Member Blogs Archive > April 2017
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from Journey of a Bookseller
The Nakano Thrift Shop by Hiromi Kawakami
Sun, 30 Apr 2017 09:00:00 PermalinkThis story is set in a thrift shop in Japan but it doesn't center on the items being sold or their story. It's about the four people who work in the shop: The owner and his sister and the young man and woman he hired. They all have secrets and most of them aren't really secrets...Europa Editions and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published June 6th.The thrift shop owner is married but has mistresses. His sister is fifty and living with a man and he wants her to stop it. Like Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
The Last Death Worm of the Apocalypse (Kelly Driscoll #3) by Nina Post
Sun, 30 Apr 2017 08:30:00 PermalinkKelly is still acting as an interim manager. Her boss is gone, she should be getting promoted, but nothing is happening. When something does, it's almost bigger than she can handle!Curiosity Quills Press and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It's being published May 2nd.This series is so much fun to read. The stories are outrageous, monsters abound, demons are bound to the building, and everyone has their own agenda. It's like trying to hold an uncensored war zone together with toothpicks!She's being audited by a nasty woman, has an angel of destruction for her Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
Independence Cake : A Revolutionary Confection Inspired by Amelia Simmons, Whose True History Is Unfortunately Unknown by Deborah Hopkinson
Sat, 29 Apr 2017 09:00:00 PermalinkAmelia Simmons is the woman who wrote America's first cookbook. No one knows anything about her but this story imagines her life...Provato Marketing sent me a galley of this book to read for review (thank you). It will be published May 9th.When Amelia is orphaned she's taken in by a woman who has six small boys. She's exhausted from trying to keep up with them. Amelia takes over many duties and keeps herself busy and the boys fed. All is going well until she gets bored. Then she decides to take up baking. Oh my! The boys love "testing" her Read More -
from Books Tell You Why
The Travel Writing of Henry James
Sat, 29 Apr 2017 08:00:00 PermalinkOn a recent trip to Italy, I had two tools at my disposal: a GPS and a guide book. Given the complexity of the network of roads and the simplicity of the road construction—often nothing more than ruts worn into gravel clinging precariously to hillsides—the GPS often failed me utterly. The guidebook, on the other hand, helped me navigate hill towns, wine cellars and even menus with amazing precision. It led me to all the destinations and experiences I had imagined before I left for Tuscany. Navigating, however, is different from transporting. It is travel writing that allows us to Read More -
from ten pound island book company
Fun House of Masons
Sat, 29 Apr 2017 02:10:21 PermalinkOld friend Tucker Respess, having fun At least according to our jovial lobby guard who, as were remarking on the comfortable surroundings and interesting architectural features of our new venue in the Sphinx Club volunteered, “Oh, yes, this place is the fun house of Masons.” I’d say most of us had fun at this, […]The post Fun House of Masons appeared first on Ten Pound Island Book Company. Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
A Letter to my Teacher by Deborah Hopkinson
Fri, 28 Apr 2017 09:00:00 PermalinkDid you ever have a teacher who brought out the best in you? I've had several but the one I remember most was my first grade teacher. She sent me a graduation card and complimented me for being an honor student. She told me that she could tell when I was in her class I would go far. I couldn't believe she'd even noticed me! In this story, it's the student that notices the teacher...Provato Marketing send me a galley of this book to read for review (thank you). It has been published.The story is written from a child's point Read More -
from Books Tell You Why
Sharing the Nobel Prize in Literature
Fri, 28 Apr 2017 08:00:00 PermalinkWhile Nobel Prizes in the sciences often are shared, the Nobel Prize in Literature has only been shared on four occasions over the last century. And we’re willing to bet that the eight writers who have shared the Nobel Prize are not authors with whom you’re particularly familiar. Why, then, did these novelists end up sharing the award? There are a few different ideas floating around as to why the Nobel Prize in Literature is rarely divided between two writers. Let’s take a look at the four instances in which the Nobel Prize in Literature has been shared. Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
Rachel's Dream by Lisa Jones Baker
Fri, 28 Apr 2017 03:00:00 Permalink -
