Hello,

This week in First Impressions, we bring you an epic historical romance, Katherine Vaz's Above the Salt, which follows its characters from the Portuguese island of Madeira to the American Civil War and beyond.

Our Editor's Choice selection, Jacqueline Woodson's Remember Us, focuses on 12-year-old Sage as her 1970s New York neighborhood is plagued by fires in a heartfelt exploration of loss and belonging that will appeal to both adolescents and adults.

Whether you're in a book club or just an eager reader looking forward to next year, we hope you enjoy our fiction recommendations for book clubs in 2024. And while you're at it, we invite you to check out our archives of more than 15 years of inspiring book club interviews.

Plus, enter our latest giveaway for a chance to win a copy of Michael Cunningham's soon-to-be-released novel Day.

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.

"Based on a true story, Above the Salt by Katherine Vaz spans continents and centuries to tell a sweeping saga of the human heart...beautifully rendered in its wisdom and details. Ms. Vaz did meticulous research on all of the topics covered in this lifelong love story of John Alves and Mary Freitas. Starting with the conflict of Protestants and Catholics on the Portuguese island of Madeira...the reader follows John and Mary through the Civil War, with many betrayals, missed connections, and miscommunications, ending in the San Francisco earthquake and the early film industry. This is a must-read for lovers of historical fiction. One of my top books for the year." —Laurie S. (Minneapolis, MN)

"I think this would be a good book for book clubs to talk about, especially regarding the historical facts woven into the narrative. The author also covers themes of loss, sacrifice, overcoming obstacles, and true love." —Rosemary C. (Golden, CO)

"This is a magical tale that will stay with me. I believe that Above the Salt will appeal to anyone who likes fiction full of engaging characters, wound through with accurate historical details, and an unpredictable but believable plot." —Catherine O. (Altavista, VA)

Remember Us is set largely across a single hazy summer of the 1970s in Bushwick, New York. With the neighborhood nicknamed "The Matchbox" by the press due to an ongoing spate of deadly housefires, 12-year-old Sage has grown up against a backdrop of sirens, ash, and dread over whose home will be next to burn. Basketball is her escape from the anxiety, and despite being the only girl on the local courts, she dreams of pursuing a future in professional sports. That is, until an encounter with a bully and the echo of his words — "What kind of girl are you, anyway?" — leaves her shaken.

Scared away from the courts for the first time in her life, Sage feels her entire identity is unmoored. Should she continue to strive for success as a girl in the male-dominated world of basketball, or should she conform and attempt to fit in with the popular girls at school, from whom she feels adrift? As Sage wrestles with who she is and what she wants for her future, her mother saves to try to move them to a safer neighborhood, despite the potential wrench of leaving loved ones behind. ...continued

"The Fires of 1970s New York City," our "beyond the book" article accompanying Remember Us, is available for you to read along with the review.

Over the past 16 years, BookBrowse has had the privilege of speaking with members or facilitators of more than 80 book clubs across the country and the world. In the process, we’ve learned that there’s a fascinating range of possibilities for what book groups are and can be.

These interviews showcase a wonderful variety of books and communities, and are all available for you to read in full on the site. Here is a sampling of just a few recent and past Q&As out of the many fantastic conversations in our archives. We hope you enjoy them and take away some inspiration for your own reading or book club. ...continued

For book clubs who read contemporary fiction, it may feel impossible to choose between the many acclaimed and anticipated works making an appearance every year. But not to worry, we have you covered with top-notch suggestions for your club in 2024! Our list of recommendations features new material from established favorites like Barbara Kingsolver, Lydia Millet and Lynda Rutledge, along with noteworthy debuts from emerging authors such as Costanza Casati, Alice Winn and Parini Shroff.

Plus, we're hosting our own online book club discussions — upcoming or ongoing — for the first three titles on the list, and would love for you to join us! ...continued

It. Goes. So. Fast. by Mary Louise Kelly and Flesh & Blood by N. West Moss, featured in our recent mid-life reading list, are only two of the titles in our Biography and Memoir category, where you can find more than 400 recommended biographical and autobiographical works.

This is just 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, while non-members have limited access.

A searing, exquisitely crafted exploration of love and loss, the struggles and limitations of family life—and how we all must learn to live together and apart—from the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Hours

"This subtle, sensitively written family story proves poignant and quietly powerful." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"This stands out from the growing shelf of pandemic novels by managing to feel timeless." —Publishers Weekly

Day by Michael Cunningham will publish on November 14. We have five hardcover copies to give away.

Due to copyright restrictions, this offer is only open to residents of the USA. Giveaway ends November 13, 2023.

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)