Paperback Young Adult Novels

Sweet Evil and Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9780062085610

Embrace the Forbidden What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences? This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna. Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns? The final book in the amazing trilogy will be out in April 2014. Both Alexis and Courtney LOVE this series!!!

All These Things I've Done and In the Age of Love and Chocolate by Gabrielle Zevin

http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781250010285

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family. All three books in the series are available and in stock! It's a must read!- Alexis

Rat Saw God by Rob Thomas 

http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781442457386

Steve details his descent from bright star to burnout in this newly repackaged edition of the definitive, highly acclaimed novel from the creator of Veronica Mars and Party Down.

Houston, sophomore year: Steve is on top of the world. He and his friends are the talk of the school. He’s in love with a terrific girl. He can even deal with “the astronaut”—a world-famous hero who happens to be his father.

San Diego, senior year: Steve is bummed out, drugged out, flunking out. A no-nonsense counselor says he can graduate if he writes a 100-page paper. So Steve starts writing, and as the paper becomes more and more personal, he reveals how a National Merit Scholar has become an under-achieving stoner. And in telling how he got to where he is, Steve discovers how to get to where he wants to be. Fans of Veronica Mars will LOVE this book! -Alexis

Divergent by Veronica Roth

http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9780062024039
Read the book before the movies ruins it for you!
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. Alexis and Courtney LOVE this book and all three books in the trilogy are available and in stock!
 

Every Day by David Levithan

http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9780307931894

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day. With his new novel, David Levithan has pushed himself to new creative heights. He has written a captivating story that will fascinate readers as they begin to comprehend the complexities of life and love in A’s world, as A and Rhiannon seek to discover if you can truly love someone who is destined to change every day.

Newly Released Young Adult Novels

Someone Up There Hates You by Hollis Seamon
http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781616202606
Dying of cancer in a hospice, 17-year-old prankster Richard Casey has big plans for his final days. Sylvie, the only other hospice inmate under 60, tells Richie she has a few plans of her own. What begins as camaraderie quickly blossoms into real love, and this star-crossed pair is determined to live on their own terms, in whatever time they have left.- Susan Taylor

Splintered by A.G. Howard
http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781419704284
 "Alyssa thinks she's going crazy, just liker mother and grandmother- but when she listens to the clues they lead her to Wonderland to correct her great great grandmother, Alice's mistakes. It is a perfect  combination of Carrol's original story and Burton's interpretation but completely original!" Book 2, Unhinged, is due in January 2014.- Alexis Sky

Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano
http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781442480612
 "Lauren's new series, The Internment Chronicles, starts off with Perfect Ruin, a novel about a city in the sky. Morgan lives in Internment, the floating city positioned well above Earth. She dreams of going to the ground and when Internment has a series of crimes that shake the people's beliefs, Morgan's dreams take flight, literally. Part love story, part coming of age this amazing novel is 100% amazing- you won't be disappointed." Alexis Sky

The Testing by Joelle Charboneau
http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9780547959108
 "In this new dystopian trilogy Cia is chosen for the Testing to see if she is a viable candidate for the Univeristy. As she's leaving her father warns her not trust no one. In a battle of wits and Cia must come out on top to stay alive. She must be strong, smart and willing to do anything to survive and get a spot at the University. This series is smart and insightful and a must read. Fans of the Hunger Games and Divergent will enjoy this new series. And bonus- Book 1 was released in June 2013,

How to Love by Katie Cotugno
http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9780062216359
 "Reena has always loved Sawyer, but Sawyer wasn't ready for that all consuming love so he left, without a word. Three years later he returns to find that life as he knew it has changed. Reena isn't the same happy-go-lucky girl she once was, but now a mother to a three year old you looks a lot like Sawyer. Told in alternating chapters, Before and After, readers will fall in love with Reena and Sawyer and travel through the pages into their loves where they'll learn that mistakes have consequences but not all consequences are bad" Alexis
Book 2 in January 2014 and Book 3 in June 2014- so no long wait."- Alexis

Day 12 of Book House's 25 Days of Holiday Must-Haves: Paperback Fiction

Me Before You by JoJo Moyes
http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9780143124542
If you are looking for a romantic love story that will leave you in happy tears, this is the book for you! Suspend disbelief and immerse yourself in the life of Louisa Clark, who takes a job as a caretaker for a young, wealthy, disabled man. After a rocky start, Lou and Will become close, and Will urges her to expand her horizons and escape from their stifling small town. Naturally, love blooms, but can there be a happy ending for two such different people? -- Susan Taylor, Market Block Books, Troy, NY.
Alexis loves it too!

Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781451681758
 Tom and Isabel Sherbourne aren't sure how to react when a dead body and a new born baby, very much alive, wash up on the shore of the lighthouse they're tending to. Tom immediately wants to do the right thing and report the body and the baby to the police. Though his wife Isabel has been unable to conceive a child for so long that she's desperate to keep the child as her own. Against his better judgement, Tom gives into his wife's wishes and they go on to raise this mystery baby as their own. Some secrets you just can't keep forever...

 Part mystery, part romance and full of beautiful writing, Light Between Oceans is a book you'll want to stay up all night to finish.

-Courtney, Book House, Albany, NY

Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro
http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781616203160
Almost twenty-five years after the infamous art heist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum—still the largest unsolved art theft in history—one of the stolen Degas paintings is delivered to the Boston studio of a young artist. Claire Roth has entered into a Faustian bargain with a powerful gallery owner by agreeing to forge the Degas in exchange for a one-woman show in his renowned gallery. But as she begins her work, she starts to suspect that this long-missing masterpiece—the very one that had been hanging at the Gardner for one hundred years—may itself be a forgery. The Art Forger is a thrilling novel about seeing—and not seeing—the secrets that lie beneath the canvas.
 Susan Taylor is a big fan of this book!

Red Hill by Jamie McGuire
http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781476759524

Set against the backdrop of a brilliantly realized apocalyptic world, love somehow finds a way to survive. But what happens when the one you’d die for becomes the one who could destroy you?  Red Hill grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go until its stunning conclusion. This is #1 New York Times bestselling author Jamie McGuire at her unforgettable best.

Alexis is a BIG fan of all of Jamie's books!

Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks
http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781250031853
Imaginary friend Budo has been protecting his human friend, Max, for five years from everything from the class bully to awkward situations in public bathrooms. He worries about the day when Max will stop believing in him, and he will disappear forever. When Max is suddenly in danger, Budo must decide between Max's happiness and his own existence in order to save his friend. It doesn't take much imagination to know that this is a great read! -- Grace Firari, The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop, Fort Atkinson, WI
Stanley loves this book!

Gifts to Give a Bookaholic

A Reader's Book of Days: True Tales from the Lives and Works of Writers for Every Day of the Year by: Tom Nissley and Joanna Neborsky
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The title describes it all! Everyday is a new tale from the lives of writers, each one thoroughly entertaining. A gift that keeps on giving throughout the whole year.

The Novel Cure: From Abandonment to Zestlessness: 751 Books to Cure What Ails You by: Ella Berthoud and Susan Elderkin 
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Whether you're suffering from depression, too much happiness, or just plain boredom, The Novel Cure will tell you what to read and why. Winter is the season of colds and we have a novel cure.

My Bookstore: Writers Celebrate Their Favorite Places to Browse, Read, and Shop by: Ronald Rice
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'In this enthusiastic, heartfelt, and sometimes humorous ode to bookshops and booksellers, 84 known authors pay tribute to the brick-and-mortar stores they love and often call their second homes."


Literary Tote Bag
Being a Bookaholic often means you're toting around more than one book at a time so it's only appropriate that you rock a literary themed tote bag. At the Book House we have a variety of literary totes that show off your love of books.

Book Journal
Book journals are a great way for Bookaholics to track what they've read and what they thought of the books they've read throughout the year. Different book journals offer different features but all are equally fun!

Book House has a ton of other literary related items like little storage boxes that look like actual books and a Shakespeare Magnet set. We hope you think of us when you do your holiday shopping this season!

Note-Worthy Novels for Your Middle Reader

Wonder by R. J. Palacio

http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9780375869020

I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.
August Pullman was born with a facial deformity that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. Wonder, now a #1 New York Times bestseller and included on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.

