Category: The Newsletter

The month of love is upon us! Or is it the month of outdoor winter activities? Maybe the month of groundhogs? No matter how you slice it, there’s no denying that February is still safely situated in the depths of winter – a time of year when we are more in need than ever of good reads to bring us comfort and keep us company until spring finally arrives.

What better way to relax and clear your mind this time of year than with a few lovely, quirky books full of musical and literary curiosities? Currently capturing our attention is For the Love of Classical Music by Caroline High. This charming book takes readers on a light yet thorough tour of the history of the world’s finest music. From the Medieval period to modern times, this exploration of famous pieces, performances, composers and surprising facts will delight all music lovers – from the casual listener to the serious aficionado! What Caroline High has done for music, Oliver Tearle has done for books. The Secret Library is a delightful tome of little-known facts, surprising stories, and curious truths about famous (and not so famous) authors, ancient texts, and how history itself has been influenced and affected by different writings over the centuries. On a slightly less grand and more scientific bend, A is for Arsenic: the Poisons of Agatha Christie by Katherine Harkup, explores fourteen of the Queen of Crime’s mysteries and the different poisons featured in each one. Written with finesse and a real admiration for Christie and her mysteries, this book will simultaneously inform and delight you!

As an author who lights up the literary world with his dark humour and often twisted and chilling tales, Neil Gaiman is always a treat to read! In his newest book, Norse Mythology, he takes on the mammoth task of retelling the legends of Odin, Thor, Loki and company. Although this is a collection of individual myths, Gaiman has ordered the stories from the genesis of the gods through to their eventual downfall in Ragnarok. So, while it can be enjoyed in bits and pieces, one story at a time, it can also be read all the way through, leaving the reader with the satisfying feeling of having read a great novel. In Garden of Lamentations, mystery author Deborah Crombie gives us a peek into the serene, sun-dappled private gardens of Notting Hill. While they may look peaceful and picturesque, these oases of relaxation soon become tangled up in a series of tragic murders that fall to DI Kerry Boatman to solve. As the sixteenth installment in the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James series, this mystery is bound to thrill new and longtime Crombie fans alike. Heather O’Neill, the Giller Shortlisted author of Lullabies for Little Criminals, The Girl Who Was Saturday Night, and Daydreams of Angels, has gifted us with yet another stunning read. The Lonely Hearts Hotel is set in Montreal between the two world wars and follows the exploits of two orphans with extraordinary talents. A story full of love, music, struggle, and adventure, Pierrot and Rose will capture your heart and take you on the journey of a lifetime.

So far this year, our young adult section has been graced with some wonderful new fantasy releases that are definitely worth a look. Hot off the press is Caraval by Stephanie Garber. Combining the sensibilities of Suzanne Collins‘ The Hunger Games and Erin Morgenstern‘s The Night Circus, Caraval will sweep you away to a magical once-a-year performance where audience members get to participate in the show. For Scarlett, receiving an invitation to the show is not only an opportunity to escape her cruel and powerful father, but it’s also the fulfillment of a dream she never thought would come true. While she’s been assured that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance, when her sister is suddenly kidnapped, Scarlett must decide what is real and who she can trust in order to save herself and her sister before it’s too late. In Mechthild Glaser‘s new novel The Book Jumper, Amy Lennox discovers that she has the most incredible (an enviable) talent: she can leap into any story and interact with the world inside! As she becomes more comfortable with her new existence, Amy soon discovers that someone is stealing from the books she’s been visiting. With the help of a fellow book jumper, Amy must track down the thief before he strikes again…or catches up with Amy herself. Another real gem of a read is The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig. This intriguing story of fantasy and time travel will hook readers on page one and keep their eyes glued to the action until the very end.

In CBC book news, the Canada Reads 2017 Shortlist has been announced. This year’s books are Fifteen Dogs by Andre Alexis, Company Town by Madeline Ashby, The Right to be Cold by Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Nostalgia by M.G. Vassanji, and The Break by Katherena Vermette. Defended by Humble the Poet, Tamara Taylor, Chantal Kreviazuk, Jody Mitic, and Candy Palmater respectively, this year’s edition of our national Battle of the Books will no doubt be marked by lively, passionate debate as the panelists decide which book all Canadians should read. The debates kick off on March 27.

