Today’s The Stack is sponsored by Gallery 13.
From the New York Times bestselling author and award-winning creator of Essex County, Secret Path, Descender, and The Underwater Welder comes an all-original graphic novel about a brother and sister who must come together after years apart to face the disturbing history that has cursed their family.
Greetings Audiobookers!
I’m Katie and I’ll be taking over as your audiobooks tour guide! (This also means I’ll be hosting the Book Riot Insiders audiobook chat at its new time, the second Thursday of each month from 1-2 PM EST, so Insiders, mark yer calendars!)
This week’s newsletter is sponsored by Audiobooks.com
100,000 titles, 1 app, endless listening! Your first book is free when you sign up for Audiobooks.com, the premier membership service for audiobook lovers. You can stream books live or download for offline listening, and enjoy great features like sped-up narration, sleep timer and custom bookmarking. Browse by genre or curated lists, check out promotions and giveaways, and switch seamlessly between devices with cloud-syncing technology. Plus, Audiobooks.com integrates with CarPlay, Android Auto, Sonos and tvOS for easy listening in your car and home. Try Audiobooks.com today!
I’m currently listening to two audiobooks: one is A Colony in a Nation, written and narrated by Chris Hayes and Only Daughter, written by Anna Snoekstra and read by Saskia Maarleveld.
A Colony in a Nation is really interesting–-it’s one of those books that has a straightforward way of synthesizing information you know to be true in a better-articulated package than you (or at least I) could do alone. Hayes looks at race relations, crime, and the privilege/marginalization dichotomy from through the lens of the “colony” (poor areas, often with heavy Black and brown populations) vs. the “nation” (middle/upper class white areas) and the systems that keep these two communities separate. He’s a good narrator; it’s always a treat when the author narrates their own book (although there are a few times where he tries a little too hard to do the “voices” of the people he’s quoting and I’ve found myself cringing during my commute).
The jury is still out on Only Daughter –-I’ll report back. So far, the plot has required absurd suspension of disbelief–the protagonist assumes the life of a girl who went missing 11 years prior. If you can get past the fact even the twins in the Parent Trap couldn’t pull it off (and they were, you know, twins) it’s kind of an interesting story. If I were reading the print version, I probably would have abandoned it by now, but the narrator’s voice is so soothing (a calm Australian accent is hard to turn off) that I’ve been letting the book play while I do laundry.
With The Handmaid’s Tale sweeping the nation (interpret that however you’d like), I want to put in a plug for The Handmaid’s Tale (BBC Radio Collection) version of the audiobook. Full disclosure, it’s a slightly abridged version of the book (I know, I know) but it’s read by a full cast and it’s basically like listening to a really lovely stage performance of the infamous book. There’s also a version narrated by Claire Danes that I’m told is very good but I’m partial to the aforementioned BBC version.
This is Just My Face: Try Not To Stare by Gabourey Sidibe
“Gabourey Sidibe—’Gabby’ to her legion of fans—skyrocketed to international fame in 2009 when she played the leading role in Lee Daniels’s acclaimed movie Precious. In This Is Just My Face, she shares a one-of-a-kind life story in a voice as fresh and challenging as many of the unique characters she’s played onscreen. With full-throttle honesty, Sidibe paints her Bed-Stuy/Harlem family life with a polygamous father and a gifted mother who supports her two children by singing in the subway. Sidibe tells the engrossing, inspiring story of her first job as a phone sex ‘talker.’ And she shares her unconventional (of course!) rise to fame as a movie star, alongside ‘a superstar cast of rich people who lived in mansions and had their own private islands and amazing careers while I lived in my mom’s apartment.’
Sidibe’s memoir hits hard with self-knowing dispatches on friendship, depression, celebrity, haters, fashion, race, and weight (“If I could just get the world to see me the way I see myself,” she writes, “would my body still be a thing you walked away thinking about?”). Irreverent, hilarious, and untraditional, This Is Just My Face will resonate with anyone who has ever felt different, and with anyone who has ever felt inspired to make a dream come true.”
Links for your ears!
