Both a tender and page-turning read, The Mountain Between Us will reaffirm your belief in the power of love to sustain us. Watch Charles Martin discuss his novel, his use of narrative devices, and his belief in the power of hope. Members of our Read It Forward community on Facebook are raving about Charles and his novel, including Kathy who says, “I have read every one of Charles Martin’s books and honestly can say they are my ALL-TIME favorites! He is my all-time favorite author!”

We are all avid readers; one of the things we love about the group is that it pushes us to read things we might not otherwise choose on our own. According to several members of the group, that is part of our “mission.” The books we’ve read have introduced us to new cultures, faiths, and experiences. We like to read about families, relationships, and finding meaning in life through the book. What can the characters’ experiences teach us about our own lives?

Based on meticulous research, Cleopatra’s Daughter is a fascinating portrait of imperial Rome and of the people and events of this glorious and most tumultuous period in human history. Emerging from the shadows of the past, Selene, a young woman of irresistible charm and preternatural intelligence, will capture your heart. Read an excerpt of Cleopatra’s Daughter and learn how you can connect with Michelle online. She’s gathered everything you need for a very special book group meeting!

Perfect for summer: a book that will get you and your kids outside discovering nature! Whether you live in the heart of the city, the suburbs, or the deepest countryside, The Bumper Book of Nature will bring out the child in you with its treasure trove of offbeat, playful nature activities arranged by season. Learn now to explore rock pools by the seaside, pick wild meadow flowers, fry up elderflower fritters, make an old-fashioned quill pen from a bird feather or a plaster cast of an animal track – and much more!

After 85 long years, Fatimah Abdullah is dying, and she knows when her time will come. In fact, it should come just nine days from tonight, the 992nd nightly visit of Scheherazade, the beautiful and immortal storyteller from the epic The Arabian Nights. Just as Scheherazade spun magical stories for 1,001 nights to save her own life, Fatima has spent each night telling Scheherazade her life stories, all the while knowing that on the 1,001st night, her storytelling will end forever.

In 1987, Rita Golden Gelman, newly divorced, set out to live her dream. She sold all her possessions and became a nomad. She wrote a book about her journey and, in 2001, insisted on putting her personal e-mail address in the last chapter—against all advice. It turned out to be a fortuitous decision. She has met thousands of readers, stayed in their homes, and sat around kitchen tables sharing stories and food and laughter. Now Gelman includes her own adventures, as well as those of writers and readers telling tales of their travels.