Hasn't been a big month for pleasure reading. I'm currently enmeshed in Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping, Paco Underhill's instant late-nineties business classic, hoping to pick up some fresh ideas to use in the store. Also was fascinated by a Self magazine excerpt so went out and bought The Nine Rooms of Happiness by Self editor Lucy Danziger and Catherine Birndorf, M.D. Tailored towards women, this book promises to put an end to negi-speak and also hits on 'Loving Yourself, Finding Your Purpose and Getting Over Life's Little Imperfections'.. all that for only $24.95? Sounds cheaper than therapy! (jk, Kathleen.)

 

Am struggling with Alice Munro's prize winning story collection, Too Much Happiness. Not loving it. On other nightstands in my household- Chris is into Rick Riordan's The Sea of Monsters from the Lightning Thief series, Sarah just finished David Stahler's True Sight which is set on Harmony Station, a planet colonized by blind people who have their offspring genetically engineered to also be sightless. And then one day 13 year old Jacob can see and discovers what really surrounds him both in the landscape and in the people. Sarah is also totally psyched for next week's release of Fang, the latest installment in James Patterson's Maximum Ride series. We were all bummed that the final book in Suzanne Collin's YA Hunger Games series is not due til August. Charlie's is re-reading To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee's classic, for English. 

 

Jim recently recommended the novel The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent, which tells the story of Sarah, the daughter of one of the first women accused, tried and hung during the Salem Witch Trials. Current local book group picks include Sue Monk Kidd's Traveling with Pomegranates, Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteredge, Cathy Lamb's Henry's Sisters and Mary Todd Lincoln by Jean Baker.

 

Oprah: A Biography is due out April 13 from Kitty Kelley and seems to be the first of the big Spring releases. The next upcoming months are a big time in publishing so look for lots of new titles headed your way soon! (And don't forget to come see us if you get to Duck over Easter! We can't wait to see you!)

 

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