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Showing posts with label Jodi Picoult. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jodi Picoult. Show all posts
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Bloggin' 'Bout Jodi Picoult
As much as I love books and their creators, I'm not really big on author events. I'm a typical book nerd—an introvert who prefers to be at home, far away from noisy crowds. When I heard that Changing Hands Bookstore would be hosting an evening with Jodi Picoult, a writer I've enjoyed reading for decades, though, I couldn't resist. Meeting a writer I've long admired while supporting my local indie? Clearly, it was a win-win situation! Originally, Diana Gabaldon, who lives here in Arizona, was supposed to be the one interviewing Jodi, but she had to cancel. Since I've only read one of Gabaldon's books, that didn't bother me. Jodi's longtime editor, Jennifer Hershey, filled in instead.
The event was held to promote the author's newest book, By Any Other Name. It's a dual-timeline novel about two female playwrights who are trying to get their work taken seriously by male producers. The past story explores the idea that William Shakespeare did not write all of the plays attributed to him, that perhaps some of them at least were penned by women who paid for the use of his name in order to disguise their gender. It's an interesting concept. Most of the dialogue between Jodi and Jennifer had to do with By Any Other Name. Not only is it the author's newest novel, but she said repeatedly that it's the one she was "born to write." She's very passionate about its subject matter, so the discussion was interesting, lively, and delightful. After that, the two women talked about how editors and authors work together, which was also super intriguing. Jodi then answered some general questions from the audience. Jodi's got such a warm, bubbly personality that it was lots of fun to listen to her. Even my husband—who had heard of Jodi only vaguely from me—said he really enjoyed the presentation. (Also, kudos to the man for accompanying me to an event for someone he wasn't familiar with and which was attended by an audience of at least 90% women. He's a good sport.)
A copy of By Any Other Name was included in the price of the event ticket. It was pre-signed, so we couldn't get any personalization, but we did get to take a photo with Jodi. We only got a quick minute with her, but she was sweet, friendly, and very gracious. Even though this is very much not my favorite picture of myself (I hate all snaps of myself, to be honest), it's a fun momento of a very enjoyable evening.
I haven't read By Any Other Name yet, but I'm even more excited to dive in now. Have any of you read it? Any other Jodi Picoult fans out there? What's your favorite of her books? I think Leaving Time is mine.
Tuesday, March 01, 2022
Top Ten Tuesday: To All the Books I've Loved Before...
Feeling listy? Be sure to join in the TTT fun by visiting That Artsy Reader Girl, then making your own list, and hopping around the book blogosphere to share the love. It's a good time, I promise!
Top Ten Authors I Used to Love, But Haven't Checked In With Recently
- in alphabetical order -
1. Piers Anthony—I went through a brief sci-fi/fantasy phase in high school in a futile attempt to impress a boy. SFF has never been my favorite genre, but I did fall in love with Anthony's Incarnation of Immortality series. It's been years since I've read it and occasionally I get the hankering to revisit it just for nostalgia's sake. Now in his late 80s, Anthony is still publishing books. He's had a remarkable career, even if I haven't kept up with it.
2. Mary Higgins Clark—My dad introduced me to Clark's clean, compelling murder mysteries when I was in junior high school and I quickly became a rabid fan. In the ten or so years before Clark's death in 2020, my enthusiasm for her books started to wane. They just didn't hold my attention like they had in the past. Still, I'll always love Clark for those many nights her books kept me up way past my bedtime racing through the pages, desperate to see what was going to happen next.
3. John Grisham—Like Clark, Grisham's books from the 1990s kept me absolutely spellbound. His newer titles just haven't had the same spark for me. I did tackle The Reckoning a couple years ago, but that one was such a disappointment that I haven't picked up a Grisham book since and don't plan to do so again.
4. Stephen King—When I was a teenager, horror was the only genre it was acceptable to be seen reading in public. Horror was cool, so I read a lot of it. King was my go-to guy for spooky stories long after high school. Apparently, I've gotten much wimpier with age because I can't handle his books now. They're just too gory and too disturbing for this old lady with her delicate constitution!
5. Dean Koontz—Like King, Koontz is an author whose books I devoured back in the day. I'm still a fan, even though I haven't read anything of his since Odd Thomas a number of years ago. I really should pick up the next book in the series one of these days.
