How about some random book news for this hot weather?


Thehottest books right now are still E.L. James Fifty Shades Of Grey,
Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed. They have been
dominating best seller lists trailed only by the packaged trilogy! If you
haven't heard of them or want to know more....please stop in at Chapter 2 and
ask Brian about them. But don't ask him when children are present.


Did you hear Oprah is reviving her phenomenally successful book club? She
doesn't have her talk show anymore to promote the club but she's got discussions
going on, author interviews and more on her website.


Her first pick for Book club 2.0 is Wild by Cheryl Strayed.


Cheryl Strayed wrote Wild, a memoir about hiking the Pacific Coast
Trail. My favorite hiking memoir hands down is Bill Bryson's A Walk In
The Woods. Both of them write with humor but Bryson packs all his books full
of interesting historical tidbits. The kinds of things  you never knew you
didn't know. Or never thought to ask? How does that saying go?


I really enjoyed Wild because she embarked on a crazy quest! To say
she wasn't prepared is quite the understatement.


One other book club that is fairly new comes from NPR. They have a few
variations on clubs for kids, the Back Seat Book Club and the long running Kid's
book club. You can download pod casts of interviews with authors that kids love
like Jeff Kinney (Diary Of A Wimpy Kid) and find tons of resources to
keep your kids interested and engaged at NPR's Back Seat Book Club website.


I said this would be random news.


David Housewright will be at Chapter2Books at 6 p.m. on Friday,
July 13. Signing copies of his new book The Curse Of The Jade
Lilly. We are really looking forward to his visit.  David has worked as a
journalist covering both crime and sports and has been a writing instructor
among many other jobs. He has won both the Edgar Award and The Minnesota Book
Award for crime fiction. He lives in St Paul.


We had a great turnout for Senator Russ Feingold's visit and have to extend
a huge thank you to Michael Foley for covering it for Hudson Patch. You can view
Feingold's remarks on the Patch. We can still get more signed copies of
his book for anyone who is interested.


I don't know if I'll blog about beach reads and summer reads anytime soon but
please know we have them! We also have really cute sand and beach toys from
Melissa and Doug that are marked down. A great value. If you want to strike up a
card game, we have cards, sets for playing Euchre and Poker, Cribbage boards,
poker chips etc. And crafts kids for kids who are expressing the eternal lament
of summer “I'm bored, there's nothing to do.”


We are putting the finishing touches on our summer reading program too. We
don't have the typical book log (although those are great). Any kid who comes in
and creates a “shelf talker” for a book they like can put their name in the hat
for weekly giveaways.


If you know someone who enjoys reading to children, please let them know
we're looking for guest readers this summer. Our story time is Tuesdays at 10
am, although we'll be adding special events like Winnie the Pooh's birthday
party.


There are so many great books coming out that I'll have another blog very
soon. Books from local favorites like William Kent Krueger and Michael Perry.
And a new adult novel by a little known author, J.K. Rowling. Perhaps you've
heard of her? Does snark come through when its 90+ degrees outside?

In the fall of 1995, I got a frantic call from our son Matt while I was at
work. Matt, age 3 ½ ish, said “Mom! We have to go get our copy of The Lion King!
Its available now for a limited time!” There may have been talk of vaults being
closed forever too. Does the Disney marketing team still do that? Offer movies
for sale, then take them away and on and on to gin up demand?


That's one thing I don't miss about the years our kids were little.
Commercials, movie tie ins, HUGE Disney stores in malls. Come to think of it I
don't even know if there are Disney stores anymore.


Brian and I tried to raise Matt and Meg with moderation in most things. I
played the Disney game to an extent. The movies were good and I didn't even care
if Pocahontas ended up with John Smith instead of John Rolfe. Hopefully getting
that wrong on an ACT or some A.P. Exam didn't ruin their future!


I bought Matt a stuffed Pongo when he was a good boy on a trip. I take full
responsibility for buying him Perdy and a few of their puppies (not all 101) in
the coming years.


But Disney and all their stuff they want you to buy becomes a runaway train.
I think that's one of the rides in Tomorrowland, isn't it? One of the products I
really resisted were the novelizations of the movies. Let the movies stand on
their own. There is so much other wonderful literature for children. That's not
to say I didnt get them a sticker book or two.


Sooooo my dilemna comes with the opening of the hit movie Brave. Technically
Pixar, but  you get my point, Disney toys, Pixar toys......sandals, band aids,
notebooks, toilet bowl brushes...


What books and what tie ins should we stock for the movie Brave? I have never
ordered books about The Lion King etc. We have Winnie The Pooh, obviously, and
we have miscellaneous coloring and sticker books, but not many. Please don't get
me wrong. I am not passing any kind of judgement on buying these books for kids
who love a movie. My problem is with how much to stock; and for how long? I
don't even know if Disney still puts the hard sell on. I haven't shopped those
aisles at Target since about 2002.


