Author: Hilary

Our Bestsellers in June

 

  1. Reclaiming the Commons        Heather Menzies                         Biography
  2. Palawan Story                            Caroline Vu                              Fiction
  3. How we lead                                 Joe Clark                                          Politics
  4. No Relation                                   Terry Fallis                                    Fiction
  5. Christianity for the Rest of Us   Diana Bass                                     Spiritual
  6. Sweetness of a simple Life       Diana Beresfor-Kroeger           Sci & Nature
  7. Girl who saved the King of ..       Jonas Jonasson                          Fiction
  8. A delicate truth                             John LeCarre                                Fiction
  9. The soldier’s wife                          Margaret Leroy                           Fiction
  10. Opening Heaven’s door             Patricia Pearson                           Psychology
  11. The lost Sisterhood                     Anne Fortier                                 Fiction
  12. Minor Adjustment Beauty …     A. Mccall Smith                           Mystery
  13. The Silkworm                                Robert Galbriath                         Mystery
  14. Written in my own Heart’s        Diana Gabaldon                           Fiction
  15. Midnight in Europe                       Alan Furst                                      Fiction
  16. 100 year old man who…             Jonas Jonasson                            Fiction
  17. The Fault in our Stars                   John Green                                  Youth

“Jane Austen’s Country Life” by Deirdre Le Faye

janeaustenscountryThere have been many books written on Jane Austen and her beloved novels, some of the most important by this author, Deirdre Le Faye.

In this one, she take a close look at Jane Austen’s life in the countryside around the two towns where her father had his vicarages. These were Steventon and Chawton in Hampsire, South-West England. Her father had studied at Oxford before becoming a clergyman and Le Faye has already written about the scholarship and love of books in Jane’s background.

But her father also inherited considerable land-holdings and ran large family estates where they kept horses, cows and a chicken run. Her mother, who had eight children, also turned her hand to farming. Jane herself got totally involved in this work which helps explain her down-to-earth attitude in describing the characters in her books. She loved the country and would sometimes say she thought it must form one of the joys of heaven.

This book is full of pictures with contemporary paintings of this early period. Jane lived from 1775 to 1817. Her 41 years produced books more popular today than they were 200 years ago. This study goes a long way in explaining this, and is a delight to read.

Review by Anne McDougall

“Northern Dancer” by Kevin Chong

northerndancerReading Northern Dancer is almost like going to a horse-race. The thrilling action takes place in a few scant moments (at the track or reading this book) but the background story to this amazing Canadian thoroughbred is totally engrossing.

Northern Dancer belonged to the Canadian business tycoon, E.P. Taylor. His major hobby was building up a stable of race-horses first outside Toronto, later in Maryland, U.S.  We learn how he acquired Northern Dancer, a short, chunky colt who didn’t look like anything until he started to run. His Argentinian trainer played an important part, as did the jockey Bill Hartack.

It is now 50 years since the time the legendary horse won two of the Triple Crown races in the U.S. and Canada’s Queen’s Plate. He became a Canadian hero, just at the time we were still seeking our own identity and getting a Canadian flag. At the time of his running success, l964, the author Kevin Chong points out, Canadians could not have realized what an impact Northern Dancer would ultimately make on his sport. He left the track this same year and would become the greatest sire of his breed. About three-quarters of the thoroughbreds alive today, including the forty thousand foals born every year, carry Northern Dancer in their bloodline. In his career as a stallion, he had produced 635 foals, 467 winners, and l47 stakes winners.

Kevin Chong was born in Hong Kong and raised in Vancouver. He has written four other books, including the race-track memoir My Year of the Racehorse. He teaches creative writing at the University of British Columbia. He has a winner in Northern Dancer.

Review by Anne McDougall

Laurie Fraser Signing “The Word Not Spoken”

wordnotspokenLocal author, Laurie Fraser, will be here on Saturday, June 21 to sign copies of her new novel The Word Not Spoken from 12:00-2:00pm.

From the jacket:

“A Canadian backpackers falls face-flat in love with a charismatic carpet salesman while on holiday in Cappadocia, Turkey. Leigh doesn’t learn of Ahmet’s work as a freedom fighter until after their three-day Islamic wedding, but she copes with violence as readily as she learns to live without an oven or hot water.

While their joint-narrative blossoms, reality is not as kind, and they soon face some difficult decisions.”

The Word Not Spoken is a Turkish adventure which addresses human rights, risk and the requirements of love.

Watch the video, see the photos and read chapter one, excerpts and more at www.lauriefraser.com

 

June Newsletter

May was a good month for the store as customers begin stocking up for the summer. The May best-seller list (see below) was an eclectic mix with many of the selections resulting from events at the store. One highlight event was the first of the Titles@Table 40 functions –the successor to Books n’Brew. The gathering at Table 40 was a sellout and feedback has been very positive. The “family style” dinner around the harvest tables encouraged interaction and I met some interesting people. The two speakers were very engaging. The next event is on Sunday June 15 with non-fiction authors Diana Beresford-Kroeger and Heather Menzies (see the separate announcement for details). There will be a couple of adjustments in order to finish the event a little earlier-the start time is at 5.30p.m. and the food service will be a little faster. We realise that sometimes someone can’t attend the event even after paying the deposit but if you let the Bookstore know, we may have a waiting list to fall back on so as to fill the vacant spot.