6. Jodi Picoult—Up until about House Rules in 2010, I inhaled everything Picoult wrote. Her stories sucked me in, kept me turning pages, and made me think. I tuned out about the time she started writing YA novels with her daughter since those didn't interest me. She's published a handful of novels since then that I probably should check out eventually. I'm not rushing, though, which is weird since I used to be such a devoted fan.
7. Christopher Pike—Pike is another author for whom I went absolutely crazy in the 1990s. He was my hands-down favorite, even though he never did answer any of the fan letters I sent him as a teenager! As of a few years ago, he was still writing scary books for teens. I wonder what I would think of his creepy tales now?
8. Ann Rule—I used to read a lot of true crime back in the day. Rule's books are well-researched and interesting, so I flew through a number of them in the late 1990s and early 2000s. These days, I just can't stomach the genre, which is ironic since it's gotten so crazy-popular!
9. John Saul—This is another author I adored during my horror-reading phase. His last novel was published in 2009, but I haven't read him since high school (which was a looonnnggg time ago).
10. Adriana Trigiani—I've long loved Trigiani's warm, Italian-themed women's novels. For some reason, though, I haven't picked up anything by her in about a decade. I really need to check out her newer books as I'm sure I've missed out on some good ones.
There you have it, ten authors I've loved in the past but haven't really kept up with in the present. Have you read any of them? Which authors fit this category for you? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog. Please note that I will be out of town from tomorrow until Saturday, so you won't see comments from me until I return. Thanks for your patience.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Top Ten Tuesday: If You Can't Stand the Heat, Get Out of the (Arizona) Kitchen
Although I reveled in the lovely Gorge weather, I was really there to celebrate my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. Since COVID pretty much nixed our plans for a blow-out party with lots of family and friends, my siblings and I decided to surprise Mom and Dad instead. Five of their seven children were able to be there. Although my youngest brother accidentally spilled the beans a little bit, we still pulled off a great surprise. I was hiding at the top of my parents' long driveway when my oldest sibling approached them in the backyard and I heard my mom's astonished gasp clear from where I was standing. It was awesome! I think this picture of me and my dad (taken by Renée Alumbaugh) says everything about how the weekend went:
(Since someone is bound to ask, the device on my arm is an Omnipod insulin pump. You may also sometimes spy my Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitor [CGM] in pictures of me, since I wear both on the backs of my arms. Although Type 1 diabetes is a horrendous, not-fun-at-all disease, these devices are literally life-changing for diabetics.)
Now that I'm back to the scorching heat, I guess it really is time to start thinking about what I want to read this summer. I've got some library books I need to finish as well as a few new releases I'm looking forward to. It's too hot to read by the pool (ours doesn't have much shade and I burn at the mere thought of sunshine), so I'll be enjoying these books inside under the ceiling fan with the a/c blasting.
As always, if you're interested in joining the TTT party, you can find all the details at That Artsy Reader Girl.
Top Ten Books On My Summer To-Read List
1. The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny—I brought this mystery on my trip as a back-up book (I never travel without one!) and it's a good thing I did since I couldn't get my stupid Kindle to connect at all. It's the 11th book in the incomparable Armand Gamache series, which I love. It's about a young boy who goes missing and the shocking thing that is found in the woods because of the ensuing search for him.
2. Searcher of the Dead by Nancy Herriman—I've enjoyed a couple of Herriman's historical mysteries, so I'm interested to see how I like this series opener. It's about a woman in Tudor England who's hiding from a killer in a bucolic little town. When someone close to her is murdered, it appears she has been found and that she's next on someone's hit list.
3. The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant by Kayte Nunn—I'm always up for a dual-timeline novel featuring old secrets and new discoveries. This one revolves around a woman in the present who discovers a cache of love letters written during another woman's stint in a mental hospital on a remote island in the 1950's. As she digs into the past to learn more about the letters, she finds an intriguing mystery that just might answer questions about her own family.
4. The Hours Count by Jillian Cantor—A month or so ago, I read and enjoyed my first Cantor book. I'm excited to try another one. This historical concerns a neighbor of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, with whom the spies' children were left after their arrest. Sounds interesting.
