Happy second day of Advent! To borrow a line from Sesame Street, today’s specials are brought to you by the letter “G” – for Gopnik and Gladwell, of course! A Thousand Small Sanities by Adam Gopnik and Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell will both be 20% off today only! Be sure to come down and pick up your copy soon!
It’s December 1st which means it’s time to kick off our First Annual Books on Beechwood Advent Calendar!!
From now until Christmas Eve, we’ll be counting down the days with daily specials.
First up, Coconut Lagoon by Joe Thottungal! This beautiful cookbook will be 25% off today only, so be sure to swing by to get yourself a copy!
Local author Andrew Caddell will be in the store on Saturday, November 30 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm to sign copies of his hockey book, The Goal: Stories About Our National Passion.
About the book:
“Andrew Caddell, Dave Stubbs and Philip Caddell have written for readers of all ages a wonderful collection of short stories about Canada’s passion for hockey. Ranging from the 1935 Stanley Cup to the present day, The Goal is a salute to the fans who pay to watch, the kids who play the game and the players who never made it.”
Ottawa Press and Publishing author, Andrew King will be in the store on Saturday, December 7 from 12:00pm to 2:00pm to sign copies of his brand new local history book Ottawa Rewind: A Book of Curios and Mysteries. In the same vein as the ever-popular Lost Ottawa books, this book would be a perfect stocking stuffer for anyone who loves the quirky, often forgotten tidbits of history.
About the book:
“Andrew King is an artist, cartoonist and detective. The detective part doesn’t get mentioned often, but Andrew is a history sleuth, someone who loves to solve historical mysteries. Where exactly is the first house built in Ottawa? Was there really a nuclear reactor once at Tunney’s Pasture? And what in the world happened to Ottawa’s once famous tiki bar at the Talisman Inn?
Andrew has been seeking answers to questions like these since launching the popular website Ottawa Rewind in 2013. In Ottawa Rewind Andrew has set out to find the location of shipwrecks in the Ottawa River, the playboy bunnies that once worked the Riverside Hotel in Vanier and every last Free Mason or Knight Templar symbol built into Canada’s Parliament Buildings.”
October Bestsellers
1. Truth Be Told by Beverley McLachlin
2. The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
3. Murdered Midas by Charlotte Gray
4. Agent Running in the Field by John Le Carre
5. The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
6. Coconut Lagoon by Joe Thottungal
7. Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
8. Transcription by Kate Atkinson
9. The Long Call by Ann Cleeves
10. Effin’ Birds by Aaron Reynolds
Greetings Book Lovers!
Well, we’re only a couple of weeks into November and it looks like Mother Nature has decided that it’s going to be full on winter now. The streets are snowy, the trees are bare, and our noses are certainly feeling the sharp nip in the air. But despite this slightly early onslaught of wintry weather, there are lots of warm and cozy things to look forward to between now and the end of the year – not the least of which being all the wonderful books awaiting you on our shelves!
As we continue to march steadily towards December and the festive season, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the hustle and bustle of this time of year. Thankfully, we have some great local events coming up that are sure to be just the break you need from the Christmas fast lane! On Saturday, November 23 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, Robin Higham will be here in the store to launch the newest RHOMA (Retired Heads of Mission Association) book, Not Mentioned in Dispatches. Much like their previous collection of essays, Declassified, this new book is just as rich and wide-ranging in content, taking readers through different countries and times, exploring the world through the lens of the diplomatic service. Local author Kanika Gupta will be paying us a visit on Sunday, November 24 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm to launch her new illustrated memoir, Brave: Living with a Concussion. Accompanied by a special afternoon tea courtesy of our friends at The SconeWitch, this event is not to be missed! Ottawa Press and Publishing author, Andrew King will be in the store on Saturday, November 30 from 12:00pm to 2:00pm to sign copies of his brand new local history book Ottawa Rewind: A Book of Curios and Mysteries. In the same vein as the ever-popular Lost Ottawa books, this book would be a perfect stocking stuffer for anyone who loves the quirky, often forgotten tidbits of history. Taking a quick peek into December, we’ll be taking the store off-site for a fun Bookclub Mash Up-sponsored event at the Rockcliffe Park Community Centre on Sunday, December 8. Local novelist (and Ottawa Book Award Winner) Missy Marston will be in attendance to read from her new book, Bad Ideas. Doors open at 2:00pm and the reading will get going at 2:30pm. This event is open to local book club members and book lovers alike!
