25 Days of Holiday Must-Haves: Day 3--History

The Plantagenets by: Dan Jones
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 "This is a well-written account of the 245 year Plantagenet dynasty whose descendants faught the Wars of the Roses. Henry the Second, Eleanor of Quitanine, Richard the Lion Heart, the Edwards--fascinating!" -Book House Bookseller Susan Taylor

Amsterdam: A History of the World's Most Liberal City by: Russell Shorto
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"Fans of The Island at the Center of the World will find familiar faces in Amsterdam given new context within the earliest and later history of the city. A stunning read by a favorite author!" 

One Summer by: Bill Bryson 
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"In One Summer Bill Bryson, one of our greatest and most beloved nonfiction writers, transports readers on a journey back to one amazing season in American life." 

Heretics and Heroes: How Renaissance Artists and Reformation Priests Created Our World by: Thomas Cahill 
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Thomas Cahill's newest book is all about "how the innovations of the Renaissance and the Reformation changed the Western world. A truly revolutionary book."

Book House's 25 Days of Holiday Must-Haves: Day 2--Memoirs

A House in the Sky by: Amanda Lindhout
http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781451645606
I can not recommend this memoir enough. Amanda Lindhout recalls the terrifying year she spent being held for ransom in Somalia. She shares her experiences in Somalia and writes about how she kept a hopeful demeanor through hard times.

Ten Years in the Tub by: Nick Hornby 
http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781938073731
Novelist Nick Hornby reflects on the books he has bought and read in the past ten years. An interesting and engaging read for any book lover.

This is a Story of a Happy Marriage by: Ann Patchett
http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9780062236678
Ann Patchett can do no wrong! This collection of personal essays range from subjects such as marriage, books, and the writing life. As usual, Patchett keeps you hooked.

The Telling Room by: Michael Paterniti 

http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9780385337007
Who knew a memoir about cheese could be so entertaining? While working in a deli Michael Paterniti discovered what he describes as the world's greatest cheese. He thought so highly of the cheese that he brought his family and friend to Spain in search of the infamous cheese maker. The Telling Room isn't just about cheese, it's a story that includes many life lessons--all of which are equally important. Share it with the chef or traveler in your life!

Day One: Books for Art Lovers

Day 1-Art:

What are you Looking at? The Surprising, Shocking and Sometime Strange Story of 150  Years of Modern Art by Will Gompertz
http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9780142180297
Is there a modern art lover in your family or group of friends? Well, this paperback is a perfect gift for them. It includes stories about Duchamp, Kandinsky, Cindy Sherman, etc.

UGLY The Aesthetic of Everything by Stephen Bayley
http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781468307160
This book asks the question "Is there such a thing as ugliness . . . or are aesthetic judgments purely a matter of taste?"

Awake in a Dream World: The Art of Audrey Niffenegger
http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781576876398
Most people don't know that the author of the best-selling book The Time Traveler's Wife is also an artist. This collection of unique illustrations will thrill the surrealist in your life.

Breakfast with Lucian: The Astounding Life and Outrageous Times of Britain's Great Modern Painter  by Geordie Greig
http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9780374116484
The title says it all! Lucian Freud was a brilliant painter who really did live an astounding life--which Geordie Greig writes all about in this gripping biography. Images of some Lucian Freud's painting are included as well as some personal photographs.

The Vatican: All the Paintings: The Complete Collection of Old Masters, plus more than 300 sculptures, maps, tapestries and other works by Anya Grebe and Ross King
http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781579129439
This amazing collection will be a hit with any art lover- it even includes a DVD!

Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton
http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781250038821
While roaming the streets of New York City Brandon Stanton has captured a glimpse into the lives of dozens of people from around the world. A simplistic and beautiful collection of photographs accompanied by minor pieces of dialogue between the photographer and the people he has photographed. This book speaks for itself. A truly great gift for anyone.

