October Bestsellers
1. The Boat People by Sharon Bala
2. Darkest Before the Dawn by Mike Martin
3. All Things Consoled by Elizabeth Hay
4. Lost Ottawa, Book Two by David McGee
5. French Exit by Patrick deWitt
6. The Secret History of Soldiers by Tim Cook
7. The Spy and the Traitor by Ben MacIntyre
8. Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
9. Educated by Tara Westover
10. The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald
Greetings Book Lovers!
It’s hard to believe that it’s already November! It feels like only yesterday we were celebrating the arrival of summer, and now here we are staring down the oncoming winter! There is certainly no need to despair though, because with the dark, cold days ahead, we also get to experience the brightest and warmest time of year. From twinkle lights to sparkling snow, cozy blankets to marshmallow-smothered hot chocolate, the holiday season really is the most wonderful time of the year! Made all the more wonderful, of course, by all the lovely new books and gifts!
Although it happens every year and we are solely responsible, it’s still amazing to see the transformation that comes over the store this time of year. Not only are there so many more books filling our shelves and front tables, but countless gift items seem to peek out at us from every available surface! From calendars to magnets, mugs to puzzles, zippered pouches to bookmarks, tote bags to card games, there’s a little something for everyone! Our front window is also full to bursting with boxed Christmas cards right now in preparation for sending good wishes across the country and around the world. As in previous years, our selection of Unicef cards hold pride of place alongside innumerable other designs ranging from cute wintry farmyard scenes to glorious angels and festive choirs. Keep your eyes peeled for yet more seasonal items such as advent calendars, wrapping paper, and Christmas crackers – all due to hit shelves next week!
Not only is it a busy time of year for us with all those boxes to open, customers to serve, and orders to fill, but we also have a large number of events going on both in the store and at our favourite local haunt. There are so many, in fact, that we can’t fit them all here in the body of our newsletter! So, to make them a little easier to access and clearer to read, we’ve listed them in their own little box further down in this e-mail. Just scroll down until you get to the big purple box and you’ll know you’ve arrived! Once you’ve finished marking everything down on your own calendar, check out the rest of our newsletter for some of our top picks from among our newest arrivals!
Since the time rolled back last weekend and the evenings have gotten so dark, it’s hard to resist the temptation to simply curl up in the cushioned corner of your favourite couch and delve into a dark, sinister, and slightly unsettling book. Never in favour of discouraging such a notion, we think that Born To Be Posthumous: The Eccentric Life and Mysterious Genius of Edward Gorey by Mark Dery might be the perfect reading choice! As the author of timeless classics such as The Gashlycrumb Tinies, Saint Melissa the Mottled, Utter Zoo, and The Evil Garden, Edward Gorey has long held readers entranced with his quirky, tongue-in-cheek stories and spooky line drawings. Now, in this brand new biography, we finally get to take a peek behind the curtain to find out more about this extremely talented, eccentric artist and writer. For anyone who was a teen (or tween) between twenty and thirty years ago, you can pretty much guarantee that at least a few of the books on your nightstand (and in your bookcase) bore covers featuring ballet shoes, gymnasts, a slumber party scene, or maybe someone horseback riding. That’s because you were living in the golden age of the girl-centric teen book – after the more serious books of the 1970s and before the arrival of the blockbuster YA fantasy trilogies of the 2000s. Now you can take a trip down memory lane with Paperback Crush: The Totally Radical History of ’80s and ’90s Teen Fiction by Gabrielle Moss. Full of nostalgic images, fun facts, and hilarious trivia worthy of even the coolest slumber party, this book might just be the perfect thing for that hard-to-buy-for thirty or forty-something in your life!
