The Warwick's Blog

The 2013 Warwick's Bestseller List

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 15:05:00 -0800

Happy New Year! There were some fantastic books released in 2013, here are our 50 bestsellers for the year.

1. My Beloved World - Sonia Sotomayor*

2. And the Mountains Echoed - Khaled Hosseini*
3. The Valley of Amazement - Amy Tan*
4. The Future - Al Gore*
5. Survival Lessons - Alice Hoffman*
6. Beautiful Ruins - Jess Walter*
7. Emotions - Charles Stanley*
8. Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
9. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck - Jeff Kinney*
10. Where’d You Go Bernadette? - Maria Semple
11. The Rosie Project - Graeme Simsion*
12. Zagat 2013 San Diego City Guide*
13. Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made -Stephan Pastis*
14. The Boys in the Boat - Daniel James Brown
15. Lean In - Sheryl Sandberg
16. Proof of Heaven - Eben Alexander
17. The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt
18. The One and Only Ivan - Katherine Applegate
19. The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion - Fannie Flagg*
20. Wonder - R.J. Palacio
21. The Language of Flowers - Vanessa Diffenbaugh
22. The Fault in Our Stars - John Green
23. Things That Matter - Charles Krauthammer
24. Me Before You (paperback) - Jojo Moyes*
25. Inferno - Dan Brown
26. The Expats - Chris Pavone
27. Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
28. David & Goliath - Malcolm Gladwell
29. The Aviator’s Wife - Melanie Benjamin*
30. Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake - Anna Quindlen*
31. The Paris Wife - Paula McLain
32. The Tin Horse - Janice Steinberg*
33. The Sense of an Ending - Julian Barnes
34. East of the Sun - Julia Gregson
35. Me Before You - Jojo Moyes*
36. The Light in the Ruins - Chris Bohjalian*
37. The Orphan Master’s Son - Adam Johnson
38. Food Lover’s Guide to San Diego - Maria Desiderata Montana
39. Divergent - Veronica Roth
40. Dear Life - Alice Munro
41. The Snow Child - Eowyn Ivey
42. The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
43. Caleb’s Crossing - Geraldine Brooks
44. The Orchardist - Amanda Coplin
45. History of a Pleasure Seeker -Richard Mason
46. Life After Life -Kate Atkinson
47. Damn Few - Rorke Denver*
48. The Cuckoo’s Calling - Robert Galbraith
49. Killing Jesus - Bill O’Reilly
50. Suspect - Robert Crais*

*indicates sales from an author event

Holiday Gift Ideas from the Warwick's Staff

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 12:43:00 -0800

It’s that time of year—Holiday Season; where everyone is running around frantically trying to check names off of their gift lists in time for the holiday. This where the Warwick’s staff shines. We love the challenge of finding that perfect gift; whether it is a book, toy, jewelry, or any of the other fun and gorgeous items in the store—we always enjoy trying to match people with a great gift. Last year, the Book Department put together a list of our favorite handsells for the season and it was a real hit with our customers, so this year in the same spirit, our dedicated staff is taking a moment to give you a glimpse at some of our top gift book ideas for the season.

Jim, Bookseller:
Into the Unknown by Stewart Ross “Fourteen historic journeys (Leif Erickson, Marco Polo, and many more), complete with colorful illustrations of the route and how they traveled. Fold-out illustrations of the adventures adds to this excellent gift for young and old.”

The Most of Nora Ephron “A complete collection of the late writer's humorous and often biographical essays, books, blogs, and screenwriting credits (When Harry Met Sally) and the script for her recent Broadway debut, Lucky Guy, starring Tom Hanks.”

Janet, Bookseller:
“Something Dark”: Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
“Something Light”: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
“Something Cozy”: Susan Hill's A Question of Identity
“Something Bright”: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
“For a Teen”: Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
“For a Tween”: First Light by Rebecca Stead
“ For a Baby”: Once Upon a Memory by Nina Laden

Sam, Local Author Coordinator:
The Novel Cure by Ella Berthoud and Susan Elderkin “It’s a reference book that’s easily as entertaining as any of the novels listed on its pages.”

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes “Duh”

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan “This is definitely one of the best debuts of the year—funny, poignant and well-written!

Mary Lee, Bookseller:
The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg “I gave this to my all-girl gang for Christmas with the promise of a fun book club evening in January 2014! Smart, funny, and charming—the perfect holiday read.”

The Good Housekeeping Christmas Cookbook “Its festive cover is in keeping with all the festive ideas inside! Full of famous chef special recipes, as well as menu ideas, food for gift giving, and creative decorating ideas. I’m putting this in my Christmas list for sure!

Adriana, Bookseller:
Perfect for the budding fashionista or the veteran fashion addict in your life…

Diana Vreeland Memos: The Vogue Years edited by Alexander Vreeland
Dior Glamour: 1952-1962 by Mark Shaw
The Fashion Book by Phaidon Press

Great Fiction & Non-fiction for the finicky person in your life who needs great writing and a great story…

TransAtlantic by Colum McCann
This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

Last but not least, for the lovable oddball in your life, this is beautifully and cheekily put together.

Taxidermy by Alexis Turner

Heather, Marketing Coordinator:
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion “This smart new novel is a prefect crossover novel for adults and teens of either sex. Quirky and well-written it is a pleasure to read.”

Boxed Dashiel Hammet from the Library of America “Perfect for the mystery fan. Who doesn’t love Hammet? This deluxe collector’s box is the most comprehensive collection of Hammet’s works around. I’d pair it with a DVD copy of The Maltese Falcon and make it a package!”

George Hurrell's Hollywood: Glamour Portraits 1925-1992 by Mark A. Viera “For the film fan, this is a beautiful coffee table book that presents over 400 of master glamour photographer George Hurrell’s Hollywood portraits. I’m a big fan of Hurrell, and find this book to be absolutely gorgeous.”

Margie, Office Department:
Daily Calm: 365 Days of Serenity by National Geographic “It’s good as a gift, it’s good for everyone. This is just such a soothing book. I read from it every morning and before I go to bed. A simply wonderful book, perfect as a gift."

Acacia, Bookseller:
The Moth edited by Catherine Burns, Catherine Burns, Adam Gopnik “Everyone has that one person on their list that's impossible to shop for. This year, battle the indecision of gift giving with 50 of the greatest true stories ever told at The Moth in New York. Even the most finicky reader will love hearing the story of how a doctor tried to save the life of Mother Teresa, how famous recording artists deal with "ear worms", and what it was like for an ordinary New York teenager to leave the United States and become the favorite girlfriend to a Pasha in the Middle East.”

America Elsewhere by Robert Jackson Bennett “Perfect for the fantasy lovers in your life! A near perfect blend of the quirky and the macabre, American Elsewhere reads like a collaboration between Norman Rockwell and Salvador Dali. Readers of writers like Stephen King and Neil Gaiman will be sure to eat up this unique take on small town America.”

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell “A whip-smart, funny, electrifying romance that's great for both teens and the young at heart. Eleanor & Park will remind you of how wonderful it was to be in love for the first time.”

The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton “A near perfect yarn! Perfect for lovers of mystery and historical fiction.”

Adrian, Head Book Buyer:
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
Ghostman by Roger Hobbs
The Andalucian Friend by Alexander Soderberg

Halloween Horrors from the Warwick's Staff

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 08:00:00 -0700

It’s Halloween. Time for ghosts, ghouls, witches, zombies and all things that go bump in the night. This year Warwick’s Staff put our heads together to come up with a new Halloween reading list. Instead of picking our favorite spooky books, the staff has compiled a list of the scariest books we have read recently. From horror to reality, these books span the gamut, and perhaps may give you that perfect read while awaiting those trick-or-treaters tonight. Happy Haunting!

Lydia, Assistant Children’s Book Buyer: 2030 by Albert Brooks. Although the story takes place in the near future year of 2030, many of its prescient issues and ideas affect us today. An earthquake has rocked Los Angeles. Can we afford to rebuild the city? Think creatively! Meanwhile, a huge grumbling underclass of young and middle-aged people staggers under the weight of supporting a fabulous lifestyle for seniors who are living into their 100’s. By turns hilarious and terrifying, this is the scariest novel I’ve read recently. It continues to haunt me.

Jolene, Gifts: The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris. This one is an older book that I’ve recently read again. It always scares me, especially in a dark room!

Sam, Local Author Coordinator: Night Film by Marisha Pessl. I normally don’t get scared by books, but this one did! I had to sleep with the lights on—so scary, but so good I couldn’t put it down.

Sam also picked The Circle by Dave Eggers. Eggers depiction of the overwhelming influence technology has over us, and our blind willingness to allow it was spot on. It was really creepy.

Janet, Bookseller: Burial Rites by Hannah Kent. Bundle up and keep warm while you read this dark and creepy novel set in Iceland during the 1800’s. It’s the tale of a woman awaiting execution for the crime of murder. To make it even more horrifying, the story is based on actual events. I could not put it down!

Jim, Bookseller: The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian. What starts as a lovely story about a country house becomes something much more…and horrific.

Lynn, Office: NOS4A2 by Joe Hill. Loved it! Too scary to read at night.

Heather, Marketing Coordinator: Night Film by Marisha Pessl. Not only is this book my favorite read of the year, but also by far the scariest. From page one the tension, and possibility of (I’m not telling) the supernatural, kept me engaged and literally white knuckled. This is one of those intense books that mess with your head in all the right ways. I might not have been scared stiff à la Paranormal Activity, but I was certainly on edge. A truly brilliant scary book freaks you out, but keeps you yearning for more, Night Film does just that.

Kim, Buyer: So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids by Diane E. Levin, Ph.D., and Jean Kilbourne, Ed.D. So Sexy So Soon is about how tweens grow up in our overly sexualized society. I was frightened page after page hearing real life stories about how our children seek to be "sexy" like their favorite characters of TV!

John, Book Buyer: What book keeps me awake at night, fearing what I might awaken to the next day? It's It's Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided with the New Politics of Extremism. Truth is not only stranger than fiction, it's scarier. I doubt the combined talents of Poe, Shelley, and Lovecraft couldn't dream up anything more menacing than our present-day Congress. Boo!

The Rosie Project

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 08:00:00 -0700

Genetics professor Don Tillman is a remarkable man. He’s a master martial artist, wonderful cook, an associate professor at a prestigious university, and can literally accomplish anything he programs his mind to do. So, when this paper perfect man sets out to find the perfect wife, success is inevitable—right? The thing about Don is, that well, he’s a bit different. He lives according to a rigid schedule, has a brain like a computer, and doesn’t quite see the world like the rest of us do. In fact, though it’s never outright stated, Don most likely has undiagnosed Asperger’s Syndrome. So when Don, a man who thinks a computer survey, aka The Wife Project, can produce for him the perfect match, things are bound to go a bit awry, especially when you throw in a girl like Rosie. Rosie is everything Don is not looking for—she smokes, is a vegetarian, arrives late, and completely throws out Don’s schedules. She upheaves his entire life, drawing him into a search for her biological father using genetic testing, and showing him things he’s never taken the time to process before. In short, Rosie is nothing that Don wants, but everything he needs. Thus begins The Rosie Project.

I love an unreliable narrator, and Don is just that. Don truly doesn’t realize his own syndrome, he sees the world is such a different way—everything is black or white, fact oriented, very ‘face-value”— that his observations of the world and people around him are so far-off, so oddly naïve, that his reliability as a narrator is not there. On the flip-side, as a reader, we see the things that Don is oblivious of—social cues, sexual advances, friendship—and it is those misreads that make Don loveable and really quite fascinating. Don’s relationship with the spontaneous and emotional Rosie is a joy to read about. In some ways it’s like reading two books at once. We have Don’s story, as told by him, and then we have the story that Don doesn’t see, the world beyond Don’s social comprehensions. Author Graeme Simsion does a brilliant job of creating these layers of nuance. He capably draws in the reader by allowing us to see the world in these two ways—the innocence of Don and our own more worldly vision. It is this that first won me over as a reader, and then there’s Rosie.

If Don is like a wonderful computer, picking up information, processing it, and regurgitating it in his own language, then Rosie is a bundle of energy and passion. She is almost Don’s complete opposite; compulsive and emotional, yet she is also quietly brilliant, a perfect match for Don’s own intelligence. The two characters blend in ways that draw out their best qualities, creating an interesting and oddly compelling dynamic. Rosie and Don’s relationship is this quirky, beautiful thing, a unique and wonderful treat for the reader.

