Reading Ahead: June 2013, part 4

That's me, with this particular part of June's list of new titles.  (Hur-ray!  Get it?  Right, moving on...)

My point is, sometimes, there are so many great books I can't wait to read, I get a little giddy.  Okay, maybe a lot giddy.  Can't take the suspense?  Me, either.  On to the list!

The Ocean at the End of the Lane, by Neil Gaiman

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls, by Anton Disclafani

The Silver Star, by Jeannette Walls

The Blood of Heaven, by Kent Wascom

The Engagements, by J. Courtney Sullivan

Sisterland, by Curtis Sittenfeld

What's got me all a-twitter?  Well, let's start at the top.  I am a huge Neil Gaiman fan.  He's funny, he's brilliant, he's a big fan of libraries.  What's not to love?!   Mr. Gaiman has, however, given us one more reason to love him--his first new novel for adults since 2005's Anansi Boys.  Gaiman has a love of mythology and ancient religions, and sprinkles them liberally throughout much of his work.  (My personal favorite would be American Gods, by the way.  It's one of the few books I make time to reread regularly.)  In that vein, this newest novel finds a middle-aged man who returns to his childhood home and is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where as a child he encountered an extraordinary girl, her mother and her grandmother.  As he sits by that ramshackle house, he's overcome with memories of a past that couldn't possibly be his own.  Could it?  Lots and lots of anticipation surrounding this new work!

The next on my list is, I predict, going to be one of the sleeper hits this summer.  (Psst--The Wall Street Journal and Publisher's Weekly have my back on this.)  Part scandalous love-story, part family drama, The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls brings readers teenager Thea Atwell, cast out of her wealthy Florida family after a tragedy that Thea is, at least partially, responsible for.  She has been sent to an equestrienne boarding school for Southern debutantes, located high in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  And even as Thea mulls over the true story behind her expulsion from her family, she also must determine how her past will shape her future.  Looks like powerful stuff, and if the critics are already this excited, it is definitely worth checking out.

The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls ought to be a no-brainer for the avid reader.  If the name seems familiar, that's because she also wrote Half-Broke Horses and her memoir The Glass Castle, both of which won critical acclaim. 

For fans of historical fiction, Kent Wascom's debut, The Blood of Heaven, is one you should not miss.  Set in the American frontier in the early 19th century, the story follows Angel Woolsack, a preacher's son, as he flees his humble beginnings, finds friendship and brotherhood in Western Florida, falls in love in Natchez, and plots rebellion in New Orleans. 

Still looking for your one true love out of June's list?  I have a few things that might make you smile, but I'm saving those for Thursday.  See you then!

Reading Ahead: June 2013, part 3

The last couple of posts have been great news for readers of thrillers and suspense.  But what if you're looking for some titles worthy of adding to your beach bag or your vacation reading and you're not a thriller fan?  Never fear!  There are plenty of lower-key beach reads that will entertain your brain while you enjoy the warmer weather this summer.  Here are some, from family sagas to chick lit, that might be just what you're looking for.

Ladies’ Night, by Mary Kay Andrews.  Nothing in Grace's life prepared her for being locked out of her home, her checking account and her business after catching her husband cheating on her.  Okay, so she also drove his sports car into the swimming pool, but is that any reason for court-mandated "divorce recovery" group therapy?  It's being billed as poignant and funny with a bit of a mystery.  Andrews is one of the founding mothers of chick-lit, so I would say it should be a sure thing.

Island Girls, by Nancy Thayer.  Three sisters (who shared a father, but different mothers) all convene in their late-father's Nantucket home for a summer together, a condition of his will if they want to inherit said house.  With a history of jealousy and resentment among them, their relationship is understandably sour.  Until, that is, they need to lean on each other to get through relationship woes and sordid pasts rearing their ugly heads.  A classic light beach read.

Beautiful Day, by Erin Hilderbrand.  Nantucket seems to be a running theme this year.  Two families arrive on Nantucket to celebrate the nuptials of a young couple, the details dictated by a plan left by the bride's late mother.  While the couple themselves are happy, their families are much less so.  Family drama and scandal abound leading up to the big day.  This sounds like quintessential Hilderbrand, who does this brand of beach read with flair.