For those of you who have been anxiously counting down the days until our next Titles@Table40 event, your wait is almost over! Our first dinner event of the spring season will take place on Sunday, March 26 and will feature none other than our wonderful local historian, Tim Cook. Tim will be talking to us about his forthcoming book Vimy: The Battle and the Legend (due to release March 7). Here’s a bit of a refresher on how our Titles@Table40 events work:

The evening starts at 5:30pm with dinner, followed by the author presentation and book signing. Attendees must reserve their spot through 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 $40.00, which includes a three course meal (family-style). No substitutions will be allowed. Tax, 18% gratuity, and refreshments are not included.

Tickets are available for purchase in-store now. They usually go pretty quickly, so call or visit us to get yours today!

It might be miserable outside, but it’s cozy and warm here in the store. So, throw off those February blahs and come down to visit us and buy a book or two! Whether it’s a romantic book for your honey for Valentine’s day (maybe The Princess Bride by William Goldman, Persuasion by Jane Austen, or a biography of the world’s most famous lover, Casanova by Laurence Bergreen), or just a treat for yourself (like City of the Lost by Kelley Armstrong, The Dogs of Littlefield by Suzanne Berne, or Mr. Splitfoot by Samantha Hunt), we’re sure we have the perfect thing to tickle your fancy and keep you safe from the cold, winter weather!

We look forward to seeing you!
Happy Reading!

–The Staff of Books on Beechwood

It’s that time of year again! That’s right, time to hit the books – figuratively speaking, of course! Whether you’re going back to school, starting a new job, or just getting back into the swing of things after a hot, hazy summer off, there’s no doubt that September carries with it a certain “new beginning” kind of feeling – new school year, new job, new exercise regime…new books! So, break out your corduroys, breath in that unique fall air (mmm…drying leaves and pencil shavings), and prepare yourself for a great fall!

In the tradition of new beginnings, we are pleased to announce that Titles@Table40 is back for the fall season! We have a fabulous lineup for you with everything from humour to history. First up, we will be welcoming cherished local restaurant reviewer Anne DesBrisay on Sunday, September 18. A bit of a switch from her Capital Dining books, Ottawa Cooks is a beautiful cookbook featuring recipes and stories from some of the finest chefs in our Nation’s Capital. On Wednesday, October 26, Steve Patterson, the host of CBC’s The Debaters, will be here to tickle our funny bones with his new book The Book of Letters I Didn’t Know Where to Send. A collection of grievances against everything from gluten to spandex, this book is touching and delightful in equal measure. In the lead up to Christmas, we have two events back-to-back. On Sunday, November 20, local photographer William McElligott will be at Table 40 to present his new coffee table book, Ottawa, Canada II and Charlotte Gray will be joining us on Sunday, November 27 for our last Titles@Table40 event of 2016. Her new book, The Promise of Canada, explores what it means to be Canadian and celebrates all the ups and downs of our rich 150 year history.

Here’s a refresher on how our Titles@Table40 events work:
The evenings start at 5:30pm with dinner, followed by the author presentation and book signing. Attendees must reserve their spot through the bookstore with a non-refundable deposit of $20.00 which will go towards the cost of their meal (a set menu with a vegetarian option). The total cost of the meal is $40.00, which includes three courses (family-style). Tax, 18% gratuity, and refreshments are not included. Tickets are now available in-store for our September and October dinner events. Tickets for our November events will go on sale Friday, September 30.

In addition to Titles@Table40, we have a few in-store author signings to tell you about. On Saturday, September 10 from 12:00-2:00pm, local author Lyse Champagne will be here to sign copies of her new book The Light That Remains, a collection of short stories about refugees. Ottawa mystery author Linda Wiken (a.k.a. Erika Chase, the author of the Ashton Corners Book Club series) will be in the store on Saturday, September 24 from 1:00-3:00pm signing her new novel, Toasting Up Trouble, the first book in the Dinner Club Mystery series. Just peaking into October, be sure to swing by on Thursday, October 6 at 5:00pm for Margaret Southall‘s launch of her new book A Jacketing Concern. Rounding out that first week, Elie Nasrallah will be here from 1:00-4:00pm on Saturday, October 8 to sign copies of his two books, None of the Above and Hostage to History. We look forward to seeing you at some of these great events!

