BookBrowse Highlights
Hello Readers!
This week, our book club is discussing Samantha Downing’s Too Old for This, a wild, absurdly humorous ride following an older woman serial killer.
And First Impressions readers comment on The Night Hunter by Natalie Moss, a story of a family secret and the South African bush that invites comparisons to Jane Harper’s fiction.
In Editor’s Choice, we look at Tove Jansson’s The Summer Book, an immersive tale about a girl and her grandmother on a Finnish island. This review is part of our special summer-themed issue coverage, along with a “beyond the book” article on the summer that inspired Sylvia Plath to write The Bell Jar.
We also have new books for members to request, 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.
Too Old for This by Samantha Downing
From the Jacket
Lottie Jones thought her crimes were behind her.
Decades earlier, she changed her identity and tucked herself away in a small town. Her most exciting nights are the weekly bingo games at the local church and gossiping with her friends.
When investigative journalist Plum Dixon shows up on her doorstep asking questions about Lottie's past and specifically her involvement with numerous unsolved cases, well, Lottie just can't have that.
From the Discussion
“I have to say I loved it. Maybe because I’m 70 and I found that part of it so spot on…I think for a book to read at the beach or on an airplane or a cold winter’s eve…it’s perfect.” —Helen_B
“I enjoyed it because it was so out there, and I definitely found parts of the book funny.” —Mark_S
“I would and have recommended this book to thriller lovers who enjoy a twisty story that is unique, extremely clever, and deftly crafted.” —Janie-Hickok-Siess
First Impressions
Each month, we share books with BookBrowse members to read and review. Here are their opinions on one recently released title.
The Night Hunter by Natalie Moss
“The Night Hunter by Natalie Moss features a well-developed cast of characters fighting for their lives in a private reserve in South Africa. Danielle Johnson leads an intriguing group in which almost nobody seems to be who they appear as they fight poachers, wild animals, and the climate, all in search of a mysterious secret surrounding Danielle's recently deceased conservationist mother. This is an exceptionally well-constructed novel including great character development, phenomenal plot twists, an excellent narrative style, and near-perfect pacing…I can't imagine a reader who wouldn't enjoy this; it has something for everyone to love.” —Kevin H
“The Night Hunter is a stunning debut novel…It was extremely interesting reading about the bush country of South Africa. The writing was very descriptive. I will recommend this to book clubs.” —Jennifer_B
“This thriller kept me guessing and shocked until the final pages. This book will definitely resonate with fans of Jane Harper.” —Vivian_H
For Members
Members! This month's First Impressions and Book Club books are now available to request. Offer closes end of Saturday, August 8.
Books are provided free of charge to BookBrowse members resident in the US with the understanding that they'll do their best to either write a short review or take part in an online discussion forum (depending on whether the book is assigned for First Impressions or the Book Club). Our basic membership guarantees you at least four books a year when you request each month.
Free books are one of the many benefits of a BookBrowse membership. Join by this Saturday (for just $5.00 a month) to request and receive a book from this list. Don't wait!
Editor’s Choice
The Summer Book by Tove Jansson
Like most American readers who know Tove Jansson at all, I came to know her writing at an early age, through her series of children's books and comics featuring the beloved Moomin family and their friends. Although I've returned to the Moomins many times over my life, I've never found the time to read her books for adults—and this BookBrowse issue on summer reading seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally immerse myself in Jansson's The Summer Book.
I choose the word "immerse" deliberately here—The Summer Book is an unusual novel that is best enjoyed if the reader lets go of expectations and simply dives right in. … continued
Review by Norah Piehl
Beyond the Book
The Summer That Inspired The Bell Jar
When Sylvia Plath arrived in New York City in the summer of 1953, she was a 20-year-old Smith College student with an already impressive literary reputation. She had published poems and stories while still an undergraduate and had won Mademoiselle magazine's fiction contest the year before she was selected to work as one of the magazine's guest editors. It was a highly competitive program that brought talented college women to New York for a month of work, social events, and exposure to the publishing world. The experience would later become the foundation for the opening chapters of The Bell Jar. … continued
Article by Lisa Butts
Wordplay
Solve our Wordplay puzzle to reveal a well-known expression, and be entered to win a one-year membership to BookBrowse!
"T it W a G O S"
Click for the answer to the last Wordplay (Y C T an O D N T), and a detailed breakdown of its meaning and history.
Want to play even more word games? Try our daily book trivia and see if you can get to the top of the leaderboard.
