Author: Hilary

“Bloody Scotland” edited by James Crawford

Scotland has always had a romantic side for many people, with its old castles and misty moors. But these same castles can also have a dangerous turn.

In this book, the writer gives twelve such examples. James Crawford is a Scot, who lives in Edinburgh. He is Publisher of Historic Environment Scotland, the organization that cares for over three hundred historic properties and holds Scotland’s national collection of archaeology and architecture.

He tells of how he went with a small group a few years ago to visit the ruins of Castle Campbell, in the Ochil Hills above the small town of Dollar. When they were walking down to the terraces in front of the castle, they suddenly heard a gunshot. After a moment of genuine alarm, they started laughing and decided it must be a farmer. Some time later, Crawford was talking to the co-founder of the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival. They considered asking twelve of Scotland’s top crime writers to write short stories inspired by twelve of the most iconic buildings.

This book is the result. There are twelve excellent photographs of the buildings they chose — as well as provocative stories to go with them. It may not be the Scotland we know and love – but it makes for a good read.

Reviewed by Anne McDougall

“The Good Pilot Peter Woodhouse” by Alexander McCall Smith

The new book by Alexander McCall Smith takes a new tack, which turns out to be just as touching as his world-famous series on Mma Precious Ramotswe, as well as stories from 44 Scotland Street.

The hero in the title of this one is “The Good Pilot Peter Woodhouse” who proves to be a lovable Boston Collie. This dog was owned by a farmer in the UK who beat him regularly. This was discovered by a neighbour, a city girl called Val Eliot, who was recruited to the farm next door as part of the war effort in the Women’s Land Army. She rescued the dog and gave him a safe home.

She was soon to meet an American air force reconnaissance pilot stationed nearby, called Mike. He loved Peter Woodhouse and very soon the dog was living at the base and spending most of his time flying with the pilots where he was most content and became Dog First Class, mascot of the U.S. Air Force. There is a disaster when Mike is shot down, but Peter Woodhouse plays an amazing part in the rescue. It is altogether an exciting and fascinating book and will doubtless join Alexander McCall Smith’s amazing list translated into over forty languages and sold as bestsellers throughout the world.

Reviewed by Anne McDougall

Joan Sparling Migwans Signing

Debut author, and retired teacher, Joan Sparling Migwans will be in the store on Sunday, June 24 from 12:00-2:00pm to sign copies of her new book, Uprooted.

About the book:

“Overcoming the anguish of becoming a widow with four young children, Joan is determined to offer them the ultimate field trip. Accepting a teaching position at an international school, she takes her children to live in Aleppo, Syria in August 2005. Uprooted from the ease of their Canadian home to live and travel in a world totally outside their comfort zone, they are challenged with different languages, religious customs, monetary systems, climate, and general world view.”

Through Joan’s wonderful retelling, join her and her children as they travel around the Middle East and Europe, searching out new experiences, making new friends, and growing every day under the influence of the vibrant new world around them.

“A Secret Sisterhood” by Emily Midorikawa and Emma Claire Sweeney

This book tells the quite fascinating stories of a number of famous women writers and the support they received from female friends.

The authors are successful women writers themselves who have become friends through their writing – and so they know wherof they are writing in this book. We are all familiar with male literary friendships – all the way from Byron and Shelley to Fitzgerald and Hemingway. But the most celebrated female authors are mostly known as solitary geniuses or isolated eccentrics.

In this book we learn of the friendship between Jane Austen and one of the family servants called Anne Sharp, who used to write plays for the children and helped criticize Austen’s work. There is an amazing description of the way Harriet Beecher Stowe, a successful writer, sent off a letter to “My Dear Friend” across the Atlantic to an equally successful writer who had taken the nom de plume George Eliot, and they became friends. As did Virginia Woolf and Katherine Mansfield. This book does a very successful job of offering a new perspective on established literary figures.

