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The Books That Matter in Today's World
Wally Lamb, fado, contemporary recommendations, 2026 predictions, and more ...
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BookBrowse Highlights
Hello Readers!
This week in Editor’s Choice, we bring you The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb, an Oprah’s Book Club pick and one of our Top 20 books of 2025, along with a “beyond the book” article on the fado musical genre related to coverage of Allen Levi’s Theo of Golden, voted our subscribers’ Best Debut of last year.
Interested in reading about today’s world? Discover a staggering number of recommended titles about modern life and current issues in our Contemporary category.
We also have new books for members, predictions for 2026, and ongoing and upcoming discussions and author interviews in our community forum.
Thanks for reading,
The BookBrowse Team
Editor’s Choice
The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb
Although Corby is a loving stay-at-home father, he's also an addict, popping an Ativan or two with a rum chaser before the kids are even awake most mornings. A few times a week he tells his wife, Emily, a third grade teacher, that he'll take the children to their grandmother's house for the day so he can concentrate on his job search (when what he's really planning to do is spend the day drinking). On one of these mornings, Corby is distracted as he's loading the car and forgets that he's only buckled in one of the twins. His son, Niko, is killed when the car backs over him in the driveway, and Corby is sent to prison for three years on a charge of involuntary manslaughter. |  |
It is no doubt Corby's complexity that put the book on so many "best of the year" lists. His path to redemption isn't straightforward—he sometimes takes a step backwards as he strives to become someone worthy of his wife and surviving child. It's a realistic portrayal of the addiction and recovery process. … continued
Review by Kim Kovacs
For Members
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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.
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Beyond the Book
Fado de Lisboa
In Allen Levi's novel Theo of Golden, the protagonist moves to a small city in Georgia where he forms friendships with many of the town's residents. Among these are a young man studying the cello at a nearby university and a street musician who plays guitar for tips; the three bond over discussions about music. Theo, who is from Portugal, mentions a musical genre called the fado, and later, a fado written by the local musicians features in an important scene. Meaning "fate" or "destiny" in English, the fado is a song generally about yearning—pining for lost love or lost youth, sorrow for what might have been, a desire for a better future. |  |
Many credit Maria Severa Onofriana (1820-1846) with popularizing the genre. Known as "A Severa," she was born in Lisbon. Severa began entertaining at an early age in taverns around Lisbon's Rua do Capelão. … continued
Article by Kim Kovacs
Contemporary Books
The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb and Theo of Golden by Allen Levi, featured above, are just two of almost 2,000 books in our Contemporary category, where you can find titles set in recent times and relevant to our current moment. Explore these for recommended fiction and nonfiction about modern social, political, economic, and environmental realities; navigating family, friendship, and romance in today’s world; and much more. This is one of 100+ themed categories available to BookBrowse members. Non-members can view a limited version of our category lists. |  |
Reading and Publishing Predictions for 2026
What will happen in the book world in 2026? Which genres will be popular? Which reading and publishing trends will continue or fall off? What do readers and book clubs need to know going into the new year? Let us be your crystal ball. Here are some predictions we have for 2026, including what will happen with historical fiction, BookTok, audiobooks, book bans, book club content, and more. … continued |  |
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Discussions & Ask the Author Interviews
Discussions are open to all, so please join us! If you would like to receive a message when a particular discussion opens, you can sign up for a one-time notification. You can also find inspiration for your book club among our more than 200 past discussions. Currently, we’re discussing Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite, among other books. Starting January 29, we feature Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray and Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley. |  |
BookBrowse is now hosting Ask the Author sessions in our community forum. Stop by to post your own questions and follow along in any interviews that interest you. From now through Saturday, you can join us for our conversation with Kate Storey, author of The Forgotten Book Club and The Memory Library. |  |
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