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. 

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.

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.

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

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

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls by: Anton DiSclafani

        The Book House Book of the Day: 

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls by: Anton DiSclafani

   Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls is without a doubt, the best novel I've read so far this summer. Thea Atwell's role in a family tragedy has her sent away to Yonahlossee in the middle of the Great Depression. She's always been a talented rider after spending years practicing on her pony, Sasi. But Thea doesn't want to go to camp, she wants to stay close to her family in Florida. Growing up, family was all Thea had. Living on a secluded citrus farm meant never coming into contact with the outside world. Thea didn't have friends, didn't go to a public school. Instead her brother and twin, Sam, and her were home-schooled. Who needs friends when you have a twin?
          As she reaches young-adulthood, Thea starts to notice physical and mental changes. Though Thea isn't the only one to notice these changes. There's a person watching from the sidelines who may just break her family apart.
       While Thea has made her share of new friends, she's still careful about how much she reveals about herself. Not all the girls at Yonahlossee are loyal to each other and in a camp full of girls, secrets and rumors are bound to spread.
     Mrs. Holmes doesn't make life easy for Thea either. Her and her husband, Mr. Holmes, run the camp together. Thea can't read Mrs. Holmes like she can most people. She can never tell when Mrs. Holmes is impressed or displeased with her. When Thea begins to teach the Holmes children how to ride horses, Thea decides that Mr. and Mrs. Holmes simply aren't right together. His soft demeanor is no match for her stoic nature. Maybe Mr. Holmes' demeanor is the reason why Thea finds herself enjoying his presence. Or maybe it's because of his handsome, slender figure. Whatever the reason, Thea begins enjoying Yonahlossee more and more. She slowly finds herself disconnecting from her past and riding into an uncertain future. 
        This novel has everything I could ask for in a book. A perfect blend of seduction, suspense, history, and excellent writing. This coming of age tale will have you holding on tight until the end.
     
          The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls is also featured the Indie Bestseller list.

Short Story Saturday

         Sometimes my brain just can't handle a whole novel. Especially when I'm on the go or waiting in a doctor's office and don't want to get suck into a story that I can't snap out of. It's times like those that have me turning to short stories. Times when I just want a satisfactory taste of a story without feeling like I'm sitting down for a four-course meal.
       Here are some delicious short-stories for your literary sweet tooth.


1. The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis by: Lydia Davis 
          You might have heard about Davis recently winning the Man Booker International Prize. But you might not realize that this award winning author resides right in Albany. The Man Booker International prize isn't given for any specific piece of work, but for an author's collection works. Which would explain why MacMillan has published this lovely collection of Davis' short stories.
          Davis' collection is an absolute treat. If you ask me, Davis is changing the way author's write short stories. She's known more for her three sentence stories than she is her longer short stories. Being able to entice a reader with only a few sentences is a true talent that Lydia Davis has mastered. 

2. Dear Life by: Alice Munro 
           Munro recently announced that she is officially retiring from writing. Claiming that there will be no more short stories after her newest collection, Dear Life, which came out late last year. The stories within this collection are a perfect reflection of the title. They all give the reader insight into the human nature. You can't read these stories without realizing how unpredictable a seemingly normal life can be. Not to mention, the paperback version of Dear Life is set to be released July 30th, 2013. 




3. Vampires in the Lemon Grove by: Karen Russell
         In 2012 Karen Russell became a Pulitzer Prize finalist for her novel, Swamplandia. Her quirky story-telling is back in this collection of oddball tales. Whether it's writings about two vampires sucking lemons or a group of factory girls turning into silk human silk worms, Russell's writing is always unpredictable. You might pick up Vampires in the Lemon Grove for the crazy plots. But you'll stay for the writing, it's the icing on the cake. 


      

October Mystery Extravaganza

With Halloween just around the corner, it's a great time to read a gripping mystery! Here are the most popular mysteries on our shelves this month. Clicking on the title will take you to a page with more information, a picture of the cover, and an opportunity to order the book(s) for in-store pick-up!

