"The Selection"—read it before you see it.

Before it gets sucked into the land of CW and it’s array of paranormal dramas and general teen fodder, I wanted to mention The Selection, the first book in what looks to be a promising new series by relative newcomer Kiera Cass. Set in a distant future where many Wars have eliminated the United States as a high powered democracy turning it into a new country, broken into eight very specific casts and ruled by a monarchy, The Selection follows seventeen-year-old America Singer as she is thrown into an situation that will propel her from life as a lower middle class artist, to the tops of the aristocracy.

The Selection, for which the book is named, is essentially a “Bachelor-esque” contest in which 35 girls, one from each district (slightly reminiscent in concept to The Hunger Games) are brought to their ruler’s palace to compete for the hand of their Prince, Maxon. Selected, America must leave her family and love interest behind as she is thrown into a world of wealth, war, and cutthroat feminine sabotage—all for the sake of a royal marriage and cast climbing. Did I mention that this is all done as a mandatory-to-watch, nationally televised show?

 At first glance The Selection really just seems like the authors attempt to cash in on the popular dystopic trend, while adding a touch of reality television, another, albeit more obnoxious trend, but in actuality Kiera Cass manages to elevate the text above that nonsense, creating an interesting group of characters with much more at stake than receiving that (in Bachelor terms) final rose. America, Maxon, and the other teens thrown into this situation have depths and motivations beyond their 15 minutes of fame—they seek food and pay for their families who live paycheck to paycheck, they seek companionship, and in the case of Maxon—they seek someone to share the burdens of a country, and care about what happens beneath those glitzy false public images. Now, don’t get me wrong, this book is not a work of art, but there is more to it than meets the eye, and it’s entertaining without being mind numbing.

In the fall, we could very well be seeing a pilot episode of this new book on the CW, a station that has taken teen books such as Gossip Girl and The Vampire Diaries, and turned them into popular television shows with rabid followings. While, the studio has brought up book sales, and actually, in the case of The Vampire Diaries, turned an ok book into an entertaining show, it is always possible that what is great about The Selection could be destroyed in it’s translation to television. So, my suggestion is to read the book now, enjoy it for what it is, prepare for the next in the trilogy, and in the fall, take a peak at the pilot. If it’s good, great—if not, well at least you have a fun book under your belt with just the right amount of romance and intrigue.

Books for Troops

As many of you know, Warwick's has been running a Books for Troops drive for the last month and we have thus far collected over 200 books that will go out through "Operation Homefront". The staff has been amazing in their commitment to this book drive, and none more so than bookseller extraordinaire Jim Stewart (seen on the right). In fact Jim has been so instrumental in the success of this book drive that we just had to share his letter to the La Jolla Light.

Excerpts from Letter to the Editor, La Jolla Light April 19, 2012: (Did you know that) soldiers are getting books from Warwick's before they deploy? In cooperation with Operation Homefront, customers can buy any book in the store as a gift to the troops. A selection of books is on the front counter for ideas.

We’ve had customers give us $100 or $50 to buy books (for donation), selected by the Warwick's staff. Staff members are also giving books to send. We have at least 200 books and would love to at least triple that before the drive ends.

Our hearts (and thanks-to-you) books go out to troops as they deploy for bases around the world.

Young men and women are giving their most productive years in service to our great country. This is a good time to give back, even in such a small way. -Jim Stewart, bookseller

If you haven't yet had the chance to participate, we will be collecting books through May 4, 2012--in time for them to be distributed by Memorial Day.

*UPDATE (May 4, 2012)*
We have now collected over 500 books and counting! We would like to extend a special thank you to New York Times bestselling author Deborah Harkness, who personally donated signed copies of her book A Discovery of Witches to the Books for Troops drive. We are astounded at how so many have gone above and beyond in their generosity toward our troops!

Pick the Pulitzer

Pick the Pulitzer!

The Committee couldn't decide, can you?

Some of you might be aware of the hullabaloo surrounding this year's Pulitzer Prize Awards, namely that the fiction category was left in the dust. That's right, for the first time since 1977 a fiction prize was not awarded. So, what does this mean? Well, it means that out of the three finalists: Train Dreams by Denis Johnson, Swamplandia! by Karen Russell, and The Pale King by David Foster Wallace, the committee could not agree on a clear winner, and thus, despite the fact that the three fiction judges read approximately 300 titles and narrowed it down to these three, there will be no award.

So, now it is your time to speak out (and get a prize for your actions). Vote for your favorite of the three on The Warwick's Blog (comment section), Facebook, reply on Twitter (@warwicksbooks), or email heather@warwicks.com,  and don't forget to let us know why that particular book should have won.

Haven't read them yet? We will be offering 20% off the price of Train Dreams, Swamplandia!, and The Pale King through May 31st* so everyone can participate. And if you find that you too cannot decide between the three, write in your own vote and why it was the best published book of 2011.

We will draw five random people from the entries, who will receive $25 Warwick's gift cards. Winners will be announced on our Blog, Facebook & Twitter accounts on June 4th.

We can't wait to see who you pick!

*Train Dreams is currently on backorder at the publisher so we may extend the contest while we wait for a reprint. This will give you a great head start on Swamplandia! and The Pale King.

Janet Reviews Rosamund Lupton's 'Afterwards'

Clear your schedule because you won't want to stop reading this once you start! Rosamund Lupton has done it again. If you loved her first novel, Sister, then you will truly appreciate the style of storytelling that she has now perfected. The finely tuned plot of Afterwards twists and turns weaving timely and relevant women's issues into the story of a mother and daughter locked in a harrowing struggle between life and death. When a fire erupts at a private school and a teenaged girl is trapped inside, her mother rushes to save her. What really happened to cause the disaster? You'll be holding your breath and sitting on the edge of your seat as you delve deeper and deeper into each character's motivations and wonder how will the truth play out. A fascinating behind-the -scenes drama only adds to the suspense involving both former and current staff of the upscale, Sidley House School. Everyone guards their own secrets! Danger flares and tension mounts in every page-turning moment in this dramatic and compelling literary thriller that answers every mother's question: How far would you go to protect your children?

Afterwards will be released on Tuesday, April 24, 2012.

Janet is a bookseller at Warwick's

Heather (briefly) Reviews "Anatomy of Murder"

Imogen Robertson’s sequel to 2011’s Instruments of Darkness reintroduces readers to anatomist/forensic specialist Gabriel Crowther and the seemingly indomitable Mrs. Harriet Westerman, as they are once again thrown into the midst of murder and intrigue. Anatomy of Murder is a more finely crafted work than it’s predecessor, with fuller character development and a smoother (yet still intricate) plot involving spies, opera, and murder. It’s gripping prologue, a Navy battle involving Harriet’s husband Captain Westerman, draws to mind scenes from a Patrick O’Brien novel, and instantly sucks readers into an era of intrigue and American rebellion.

