The Virgin Cure: A Novel Ami McKay (Facebook) (Twitter) (Pinterest) Harper Perennial (July 2013), trade paper (ISBN 0061140341 / 9780061140341) Fiction (historical), 352 pages Source: Hardcover provided by publisher Reason for reading: TLC Book Tour (to support the paperback edition) Opening lines: “I am Moth, a girl from the lowest part of Chrystie Street, born to a slum-house mystic and the man who broke her heart. “My father ran off when I was three years […]
The Exiles: A Novel Allison Lynn (Twitter) Little A / New Harvest (July 2013), Hardcover (ISBN 054410210X / 9780544102101) Fiction, 336 pages Source: ARC from publisher Reason for reading: TLC Book Tour Opening lines: “Nate Bedecker stumbled as he stepped out of the Jeep. He briefly, embarrassingly (though no one was looking–he’d checked with a quick sweep of his eyes) tripped over the reedy patch of grass that bulged above the Newport curb. Three hours […]
The Firebird Susanna Kearsley (Facebook) (Twitter) Sourcebooks Landmark (2013), Paperback original (ISBN 140227663X / 9781402276637) Fiction, 544 pages Source: Publisher Reason for Reading: She Reads Book Club selection Opening lines: “He sent his mind in search of me that morning. “I was on the Tube, a half a minute out of Holland Park and in that muzzy not-awake-yet state that always bridged the time between my breakfast cup of coffee and the one that I’d […]
Maine J. Courtney Sullivan (Facebook) (Twitter) Vintage (2012), Paperback (ISBN 0307742210 / 9780307742216) Fiction, 528 pages Source: Purchased Reason for reading: Personal, vacation Opening lines: “Alice decided to take a break from packing. She lit a cigarette, leaning back in one of the wicker chairs that were always slightly damp from the sea breeze. She glanced around at the cardboard boxes filled with her family’s belongings, each glass and salt shaker and picture frame wrapped […]
What Changes Everything Masha Hamilton Unbridled Books (June 2013), hardcover (ISBN 1609530918 / 9781609530914) Fiction, 288 pages Source: ARC from publisher Reason for reading: Intended for review in Shelf Awareness for Readers, but didn’t make the deadline Excerpt: “In the narrow strand of space between the first piece of information and all the rest, thoughts rushed through Clarissa that could not be said aloud, not then, probably not ever. They came like the violent Nor’easters […]
Someday, Someday, Maybe: A Novel Lauren Graham (Twitter) (Fan site) (IMDb) Ballantine Books (April 2013), Hardcover (ISBN 0385367473 / 9780345532749) Fiction, 352 pages Source: Purchased audiobook (Random House Audio, April 2013, ISBN 9780385367486; Audible ASIN B00B3Y1B5U) Reason for reading: Personal Opening lines: “’Begin whenever you’re ready,’ comes the voice from the back of the house. “Oh, I’m ready. “After all, I’ve prepared for this day for years: The Day of the Most Important Audition of […]
Douglas Adams‘ Hitchhiker’s Guide to The Galaxy, Parts 1-3 The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Audiobook read by Stephen Fry (IMDb) Crown, 2004, hardcover (ISBN 1400052920 / 9781400052929) Fiction (sci-fi/humor/satire), 224 pages Audio edition: Audible ASIN B0009JKV9W (Random House Audio, 2005) The Restaurant at the End of the Universe Audiobook read by Martin Freeman (IMDb) Del Rey, 1997, paperback (ISBN 0345418921 / 9780345418920) Fiction (sci-fi/humor/satire), 256 pages Audio edition: Audible ASIN B000GPCO0S (Random House Audio, […]
Orphan Train: A Novel (book trailer) Christina Baker Kline (Facebook) (Twitter) (Goodreads) William Morrow Paperbacks (April 2013), paperback original (ISBN 0061950726 / 9780061950728) Fiction (historical), 304 pages Source: Publisher, for review consideration Reason for Reading: SheReads Book Club selection, May 2013 Opening lines (Prologue): “I believe in ghosts. They’re the ones who haunt us, the ones who have left us behind. Many times in my life I have felt them around me, observing, witnessing, when no […]
The Edge of the Earth: A Novel Christina Schwarz Atria Books (April 2013), hardcover (ISBN 1451683677 / 9781451683677) Fiction (historical), 288 pages Source: ARC from publisher Reason for reading: Intended for review in Shelf Awareness for Readers, but didn’t finish reading the book in time to meet my deadline Opening Lines, from the Prologue: “I’m not going to let on I was born here. People always ask what it was like to grow up in a […]
Telegraph Avenue: A Novel Michael Chabon Harper (September 2012), Hardcover (ISBN 0061493341 / 9780061493348) Fiction, 480 pages Source: ARC received at Book Expo America 2013 Reason for reading: #readchabon group read Opening lines: “A white boy rode flatfoot on a skateboard, towed along, hand to shoulder, by a black boy pedaling a brakeless fixed-gear bike. Dark August morning, deep in the Flatlands. Hiss of tires. Granular unraveling of skateboard wheels against asphalt. Summertime Berkeley giving […]
The Cat Edeet Ravel Pintail (March 2013), trade paper original (ISBN 0143186450 / 9780143186458) Fiction, 240 pages A version of this post was previously published as a starred review in Shelf Awareness for Readers (April 12, 2013). Shelf Awareness provided a galley of the book (via the publisher) and compensation for the review. Opening lines: “Her cage was in the upper corner of the room. There were three rows of cages, and many of the […]
Oleander Girl: A Novel Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni Free Press (March 2013), hardcover (ISBN 1451695659 / 9781451695656) Fiction, 304 pages A version of this review was previously published in Shelf Awareness for Readers (March 29, 2013). Shelf Awareness provided a galley of this book (furnished by the publisher) in order to facilitate the review, and compensated me for its original publication. Opening lines: “I’m swimming through a long, underwater cavern flecked with blue light, the cavern […]
