The browser: A quick look at recent releases

Last update: November 8, 2009 - 10:29 PM

THE LAST SONG

By Nicholas Sparks (Grand Central Publishing, $24.99, 400 pages)

Didn't you always dream of a sweet summer romance? Of going on a trip and meeting the person of your dreams? Of having a "Grease" kind of experience? When Ronnie Miller is forced to spend the summer with her father in North Carolina, she is sure it will be the worst thing ever. The 17-year-old New York City kid harbors resentment toward her father, who left the family and divorced her mother. She and her little brother, Jonah, move from the city to their dad's ramshackle beach house. Much moping ensues. Then she meets Will. Things change. She changes. Don't let the familiarity of the story line turn you away. Sparks makes the tale seem fresh in his touchy-feely way, and there are plenty of bends in the plot. You will be sucked in to this book, and you'll enjoy the emotional ride.

JUDY ROMANOWICH SMITH, NEWS DESIGNER

SECRET SOCIETY

By Tom Dolby (HarperTeen, 343 pages, $16.99)

"Secret Society" certainly starts with the makings of a best-selling teen thriller: Three talented, trendy students of an exclusive Manhattan prep school are initiated one night, in a drug-induced state, into the "Society." The initiation comes with a tattoo of an ankh, the Egyptian symbol for life, and admonitions never to speak publicly about the group. But in the age of "Twilight'' and "Harry Potter," it takes more than a clever plot idea to hang a teen franchise on. Nick, Phoebe and Lauren are fleshed-out characters, full of teenage insecurities and confusion over what to do about the secret society they were essentially forced to enter. But even with the murders of two society members, the thriller action never fully materializes, and the story ends abruptly in a cliffhanger. Author Tom Dolby writes on his blog that he's working on the next installment of the "Secret Society" series, but he's going to need to amp up the action to get readers to buy into it.

KATHLEEN CLONTS, NEWS COPY EDITOR

Recent Books stories

Revealing the truth, as she knows it - November 8, 2009

Revealing the truth, as she knows it - In her new memoir, "Lit," Mary Karr turns a poet's eye to adulthood, alcoholism and her conversion to Catholicism. She talks about attending Macalester College, living in the Twin Cities and appreciating poetry. She's in town Wednesday for a reading. More

Irving revisits familiar themes - November 8, 2009

Irving revisits familiar themes - A man and his son spend a life on the lam after the son mistakenly commits murder. More

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Holiday books 2009

Here are some of Books Editor Laurie Hertzel's favorite sites and blogs. Got a literary link to share? E-mail Laurie.

Twin Cities Literary Scavenger Hunt Home page for the scavenger hunt, which runs now through Dec. 26.
Reading Minnesota A blog that features Minnesota writers, illustrators, publishers, bookstores, and reviewers.
Talk of the Stacks An author series from the Library Foundation of Hennepin County.
Poets & Writers The website for Poets and Writers Magazine--podcasts, author interviews, and writing resources.
Creative Writing A place to keep apprised of writing competitions in the United States.
Gather Minnesota Readers The Website for Minnesota Public Radio's books blog.
The Loft Literary Center The Website for the Loft, a local place for writers and readers.
Good Reads A way to track what you're reading, and what your friends are reading.
Lost Manuscripts Just what it sounds like - a blog (sporadically updated) devoted to missing and destroyed manuscripts.
Maud Newton Very hip, reviews, links, a little attitude.
bookreporter.com A plethora of online book reviews and reading guides.
Rain Taxi Rain Taxi Review of Books.