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Grown-ups, September Means Back to the Books...the Book Club, We Mean
Well, here we are, halfway through September already, and I still have that back-to-school feeling...even though both of my sons are well out of school. It’s time to get back to routines, yet so many programs still are impacted by COVID-19 protocols. To get a view of what’s happening with your book group and your meetings, can you answer this poll? We will share results in our early October newsletter.
At the start of the pandemic, one of my groups pivoted first to Zoom, where I confess we moaned about the new routines of our lives more than we talked about the book we selected. We eventually moved outside for a while at a local firehouse around a firepit, then to meeting outside at one member’s home. We pivoted to indoors for one meeting (which was great as an author joined us for part of our meeting) and then back outside, and we plan to be outside in October as well (we skipped September as there were lots of back-to-school events and the Jewish holidays.) We are reading THE PAPER PALACE by Miranda Cowley Heller for our next meeting. Last month we had four of the original members, and we were joined by four new members, which made the evening really fun, as we got to know them in between discussing THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.
We have lots to share with you this month...
William Kent Krueger has been a favorite author of book clubs for years, so I know many of you are eager to read and discuss his latest novel, LIGHTNING STRIKE, which is a prequel to his Cork O’Connor mystery series. Perfect for readers of ORDINARY GRACE and THIS TENDER LAND, this Bookreporter.com Bets On pick tells the story of 12-year-old Cork in his hometown of Aurora, Minnesota. When Cork stumbles upon a dead body, he begins his first foray into detective work. His father, who is the sheriff of Aurora, needs to confirm that the man died by suicide, as all the evidence seems to suggest. But Cork takes matters into his own hands to find out what secrets have gone awry. Click here for the discussion guide.
In a recent “Bookreporter Talks To” interview, Kent explains why he decided to write this prequel, which serves as an entry point for those new to the series (it reads like a stand-alone) and provides a backstory for longtime readers. He also talks about some of the oft-forgotten history of Minnesota that appears in the novel --- including the repercussions of the Indian Relocation Act of 1956 --- as well as his research, his inspirations and a hint of what's next. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
Kent has a number of virtual events lined up over the next few weeks that you may want to check out. You can keep track of them, along with the latest additions to his schedule, on his website.
This month we are featuring the guide for Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström’s much-talked-about debut novel, IN EVERY MIRROR SHE’S BLACK, which is a Bets On selection.
The book is told through the perspectives of three women. Kemi Adeyemi is a marketing executive living in the United States. She is hired by a major Swedish marketing company to help them with their diversity efforts with respect to branding; they are recovering from a brutal faux pas. Brittany-Rae Johnson is a former model who is now working as a flight attendant, and she is charmed by the owner of the marketing company. The third woman, Muna Saheed, is a refugee who is seeking residency in Sweden. She is working at a cleaning company, and one of their clients is the marketing company. Each woman is Black, and that is what people see first. But from there, each is perceived differently according to her station in life.
On Tuesday I had the pleasure of chatting with Lolá about the book, which Taylor Jenkins Reid says “will stick with you long after you've turned the last page.” Lolá talks about how Swedish racism differs from the racism commonly experienced in America. She explains how she decided to use her characters to show this through their actions and reactions in ways that are both believable and realistic. We also discuss some of the challenges that Sweden still has left to overcome, and what we all can take away from them. This is the kind of book that can spur a terrific book club discussion. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
Our Latest Monthly Contest is Live!
Our latest “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest title is THE LAST MONA LISA, which is a Bets On pick and Jonathan Santlofer’s first novel featuring a historical setting.
The book explores the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre, giving readers a backstage look at what happened with the painting and the thief behind it all. With forgeries popping up in its wake, the ensuing years became a mystery for the art world. Where is the real painting? And what if the Mona Lisa that ended up in the Louvre has been a replica all along? Luke Perrone, a descendant of the thief, tries to sort out what happened and ends up deep in the underworld of art forgery.
Three groups will win up to 12 copies of THE LAST MONA LISA. To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, October 6th at noon ET. As I mentioned in the last newsletter, I had the opportunity to talk to Jonathan about his latest novel and a number of other subjects. A gifted writer but also an artist, he shares his expertise on the art world; dives deep into his research for the Mona Lisa, which included sitting in the cell where the culprit was jailed; and explains how his work as an artist has influenced his writing. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast. Also, the guide can be found here.