It is in this sequel that Robertson delves a bit more into her main characters, particularly that of the appealing Harriet Westerman, giving readers a bit more insight into her thought process, showing kinks in her rather impenetrable armor, while also providing depth and understanding to her unusual partnership with the somewhat dower Crowther. This depth adds yet another layer to an interesting narrative, filled with more loops and turns, than one might expect at first glance. This is a series that gets remarkably better with each book (the third Island of Bones comes out 10/15/12 and is proving to be even more enjoyable). The characters are slowly gaining more dimensions, the mysteries and story development are stimulating, and Robertson’s overall writing seems to grow by leaps and bounds, almost as though she is honing her craft right before the readers eyes as we progress through her books.

This Georgian era suspense is a perfect fit for fans of such period mysteries as produced by Anne Perry, Jacqueline Winspear, and C.S. Harris. Its characters are appealing and the plot both interesting and entertaining. A great new mystery series to have on your bedside table.

Not Another "Dystopic"--Okay, Maybe One More

As everyone knows, The Hunger Games comes to the theaters today (well, technically at 12:01 this morning) and it’s almost all anyone can talk about. I can’t blame the world, I’m right up there with everyone else and right after work I will in line with the masses to partake in this pop-culture phenomenon. As regular readers of The Warwick’s Blog know I have a slight penchant for dystopic stories. Well, maybe more than slight. I tend to devote a lot of blog and recommendation time to this genre, so recently I have made a concerted effort to specifically mention many of the non-genre books I read that are equally as fantastic and close to my heart. Because of this attempt to diversify my review writing I have mistakenly let a really captivating and rather innovative book go by the wayside. So, in honor of The Hunger Games movie release, I am courteously and briefly going to suck readers back into my obsession with post-apocalyptic/dystopic fiction.

Pure by Julianna Baggott has been available for the past couple of months, and thanks to my misguided attempts to diversify, has gone largely unnoticed here in the Warwick’s Young Adult section. Pure is yet another of those post-apocalyptic books where society has been split apart by war (in this book, the Detonations), with some members of the population secluded within a rigidly controlled, sterile environment and others, outside, starving in what remains of a world that no longer really exists. While this is not an unfamiliar premise in the least, what sets apart Pure from the other novels of similar vein is fusing. Those who live on the outside under an autocratic rule, with little food, and much fear are fused; meaning that during the Detonations (nuclear strikes), some were horribly scarred and disfigured, and others became fused with the environment surrounding them. Mothers became fused with their children—children who are never capable of physically growing, forever tied to their mothers arms, one boy has a flock of birds fused to his back, another is forever fused with the desert floor to become a monster of the worst and most frightening proportions, and our heroine, Pressia has a hand fused to a baby doll—its blinking eyes forever attached to what was once a hand. It is only those within the domed autocratic society that are unmaimed, or rather, “pure”. When Partridge, a pure with the highest of lineages, escapes the confines of the domed society in an effort to find the truth of his brother’s suicide and his father’s machinations, he discovers Pressia and her world of survivors. It is there that the two, along with an unlikely band of fused, uncover a plot and connections between Partridge and Pressia that take them all into a danger beyond their wildest imaginings.

What seems at first glance to be an absurd plot with a concept that could easily become cheesy and idiotic, is in actuality a brilliant use of imagination. The fusing is described in such a way that it actually makes sense from a scientific angle (at least for a layperson), and the fuses themselves—whether they are alive, like the children or birds, or inanimate like Pressia’s doll head—are almost characters in themselves, as Baggott makes clever use of them throughout this first book in, what is to be a series. It’s actually amazing how such a seemingly odd, and possibly ruinous plot point ends up “making” the story and when genetic manipulation, paramilitary groups, authoritarianism , and revolution are thrown into the mix, readers can’t help but become engrossed.

I won’t say that if you read one genre book this year, Pure is the one to read—there are too many well-written vehicles out or about to be released, but I will say, that should you choose to partake, Pure is one to give more than a second glance to.

For a bit of entertainment, check out the book trailer below.

Warwick's Gets Reviewed in Japan

A short time ago a few members of the Warwick's staff had the pleasure of being interviewed for a Japanese newspaper. We recently received copies of the article (there are to be two, the next coming out on March 30th) in both print and web-version. We had so much fun with this international exposure that we decided to share part one with our loyal readers. Check out the article below in Japanese, or go to this link for a translation (you must click translate in your Google tool bar, be prepared, as "lost in translation" very much applies here). We hope you have as much fun with this as we have.

第１回 サンディエゴの独立系書店・ワーウィックス（上） ワーウィックス(Warwick's) 住所：7812 Girard Avenue La Jolla,California 92037 写真＝長田美穂 小さな店に有名人が多数来店。なぜ？ 私の住むアメリカ・シアトルの書店を訪ねるこの連載。今回、カリフォルニアのサンディエゴに行く機会があったので、どこか書店を訪ねたい。地元の知合いに尋ねると、「ワーウィックス（Ｗａｒｗｉｃｋ’ｓ）があるわ」と即答された。 　「週に1回は行ってるわ。本のセレクションがいいから、つい椅子に座って、長居してしまうの」という。 　ワーウィックスはサンディエゴ北部、ラホヤという地域にある。全米有数の高級住宅街だ。富豪として知られる共和党の大統領候補ミット・ロムニー氏も、何軒目かの家を構えている。海岸からすこし離れた高級ブティックが並ぶ一角に同店は位置している。 ギフトショップと書店の２本立てで運営されており、書店部分は約60坪。日本でいえば小さめの中型書店サイズといったところか。 　およそ2万5000タイトルの書籍が揃えられている。壁際で、客と話し込んでいる店員がいた。ジョンだ。店のサイトでは、ジョン・ヒューズさんをはじめとするスタッフ10人が、顔写真つきで、自分のお薦め本のレビューと、今読んでいる本のタイトルを公開している。 　「ワーウィックスの特徴は、それぞれの店員に固定客がついていることなんです」。客の相手を終えたヒューズさんがやってきて、言った。「自分が読んで興奮した本を紹介すると、彼らはそれを買っていき、次は『あんなにすごい本があるなんて、信じられない』と感想を伝えに来る」。 　同店は個性ある品揃えを特長とする。売れ筋ランキングは店員が紹介した本が中心で、ＮＹタイムズのベストセラー・リストとはかなり異なる。商品の入替えは、むしろ遅い。チェーン店バーンズ＆ノーブルなら2カ月しか置かないベストセラーを、6、7年は置くこともあるという。 　自叙伝を出した政治家やセレブが、よく来店することでも知られる。「政治家ならマーガレット・サッチャーに、ヒラリー・クリントン。ミュージシャンのオジー・オズボーン、女優のダイアン・キートンも来たわ。出版社は分かっているの。うちは小さな店だけれど、パワフルな人たちを客に抱えているって」。イベント担当のジュリー・スラビンスキーさんが話してくれた。 （長田美穂・フリージャーナリスト） (2012年3月16日更新　 ／ 本紙「新文化」2011年3月8日号4面掲載) ワーウィックス（下）へつづく---（3月30日更新予定） 長田美穂氏のプロフィール 長田氏は1967年奈良県生まれ。東京外国語大学を卒業後、日本経済新聞社に入社。99年に退社し、2010年秋よりシアトル在住。著書に『ガサコ伝説「百恵の時代」の仕掛人』（新潮社）、『問題少女―生と死のボーダーラインで揺れた』（ＰＨＰ研究所）がある。   　　　その他バックナンバーへ ホームへ戻る

"Shantaram":1,400 Sold and Counting

Several years ago I read Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts and this incredible tale continues to be one of my favorites. After selling a thousand paperbacks, it seems many customers agree.

