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Best new paperbacks:
The BookPage monthly feature for reading groups
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November paperback releases offer good choices for reading groups
REVIEWS BY JULIE HALE
Fans of period fiction will love Alexander's debut, a richly suspenseful novel set in Victorian London that blends romance, mystery and history. The book features a lovely young heroine named Emily Bromley, who marries Philip, the Viscount Ashton, simply because her mother urges her to do so. Not long after the wedding, Philip dies while on a hunting trip in Africa, a loss that Emily scarcely mourns. As Philip's widow, she has a large fortune at her disposal, so she begins to pursue her late husband's passions—classical literature and ancient Greek culture. While immersing herself in these topics, she makes the acquaintance of wise, witty Cecile du Lac, who becomes a trusted companion. She also crosses paths with Philip's old friends, including the handsome Colin Hargreaves, a suspected art forger, and Andrew Palmer, who asks Emily to marry him even as he hints that Philip may still be alive. There are implications, too, that Philip may have been involved in the theft of some valuable antique art pieces. As Emily and Cecile learn more about the mysterious Viscount, traveling to Greece along the way, Emily finds herself falling in love with him. Weaving in information about archeology and classical civilization without being heavy-handed, Alexander has produced a sophisticated, wonderfully detailed whodunit that displays her promise as a novelist. A reading group guide is available at www.harpercollins.com.
By Tasha Alexander Harper $13.95, 336 pages ISBN 006114844X
The narrator of Auster's new novel is divorced 59-year-old Nathan Glass, a former life insurance agent who moves to Brooklyn after being treated for lung cancer. With his move comes the decision to take up writing, and Nathan soon embarks on a work called "The Book of Human Folly," which he envisions as a narrative about his own life, with a special focus on bad decisions, foul-ups and regrets. In his new neighborhood, Nathan encounters a wide range of characters, including a gay book dealer, a drag queen and his own nephew, Tom. A grad school dropout who is searching for himself, Tom lives alone in a cramped apartment. When Lucy, his nine-year-old niece, shows up suddenly, Tom is completely taken by surprise. Lucy is the daughter of Aurora, his missing sister, and Tom hopes she can shed some light on Aurora's whereabouts. But Lucy doesn't divulge any details concerning her mother, and the mystery only widens with her presence. Tom, meanwhile, finds himself increasingly drawn to his gorgeous neighbor, who is married and has children of her own. At the center of these events is Nathan, whose good-natured, hopeful narration is undermined by the irony that the novel ends on 9/11. Complex, engaging and beautifully written, the book serves as a testament to the power of neighborhoods and to the solace that books—one of Nathan's passions—can provide. A reading group guide is available at www.picadorusa.com.
By Paul Auster Picador $14, 320 pages ISBN 0312426232
McCourt adds to his string of memoirs with a fascinating book about his years as a high school English teacher in New York City. Looking back on a three-decade career in the classroom, McCourt begins his account in 1958 with his tenure at McKee Vocational and Technical School. Still reeling from his impoverished Irish upbringing and trying to come to terms with his painful past, he finds himself at odds with school administrators, who advise him to keep his private life to himself and to be a disciplinarian when dealing with pupils. McCourt, naturally, takes the opposite tack. Concocting provocative writing assignments, sharing his personal experiences with students, and making an effort to get to know them, McCourt tries hard to inspire and excite his charges. Sometimes he succeeds; sometimes he fails. Along the way, he becomes adept at dealing with the public school system, red tape and all. Fans of McCourt will enjoy reading this new chapter in his remarkable life. His lyrical prose style and wonderful sense of humor are present throughout the narrative, making the book vintage McCourt and a must-read for lovers of Angela's Ashes. A timely and spirited narrative, Teacher Man entertains even as it provides valuable insight into the life of an educator.
By Frank McCourt Scribner $15, 352 pages ISBN 0743243781
Has your club recently read an excellent book that sparked good group discussion? If so, BookPage would like to hear about it. Contact us at reading@bookpage.com with a description of the book and the reasons for your recommendation. We'll pass the top choices along to our readers.
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Teacher Man