Two locally owned, independent stores dedicated to providing our customers with an interesting, eclectic selection of books and the finest coffee available. |
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October Dates to Remember
October 12
Joseph Terrell signing (Duck)
October 13
Duck Jazz Festival
October 26
Stan Ulanski signing (Manteo)
November 1
First Friday Downtown Manteo
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Between the Lines
Just a reminder that all of the titles found below can also be found on our website! Click HERE here to view a complete list of newsletter titles. Buy any of these books from our site, and you'll get 10% off as our way of saying Thanks for Shopping Indie Online!
Lots of big releases this month making for lots of happy readers- kids and grown-ups jumped up and down for The House of Hades, Rick Riordan's fourth title in his Heroes of Olympus series. Lee Smith's Guests on Earth was also eagerly anticipated. Fans of the  Duck set Missing Pieces mystery series are giving the fifth book- A Finder's Fee- good early reviews. Stephen King, master in his field, is back with Doctor Sleep which is actually a follow-up (sorta) to The Shining. Remember the little boy on the big wheel? Well he's all growed up and, not surprisingly, haunted by the one horrific childhood year he spent at the Overlook Hotel. Pulitzer Prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri's latest is another novel- The Lowland, set in Calcutta and focused on two brothers, just fifteen months apart, who are at the same time inseparable and opposites. Thinking this could be on a par with Abraham Verghese's phenomenal Cutting for Stone?
Paige and I both read and highly recommend this month's #1 Indiebound pick, The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. Don Tillman is brilliant, a genetics professor who has never had a second date. He is on a quest for a partner, but doing so in his normal OCD, Asperger like ways. Highly readable, entertaining and even eye-opening. Another revelatory title I just got a great recommendation on is The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen Year Old Boy with Autism. Novelist David Mitchell and his wife KA Yoshida translated Naoki Higashida's best-selling book in hopes that more people would have access to this revelatory and moving memoir.
I read Jason Mott's The Returned. This is the first novel for Mott, a North Carolina writer, and has a very interesting premise. Out of nowhere, long departed loved ones begin showing up on earth looking just as they did the day they died. No one knows what to make of the phenomenon, nor what to do with a steadily increasing population of 'returned'. Raises some very intriguing questions.
Always up for something apocalyptic and last month's Rivers by Michael Farris Smith filled the need. Set in post-post-Katrina Louisiana, huge climate shifts have caused the United States to set up 'the Line' a boundary beyond which citizens can expect no aid. Life is not pleasant, with roving tribes of violent marauders and constant hurricane like storms being commonplace. A lone man reaches the end of his rope and decides to make a run for 'the Line', along with a ragtag group of shell-shocked survivors. I'd read it again.
My mom reported staying up past her normal bedtime to finish Cate Campbell's Benedict Hall; set in 1920's Seattle is a good read for the Downton Abbey crowd. Liane Moriarty had a huge hit with What Alice Forgot but can't say I liked her latest novel, The Husband's Secret, anywhere near as much. Too many characters, not enough redemption. I'd give it an 'eh'. Also not hearing that too many people are flocking to David Shield's Salinger. Am hoping that it might raise the interest level for his lesser read titles- Franny & Zooey, Raise High The Roof Beam Carpenters/Seymour: An Introduction and the timeless and incredible Nine Stories, one of my all time favorite books ever.
 Had a wonderful evening with author Lisa Wingate last week! Her latest book, The Prayer Box, is a lovely tale of redemption and rediscovery and it all takes place on Hatteras Island. Tandi Jo Reese is running from an abusive relationship (and from abusive habits of her own) and escapes to Hatteras where she fondly remembers brief childhood respites with her grandparents. She is tasked with cleaning out the house of Iola Anne Poole, a long time and not very well liked island resident. When Tandi discovers a closet filled with 81 boxes she learns about the many sides of Iola, and begins to find some different sides of herself. We really like this title and with its Outer Banks backdrop expect it to do well for several years. Thanks again to Lisa for honoring us with a visit on her tour!
Paige gave good reports on two YA titles- Mark Goldblatt's Twerp (ages 9 -12) and Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott (ages 12 - 18). The first title explores bullying through the eyes of the bully who is asked, in turn, to explore this aspect of himself over the course of a year. The second revolves around an expert slacker who is forced to 'jump in'. Two great titles to keep in mind for the teens in your household. I really liked The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, a piece of vampire fiction but so much more. Yes, there are succubus. Yes, there is goth fashion. But the solution humans have to managing the vampire and cold (infected) populations is inventive and makes for a great read. Telling all the high school girls about this one.
I got a lot of great tips from and can highly recommend What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast by Laura Vanderkam. Really liked her idea to plan three things for your weekend so that your down time doesn't get away from you and eaten up with piddling. Anxious to get my hands on her latest book- All the Money in the World (What the Happiest People Know About Wealth). A new title on the non-fiction shelves is mega-author Malcolm Gladwell's David and Goliath. Subtitle? Underdogs, Misfits and the Art of Battling Giants. This time Gladwell is challenging how we think about obstacles and disadvantages. Always an interesting read. A lot of interest and requests for Billy Crystal's Still Foolin' Em- Where I've Been, Where I'm Going and Where the Hell are my Car Keys. Lol.
