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432 Route 6A
E. Sandwich, MA 02537
Phone:
508-888-2331
Hours:
Mon-Sat 9-6
Sun 11-5
Just a Reminder:
Click on any books in this newsletter to order from us online. We'll be happy to mail them to you or you can pick them up at the bookshop.
Kathy Colvin, Editor
Karen Huppi Vail, Photographer
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Titcomb's Best Sellers
2014
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We love book lists and thought you might, too! Here's a list of our bookstore's bestselling books of the year!
1. Sandwich 375
2. Orr: My Story by Bobby Orr
3. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
4. The Flight of the Sparrow by Amy Beldon Brown
5. Dog Songs by Mary Oliver
6. Orphans of Race Point by Patry Francis
7. Boys in the Boat by Daniel Bown
8. iRules: What Every Tech-Healthy Family Needs to Know... by Janell Burley Hofmann
9. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
10. A Fine Romance by Susan Branch
11. On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer's by Gregg O'Brien
12. Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall
13. Cape Cod Chef's Table by John Carafoli
14. The Lightkeeper's Wife by Sarah Johnson
15. Autumn from the Heart of the Home by Susan Branch
16. The Bookman's Tale by Charlie Lovett
17. Wonder by RJ Palacio
18. Life, Animated by Ron Suskind
19. Chesterton Keeps his Town Jumping by Dean Coe
20. The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
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January resolutions are always made easier with a book to guide you. We've got lots of ways to help you relieve stress, eat healtier, clear out the clutter in your life, manage technology for you and your family, and much more. Here are just a few.
Clear the Clutter, Find Happiness! One-Minute Tips for Decluttering and Refreshing Your Home and Your Life - $10.95
 The Life- Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japan-
ese Art of
Decluttering and Organ-
izing $16.99
10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works - a seriously funny look at mindfulness and meditation - $15.99
 iRules: What Every Tech-Healthy Family Needs to Know about Selfies, Sexting, Gaming, and Growing Up by Sandwich author Janell Burley Hofmann. A must read for every parent today! $17.99
The Novel Cure: From Abandonment to Zestlessness: 751 Books to Cure What Ails You
Useful lists and sidebars recommending the best novels to read when you're stuck in traffic or can't fall asleep, the most important novels to read during every decade of life, and many more! $17.00
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We are very proud to offer a number of science kits from Thames and Kosmos, a company which has won numerous awards for their high quality products. The company is a subsidiary of Kosmos, a 189-year-old, German-based company.
Slime Time: Build a Clock Powered by Slime!
 And learn about electrochemical reactions, electrodes, and batteries! $19.95
Crystal Night Light: Science + Sparkle = Awesome!
 Grow your own golf-ball-sized crystal out of potassium aluminum sulfate and learn about the chemistry of crystal formation and the physics of light and color! $19.95
Chemistry C500 This kit is ideal for children who are interested in chemistry but who are not yet ready for a more advanced chemistry set. It includes 28 classic experiments with simple instructions for setting up and performing each experiment, and clear explanations of what happened and why. $34.99
Motors and Generators Conduct 25 experiments to learn how an electric motor converts electricity into motion, and how an electric generator does just the opposite, converting motion into electricity! $33.99
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We thought January would be the perfect time to introduce you to some of our favorite series. We would like to present the following "first book in a series" for you to enjoy.
Mysteries:
 Still Life by Louise Penny Canadian series featuring Inspector Armand Gamache
 The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley Aspiring young chemist Flavia De Luce solves mysteries in a 1950s English village.
 Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon Crime novels set in beautiful Venice, Italy.
 Death at the Chateau Bremont by M. L. Longworth French food and countryside are featured as the chief mag- istrate in Aix-en-Provence, and his love interest, law professor Marine Bonnet solve crimes.
 Murder in the Marais by Cara Black Paris comes vividly to life in this excellent series featuring private investigator Aimee Leduc.
 The Shape of Water by Andria Camillere Inspector Montalbano battles corruption and solves crimes in his native Sicily
 The Body in the Belfry by Katherine Page Hall Featuring caterer/ minister's wife Faith Fairchild and set in Massachusetts.
 A Test of Wills by Charles Todd Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge in post WWI England.
 Mr. Churchill's Secretaryby Susan Elia MacNeal Murder and codebreaking in wartorn 1940s London featuring Maggie Hope.
