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Nancy's Book Picks

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The Road to Little Dribbling: Adventures of an American in Britain By Bill Bryson Cover Image
$28.95
ISBN: 9780385539289
Availability: Not in Stock - Hard to Find
Published: Doubleday - January 19th, 2016

20 years after writing Notes from a Small Island, Bill Bryson returns to the topic of his adopted homeland in this charming travelogue. Loosely using what he calls the "Bryson line", the longest straight line one can travel across Britain, Bryson wanders his way north, making curmudgeonly remarks about what is wrong with current-day Britain but still unable to hide his love for the quaint villages, uninterrupted views, unending footpaths and hot tea. Another witty, fact and humor filled work you'll want to keep on your shelf 


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An Ember in the Ashes By Sabaa Tahir Cover Image
$21.95
ISBN: 9781595148032
Availability: Not in Stock
Published: Razorbill - April 28th, 2015

An engrossing and riveting young adult fantasy that's likely to become a hit series, Tahir's debut takes place in the lands of the Martial Empire, loosely based on the Roman Empire. When Laia's grandparents are killed and her brother is imprisoned for working with the resistance seeking to overthrow the cruel Martial regime, she is forced to work as a spy for the resistance in order to save her brother. Elias is an outstanding soldier and the son of the vicious Commandant, but beneath the surface he dreams of nothing but escape. Treachery, political machinations, prophecies, supernatural forces, destiny, loyalty and love weave together to make an absolutely thrilling novel! This is the kind of story you need to read in one sitting. The adult themes and brutal setting, including torture, murder and rape, make this book appropriate for older young adult audiences as well as adults. Ages 16+ 


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Pop Sonnets: Shakespearean Spins on Your Favorite Songs By Erik Didriksen Cover Image
$13.95
ISBN: 9781594748288
Availability: Not in Stock - Hard to Find
Published: Quirk Books - October 6th, 2015

If you are looking for a book that is fun to read aloud, particularly to a group of people, then look no more! For lo, reading pop songs reinterpreted in Shakespearean language is an experience not even reachable by the inestimable Sir MC Hammer who once wrote, "my artistry's beyond what thou canst touch" (citation needed). To make reading this collection even more fun, try having a re-imagined pop song read to you and try to guess the song before the end of the reading. A Shakespearean name that tune, if you will!  


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The Secret Chord: A Novel By Geraldine Brooks Cover Image
$27.95
ISBN: 9780670025770
Availability: Not in Stock - Contact to Order
Published: Viking - October 6th, 2015

The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks. An aging King David tells his prophet Natan it is time to record the story of his life. King David sends Natan to speak to three people: one of his brothers, his mother, and his first wife, who have all been commanded to “tell Natan everything”. As David's early life unfolds through the interviews Natan conducts, the reader is offered a glimpse at the man he once was as well as the man he becomes. Deftly woven, The Secret Chord brings to life both well-known and lesser-known biblical figures and uncovers the painful truths that lie at the heart of a legend.  


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Coming of Age at the End of Days By Alice Laplante Cover Image
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ISBN: 9780802121653
Availability: Not in Stock - Out of Print
Published: Atlantic Monthly Press - August 4th, 2015

Coming of Age at the End of Days by Alice LaPlante. Neglected by her musician mother and geologist father, teen aged Anna falls into a deep depression. Trapped in a fog of sadness, she is unexpectedly pulled out of her state when she meets Lars Goldschmidt, a recent addition to her neighborhood, and Anna is born again. The violent prophecies concerning the End of Days make Anna feel again, pulling her deeper into the world of the Goldschmidt's Christian doomsday cult. As her newfound faith clashes with everything she's ever been taught and takes her to dangerous places, Anna struggles with the hypocrisies of belief while desperately trying to find something to believe in, leaving her to wonder what it really means for something to end.   


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The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League By Jeff Hobbs Cover Image
$17.00
ISBN: 9781476731919
Availability: Not in Stock
Published: Scribner - July 28th, 2015

After the death of Robert Peace from a drug-related shooting, his former Yale roommate Jeff Hobbs decided to record Robert's story. Looking extensively at the short and tragic life of a talented boy from Newark, Hobbs highlights a world that idolizes social mobility, but only allows it among the privileged. Reminiscent of Adrian Nicole Leblanc's Random Family, the end result is a devastating and compassionate eulogy from one friend to another.  


