Books on September 11th for Kids

Carmen Agra Deedy has written a deeply moving picturebook on September 11th called 14 Cows for America in collaboration with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah. This is the true story of Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah, of the Maasai people of Kenya who was studying in New York City during the 9/11 attacks. He brought the story of what happened that day home to his tribe & they, in turn, reached out to the people of America with a gift of peace and hope. The illustrations by Thomas Gonzalez are absolutely beautiful. For around ages 5-10, although I think it would be excellent for the classroom for older kids as well.

Fireboat The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey by Maira Kalman. In 1931 the John J. Harvey fireboat was launched & her crews faithfully fought fires for decades. By 1995, however, the need for fireboats had diminished & the John J. Harvey was considered fit only for the scrap yard. Fortunately, a group of friends had heard of the fireboat's plight & got together to save her & fix her up. Nobody anticipated that someday she might be called back into action. On September 11th, this piece of New York history that had been considered antiquated & useless was instrumental in saving lives & putting out fires. Her owners worked endlessly during the emergency. A very inspiring & touching story, again for ages 5-10

Dennis Lehane at Book House!

Next Wednesday, September 16th, at 7pm, Dennis Lehane will be signing and reading at the Book House! His most recent novel, "The Given Day," will be released in paperback the day before.

Mr. Lehane is also the author of "Mystic River" and "Shutter Island," on which the movies by the same titles are based, as well as "A Drink Before the War."

"The Given Day" is a historical novel about Boston during and after World War II. It was first published in hardcover last fall.

We hope you'll join us in welcoming Dennis Lehane to the Book House!

Graceling in Paperback!

Just a quick note to say Graceling by Kristin Cashore arrived in the store in paperback yesterday. This book is one of our favorite young adult novels, great for lovers of fantasy, romance, the Twilight series (though Katsa is way cooler than Bella), or anyone looking for a well written story with cool characters, a wonderful romance, and a ton of adventure. Those of us who have read it -- and there are many -- couldn't put it down!

Bonus: Graceling's prequel, Fire, will be out in hardcover in a matter of months!

And finally, check out Kristin Cashore's blog for more tidbits about the books!

Oldies but Goodies: Our Favorite Summer Reads

Looking for a good book to enjoy during the summer that's finally arrived? These books aren't fresh off the press, but they're some of our favorites.

Handling Sin by Michael Malone
By turns hysterical and touching, this novel follows Raleigh Hayes, who is torn from his comfortable life when his ailing father escapes from the hospital, leaving behind directions for Raleigh to gather specific items and then meet him in New Orleans on a particular date. A favorite of staff members and customers alike.

Julia Spencer-Fleming's Adirondack mystery series
These books are completely addictive! There are six in the series so far, all out in paperback, with a seventh on the way. The first is In the Bleak Midwinter, so be sure to pick it up first. And based on Julia Spencer-Fleming's recommendation, we started reading Craig Johnson's mysteries, and we love those as well! Start with #1, which is The Cold Dish.

Any novel by Sarah Waters, but especially The Fingersmith
Replete with twists and turns, this historical novel set in England will keep you guessing until the very last page. Don't start it late at night or you'll never go to bed! For people who are already fans of Sarah Waters' books, her newest novel, recently released in hardcover, is called The Little Stranger.

Ariana Franklin's Mistress of the Art of Death series
Think twelfth century CSI with a feisty female lead and you have a sense of what these wonderful historical novels are about. As physician Adelia sorts out mystery after mystery for the king of England, all the while hiding the fact that she, as a woman, is the real doctor, she'll keep you on the edge of your seat. There are three books in the series so far, and we are anxiously awaiting the fourth installment!

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka
This quirky, endearing story follows a pair of sisters as they try to wrest their father away from the grasp of the young and beautiful Valentina, the "fluffy pink grenade" who has taken over the aging gentleman's life. As they join forces against this common foe, Nadeshda and Vera repair a relationship that has been strained for years. (It doesn't have much to do with tractors!)

The Reluctant Tuscan by Phil Doran
This light, quick read is Doran's memoir of moving to Italy with his wife. As they battle everything from the archaic laws of the village's government to an elderly neighbor who seems to have it in for them, they settle little by little into their new life. You will laugh, sympathize, and find yourself with a craving for some authentic Italian pasta!

Stop in and talk to us about these and other "oldies but goodies"!

Looking for Local?

Looking for something sporting Capital District flair? Look no further than the Book House! We carry a wide selection of local postcards in addition to beautiful greeting cards--both photo and art--by local artists.

