October 21, 2008
Even though descrying the lack of funding for local schools, and the decline of literacy among the nation's youth, is fun and cathartic, we should also do something about it, which is why we're excited to announce our upcoming partnership with Mallett School's Library. Mallett's wonderful librarian, Betsy Turcotte, has worked with us closely to put together an Autumn Community Book Week, A Circle of Readers A Circle of Readers comprised of a fantastic series of literacy events happening from November 17th through November 22, which will both benefit the Mallett School library, and be enormous fun for everyone. Things will start with a Kickoff Assembly on Monday at 2:00 P.M. in the Mallett School Gym with author Alan Sockabasin! A book signing for his award winning book Thanks To The Animals will follow. On Wednesday “DOGS ON THE BED” will be our theme, as we get ready for.....  Prime Time Reading Night! Kids and parents will be invited to get comfy in their jammies and then bring a stuffed
dog or other friend & come back to school for bedtime stories read by guest
readers. Our special guest will be award winning author Elizabeth Bluemle, and jammie clad listeners will gather to hear Elizabeth
share her new book, Dogs on the Bed. Other featured events are a Write A Book Review Contest, with stuffed animals for prizes, A Donuts For Dads on Saturday Morning, and a week long in store Book Fair to benefit the Mallett School Library.
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! |
|
More Information Than You Require
By Hodgman, John 2008/11 - Dutton Books 9780525950349 - Hardcover List Price $24.00 - Your Price: $19.20
Finally, more John Hodgman. The Areas of My Expertise was as funny as a book can be, and More Information Than You Require is also excessively humorous. The more you know about hermit crab racing, how to cook an owl, building a dolphin sanctuary, what to do when you are bleeding freely from a deep wound, The Hodgman Literary Tone Detector, and what the casinos don't want you to know (ex. "If you ask nicely enough the casino is required by federal law to give you all your money back) the better off you will be....More
|
|
X-Ray: See Through the World Around You
By Veasey, Nick 2008/10 - Penguin Putnam 9780670020409 - Hardcover List Price $39.95 - Your Price: $31.96
X-Ray is a remarkable photography book grouped into four categories, Objects, The Body, Nature, and Fashion. As one turns from x-ray portraits of hair dryers and teddy bears, to a busload of people and a farmer driving a tractor, one is accompanied by a growing sense of wonder and interest. The x-ray photographs of flowers are particularly striking. Veasey has succeeded in presenting us with our familiar rendered with an alien beauty. ...More
|
|
I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence
By Sedaris, Amy 2008/10 - Grand Central Publishing 9780446696777 - Trade Paper List Price $15.99 - Your Price: $12.79
What John Hodgman did for hermit crab racing in More Information Than You Required Amy Sedaris does for hospitality in I Like You: Hospitality Under The Influence. The paperback version, considering the graphics on every page, and the large print in the "entertaining the elderly" section, is rather a good value at $15.99. Great fun and many of the recipes look safe to attempt!...More
|
|
Our Dumb World
By The Onion 2008/10 - Little Brown and Company 9780316018432 - Trade Paper List Price $17.99 - Your Price: $14.39
I know, I know, what's with all the humor books this week. Who can say, perhaps Publishers know something about Mid October that we don't. Still, how can one not include Our Dumb World, the Onion's world atlas, particularity as it advertises itself as "Now With "30% More Asia," and a "Free Globe Inside." ...More
|
|
Chains
By Anderson, Laurie Halse 2008/10 - Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing 9781416905851 - Hardcover List Price $16.99 - Your Price: $13.59
Laurie Halse Anderson's well researched Chains is set in the Revolutionary War period. Chains provides a profound analysis of the human costs of slavery and was just nominated for The National Book Award for Young People's Literature. The NBA should probably call the award The National Book Award for Young People's Literature that's Real Serious, and Chains fits that bill. It's an important book from an adult's perspective, and will justly be acclaimed, but its temperature level in young readers' minds will likely be lukewarm....More
|
|
Impossible
By Werlin, Nancy 2008/09 - Dial Books 9780803730021 - Hardcover List Price $17.99 - Your Price: $14.39
Karen has been reading Impossible and is ready to put the West imprimatur on it. "I would have to say that what drew me in at first was Werlin's use of the Scarborough Fair lyrics. Those lyrics have always been intriguing to me. Their origins in a medieval Scottish ballad are used creatively. Quite frankly I was trying to find a teen girl book that didn't have vampires in it. Impossible turned out to have a malicious elfin knight, so I guess I traded up. I'm liking it very much though. It has the female teenage thing going on, there's a mystery element right away, and there's a mystical piece too."...More
|