 No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. Botswana detective Precious Ramotswe uses her insights into people to solve crimes.
Fiction:
 My Brilliant Friendby Elena Ferrante Series about two girls who grow up in post WWII Naples, Italy.
 At Home in Mitfordby Jan Karon Beloved series about a minister in a small town in North Carolina.
 The Widow's Warby Sally Gunning Fascinating historical novels set on Cape Cod and in Boston.
 Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani Heartwarming and funny stories of small town life the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
 Outlanderby Diana Gabaldon Drama and romance in this action-packed series about a woman who travels in time from the 1940s to 1740s Scotland.
 Old Filthby Jane Gardam Beautifully written trilogy about an aging lawyer, his childhood and marriage, set in Hong Kong and London.
 The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig Beautifully written stories set in turn of the century Montana.
 Fall of Giantsby Ken Follett Sprawling epic tales of 5 families from WWI to today.
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Of course what would January be without a sale?
Calendars are now on sale at 30% off!
Many Christmas items are on sale at 40% off!
Boxed Christmas cards are 50% off!
A selection of children's Christmas books are on sale, too, at 40% off!
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Titcomb's Bookshop Newsletter: January 2015
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Happy New Year!
Whew! We all made it through the busy, busy holidays! What a wonderful, hectic time of year! Now, here we are in January, a time to reflect as we look ahead to the new year. We Cape Codders traditionally stockpile stacks of books to devour during our long winter months. Happily we have some wonderful new books and some of our favorite old series to tell you about that go perfectly with a quilt and some hot tea or cocoa!
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Knitting Club
Monday, January 5
1-3pm
 Join our lively group of knitters for conversation and inspiration! All levels are always welcome - it's such an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon! (And we always serve delicious goodies to help maintain energy!)
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Book Club
Tuesday, January 20
7-9pm
Phone Discussion with Editor Katrina Kenison
Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns
This modern day classic was published in 1984 and is the only book written by Olive Burns. A coming of age story set in a small Georgia town in the early 1900's, it's told through the eyes of fourteen year old Will Tweedy. The editor was Katrina Kenison and she will be joining us in a telephone conversation. In 1990, author Olive Burns died, with her sequel, Leaving Cold Sassy, unfinished. Published per her request in 1992, it includes Katrina Kenison's touching reminiscence of Olive Ann Burns.
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New and Recommended Books
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Fiction:
 The Secret Wisdom of the Earth by Chris Scotton
This book is a total staff favorite - we are all so excited to be able to share it with you! It's a wonderfully deep novel to sink into - with characters that will stay with you. Set in a small Appalachian mining town, 14-year-old Kevin and his grieving mother are sent to live with Kevin's grandfather after witnessing the death of his younger brother in a terrible home accident. This grandfather bears a strong resemblance to Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, and you feel the influence of that wonderful book throughout. Kevin quickly falls in with a half-wild hollow kid named Buzzy Fink who schools him in the mysteries and power of the woods. Beautifully written, it contains both exciting action sequences as well as contemplative passages. Reg. price $26.00, our price $20.80 (available January 6)
 The Bishop's Wife by Mette Ivie Harrison
Linda Wallheim is a devout Mormon and mother of five, as well as the titular wife of the bishop. One night, a man arrives at the Wallheim house with his 5 year old daughter claiming that his wife abandoned them. Linda cannot believe that the woman would do such a thing and begins to search for the mother. She also begins a friendship with Anna Torstensen, the independent second wife of a neighbor who is hiding a secret. Inspired by a true crime and written by a member of the Mormon church, this is a fascinating read. Reg. $26.95; our price $21.56
 The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins Warning: Once you start this book you will not put it down until you finish! This psychological thriller begins with Rachel, on her daily commute via the train to London. Rachel is a mess following a heartbreaking divorce, and is an alcoholic prone to blackouts. She has found a measure of comfort in imagining the lives of the people she sees in the houses she passes every day. Suddenly something happens to one of these people and the suspense does not let up until the violent conclusion! Think Rear Window meets Gone Girl and then some! Reg. price $26.95, our price $21.56 (available January 13)
 West of Sunset by Stewart O'Nan A moving, entertaining novel about F. Scott Fitzgerald's time as a Hollywood screenwriter. Fitzgerald comes back into contact with his first love, the rich, unattainable Ginevra, clearly his model for Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby, all while falling into an intense love affair with Sheilah Graham, a Hollywood gossip columnist many years his junior. Sheilah is a fascinating character in her own right, a self-invented heroine who could have stepped out of the pages of one of Fitzgerald's own novels. O'Nan has re-created the ambience of the Hollywood studio system in the late 1930s, where Fitzgerald is hired to doctor scripts that might never see the light of day and frequently finds himself defenseless against overweening producers and back-stabbing co-writers. Reg. price $27.95, our price $22.36 (available January 13)