The author wrote the story based on his real-life experiences escaping from an Australian prison and hiding in the slums of Bombay. He joins the Indian Mafia as a counterfeiter. Lastly, he’s gunrunning to Afghanistan to support their struggle against Russia. Shantaram is touted as fiction, but he had to be there to write such a detailed account of the prison, Standing Babas, fire racing through the slums, the wounds that forces him to become an unofficial medic, his criminal role in India, among another dozen stories. What is not in the book is what happened afterward. Roberts was captured, jailed, and returned to Australia to finish his prison sentence. This is when he wrote this amazing tome, not once but twice. His first copy had been confiscated.

Since the book was released in 2004, Warwick's has sold 250 hardbacks and the rest in paperback. Johnny Depp has wanted to make and star in a movie version and in the works is a sequel titled The Mountain Shadow, rumored to take place in part in the Kahneri caves near Mumbai. Shantaram.com provides links to Roberts many accomplishments. He’s been to many cities, but is unable to be in the US to the US because he’s a felon. This is despite the fact that Shantaram means “man of God’s peace.”

All this is to say that Shantaram is a book you will want to read, if you haven’t, and will find it one of the most engrossing page-turners you’ve ever read.

I’d be interested in your comments about this, so please email me at jim@warwicks.com.

Jim is a bookseller at Warwick's.

More "Wonder" Love: A Teen Guest Blog

We've already told everyone how much we love R.J. Palacio's fantastic book Wonder and now we are here to show our readers how much teens are loving this amazing debut. 14-year-old Warwick's blogger Maggie perfectly describes her love for the novel here:

If I could only use one word to describe Wonder, I would call it, well, a wonder. There are so many reasons why, from the characters to the plot to the style to the fact that it was the first book I would hide behind my binders just so I could read it during class without getting into trouble.  

I picked up this book, expecting a standard, tried-and-true plot about an underdog rising above expectations, conquering his fears, and living happily ever after. However, after the first couple of pages, it was clear this was not the case. August Pullman, the fifth-grade protagonist with severe facial deformities, and the stories behind him were intriguing and enthralling, not at all the softy stuff found in most books. Author Palacio’s style of short, choppy chapters kept me from growing bored and although the plot lacked spice, it was a strong portrayal of day-to-day life from the eyes of those we commonly dismiss as the disabled and handicapped.

 Overall, Wonder is a wonderful book that I connected to on so many levels. It made me smile, laugh, and cry all in a span of a few pages. Reading the final words on the last page left me with a lingering sense of satisfaction and I can’t wait for a sequel of August’s adventures or even another novel from this amazing new author.

 Maggie, the Warwick's staff couldn't agree with you more!

The Extraordinary Tale of Wonder

Wonder by R.J. Palacio is one of those remarkable books that manages to utterly captivate; it makes you grin, it makes you cry, and it, at times makes you a little angry (righteous anger to be sure, but anger none the less). A simple story about a boy with an extraordinary face, getting through his first year in a real school, Wonder is anything but ordinary.

Told in multiple narratives, readers get a glimpse into the life of a ten-year-old Auggie, disfigured from birth with extreme facial abnormalities, as he tries to maneuver his way through the harsh world that is middle school. Readers hear from Auggie, his family, and friends as they all struggle to deal with the everyday ups and downs of existence, while also dealing with the sometimes cruel realities of life for someone who is anything, but ordinary. In a time where more and more of the novels for kids and teens deal with dysfunctional families, teen angst, and substance abuse, Wonder is a breath a fresh air. The family, despite dealing with such a heart wrenching issue, is shockingly ordinary. The parents are married (to each other), they care about their children and actually spend quality time with them. The kids have the same issues as most kids do—fighting with friends, struggling through homework and school, dealing with the changes of getting older. This is an average family just doing their best to be happy. I love that for once, I can pick up a book that features a group of people put into one of the most extraordinary circumstances, and instead of imploding and turning on one another, they actually support each other and work together. It sounds sappy and Walton-esq, but it isn’t. They still have their problems, serious ones at that, it’s just the handling of it is a bit more real and relatable to the average reader.

I really can’t recommend this book enough. A book for all ages, Wonder is astonishing in its ability to capture so much in such a simple way. For such an unpretentious book it packs a lasting punch. It’s charming, funny, moving, and everything else you could ask for in a novel. A truly worthy read.

Teen Guest Blogger Reviews Jenny Valentine's "Double"

Double is an amazing story about a 16 year old boy named Chap, who’s life changes when he decides to take on a life that’s not his own. He takes the place of a boy who was believed missing for two years and expects Cassiel - the boy he’s replacing – to have the perfect friends and family he’s always dreamed of. While Chap is living Cassiel’s life to the fullest (or so he thinks) he starts to learn things about Cassiel’s actual disappearance & finds something horrifyingly shocking about it.

I thought this book was interesting from beginning to end. I couldn’t put it down; it was like watching a mystery unravel itself right in front of you. So detailed and specific. So good that if they made a movie out of this book you would be pretty mad if it wasn’t as good as when you read this book. I thought that how the story was letting you learn about Chap’s past while knowing what was going on at the moment, was like if you were learning more about Chap as you kept reading. I honestly have to say that this is one of my favorite books I’ve ever read. I love the story considering that it ended the way a movie would have. The ending was unexpected which is what you look for in a book when you’re reading.

This book was reviewed by Esmeralda, a young student at Audubon K-8.

Heather Reviews Debut Novel "Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Sea"

In a departure from my current list of mysteries, dystopics, and paranormal fantasies, I took a breather and picked up Morgan Callan Rogers’ Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Sea, a smartly told coming of age story set in 1960’s Maine. The story follows young Florine Gilham as she comes to terms with the sudden disappearance of her mother and her own burgeoning womanhood. Told in Florine’s crisp Yankee dialect, the reader is given an intimate look at Florine’s internal struggles—from coping with the mysterious loss of her mother, to her father’s sudden relationship with another woman, to her efforts to understand the changes in her own body as she moves from a playful eleven-year-old girl to a headstrong eighteen-year-old woman.

