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 July 2012
"Summer afternoon, summer afternoon;
to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language"
Henry James
Summer really begins on the Fourth of July, and what is one of the best things about this time of year? Summer reading...pure pleasure reading! Also, some book clubs take a break during the summer, but that just means an opportunity for you to squeeze in more of your personal choices or favorites. I hope you are lounging somewhere with a great book in your hands!
Keep the joy of reading alive!
Sue
In this issue:
 TOP 5 BOOK CHOICES FOR BOOK CLUBS
 THE WORLD WITHOUT YOU by Jonathan Henkin
This is a novel about sibling rivalries and marital feuds, about volatile women and silent men, and, ultimately, about the true meaning of family. It's a strong story about a family with rocky relationships dealing with a tragedy. Henkin does an unbelievable job of painting the many different characters in this large family and showing how different people raised by the same parents can respond to a situation.
 GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn
Bookseller, Mary T., loved this book. Here's what she had to say:
"Happy anniversary, Nick Dunne! Your precious wife is missing and you're the prime suspect. After all, you're telling lies, smiling inappropriately, and sweating profusely. You are no media darling! Chilling doesn't even begin to describe this anti-love story. Macabre, yet I had a lot of fun reading this!"
 AND THEN THERE WERE NONE by Agatha Christie
If you haven't read a classic whodunit lately, you might want to try this great mystery by Agatha Christie. First, there were ten and one by one, each of them are killed. A curious assortment of strangers meet as weekend guests of an eccentric millionaire at a private island, yet the host is nowhere to be found. The guests do have one thing in common. They each have a wicked past they're unwilling to reveal - and a secret that will seal their fate. You may think you know who the killer is but you may never know!
 CLARA AND MR. TIFFANY by Susan Vreeland
Lots to discuss with this book in addition to the obvious Tiffany glass. It's 1893, and at the Chicago World's Fair, Louis Comfort Tiffany makes his debut with a luminous exhibition of innovative stained-glass windows, which he hopes will honor his family business and earn him a place on the international artistic stage. But behind the scenes in his New York studio is the freethinking Clara Driscoll, head of his women's division. Publicly unrecognized by Tiffany, Clara conceives of and designs nearly all of the iconic leaded-glass lamps for which he is long remembered. You'll learn about women and NYC at the turn of the 20th century and a woman who was once lost in the shadows and finally brought into vivid color.
 THE ART OF HEARING HEARTBEATS by Jan-Phillip Sendker
BOOK CLUBS TAKE NOTE!!
I've mentioned this book before but I wanted to mention it again because we are thrilled to be hosting Jan-Philipp Sendker at the store on Saturday, August 4th at 4 pm. A fabulous book which Roxanne and her assistant, Stephanie have been raving about since it came into the store. Stephanie didn't want the book to end. A poignant and inspirational love story set in Burma, The Art of Hearing Heartbeats spans the decades between the 1950s and the present. When a successful New York lawyer suddenly disappears without a trace, neither his wife nor his daughter Julia has any idea where he might be...until they find a love letter he wrote many years ago, to a Burmese woman they have never heard of. Intent on solving the mystery and coming to terms with her father's past, Julia decides to travel to the village where the woman lived. There she uncovers a tale of unimaginable hardship, resilience, and passion that will reaffirm the reader's belief in the power of love to move mountains.
Be sure to mark your calendars - Saturday, August 4th at 4 pm. You have plenty of time to read the book and then listen to Jan-Philipp talk about his fabulous story. Be sure to check out our website for information. This will be a special afternoon.
This event is FREE. Click here to reserve your spot!
- DEBUT AUTHOR BOOK CLUB
Ever thought of joining a new book club? Here's your chance....
In May, we introduced a new in-store book club to begin this fall. It will be called the "Debut Author Book Club." All books read will be books that are written by new and upcoming authors. RJ Julia is fiercely committed to our talented debut authors and we think there are many of you that would enjoy reading some of the fabulous books that we showcase at the store. We have introduced a debut author series and regular book club and want to extend the offer to our Book Club Newsletter readers. If you are interested, please email me at bookclubs@rjjulia.com. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at the above email address. Meeting times have not been decided yet. Once the book club is formed, dates and times will be determined.
- Advanced Readers Copies - Giveaway!
I have a set of advanced readers copies (ARC's) to be given away to your book club. The book is The Light Between Oceans by ML Stedman, set to be released July 31, 2012. This offer is being given away to the first book club to sign up for the event we are hosting with ML Stedman at the store on Tuesday, August 7th at 7pm by sending me an email at bookclubs@rjjulia.com. Let me know that you have read this email and that your book club will be attending the event.
 The Light Between Oceans is set in 1926. A boat washes up on shore, its cargo a dead man and a crying baby. Until now, a child is the only thing missing in Tom and Isabel's life, a huge source of sadness and loss to her. Without other people to interfere or judge them, Isabel can only contemplate one future for the baby. For Tom, it is the start of a long struggle with his misgivings about the decision they make. You'll be swept into a story about extraordinarily compelling characters seeking to find their North Star in a world where there is no right answer, where justice for one person is another's tragic loss.
This event is FREE. Click here to reserve your spot!
- RJ Julia Book Club - In-Store Clubs
Award Winners - A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole on 8/1
- REGISTER YOUR BOOK CLUB
RJ Julia has lots to offer your book clubs. Please consider registering your club with us today...
Benefits-
*20% off Hardcover Orders*
*15% off Paperback Orders*
*Author Meetings & Luncheons
*Opportunity to Receive Free Galleys
*Free Reading Guides
*When your club orders five or more copies of any title.
Please have your book club coordinator order your titles at least three weeks ahead of time so that we can ensure you receive the discount. It's free to register, just stop in the bookstore, call us 1-800-74-READS, or email us at bookclubs@rjjulia.com.
Our helpful staff is always available to help you select the right book.
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