My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman

This book looks very good.  I picked it up at the BEA, and I am looking forward to reading it.

Back in January, Atria told us to mark our calendars for MY GRANDMOTHER ASKED ME TO TELL YOU SHE’S SORRY. They loved the book and had a suspicion that everyone else would, too.

*********

They were right! Backman’s sophomore effort has been named a Library Reads Selection, an Indie Next Pick and the best of the month by Apple. As if that wasn’t enough, the critics have fallen in love. Take a look:

“A delectable homage to the power of stories to comfort and heal, Backman’s tender tale of the touching relationship between a grandmother and granddaughter is a tribute to the everlasting bonds of deep family ties.”

– Booklist (starred)

“Touching, sometimes funny, often wise…. Firmly in league with Roald Dahl and Neil Gaiman.”

– Kirkus Reviews

“In his second offering, Backman (A Man Called Ove) continues to write with the same whimsical charm and warm heart as in his debut.”

– Publishers Weekly

---

MY GRANDMOTHER ASKED ME TO TELL YOU SHE’S SORRY begins with a letter.  Or, more precisely, a series of letters.

Elsa’s grandmother, like Elsa is different. When she’s not sneaking contraband into her hospital room, she’s sneaking out to take Elsa on adventures. She’s Elsa’s best, and only, friend. At night Elsa takes refuge in her grandmother’s stories, in the Land of Almost-Awake and the Kingdom of Miamas where everybody is different and nobody needs to be normal.

Elsa and her grandmother are knights of the Kingdom of Miamas, conquering dragons and finding treasures—small exploits, as it turns out. When Elsa’s grandmother dies, she leaves behind a series of letters apologizing to people she has wronged that Elsa must deliver, leading Elsa’s to greatest adventure ever.  The letters lead her to an apartment building full of all sorts of characters—and to the truth about fairytales and a grandmother like no other.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fredrik Backman is a Swedish blogger and columnist. A Man Called Ove, his first novel, has sold more than 500,000 copies in its native country and has been published in more than twenty-five languages all over the world. His second novel, My Grandmother Sent Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, is on sale today!

---

We confess when we finished MY GRANDMOTHER ASKED ME TO TELL YOU SHE’S SORRY we cried. Elsa’s voice was so moving and her story, about the right to be different, so poignant, that we couldn’t wait to tell you about it.

MY GRANDMOTHER ASKED ME TO TELL YOU SHE’S SORRY is on sale today.

MY GRANDMOTHER ASKED ME TO TELL YOU SHE’S SORRY by Fredrik Backman

Atria Books | 384 pages | ISBN 9781501115066, $25 | June 16, 2015

Death In Salem by Eleanor Kuhns

 

Traveling through Salem on his way home, ​Will ​Rees encounters an old friend and becomes involved in a murder investigation at the request of his friend, Twig.

Rees wonders how he became involved in this investigation when all he wanted was to go home and see his wife, Lydia.   Could he bring her here to help?

​I enjoyed the time period DEATH IN SALEM was set in but am glad I didn't live then.  Horse and buggies, no phones,​ women who had to stay home, women who were not allowed to be educated, some women who couldn't eve​n read​.  What a time to be a man, right?

Being a man meant being a sailor or a merchant in this town. And being a wealthy merchant in this case was bad for Jacob Boothe.  His wealth may have been what got him murdered.

But, who was the murderer of not one but now two people and then a third? Could Will figure it out or is his investigation putting him in danger.

It took a few pages to become part of the story, but I enjoyed DEATH IN SALEM.  I liked the characters and the storyline. The characters perfectly portrayed the era.  The storyline kept me guessing until the end. The wrap up and solving of the murder was unique.

The storyline definitely held my interest, and I am going try some of Ms Kuhn's other books.  Murder and mishaps prevailed along with authentic characters who got the job done.

DEATH IN SALEM is a book historical fiction and murder fans do not want to miss.   4/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation in return for an honest review.

