Lisa Genova talks about her new book, Left Neglected

Lisa Genova joined us at Sandwich Public Library this past Sunday to discuss her new book, Left Neglected. Nearly 150 people attended, and many were fans of her previous book, Still Alice. Lisa talked to us about left neglect, a condition that happens to those who sustain substantial damage on the right side of their brain, leaving them unable to realize anything going on the left side of their body. She read about the condition first in the book The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat: And Other Clinical Tales by Oliver Sacks when she was a nueroscience student. The anecdote was short and she couldn’t help but thinking after she finished reading, how do these people eat? put on makeup? shave? drive? Those questions lingered and after she finished her first book, Still Alice, she knew this was the topic she wanted to tackle next. 

Left Neglected is about Sarah Nickerson, a busy mother and wife who packs her schedule and is always rushing from one place to the next. Until one day, when she gets in a car accident while talking on her cell phone and suffers brain damage – leaving her with left neglect. The condition forces her to slow down and focus on what she pays attention to in her life. 

Lisa took the time to answer many questions, and was wonderfully open about her life as a writer and all the research that went into writing this book. She was gracious enough to sign copies of both Left Negelcted and Still Alice for us at the shop. Feel free to give us a call if you want us to hold a copy!

 

The lovely Lisa Genova in front of a packed audience!

Lisa Genova signs copies of her books for the shop. Book buyer Elizabeth Merritt keeps her company.

Statue Update–With Pictures!

Statue update! – with pictures! The statue has been taken to Titcomb Brothers Manufacturing in Westport where Ted Titcomb (the original creator of the statue) will repair him. The process has begun. Victor, at Titcomb Brothers, has finished sandblasting all of the paint off of the statue.

I expected to take an action packed video of this event, thinking that it would be great fun to show the paint flying off the statue. Sort of like a big gust of wind blowing all the snow off your car. Well….I didn’t know much about sandblasting. It works more like a fine point eraser than a car wash or a gust of wind. This was a slower and more careful process than I thought and isn’t very interesting to show you in a video. Just plain pictures are much better in this case.

He actually looks beautiful in his natural state. He is all grey with little sparkly silver flecks. It’s like he’s had a facial!  The next step is making the actual repairs to the gash in his leg. More pictures when we have them!

New Books Released Today, Tuesday October 19th

In The Company of Others (Father Tim Novels) by Jan Karon ($27.95, our price $22.36) In this second novel in the Father Tim series, Father Tim and Cynthia arrive in the west of Ireland, intent on researching his Kavanagh ancestry from the comfort of a charming fishing lodge. The charm, however, is broken entirely when Cynthia startles a burglar and sprains her already-injured ankle. Then a cherished and valuable painting is stolen from the lodge owners, and Cynthia’s pain pales in comparison to the wound at the center of this bitterly estranged Irish family.
“In the Company of Others” is a moving testament to the desperate struggle to hide the truth at any cost and the powerful need to confess. Of all her winning novels, Jan Karon says this “dark-haired child” is her favorite-a sentiment readers everywhere are certain to share.

Worth Dying For: A Reacher Novel by Lee Child ($28.00, our price $22.40) Bestselling author Lee Child follows the electrifying “61 Hours” with his latest Reacher thriller–a story that hits the ground running and then accelerates all the way to a colossal showdown. There’s deadly trouble in the corn country of Nebraska . . . and Jack Reacher walks right into it. First he falls foul of the Duncans, a local clan that has terrified an entire county into submission. But it’s the unsolved case of a missing child, already decades-old, that Reacher can’t let go. The Duncans want Reacher gone–and it’s not just past secrets they’re trying to hide. They’re awaiting a secret shipment that’s already late–and they have the kind of customers no one can afford to annoy. For as dangerous as the Duncans are, they’re just the bottom of a criminal food chain stretching halfway around the world. For Reacher, it would have made much more sense to keep on going, to put some distance between himself and the hard-core trouble that’s bearing down on him. For Reacher, that was also impossible.

Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson ($16.99) In this compelling sequel to “Chains,” a National Book Award Finalist and winner of the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, acclaimed author Laurie Halse Anderson shifts perspective from Isabel to Curzon and brings to the page the tale of what it takes for runaway slaves to forge their own paths in a world of obstacles–and in the midst of the American Revolution. The Patriot Army was shaped and strengthened by the desperate circumstances of the Valley Forge winter. This is where Curzon the boy becomes Curzon the young man. In addition to the hardships of soldiering, he lives with the fear of discovery, for he is an escaped slave passing for free. And then there is Isabel, who is also at Valley Forge–against her will. She and Curzon have to sort out the tangled threads of their friendship while figuring out what stands between the two of them and true freedom.

Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney ($16.99)Llama Llama holidays. Jingle music. Lights ablaze. How long till that special date? Llama Llama has to wait. If there’s one thing Llama Llama doesn’t like, it’s waiting.

He and Mama Llama rush around, shopping for presents, baking cookies, decorating the tree . . . but how long is it until Christmas? Will it ever come? Finally, Llama Llama just can’t wait any more! It takes a cuddle from Mama Llama to remind him that gifts are nice, but there’s another: the true gift is, we have each other.

 

The Templar Salvation by Raymond Khoury ($26.95, our price $21.56) With its iconic title and unmistakable cover, Raymond Khoury’s million-copy- selling “The Last Templar” remains one of the most memorable thriller publications of the last decade. Finally, after four long years, Khoury returns to the world of the Templars with “The Templar Salvation,” a sequel that’s every bit as eye-popping and as gripping as its predecessor. Constantinople, 1203: As the rapacious armies of the Fourth Crusade lay siege to the city, a secretive band of Templars infiltrate the imperial library. Their target: a cache of documents that must not be allowed to fall into the hands of the Doge of Venice. They escape with three heavy chests, filled with explosive secrets that these men will not live long enough to learn. Vatican City, present day: FBI agent Sean Reilly infiltrates the Pope’s massive Vatican Secret Archives of the Inquisition. No one but the Pope’s trusted “secondi” get in-but Reilly has earned the Vatican’s trust, a trust he has no choice but to violate. His love, Tess Chaykin, has been kidnapped; the key to her freedom lays in this underground tomb, in the form of a document known as the “Fondo Templari,” a secret history of the infamous Templars… With his trademark blend of incendiary history and edge-of-your-seat suspense, Raymond Khoury’s “The Templar Salvation” marks a triumphant return to the rich territory that launched his bestselling career.

A Visit With Bill Bryson

You know what? Sometimes working at a bookstore is just plain fun! I don’t mean that in a bragging way, just in a happy way. Yesterday was a good example.

The lovely people at Random House organized a event with the New England Independent Booksellers Association (NEIBA) where booksellers could come up to the NEIBA offices to meet Bill Bryson! How cool is that? (And by the way, if you haven’t read “A Walk in the Woods” or “The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid” by Bill Bryson, you are missing out.)

Here is a picture of our Kathleen who got to go up to Arlington to meet Bill. Why am I telling you this? Because we now have signed copies of Bill Bryson’s newest book (“At Home: A Short History of Private Life”) for sale at the Bookshop!

New Books Released Today, Tuesday October 5th

Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow ($40.00)

In “Washington: A Life” celebrated biographer Ron Chernow provides a richly nuanced portrait of the father of our nation. With a breadth and depth matched by no other one-volume life of Washington, this crisply paced narrative carries the reader through his troubled boyhood, his precocious feats in the French and Indian War, his creation of Mount Vernon, his heroic exploits with the Continental Army, his presiding over the Constitutional Convention, and his magnificent performance as America’s first president.

