BEA Recap from Susan T.

This past weekend, I headed down to New York City for Book Expo America, the annual bookseller convention. Every year, thousands of booksellers and publishers gather to kvetch, kvell, and talk books; it is also a reflection on the state of the bookselling industry in the United States. To judge by the scaled-down booths, parties, and swag, the state of bookselling is at a cautious crossroads. Are books terminal? Will we all be doing our bedtime reading on screens in the foreseeable future? I think (and hope) that books will be a viable option for the rest of my life (and, I hope, my career!) For me, BEA is all about learning about the new books coming out in the fall, meeting authors whose books I love, and hanging it with people who share my passion for reading. On to the show!

I arrived an NYC on Friday night and headed to the Housing Works Cafe and Bookstore for a Midnight Fried Chicken Party put on by the Lee brothers of The Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook fame. They have a new cookbook coming out this fall, The Lee Bros. Simple Fresh Southern, and if the food at this party is any indication, it is going to be a heck of a cookbook! I especially enjoyed the soybean & tomato salad with buttermilk dressing. YUM! And the fried chicken was meaty, juicy & flavorful. All in all, an excellent way to start the show.

On Saturday, I headed to the Javits Center for the trade show proper. I won't say anything about all the exciting advance copies of the new fall releases I got, because you can't get them yet and it isn't fair to tease, but I met Kristin Cashore, author of Graceling, and thanked her for writing a novel whose heroine is the anti-Bella from Twilight--strong and independent, with or without a boyfriend at her side. I also met Isa Chandra Moskowitz, a vegan cookbook author whose latest, Vegan Brunch, appeals to me for some reason. I am not vegan, but I am trying to eat healthier, and some of these recipes look pretty simple, even for the novice cook. I glimpsed Craig Ferguson signing his new book, and said hello to Alan Bradley, the author of the bestselling Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. The highlight was meeting Michael Malone, author of Handling Sin, which has been one of my favorite books to recommend for over 20 years. His newest, The Four Corners of the Sky, was just released and is in the store in hardcover. Oh, and I met Tracy Kidder and got a signed copy of his forthcoming fall release.

By 4:00, I was dragging and my arms were tired of carrying canvas bags loaded with books. After a short rest at the hotel, I went out again, to meet friends for dinner. Before dinner, I stopped at the Strand Bookstore. I browsed for an hour and bought a book. Coals to Newcastle doesn't begin to cover it, but I like supporting independent bookstores when I travel. Yes, going to BEA is truly a busman's holiday, but one I totally enjoy. Now if I can only find a place to put all the new books I acquired........

An Embarrassment of Riches

About 2 weeks ago, I was scrounging around for something good to read. So annoying, to work in a bookstore and not have anything gripping begging for my attention! I consoled myself with the thought that the selling season for the fall was starting up (that is when the publishers' sales reps visit and try to persuade our intrepid buyers to order many copies of the upcoming autumn bestsellers) and that soon we would have many galleys of forthcoming books to paw through.

Be careful what you wish for, indeed! From our Random House reps, I have a copy of the NEW PAT CONROY!! I love Pat Conroy. His new book, South of Broad, will be out in September. I am almost to the end of it, but I hate to finish too quickly, so I put it down for a day or so to start the new Margaret Atwood! The Year of the Flood will also be out in September. I think this will be as popular as The Handmaid's Tale; it is a topical look at a dystopian future whose problems bear eerie resemblance to today's headlines. Again, I am almost finished with it, and wishing it could go on for a little while longer.

Plus, I finished Kristin Cashore's prequel to Graceling, Fire, in just a day. It was a satisfying read that will please her ever-growing throng of fans. It is another book for adolescent girls who loved Twilight, but who need to meet a heroine whose life doesn't revolve around her crush. Fire will also be coming out in September. (And the sequel to The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, is coming out in September--another anti-Twilight strong heroine returns.)

And the cherry on top of the sundae? The Last Olympian, the 5th and last book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, was just released on Tuesday. My cup runneth over with books I can't wait to read, a wonderful situation for a book lover to be in.

Mark your calendars--this fall brings a bumper crop of fantastic fiction!

Also, a piece of shameless self-promotion: I am now writing a blog for Capital District Local First on the Times Union webpage. Feel free to wander over and give it a look see. Thanks for reading!

SMT

Bookseller's Bookshelf: Erin

I'm reading two books at the moment: one old, and one new.