I have to admit that I don’t quite know how to properly recommend this book. It’s such a fantastic read, wrapped in a light and airy package that is it easy to dismiss as another romantic comedy. The thing is, The Rosie Project is not just another romance, it’s a character study, a story told both through the words of the narrator, and through the eyes of the observant reader unmasking the concepts not realized by that narrator; Don doesn’t even realize he’s the star of his own love story, or that love can even exist for him. It is also a coming-of-age tale, as both Don and Rosie struggle to find their places in the world, becoming the people they were meant to be, but could never see. The Rosie Project is an absolutely compulsive read. It’s layered, remarkable, and sweet; one of those books that just draws the reader into its distinctive world and thoroughly captivates until the end. This is a book that you read, and then want to read again. It makes you feel good, and it makes you want to know these characters. I can’t praise it enough, and I can’t wait to read it again. Read The Rosie Project and you too will fall in love.

Want to learn more about this book and meet the amazing man behind it? Then stop by the store on Thursday, October 17th at 7:30pm to meet author Graeme Simsion. Reserved Seating is available. Click here for details about this upcoming event.

Heather Christman is Warwick's Marketing Coordinator

Carmen's Playlist

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 08:00:00 -0700

Carmen is the newest member to the Warwick's team. She's recently join us as our book receiver, but don't let the boxes fool you, she is an avid reader with a real pull towards strong, literary fiction and thought provoking non-fiction. A fantastic addition to the Warwick's staff! Take a look at Carmen's current picks:

The Silent Land by Graham Joyce

When a young couple becomes stranded in a deserted Alpine village inexplicable and bizarre occurrences test the strength of their relationship. Joyce's descriptive combination of romance and the supernatural will leave readers in an apprehensive tension to the end. The Silent Land will give readers pause, and even question their lives and contributions to them.

The Infatuations by Javier Marias
In The Infatuations Maria Dolz befriends recently widowed Luisa, and ends up being drawn into the dark story of her husband's murder. Marias' sentences enchant readers with every word. The Infatuations manages to be an engaging murder mystery while being morally challenging and philosophical in this elegant novel of love, death, and fate.

The House of Special Purpose by John Boyne
Boyne tells the story of Georgy, an 82-year-old man looking back on his life during the end of czarist Russia and the reign of the Romanovs. Georgy's past is told with riveting mystery and suspense. Readers will develop a love for Georgy, being drawn in to discover his secret flaw. The House of Special Purpose presents love and loss through Boyne's richly textured words.

Quiet by Susan Cain
The world of introverts, and their hidden benefits are uncovered in this intriguing read. Cain masterfully gives insight to introverts and their often undervalued contributions to our lives with her extensive research. Cain's passion is evident in Quiet, and will change readers views on introverts, and themselves.

The Lost City of Z by David Grann
When intrepid explorer Percy Fawcett never returns from his search in the Amazon for "The Lost City of Z" David Grann goes on his own expedition in this captivating true story. Grann intertwines Fawcett's quest along with his own, while unraveling the mystery of "The Lost City of Z".

The Solitude of Prime Numbers by Paolo Giordano
A prime number, only able to be divided by itself or one, never fits with another. When traumatized primes Mattia and Alice befriend each other they form a delicate relationship. Unable to express their love for each other, their relationship will be tested to its limits in Giordano's strangely beautiful masterpiece.

I'm Not Scared by Niccolo Ammaniti
When nine-year-old Michele Amitrano explores an abandoned farmhouse he discovers a secret so dark and gruesome his life changes as he struggles to come to terms with it. Ammaniti skillfully portrays the world of children, the value of innocence, and the complexities of growing-up in this lyrical and compelling novel.

My Notorious Life by Kate Manning
Manning vividly presents the tale of Axie, an out of the law physician battling for women's reproductive My Notorious Life has mystery, love, and an unforgettable picture of the 19th century.
rights, in this compelling story based on true events.

South of the Border West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami
A young boy Hajime befriends a girl, Shimamoto, and enjoy their childhood together, but grow apart as they grow older. Hajime, now 36 with a successful business and family, is suddenly reunited with Shimamoto, whose now mysterious demeanor plagues him with uncertainty. However their reunion brings complications for Hajime that he never expected. Murakami's wise and bittersweet end will give readers a new perception on love.

The Secret in Their Eyes by Eduardo Sacheri
Benjamin Chaparro, a retired detective obsessed with the decades-old rape and murder revisits his investigation in this thought provoking and compelling novel. Sacheri will make readers question what justice really means and who it belongs to. The secret in their eyes movie won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film in 2010.

The Dead Have Risen...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 09:11:00 -0700

What would you do if someone you loved, someone who meant the world to you, who made your life complete…died?

What would you do if fifty years later that person showed up on your doorstep—never having aged, without any recollection of where they had been?

That is the very dilemma facing Harold and Lucille Hargrave, who lost their son Jacob to drowning in 1966 when he was eight years old. When Jacob appears on their doorstep fifty years later with an FBI Agent, “returned” from the dead, the elderly couple find themselves unearthing old hurts, long since patched over with the trappings of everyday life as they struggle to deal with the phenomena. Is this Jacob really their son? How has he come back? Is it a sign from God? As more and more of the dead return, the entire world finds itself asking the same questions, with devastating results.

The Returned is part science fiction, part family drama, part philosophical treatise on human nature. DelvingThe Returned such an engrossing read, one you can’t help but discuss and mull over for hours after the final paragraphs.
deep into groupthink and the human psyche without forsaking a genuinely riveting story, Pushcart Prize-winning author Jason Mott creates a narrative that is compelling and heart-wrenching. As the story unfolds readers are literally held captive by the questions that arise with a plot of this nature. You find yourself wondering how such an series of events could occur—is it God, Satan, is this the rapture—but in reverse of what we’ve always thought, has the world gone mad? As the people of the world break into groups both for and against the Returned dead, family members turn against once dead loved ones, and the Returned are relegated to internment camp-like facilities, it is nearly impossible to figure out how a book like this could possibly end. The sad revelations regarding human warmth and understanding, and our capacity to cause harm to others out of fear is remarkably present here, but Mott also manages to show our great ability for compassion—a Jewish family risks all to hide a group of young Nazi soldiers killed in World War II only to Return to a new world, a townswoman hiding an entire Returned family in order to save them from the camp, a son who watches over his Returned dementia-ridden mother—all examples of our capability of showing love, even when the rest of the world is descending into a manic paranoia. It is this dichotomy that helps to make

As a reader I love sharing books, and discussing them, but I can honestly say that I have yet to have a book discussion quite like the ones I’ve had following The Returned. From concepts of faith, to morality, philosophy, and the frightening actions that arise out of fear; The Returned keeps you on your toes, and further, stimulates in a way that goes beyond the intellectual, touching your heart and moral soul. This is one book that is guaranteed to get you thinking and talking, and will leave your breathless in the end.

Night Film: Creepy, Intriguing--This Summer's Must Read

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 08:00:00 -0700

Have you ever been scared when reading a book? I’m not talking boogie man scared, not Freddy is going to get you in your sleep afraid, or hiding under the bed from the creepy clown in Stephen King’s It; I’m talking chills up your arms, tense back, and a definite notice of any and every noise in the house. No? Well get ready for it, because Night Film is coming and it is one book you do not want to miss this summer.

Marisha Pessl’s sophomore novel (after 2006’s Special Topics in Calamity Physics) is a gunshot of a book, firing from page one and blasting right through to the end. Told in the first person by disgraced investigative reporter Scott McGrath, Night Film follows Scott’s obsessive search for answers as he delves into the apparent suicide of twenty-four year old Ashley Cordova, the daughter of famously reclusive horror film genius Stanislas Cordova, the man responsible for McGrath’s downfall. As Scott follows Ashley’s trail into the rabbit hole, he is drawn deeper and deeper into the Cordova world, where the lines of reality are blurred, and the term “things that go bump in the night” has a far greater meaning than ever before.

What a book. Night Film was like a particularly addictive drug, easy to pick up and put down, but with each successive visit more and more difficult to let go of. Pessl’s world is frightening; not in the sense of the brutal and bloody horror that is so common today, but in the psychological pit she drops her readers in, making even the most skeptical of readers start to believe in the impossible. The illusive and enigmatic Stanilas Cordova is an odd mixture of 1960’s and 70’s horror directors like Polanski and De Palma with a collection of films similar to Sisters, Repulsion, and Seth Holt’s Scream of Fear. He has his own cult-like following of Cordovites, complete with a secret website called The Blackboards, conspiracy theories, and underground film showings. Cordova is an unseen enigma, leaving a path of destruction, death, and disappearances behind him, and a society begging for more, but too scared, or too sheltered to embrace him with open arms. McGrath’s compulsive investigation of Cordova borders on the fanatical as he races up and down the state of New York trying to deconstruct the life of Ashley Cordova, desperate to find answers to her haunted existence, answers that tie back to the mythical Cordova, the occult, murder, and abduction. New York ceases to become New York in Night Film, it instead becomes an extension of Cordova’s world, the inane taking on a sinister sheen, where nothing is normal, and everything and everyone is suspect.

I am almost at a loss at how to describe my reactions to this book and why I think it is one of those must reads for the summer. I can explain how I stayed up half the night to finish it, both out of a need to see where it would go, but also because I was so disturbed and fascinated by what was happening that I couldn’t stop myself. I was on the edge while reading this, and truth be told, Pessl’s writing was so good that I honestly didn’t think I could sleep unless I finished it, and once I did reach the conclusion I couldn’t let go. My racing heart, ensnared brain, and astonished emotions just needed to process what they had been through. Night Film was a juggernaut, destroying my piece of mind and preconceived notions of what a psychological thriller could and should be; it was just that horrifyingly good. I should also take a moment to note that Pessl quite brilliantly uses multimedia screen shots, pictures, and interviews interspersed throughout the text, so readers get to read and see what Scott McGrath does; we see his interviews, the scraps of paper he finds, photos of Ashley Cordova, and the chilling images of the Blackboards and it’s zealous occupants. Actually, I tried out the URL’s, sadly they didn’t work, but if they did, wow, what a mind blowing move by the author and publisher. A fully interactive site that ties directly to the book—a wasted chance to capitalize on the blending of text and tech (although I did read this in galley form, so perhaps the sites will be up at time of publication, I could only dream). This is a clever trick, utilized very capably, a perfect way to blend our tech savvy world with the literary prowess of Pessl’s written word. Another note, this is not a horror novel. It is horrifying, yes, but it is a thriller, a literary mystery, meaning it’s well-written and smart. Pessl is a talented writer, creating a unique world that sucks its readers in and holds onto them for dear life, kind of a black hole of literary virtuosity. This may sound like an overabundance of praise, but I finished the book a few days ago, and have since (reluctantly) read another book, and still find myself lingering over the details of Night Film, revisiting it helplessly. In truth, I haven’t wanted to read a new book, I just want to savor the terror of Night Film, but if I want to escape the psychological stronghold of Night Film, there’s no choice but to move on—with much lighter fare, and look toward revisiting the dark and mesmerizing abyss that is the world of Cordova in the near future. This one is a definite “read again”—the only way to really maneuver the nooks and crannies, the shadows and mysteries that make up Night Film.

Why should you read Night Film? Because it’s good. It’s chilling, it’s mysterious, it’s sad, it’s sweet, and it’s brilliant. This is not a book you want to bypass—unless you have no nerves at all—there’s too much to it, and it is too well constructed to miss out on. Get scared. Get sucked into this world. When you get out you will gulp for fresh air, and then dive right back into the muck for more. An addictive psychological thriller that has a death grip on anyone who picks it up, Night Film is one hell of a read.

Watch the truly fantastic book trailer!

Heather is Warwick's Marketing Coordinator

Adriana's Playlist

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 8 Aug 2013 08:00:00 -0700

Adriana is one of our most experienced booksellers (she's been here since 2006), with a love of all things ballet and English. Her reading habits cover the gamut, from society biographies to thought provoking literary fiction. Adriana is an astute reader and a resourceful bookseller sure to find the right book for you.
Here's what she is currently championing:

This is How by Augusten Burroughs
This is how to read this book: Open the first page and don’t stop reading! That’s exactly what I did. I shut
out everything else, pausing occasionally to read passages to my husband. This is the best “self-help” book you will ever need or want. In Burroughs’ own words, it will help you survive what you think you can’t.

Amy Falls Down by Jincy Willett
Amy falls down: literally. After accidentally knocking herself out on a birdbath in her yard, writing teacher Amy Gallop gives an erratic, yet fascinating interview to her local paper. This launches her back into the literary limelight, much to Amy’s chagrin. Funny and full of great aha moments. Fantastic!

TransAtlantic by Colum McCann
McCann wields a narrative so beautiful and so powerful it will leave you breathless. Every word is a pleasure to read. Every character, whether based on real historical figures such as Frederick Douglas or Senator George Mitchell, or those imagined by the author, are filled with such rich inner lives they somehow become a part of you long after you’ve turned the last page. One of my favorite books all year!

The Master’s Muse by Varley O’Connor
Fans of The Paris Wife will love this brilliant portrayal of Tanaquil LeClerc, prima ballerina and last wife of George Balanchine. Struck with polio at 26, LeClerc would never dance again. Extensively researched, O’Connor gives voice to a very private one and gives us a glimpse into a world most of us will never get to see. Beautifully written!

Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan
London 1972: Beautiful and intelligent Serena Frome, newly recruited by MI5, is in charge of finding writers whose views align with theirs under “Operation Sweet Tooth.” Serena gets in over her head when she falls in love with the young writer chosen. Part espionage tale, part love story, you will not be able to put this down. Full of gritty suspense and beautiful prose, McEwan’s done it again!

The Cranes Dance by Meg Howrey
Howrey has returned to her ballet roots with a dark & twisted tale of two sisters trying to make their own mark at a famous NYC ballet company. When younger sister Gwen suffers a nervous breakdown, older sister Kate is forced to confront her own emotions, many of which cause her to question her own sanity. Dark, funny, and a little dirty, you’ll never look at ballet the same way again.

Pain, Parties, Work by Elizabeth Winder
Most of what we know about Sylvia Plath’s time at Mademoiselle magazine comes from her only novel The Bell Jar. Winder has managed to interview several of Sylvia’s fellow editors to find out what really happened during that fateful summer of 1953. This is a fantastic read that really fleshes out who Plath was at that time and brings into focus the artist who would go on to become one of the seminal poets of her day. Fantastic and Juicy!

Dearie by Bob Spitz
What more could possibly be said about the woman who introduced french cooking to America? As it turns out, quite a bit more. Spitz includes it all, from her splendorous upbringing in Pasadena, finding love in the OSS, and her rise to fame on her very first show The French Chef. You will grow to love her even more after finishing this tour de force that captures all of Julia’s charm, wit, and raucous sense of humor. Fabulous!

The Usual Rules by Joyce Maynard
Wendy is only 13 years old when her mother is killed on 9/11. Suddenly she is torn between the child she was and the adult she must now become. Should she stay with her step-dad and younger brother in Brooklyn or live with a father she barely know in California? This is a beautiful and bittersweet story of hope, love, and forgiveness.

Nightwoods by Charles Frazier
North Carolina 1960: Luce's solitary life is interrupted by her murdered sisters' disturbed twins whom she has inherited by default. When the murderer comes looking for the children, Luce must put her life and the life of the children in the hands of a handsome stranger. Darkly riveting and beautifully written, you will not want to put this down.

Buyer's Corner: Fall 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 2 Aug 2013 15:37:00 -0700

One glorious weekend in July, a small group of Southern California booksellers, myself included, traveled to the iconic La Quinta Resort and Spa for a reading retreat. We were very excited about a weekend to simply spend reading, without the pressures of work or the distractions of day-to-day life. The hot weather forced us to stay indoors to read…the 100+ degree temps made even poolside reading a bit of a challenge. It’s astonishing how many books one can read when there are no distractions! Customers and friends frequently tell me that it must be great to have a job that just involves reading. If only that were true! While reading is an important component of what I do as a book buyer, I often feel that the longer I’m in the industry, the less time I find to read. My work days are spent ordering, re-ordering, meeting with sales reps, managing, merchandising, planning promos etc., so my time to read is either first thing in the morning before I head to work or later in the evening after I get home. Sadly, after a long day at work, I often lack the energy to focus on a book. So, a weekend of reading was just what I needed to recharge and reconnect with books and colleagues. We spent the daytime on our own but met up in the evenings to share a meal and talk about the books we were reading. We had such a great time that we’re hoping to make this an annual event!

2013 has been an exceptionally strong year for great books and the fall list is one of the best I’ve seen in a long time. Here’s a shortlist of what’s forthcoming. Happy reading!

Hello old friends…
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert ( Available 10/1/13) 978
“A glorious, sweeping novel of desire, ambition, and the thirst for knowledge, from the # 1 New York Times bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love and Committed.”

Local Souls by Allan Gurganus (Available 9/23/13)
“In these layered, often funny narratives, close reading is rewarded as Gurganus exposes humanity as a strange species.” “The architecture of Allan Gurganus's storytelling is flawless. His narration becomes a Greek chorus, Sophocles in North Carolina. Gurganus makes the preternatural feel natural. Sexual taboos, a parent's worst fears: these emerge in tones comic and horrifying. Each novella delivers an ending of true force.”--John Irving

The Death of Santini by Pat Conroy (Available 10/29/13)
“the story of a father and his son.”

Bleeding Edge by Thomas Pynchon (Available 9/17/13)
“Thomas Pynchon, channeling his inner Jewish mother, brings us a historical romance of New York in the early days of the internet, not that distant in calendar time but galactically remote from where we've journeyed to since.”

Bridget Jones’ Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding (Available 10/15/13)
“The setting is contemporary London, and like all of us Bridget has moved on.”

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (Available 10/22/13)
“…a beautiful, stay-up-all-night and tell-all-your-friends triumph, an old-fashioned story of loss and obsession, survival and self-invention, and the ruthless machinations of fate.”

Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri (Available 9/24/13)
“Masterly suspenseful, sweeping, piercingly intimate, The Lowland is a work of great beauty and complex emotion; an engrossing family saga and a story steeped in history that spans generations and geographies with seamless authenticity. It is Jhumpa Lahiri at the height of her considerable powers.” Long-listed for the 2013 Man Booker Prize

Someone by Alice McDermott (Available 9/10/2013)
“A fully realized portrait of one woman's life in all its complexity, by the National Book Award-winning author An ordinary life--its sharp pains and unexpected joys, its bursts of clarity and moments of confusion--lived by an ordinary woman: this is the subject of Someone, Alice McDermott's extraordinary return, seven years after the publication of After This.”
Warwick's September Signed First Editions Club Selection

The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan (Available 11/5/13)
"In her first novel since 2009's Saving Fish from Drowning, Tan again explores the complex relationships between mothers and daughters, control and submission, tradition and new beginnings.”

We Are Water by Wally Lamb (Available 10/22/13)
“We Are Water is a disquieting and ultimately uplifting novel about a marriage, a family, and human resilience in the face of tragedy, from Wally Lamb, the New York Times bestselling author of The Hour I First Believed and I Know This Much Is True”

Identical by Scott Turow (Available 10/15/13)
“complex web of murder, sex, and betrayal as only Scott Turow could weave”

Never Go Back by Lee Child (Available 9/3/13)
Jack Reacher is back…what more needs to be said?!

One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson (Available 10/1/13)
“One of the most admired nonfiction writers of our time retells the story of one truly fabulous year in the life of his native country--a fascinating and gripping narrative featuring such outsized American heroes as Charles Lindbergh, Babe Ruth, and yes Herbert Hoover, and a gallery of criminals (Al Capone), eccentrics (Shipwreck Kelly), and close-mouthed politicians (Calvin Coolidge). It was the year Americans attempted and accomplished outsized things and came of age in a big, brawling manner. What a country. What a summer.”

Notable debuts…
The Never List by Koethi Zan (Available now)
“The most relentless, deeply disturbing thriller writer since Jeffery Deaver and Gillian Flynn.”
“A shocking, blazingly fast read, Koethi Zan's debut is a must for fans of Karin Slaughter, Laura Lippman, and S.J. Watson.”

Loyalty by Ingrid Thoft (Available now)
“What starts as a missing-persons case for Boston PI Fina Ludlow, the search for her sister-in-law Melanie swells through layers of familial secrets, lies, and betrayals to something approaching Greek tragedy.”
For readers of Lisa Lutz & Janet Evanovich.

The Snow Hunters by Paul Yoon (Available 8/6/2013)
“This slim, melancholy debut novel (after a previous celebrated story collection, Once the Shore) traces the

extraordinary journey of Yohan, who defects from his country at the end of the Korean War, leaving his friends and family behind to seek a new life on the coast of Brazil.” “A minimalist, well-crafted story about an austere man predisposed to avoidance who ultimately needs the people who fill up his empty spaces.”

Provocative nonfiction…
David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell (Available 10/1/13)
“…#1 bestselling author of The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers, and What the Dog Saw, offers his most provocative--and dazzling--book yet. Three thousand years ago on a battlefield in ancient Palestine, a shepherd boy felled a mighty warrior with nothing more than a pebble and a sling-and ever since then the names of David and Goliath have stood for battles between underdogs and giants. David's victory was improbable and miraculous. He "shouldn't "have won. Or should he? In David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell “challenges how we think about obstacles and disadvantages-offering a new interpretation of what it means to be discriminated against, or cope with a disability, or lose a parent, or attend a mediocre school, or suffer from any number of other apparent setbacks.”

Focus: the Hidden Driver of Excellence by Daniel Goleman (Available 10/8/13)
“the author of the #1 international bestseller Emotional Intelligence, offers a groundbreaking look at today's scarcest resource and the secret to high performance and fulfillment: attention. Combining cutting-edge research with practical findings, Focus delves into the science of attention in all its varieties, presenting a long overdue discussion of this little-noticed and under-rated mental asset. In an era of unstoppable distractions, Goleman persuasively argues that now more than ever we must learn to sharpen focus if we are to survive in a complex world.”

Life at the Speed of Light by J. Craig Venter (Available 10/17/13)
“The renowned scientist and author of A Life Decoded examines the creation of life in the new field of synthetic genomics In Life at the Speed of Light, Venter presents a fascinating and authoritative study of this emerging field from the inside--detailing its origins, current challenges and controversies, and projected effects on our lives. This scientific frontier provides an opportunity to ponder anew the age-old question "What is life?" and examine what we really mean by "playing God.”

Good reads…
Night Film by Marisha Pessl (Available 8/20/13)
This “gorgeously written, spellbinding new novel by the dazzlingly inventive Marisha Pessl, will hold you in suspense until you turn the final page.”
"An inventive--if brooding, strange and creepy--adventure in literary terror. Think Edgar Allan Poe and Stephen King meet Guillermo del Toro as channeled by Klaus Kinski."-Kirkus Reviews
Warwick's August Signed First Editions Selection

The Gods of Guilty by Michael Connelly (Available 12/2/13)
“Defense attorney Mickey Haller returns with a haunting case in the gripping new thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly.

Sycamore Row by John Grisham (Available 10/22/13)
“ Remember A Time To Kill’s Jake Brigance? He's back! Jack returns to the courtroom in a dramatic showdown as Ford County again confronts its tortured history. Filled with the intrigue, suspense and plot twists that are the hallmarks of America's favorite storyteller, Sycamore Row is the thrilling story of the elusive search for justice in a small Southern town.”

Food, glorious food….
The A. O. C. Cookbook by Suzanne Goin (Available/29/13)
“From the James Beard award-winning chef and author of Sunday Suppers at Lucques--a long-awaited book of her delectable recipes for the kind of small shared plates that have made her restaurant A.O.C. one of the most popular eateries in Los Angeles." Organized by season, the recipes are adapted to be served as main courses as well as small plates. And each dish comes with Styne's suggestion for the most complementary glass of wine, so you will learn exactly what kind of flavors flatter your favorite varietal.”

The Gramercy Tavern Cookbook by Michael Anthony (Available 10/29/13)
"One of the best New York restaurants, a culinary landmark that has been changing the face of American dining for decades, now shares its beloved recipes, stories, and pioneering philosophy.”

The Cowgirl Creamery Cooks by Sue Conley and Peggy Smith (Available 10/30/13)
“Collecting the vast accumulated wisdom of two of the world's great cheese makers, Cowgirl Creamery Cooks is one of those rare books that immediately asserts itself as an indispensable addition to the food lover's library…an engrossing read that shares the story of the Cowgirls, but also of the rise of the organic food movement and creating an artisanal creamery…a primer on tasting, buying, storing, pairing, and appreciating all kinds of cheese that makes this a gorgeous gift for the cheese lover…and a sumptuous collection of recipes, with 75 appetizers, soups, salads, snacks, entrees, and desserts that showcase cow-, goat-, and sheep-milk cheese.”

Daniel: My French Cuisine by Daniel Boulud with contributions by Bill Buford (Available 10/15/13) “…a welcome addition to the art of French cooking. Included in the cookbook are diverse and informative essays on such essential subjects as bread and cheese (bien sur), and, by Bill Buford, a thorough and humorous look at the preparation of 10 iconic French dishes, from Pot au Feu Royale to Duck a la Presse.. With more than 120 gorgeous photographs capturing the essence of Boulud's cuisine and the spirit of the restaurant Daniel, as well as a glimpse into Boulud's home kitchen, Daniel is a must-have for sophisticated foodies everywhere.”

Ottolenghi: the Cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi (Available 9/3/13)
“Available for the first time in an American edition, this debut cookbook, from bestselling authors Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi of Plenty and Jerusalem, features 140 recipes culled from the popular Ottolenghi restaurants and inspired by the diverse culinary traditions of the Mediterranean.”

