Charles Martin’s unforgettable novel is a powerfully emotional and ultimately uplifting story of heartbreaking loss and undying love. Doss and Abbie were the unlikeliest of couples, but they knew that fate had united them in a powerfully beautiful, seemingly endless love. When Abbie faces the ravages of terminal illness, their unshakable love is only strengthened, leading them to embark on a remarkable voyage down the mighty Saint Mary’s River. Where the River Ends chronicles their love-filled, tragedy-tinged journey and a bond that transcends all.
What does Doss’s mother teach him in the novel’s opening scenes? What gift does she give him through the words “if you ever find your well empty, nothing but dust–then you come back here … dive in and drink deeply”?
Doss recalls overcoming his suffocating asthma and growing up without a father figure. Abbie had to cope with the death of her mother and life with a domineering father. In what ways did Doss and Abbie heal each other through love?
Discuss the Saint Mary’s River as a character in Where the River Ends. What “personality” is reflected in the variety of scenes depicting the river? How does the timeless symbolism of water–as cleansing, life-sustaining, and ever-changing–shape its power in the novel? Where does the river ultimately take Doss and Abbie?
The barbecue bacon cheeseburger is usually a guilty pleasure. Here, I’ve combined these favorite flavors in a reasonable-sized burger that’s even more scrumptious because the ingredients are fresh and guilt free. Please, though, don’t cheat when buying the beef. Some people think that buying 93% lean ground beef isn’t that much different from the 96% lean, but it is. Four ounces of the 96% lean has about 150 calories and 4-1/2 grams of fat. Four ounces of the 93% lean has 170 calories and 8 grams of fat. Yes, the 96% lean is more expensive, but you’re worth it (plus, in the long term, you’ll be saving money on doctor bills)! (more…)
“In the tradition of Nicholas Sparks & Robert James Waller, Martin has fashioned a heartbreaking story.”—Publishers Weekly
Charles Martin, author of Where the River Ends, chats about the inspiration and themes behind his new novel, Where the River Ends. Visit Charles Martin’s website to read his blog, watch videos, and view photographs.
Win a pair of Stuart Weitzman heels, pictured on the book cover of Quick, Before the Music Stops!
To celebrate the launch of Quick, Before the Music Stops: How Ballroom Dancing Saved My Life, the debut memoir from Town & Country Beauty Director Janet Carlson, Broadway Books partnered with Stuart Weitzman to run a Sweepstakes, in which three lucky winners will win the Stuart Weitzman Fever style heels pictured on the book jacket.
Visit www.quickbeforethemusicstops.com to enter the sweepstakes and for more information about this inspiring memoir of renewal and self discovery that explores the magic of ballroom dancing and its power to bring grace, balance, and passion into everyday life.
In The Poet of Baghdad, the life story of one of Iraq’s most revered poets, Nabeel Yasin, is framed against the turbulent crises in his homeland that took place before, during, and after the brutal regime of Saddam Hussein. Written by Jo Tatchell, a journalist who has spent many years in the Middle East and who is a close friend of Nabeel Yasin’s, The Poet of Baghdad is the gripping story of a family and its fateful encounter with history.
How did Jo Tatchell’s description of life in Iraq differ to how you imagined it before reading The Poet of Baghdad? What does the book reveal that particularly shocked and surprised you?
Discuss Nabeel’s mother Sabria. In what ways did Sabria shape the person Nabeel was to become? Do you personally know of a strong woman such as Sabria? If so, how has she impacted your life?
“In these uncertain times, a poet’s aim is to reach people with truth,” (page 77). Consider this statement, as well as the fact that Nabeel’s truth-telling through his poetry is what put him at dangerous odds with the Iraqi government. Why did he speak out in this way?
“In the tradition of Nicholas Sparks & Robert James Waller, Martin has fashioned a heartbreaking story.”—Publishers Weekly
Charles Martin, author of Where the River Ends, chats about his writing style and inspiration for his new novel. Visit Charles Martin’s website to read his blog, watch videos, and view photographs.
In a nod to Orion’s chapter-opening cocktail recipes, Celestial Seasonings is holding a QUEEN OF THE ROAD Iced Tea Drink Recipe Contest. Get creative with your own tea recipe, and visit www.celestialseasoningsbookclub.com to enter for a chance to win cash prizes and a signed copy of the book.
And, be sure to visit Orion’s blog to see some great pictures from her day of events at their headquarters, and her website for some hilarious video travelogues, podcasts, and more!
This summer, trade the Boeing 747 for armchair travel and journey to China, Mexico, Europe, and beyond with our authors. Our wide variety of titles include essays, memoirs and novels.
Visit broadwaybooks.com/abroad to watch videos, view photographs, and read blog posts featuring the books.
In The Unlikely Lavender Queen, journalist Jeannie Ralston shares the story of how she went from being a single, driven New York City career woman to a married lavender farmer living in rural Texas. Describing her transition from city mouse to country mouse, and recalling the hilarity and poignancy it brought, Ralston touches upon many themes including self-worth, identity, reconciling big-city dreams with small-town ideals, and the competing interests that sometimes complicate a marriage.
The book opens with two quotations, one from Henri Matisse and the other from Alice Walker. Discuss what each means in the context of Jeannie Ralston’s story. Why do you think she chose these particular quotes?
In the Prologue, Ralston describes her maiden morning as a farmer, and juxtaposes it with a memory of her life in New York: “I recalled one of the last times I was out at this hour, years earlier. It was on the other side of sleep, right after a New Year’s Eve party, as I was stumbling through SoHo with my then-fiancé.” Have you ever had moments when your current life seems at odds with your past? How does it make you feel? Do you long for the past, or have you “moved on?”
Before reading The Unlikely Lavender Queen, did you know anything about botanical farming? What did you learn? Do you think you could be a farmer like Ralston?
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“In the tradition of Nicholas Sparks & Robert James Waller, Martin has fashioned a heartbreaking story.”—Publishers Weekly