While writing this I googled to check the dvd release date for Lion King and
came across this tidbit on Wiki:


Lion King was accompanied by tie-ins with Burger King, Payless, Kodak, Mattel
and Nestle, over 186 products. Disney earned a billion dollars from The Lion
King in 1994 with $214 million at Christmas alone.


What is my point? I'd love to know what you think. I can't imagine the
pressure to buy has gotten worse but who knows. Supply and demand or crass
commercialism or both? Any reading is better than no reading is a valid point at
the store. Stop in for any books related to Brave. We'll have sticker books,
activity books and books but only for a limited time. Then Brian is closing the
vault!


---


p.s. (can you p.s. on a blog? Guess I just did)  Does anyone remember a
boy started a boycott or protest against McDonald's/Burger King/whoever when the
serious Batman movies came out? He objected to them selling happy meals for
movies that kids weren't allowed to see. (Batman was probably PG-13) I thought
that was so cool. I think he was from Minnesota.


---


p.p.s. We got a new rescue pooch, Charlie the boxer over the weekend.
He's fitting in really well at home with our other dog, Bo. Yay!! Charlie will
probably work some hours at the store. And I'm putting out a line of Charlie
notepads, books, stuffed toys, hacky sacks, journals, window clings, duct
tape.....

As Brian and I come up on our first anniversary of owning Chapter2Books I
know there are many perks (blessings) to having our store.  One is receiving
Advanced Reader's Copies. We definitely don't have time to read all of them but
I have absolutely loved some of them. I plan on recommending them often when
they're released.


Last month marked the first World Book Night in the U.S. I hope there will be
more involvement next year because it was so fun to be given 20 copies of my
favorite book, The Kite Runner. When I read it I had had the wind knocked
out of me a couple times. It is a fantastic book. I didn't know if I'd ever have
such a strong emotional reaction to a book again until I read The Unlikely
Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry. Keeping  in mind everyone takes their own
experiences and situations with them while reading a book. I'm not saying people
will have as strong a reaction as I did but I am confident people will love
it.


Harold Fry is married and retired living a dull life in England. One day he
receives a letter from a former co-worker who simply wants to say goodbye and
thank you to Harold as she lays dying. Harold feels compelled to write back for
many reasons which leads to  walking to the post office to mail his response.
After a spiritual conversation with the mail lady, he sets out on foot to hand
deliver his letter to Queenie. He has great experiences along the way and many
situations in his life are resolved by the end. Even his nagging wife becomes a
very sympathetic character in the end.


Release date: July 24


---


This will make a fantastic book club pic and will lead to good
discussions.


Another ARC I read recently falls into an ever increasing category: Young
Adult novels that make great reads for adults. The Age Of Miracles
freaked me out. Absolutely freaked me out.


From Goodreads:



On a seemingly ordinary Saturday morning, Julia and her family wake to
discover, along with the rest of the world, that the rotation of the earth has
suddenly begun to slow. Set against this threat to normal life, The Age of
Miracles maps the effects of catastrophes big and small on the lives of ordinary
people, and in particular, one young girl. Extraordinary for its original
concept, unforgettable characters, and the grace, elegance and beauty of Karen
Thompson Walker's prose, The Age of Miracles is a mesmerizing story of family
turmoil, young love, and coming-of-age set against an upending of life as we
know it.


OK, they say mesmerizing, I say freaked me out! Karen Thompson Walker does an
excellent job of setting up this situation that seems like it could really
happen. This is not a disaster movie, it is real life being played out against a
dangerous change little by little.


One fair warning on my part: do NOT read this on the first Wednesday of the
month at noon. I'm not ashamed to admit I freaked out when the civil service
sirens started wailing.


Release date: June 26


---


On a lighter note (and a book that's actually available now) is the lovely
Faith Bass Darling's Last Garage Sale.


Please keep in mind I mentioned having emotional reactions to books due to
your own life experiences. I suspect that people who are dealing with family
members with Alzheimer's may not consider this light and delightful but still an
excellent book.


Faith Bass Darling is the town matriarch; also a recluse in her mansion
stuffed with priceless antiques. That is until 12/31/99. Faith has been
instructed by God to get rid of her worldly possessions which leads to a dream
garage sale on her massive front lawn.


Faith spends the day saying “make an offer” and selling off Tiffany lamps for
$1 while Bobbi Jo Campbell, antique store owner, tries to intervene for her own
good. Family tragedies and mysteries play out throughout this wonderful day for
the reader.


Some other books I highly recommend include the following:

• In Caddis Wood, is a family drama set both in the Twin Cities
  and a cabin in Wisconsin. Mary Rockcastle, a professor at Hamline, wrote a
  lovely novel where nature is just as important a character as the humans.


• Sister, by Rosamund Lupton involves tracking down a sister who has
  gone missing in London. Great mystery along with two sister's drama.