from Journey of a Bookseller
A Reference to Murder by Kym Roberts
Thu, 27 Apr 2017 09:00:00 PermalinkThere's a big fundraiser going on to benefit the retired cowboys' home. There are a lot of bull riders and rodeo stars living there. Prize money doesn't last long when you're young. There's going to be a big rodeo event with the current title holders, too. But when one of the stars goes missing overnight, it turns into a hunt for a body...Kensington Books/Lyrical Underground let me read this ebook for review (thank you). It will be published May 16th.Charli has come home and is working in the Book Barn with her father. Her girlfriend, Scarlet, has a crush on Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
Lies that Bind: A Cotswold murder mystery by Stella Cameron
Thu, 27 Apr 2017 08:30:00 PermalinkAlex has hired a young boy to be a bus boy for her pub. He works hard, does what he's asked to do, and helps wherever he can. He responsible and trustworthy. When his younger brother busts through the kitchen door to tell Scoot he found a dead body, Alex listens carefully. Kyle is only thirteen and she asks them where their father is. He's a long haul driver is on the road. Come to find out, the boys are on their own a lot. He's trying to earn enough money to send them to college. But right now, he's Read More -
from Books Tell You Why
Ten Pounds for Paradise Lost?
Thu, 27 Apr 2017 08:00:00 PermalinkArt and commerce have always intersected in uncomfortable ways. The difficulty of correctly appraising the quality of a work of art in the moment combined with the near-impossibility of putting a dollar value on the types of things that art provides have led to a strange patchwork of financial realities for artists and writers throughout history, from the patronage system of the Renaissance to the writerly financial refuge of the modern university creative writing department. In all this time there have been some particularly notable failures at correctly giving a work its monetary value. Just ask John Milton. Read More -
from Tavistock Books
Announce: UNCOMMON SURVIVORS, A Catalogue
Wed, 26 Apr 2017 10:21:05 PermalinkWe are pleased to announce that our latest (and greatest) catalogue has hit online shelves everywhere! Don’t miss out on a chance to view and purchase these uncommon and surprising items, beautifully laid out by our very own Kate Mitas! Check it out here> Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
Uniformly Dead by Greta McKennan
Wed, 26 Apr 2017 09:00:00 PermalinkDaria has a successful wedding gown business but she's going to expand to historical sewing. Her first assignment is to create a civil war uniform jacket for the Colonel. She has to use the right cloth and the right stitches to make it authentic. She decides to visit the Civil War Museum in town to see the uniforms on display there. She certainly didn't expect to be there during a robbery!Kensington/Lyrical Underground and Net Galley allowed me to read this ebook for review (thank you). The book will be published May 16th.Daria's brother has just turned up after a seven Read More -
from Books Tell You Why
A Reading Guide to Daniel Defoe
Wed, 26 Apr 2017 08:00:00 PermalinkDaniel Defoe was born Daniel Foe around the year 1660, and to say his childhood was harrowing is an understatment. Before he was ten years old, Defoe survived the Great Plague of London; his home survived the Great Fire of London; and he survived an attack from the Dutch. As an adult, Defoe was at one time a secret agent and was the collector for taxes on glass bottles at another point. He spent time in debtor's prison, the pillory, and was eventually jailed again for his political writings. Throughout his prolific career, he wrote upwards of five hundred political Read More -
from Pistil Blog
Engaging Endpapers
Wed, 26 Apr 2017 05:31:00 PermalinkEndpapers are the leaves of paper fixed to the inside of the front and the back cover of a book. Often endpapers are blank, sometimes they are colored, but best of all they are decorated. A common decoration is a map. Marbled endpapers are often seen in older books, especially those with decorative bindings. Or endpapers may be illustrated with scenes from the book.Here are a few examples of engaging endpapers that have passed our way recently.From "The Fantasy of Pieter Brueghel."From "The Friendly Beasts", illustrated by Nicolas Sidjakov.From "The Red Pony."From "Bedtime Stories", a 1951 Junior Elf book.Map endpapers Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
Though This Be Madness by Penny Richards
