Hosted by Jill, at Breaking the Spine, Here's my pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection:
Labor Day: A Novel
Author: Joyce Maynard
Pub. Date: July 28th
From Amazon:
With the end of summer closing in and a steamy Labor Day weekend looming in the town of Holton Mills, New Hampshire, thirteen-year-old Henry—lonely, friendless, not too good at sports—spends most of his time watching television, reading, and daydreaming about the soft skin and budding bodies of his female classmates. For company Henry has his long-divorced mother, Adele—a onetime dancer whose summer project was to teach him how to foxtrot; his hamster, Joe; and awkward Saturday-night outings to Friendly's with his estranged father and new stepfamily. As much as he tries, Henry knows that even with his jokes and his "Husband for a Day" coupon, he still can't make his emotionally fragile mother happy. Adele has a secret that makes it hard for her to leave their house, and seems to possess an irreparably broken heart.
But all that changes on the Thursday before Labor Day, when a mysterious bleeding man named Frank approaches Henry and asks for a hand. Over the next five days, Henry will learn some of life's most valuable lessons: how to throw a baseball, the secret to perfect piecrust, the breathless pain of jealousy, the power of betrayal, and the importance of putting others—especially those we love—above ourselves. And the knowledge that real love is worth waiting for.
In a manner evoking Ian McEwan's Atonement and Nick Hornby's About a Boy, acclaimed author Joyce Maynard weaves a beautiful, poignant tale of love, sex, adolescence, and devastating treachery as seen through the eyes of a young teenage boy—and the man he later becomes—looking back at an unexpected encounter that begins one single long, hot, life-altering weekend.
What is your WOW pick for the week?
Good pick. I saw this on Shelf Awareness I think it was and thought it sounded really good plus I liked the cover.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of Labor Day, but it sounds like a book I'd love - thanks!
ReplyDeleteThe comparison to Atonement really intrigues me. I will have to keep my eye out for this book when it come out. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really good. Here are mine: (1) (2)
ReplyDeleteI want to read this one too! Librarything has it up for request on their Early Reviewers list. I requested it, but if I don't get it I will probably end up buying it. :) Good pick!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard about this one, but it does sound like a good read.
ReplyDeleteI was just eying this one on the LibraryThing site. I read another book by this author awhile ago and really liked it.
ReplyDeleteNot heard of this. But from the review looks like a good pick.
ReplyDeleteLibrary Thing's ER program is giving away copies of this book, you may want to enter.
ReplyDeleteNo problem. LTER program has some great stuff this month. I keep forgeting to ask where in NE you are from. I am blogging from Warren, RI.
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