project can be found here.
We have four new discussion guides to share with you in this late-month newsletter. First up is THE BOOK OF LONGINGS, Sue Monk Kidd’s much-talked-about fourth work of fiction (following THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES, THE MERMAID CHAIR and THE INVENTION OF WINGS). Here, she imagines the story of a young woman named Ana, who is expected to marry an older widower, a prospect that horrifies her. An encounter with 18-year-old Jesus changes everything. Click here for the guide and here for our review on Bookreporter.
Next up is AFTERLIFE, which is Julia Alvarez’s first adult novel in almost 15 years. Antonia Vega is an immigrant writer whose life has been turned upside down. Following her retirement from the college where she taught English, her husband suddenly dies and her sister disappears. Then she returns home one evening to find a pregnant, undocumented teenager on her doorstep. You can see the guide here and our Bookreporter review here.
Our third guide is for THE HEIRLOOM GARDEN by Viola Shipman (the pen name for Wade Rouse), which follows two women --- separated by a generation but equally scarred by war --- who find hope, meaning and friendship through a garden of flowers. I had the pleasure of chatting with Wade for a "Bookreporter Talks To" interview this week. We had one of those rolling and fun conversations where we covered plenty of ground and had a lot of laughs. Really a lot! Wade discussed his grandmothers, who influenced his writing of five novels, along with the personal grieving he has gone through and how those experiences have shaped him as a gardener and as a writer. We also touched on his humorous memoirs, and he gave readers a glimpse into his upcoming writing plans. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast. And don't miss the guide here.
Last but certainly not least, our Bookreporter reviewer Bronwyn Miller has written a guide for QUEEN BEE, which is newly released in paperback and is the final book from Dorothea Benton Frank, who passed away last September. Beekeeper Holly McNee Jensen tends her hives and works at the local library on Sullivan’s Island. Holly calls her mother The Queen Bee because she’s a demanding hulk of a woman who constantly torments her. Holly’s life is upended when her polar opposite of a sister, Leslie, returns to the island, and both fixate on what’s happening next door, where a widowed father lives with his two young sons. Click here for Bronwyn’s guide and here for our review on Bookreporter.
We also continue to feature the guide for THE GERMAN HEIRESS, Anika Scott’s much-praised debut novel about a German heiress on the run in post-World War II Germany. Sarah Blake, author of THE POSTMISTRESS and THE GUEST BOOK, calls the book “[t]he kind of novel we need now more than ever.” She goes on to say, “THE GERMAN HEIRESS achieves what the best historical fiction can, asking us to see the past, and then pushing us to see ourselves in that past, demanding: Who would you have been then? What would you have done? Unflinching and absorbing, THE GERMAN HEIRESS does not let you look away.”
Our Mother’s Day Author Blog series on Bookreporter is back! For the 11th year in a row, we’re sharing pieces from authors who reminisce about reading books with their moms, or with their own children, and talk about how their moms influenced them to become readers and writers. We kicked things off today with Megan Miranda, whose upcoming novel, THE GIRL FROM WIDOW HILLS, releases on June 23rd and whose previous book, THE LAST HOUSE GUEST, is a Bets On pick that’s now in paperback. Still to come are contributions from Marjan Kamali, Dete Meserve, Kelly Rimmer, Stephanie Scott and Francesca Serritella.
And while we’re on the subject, you have until Monday, May 11th at noon ET to enter our Bookreporter Mother’s Day contest. Five readers will win all seven of our prize books for themselves or the moms in their lives: THE BOOK OF LOST FRIENDS by Lisa Wingate, DAUGHTERS OF SMOKE AND FIRE by Ava Homa, THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN by Lisa See, a fully revised and updated edition of JOY OF COOKING, MORE THAN LOVE: An Intimate Portrait of My Mother, Natalie Wood by Natasha Gregson Wagner, SIMON THE FIDDLER by Paulette Jiles, and THE SWEENEY SISTERS by Lian Dolan.