With Christmas slowly starting its approach, humor titles are getting more than just a glance. Chronicle's Darth Vader & Son and Vader's Little Princess single panel comic style continues to entertain Star Wars fans. The pet poetry phenomenon continues with canines in I Could Chew on This (see above.) Another recent entry into this field is Dog Shaming, a book based on the website of the same name. Go ahead, pick it up- we guarantee it will go home with you for somebody's stocking.
Relatives from Atlanta drove up to the OBX recently and, being barbeque hounds, made a stop in Ayden, NC, to a little BBQ joint they'd heard about. Had to show them Bob Garner's Book of Barbecue (sometimes known as The Bible) and lo and behold if Ayden's Skylight Inn wasn't right there on page 136. Garner's book is a 'cue lovers travel guide to eating whole hog in North Cackalackey and not only went home with Aunt Margaret & Uncle Kenley, but would be a great gift for the person on your list who loves to find the best little Q places on the road. (And of course ALL the BEST places are in North Carolina because we have the BEST BBQ.)
 Just in as we go to press- My Life Pile by Vic Berg. Berg has been hunting and fishing the Outer Banks for decades both as a seasoned guide and outfitter. He has compiled his recollections of living within the natural world in this beautifully illustrated book. Interesting hunting tales, little known nature facts and anecdotes that made us laugh out loud! A GREAT new Outer Banks title and perfect for holiday gift giving. We will be hosting Vic for a signing in December and will pass details along when available. This book is a MUST for any OBX library!
Happy Reading!
(and don't forget- get 10% off all these titles at
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What's Going On...
It's time for some Jazz! Get the weekend started with an outdoor Movie on the Green at the Town Park! Friday, Oct. 11, features The Princess & The Frog, with an appropriately selected N'Awlins backdrop. Movie starts at dusk, bring blankets and chairs. This fun family evening is sponsored by Carolina Designs and is presented by the Outer Banks Children at Play Museum.
On Sunday, October 13, the Town Park will be the site of the 7th annual Town of Duck Jazz Festival featuring the Delfeayo Marsalis Octet, Lavay Smith & her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, Peter Lamb & The Wolves, Caroll V. Dashiell Jr. and the CVD Jazz Ensemble. Gates open at 10 music starts at 11. Visit duckjazz.com for complete details.
October 12: Joseph L. S. Terrell (Duck)
 Popular Outer Banks author Joe Terrell will be at Duck's Cottage from 9:30am - 12pm signing his best-selling Harrison Weaver mysteries- Tide of Darkness, Overwash of Evil and Not Our Kind Of Killing. Joe's novels all take place all on the Outer Banks and have tons of local flavor and backdrops!
October 26: Stan Ulanski (Manteo)
 Ulanski is a professor of meteorology, oceanography and marine resources at JMU. His latest book is The Billfish Story and tells the story of the fish- marlin, sailfish, swordfish and spearfish- that comprise the apex of the oceanic food chain. Ulanski also investigates the relationship of anglers, biologists, charter boat captains and conservationists to the billfish. He is also the author of The Gulf Stream and Fishing North Carolina's Outer Banks. Stan will be at Downtown Books from 11am to 2pm.
Keep an eye on your in-box as we have several more exciting, upcoming signings in the works and will announce via email!
Pre-order copies of these books today at duckscottage.com
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Flotsam & Jetsam
Congratulations to Dave & Marty Facenda, proud parents of a beautiful little girl- Aida. Dave & Marty are both fixtures at the Waterfront Shops, he owns Untucked and Marty manages Life's A Beach and we know they are excited to begin building their very own in-house sales force. They are good friends and we are all just tickled for them.
The building that Duck's Cottage is privileged to  call home is one of the oldest structures in Duck. Built in 1921 by a group of investors from New York, it was the Powder Ridge Hunt Club and, as such, was the only gunning club built south of the Currituck County line. This year we honor our building- and Duck- with just arrived products that reflect this heritage. (and are great for holiday gift-giving!)
 Our new blue campfire mug has a spatter-ware look to it and holds a very generous 15 ounces. Click image to enlarge. Priced at $12.95 this is definitely going to become one of our best-selling mugs. Order online at duckscottage.com
Pretend they don't see you coming in our new camo hats! Available in Mossy Oak camo with a blaze orange Powder Ridge logo or Realtree camo with the logo in chocolate brown. Adjustable Velcro strap and distressed brim. $19.95- but 'em now at duckscottage.com
Ladies who says nobody every listens to you? You asked for it- we got it! Pink camo tees in a Ladies cut that we are pleased to report runs true to size! These shirts are just a little smaller in the shoulders and not so long in the torso so it will feel like your very ow  n tee, not one you borrowed from him! Not that he'd be caught dead in pink camo! $19.95 (quantities limited)
Our new brown burnout tees are very slim cut but oh so soft and not as sheer as some lighter color burnouts. The back features the Duck's Cottage Coffee Dynasty logo in a cream ink. $19.95 Available in S, M and L but are sized more like XS, S, M.
To order t-shirts, please call us at 252-261-5510. We have also recently restocked the green and sand camo tees ($19.95) and added an orange tee to the Dynasty line-up ($16.95).
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