Reviewed by Anne McDougall

“I Am, I Am, I Am” by Maggie O’Farrell

Maggie O’Farrell is a well-known Irish writer with a number of prize-winning novels to her name. In this one, she looks at the near-death experiences that have jarred her own life. She takes the title from another writer, Sylvia Plath who, in The Bell Jar, wrote: “I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am.”

O’Farrell describes the man she meets on a mountain path who puts his binocular strap around her neck, but then frees her, only to turn up later in police records. O’Farrell was born with a childhood illness, encephalitis, which damaged those parts of her brain involved in movement and balance. She tells of some occasions when this caused real danger. She also had a dangerous experience in labour in an understaffed hospital and almost lost her child.

She had other children, however. One of them, a daughter, is living in permanent danger from a condition called anaphylaxis. It is a daily struggle for O’Farrell to protect her from this medical condition that leaves her vulnerable to many dangers. It is no wonder O’Farrell feels nothing is given in this life, every day is precious, every moment a gift.

Reviewed by Anne McDougall

Titles@Table40 with Beverley McLachlin

We are so excited to welcome former Chief Justice of Canada, Beverley McLachlin to our Titles@Table40 series! She will be joining us to talk about her new novel Full Disclosure.

Date: Sunday, June 17
Time: 5:30pm
Place: Table 40, 7 Springfield Road (next to The Fraser Cafe)

Here’s how it works:
The evening starts at 5:30pm with dinner, followed by the author presentation and book signing. Tickets must be purchased in advance at the bookstore. The non-refundable cost is $60.00which includes the cost of the meal (a set menu of three courses with a vegetarian option), tax and tip. All beverages are extra and will be charged at the end of the evening. The Fraser Cafe can accommodate all special dietary needs if we’re informed at the bookstore in advance.

About the book: “From the former Chief Justice of Canada comes a riveting thriller starring Jilly Truitt, a rising, young defense attorney faced with a case that hits close to home. A searing look at what justice means in the courts and on the streets, Full Disclosure is perfect for fans of Kathy Reichs, Louise Penny, and Lisa Scottoline.”

Call or visit us to purchase your tickets today!
Books on Beechwood
35 Beechwood Avenue
613-742-5030

Holiday Hours

“The 24th of May is the Queen’s birthday! If we don’t get a holiday, we’ll all run away!”

Okay, so we won’t actually run away, but just in case, we’ll be CLOSED on Monday, May 21 for Victoria Day.

Regular hours will be in effect on Saturday and Sunday.

Have a great long weekend

May 2018 Newsletter

April Bestsellers

1. A Higher Loyalty by James Comey
2. Forgiveness by Mark Sakamoto
3. Lost Ottawa by David McGee
4. Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese
5. Marinating in Murder by Linda Wiken
6. Tangerine by Christine Mangan
7. Back to Beer…and Hockey by Helen Antoniou
8. Master of Persuasion by Fen Hampson
9. The Temptation of Forgiveness by Donna Leon
10. The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline

Greetings Book Lovers!

Is it spring? Has it finally arrived? It’s still a little hard to tell, but it looks like we might be in the clear now. Maybe we should go knock on wood, just in case. Well, working on the assumption that we have finally switched seasons, it must be time to start thinking about all that summer reading we’re all going to get done. Just as a friendly suggestion, if this year is the one you’ve chosen to finally get through Ulysses by James Joyce, you might want to get cracking because there are lots of other great books coming into the store that you’ll certainly want to sink your teeth into before the cool autumnal breezes make their triumphant return.

Well before that happens though (we hope) we are so happy to be hosting our first Titles@Table40 dinner of 2018! On Sunday, June 3, local political writer and university professor Fen Osler Hampson will be joining us at our favourite local restaurant to talk about his brand new book Master of Persuasion: Brian Mulroney’s Global Legacy. We’re so excited to have Fen joining us and are looking forward to welcoming you all to our first evening of great books and delicious food of the season!