One Good Dish by David Tanis (Available 10/22/13)
“In this, his first non-menu cookbook, the New York Times food columnist offers 100 utterly delicious recipes that epitomize comfort food, Tanis-style. Individually or in combination, they make perfect little meals that are elemental and accessible, yet totally surprising.”

Animal magnetism…
Maddie On Things by Theron Humphrey (Available now)
When Theron set out on a roadtrip to cover all 50 states in 365 days he had no idea where that journey would take him or the significant impact it would have on his life and future. In the grand tradition of Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley, his rescued coonhound, Maddie, goes along for the ride and somewhere early on he decides to photograph her standing on things as a way to document the trip. Maddie is irresistibly photogenic, and loves posing for the camera. This delightful collection will make you smile!
(We’re excited to be hosting Maddie and her human on Wednesday, 8/28 at 7:30pm! Click here for details.)

Devoted: 38 Extraordinary Tales of Love, Loyalty and Life with Dogs by Rebecca Ascher-Walsh (Available 10/1/13)
Unlikely Friendships meets Marley and Me." In this heartwarming gift book, author Rebecca Ascher-Walsh presents a collection of inspiring dog stories and touching photos--dogs who comfort veterans, dogs who learn to surf, dogs who detect cancer, and dogs who save the day: Each one is devoted. These 38 uplifting dog stories showcase the most amazing dog rescues, accomplishments, and abilities that fascinate us and touch our hearts.”

The Big New Yorker Book of Cats by Anthony Lane (Available 10/1/13)

“Only The New Yorker could fetch such an unbelievable roster of talent on the subject of man's best friend. This copious collection, beautifully illustrated in full color, features articles, fiction, humor, poems, cartoons, cover art, drafts, and drawings from the magazine's archives.”

Shake by Carli Davidson (Available 10/22/13)
“Original, amusing, and brilliantly documented, Shake is a heartwarming collection of sixty-one beguiling dogs caught in the most candid of moments: mid-shake. This glorious, graphic volume will stop you dead in your tracks as you are presented with images of man's best friend caught in contortion: hair wild, eyes darting, ears and jowls flopping every which way.”

Adrian is the Head Book Buyer at Warwick's

Jim's Playlist

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 08:00:00 -0700

This week we are featuring Jim's Playlist. Jim, a Warwick's bookseller since 2002, is an incredible reader--mixing fiction, non-fiction, and an array of children's books into his busy schedule. Here are his go-to books.

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
Many readers agree that this is one of the best books on our personal top 10 lists. Warwicks has sold almost 1,500 copies, just in paperback, since 2005 and it continues to be a bestseller. Shantaram is based on a true story: a prisoner escapes and leaves Australia for Bombay of the '60s. He lives in a slum, becomes a medic, joins the mafia, and fights against Russia for the Afghans. When he describes the slum fires, the Standing Babbas, and his life-changing travels, you know it had to be the author's first-hand experience. It's described too perfectly to be otherwise. Shantaram is an incredible story.

1001 Inventions that Changed the World by Jack Challoner
Just the right amount of text and packed with incredible photos, this is perfect for anyone with a love for nonfiction and history. Every page features a different invention, everything from Cuneiform writing to cell phones. This is an amazing array of creations with each one detailing its effect on world history. This is a dynamic and entertaining collection.

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
Two folk tales converge on the streets of New York at the turn of the 20th century, A clay golem, created in Europe for a man who could not find a suitable wife, is brought to life while sailing to America. Her master dies, so when she arrives a rabbi becomes her mentor. The jinni is released in a silversmith's shop while a bottle is being polished. Adapting to living with humans is an intriguing immigrant’s tale. The mystical plot twists will keep you guessing. An excellent read!

Our Dumb World by The Onion
Published by the hilarious Onion newspaper, this "atlas" pokes fun of every country in the world. Geography, world events and history are typical of the satire from its online counterpart, onion.com. This is very funny book with a look at the world you've never seen.

The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen
To get Detective Morck from continuing to irritate other police (he solves all his cases, actually) he is assigned all the cold cases in Copenhagen and throughout Denmark. His new office for Dept. Q is in the basement. An unsolved missing persons case is his first challenge. Crimes he investigate often have a current implication, ensuring he’s not forgotten.

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
Reading Jasper Fforde gave me a new appreciation for the term “back story.” Thursday Next is a special operative in Literary Detection, which monitors book plots, and characters in this surreal Great Britain. Fforde has created a world in which crime occurs and a police presence is needed. In the first of this wildly fun series Jane Eyre is kidnapped. Thursday is sent into the book to find the perpetrator. In this world time travel is a normal occurrence and dodos are pets. Who would have thought that chapters were created to give characters a much needed rest?

Mission to Paris by Alan Furst
While movie star Fredric Stahl is in 1938 Paris he is asked to serve as emcee for the Reich's film festival. Little do the Nazi organizers know that Stahl is part of a secret spy service. This is a perfect place to start Alan Furst’s riveting WWII series.

Ghostman by Roger Hobbes
The anonymous "Jack" is hired by professional criminals to “clean up” a casino heist that went horribly wrong. Although the money was stolen, the ringleader never sees that cash. Jack help is needed so his boss gets the missing money and isn’t implicated in this messy crime. He has 48 hours to finish this assignment without anyone knowing who he is or what he's done, a true “ghost man.”

History of a Pleasure Seeker by Richard Mason
Piet Barol's goal is to be accepted as one of Holland's upper class, although he is born into poverty. He has practiced the manners and conventions of the rich and is prepared to be a tutor to a young man at a country estate. This first story in a planned series, Mason’s tome has been described as “Downtown Abbey with sex.” Barol fits in, almost too well, as he tries to work with a boy overwhelmed with OCD. (On YouTube the author plays the piece the boy insists on repeating.)

The Never List

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 08:00:00 -0700

The Never List is a frighteningly real psychological suspense, from debut author Koethi Zan sure to appeal to fans of Gillian Flynn and Chelsea Cain.

The basic plot of The Never List follows a young woman, who a decade ago escaped a man who held her and three other young women captive for several years. Sarah and Jennifer were college freshmen, hyper-aware of the dangers the world can offer—having survived a near fatal accident that took the life of Jennifer’s mother—and always prepared for any possible outcome; yet despite their manic preparedness the girls are kidnapped on a cab ride home from a college party. Held chained and naked in a basement, Sarah, along with two other girls, Tracy and Christine endure psychological and physical torture on par with the psychosis seen in Saw films, from a sadist of the highest ilk who also happens to be a professor of Psychology at an Oregon University. All the while Jennifer is nowhere to be seen, stuffed in a coffin-like box, unable to communicate with the others. When Jennifer is presumed dead Sarah makes a daring escape, but ten years on, with the chance of their frighteningly brilliant captor facing the possibility of parole, Sarah and Tracy go on a quest to find answers and face their demons once and for all.

The narrative, while primarily in the now, does bounce around in time, with snippets of the girls’ abduction, captivity, and escape dribbled out through the text; giving just enough to whet the appetite and fill in the holes, but not enough to completely tell the reader all that happened during the girls imprisonment. The violence is surprisingly slim, but the hints and possibilities that are leaked through words and images are enough to have even the bravest of women white knuckled. In some ways The Never List is a form of psychological manipulation; exposing the horrors, highlighting the monsters, but not quite giving all the details, which leads to imagination, which leads readers to visualize horrors that no one wants dancing around their heads. In that way, the book and writing are brilliant, what better way to get the true impact of a psychological thriller than to leave the worst of it to the readers’ own bit of psychosis? Unfortunately, the plot itself suffers a bit from an overabundance of foreshadowing and clue leaving; which makes it a bit too easy to figure out. In writing suspense it’s good to leave a clue here and there, a reader should be able to reach the novel’s conclusion and then be able to look back and find the bits and pieces that were left like little breadcrumbs leading to the eventual outcome. The writer should not spell out the conclusion—it makes for a poor twist and a groan from the readers. Debut writer Zan does the latter, the twists and outcome are a little too predictable. Fortunately, the predictability of the plot and resolution does not detract from the well-developed tension of the heroine, and ultimate horror of the acts and lifestyle perpetrated by the villains of the novel. The sheer terror evoked by their deeds is enough to have readers gripping the edge of the book in a weird amalgamation of discomfort and curiosity, both repelled by the concepts and addicted to the possible outcomes. Because the author wisely leaves out the more ghastly details the reader is not subjected to an outright description of the atrocities, making the tension one of the mind, and not of the eyes—meaning it’s not like watching a film like Saw or Hostel that leaves nothing to the imagination, showing torture for the sake of showing gratuitous violence and nothing more—the book is not apt to make one squeamish, or deeply disturbed, if anything it makes readers subtly more aware of their surroundings and the people within them.

In all, The Never List is a worthy read for psychological suspense and thriller fans. It is well constructed, frightening, and at times close enough to reality to make a reader want to check the doors and avoid cab rides. Despite the plot loopholes and predictability, the book creates a wonderful sort of edge-of-the-seat tension that can consume a reader, and lurk about long after the last pages of text are a distant memory. For a first book Koethi Zan has proved herself adept at handling a very real and scary subject, she can only get better from here, and I for one am eager to see what she does next.

Tami's Playlist

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 08:00:00 -0700

This month we are featuring a selection of recommended reads from one of our newest staff members, Tami. While Tami may be new to Warwick's, she is actually one of the most experienced booksellers on staff, with over 16 years of experience in the book world. Tami is an avid reader, with an array of reading tastes and styles (and she's a member of a book club, so ask her about suggestions!). Here's what is on her playlist this month:

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
Once again Hosseini transports us from Afghanistan and beyond, to Paris, San Francisco and the Greek Isles. Filled with memorable characters, we feel what it is to be human, the need to be connected, and the nature of family. In poetic prose, and epic in scope we see the ripple effect our choices make through generations to come. Beautifully told, complex and thought provoking. His best book to date and one not to be missed.

Doc by Mary Doria Russell
The history of the west comes to life with the flowing prose of Doria Russell. The well born classically trained and educated John Henry Holliday, Doc, moves to the Texas frontier to combat the effects of consumption. The refined dentist turned professional gambler partners with Kate Harony and Dodge City is forever changed. Meet the Earp brothers, Bat Masterson and a cast of colorful characters and live life before the O.K. corral.

Transatlantic by Colum McCann
A master at developing disparate stories and weaving them together, McCann has done it again. Ireland is the common thread as we witness the first flight from Newfoundland to Ireland, the life changing trip of Frederick Douglas and the brokering of a peace agreement by U.S. Senator Mitchell. Four generations of strong women characters are the fabric of this exquisitely written tale. Definitely one of the top literary books of 2013. Highly recommended.

The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls
Another strong story of the dysfunction of family and how love overcomes all. Liz and Bean are 15 and 12 respectively when their disillusioned mother Charlotte, who is still trying to “find herself” takes off for too long. The sisters decide to journey to Mom’s home town in Virginia and visit Uncle Tinsley where a host of past history comes to the forefront. Both heartbreaking and filled with the flaws of family, Walls paints a portrait of love overcoming all, even with the help of a couple of errant emus!

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
My favorite summer read of 2012. Step into a world of enchantment at the turn of the Century. A duel between two young competitive magicians, but beyond the black and white striped circus tents a love match is in the making. Ethereal, whimsical and utterly transporting you will want to join the night circus and cheer for Celia and Marco. This debut novel is mesmerizing in both imagination and beautiful prose. Enjoy!

The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt
A cowboy noir, think Cohen brothers. Eli and Charlie Sisters are bountry hunters, but Eli is considering an alternate career path. At times violent but alternatively so laugh out loud funny it is often times hard to remember they are bad guys. Take a rollicking ride through the gold mining country of Northern California as the brothers track the mysterious Hermann Kermit Warm, who happens to have a secret formula for detecting gold. Refreshingly different and imaginatively written. For the reader who loves the offbeat.

The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
The best coming of age saga you will ever read. Set in South Africa during the beginning of apartheid we see both the beauty and brutality through the eyes of a young English boy, Peekay. One of the most memorable characters of fiction, Peekay overcomes impossible odds to realize his dreams: to become a winner. Captivating, inspiring, magnificent, brilliantly written. A must read!

The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin
Coplin’s novel depicts a powerful new voice in describing the landscape of the Pacific Northwest, as you feel the beauty and solitude of the land. The author has populated the story with a wide range of characters who have been scarred by the harshness of life. Talmadge seeks redemption at all costs to himself, Della mindlessly tests herself, the environment and cultural mores in her focus on revenge and the assuage of guilt, Angelene forging the only life and sense of family she has known. Told in often spare but beautiful prose, the elements of the plot brings up many questions of our humanity and what motivates us. A fantastic Book Club selection. You won’t stop talking about this one.

Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen
Summer is not complete without the hilarity of a Hiaasen romp. He consistently creates over the top eccentric characters, who do the improbable, and is always set in Florida where apparently anything can, and does, happen. Always showing the results of greed, avarice and capricious human behavior in the most outlandish way, yes there is even a monkey in this exploit. Grab your favorite summer drink, a shady comfy hammock, and enjoy an afternoon delight.

The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell
An unreliable narrator is at the forefront of a psychological suspense page turner set in the Gatsby era of New York. Rose is a typist who receives confessions from criminals to record their crimes for the NYPD, Odalie is the glamorous new girl in the typing pool who possess an air of mystery and is ready for everything the Roaring 20’s has to offer. Rose cannot help falling under Odalie’s spell… This one will have you wondering until the final pages.

Sarah Butler's "Ten Things I've Learnt About Love"

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 5 Jul 2013 08:00:00 -0700

Alice is a bit of a mess. She’s a chronic runner—restless in school as a child, flitting from job to job, escaping to far off places when things get tough— Alice isn’t one to face life’s problems head on, or even in the same country.

Daniel is a wanderer. Some might call him a tramp, a vagabond, others a bum or vagrant, but Daniel is searching; walking the streets searching the faces of Londoners for a glimpse of the daughter he’s never met.

When Alice’s father’s health takes a turn for the worst she must return to the home she fled. Thrown back into the midst of family and relationship problems; seeking answers to her mother’s death over two decades before, her father’s seeming distance, and the complicated lives of her older sisters, Alice must find the strength to face not only the issues of her life, but her future.

An encounter between Daniel and Alice has the possibility of opening both of their eyes to a world that’s
beyond their private fears and lives.

Told in first person, with chapters alternating between the perspectives of both Daniel and Alice, Ten Things I’ve Learnt About Love is a beautifully inventive story. Unfolding slowly, with only snippets of the past being revealed through both the narrative and top ten lists that appear at the beginning of each chapter, author Sarah Butler is able to take a small piece of a much larger story and make it seem whole and perfect. Her two main characters are infinitely flawed, but they are also endearing in their total humanness—failings and triumphs—as they meander their ways through life, both running in some way from the hurts that life can dole out. I loved how this novel is really just a glimpse into their life stories. The reader only gets pieces of the larger past, and to an extent, not everything is tied up neatly at the story’s conclusion, but nonetheless there is still a sense of satisfaction in what the reader does get from the narrators, and the eventual end, which signifies that while this part of the story has concluded, it is in fact not the end. As in reality; life goes on when a chapter closes, and anything is possible.

Ten Things I’ve Learnt About Love is a wonderful glimpse at two lives. It shows how all of our choices have an impact somewhere and on someone, but that in the end they are our choices to make. It’s about love and its many incarnations; familial, paternal, romantic, friendly, and how it can change our lives in an infinite number of ways. A layered, well-written debut, I can’t recommend it enough for book clubs or those who enjoy an intimate look into the age old question “where do I belong”. If you read carefully, Ten Things I’ve Learnt About Love just might give you a lesson or two.

Want to read Ten Things I've Learnt About Love with your Book Club? Download the Book Club Kit here.

Warwick's Guest Bloggers-“This is What Happens When You’re a Guest”

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 08:00:00 -0700

“This is What Happens When You’re a Guest”
By Katharine Allen and Laura Derickson

The candid, charming, and outrageously funny Fred Stoller paid a visit to La Jolla as part of his tour for his new acclaimed novel Maybe We’ll Have You Back, in which he recounts his life as a “perennial T.V. guest star.” Stoller has been described as the hardest working man in Hollywood, with a resume boasting over 100 guest appearances. Even so, he has maintained his sense of humor, his aura of humility and his genuine likeability.

Katherine and Laura with Fred Stoller at Warwick's

We had the privilege of sitting down with Stoller before his book signing at Warwick’s in La Jolla [on May 21, 2013] and asked him a few questions. Never having spent much time with famous people, we weren’t sure what to expect. To our delight, not only is Fred Stoller a hilarious writer and stand-up comedian, but he is also the type of guy two high-school juniors could have a blast talking to. He answered all of our questions with the ease and graciousness of someone comfortable enough with himself to make us both feel comfortable with ourselves. He gave us anecdotes from his book and life, tips for breaking into acting, and invaluable dating advice. In the end, our biggest regret was that there was so much to talk about and so little time.

One of the first things one notices about Stoller is perhaps his most endearing quality: his art of self-deprecation. When speaking about casting calls he described casting directors telling him "not so pathetic,” and then responded to them by saying, “I was being myself.” He never reached the stage of instant stardom over night. Stoller recalled experiences of being booed off the stage, yelled at by crowds, and getting booed at in parking lots. He bounced back by thinking of those crowds as “drunk idiots.” “It’s helped,” he said. When he felt rejection, he would call friends who would listen to him, sometimes all night. "You're a doomed Jew from Brooklyn," Larry David once told him, but he persevered, partially because he couldn’t come up with an alternative career.

Stoller opened up about his rise to fame, his mother, his one-night stand with Kathy Griffin, and his surprisingly modest lifestyle. “Everyone always says; ‘You must live over there,’ pointing at the Hollywood mansions and I say ‘no’ and point them in the right direction,” he told us.

We asked Stoller when he first realized he was funny, and he explained, “I just knew I was a misfit and wasn’t made for the real world, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do. But then I saw quirky character actors on T.V. and I thought: ‘Oh I could do that,’ but I didn’t know how to pursue it.” Stoller then began to experience stand up comedy first-hand when he started to visit a comedy club with his older sister, where he “just started hanging out watching comedians,” and his future was set in motion. But not everyone was pleased with his decision. One chapter of his book is entitled “You’re too Depressed to Be a Comedian,” because when Stoller explained to his mother than he was going to pursue a career in stand up comedy she replied; "You are so depressed, how are you going to make people laugh.” Little by little he began to put an act together, even though he was shy at first. Stoller then realized that “being nervous become my act. I had my head down and I wouldn’t look at the audience and I would just say crazy things that had really happened to me,” he said. Stoller can be seen on almost any popular T.V. series as the “awkward guy, weird guy, scared guy, nervous guy, or guy who trips.”

Of all of Stoller’s accomplishments, or credits, he has had many fabulous T.V. experiences, Seinfield standing out from the rest. He knew at the time that being part of such a show allowed him to be a part of T.V. history. “To be part of it in any facet is a thrill,” he commented. Stoller has not only acted for Seinfeld, but has also spent time as a writer for the show. He admitted, though, that guest starring is far less glamorous then being a full-time actor. He recalled that when working on a Friends episode, his “bathroom had been torn down to make a gym for the stars.” With respect to his book, Maybe We’ll Have You Back, Stoller said that “there’s actually more rejection in writing a book than stand up comedy because it’s your life.” Although he writes less than flattering stories about many famous people in the book, the only person he has heard from directly is his mother. She, he said, is “less than thrilled,” with his newest endeavor. Of course, this led to a careful conversation about his mother and his childhood. His mother is the subject of many portions of the book. She is described as “always scared” and “very negative.” Stoller openly admitted that she lacked much support for his dreams. Once when Stoller considered getting a job at Burger King, he said that his mother told him, “yeah, they’re waiting for you.”

How do all of these things impact Stoller’s work? He notes that he is not a failure. He understands his “type.” He has embraced his shmuck-ness. Stoller, while fidgety and nervous, has a remarkably thick skin. Although Stoller names other celebrities in the book, in our interview he suggested that if either of us ever thought of writing a book we may want to consider changing all of the names. We asked if Kathy Griffin ever contacted him, and he laughed, shook his head, and said that she made a reference to the book on her television show basically stating that she had so much sex during the 90s that she really couldn’t remember him.

And with such a demanding career, we were tentative to ask about his love life. With a chuckle, a flustered Stoller said, “How do you get a girl to like you?” He asked. “Be funny?” we answered. He shakes his head, and smiles. “You can’t get a girl to like you; she just has to like you. You can’t work someone, it’s predetermined, like auditions,” he said, “don’t make the mistakes I’ve made. Don’t check your phone.” As if remembering a sudden tip, he also stated, “It’s a bad thing if a woman is on her phone looking for the next date on a dating site. When you see that, get out of there.” and he even admitted that that had in fact happened to him. And because he knows Tinsel Town, Stoller specifically addresses dating stars, “If you’re an actor, it’s a catch 22. You want someone not like you and not competitive with you, but other people might not get you.”

As we were leaving, Stoller gave his advice for both the aspiring actor and the average teenager. For the aspiring actors out there he stated, “Class is good, but don’t be a permanent student,” he said with a decisive note in his voice, “you can’t learn to be funny. Trust your feelings. Embrace who and what you are and don’t try too hard to figure out what they are looking for because it’s always going to change. People prey on vulnerable people. Stay away from experts and acting coaches. There are so many self-anointed experts out there; the insecurity is like Facebook times 1000. It’s always ‘me, me, my thing, come to my show’.” And, always the comedian, Stoller, smiled when asked if people in show business are generally narcissistic, then he laughed and responded with a sarcastic, “Oh please.” He recalled advice that Quentin Tarantino had given him on dealing with such people, “If you say there’s a they, you create a they.”

Stoller left us with some parting advice, when questioned on his “greatest regret.” “My greatest regret was giving in to desperation,” he explained, “trust your feeling. You wouldn’t ask someone ‘do I have a headache?’” We feel safe speaking for everyone at the book signing, when we say, Mr. Stoller, we would love to have you back.

Our Guest Bloggers, Laura and Katherine are high school students in La Jolla

2013 Warwick’s Summer Reads

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 6 Jun 2013 08:00:00 -0700

It's Summer, time for sun, surf, vacation and reading! Take a look at the Warwick's Staff's Summer Reading List. These are the books we are excited to share with you or are just plain excited to get our hands on. Take a look at what our diverse staff is pouring over this summer.

Adriana, bookseller: After Her by Joyce Maynard (out 8/20/13)
I love everything that Joyce Maynard writes and this one is no exception.

Heather, Marketing Coordinator: Night Film by Marisha Pessl (out 8/20/13)
Pessl’s sophomore effort (her debut was Special Topics in Calamity Physics) is a fantastic mystery steeped in horror and Hollywood mythology. Pessl ingeniously incorporates webpages, torn sheets of paper, and other items into the text, making it not only a written tale, but in a way, multimedia. I was absolutely absorbed by Night Film.

Julie, Director of Events and Community Relations: Transatlantic by Colum McCann (out 6/4/13)
You read Colum McCann because you love to read beautiful writing. I am awed by his ability to tell so much in so few words. He shows us, in such sparse and beautiful verse, that we all can survive tough and difficult periods of time. He is a master storyteller, telling this story through the voices of four generations of women. If you are already a fan of bi-planes and Irish history - what a bonus. For everyone else, it is the sheer enjoyment of reading Colum McCann's words and, in the process, he will make you a fan! I savored every last minute with this book, because I knew it would be a long time before I'd get the chance to read something by this wonderful writer. Thank you, once again, Colum McCann for giving us this treasure

John, Book Buyer: Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly, and the Making of the Modern Middle East by Scott Anderson (out 8/6/13)
I'm finishing up two weighty historical tomes at the moment, so I have barely dipped into Lawrence in Arabia. I really look forward to reading it for a number of reasons. First, Scott Anderson is a veteran war correspondent and an excellent writer. So far, it reads like a thriller. Second, Anderson relied on extensive primary source research, and many of the sources have only seen the light of day recently. Third, the book focuses not only on Lawrence but a small group of officers and adventurers who in many ways shaped the Arab Revolt against the Turks, and therefore had a decisive impact on the modern contours and conflicts of the Middle East. This book will make a perfect follow-up to the book I'm just finishing, Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan by William Dalrymple

Janet, bookseller: The Silver Star by Jeanette Walls (out 6/11/13)
I just finished Jeanette Walls new novel, The Silver Star. It’s about two young sisters all, but abandoned by their flighty mom, who make their way across the country to find a home with an eccentric relative in the deep South. Fans of The Secret Lives of Bees and Labor Day will love this engrossing story.

Acacia, bookseller: Burial Rites by Hannah Kent (out 9/10/13)
An absolutely stunning literary debut in the tradition of Atwood’s Alias Grace, this story follows the last days of Agnes Magnusdottir, the last woman to be executed for murder in Iceland. Kent brings to life the harsh landscape of the early 19th century countryside and the heated love affair that might have eventually led her to murder. A must read for anyone looking for a fresh take on historical fiction.

Camilla, Book Receiver: The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes (out 6/13/13)
After being a dedicated non-fiction and history reader for a few years now, I have finally decided it is time to return to fiction for the summer. The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes will provide the perfect escapism necessary, in the format of a dark, creepy thriller. Writer Tana French loved the book but said, “It creeped the holy bejasus out of me.” French is no stranger to dark writing, and should be a sign to anyone who enjoys King, or French that this book is worth taking a look at. The plot centers around a time-traveling serial killer who leaves a souvenir with each of his victims. This modus operandi works well for many years, until one of his victims survives. While this is certainly not a light hearted summer read, it is one that will likely take hold of any reader who enjoys a thriller or mystery.