On Monday, three members of the Simon & Schuster team talked to Jennifer Weiner about her novel, MRS. EVERYTHING, a Bets On title that is now in paperback and is April’s pick for S&S's Book Club Favorites. Click here for their discussion, which took place over Zoom, and be sure to check out the comments section on Facebook to see what your fellow readers had to say about the book. Next month’s selection will be ASK AGAIN, YES by Mary Beth Keane, another Bets On pick that releases in paperback on May 5th.
A reminder that this coming Monday, May 4th at 7pm ET, Afia Atakora will host a discussion of her first book, CONJURE WOMEN --- the current Barnes & Noble Book Club selection --- on B&N’s Instagram page. The B&N Exclusive Edition of the book includes an original essay by Afia and a reading group guide.
The Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group is launching a monthly virtual book club called “How Have I Not Read This?” Their first selection is Albert Camus' THE PLAGUE, which will be discussed in a Zoom event featuring Emily St. John Mandel, Laura Marris and Alice Kaplan on Tuesday, May 5th at 7pm ET. (Virtual doors open at 6:40; please register on Eventbrite.) Each event will be hosted in partnership with booksellers and librarians; the first event partner is City Lights in San Francisco. Participants can order THE PLAGUE from City Lights online, and club assets can be found at the Reading Group Center.
On May 6th, Netflix will release Becoming, a documentary film directed by Nadia Hallgren that looks at the experiences Michelle Obama had while touring for her memoir, BECOMING.
There is so much going on. Lots of book events have been moving online, and we are going to see this happening even more in the weeks to come! We will try to keep you on top of as many as we can.
Enjoy your reading, and stay safe! We will be back to you the week of May 11th.
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 Guide: THE BOOK OF LONGINGS by Sue Monk Kidd
THE BOOK OF LONGINGS by Sue Monk Kidd (Fiction)
In her mesmerizing fourth work of fiction, Sue Monk Kidd takes an audacious approach to history and brings her acclaimed narrative gifts to imagine the story of a young woman named Ana. Raised in a wealthy family with ties to the ruler of Galilee, she is rebellious and ambitious, with a brilliant mind and a daring spirit. She engages in furtive scholarly pursuits and writes narratives about neglected and silenced women. Ana is expected to marry an older widower, a prospect that horrifies her. An encounter with 18-year-old Jesus changes everything.
Their marriage evolves with love and conflict, humor and pathos in Nazareth, where Ana makes a home with Jesus, his brothers and their mother, Mary. Ana's pent-up longings intensify amid the turbulent resistance to Rome's occupation of Israel, partially led by her brother, Judas. She is sustained by her fearless aunt Yaltha, who harbors a compelling secret. When Ana commits a brazen act that puts her in peril, she flees to Alexandria, where startling revelations and greater dangers unfold, and she finds refuge in unexpected surroundings. Ana determines her fate during a stunning convergence of events considered among the most impactful in human history.
Grounded in meticulous research and written with a reverential approach to Jesus's life that focuses on his humanity, THE BOOK OF LONGINGS is an inspiring, unforgettable account of one woman's bold struggle to realize the passion and potential inside her, while living in a time, place and culture devised to silence her. It is a triumph of storytelling both timely and timeless, from a masterful writer at the height of her powers.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: AFTERLIFE by Julia Alvarez
AFTERLIFE by Julia Alvarez (Fiction)
Antonia Vega, the immigrant writer at the center of AFTERLIFE, has had the rug pulled out from under her. She has just retired from the college where she taught English when her beloved husband, Sam, suddenly dies. And then more jolts: her bighearted but unstable sister disappears, and Antonia returns home one evening to find a pregnant, undocumented teenager on her doorstep. Antonia has always sought direction in the literature she loves --- lines from her favorite authors play in her head like a soundtrack --- but now she finds that the world demands more of her than words.