A House in the Sky by: Amanda Lindhout

Book of the Day:
A House in the Sky by: Amanda Lindhout and Sara Corbett

 
   I never used to find memoirs appealing until recently. In my head there was this preconceived notation that all memoirs are boring and dull. Call it teenage ignorance or just being naive, either way, I was so very, very wrong. A House in the Sky has all the makings of a breathtaking and immensely interesting memoir about a woman who was held captive in Somalia for 15 months.
     A House in the Sky starts off with a glimpse into Amanda Lindhout's childhood in a rural town of Alberta, Canada. As a child Amanda would dumpster dive with one of her brothers to collect bottles to return for cash. Amanda's bottle money was put to good use as she began to purchase old copies of National Geographic. She found that as her stack of magazines accumulated, so did her longing to travel. 
     Finally, at the age of 19, Amanda and her boyfriend at the time got out of Canada and spent 6 months in backpacking in South America. South America became a gateway destination for Amanda that led her to go on and backpack through many countries including Asia, Africa, Iran, and even Somalia.
      Ridden with war, religious tensions and poverty, Somalia is often labeled as one of the most dangerous places in the world, especially for women. At 26 years old, Amanda and her ex-boyfriend, Nigel, knew the risk they were taking when they decided to do some freelance reporting in part of Somalia. After a short time there, Amanda and Nigel were kidnapped by a group of Somalian men and held for a ransom of 1.5 million dollars each. A combined 3 million dollars for two westerners is not uncommon. In actuality, the kidnapping of westerners is a common occurrence in Somalia. and to the horror of Amanda and Nigel, there are laws set in place that stop foreign countries from paying ransoms. Amanda knows her family can't afford the ransom. She's well too aware of what happens to those whose families can't pay ransoms.

   Against the odds, Amanda survives 15 brutal months in captivity.

   A House in the Sky is a recollection of what happened during those 15 months. Amanda's bravery is awe-inspiring, it impossible to read this memoir and not be sucked into the world she became a part of. I can not recommend this book enough, it's simply a must read. 

Mystery Monday ft. Susan Elia MacNeal

    Susan Elia MacNeal is just one of the many fabulous authors that will be attending Bouchercon 2013 from September 19th to the 22nd. She's known mainly for her Maggie Hope Mysteries, an excellent mystery series set in World War 2 England with an intrepid and fascinating heroine. Whether you like historical fiction, or classic thrilling mysteries, Maggie Hope is the woman for you! Perfect for fans of Maisie Dobbs.

1. Mr. Churchill's Secretary (9780553593617)
2. Princess Elizabeth's Spy (9780345536730)
3. His Majesty's Hope (978054536730) 

Fairy Tale Friday

  When Mermaids Sleep by: Ann Bonwill (9780375870613)
       This is an absolutely goregous good night book that's filled with mermaids, pirates, wizards, unicorns, and dragons! Soothing, lyrical text accompanied with lush, textured illustrations.

  The Unnaturalists by: Tiffany Trent (9781442422070)

     Vespa's family want her to become respectable and find a husband, while she would love nothing better than to spend the rest of her life working in her father's museum of unnatural history. Fate may have something else entirely in store for her, however! Vespa and Syrus Reed, the tinker, are trapped in an insidious web of plots and intrigue. A really fascinating mix of mythical creatures, Victorian London, and steampunk!

Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by: Austin Kleon

   Whoever ever said "big things come in small packages" must have been referring to this gem of a book. Austin Kleon (author of Newspaper Blackout and Steal Like an Artist ) has written, by far, one of the most creative writing handbooks books I've ever read.
    Kleon knows that he's not the first person to write about the fact that all ideas grow from other ideas. He quotes a wide range of artists who share the same view point, including Picasso and Jay-Z, and offers a unique perspective on how to pull inspiration from other artists in order to create original art, whether it be writing, painting, or music.
    There's a fine line that separates stealing ideas and plagiarism and Austin Kleon manages to address that  point (along with many others) in an entertaining and cohesive way. All of his ideas are presented in short, visually appealing chapters full of valuable creative advice.
    Don't let the small size fool you- Steal Like an Artist is a wonderful guide for the modern day artist. 
      

