October 13, 2008
Before we embark on our important mission of calling your attention to some great events we have coming up in October, and a nifty new feature on our website, we've been forced, rather like a plane originally scheduled to arrive in Denver which has been forced by unsavory weather conditions to make an unscheduled landing in Philadelphia, to talk about Bob Graham's new picture book How To Heal A Broken Wing. One loves Graham's work because of its warmth and humor, but this new book has such a powerful simplicity, and strikes such a strong emotional chord, that anyone familiar with his earlier work will be momentarily surprised. Told largely through drawings, How To Heal A Broken Wing tells the tale of a young boy who finds an injured bird, which he nurses back to health and ultimately releases. The few words are perfectly placed and resonate strongly with the drawings. "A loose feather can't be put back but a broken wing can sometimes heal." It is true that most adults who aren't empty husks will start tearing up almost immediately upon flipping through these pages, so that one almost hopes that it is not possible to convey the importance, nor the power of compassion any more strongly than Graham manages here. In any case, resuming our scheduled course, we have some great events coming up in October. Wednesday October 15th M.P. Barker will be up to read from her outstanding new young adult Novel, A Difficult Boy. Thursday, October 30th is a huge day featuring the return of The Late Afternoon of Terror, followed by an appearance by nationally acclaimed author Jennifer Boylan, who will read from her second book, I'm Looking Through You. Her first book, She's Not There was a UMF One Book, One Campus selection. Full details for all these events can be found at DDG's Event Page. While you're on the site look for a new feature on the left hand sidebar, the Author Directory which is worth checking out. Here they are! Our weekly picks for the two best: two hardcover, two paperback, and two children's books. The very best new arrivals to leap out of the box and onto our shelves this week. Call or email us if you want more information on any of these titles, or to have us hold you a copy. Or stop in and check them out in person. We'd love to see you. Thanks as always for sharing your reading with us! |
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In Hovering Flight
By Hinnefeld, Joyce 2008/09 - Unbridled Books 9781932961584 - Hardcover List Price $24.95 - Your Price: $19.96
Perhaps we shouldn't care about the quality of book covers, but it's pointless to worry about right and wrong in this regard, because we do care. If a book we know and love appears sporting a foul cover we are outraged, someone has let down the side. On the other hand, when we encounter a really elegant, beautiful cover on a book we know nothing about, the onus falls immediately on the book. We feel strongly that it has a responsibility to deliver everything which the alluring cover has so clearly promised us. Such is the tight corner which the first novel of Joyce Hinnefeld, In Hovering Flight. We know nothing of Hinnefeld but the book is absolutely exquisite. In Hovering Flight deals with an ornithologist, her musician husband, and adult daughter, a poet. It's published by Unbridled books, an up and coming literary publishing house. Does this book deliver the goods? The first person to venture an informed opinion at the bookstore will receive a $10.00 gift certificate!...More
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A Lion Among Men: Volume Three in the Wicked Years
By Maguire, Gregory 2008/10 - William Morrow & Company 9780060548926 - Hardcover List Price $26.95 - Your Price: $21.56
This would certainly appear to be a big week for hardcover new releases. For example, is Russell Shorto's Descartes' Bones a big release? ☑ Is Julia Glass' I See You Everywhere a big release? ☑ Is Katherine Neville's The Fire, the sequel (twenty years after) of her excellent The Eight a big release? ☑ Is James Bamford's The Shadow Factory a big release? ☑ Considering its hefty co-releases is Gregory Maguire's third volume in his Wicked Years books really A Lion Among Men this week? That's a matter of taste really, but it was too apropos a title not to give it top billing....More
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Boom!: Voices of the Sixties Personal Reflections on the '60s and Today
By Brokaw, Tom 2008/11 - Random House Trade 9780812975116 - Trade Paper List Price $18.00 - Your Price: $14.40
All right, there's no getting around the obvious here, that Boom looked a whole lot better in hardcover when Tom Brokaw wasn't posing on the cover. It's not a good situation. I can't really tell you that you get used to the cover. Still, you can't see it while you're reading it, which is the main thing. ...More
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Unruly Americans and the Origins of the Constitution
By Holton, Woody 2008/10 - Hill & Wang 9780809016433 - Trade Paper List Price $15.00 - Your Price: $12.00
This was a National Book Award Finalist for history. Holton argues that pressure from "average Americans" forced the framers towards democratic principles. He also argues that the primary purposes of the Constitution was to make the new nation attractive for investors. This sort of provocative thesis makes for entertaining reading and Unruly Americans will certainly be a good reading group choice....More
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Abc3d
By Bataille, Marion 2008/10 - Roaring Brook Press 9781596434257 - Hardcover List Price $19.95 - Your Price: $15.96
This pop-up ABC is an absolute marvel. It really needs to be seen to be believed. Here's a link to a video of someone flipping through the pages of the book! ABC3D Video ...More
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Swords: An Artist's Devotion
By Boos, Ben Boos, Ben 2008/09 - Candlewick Press (MA) 9780763631482 - Hardcover List Price $24.99 - Your Price: $19.99
This non fiction "artist's tribute" To Swords takes young readers from country to country, and across time. Many kids are fascinated by swords, and this book will reward their fascination with remarkable drawings and superb historical content....More
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