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Jitterbug Perfume: A Novel By Tom Robbins Cover Image
$18.00
ISBN: 9780553348989
Availability: Not in Stock
Published: Bantam - April 1st, 1990

Jitterburg Perfume by Tom Robbins - A small blue bottle is discovered by a janitor, setting off a chain of events that bring together some of the least likely characters to the city of New Orleans, including an ancient horned god, rivals in the perfume-making business, and a voodoo maven, but all whom seek the same thing...the essence of life and the key to immortality. Always simultaneously profound and hilarious, this story is a perfect example of Robbins' perfection of absurdity mixed with wisdom. ~ Nancy


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Outlander: A Novel By Diana Gabaldon Cover Image
$9.99
ISBN: 9780440212560
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Dell - June 2nd, 1992

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - When British nurse Claire Randall visits the Scottish Highlands with her estranged husband shortly after the end of WWII, she is thrown into a completely different time...literally. Call it magic or fate, Claire finds herself in the 18th century at the time of the Jacobite Rebellion, and immediately has to fight for her life. Forced into a marriage for her own safety with Jamie Fraser, a handsome highlander with a past of his own, she must learn to navigate the times while concealing her true identity. As the fight for survival becomes more pressing, so does her growing love with Jamie. Rich historical detail, vivid and memorale characters and a love story for the ages make this first novel in Gabaldon's Outlander series one of my most re-read books ever! ~ Nancy


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The Steady Running of the Hour: A Novel By Justin Go Cover Image
$26.00
ISBN: 9781476704586
Availability: Not in Stock - Hard to Find
Published: Simon & Schuster - April 15th, 2014

The Steady Running of the Hour by Justin Go - In 1924, Ashley Walsingham dies attempting to climb Mount Everest, leaving all of his wealth to his love Imogen, who has been missing for seven years. Eighty years later, college-student Tristan is contacted because he may be the sole heir to Ashley's estate, if only he can prove it. Using old letters, Tristan traces Ashley and Imogen's relationship from London to the solitude of Sweden to the WWI trenches in France. Tristan is pulled between the obligations of the present and his need to find meaning in everything that Ashley and Imogen experienced as members of a decimated generation. From the horrors of the trenches to the harsh beauty of the Himalayas, Go's debut is beautifully written and heartbreaking. ~ Nancy


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His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass (Book 1) By Philip Pullman Cover Image
$12.99
ISBN: 9780375823459
Availability: Not in Stock
Published: Knopf Books for Young Readers - September 10th, 2002

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman - Orphaned wildchild Lyra Belacqua has spent her life running amok at the prestigious Jordan College in Oxford, occasionally visited by her disdainful uncle Lord Asriel. When her best friend is kidnapped by the Gobblers, Lyra makes the bold decision to get him back using only her wit and a truth-telling instrument given to her in secrecy. With the help of the Gyptians, the Witches and an armored bear exiled from his kingdom, Lyra hurtles toward danger and unearthing shocking secrets. Pullman creates a magical world close to our own and shows it to the reader through the eyes of one of my favorite female characters. The first in an amazing series, you won't be able to put it down! ~ Nancy


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Fourth of July Creek: A Novel By Smith Henderson Cover Image
$26.99
ISBN: 9780062286444
Availability: Not in Stock - Contact to Order
Published: Ecco - May 27th, 2014

Fourth of July Creek by Smith Henderson - Social worker Pete Snow lives and works in rural Montana. As the reader is introduced to Pete's caseload, the struggles and dysfunction of his clients are reflected back in Pete's 14-year-old daughter, Rachel. Pete takes the case of the Pearls, an insane survivalist father and his son living in the wilderness. As Pete uncovers more about the Pearls, the motivations that drive people to make potentially harmful decisions become clearer. Henderson portrays the cyclical nature of poverty with compassion and brings to light the contradictions between the American ideals of freedom and security. Dark and enthralling, this debut promises Henderson will have a long career. ~ Nancy