In a year that’s brought us so many great books, it’s hard to believe that there are even more still to come! Every year, right to the end, we’re always amazed at the quality of the titles coming through our door and this year is proving to be no different. After seeing so many Newfoundland themed and authored books over the last ten months, it seems only fitting that one of our last book highlights of the year should be about two amazing Newfoundland artists. Art and Rivalry by Carol Bishop-Gwyn chronicles the life and marriage of Christopher and Mary Pratt, two juggernauts of Canadian art. Thinking of the popular saying, “opposites attract,” one would think that these two talented people would have been perfect together – Mary as fire with her bright, colourful, life-infused artwork and Christopher as ice with his clean lines, smooth palate, and quieter tones. However, the smooth veneer this couple presented to the world was soon criss-crossed with emotion-fueled cracks. Told with masterful skill and an undeniable love of art, this unauthorized biography is a must read for Canadian art lovers everywhere.
Much like on a canvas, art can also blossom in a darkened theatre full of plush seats, with the scent of popcorn hanging in the air. Arguably, this is exactly what happened in 1977 with the theatrical release of George Lucas’s now famous space saga. No doubt there are many of you who are counting down the days, not ’til Christmas, but ’til the release of the final installment of this amazing cult classic. So, before getting your costume ready for the big day, why not take a journey into the past with veteran Star Wars actor Anthony Daniels in his new memoir, I Am C-3PO? Full of candid stories from his time on set and reflections of what it’s like to embody such an iconic and influential character for over four decades, this book is a virtual treasure trove for fans of all things Star Wars. Witty, fascinating, and revelatory, I Am C-3PO is definitely going to be on the wish-list we send to Santa this year!
Although this time of year doesn’t always result in all of us getting scads of time off, that doesn’t mean that we can’t still find enough time to read a great, sweeping historical family saga! Arguably one of the Queens of the genre, Santa Montefiore has gifted us with a great new novel that will delight historical fiction fans everywhere! The House by the Sea takes readers on a fast-paced world tour, setting down roots among the golden villas of Tuscany and shooting forward through time to England’s Devon coast. Ripe with intrigue, drama, and secrets that refuse to stay buried, this novel is perfect for fans of Kate Morton, Susanna Kearsley, and Sarah Maine! Over the years we’ve become so used to Claire North‘s books containing a fairly healthy dose of science-fiction, that her new novel, The Pursuit of William Abbey, came as a bit of a surprise to us. Told in a sweeping arc that carries readers from late 19th century South Africa to WWI Europe, this novel will entrance you from the start and keep you thinking long after you’ve turned the last page. Just as thought-provoking as The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August with all the thrilling suspense of a Robert Harris or Jonathan de Shalit spy novel, this book calls for a good footrest, a seriously comfy chair, and a good chunk of uninterrupted reading time!