Listen To Gabourey Sidibe’s Hilarious Audiobook Bloopers — EXCLUSIVE CLIP–Bustle
EW Releasing Chapters of David Sedaris’ Audiobook Before its May 30th Release–EW
Stephen Fry talking about Sherlock Holmes is pretty much the most British thing ever– Mashable
Five reasons I learnt to stop turning a deaf ear to (and start loving) audiobooks–Scroll.in
Audible Releases Alien: River of Pain–Yahoo Finance
I’m new to the newsletter game and I’d love to hear from you about what you want to see in the newsletter, what’s making your ears happy these days and/or anything else. Feel free to tweet at me (@msmacb).
We’re giving away a six-month Audible membership, but you have to act fast. This thing is only open until 11:59pm eastern on May 3rd, 2017. That’s right, it’s a two-day only kind of a thing.
Here’s the deal. Open to U.S. residents, one entry per email. Winner will be chosen randomly and notified via entered email.
Alright, that’s it. Go here to enter the giveaway or just click the image below. Good luck (and act fast):
Happy Star Wars day! Who’s your favorite Star Wars couple? I have a special place in my heart for Ciena and Thayne from Claudia Gray’s Lost Stars, but I totally betrayed them for a few months with aaaalll the Stormpilot (and maybe some of the Jedistormpilot) fanfiction after The Force Awakens came out. Of course I am all about OG Han and Leia, but I like to pretend their story ended in Episode VI. Let me have that.
This week’s newsletter is sponsored by The Noble Servant by Melanie Dickerson.
New York Times bestselling author Melanie Dickerson returns with The Noble Servant, a retelling of the fairtale classic, The Goose Girl. In this medieval tale, Lady Magdalen is on her way to join the Duke of Wolfberg in marriage when her maidservant betrays her, takes her identity, and sends her down to the lowliest household position—tending the geese. But while out in the field, Magdalen encounters a mysterious shepherd who reveals that not all is as it seems in the castle, and it is up to them—the lowest of the low—to regain all that is lost.
(For the uninitiated non-dweebs who read Kissing Books, you can read all about the silliness of May The Fourth Be With You here.)
In other news, how has your reading gone since we last chatted?
Romancelandia has been pretty quiet (they deserve a break from all the drama!), and right now they’re all busy at RT Convention, but there are always books!
Over on Book Riot, we’ve got romances that pass the Bechdel-Wallace test.
Amanda Diehl compiled diverse romances coming out in the next quarter.
And next: book recs!
I finally got around to reading The Thing About Love by Julie James and it was great fun. I’d (gasp!) only read one other Julie James novel before and hadn’t been bowled over the way others seemed to have been, and I discovered I just hadn’t found the right Julie James novel. This one, about two FBI agents with a history that—as with most histories—is remembered very differently by the pair, is fantastic, funny, and frustrating in the best ways. If you want all the interesting undercover work without the angst of a romantic suspense, this is the book for you.
I just (literally just) finished Rebekah Weatherspoon’s Haven and holy gee whiz. You’re gonna want to get your hands on this one immediately. When Shep hears screaming from his remote mountain home, he has no idea what’s going to happen to his life or that of the beautiful woman whose life he saves. Where’s that fire emoji when you need it? This book requires heat-resistant gloves just to turn the pages. And because YMMV, if the name of the series (Beards and Bondage) didn’t give enough of a hint, you’re gonna want to be prepared for bearded heroes. And kink, of course.
Both of these books include a mountain of a man as our hero, neither of whom tries to hide how much of a sweetheart they actually are. So if that’s your thing, you’ll want to mainline these back to back.
And per usual, some books out now and coming soon:
Concourse, Santino Hassell
Necessary Medicine, MK York
Seized by Seduction, Brenda Jackson
To Me I Wed, KM Jackson
The Librarian and the Spy, Susan Mann
Dating the Undead, Juliet Lyons
Bombshell, CD Reiss
Love Me Again, Jaci Burton
Crazy for You, Rina Gray (5/ 8)
Deadmen Walking, Sherrilyn Kenyon (5/9)
The Girl Who Knew Too Much, Amanda Quick (5/9)
Lethal Lies, Rebecca Zanetti (5/16)
Time to get back to reading (not even gonna lie about “getting caught up”). In the meantime, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at jessica@riotnewmedia.com if you’ve got feedback or just want to say hi!