Painted Ladies by Robert Parker ($26.95, our price $21.56) Called upon by The Hammond Museum and renowned art scholar Dr. Ashton Prince, Spenser accepts his latest case: to provide protection during a ransom exchange-money for a stolen painting. The case becomes personal when Spenser fails to protect his client and the valuable painting remains stolen. Convinced that Ashton Prince played a bigger role than just ransom delivery boy, Spenser enters into a daring game of cat-and-mouse with the thieves. But this is a game he might not come out of alive…
Completed the year before he passed away, “Painted Ladies” is Spenser and Robert B. Parker at their electrifying best.

Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation by Steven Johnson ($26.95) With “Where Good Ideas Come From,” Steven Johnson pairs the insight of his bestselling “Everything Bad Is Good for You” and the dazzling erudition of “The Ghost Map” and “The Invention of Air” to address an urgent and universal question: What sparks the flash of brilliance? How does groundbreaking innovation happen? Answering in his infectious, culturally omnivorous style, using his fluency in fields from neurobiology to popular culture, Johnson provides the complete, exciting, and encouraging story of how we generate the ideas that push our careers, our lives, our society, and our culture forward. Beginning with Charles Darwin’s first encounter with the teeming ecosystem of the coral reef and drawing connections to the intellectual hyperproductivity of modern megacities and to the instant success of YouTube, Johnson shows us that the question we need to ask is, What kind of environment fosters the development of good ideas? His answers are never less than revelatory, convincing, and inspiring as Johnson identifies the seven key principles to the genesis of such ideas, and traces them across time and disciplines.

Rose In A Storm by Jon Katz ($24.00, our price, $19.20) From “New York Times bestselling” author Jon Katz comes a moving and powerful novel, the first one inspired by life on his celebrated Bedlam Farm–and perceptively told from the point of view of Rose, a dedicated working dog.
Rose is determined and focused, keeping the sheep out of danger and protecting the other creatures on the farm she calls home. But of all those she’s looked after since coming to the farm as a puppy, it is Sam, the farmer, whom she watches most carefully.
Awoken one cold midwinter night during lambing season, Rose and Sam struggle into the snowy dark to do their work. The ever observant Rose has seen a change in her master of late, ever since Sam’s wife disappeared one day. She senses something else in the air as well: A storm is coming, but not like any of the ones she’s seen over the years. This storm feels different, bigger, more foreboding. When an epic blizzard hits the region, it will take all of Rose’s resolve, resourcefulness, and courage to help Sam save the farm and the creatures who live there.
Jon Katz consulted with animal behavior scientists to create his unique and convincing vision of the world as seen through the eyes of a dog. Poignant, thrilling, and beautifully wrought, Rose in a Storm is a wonderfully original and powerful tale from a gifted storyteller.

Love Letters From Ladybug Farm by Donna Ball ($14.00) Love is in the air in this delightful novel-third in the bestselling Ladybug Farm series from award-winning author Donna Ball.
Renovating a broken-down mansion in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley gave three lifelong friends a welcome second chance. But after taking the biggest risk of their lives, are these women also willing to risk their hearts? All the effort Cici, Lindsay, and Bridget have put into transforming an historic but overgrown farm into an upscale winery and special events business is paying off-Ladybug Farm has been chosen to host a society wedding. What this really means is that they are about to be invaded by warring mothers-in-law, a Bridezilla, and a completely clueless groom. They have their hands full keeping Ladybug Farm from descending into total chaos. But there’s something about a wedding…

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much:The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett ($15.00) Unrepentant book thief John Charles Gilkey has stolen a fortune in rare books from around the country. Yet unlike most thieves who steal for profit, Gilkey steals for love-the love of books. Perhaps equally obsessive is Ken Sanders, the self-appointed “bibliodick” who’s driven to catch him. Following this eccentric cat-and-mouse chase with a mixture of suspense, insight and humor, Allison Hoover Bartlett plunges the reader deep into a rich world of fanatical book lust and considers what it is that makes some people stop at nothing to posses the titles they love.