The Last Original Wife, by Dorothea Benton Frank.  As the last original wife among her husband's wildly successful Atlanta social set, Les is fed up.  His cronies have all traded in their first wives for younger models, and she is tired of losing friends and sick of her husband treating it as a favor to keep her around.  Unable to stand it another minute, Les lights out for her hometown of Charleston, intent on cultivating the life of her dreams.

Sweet Salt Air, by Barbara Delinsky.  Two old friends, separated for years by professional and personal choices as well as geography, get together one summer like they used to, on an island off the coast of Maine.  It is a project that bring them together, a professional collaboration that makes the most of Nicole's culinary passion and Charlotte's travel-writer chops.  But it may be the secrets they've been keeping that destroy their friendship for good.  Reviews have been good so far, my guess is it should be a great addition to your pool-side reading.

Light reads not your thing either?  I've got you covered--I'll be back next week with both the substantial novels and the comedy gold slated for June releases.  In the meantime, happy reading!

Reading Ahead: June 2013, part 2

If you thought the first part of the June thrillers list was exciting, you haven't seen anything yet.  Really, sit down.  You are not prepared.

Are you sitting?  Okay, here we go.

Eye of God, by James Rollins

The Shadow Tracer, by Meg Gardiner

Killer Ambition, by Marcia Clark

Tell Me, by Lisa Jackson

Always Watching, by Chevy Stevens

The Kill Room, by Jeffery Deaver

Very exciting things here!  For one, I am delighted to see Chevy Stevens back with her third novel (after 2011's Never Knowing).  Few authors manage the twists and turns of gripping plotlines like Stevens, and I am extremely excited to read Always Watching. 

Also on my radar is the new Meg Gardiner stand-alone novel, The Shadow Tracer, which follows skip tracer Sarah Keller in her battle to going from tracer to untraceable after an accident reveals her darkest secret--that she is not the biological mother of her five-year-old daughter Zoe.  Lots of hype on this one--if you don't read her already, this is one to start with.

And finally, Jeffery Deaver has brought back one of my favorite thriller duos (last seen in 2010's Burning Wire), Lincoln Rhyme and partner Amelia Sachs as they track a sniper who hit his target from over a mile away, and the heat is turned up when a knife-wielding assassin begins to systematically destroy all evidence...including witnesses. 

So tell me, what strikes your fancy for some summer chills?

Reading Ahead: June 2013, part 1

I think I may call 2013 the summer of the thriller, because by my count, fully half of the "big name" releases slated for this summer are suspense/thriller titles.  Here are a few to get you started.

The 9^th Girl, by Tami Hoag

Second Honeymoon, by James Patterson & Howard Roughan

Choke Point, by Ridley Pearson

The King’s Deception, by Steve Berry

Her Last Breath, by Linda Castillo

I don't know about you, but I hardly know where to start.  Tami Hoag is a given, of course--she has a keen gift for detail and this latest, about a transient serial killer they're calling Doc Holiday, looks like it should be creepy as all get out.  Can't wait.  Also, if you're looking for a fresh voice in the genre, I highly recommend Linda Castillo. Murder in Ohio Amish country?  Castillo makes it work like a pro.  If you're new to the series, be sure to start at the beginning, with Sworn to Silence. 

I'll be back next week with more thrillers to look forward to.  Happy Reading in the meantime!

What I was reading: April 2013

Pardon me while I play catch-up here, after last week, which was the week that never stopped!  There have been so many amazing books coming out lately, I've been in a bit of a reading frenzy.  We should all have such problems, right?  So let me fill you in on some of the great titles I've been reading.