In our previous “What’s Your Book Group Reading This Month?” contest, here are the five books mentioned most frequently as titles that our book groups read: THE VANISHING HALF by Brit Bennett, THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah, the aforementioned THIS TENDER LAND by William Kent Krueger, AMERICAN DIRT by Jeanine Cummins, and THE EXILES by Christina Baker Kline. Scroll further down the newsletter to see the Top 15.
We also have added discussion guides for these six books:
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A SLOW FIRE BURNING: Paula Hawkins’ latest thriller, which is a Bets On pick, is a gripping and twisting story of deceit, murder and revenge. When a young man is found gruesomely murdered in a London houseboat, it triggers questions about three women who knew him.
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MATRIX: Lauren Groff’s first novel since 2015’s FATES AND FURIES, which is this month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club selection and a #1 Indie Next pick, is a defiant and timely exploration of the raw power of female creativity in a corrupted world. On Tuesday, October 12th at 3pm ET, B&N will host a virtual event featuring Groff in conversation with Jamie Quatro. Click here to register.
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BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY: Qian Julie Wang’s memoir, which is this month’s “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick, puts readers in the shoes of an undocumented child living in poverty in the richest country in the world. Jenna says, “When it comes to widely debated issues such as immigration, it is one thing to listen to pundits speak their opinions, but it is another to read the real details of a little girl’s experience growing up as an undocumented immigrant in the U.S. It is one of those remarkable books that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading it.”
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SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE TYPING: Calvin Kasulke’s debut novel, which is this month's "Good Morning America" Book Club pick, is a work-from-home comedy where WFH meets WTF. The author tells “GMA,” “Even though the book is written entirely in Slack chats, you don’t need to ever have used Slack or to even really know what Slack is to read this book. If you’ve ever sent a text message or DM or been in a group chat, you’re totally gonna get this.”
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CLARK AND DIVISION: Edgar Award winner Naomi Hirahara’s new mystery tells the story of the Itos, a Japanese American family released from mass incarceration at Manzanar during World War II. Twenty-year-old Aki Ito refuses to believe that her older sister, Rose, died by suicide and is determined to find out the truth.
In a recent “Bookreporter Talks To” interview, Naomi explains the research she conducted to tell this story and how her nonfiction research on Japanese Americans inspires her fiction. She also talks about her trip to Chicago, where she walked the streets of Clark and Division to absorb details shared in her writing. CLARK AND DIVISION is so different from most World War II novels, and we emphasize how perfect it would be for book club discussions. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
Oprah has selected THE LOVE SONGS OF W.E.B. DU BOIS by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers as her latest book club pick. This debut novel chronicles the journey of one American family, from the centuries of the colonial slave trade through the Civil War to our own tumultuous era. Oprah says, “I was enraptured by the story of this modern Black family, and how author Honorée Fanonne Jeffers interweaves the larger fabric of historical trauma with that family’s ancestral tale --- of tragedy, triumph, and also of the legacy of hidden abuse. But this is Ailey’s story, too, and through her we are offered new learnings about colorism, aspiration, the role of matriarchy, and what it is to be a woman who’s ‘not to be trifled with.’ She’s a heroine for the ages.” Click here for more of Oprah's thoughts on the book. Her conversation with Honorée will stream on Apple TV+ starting September 24th.
L.A. WEATHER by María Amparo Escandón is September’s Reese’s Book Club pick. Here’s what Reese has to say about the book: “Author María Amparo Escandón takes us to sunny Los Angeles where a dry spell creates a perfect storm for the Alvarado family. This story beautifully weaves together the theme of family and uses weather as a metaphor to peel back the curtain on the layered lives of three sisters and their parents. There’s a 100% chance you’ll be paging through this book to uncover the secrets and deception that could potentially burn everything down!”
This Monday, September 20th at 12pm ET, members of the Simon & Schuster team will discuss this month’s Book Club Favorites pick, MAGIC LESSONS (which is now available in paperback), with author Alice Hoffman. Click here to RSVP for the event. If you missed last month’s discussion of YOURS CHEERFULLY featuring AJ Pearce as their special guest, you can watch it here.
For more September selections, including the Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, see our “Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks” feature here.