Rogue by Lyn Miller-Lachman

http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9780399162251

Kiara has Asperger’s syndrome, and it’s hard for her to make friends. So whenever her world doesn’t make sense—which is often—she relies on Mr. Internet for answers. But there are some questions he can’t answer, like why she always gets into trouble, and how do kids with Asperger’s syndrome make friends? Kiara has a difficult time with other kids. They taunt her and she fights back. Now she’s been kicked out of school. She wishes she could be like her hero Rogue—a misunderstood X-Men mutant who used to hurt anyone she touched until she learned how to control her special power. When Chad moves in across the street, Kiara hopes that, for once, she’ll be able to make friendship stick. When she learns his secret, she’s so determined to keep Chad as a friend that she agrees not to tell. But being a true friend is more complicated than Mr. Internet could ever explain, and it might be just the thing that leads Kiara to find her own special power.

In Rogue, author Lyn Miller-Lachmann celebrates everyone’s ability to discover and use whatever it is that makes them different. This is the first book about a child with Asperger's written by someone with the syndrome. Lyn is a local author and loved by all at the Book House and Market Block Books.

The Peculiar by Stefan Bachman

http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9780062195197

This international bestseller and debut novel by a teenage author and classical musician is part murder mystery, part gothic fantasy, part clockwork adventure. A changeling suddenly finds himself at the center of a web of intrigue and danger when he is stalked by a sinister faery.

The sequel, The Whatnot is now available in hardcover.

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Well by Chris Colfer

http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9780316201568

The Land of Stories tells the tale of twins Alex and Conner. Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, they leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with the fairy tale characters they grew up reading about.

Book 2 The Enchantress Returns is now available in hardcover.

Timmy Failure: Mistakes were Made by Stephan Pastis

http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9780763660505

With perfectly paced visual humor, Stephan Pastis gets you snorting with laughter, then slyly carries the joke a beat further — or sweetens it with an unexpected poignant moment — making this a comics-inspired story (the first in a new series) that truly stands apart from the pack.

9th Day of Book House's 25 Days of Holiday Must-Haves: Do-it-Yourself Books

Homemade Gifts by DK

http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781465408402

Containing more than 70 projects, from candle making and crocheting to paper-crafts and baking, Handmade Gifts is the perfect guide to making handcrafted items that people will love. Each project is clearly explained using simple step-by-step images along with photographs of the finished item and variations on how to make each piece unique. There are even ideas for green and up-cycled gifts.

Fashion Timeline Journal by the Victoria and Albert Museum

http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781452115153

This exquisite journal features color fashion illustrations from throughout the 20th century and comes with a pretty ribbon marker. The special fold-out fashion timeline nestled at back can be removed and displayed on a bookshelf, mantel, or desk.

Made By Dad: 67 Blueprints for Making Cool Stuff by Scott Bedford

http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9780761171478

Bedford presents 67 unique projects that will turn any dad with DIY leanings into a mad scientist hero.

Knit your own Moustache by Vicky Eams

http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781908449351

Knit your way to a new secret identity; dress to impress with a unique woolly beard, wig or moustache; become a dapper dandy, pirate or even a rabbit with this great book that includes 20 knit and crochet disguises. 

Day 7 of Book House's 25 Days of Holiday Must-Haves

Havisham by Ronald Frame

http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781250037275

In Havisham, Ronald Frame unfurls the psychological trauma that made young Catherine into Miss Havisham and cursed her to a life alone, roaming the halls of the mansion in the tatters of the dress she wore for the wedding she was never to have.

Alexis and Stanley can't wait to find this under their Christmas trees!

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9780316176484

On a cold and snowy night in 1910, Ursula Todd is born to an English banker and his wife. She dies before she can draw her first breath. On that same cold and snowy night, Ursula Todd is born, lets out a lusty wail, and embarks upon a life that will be, to say the least, unusual. For as she grows, she also dies, repeatedly, in a variety of ways, while the young century marches on towards its second cataclysmic world war. 

Stanley and Susan Taylor highly recommend this title.

Someone Else's Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson

http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9780062105653

Someone Else's Love Story is Joshilyn Jackson's funny, charming, and poignant novel about science and miracles, secrets and truths, faith and forgiveness; about falling in love and learning that things aren't always what they seem--or what we hope they will be. It's a story about discovering what we want and ultimately finding what we need.