5. Survive the Night by Riley Sager (available June 29, 2021)—I've already talked about this thriller, which is about two strangers on a road trip that goes awry. I'm 31 of 32 on the library's waiting list, so we'll see how long it takes for me to get my hands on this one.
6. A Cup of Silver Linings by Karen Hawkins (available July 6, 2021)—I just received this novel from the publisher. It's the second book in a series, so I'll have to read The Book Charmer first (I've been meaning to anyway). This one is about three women who "embark on a reluctant but magical journey of healing, friendship, and family." Sounds like a nice, feel-good read perfect for summer.
7. Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult (available November 30, 2021)—I'm a Picoult fan, although it's been a hot minute since I read anything by her. To be honest, her newer novels haven't been as good for me as her older ones. However, I am intrigued by this one, her newest. It's about a woman who's on a dream trip to the Galàpagos Islands by herself when the pandemic hits. I've heard some people say it's too soon for them to enjoy a book like this, but I'm all in for it.
8. The Pact by Sharon Bolton—I'm *trying* to take a break from dark thrillers, but I'm a big Bolton fan, so I probably won't be able to resist this one. It's about a woman who agrees to take the fall for a group crime in exchange for "favors" done by each member of the group after her release from prison.
9. A Solitude of Wolverines by Alice Henderson—While this doesn't sound like a very summery book, it's still one I want to read soon. The first in a series, it's about a marine biologist who is researching wolverines in Montana, a mission that angers some locals. When she discovers a different kind of predator in the wildlife sanctuary, the authorities are strangely dismissive of her claims. Just what
exactly has she stumbled upon?
10. The Next Ship Home by Heather Webb (available February 8, 2022)—As you probably know, I'm very into researching family history. While most of my ancestors came to the United States before Ellis Island opened, I'm still fascinated by the place and its role in the nation's history. I have an e-ARC of this novel, which concerns a woman emigrating from Italy and an American woman who has just started a job at the immigration center. Their fates entwine as they both struggle to navigate their new lives.
There you are, ten books I'm hoping to read this summer. Have you read any of them? Any look like novels you would enjoy as well? What's on your list today? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, July 07, 2020
Top Ten Tuesday: My Most Read Authors
All of us have favorite auto-buy (or at least auto-read) authors. Some of them publish dozens of books, all of which we clamor to consume. This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic—Top Ten Authors I've Read the Most Books By—made me think about the writers I've loved over my 44 years of life and how many of their books I've read. Using Goodreads, Fantastic Fiction, and my not-very-reliable memory, I managed to come up with a list that's fairly accurate (I think).
Before we get to that, though, I want to encourage you to click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl and give our host, Jana, a little love. If you want to join in the TTT fun, her blog has all the deets.
Top Ten Authors I've Read the Most Books By
1. Mary Higgins Clark (20+ books read)—I've mentioned this grand dame of mystery many times on my blog. My dad is a big MHC fan; he's the one who introduced me to her. As a junior high/high schooler I inhaled her engrossing suspense novels (many times late at night, long after I was supposed to be asleep). I haven't been as impressed by her more recent offerings and haven't actually read her for a number of years. Still, the recent passing of this mystery maven made me sad.
2. Jodi Picoult (21 books read)—Picoult's books rarely fail to engage me, so it's no wonder I've read almost everything she's ever written.
3. Kathy Reichs (19 books read)—I love Reichs' forensic mysteries starring Temperance Brennan and have read every book in the series. As of yet, I haven't tried her YA series, Virals, which she pens with her son, Brendan.
4. Maeve Binchy (15+ books read)—Binchy's recent-ish death is another I was saddened by. She was a wonderful Irish writer whose novels I've enjoyed greatly over the years.
5. Judy Blume (12+ books read)—Like many girls of my generation, I grew up reading books like Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret; Super Fudge; Deenie; and Blubber. Although I haven't read a Blume book in decades, I zoomed through a whole bunch of them as a kid.
6. Adriana Trigiani (13 books read)—It's been a little while since I've read anything by this Italian-American author, but I've enjoyed a number of her books. Her Big Stone Gap series is my favorite.
7. Sharon Bolton (12 books read)—Although her British crime novels can be super dark and disturbing, I can't resist Bolton.
