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    		•  August paperback releases offer good choices for reading groups

    REVIEWS BY JULIE HALE

    Cover The Judas Field
    Set in 1885, this richly detailed historical novel examines the repercussions of the Civil War on a group of veterans. The novel's main character, Cass Wakefield, fought with the Army of Tennessee in 1864, at the Battle of Franklin, a conflict in which most of the casualties—about 8,500—were Confederate. Now middle-aged, Cass lives in Mississippi and works as a salesman. His neighbor, a widow named Alison Sansing, lost her father and brother in the Battle of Franklin. Alison, who is dying of cancer, enlists Cass' help in traveling to Tennessee to retrieve their bodies. Cass has misgivings about revisiting the scene of the battle, and he dismisses offers of assistance from two other veterans, Roger Lewellyn, an old friend, and Lucian Wakefield. Yet, once Cass and Alison make it to the battlefield, the two veterans also arrive, and a reunion of sorts takes place. Naturally enough, the journey dredges up horrible memories for Cass. The author skillfully shifts between the past and the present, alternating episodes of the war with scenes of the recovering South. The way in which the survivors' stories come together makes for an unforgettable ending. The author of two other acclaimed Civil War novels, Bahr is a master of detail, and his knowledge of one of the most turbulent eras in American history gives this story depth and life. A reading group guide is available online at www.picadorusa.com.

    Cover A Woman in Jerusalem
    This bold and captivating novel from one of Israel's leading writers is sure to resonate with readers. When a beautiful Eastern European named Yulia Ragayev is killed in a terrorist bombing in Israel, her body goes unclaimed in the morgue. Yulia worked for a Jerusalem bakery, and, in the end, her body was identified only thanks to the stub of her paycheck. Her story is soon in the news, as a local paper vilifies the bakery for its lack of concern over her death. The owner of the bakery, a wealthy 87-year-old man (he is unnamed, like everyone else in the novel except Yulia), is soon roused to action, enlisting his human resources manager to find out about Yulia's death and return her body to her homeland so that she can have a proper funeral. This quest leads the human resources manager to Eastern Europe and Yulia's birthplace, where, as it turns out, she had a son, an ex-husband and a mother. The reasons she came to Israel remain unclear, as does much else about Yulia. This astute novel has touches of the surreal that lift it out of the realm of the literal. Yet there is no mistaking its timeliness. Yehoshua writes from a global perspective, offering a profound narrative about the crossing of borders and cultures. A reading group guide is available online at www.harcourtbooks.com.

    Cover The Return of the Player
    Continuing the story that he started nearly 20 years ago in The Player, Tolkin offers another smart, slick look at life in Hollywood, with movie executive Griffin Mill as star. Mill, who committed murder in the previous book and never got caught, is now feeling the weight of middle age and experiencing financial worries. With only $6 million to his name—small change in Hollywood—he is in need of cash, fast. To make matters worse, his second wife, Lisa, is unhappy; his two children detest him; and he is pining for June, his ex-wife. To solve his cash problem, Mill hatches a plot concerning private schools in Los Angeles, a scheme that forces him to commit a second murder. Mill's plan brings him into contact with a wealthy entertainment broker, who is soon picking his brain for even bigger money-making schemes. Tolkin delivers a crisp, stylish sequel with this fast-paced novel. Fans of The Player, as well as admirers of Robert Altman's acclaimed film adaptation of that book, will welcome this new chapter in the life of Griffin Mill, the kind of murderer who could only exist in Hollywood—a man with no conscience, a killer with plenty of class, style and, of course, luck. A reading group guide is available online at www.groveatlantic.com.

    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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