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Margaret Atwood's 19th-century Novel
Looking back with Zora Neale Hurston, Margaret Atwood, and more ...
BookBrowse Highlights
Hello Readers!
Join us this week for our discussion of the Reese’s Book Club selection Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall, a riveting story of romance, family drama, and mystery.
In our latest e-zine, we dip into the past with a special issue of reviewer-recommended older books, including Margaret Atwood’s 1995 novel Alias Grace, inspired by the life of alleged 19th-century murderer Grace Marks. You can access the full Editor’s Choice review below, along with a “beyond the book” article on the publication history of Zora Neale Hurston’s classic Their Eyes Were Watching God.
Plus, check out our latest community forum Ask the Author interview with The Husbands author Holly Gramazio (slight spoiler: there are pictures of her cats Madeleine and Gelato), our author name pronunciation guide, and a new Wordplay!
Thanks for reading,
The BookBrowse Team
Book Club Discussions
Discussions are open to all! If you’d like to participate, you can do so by creating an account here. Please note that discussions can contain spoilers.
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
From the Jacket Beth and her gentle, kind husband Frank are happily married, but their relationship relies on the past staying buried. But when Beth's brother-in-law shoots a dog going after their sheep, Beth doesn't realize that the gunshot will alter the course of their lives. For the dog belonged to none other than Gabriel Wolfe, the man Beth loved as a teenager—the man who broke her heart years ago. Gabriel has returned to the village with his young son Leo, a boy who reminds Beth very much of her own son, who died in a tragic accident. |  |
From the Discussion
"I liked the book. I liked how it was told. We were kept in the dark about a lot! The author told us what she wanted us to know in her own time!…A well-written book, a fast read and good discussion for book clubs.” —Paula_Walters
“I liked this book a lot and was surprised several times by the secrets that unfolded.” —Rebecca_R
“This book is for so many audiences. With courtroom drama, a love story, and familial relationships, what more could you ask?” —Wendy_F
For Members
This issue of The BookBrowse Review, with a special focus on past literature selected by our reviewers, contains reviews and "beyond the book" articles for 16 titles, including Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood, Erasure by Percival Everett, and new paperbacks. We also bring you July Books We're Excited About, a giveaway, 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 $5.00/month! Join Today!
Editor’s Choice
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
When Grace Marks was sixteen years old, she was accused of killing Nancy Montgomery and Thomas Kinnear. Alias Grace is a historical novel based on this true story that occurred in 1843 in Upper Canada (now Ontario). Written by Margaret Atwood and published nearly thirty years ago, Alias Grace is brilliantly structured in its balance and pacing and lovely prose that explains how violence is built. One parent, one sadness, one jealousy at a time. While there is inherent darkness in the escalation of violent behavior, Grace Marks defies a single description, and Atwood isn't going to appease those who want simple classifications. … continued Review by Valerie Morales |  |
Beyond the Book
The Critical Reception and Rediscovery of Their Eyes Were Watching God
While it's now considered a classic of American literature, Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God was not especially well-received at the time of its publication in 1937. It was Hurston's second novel (after Jonah's Gourd Vine), and she had also published poetry, co-written a play with Langston Hughes, and received two Guggenheim fellowships for her anthropological work. … continued Article by Lisa Butts |  |
BookBrowsers Ask Holly Gramazio
In an “Ask the Author” session held in the BookBrowse community forum, members interview Holly Gramazio, author of The Husbands. You can see upcoming and former author conversations here.
Kim Kovacs: Where did the idea for The Husbands come from? Holly Gramazio: I’ve always been interested in the different versions of my life that I might have lived — which isn’t unusual, of course…But specifically the idea for exploring different versions of someone’s life through a series of husbands in the attic? I think that came from a few places … continued |  |
Pronunciation Guide
Have questions about how to say writers’ names? We’re here to help with pronunciations for 700+ authors! Recently featured authors with name pronunciations include Aisling Rawle, Denne Michele Norris, Maria Reva, and Melissa Febos. Share this resource with your book club or reader friends, and use it to brush up on your background knowledge before having bookish conversations. |  |
Wordplay
Solve our Wordplay puzzle to reveal a well-known expression, and be entered to win a one-year membership to BookBrowse!
"W the C A the M W P"
Click for the answer to the last Wordplay (E H L the B), and a detailed breakdown of its meaning and history.
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