8. Jane Casey (12 books read)—Ditto this Irish author of crime fiction. I'm especially enamored of her Maeve Kerrigan series.
9. Stephen King (11 books read)—Reading wasn't considered very cool when I was a teen, so I generally hid my bookwormish tendencies from anyone who wasn't family. If I did risk being seen reading in public, I made sure it was with a socially acceptable author, of which King was definitely one. I'm a lot wimpier now than I used to be, so I haven't read anything from the "Master of Horror" in a decade or so. Still.
10. Christopher Pike (10+ books read)—Pike is another author I loved as a teen. His YA thrillers kept me up way past my bedtime on many a night.
There you go, the top ten authors whose books I've read most throughout my life. What do you think? Do we have any in common? Whose works have you consumed most? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I'll return the favor on yours.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Top Ten Tuesday: The Shiny and New Still to Come
It's Tuesday again and you know what that means. It's time to take a break from all the craziness happening in the world and focus on what's really important: books. Kidding, kidding. Top Ten Tuesday is an excellent excuse to take some time out for some bookish fun, though. If you've never joined in before, you definitely need to give it a go. Why? Here are ten fantastic reasons. Convinced? Good. Now, all you have to do is hop on over to That Artsy Reader Girl, read a few instructions, build your own list, then spend some happy hours spreading the love across our wonderful book blogosphere. What's not to love?
I'm all over today's topic since I'm always interested to see what new books are coming out. Not that I need to be distracted by the shiny and new when I already have TBR piles all over the dang place. Still. I just can't help myself. I'm excited about all the books still to come out in 2020. Today, I'm going to restrain myself and just chat about ten ...
Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases for the Second Half of 2020 (in order of release):
1. We Are All the Same in the Dark by Julia Heaberlin (available August 11)—A small Texas town is still reeling after the disappearance of a local young woman. When a mysterious mute girl is found by the side of the road in the same town, a young police office becomes obsessed with figuring out what happened to both girls. I'm always up for an intriguing mystery!
2. When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole (available September 1)—Concerned over the deterioration of her Brooklyn neighborhood, Sydney Green and her neighbor are trying to revitalize the place. A delve into the area's history reveals some disturbing answers to the question of where all the residents are disappearing to. Will Sydney be the next to vanish?
3. The Deadly Hours by Susanna Kearsley, C.S. Harris, Anna Lee Huber, and Christine Trent (available September 1)—Huber is the only one of these authors that I've read before, but her involvement is more than enough to make me want to read this book. The story features a cursed gold watch and the havoc it wreaks on all who own it throughout several centuries.
4. Rated by Melissa Grey (available September 3)—This dystopian YA novel takes place in a society where everyone's behavior is rated in real-time 24/7. Your rating determines your place in life. When a shocking act puts the spotlight on a prestigious high school where ratings are everything, things start to get very interesting for six special classmates ... [Update: Someone pointed out that Rated actually came out last year. Oops! At least we don't have to wait to read it :)]
5. The Orphan of Cemetery Hill by Hester Fox (available September 15)—I've enjoyed Fox's two previous novels, so I'm excited for her newest, which concerns a young woman who can commune with the dead. When she runs away from home and ends up in a Boston cemetery, she becomes embroiled in a sinister scheme that puts her and her future in grave danger.
6. To Tell You the Truth by Gilly Macmillan (available September 22)—I got a good start on this one while sitting at the DMV for three hours today so my son could get his driver's permit. So far, I am loving the story, which revolves around a bestselling thriller writer whose wildly popular fictional character is starting to take over her life. When her husband disappears, the author must ask herself some very disturbing questions ...
7. The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult (available September 22)—Picoult's been a longtime favorite author of mine, so I always look forward to a new book from her. Her latest is about a married woman who's still infatuated by a man she used to know. When she miraculously survives a plane crash and the airline offers her the chance to fly anywhere in the world, she sees an opportunity to live a whole new life. And takes it. Intriguing, yes?
8. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (available September 29)—Are you a Knives Out fan? Me, too. This YA thriller is being compared to the hit movie thanks to its similar premise. When a penniless high school senior inherits a fortune from a man she's never meant, she's stunned. Why has he singled her out? And what crazy game is he making her play in order to get the money she so desperately needs?