This was one of those books that really captivates. It’s not so much the story, as there are many holes that are left unfilled and some scattered MacGuffins that almost detract from the ultimate point of the novel (Florine’s coming-of-age), but the character of Florine whose voice is so remarkably honest and fresh, that draws readers in. Florine is brilliant, flaws and all, as she maneuvers her way through the unexpected emotional hardships of her teen years. She’s blunt, yet also prone to sentimental and beautiful imaginings of her lost mother, as she tries to make sense of her changing world. In some ways Florine reminds me of characters from Southern fiction writers like Rebecca Welles, Beth Hoffman, and Fannie Flagg, in that while the voice maintains its Yankee-ness, the language of place and character takes on the spin and beauty similar to that of what is thought of as Southern Fiction. The small town feel and quirky characters almost feel as though they are hushed away in a small Georgia town just slightly on the wrong side of the tracks. Of course, that image lasts only in snippets as the lobster fisherman and dialect take you right back to Coastal Maine. It’s this sense of place and character that really wins readers over more so than the plot itself.

Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Sea is a good novel, a nice snippet of life in a small northern coastal town, and a candidly told narrative of growing up and moving on. It was an enchanting rainy day read and a delight to sink into.

A Warwick's Teen Blogger Reviews "The Sweetest Thing"

Jeremiah, a teen blogger for Warwick's, takes a look at debut author Christina Mandelski's novel
The Sweetest Thing, a story about Sheridan, a cake decorating teen learning to deal with family drama and boy-trouble.

The Sweetest Thing wasn’t at all what I expected it to be. My first thoughts on this book were cheesy and unrealistic; as I continued to read the book, however, I started liking it. The Sweetest Thing was much deeper: divorce, change, counting on people, moving forward with life, and knowing you hurt someone precious to you. Those are the things that made this book feel real. I loved the way Mandelski wrote the novel. It was sarcastic, showed what was going on in the chapters, and it helped me understand the protagonist’s feelings and thoughts.

I do have to admit to having a few issues with the main character, Sheridan. I felt she was too easy to predict and a little annoying. IShe acted like a little brat because she couldn’t accept that her mom left. Her dad says,”….There isn’t a minute that goes by that I don’t think about what she put you through and what I can do to make up for it.” His voice shakes and his eyes are glassy. The anger in me is now oozing out of every pore. My chin is up. My eyes are set, my voice even. “….You are wrong about her.” She doesn’t even have the conscience to pity her own dad and admit he is right. I also felt her to be stubborn; when people tried helping her understand she had much more talent than she knew, she would not believe in it or more specifically in herself. “….Thankfully, we don’t become exactly what our parents are; we have gifts of our own to develop and explore.” Father Crowley kindly told her this; however, she took this as an insult to her mom, which I found to be immature, but realize it was used to show her later growth as a character.

Despite my eventual enjoyment of the book it was not without flaw.  I thought there were too many problems for the Sheridan to deal with, from finding her mom, to having a boyfriend, or her dad not giving her the time of day. It was a lttile too much drama for one book. I also found the general concept to be typical, considering Sheridan was the “not very social, stay at home” kind of girl, her guy best friend liked her, and the popular guy suddenly becomes interested in her, but those flaws could be overlooked when seeing the creativity of the author.

Not to spoil the plot, but I liked the ending of the book because it teaches readers to forgive and move forward towards the future. At the end, she wrote: “I give the cake another look, not sure I should trust what I’ve just heard. But I look around the room, at my friends and family, and I know the cake is perfect just the way it is. So I let go. Finally.” The ending had me at no surprise (which is why I will quote from it here), yet I felt like a happy ending and a new adventure sufficed for the closure of this particular book. It was a “sweet” ending.

Jim Takes a Look at the Newbery Award

Before joining Warwick's I was an administrator at La Jolla Country Day and The Gillispie School. During that time, one of my favorite discoveries was the list of Newbery Award winners for best writing of children’s books. I have read many of those titles and most often they were a really good stories. Award-winners cover a range of styles and tales. The American Library Association’s gold imprint is placed on the top books, and silver for the honor books.

The 2012 medal winner is Jack Gantos’ Dead End In Norvelt, a semi-autobiographical tale of a boy’s extraordinary summer. Sometimes crazy and funny, but other times there are bits of history, all written to appeal to young readers.

Some of my many Newbery favorites include The Graveyard Book by Neal Gaiman, Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes, Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, and Louis Sachar’s Holes. We carry these and many more in the children’s section. A list of winners since 1922 is at http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberyhonors/newberymedal.

Readers who enjoy different genres, dipping into some of these titles can be entertaining.

Jim is a bookseller at Warwick's

Reading Fairy Tales

Fairy Tales are “in”. If you don’t know that fact you must be living in a dark, dank tunnel with blinders and earmuffs on. With dueling Snow White movies about to start showing, a 3-D reissue of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, a Jack in the Beanstalk in the works, a 2013 Hansel and Gretel film; and that’s not even mentioning the two television shows with fairy tale ties—Grimm, the fairy tale cop show and Once Upon a Time (my personal favorite), the sprawling epic from the writers of Lost. It seems as though Hollywood has found it’s current muse in the realm of fairy tales and not surprisingly, so has the book world.

Actually, I should change my wording on this one—the book world has never forgotten this magical realm—there have always been new editions of Grimm’s, Hans Christian Anderson stories, and so forth; there have also been some great retellings, although it’s more typical to find them in the children’s section of your local bookstore, than with the classics or fiction—it’s just that as usual Hollywood takes the credit (at least in the eyes of the non-readers). In reality, Hollywood is running a half second behind publishing, taking its cues from what’s hot in books (as an example: Hunger Games, The Descendants, Hugo, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), so it’s really no surprise that there are a few really good retellings of classic tales out right now in book form.

I have long been a fan of fables. Starting with my old Read-Along versions (cassette of course) of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid and Aesop’s Fables, to the Leslie Anne Warren version of Cinderella (which I have on dvd), to the old Fairy Tale Theater with Shelly Duvall, and graduating to my hardbound edition of Grimm’s Fairy Tales (all 700 pages of it), I have never outgrown, and can never quite get enough of the fairy tale world. Since I’ve always had a free flowing access to books, thanks in first to my Book Buyer grandmother, and then to my own employment, I have been fortunate enough to have an unusual amount of opportunities to read these retold fairy tales—and there are more of them than any of us could possibly count. So, in light of the renewed fairy tale craze, I thought I might mention a few worth visiting.