Susan Taylor highly recommends this book.

Princess Bride, 40th Edition by William Golding

http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9780544173767

Here William Goldman's beloved story of Buttercup, Westley, and their fellow adventurers finally receives a beautiful illustrated treatment.
A tale of true love and high adventure, pirates, princesses, giants, miracles, fencing, and a frightening assortment of wild beasts--"The Princess Bride" is a modern storytelling classic.

Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield

http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781476711959

As a boy, William Bellman commits one small, cruel act: killing a bird with his slingshot. Little does he know the unforeseen and terrible consequences of the deed, which is soon forgotten amidst the riot of boyhood games. By the time he is grown, with a wife and children of his own, William seems to be a man blessed by fortune—until tragedy strikes and the stranger in black comes. Then he starts to wonder if all his ha

ppiness is about to be eclipsed. Desperate to save the one precious thing he has left, William enters into a rather strange bargain, with an even stranger partner, to found a decidedly macabre business.And Bellman & Black is born. 

Susan Taylor recommends this to all!

Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham

http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9780345532749

Fans of Gilmore Girls and Parenthood rejoice! Lauren Graham's debut novel about a struggling actress in New York City is a must read. Someday, Someday, Maybe is a story about hopes and dreams, being young in a city, and wanting something deeply, madly, desperately. It’s about finding love, finding yourself, and perhaps most difficult of all in New York City, finding an acting job. Alexis adores this book and recommends it to all!

Poetry Collections to Curl Up With

Gorgeous Nothings: Emily Dickinson Envelope Poems by: Emily Dickinson 
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There's no other way to define this book, it is simply gorgeous. Photographs of scrap pieces of envelopes on which Emily Dickinson scribbled lines of poetry and typed text that translates her handwriting. The ideal gift for anyone who is fond of poetry.

Dog Songs by: Mary Oliver 
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Dog lovers everywhere will rejoice at this sweet collection of poetry. 

A Thousand Mornings by: Mary Oliver
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Mary Oliver has been on a role this year! Published before Dog Songs, Thousand Mornings is another excellent collection of poetry. Plus it's thin size makes it a perfect stocking stuffer.

Aimless Love by: Billy Collins
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Billy Collins never disappoints. Another lovely collection by him.  

E.E. Cummings: Complete Poems 1904-1962 
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"This edition of E. E. Cummings's Complete Poems contains all the poems published or designated for publication by the poet in his lifetime, including 36 poems that were first collected in the 1991 edition and 164 unpublished poems issued in 1983 under the title Etcetera." 



 

Holiday Must-Have Picture Books

Uh Oh Dodo by Jennifer Gordon Sattler
http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781590789292
Dodo loves adventure. He's endlessly curious. And going for a walk with his mom offers tons of opportunity for trouble and excitement. Good thing his mom is always nearby to help, if needed. An adorable book about the love between a kid and his mom!- Alexis

Chick and Pug Series by Jennifer Sattler
http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781619630789

It's a bird . . . It's a pug . . . It's: Chick 'n' Pug!

Chick lives for adventures. Pug lives for, well, sleep. In Chick's eyes, however, Pug can do no wrong. In fact, he is WONDERPUG! But with danger around every corner and a hero who's a little low on energy, it may be up to Chick to save the day and earn the prized role of sidechick (er, sidekick . . .) Who doesn't love a pug? And chick well he rocks, especially in the sequel, Chick and Pug Meet the Dude!

Tea Rex by Molly Idle
http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9780670014309

Some tea parties are for grown-ups. Some are for girls. But this tea party is for a very special guest. And it is important to follow some rules . . .
like providing comfortable chairs, and good conversation, and yummy food.
But sometimes that is not enough for special guests,
especially when their manners are more Cretaceous than gracious . . .