The old one is Frank Conroy's Body and Soul, a novel that follows piano prodigy Claude Rawlings as he climbs from humble beginnings to stardom in 1950s New York City. It's definitely not a fast moving book, yet it is positively engrossing. Filled with the minutiae of everyday life and peppered with bursts of fascinating musical discussion, Conroy takes a rags-to-riches tale that could be commonplace and dull and transforms it into a story to be savored. This book is actually from the 1990s and no longer on our shelves here at the Book House, but it's still available. Ask and we'll get it for you!


As for the new one, I just picked up a reader's copy of Love Begins in Winter, a forthcoming collection of short stories by Simon van Booy. I'm just a few pages in, but I can tell I won't be putting this one aside. In beautiful, clear prose, van Booy tells ordinary stories as if they're infused with magic. The opening story, about a world-famous cellist, has such sudden and universal truths about life that I am absolutely intrigued to read more. Look for it coming in May!

The Customers Strike Again!

Awhile back, I had several customers buy the same book in rapid succession. Within a few days, we had sold three or four copies of A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka. Every time the purchase was made, I was asked, "Have you read it? It's supposed to be wonderful." After answering "no" again and again, I decided to take the customers' advice and read the book.

I ended up loving it. Two sisters who are usually at odds with one another end up banding together to save their elderly father from Valentina, a young Ukrainian divorcee It's quirky and fun, with enough seriousness to give it weight, full of zany characters who are real and lovable underneath. It incorporates history, family dynamics, and crazy situations into a quick novel that has very little to do with tractors! In short, it's a good, fun read that I now recommend to many customers.

The same thing happened again last month. This time, two or three customers asked for the book on the same day: The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa. Over the next few days, several more people came in looking for a book we had no idea would be so popular! Having learned my lesson last time, I picked up a copy. Surprise! The customers were right again.

The Housekeeper and the Professor tells the story of three nameless characters: the housekeeper, the housekeeper's son (nicknamed Root by the professor, because his head is flat like a square root sign), and a retired professor of mathematics whose memory only lasts 80 minutes. As the story progresses, math and baseball pull these three characters together into a kind of family unit.

Some of my coworkers have read or are reading the book now as well. We can't keep it on the shelf! Thank you, Book House customers. Keep reading!

Let's Get Crafty!

From Susan T:

At the suggestion of a customer who shall remain nameless (thanks, SG!), I went to Beauknits, Ltd in Cohoes to learn how to knit. I recently resumed crocheting after a 30-year break, but I needed some instruction to resume knitting again. Thus, the lessons. Barbara at Beauknits is a wonderful teacher and I am almost done with my first hat; I'll finish it at next Saturday's lesson. In the meantime, I've started hat #2 and purchased yarn for an easy-looking sweater.
(Remember that Florida trip where I said I'd save money by not buying books? I lied.) What does this have to do with books, you ask?

Whenever I have a new enthusiasm (Pilates, local economies, crocheting, slow cooker recipes, the Mitford sisters, whatever), I need books about that subject. I might not read them right away, I might just dip into them now and again, but I need to be surrounded by information. On Monday afternoon, we received a book that covers 2 of my enthusiasms: "Pints & Purls: Portable Projects for the Social Knitter", a knitting book with patterns for the person who knits in a bar. Each pattern is rated according to how much attention it requires; the designated driver patterns are the most difficult and the 4-bottle ones require very little skill. (Although
one simple pattern warns, "Never underestimate the difficulty of counting!") I am now the proud owner of this book. Now I just need to find a knitting group that meets in a local pub.....

There are 2 more knitting books on my must-buy list. Erin recommends "The Knitting Answer Book." Published by Storey Press (one of our favorite publishers; they publish interesting, high quality titles), it answers any possible knitting question you might have. Then there is "The Knitter's Companion", recommended by another bookseller as the best knitting reference book out there, and small enough to stash in your knitting bag.

Knitting and books on knitting--who could ask for anything more? Possibly one more thing--one of those gadgets that holds my novel open so I can read while knitting......

Susan

PS--In the next couple of months, Beauknits, Ltd will be offering a class on how to knit 2 socks at the same time on one circular needle. If I am feeling ambitious, I might take that class, and I know just the book to bolster me: "2-at-a-Time Socks" by Melissa Morgan-Oakes. It looks scary, but the best thing about knitting is you can always pull it out and start over.

The House in the Night is here!

The new Caldecott award winner, The House in the Night, by Susan Marie Swanson & illustrated by Beth Krommes has been reprinted & is now here at your very own independent, locally-owned bookstore! This is a really beautiful book with luminous illustrations & a simple, lyrical text that is perfect for a new baby gift or as a read aloud, particularly for bedtime. There is a very classic feel to this book, akin to Virginia Burton's Little House or Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon that is very charming and lovely!