AFTERLIFE is a compact, nimble and sharply droll novel. Set in this political moment of tribalism and distrust, it asks: What do we owe those in crisis in our families, including --- maybe especially --- members of our human family? How do we live in a broken world without losing faith in one another or ourselves? And how do we stay true to those glorious souls we have lost?
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: THE HEIRLOOM GARDEN by Viola Shipman
THE HEIRLOOM GARDEN by Viola Shipman (Fiction)
Iris Maynard lost her husband in World War II, her daughter to illness and, finally, her reason to live. Walled off from the world for decades behind the towering fence surrounding her home, Iris has built a new family…of flowers. Iris propagates her own daylilies and roses while tending to a garden filled with the heirloom starts that keep the memories of her loved ones alive.
When Abby Peterson moves next door with her family --- a husband traumatized by his service in the Iraq War and a young daughter searching for stability --- Iris is reluctantly yet inevitably drawn into her boisterous neighbor’s life, where, united by loss and a love of flowers, she and Abby tentatively unearth their secrets, and help each other discover how much life they have yet to live.
With delightful illustrations and fascinating detail, Viola Shipman’s heartwarming story will charm readers while resonating with issues that are so relevant today.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Viola Shipman.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
- Click here to visit Viola Shipman's website.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: QUEEN BEE by Dorothea Benton Frank
Now Available in Paperback
QUEEN BEE by Dorothea Benton Frank (Fiction)
Beekeeper Holly McNee Jensen quietly lives in a world of her own on Sullivan’s Island, tending her hives and working at the local island library. Holly calls her mother The Queen Bee because she’s a demanding hulk of a woman. Her mother, a devoted hypochondriac, might be unaware that she’s quite ill, but that doesn’t stop her from tormenting Holly. To escape the drama, Holly’s sister Leslie married and moved away, wanting little to do with island life. Holly’s escape is to submerge herself in the lives of the two young boys next door and their widowed father, Archie.
Her world is upended when the more flamboyant Leslie returns and both sisters, polar opposites, fixate on what’s happening in their neighbor’s home. Is Archie really in love with that awful ice queen of a woman? If Archie marries her, what will become of his little boys? Restless Leslie is desperate for validation after her imploded marriage, squandering her favors on any and all takers. Their mother ups her game in an uproarious and theatrical downward spiral. Scandalized Holly is talking to her honey bees a mile a minute, as though they’ll give her a solution to all the chaos. Maybe they will.
QUEEN BEE is a classic Lowcountry Tale --- warm, wise and hilarious, it roars with humanity and a dropperful of whodunit added for good measure by an unseen hand. In her 20th novel, Dorothea Benton Frank brings us back to her beloved island with an unforgettable story where the Lowcountry magic of the natural world collides with the beat of the human heart.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here for the discussion guide.
“What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” Contest: Enter to Win 12 Copies of CIRCE by Madeline Miller,
Now Available in Paperback, 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.
Our latest prize book is CIRCE by Madeline Miller, which is now available in paperback and will be an eight-episode series on HBO Max. This #1 New York Times bestseller is an intoxicating epic of family rivalry, palace intrigue, love and loss, as well as a celebration of indomitable female strength in a man’s world. To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, May 6th at noon ET.
CIRCE by Madeline Miller (Mythological Fantasy)
In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child --- not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power --- the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.
Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts, and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea and, of course, wily Odysseus.
But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.
- Click here for the discussion guide.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here to enter the contest.
Featured Guide:
THE GERMAN HEIRESS by Anika Scott
THE GERMAN HEIRESS by Anika Scott (Historical Fiction)
Clara Falkenberg, once Germany’s most eligible and lauded heiress, earned the nickname “the Iron Fräulein” during World War II for her role operating her family’s ironworks empire. It’s been nearly two years since the war ended, and she’s left with nothing but a false identification card and a series of burning questions about her family’s past. With nowhere else to run to, she decides to return home and take refuge with her dear friend, Elisa.
