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Showing posts from May, 2021

Author Talk: Alexandra Andrews, Ashley Audrain, & Wendy Walker

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  Today I was lucky enough to virtually join Darien Library and Barrett Bookstore to welcome authors Alexandra Andrews and Ashley Audrain as they discuss their new books with author Wendy Walker. Andrews and Audrain both have captivating debut novels that readers won't be able to put down. We'll be reading The Push and Don't Look For Me. So I'm excited to learn more about all of these for Shelf Indulgence Book Club.  About  Who is Maud Dixon? Florence Darrow is a low-level publishing employee who believes that she's destined to be a famous writer. When she stumbles into a job as writer’s assistant to Maud Dixon, a world-famous, enigmatic novelist whose true identity is a secret, Florence believes that the universe is finally providing her big chance. The arrangement seems perfect. Maud Dixon (whose real name, Florence discovers, is Helen Wilcox) can be prickly, but she is full of pointed wisdom — not only on how to write, but also on how to live. Helen even invites ...

‘The Silent Patient’ ends with a major twist. Should a savvy reader have seen it coming?

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The Silent Patient  is the gripping tale of Alicia Berenson, a happily married artist who murders her husband and never speaks again. Forensic psychotherapist Theo Faber sets out to unravel the mystery of Alicia’s notorious crime and quickly discovers that nothing about her case is as clear-cut as it seems... Would you judge me if I said I did not see the ending of “The Silent Patient” coming? That I read all 323 pages of Alex Michaelides’s best-selling psychological thriller and did not deduce the twist until he wanted me to (page 304). And then I still did not understand the hows and whys until he fully explained, in elementary-my-dear detail, the convoluted psychology at play (pg. 312). Michaelides’s debut is being adapted as a screenplay from Brad Pitt’s production company. I'm excited to see it on screen.  This is one I can assure you, that you won't want to miss... Here is a great Q&A peak behind the author and the book:  You did post-graduate work in ...

What's Left Unsaid Book Reviews

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Today with Shelf Indulgence, we're lucky enough to have many book review's for the wonderful Emily Bleeker and her new book What's Left Unsaid . Our book club was able to read it MONTH's before it's launch so we want you to be as excited as we are. We have our discussion with Emily herself scheduled for June 6th. For now, here is what we thought... I was so incredibly grateful to work with Emily Bleeker to set up an advance reading book club session for the book What’s Left Unsaid. We received physical and digital copies of the book for each of the members interested in diving in. It’s the first physical copy of a book that I’ve picked up in a long time and I must say I loved having the tangible story and pages to grip onto as I read and things kicked up.    This book had a little bit of everything in it and is a bit of a divergent from what I may pick up day to day to read. But for our book club and my planning it's what I challenge myself to do. To expand all ...

The Art of Curating a Playlist for Emily Bleeker's Book What's Left Unsaid

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Emily Bleeker, Shelf Indulgence Book Club wanted to say thank you for letting us read What’s Left Unsaid ahead of the pub date. The ladies and I have absolutely devoured it! As a way to show appreciation, we created this listen along playlist for others while they read.  We feel that nothing can get you into a story quite like that perfect song.  So this playlist is a mixture of all kinds of songs that reflected the mood of the characters and the plot as it progresses. Here is our take on Emily Bleeker's book What's Left Unsaid through music.. Here is a quick  Spotify Link  for easy listening.  Emily we cannot wait to see you June 6th to discuss this amazing book!! We're counting down the date to the July 27th launch date for you as we know it's going to be wildly successful. It's our favorite of yours yet!! 

THE ABCs OF SIBC

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Would your friends and family  describe you as a bibliobibuli  or just an everyday bibliophagist?  Do you consider yourself a librocubicultarist  whose ballycumbers regularly get in the way of a good night’s rest? Have you ever given into bibliosmia in your local library or favorite bookstore, even when other people were book-browsing nearby? Do you have any idea what I’m talking about? If so, then  you’re definitely a serious book lover , with the vocabulary to prove it. The Not-So-Secret VoCLUBulary  ARC  (n.): Advance Reader Copies of Books that we can't wait too dive into and see before everyone else.  Angsticipation  (n.): T he feeling experienced when you finish the latest book in a series, it ends on a serious cliffhanger, and there isn’t even an estimated publication date for the next book in the series yet. Ballycumber (n.):  One of six half-read books lying in your bed. Bibliobibuli  (n.):  People who read too much. ...

BOOK IT! Is back at Pizza Hut

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  Pizza Hut  is bringing back its summer  reading  program, Camp BOOK IT!, for its second year. The camp is part of the wider BOOK IT! program, which rolled out 36 years ago and was beloved by countless kids who grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s (and beyond). The free, virtual camp is available for kids ages 4 to 12 (pre-K to 6th grade) and will run from June through August. Parents can enroll their kids and log their kids’  reading  progress throughout the summer via a digital dashboard.  When kids reach their reading goal, parents will receive a certificate and a voucher code for a free, one-topping personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut. I know it inspired my love of reading, how about you all in the virtual world? I mean who doesn't love a good book and a personal pan pizza? Hello nostalgia.  Learn more here:  https://www.bookitprogram.com/about

J.T. Ellison of Good Girls Lie Join's Self Indulgence Book Club - Meeting Recap

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Q:  “Could 16 yr. old girls be this devious?” A:  “Have you met a 16 yr. old girl?” From the author, J. T. Ellison, Shelf Indulgence Book Club discussion of J. T. Ellison’s “ Good Girls Lie ”   So, who, as an adolescent, didn’t have a fleeting thought of homicide? Well, maybe not to the extent of the teenaged girls in J. R. Ellison’s wonderfully twisty Good Girls Lie.   Our book club was lucky enough to have the author give us her insights into her book, her inspirations, her work ethic, and some of her personal philosophy. As the graduate herself of an exclusive girls boarding school, J. T. gave us more than a cracking good story. We also investigated the interactions of adolescent girls — the bullying, the insecurities, and, also, the empowerment.   Yes, Good Girls Lie is a wickedly entertaining mystery, with secret societies, hazing, and forbidden liaisons. Our book club enjoyed every minute of the story. Yet our book club discussion with J. T. centered on th...