When we sat down to really think about our favourite kids books from the last month, we must have been in a feline-loving mood because all our picks turned out to be about cats! Full of adorable illustrations and charming characters, Mike Boldt‘s picture book Bad Dog is a great read-aloud story for bedtime or anytime! Sometimes all a little girl wants is a dog, but when this little girl finally gets her wish, Rocky turns out to be a very bad dog. She doesn’t like to fetch or go for walks or come when she’s called, but she does enjoy sleeping on Mom’s clean laundry, playing with shoelaces, and climbing trees. Hmmm…could what makes a bad dog maybe make a good cat? Sweet and funny, this book is sure to be a winner with kids and adults alike! What Cats Think by John Spray and Mies van Hout is as beautiful as it is funny and is almost more art book than picture book. Awaiting you on each page is a bright, colourful feline friend willing to reveal their innermost thoughts. What does your cat plan on doing after you’ve gone to bed? You might just have to read the book to find out! For the littlest ones in your life, why not get their love of cats started early with Barbara Castro Urio‘s adorable board book Goodnight, Rainbow Cats? Full of small die-cut windows that get filled in one by one by colourful little cats making their way home, this cute book is bound to earn a place at the top your kiddies’ “again” pile!
As per usual, there are so many books out there and not nearly enough space here for us to tell you about them all! So, here are some of the other new and forthcoming releases that we’re excited about: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball by Jeff Kinney, The Cockroach by Ian McEwan, Many Rivers to Cross by Peter Robinson, Sofia Valdez, Future Prez by Andrea Beaty, Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater, The Second Sleep by Robert Harris, The Man That Got Away by Lynne Truss, Vintage Board Games by Adrian Seville, Studio Dogs by Nicola Morgan, The Beast of Buckingham Palace by David Walliams (November 21), Under Occupation by Alan Furst (November 26), The Hero by Lee Child (November 28), The Peppermint Tea Chronicles by Alexander McCall Smith (December 3), and Bryant & May: Lonely Hour by Christopher Fowler (December 3).
It’s almost mid-November now and we can no longer deny that Christmas is just around the corner. As such, a few key holiday items have now made their way onto our shelves – our boxed Christmas cards are proudly on display (UNICEF cards included), the Advent Calendars have arrived, our Christmas crackers have made an appearance, and our loose Christmas cards are slowly coming out of hibernation. With lots of other goodies arriving every day, be sure to pop in to see us, keep an eye on our social media pages, and watch out for our next newsletter to stay on top of what’s new. Also, if you’ve been in to see us over the last couple of weeks, you may have noticed a new face behind the counter. Pei-Ju, a dear friend of ours from Octopus Books, has joined our bookselling ranks for the busy holiday season. She’s a great reader and, like the rest of our staff, is looking forward to helping you with all your book needs over the coming weeks. She definitely knows her stuff and we’re so very glad she’s joined our bookselling family! So, next time you’re in the store, be sure to give her a nice, big Beechwood welcome!
With winter now seemingly settled in to stay, it’s time to turn our eyes towards the magical season that crowns our calendar year. So with stars in our eyes, books by our sides, and love in our hearts, let’s face the elements head on and march straight ahead into the sparkling snow kingdom that is December!
Happy Reading!
— The Staff at Books on Beechwood
What I’m Reading: The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
“It’s been a whopping eight years since Erin Morgenstern‘s last book, The Night Circus, came out, and my wish for another book of hers has finally come true. This new novel is lyrical, beautifully crafted, and will draw you in from the very first page. As an added bonus, it’s a book about books and the magical lands that exist inside them. This is the kind of story that will nourish your soul and remind you that despite the often very black and white world we live in, there’s plenty of magic to be found in the everyday.”
Injecting some slightly rude humour into our event roster, we’re looking forward to welcoming Aaron Reynolds and his hilarious (and often profane) bird book, Effin’ Birds, to the store for a book launch on Wednesday, October 23 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Full of detailed ornithological drawings and based on the popular Twitter account of the same name (@EffinBirds), this book is perfect for fans of birding and tongue-in-cheek humour.
About the book:
“A compact, comprehensive, and very silly field guide featuring more than 200 of the rudest birds on earth.
