Hello
 We have cooked up a side of whimsy along with Mother's Day brunch so moms can pepper their day with some light-hearted reading. After all, almost nothing says pampering like curling up with a good book! The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper explores how much we really know about the ones we love, while The Summer Before the War is a charmingly insightful novel set in a small village during World War I by the author of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. Family matters anchor veteran author Anne Tyler's A Spool of Blue Thread, which was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. We also explore Tyler's legendary careerin our related "Beyond the Book."
Round off the day's treats with a visit to the coastal town of Rye and enter our book giveaway to win one of 50 copies of The 100 Year Miracle. Your Editor, Davina PS: Belated Mother's Day to readers in the UK! And if you're wondering why different countries celebrate on different days scroll down to the bottom of this blogfor the answer.
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  1. First Impressions: Members Recommend Each month we give away books to U.S. resident members to read and review (or discuss). Members who choose to participate receive a free book about every three months. Here are their opinions on one recent release.  The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper
by Phaedra Patrick Publisher: Mira Books
Publication Date: May 2016
Novel, 384 pages
Number of reader reviews: 20
Readers' consensus: 4.5/5.0
Members Say " The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper is totally and utterly charming. Arthur Pepper has spent a year of his life mourning the death of his wife. After spending that year locked in grief and mind-numbing routine tasks, he marks the anniversary of her passing by finally cleaning her closets and going through her belongings. A gold charm bracelet comes to light, one that Arthur has no recollection his wife ever owning or wearing. His curiosity propels him out of the gray routine of the previous year and launches him into a series of adventures that will change him forever." - Priscilla M. (Houston, TX) "Most coming-of-age stories are about the hard transition from child to adult. Arthur finds that he is fossilizing. But in a kind of elder adolescence, Arthur begins adventuring. Reading The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper is a sovereign remedy against old thinking. I think that it is an all-ages book, at least from YA to OA. This book could be a Common Read for an extended family, the discussions (or posts or tweets) cross-linking generations." - Mark O. (Wenatchee, WA) "This is one of the best books I've read in a long time... it takes us from a small town in England, to London, Paris and India. I truly loved this book, even though I'm not fond of British books." - Tillie H. (Baltimore, MD) "This book is delightful, sometimes funny, and sometimes sad, but it will leave you with the belief that each day should be enjoyed to the fullest. It will promote a great discussion for Book Clubs." - Annette S. (Duluth, GA)
More about this book | Read all the reviews Buy at Amazon | B&N | Indie
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 2. Editor's Choice 
The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
Hardcover (Mar 2016), 496 pages. Publisher: Random House. BookBrowse Rating: 5/5, Critics' Consensus: 4.3/5 Buy at Amazon | B&N | Indie
Reviewed by Megan Shaffer
The Summer Before the War will appeal to lovers of historical fiction, and, like Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, dazzle book clubs. The town of Rye and its coastal surroundings are sure to pique curiosity and entertain those with an interest in history. Simonson's latest work is a treasure and serves as a social commentary of the times leaving much room for discussion on issues of race, gender bias, sexuality, and politics. ... continuedFull access to our reviews & beyond the book articles are for members only. But there are always four free Editor's Choice reviews and beyond the book articles available.
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 3. Beyond the Book: Rye
Every time we review a book we also explore a related topic. Here is a recent "beyond the book" article for The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
 The charming town of Rye rests in the county of East Sussex near England's south coast. Rye's recorded history can be traced back to before the Norman Conquest of 1066. For many centuries it was an important port town set in a naturally formed bay. But this changed in the 13th century when a combination of major storms led to its main river changing course. This, compounded with ill-advised land ... continued Read in full
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4. Editor's Choice
A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler
Paperback (Apr 2016), 384 pages. Publisher: Ballantine Books. BookBrowse Rating: 5/5, Critics' Consensus: 4.9/5 Buy at Amazon | B&N | IndieReviewed by David Chazan
According to Sonny Mehta, Chairman and Editor in Chief of Alfred A. Knopf Publications, A Spool of Blue Thread is the story of "three generations of the Whitshank family: not just tender moments, but also jealousies, disappointments, more than a few skeletons in the closet - and at the center, the sprawling Baltimore house that has anchored these lives." What Mr. Mehta didn't include in this superb summary was that this family is much like millions of others, with all their trivialities and hapless blunderings through life - in other words, we are all Whitshanks. ... continued Full access to our reviews & beyond the book articles are for members only. But there are always four free Editor's Choice reviews and beyond the book articles available. |
5. Beyond the Book: Anne Tyler
Every time we review a book we also explore a related topic. Here is a recent "beyond the book" article for A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler in which we delve into her 50-year writing career
 In March 2013, Anne Tyler announced the title of her upcoming novel in an interview with the BBC. She also noted that she didn't want to finish another novel - not even this one. She described the book as a "sprawling family saga," which starts with the present generation and then moves back, one generation at a time. Fortunately, she realized she was only interested in three generations. Before ... continued Read in full | More about this book
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 6. Author Interview
 Ashley Hay talks about her novel, The Railwayman's Wife, set in the silent aftermath of World War II, in which a widow, a poet, and a doctor search for lasting peace and fresh beginnings. Read the Interview | More about the book
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 7. Win This Book  The 100 Year Miracle by Ashley ReamPublished May 2016
320 pages
Enter the Giveaway Once a century, for only six days, the bay around a small Washington island glows like a water-bound aurora. Dr. Rachel Bell, a scientist studying the 100-Year Miracle and the tiny sea creatures that create it, knows a secret about the phenomenon that inspired the region's myths and folklore: the rare green water may contain a power that could save Rachel's own life (and change the world). When Rachel connects with Harry and Tilda, a divorced couple cohabiting once again as Harry enters the last stages of a debilitating disease, Harry is pulled into Rachel's obsession and hope as they both grasp at this once-in-a-lifetime chance to save themselves. But the Miracle does things to people. Strange and mysterious things. And as these things begin to happen, Rachel has only six days to uncover and control the Miracle's secrets before the waters go dark for another hundred years. 50 people will each win a hardcover copy of The 100 Year Miracle. This giveaway is open to residents of the USA only. Enter the giveaway Past Winners
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8. Published This Week
Interested to know what notable books published this week?
Click on any of the book jacket images to view info about the book on BookBrowse.
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