Barbara, bookseller: The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian (out 7/9/13)
This newest novel by Bohjalian is a wonderful story taking place in Tuscany at the end of WWII and ten years later. It’s got everything from romance, to intrigue, to murder. I loved it.

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls: One of This Summer's Most Anticipated Books

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 30 May 2013 08:00:00 -0700

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls, now there’s a mouthful. I predict that this book title will be the most butchered title of the summer. It just might be up there with the like of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. That being said, this book has already been named a most anticipated book for Summer 2013 by The Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly, and it’s only fair to say that booksellers should get used to the different interpretations of this title that will be bandied about as the word spreads and book clubs tromp through the doors to get their hands on the new hot read.

Here’s the plot in brief:
It’s 1930; America is in the midst of the Great Depression, families are losing money, homes, and their lives. In the midst of the country’s turmoil sits 15-year-old Thea Atwell, the only daughter of a Florida doctor and his beautiful wife. Thea’s family is wealthy thanks to her mother’s citrus groves, and has led a sheltered, unstructured life, roaming her family’s fields on the back of her pony Sasi with her twin brother Sam at her side. When we meet Thea she is in the midst of familial banishment, shunted out to the mountains of North Carolina, so far and so drastically different than Florida, to The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls, an elite boarding school for the daughters of the upper echelons. It is here, that Thea, banished from her family due to mysterious circumstances, must fit into the complicated social order that is an all-girls school, while dealing with her own issues of guilt, resentment, and abandonment toward her family.

I’ll start by saying that I was immediately immersed in this book. Told from an adult Thea’s perspective as she looks back at her life, is it easy to empathize with her teenage self; separated from her idyllic home and thrust into the competitive environment of other teen girls, mourning the lost connection with her twin with whom she has been inseparable, and suffering the shunning from her mother. As the story progresses and the reader learns more about Thea’s life and the probable reasons of her banishment that involve the only other teen she had contact with—her cousin George, the sympathy remains, along with a twinge of contempt for the naivety of her mother, and the willful blindness she displayed to the goings on. Author Anton DiSclafani know just how to pull the heart strings, with the right amount of angst and resentment and that cleverness perfectly sucks the reader into the story and firmly implants Thea as a solid, yet tragic hero. The brilliance of this writer is truly displayed in how she slowly and subtlety adds more to Thea’s character and backstory, throwing in little tastes of Thea’s less than perfect traits, stacking them up slowly, so that when the reasons behind the banishment are learned, the reader is so enmeshed in the world through seen through Thea’s eyes, that it becomes nearly impossible to condemn her actions. I say brilliance because the actions of Thea are really reprehensible when removed from the context of the narrative (actually, in my mind they are reprehensible period), and when the shameful reason behind her exile comes to the forefront the reader is still on her side. It’s like being caught up in the gaze of a hypnotist, difficult to breakaway, and in the case of Thea, even harder to condemn.

Having finished, and been given time to digest the plot and motives of its main character, I have come to a far different conclusion; Thea is not a victim—she made her choices willfully and defiantly, but she can be sympathized with to some extent as being a product of her time. Instead of being villains, the Atwell parents bring on their own destruction, both because of the era and the hardships of the Depression, but also because in separating their family from the world at large, they in a sense engineer their own demise. Yet, in the end, when looking back at all that Thea has wrought by her actions, it is clear how much of a path of destruction she left behind her. She is a product of the time—a girl, naïve in her approach to worldly things like sex, politics, money, and society in general, yet because of her isolated upbringing both she and her twin Sam were unable to blossom into fully formed moral human beings capable of becoming healthy members of the world. I’m philosophizing here, but Thea is an almost sociopathic blend of naivety and selfishness, it is her actions that set the ball rolling in a downward spiral, she needs to be punished, and yet in reality it is not Thea who is ultimately punished, it is the family that turned her away, incapable of moving on. Thea is hero and villain, her family the tragic remnants of a battle they didn’t even know had started, and it is they, not Thea who suffer the price. Thea is the champion in this narrative, winning the reader to her side, but upon further contemplation, she is a harbinger of destruction, both contemptible in her actions, but oddly amazing in her resilience, something her parents lack.

I’m torn. This book was phenomenally good. I really felt for Thea, I hoped her parents suffered for their abandonment, for choosing Sam over her. Ultimately, their eventual suffering, even though it stemmed from their own blindness and bad judgment, was so shattering that I can’t help but be frustrated. You love a character, skim over her sins, but when everything else is destroyed by her choices how can you enjoy the aftermath? I was enthralled by the first three quarters of The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls, and irritated by the last quarter because of Thea’s blasé attitude and seeming lack of awareness that she was the catalyst of all the misery. Maybe these feelings speak to the talent of the author and her compelling narrative. Perhaps they are a more accurate depiction of what happens when a child is denied socialization and accountability. Maybe if Thea’s parents dealt with the issue instead of just removing the elephant in the room, the outcome would have been different. Life is a series of what ifs; postulating on the parents mistakes, the role of society in that era, and Thea’s choices isn’t going to give me anything, but a headache, and it is this that speaks to Anton DiSclafani’s talent as a storyteller, she is making me think, there might even be a catharsis somewhere in there. A good storyteller charms you with the lore, a great one makes you deconstruct it and feel emotion, positive and negative, question it, revel in it. I might be ethically frustrated by the outcomes of this novel, but while reading it I was invested, and it is that investment, created by the mesmeric narrative, which makes it a book worth reading and discussing.

Reading Beth Hoffman

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 23 May 2013 08:00:00 -0700

It is great fun to find fantastic debut novelists. It’s something that every bookseller gets to enjoy, and do quite frequently, but I have to admit to a bit of nerves when it comes to sophomore efforts. There’s nothing worse than falling in love with a debut author, only to have those feelings thrown in your face with the production of a lackluster second novel. It happens more often than not, and as a reader it is always a bit crushing. So, it was with some trepidation that I picked up Beth Hoffman’s new book Looking for Me. I absolutely loved her debut Saving CeeCee Honeycutt and was a little afraid that I would be disappointed by this second novel. Well, let me tell you how foolish those worries were.

Looking for Me is a fantastic second novel. It possesses the same charm as its predecessor, drawing readers in with its southern warmth and anecdotal tone, while also maintaining the remarkable insight and depth that I believe readers will begin to associate with Hoffman’s writing. Beth Hoffman has that rare quality as an author to present a seemingly light and easy read, only to have a fully-fledged novel that is not only engrossing, but also intelligent, and brilliantly written. Her use of language is beyond simple charm, her sentences flow like warm honey to be savored and reread, and her characters are fully functioning, living and breathing people—ones you wish with all your heart you could get to know.

Told in first-person, and bouncing back and forth through time, Looking for Me tells the story of Teddi Overman, a talented furniture restorer and owner of an antique shop in South Carolina. Born on a farm in Kentucky, readers are introduced to the Overman family; Teddi, a girl who’s love from antique furniture leads her on a road of self-discovery, Teddi’s silent and wonderful father Henry, her perpetually disappointed mother Franny, and her brother Josh whose affinity with nature, in particular rare birds of prey, provides readers with a heartbreaking mystery. As Teddi’s life unfurls, bouncing between her present and memories of her childhood, I was delighted to only be captivated be her life, but to also be engrossed by her love of antiques—learning more about restoration and estate shopping in a way that was both entertaining and emotional, than I ever could have thought. These instances are so well-written in fact, that I, who have never had an interest in these things, found myself wanting to look up terms on Google and pop out to the next big estate sale in my neighborhood. To get non-crafty me interested in furniture restoration is a fete in itself! Hoffman also manages to effectively and lastingly tug on the proverbial heartstring as she addresses Teddi’s strained relationship with her mother, and her brother’s mysterious disappearance, in a way that manages to forgo the mawkish sentiment or cheesiness that so often finds its way into novels.

This is a deceptively complex story that is beyond readable, it’s enchanting, lovable beautiful, and full of depths that one would not expect from a novel that might appear lighter in content than some. Looking for Me is one of those books you pick-up and literally do not put down, not because of suspense or turmoil, but because it is so well-written, and the characters so believable and rich, that it mesmerizes with the first paragraph. Beth Hoffman is just that good and I will never again feel trepidation that her next novel won’t be good enough—she’s secured my fandom for life.

Come meet Beth Hoffman at Warwick's on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at 7:30 pm. Details available at http://warwicks.indiebound.com/event/beth-hoffman-2013.

And The Mountains Echoed: A Q&A with Khaled Hosseini (Courtesy of the Publisher)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:04:00 -0700

Khaled Hosseini (c) Elena Seibert

What most excites you about meeting your readers across America?
Meeting the wide range and diversity of people who have responded to my books, people from all walks of life, all religions, races, cultures, from varsity wrestling team members to hipsters to CEOs to middle-aged accountants to octogenarians. It is always a reminder to me, when I meet these kaleidoscopic demographics, of the ability of fiction to connect people through the expression of basic, common human experiences.

You’ll be on the road for five weeks—what are you planning to bring to read on your tour?
I have already bought a few books for just that purpose and they are now sitting on my desk! Some are new, some are older books that I have always meant to read and never got around to. They are:

Birds of America by Lorrie Moore
The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis
Dear Life by Alice Munro
American Pastoral by Philip Roth
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

Not sure I will get through all of them, but I will knock off a few.

What do you like to do with your downtime during your book tour?
I read. I exercise, if I can find the time. I watch parts of movies. I call home. I try to write but never can. I end up reading a lot.

What do you pack in your suitcase that might surprise us?
I always pack—though I never end up wearing it—my SF 49ers cap, which I consider my good luck hat. Also, I have started taking guitar lessons (as a show of solidarity, really, with my son), and sometimes I will pack a small travel guitar for practice on the road. (A bit of parental trickery is at work here, of course; i.e., if I can find time to practice on a national book tour, then my son can find twenty minutes in his day to do the same. Sometimes you have make people feel so bad that they’ll do the right thing.)

What are your children reading right now?
My daughter, who is ten, is reading A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle.
My son, twelve, just finished The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon.

Come listen to and meet Khaled Hosseini on June 26th! Event and ticket information available at http://khaledhosseinisd.eventbrite.com

And the Mountains Echoed is available for purchase on May 21, 2013.

Kaleidoscopes—My Journey into the Warwick’s Gift Dept.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 10 May 2013 09:13:00 -0700

I don’t often get the chance to peruse the Office and Gift Departments of Warwick’s. I have excuses: I work in books, I’m chained to my desk, the always popular—we have a Gifts Dept.?, or the ever promising—I’m lazy! I’m sure I could come up with more, but really, there are some great gems in our Gift Dept., it’s just sometimes I’m moving too fast to notice. That’s why, when a co-worker stopped me in my tracks to show me some new jewelry, I wasn’t terribly surprised to find something truly unique, and well—awesome: kaleidoscope necklaces.

Yes, I'll admit it, I think kaleidoscopes are cool, but let me back-up. Growing up kaleidoscopes were kind of a thing for me, my cousins, and siblings. It’s not that we were all kaleidoscope mad, or even eager to own and play with kaleidoscopes, it’s that our grandmother collected them and whenever we visited her inner sanctum (bedroom) we got to investigate them to our hearts content. From simple little $2 cardboard tubes, to elaborate glass contrivances, my grandma had an eclectic and often beautiful collection and it gave us all a sense of pleasure to pick-up one and discover a world of shape and color. My grandmother has since passed, and I have the pleasure of temporarily harboring those wonderful devices, and each time I get a glimpse of one out of the corner of my eye when walking through the house, I think of her.

So, back to those kaleidoscope necklaces at Warwick’s—seeing them displayed on our jewelry counter immediately made me think of my grandma, particularly since she probably purchased some of her kaleidoscopes here. With Mother’s Day around the corner, I couldn’t help but think how much she would have loved one of these beautiful necklaces. It just really ended my day with a smile.

Now I’d like to share a little information about these truly unique pieces. The kaleidoscope necklaces are created by Healy Designs, run by jewelers Deborah and Kevin who have been making kaleidoscopes since the 1990’s. As told by the designers “The swirling colors and patterns of Kaleidoscopes have enabled us to add a new dimension to how our jewelry may be enjoyed. As artists, we feel fortunate to participate in the revelatory and peaceful world of Kaleidoscopes."1
Warwick’s features the necklaces, and other fine jewelry in our Gift Department, with prices ranging from $99 to $345, each handmade and filled with pieces of colorful sea glass, and of course all are working kaleidoscopes. I’ve provided a few pictures, but honestly they don’t do the necklaces justice, my suggestion is to come into the store and check them out—if only to see how intricately they are made. Also, the Gift Dept. staff is well versed on the jewelry and can answer any questions you might have.

