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This week in First Impressions, ahead of the year's Halloween festivities, we bring you a haunting tale of the supernatural and sisterhood set in historical Norway: The Witches at the End of the World by Chelsea Iversen.
Our book club is discussing Daniel Mason's mesmerizing North Woods, an unusually structured novel that focuses on one house in the New England woods over centuries.
You can also enjoy 2023's best author interviews, previews of noteworthy November books, reading group discussion guides for more than 1,800 of our featured titles and a new Wordplay!
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With best wishes,
The BookBrowse Team
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Each month, we share books with BookBrowse members to read and review. Here are their opinions on one recently released title. | |
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The Witches at the End of the World
by Chelsea Iversen
"Minna and Kaija's story is alternately told by both sisters, witches who approach their talents from opposite sides. Minna embraces her talents and wishes to punish all who have harmed her family, particularly those who burned her mother as a witch. Kaija wants to escape their forest solitude and live a life of perceived normalcy in a village. A betrayal and a curse fracture the relationship between the sisters, resulting in a chain of tragic events that may or may not restore their feelings of love and sisterhood. I liked this book for its unique story and characters, and the questions it raises about the use or abuse of power and the strength of sisterly bonds." —Renee T. (Seward, PA)
"This tale set in Norway was surprisingly fun to read while dealing substantively with issues of 'outsiders' and villages full of suspicion and rigid loyalty to their church's authority. ... I will recommend it to friends who enjoy stories that include a bit of magic we could all use." —Karen S. (Allston, MA)
"A book of love, rage, family and consequences. The storyline is well-written and the reader is drawn to the emotions of the characters. I would recommend this as a book club book; there is much to debate and discuss." —Keri P. (Momence, IL)
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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.
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North Woods
by Daniel Mason
From the Jacket
A sweeping novel about a single house in the woods of New England, told through the lives of those who inhabit it across the centuries—a daring, moving tale of memory and fate from the Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Piano Tuner and The Winter Soldier.
From the Discussion
"This was by far my favorite this year! I loved all of the storylines as well as the masterful technique of following the original home through several centuries." —lauriel
"I admire the creative genius, yes, genius. I love the early challenge of piecing it together, the story presented in short chapters, the intertwining of many realms. It is a unique adventure." —lorrained
"I am a one and done kind of reader, rarely re-reading a book. But, not only did I read it and listen to it, I am mid-reading it a second time. I am drawn in by the lush scenery and the structure that spins this story forward." —Nansubet
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The Best 2023 Author Q&As | |
At BookBrowse, we regularly bring you author interviews that offer insight into the origins, processes and intentions behind our featured works. As we look back over 2023, these are our eight favorite Q&As of the year. We invite you to explore Eleanor Shearer’s inspiration and research for her historical novel River Sing Me Home, Costanza Casati’s fascination with the subject of her Greek myth retelling Clytemnestra, how Anne Berest’s family history informed the writing of her memoir-tinged work of fiction The Postcard and much more. ...continued
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We know it can be tough to keep up with all the new books coming out every month, so we do the hard work for you. We've carefully selected 60+ of the most noteworthy books publishing in November and are continually updating our selections — check them out and get yourself on the library wait-list ahead of the crowd!
BookBrowse members can see, sort and download the full list of previews for all months.
Non-subscribers can view books up to the current month. If you don't already, you may also wish to subscribe to our Publishing This Week newsletter.
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BookBrowse provides reading guides for 1,800+ recommended books to help lay the groundwork for interesting and invigorating discussions with your book club.
Members can browse guides by theme, setting and time period, but anyone can search by author, title and genre or check out our featured guides of the week.
Take a look to find your next book club pick today!
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Solve our Wordplay puzzle to reveal a well-known expression, and be entered to win a one-year membership to BookBrowse.
"T I M A Slip B C A L"
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The answer to the last Wordplay: G O T P, B The P, F T P
"Government of the people, by the people, for the people"
Most readers will be aware of this phrase from President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg address in November 1863:
... But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
But Lincoln did not originate the expression. ...continued
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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.
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