'Today's' Hoda Kotb Announces February's Book of the Month Selections

Hoda Kotb, the Today show co-host and bestselling author, has partnered with Book of the Month to select one of the Club’s five titles for the month of February. Hoda selected the latest novel from Tuesdays with Morrie author Mitch Albom - The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto. Watch Hoda tell Book of the Month members why she loved this whimsical tale of the world’s greatest guitarist.

Here are the other February selections, with an excerpt from each Judge’s review:

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

Check out Judge Kim Hubbard’s video on why she selected the memoir written by a Stanford neurosurgeon about how to live a meaningful life in the face of death.

Book of the Month spoke with Paul’s widow Lucy Kalanithi, who wrote the Epilogue for the book after Paul passed away. She told BOTM about her experience finishing and promoting the book:

“It was so important for me to complete it and carry it forward because Paul had worked so hard on it and I felt like he really had important things to say in drawing in his experiences, not only as a terminally ill person, but also drawing on his background in medicine and then literature and philosophy. I am so proud of him, that it was really wonderful to do this for him.”

Check out the full interview here.

Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Ed Tarkington

“Like The Wonder Years or A Christmas Story , Tarkington’s ability to shine a retrospective light on the painful awkwardness of childhood is masterful and entertaining.”

-Liberty Hardy, contributing editor, Book Riot

Author Ed Tarkington spoke with BOTM in an exclusive interview, and had some incredible insights into the novel. One of the most central and shocking events in the book is actually based on a real-life crime that took place in the author’s hometown. Check out the full interview here.

The Night Charter by Sam Hawken

“Trouble is headed Camaro’s way – and more than anything, I wanted to be along for the ride...No damsels in distress for me, no weak-kneed, lily-livered sweethearts: I like my literary women to be strong-willed, courageous, smart, and rebellious. And Camaro doesn’t disappoint.”

-Nina Sankovitch, bestselling author

The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck

“Rinker Buck has… gone off on a totally ridiculous journey just for the hell of it. The good news is that he left a book behind so the rest of us can follow him. He begins his journey divorced, nearly bankrupt, and drunk. Is he running away from something or running to something else? I love that that question is never fully answered.”

-Stephen Marche, culture columnist, Esquire Magazine

For a limited time, Book of the Month is offering a free trial membership. Visit bookofthemonth.com/trial.html for full details and to choose your free book.