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The Round House: National Book Award Winning Fiction By Louise Erdrich Cover Image
$30.00
ISBN: 9780062065247
Availability: Not in Stock
Published: Harper - October 2nd, 2012

The Round House by Louise Erdrich - 13-year-old Joe lives with his parents on a Ojibwe reservation in North Dakota when his mother is violently attacked. As she sinks into a depression and his father tries fruitlessly to navigate the murky legal waters of prosecuting her attacker, getting justice becomes even more difficult due to questions about the attacker and the location of the assault. Seeing his parents failing, Joe enlists the help of three friends to take matters into his own hands. By doing so, Joe unknowingly and tragically leaves his childhood and is introduced to the guilt and anger of adulthood. Joe's point of view brings honesty and desperation to a tragic event. Another poignant novel from Erdrich. ~ Nancy


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Zita the Spacegirl By Ben Hatke, Ben Hatke (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Ben Hatke, Ben Hatke (Illustrator)
$14.99
ISBN: 9781596434462
Availability: Not in Stock
Published: First Second - February 1st, 2011

Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke - A graphic novel at its best, this is the perfect book to help reluctant readers acquaint themselves with the adventure of reading. When Zita suddenly finds her friend Joseph sucked through a portal and into another world, she jumps through after him, bringing her to a world of evil aliens, giant speechless mice who talk through ticker tape and robots with inferiority complexes that it about to be annihilated by an asteroid. Zita's strength of character helps her made friends quickly and she needs all the help she can get to save Joseph. Wacky fun, great illustrations and rich characters make this a perfect stand-alone read as well as an introduction to the Zita series. Ages 8+ ~ Nancy


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People I Want to Punch in the Throat: Competitive Crafters, Drop-Off Despots, and Other Suburban Scourges By Jen Mann Cover Image
$18.00
ISBN: 9780345549839
Availability: Not in Stock - Contact to Order
Published: Ballantine Books - September 9th, 2014

People I Want To Punch in the Throat by Jen Mann - Life in suburbia is not without it's pitfalls, as professional blogger Jen can attest. Snarky, self-deprecating and hilarious, Jen brings us into her life as an unconventional mother and wife, dealing with everything from racist toddlers to PTA moms throwing sex toy parties. She may claim to make a terrible neighbor, but I know who I'd be hanging out with at the neighborhood block party. ~ Nancy


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Fives and Twenty-Fives: A Novel By Michael Pitre Cover Image
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ISBN: 9781620407547
Availability: Not in Stock - Out of Print
Published: Bloomsbury USA - August 26th, 2014

Fives and Twenty-Fives by Michael Pitre - This debut novel written by an Iraq War veteran manages to bring brutal realism, humor, and wisdom to the stories of three members of a road-repair platoon, both during their time searching every pothole for a bomb on the dangerous Iraqi roads as well as after they return to the US. Focusing on what is so often over-looked, the lives of soldiers when they aren't soldiers anymore, Pitre makes us take a deep look into who we're asking our countrymen to become. ~ Nancy


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Crazy Horse's Girlfriend By Erika T. Wurth Cover Image
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ISBN: 9781940430430
Availability: Not in Stock - Out of Print
Published: Curbside Splendor Publishing - September 16th, 2014

Crazy Horse's Girlfriend by Erika T. Wurth - Following in the footsteps of Sherman Alexie and Eden Robinson comes Erika T. Wurth's punch to the gut, a story about a drug-dealing, 16-year-old Native American girl named Margaritte. Gritty and tough, we follow Margaritte as her longing for connection and identity take her down a treacherous and all-too-common path. But there is redemption for Margaritte, if she can manage to accept it. ~ Nancy


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Saga Volume 1 By Brian K. Vaughan, Fiona Staples (By (artist)) Cover Image
By Brian K. Vaughan, Fiona Staples (By (artist))
$9.99
ISBN: 9781607066019
Availability: Not in Stock
Published: Image Comics - October 23rd, 2012