Narrowly escaping a near-disastrous interrogation by a British officer who’s hell-bent on arresting her for war crimes, she arrives home to discover the city in ruins, and Elisa missing. As Clara begins tracking down Elisa, she encounters Jakob, a charismatic young man working on the black market, who, for his own reasons, is also searching for Elisa. Clara and Jakob soon discover how they might help each other --- if only they can stay ahead of the officer determined to make Clara answer for her actions during the war.
Propulsive, meticulously researched and action-fueled, THE GERMAN HEIRESS is a mesmerizing page-turner that questions the meaning of justice and morality, deftly shining the spotlight on the often-overlooked perspective of Germans who were caught in the crossfire of the Nazi regime and had nowhere to turn.
Click here for the featured guide.
New April Releases of Interest to Book Groups
Below are a number of books releasing in April for the first time (which we aren't currently featuring on the site) that we think will be of interest to book groups.
THE BOOK OF LOST FRIENDS by Lisa Wingate (Historical Fiction)
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of BEFORE WE WERE YOURS comes a new historical novel: the dramatic story of three young women searching for family amid the destruction of the post-Civil War South, and of a modern-day teacher who learns of their story and its vital connection to her students’ lives.
THE END OF OCTOBER by Lawrence Wright (Medical Thriller)
In this riveting medical thriller, Dr. Henry Parsons, an unlikely but appealing hero, races to find the origins and cure of a mysterious new killer virus as it brings the world to its knees.
LITTLE FAMILY by Ishmael Beah (Fiction)
LITTLE FAMILY is a powerful novel about young people living at the margins of society, struggling to replace the homes they have lost with the one they have created together.
MASTER CLASS by Christina Dalcher (Dystopian Thriller)
From the critically acclaimed author of the international bestseller VOX comes a suspenseful new novel that examines a disturbing near future where harsh realities follow from unreachable standards.
REDHEAD BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD by Anne Tyler (Fiction)
From the beloved and bestselling Anne Tyler comes a sparkling new novel about misperception, second chances, and the sometimes elusive power of human connection.
SIMON THE FIDDLER by Paulette Jiles (Historical Fiction)
The critically acclaimed, bestselling author of NEWS OF THE WORLD and ENEMY WOMEN returns to Texas in this atmospheric story, set at the end of the Civil War, about an itinerant fiddle player, a ragtag band of musicians with whom he travels trying to make a living, and the charming young Irish lass who steals his heart.
SUNRISE ON HALF MOON BAY by Robyn Carr (Fiction)
Set in the stunning coastal town of Half Moon Bay, California, Robyn Carr’s new novel examines the joys of sisterhood and the importance of embracing change.
THE WEDDING DRESS by Danielle Steel (Fiction)
In Danielle Steel’s epic new novel, the lives of four generations of women in one family span fortune and loss, motherhood, tragedy and victories.
Bookreporter.com’s 15th Annual
Mother’s Day Contest: Books Mom Will Love
Mother’s Day is a time to recognize the woman who raised and nurtured us. To celebrate, we're giving you the opportunity to win books for yourself or the special lady in your life in our 15th annual "Books Mom Will Love" contest. From now through Monday, May 11th at noon ET, readers can enter to win one of our five prize packages, which includes seven great fiction and nonfiction titles we think moms will love.
This year's featured titles are:
Click here to enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com’s 11th Annual
Mother’s Day Author Blogs
Click here to read this year's Mother's Day Author Blogs.
"Bookreporter Talks To" Videos & Podcasts
In late August 2019, we launched “Bookreporter Talks To,” a video and podcast series where we deliver a long-form, in-depth author interview every week. For years, I have 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 --- to bring these author interviews to readers, wherever they may be. Watch on video, or listen as a podcast. (The podcasts include audio excerpts.)
By the way, this follows a long history of The Book Report Network delivering compelling programming to readers. Back in 1997, the company hosted the first online interview with John Grisham, which started a tradition of ongoing interviews with authors.
