Here are our store hours for this coming Easter weekend:
Friday, April 18: CLOSED
Saturday, April 19: OPEN 9:30-5:00
Sunday, April 20: CLOSED
Monday, April 21: OPEN 9:30-6:00
Happy Easter!!!
Author: Hilary
April Newsletter
As the weather finally improves, the bookstore traffic increases. Our business is quite weather dependent. We added a new feature recently-a bookcase full of Bargain books ($8 each; 3 for $20) from Penguin that we bought as a skid-load sight unseen. There is a fascinating mix of subjects that goes beyond our usual specialities. It’s well worth a browse. Maybe you need the latest translation of Beowulf or to re-read Victor Hugo or, in my case, the classic travel tale of Wilfred Thesinger- “The Marsh Arabs” or an Elizabeth George mystery in hardback. Take a look!
On my vacation, I indulged in a feast of murder mysteries. It included police procedurals set in Brazil, South Africa and Sweden as well as Canadian novels set in Newfoundland, PEI and the Kootenays. It made me speculate about how popular mystery writing has evolved in parallel with the economic and political trends towards both globalisation and regionalisation. A couple of generations ago, the settings of mysteries were pretty much limited to those of the Agatha Christie style often set in an English country house or the gritty police dramas of New York City and with translations of Georges Simenon’s Inspector Maigret for something more exotic. Now we have dramas from around the world-from Singapore to Iceland-all giving us lots of local colour and culture and very often with detailed descriptions of local cuisine enjoyed by the main characters. However, parallel with this global expansion, there has been a strong regionalisation. Settings in England will feature Derbyshire or Yorkshire or Cornwall. These come with descriptions of local character and scenery. Very often, a description will be given of who is drinking which local beer. A pint of Theakstone’s best bitter can tell you a lot about a man’s character. Regional novels abound in Scotland and Ireland too. In Sweden, the setting is likely to be regional and the local feelings about Stockholm get an airing. (Nevertheless, the Swedish central characters almost all share a gloomy and depressed outlook no matter the region). Canada has seen an explosion of mystery writing from coast to coast with lots of local flavour. It would be fun to map them all(my next project?). Are there similarly mysteries in the French Language set in Canada? For Quebec, in English, we do have the brilliant Louise Penney series set in the Eastern Townships. Ottawa is very strong. Notably there are the Barbara Fradkin books featuring Inspector Green and Detective Brian Sullivan. Just recently we were involved with the very successful launch of Brenda Chapman’s “Cold Mourning” which dominated our March best-seller list.
The March best seller list (see below) had some surprises. Joseph Boyden’s “Orenda” is still near the top and Charlotte Gray’s “The Massey Murder” is still there at #19. Very welcome on the list is a set of kids classics lead by “Alexander and the Terrible Horrible no good, very bad day” originally published in 1972. These were the result of some corporate purchases. A new addition is the novel “The Little Old Lady who broke all the Rules” by Catherina Ingelman-Sundberg. The original Swedish version sold about 1.2 million copies-about one copy for every three households. Expect to hear more about this.
We have begun our Teen Reads book reviews. The first is of “Falling Kingdoms” by Morgan Rhodes, reviewed enthusiastically by Sarah Graves of Henry Larsen Public School. Good input for parents & grandparents as well as for teens.
We are working on a follow-up to the Books n. Brew series but in a different location. An event is being planned for Sunday May 25th with advance ticket purchase necessary. Full details will be out shortly.
Note that we are closed on Good Friday April 18th.
Our March Bestsellers
1. Cold Mourning Brenda Chapman Mystery
2. The Orenda Joseph Boyden Fiction
3. Alexander and the Terrible… Judith Vorst/Ray Kruz Kids
4. Mama, Do You Love Me? Josse/ Lavallee Kids
5. Lost in the Woods Sams/Stuick Kids
6. Voice of the Translator Nikita Kiriloff Biography
7. GRRROUCH! Pain is like.. Cathryn Morean Health
8. Citizens of London Lynne Olson History
9. Affable Scavengers Rick Houle Mystery
10. The Little Old Lady who… C. Ingleman-Sundberg Fiction
11. Monkey Puzzle Tree Sonia Tilson Fiction
12. Stellaluna Janell Cannon Fiction
13. The Inconvenient Indian Thomas King History
14. Tuesday Wiesner/Briley Kids
15. In Winter’s Grip Brenda Chapman Mystery
16. Life after Life Kate Atkinson Fiction
17. Dead in their Vaulted Arches Alan Bradley Mystery
18. The Golden Egg Donna Leon Mystery
19. The Massey Murder Charlotte Gray History
Helene Viel Signing “My Canada: Every Step of the Way” on Saturday, April 12 from 11:00am to 1:00pm
Local author Helene Viel will be in the store on Saturday, April 12 to sign copies of her new book My Canada: Every Step of the Way from 11:00am to 1:00pm.
From the jacket:
“A story of endurance and dreams fulfilled. After a decade of planning and dreaming, Helene Viel from Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec, and her husband Ole Olson from Broadview, Saskatchewan, marked their retirement by walking across Canada, from the Arctic Ocean to the Pacific to the Atlantic.
Maintaining a pace of 40 to 50 kilometres a day through Canada’s four seasons, the walkers passed through two territories and ten provinces, completing the longest recorded walk across Canada: from sea to sea to sea. Ole did it all: 10,081 kilometres. Helene, 66, achieved a fantastic 8,107 kilometres. This is her story.”
We hope to see you all on Saturday!
