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January 4, 2022 Making life hard for your characters 
Welcome, readers, to a brand new year filled with oh so many great, GREAT books to look forward to! This week’s "Book Buzz" feature below is Diane Chamberlain’s new novel — just released — The Last House on the Street. The author is a favorite among Southern readers, and booksellers are especially excited by this book, which with its mix of romance, mystery, and resolute look at the history of voting rights makes the story feel very relevant. "A rollercoaster of emotions and feelings!" says one bookseller. "Great storytelling!" says another. Diane Chamberlain is the featured author at the first Reader Meet Writer event of 2022. Tune in to hear her discuss her new book with Wiley Cash on Tuesday, January 13, at 7:00 PM. Read This Now | Read This Next | The Bookseller Directory |
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Read This Now! Recommended by Southern indies… |
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The Paris Bookseller by Kerri Maher Adult Fiction, Biographical, Historical Fiction I enjoyed the novel of Sylvia Beach, who founded Shakespeare and Company book store in 1919 Paris and published James Joyce’s initial edition of Ulysses. It is full of the details of Sylvia’s life with Adrienne Monnier, who owns a French bookstore across the street, and the many trials Beach endures dealing with Joyce until she finally lets her interest in the book go. Reviewed by Beth Carpenter, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina |
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Bookseller Buzz |
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Spotlight on: The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain
"When I think about writing a book I think about the situation first and then I try to think of a character who is going to have the most difficult time doing what I want her to do." –Diane Chamberlain At a launch event with Friends & Fiction for the paperback release of her last book, Big Lies in a Small Town, Diane Chamberlain was asked about how she created such psychologically complicated characters. She answered that she starts with a situation, something she wants them to do such as paint a mural, or start their life over in a new house, and then she throws obstacles at them: "it’s not that I set out to create these screwed up characters. As I’m writing I’m just trying to figure out how more difficult for them so that they have to really work harder to succeed." Trouble and difficulties is just what Kayla Carter has in The Last House on the Street. She has just lost her husband in an accident building their dream home and now must raise her four year old daughter in the house that cost him his life. But the house is built in a new development that sits on top of some very old and tragic history that is still festering and won’t let itself be buried in the past. 
What booksellers are saying about The Last House on the Street
About Diane Chamberlain DIANE CHAMBERLAIN is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of twenty-eight novels published in over fifteen languages. Her books include Big Lies in a Small Town, The Stolen Marriage and The Dream Daughter. She lives in North Carolina with her partner, photographer John Pagliuca, and her sheltie, Cole. |
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Between the Lines by Uli Beutter Cohen Adult Nonfiction, Essays, Literary Collections From the creator behind Subway Book Review, this is the newest Humans of New York, but for book lovers. This is a collection of short interviews Cohen conducted on the subway of New York City, documenting not only everyone’s reading list but also creating a conversation and connection. From beloved classics to niche dog-eared, worn books, this covers just about every genre you could think of. What I really love about this book is that it could’ve just as easily been a book full of tiny book reviews, but it’s something much more intimate. Cohen does a great job of telling these people’s stories all in about 400 words each. There’s representation of everyone; queer, trans, all races, all occupations. It’s raw, gorgeous and executed so flawlessly I can’t get enough of it. Reviewed by Grace Sullivan, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia |
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The Love Con by Seressia Glass Adult Fiction, Romance, Romantic Comedy From friends-to-lovers, mutual pining, and fake dating, The Love Con has all the makings of a superb romance. Kenya and Cam’s sizzling chemistry and wonderful communication elevate this romance novel to the next level. Along with Seressia Glass’s spot-on humor and wit, The Love Con is a near-perfect romance novel. Reviewed by Gennifer Eccles, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
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Let’s Be Friends by Violet Lemay Friendship, Juvenile Fiction, Social Themes Violet represents so many different types of people in this magical picture book. In the end we are more alike than we think. Cute fun illustrations and happiness throughout this book make a a winner. Reviewed by Suzanne Lucey, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina |
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When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord Romance, Romantic Comedy, Young Adult Millie’s summer is turned upside down when she finds her father’s old Livejournal that hints at her absent mother’s identity. Already obsessed with Mamma Mia! and all things Broadway, Millie tracks down three women and wedges herself into their lives. With a great cast of secondary characters and a slow-burn romance, Millie’s journey of self-discovery and growth is a delightful read. Reviewed by Chelsea Stringfield, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee |
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Read This Next! Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies… |
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The Maid by Nita Prose Adult Fiction, Cozy, Mystery & Detective A January 2022 Read This Next! Title The Maid is a cozy mystery the way cozies should be written. It is beautifully written, extremely entertaining, has a great mystery, twists you don’t see coming and most of all one of the most endearing and interesting characters you will ever meet. Molly Gray is on the autism spectrum. She does not react to people and circumstances like normal people do because she doesn’t understand their facial expressions and their emotions. But her Gran has taught her over the years to be honest, to be a hard worker and to be very, very polite. Molly is a maid in a luxury hotel. A job she loves and is very, very good at because she loves order, and neatness, and routine. When she finds a dead body in one of her rooms it is not surprising that the police keep thinking that she is hiding something because, while always answering truthfully, she takes things very literally. It is also not surprising when she is eventually arrested for the murder. What is surprising is everything else that happens. I normally like more thriller type books but this was one of the most delightful books I have read in ages and the mystery was top notch. Reviewed by Nancy McFarlane, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina |
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Southern Bestsellers What’s popular this week with Southern Readers. |
[ See the full list ] |
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Parting Thought “Harriet never minded admitting she didn’t know something. So what, she thought, I could always learn.” |
Publisher:
The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance /
siba@sibaweb.com |
SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805
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