I guess I’ve now learned that if I am able to make such a find by traveling to the other side of the store I should probably do it more often and I must urge those of you who only peruse books to do the same. Who knows what amazingly perfect item you may find or what memories of your own those items might evoke.

As a side note, Warwick’s also sells some stunning full-size kaleidoscopes, the picture here depicts three kaleidoscopes by Sea Parrot, which are handmade and use unique colors and materials, sure to stun the eyes.

Heather is the Marketing Coordinator for Warwick's

1 http://www.healydesigns.com

John's Playlist

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:00:00 -0700

It's that time once again to feature one amazing Warwick's bookseller and their current "must reads", or as we call it, their "playlists". This week John is presenting a unique selection of books, both fiction and non-fiction sure to entice a diverse group of readers. John, who has been at Warwick's since March of 2000, is someone who wears many hats at Warwick's, among them book buyer, bookseller, and receiver--his enthusiasm for smart literature and fascinating non-fiction helps to make him one of our most well-rounded readers, as seen in his picks below.

Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo
Boo, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, writes evocatively and movingly about the people living in Annawadi, a slum in the shadow of the Mumbai airport and a row of the city’s luxury hotels. The people you meet in this book (especially Abdul) will stay with you, will haunt you, as powerfully as any character you have ever encountered in fiction. Given both the hands-on depth of her research and her restrained yet evocative writing, I am certain that no better book has ever been written, or ever will be written, about how the struggle to survive in conditions of abject poverty shapes and distorts human personalities, families, and communities.

Big Data: A Revolution That Will Transform How We Live, Work, and Think
by Viktor Mayer-Schönberger & Kenneth Cukier
Analyzing big data — that is, massive and complex collections of data — has already yielded astonishing results and will utterly transform the world. This is a must-read book for, among others, scientists, doctors, policymakers, and business people. Really, if you care about the future, you should read this!

The Book of Barely Imagined Beings: A 21st Century Bestiary
by Caspar Henderson
This book won me right away with the sheer beauty of its cover, typography, and illustrations — all of which remind one of the medieval bestiaries that inspired this book. This A-Z bestiary (Axolotl to Zebra Fish) of weird, delightful, amazing, and very real creatures entertainingly weaves together natural history, human history, philosophy, science, and literature. It certainly achieves the goal set by the author of better understanding and imagining “being and beings.” You will indeed think about the world, its beings, and yourself differently and more profoundly after reading this book.

Ghostman by Roger Hobbs
A compelling “bad guy” protagonist, “wise” dialogue, an almost geek-like fascination with criminal machinations, a high body count, and a ticking clock suspense plot — this debut thriller has a lot going for it, and . . . it delivers! Hopefully, this will be the first in a long series of books.

Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roach
Nobody writes science with more humor, with more of a love of scientists and the crazy things they study, with more of a mischievous delight in enlightening her readers by making them squirm than the brilliant Mary Roach. Her current book, a tour of the human body from sniffing to chewing to digestion to excretion — that is, mouth to anus — is quite possibly her best one yet. I guarantee that you will not only be entertained and enlightened, you will also find it nearly impossible not to share with your friends and family all of the fascinating things you learn about saliva.

How to Create the Perfect Wife: Britain's Most Ineligible Bachelor and his Enlightened Quest to Train the Ideal Mate by Wendy Moore
Possesed of a love of liberty and of stoicism, moved especially by a terrifically bad reading of Rousseau, Thomas Day adopts some orphans and, having failed to get anyone to the altar, sets about to create a well-educated, stoically virtuous, and obedient wife. Wendy Moore develops out of this crazy story a grounded and nuanced portrait of the interplay of education, enlightenment notions of liberty, and gender in Georgian England. Day’s activities would ultimately be a source for many literary works, but the story of what eventually happened both to him and to Sabrina is perhaps the most fascinating part of this entertaining and, at times, jaw dropping social history.

How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Moshin Hamid
Narrated by “you,” Hamid’s novel is a “self-help” book, one that in relating the life story of its narrator, proposes to show the reader how to thrive amidst the corruption, wild entrepreneurship, crime, violence, and rapid urbanization that characterizes the “Asia” of the title. This is also a modern love story, a tale of personal rise and fall, and a satirical take on the ravages of urbanization and modernization. Hamid's inventive, unsentimental prose and his sharp wit will have you flying through this book.

Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II by Mitchell Zuckoff
In 1945, a plane crashed in an isolated valley in the mountains of Papua New Guinea. The three survivors of the crash — a WAC and two GIs — found themselves wounded and trapped in a valley populated by warrior tribes. Their dramatic rescue was global front page news in 1945. Zuckoff has peppered this compulsively readable narrative with fascinating details. Great stuff!

Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
The work of Daniel Kahneman and his collaborator Amos Tversky transformed cognitive science, the study of psychology, and led to the emergence of behavioral economics. Many popular books in business and science are rooted in their work. Now you can get a more detailed and nuanced portrait of their work and its results directly from the source in this intellectual masterpiece. Most surprising is how accessible and entertaining this book truly is. It will also, if you work at it, improve your thinking.

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Wolf Hall is one of the best historical novels I have ever read. The only recent rival for me is Mantel’s second book in the Cromwell trilogy, Bring Up the Bodies (in paperback in May). Her prose is far more vital than one usually finds in a historical novel, and her ability to write and observe believably from inside the head of Thomas Cromwell is staggering. I thought I was done reading about the Tudors until I read the first page of Wolf Hall.

"The River of No Return"

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 08:00:00 -0700

Fans of Deborah Harkness’s A Discovery of Witches rejoice—The River of No Return is here!

No, it’s not another book in the Witches series, and no it is not another book from Harkness herself. Instead, it is a debut novel written by another professor (Harkness is at USC); this time by a professor of English literature at Bryn Mawr College, Bee Ridgeway, and her story is 100% sure to grab your attention and devotion if you are a fan of Harkness.

The River of No Return (not to be confused with the Robert Mitchum/Marilyn Monroe film) follows the story of Nick Davenant, nee Lord Nicholas Falcott, a young man thrust through time during the heat of battle in 1813, landing in 2003 to discover he has a unique gift, one that allows for the manipulation of time. It is there that he is taken under the wing of the Guild, a group of powerful men and women with the same abilities as Nick. Ten years later, Nick is plunged through time once again, this time by the Guild, in order to investigate a terrible hole (called “the Pale”) that is threatening the future. Back in his own time Nick is reacquainted with his young love Julia Percy, a Lady with mysterious ties to time, the Guild, and the Guild’s enemies, and who may have the answer to everything.

There is obviously much more to the plot, it’s a fantasy that weaves between time and characters, building itself a rich history and background, laying the groundwork for future sequels. Much like it’s counterparts in fiction, Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander and the Deborah Harkness books, The River of No Return has a plot that is intricately drawn and difficult to describe in detail without divulging too much of the plot (something that drives me crazy in reviews). Yet, unlike the books by Harkness, Ridgeway’s book is much more tightly edited, without the pages of droll description or meandering conversation about subjects that have no real bearing on the plot (wine and yoga in the case of Witches). The pacing is good, and only slows to a squeaking (not quite screeching) halt when the concept of “the River” and time are philosophized upon. The book is of course not without fault. Its characters are interesting, although with a few of them it is clear that the author is trying desperately to give them depth and mysterious undercurrents, but instead reduces them to over-dramatic and somewhat farcical creatures. The writing at times loses its crispness, not the plot mind you, but the writing—something that is more common with debuts, and is sure to be honed by the time the sequel arrives. Also, it does leave readers hanging; a plot device that, in this series driven world of entertainment, is something that seems as unavoidable as death, and yet is done in such a way that readers will not be prone to throwing their books across the room in frustration (yes, I’ve done this) because nothing has been resolved.

In all, The River of No Return is a wonderful read. It is fantasy, it is historical, it is romance, and it is intrigue— all those things that help to create a rich and entertaining narrative. If you love those genres, or are a fan of A Discovery of Witches, you will thoroughly enjoy Bee Ridgeway’s debut, and like me, be eagerly waiting on the next installment.

Janet's Playlist

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 08:11:00 -0700

The Warwick’s Staff is a rich and diverse group of individuals with a variety of tastes that appeal to readers across the board. For years we have papered our store with personalized book recommends, to the point that many of our fantastic customers know which booksellers read what, and whose recommends you most identify with. Now, for the first time we will dedicate a display wall to individual booksellers, displaying a small selection of their favorite reads, both current and classic, aptly called The Bookseller’s Playlist. This week we are featuring Janet’s Playlist. Janet has been at Warwick’s since 2003, and when not sharing her expertise in the Children’s Department, she is avidly reading novels written by some of the best and brightest authors around. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out in-store, here are some of the books Janet loves right now.

Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear
I am a huge fan of Jacqueline Winspear and her indomitable heroine, Maisie Dobbs. So of course, I’m thrilled that her newest novel is one of her best! Leaving Everything Most Loved finds Maisie delving into the murder of a woman from India and, as always, challenging herself, and expanding her horizons further.

The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout
The Burgess Boys is first and foremost a book about family. Two brothers and one sister are forever bound by the tragic circumstances of their father's death and their hardscrabble upbringing in Maine. Each suffers through trials and tribulations both public and private that will eventually bind them together stronger than ever. In true Elizabeth Strout style, this is not a sugar-coated fantasy family, but flesh and blood people whose characters are so finely drawn you'll feel like you know them. This Pulitzer Prize-winning author has surpassed herself in this timely and eloquent novel.

Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver
Dellarobia Turnbow is a young wife and mother already too tied down and trapped in her tiny Appalachian town. On her way to an ill-fated meeting, she witnesses a natural phenomenon. What she cannot understand, she considers a life-changing miracle for herself, her family, and the townspeople. The flight of the monarchs through the Blue-Ridge Mountains is not only a comment on climate change, but also a beautifully written and heart-warming story of a girl searching for more than what life has dealt her. Barbara Kingsolver at her best! I loved it!

Waiting for Sunrise by William Boyd
Meet Lysander Rief, a young Londoner staying in Vienna pre-World War I. Follow him as he enjoys the pleasures of the beautiful European capital. While there, he becomes fluent in German, enters psychotherapy, and begins an obsessive affair with a beautiful, if eccentric artist. Ensnared in one twist of fate after another, he’s spirited back to England and forced into dangerous undercover work for the War Office—his success is essential not only to the war effort, but to his personal salvation. This is William Boyd at his suave and intriguing best!

The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman
Four powerful women tell the stories of their harrowing and arduous journeys to the Masada-the last Jewish stronghold against the Roman invasion in Judea 70 C.E. The engrossing narrative tells how the women came to depend on each other in a life and death struggle. Shrouded in the mysteries of the ancient past, where religion, magic, and superstition were intimately intertwined, The Dovekeepers is a powerfully written and riveting saga of tragic destiny and hope. We were enthralled from beginning to end!

The Child’s Child by Barbara Vine (aka Ruth Rendell)

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton
Last night I dreamt of Milderhurst - the castle that takes center stage in Kate Morton’s much anticipated new novel, Distant Hours. When publisher’s assistant, Edie Burchill sets out to uncover the origin of a classic children’s tale set in the castle, her research reveals more than she ever expected, including secrets involving her own mother’s past. Long ago mysteries and half-truths involving the castle’s inhabitants and their personal tragedies are brought to light and finally laid to rest. As sweeping and dramatic as the classic, Rebecca, The Distant Hours is finely wrought and enthralling to the very end.

Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton
Clear your schedule because you won't want to stop reading this once you start! Rosamund Lupton has done it again. If you loved Sister then you love the style of storytelling that she has now perfected. The finely tuned plot of Afterwards twists and turns weaving timely and relevant women's issues into the story of a mother and daughter locked in a harrowing struggle between life and death. What really happened at the children's school? How will the truth play out? Danger flares and tension mounts in every page-turning moment in this dramatic and compelling literary thriller that answers every mother's question: How far would you go to protect your children?

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Indescribably well-written, this beautifully constructed novel is a miracle of beginnings and endings. Ursula Todd’s life in all its permutations will keep you engrossed and guessing—because after all, who among us really knows on which point our destiny is balanced? I almost never re-read a book, but I’m looking forward to reading Life After Life again and again!

Before the Poison by Peter Robinson

Keep your eyes peeled for more Bookseller Playlists in the upcoming weeks and months!

March Mystery Madness with Jim and the Warwick'sKids Dept.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:00:00 -0700

All of us are searching for the book that will grab and keep our attention, something we just can’t put down. Mysteries often fill this need. The same is true for children and middle school readers. Who delight in finding a book that can put them in another world, living vicariously through the characters.

With this in mind, Warwick’s introduces its own March Madness with a sale of selected children’s young adults’ mystery books giving customers 20 percent off on their purchase. A kid sleuth starring in detective stories can be one of the best page-turners around.