If you’re new to our Titles@Table40 series or need a bit of a refresher, here’s a brief outline of how things work. The evening starts at 5:30pm with dinner, followed by the author presentation and book signing. Tickets must be purchased in advance at the bookstore. The non-refundable cost is $60.00which includes the cost of the meal (a set menu of three courses with a vegetarian option), tax and tip. All beverages are extra and will be charged at the end of the evening. The Fraser Cafe can accommodate all
special dietary needs if informed in advance. Tickets are now on sale, so be sure to call or visit us to get yours soon – they tend to go quickly and we do only have a limited amount of space in the restaurant.

Another local author who will be paying us a visit this month to sell copies of his new novel is Manor Park resident David Goldfield. After the great success of his official launch last month, David will be here in the store on Saturday, May 19 from 11:00am to 3:00pm to sign copies of Into the Volcano – a thriller set in Latin America which is full of murder, greed, and corruption. Inspired by true events, this edge-of-your-seat read is definitely worth a look, so be sure to come down to meet David, buy a book, and get it signed!

Excited doesn’t begin to describe how we’re feeling about the recent arrival of new novels by some of our favourite historical fiction writers. After waiting for two and half excruciating years, we finally have another novel by Paula McLainto enjoy and devour. Love and Ruin returns readers to the world of Ernest Hemingway and his wives as we follow the story of Martha Gellhorn, Hemingway’s third wife, a fiercely independent woman who went on to become one of the greatest war correspondents of the 20th Century. Set against a backdrop of political conflict and national wars, this passionate love story comes to a head when Martha and Ernest find themselves at a life-changing crossroads with no idea which path they should take. Susanna Kearsley is a staff favourite here at the store, and a new release from her is always greeted with great cheers…and sometimes dancing. Gently picking up a story thread from her last novel, A Desperate Fortune, Bellewether features museum curator Charley Van Hoek in her new position at the Wilde House Museum in Long Island. While coming up against trifling protestations from a very determined museum board left, right, and centre, Charley finds herself falling deeper into local legends when she comes across evidence of French Canadian soldiers having been billeted in Wilde House in the mid-18th Century. Switching back and forth between Charley’s story and that of Lydia Wilde set in 1759, Kearsley delivers yet another wonderful novel that will make readers fall in love with history as only she can.

Described as “vintage Margaret Atwood meets Patricia Highsmith”, The Honey Farm by Harriet Alida Lye is a captivating novel that will carry you away on a wave of beautiful writing and intriguing incidents. Set on a seemingly idyllic honey farm, boarders Silvia and Ibrahim soon come to realize that what they thought would be an inspirational, relaxing retreat – the perfect place to nurture their artistic pursuits – is not all that it seems. Full of dark secrets, paralyzing doubts, and one shocking conclusion, this debut novel will knock your socks off! Beloved author Ngaio Marsh may have passed away over thirty years ago, but her gripping mystery stories continue to live on. With the help of author Stella Duffy, Roderick Alleyn is now back with a brand new story to tell and an intriguing mystery to solve. Money in the Morgue is a novel started by Marsh during World War II and finished by Stella Duffy in a style so true to its creator, it reads like any of the classic Roderick Alleyn mysteries. Featuring a group of quarantined soldiers, an employee love triangle, a treacherous storm, and a hospital without power, it’s no wonder that the death toll begins to rise!

It’s impossible for us to let a month go by without highlighting some kind of book-related book that’s found a home on our shelves, and My Life With Bob by Pamela Paul is the one that’s captured our attention this time around! Imagine having kept a record of all the books you’ve ever read from childhood on up? Well, Pamela Paul has done just that. From her days reading books like Sweet Valley High through to Anna Karenina and Catch-22, Pamela has carried Bob (her Book of Books) with her from school to school, job to job, and apartment to house, and in this new book, she explores the deep and meaningful relationship between book and reader and how each one affects the other. This is a truly unique book that we can all relate to, whether we have a Bob of our own or not.