We have two more “Bookreporter Talks To” interviews to share with you in this newsletter. First up is Ash Davidson, whose debut novel, DAMNATION SPRING, is a Bets On pick. Set in a northern California town in the late ’70s, the book tells the very human story of a family torn apart by the underlying effects of environmental destruction. Rich and his family have been longtime loggers in this area, and he sees an opportunity for a fortune to be made by buying a tract of forest to harvest. He keeps this purchase quiet, not even sharing it with his wife, Colleen. She recently lost a child, a stillbirth after a number of miscarriages, and as a midwife she is also seeing miscarriages across the community. A longtime friend of Colleen’s comes to the area and points out that the herbicides the logging company uses are infiltrating their water supply, and may be causing issues not only with the wildlife, but with the people as well.
Ash talks about the decade she spent writing DAMNATION SPRING and how the plot changed over time. We also discuss the development of the characters and how their stories were very much a reality for people living in that part of the country. There is a lot here for a book group discussion. Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
I also am happy to share my interview with Miranda Cowley Heller, whose instant New York Times bestseller, the aforementioned THE PAPER PALACE, was one of my favorite books of the summer and is a Bets On selection. It is set on the Outer Cape of Cape Cod over the course of 24 hours, and introduces readers to Elle, who must make a decision: stay with her husband, Peter, or leave her marriage for her childhood friend, Jonas. The book looks back over Elle’s life and delves into moments, including a pivotal one, that will influence her decision.
Miranda talks about how she came to write THE PAPER PALACE in her 50s after putting it aside almost a decade ago and the story's development, as well as how her poetry background has influenced her writing. We also discuss the cover, which has its own background in her family. Miranda is currently writing the script for the book's HBO adaptation, a homecoming of sorts for her as she worked as the head of drama series at HBO, developing and overseeing such shows as "The Sopranos," "Six Feet Under" and "The Wire." Click here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast.
Next month’s "Bookaccino Live" afternoon event will take place on Wednesday, October 13th at 2pm ET. I will present titles releasing between October 12th and November 2nd, along with a few from December, that I think will appeal to you. Click here to sign up. Those attending the live event will be asked to answer a survey about the books from the presentation that they are most interested in reading and will be eligible to win a prize.
We hosted this month's “Bookaccino Live” event on Wednesday afternoon. I presented 30 books releasing between now and October 5th, along with nine from November, that I wanted to get on your radar. The presentation will be up on our YouTube channel later today, and we will share the link to the video in the next newsletter. In the meantime, you can see a list of all the titles that I talked about here.
Here's to a great book group discussion this month!
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: LIGHTNING STRIKE by William Kent Krueger
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
LIGHTNING STRIKE by William Kent Krueger (Historical Mystery)
Aurora is a small town nestled in the ancient forest alongside the shores of Minnesota’s Iron Lake. In the summer of 1963, it is the whole world to 12-year-old Cork O’Connor, its rhythms as familiar as his own heartbeat. But when Cork stumbles upon the body of a man he revered hanging from a tree in an abandoned logging camp, it is the first in a series of events that will cause him to question everything he took for granted about his hometown, his family and himself. Cork’s father, Liam O’Connor, is Aurora’s sheriff, and it is his job to confirm that the man’s death was the result of suicide, as all the evidence suggests. In the shadow of his father’s official investigation, Cork begins to look for answers on his own.
- 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 Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with William Kent Krueger.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
- Visit William Kent Krueger's website and see his schedule of upcoming virtual events.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Featured Guide: IN EVERY MIRROR SHE’S BLACK
by Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
IN EVERY MIRROR SHE'S BLACK by Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström (Fiction)
Three Black women are linked in unexpected ways to the same influential white man in Stockholm. Successful marketing executive Kemi Adeyemi is lured from the U.S. to Sweden by Jonny von Lundin, CEO of the nation's largest marketing firm, to help fix a PR fiasco involving a racially tone-deaf campaign. A chance meeting with Jonny in business class en route to the U.S. propels former model-turned-flight-attendant Brittany-Rae Johnson into a life of wealth, luxury and privilege as the object of his unhealthy obsession. And refugee Muna Saheed, who lost her entire family, finds a job cleaning the toilets at Jonny's office as she works to establish her residency in Sweden and, more importantly, seeks connection and a place she can call home.
- 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 Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here for the featured guide.