Tue, 25 Apr 2017 09:00:00 PermalinkLily Long is back again. She has a new assignment. The only problem is that she has to partner with Cade and they don't like each other. But an assignment is an assignment. Posing as a married couple will be difficult but they will do it.Kensington Books and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It is being published today.I enjoyed the first novel I read about Lily. She's an interesting character. After her husband left her and stole all her money she has no desire to have anything more to do with men. But she's Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
One Good Thing (Ten Beach Road #5) by Wendy Wax
Tue, 25 Apr 2017 08:30:00 PermalinkEach evening they go out and sit on the deck and watch the sunset go down. They have a drink, talk about their days and, as their mother requests, they each pick out a good thing that came from that day. When there's emotional trauma and disasters everywhere, it's hard to find that good thing...Berkley sent me an ARC of this book to read for review (thank you). It is being published today.From financial disaster to a husband who walked off with a younger woman and took all her money with him to a young man defying his father and Read More -
from Books Tell You Why
Important Elements of Provenance in Rare Book Collecting
Tue, 25 Apr 2017 08:00:00 PermalinkCondition. Binding. Completeness. These are all relatively easy to understand concepts in the rare book world when judging the value of a piece. But what about provenance? What is provenance? Why is it so important? Why does it impact the value of a book in such a significant way? These are the questions rare book enthusiasts need to ask as they come across rare or unique volumes where the term provenance is bandied about as a crucial indicator as to why a book is valued in such a way. And confusing though it can be, once understood, provenance adds an Read More -
from ten pound island book company
Pressing Matters
Mon, 24 Apr 2017 10:38:17 PermalinkMuch to my delight, the opening party for “Drawn from the Sea” turned out to be quite a success. The weather couldn’t have been finer, and Jay and Louie Howland had the gallery looking great. Flatrocks proprietors Cynthia and Anne Marie stood back in awe, and became increasingly excited by what Jay and Louie were […]The post Pressing Matters appeared first on Ten Pound Island Book Company. Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
Magick & Mayhem by Sharon Pape
Mon, 24 Apr 2017 09:00:00 PermalinkShe was a witch in training when tragedy struck and took both her mother and her grandmother. Now she owns the magic shop but doesn't have all the skills she needs yet to be a sorceress. When she goes to her lawyer's office to sign the final papers on the shop, she finds him dead...Kensington Books/Lyrical Underground and Net Galley allowed me to read this ebook for review (thank you). It will be published May 2nd.The magic was low key until Kailyn does the spell to find her familiar. Her other relatives have cat familiars but hers is unexpected. She Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
The Door in the Alley (The Explorers #1) by Adrienne Kress
Mon, 24 Apr 2017 08:30:00 PermalinkThe story starts with a pig out by itself wearing a small black cap. You don't usually see a pig in the city and you never see one wearing a hat. While Sebastian is still trying to figure it out, a man comes out to capture it and somehow Sebastian gets involved. It gets even worse when he goes in the door that says: The Explorers.Delacorte Press sent me an ARC of this book to read for review (thank you). It will be published April 25th.This is a nonsensical story with footnotes, illustrations and strange situations all the way through Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
What the Dead Leave Behind by Rosemary Simpson
Sun, 23 Apr 2017 09:00:00 PermalinkWhen her father marries again, she's not really surprised. He's still young enough to want a woman in his life. But why did he pick the one he did?Kensington Books and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published April 25th.Prudence has her wedding coming up and is looking forward to being married. She might not love him but he is her friend and has been since childhood. When a blizzard shows up and he dies in the storm, she's stunned. Her father died earlier. The doctor says it was heart failure. Read More -
from Books Tell You Why
How to Prevent and Reverse Foxing in Rare Books
Sun, 23 Apr 2017 08:00:00 PermalinkThere is never a wrong time to think about the effects of moisture and humidity on rare books. Just as too much sun can damage your rare books, so can too much moisture. And we'’re not just talking about direct moisture, such as liquid spills. The relative humidity of the air is also a concern. Excess humidity (usually relative humidity above 75%) can encourage the growth of fungi and mildew, which can lead to foxing. If foxing occurs, what are the best ways to reverse it? Better yet, how can you prevent foxing in your rare books? Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
