Two locally owned, independent stores dedicated to providing our customers with an interesting, eclectic selection of books and the finest coffee available. |
Per usual, our Outer Banks Fall has been gorgeous (with the exception of a few unseasonal rainy days) |
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Between the Lines
The Duck's Cottage Reading Group has just made our next six selections and will be reading: Left Neglected by Lisa Genova which we are currently reading and is the interesting story of a woman who, after a car accident, suffers from the diagnosis of left neglect. Left simply no longer exists for her. Pretty fascinating read. Up next is Gabrielle Hamilton's memoir, Blood, Bones and Butter then it's on to Kati Morton's Paris: A Love Story. In January we read The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe which I've been dabbling in some, followed by Temple Grandin's Animals in Translation and we wrap things up with the legal thriller Defending Jacob.
 Author Emily Colin was in Manteo earlier this month promoting her novel The Memory Thief - its got a little bit of everything- love story, ghost story, mountain climbing, you name it. Signed copies are still available. First reports of J.K. Rowling's latest- an adult title, The Casual Vacancy- are that it is a pretty dark read with a fair amount of 'language'. Set in a small English town with a plot that revolves around a vacancy on the town council, Chris is thinking about picking this one up.
A new author on our shelves in both stores that we are particularly excited about is Kevin Duffus. We are stocking three titles of Kevin's - The Lost Light: A Civil War Mystery which is 'the true story of the extraordinary odyssey of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse 1854 Fresnel lens; The Last Days of BlackBeard the Pirate which is full of photos, maps and details not only regarding the last weeks of Edward Teach but about the many myths and legends surrounding the man which prove to be not fact but fiction. His latest book is War Zone: World War II off the North Carolina Coast and encompasses the seven month period in which the German U-Boats menaced the East Coast. This book is an absolute must for any Outer Banks, WW II or just general history buff on your upcoming Christmas list.
A movie tie-in version of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit has just arrived. This is an eagerly anticipated theatre release and between that, and the recent 75th anniversary of the book interest of late has been keen.
New in paperback for the non-fiction reader: Jeffrey Zaslow's The Magic Room about a small town wedding shop and the dreams of women; Julie Klam's Love at First Bark (calling all dog lovers!), Goldie Hawn's Ten Mindful Minutes, I'd like to take a look at that one; and Read This: Handpicked Favorites from America's Indie Bookstores which features reading lists from some of the top independents in the country.
Another good list, this one titled 'Great Reads for your Book Club', just showed up courtesy of Vintage/Anchor. A few titles include The Night Circus, Maine, Please Look After Mom, The Sense of an Ending, Home, Blue Nights, the Fifty Shades of Grey Series, author Jo Nesbo, and more. Visit their Facebook page for even more ideas!
Dipping into the much anticipated The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe in which he documents the last two years of his mother's life as she fought pancreatic cancer. The two shared a deep love of books which became their touchstone during her illness. So many great titles and authors are 'name-dropped' that a whole 'nother Must Read list can be compiled just from this book!
Am just getting ready to send out the latest selection for Jamie's Book Club; mentioned it last month so won't do more than say I chose Mason's Retreat by Christopher Tilghman.
The latest book in Rick Riordan's Lost Heroes of Olympus series (a follow up to his best-selling Percy Jackson series) is The Mark of Athena- kids have been clamoring for this one and so am I! Halloween titles are also selling well- Barbara Robinson's The Best/Worst Halloween Ever (starring the Herdmans!), The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree, a classic; Magic Tree House #30 aka Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve and Fancy Nancy: Halloween or Bust! Fancy Nancy is the BOMB lately- can barely keep her in stock. With Turkey Day right around the corner don't forget about Magic Tree House #27: Thanksgiving on Thursday and the brand new Junie B. Jones from Barbara Park: Turkeys We Have Loved and Eaten (And Other Thankful Stuff). Who doesn't love Junie B?
