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In this issue we travel back to the 1950s with Home Sweet Home, to meet a family whose lives are shattered by McCarthyism. Then we move to contemporary California with Lucky Boy, the story of two mothers bound together by their love for one boy. In our "beyond the book" feature we travel back to the 1800s and the notorious Sugar House, where slaves were taken to be punished. Our featured interview is with Emily Fridlund who talks about her first novel, History of Wolves, set in the beautiful, austere woods of northern Minnesota. Lastly, we have copies of Maeve Binchy's A Few of the Girls to give away. Enjoy! Your Editor, Davina
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  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.
 Home Sweet Home by April Smith Publisher: Knopf
Publication Date: Jan 2017
Historical Fiction, 368 pages
Number of reader reviews: 46
Readers' consensus: 4.0/5.0
Members Say
"Home Sweet Home is a novel based on the timeless theme of the American Dream. We follow a family through major life changes in the hopes of accomplishing the life they feel their family was meant to live ... Smith's novel is perfect for book club readings. She addresses societal issues about family, loyalty, government and justice. The discussion topics are endless!" - Melissa S. (Rowland, NC)
"What was especially interesting were the amazing parallels both cultural and political between our present day situation and the era of McCarthyism. This is a book that reminds one why we read good literature. Although I recently read Hillbilly Elegy, I was more profoundly moved by this story in its ability to underscore the divide between the "coastal elites" and 'rural middle Americans'. This is a story that will resonate with me for awhile!" - Peggy A. (Morton Grove, IL)
"Exceptionally Outstanding are the best words I can find to describe Home Sweet Home! Without a doubt, this is one of the very best books I have read (and I'm very old; therefore, I've read many books) ... Ms. Smith's writing was masterful and portrayed how quickly people will jump to wrongful conclusions. It helped me to understand why folks may still hold the same prejudices today. The story is well written, engaging and tragically based on the lives of a real family. Highly recommended for individuals or book clubs!!" - Judy W. (Tucker, GA)
"This is a particularly appropriate book for our times, and I think it will be read and discussed for many years to come." - Julia A. (New York, NY)
More about this book | Read all the reviews Buy at Amazon | B&N | Indie
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 Editor's Choice
Lucky Boy by Shanthi Sekaran
Hardcover (Jan 2017), 480 pages. Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons. BookBrowse Rating: 5/5, Critics' Consensus: 4.8/5 Buy at Amazon | B&N | Indie Review by Sharry Wright Shanthi Sekaran's novel is the compelling and heart-rending story of two strong women who fiercely love the same little child-the "lucky boy" of the title. It's told in third person from three viewpoints: that of eighteen-year-old Soli who makes her way illegally across the border from Mexico to her cousin's house in Berkeley, California; and of Kavya, and her husband Rishi, both second-generation south Asian Indians living in Berkeley. Along with the mother-child bond, the topical theme of legal and illegal immigration plays a large role in the novel, as does the ethics of foster care and adoption. ... 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.
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 Beyond the Book: The Sugar House  Every time we review a book we also explore a related topic. Here is a recent "beyond the book" article for The Second Mrs. Hockaday by Susan Rivers  In The Second Mrs. Hockaday, Susan Rivers' historical novel about the Civil War, Mr. Hockaday says to his new wife: "... there's an Armory in Holland Crossroads. A market hall in Traveler's Joy. In Charleston it's the Sugar House. It's where servants are sent to be corrected." This novel, of course, like all historical novels, is based on true events and Rivers did her research for it using a number of documents. One document is an 1838 article written by a slave who was detained for three months in the Sugar House, a part of the Charleston city jail, located in South Carolina. The article, titled "Recollections of a Runaway Slave", was published in an abolitionist newspaper based in Maine, the Advocate of Freedom. ... continued Read in full | More about this book |
 Blog: Immigrants & Refugees  We first ran this blog this this last year, but this seems to be a good time to revisit the topic... Refugees and immigrants have long been the backbone of societies around the world, and their struggles have been rich fodder for books long before their plight (once again) occupied center stage in geopolitics. Whether it's the European refugee crisis or the United States deciding to deport many who came here as part of the 2014 South American unaccompanied minors influx, or the vitriol spewed by politicians rooted in fear, the complexities of the issue refuse to lend themselves to easy sound bites. These are discussions worth having, book club or not, especially given that they could not be more a timely reflection of the headlines around the world. ... continued
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 Author Interview: Emily Fridlund  A conversation with Emily Fridlund, author of History of Wolves, in which she describes the genesis and influences on her debut novel: Q. Your novel is set in the austere, icy woods of northern Minnesota. In what ways do you think the bleak, but sometimes stunningly beautiful setting amplifies the story? A. Minnesotans, at least the ones I grew up around, are weather people. Some of the most intimate and passionate conversations I've had with my family over the years have been about weather- especially now that I live far away from the Midwest and don't share weathers with them anymore. It's such a fundamental part of being human, feeling the heat and the cold! So in a way, the sharp focus on place in the book wasn't exactly intentional. For me, the inner and outer worlds have always been inextricably bound and, crucially, the voice and the place of this book offered themselves to me together. When I wrote the story that became the first chapter of Wolves, northern Minnesota (the lakes and the cold) was inseparable from Linda's emotional landscape. Though I grew up in a city myself, I've spent a fair amount of time wandering through woods, and I knew it was a place where I could stage, in weathers and seasons, Linda's cycles of longing, loneliness, anger, and love. ... continued Read the Interview | History of Wolves
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 Win This Book
 A Few of the Girls by Maeve Binchy
Published Feb 2017, Vintage
From the Jacket
A Few of the Girls brings together, for the first time, thirty-six of Maeve's very best stories - some published in magazines, others written for friends as gifts, many for charity benefits, all of them filled with her trademark warmth, wisdom, and humor.
Written over a period of decades, these stories show that while times change, people often remain the same: they fall in love, sometimes unsuitably; they experience heartbreak, compassion and redemption; they hold to hopes and dreams; and they have friendships - some that fall apart, and a few special ones that endure. A foreword by her husband, Gordon Snell, offers a privileged, intimate glimpse into the writing process behind her extraordinary work.
Reviews
"In true Binchy fashion, these gentle stories revolve around universal themes of love, loyalty, friendship, compassion, and perseverance...Tying all the stories together is, of course, their trademark comfy settings, and devoted fans will relish another armchair visit to Ireland." - Booklist
"This new collection of Maeve's beloved short stories will force you to put down your smartphone in favor of your favorite armchair and this hardback. Featuring some of her best works it is a fine tribute to a very fine author." - Image
5 people will each win a paperback copy of A Few of the Girls.
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 might live.
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