Effin’ Birds is the most eagerly anticipated new volume in the grand and noble profession of nature writing and bird identification. Sitting proudly alongside Sibley, Kaufman, and Peterson, this book contains more than 150 pages crammed full of classic, monochrome plumage art paired with the delightful but dirty aphorisms (think “I’m going to need more booze to deal with this week”) that made the Effin’ Birds Twitter feed a household name. Also included in its full, Technicolor glory is John James Audubon’s most beautiful work matched with modern life advice. Including never-before-seen birds, insults, and field notes, this guide is a must-have for any effin’ fan or birder.”
September Bestsellers
1. The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
2. A Better Man by Louise Penny
3. The Innocents by Michael Crummey
4. Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
5. The Long Call by Ann Cleeves
6. Our Homesick Songs by Emma Hooper
7. Women Talking by Miriam Toews
8. Albatross by Terry Fallis
9. No One is Too Small to Make a Difference by Greta Thunberg
10. Transcription by Kate Atkinson
Greetings Book Lovers!
If ever there was a time to sing the Time Warp song, it would be now! Not just because of its association with Halloween, but because we can’t figure out where September went (or the first half of October for that matter)! One moment it was here and the next it was gone! Well, there is a reason the saying “time flies when you’re having fun” exists, we suppose. And it’s not all bad; October is, after all, one of our favourite months! We’re happily situated far enough away from summer that we’re not missing it anymore, but we’re not so late in the year that snow could arrive at any moment. We’re in that happy, russet gold middle space where we can enjoy the beauty of the changing leaves without thinking of what they’re changing leads into, and relish the opportunity to sport our first cozy scarves of the season without having to think about which fibres will more readily block the icy wind of winter. Of course, it should go without saying that our very favourite part of this time of year (or any time of year, really) is all the wonderful new books!
As many of you know, just over week ago we announced yet another Titles@Table40 event – an evening with former Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin – to round out our fall dinner series. While both her event on October 20 and our evening with Joe Thottungal on October 27 are now sold out, there are still tickets available for our November 17 event with beloved novelist Terry Fallis. We have started waiting lists for the two sold-out events, so if you didn’t manage to get tickets before they were gone, it very well may be worth it to put your name on our waiting list – you never know, you might just luck out! For anyone who’s unfamiliar with our Titles@Table40 dinner series or if you just need a little refresher, here’s how our Titles@Table40 events 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 $70.00 which 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 the bookstore is informed in advance.
In addition to our Titles@Table40 series, we have a number of in-store signings and launches to tell you about this month. On Thursday, October 17 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, Newfoundland-born Ottawa author, Mike Martin will be in the store to launch his new Sgt. Windflower mystery, Fire, Fog and Water. With three new cases that he’s convinced are connected somehow, Sgt. Windflower and his fellow officers must battle more than crime in this thrilling new Newfoundland mystery from a master of the genre. As a special treat for event attendees, if you buy any one of the Sgt. Windflower mysteries during the launch, you’ll receive a free gift in the form of Martin‘s seasonal mystery, Christmas in Newfoundland. With refreshments and snacks also on hand, be sure not to miss the closest thing to a Newfoundland kitchen party Books on Beechwood will ever have! Swinging over to the other half of the country now, Susan Taylor Meehan, a native of Edmonton and current Ottawa resident, will be paying us a visit on Saturday, October 19 from 11:00am to 2:00pm to sign copies of Halcyon Days, her new historical novel. Set on the prairies during the Great Depression, this novel follows a school teacher’s adventures navigating the sometimes fraught waters of a new town as controversy erupts surrounding a terrifying discovery. Also on Saturday, October 19, be sure to come by the store between 2:00pm and 4:00pm to meet local author Rick Houle. He’ll be here signing his new mystery, Vicky Veston Inc., the third book in his Affable Scavengers Trilogy, and his brand new Y2K-related novel We Really Made It Happen.