Another June event of note  is the Annual Beechwood Summer Solstice Celebration on June 21st. Books on Beechwood will be open later that evening with storytime for kids and a sidewalk sale with great bargains (weather permitting)

Our customer survey is almost completed and I’ll share some results with you next month. We’ve had a good rate of response and we thank you for that. The information and the suggestions that we received will be very useful in guiding us forward. There was no demand for major changes but there were some helpful suggestions.

If you’re looking for summer reading suggestions, you might want to check out the latest New Edinburgh News where all the staff has contributed ideas from books they have read.

From our survey of customers, we’ve realised that we need to revise our e-mailing lists (and also we need to comply with the latest legislation on e-mail-outs). Some customers have asked for monthly e-mail updates. If that interests you, be sure to let us know, confirm that we have your e-mail address on file and give us permission to send you occasional updates.

Nancy-Gail Burns Signing “Hard Lumps: a memoir”

hardlumpsLocal author, Nancy Gail Burns will be in the store on Saturday, June 7 from 1:00 to 3:00pm to sign copies of her new book Hard Lumps.

From the jacket: “Textbooks describe cancer as a malignant tumour or growth, caused when cells multiply uncontrollably. Researchers give no mention to the consumption of healthy thoughts, and the birth of destructive, negative feelings. Cancer bursts into your consciousness, and like its concrete form, malignant thoughts multiply uncontrollably. In Hard Lumps, Nancy- Gail Burns corrals those thoughts and feelings and illustrates that in the end, good things can be found in just about anything.”

Titles @ Table 40 with Diana Beresford-Kroeger and Heather Menzies

Books on Beechwood and Table 40 invite you to…

Titles @ Table40

with

Diana Beresford-Kroeger and Heather Menzies

When: Sunday, June 15 @ 5:30pm

Where: Table 40, 7 Springfield Road

The evening starts at 5:30pm with dinner, followed by the author presentations and book signing. Attendees must reserve their spot at the bookstore with a non-refundable deposit of $20.00 which will go towards the cost of the meal (a set menu with a vegetarian option). The total cost of the meal is $37.50, which includes a three course meal (family-style). No substitutions will be allowed. Tax, 18% gratuity, and refreshments are not included.

sweetnesssimplelife reclaimingcommons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first event of this series was a sell-out and the event was very well received. It features two distinguished local non-fiction writers who will discuss their latest works.

Heather Menzies has just published her tenth book Reclaiming the Commons for the Common Good inspired by her roots in the Scottish Highlands and the way of life that involved the heritage of the commons. She describes the self-organising, self-governing and self-informing principles involved and discusses their relevance to the present day.

Diana Beresford-Kroeger’s newest book is The Sweetness of the Simple Life which emphasizes back to basics with tips for a healthier, happier and kinder life gleaned from the wisdom and science of nature.

Reservations are necessary. Please call or visit:

Books on Beechwood, 35 Beechwood Ave., Tel: 613-742-5030

*Please note the new start time of 5:30pm*

Our Bestsellers for May

  1. Home before Dark                          Rosemary Sexton                            Biography
  2. On becoming a Mother                Brigid McConville                             Parenting
  3. Silver Totem of Shame                  R.J. Horlick                                          Mystery
  4. The Shadow Queen                        Sandra Gulland                                Fiction
  5. Opening Heaven’s Door                   Patricia Pearson                             Psychology
  6. How to add value to your home        Scott Mcgillivray                            Decor
  7. The Lost Sisterhood                        Anne Fortier                                      Fiction
  8. Capital in the Twenty First Century    Thomas Piketty                       Economy
  9. The Girl who saved the King of..       J. Jonasson                                 Fiction
  10. The Worn Archive                            Serah-Marie McMahon                Art etc
  11. Under Cold Stone                            Vicki Delaney                                     Mystery
  12. The One                                               Kierra Cass                                         Youth
  13. Stella Bain                                           Anita Shrive                                       Fiction
  14. Howard’s End is on the Landing       Susan Hill                                         Biography
  15. The Son of a certain woman        Wayne Johnston                                  Fiction
  16. Ottawa, Canada                                   William McElligot                          Travel
  17. The Soldiers Wife                             Margaret Leroy                                 Fiction
  18. The Goldfinch                                    Donna Tartt                                        Fiction
  19. Letters from Skye                            Jessica Brockmole                            Fiction
  20. Medicine Walk                                 Richard Wagamese                                Fiction

(Use the search function on our webstore at www.store.booksonbeechwood.ca for details on each title or to order these books)

“The Corsican Caper” by Peter Mayle

corsicancaperBillionaire Francis Reboul lived in the biggest private residence in Marseille. Built for Napoleon lll, it had a direct view of the bay.

One day, its owner was enjoying this view, when he spotted a huge, dark blue, 300-foot yacht anchored just offshore and apparently taking photographs of his house. Sure enough, the owner, Oleg Vronsky, had been cruising along the Riviera from Cap Ferrat to Saint-Tropez, looking at properties with a view to buying a house here. He fell instantly in love with this one and decided to buy it, at all costs. This book is the story of Vronsky’s decision and Reboul’s desperate attempts to stop him.

Peter Mayle has written thirteen books to date, seven of them novels. Many are set in Provence where he has lived for the past twenty years. He knows and loves every aspect of this beautiful corner, especially its cooking!! The book is full of tantalizing menus and recipes. The result is that The Corsican Caper is all about the Riviera jet set and provides a delightful escape book, in spite of the deadly serious plot at the centre of the story.

Review by Anne McDougall