Nemesis by Philip Roth ($26.00, our price $20.80) In the “stifling heat of equatorial Newark,” a terrifying epidemic is raging, threatening the children of the New Jersey city with maiming, paralysis, lifelong disability, and even death. This is the startling theme of Philip Roth’s wrenching new book: a wartime polio epidemic in the summer of 1944 and the effect it has on a closely knit, family-oriented Newark community and its children. At the center of “Nemesis” is a vigorous, dutiful twenty-three-year-old playground director, Bucky Cantor, a javelin thrower and weightlifter, who is devoted to his charges and disappointed with himself because his weak eyes have excluded him from serving in the war alongside his contemporaries. Focusing on Cantor’s dilemmas as polio begins to ravage his playground–and on the everyday realities he faces–Roth leads us through every inch of emotion such a pestilence can breed: the fear, the panic, the anger, the bewilderment, the suffering, and the pain. Moving between the smoldering, malodorous streets of besieged Newark and Indian Hill, a pristine children’s summer camp high in the Poconos–whose “mountain air was purified of all contaminants”–Roth depicts a decent, energetic man with the best intentions struggling in his own private war against the epidemic.

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Frankin ($24.99, our price $19.99) In the late 1970s, Larry Ott and Silas “32″ Jones were boyhood pals. Their worlds were as different as night and day: Larry, the child of lower-middle-class white parents, and Silas, the son of a poor, single black mother. Yet for a few months the boys stepped outside of their circumstances and shared a special bond. But then tragedy struck: Larry took a girl on a date to a drive-in movie, and she was never heard from again. She was never found and Larry never confessed, but all eyes rested on him as the culprit. The incident shook the county–and perhaps Silas most of all. His friendship with Larry was broken, and then Silas left town. More than twenty years have passed. Larry, a mechanic, lives a solitary existence, never able to rise above the whispers of suspicion. Silas has returned as a constable. He and Larry have no reason to cross paths until another girl disappears and Larry is blamed again. And now the two men who once called each other friend are forced to confront the past they’ve buried and ignored for decades. (Technically, this book was released on October 1st…but since we do this list only once a week, we still wanted to let you know about it. My husband read an advanced copy and LOVED it!)

The Reversal by Michael Connelly ($27.99, our price $22.39) Longtime defense attorney Mickey Haller is recruited to change stripes and prosecute the high-profile retrial of a brutal child murder. After 24 years in prison, convicted killer Jason Jessup has been exonerated by new DNA evidence. Haller is convinced Jessup is guilty, and he takes the case on the condition that he gets to choose his investigator, LAPD Detective Harry Bosch. Together, Bosch and Haller set off on a case fraught with political and personal danger. Opposing them is Jessup, now out on bail, a defense attorney who excels at manipulating the media, and a runaway eyewitness reluctant to testify after so many years.
With the odds and the evidence against them, Bosch and Haller must nail a sadistic killer once and for all. If Bosch is sure of anything, it is that Jason Jessup plans to kill again.

At Home : A Short History of Private Life a Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson ($28.95) Bill Bryson and his family live in a Victorian parsonage in a part of England where nothing of any great significance has happened since the Romans decamped. Yet one day, he began to consider how very little he knew about the ordinary things of life as he found it in that comfortable home. To remedy this, he formed the idea of journeying about his house from room to room to “write a history of the world without leaving home.” The bathroom provides the occasion for a history of hygiene; the bedroom, sex, death, and sleep; the kitchen, nutrition and the spice trade; and so on, as Bryson shows how each has fig­ured in the evolution of private life. Whatever happens in the world, he demonstrates, ends up in our house, in the paint and the pipes and the pillows and every item of furniture. Bill Bryson has one of the liveliest, most inquisitive minds on the planet, and he is a master at turning the seemingly isolated or mundane fact into an occasion for the most diverting exposi­tion imaginable. His wit and sheer prose fluency make “At Home” one of the most entertaining books ever written about private life.

Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans ($19.99, our price $15.99) “As you read my story, there is something I want you to understand. That in spite of all the pain–past, present and that still to come–I wouldn’t have done anything differently. Nor would I trade the time I had with him for anything–except for what, in the end, I traded it for.” Beth Cardall has a secret. For eighteen years, she has had no choice but to keep it to herself, but on Christmas Eve 2008, all that is about to change. For Beth, 1989 was a year marked by tragedy. Her life was falling apart: her six-year-old daughter, Charlotte, was suffering from an unidentifiable illness; her marriage transformed from a seemingly happy and loving relationship to one full of betrayal and pain; her job at the dry cleaners was increasingly at risk; and she had lost any ability to trust, to hope, or to believe in herself. Then, on Christmas Day, as she rushed through a blizzard to the nearest 7-Eleven, Beth encountered Matthew, a strikingly handsome, mysterious stranger, who would single-handedly change the course of her life. Who is this man, and how does he seem to know so much about her? He pursues her relentlessly, and only after she’s fallen deeply in love with him does she learn his incredible secret, changing the world as she knows it, as well as her own destiny.

Another Recipe From CLASH Weekend!

We had a lovely time at our CLASH Weekend event with cookbook authors Susie Middleton (“Fast, Fresh & Green”) and Catherine Walthers (“Soups & Sides”, “Greens Glorious Greens”).  We sampled recipes from their cookbooks such as Lime Spice Cookies, Honey Cornbread Muffins, Mahogany Mushrooms, Roasted Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella “Sandwiches”, and Corn Chowder with Spicy Roasted Red Peppers. We loved the food so much, that we had to share a recipe. Catherine Walthers brought some of her Black Bean and Butternut Squash Chili. It was delicious!  Try this recipe!

Black Bean and Butternut Squash Chili with Cilantro Pesto
“Soups & Sides” by Catherine Walthers

2 large onions coarsely chopped
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic minced
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp chili powder
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
2 (28 ounce) cans whole tomatoes with juices
4 cups 1/2 inch diced butternut squash (from about 1 medium squash)
2 to 3 cups water
2 cups cooked black beans
kernels from 3 to 4 ears fresh corn (about 2 cups)
2 to 3 tsp kosher salt

In a large soup pot over medium heat, saute onions in oil until translucent, 10-15 minutes. Add garlic and saute another 2 minutes.  Add spices and continue cooking , stirring to prevent burning, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes and break apart with a masher. Add squash and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, turn down heat to a simmer and cover. Let simmer until squash is tender, about 20 minutes.

Add black beans, corn and the additional water if needed, and simmer to let flavors blend, 5 minutes. Remove bay leaves. Season with salt.

Cilantro Pesto
1/3 cup walnut pieces, toasted
1 bunch cilantro washed and tough stems removed (about 1 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup canola or olive oil, or a mix
salt

To make pesto, puree the walnuts, cilantro, garlic and oil in a food processor until smooth. Add salt to taste. Serve the soup with cilantro pesto on top or with plain chopped cilantro if you prefer.

New Books Coming Out Today, Tuesday Sept. 14th

Another week, another list!  (…and just to remind you, if you want to reserve a copy of any of these titles just click on the photo, it’s a link to our website.)

A Secret Kept by Tatiana De Rosnay ($24.99, our price $19.99)  (From the author of one of our favorite books, “Sarah’s Key”.) It all began with a simple seaside vacation, a brother and sister recapturing their childhood. Antoine Rey thought he had the perfect surprise for his sister Melanie’s birthday: a weekend by the sea at Noirmoutier Island, where the pair spent many happy childhood summers playing on the beach. It had been too long, Antoine thought, since they’d returned to the island–over thirty years, since their mother died and the family holidays ceased. But the island’s haunting beauty triggers more than happy memories; it reminds Melanie of something unexpected and deeply disturbing about their last island summer. When, on the drive home to Paris, she finally summons the courage to reveal what she knows to Antoine, her emotions overcome her and she loses control of the car.  (Our very own Karen Vail had her review of this book featured in the Boston Globe…to read it Click Here.

