Member Blogs Archive > December 2018
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from Journey of a Bookseller
The End of the World and Beyond by Avi
Mon, 31 Dec 2018 09:00:00 PermalinkHe's only twelve but since he was charged with thievery, he's being sent to the states to serve as a servant for seven years. He thought the boat was shipwrecked but the authorities disagreed. Not only that, they are sending his sister to the states also. He tries to stay with her but they are separated. Now what?Algonquin Young Readers and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published January 29th.Oliver has no idea how ugly things can get. He's put in chains, attached to another prisoner and they all suffer Read More -
from Books Tell You Why
The Best of 2018: Our Ten Most Popular Blog Posts
Mon, 31 Dec 2018 08:00:00 PermalinkIt's New Year's Eve which means another year has come and gone. Today is a perfect day for reflection. As such, we wanted to revisit some of our most popular blog posts of the year and thank you, our readers, for returning to our site and engaging with us about all things books and book collecting. We love this community, and we're thankful for you. Here's to another great year of bookish posts in 2019! For now, enjoy a review of these great articles from the past year. Happy New Year! Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
No Exit by Taylor Adams
Sun, 30 Dec 2018 09:00:00 PermalinkThis book chilled me. It focuses on one of my fears and it made the story feel all the more real to me...William Morrow and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published January 15th. Darby is trying to get home to see her mother before she dies. It was going pretty well until she hit a blizzard. The snow is piling up so fast on the pass that she has to stop at the nearest rest area. There are others stranded there. They won't be able to leave until morning as Read More -
from ten pound island book company
Year in Review
Sun, 30 Dec 2018 08:56:10 PermalinkIf the NY Times can do it, why can’t TPI?January 3, 2018 – We speak bravely of cleaning the basement in preparation for our impending move across the street. (It’s still impending).February 12 – Splendid photo ops in Pasadena at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair. I snapped the view from the San Gabriel foothills that would become the branding image for Survivor Apocalypse,and got this lovely portrait of “The Three Wise Men” – Adios, Ricky and Bill.Continue reading Year in Review at Ten Pound Island Book Company. Read More -
from Books Tell You Why
Rudyard Kipling: A Retrospective
Sun, 30 Dec 2018 08:00:00 PermalinkToday marks the anniversary of the birthday of Rudyard Kipling, the world renowned author who brought a new (and often controversial) perspective to British imperialism. During his lifetime Kipling would cross continents, win a Nobel Prize, and befriend the celebrated authors of his day. Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
The Story Pirates Present: Digging Up Danger by Story Pirates, Jacqueline West, Hatem Aly
Sat, 29 Dec 2018 09:00:00 PermalinkEliza wants to be a ghost hunter. Her mother is a biologist that specializes in plants. She takes Eliza with her to work on identifying new plants that have been found. The people she's working for are a bit weird but that's not the only weird thing going on...Random House Books for Young Readers and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published January 15th.This is an interesting mystery that's a bit scary. The berries on one plant are dangerous. If you eat one and the moonlight hits you, you turn into a Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
Freya & Zoose by Emily Butler
Fri, 28 Dec 2018 09:00:00 PermalinkFreya, a penguin, has read about traveling and wants to do it herself. The one trip she tried stranded her, so when some men come to fly a balloon to the North Pole she decides this is her chance to escape the island...Crown Books for Young Readers and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published January 15th.She finds a perfect spot in the wicker basket and creates her a hiding spot. She makes several trips supplying it with what she needs. She's all excited about her trip until she finds out there's a Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
Max and the Midknights by Lincoln Peirce
Thu, 27 Dec 2018 09:00:00 PermalinkMax is traveling as a troubadour but she really wants to be a knight. Not only does she not have a chance since she's not at the castle and can't learn to be one, she's also female and they can't be knights. But Max isn't giving up.Crown Books for Young Readers and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published January 8th.She's excited to meet knights on their journey but when they take her uncle away, she has to get him back. He's family. And the King has decided he will Read More -
from Books Tell You Why
Five Books That'll Teach Your Kids Important Life Skills
Thu, 27 Dec 2018 08:00:00 PermalinkWe all want our kids to be ready for this upcoming year and the future as a whole. One great way to help children gain and develop skills is through reading. This can be done through fiction books with characters who possess important qualities like bravery or empathy as well as through books specifically geared toward a certain skill. What follows are some important titles and themed books that could help your child develop a number of skills to use in 2019 and beyond. Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
The Darling Dahlias and the Poinsettia Puzzle by Susan Wittig Albert
Wed, 26 Dec 2018 09:00:00 PermalinkEverybody in this story has a crisis of some kind. But the Darling Dahlias are up to to meeting the challenge. So are the other town people.Persevero Press and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It has already been published and you can grab a copy now.The newspaper editor finds his wife is writing a monthly check for someone. He doesn't know why. A man is killed in a traffic accident and his killer commits suicide at the prison. But it isn't suicide. A little girl who can sing and tap dance is being threatened Read More -
from Books Tell You Why
How Julia Child Transformed American Cooking
