Holiday Gift Ideas from the Warwick's Staff

It’s that time of year—Holiday Season; where everyone is running around frantically trying to check names off of their gift lists in time for the holiday. This where the Warwick’s staff shines. We love the challenge of finding that perfect gift; whether it is a book, toy, jewelry, or any of the other fun and gorgeous items in the store—we always enjoy trying to match people with a great gift. Last year, the Book Department put together a list of our favorite handsells for the season and it was a real hit with our customers, so this year in the same spirit, our dedicated staff is taking a moment to give you a glimpse at some of our top gift book ideas for the season.

Jim, Bookseller:
Into the Unknown by Stewart Ross “Fourteen historic journeys (Leif Erickson, Marco Polo, and many more), complete with colorful illustrations of the route and how they traveled. Fold-out illustrations of the adventures adds to this excellent gift for young and old.”

The Most of Nora Ephron “A complete collection of the late writer's humorous and often biographical essays, books, blogs, and screenwriting credits (When Harry Met Sally) and the script for her recent Broadway debut, Lucky Guy, starring Tom Hanks.”

Janet, Bookseller:
“Something Dark”: Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
“Something Light”: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
“Something Cozy”: Susan Hill's A Question of Identity
“Something Bright”: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
“For a Teen”: Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
“For a Tween”: First Light by Rebecca Stead
“ For a Baby”: Once Upon a Memory by Nina Laden




Sam, Local Author Coordinator:
The Novel Cure by Ella Berthoud and Susan Elderkin “It’s a reference book that’s easily as entertaining as any of the novels listed on its pages.”

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes “Duh”

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan “This is definitely one of the best debuts of the year—funny, poignant and well-written!

Mary Lee, Bookseller:
The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg “I gave this to my all-girl gang for Christmas with the promise of a fun book club evening in January 2014! Smart, funny, and charming—the perfect holiday read.”

The Good Housekeeping Christmas Cookbook “Its festive cover is in keeping with all the festive ideas inside! Full of famous chef special recipes, as well as menu ideas, food for gift giving, and creative decorating ideas. I’m putting this in my Christmas list for sure!

Adriana, Bookseller:
Perfect for the budding fashionista or the veteran fashion addict in your life…

Diana Vreeland Memos: The Vogue Years edited by Alexander Vreeland
Dior Glamour: 1952-1962 by Mark Shaw
The Fashion Book by Phaidon Press


Great Fiction & Non-fiction for the finicky person in your life who needs great writing and a great story…

TransAtlantic by Colum McCann
This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

Last but not least, for the lovable oddball in your life, this is beautifully and cheekily put together.

Taxidermy by Alexis Turner

Heather, Marketing Coordinator:
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion “This smart new novel is a prefect crossover novel for adults and teens of either sex. Quirky and well-written it is a pleasure to read.”

Boxed Dashiel Hammet from the Library of America “Perfect for the mystery fan. Who doesn’t love Hammet? This deluxe collector’s box is the most comprehensive collection of Hammet’s works around. I’d pair it with a DVD copy of The Maltese Falcon and make it a package!”

George Hurrell's Hollywood: Glamour Portraits 1925-1992 by Mark A. Viera “For the film fan, this is a beautiful coffee table book that presents over 400 of master glamour photographer George Hurrell’s Hollywood portraits. I’m a big fan of Hurrell, and find this book to be absolutely gorgeous.”

Margie, Office Department:
Daily Calm: 365 Days of Serenity by National Geographic “It’s good as a gift, it’s good for everyone. This is just such a soothing book. I read from it every morning and before I go to bed. A simply wonderful book, perfect as a gift."

Acacia, Bookseller:
The Moth edited by Catherine Burns, Catherine Burns, Adam Gopnik “Everyone has that one person on their list that's impossible to shop for. This year, battle the indecision of gift giving with 50 of the greatest true stories ever told at The Moth in New York. Even the most finicky reader will love hearing the story of how a doctor tried to save the life of Mother Teresa, how famous recording artists deal with "ear worms", and what it was like for an ordinary New York teenager to leave the United States and become the favorite girlfriend to a Pasha in the Middle East.”

America Elsewhere by Robert Jackson Bennett “Perfect for the fantasy lovers in your life! A near perfect blend of the quirky and the macabre, American Elsewhere reads like a collaboration between Norman Rockwell and Salvador Dali. Readers of writers like Stephen King and Neil Gaiman will be sure to eat up this unique take on small town America.”

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell “A whip-smart, funny, electrifying romance that's great for both teens and the young at heart. Eleanor & Park will remind you of how wonderful it was to be in love for the first time.”

The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton “A near perfect yarn! Perfect for lovers of mystery and historical fiction.”

