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.)