Wed, 26 Dec 2018 08:00:00 PermalinkIn terms of impact on American culture, Mastering the Art of French Cooking is one of the most influential books written in the last several decades. Published when the United States was immersed in TV dinners and green bean casserole, Julia Child’s first and most famous book taught Americans to view food through a lens of pleasure and art rather than convenience. Written in tandem with two French authors, Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle, it sold over 100,000 copies its first year. Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
Her One Mistake by Heidi Perks
Tue, 25 Dec 2018 09:00:00 PermalinkCharlotte takes her friend's little one to the school fair with her children. They go to play on one of the bubble houses. When she looks up again, the little girl is missing. She was following her children but she has disappeared now. How do you tell a mother her child is missing?Gallery Books and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published January 8th.Nothing in this book is what it seems. There are mind games, dysfunctional families, danger, and more all tied up in this story. A happy marriage isn't. While they search Read More -
from Books Tell You Why
Ten (More) of the Best Literary Christmas Quotes
Tue, 25 Dec 2018 08:00:00 PermalinkMerry Christmas to our readers! Wherever you are reading this blog post from today, we hope you are filled with good cheer and the merriment that only the holiday season can bring. Take some time to enjoy the following beautiful literary Christmas quotes (and if you're looking for more, check out our post on this subject from last year). These we've taken from our favorite books and poems as well as from other holiday-based writings. We hope they warm your heart and bring a smile to your face as you enjoy Christmas day. Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
Scrublands by Chris Hammer
Mon, 24 Dec 2018 09:00:00 PermalinkMartin is a journalist. He's back from the war zone he was working in but he still feels the horror of being locked in a car trunk and thinking he might die there. They send him out to write a story about how the town is reacting as the one year anniversary of a multiple killing comes around. He finds out a lot more...Touchstone and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published January 8th.This is set in the outback of Australia. The town is almost dead. When the priest came Read More -
from Books Tell You Why
Childhood Classics: The Night Before Christmas
Mon, 24 Dec 2018 08:00:00 PermalinkIt's Christmas Eve! As adults, sometimes we can lose sight of the joy, wonder, and magic of this season. But one book that has always encapsulated those emotions is The Night Before Christmas. This childhood classic has enraptured generations, so much so that some rare book collectors even focus all their efforts on this single title. Read More -
from ten pound island book company
Stocking Stuffers
Mon, 24 Dec 2018 07:58:33 PermalinkAs you may recall from last week’s entry, I set 53 good books under the tree, all for sale at half their listed prices. The results were surprisingly normal. I sold 51% of them, which is about what I usually do, but the response was gratifying. A lot of good will came in with the orders. Some folks even offered to pay postage. Is there anything better than that?Continue reading Stocking Stuffers at Ten Pound Island Book Company. Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
Comet Rising by MarcyKate Connolly
Sun, 23 Dec 2018 09:00:00 PermalinkThe wicked Lady that steals magic wants more. All the talented children are hidden away but she has plans. She'll make the comet come early and she'll question the historians of the group who knows where they are hid. The worst part is that she makes the parents forget what's happened and pretends the children have won a scholarship to a marvelous school. No, she just takes them home, changes them into flowers and uses their magic when she needs it...Sourcebooks Jabberwocky and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published January 1st.Emmaline and Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
The Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley
Sat, 22 Dec 2018 09:00:00 PermalinkFlavia's sister is getting married and she has mixed feelings about that. She's glad she's happy and she's sad she's leaving. As they cut the wedding cake, her sister breaks down. She has a good reason. She found a finger in the cake...Delacorte Press and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published January 22nd.Flavia being Flavia immediately takes away the finger and works on getting her sister back to the reception. She'll examine the finger later.Flavia is very interesting character. She's young but she's also scientific. She knows what kind of tests Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
Pirate Chicken: All Hens on Deck by Brian Yanish, Jess Pauwels
Fri, 21 Dec 2018 10:43:00 PermalinkChildren's picture books fascinate me. The illustrations are great, a chicken acting like a pirate and and lots of unlikely events make this a good story for the little ones. You might want to add some props that the little one can dress up in. A handkerchief will suffice as a hat... Sourcebooks Jabberwocky and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published March 1st.Lily doesn't want to stay on the boring farm. She dreams of travel and seeing the world. So when the pirates come and steal them, she's happy to go Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
The Goose Egg by Liz Wong
Fri, 21 Dec 2018 09:00:00 PermalinkHenrietta likes her quiet life. She can nap when she wants, swim when she wants and doesn't have to worry about anyone else or noise. That changes though.Knopf Books for Young Readers and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published January 22nd.When Henrietta is enjoying her swim a little too much, she smacks into the one of the posts near the dock. She notices she got quite a goose egg out of it and wraps her head up in a scarf. What she doesn't realize is that she really does Read More -
from Books Tell You Why
Jolabokaflod: Iceland's Christmas Book Flood