The Book House Book Group!

We used to get many questions here at the Book House about whether we had a store affiliated book group. At the end of last year, we decided to launch one and see how it went. The first meeting of the Book House Book Group happened in January, and it's been going strong since! The group meets on the second Wednesday of each month. So far, we've read The Mysteries of Pittsburgh by Michael Chabon (January) and Firmin by Sam Savage (February).

This month's book is The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, a book that Stanley of Market Block Books called his favorite book of 2008. If you'd like to join us, the next meeting is on Wednesday, March 11th at 7pm at the Book House -- still plenty of time to read! Just stop by the Book House (or Market Block Books) and pick up your copy.

If you have any questions, or if you'd like to RSVP, give us a call at (518) 489-4761. We hope you can join us!

News from Market Block Books in Troy, NY

This is my first post here and I hope it's not my last. I'm juggling a few blogs at the moment which is why I'm writing this post. We created a blog for the staff and customers at Market Block Books. Click on that name there (it's a link) and it'll take you to it. There you will see postings by some of your favorite Book House staff as well as guest contributors who just happen to be our customers. Have a look, leave a comment and let me know if you want to post your own book recommendation.

Stanley in Troy

Diary of a Wimpy Kid 3 The Last Straw is here!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid 3 The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney was released yesterday, January 13th-to the delight of the series' many fans! It may have seemed an eternity to diehard fans since the last book came out, but it was just last October that Diary of a Wimpy Kid the Do-It-Yourself Book was released, which encourages kids to write a journal of their own in a Wimpy kid format. For those who may be unfamiliar with the Wimpy Kid phenomenon, it's a hilarious series written in journal form with cartoon style illustrations that is extremely popular, particularly with middle schoolers. The series has a broad appeal to both boys & girls & has been instrumental in getting many reluctant readers to actually enjoy reading. Suggested reading age is about 8 to 13.

The Best of 2008: Staff Favorites

Below you will find the Book House booksellers' favorite books from 2008. They're as different as we are, so we hope there will be something for everyone! We'll be highlighting the books in the store to make it easy for customers to find them.

Without further ado, the best books of 2008, according to the Book House staff:

Wesley the Owl by Stacey O'Brien
Chosen by: Troy
The book chronicles the life shared by biologist Stacey O'Brien and her adopted owl Wesley.
Troy says: Stacey O'Brien's dry humor and engaging reportage make this "animal tale" a standout. Read it even if--especially if--you're not pet-obsessed, because it's intelligent and fun.


Au Pied de Cochon by Martin Picard
Chosen by: Julia
Stories, photographs, and recipes make this cookbook a unique package.
Julia says: Life is a party, and at this Montreal restaurant, it's a party with pork products. An amazing eating experience is captured in this fantastic cookbook.


Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
Chosen by: Dan
The newest book by the best-selling author of Blink and The Tipping Point.
Dan says: Chance plays a bigger role in our lives than we like to admit. Gladwell shows how it may be the most important factor.


Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell
Chosen by: Drew
This novel just made the cutoff; it was published right at the end of 2008.
Drew says: This fast-paced thriller tells the story of a doctor who was a mob hit man in a past life. This is the first novel from Josh Bazell. Written in a Chuck Palahniuk style, it's impossible to put down.


Mudbound by Hillary Jordan and The Little Book by Selden Edwards
Chosen by: Susan T.
Two very different books, so she just couldn't choose! Mudbound is set in the post-WWII South and has been compared to To Kill a Mockingbird. The Little Book tells the story of one man's struggles to understand why he was sent back in time to a half century before his own birth.
Susan says: Hard to choose, but Mudbound is by Hillary Jordan, a local author from Tivoli, and The Little Book involves traveling back in time (one of my favorite fictional devices) and it hasn't gotten nearly as much press as my other favorites...Watch for Mudbound in paperback this spring and possibly an author event, too!


The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Chosen by: Erin
Though technically classified as a young adult novel, Suzanne Collins spins a nail-biting story that will capture any reader.
Erin says: Set in a future America, it follows sixteen-year-old Katniss as she fights to win the government-sponsored, required-viewing Hunger Games--a reality TV show where the last contestant left alive is declared the winner. I spent every one of my spare minutes reading it, and when I'd finished, I spent days searching for something as catching to read. Everyone should read this book.