Brand new, and the start of what is to be a quadrilogy, is Marissa Meyer’s Cinder, a fascinating reimagining of the Cinderella tale (made popular by both the Brother’s Grimm and Charles Perrault), taking place in a rather bleak future, where our heroin is a cyborg with an unusual and rather special past. I know, “cyborg’ probably turned many of you off, it did me too, but having promised to read it, I was surprised to find myself completely captivated by the characters and the rather fantastic tale. Cinder holds that undercurrent of darkness from the original tale, actually, there is more death in this book than you might imagine, and it unwinds itself just enough to pull you in as a reader, and then dump you off into an abyss of endless possibilities at the end when it makes you wait for the next in the series. This one is highly imaginative, and perfect for those readers who like a bit of that sci-fi, dystopic edge to their fantasy tales. Now, I understand that the word dystopic is overused and is now turning many a book buyer to drink, so if that’s not your cuppa, I suggest an older retelling of the Cinderella story, Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix. This is a slightly more feminist version, gritty, grounded more in reality, without the traditional magic, or in the case of Cinder, science. Just Ella is a quick read, but it is unforgettable and wonderfully told; a perfect way to revisit an old favorite.

Diane Zahler is also a wonderful author who reworks lesser-known tales very well. In February 2012 she has a great new book based loosely on Grimm’s The Six Swans, called Princess of the Wild Swans, and in 2011 she released another novel The Thirteenth Princess that retells the more well know story of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Both books are aimed at a younger audience than the two mentioned above, but hold enough of the magic of the original tales to charm more mature readers.

If, like me, you want a taste of the original to go with the new, there are some beautifully made editions of these fairy tale collections put out by Dover Publications, currently available; English Fairy Tales retold by Flora Annie Steel, Grimm’s Fairy Tales with illustrations by Arthur Rackham, The Sleeping Beauty and Other Fairy Tales retold by Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch, and Norton’s edition of The Annotated Hans Christian Anderson. Each of these is a beautiful addition to your bookshelf, but more importantly they are filled with wonderful stories capable of transporting you to other lands and times, if only for as brief moment.

Fairy tales aren’t going anywhere. They will continue to exist and expand into whole new concepts. These stories offer us the baselines to so many of our favorite forms of entertainment. So why not take a moment to revisit these tales of old—whether in their more original form, or in one of the retellings available out there, you are sure to find a nugget of brilliance, or at least a moment of enjoyment.

What Do I Do With All These Books? A Bookseller's Answer

What can I do to have fewer books? Short of building a room addition with library shelves, which most of us find a little over the top in book collecting (apologies to those who actually did this) there are ways to hone down the number of books you own. (And I DON'T mean for you to buy an e-reader.)

For your convenience, Warwick's is happy to donate your books for you. We work with several organizations who very much appreciate to received donated books. You can also take your books to places like convalescent homes or shelters.

Your local library is always eager to have books donated, if not for their collection, then for resale. But they have some criteria, especially that it not be mildewed/odoriferous in any way; there are no ripped or written on pages; and that it's no older than three years. I have donated a dozen books to my library in the last year. Nice to know it will get more mileage than just my enjoyment.

If you have any autographed books, best to check on e-bay if anyone is looking for that title and you can make a little money back on your investment. (The library folks do this with any donation that has resale promise.)

You just finished a book that you liked but don't want to keep, leave it on a park bench, on a cafe table, or any other venue. Most coffee houses have a place for people to read the day's papers, and sliding a paperback amongst that might make someone very happy (especially if you leave a dollar as a bookmark.)

Not for profit organizations help build libraries, and you can do a web search to see what groups are available that want donated books. In most cases they'd rather have the cash to buy books and build libraries for that community.

There are other ways to get more mileage out of your book. We have a customer who buys seven books, one for each of the parents and the grown children. They each pick one and when finished give it to another family member. Price per page really goes down when you've had so many readers.

I'm curious about any other solutions, so email me a jim@warwicks.com,

Happy reading!

Jim Stewart is a bookseller at Warwick's

A Teen's Look at Anna Carey's "Eve"

For awhile now we've been fortunate to have some young readers read and review new books for our WarwicksKids book section. Now joining the ranks of Warwick's reviewers is a cache of wonderful teen readers whose reviews you can expect to see from time to time on this blog, or more regularly on our Children's Corner webpage. Today, our reviewer is Jeremiah S., and he takes a quick look at Eve by Anna Carey, a new dystopic novel, that upon reading brings to mind works like Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, and Sheri S. Tepper's The Gate to Women's Country, as it follows Eve, a prize student who must escape the confines of the school she once loved, when she realizes the dark and frightening truths hidden within it's depths.

Here is what Jeremiah had to say:

Eve by Anna Carey is not a personal favorite. As Eve [raised by and in an all girls boarding school] explores the outside world, she learns to love and trust, even if all her life she has been taught men are manipulative, conniving, and dangerous. The author could have written more about the main character’s thoughts and feelings. [At one point] in the book, she wrote: "We sat there, hand in hand, scanning the horizon. “That’s it,” I said, pointing to the red bridge less than a mile in front of us, stretching over the vast expanse of blue. “The bridge to Califia.”" She could have added how happy Eve became, seeing that bridge, with hopes of a new and better life alongside [her new found love] Caleb. I thought each scene proceeded very slowly, as if she was drifting on the scene and didn’t know how to end it properly. The chapters weren’t ended very well, in my opinion. I do, however, think the book itself ended appropriately and it made me feel that Caleb was truly going to come back for Eve. As for the protagonist, Eve, she was created well. At times, she seemed weak and vulnerable because of her lack of knowledge with the different types of people, yet there were also moments where she proved herself strong. This book was a love-hate relationship, yet I know someone will find this book amazing. Surprisingly, I can’t wait to possibly read the next two books in this trilogy.

 

Having also read the book in mention, I have to agree with the observations of Jeremiah. The book at first, really does have the feel of the works of Tepper and Atwood, as mentioned in the introduction, but it falls a bit short, with choppy dialogue and a general feeling of unfulfillment for the reader. That being said, I continued to read, as opposed to tossing the book across the room (which I've been known to do), so Carey had enough to draw me in, but not enough to keep me from wandering a bit in the process. I, like Jeremiah, am oddly interested in the sequels, and as the next in the trilogy Once, has just come across my desk, Jeremiah and I will both have a chance to see if and how this series further develops and matures as it's universe is expanded by new characters and settings. I can only hope that this new trilogy is able to leap off its edge of mediocrity and find its way to fulfilling the flashes of promise shown in Eve.

Reviewed by Jeremiah S. and Heather Christman

Delving into Carol O'Connell's Mallory Series with Heather

“And Mallory’s road was run.”

That sentence at the end of Carol O’Connell’s 2006 Find Me has haunted me for nearly six years. Not because of anything devastating that occurs in Find Me (although it is filled with amazing revelations about the character Kathleen Mallory), but because I truly feared the end of O’Connell’s brilliantly scribed series. And so I’ve spent the past years diligently searching for the next O’Connell novel to appear. I was rewarded with her stand-alone mystery Bone by Bone in 2008, but nothing on the Mallory front. I was fairly sure that my worst fears for the series had come true, no more Mallory, until I happened to glance up and see an advanced reading copy of The Chalk Girl. I was giddy. I dropped the other books I was currently juggling and got sucked into the New York City, as owned by Detective Kathleen Mallory.