Need something a little more substantial? We have Albany magnets and key chains and even Albany mugs. And of course, we have a large selection of books both by local authors and about the area, including hiking guides and maps.

Stop in and let us help you find what you're looking for!

New Titles for August

Fall is a big season for books! Many favorite authors will be releasing new titles over the upcoming months. We'll give you the breakdown at the start of each month.

Here's what's new for August for adults:
August 4th: That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo and Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon
August 11th: South of Broad by Pat Conroy
August 18th: The Law of Nines by Terry Goodkind

And for kids and young adults:
August 4th: the long-awaited paperback of Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer
August 11th: The 39 Clues Book 5: The Black Circle by Patrick Carman and What Was I Scared Of? by Dr. Seuss

Give us a call at 489-4761 to reserve your copy today!

Chocolate Gecko, Theo Chocolate, and Mu Mu Muesli

As many of our customers already know, we now carry fresh local chocolate from Albany's Chocolate Gecko. We all have our favorites among their delectable selection: chocolate dipped handmade marshmallows, jumbo caramel and pecan turtles, chocolate covered Newman-Os, spicy Komodo Crunch toffee...and the list goes on!

We've just added another kind of chocolate to our front counter, making it even harder for the staff to concentrate: smooth, organic, fair-trade Theo chocolate bars from Seattle. Their website states that they are "proud to be the only organic, fair trade, bean-to-bar chocolate factory in the United States." These bars come in a wide variety of flavors, ranging from 70% rich dark chocolate to Fig, Fennel, & Almond and Coconut & Curry. Check out their website for more information, then stop by the Book House and try some for yourself!

And finally, we now carry Mu Mu Muesli. This blend of cranberries, dates, coconut, roasted almonds, and flaxseeds has been a hit at area farmer's markets; now it is also available at the Book House. It makes a delicious breakfast or snack. Eat it with yogurt, milk, or by the handful! And check out their logo...what could be cuter than a cow in a mu mu?

Book House is on Twitter!

We've done it...Book House is now on Twitter! Follow us for book news and event updates: @bookhousealbany

An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon

I have been a Diana Gabaldon fan for many years, so it was quite a shock to my system when I finished reading The Fiery Cross and realized that she was really starting to annoy me. I am sure fans everywhere are ready to burn me as a witch, but consider--as her hardcover sales started to grow, her books got longer and longer. I know Diana Gabaldon does a ton of research for her books, but it seemed as though she tried to include every fact she encountered in The Fiery Cross. In 1443 pages (in the mass market edition) she moves the story ahead 2 years. 2 years in 1443 pages? That is a few too many pages, in my opinion. Yes, it is a good story, but a good editor would have been welcome. So I didn't read the next book, Breath of Snow and Ashes.

Well--I recently found out that book 7 in the Outlander series, Echo in the Bone, is being released on September 22. What could I do? I had to sit down and read Breath of Snow and Ashes. I could stand being one book behind with nothing on the horizon, but to be 2 books behind was too much. My reaction: At 1432 pages (again in the mass market edition), it was long. But it moved the story from 1772 to 1776, so we made twice as much progress as in the previous book, and it didn't seem to have as much herb lore and medical tidbits, either. All in all, a much more satisfactory read than book 5.

And now, we wait impatiently for An Echo in the Bone. It will be 992 pages in the hardcover edition, so it is about the size of the previous two books. Will it be as riveting as the earlier volumes? Only time will tell.....

PS--If you are interested in another wonderful time travel novel, read The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. It is so wonderfully romantic, I cry every time I read it! The movie is being released on August 14, so quick, read it before you see the movie!

(Susan T.)

Booksigning at Market Block Books in Troy

Friday, 7:00 PM
Troy Night Out
Market Block Books
290 River Street
Troy, NY

Meet Brad Kessler! He will be signing his new book Goat Song. Brad is also the author of Birds in Fall, one of my favorite novels. Brad's new book is about his experiences raising goats and making cheese in Vermont. But more than this, the book explores the origins of the pastoral life, both etymologically and culturally. He's a brilliant writer and I think you'll be surprised at what a good book this is.

Stop by and meet this wonderful author.
Saturday, 12:00 PM
Market Block Books
290 River Street
Troy, NY

Come and meet Mike Esposito this Saturday at Market Block Books. Mike did a wonderful job collecting photos from Little Italy's past. We've already had people browsing the book saying things like, "that's my grandmother's kitchen!" Unlike many of the Images of America series that has historic photos of a city's past, this book has more intimate memories of a neighborhood that still has its connections in the present. This is a palpable historic in a book: the families, the churches, the stories. If you take a moment to look at this book you'll see the lives who made up this part of Troy, New York.