The Phoenix Review
June 2009
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Dear Friends, With long summer days rolling in, books are the ultimate carefree entertainment: They're portable, long-lasting, and tough. You don't have to put a book in a special bin when you go through airport security. A book won't need repairs if you drop it in the sand or spill a little iced coffee on it. Best of all, books are a great way to connect with your kids - or to take some time to yourself. Below, you'll find some of our favorite titles for just those purposes, our upcoming events, our new cafe items and store hours, and a link to Phoenix's tweets.
Books are also a light-handed way to pass on advice to the graduate in
your life, or to say thank you to your favorite dad. Our in-store "Grads and Dads" display is packed with suggestions. So, come on in - the coffee's hot, the frappes are ice-cold, and we booksellers are always happy to help. Sincerely,
The staff of Phoenix Books
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 JUNE EVENTS
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Featuring...You!
Our Open Mic Night will take place on Wednesday, June 3 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 June 10 from 6:00-8:00 pm, as well as Tuesday, June 23 from 6:00-8:00 pm. All skill levels welcome. See you there!
Want to mark your calendars for July? Start with our Open Mic Night (July 1) and Knit Night (July 8). On July 9, we'll be hosting Mary Carty, author of PMAT: The Perfect Marriage Aptitude Test. Then, on July 15, join Essex's own Thomas Middleton to talk about his new memoir Saber's Edge: A Combat Medic in Ramadi, Iraq.
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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Cool Treats for the Heat
Smoothie season is here! Whether you're wilting from the heat or just craving delicious, nutritious, real fruit, we've got you covered. Craving the sensation of relaxing on a tropical beach with cool ocean breezes? Our Mango Smoothie fits the bill. Wishing for a picnic under a cool shade tree? Try our Strawberry Smoothie.
Of course, smoothies aren't the only choice for the lazy, hazy days of summer: We also have frappes and milkshakes in a variety of flavors, as well as the classiest sundae around: Ghirardelli chocolate sauce drizzled over vanilla ice cream and your choice of a warm, rich chocolate brownie or a fresh-baked cookie.
We also have a new sandwich, entitled That's Some Pig. Laden with tender ham, baby Swiss, mayo, raspberry-honey Dijon, crisp lettuce, and juicy red tomatoes, it's sure to satisfy.
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ON THE SHELVES
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Great Paperback Reads for Long Summer Days
The Plague of Doves, by Louise Erdrich
"...a rich, colorful mosaic of tales..." --Miami Herald
 Part Ojibwe, part white, Evelina Harp is an ambitious young girl prone to falling hopelessly in love. Mooshum, Evelina's grandfather, is a repository of family and tribal history with an all-too-intimate knowledge of the violent past. And Judge Antone Bazil Coutts, who bears witness, understands the weight of historical injustice better than anyone. Through the distinct and winning voices of three unforgettable narrators, the collective stories of two interwoven communities ultimately come together to reveal a final wrenching truth.
Mudbound, by Hillary Jordan
"...storytelling at the height of its powers..." --Barbara Kingsolver
 It is 1946, and city-bred Laura McAllan is trying to raise her children on her husband's Mississippi Delta farm - a place she finds foreign and frightening. Jamie McAllan, Laura's brother-in-law, is everything her husband is not - charming, handsome, and haunted by his memories of combat. Ronsel Jackson, eldest son of the black sharecroppers who live on the McAllan farm, has come home with the shine of a war hero - but is still considered less than a man in the Jim Crow South. It is the unlikely friendship of these brothers-in-arms that drives this powerful novel to its inexorable conclusion.
As Kingsolver says, Jordan's "characters walked straight out of 1940s Mississippi and into the part of my brain where sympathy and anger and love reside, leaving my heart racing. They are with me still."
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FOR YOUNGER READERS
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Books to Teach Toddlers, to Thrill Teens, and to Give to Grads
The Uninvited, by Tim Wynne Jones
A riveting summer read for ages 14 and up.
 After an ill-advised affair with a professor, Mimi Shapiro heads up north to make use of her father's remote Canadian cottage. The house is fairy-tale quaint, and the key is hidden right where her dad said it would be, so she's shocked to find someone already living there - Jay, a young musician, who is equally startled to meet Mimi and immediately accuses her of leaving strange and threatening tokens inside: a dead bird, a snakeskin, a cricket sound track embedded in his latest composition. But Mimi has just arrived, so who is responsible? And more alarmingly, what does the intruder want? Part gripping thriller, part family drama, this fast-paced novel plays out in alternating viewpoints, in a pastoral setting that is evocative and eerie - a mysterious character in its own right.
Little Chick, by Amy Hest
Three tales of lofty but heartfelt ambitions for ages 2 and up.
 Little Chick may be a good and patient gardener, as Old-Auntie observes, but what if you simply can't wait for your carrot to grow tall? What if you skip like a pro but still can't lift your kite in the air? Or if you're a really good stretcher but can't reach your favorite star? With affection and humor, Amy Hest offers three vignettes about a curious chick and a loving auntie who knows how to soften disappointments by keeping the spark of wonder alive. And the incomparable Anita Jeram renders Little Chick's gestures and movements with a mastery that captures the spirit of every young child.
The North Star, by Peter H Reynolds
An inspiring fable for all ages, and a great gift for grads!
 It is often said that life is a journey, and it's true. But sometimes it's hard to know which path to follow when signs point in so many directions. In this beautifully illustrated book, Peter H. Reynolds once again encourages readers to observe, to wonder, and to consider diverging from the well-worn path - to pursue their dreams. Originally published more than ten years ago, The North Star has had a profound effect on its many readers. This edition, featuring all new art, celebrates the book's own voyage connecting people around the world.
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BOOK CLUB PICK OF THE MONTH
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The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein
 Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul, he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver.
A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life . . . as only a dog could tell it.
(Out in paperback on June 9th; call 872-7111 to reserve a copy, or to special order copies for your book club.)
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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Tweet!
Phoenix Books is now on Twitter! Click here to check out our profile.
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