Here’s the deal with the Mallory series. Mallory is a bona-fide sociopath, with a mind like a computer; she also carries a big gun and has a badge. I’m taking a very complex, highly original, wholly fascinating character and reducing her to a few glib lines—doing O’Connell and her brilliant creation a great disservice, but to get Mallory, to understand the character and world O’Connell has created, you just need to read her. Start with Mallory’s Oracle and whip your way through the rest. I guarantee you too will become a fan.

 The Chalk Girl, the newest book in this ever-fascinating detective series takes place several months after the events of Find Me. Here you will find my only criticism, the dramatic and revealing plot of Find Me, particularly the spectacular ending, are barely mentioned—almost as though they did not happen at all. I was really moved by Find Me, it was an epic road novel, with emotional depth, and elegant prose, not typically seen within the confines of a detective serial. To push those events aside is slap in the reader’s face and an insult to the characters and their journeys. Let’s just say that I was a bit annoyed.

 After pushing aside those feelings, I was able to delve into the mystery of The Chalk Girl. First, let me give a very brief synopsis:

A child appears in Central Park, drops of blood on her shirt—from the sky she tells the police. When a body is found hanging from a bag in a tree, Mallory and her cohorts from Special Crimes are pulled into a past of wealth, blackmail, torture, and death.

True to form, the characters brought in by this murder and a series of unusual attacks that follow are well drawn and remarkably deep, considering that many of them are probably not going to appear in subsequent books. The twists and turns are truly twisted—occasionally shocking, and often moving. As a psychological suspense, The Chalk Girl hits it’s mark, as part of the Mallory series, it seems as though it has taken a step back in character development, but in all honesty, I think it’s me putting my wants for the characters far above the actual integrity and motivations of their established actions.

Despite these thoughts on my part, this is a solid mystery, with dark, disturbing undertones perfect for the psychological suspense fan. The Chalk Girl is a much anticipated and rewarding return to the world of Kathleen Mallory. I can’t recommend this series enough. Now…when’s the next book out?

The January 2012 Coffee with a Book Seller Reading List

For those of you who missed out on today's stellar Coffee with a Bookseller led by our Head Book Buyer Adrian, here's a rundown of the books discussed.

On the Shelves…

Vulture Peak by John Burdett
Exotic locales, diabolical twin sisters involved in the trafficking of human organs, a marriage plagued by doubt, corrupt government officials, and, of course, Buddhism… a rollicking ride thru Bangkok.

The Jaguar by T. Jefferson Parker
The 5th installment in the Charlie Hood/Border series. When musician, Erin Mckenna, is kidnapped by Benjamin Armenta, a powerful Gulf drug cartel kingpin, Charlie is called upon by Erin’s husband and crooked cop, Bradley Jones, to help pull off the daring, seemingly impossible rescue.

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
The 2011 winner of the Man Booker Prize and rightly so. I read this elegant, compelling tale in one sitting and wondered why it had taken me so long to pick it up! Pitch-perfect pacing, fully drawn characters, and a twist at the end that makes you doubt what you’ve read so you start the book over again just to be sure you understood the ending correctly. I underlined several passages for easy rereading. Not to be missed!

The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson
An epic tale about North Korea, a country that has long been shrouded in secrecy. Based upon extensive research as well as first-hand knowledge, this debut explores the dark, treacherous reality of a country ruled by fear, deprivation and complete ignorance of the outside world. A compelling, revelatory novel! The January selection for our signed 1st eds club.

Looking Ahead…

The Odds: A Love Story by Stewart O’Nan (January 19, 2012)
A tender often bittersweet tale of a couple on the brink of bankruptcy and divorce who go to Niagara Falls--the place where they honeymooned years ago--in a desperate attempt to reclaim their marriage and their fortune...despite the odds. Love is always a gamble!

Taken by Robert Crais (Putnam/January 24, 2012)
Take an army of predatory bajadores, a few heartless human traffickers, some vicious Asian and Mexican gang members, loads of cash, the intense heat of the desert, a pair of naïve lovers, a desperate mother…add a big handful of Elvis Cole, Joe Pike and his ex-mercenary buddy, Jon Stone…and shake together thoroughly for a potent cocktail of suspenseful reading entertainment!

A Good American by Alex George (Amy Einhorn Bks/February 2012)
Heartwarming characters coupled with good, old-fashioned storytelling make this beautifully rendered debut novel, that follows the lives and (mis)fortunes of a family who immigrate from Europe and settle down in Beatrice, Missouri, hard to put down.

Birds of a Lesser Paradise by Megan Mayhew Berman (Scribner/March 2012)
This remarkable collection of short stories is a stunning accomplishment! I read it in one sitting and wanted more. These intelligent, moving and darkly humorous stories about authentic, complex people are written with a maturity and clarity of prose that is reminiscent of other favorite writers...Lorrie Moore, Melissa Banks, Richard Ford and, dare I say it,...Flannery O'Connor. One of the best books I've read in a long time!

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed (March 2012)
The antithesis of Eat, Pray, Love! After her beloved mother dies, Cheryl finds herself unable to cope with the intensity of her grief and decides to hike the PCT, part homage to the memory of her mother, part pilgrimage to find herself. The sheer physical difficulty of the journey brings her out of the mental, emotional and spiritual fog she’s been mired in and forces her to dig down deep just to survive. A searingly honest, powerful memoir.

Adrian Newell is the Head Book Buyer for Warwick's

The 2011 Warwick's Bestseller List

Happy New Year! 2011 was a year filled with fantastic books and exciting events. Here is a list of the year's 50 bestsellers at Warwick's.


