There are MANY book reviews, printed and podcasts. Here are the top ones that introduce me to some of the best books I’ve read.
For more than two decades “Book Browse” has been an on-line newsletter that not only looks at contemporary fiction and non-fiction, but also has many resources for book lovers. Two that I especially enjoy are their “read-alike” suggestions – if you like a particular book, here are others like it – and their “beyond the book” articles, that are deep dives into the historical and social background of books. They also have book group resources, and opportunities for members to review advanced copies of books (as you’ll see noted in some of my reviews).
They publish four free newsletters (BookBrowse Highlights, Publishing This Week, Book Club News and Librarian News) and, for members, a twice-monthly e-magazine, The BookBrowse Review. All are delivered via email to members.
To fully appreciate their range of resources, one must be a member. The current subscription rate is $45 for a year ($3.75 per month), and well worth it.
Podcasts:
There are many podcasts related to books and authors. (In a recent issue, BookBrowse, above, listed several.) My favorites are:
- BBC World Book Club, featuring interviews with a wide range of contemporary authors https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p003jhsk/episodes/downloads
- The Streicker Center’s “Women on the Move,” focusing on interviews with women authors. https://streicker.nyc/past-event-recordings
Publishers’ Newsletters:
Of course, publishers focus on their own imprints, but there are two that are very engaging and that have many books that look especially interesting to me. They send notices at least once a week, so this can become overwhelming – but you can pick what genres you like and choose when you read their emails.
- Simon & Schuster [email protected]
- Penguin Random House [email protected]
I will be up-dating these resources, and welcome suggestions from you. Please contact me at: [email protected]