9. The Searcher by Tana French (available October 6)—French is one of my favorite thriller writers, so I'm always on the lookout for a new book from her. It appears her newest is a departure from her Dublin Murder Squad series. Still, it sounds like a compelling mystery. It features a retired cop who's ready for some R&R in the Irish countryside. When a local boy goes missing, however, the child's brother talks the detective into investigating the disappearance.
10. The Arctic Fury by Greer Macallister (available December 1)—Twelve women join a secret Arctic expedition in the 1850's. Not all of them make it back. A sensational murder trial ensues. Murder in the Arctic? I'm SO in for this one!
There you have it—ten upcoming releases that I can't wait to read. What do you think of my list? Do we have any titles in common? Which new releases are you excited about? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will return the favor on yours.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
TTT: The Ones That Got Away
Before we get to that, though, I want to encourage you to join in the TTT fun. It's easy peasey. All you have to do is click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl, read few a few guidelines, make a list of your own, share it, then start visiting other blogs. It's a great way to find new blogs, add great-looking reads to your own TBR mountain chain, and just spread the love around Ye Ole Book Blogosphere. It's a good time, I promise!
Okay, here we go with Top Ten Books By My Favorite Authors That I Still Haven't Read (not including books in series—mostly):
1. J.K. Rowling—Harry Potter is one of my all-time favorite series, but I've never read any of the books by Rowling's alter ego, Robert Galbraith. I've seen mixed reviews, so I haven't rushed to check them out. I will though. Eventually.
2. Maeve Binchy—I adore this Irish author who died in 2012. I thought I'd read all her books except the last three: Minding Frankie (2010), A Week in Winter (2012), and Chestnut Street (2014). Turns out, she's also written a half dozen non-fiction books. Who knew?
3. Liane Moriarty—With the exception of Truly Madly Guilty, I've loved everything I've ever read by Moriarty. There are a few on her backlist that I still need to get to: Three Wishes (2013), The Last Anniversary (2005), and The Hypnotist's Love Story (2012). She also has a children's series, but I'm not sure it's really my cup of tea, so I'll probably skip it.
4. Jodi Picoult—I've long been a Picoult fan, but I haven't read all her books yet. What's missing? Sing You Home (2011) and The Storyteller (2013), plus the two she wrote with her daughter, Samantha van Leer: Between the Lines (2012) and Off the Page (2015).
5. Jacqueline Woodson—I love Woodson's books, but there are plenty I have yet to read by the newly-crowned National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. I'm especially interested in Harbor Me (2018). I also heard her read her newest picture book, The Day You Begin (2018), at the National Book Festival earlier this month and I'd love to re-read it.
6. Rae Carson—I adore Carson's Gold Seer trilogy, but I have yet to give her Fire & Thorns series a go.
7. Neal Shusterman—With the exception of Scythe, I've loved everything I've read by this prolific author. He's tough to keep up with, though, so I have lots of catching up to do with him. I'm not even sure where to start. What's your favorite of his?
8. Julia Keller—I read every Bell Elkins book as soon as I can get my hands on it, but I haven't given Keller's newest series a try yet. The Dark Intercept series has a futuristic/sci fi setup, which isn't my usual thing. Still, I'm going to give it a whirl one of these days.
9. Susan Meissner—Meissner's gentle dual-timeline novels are right up my alley. I've read all of them from 2011 on. The author's got a fairly extensive backlist, though, and I'm definitely planning to check it out. I'm especially interested in The Shape of Mercy (2008), a novel about a college student whose studies of the Salem Witch Trials go a little too deep ...
10. Emily Carpenter—I just discovered this author and while I'm not sure I can call her a favorite yet, I have been enjoying her twisted psychological thrillers. Her newest (which sounds amazing) doesn't come out until March 2019, so I have plenty of time to read the only one of hers I haven't delved into yet—Burying the Honeysuckle Girls (2016). It's sitting on my Kindle, just waiting for me to open it up.
There you go, all (well, some) of the books I still need to read from some of my favorite authors. Have you read any of them? Where should I start? How about you—which books are you missing from your favorite authors? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment and I'll gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy Top Ten Tuesday!
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