“Death of Yesterday” by M.C. Beaton
Another trip to the north of Scotland in M.C. Beaton’s “Death of Yesterday”.
In the Hamish MacBeth story there are three murders this time. But they slip into the everyday life of the beloved constable. We end up just as interested in his pets, one wild cat, a dog and some hens and his gently shifting home life as we are in the odd facts that make up the murders.
Hamish MacBeth has already had plenty of success with solving murders in his career. But for him, he is so fond of his life in a small charming Scottish village that he does not want to be promoted and moved to a bigger industrial centre! Beaton makes his village of Lochdubh so loveable that all his readers know exactly how he feels. This readership has expanded to include a huge collection of addicts in the United States. Like all the Hamish MacBeth stories, this book shows why.
Reviewed by Anne McDougall
“An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth” by Chris Hadfield
This is an exhilarating book to read and gives an insight into our planet that we haven’t had from radio or television shows to date. The reason is Chris Hadfield’s wit and eloquence in describing his incredible adventures.
Hadfield is world famous as the recent Commander of the International Space Station. He conducted a record-setting number of scientific experiments and oversaw an emergency spacewalk. He also took some amazing photographs and videos about life in space, some of the photos are in this book.
Hadfield was 9 years old on July 20, 1969 when he watched the Apollo moon landing from his family’s cottage in Ontario. He knew then that he wanted to be an astronaut. He also knew that Canadians couldn’t even apply for the job; we didn’t have a space agency. And so this is the story of his gradual training, with basic jet training with the Canadian Forces, then the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School in California in 1988. In 1991 Canada had its own space agency which took out an ad in the newspaper: Wanted: Astronauts. There were 5,329 applications and Hadfield won.
The rest of the book describes his learning career. He ran 25 Shuttle launches and also served as Director of NASA Operations in Star City, Russia from 2001-2003. He made two close Russian friends and the book vividly describes the small Soyuz capsule in which they spent five months on the International Space Station before returning to Earth.
Hadfield had a very happy marriage and three children. He talks about his philosophy, i.e. anticipating problems and figuring out how to solve them which he claims is the opposite of worrying: it’s productive. It certainly has been for him and this book is a generous way of sharing this.
Reviewed by Anne McDougall
TEEN READS
Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
Reviewed by Sarah Graves- Henry Larsen Public School
A riveting story about a heavily divided land on the brink of war, Falling Kingdoms is a thrilling drama. Lucia, Magnus, Cleo and Jonas all deal with several issues in the countries Auranos, Paelsia and Limeros, where tensions run extremely high. The characters are dispersed among the three countries, but soon cross each others’ paths in the wake of war, forcing them to face their varying dilemmas. In this grief-stricken land filled with treachery, poverty, sorcery, secrets and yearning, everyone clashes already, not knowing the horror that is to fall, and much sooner than expected. The main cause for the conflict, the one that no one seems to see, is the inequality. It could be seen as a modern representation of the injustice in the world today or a flashback to the times when all was dark, but it’s up to you to decide.
This book was one of the most enchanting books I have ever read; a new twist at every chapter made for a hard-to-put-down read. It is a very intense book indeed, putting you almost in tears one second and smiling to your ears the next. A true teen novel, it incorporates serious modern issues, history, magic and intense drama. The book has different points of view, making you side with all and no characters. A very engaging read, it gives you a real point of view, genuinely changing your opinion every page and helping you connect with the characters. As you can imagine, it results in a wonderfully climactic novel that will leave you fearing what comes next, puzzling the possibilities and wanting even more.
Book Bargain Month is Here!
Book Bargain Month
A special shipment from Penguin Publishers
$8 for one
$20 for any 3
$30 for any 5
While quantities last!
Check out the amazing variety of books at the front of the store.
Harry MacKay Signing “Church Rebel With A Cause” on Saturday, April 5
Local author Harry MacKay will be in the store on Saturday, April 5 from 12:00 to 2:00 to sign copies of his newest book Church Rebel With A Cause.
From the jacket:
“This raw and riveting fictionalized memoir lays bare the state of Christianity in the turbulent 1960s, when society re-evaluates its beliefs about morality, love, sex, and spirituality. Scott Lively, a United Church of Canada minister in Toronto North, preaches The New Morality (love, then do as you like). Soon he is labeled “The Sex Cleric” and is called to account by his congregation.
This book will appeal to spiritual seekers who may be disinterested or uncomfortable with the institutional church. Activists interested in social justice will also be attracted to the narrative.”
We hope to see you all here!
Qais Ghanem Launch on Thursday, April 3 from 5:00-7:00pm
![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000035_00011]](https://www.booksonbeechwood.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/forbiddenlove.jpg)
Local author Qais Ghanem will be here on Thursday, April 3 from 5:00-7:00pm to launch his new novel Forbidden Love in the Land of Sheba – a story of conflict, crime and corruption.
From the jacket:
“Fifteen-year-old Hana has a crush on twenty-year-old cousin, Farook. But he leaves Yemen to study medicine in Scotland. Her parents force her to marry another cousin, twice her age, a selfish, abusive criminal involved in arms’ sales and gang rapes. Ten years later, Hana’s life changes dramatically when Farook opens a clinic next door.”
Qais will also be available to sign copies of his previous 
novels – Final Flight from Sanaa and Two Boys from Aden College – as well as his non-fiction works – From Left to Right and My Arab Spring, My Canada.
We hope to see you all here on Thursday!
Snacks and refreshments will be served.