Our Editor's Choice this week looks at Gianrico Carofiglio's Three O'Clock in the Morning, a touching work of fiction translated from Italian about a father and son spending time together in Marseilles. The accompanying "beyond the book" article explores the publishing imprint responsible for bringing Carofiglio's novel to English-reading audiences, HarperVia, and includes recommendations for upcoming titles from associate publisher, Tara Parsons.

If you're a fan of Jane Austen, historical fiction or just good literary-themed novels, you can follow our current book club discussion of Gill Hornby's Miss Austen, a story featuring the famous writer's lesser-known sister, Cassandra.

Also, check out more articles in our "Reading Lists" category, and a new Wordplay!

Very best,

Davina

Discussions are open to all to view and participate, so if you've read this book, please do join the discussion. If you have not, go to about the book.

"What a wonderful step into the world of Cassandra Austen—and sister Jane. I was thoroughly delighted with Hornby's rendering of Jane and Cassie's lives (Gwen C). Though more of a supporting character in a family with some very colorful personalities, Cassandra Austen proved her love and loyalty to Jane throughout their lives and after. This book focuses on the after, and the preservation of Jane's good name, though on its own it is a delightful window into Cassandra's reimagined life (Anne M).

"I really liked it! I didn't know anything about Jane Austen's life or family before reading this, so I learned a lot, and I loved the way Hornby portrays the relationship between Jane and Cassandra. I thought Cassandra was a fantastic character and I found her love story to be incredibly moving." - rachelh

"To my surprise, I really enjoyed reading this book. One of my good friends is an over the top fan of all things Austen and I admit to some eye rolling when she gets going about the delicious Mr. Darcy. However, this is a well written possible explanation of one of those literary mysteries, like the mysterious disappearance of Agatha Christie, that beg for an author to attempt to come up with a logical, reasonable explanation. This explanation was plausible to me! ... My book club will hear positive reasons to read and enjoy this novel from me when we finally get to meet in person next week after a year of Zoom." - millicentg

"I enjoyed it tremendously and I feel that Gill Hornby does an excellent job mimicking the style of writing Ms. Austen herself used in her many brilliant novels... In addition, I very much appreciate Hornby's focus on the era and her explanation of life at the time these two women lived... Further, I enjoyed seeing the role of Cassie played out here and because I have not read, in detail, a great amount of Jane Austen biography, this gave me a bit of an idea of what her character may have been like - at least according to Hornby." - susiej

You may have noticed a new option on BookBrowse's menu: Members' Corner.

If you're a member, you no longer have to go on a treasure hunt across BookBrowse to find your membership status and premium features such as First Impressions books, book club discussions, "beyond the book" articles, previews and read-alikes, because we've gathered them all together for you on one page.

If you're interested in becoming a member, please click to find out more about subscriptions for individuals and for libraries (providing access to all patrons.)

The quotation that gives Gianrico Carofiglio's tender novel its title is from F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Crack-Up: "In a real dark night of the soul it is always three o'clock in the morning." It lends an appropriate sense of time suspended, of earnest seeking and extreme circumstances: The main action of the book takes place over just a few days in June of 1983, when teenage Antonio and his father are stranded in Marseilles. The gift of this time outside of time allows them to get to know each other better, such that the memory of the trip will be precious to Antonio even decades later.

While some readers probably prefer their fiction to cover a larger canvas, I appreciated how the limited time and place heightened this short novel's emotions. The focus on just a few days makes every incident stand out, authentically reproducing what it's like to spend time in a different country: When everything is new, your senses are intensified and it feels like time slows down. Carofiglio invites readers to peer between the leisurely progression of events to see the bond that is being formed. ... continued

In 2019, HarperCollins, the world's second-largest book publishing group, announced a new imprint for international literature: HarperVia. With a planned 24 releases per year, HarperVia focuses on works from around the globe. Staff in the US and UK work to streamline the acquisitions process: Rather than waiting for a manuscript to be fully translated into English before assessing it, they liaise with authors, editors and agents abroad to acquire buzzy pre-publication titles.

Among the HarperVia titles published so far have been Then the Fish Swallowed Him by Amir Ahmadi Arian, an allegory of authoritarian restriction in Iran that takes inspiration from the biblical story of Jonah and the whale; It Would Be Night in Caracas by Karina Sainz Borgo (translated from the Spanish by Elizabeth Bryer), a gripping novel set in the chaos of contemporary Venezuela; and international bestseller The End of the Ocean by Maja Lunde (translated from the Norwegian by Diane Oatley), a dystopian novel imagining a world water shortage in the 2040s. ... continued

Review and article by Rebecca Foster

BookBrowse features thousands of "beyond the book" articles that explore historical, cultural and contextual aspects of the books we review. Members receive full access to these articles, while non-members have limited access.

The articles are sorted into nine different categories, one of which is "Reading Lists," where you will find reading recommendations covering a wide range of themes and interests related to books we have featured, such as the publishing imprint HarperVia in the "beyond the book" above. Here's a sample of more recent articles in this category:

The answer to the Wordplay: It's N S O M N

Meaning: It doesn't bother me

There are a number of different theories regarding the source of this expression. Gregory Titelman's America's Popular Proverbs and Sayings says the expression has its origins in the early 20th century world of boxing. The earliest recorded use is found in a 1910 edition of Cosmopolitan, back when it was called The Cosmopolitan and was a "family magazine" very different from its current incarnation. ... continued

Published every Thursday, BookBrowse Highlights is one of BookBrowse's four free newsletters. We also offer Publishing This Week every Sunday, and Book Club News and Librarian News monthly.