Adrian, Head Book Buyer:
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
Ghostman by Roger Hobbs
The Andalucian Friend  by Alexander Soderberg

Halloween Horrors from the Warwick's Staff

It’s Halloween. Time for ghosts, ghouls, witches, zombies and all things that go bump in the night. This year Warwick’s Staff put our heads together to come up with a new Halloween reading list. Instead of picking our favorite spooky books, the staff has compiled a list of the scariest books we have read recently. From horror to reality, these books span the gamut, and perhaps may give you that perfect read while awaiting those trick-or-treaters tonight. Happy Haunting!


Lydia, Assistant Children’s Book Buyer: 2030 by Albert Brooks. Although the story takes place in the near future year of 2030, many of its prescient issues and ideas affect us today. An earthquake has rocked Los Angeles. Can we afford to rebuild the city? Think creatively! Meanwhile, a huge grumbling underclass of young and middle-aged people staggers under the weight of supporting a fabulous lifestyle for seniors who are living into their 100’s. By turns hilarious and terrifying, this is the scariest novel I’ve read recently. It continues to haunt me.

Jolene, Gifts: The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris. This one is an older book that I’ve recently read again. It always scares me, especially in a dark room!

Sam, Local Author Coordinator: Night Film by Marisha Pessl. I normally don’t get scared by books, but this one did! I had to sleep with the lights on—so scary, but so good I couldn’t put it down.

Sam also picked The Circle by Dave Eggers. Eggers depiction of the overwhelming influence technology has over us, and our blind willingness to allow it was spot on. It was really creepy.

Janet, Bookseller: Burial Rites by Hannah Kent. Bundle up and keep warm while you read this dark and creepy novel set in Iceland during the 1800’s. It’s the tale of a woman awaiting execution for the crime of murder. To make it even more horrifying, the story is based on actual events. I could not put it down!

Jim, Bookseller: The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian. What starts as a lovely story about a country house becomes something much more…and horrific.

Lynn, Office: NOS4A2 by Joe Hill. Loved it! Too scary to read at night.

Heather, Marketing Coordinator: Night Film by Marisha Pessl. Not only is this book my favorite read of the year, but also by far the scariest. From page one the tension, and possibility of (I’m not telling) the supernatural, kept me engaged and literally white knuckled. This is one of those intense books that mess with your head in all the right ways. I might not have been scared stiff à la Paranormal Activity, but I was certainly on edge. A truly brilliant scary book freaks you out, but keeps you yearning for more, Night Film does just that.

Kim, Buyer: So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids by Diane E. Levin, Ph.D., and Jean Kilbourne, Ed.D. So Sexy So Soon is about how tweens grow up in our overly sexualized society. I was frightened page after page hearing real life stories about how our children seek to be "sexy" like their favorite characters of TV!

John, Book Buyer: What book keeps me awake at night, fearing what I might awaken to the next day? It's It's Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided with the New Politics of Extremism. Truth is not only stranger than fiction, it's scarier. I doubt the combined talents of Poe, Shelley, and Lovecraft couldn't dream up anything more menacing than our present-day Congress. Boo!

2013 Warwick’s Summer Reads

It's Summer, time for sun, surf, vacation and reading! Take a look at the Warwick's Staff's Summer Reading List. These are the books we are excited to share with you or are just plain excited to get our hands on. Take a look at what our diverse staff is pouring over this summer.

Adriana, bookseller: After Her by Joyce Maynard (out 8/20/13)
I love everything that Joyce Maynard writes and this one is no exception.

Heather, Marketing Coordinator: Night Film by Marisha Pessl (out 8/20/13)
Pessl’s sophomore effort (her debut was Special Topics in Calamity Physics) is a fantastic mystery steeped in horror and Hollywood mythology. Pessl ingeniously incorporates webpages, torn sheets of paper, and other items into the text, making it not only a written tale, but in a way, multimedia. I was absolutely absorbed by Night Film.

Julie, Director of Events and Community Relations: Transatlantic by Colum McCann (out 6/4/13)
You read Colum McCann because you love to read beautiful writing. I am awed by his ability to tell so much in so few words. He shows us, in such sparse and beautiful verse, that we all can survive tough and difficult periods of time. He is a master storyteller, telling this story through the voices of four generations of women. If you are already a fan of bi-planes and Irish history - what a bonus. For everyone else, it is the sheer enjoyment of reading Colum McCann's words and, in the process, he will make you a fan! I savored every last minute with this book, because I knew it would be a long time before I'd get the chance to read something by this wonderful writer. Thank you, once again, Colum McCann for giving us this treasure