"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest: Enter to Win Up to 12 Copies of THE LAST MONA LISA
by Jonathan Santlofer 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 up to 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 THE LAST MONA LISA by award-winning crime writer and celebrated artist Jonathan Santlofer. This enthralling tale, which is a Bookreporter.com Bets On pick, is about the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre, the forgeries that appeared in its wake, and the present-day underbelly of the art world. To enter, please fill out the form on this page by Wednesday, October 6th at noon ET.
THE LAST MONA LISA by Jonathan Santlofer (Thriller)
August, 1911: The Mona Lisa is stolen by Vincent Peruggia. Exactly what happens in the two years before its recovery is a mystery. Many replicas of the Mona Lisa exist, and more than one historian has wondered if the painting now returned to the Louvre is a fake, switched in 1911. Present day: Art professor Luke Perrone digs for the truth behind his most famous ancestor: Peruggia. His search attracts an Interpol detective with something to prove and an unfamiliar but curiously helpful woman. Soon, Luke tumbles deep into the world of art and forgery, a land of obsession and danger.
- 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 read Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Jonathan Santlofer.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here to enter the contest.
New Guide: A SLOW FIRE BURNING by Paula Hawkins
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
A SLOW FIRE BURNING by Paula Hawkins (Mystery/Thriller)
When a young man is found gruesomely murdered in a London houseboat, it triggers questions about three women who knew him. Laura is the troubled one-night-stand last seen in the victim’s home. Carla is his grief-stricken aunt, already mourning the recent death of yet another family member. And Miriam is the nosy neighbor clearly keeping secrets from the police. Three women with separate connections to the victim. Three women who are --- for different reasons --- simmering with resentment. When it comes to revenge, even good people might be capable of terrible deeds. How far might any one of them go to find peace? How long can secrets smolder before they explode into flame?
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
- Click here to read Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: MATRIX by Lauren Groff
September’s Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick
MATRIX by Lauren Groff (Historical Fiction)
Cast out of the royal court by Eleanor of Aquitaine, deemed too coarse and rough-hewn for marriage or courtly life, 17-year-old Marie de France is sent to England to be the new prioress of an impoverished abbey, its nuns on the brink of starvation and beset by disease. At first taken aback by the severity of her new life, Marie finds focus and love in collective life with her singular and mercurial sisters. Born the last in a long line of female warriors and crusaders, Marie is determined to chart a bold new course for the women she now leads and protects. But in a world that is shifting and corroding in frightening ways, one that can never reconcile itself with her existence, will the sheer force of Marie’s vision be bulwark enough?
» On Tuesday, October 12th at 3pm ET, Lauren Groff will talk to Jamie Quatro about MATRIX during a B&N Book Club virtual event. Click here to sign up.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read our review on Bookreporter.com.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY by Qian Julie Wang
September’s “Read with Jenna”
Today Show Book Club Pick
BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY: A Memoir by Qian Julie Wang (Memoir)
In Chinese, the word for America, Mei Guo, translates directly to “beautiful country.” Yet when seven-year-old Qian arrives in New York City in 1994 full of curiosity, she is overwhelmed by crushing fear and scarcity. In China, her parents were professors; in America, her family is “illegal,” and it will require all the determination and small joys they can muster to survive. Inhabiting her childhood perspective with exquisite lyric clarity and unforgettable charm and strength, Qian Julie Wang has penned an essential American story about a family fracturing under the weight of invisibility, and a girl coming of age in the shadows, who never stops seeking the 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 September's "Read with Jenna" pick.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE TYPING
by Calvin Kasulke
September’s “Good Morning America” Book Club Pick
SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE TYPING by Calvin Kasulke (Fiction/Humor)
Gerald, a mid-level employee of a New York–based public relations firm, has been uploaded into the company’s internal Slack channels --- at least his consciousness has. His colleagues assume it’s an elaborate gag to exploit the new work-from-home policy, but now that Gerald’s productivity is through the roof, his bosses are only too happy to let him work from...wherever he says he is. Faced with the looming abyss of a disembodied life online, Gerald enlists his co-worker Pradeep to help him escape and to find out what happened to his body. But the longer Gerald stays in the void, the more alluring and absurd his reality becomes. Meanwhile, Gerald’s colleagues have PR catastrophes of their own to handle in the real world.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to see why the book is September's "GMA" Book Club pick.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: CLARK AND DIVISION by Naomi Hirahara
A Bookreporter.com Bets On Title
CLARK AND DIVISION by Naomi Hirahara (Historical Mystery)
Twenty-year-old Aki Ito and her parents have just been released from Manzanar, where they have been detained by the US government since the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, together with thousands of other Japanese Americans. The life in California the Itos were forced to leave behind is gone; instead, they are being resettled 2,000 miles away in Chicago, where Aki’s older sister, Rose, was sent months earlier and moved to the new Japanese American neighborhood near Clark and Division streets. But on the eve of the Ito family’s reunion, Rose is killed by a subway train, and officials are ruling it a suicide. Aki’s instinct tells her there is much more to the story, and she knows she is the only person who could ever learn the truth.
