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Welcome to The Bookies' Latest Update! July 2016 issue 1
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What We Are Reading this Summer!
My summer reading is, as always, reading galleys and manuscripts for new books due out in the fall. This sort of reading hops over many genres and age groups, which is fun. And, when I get a break, I read anything about WWI or espionage that I can find - they are my candies.
Some titles I've recently read that I look forward to sharing with customers are The Clay Girl by Heather Tucker (adult, due
October), which is a compelling, although hard to read, coming-of-age story of a girl from an abusive and dysfunctional family, Spontaneous by Aaron Starmer (YA, due in August), an entertaining tale about spontaneously exploding teens, Saladin: The Sultan Who Vanquished the Crusaders and Built an Islamic Empire by John Man (adult, out now), an excellent biography, and The Hamilton Affair by Elizabeth Cobbs (adult, due September), about the affair between Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler. Longer reviews of all of these are up on our blog.
Marianne E.
I'm planning on reading The Nest by Cynthia D. Sweeney (adult), because I'm a bestseller junkie and several friends have recommended it. Also, Before the Fall by Noah Hawley (adult) is on my list because it sounds like an exciting story of survivors, an airplane crash and a conspiracy theory.
Susan L
This summer one of my book clubs decided we will copy the staff at Ann Patchett's bookstore and read something for each of the decades starting with 1940. We will start with A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, the coming-of-age classic by Betty Smith (adult). We all probably read it years ago, but want to remember what was happening in that era. Since we want to do a different genre each month, we'll probably follow up with Foundation by Isaac Asimov (adult sci-fi).
I've also got The Door by Magda Szabo (adult) - Dona's recommendation - a powerful novel about the relationship between a writer and her secretive housekeeper, set in Hungary, Lila by Marilynne Robinson (adult), a fabulous writer, especially good with character development) and The Rich Part of Life and The Pursuit of Other Interests, both by Jim Kokoris (adult). Kokoris is a Chicago writer and my cousins insist I keep my Chicago connection alive by reading their favorites!
My son has just spent ten days aboard the Nautilus Live Exploration Research ship sponsored by Robert Ballard (discovered the Titanic wreck in 1985.) The crew and scientists used a ROV for deep water dives in the NE Pacific Ocean. One of the videos the group posted was of a yellow Dumbo Octopus - a captivating look at life in the deep ocean. As a result, I decided to read The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery (adult non-fiction). I'm now partway through the book and I'm enjoying reading about the intelligence, personalities and emotions of several octopuses as described by the author and handlers. This book falls under the category of "who knew?" Next stop - Boston's New England Aquarium to see these guys in person!
Like Larry, I read a lot from the galley shelves, particularly adult and young adult, and I love discovering great new reads. Sometimes, though, I just want to read something that I'm already sure is going to be good! I have The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson, author of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, waiting on my shelf. Set in Rye, East Sussex, it follows the community through one last beautiful summer, when the arrival of a female Latin teacher seems more shocking than the rumblings of war.
I'm reading When Friendship Followed Me Home by Paul Griffin, a beautiful new middle grade book about the friendship between Ben, a wary former foster boy, and Halley, a colorful character with her own problems. I'm also reading another middle grade book, the first in The Unwanteds series by Lisa McMann. The look on kids' faces as they rush to the counter to inquire if we have the latest has inspired me, along with a couple of staff members who have highly recommended it. The latest and last in the series is Island of Dragons - and yes, we do have it!
I have a list to read this summer! The Heart by Maylis DeKerangal, (adult fiction), which follows the 24 hours after the death of a teen and the transplant of his heart, Maybe a Fox by Kathi Appelt, (middle grade) about the connection between a fox and the sister of a girl who has disappeared, The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing by Sheila Turnage (middle grade), a fun mystery about the search for a ghost, The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson, (adult) humor about life in Britain by the always-funny Bryson and Working Stiff by Judy Melinek, (adult nonfiction) about a the first two years of a forensic pathologist's career
I loved The Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki (adult) - it's just a great read! It's the story of young Sisi who weds Emperor Franz Joseph in the mid-1800's and becomes Empress Elizabeth. She is only 16 and has a rough time in the Vienna court, but she grows over the years and soon is loved by the Austrian and Hungarian people. She played a significant role in keeping Hungary as part of the Austrian-Hungarian empire. Although a novel, this is based on historical facts and paints a vivid portrait of life during that time. This would be a good summer book club selection.
I decided that I wanted to read more about the Middle East and came across The Cat at the Wall by Deborah Ellis (middle grade), about a typical American girl who is reincarnated as a cat in Israel's West Bank. When she happens on a boy hiding from soldiers she must decide whether or not to help him. Loved it! I'm also reading Ashfall by Mike Mullin (YA), partly as a preview for my nephew, and partly because I found the premise of the caldera under Yellowstone blowing up very interesting. It's a compelling read.
I'm waiting my turn as my family reads The Alphabet House by Jussi Adler-Olsen (adult). This his first book that is not part of the Department Q series, about two British pilots who are shot down and pretend to have a mental illness so as not to be captured - but find themselves in an asylum, being treated for illnesses they don't have. I've just finished The Immortal Irishman by Timothy Egan (adult biography), about colorful Irishman Thomas Meagher, who led a failed uprising in Ireland, was exiled to Tasmania and escaped to the US, where he started the Irish Brigade, fought in many battles and became the territorial governor of Montana.
Lions and tigers, oh my! The real kind of safari. Best read of the summer so far -- Cathedral of the Wild: An African Journey Home. Rugged conservation, reverence for wilderness and the beauty of living with nature. Boyd Varty's memoir is about growing up on the Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa. I underlined so many passages and learned about tracking wildlife I've never seen: impalas, nyala, and marula trees. Travel far and wide (and deep) with this book! And check outLondolozi's instagram, breathtaking!
All books are in stock at the time of writing, and we are always happy to order for you. If you want more suggestions from us, there are lots of new reviews up on our blog!
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A Special Dancing Storytime!
Come in on Tuesday, August 2nd at 10:30 a.m. for a special storytime! Our host will be Christy Golden from Cricket Dance who will read stories and then lead a dance program! Christy is a dancer and author who writes stories and ballets for children - about fairies, princesses, monsters and more!
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Keep the Kids Moving!
If you're looking for a way to get younger kids moving this summer, check out our Strider bikes, three-wheeled scooters and plasma cars. Go out for a ride - then settle down with a book!
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Something different...
Flappy the Elephant arrived in the store last week, with his wonderful animated ears. He plays peek-a-boo, sings and waggles his ears and we are all completely charmed! So we took a photo of him with other new goodies for toddlers. We have adorable fabric cowboy boots with soft soles in lots of different colors. And we love these three new books: Tap The Magic Tree by Christie Mathieson, now in board (tap the pages and magic happens!), Apples and Robins by Lucie Felix (clever cut outs transform one thing into another as you turn the page), and a classic My First Winnie-The-Pooh, with ten simple verses. You'll find Flappy and his friends in the toddler department!
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