Our featured read this week in First Impressions is Bonnie Jo Campbell's The Waters, the lush and atmospheric story of an independent woman living on an island in Michigan.
The BookBrowse book club is discussing Lauren Grodstein's We Must Not Think of Ourselves, an intimate addition to World War II fiction set in the Warsaw Ghetto.
Please also check out our "beyond the book" article on the American diet industry relating to Hot Springs Drive by Lindsay Hunter, our Contemporary category of nearly 1,700 books set in recent times, and our current and upcoming discussions.
| |
With best wishes,
The BookBrowse Team
| |
Each month, we share books with BookBrowse members to read and review. Here are their opinions on one recently released title. | |
 |  |
The Waters
by Bonnie Jo Campbell
Just announced: The Waters is the Today Show's #ReadWithJenna January 2024 Pick!
"Bonnie Jo Campbell has produced a masterpiece. I feel that The Waters will become a classic. The author's style of writing resembles Ernest Hemingway. The detail is engrossing... The story plot about a family on an island in Michigan that allows no men involves you in all aspects. Hermine "Herself" is a strong woman who has raised three daughters while being the healer for the adjoining town. Primrose, Maryrose and Rose Thorn are all loveable in different ways...a family you do not want to leave and a book that you do not want to end." —Alyce T. (San Antonio, TX)
"I loved all the characters, their personalities and their secrets. I could hear the wildlife, vividly picture the rich, muddy environment and smell the fertile soil. The Waters is a thoroughly enjoyable book." —Barbara O. (Red Bank, NJ)
"The cover art depicts a lush, natural, overwhelming feel and truly represents how I feel about this book. A deep wander into a unique place. At times a mashup of so many subjects the reader may need to pause and reflect before continuing. ... Would make a good book club read as there would be lots of discussion points." —Kay D. (Strongsville, OH)
| |
Discussions are open to all to view and participate, so if you've read a book, click on "discuss."
If you have not, we suggest you go to "about the book" to avoid spoilers.
| |
| |  |
We Must Not Think of Ourselves
by Lauren Grodstein
From the Jacket
A heart-wrenching story of love and defiance set in the Warsaw Ghetto, based on the actual archives kept by those determined to have their stories survive World War II
From the Discussion
"I thought this book was excellent and compelling. ... I learned so much about what happened in the Warsaw Ghetto. I guess I truly never thought of the day-to-day life of the people. What did they do all day? How did they entertain themselves? How did the children play? What did parents do to try to keep life 'normal'?" —linz
"While I knew of the Warsaw Ghetto, this story provides a more intimate look at the individuals caught up in this nightmare than previous books have captured. The author uses the power of individual interviews (some taken from the actual archives) to achieve these more intimate portraits." —Harley's Mom
"I absolutely loved the book and could not put it down. I found the story compelling, the characters captivating, and I quickly became invested in their welfare and futures. I cannot recommend it highly enough." —JHSiess
| |
This issue of The BookBrowse Review contains reviews and "beyond the book" articles for 18 titles, including Absolution by Alice McDermott, Glory Be by Danielle Arceneaux and Julia by Sandra Newman.
We also bring you previews of noteworthy upcoming releases, the latest book news, book club recommendations and more.
Not Yet a Member? Do you love to spend your reading hours immersed in captivating storytelling and intriguing ideas?
Then a BookBrowse membership is for you! What you see on BookBrowse for free and in this newsletter is just a small part of what is available to members—for just $3.75/month! Find Out More!
| |
We also offer Library Subscriptions that give patrons full and free access to all of BookBrowse's premium content from anywhere, any time. Current subscribing libraries include :
| |
Leon County, FL
Luzerne County, PA
Santa Clara County, CA
| |
Onondaga County, NY
Des Plaines, IL
Norwalk, CT
| |
Prince William, VA
Jefferson County, CO
Pasadena, TX
| |
The American Diet Industry
In Hot Springs Drive, main characters Theresa and Jackie attend a dieting support group. In the United States, commercial diet plans like these are a big business. The research firm Custom Market Insights estimates the industry was worth $135.7 billion in 2022 and predicts that it will continue to grow, with Herbalife, NutriSystem and Weight Watchers pegged as some of the biggest players.
Fad and commercial diet plans have been around since at least the 19th century, and gained popularity in the 20th century. The 1950s and '60s saw some truly wild regimens. The "Drinking Man's Diet," one of the rare diet plans marketed to men, called for the consumption of fish, steak…and unlimited booze. The cabbage soup diet let dieters eat as much as they wanted…but the only allowable food was the sludgy soup. Advertisements in women's magazines touted cigarettes as a tool for staying slim. ... continued
| |
Hot Springs Drive by Lindsay Hunter and Glory Be by Danielle Arceneaux, both appearing in the latest BookBrowse e-zine, are just two of the nearly 1,700 titles featured in our Contemporary category, where you can find a wide variety of recommended books, both fiction and non-fiction, featuring current settings and themes relevant to today's world.
This is one of 100+ themed categories you can explore, on BookBrowse to find the perfect read for your book club or yourself. Members can access all categories and filter to narrow their browsing, while non-members have limited access.
| |
Discussions are open to all, so do join us!
Currently, we're discussing Lauren Grodstein's We Must Not Think of Ourselves. Our discussion of Evie Woods' The Lost Bookshop is opening this week, and Lynda Rutledge's Mockingbird Summer is scheduled for early February.
If you would like to receive a message when a particular discussion opens, you can sign up for a one-time notification.
| |
With so many new books published every month, it's difficult to find the standouts, the ones which are really worth your time. This is why hundreds of thousands of readers rely on BookBrowse to do the hard work of sifting though the multitude of titles to find the most promising new books, with a focus on books that entertain, engage and enlighten. | |
BookBrowse Highlights is one of our four free newsletters. We also offer Publishing This Week every Sunday, and Book Club News and Librarian News monthly.
| |
1-408-867-6500
Toll Free: 1-800-745-5306 (US & Canada)
Copyright 2024
| | | | |