John, Book Buyer: Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly, and the Making of the Modern Middle East by Scott Anderson (out 8/6/13)
I'm finishing up two weighty historical tomes at the moment, so I have barely dipped into Lawrence in Arabia. I really look forward to reading it for a number of reasons. First, Scott Anderson is a veteran war correspondent and an excellent writer. So far, it reads like a thriller. Second, Anderson relied on extensive primary source research, and many of the sources have only seen the light of day recently. Third, the book focuses not only on Lawrence but a small group of officers and adventurers who in many ways shaped the Arab Revolt against the Turks, and therefore had a decisive impact on the modern contours and conflicts of the Middle East. This book will make a perfect follow-up to the book I'm just finishing, Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan by William Dalrymple

Janet, bookseller: The Silver Star by Jeanette Walls (out 6/11/13)
I just finished Jeanette Walls new novel, The Silver Star. It’s about two young sisters all, but abandoned by their flighty mom, who make their way across the country to find a home with an eccentric relative in the deep South. Fans of The Secret Lives of Bees and Labor Day will love this engrossing story.

Acacia, bookseller: Burial Rites by Hannah Kent (out 9/10/13)
An absolutely stunning literary debut in the tradition of Atwood’s Alias Grace, this story follows the last days of Agnes Magnusdottir, the last woman to be executed for murder in Iceland. Kent brings to life the harsh landscape of the early 19th century countryside and the heated love affair that might have eventually led her to murder. A must read for anyone looking for a fresh take on historical fiction.

Camilla, Book Receiver: The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes (out 6/13/13)
After being a dedicated non-fiction and history reader for a few years now, I have finally decided it is time to return to fiction for the summer. The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes will provide the perfect escapism necessary, in the format of a dark, creepy thriller. Writer Tana French loved the book but said, “It creeped the holy bejasus out of me.” French is no stranger to dark writing, and should be a sign to anyone who enjoys King, or French that this book is worth taking a look at. The plot centers around a time-traveling serial killer who leaves a souvenir with each of his victims. This modus operandi works well for many years, until one of his victims survives. While this is certainly not a light hearted summer read, it is one that will likely take hold of any reader who enjoys a thriller or mystery.

Barbara, bookseller: The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian (out 7/9/13)
This newest novel by Bohjalian is a wonderful story taking place in Tuscany at the end of WWII and ten years later. It’s got everything from romance, to intrigue, to murder. I loved it.

Looking Ahead to 2013

Booksellers at Warwick’s have the privilege of reading many books long before they are released to the public, this is a great perk and an opportunity for our booksellers to get ahead of the game so that when you, the customer come in asking about the latest and greatest books out we can answer quickly and thoroughly, providing you with the best titles available whether they are from well-known established authors or debuts. 2013 brings with it many fantastic new books, some of which you won’t hear about in the national news, but you will want to read. So, in preparation for the New Year our booksellers have each picked a book that they can’t wait to share with you in 2013.


Samantha S., Bookseller:
Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler (February 12 Release): Being compared to To Kill a Mockingbird and The Help, this debut novel is sure to deliver.

Heather, Marketing Coordinator:
Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman (May 28 Release): Hoffman’s (author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt) sophomore novel is an absolute delight. So well-written, with fully realized characters, and just the right amount of heartbreak and charm, Looking for Me is most definitely the book I am most looking forward to putting in people’s hands.

Alexa, Bookseller:
The Death of Bees by Lisa O’Donnell (January 2 Release): Dark, cynical humor is right up my alley! Looking forward to her being in Warwick’s also (1-30-13 appearance)

Janet, Bookseller:
The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout (March 26 Release): The Burgess Boys is first and foremost a book about family. Two brothers and one sister are forever bound by the tragic circumstances of their father's death and their hardscrabble upbringing in Maine. Each suffers through trials and tribulations both public and private that will eventually bind them together stronger than ever. In true Elizabeth Strout style, this is not a sugar-coated fantasy family, but flesh and blood people whose characters are so finely drawn you'll feel like you know them. This Pulitzer Prize-winning author has surpassed herself in this timely and eloquent novel.

Julie, Director of Events and Community Relations:
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra (May 7 Release): This will probably be my favorite book for 2013. So well written!

Mary Lee, Bookseller:
The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh (April 4 Release): Gone with the Wind meets Out of Africa. Amy Einhorn Books—love her imprint.

Camilla, Bookseller:
Searching for Zion by Emily Raboteau (January 1 Release): Good thing this book will be released the first day of the New Year! I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of Searching for Zion, the second novel by Raboteau. As a biracial woman, Raboteau says she never really felt at ease in the still racially divided United States, but had heard of “Zion” in several contexts: used by Bob Marley as well as by Jewish friends. To a young Raboteau, Zion simply meant a place of peace, or to be at home. While visiting a friend in Israel, Raboteau sees black Jews for the first time and is surprised at their existence and is inspired to seek out other black communities who had traveled during the Diaspora to find their own “Zion” or home. The author states that her goal was to ask all these groups, “have you found the home you are looking for?”