Like the return to work and school, September marks a new beginning for bookstores as well. While we receive new books throughout the whole year, September ushers in the fall book season, also known as the lead up to that most joyous (and busy) time of the year, Christmas. This year, we’re off to a great start with the brand new release of Louise Penny‘s A Great Reckoning, the twelfth Inspector Gamache novel. In that same mystery vein, local favourite Barbara Fradkin‘s new novel has just hit our shelves. As the first installment in a thrilling new series, Fire in the Stars introduces readers to international aid worker Amanda Doucette who, after surviving a horrific trauma in Nigeria, returns to Canada and joins forces with an RCMP officer in order to find a friend who has gone missing in Newfoundland. If you were one of the many readers who couldn’t put down Missing, Presumed by British writer Susie Steiner over the summer, why not follow it up with Canadian Shari Lapena‘s The Couple Next Door? A captivating vortex of lies, betrayals, and secrets, this psychological thriller will keep you hooked to the very end. On the historical front, Steven Price has given us a true gift in By Gaslight, a mysterious thriller set in Victorian London, and Kate Taylor‘s debut novel, Serial Monogamy affords us an intriguing look into the life and affairs of Charles Dickens and his young mistress, Nelly Ternan.

Since the kids are heading back to school, parents are going to have to get back into the routine of packing lunches and snacks to get their little ones (and big ones) through the day. This year, instead of the traditional ham and cheese with an apple on the side, how about stepping outside the lunchbox a bit with some Cybermelts or Timey-Wimey Watch Scones? Those are just two of the forty wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey recipes in Doctor Who: The Official Cookbook by Joanna Farrow – the perfect addition to any Time Lord’s kitchen (or Tardis).

Not to be left out, we’ve had a great start to the month in our children’s section as well. For readers aged twelve and up, Riverkeep by Martin Stewart is a dark, magical coming of age adventure about a boy who must conquer a wild, treacherous river and a monstrous sea creature in order to save his father’s life. British author Justin Fisher has just released his debut novel for the middle-grade set, Ned’s Circus of Marvels. When young Ned realizes that everything magical that he’s every read about is real, he suddenly finds himself on a quest to save the world with the help of a robot mouse, a girl witch, and an amazing flying circus. There are also some real treasures right now in our children’s picture book section. Here are a few of our favourites: The Cranky Ballerina by Elise Gravel – a funny story about discovering the things you really love; They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel – a lovely book about how everyone sees things from different perspectives; King Baby by Kate Beaton – a hilarious look at how life changes with the arrival of a baby; and Waiting for the Whales by Sheryl McFarlane and Ron Lightburn – a gorgeous reissue of a twenty-five year old classic about love, life, and family.

Looking a little further ahead into September, there are lots of great books still to come. Ann Patchett follows up the success of Run, Bel Canto, and State of Wonder with a new family saga, Commonwealth (September 13). Nutshell by Ian McEwan (September 13), a novel of deceit, murder, love, and betrayal, is bound to be a real treat for steadfast McEwan fans and newbies alike. Canadian treasure Kenneth Oppel, makes his first foray into the teen market with Every Hidden Thing (September 20), a riveting story of romance, science, history, and paleontology. Atlas Obscura by Joshua Foer (September 20) is a fascinating gift book which celebrates over 700 curious, hidden wonders of the world. Keep an eye out for these (and countless other) wonderful books as they make their way onto our shelves and into your hands!

The nights are getting cooler, the days are getting shorter, and Mother Nature has decided it’s time for a makeover. While you’re switching over your closet and getting school and work supplies all sorted for the fall, don’t forget to give your bookshelf a bit of TLC. As the seasons change around us, there’s nothing quite as comforting as the constant companionship of a book.

Happy Reading!

-The Staff at Books on Beechwood