Until next time, m’loves!
Hello fellow mystery fans! Family Councils Ontario has created a reading program for Long-Term Care Homes and if they pick their books wisely this could turn into some awesome mystery party events–just sayin’!
Nevertheless, she persisted!
Murder Between the Lines by (Kitty Weeks Mystery #2) by Radha Vatsal: I adore Capability “Kitty” Weeks and her persistence to live her life as she chooses. While she’s finally gotten the writing job she wants she’s always pushing for more, and to actually be treated as a proper journalist—something believed only men can be in the early 1900s. (Good luck getting Kitty to stand down!) After visiting an all girls school for a writing assignment Kitty finds herself needing to dig deeper into the death of one of the girls since she’s unable to accept the sleepwalking explanation. Set in N.Y. at the beginning of WWII the novel is filled with historical facts and puts Kitty into women’s suffrage events, visits from President Wilson, and even has her looking into Thomas Edison’s battery invention. I’m looking forward to more of this series!
James Patterson plans to write a true crime book about Aaron Hernandez, the former NFL star who took his own life while serving life in prison.
Even though I must solve everything I loved this quote in The New York Times article In Praise of Agatha Christie’s Accidental Sleuths by Radhika Jones: “I never tried to piece together the clues. I vastly preferred to hear it from Hercule Poirot or Jane Marple. Why spend time with such endearing, clever characters if you’re not going to let them do their job?”
Fun!
Pretty Fierce by Kieran Scott: When I read too many disappointing or problematic books in a row I usually try to pick up a fun book to wash my brain clean and Pretty Fierce delivered! Kai’s parents are contract killers who’ve raised her around the world as they moved from job to job–that is until a job goes very wrong and Kai ends up orphaned and living with strangers. She’s also finally attending high school and has a boyfriend she loves to pieces, which is of course when the past comes back for her. It seems there are people out to kill (?) kidnap (?) clearly cause Kai harm and since she still doesn’t know what her parents last job was nor what happened to them she has to find out who is after her in order to stay safe. And her boyfriend is coming along for the action-packed ride because let’s just say those two haven’t been very honest with each other and they’ve got some stuff to work out while trying to stay alive. I can totally see this being adapted into a CW series starring Aimee Carrero kicking ass.
Emil Ferris’ unique and clever mystery graphic novel My Favorite Thing is Monsters created a four studio bidding battle for the screen rights. Sony won.
For Shakespeare Lovers:
If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio: Ever wanted to solve a murder while being submersed in Shakespeare’s words? Have I got a book for you! Seven students attending Dellecher Classical Conservatory as Shakespeare actors have bonded and created a click as they eat, sleep, breathe Shakespeare–that is until a real life tragedy! The novel starts with Oliver being released from jail and a detective coming to ask if he’ll now finally reveal what really happened ten years ago at the Conservatory. As Oliver finally tells what led to the tragedy, and the roles each student played before and after, you’ll wonder how much is life imitating art and vice versa… This one had a type of ending that I love–but I can’t tell you.
And if you’ve been dying to get your hands on Paula Hawkins’ Into the Water it is now out in the wild! If you’re a must-read-before-the-adaptation reader DreamWorks Pictures is already working on the film so times a ticking.
On Book Riot: Since mystery fans are usually fans of plot twists here are 100 must-read novels with twists!
And Amanda Nelson, Jenn Northington, and Katie McLain did a special mystery/thrillers themed Get Booked podcast!
I have to go shopping now:
If you’ve always wanted a Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine bag dreams do come true!
Until next time, keep investigating! And in the meantime come talk books with me on Twitter and Litsy— you can find me under Jamie Canaves.
Level up your reading life with Book Riot Insiders! We’ve got exclusive content and goodness for subscribers, including a new releases calendar, an Insiders-only forum, and more. Join us!
Welcome back to In The Club, a newsletter of resources to keep your book group well-met and well-read.