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks ($25.99, our price $20.79) When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo’s empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

Room by Emma Donoghue ($24.99, our price $19.99) To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it’s where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it’s not enough…not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son’s bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.

Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, ROOM is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child.

Making Our Democracy Work: A Judge’s View by Stephen Breyer ($26.95) Justice Breyer discusses what the Court must do going forward to maintain that public confidence and argues for interpreting the Constitution in a way that works in practice. He forcefully rejects competing approaches that look exclusively to the Constitution’s text or to the eighteenth-century views of the framers. Instead, he advocates a pragmatic approach that applies unchanging constitutional values to ever-changing circumstances–an approach that will best demonstrate to the public that the Constitution continues to serve us well. The Court, he believes, must also respect the roles that other actors–such as the president, Congress, administrative agencies, and the states–play in our democracy, and he emphasizes the Court’s obligation to build cooperative relationships with them.

Finally, Justice Breyer examines the Court’s recent decisions concerning the detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, contrasting these decisions with rulings concerning the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. He uses these cases to show how the Court can promote workable government by respecting the roles of other constitutional actors without compromising constitutional principles.

Reckless by Cornelia Funke ($19.99) “Beyond the mirror, the darkest fairy tales come alive. . . .”For years, Jacob Reckless has enjoyed the Mirrorworld’s secrets and treasures.Not anymore.His younger brother has followed him.

Now dark magic will turn the boy to beast, break the heart of the girl he loves, and destroy everything Jacob holds most dear. . . .Unless he can find a way to stop it.

If you’re looking for happily ever after, you’ve come to the wrong place.  (ages 10-13)

Magic Tree House #44: A Ghost Tale For Christmastime by Mary Pope Osbourne ($12.99) Jack and Annie’s mission from Merlin the Magician? To help the famous writer Charles Dickens! In a magical whirl, the brother and sister are whisked back in time to Victorian England and the foggy streets of London.

There, Jack and Annie discover that Charles Dickens has everything he could possibly want. How can they help him? It is not until Mr. Dickens rescues them from being thrown in jail that they discover his secret past and the sad memories that haunt him. They will need all their magic–and help from three ghosts–to keep the great writer from ruining his life!

Mary Pope Osborne mixes magic, humor, history, a little spookiness, and a lot of heart to create this tale, which celebrates the joys of writing–something she knows a lot about, thanks to millions of readers all over the world! This is the perfect book for boys and girls about to see the classic play “A Christmas Carol.”

Snook Alone by Marilyn Nelson ($16.99) A faithful little dog must survive on his own in the wild in this evocative tale of loss and reunion from acclaimed poet Marilyn Nelson and the inimitable Timothy Basil Ering.

Abba Jacob is a monk who lives on a far, far away island with his loyal rat terrier, Snook. Every day, from the wee hours of dawn till the sun sets over the sea, Snook keeps Abba Jacob company as he prays or works, tending the gardens or fixing the plumbing of the little hermitage he calls home. But when the two are separated by a ferocious storm, Snook must learn to fend for himself in the wild, all alone in a world of fierceness and wonder. Will he ever again hear the loving voice that he waits for? Simply and lyrically told by award-winning poet Marilyn Nelson and beautifully illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering with wit, warmth, and affection for the natural world, this captivating tale of friendship lost and found conveys the power of faith against all odds.

Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tillman ($16.99) Filled with the heartfelt words and images of the inimitable Tillman (“On the Night You Were Born”), this book can be shared with loved ones, no matter how near or far, young or old, they are..
” . . I wanted you more than you’ll ever know, “
“so I sent love to follow wherever you go. . . .”

Love is the greatest gift we have to give our children. It’s the one thing they can carry with them each and every day.If love could take shape it might look something like these heartfelt words and images from the inimitable Nancy Tillman. Here is a book to share with your loved ones, no matter how near or far, young or old, they are.