1. The Craft of Stone Brewing Co. – Greg Koch*
2. Steve Jobs – Walter Isaacson
3. Unbroken – Lauren Hillenbrand
4. Wonderstruck – Brian Selznick*
5. Fabulicious - Teresa Guidice*
6. The Help - Kathryn Stockett
7. Turning the Tide – Charles Stanley*
8. The Paris Wife – Paula McLain
9. Unlikely Friendships – Jennifer Holland
10. Cutting for Stone – Abraham Verghese
11. Happy Accidents – Jane Lynch*
12. The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
13. Dreams of Joy – Lisa See*
14. The Rules of Civility – Amor Towles
15. Lies That Chelsea Handler Told – Chelsea Handler*
16. The Graveyard Book – Neil Gaiman*
17. Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand – Helen Simonson
18. The Language of Flowers – Vanessa Diffenbaugh*
19. The Invention of Hugo Cabret – Brian Selznick*
20. The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories – Dr. Seuss
21. In the Garden of Beasts – Erik Larson
22. The Tiger’s Wife – Tea Obreht
23. The Nature Principle – Richard Louv*
24. Caleb’s Crossing – Geraldine Brooks*
25. A Visit From the Goon Squad – Jennifer Egan
26. La Jolla/92037 – Olivier Dalle*
27. The Postmistress – Sarah Blake
28. The Gangster We Are All Looking For – Thu Le Thi Diem*
29. The Forgotten Garden – Kate Morton
30. Diary of a Wimpy Kid #6/Cabin Fever – Jeff Kinney
31. San Diego Noir – Maryelizabeth Hart*
32. Clara and Mr. Tiffany – Susan Vreeland*
33. The Last Time I Saw Paris – Lynn Sheene*
34. The Tiger’s Wife (paper)- Tea Obreht
35. La Jolla Then and Now – Carol Olten*
36. Red Mist –Patricia Cornwell*
37. The Night Circus – Erin Morgenstern
38. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo – Stieg Larsson
39. Leveraging the Universe – Mike Dooley*
40. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks – Rebecca Skloot
41. Sarah’s Key – Tatiana De Rosnay
42. Catching Fire – Suzanne Collins
43. The Glass Castle – Jeanette Walls
44. The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris – David McCullough
45. The Elegance of the Hedgehog – Muriel Barbery
46. The Art of Racing in the Rain – Garth Stein
47. Shantaram – Gregory Roberts
48. Boomerang – Michael Lewis
49. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt – Beth Hoffman
50. Mockingjay – Suzanne Collins

*indicates sales from an author event

Heather's Young Adult Reading List

During this time of year we get all sorts of “help” requests—“help me find a book for my history loving father”, “I need a book about cute pigs for my sister”, “what’s the newest and best thriller for my husband”—you get the drift. Lately, possibly because of the location of my office, the most common question I’ve been hearing is regarding books for teenagers, namely, “what book do I get for my teenager for the holidays”. So, parents, aunts, uncles, friends, and grandparents—here’s your heads-up, a list of some of the newer and better teen* reads out there.

For lovers of The Hunger Games and all things dystopic:

Legend by Marie Lu: You can’t put this one down. It’s one of the few teen reads that has captivated readers of different genres. Dystopic, with alternating boy and girl chapters, this is fast paced and addictive. A must read.

Crossed by Ally Condie: This sequel to Matched still has the romance of its predecessor, but is equally filled with action and adventure. Its cliffhanger style ending is a little frustrating, but it is the middle book of a trilogy, so it goes with the territory. Solid series read.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis: Dystopia in space—that ought to draw you in alone! New in paperback, this is an interesting story revolving around a ship carrying frozen personnel as well as generations of ship workers, destined for a new Earth. Chaos begins when the lone teen boy on board awakes one of the frozen. The sequel, A Million Suns, arrives in January and is just as intriguing.

For those who dig zombies, creepy schools, and a touch of fantasy:

Dearly Departed by Lia Habel: Zombie armies, underground cities, and a modern America turned Victorian, all make for one heck of a surprising read. Don’t let the cover fool you on this one; it’s chapters alternate between multiple characters—boys, girls, army generals, and scientists—it’s for anyone who enjoys a good science fiction mystery (with a skosh of romance). Entertaining and original Dearly Departed is a definite pleaser.

Variant by Robison Wells: What do you do at a mysterious academy that’s surrounded by wire fences, monitored by video cameras, and ruled by three very specific cliques—trust no one! A great mystery with a slight sci-fi twist, Variant is the perfect guy read (girls will enjoy too) this holiday season.

Mastiff by Tamora Pierce: The last in the Beka Cooper series, Mastiff is a fun action-adventure fantasy. The series is a nice prequel to her other Tortall books, and Mastiff does a fantastic job of sucking you in—such a good job in fact that it led me to reread all of the other Tortall books upon finishing (that’s 14 books, 15 if you count the short stories).

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Steifvater: With the Shiver trilogy under her belt you can guarantee that Maggie Stiefvater will take a myth and turn it on it’s head in a remarkable way. In The Scorpio Races she takes the kelpie myth and turns it into a beautifully written story that follows a boy and a girl as they prepare for the gruesomely difficult Scorpio Race, a race that is stalked by death. This is an unusual tale, gripping for guys and girls, and very satisfying.

The one non-paranormal/dystopic/fantasy etc. on my list:

The Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John: New in paperback, this is a great all around teen read. It centers on Piper, a young deaf teen who takes up the challenge of managing a band. Filled with fantastic music references, a touch of romance, and enough angst to satisfy fans of Sarah Dessen and Deb Caletti, Five Flavors of Dumb, is a solid and engaging read for young adults.

Hopefully this list gives you some ideas for the holiday season; of course we have many fabulous booksellers who are filled with far more recommends than I could possibly list here. So, come in and talk to them, I promise you will learn about some amazing books.

*or the adult reader who just enjoys good fiction (hey, I’m one of them)

Ed King: The Book Jim Stewart Couldn't Put Down

It's one of my goals to find a book that I just can't put down, that page-turner that is so captivating it takes precedent over any other form of entertainment. I have a running list of those books and now I can add Ed King by David Guterson.

Guterson is known from his earlier tome, Snow Falling on Cedars, which many of you may have read, or seen the movie. His writing about characters is so believable, whether or not the person is particularly likeable, that you want to know what is going to happen in the story for everyone involved.

I was thrilled to read Ed King and strongly recommend it. I know there is a lot of competition for what to read, and we all have lists of titles to enjoy (so at least we can tell people the book's “on my list,” whether or not it's read in the next few months...or years!). But you can't just put Ed King on a list. I'm limited in what I can say about the book without giving major plot points away. Suffice it to say that Ed is an orphan, left on a random doorstep in Portland, Oregon. He is adopted by the King family and, following the well-known path of boy to manhood, goes through excruciating adjustments. His time of madcap rebellion is a turning point in his life, showing how determined he is to be independent from any control. Nevertheless, he becomes an Internet magnate after creating an uber-successful search engine. Although he isn't aware of this until the very end of the story, his birth parents play a major role in his life. Those two plot points emerge as a life-changing experience for Ed. The story is a contemporary take on Sophocles' Oedipus the King. To know this plot development dissipates some of the story's tension. Despite this open secret (every book reviewer has uncovered this spoiler) it doesn't take away from your concern for Ed's life and its challenges.

I do want to hear others' responses to reading this book and look forward to hearing from you, so feel free to comment here, come into the store for a chat, or email me at jim@warwicks.com.

Jim is a bookseller at Warwick's.

Warwick's Staff Presents: The Best Books of 2011

It's once again that time of year for us to look back on all that we've read in 2011 and ponder our favorites. Booksellers love to revisit their year in books, debating with each other about their various merits, and which ones were the best. This year is no different. Our diverse group of readers has gotten together and named our favorite books of 2011 and here they are for your perusal.

Emily, bookseller: The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes. A truly fantastic read and easily my pick for this year. Julian Barnes delivers the most thought provoking book I have read in a long time.

