November 09, 2023 | | |
| | Make sure to do today’s Bookdle! | If you’ve ever read a novel and thought, “I could do that,” guess what? You totally can. And now’s the perfect time to try because November is National Novel Writing Month. Each year, NaNoWriMo encourages hundreds of thousands of writers to “win” by penning 50,000 words by the end of the month. Here’s a list of selected novels written during NaNoWriMo by authors such as Elizabeth Acevedo, Marissa Meyer, Julie Murphy, and Erin Morgenstern! |
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| | | In The Bookends, we pick an exciting new release and pair it with an older title readers will also love. This week: Golden storytellers! | | Again and Again | by Jonathan Evison | Eugene “Geno” is 105 and spending his final days in a nursing home. When his assistant Angel shows an interest in his past lives, he regales him with stories of falling in love in medieval Spain, being Oscar Wilde’s cat, and more. Has he really been reincarnated multiple times, or are these delusions—and does the difference ultimately matter? Publishers Weekly calls this a “touching fantastical tale.” | Add to reading list |
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| | Big Fish | by Daniel Wallace | William has always had trouble getting to know his father, Edward. Now that Edward’s come home to live out the end of his life, he still won’t answer his son’s probing questions, so William reimagines him in a series of tall tales. Kirkus calls this family novel “an imaginative, and moving, record of a son’s love for a charming, unknowable father.” Plus, this novel was the inspiration for the beloved Tim Burton movie of the same name! | Add to reading list |
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| | | | | | Only $1.99 until November 15th! | When influencer Molly posts a photo of her fiancé Scott, the reaction from her millions of followers is far from what she’d hoped. Amid the negativity, she removes the post, but not before another woman, Liv, has recognized Scott, who she’s sure is the same man who killed her sister and kidnapped her baby niece nine years ago. So, Liv maneuvers her way into Molly’s life to warn her. What neither woman knows, however, is that someone else has also recognized Scott, and they may pose the biggest danger of all. Bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan calls this psychological thriller “chilling and propulsive” and “not to be missed.” Grab it for only $1.99 from now through November 15! | Buy on Amazon |
| | | Fallon and Ben meet up every year on the anniversary of the day they met.Aspiring novelist Ben takes inspiration from Fallon’s exciting life, but is he using her, or does he really care about her?This romance is by a superstar author who’s been dominating the bestseller lists with her popular novels! | Answer in footer |
| | | The Stack | Together with |
| | | It's Giving: Rolling out the red carpet
The Location: Pasadena, CA
Luxury Accommodations: What do Westworld, Saving Mr. Banks, The Parent Trap, and Modern Family all have in common? Besides being some of our fave movies and shows, they’ve all filmed at this iconic landmark, The Langham Huntington! And when you take one look at the stunning old Hollywood exterior, you’ll understand why. Located in charming Pasadena, this elegant spot’s suites and cottages are designed to reflect the grace of classic SoCal. We’re talking sprawling gardens, Italian marble, large French doors, and tennis courts. Pamper yourself by staying at a cottage suite (fireplace included!) or soak up endless sunshine on your deluxe patio room’s private outdoor seating space.
Instaworthy Activities: Old Hollywood glam calls for Old Hollywood luxury, naturally. Get ready for your close-up with a facial at the Chuan Spa, have cocktails at The Tap, a 1930s-inspired lounge, dine in style at The Royce Wood-Fired Steakhouse, and take a dip in the heavenly, heated pool. And no visit to The Langham Huntington would be complete without sampling their signature Langham pink macarons flecked with gold. Ah, the sweet life! Whether you’re coming to Pasadena to experience the hustle and bustle of LA or to soak up the sun and decompress, The Langham Huntington will make you feel like you’re living your own Hollywood dream. | | | |
| | | YA Spotlight | If you liked The Queen’s Gambit but wished it had a love story too, you’re in luck! Chess-themed YA romance Check & Mate by STEMinist queen Ali Hazelwood hits the spot, with A Novel Glimpse calling it “clever and swoon-worthy.” Kirkus hails it as a “captivating” story readers will devour “in one sitting.” | | Check & Mate | by Ali Hazelwood | Mallory, who is the provider for her family, has sworn off playing chess, despite loving it passionately as a kid. But when an offer to get paid to play the game lands in her lap, she can’t resist. Someone else can’t resist the offer, either—the sexy, world-famous player Nolan, who is the perfect sparring partner both on and off the board… | Add to reading list |
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| Critical Love | Pandemic-set novel The Vulnerables by National Book Award winner Sigrid Nunez (The Friend) is “strangely, sweetly hopeful” (Kirkus) and a “funny and thoughtful story” that “[reminds] us that it’s OK—and perhaps even necessary—to need each other” (San Francisco Chronicle). | | The Vulnerables | by Sigrid Nunez | During the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown in NYC, an unnamed female narrator, termed a “vulnerable,” agrees to birdsit for a friend of a friend. When the original birdsitter returns, they become roommates and eventually friends, navigating the isolation and oddness of this challenging time in a city deeply changed from the one she’s known. | Add to reading list |
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| | | | | The very timely November 9 by Colleen Hoover! How could we not pick this one?! |
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