1. Where Are You Now by Mary Higgins Clark (Simon & Schuster, $25.95 in hardcover)
2. Zapped by Carol Higgins Clark (Simon & Schuster, $24.00 in hardcover)
3. In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming (Local author! Staff pick! St. Martin's, $6.99 in paperback)
4. Friends in High Places by Donna Leon (Penguin-Putnam, $7.99 in paperback)
5. Now and Then by Robert B. Parker (Penguin-Putnam, $9.99 in paperback)
6. The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie King (St. Martin's, $14.00 in paperback)
7. A Fountain Filled with Blood by Julia Spencer-Fleming (Local author! Staff pick! St. Martin's, $6.99 in paperback)
8. Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell (Penguin-Putnam, $9.99 in paperback)
9. Sweet Revenge by Diana Mott Davidson (Harper-Collins, $7.99 in paperback)
10. I Shall Not Want by Julia Spencer-Fleming (Local author! Staff pick! St. Martin's, $24.95 in hardcover)

In addition, our booksellers have some favorite mysteries of their own. Here are some of our series picks:

Arnaldur Indridason's Reykjavik thrillers
This international mystery series starts off with Jar City, followed by Silence of the Grave and Voices, all available in paperback. The fourth in the series, The Draining Lake, is now available in hardcover (St. Martin's, $24.95). Marggie's hooked...you could be, too!


Ariana Franklin's "Mistress of the Art of Death" series
Susan T. and Erin adore this historical mystery series. The best way we can describe it is 12th century CSI! Follow Adelia, a female physician from Salerno, as she solves mysteries for the King of England. Mistress of the Art of Death is the first in the series, followed by The Serpent's Tale. And look for the third, Grave Goods, coming in March from Penguin-Putnam ($25.95)!

Jacqueline Winspear's "Maisie Dobbs" series
Looking for a good British mystery series? Lots of Book Housers would show you Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear. After serving as a nurse during World War I, Maisie starts working as a private investigator. There are five books in the series so far, with the sixth due out in February. From second to last (the first being Maisie Dobbs, link above), the series runs: Birds of a Feather, Pardonable Lies, Messenger of Truth, Incomplete Revenge, and Among the Mad.

Top Ten New Fiction Books of September

Here's a list of our best-selling hardcover (new) fiction titles for the month of September. Click on each title for more information!

1. The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society by Mary Shaffer & Annie Barrows (hardover, $22.00) Staff Pick!
2. The Garden of Last Days by Andre Dubus III (hardcover, $24.95)
3. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (hardcover, $23.95) Staff Pick!
4. American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld (hardcover, $26.00) Staff Pick!
5. Indignation by Philip Roth (hardcover, $26.00)
6. The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory (hardcover, $25.95)
7. Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri (hardcover, $25.00) Staff Pick!
8. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski (hardcover, $25.95) Staff Pick!
9. Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan (hardcover, $19.95)
10. World Without End by Ken Follett (hardcover, $35.00) Staff Pick!

Top Ten Mysteries of September

Ever wonder which mysteries your fellow Book House customers have been reading lately? Here's a list of our 10 best selling mysteries for September 2008. Some are national bestsellers, but some are from our own local authors! You can click on each title for more information.

1. Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell (paperback, $9.99)
2. Sweet Revenge by Diane Mott Davidson (paperback, $7.99)
3. In the Woods by Tana French (paperback, $14.00) Staff Pick!
4. Friends in High Places by Donna Leon (paperback, $7.99)
5. In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming (paperback, $6.99) Staff Pick! Local Author!
6. On the Ropes by Tom Schreck (paperback, $13.95) Staff Pick! Local Author!
7. TKO by Tom Schreck (paperback, $14.95) Staff Pick! Local Author!
8. Out of the Deep I Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming (paperback, $6.99) Staff Pick! Local Author!
9. The Careful Use of Compliments by Alexander McCall Smith (paperback, $13.95)
10. Knitting Bones by Monica Ferris (paperback, $6.99)