Diary of a Wimpy Kid Bus Comes to The Book House

The Diary of a Wimpy bus parked itself right in front of The Little Book House on Thursday, June 6th. Okay, the bus didn't actually park itself, Tommy the bus driver parked it. Along with showing a short video about Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Tommy handed out some cool freebies for fans. After visiting the bus, Diary of a Wimpy Kid readers pre-ordered the 8th book which will be out in November 5th, 2013.

Tommy was nice enough to let one of our booksellers, Khai, hop in the bus to pose for this picture. 

Isn't the bus awesome?!

(We think Khai looks pretty awesome too.)

If you'd like to pre-order the 8th book (the title hasn't been released yet) you can call

 The Book House: (518) 489-4761

Joesph E. Persico Signs "Roosevelt's Centurions"

        
         Last night The Book House was packed full of Joseph E. Persico fans who were eager to listen to this well known historian and biographer talk about his newest book, Roosevelt's Centurions: FDR and the Commanders He Led to Victory in World War 2.  After receiving many pre-orders throughout the day, it was no surprise that we sold out of Mr. Persico's latest book.

But have no fear! More copies of Roosevelt's Centurions are on the way.
 (Please call us if you would like a copy put aside for you. (518)489-4761)

  

       For those of you who aren't familiar with Mr. Persico's work, he's mainly known for his books revolving around the life and times of Franklin Roosevelt. After graduating from college Mr. Persico worked at NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) in Naples, Italy. He also served as a Lieutenant Junior Grade aboard a minesweeper. Just a few of his books that we currently have in stock include:

• Roosevelt's Secret War: FDR and World War 2 Espionage
•  Franklin and Lucy: Mrs. Rutherfurd and the Other Remarkable Women in Roosevelt's Life
• Eleventh Month, Eleventh Day, Eleventh Hour: Armistice Day, 1918 World War 1 and It's Violent Climax

        A big thanks to all those who came out last night, it was a great turn out and we loved listening to Mr. Persico talk about his work!

Reminder: Today, June 8th, at 3:00pm Lynn-Miller Lachmann will be signing copies of her Young Adult novel, Rogue. Her book will be available at the front counter.

One Bright Ring by: Gretchen Geser

           This past Sunday author/illustrator Gretchen Geser was signing copies of her recently published picture book, One Bright Ring. The story follows a little girl who happened to see a ring fall out of the pocket of a man who plans on proposing to his girlfriend. In attempts to get the ring safely back to the man, the girl overcomes many obstacles and manages to slip the ring back into his pocket just in time. One Bright Ring is an adorable story full of adventure, romance, and one brave girl that understands the importance of doing the right thing. 
                                                        

                  Here's Gretchen with a copy of One Bright Ring and just some of the many balloons that decorated the front of The Book House. In addition to colorful balloons, Gretchen brought fun crafts and snacks for the little readers to enjoy! 
                 
                   You can pick up a copy of Gretchen's book at The Little Book House and be sure to check out her daily Facebook updates for more information about the book. 
                 

Long Time, No See

       The Book House blog has been collecting cyber cobwebs for quiet some time now, but I've brought my virtual broom and I'm here to clean up. Since I've never posted on here before, I should probably introduce myself. My name is Courtney and I've been lucky enough to be an employee at The Book House for almost a year now. I love my job and especially love recommending books to fellow bibliophiles.
        But if you ask what type of books I read most often, don't expect a simple answer. I'm usually drawn to quirky, funny novels but I read anything from Young Adult lit to Fantasy/Science Fiction to Literary Fiction and, of course, Romance. Basically, if it sounds good, I'll read it. Which would explain why my to-be-read pile of books is ever growing.
        In the rare-moments when I'm not reading, I'm probably blogging, writing, exploring, or putting up adorable pictures of my long haired chihuahua (Sully) on Twitter. I hate being idle so I'm always on some sort of adventure, big or small.

        Speaking of adventures, my lovely co-worker Alexis and I will be attending BEA on Friday. For those who haven't heard of BEA (Book Expo of America) you can read all about it by clicking here. It'll be my first time going to BEA so I'm very excited, expect a blog post soon!

        In the mean time, here's a picture of Sully.

My Name is Mary Sutter

Today customers are starting to ask, "What's that book with the midwife from Albany, set during the Civil War?"

The answer: My Name is Mary Sutter, a new novel by Robin Oliviera, which will be released on May 13th.

Those of us at the Book House who have read the book loved it. Erin has this to say:

"Albany midwife Mary Sutter wants desperately to become a surgeon. On the eve of the American Civil War, she has been rejected by Albany Medical School and turned down for an apprenticeship by the town physician. Out of options, Mary is desperate — and so, when Dorthea Dix puts out a call for nurses, Mary hurries to Washington even though she is too young and has brought no letters of reference.

"Through impossible hardships, bone-numbing exhaustion, and personal grief, guilt, and aspirations, Mary toils day after day to care for the wounded Union soldiers that flood the hospitals. The story follows doctors and nurses, politicians and families — the people behind the front lines — as they find their way through war-torn lives. Rich in historic detail, Oliveira’s writing takes you back to its historical setting a in a way many novels never achieve."

Extra cool: Robin Oliviera grew up around Albany, though she now lives in Seattle.

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!