 

Finding Audrey and A Finding Audrey Coffee Sleeve Giveaway

Reviewers praise Finding Audrey:

“An outstanding tragicomedy that gently explores mental illness, the lasting effects of bullying, and the power of friends and loving family to help in the healing.” – Kirkus Reviews, starred

“Kinsella’s knack for humor and sensitivity shine in a story that should easily expand her already substantial fan base.” – Publishers Weekly

“With her trademark wit and sass, Kinsella sensitively broaches the complexities of young adult mental health.”—Booklist 

***********

Join in the fun and enter the giveaway for FINDING AUDREY and A FINDING AUDREY COFFEE SLEEVE.

USA ONLY

ENTER HERE

JUNE 15 - JUNE 22

 ***********

America's Most Well-Read Cities

I found this in Shelf Awareness Pro's Newsletter on June 3, 2016, and thought it would be interesting to share. My city didn't make the list.  Did yours? ************* Seattle, where Amazon's corporate headquarters is located, led the online retailer's fifth annual list of the "most well-read cities in the U.S."  The ranking was determined by compiling sales data for all book, magazine and newspaper sales in both print and Kindle format from April 2014 to April 2015, on a per capita basis in cities with more than 500,000 residents.  This year's top 20:

 

Eyes On You by Kate White

All eyes on you every night on your TV show can sometimes be hazardous to your health as Robin Trainer​ has found out.

Was someone jealous of Robin's success or was Robin imagining all the death threats and incidents happening to her at the TV station.  Hate notes, voodoo dolls, poison-laced makeup, drug-laced brownies, what else can happen?

​

As you follow Robin through her days, you will feel her terror at thinking someone is following her or share her fear of wondering what is going to happen next.​

​

The characters in EYES ON YOU were all a suspicious lot and pretty cut throat.  You never knew who you could trust.

I was very leery of most of the characters.  I thought this one was the culprit then I thought no, this one must be it.  EYES ON YOU wasn't gripping, but it was good.  It definitely ​kept me turning the pages and ​guessing until the end.​

This is the first book I have read by Kate White. I enjoyed EYES ON YOU, but I wouldn't call it a terrifying thriller.  I would call it​ an intriguing thriller.​   4/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher and TLC Book Tours in return for an honest review.

************

About Kate White

Kate White, the former editor in chief of Cosmopolitan magazine, is the New York Times bestselling author of the stand-alone novels Hush, The Sixes, and Eyes on You, as well as the Bailey Weggins mystery series. She is editor of The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook. She is also the author of popular career books for women, including I Shouldn't Be Telling You This: How to Ask for the Money, Snag the Promotion, and Create the Career You Deserve.

Find out more about Kate at her website and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Books I Am Looking Forward To Reading

I am thrilled with all of the books I received at the BEA, but there are a few that I am really looking forward to reading.

 

 

Out of this stack, I am most excited about:

THE READERS OF BROKEN WHEEL RECOMMEND by Katarina Bivald.  Sourcebooks was raving about it. 

HOUSE OF THIEVES by Charles Belfoure.  Another book Sourcebooks raved about.

HANGING MARY by Susan Higginbotham.

WE NEVER ASKED FOR WINGS by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.

THE SWANS OF FIFTH AVENUE by Melanie Benjamin.  She wrote The Aviator's Wife.  The cover is GORGEOUS.  

Out of this stack, I am most excited about:

THE BEES by Laline Paull.  

SECRET SISTERS by Jane Ann Krentz

THE SECRET CHORD Geraldine Brooks.

And in this stack, I am excited about:

THE NIGHT SISTER BY Jennifer McMahon.

THE SPARROW SISTERS by Ellen Herrick

How many of these books are you looking forward to reading?  Curious minds want to know.

Thanks for stopping by Silver's Reviews.

 

All Souls Trilogy Board Game Giveaway

Penguin has created a gorgeous, limited-edition All Souls Trilogy Board Game (see pictures here, here, here, and here) and will be giving 10 board games away via their Twitter @PenguinPbks over the course of the next two weeks (among other great All Souls prizes). 

These will be random giveaways taking place on Thursday 6/4. 

To enter, check the Penguin Twitter during the mornings (ET) on those days and be sure to re-tweet the giveaway post by 4:30 p.m. ET—Penguin will be randomly selecting winners around 5 p.m. from among the people who re-tweet.

Best of Luck!!  Looks like fun.