John, bookseller/book buyer: Neptune's Inferno: The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal by James D. Hornfischer. 2011 has been a good year for World War II histories, among them Roberts' Storm of War, Hastings' Inferno, Toll's Pacific Crucible, and Symonds' Battle of Midway. Although I wholeheartedly recommend all of the aforementioned books, I would single out James Hornfischer's superb history of the naval actions at Guadalcanal, Neptune's Inferno. Hornfischer delivers a powerful and, at times, gut-wrenching account of the deadliest naval campaign of the War in the Pacific. He tacks perfectly among different perspectives -- from bluejackets to admirals -- and thereby offers a history that is at once sweeping and personal. Furthermore, Neptune's Inferno is, to the best of my knowledge, the first comprehensive history of the naval campaign at Guadalcanal since that offered by Samual Eliot Morison years ago. Not only was this book a great read, it also fundamentally transformed my understanding of the War in the Pacific.

Kim, Office Supply: Both my daughter and I poured over The Hugo Movie Companion by Brian Selznick, both before and after seeing the magical movie. It is a fascinating look at how the book (The Invention of Hugo Cabret) was transformed into a 3-D, sure to be family-favorite, film. A must read book and must see movie for children and adults.

Janet, bookseller: It's a hard choice, but I must say my favorite book of 2011 is The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman. Dramatic and compelling, the story of 4 women during the siege of the Masada swept me away to the ancient past. I couldn't put it down!

Joe, General Manager: My favorite  book of 2011 was We, the Drowned by Carsten Jensen. It dashed any hopes of me being seaworthy with a wondrous, brutal, and sometimes too real portrait of life in and by the sea. I loved how it went on from person to person and generation to generation.

Margie, Office Supply: With the many books I've read in 2011, The Vault by Boyd Morrison is still my #1 pick. Mr. Morrison's works never lack in the thrill and excitement departments. There is no disappointment in this gripping tale of King Midas' lost treasure and the consequences of it falling into the wrong hands. I honestly could not put this one down!

Jan, Children's Book Buyer: Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick. A story told through illustrations and another told with words are woven together in a masterful way in this incredible book. Children and adults both will be wrapped up in the magical, intriguing unfolding of the story and truly feel the "wonder" when finished.

Adriana, bookseller: Rules of Civility by Amor Towles. Equal parts Capote & Fitzgerald, and just as brilliantly written, Rules of Civility will have you reading through the night but ultimately wishing you’d savored it just a little bit more. This is definitely my pick for book of the year.

Adrian, Book Buyer: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. I loved this remarkable, thoroughly researched novel about Hadley Richardson, Ernest Hemingway’s first wife and possibly his greatest love. And despite the fact that we know how the story ends, what comes before is a fascinating, engrossing read. From the early penny-pinching heady days of first love, to their friendships with the literati of Jazz Age Paris--the Fitzgeralds, Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, the Pounds, the Murphys, and many more--this story reveals a Hemingway who, while uncertain of his writing ability, is fiercely determined to be a successful author. From the adrenaline driven days in Pamplona watching the famed bullfights to the snowy ski slopes of the Alps, the reader is drawn into their love story…one that begins so hopefully but ends in heartbreak. This novel would spark a great book group discussion.

... and one more (because she is our Head Book Buyer)...

Unlikely Friendships by Jennifer Holland. Opposites really do attract! You cannot look at this book without smiling! The perfect book for animal lovers.

Rob, bookseller, Office Supplies, Cheese Concierge: Rules of Civility by Amor Towles. A novel that is beautifully written and to me to 1930's New York City.

The book The Night Circus by Erin Morgestern was without a doubt one of the staff's most talked about novels, and this year for the first time, several members of the staff were unable to name any other book as 2011's best.

James, bookseller: With it's truly unique imagery and blending of genres, my favorite book of the year is Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus. You can truly tell I love a book if I take the chance to give my copy away. As of now, I have no idea where my dog-eared advanced reader's copy might be. Every time a friend or colleague would return the book to me, I would send it on its way again. By now, I am sure it is well read and well loved.

Julie, Director of Events: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I wish I could re-read this book for the first time again.

Heather, Marketing Coordinator: The Night Circus is quite simply, compelling. Unfurling itself layer by layer, it is a labyrinth of a tale that one must wander through, much like the characters must wander through the circus discovering new tents and delights with every turn—never fully capable of exploring every crook and cranny no matter how many times they visit. This is a novel whose secrets and hidden depths will never cease to amaze, no matter how many time it is read.

Phoebe, Office Supply: One of my favorite reads this year was The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I was anxious to read it because of the enthusiasm of my co workers. Even the book jacket got my attention with it’s mysterious and whimsical artwork. Then you open the book and enter a magical world. The ego of two old magicians up against each other to prove themselves. The circus is the stage of the conflict, but it becomes more than that to the characters in the book. I wish to be a reveur and follow a magical circus around the world.

Jim, bookseller: A perfect combination of fantasy with memorable characters. Magicians conjour a circus in cities around the world with two magicians unknowingly in a contest.

Seasons Readings from Algonquin's Director of Marketing Craig Popelars

This week Craig Popelars, the brilliant Director of Marketing for Algonquin Books, has graciously allowed us to reprint a Christmas anecdote on the joy of receiving books:

Christmas morning 1972. There I am with my sister and her new Dressy Bessy doll. What you don't see in this picture is the one present that I received that Christmas and still have: a hardcover of A Family Treasury of Little Golden Books. On the inside front cover was inscribed, in mom's perfect cursive, "To Craig, Merry Christmas 1972, Love Mom & Dad."

I can't tell you what ever happened to the countless Christmas presents that I received over the years--my Evel Knieval action figure with scramble van, Stretch Armstrong (OK, we gutted old Stretch to get at the toxic steroid goo inside), the Rockem Sockem Robots. What never ended up at the garage sale or tossed out were the books that mom and dad gave me each Christmas. There's Richard Scarry's Busy, Busy Town; Hear Ye of Philadelphia by Polly Curren; O.J. Simpson by Bill Gutman; the works of Ruth Chew; The Wrinkle in Time Trilogy Boxed Set; a slew of Hardy Boys hardcovers; and countless others. And while the pages have yellowed, the bindings have cracked, and the covers have faded, I'll never ever part with these treasured gifts.

Betsy Burton, owner of The King's English Bookshop told me that the most memorable Christmas gift she ever received was Smoky the Cowhorse by Will James. She said, "after reading it at age seven, I played horse during recess for the next two years, kicking and whinnying like a rodeo bronco, much to the consternation of my classmates." A good book can inspire you in the kitchen or garden. They can tempt you into updating your passport and taking that dream trip to Borneo, and they can make a toddler smile with delight. Books can bring you a little closer to celebrated art or to the far corners of the solar system. They can make you laugh out loud, and they can engage and entertain. And, yes, sometimes a good book can make you look a little foolish on the playground.