Injecting some slightly rude humour into our event roster, we’re looking forward to welcoming Aaron Reynolds and his hilarious (and often profane) bird book, Effin’ Birds, to the store for a book launch on Wednesday, October 23 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Full of detailed ornithological drawings and based on the popular Twitter account of the same name (@EffinBirds), this book is perfect for fans of birding and tongue-in-cheek humour. Sean Michaels, Scotiabank award-winning author of Us, Conductors, will be here in the store on Thursday, October 24 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm to read from his new novel, The Wagers. From the very real open mic stages of the comedy club scene to the beautifully imagined streets of Montreal, Michaels takes readers on an intense, magical journey full of probability, luck, and fortune. I Wanted Fries With That is a book about speaking up for ourselves and asking for what we want. Its author, Amy Fish, will be with us on Saturday, October 26 from 11:00am to 1:00pm to talk about why we spend so much time short-changing ourselves and to encourage us to change that behaviour. Also, there will be bagels, so be sure to stop by for a visit and a chat! That same Saturday, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, Scott Bury will be on hand to sign copies of The Eastern Front Trilogy (Army of Worn Soles, Under the Nazi Heel, Walking Out of War), a series of three historical novels inspired by true stories of one man’s experience in the Red Army of the 1940s and his determination to escape home to Canada. Taking a brief peek into November, local children’s author Angela Misri will be celebrating the release of her middle-grade novel with us on Saturday, November 2 from 11:00am to 1:00pm. Pickles vs. The Zombies is the zombie apocalypse book we’ve all been waiting for! Pickles the calico cat isn’t sure what’s happened to her human, Connor, but she’s determined to find out. With the help of her feline friends and a street-wise racoon, zombies might be the least of Pickles’ worries as she sets out to recover her beloved human. On Sunday, November 3 at 2:00pm, local science-fiction author Alex Binkley will be in the store to launch his brand new science-fiction novel, The Circle of the Chosen. Complete with snacks and refreshments, this event is not one to be missed!
As the trees outside begin to change from leafy green, shade-providing canopies into ethereal domes of gold that crackle and rustle in the cool autumn breezes, we can’t help but feel a certain anticipatory energy in the air. Though it’s not the same feeling that comes with the twinkle lights and sparkling snow of Christmas time, fall has its own strange kind of magic – a magic that gives us an almost unquenchable desire to read as many books about witches, magic, and improbable occurrences as we can get our hands on! Joining out list of favourite fall reads (The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman, The Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan, and The Witches of New York by Ami McKay), The Familiars by Stacey Halls is as intriguing as it is mystical. Set in 17th century England, during the height of the witch hunts, this riveting novel tells the story of Fleetwood Shuttleworth, a young pregnant noblewoman who seeks the aid of a local midwife as she tries to carry her baby to term – a child whose birth she has been warned will mean her own death. When her midwife, Alice, is accused of witchcraft, Fleetwood finds herself facing down more than her fear of miscarriage and possible death, but also the strict hand of the law that would condemn an innocent woman. Inspired by true events, this novel is the perfect read for a cool, fall day!
If we can’t get our hands on a good witchy novel, a story about magical books can just as easily check all our book-love boxes! Enter Alix E. Harrow‘s debut novel The Ten Thousand Doors of January! Set in an artifact-filled mansion (check!), this fantastical novel introduces readers to January Scaller, a young woman who’s never really fit in (check!) until the day she stumbles across an unusual book filled with magical doors leading to great loves, unpredictable adventures, and unknown dangers (check! check! check!)! With a package just as beautiful as the words it encases, this novel is a true gift for anyone who loves books and prefers to take their literary adventures with a healthy side of fantasy! We have long been fans of Jenn Bennett and her contemporary teen fiction, but we love her even more now with the release of her new magical adventure novel, The Lady Rogue. Theodora’s greatest wish is to join her father on his travels around the world as he hunts for sought-after relics and treasures. Unfortunately, that honour is denied her and instead falls on his protege, Huck Gallagher. But when Huck returns from an expedition without her father, Theodora must leap into a world she’s only ever read about in order to save her father and fulfill her own destiny. It’s a race against time and treasure-hunting rivals, as Huck and Theodora lead readers through Gothic villages, dark castles, and misty mountains – an especially perfect read for the dark nights leading up Halloween!