Introducing Tea Rex, a guest that just about any child would love to have to tea!
We all love this one- Alexis, Courtney, Kathleen and Rachel

Snatchabook by Helen and Thomas Dochery
http://bookhouse.indiebound.com/book/9781402290824
It's bedtime in the woods of Burrow Down, and all the animals are ready for their bedtime story. But books are mysteriously disappearing. Eliza Brown, a young rabbit, decides to to stay awake and catch the book thief. It turns out to be a little creature called the Snatchabook who has no one to read him a bedtime story. Great read aloud! I absolutely adore this book!-Alexis

Day 4 of Book House's 25 Days of Holiday Must-Haves: Local Authors

Fellow Mortals by Dennis Mahoney
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With sparse and handsome prose reminiscent of Raymond Carver and early Stewart O’Nan, Mahoney’s probing first novel charts the fall of a man who has spent his life working to be decent and shows us a community trying desperately to hold itself together.

Great Balls of Cheese by Michelle Buffardi
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Come meet Michelle On December 21st at Market Block Books from 11-1pm  Few books have attracted as much instantaneous staff enthusiasm as Great Balls of Cheese. Sure the cover is cute, but the ideas inside made us salivate and conspire on ways to create a cheese event in our store... even if we have to do demos ourselves! Fortunately, the author has Troy connections and will do the demo for us. Huzzah! --Stanley

The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis
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I love, love, love, this collection of short stories. Her short stories range from a few sentences to a few pages and all are equally engaging.

 From Kistallnacht to Watergate: Memoirs of a Newspaper by: Harry Rosenfeld 
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In this powerful memoir, Harry Rosenfeld describes his years as an editor at the "New York Herald Tribune" and the "Washington Post," two of the greatest American newspapers in the second half of the turbulent twentieth century.

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.

Fairy Tale Friday

     Fairy tales never seem to get old, probably because they're so much fun. In honor of our favorite fairy tales, every Friday for the next month, the Book House blog will be featuring Fairy Tale Friday. 

   This week we'd like to share with our readers The American Fairy Trilogy by: Sarah Zettel.

    These are the adventures of Callie LeRoux, who has been hiding in plain sight in a small town in Kansas. When the Dust Bowl Descends, and her mother disappears, Callie is forced to go in search of the secrets of her past. A thrilling fantasy adventure set in the 1930's!
                                  Book One: Dust Girl

Book Two: Golden Girl 

Book Three: Has yet to be released! 

      (But we're anxiously waiting for it.)

Jabba the Puppett Is On His Way!

       Before there was Darth Vader & Son, or Vader's Little Princess, there was Tom Angleberger's Star Wars inspired children's books Origami Yoda. The series has been a huge hit with children and parents alike and continues to grow. On August 6th, 2013,  the fourth book in the series, The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppett. will be released.While we all eagerly await the books arrival, we can get a kick out of admiring the Little Book House's new Jabba the Puppett display!
  
      If you'd like to pre-order a copy of The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppet you can call the Book House at (518) 489-4761.

The series in order:

1. The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

2. Darth Paper Strikes Back 

3. The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee 

    May the force be with you!

If You Like Sarah Dessen, You'll Love These Titles

    What do you do now that you've read every single Sarah Dessen book that ever was?
 
Just Listen, there are many fabulous authors for Someone Like You---come Along for the Ride!

    These are some of my favourites in the genre:

Joan Bauer: 

• Almost Home 
• Close to Famous
• Hope Was Here
• Rules of the Road
• Peeled

Maureen Johnson: 

• 13 Little Blue Envelopes
• Last Little Blue Envelopes
• Suite Scarlett

Steven Kluger:

• My Most Excellent Year 

Rainbow Rowell:

• Eleanor & Park
• Fangirl (Coming out 9/10/13)  

*Rainbow Rowell has also written an excellent book for adults entitled, Attachments

Heather Hepler:

• The Cupcake Queen
• Love? Maybe

Wendy Mass:

• A Mango Shaped Space

Mom & Me & Mom by: Maya Angelou

     At 85 years old, Maya Angelou lives the life of a true Renaissance woman. She's written about her life in a series of autobiographies, beginning with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, in which Maya Angelou recalls growing up in the South and being exposed to racism at an early age.     In her seventh autobiography, Mom & Me & Mom,  Angelou writes in depth about her mother Vivian Baxter and the relationship they shared.
     Having lived with her paternal grandmother until the age of 13, Maya Angelou wasn't comfortable with the idea of moving in with her mother. Instead of calling Vivian Baxter "mother", Angelou referred to her as Lady. The nickname stuck and soon enough everyone who knew Vivian Baxter began to call her Lady.
     The stories Angelou shares about Lady illustrate her unwavering loyalty to her children and her astonishing bravery. Mom & Me & Mom is a reflection of the power of motherhood written with Maya Angelou's classic, lyrical prose. 

