THE LOST ART OF MIXING by Erica Bauermeister
ENTER BY DECEMBER 15
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THE WORLD WITHOUT YOU by Joshua Henkin
CONFESSIONS OF JOAN THE TALL by Joan Cusack Handler
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COMING UP IN BUZZING ABOUT BOOKS
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THE PLUM TREE by Ellen Marie Wiseman
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Greetings:
With holidays right around the corner, here are some gift ideas for the readers in your life and chances to win a terrific, reading-related gift for yourself or your book club. In this issue, you'll find:
* Gift ideas for book club members and readers (and how you can win them!)
Happy Holidays and Happy Reading!
Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp
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HOLIDAY GIFTS PICKS
Great ideas for Book Enthusiasts
Consider these gift ideas for the avid reader in your life. You can win one of these items for yourself if you enter our giveaway contests below. Happy Holidays!
The BookWedge, an inflatable book pillow designed to hold soft and hardcover books, iPads and e-readers, reduces strain on the arms and neck by providing support at just the right angle. A great gift for readers on the go, the BookWedge is lightweight, and folds flat when deflated.
The WondaWedge, an inflatable lounge pillow with attached mat, was designed by physiotherapists and offers back support while reading, with the option of various reclining angles. It's waterproof and can be used outdoors.
Novel protection for drinks at your book club meeting, these Literary Coasters from Uncommon Goods make a great gift for a book lover. Each coaster features one of eight classic titles -- from Brave New World to Pride and Prejudice -- and become the pages of a small canvas-wrapped "book case".
Mark Your Books with matching personalized bookmarks. You can design bookmarks for your group, personalized with each book club member's name, from Impressive Inscriptions.
You can win each of the gift guide picks! Enter by December 15, 2012 (list names of items you'd like to win).
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NEW BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS Winter Reading Ideas
We're enjoying new recommendations from book clubs, along with guest experts: The Concord Book Shop, author Joshua Henkin and Penguin Books.
St. Paul's Book Club of Pawleys
Island, South Carolina, recommends: The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman (Crown, 2011), Fiction, 288 page
"We all appreciated the writing talent of this author, although we agreed that it was difficult to keep up with all of the characters and several of us took notes while we read. "The member who facilitated our discussion has had a love affair with Alice Hoffman's writing for years. She particularly enjoys the color themes that flow throughout each book. "Our members had their favorite stories within this collection of linked stories: One highlighted 'The Bear's House' as a breath-taking, courageous tale and described it as one of the best stories she's ever read; another talked about 'The Monster of Blackwell' and likened it to a Twilight Zone episode; still another talked about 'Eight Nights of Love' and the surprising amount of love and lust that winds throughout the book. "In general, our group believed that the book offered up opportunities for redemption and second chances for its characters along with a bit of magic and mystery. There were so many admirable characters, often with strong principles of devotion interwoven with sadness. We agreed that each story within this collection was powerful in itself."
More New Book Recommendations including:
The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty Laura Lamont's LIfe in Pictures by Emma Straub The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East by Sandy Tolan
Mr. Emerson's Wife by Amy Belding Brown
To Be Sung Underwater by Tom McNeal
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THE BOOK CLUB COOKBOOK Holiday Recipes and Gift Giving
The revised edition of The Book Club Cookbook with holiday recipes, makes a perfect gift for the book and food enthusiast. One of our favorite additions is a Gl�gg recipe as mentioned in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. (The Huffington Post included it here!)
Markus Zusak's Vanilla Kipferls (The Book Thief) also make wonderful holiday cookies!
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FAVORITE LOCAL BOOK STORES Book Clubs Share Their Top Picks
Kathe Wilson of the Oregon Public Library Afternoon Book Club in Oregon, Illinois, recommends Books on First in Dixon, Illinois.
| Books on First in Dixon, Illinois |
"This small shop never ceases to amaze with the breadth of its collection and its knowledgeable workers. Ravishing cookies, pastries and other goodies are complemented by very fresh coffee and other beverages. Frequent music events and occasional author visits bring a cosmopolitan atmosphere to the Northwestern Illinois prairie. Kids of all ages are entranced with their small, book-related toy section."
Jane Coward of the Lunch Book Bunch in Collierville, Tennessee,recommends Square Books, in Oxford, Mississippi.
| Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi | "Square Books has everything and more that we could ask for, including several author talks and book signings each week (with wine!), all the newest books each month, friendly staff and the ambience every book store should have. Only minutes from the University of Mississippi and William Faulkner's house, maybe books and reading are just in the air there."
Marilyn McMyers of the Hawthorne Ladies of Bloomington, Illinois, recommends Barnes & Noble in Bloomington, Illinois.
| Barnes & Noble in Bloomington, Illinois |
"Our Barnes & Noble offers a discount to members, offers readers the chance to browse titles while having coffee, and encourages our city wide read selection! Occasionally our group meets there for book discussion and the store is most accommodating."
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HOLIDAY READING & RECIPE CONTEST This Season's Winning Book Club
We asked for your book club's December holiday literary and culinary pairings and received terrific responses. Pearl Berger's Bonami Book Group of Albuquerque, New Mexico, discussed the novel Chanukah Guilt by Ilene Schneider and served home made applesauce and smoked salmon toasts, the foods Pearl typically prepares for Chanukah celebration. Congratulations, Pearl! You'll receive a revised edition of The Book Club Cookbook.
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