 Vanessa and Her Sister by Priya Parmar If you were a fan of The Paris Wife and Loving Frank, you will enjoy this novel set in London in 1905. The lives of painter Vanessa Bell, her sister, author Virginia Woolf, and the controversial and popular circle of artistic friends known as the Bloomsbury Group are all brought to life in this fascinating book. Reg. price $26.00, our price $20.80
 White Plague by James Abel
A triple dose of trouble awaits bioterror expert Joe Rush in the remote reaches of the Arctic Ocean: A U.S. submarine with superadvanced weapons is in flames, the sailors who haven't been killed yet by a mysterious agent will die if they're not treated soon, and a Chinese sub is fast approaching! Fans of Clive Cussler and Tom Clancy will love this. Reg. price $26.95, our price $21.56 (available January 6)
 The Magician's Lie by Greer MacallisterFrom Karen:
The Magician's Lie is a debut novel in which the country's most notorious female illusionist stands accused of her husband's murder --and she has only one night to convince a small-town policeman of her innocence.
The Amazing Arden is the most famous female illusionist of her day, renowned for her notorious trick of sawing a man in half on stage. When Arden's husband is found lifeless beneath the stage later that night, Virgil, a young policeman in the audience, though mesmerized by the beautiful magician believes she must be the perpetrator.
But when Virgil tracks down the fleeing magician and takes her into custody, she has a bizarre and unbelievable story to tell. Even handcuffed and alone, Arden is far from powerless-and what she reveals is as unbelievable as it is spellbinding. Over the course of one long night, Virgil must decide whether to turn Arden in or set her free. This was a hypnotic historical novel! Reg. price $23.99, our price $19.19 (available January 13)
 A Fine Summer's Day
by Charles Todd
The days preceding World War I come vividly to life in this 17th Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery, a prequel to the series. On the day that the archduke of Sarajevo is assassinated, Inspector Rutledge has other things on his mind. He means to propose to a woman he loves - a woman his friends and family believe might not be prepared for life as a policeman's wife. Also on that same day, a son is waiting for the undertaker to come for his widowed mother, setting off a series of murders across England. Rutledge races to find the link between the murders and prevent more from happening as England draws closer and closer to war. Reg. $26.99; our price $21.59
New Fiction in Paperback:
 And the Dark Sacred Night by Julia Glass
From Karen: Fans of Julia Glass' Three Junes will enjoy catching up with some of the characters in this beautifully written new novel. Lucinda Burns is the mother of Malachy, who died of AIDS. Kit Noonan, recently unemployed, has never come to terms with not knowing his father's identity and is convinced that learning the answer to this question will allow him to move forward in his life. Traveling from rural Vermont to the tip of Cape Cod, Kit and the reader learn the power of forgiveness and the truth that one is inevitably responsible for one's own path in life. $15.95 (available January 6)
The Wives of Los Alamos by Tarashea Nesbit
Their average age was twenty-five. They came from Berkeley, Cambridge, Paris, London, Chicago--and arrived in New Mexico ready for adventure, or at least resigned to it. But hope quickly turned to hardship as they were forced to adapt to a rugged military town where everything was a secret, including what their husbands were doing at the lab. They lived in barely finished houses with P.O. Box addresses in a town wreathed with barbed wire, all for the benefit of a project that didn't exist as far as the public knew. This novel is a testament to a remarkable group of women who carved out a life for themselves, in spite of the chaos of the war and the shroud of intense secrecy. $16.00
 After the War is Over by Jennifer Robson
In 1919, Britain is trying to recover after years of war. Charlotte Brown and other women have determined to do what they can to change things by helping those in need. A radical young newspaper editor hires Charlotte to write a weekly commentary, speaking for the downtrodden. Charlotte's articles get a lot of attention from the upper classes, who have the power to help. But her former employer and brother of her dearest friend is now the new Earl of Cumberland. Charlotte remembers the young man who once stole her heart - but he is battle damaged. Charlotte wants to help him, but risks her future - which direction will her life take? An enjoyable, light read. $14.99 (available January 6)
 All the Birds, Singing by Evie Wyld
From Kathy: I loved this dark little book! It stars a great female character, Jake, who is a sheep farmer from Australia who settles on an obscure island off the coast of England. She can handle herself with the toughest of men, but what secret is she hiding? And what or who is killing her sheep? Atmospheric, moody, evocative of Daphne DuMaurier, this is a wonderfully written psychological thriller! $15.95 (available January 6)
 The Kept by James Scott
From Karen:
A dark tale of retribution set in upstate New York in 1897, when life was as hard as an over-whetted knife's edge. This is a beautifully crafted novel that will leave the reader haunted.
