Hello
 After taking a summer break, BookBrowse's Book Club has just started up again with a discussion of Maggie O'Farrell's This Must Be The Place, the first of what is gearing up to be a fantastic Fall season - please do mark your calendar and join us for any discussions of interest!
This week's Editor's Choice is a whimsical and moving novel about one man and his beloved dachshund. Then we go beyond the book to discuss the breed that H. L. Mencken aptly described as "a half-a-dog high and a dog-and-a-half long,"
In addition we bring you an interview with Ben Winter about his chilling novel, Underground Airlines set in a contemporary version of the USA where the civil war never happened and slavery is still legal in some parts.
Then we finish up with the opportunity to win copies of Michelle Moran's Mata Hari, plus a roundup of twenty of the best books published this week
including Colson Whitehead's Underground Railroad, which was to publish in September but has been brought forward having been picked by Oprah for her book club.
Thanks for reading! Your Editor, Davina
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  1. The BookBrowse Book Club 
This Must Be the Place by Maggie O'Farrell
Hardcover & ebook July 2016, 400 pages
Publisher: Knopf
Buy at Amazon | B&N | Indie
A dazzling novel from bestselling writer Maggie O'Farrell, winner of the Costa Novel Award - an irresistible love story that crisscrosses continents and time zones as it captures an extraordinary marriage, and an unforgettable family, with wit, humor, and deep affection.
More about this book | Join the discussion | All discussions
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 2. Editor's Choice 
Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley
Hardcover & ebook June 2016, 320 pages Publisher: Simon & Schuster BookBrowse Rating: 5/5, Critics' Consensus: 4.6/5 Buy at Amazon | B&N | Indie
Review by Sharry Wright Lily And The Octopus is a whimsical, hilarious and deeply moving tale that demonstrates the lengths humans will go to, trying to protect ourselves from the devastation and heartbreak of losing someone we love. ...While the novel's overriding themes are grief, loss and letting go, the story is buoyed by humor, whimsy and sweetness without making light of the subject matter. In trying to deal with his situation, Ted quotes Cookie Monster: "Today me will live in the moment, unless it's unpleasant, in which case me will eat a cookie." Ted goes on to say, "While I don't take all of my mantras from google-eyed blue monsters with questionable grammar, this one has taken root." Facing the death of a loved one is also facing our own mortality and fear of death. As the tattoo artist who etches a defeated octopus on Ted's arms tells him, "Death is a unique opponent in that death always wins." But, "if you spend your entire life trying to cheat death, there's no time to embrace life." The story's ending left me with damp eyes and a big wonderful exhale of satisfaction. I especially recommend Lily and The Octopus to people who understand the powerful bond between dogs and their owners, but really, I think anyone who enjoys emotionally authentic and redemptive stories filled with humor, heart and imagination will find this a satisfying read. 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.
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 3. Beyond the Book: The Dachshund
Every time we review a book we also explore a related topic. Here is a recent "beyond the book" article for Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley
In Lily and The Octopus, the main character struggles with the decline of his beloved canine companion, a charming dachshund named Lily. Famously described by the German-American journalist, H. L. Mencken, as "a half-a-dog high and a dog-and-a-half long," dachshunds are one of the most popular dog breeds in America. Affectionately called doxies by dachshund lovers, they are also often referred to as wiener dogs. It was the wiener sausage that was named after the dog, originally called dachshund sausage, before they were called hot dogs.  Dachshunds are described as bold, confident, intelligent, and alert, with strong hunting instincts, and a keen nose good for trailing. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), dachshunds were bred in the 15th century in Germany as badger hunters; dachs meaning badger in German, and hund meaning dog. The smallest hunting breed and belonging to the hound group of dogs, their spade-like paws are good for digging and burrowing. They are courageous and ferocious and their jaw and body strength allows them to catch and kill prey. ... continued Read in full | More about this book |
 4. Author Interview  Ben H. Winters discusses his novel Underground Airlines set in a contemporary version of the USA in which the Civil War never happened and slavery is still legal in some parts of the country .
Read the Interview | Underground Airlines
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 5. 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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 6. Win This Book  Mata Hari's Last Dance by Michelle MoranPublished Jul 2016 in hardcover & ebook
320 pages
Enter the Giveaway Paris, 1917. The notorious dancer Mata Hari sits in a cold cell awaiting freedom...or death. Alone and despondent, Mata Hari is as confused as the rest of the world about the charges she's been arrested on: treason leading to the deaths of thousands of French soldiers. As Mata Hari waits for her fate to be decided, she relays the story of her life to a reporter who is allowed to visit her in prison. Beginning with her carefree childhood, Mata Hari recounts her father's cruel abandonment of her family as well her calamitous marriage to a military officer. Taken to the island of Java, Mata Hari refuses to be ruled by her abusive husband and instead learns to dance, paving the way to her stardom as Europe's most infamous dancer. From exotic Indian temples and glamorous Parisian theatres to stark German barracks in war-torn Europe, international bestselling author Michelle Moran who "expertly balances fact and fiction" (Associated Press) brings to vibrant life the famed world of Mata Hari: dancer, courtesan, and possibly, spy. 5 people will each win a hardcover copy of Mata Hari's Last Dance. This giveaway is open to residents of the USA only, unless you are a BookBrowse member, in which case you are eligible to win wherever you live. Enter the giveaway | Past Winners
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BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
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