Beat The Band by Don Calame ($16.99) Get ready for riffs on hot girls, health class, and social hell! The outrageously funny boys from “Swim the Fly” return to rock their sophomore year.In this hilarious sequel to “Swim the Fly, “told from Coop’s point of., view, it’s the beginning of the school year, and the tenth-grade health class must work in pairs on semester-long projects. Matt and Sean get partnered up (the jerks), but Coop is matched with the infamous “Hot Dog” Helen for a presentation on safe sex. Everybody’s laughing, except for Coop, who’s convinced that the only way to escape this social death sentence is to win “The Battle of the Bands” with their group, Arnold Murphy’s Bologna Dare. There’s just one problem: none of the guys actually plays an instrument. Will Coop regain his “cool” before it’s too late? Or will the forced one-on-one time with Helen teach him a lesson about social status he never saw coming? With ribald humor and a few sweet notes, screenwriter-turned-novelist Don Calame once again hits all the right chords.”  (ages 14+)

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New Books Released Today, Tuesday August 31st

If it’s Tuesday, there must be books coming out! And there are…..

Freedom by Jonathan Franzen ($28.00, our price $22.40) From the National Book Award-winning author of “The Corrections” comes a darkly comedic novel about family. Franzen’s intensely realized characters struggle to learn how to live in an ever-confusing world–one with the temptations and burdens of liberty, the thrills of teenage lust, the shaken compromises of middle age, the wages of suburban sprawl, and the heavy weight of empire.

39 Clue #10: Into The Gauntlet by Margaret Peterson Haddix ($12.99) Throughout the hunt for the 39 Clues, Amy and Dan Cahill have uncovered history’s greatest mysteries and their family’s deadliest secrets. But are they ready to face the truth about the Cahills and the key to their unmatched power? After a whirlwind race that’s taken them across five continents, Amy and Dan face the most the difficult challenge yet — a task no Cahill dared to imagine. When faced with a choice that could change the future of the world, can two kids succeed where 500 years worth of famous ancestors failed?

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (new in paperback, $16.00) In the ruthless arena of King Henry VIII’s court, only one man, Thomas Cromwell, dares to gamble his life to win the king’s favor and ascend to the heights of political power. In inimitable style, Mantel presents a picture of a half-made society on the cusp of change, where individuals fight or embrace their fate with passion and courage.

Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin (new in paperback, $15.00) Angel Tungaraza–mother, cake baker, keeper of secrets–is a woman living on the edge of chaos, finding ways to transform lives, weave magic, and create hope amid the madness swirling all around her in Kigali.

Lost Empire by Clive Cussler ($27.95, our price $22.36) While scuba diving in Tanzania, Sam and Remi Fargo discover a relic belonging to a long-lost Confederate ship named the “Shenandoah.” An anomaly about the relic sets them off chasing a mystery, and a rumored second artifact, but, unknown to them, a much more powerful force is engaged in the same chase.

Pursuit of Honor by Vince Flynn (new in paperback, $9.99) When Washington, D.C.’s National Counterterrorism Center is struck by a series of devastating explosions, the results are catastrophic—185 killed, including public officials and CIA employees. Such an act of extreme violence calls for extreme measures—and elite counterterrorism operative Mitch Rapp, joining forces with trusted team member Mike Nash, finds himself in the frustrating position of having to illustrate the realities of national security to government officials up in arms over the agents who rushed in to save countless American lives. Meanwhile, with three al Qaeda terrorists still at large and Nash traumatized by the horrors he witnessed during the attack, Rapp must help his friend while threading his way through the naysayers on Capitol Hill—and silently, swiftly, do what he must for the sake of his country and the pursuit of honor.

Body Work by Sara Paretsky ($26.95, our price $21.56) The enigmatic performer known as the Body Artist takes the stage at Chicago’s Club Gouge and allows her audience to use her naked body as a canvas for their impromptu illustrations. Days later, the woman is shot outside the club and dies in V.I.’s arms. As V.I. seeks answers, her investigation will take her from the North Side of Chicago to the far reaches of the Gulf War.

