Month: August 2017

Just as summer seems to have finally arrived, we find ourselves in the home stretch. With only a month to go before the dreaded “back to school” time hits, it’s more important than ever to show your bookcase some love and squeeze in just a bit more reading-in-the-sun time before we get drawn back into our regular routines.

While we’re all trying to slow things down and really relish those last few hazy days spent by the lake or on the coast, the publishing industry keeps the home fires burning in order to further enrich our sunshine time with great summer reads! Whether your summer days are marked by digging your toes into a wet sandy beach, walking through a city park, or riding a merry-go-round at an amusement park, the one thing guaranteed to make each of those activities even more special is a cup or cone full of ice cream! Always a favourite summer treat, now there’s a way for you to enjoy this delectably creamy confection in book form too! The Ice-Cream Makers by Ernest van der Kwastis a lovely read set in Northern Italy, the fabled birthplace of ice cream. Reminiscent of Fredrik Backman‘s A Man Called Ove, this story is about the struggle that bubbles up within a family when the black sheep announces that he wants to abandon their proud Italian ice cream dynasty to pursue a literary career. Set against a stunning backdrop and full of charming characters and delicious culinary delights, this novel is a treat to read! For the ultimate sensory experience, try reading the book while partaking of your favourite flavour…whether it be butterscotch ripple, strawberry cheesecake, or tiger tail! This novel would also be a great pick for anyone who liked The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais, The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George, or The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce.

Still riding the wave of bestsellers like The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, and Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, we have a whole new crop of great thrillers and suspenseful novels to tell you about. Debut author Danya Kukafka has joined the ranks of edge-of-your-seat writers with her riveting novel Girl in Snow. Revolving around the death of a beloved high school girl, readers get an inside look at how one tragedy can affect so many different people as the story is told from three unique perspectives – the boyfriend, the jealous classmate, and the investigating officer. If you liked The Party by Robyn Harding, you will definitely enjoy this thriller! While most long-term friendships can weather the storms of life quite nicely, there are times when even the strongest of bonds reach their breaking point. In both The River at Night by Erica Ferencik and The Lying Game by Ruth Ware (the beloved author of last year’s The Woman in Cabin 10), a group of best friends find themselves in impossible and terrifying situations when the people they thought they could depend on most surprise each other by revealing long-held secrets, admitting to old deceptions, and, in some cases, switching life-long allegiances.

As we make our way through life, we spend a lot of time second guessing ourselves and wondering how things might have turned out if other things had or hadn’t happened in a certain way. What if I had made a different choice? What if I had just told the truth? These are just some of the questions woven through the fabric of The Marriage Pact and Truly Madly Guilty, two new novels by Michelle Richmond and Liane Moriarty, respectively. Moriarty introduces us to Sam and Clementine, a lovely young couple who know they can always lean on each other, no matter what. However, when they accept a last-minute invitation to a casual summer barbecue, events are set in motion that neither could have foreseen and that can’t be stopped. Full of glamourous parties, exclusive societies, and a scintillating sense of excitement, Michelle Richmond‘s novel is a fast-paced story about love, promises, and what happens when you join a strict, rule-abiding group called The Pact and then transgress against the powers that be.

Summer holidays often mean long trips in the car or seemingly endless hours spent sitting around the airport. Instead of spending this time typing, tapping, and texting on our cell phones, why not play a word game, learn to read your own palm, or reorganize your purse? These are just a few of the suggested activities in 101 Things To Do Instead Of Playing On Your Phone by Ilka Heinemann. Small and compact itself, this cheeky yet useful book is the perfect thing to turn to when you want a distraction that doesn’t depend on WiFi or battery power – no recharge required! As lovers of the written word, one thing that we can never get enough of are books about sayings, languages, and jargon. Luckily, we very seldom have to endure a whole publishing season without a new book like this landing on our shelves. Vulgar Tongues by Max Decharne is a sharp and witty trip through the history of slang. From the prostitutes of Elizabethan England, to World War II flying aces, to the centuries-long history of Masonic lodges around the world, this book explores the changing meaning of words like punk, geek, fly, and square. If you’ve always wanted to know what flap dragons and ale passion mean, this is the book for you!

In our cherished children’s section, we are so excited to finally have Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli on our shelves! Inspiring children of all ages to dream big and never give up, this wonderful book features 100 mini biographies of great women throughout history. In what other book could you find Elizabeth I, Amelia Earhart, Serena Williams, Cleopatra, Jane Goodall, and Malala Yousafzai sitting shoulder to shoulder? In a similar vein, but slightly more focused, is the newest book by Rachel Ignotofsky. Women in Sports is a beautiful illustrated collection of stories about 50 women from sports history who persevered against the odds to achieve their dreams. Like Ignotofsky‘s previous publication, Women in Science, this book is ideal for older children and adults alike.

Whether it’s for bedtime or an evening around the campfire, there are some adorable children’s picture books trickling into the store that are sure to become instant classics! Nothing Rhymes with Orange by Adam Rex is a hilarious book of fruit-based rhymes where every fruit gets their moment in the sun except Orange. While grapes in capes and bananas in cabanas frolic throughout the book as the rhymes get more and more ludicrous, Orange wanders around wondering if there will ever be a rhyme for him. Linda Ravin Lodding‘s new book, Little Red Riding Sheep, has a similar feel when the narrator, later revealed to be a water buffalo named Eugene, keeps getting interrupted by a sheep who wants to be the star of the story. Children will love how Arnold the sheep keeps making suggestions and changes to the story until it doesn’t resemble the well known fairy tale at all. Charming and ridiculous, You Must Bring a Hat by Simon Philip, has become an immediate staff favourite! Full of bizarre creatures, colourful illustrations, and the most preposterous list of birthday party rules we’ve ever heard, once you reach the last page, the only thing you’ll want to do is go back to the beginning and read it all over again. For the knitters, sewing masters, and crafters among us, Julie Kraulis has written a lovely book all about fabric and patterns. A Pattern for Pepper is a sweet story about a little girl going out to get a new dress made for a special occasion. As she browses in the dress shop, Pepper learns all about the history of different prints and fabrics, who traditionally wore them, and why they were designed the way they were. In the end, she manages to find her perfect pattern – one that’s just as unique and beautiful as she is.

As always, there are lots of new releases to look forward to over the coming weeks. Here are just a few that we’re eager to get our hands on: The Last Tudor by Philippa Gregory (August 8), The Only Cafe by Linden MacIntyre(August 8), A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena (August 15), Glass Houses by Louise Penny (August 29), Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties by Dav Pilkey (August 29), and The Winnowing by Vikki Vansickle (September 1).

There are few things we love more than curling up with a good book regardless of the season, but there’s something special about the books we read over the summer. They take trips with us, shade our faces when we read in the sun, don’t get fussed if they’re accidentally left out in the rain, and let us drift off when the hammock we’re reading in starts to feel just a little too comfortable. They thrill us, distract us, and give us pleasant dreams during a season when we traditionally like to sit back, relax, and let everything slide just a little bit. So, whatever your tastes or leanings, be sure you have the perfect kind of paper companion to see you through the home stretch of the sunniest season of the year!

Happy Reading!

— The Staff at Books on Beechwood