Don't forget that at Downtown we not only have a special Halloween edition of the popular Spot It! game, but we have a really cool Thanksgiving Box of Questions featuring 82 question cards perfect for creating great conversations at the dinner table. Two samples: What are you most thankful for this year? and What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?
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 Jim & Joyce Lavene Wednesday Oct. 16
11am - 12pm
Jim & Joyce Lavene are coming to town again! Jim & Joyce are the co-authors of the Missing Pieces series- delightful mysteries set right here in our very own beach town! A Timely Vision, book one, introduces the reader to Dae O'Donnell, a woman whose family history is entwined with Duck's past. Dae is also the Mayor of Duck and has the gift of second sight which makes her the first person people go to when things go missing (or awry!).
Books 2 and 3, A Touch of Gold and A Spirited Gift, are also set in Duck and revolve around Dae, a quirky cast of characters and more mysteries!! You'll recognize more than a few landmarks and backdrops as the Lavenes do a terrific job of blending fact and fiction. (Even the coffeeshop will seem familiar, if you get our drift!)
To order signed books, please call 252-261-5510.
They will ship as soon as the Lavenes visit!
(Our website is still down, please phone in your order.)
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Flotsam & Jetsam
October started off on a high musical note at both ends of the beach! The Town of Duck Jazz Festival and the Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival (in Manteo) were both great successes, bringing lots of music lovers onto the beach as well as luring out the locals! Up next is the Mustang Music Festival in Corolla this Saturday & Sunday.
On October 20, the first Outer Banks Seafood Festival will take place in Nags Head on the former Windmill Point property. Lots of preparations to the site have been in the works and everyone is curious to see how this seafood smorgasbord goes down!
 Wink's is gone (BUT just for the Winter!) As part of a redevelopment project, the buildings that housed Wink's, Baldie's and Brindley Beach Vacations were demolished this week after months of hard work on a brand new site plan. The new and improved Wink's will not include gas pumps but will be much safer as customers will no longer be backing out onto Duck Road. The Duck ABC store will be moving across the street and the Brindley crowd will have a new home here as well. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for steady updates all winter!
The Sanderling Inn and Resort is also getting a big facelift! The entire east side of the complex will be closing down soon for five months of renovations to both the Inn and the Lifesaving Station Restaurant. The Sanderling Spa & Salon will remain open as will the Left Bank. Full details of the plans can be seen at www.thesanderling.com.
Please join us in welcoming the newest member(s) of our team- Lindsey Barton recently joined us and is a fresh face you'll be seeing! A belated welcome also to Paige Griffin, part owner of Downtown Books, who splits her time between Duck and Manteo.
Two Outer Banks family institutions are gone this month- the Family Center at the Ark Church in Nags Head burnt down recently. Many of our children grew up going to Friday night 'skate night' here and local basketball leagues also used the facility. The very same week the doors were locked on Nags Head Bowling Center much to the dismay of the entire community. Work from the Ark is that they will rebuild; work on the street is that the Bowling Center is on the market and we can only hope that a buyer will reopen it as one of the few family entertainment places left on the Outer Banks.
We're all waiting with baited breath to hear when the Outer Banks feature of Diners, Drive-In's & Dives will air. Original reports were 'sometime in October'. In the meantime, kudos to our Manteo neighbors- Carolina Cupcakery- for their second appearance on Cupcake Wars in a 'returning champions Hotel Transylvania' challenge. It's like we're finally on the foodies map!
We're having a baby! Mandy and Shawn Brophy are expecting the arrival of little Finn any day. Mandy has worked at Duck's Cottage since we opened and in true coffeeshop spirit we tried to give her some name suggestions but she felt Mochalatte wasn't a fitting boy name. Mandy's sister, Lisa, also worked for us for several years and is expecting her first child with husband, Neil, in January. Cousins, cousins, everywhere!
Our deepest condolences to the Herron family on the tragic death of Richard Herron last week. Mr Herron, together with his family, ran Herron's Family Restaurant, a Duck staple, for many years. Their biscuits were renowned, their soups homemade and a friendly Herron face was always found behind the counter.
More about Richard Herron |
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