This newsletter is sponsored by The Widow of Wall Street by Randy Susan Meyers.
A provocative new novel by bestselling author Randy Susan Meyers about the seemingly blind love of a wife for her husband as he conquers Wall Street, and her extraordinary, perhaps foolish, loyalty during his precipitous fall.
When Phoebe learns her husband’s triumph and vast reach rests on an elaborate Ponzi scheme her world unravels. Her children refuse to see her if she remains at their father’s side, but abandoning him feels cruel and impossible.
From penthouse to prison, Randy Susan Meyers’s latest novel exposes a woman struggling to survive and then redefine her life as her world crumbles.
Books for your mama: Bustle breaks down how to put together a successful mother-daughter book club. We get questions about this so regularly on Get Booked, I felt like there might already be some of you trying this and many more interested. And section 5, on choosing your books, has some great methods that would work with any kind of book club — I had never heard the 5-3-1 Method before, but I dig it.
OMG, so awkward. Sharifah talks about awkward book club moments, whether it’s you or the person sitting across from you, and she had me cracking up with this video. Be prepared for some realtalk!
Want to get more calendrical with your group’s choices? Here are 50 fictional literary dates to tie into, courtesy of Lithub.
Get out the popcorn: Casey has five great lesbian movies based on books for your consideration. Whether you’re doing a page-to-screen book club or just need some good books to discuss, she’s got you covered.
Every villain is the hero of their own story. And to prove it, the B&N blog has five (debatably delightful) disturbing narrators for you.
And now for this week’s Read Harder Challenge recommendations! Here are round-ups of themed lists for a couple tasks, plus a shout-out each to a personal favorite.
For: read an LGBTQ romance novel (courtesy of Sarah MacLean)
– For Real by Alexis Hall, which is an incredibly sweet and incredibly dirty romance that made me cry and/or blush depending on the page. Talking points include May/December romances, BDSM, and how we recover when we get lost.
– 5 Authors To Get You Started in M/M Romance
– Romance beyond gay and lesbian
– A (Semi) Comprehensive Guide to LGBTQ+ Romance
– Lesbian Romance Novels
For: read a book published between 1900 and 1950.
– We by Yevgeny Zamyatin, which came before 1984 and starts with the premise that happiness is more important than freedom. It’s a classic.
– Books That Shaped America: 1900 to 1950
– Best Children’s Books: 1900 to 1950
– Popular 1900s to 1950s books on Goodreads
More Resources:
– Our Book Group In A Box guide
– List your group on the Book Group Resources page
Shimmy, shake, and do the last-chance dance. The 25% sale on all original Book Riot designs ends today. You know what to do!
Today’s Riot Rundown is sponsored by The Summoner Series by Taran Matharu.
Fletcher can summon demons. But can he win a war? The action-packed bestselling Summoner Series continues with The Battlemage. Start reading from the beginning—get The Novice for only $2.99 for a limited time.
Today’s The Stack is sponsored by Spill Zone, a stunning graphic novel from bestselling author Scott Westerfeld.
Three years ago an event destroyed the small city of Poughkeepsie, forever changing reality within its borders. Uncanny manifestations and lethal dangers now await anyone who enters the Spill Zone. The Spill claimed Addison’s parents and scarred her little sister, Lexa, who hasn’t spoken since. Addison provides for her sister by photographing the Zone’s twisted attractions on illicit midnight rides. Art collectors pay top dollar for these bizarre images, but getting close enough for the perfect shot can mean death—or worse.
When an eccentric collector makes a million-dollar offer, Addison breaks her own hard-learned rules of survival and ventures farther than she has ever dared. Within the Spill Zone, Hell awaits—and it seems to be calling Addison’s name.
We have a full set of Harry Potter Creature Incredibuilds to giveaway, courtesy of our friends at Insight Editions.
The prize pack includes buildable creature sets for Buckbeak, Niffler, Aragog, and Swooping Evil!
Each buildable 3D wood set also comes with a booklet about the design and backstory of each creature from the Wizarding World.
Go here to enter for a chance to win, or just click on the image of the Buckbeak set below. Good luck!
