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Family History & Good Old-Fashioned Murder
Q&A with Chris Bohjalian, popular book club books, and more ...
BookBrowse Highlights
Hello Readers!
This week, we invite you to explore our discussion of The River Knows Your Name by Kelly Mustian, a moving story of family secrets.
In First Impressions, we look at Dolen Perkins-Valdez’s latest novel Happy Land, a fictionalization of the true story of a Reconstruction-era kingdom created by formerly enslaved people. Our readers also review One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman, in which a retired actress teams up with her AA sponsor to solve a murder.
Plus, Katie Kitamura is back with Audition, a suspenseful tale mixing drama with life and our Editor’s Choice pick for the week.
We also bring you an “ask the author” interview with Chris Bohjalian in our community forum, the most popular book club titles of 2024, and May books we’re looking forward to.
Thanks for reading,
The BookBrowse Team
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Book Club Discussions
Discussions are open to all to view, 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.
The River Knows Your Name by Kelly Mustian
From the Jacket For nearly thirty years, Nell has kept a childhood promise to never reveal what she and Evie found tucked inside a copy of Jane Eyre in their mother's bookcase―a record of Evie's birth naming a stranger as her mother. But lately, Nell has been haunted by hazy memories of their early life in Mississippi, years their reclusive mother, Hazel, has kept shrouded in secrecy. From the Discussion “I think this book would promote lively discussion for any reading group. I will certainly recommend it to my book club.” —Ann_H |  |
“This book hooked me in and had me trying not to cry in the break room at work when I was finishing it. The characters were relatable, and I overall loved it.” —Charity_Meals
See what people are saying in response to this question: "Throughout their lives, Lottie and Becca find strength and comfort at the river. Why do you suppose this is? Is there a place that offers you something similarly meaningful?”
First Impressions
Each month, we share books with BookBrowse members to read and review. Here are their opinions on two recently released titles.
Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
“In this dual timeline, Nikki (present time) is summoned from D.C. to North Carolina by her estranged grandmother, Mother Rita, for an unknown reason. Before she'll tell Nikki why, Mother Rita insists that Nikki learn about her ancestors, specifically her great-great-great grandmother and their history with the physical land in N.C. once known as the Kingdom of Happy Land…Happy Land provides stunning insight into a real group of freedpeople who established their own community. The characters' connection and linkage to the land was beautifully told and so impactful.” —Emily B. (Ellicott City, MD) |  |
"[Happy Land] kept me interested in finding out how the different situations would be resolved in both stories…I will be recommending this book to my book club and will read other books by this author.” —Louise E. (Ocean View, DE)
“Engaging and emotional…Even if you're not a fan of historical fiction, I believe you will find this book an excellent read.” —Donna D. (Riverside, IL)
One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman
“Retired actress Julia teams with her new assistant/AA sponsor, Mason, to discover how her mortal enemy's body ended up in her swimming pool while she was blackout drunk. They are ably assisted by Julia's housekeeper, Claudia, who keeps them all well fed; Will, her researcher with an encyclopedic memory; and her attractive new attorney, Archie. Kudos, Ms. Waxman! I hope further adventures await this fun and eccentric team.” —Mary G. (Greensboro, GA) “This would be a fun book club read. One Death at a Time is a mystery that will keep you laughing and guessing the whole way through. I loved it!” —Gina V. (Mesa, AZ) |  |
“Yes, it's a mystery but the beauty of this book is in its dialogue! Cheeky, irreverent, and totally real. You can ‘hear’ the conversations! Didn't want this to end because I had a wonderful time getting to know the characters and delighting in their wit and attitude.” —Linda V. (Independence, KY)
BookBrowsers Ask Chris Bohjalian
In an “Ask the Author” session held in the BookBrowse community forum, members interview Chris Bohjalian, author of The Jackal’s Mistress.
Kim Kovacs: Which of your books was your favorite to write? Which one are you most proud of? Which was the most challenging? Chris Bohjalian: Favorite to write? Perhaps The Flight Attendant or The Lioness. I had a blast interviewing flight attendants (my aunt was a flight attendant). |  |
I find their job unbelievably hard and underappreciated, and yet they are so tolerant of the people they see at their worst. And they have all seen wild stuff while trying to keep us safe at 35,000 feet.
I think my historical fiction — novels such as Hour of the Witch, Skeletons at the Feast, The Jackal’s Mistress, and The Sandcastle Girls — may be better than my thrillers, and so, perhaps, I take more pride in them. … continued
Editor’s Choice
Audition by Katie Kitamura
Katie Kitamura's novels share an unadorned narrative style. Beautiful and spare, the writing can be deceptively straightforward, and there often comes a moment within her novels, an almost imperceptible twist, when readers suddenly realize that they have been subtly directed into mysterious, even murky, territory. In her newest novel, Audition, Kitamura commits yet another narrative sleight of hand, creating a scaffolding that results in a story more experimental and daring than in her previous books, and perhaps—certainly for those who can accept the challenges of a fluctuating narrative—even more satisfying to read. … continued Review by Danielle McClellan |  |
Popular Book Club Books of 2024
What books did your book club love talking about last year? See how they compare to the titles our subscribers say were their favorites for book group discussions in 2024. This year, we welcome four new arrivals to our top ten most popular book club books, three of which go straight to the top of the list … continued |  |
May Books We’re Excited About
While enjoying the May flowers, make sure you also take time for the beautiful May releases in bloom. In our anticipated reads for the month of Mother’s Day, we feature a memoir of a mother-daughter relationship and a story exploring the profound impact resulting from a mother’s choice of what to name her child. We also look at one touching novel about a middle-aged bookseller reflecting on his life in the face of illness, and another about the connection between a young man and an older widow. Three out of four of these titles are debuts, so prepare to discover some wonderful new authors. … continued |  |
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