Here's one of two quick and dirty gift guides for those on your list who cook, who love to cook, who need to learn how to cook, who just love cookbooks. This one is all about books that came out this year; stay tuned for next week's Pantry Staples, the ones no cook should be without.
11 New Cookbooks to Put Under the Tree
Every book we read is no doubt affected by our reading history – the books we’ve read before and those we read after. One of the pleasures of being among so many books as a bookseller is that I come to see them as constellations, each book shining brightly on its own, adding to and becoming something more expansive when connected to other books.
Dear Book Doctor,
I’m in the middle of my first National Novel Writing Month and I knew it would be hard, but I didn't know it would be THIS hard! How am I supposed to last the month?
Sincerely,
Weary Writer
Dear Weary Writer,
First of all, YES, in this house we LOVE National Novel Writing Month! A bunch of Third Place Booksellers are participating too (for better or for worse). We’re all in the trenches together!
In the opening epigraph of All You Ever Know, author Nicole Chung quotes C.S. Lewis’s The Four Leaves, “What? You too? I thought I was the only one.” This was my very thought when I first saw Nicole’s book in front of me.
Circe by Madeline Miller is one of my favorite books of the year, which is really no surprise to anyone that knows me. A feminist retelling of a classical myth? An in-depth examination of an infamous witch? I don’t know why you wrote a book specifically for me Madeline Miller, but THANK YOU.
In 1994, in a southern Baptist household on a dead-end street of nine houses, I felt one way and one way only: alone. Where I grew up, queer was a crime. If you were lucky you were ignored and if your luck ran out, you were punished. It felt like the only option was to keep your head down and mouth shut. I was fifteen years old and knew exactly who I was but struggled to articulate my identity.
Dear Book Doctor,
I just graduated and am really missing school now that September is around the corner. Can you recommend some fun books to recapture the back-to-school spirit?
-Never Going Back to School
Dear Never Going Back to School,
Dear Kids and Teens of Lake Forest Park,
If you’ve heard through the grapevine that we’re starting some new book clubs for you, you would be correct! This fall we’re welcoming both a Middle Grade book club, and a Young Adult book club to our Lake Forest Park location. You can find out more information about when those clubs meet, as well as other general information at the Book Club page.
Confession: I do about half my reading via audiobook. I listen to audiobooks pretty much constantly; in the car, before bed, while cooking. Sometimes I listen in the shower, or while also playing video games, or while walking my dog. I love audiobooks. They help me squeeze books into moments that would be otherwise tragically bookless.
Bookstore Romance Day is upon us: a day where we invite our loyal romance readers to come in, browse the selection, and shop local. We’re offering a 20% discount on Romance titles for the day. Come to us, Romance readers -- we can’t wait to see you!
But this post isn’t necessarily for the seasoned Romance reader -- you don’t need my help. I’m here to talk to the rest of you lovely readers. The readers who aren’t on board yet.