Celebrating Mockingjay with Suzanne Collins

What a treat!!! Yesterday, we went to a bookseller party to meet the incredible children’s author Suzanne Collins  to celebrate the publication of “Mockingjay,” the last book in the Hunger Games trilogy.

Kathleen Johnson, teen librarian at the Sandwich Public Library,  my niece Molly McDermott  (who has worked at the bookshop for the past two summers), and I (Vicky) went to the office of the New England Independent Booksellers Association in Arlington outside Boston.  We actually got to meet and talk with Suzanne about her books and writing.

Proof positive that we did indeed meet Suzanne (in order Molly, Suzanne, Vicky and Kathy)

Suzanne was wonderful and a pleasure to talk with!  She’s touring now to promote her book, but unfortunately has a hand injury which prevents her from signing her books, so she is stamping her name and a picture of the Mockingjay on each book.  (We now have copies of these special stamped books!)

We also got to meet some of the people who have been working with her over the years to publish and promote the books. They were all very happy with the series’ success and told us about how they had to keep increasing the numbers to be printed as people began talking about it even before the first book was published.  (Did you know that it can take longer to print a dust jacket than the book itself?)

The Hunger Games trilogy, if you haven’t read it yet, is amazing.  It is based in the future when what is left of the United States is divided into 13 regions. A young girl named Katniss must compete in a contest to the death.   Suzanne grew up in a military family and learned about military history and ancient history from a very early age. Her father was a Vietnam vet, a doctor of political science and an historian.   The Hunger Games trilogy is based on the story of Theseus and the Minotaur, in which the Athenians were ordered to throw 7 young men and 7 young women into a labyrinth to be devoured by the Minotaur. The story of Spartacus has also inspired Collins’ work.

(Suzanne gets ready to cut the cake.)

Suzanne is now working on the screenplay for the Hunger Games movie!

Molly and Suzanne get a chance to chat

What a way to end the day! Our good friend and fellow bookseller, Jane Dawson of Porter Square Books, offered us a ride to the subway in her truck. Molly safely in the front seat and Kathy and I in the back - a very nice way to see Boston! We also got to spend some time in Porter Square Books, which is an absolutely amazing store.

Stir-Fried Carrots With Ginger, Lime and Cilantro

We are hosting a tasting and signing with two cookbook authors on Saturday September 25th from 2-4pm on CLASH (Cape Land and Sea Harvest) Weekend.The authors are Susie Middleton (“Fast, Fresh & Green”) and Catherine Walthers (“Soups & Sides”).  In working on preparing PR materials for this event, I was thumbing through “Fast Fresh & Green” and saw this recipe. How yummy and easy does this sound??

Stir-Fried Carrots With Ginger, Lime and Cilantro (From “Fast, Fresh & Green” by Susie Middleton)

1 lb slim carrots

1 tbsp peanut oil

½ yellow onion (halved crosswise and cut into thin strips)

1 tsp kosher salt

2 tsp minced fresh ginger

1 tsp minced fresh garlic

½ tbsp unsalted butter

1 ½ tsp fresh lime juice

1 to 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

½ lime cut into 4 pieces

Trim and peel the carrots and slice them thinly or cut into sticks.

In a large (12 inch) non-stick fry pan, heat the peanut oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot (it will loosen up), add the carrots, onion and salt and stir well with tongs. Turn the heat up to high and cook, stirring only occasionally and spreading out the vegetables after every stir, until the onion is limp and brown and the carrots are browned in places. 12-13 minutes

Turn the heat down to low, add the ginger and garlic and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Turn off the heat, add the butter and toss and stir gently until it melts. Stir in the lime juice and as much of the cilantro as you like.

Serve each portion with a piece of lime, and garnish with cilantro sprigs if desired.