Light Between Oceans by: M.L. Stedman

   Tom Sherbourne accepts a job offering as a lighthouse keeper on Januce Rock hoping that he'll have time to recover from the physiological effects of war. He's a dutiful man, who takes his job seriously and enjoys the peacefulness of the island so far away from home.
     Before he started his new job, a man told Tom that it takes a certain kind of woman to be a wife of a light keeper. So when Tom met Isabel while feeding pigeons one day, he didn't suspect that the playful young woman would later become his wife.
     Isabel proves to be the perfect wife to accompany Tom during his time at Jaunce. She tends to their small home and goes about fulfilling wifely duties. While her tasks satisfy her need to keep busy, Isabel wants nothing more than to be a mother. Many miscarriages later, Isabel realizes that she may never bear a child.
     Lucy is driven into depression, and Tom doesn't know how to restore his wife's hope of having children, until one night when a small boat drifts ashore carrying the body of a dead man and a baby girl bundled in a woman's cardigan. Tom immediately wants to call for help and record the events in his log, as a good light keeper should, but his wife convinces him to put it off for just one day. Isabel is completely smitten with the baby girl whom she names Lucy. Tom warns his wife not to become too attached, but his efforts are futile. Isabel wholeheartedly believes Lucy is a gift from God and can't be swayed to believe otherwise. With a dreadful pit in his stomach, Tom agrees to keep baby Lucy as their daughter and sends the body and boat back to sea.
       For nearly two years Tom and Isabel raise Lucy as their daughter until Tom finishes his required time as the light keeper. Returning home with Lucy is shockingly different from what Tom and Isabel imagined it would be. It doesn't take long for the couple to realize that, despite what they thought, there are consequences to taking a child that isn't theirs.
      
       I read The Light Between Oceans whenever I could, even if it was only for a few minutes. M.L. Stedman has written such a engrossing novel it is almost impossible to read in more than one sitting. As the reader, you're aware that life for the Sherbournes isn't going to be an easy one-after all, they've committed a serious crime, even if they had good intentions. Stedman will have you rooting for the characters you love and biting your nails to find out their fate.

Fairy Tale Friday

     Sometimes being a prince is not all it's cracked up to be. Sure, you might live a life of luxury, but, indeed, everyone has their own trials and tribulations! The princesses each have their own particular tale of bravery and derring-do, but alas, all of the princes are mere side-notes, lumped under the single name of "charming." Imagine being the subject of scurrilous and humiliating tales bruited about by impertinent and mocking minstrels! These are the adventures of a motley crew of more (or less) charming princes who set out to prove themselves as heroes, once and for all! Hilarious and swashbuckling!

Series in Order Thus Far:

#1: The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by: Christopher Healy 978006211758

#2: The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle 

by: Christopher Healy 9780062118455

Wild by: Cheryl Strayed

Book of the Day: 

Wild by: Cheryl Strayed

   After many weeks of admiring the cover of Wild as it sat on the best-seller shelf, I finally decided to find out if it would live up to the hype or not.

   It does.

     Propelled by the death of her mother and a failing marriage, Cheryl decides to hike the Pacific Crest Trail having never hiked before. Carrying an overstuffed hiker's backpack and wearing boots a size too small, she begins her journey completely inexperienced. Throughout the entire memoir I found myself absorbed in the details of her hike. Cheryl writes with the perfect combination of blunt honesty and humor. Whether she's writing about the blisters forming on her feet, or about the eccentric people she meets along the way, Cheryl Strayed will keep readers enthralled. I suspect Wild will become a modern classic right alongside Bill Bryson and Jon Krakauer.