Elspeth Howell, midwife and mother of five, tromps through a blizzard to return home after weeks spent performing her duties, and finds a grisly bloodbath: her Native American husband, Jorah, and four children have been murdered. Only middle son Caleb, 12, survives. Startled while hiding in the pantry, the boy accidentally shoots and wounds his mother. The novel dips briskly back in time to reveal that Elspeth's children were all abducted as infants from other households, since she is unable to conceive children of her own. The price of these crimes manifests itself in the tragedies she now faces. Elspeth and Caleb decide to track down the killers, and their search forces mother and son to adopt new identities in distant locales. Together, they face a host of angry villains, any of which could've been responsible for the executions. $15.99 (available January 6)
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Nonfiction
 Pioneer Girl: the Annotated Biography
Coming soon! This annotated autobiography offers Wilder's complete first draft of her own story, enhanced by wide-ranging new research. Produced by the South Dakota Historical Society, Pioneer Girl includes photographs of the characters from the Little House books, plus maps, backstories and details about what happened to even quite minor characters in the books. We learn that life was much harder than Laura originally wrote. Essential reading for anyone interested in finding out more about Laura's life. The first printing sold out immediately, and more are expected to ship mid January. Order your copy now!
$39.95
 Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande
This frank and powerful book aims to help both doctors and patients "figure out how to face mortality and preserve the fiber of a meaningful life." Gawande describes in painstaking detail the final illness and death of his father from a spinal-cord tumor. In a narrative that often reads like a novel, he explains the many choices that helped the family shape his father's path, not to a "good death," but instead to the end of a well-lived life.
Gawande, a practicing surgeon, argues that quality of life is the desired goal for patients and families. He offers examples of freer, more socially fulfilling models for assisting the infirm and dependent elderly, and he explores the varieties of hospice care to demonstrate that a person's last weeks or months may be rich and dignified.
Full of eye-opening research and riveting storytelling, "Being Mortal" asserts that medicine can comfort and enhance our experience even to the end, providing not only a good life but also a good end. $26.00
The Work; My Search for a Life that Matters by Wes Moore
A Rhodes scholar, combat officer in Afghanistan, special assistant to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Obama campaigner, Wall Street banker during the crash, community activist, and best-selling author ( The Other Wes Moore), Moore has had some cliff-hanging moments in his rise from a fatherless boyhood on the streets. He tells his life story to help others with the question, "What is my work?", and to argue that work should bring meaning to our lives through service to others. $25.00 (available January 13) 
An Unremarried Widow: A Memoir by Artis Henderson
In the foreward, the author writes that her 23-year-old husband, Miles, had dreamed of his own death. The couple were married for just months when Artis, living with her mother in Florida during Miles's deployment, returns home from work to find two soldiers in her living room, one stepping forth to tell her, "On behalf of the president of the United States, I regret to inform you that your husband, Miles Henderson, has been killed in Iraq."
Artis had lost her father when she was 5 years old. The death of her husband provides her with new understanding of her mother, with whom she now shares the fate of young widowhood.