Here is our latest interview:
Other authors we've interviewed include:
Upcoming interviews include:
-
Mary Kay Andrews (HELLO, SUMMER)
-
Alex George (THE PARIS HOURS)
-
Francesca Serritella (GHOSTS OF HARVARD)
-
Emma Straub (ALL ADULTS HERE)
-
Scott Turow (THE LAST TRIAL)
-
Jennifer Weiner (BIG SUMMER)
Watch our "Bookreporter Talks To" interviews and listen to our podcasts.
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 April 17th to May 1st at noon ET, three lucky readers each will be randomly chosen to win a copy of CAMINO WINDS by John Grisham and IF IT BLEEDS by Stephen King.
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, May 1st 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 April 1st to May 1st at noon ET, one lucky reader will be randomly chosen to win the audio versions of Julia Spencer-Fleming's HID FROM OUR EYES: A Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mystery, read by Suzanne Toren, and D.J. Palmer's THE NEW HUSBAND, read by January LaVoy and Rebecca Soler.
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 Friday, May 1st at noon ET.
We currently are featuring the following guides on ReadingGroupGuides.com:
AFTERLIFE by Julia Alvarez (Fiction)
Immigrant writer Antonia Vega has just retired from the college where she taught English when her beloved husband, Sam, suddenly dies. And then more jolts: her bighearted but unstable sister disappears, and Antonia returns home one evening to find a pregnant, undocumented teenager on her doorstep.
THE BOOK OF LONGINGS by Sue Monk Kidd (Fiction)
Grounded in meticulous research and written with a reverential approach to Jesus's life that focuses on his humanity, THE BOOK OF LONGINGS is an inspiring, unforgettable account of one woman's bold struggle to realize the passion and potential inside her, while living in a time, place and culture devised to silence her.
CIRCE by Madeline Miller (Mythological Fantasy)
With unforgettably vivid characters, mesmerizing language and page-turning suspense, CIRCE is a triumph of storytelling --- an intoxicating epic of family rivalry, palace intrigue, love and loss, as well as a celebration of indomitable female strength in a man's world.
THE GERMAN HEIRESS by Anika Scott (Historical Fiction)
For readers of THE ALICE NETWORK and THE LOST GIRLS OF PARIS, Anika Scott's novel is an immersive, heart-pounding debut about a German heiress on the run in post-World War II Germany.
THE HEIRLOOM GARDEN by Viola Shipman (Fiction)
In her inimitable style, Viola Shipman explores the unlikely relationship between two very different women brought together by the pain of war, but bonded by hope, purpose…and flowers.
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker (Science/Biography)
HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD is the heartrending story of a mid-century American family with 12 children, six of them diagnosed with schizophrenia, that became science's great hope in the quest to understand the disease.
LET THE WILLOWS WEEP by Sherry Parnell (Fiction)
In the tradition of the best Southern fiction --- from BASTARD OUT OF CAROLINA to WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING --- Sherry Parnell’s LET THE WILLOWS WEEP is a heart-wrenching portrait of hardscrabble, humble lives in rural America.
OONA OUT OF ORDER by Margarita Montimore (Fiction)
This remarkably inventive novel explores what it means to live a life fully in the moment, even if those moments are out of order.
QUEEN BEE by Dorothea Benton Frank (Fiction)
Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of New York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank’s Carolina Lowcountry in this evocative tale that returns at long last to her beloved Sullivan’s Island.
VALENTINE by Elizabeth Wetmore (Fiction)
Written with the haunting emotional power of Elizabeth Strout and Barbara Kingsolver, VALENTINE is an astonishing debut novel that explores the lingering effects of a brutal crime on the women of one small Texas oil town in the 1970s.
Please note that this title, for which we already had the guide when it appeared in hardcover, is now available in paperback:
NEVER HAVE I EVER by Joshilyn Jackson (Thriller)
From New York Times bestselling author Joshilyn Jackson comes a twisting novel of domestic suspense in which a group of women play a harmless drinking game that escalates into a war of dark pasts.
|
