August 2020 Group Read - New Authors/ To You or Debut Novels

[La Tonya]

We are excited about new authors for the month of August 2020. New authors excite readers with new inspiration, thought, and storytelling. Tell us about books from new authors you have read or thinking about reading. Absorb the end of summer with a new literary friend. Enjoy Reading, 📚

[Agnieszka]

I know it's August topic but I started yesterday Forrest Gump by Winston Groom and love it so much I had to let other people know.
I have to admit it's not a book suitable for English students until they are very advanced. The language itself is simple English but the grammar fits the character perfectly and is so flawed and naive I'm convinced I'd have struggled with it a couple of years ago too much to enjoy it very much.
Despite some very difficult topics I have to laugh very much so it's the perfect book right now.

[Renata]

I read The Henna Artist two months ago and absolutely loved it. This is Alka Joshi's debut novel - set in Jaipur, India of the 1950s, it tells the story of a henna artist in the pre and post Independence India. A brilliant read of history, culture and art.

One new author I look forward to reading is Megha Majumdar. Her debut book "A Burning" released in June this year and I've heard great reviews.

[La Tonya]

A new author for me is Helene Hanff. These two books are classics. The stories are priceless and introducing readers to a new author fits the theme.

The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street

84, Charing Cross Road

[La Tonya]

Renata wrote: "I read The Henna Artist two months ago and absolutely loved it. This is Alka Joshi's debut novel - set in Jaipur, India of the 1950s, it tells the story of a henna artist in the pre and post Indepe..."


I read The Henna Artist last month. It is a wonderful book. A great debut novel. Enjoy Reading, 📚

[Kim]

I picked up American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins last week (again, withe holds....) and I'm going to finish it this time.I guess I'm intrigued about the "conttrovery" and its the August libary book club read.

[Agnieszka]

La Tonya wrote: "A new author for me is Helene Hanff. These two books are classics. The stories are priceless and introducing readers to a new author fits the theme."

I've heard great stuff about her - especially 84, Charing Cross Road and have her books on watch lists but they are hard to get in Germany and the few used so expensive it's really frustrating.

[Agnieszka]

After another bout of depression I had to change my August book list and went mostly for re-reads of my favorite series and continuing series I already knew I enjoy so I have so far only 1.5 books to contribute:

Deep Blue by Adriana Anders book 2 in Turn the Tide 5* 8/17 is a new to me author and I'm already looking for the first one in this series (this was a prequel novella) I hope to read the other prequel novella by a new for me author from this anthology this week as well.
This author writes mostly contemorary romantic suspense with much action, great romance and edge of the seat suspense.

Naked in Death by J.D. Robb 5* 8/6 is the 0.5 book since it's only kind of a debut. This is Nora Roberts' debut under this pen name which she uses for one series only and because she branched out into a new area/genre - futuristic romantic susupense (instead of her usual contemporary or contemporary-paranormal). It's one of my favorite series and I've read this book for the 5th time since I first read it almost five years ago. I dislike science fiction very much and so it took me several years to give this series a chance. I'm glad a friend from the thriller group recommended it time and again to me until I took the risk.
The suspense in this series is more on the end of psychological thrillers/police procedural mysteries with some very graphic descriptions of physical and emotional violence so it's nothing for the faint of heart - especially if read for the very first time. The first two books in series center on Eve's current crime(s) and her relationship to Roarke. Later other characters come to this mixture and by now (I read #47 in series last week) it's inconceivable to me to think of this word without Peabody, McNab and all the other characters. Each time I re-read the first two books in this series I'm surprised again how it worked with only a few of those which are a vital part of each story.

[Kim]

My library had our American Dirt discussion today. It was one of the better books I've read for the year. btw, did anyyone notice the barbed wire on the cover? I had the ebook, so maybe I didn't realize it.

[Agnieszka]

Kim wrote: "My library had our American Dirt discussion today. It was one of the better books I've read for the year. btw, did anyyone notice the barbed wire on the cover? I had the ebook, so m..."

I've noticed it though that didn't add to the appeal. Since it's unlikely my library will buy it (at least as long as it's not translated) I'm looking for a nice deal so I can buy it.