- Click here to read more about the book.
- Click here to read Carol's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
- Click here to watch Carol's "Bookreporter Talks To" interview with Naomi Hirahara.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
Click here for the discussion guide.
New Guide: THE RIVIERA HOUSE by Natasha Lester
THE RIVIERA HOUSE by Natasha Lester (Historical Fiction)
Paris, 1939: The Nazis think that Éliane is merely cataloging art in the Louvre and unaware they’re stealing national treasures for their private collections. They have no idea she’s carefully decoding their notes and smuggling information to the Resistance. But Éliane is playing a dangerous game, and a trip to a stunning home on the French Riviera brings a whole new level of peril. Present Day: Remy Lang heads to a home she’s mysteriously inherited on the Riviera. While working on her vintage fashion business, she discovers a catalog of the artworks stolen during World War II and is shocked to see a painting that hung on her childhood bedroom wall. Who is her family, really? And does the Riviera house hold more secrets than Remy is ready to face?
- Click here to read more about the book.
Click here for the discussion guide.
Favorite Monthly Lists & Picks for September
Each month, we share top book picks from Indie Next and LibraryReads, as well as the Target Book Club title and Costco's "Buyer's Pick." We also feature a number of other prominent picks, including Oprah’s Book Club, the Barnes & Noble Book Club, Reese's Book Club, Jenna Bush Hager's "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club, the "Good Morning America" Book Club, and Simon & Schuster’s Book Club Favorites.
Below is a preview of September'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: MATRIX by Lauren Groff
FERAL CREATURES by Kira Jane Buxton
HARLEM SHUFFLE by Colson Whitehead
THE INHERITANCE OF ORQUÍDEA DIVINA by Zoraida Córdova
LIGHTNING STRIKE by William Kent Krueger
LibraryReads
Top Pick: UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR by TJ Klune
THE CHARM OFFENSIVE by Alison Cochrun
CLOUD CUCKOO LAND by Anthony Doerr
FUZZ: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roach
HARLEM SHUFFLE by Colson Whitehead
Target Book Club
ELI'S PROMISE by Ronald H. Balson
Costco's "Buyer's Pick"
THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED by Lisa Jewell
Barnes & Noble Book Club
MATRIX by Lauren Groff
Reese's Book Club
L.A. WEATHER by María Amparo Escandón
Jenna Bush Hager's "Read with Jenna" Today Show Book Club
BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY: A Memoir by Qian Julie Wang
"Good Morning America" Book Club
SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE TYPING by Calvin Kasulke
Simon & Schuster's Book Club Favorites
MAGIC LESSONS: Book #1 of the Practical Magic Series by Alice Hoffman
Our Most Popular Book Group Selections for August’s
"What's Your Book Group Reading This Month?" Contest
Announcing Bookreporter.com's 11th Annual
Fall Preview Contests and Feature
Fall is known as the biggest season of the year for books. The titles that release during this latter part of the year often become holiday gifts, and many are blockbusters. To celebrate the arrival of fall, we are spotlighting a number of outstanding books that we know people will be talking about in the days and months to come.
We are hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days in September and October, so you will have to check the site each day to see the featured prize book and enter to win. We also are sending a special newsletter to announce the day's title, which you can sign up for here.
This year's featured titles include:
Click here to read all the contest details
and learn more about our featured titles.
From left to right: Ruth Ozeki, Anthony Doerr, Liane Moriarty
Upcoming Virtual Book and Author Events
As so many book and author events are happening online these days, we are highlighting a number of them that you may be interested in attending. Click on the links below for more info and to register.
Saturday, September 18th at 3pm ET: Tattered Cover Book Store: William Kent Krueger will be in conversation with Sandra Dallas about LIGHTNING STRIKE, the prequel to his Cork O'Connor mystery series.