SAGA, VOL. 1 by Brian K Vaughan, illustrated by Fiona Staples - Described by the author as “perverted Star Wars”, this Hugo award-winner follows the story of Marko and Alana, two soldiers from opposing sides of a centuries-long galaxy-spanning war. Having fallen in love and run away together, they are hunted by both sides as they risk everything to create a new life. Sometimes narrated by their daughter, Hazel, the series also follows those hunting the fledgling family, using real-life dialogue and nuanced illustrations t make characters who you can’t help caring about. This series proves just how strong a medium graphic novels can be. ~ Nancy


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Station Eleven: A novel By Emily St. John Mandel Cover Image
$30.00
ISBN: 9780385353304
Availability: Not in Stock
Published: Knopf - September 9th, 2014

STATION ELEVEN by Emily St. John Mandel - On the night the world ends, famous actor Arthur Leander dies while performing King Lear. Even after the world has ended, Shakespeare lives on in a theatrical troupe that travels the wastelands performing for small enclaves of humanity. Kristin Raymonde, one of the actresses and a former child actress from back before the Georgian flu decimated the world, finds life threatened by a dangerous cult leader, the Prophet...linking unexpectedly back to Arthur. Beautiful, jarring,  and nostalgia-inducing, like a firework exploding in an empty night sky. ~ Nancy


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The Wainscott Weasel By Tor Seidler, Fred Marcellino (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Tor Seidler, Fred Marcellino (Illustrator)
$16.99
ISBN: 9781481410106
Availability: Not in Stock - Contact to Order
Published: Atheneum Books for Young Readers - November 11th, 2014

THE WAINSCOTT WEASEL by Tor Seidler, illustrated by Fred Marcellino - Originally published in 1994, this children's book brings together Seidler's imaginative story-telling and Marcellino's exceptionally expressive art in a story an eye-patch wearing weasel named Bagley Brown. Bagley lives in the Wainscott woods, in lively weasel community that throws ho-downs and celebrates chicken egg raids to the local farm. Bagley, who has never fit in with the crowd, makes an unlikely friend in Bridget, a fish in a nearby lake. As the two friends grow closer, Bagley realizes that an osprey plus a bad drought is in Bridget's future and only a true hero can save her from the gruesome fate that awaits her. Against all odds and much to his own surprise, a hero is what Bagley proves himself to be. I loved this book so much I wrote not one, but two book reports on it! ~ Nancy


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Black River By S. M. Hulse Cover Image
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ISBN: 9780544309876
Availability: Not in Stock - Out of Print
Published: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt - January 20th, 2015

BLACK RIVER by S.M. Hulse - This American Western debut follows Wes Carver, a former corrections officer whose passion in life was playing the fiddle, until his hands were ruined during a prison riot. Years later, following on the heels of Wes losing his wife to cancer, he returns to the small prison town in Montana to scatter his wife's ashes and speak at the parole hearing of the inmate who ruined his life. We see Wes struggle to accept the possibility that the inmate has found God, especially as Wes's faith is hanging on by a thread. S. M. Hulse's writing is like the river at the center of her novel, a quiet surface covering the raging, black and bleak emotions underneath and her descriptions of music are breathtakingly beautiful. With her talent for writing about human rages, fears and loves, Hulse has a great career ahead of her. ~ Nancy


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Food: A Love Story By Jim Gaffigan Cover Image
$26.00
ISBN: 9780804140416
Availability: Not in Stock - Hard to Find
Published: Crown Archetype - October 21st, 2014

FOOD: A LOVE STORY by Jim Gaffigan - The self-proclaimed "Terry Bradshaw of eating", Jim Gaffigan's essays hilariously chronicle the greatest love of his life. Gaffigan advocates "eaties" instead of "foodies" and restaurants having "fatteliers" on staff (a fat-guy food expert) because he feels skinny people clearly lack the appropriate amount of passion about food. Devoted to comfort foods and purveyors of them, Gaffigan says the worse the better. The research for this book alone would have killed me. Conversations between foods, letters to food companies, and in-depth analyses of fast food experiences, this is the perfect book for someone who isn't afraid to admit their obsession with food and make fun of it. ~ Nancy