The Burgess Boys, by Elizabeth Strout.  This was one that I was extremely excited about, and Strout (who won the Pulitzer Prize for Olive Kitteridge), as always, did not disappoint in the slightest.   Brothers Jim and Bob Burgess escaped from their small Maine hometown as soon as they could.  Both bound and separated by the freak accident that killed their father when they were small, their relationship as adults is difficult at best.  Jim, now a sleek corporate lawyer, is critical and chronically frustrated with his younger, big-hearted brother.  Bob, a Legal Aid attorney, idolizes his older brother and takes the constant criticism in stride.  But when a family crisis draws them back to their hometown, long-held secrets begin to surface that will change their relationship, and their lives, forever.  Powerful, poignant, and beautifully written--this would be an amazing choice if you're looking for a title to discuss for your book club, too.  Strout does it again.  320 pages

Life After Life, by Kate Atkinson.  You already know how much I loved this--I couldn't keep it to myself!    529 pages

Widow's Tears, by Susan Wittig Albert.  I don't normally read many mystery series, but this was one I got hooked on years ago.  This latest installment of the China Bayles series was slow to pick up momentum, but once it got underway it was compulsively readable and quite a bit different from most of the rest of the series.  China's loyal sidekick, Ruby, gets a call from an old childhood friend, who has a real estate problem of the supernatural sort, and is convinced Ruby is the only one who can help.  Ruby's not quite so sure, but can't say no to one of her oldest friends.  Hurricanes, history, and hauntings are not Albert's normal fare, but she does an admirable job.  If you're looking to start the series, it's best to begin with the first title, Thyme of Death.  292 pages

Rage Against the Dying, by Becky Masterman.  Seriously one of the best thrillers I've read in years.  A fresh new voice to the genre, and one I can't wait to read more from.  You can read my review here.  PS--the audio version is pretty epic, too.  320 pages

The Accursed, by Joyce Carol Oates.  I'll admit that I found this a little challenging to get into.  I haven't read much of Oates' work, and her style is a little quirky.  I'm glad I forged ahead, though, as this was really spectacular.  In early 20th century Princeton, a curse descends, only affecting the wealthiest families and causing, among other things, the disappearance of a young bride.  When her brother sets out to find her, he encounters some of the towns most formidable figures, including Grover Cleveland and Upton Sinclair.  This is an especial must for history buffs.  669 pages

Undone, by Karin Slaughter.  We all have lists of authors or titles we've been meaning to read.  Karin Slaughter had been on my list for much too long, so when I saw some titles available on Overdrive, I downloaded it to my Kindle.  Now I'm partly sad that I waited so long, and mostly overjoyed that now I have a new-to-me author to read through, because it was phenomenal!  When a tortured young woman enters the trauma center of an Atlanta hospital, Dr. Sara Linton is thrust into a desperate police investigation with Special Agent Will Trent and his partner, Faith Mitchell. Though guarding their own wounds and their own secrets, Sara, Will, and Faith find that they are all that stand between a madman and his next victim.  Slaughter has a real gift for adding detail and nuance to her characters, making them fallible, real, and extremely relatable--highly recommended.  436 pages

The Good House, by Ann Leary.  Hildy Good, descendent of a Salem witch, may or may not be an alcoholic.  Her daughters certainly seemed sure she was, and so she went and did her 28 days to get them off her back.  Now she spends her days as sober realtor in her sleepy hometown on Boston's North Shore and her long evenings drinking alone, lest anyone find out she's drinking.  Lonely, she finds a friend in new neighbor Rebecca McAllister, who's also feeling a little lonely and out of her element.  They share gossip, and wine, and secrets, but Rebecca isn't welcomed by all of the community, and finds herself the target of gossip, and worse.  Hildy starts out trying to protect her new friend, but ultimately finds herself scrambling to cover her own ass.  The Good House is outrageous, funny, and hugely entertaining, and Leary proves that famous husband, Denis Leary, isn't the only witty one in the family.  304 pages

The Language of Flowers, by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.  This is a re-read for my May book club.  You can read my original review here. 322 pages


April totals:
8 titles
3,192 pages

Year-to-date totals:
27/75 titles =  36%
10,088/35,000 pages = 29%

Still in need of a few more longer novels, but I'm in good shape to reach my reading goals by the end of the year.  Anyone else have a reading challenge?  I'd love to hear about it!