Despite the energy in the air this month prompting us to read magical books, there are some days when we just need a few more veins of truth in our reads to truly satisfy us. As we’ve now entered the pre-Christmas selling season, our non-fiction section is burgeoning with great new titles that you’ll be hard-pressed to pass up in the coming weeks. From memoirs to political rallying cries, odes to nature and fascinating local histories, there’s definitely a little something for everyone on offer this fall. Though we perhaps know her best as the acclaimed author of The Birth House and The Witches of New York, Ami McKay is a woman of many talents – the proof of which can be found in the pages of her new memoir, Daughter of Family G. Intimate and heartfelt, this genetic memoir travels over seventy years into the past to trace a specific gene through the women in McKay’s family; a gene that predisposes them to certain types of cancer and often leads to early death. In her usual lyrical style, Ami has given us a beautiful book on a solemn subject that still manages to find hope and life in dark places, even as she herself comes to terms with the reality that this deadly gene is part of her makeup as well. Last year, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, Beverley McLachlin, delighted and thrilled us with her legal mystery, Full Disclosure. This year, she’s back with her highly anticipated memoir, Truth Be Told. Covering her life from her childhood in the Alberta foothills to her time on the Supreme Court where she helped influence and shape the fabric of our country, this detailed and revealing memoir is a must-read for all Canadian politicos!
Now more than ever, it’s proving virtually impossible to stay on top of all the wonderful new books that are rolling into the store every day. Here are some more recent and forthcoming releases that we’re getting excited about: To Speak for the Trees by Diana Beresford-Kroeger, CBC Massey Lectures: Power Shift by Sally Armstrong, Dear Juliet by The Juliet Club, The Grace Year by Kim Liggett, Vincent and Theo by Deborah Heiligman, The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman, A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier, Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky, The Man That Got Away by Lynne Truss, The Book of Dust Volume Two: The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman, Frankissstein by Jeanette Winterson, The Dutch House by Ann Patchett, Me by Elton John, Agent Running in the Field by John Le Carre (October 22), Peculiar Questions and Practical Answers by The New York Public Library (October 22), Many Rivers to Cross by Peter Robinson (October 22), The Second Sleep by Robert Harris (October 29), Notre-Dame by Ken Follett (October 29), The Noble Path by Peter May (October 29), London’s Great Theatres by Simon Callow (October 29), Fluevog by John Fluevog (November 4), Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book 14: Wrecking Ball by Jeff Kinney (November 5), I am C-3PO: The Inside Story by Anthony Daniels (November 5), The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (November 5), North Korea Journal by Michael Palin (November 5), Bowie’s Bookshelf by John O’Connell (November 12).
October seems to find us all on something of a precipice – the tipping point between warm breezes and icy winds, if you will. And, although it leads into the frozen expanse of winter, we wouldn’t trade it for the world! It’s a season of rustling carpets and canopies laid out by Mother Nature; a season of gold and caramel tones that glow like halos around our homes and neighbourhoods; a season of warm spices and cozy blankets, hot cocoa and endless adventure-filled books to enjoy! So, why not glory in the golden glow of October with us and we, in turn, will help you set sail on unexplored seas of ink and paper!
Happy Reading!
–The Staff of Books on Beechwood
Hilary’s Bookshelf
What I’m Reading: Hollow Places: An Unusual History of Land and Legend by Christopher Hadley
“As my friends would tell you, the Medieval history and legends of Britain have always fascinated me, so I couldn’t pass up this book when it came to my attention. Covering 1000 years of history, Hadley eases us into his exploration of legend with the story of Piers Shonks, a Hertfordshire dragon-slayer. From there we’re taken around the country from hollow trees to Georgian churches, exploring how legends grow and change, and why they’re just as important today as ever.”