Saturday, September 18th at 7pm ET: Vroman's Bookstore: T.C. Boyle will discuss his wide-ranging and hilarious new novel, TALK TO ME, which explores what it means to be human, to communicate with another, and to truly know another person --- or animal.
Monday, September 20th at 12pm ET: Simon & Schuster's Book Club Favorites: Alice Hoffman will join members of the Simon & Schuster team for a Facebook Live Book Club chat about MAGIC LESSONS, which is September's pick for S&S's Book Club Favorites.
Monday, September 20th at 6:30pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Barnes & Noble will welcome Anderson Cooper for a live virtual event as he discusses his new book, VANDERBILT: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty, with Kelly Ripa.
Monday, September 20th at 8pm ET: Anderson's Bookshops: Join Anderson's Bookshops for a virtual event with USA Today bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan to celebrate the release of her next thrilling stand-alone novel, HER PERFECT LIFE. Hank will be in conversation with fellow bestselling author Mary Kubica.
Tuesday, September 21st at 7:30pm ET: Harvard Book Store and Community Bookstore: Harvard Book Store and Community Bookstore welcome Ruth Ozeki for a discussion of her latest novel, THE BOOK OF FORM AND EMPTINESS. She will be joined in conversation by beloved novelist Madeline Miller.
Tuesday, September 21st at 8pm ET: Murder By The Book: William Kent Krueger will be in conversation with David Heska Wanbli Weiden about his latest Cork O'Connor mystery, LIGHTNING STRIKE.
Wednesday, September 22nd at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors --- Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Patti Callahan Henry and Mary Alice Monroe --- will talk to Wiley Cash, whose latest novel is WHEN GHOSTS COME HOME.
Wednesday, September 22nd at 7pm ET: The Mark Twain House & Museum: The Mark Twain House & Museum is delighted to welcome back THIS TENDER LAND author William Kent Krueger to discuss his newest novel, LIGHTNING STRIKE, with Kristin Hannah.
Thursday, September 23rd at 7pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's, in partnership with Henry Holt & Company, will host a virtual conversation with New York Times bestselling author Liane Moriarty as she discusses her new novel, APPLES NEVER FALL, with Leigh Haber.
Sunday, September 26th at 5pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": For this special bonus episode, the "Friends and Fiction" authors will talk to Karen Cleveland, whose latest thriller is YOU CAN RUN.
Monday, September 27th at 7pm ET: Barnes & Noble: Barnes & Noble welcomes Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anthony Doerr in conversation with Janel Moloney to virtually discuss CLOUD CUCKOO LAND. There will be a special introduction by Mary-Louise Parker.
Wednesday, September 29th at 6:30pm ET: Warwick's: Warwick's will host Hank Phillippi Ryan as she discusses her new book, HER PERFECT LIFE, with Kate White.
Wednesday, September 29th at 7pm ET: "Friends and Fiction": The "Friends and Fiction" authors will talk to Debbie Macomber, whose upcoming novel is DEAR SANTA.
Wednesday, September 29th at 9pm ET: Bookshop Santa Cruz: Bookshop Santa Cruz welcomes bestselling author and staff favorite Ruth Ozeki for an online discussion of her brilliantly inventive novel, THE BOOK OF FORM AND EMPTINESS. She will be in conversation with Katie Kitamura.
"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 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:
BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY: A Memoir by Qian Julie Wang (Memoir)
An incandescent memoir from an astonishing new talent, BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY puts readers in the shoes of an undocumented child living in poverty in the richest country in the world.
CLARK AND DIVISION by Naomi Hirahara (Historical Mystery)
Set in 1944 Chicago, Edgar Award winner Naomi Hirahara’s eye-opening and poignant new mystery --- the story of a young woman searching for the truth about her revered older sister's death --- brings to focus the struggles of one Japanese American family released from mass incarceration at Manzanar during World War II.
DAMNATION SPRING by Ash Davidson (Fiction)
An epic, immersive debut, DAMNATION SPRING is the deeply human story of a Pacific Northwest logging town wrenched in two by a mystery that threatens to derail its way of life.
IN EVERY MIRROR SHE'S BLACK by Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström (Fiction)
IN EVERY MIRROR SHE'S BLACK is an arresting debut for anyone looking for insight into what it means to be a Black woman in the world.