Solomon's Bell (Genie Chronicles #2) by Michelle Lowery Combs
Sat, 22 Apr 2017 09:00:00 PermalinkGinn's enemies have moved away from town but that doesn't mean they are gone. She's been doing a lot of reading in the library in the lamp and with that the sudden instant boy girlfriend issue with her brother, she thinks she knows what she will have to do to save her family. Having a golem in town isn't a good thing.World Weaver Press sent me a copy of this book to read for review (thank you). It has been published and you can grab a copy now.In this story, Ginn, her boyfriend, and her new foster sister go back Read More -
from Books Tell You Why
Ernest Hemingway's Feelings Toward F. Scott Fitzgerald
Sat, 22 Apr 2017 08:00:00 PermalinkIf you’ve ever seen the movie Midnight in Paris then you are familiar with the rose colored glasses romanticists often wear when thinking of the past. In the film, writer Gill Pender (played by Owen Wilson), somehow manages to travel back in time to 1920s Paris and meet many of the greatest minds in literature, including Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. In this particular movie, the two historical writers seem to be cordial, Fitzgerald is handsome and sociable while Hemingway is philosophical and intense. Though Midnight in Paris is immensely enjoyable, it may not be wholly accurate in it’s Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
Heir to the Lamp (Genie Chronicles #1) by Michelle Lowery Combs
Fri, 21 Apr 2017 09:00:00 PermalinkAll she wants to do is win her basketball game. She's been fouled and has the opportunity to make her free throws and win. But her last throw doesn't go in the basket. She goes back to the locker room full of despair but mumbles on the way in that she wished they'd won the game. Everyone coming in the door after her tells her how marvelous her game was and how happy they are they won. They won? But they lost!World Weaver Press sent me a copy of this book to read for review (thank you). It has been Read More -
from Books Tell You Why
VLOG: How Is Vellum Made?
Fri, 21 Apr 2017 08:00:00 PermalinkVellum, a fine parchment traditionally made from calf skins, was for many years the default material for use in printing important manuscripts or documents. Many of Gutenberg’s first Bibles, for instance, were printed on Vellum, as were many illuminated manuscripts from the Medieval Era. And, in fact, despite the decrease in the material’s prevalence over the centuries, all British Acts of Parliament are still printed and archived on vellum. Differentiated from other forms of parchment by the quality of the animal skin used (debate continues as to whether vellum must refer to parchment made from calf skins or if it Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
Make Me: Book Four of The Demon Underground Series by Parker Blue
Thu, 20 Apr 2017 09:00:00 PermalinkVal made the mistake of falling in love with Shade. She slept with him and lost not only her virginity but her powers. Now all she has left is Lola, the part of her that is a Succubus. She can control male vampires with that but not female. She's called the Slayer and she's feared but she isn't what she was before...BelleBooks and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published today.Since Val works with both vampires and demons, the chances of her getting killed are good. Especially since she's trying to Read More -
from Books Tell You Why
The Bond Dossier: The Man With the Golden Gun
Thu, 20 Apr 2017 08:00:00 PermalinkAll good things must come to an end. It’s a cliche, of course, but no truer sentiment can be applied to the string of critical and commercial successes Ian Fleming produced via his internationally loved British spy, James Bond. Fleming's run culminated with the publication of his 12th Bond novel, The Man with the Golden Gun. Released just eight months after Fleming’s death, The Man with the Golden Gun is something of a melancholic note for the series to end on, as Fleming’s health was failing throughout the composition of the novel. While both critics and fans alike believe The Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
Frontier Grit: The Unlikely True Stories of Daring Pioneer Women by Marianne Monson
Wed, 19 Apr 2017 09:00:00 PermalinkThis is a very nice compilation of the stories of twelve pioneer women that refused to give up. The odds aren't good, they've lost everything dear to them, but they have the grit and determination to keep on going when it would be easier to give up and die. Here are twelve women you can admire.Shadow Mountain and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It has been published and you can buy a copy now.This is the type of history book I would have died for back in school. It's like living history and I Read More