Although the hockey season is now well underway and the abundance of indoor arenas means that skating can take place pretty much year round, there’s still a strange kind of connection between the depths of winter and the beginning of the skating season. In light of that, every autumn we tend to get a bit of a rush of hockey books coming into the store and this year is no different. After the success of his previous books, Hockey Dad and Hockey Confidential, Canadian broadcaster, journalist, and author Bob McKenzie, along with fellow broadcaster Jim Lang, has gifted sports fans with a collection of stories about Canada’s national game in Everyday Hockey Heroes. Featuring players from all corners of the hockey world, this heartwarming book doesn’t simply relay personal anecdotes, but explores how one sport has become so woven into the fabric of our nation’s identity. From the love of a nation to one individual’s lifelong devotion, Born Into It by Jay Baruchel is a funny, soul-baring memoir about a life spent as a die-hard Habs fan. With his trademark humour and an intense spirit that can only be found in the heart of a true hockey fan, this Ottawa born, Montreal raised writer, actor, director and comedian has written a book that truly encapsulates what it’s like to love a team with every fibre of your being. If it’s not Les Canadiens, but our local Senators that have earned your fervour, why not dip into Chris Stevenson‘s 100 Things Senators Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die? Full of stories from players, fans, team staffers, and hockey watchers past and present, this book can be enjoyed by die-hard and casual fans alike!
Though we promise not to play any Christmas music until December, we don’t really feel guilty for singing “‘Tis the season to read mysteries! Fa la la la la la la la la!” Not just because we enjoy it, but because it’s true! From the talented pen that brought us Moriarty, Magpie Murders, and The Word is Murder, among many others, comes a brand new addition to the James Bond cannon! Forever and a Day by Anthony Horowitz is a prequel to Ian Fleming‘s first 007 adventure, Casino Royale. Complete with original material by Fleming himself, this new spy novel is a real treat for anyone looking for a riveting, satisfying read! Another familiar name around the store, Lynne Truss, the bestselling author of Eats, Shoots, and Leaves, has entered the world of mystery writing with the first book in her new Constable Twitten Series, A Shot in the Dark. When you combine one keen constable, a lazy captain, new stirrings around a seven-year-old cold case, a fresh murder at the Theatre Royal, and Truss’ signature wit, you’re guaranteed to enjoy every page of this wonderful Brighton-set novel! Since we all know that romance and mystery go together like peanut butter and jam, it’s little wonder that we were so excited to get our hands on Solace Island by Meg Tilly. Though there may not be any murder victims or cunning detectives in this particular story, we were more than satisfied with Tilly’s protagonist spending her time dodging a menacing stalker and being saved and protected by a mysterious, good-looking neighbour! What more could a reader want, really?
Not the first or last list we’ll be making this season, here are a few more recent and upcoming releases that we’re excited about: The Colors of All the Cattle by Alexander McCall Smith, My Stories, My Times by Jean Chretien, Dry by Neal and Jarrod Shusterman, The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White, Careless Love by Peter Robinson, Final Report by Rick Mercer, The Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke, A Pocketful of Crows by Joanne M. Harris, Defying Limits by Dr. Dave Williams, The Library Book by Susan Orlean, Cujo by Curtis Joseph, The Lotterys More of Less by Emma Donoghue, In a House of Lies by Ian Rankin, Becoming by Michelle Obama (November 13), The Dark Days Deceit by Alison Goodman (November 20), Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny (November 27), Churchill: Walking with Destiny by Andrew Roberts (November 27), Murder in the Bookshop by Carolyn Wells (November 29), Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare (December 4).
With so many books, events, and gifts to choose from, we predict that you’ll have some serious decision-making ahead of you! Just remember that outside of our newsletter and our website, our staff are always happy to help you out with a book recommendation here or a gift idea there. Helping you find the perfect present for everyone on your list (yourself included) is one of our favourite things, so don’t be shy! There are also still lots of new goodies due to arrive over the coming weeks and we do have some special promotions coming up between now and Christmas, so keep your fingers on the pulse and be sure to pop in and see us every so often!