You may finish this book in a day, but you will find yourself haunted for weeks later. $16.00 (available January 13)
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Children's Picture Books - Ages 4-7
 Tiny Wish by Lori Evert and Per Breiehagen 
We fell in love with little Anya in The Christmas Wish! Here she has a spring adventure, wishing to be tiny to win a game of hide and seek. The photographs are just adorable and make us think of Heidi in her mountains! (available January 6) $17.99
 Freddie's Blanket by Joanna Johnson,
Illustrated by Eric Johnson
This is one of a delightful series of picture books by author and knitter Joanna Johnson. Freddie the platypus is growing too big for his baby cradle and other baby things, but he's not ready for a big bed yet. He tries sleeping in lots of other places in his house until he finally discovers that his new big bed is just right. Included in the back of the book are directions for 5 knitting projects for adults, including a Freddie doll, blanket, child's coveralls and baby wrap. $19.95
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Children's Chapter Books - Ages 9-13
 The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal and a #1 New York Times bestseller!
This is an absolutely wonderful book - and we are so happy it is finally out in paperback! Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at a shopping mall, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all. Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home through new eyes. A heart- warming story of friendship, art and hope. (ages 8-12) $7.99 (available January 6)
Magic Tree House Super Edition #1: Danger in the Darkest Hour by Mary Pope Osbourne
 On the eve of the D-Day invasion, Jack and Annie are airlifted into occupied France to help rescue a friend's colleague, Kathleen, who has gone missing. As they work their way through the countryside, they encounter Resistance members and people collaborating with the Germans, and finally discover Kathleen helping to protect a group of Jewish orphans. There is supplemental historical information in the back of the book. This is an age-appropriate way for younger readers to learn about WWII. (ages 7-10) $4.99 (available January 6)
 Stella by Starlight by Sharon DraperA moving and beautifully told story by the author of Out of My Mind. It's 1932 in a small town in North Carolina where Stella and her brother Jojo live. The depression has hit the people in their African American neighborhood hard, and after Stella and Jojo witness a Ku Klux Klan cross burning, tensions and fear grow. But the people of the community come together to support one another, including Stella's father and a few other men who register to vote. This book was inspired stories from the author's grandmother's childhood. (ages 9-13) $16.99 (available January 6)
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Children's Nonfiction
 101 Great Science Experiments Whether you're looking for science project ideas for the science fair or you just want fun science experiments to do with your child to encourage learning at home, this is a fun resource! This book includes plenty of experiments for parents and children to do together; but for kids who want more independence, it also includes experiments that can be done by children alone. Photos and illustrations make each process clear and accessible. 101 Great Science Experiments has been a classic for families looking for science fair and science project ideas since 1993, and this new version has been updated, expanded, and improved for the next generation of young scientists. (ages 8-12) $9.99
 The Great Molasses Flood: Boston 1919 by Deborah Kops
New in paperback, this is children's history at its best! In 1919, a giant molasses tank broke, flooding a Boston neighborhood, and leaving a trail of death and destruction. The cause of the disaster, either terrorists or neglect, remains in doubt. This is a fascinating account of a truly bizarre disaster and includes a useful map, many photographs and sidebars offering historical context. (ages 9 and up) $11.95 (available January 6)
 Writer to Writer: : From Think to Ink by Gail Carson Levine
Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine (Ella Enchanted) offers a behind-the-scenes take on writing. Drawing from her popular blog, Gail answers readers' fiction- and poetry-writing questions and dives into how to make a story come alive. If you're interested in writing prose and poetry or just want to be a better and more rounded writer, this book will help you on your creative journey. (ages 10 and up) $6.99
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Young Adult
 All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
From Vicky: This is a beautifully written and unforgettable story of two teenagers, Theodore and Violet, who are who are bound by their struggles with grief and thoughts of suicide. They meet one day when Theodore, whose wild and unpredictable behavior have earned him the nickname of Theodore Freak, saves Violet from committing suicide. Violet has never gotten over the tragic death of her sister in a car accident. Theodore is bullied at school and has an abusive father who has since remarried and a mother who is overwhelmed and unable to help him. Told in alternating voices, we watch Theodore do his best to help Violet come back from the deep sorrow and loss that have overcome her. But even as he helps Violet, his own demons of manic depression surround him. The voices in this brilliant book ring true. This is an emotional and heartrending story that will stay with readers long after they turn the last page. (Ages 13-17) $17.99 (available January 6)
 The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds
After his mother's death, 17 year old Matt gets a job at a local funeral home to make money, because his father is left unable to do much of anything, except drink too much. Matt begins to come to grips with his own grief while watching others at the funeral home deal with their loss. And then he meets Lovey, a tough, smart and funny girl who has been through a world of tough times. A moving story of love, grief and redemption. (Ages 12 and up) $19.99 (available January 6)
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