THE LAST MONA LISA by Jonathan Santlofer (Thriller)
From award-winning crime writer and celebrated artist Jonathan Santlofer comes an enthralling tale about the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre, the forgeries that appeared in its wake, and the present-day underbelly of the art world.
LIGHTNING STRIKE by William Kent Krueger (Historical Mystery)
The author of the instant New York Times bestseller THIS TENDER LAND returns with a powerful prequel to his acclaimed Cork O’Connor series --- a book about fathers and sons, long-simmering conflicts in a small Minnesota town, and the events that echo through youth and shape our lives forever.
MATRIX by Lauren Groff (Historical Fiction)
Equally alive to the sacred and the profane, MATRIX gathers currents of violence, sensuality and religious ecstasy in a mesmerizing portrait of consuming passion, aberrant faith and a woman whom history moves both through and around.
THE RIVIERA HOUSE by Natasha Lester (Historical Fiction)
Perfect for fans of THE ROSE CODE, THE RIVIERA HOUSE is a lush and engrossing novel of one woman’s quest to keep Nazis from stealing priceless art during World War II.
SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE TYPING by Calvin Kasulke (Fiction/Humor)
Told entirely through clever and captivating Slack messages, this irresistible, relatable satire of both virtual work and contemporary life is "The Office" for a new world.
A SLOW FIRE BURNING by Paula Hawkins (Mystery/Thriller)
With the same propulsion that captivated millions of readers worldwide in THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN and INTO THE WATER, Paula Hawkins unfurls a gripping, twisting story of deceit, murder and revenge.
WE ARE THE BRENNANS by Tracey Lange (Fiction)
In the vein of Mary Beth Keane’s ASK AGAIN, YES and Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney's THE NEST, Tracey Lange’s WE ARE THE BRENNANS explores the staying power of shame --- and the redemptive power of love --- in an Irish Catholic family torn apart by secrets.
Please note that these titles, for which we already had the guides when they appeared in hardcover, are now available in paperback:
THE BOOK OF TWO WAYS by Jodi Picoult (Fiction)
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of SMALL GREAT THINGS and A SPARK OF LIGHT comes a riveting novel about the choices that alter the course of our lives.
DEAR CHILD by Romy Hausmann (Psychological Thriller/Mystery)
A woman held captive finally escapes --- but can she ever really get away? GONE GIRL meets ROOM in this page-turning, #1 internationally bestselling thriller from one of Germany’s hottest new talents.
HOW TO RAISE AN ELEPHANT: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (21) by Alexander McCall Smith (Mystery)
In this latest installment in the cherished No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, Mma Ramotswe must balance family obligations with the growing needs of one of Charlie’s pet projects.
THE LAST GARDEN IN ENGLAND by Julia Kelly (Historical Fiction)
From the author of the international bestseller THE LIGHT OVER LONDON and THE WHISPERS OF WAR comes a poignant and unforgettable tale of five women living across three different times whose lives are all connected by one very special garden.
MAGIC LESSONS: Book #1 of the Practical Magic Series by Alice Hoffman (Historical Fiction/Magical Realism)
In an unforgettable novel that traces a centuries-old curse to its source, beloved author Alice Hoffman unveils the story of Maria Owens, accused of witchcraft in Salem, and matriarch of a line of the amazing Owens women and men featured in PRACTICAL MAGIC and THE RULES OF MAGIC.
SEND FOR ME by Lauren Fox (Historical Fiction)
SEND FOR ME is an achingly beautiful work of historical fiction that moves between Germany on the eve of World War II and present-day Wisconsin, unspooling a thread of love, longing and the powerful bonds of family.
WE KEEP THE DEAD CLOSE: A Murder at Harvard and a Half Century of Silence by Becky Cooper (True Crime/Memoir)
For readers gripped by IN COLD BLOOD and I'LL BE GONE IN THE DARK, WE KEEP THE DEAD CLOSE is both a haunting true-crime narrative of an unsolved 1969 murder at a prestigious institution and a lyrical memoir of obsession and love for a girl who dreamed of rising among men.
WHAT COULD BE SAVED by Liese O'Halloran Schwarz (Fiction)
Alternating between past and present as secrets are revealed, WHAT COULD BE SAVED is an unforgettable novel about a family shattered by loss and betrayal, and the beauty that can exist even in the midst of brokenness.
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