For example, a staff favorite is Maureen Sherry’s Walls Within Walls in which the children in a New York apartment discover their new home is filled with hidden panels and a mysterious book, putting them on an adventure through the city. Solving this puzzle could lead to a great fortune.

Several publishers have series that will keep a youngster reading one book after another. Kids love series (always starting with the first one, of course) so that adventure can be relived in story after story.

For younger readers, the most popular chapter books include Geronimo Stilton, A to Z Mysteries (b for The Bald Bandit), and the Ballpark Mysteries (i.e. The Astro Outlaw) among many others. Those who enjoyed the Fancy Nancy children’s books will find her now with her own detective series, Nancy Clancy.

Middle readers can enjoy Blue Balliett’s detective series, including The Calder Game and Chasing Vermeer. Illustrations help carry the reader from chapter to chapter. A contemporary Hardy Boys series, Brixton Brothers, puts the kids in some exciting adventures. A modern Nancy Drew might be the Sleuth or Dare series, with Norah, Darcy and their business, Partners in Crime. Another favorite could be Agatha, Girl of Mystery, with her first adventure, The Curse of Pharaoh.

A step up from there would be Barrie Sumy’s I So Don’t Do Famous series. Prequels include I So Don’t Do Spooky and I So Don’t Do Makeup featuring a middle school girl who solves mysteries with the help of her mother, who happens to be a ghost. There’s also Gilda Joyce, Psychic Investigator, also assisted by the paranormal.

Not with spirits, but his own cunning, is Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer written by John Grisham (The Last Juror, The Pelican Brief, etc.). Teddy’s parents are both private investigators, but their son’s talents are much needed to solve the firm’s challenges.

The whole family might enjoy an evening reading one or more of these mystery books, providing a valuable diversion from TV or movies.

Jim is a bookseller at Warwick's

Buyers Corner: Spring 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 8 Mar 2013 08:47:00 -0800

Recently booksellers from all over the country descended upon Kansas City, MO for Winter Institute 8, our annual trade show that focuses on education, community and industry best practices. Despite the travel challenges presented by the winter storms that hit the Midwest, attending booksellers were focused, energetic and optimistic. We spent 3 days in educational sessions that covered a wide-range of topics, were inspired by keynote speakers, Daniel Pink and Malcolm Gladwell and had the opportunity to meet 61 attending authors (and one adorable coonhound named Maddie) at the Saturday evening author reception.

These industry gatherings remind me of the fact that booksellers are resilient, passionate and generous in their sharing of ideas and business practices.

As we prepare to turn our clocks forward I’m also reminded that spring is just around the corner and with it comes a lovely bumper crop of new books. Here are some favorites from the season. Happy Reading!

GOOD READS…

Ghostman by Roger Hobbs (Available now)
A “ghostman” is an expert at disappearing and helping others disappear. Jack Delton is one of the best, but even the best make mistakes. When a former “employer” asks for a favor, it’s a request that he can’t refuse. His task is a to find a bundle of cash that disappeared during a botched casino heist. Unfortunately the bundle is a federal payload containing a packet of indelible ink set to explode in 48 hours…so the clock is ticking! Even Jack’s considerable skills are put to the test in this addictive, electrifying thriller. The sensation of the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2011, this debut marks the beginning of what I hope is a great new series!

The Andalucian Friend by Alexander Soderberg (Available 3/12/13)
When nurse and single mom, Sophie Brinkmann meets patient, Hector Guzman, she has no idea how this chance encounter will forever alter her peaceful life. Ruthless international crime rings and the cops who will do anything to bring them to justice makes it hard to distinguish the good guys from the bad! Compulsively readable…reminiscent of early Ludlum and Forsyth.

Criminal Enterprise by Owen Laukkanen (Availble 3/21/13)
Carter Tomlin appears to have the perfect life…great job, pretty wife, two kids and a big house. Unfortunately he’s never told his wife that he’s lost his job! As the unpaid bills begin piling up, out of desperation, he robs a bank. When no one comes to arrest him he robs another and quickly becomes addicted to the adrenaline rush as well as the easy cash. MN state investigator, Kirk Stevens and FBI Special Agent Carla Windermere (they first appeared in The Professionals) team up again and are soon hot on his trail. This suspenseful thriller will keep you reading right up to the action-packed end.

Life After Life by Jill McCorkle (Available 3/26/13)
It’s been 17 long years since Jill McCorkle’s last novel! Her new novel, set against the backdrop of the Pine Haven Retirement Center, is a beautiful exploration of life and death, that “charts the precarious line…the split moment when the reader is aware of both places at once…that brief spark of connection and recognition before the paths continue in different directions.” Her characters are endearing, authentic and entertaining. I loved, loved, loved this book!

LIFE STORIES, WELL TOLD…

The Still Point of the Turning World by Emily Rapp (Available 3/7/13)
Emily Rapp’s son, Ronan, is 9 months old when he is diagnosed with Tay-Sachs disease, a fatal degenerative disorder with no cure and a life expectancy of 3-4 years. She shares her journey--through the devastating diagnosis and the ultimate loss of her son--in this brave, honest, and beautifully written memoir.

Her by Christa Parravani (Available now)
“Studies of twins have shown that when an identical twin dies, regardless of the cause, the surviving twin’s life is immediately at risk.” When Christa loses her twin sister, Cara, she finds herself “wrestling with a powerful desire to become her sister. Beautifully written, mesmerizingly rich and true, Christa’s account of being left one half of a whole and of her desperate struggle for survival is informative and unforgettable.” This would be a great book group selection.

After Visiting Friends: a Son’s Story by Michael Hainey (Available now)
Michael Hainey is only 6 years old when his family receives the tragic news that his journalist father, Bob Hainey, has been found dead in the night, alone on a dark Chicago street. Cause of death is listed as a heart attack and the obituary states that Bob died, “after visiting friends” and Michael grows up without ever hearing any specific details. Years later he decides to employ his own investigative reporting skills to answer the questions that have haunting him throughout his childhood. This engaging, powerful memoir about family secrets and one man’s search to uncover the truth surrounding his father’s death will stay with you for a long time.

ANIMAL MAGNETISM…

Once Upon a Flock: Life With My Soulful Chickens by Lauren Scheuer (Available 3/19/13)
Based on her popular blog, Scratch and Peck, Lauren’s whimsical book about her feathered flock is pure fun! Her backyard chickens have BIG personalities (the term “pecking order” takes on a whole new significance!) and are endlessly entertaining as well as productive. Charming illustrations and lots of candid shots reinforce the cute factor. Chickens just may be the next great family pet!

Maddie On Things by Theron Humphrey (Available 5/1/13)
When Theron set out on a roadtrip to cover all 50 states in 365 days he had no idea where that journey would take him or the significant impact it would have on his life and future. In the grand tradition of Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley, his rescued coonhound, Maddie, goes along for the ride and somewhere early on he decides to photograph her standing on things as a way to document the trip. Maddie is irresistibly photogenic, and loves posing for the camera. This delightful collection will make you smile! (We’re excited to be hosting Maddie and her human on Wednesday, 8/28 at 7:30pm! Information on the event will soon be posted on www.warwicks.com.)

IN THE KITCHEN…

Nigellissima: Easy Italian-Inspired Recipes by Nigella Lawson (Available now)
Culinary goddess, Nigella Lawson, indulges her personal passion for all things Italian in her newest cookbook. Filled with lush photographs and entertaining personal notes, Nigellissima is beautiful to look at, fun to read and should serve as the springboard for many delicious meals.

The Little Paris Kitchen by Rachel Khoo (Available now)
Khoo moved to Paris to study patisserie and fell in love with city and it’s fabled cuisine. Her belief that you don’t need a lot of space or fancy equipment to cook delicious food and entertain friends (as amply demonstrated on her TV show) is carried through in this beautifully produced cookbook. Reading these recipes will inspire you to create a taste of Paris in your home…without breaking the bank!

LOOKING FORWARD…

The Art of Simple Food II by Alice Waters (Available 4/2/13)
Visionary chef and owner of Chez Panisse creates recipes that showcase flavor, and inspiration from the new kitchen garden.

It’s All Good by Gwyneth Paltrow (Available 4/2/13)
Award-winning actress and author of the bestselling cookbook, My Father’s Daughter “returns with recipes for the foods she eats when she wants to lose weight, look good, and feel more energetic.”

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki (Available 3/12/13)
“Ruth is a writer living in a remote corner of the Pacific coast of British Columbia who is currently thwarted by writer's block as she attempts to compose a memoir. One day she finds a collection of materials contained in a lunchbox that has washed up on the beach. The life she has stumbled into is that of a Japanese teenager, who, believing suicide is the only relief for her teenage angst, nevertheless is determined, before she commits that final act, to write down the story of her great-grandmother, a Buddhist nun.” (This is our April Signed First Editions Club Pick!)

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (Available 4/2/13)
“If you could travel back in time and kill Hitler, would you?” This question is at the heart of Atkinson’s latest venture into alternate realities. She is a master storyteller!

The Famous and the Dead by T. Jefferson Parker (Available 4/18/13)
“Edgar-winner Parker's complex, sixth and final Charlie Hood novel (after 2012's The Jaguar) finds the affable, tireless deputy in the Los Angeles County Sheriff's office working undercover for the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Posing as an arms dealer named Charlie Hooper, Hood is trying to stop the flow of guns between Southern California and Mexico and locate the elusive Mike Finnegan, a mixture of Professor Moriarty and Doctor Faustus who featured prominently in The Jaguar.” (We’re pleased to be hosting an event with Jeff Parker on Thursday, 4/18 at 7:30pm! Click here for more details.)

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra (Available 5/7/13)
“Marra's sobering, complex debut intertwines the stories of a handful of characters at the end of the second war in bleak, apocalyptic Chechnya.” His beautiful prose helps to ease the toughness of the topic.

The Son by Philipp Meyer (Available 5/28/13)
From the author of American Rust comes a multi-generational saga of power, blood in the Lone Star State. For readers of Cormac McCarthy and Lonesome Dove.

Looking For Me by Beth Hoffman (Available 5/28/13)
Looking for Me brilliantly melds together themes of family, hope, loss, and a mature once-in-a-lifetime kind of love.” Much love in house for this new novel by the author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt.

Adrian is the Head Book Buyer at Warwick's

Me Before You: A Riveting Read

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 08:00:00 -0800

Have you ever picked up a novel expecting it to be a great read, but instead find yourself being pummeled with a “message”? You know the type, the ones where some highly publicized real life event is bastardized by a fiction writer in an attempt to capitalize on the sensation, or tell the other side of the story, or worse, push a personal agenda in the guise of thoughtful fiction. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve read, and enjoyed a few of those very books, but being smashed in the head with a hammer loses its appeal after a while. So, unless it’s done in a very tongue and cheek manner (thank you Max Barry) I try to avoid hot button novels.

Jojo Moyes, author of The Last Letter from Your Lover, a book I enjoyed, has produced with her newest novel Me Before You, a hot button novel, in that the story tackles the issue of assisted suicide. Usually, this has me running to me pile in search of something else to read, but in the case of Moyes’ work, what could have been a politically and socially fired look at suicide and Dignitas (a non-profit Swiss assisted dying group that helps those with terminal illness and severe physical and mental illnesses die through the aid of doctors), what readers get instead is a moving portrait of lost dreams, family, friendship, and unlikely love.

Me Before You is the story of Louisa Clark and Will Traynor. At the end of her financial rope, 26-year-old Louisa takes a job as companion to Will, a wealthy go-getter and thrill seeker, who is now a quadriplegic with little joy in his life, a large chip on his shoulder, and a far-reaching plan to end his suffering. As a reluctant friendship ensues, Lou must find a way to teach Will that he still has a life worth living.

This is a touching tearjerker that manages to display humor, love, and warmth. The characters are well-drawn, showing complexity that is rarely present in these types of books. Their chemistry is a blend of fire cracker and over-enthusiastic childlike behavior that creates a constant tug of war for the readers, drifting emotionally from embarrassed discomfort, gut-clenching laughter, snide snickers, misty eyes, and gulping tears; a mixture that works to enrapture and captivate through the novel’s beautifully written conclusion.

What easily could have been a story where an author shoves her opinion down the readers’ throats becomes a wonderfully touching narrative that presents the information and conclusion softly, allowing us to digest and process in our own ways. Author Moyes handles a rather controversial subject with a deft and a respectful hand; a thoughtful way to approach such a difficult topic, one which is too infrequently used by some authors (who will not be named here). So, if you are looking for a novel that approaches a real concept and handles it humanely, with three-dimensional characters you grow to love, scars and all, Me Before You is your book. A quietly riveting novel from beginning to end.

*You can meet Jojo Moyes and learn more about this book on Tuesday, February 12th at 7:30pm. Click here to learn more.