In the meantime, the weather and the state of our bookshelves are doing a good job of reminding us exactly what time of year it is, so we’re off to get right back to it! We look forward to seeing you all soon!
Happy Reading!
— The Staff at Books on Beechwood
Upcoming Events
Ottawa newspaper editor and columnist turned novelist, Kate Heartfield, will be launching her new time travel adventure book Alice Payne Arrives here in the store from 6:00pm to 8:00pm on Tuesday, November 13.
Saturday, November 17 will usher in three authors from Canadian publisher Invisible Publishing. Susannah M. Smith, Shazia Hafiz Ramji, and H.B. Hogan will all be here to read from their new publications The Fairy Tale Museum, Port of Being, and This Keeps Happening, respectively. The fun gets started at 7:00pm, so be sure to join us for what promises to be a great evening of poetry and storytelling!
On Sunday, November 18 at 5:30pm, our Titles@Table40 evening with former Governor General David Johnston will kick off! He will be discussing his new book Trust: Twenty Ways to Build a Better Country. This event is officially sold out, but we have started a waiting list and you never know what can happen in the span of a week, so give us a call if you want us to add your name to the list!
Newfoundland author, politician, and diplomat, the Honourable Roger Simmons, PC, will be here in the store from 11:00am to 3:00pm on Friday, November 23 to sign copies of his new book The Man in the Arena: From Railway Brat to Diplomat.
Come by the store on Saturday, November 24 between 11:00am and 1:30pm to meet former Canadian Ambassador and Manor Park resident John Graham as he signs copies of his book of political cartoons, Potholes and Politics.
Saturday, December 1 will be a day full of mystery as we’re joined by four authors and members of the Crime Writers of Canada. Brian Lindsay and T.E. Wilson will be here to sign their newest books (Back Story and Mezcalero, respectively) from 10:00am to 12:00pm and you’ll be able to meet and chat with R.J. Harlick and Michael McCann – the authors of Purple Palette for Murder and Persistent Guilt – from 12:00pm to 2:00pm.
Local science fiction author Alex Binkley will be here on Sunday, December 2 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm to launch his new novel Ultimate Wizard.
Closing out our Titles@Table40 season for 2018, Whit Fraser will be joining us for dinner on Sunday, December 2 at 5:30pm. He will be discussing his time up North as well as his book True North Rising. There are still a handful of tickets left for this event, so be sure to call us soon if you want to attend.
Whit Fraser will paying us another visit on Saturday, December 15 from 12:00pm to 2:00pm to sign copies of True North Rising here in the store. So, if you can’t make it to dinner earlier in the month, be sure to stop by to say hi!
Shop with us on Libro.fm!!!
Our store: https://libro.fm/beechwood
Libro.fm is an independent audiobook company that makes it possible for us to sell digital audiobooks to our customers. You can listen to these audiobooks on your iPhone, Android device, or your computer. All sales are conducted through our Libro.fm store (link above) and support the continued survival of your local independent bookseller.
You can buy audiobooks through our Libro.fm site either by signing up for a membership or by simply buying audiobooks as the mood strikes you. You don’t even have to have the Libro.fm app on your phone or device in order to buy, download, and listen!
While we will always be champions of the print book, audiobooks can be a great way to enjoy more books while you’re traveling, exercising, or relaxing!
Be sure to check out our site to see if audiobooks are for you!
Hilary’s Shelf
Fury by Rachel Vincent
(#3 in The Menagerie Trilogy)
“Rachel Vincent is undoubtedly a marvel of the urban fantasy world! I’ve read all her series and am always amazed at how she can build such believable worlds around her characters.
This series is fun and magical, yet full of moral dilemmas that really make you think. Its heroine, Delilah Marlow, is a strong, independent, compassionate woman who stands up for her friends and fights oppression at every turn. I can’t wait to see how her story ends…just a few more pages!”
On Saturday, December 1, come celebrate the season with us and three Crime Writers of Canada mystery authors who hail from our local area!
