"We live for books." --Umberto Eco
BOOK NEWS & NOTES
Fall fiction: Books by big-name authors of contemporary and historical fiction are hitting bookstore shelves this autumn. But, don't let your eyes wander past the writers whose names you don't recognize. You might just find a diamond in the rough. (Goodreads)
More fall fiction: The New York Times has curated its selection of the 24 best novels and poetry collections to read this season. It's a decent mixture of tomes that editors hope "will provide an escape, a shift in perspective and engrossing new worlds to cozy up to this season." If literary fiction is your jam, check out this list. (The New York Times)
But wait, there's more!: Editors at the Los Angeles Times also created a list of the most anticipated novels and nonfiction books of fall. Not surprisingly, there is some overlap between the N.Y. and L.A. lists, but I preferred the West Coast one. Also, the size of the embedded book covers really showed off the tempting artwork. (Los Angeles Times)
Book stops thief: A 38-year-old man who allegedly broke into an apartment in Rome was caught because…. he stopped to read a book. The would-be thief was distracted mid-heist by a book about Homer's "Iliad" and was reading it when the homeowner woke up and confronted him. Giovanni Nucci, the author of "The Gods at Six O'Clock," which explains "The Iliad" from the perspective of the gods, has jokingly offered a send a copy to the suspected thief. "I'd like him to be able to finish it," Nucci said. (BBC News)
And Stephen King recommends...
SUPPORT THE MOONLIGHT READER SOCIETY
The Moonlight Reader Society is a reader-supported newsletter featuring book news and reviews, interviews, reading quotes, polls and more. New issues come out every Friday and subscriptions are free. But, if you want to aid my efforts — and can afford to do so — paid subscriptions are only $5/month, or $50/year. Everyone who purchases a subscription will also receive extra subscriber content, gain full access to the archives and be automatically entered into a monthly giveaway for bookish prizes.
MEET A MOONLIGHT READER
Name: Bob Sassone
Short bio: Saturday Evening Post columnist, tea drinker, lover of all things mid-century
State or country: Massachusetts
Webpage: Click here.
Who are your favorite authors?
Way too many to mention! But let me mention some. Andy Rooney, Raymond Chandler, Peg Bracken, Erle Stanley Gardner, Charles Schulz, E.B. White, Jean Kerr, Garrison Keillor, Nora Ephron, pulp writers of the ‘30s-’50s, lots of TV/movie/advertising writers.
Where do you like to read?
My leather reclining chair or in bed.
Do you have a favorite bookmark, do you grab whatever is nearby or do you dog-ear the pages?
I never dog-ear! It's funny: I think people should mark up their books. Highlight, underline, write in the margins. I do all that. But I draw the line at dog-earring the pages. For bookmarks, I usually just use a folded-up piece of paper.
How do you organize your bookshelves?
What are these "bookshelves" you speak of? Except for a handful of books that I'm currently reading or need to reference all the time that are within reach, most of my books are in big plastic Rubbermaid boxes. If I want to get a book I have to go through the boxes (which is probably why on more than one occasion I've bought a book I already own).
Do you participate in the Goodreads challenge? If so, how are you faring this year?
The Goodreads challenge? Is that one of those viral things where you have to read a book while eating a bunch of hot peppers or read underwater or something?
What is your favorite bookstore and why do you love it?
I know I should pick a great independent store, but the truth is I don't visit enough of them to have a "favorite" (though I love Brookline Booksmith in Massachusetts). I'd have to say my favorite is actually Barnes & Noble. The stores are huge, they're well-stocked, they sell other items besides books (notebooks, etc.), and they have comfy chairs and pastries and drinks. What else do you want in a bookstore? Great to see them doing well and opening dozens of new locations this fall.
If you read e-books, what's the last line you highlighted? If you read paperback or hardcover books, what's the first line on page 99?
"Compost people are evangelists."
—“The Province of the Heart” by Phyllis McGinley,
What is the best book you've received as a gift?
My sister Toni gave me “A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney” for Christmas in 1981 and it not only started my love of his writing, but it helped me become a writer myself.
You can invite three authors from any time period for a meal at your place. Who's coming and what do you serve?
Charles Schulz, Carl Reiner and Peg Bracken, and I'd make something from Peg's “The I Hate to Cook Book.”
What’s the best book you've read this year?
It didn't come out this year (it's from 2021) but I finally got around to “The Letters of Shirley Jackson.” As a big letter-writer myself, I really enjoyed it.
LOVELY DEDICATIONS
"To my son Kevin, travel companion above and beyond the call of duty, who waited patiently, for the most part; you are my sunshine. (But you are not taller than I am. Especially when I'm wearing heels.)"
25-WORD REVIEWS
Rating System:
* * * * * One of the best books I've read in a while
* * * * A wonderful book, recommended
* * * Good book, worth the read
* * This book was fine, but not my favorite
* This book wasn't for me
What happens when a plane crashes into a nuclear power plant? Nothing good. If you like to read truly terrifying stories, pick up this novel. --Jade Walker
Rating: * * * * 1/2 stars
This book made me want to rip my hair out and throw stones at windows, but her strength and courage also gave me profound hope. --Nikki Clark
Rating: * * * * * stars
READER POLL
LAST WEEK’S POLL
LITERARY HOLIDAYS
National Library Card Sign-Up Month
National Literacy Month
Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month
Read a New Book Month
Sept. 22-28 - Banned Books Week
Sept. 13 - National Twilighters Day and Roald Dahl Day
Sept. 16 - National Anne Bradstreet Day
Sept. 18 - Read an E-Book Day
WRITER BIRTHDAYS
Sept. 13 - Sherwood Anderson, Fiona Apple, Roald Dahl, Daniel Defoe, Roy Engle, Chris Hansen, Judith Martin, Tyler Perry, Tavis Smiley and Iyanla Vanzant
Sept. 14 - Geraldine Brooks, Robert McCloskey and Amy Winehouse
Sept. 15 - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Agatha Christie, James Fenimore Cooper, James Gates Percival and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Sept. 16 - John Knowles
Sept. 17 - Ken Kesey and Cheryl Strayed
Sept. 18 - Anna Deavere Smith
Sept. 19 - William Golding and Laurie R. King
Sept. 20 - Jude Deveraux, Donald Hall, George R.R. Martin, Upton Sinclair and Angie Thomas
MOMENT OF GRATITUDE
Thanks to Ugur Akdemir, Unsplash, Goodreads, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, BBC News, Bob Sassone, Brookline Booksmith, Fast Company, Betty Winslow, Nikki Clark, Holidays Calendar, National Today, National Day Calendar, A Wandering Scribbler, Good Good Good, Writers Write, Keeping Up With the Penguins, Brainy Quote, The Literary Lifestyle and Deposit Photos for art and story suggestions.
Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and Amazon and earn a commission when you click through these links and make a purchase. Thank you for your support!
KEEP IN TOUCH
If you want to share book news, odd titles, memorable dedications, catchy hooks, reader poll ideas, 25-word reviews, reading-related quotes or just say hello:
Like this newsletter? Please forward it to your friends and encourage them to subscribe.