Fri, 21 Dec 2018 08:00:00 PermalinkIn the United States, there is some disagreement about when, precisely, the Christmas season starts. Extremely conservative estimates might say it starts at the beginning of Advent, some might declare the first of December to be the official start of the season, while increasingly many of us seem to have settled on the discount-fueled pandemonium of Black Friday as our starter pistol. In Iceland, on the other hand, there is no such ambiguity. The Christmas season begins with the annual November distribution of the Bokatidindi—the catalog that lists almost all of the books that will be published in Iceland during Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
In the Company of Like-Minded Women by Elaine Russell
Thu, 20 Dec 2018 09:00:00 PermalinkLida is the middle one of three sisters. She fell in love and wanted to marry. Her parents forbid it, so she left home and moved away and married. She now lives in Denver. When her estranged older sister suggests they come visit for a while, she's excited to see them again. She's always gotten along with her younger sister but her older one is bit like a stick in mud and shares her mother's beliefs. It's not easy getting along for the older two after so long. But things change...PR by the Book and the author shared a copy Read More -
from Books Tell You Why
Ten of the Best Quotes from East of Eden
Thu, 20 Dec 2018 08:00:00 PermalinkBorn February 27, 1902, John Steinbeck is best known for being a prolific American writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962. One of his best known works is 1952’s East of Eden. The novel follows two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons, through their lives in the Salinas Valley in Central California. Often considered the best of his work, Steinbeck explores themes of love, good, and evil, enrapturing and inspiring readers through his characters and philosophy. His insight into human nature twines throughout the novel, showing the importance of “thou mayest.” Though it's difficult to choose just Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
Friends to the End by Shelley Shepard Gray
Wed, 19 Dec 2018 12:13:00 PermalinkHer big brother Andy and her parents are in Florida on vacation. Trish didn't go because she feels like her life is not on track and wants some time to think. She goes up to the cabin the family owns to think about what to do. She never expected to get snowed in!Gallery Books and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published February 11th.When Trish calls Andy and tells him she's stuck, there's no electricity and not much food, he calls a friend to go rescue her. After all, the Amish use horses Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
The Current by Tim Johnston
Wed, 19 Dec 2018 09:00:00 PermalinkShe's going home to see her father, who is suffering from cancer. She asks a college friend to give her a ride to the depot for her trip. The friend offers to take her home and make a road trip out of it. She accepts and everything is fine until they stop for gas. Someone tries to rape Audrey and her friend helps her escape. But it's not over yet.Algonquin Books and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published January 22nd.In their haste to get away, they slide off the icy Read More -
from Books Tell You Why
Five Lesser-Known Books to Read This Christmas
Wed, 19 Dec 2018 08:00:00 PermalinkChristmas is a time for traditions. From singing carols to hanging stockings, every family has their own way to celebrate the season. For many people, that includes reading their favorite Christmas stories, like A Christmas Carol or A Visit From St. Nicholas. This year, why not try something new? The following books are a somewhat less well known. Maybe your family's newest Christmas tradition is somewhere on this list. Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
Bones Behind the Wheel: A Haunted Guesthouse Mystery by E. J. Copperman
Tue, 18 Dec 2018 09:00:00 PermalinkThey are working on the sand behind her house trying to redistribute up and down the beach to make it more people friendly. Her house gets awful busy after they find a car buried in her backyard with a dead body in it...Crooked Lane Books and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published January 18th.She had no idea who the victim was or why he was buried in her backyard. She hasn't owned the property that long. A murder thirty years old is really a cold case so it doesn't look Read More -
from ten pound island book company
All the Books We Cannot See – Selections from my Perrsonal Collection
Tue, 18 Dec 2018 08:58:23 Permalink(NOTE – Owing to technological difficulties emanating from the crappy WordPress platform, publication of Maritime List 267 will be delayed. I was holding this post until the list was on the website, but now God only knows when that will happen…)Compared to other, bigger, operations, I turn a high percentage of my stock fairly quickly. I try to offer interesting material at reasonable prices, and my customers usually respond by snapping the “good” stuff up in short order.Continue reading All the Books We Cannot See – Selections from my Perrsonal Collection at Ten Pound Island Book Company. Read More -
from Books Tell You Why
Caldecott Winning Illustrators Series: Maud and Miska Petersham
Tue, 18 Dec 2018 08:00:00 PermalinkPart of what makes Caldecott-winning books so desirable for both children and collectors is that the illustrations accompanying the stories are at the highest level found in children's literature. Whether honoring traditions, putting a new spin on a method of illustration, or pushing the boundaries of what is commonly seen in books for children, Caldecott winning-illustrators represent the best of what books can be. Continuing our Caldecott-winning illustrators series, we look now at married writer and illustrator duo Maud and Miska Petersham, who are known in the industry for their skill and dedication to the craft that helped drive the Read More -
from Journey of a Bookseller
A Matter of Trust by Winnie Griggs
Mon, 17 Dec 2018 09:00:00 PermalinkLucy and Toby are going out to pick berries for a pie when they run across two men attempting to rob another. She's carrying a gun because of a dog attack not long ago (to protect Toby) and uses that to get them to leave. She saves his life and he saves hers by hitting the gun out of the hands of one of the brothers. She can't leave him there when he needs help but her reputation isn't good now and this won't help it. She takes him home anyway.Wild Heart Books let me read this story for review Read More