July Newsletter

[Mystery writer B.A. Paris and thriller expert Michael Connelly spill the secrets on their new novels. Plus, best books of the month, our giveaways guide, and much more.] Mystery writer B.A. Paris and thriller expert Michael Connelly spill the secrets on their new novels. Plus, best books of the month, our giveaways guide, and much more. [Goodreads]( Hi {NAME}, [EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS]( [B.A. Paris]( After her bestselling debut, [Behind Closed Doors]( the mystery writer is back with her second novel. She confesses that until recently she'd kept her literary success a secret—even from her closest friends. [More]( [Michael Connelly]( Prolific thriller writer [Michael Connelly]( kicks off a new series (and introduces readers to police officer Renée Ballard, based on one of Connelly's friends) in [The Late Show](. [More]( [Librarians are loving these books... View the List]( [GOOD MINDS SUGGEST]( [Matthew Quick's Favorite Books on Coping with Trauma]( The author of [The Silver Linings Playbook]( is known for his complicated characters who face adversity. Here he recommends books about overcoming past traumas. Quick suggests: [More...]( [Joshilyn Jackson's Favorite Fictional Southern Women]( Novelist Jackson has made a career of writing about the lives of strong Southern women. Here she shares some of her all-time-favorite Southern female characters. Jackson suggests: [More...]( [Alissa Nutting's Favorite Awkward Sex Scenes]( Nutting's latest novel is a bawdy look at marriage and monogamy, featuring sex dolls and mind-control chips. In this spirit, the author shares her "funniest bad sex scenes." Nutting suggests: [More...]( [DEBUT AUTHOR SNAPSHOT]( [Zinzi Clemmons]( [Zinzi Clemmons]( found the plot of her first novel as she struggled to deal with her mother's death. The result is [What We Lose]( a gut-punch of a debut that examines issues of identity and grief. [More]( [BEST BOOKS OF THE MONTH]( Final Girls by Riley Sager (Goodreads Author) In this thriller that reads like a scary movie, three survivors of separate mass killings—dubbed "The Final Girls" by the gore-obsessed media—find themselves in danger. More Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong (Goodreads Author) A young sonogram technician quits her job to take care of her father who has Alzheimer’s. Sounds depressing? Well, get ready for a sparkling and heartfelt comedic debut. More The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie Wiseman (Goodreads Author) Set in the lurid world of a Depression-era traveling circus and coming full circle in the 1950s, this novel unravels long-held family secrets (literally kept in the attic). More Reading with Patrick by Michelle Kuo (Goodreads Author) This is a memoir of a friendship between a young teacher and her gifted student, jailed for murder in the Mississippi Delta. In turn, this is also a love letter to literature. More Sons and Soldiers by Bruce Henderson In 1942, the U.S. Army formed elite groups of German-born Jews to interrogate German POWs and help win WWII. This history tells the tale of these "Ritchie Boys." More Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody (Goodreads Author) This YA fantasy takes readers to the infamous Gomorrah Festival, where all dreams and desires are catered to. There a young illusion worker finds her creations may be mortal. More [View Past Best Books of the Month...]( [Alternate endings Read More]( [BOOK LOOK]( Mark Bradford: Tomorrow Is Another Day View the Gallery [GOODREADS POETRY CONTEST]( Want your words to reach millions of people? Goodreads and the [¡POETRY!]( group have partnered to host an ongoing poetry contest. Join the [¡POETRY!]( group and vote each month to pick a winner from among the finalists. You can also [submit a poem]( for consideration. Here is this month's winner! [If the Sky Speaks of Anything]( by Amanda Arbuckle If the sky speaks of anything It speaks of rain An anxious whispering of the wind The dark clouded brow of sky A chance raindrop before its time Surely, these are auguries if anything is. Thunder reverberates overhead Through the backyard Through my soul My actions are a tumult of hurry Feed the dogs Bring them in Stow the lawn chair cushions inside a weather-proof bin Watch for the wind Preparations before the rain. I did not know for sure it would rain It was a guess, a conjecture Instinct told me more than the weatherman could And when it came, there was no mistaking it That glorious onslaught against the window panes Rain like the patter of children's feet Like soldiers' drums Like lovers' voices, rising and falling through the dark. Thunder like a parent's voice, low and reproving Welcoming even if it heralded lightening. I was glad. Sometimes, there is something oddly comforting in a storm But then again, I watched from the inside, not from within the torrent Perhaps it is no different than letting yourself fall into a reverie Letting it take full control Castles crumble to dust And are rebuilt in a day Dragons are faced Villains confronted Friends lost and gained And even a thunderstorm can be braved. Imagination, such a fascinating place to visit I wouldn't live there though I'd never completely abandon this world for that other Or venture out now into that storm What storm? Gone. As brief as a memory of a dream Bells from the neighboring church Fill the newfound silence The sun glistens on newly bedecked leaves Strung with raindrops as with pearl necklaces. When it is my time to leave the world behind I want to exit as this rain has Quietly Leaving splendor and beauty behind Perhaps regretfully But knowing each thing has its place and time. Sun and rain cannot exist long together One must acquiesce, eventually They are not enemies though Rivals perhaps But there is no bitterness between them The sun and rain are perhaps not so unlike life and death Life submits to death Death gives way to life Can there be life without death Or death without life? Can one truly live if one never dies? Though it's sunny here It's raining somewhere And the sun speaks promises of another life [Read More Poetry]( Happy reading, [The Goodreads Editorial Team]( [Follow on Facebook]( [@goodreads]( [Follow on]( [2017 Reading Challenge]( [Goodreads Blog]( Want to work at Goodreads? Check out our [Jobs Page]( for more details and to apply. [Score Free Books Here's how you can get free books through our giveaway program. 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