During the course of our days, we don’t get to spend nearly as much time in the children’s section as we would like. When we do get the chance to pop back there though, we always manage to find some lovely new stories that we can’t wait to share. Here, George! by Sandra Boynton is an adorable new board book from an author who is arguable the Queen of the children’s book. Illustrator George Booth helps Boynton bring to life the story of George, a sweet dog who likes to sit and sleep. One day, when his owners go out, George discovers that there’s something he might like even more than sitting and sleeping…dancing! Be prepared to read it more than once though, because George the dog is going to appeal to your little ones just as much as Boynton’s cows, pigs, frogs, and chickens! Just as silly and funny as its predecessor Mustache Baby, Bridget Heos‘ new board book, Mustache Baby Meets His Match, is full of hilarious scenarios which send Mustache Baby and Beard Baby through the imaginative worlds of the Wild West, the wrestling ring, a pirate ship, and many more as they try to reconcile their differences and become friends. In a world full of cute concept books, Contrary Dogs by Elo is right up there at the top of our list. With very simple words and illustrations, this book’s winning feature is the flaps that lift up, down, and to the side to alter each image from one thing to its opposite. Full of wonderful colours and patterns, every child will be able to glean something from this thoroughly appealing book.

Arguably the most sought-after author in our children’s section, Rick Riordannever seems to take a break – much to the delight of our younger customers! His most recent offering is The Burning Maze, the third book in the Trials of Apollo series. This new adventure finds awkward teenager Lester (formerly the glorious god Apollo) on a mission to retain his place on Mount Olympus all while being stuck baby-sitting Demeter’s daughter Meg, not something he’s overly thrilled about. If nothing else, that fact alone with ring true with any Riordan fans who have younger siblings. Missing Mike by Shari Green is a heart-wrenching story about the love of a girl for her dog and the extraordinary circumstances that come between them. When her town is evacuated because of a forest fire, Cara’s dog Mike gets nervous and runs off, so she and her family are forced to leave without him. Once the stress of outrunning the fire has passed, Cara begins to think about what bits of her life might be left when they’re allowed to return home, and she can’t stop thinking about Mike. As she tries to settle into her new (if temporary) situation, Cara’s idea of home begins to change, but her love and devotion to Mike remains – she will do whatever it takes to find him, even if it means heading back home on her own.

As usual, it’s impossible to talk about all the books we love in these few paragraphs, so here’s a list of some of the other recent and upcoming releases that we’re excited about reading: Warlight by Michael Ondaatje; Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian; Pudding’ by Julie Murphy; The Perfectionists by Simon Winchester; Robin by Dave Itzkoff (May 15); A French Wedding by Hannah Tunnicliffe (May 15); Less by Andrew Sean Greer (Pulitzer Prize Winner Fiction – May 22); Once and For All by Sarah Dessen (May 22); The House Swap by Rebecca Fleet (May 22); I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You by David Chariandy (May 29); Save the Date by Morgan Matson (June 5); Chasing the Wind by C.C. Humphreys (June 5); Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe by Preston Norton (June 5).

It’s hard to believe that spring is finally here, but really, spring or no spring, it’s never too early to start thinking about your summer reading list (or your spring one for that matter)! So, whether you’re looking for books for yourself, as gifts, or for your kids, there are lots to choose from on our store shelves. Still having trouble deciding what you want? Don’t hesitate to ask us for advice – our staff are always more than happy to help you narrow down your options!

Happy Shopping and Happy Reading!

— The Staff of Books on Beechwood

On My Shelf

Staff Member: Hilary
What I’m Reading: Circe by Madeline Miller
“On their own, the Greek myths are some of the most colourful and intriguing stories in our world. And when those stories are put into the hands of a gifted writer, they are given an unforgettable second life.
In this novel of Circe, a daughter of the Titan Helios, the ancient Greek world unfurls before us with bright streaks of light, salty ocean spray, and cruel twists of fate like only the Greek gods can do. I haven’t been able to put it down since I started reading it!”