Guilty Pleasures

There's no doubt that 50 Shades of Grey has spiced up Romance as a genre. But 50 Shades certainly isn't the only romance novel out there that's guaranteed to keep you hooked. Alexis, our Romance novel expert, has recently revived our Romance section to include a wide array of novels, including the popular uprising genre New Adult. (You can read all about the New Adult genre here in Alexis' most recent blog post.)
      Whether you're looking for a mild, medium, or hot read, we have it!

 Here are just a few of many books on Alexis' shelf:

If you like your romance novels on the mild side, try:
  
    1. Beautiful Disaster by: Jamie McGuire
       Abby Abernathy is trying to make it through college without making her presence, or her past, known. Though loud-mouth Travis Maddox isn't going to make that possible. Travis is known for his reputation with girls so when Travis and Abby lock eyes at one of his infamous fights, he's sure that he can win her over. Travis soon finds out that he's underestimated Abby. While she may seem innocent and shy on the outside, her past is just as checkered as Travis'.
     Beautiful Disaster is passionate read about two headstrong characters who can't help but fall in love. Best part is, Jamie McGuire has written Abby and Travis' story through Travis' point of view in her newest novel, Walking Disaster. Alexis and I both loved these two romantic reads.


 If you're looking for a romance novel right between mild and hot, try:

     2. Thoughtless by: S.C. Stephens (The first in the trilogy!) 
         " Kiera and her boyfriend Denny move across the country to live with his rockstar friend, Kellan. When sparks fly between Kellan and Kiera, can she resist? A powerful trilogy about love, loss, and fighting for happiness." -Alexis



If you want a really hot romance, try:
 
    3. The Breathless Trilogy by: Maya Banks (The first is Rush)
          "Gabe, Jace, and Ash are young billionaire play boys. Each book follows one as they find love. All three novels are full of lots of lust, fights, and deception, but always give you a perfect ending." -Alexis

Stern Men by: Elizabeth Gilbert

  Book of the Day:

Stern Men by: Elizabeth Gilbert

       If you can't wait for Elizabeth Gilbert's new novel, Signature of All Things, than you might want to pick up Gilbert's first novel, Stern Men. Originally published in 2000, there's been talk of Stern Men going out of print. So when my friend Hannah and I spotted a copy in a used bookstore in Salem, Massachusetts, I told her she had to grab it. Not knowing if the rumors are true or not, I couldn't let her pass up the chance to read such a great book.
       The sharing doesn't stop there. Fellow co-worker, Rick, has also picked up a copy to bring on an upcoming vacation to New England.
        Truth be told, I can't stop recommending Stern Men. 

        Off the coast of Maine, between Fort Niles Island and Courne Have Island a feud has been brewing for decades over the ocean that lies between the island. The local lobstermen all want to fish in the sweet spot of ocean water. But as the saying goes, you can't always get what you want.
          To Ruth Thomas, Fort Niles is home. She's grown up in two homes, her first home being with her stubborn father. Her second home being with the Pommeroy's large, but loving, family of boys and a big-hearted Mrs. Pommeroy. Ruth knows how to be tough, it's in her blood. When you have a father who's a lobstermen, you quickly learn how to work hard and get what you want. Even Mrs. Pommeroy's motherly care can't smooth out Ruth's spitfire personality.
           Determined to rebel against her mother, Ruth throws away her education at a fancy boarding school at the age of 18 and sets off to be a stern man. Earning a spot on a lobstering boat is hard enough as it is, but being a young woman makes it even harder when the local lobstermen refuse to break out of their old ways. If any girl can earn a spot on a lobstering boat, it'd be Ruth Thomas.
        She may not be a romantic, but that won't stop Ruth from running into love despite the consequences. The same way being a woman won't stop her from calling herself a stern man.

     Elizabeth Gilbert has crafted a smart novel with a dash of romance. While Gilbert will satisfy your reading cravings, she'll leave you be longing for lobster.