The Phoenix Review
May 2009
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Dear Friends, The internet is a great place to make connections - and now you can connect to Phoenix on a number of social networking sites, like LibraryThing and MySpace. Still, we're most interested in the face-to-face connections that take place when we help you discover just the right gift, when you meet a local author at one of our events, when we collaborate with community organizations, and when you sit down in the Cafe at Phoenix with your friends or family. Read more below, then come on in - because you might be waiting for Memorial Day to plant your garden, but you don't have to wait another moment to cultivate your community. Sincerely,
The staff of Phoenix Books
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR
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Sweet Treats for Kids and Grown-ups
 Tomorrow, Saturday, May 2 at 3:00 pm, Betty Ann Lockhart will present her new book Maple Sugarin' in Vermont: A Sweet History. Join us for a taste of a Vermont tradition!
Our Open Mic Night will take place on Wednesday, May 6 from 6:00-8:00 pm.
Come check out the local talent at your local, independent bookstore!
Want to perform? Call 872-7111 and ask for Michael to sign
up.
We have two Knit Nights (Crocheters, too!) this month: The usual second Wednesday on May 13 from 6:00-8:00 pm, as well as Tuesday, May 26 from 6:00-8:00 pm. All skill levels welcome. See you there!
On Saturday, May 23 at 11:00 am, New Yorker cartoonist, cover artist, and children's illustrator Harry Bliss will present his newest book (and first comic book), Luke on the Loose. This story of a little boy's hilarious solo flight through New York City is sure to delight any young reader who has ever felt cooped up.
Visit our website for more info. Events at Phoenix are free and open to the public.
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THE CAFE AT PHOENIX
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Shakes and Cupcakes
Summer is fast approaching, and our blended 'bevvies' are already here! Our Espresso Frappes can be served up 'traditional' or with a dose of 'flava,' including Vanilla Bean, Caramel, Brown Sugar Cinnamon, Peppermint, Hazelnut, Butter Pecan, Pumpkin, Almond, Macadamia Nut, Irish Cream and more... We also concoct a Mocha Frappe with Ghirardelli Chocolate. Our frappes are custom-crafted with real espresso and local milk; no pre-made mixes here! They are available fully caffeinated or decaf. For you java-free folks, try our Milkshakes in Vanilla, Chocolate, Blackberry, or Mmmmaple.  We also have an array of new treats cooked up from scratch by one of our very own booksellers. Colleen has added lemon bars, Vermont granola bars, and morning glory muffins to our menu. Our favorites, though, might just be the cupcakes we like to refer to as "buttercream frosting delivery devices." Fresh out of The King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion, these cupcakes are slightly oversized so you can share - but not so large you'd feel guilty keeping one all to yourself. The Cafe at Phoenix is now accepting group reservations for bridal/baby showers, business meetings, etc. Find out more here (scroll down), or call Michael at 872-7111 to make your reservation! |
PICKS FOR MOMS
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 Mother's Day: Sunday, May 10
Is your mom a contemporary nature-lover who could use a few laughs from her next great read? Pick up A Version of the Truth by Jennifer Kaufman. This funny, wise, and original novel has been described by Nature as "The Devil Wears Prada meets Walden Pond."
A fascinating woman will need a fascinating character to capture her  interest, so give your mom a copy of Katharine of Aragon, by Jean Plaidy. The New York Times declares that "Plaidy excels at blending history with romance and drama" in this tale of Henry VIII's first wife. Once you and your mother discover Jean Plaidy, you'll want to check out her other historical novels, as well.
 Joyce Carol Oates' new collection of short stories, Dear Husband, is a thoughtful book for a thoughtful woman. Publishers Weekly lauds, "Oates seamlessly enters the minds of disparate characters to find both the exalted and depraved aspects of real American families."
The inspiring memoir of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first elected female president, This Child Will Be Great will make a wonderful gift for the strong, smart woman in your life. Library Journal says, Sirleaf's "autobiography is a testament to the remarkable impact of ambition when it is used for public good."
 In the tenth-anniversary edition of We Are Our Mothers' Daughters, political commentator Cokie Roberts examines the nature of women's roles. From mother to mechanic, sister to soldier, Roberts reveals how much progress has now been made - and how much further we have to go.
Patchwork Style, by Suzuko Koseki, brings patchwork into the twenty-first century with a treasury of projects you can make that are bold, bright, and innovative. The projects' minimalist style, attention to detail, and simple aesthetic speak to our desire to create a warm and authentic life at home.
*A few of our picks for moms and grads are very recent releases that we won't get in for another couple of days. Please call us at 872-7111 if you'd like to double-check that we have a specific title on the shelf.
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PICKS FOR GRADS
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Insights and Advice
A wonderful book for any nature lover, Summer World, by Vermont author Bernd Heinrich,
offers graduates perspective, reminding "readers that they need clear
vision and also a spiritual imperative so that we will focus on the
ultimate ecology, not the proximate economy" (Publishers Weekly).
In What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20: A Crash Course on Making Your Place in the World, Stanford University professor Tina Seelig enjoins us to have a healthy  disregard for the impossible and to see most problems as remarkable opportunities in disguise.
In Curious?, Dr. Todd Kashdan proposes that the greatest opportunities for joy, purpose, and personal growth happen when we are mindful, when we explore what's novel, and when we live in the moment and embrace uncertainty. Are you curious yet?
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BOOK CLUB PICK OF THE MONTH
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In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan
 Pollan (author of NY Times bestseller Omnivore's Dilemma) compels readers to think about what is real food. He traces the dangers of the American diet to the success that the food industry achieved by convincing the FDA to break the definition of what a "food" could be. Once the industry was allowed to create "imitation" foods, food created by chemicals, we have seen the rise of diseases such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Pollan advises us to avoid anything that our grandmothers would not have recognized as food. If you hope to improve your health and diet, Pollan's book convinces us why we would do best to eat locally grown food that is free of pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and all that agribusiness pumps into animals and plants. --Heather
(In Defense of Food is now out in paperback!)
Did you know? Book clubs are eligible for a 15% discount on books ordered from Phoenix! At least five copies must be ordered, and all copies must be purchased through your book club's coordinator, for discount to apply.
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PHOENIX ONLINE
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A Member of Your Community - Online and Off
You've heard it before: Studies have shown that local businesses donate to community causes at more than twice the rate of chains. Now see it in action, on our new webpage about Phoenix in the community.
 Check
this out: If just half the employed population spent $50 each month in
locally owned independent businesses, it would generate over 42.6
billion dollars in revenue. The 3/50 Project
asks you to pick three independent businesses that you would miss if
they disappeared, and spend $50 per month (total) at those three
businesses. In other words: Pick 3. Spend 50. Save your local economy.
Did you know that there are several social networking sites specifically for readers? You can sign up for free, share your favorite books, and find like-minded readers on sites like LitMinds, LibraryThing, and BookTour - and now you can keep track of events at Phoenix, too! Intrigued?
What's more, you can also find us on these mammoths of social networking:
Do you have a favorite networking site that's not listed here? Let us know.
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