• The Year We Left Home is a true family saga, although saga
  probably isn't the best word! Jean Thompson tells wonderful tales of family
  members throughout the 70's to present day. From Iowa to Chicago and to each
  coast, everyone can relate to family relationships playing out far beyond the
  family hometown.

I hope you read these books. I hope I've done them justice here. By the way,
one perk of being a Chapter2Books customer: we give these arc's away with a
purchase!

My mom was so many wonderful things; well-read was just a part of who she
was. My brother thinks she would be so proud of me owning a bookstore and I know
he’s right.


I meant to write this on Dec. 2, the anniversary of the day she died, but I
was in a bit of a funk. In the 14 years since her death there have been times
when the day passed without me remembering. She’d be fine with that. Who knows
why I was blue in the 14th year but sharing some of her book picks will
help.


But first I must make a plug for a movie. Actually I highly recommend you
read the book, and then see it. I could not put The Descendants down last
night and finished it at 5 a.m. I’m interrupting my tribute to my mom because
The Descendants deals with a death bed vigil not totally unlike ours. I’m
not saying much more because I haven’t seen the movie but I know it will be
great. Kaui Hart Hemmings captured such realistic details about the kind nurses
and doctors that are on hand to gently clue you in to the process of death.
You’ll have to trust me that the book (and probably the movie) are about way
more than death. There are hilarious moments when the once absentee father has
to deal with his daughters. Set in Hawaii, you can’t lose.


I feel like I’ve got a book hangover. It was so good I can’t get it out of my
head. I wonder if I’ll ever like a book as much as that again. I’ll probably
re-read at least part of it.


Matt King was no more ready for his wife’s death than I was for my mom’s. I
was 33, married with two young children when she died. I have to tell you that
because I feel guilty about not really knowing what she was reading in 1997. She
had books stacked up and I know she was reading as much as ever but I wasn’t
really asking her much about her life at that time.


I do know she loved Tony Hillerman. I read Coyote Waits a few years
ago because I knew she’d read all his mysteries. They truly are a wonderful way
to take you to the American Southwest. It was a good mystery that had me
guessing but I also enjoyed his depiction of the desert and the Navajo
country.


She read across all genres: mysteries, biographies, all types of fiction,
politics. I give her 100 percent credit for instilling a love of reading in us.
I missed her deeply one day when we first opened the store. You can search for
books on our wholesaler site in many ways. This particular day I was going over
their list of Caldecott and Newbury Award winners. I’ve always known she read
quality books to us but was amazed at the list proving it.


I’ve found Burt Dow Deep Water Man to be not as well known as I’d
thought. I highly recommend Burt Dow. Burt gets himself out of a whale of a
predicament in the most amusing way. It’s a great picture book with wonderful
illustrations.


I still have a picture of mom and me taking our obligatory ride on the duck
boats in Boston’s Common Gardens. McCloskey’s Make Way for Ducklings is
memorialized very well.


If you’ve never read Blueberries for Sal you should before next spring
when it’s time again for berry picking. Raspberries and strawberries won’t make
the same “plink, plank, plunk” as Sal’s blueberries but everyone will relate to
eating as many as you collect!


I don’t remember my mom reading Play With Me to me but I still have
the same copy. I loved reading it to Matt and Meghan. Written by French author
Marie Hall Ets, it is a lovely, simple story about a little girl who tries to
catch the animals she wants to play with in the meadow. Much to her frustration
she can’t but when sitting quietly, one by one they all come to her.


I love picture books that have a bit of repetition and fun words and phrases
like “plink,plank,plunk” or “Play with me!” I, like most people, like all
picture books. I love that we have the same copies mom bought. I love that she
inscribed a message on the inside covers. I hope everyone has a beloved family
member who inscribes messages on inside covers.


I hope everyone receives a book for a gift this holiday season. I hope you
take a glance around at Grandma’s house and are comforted by some of her beloved
titles that are still on her shelf. I moved my mom’s copy of Gifts From The
Sea, Out Of Africa, and Leaves Of Grass to my bookshelf. They remind
me of her. They make me feel good.

Come in to our book store on any Thursday, Friday or Saturday and you will
see people in the humor section. We are very happy to be so close to Barker's Bar & Grill and San Pedro Cafe because people come in before and
after meals.


Brian is skeptical about whether some of these humor titles will sell but I
say 'Heck Ya.' They make perfect holiday gifts. They’re perfect for the very
same reason groups of two-to-four diners gravitate toward them laughing away the
wait for their table.


I have to mention one book first and if it offends you, I’m sorry! Please
keep reading. It has been a big seller this year. "Go The F To Sleep" by Adam Mansbach. We’ve had a
few offended shoppers but most people agree with the humor of trying to get a
child to stay in bed and well….you know….. It is not in the children’s section
and it’s a joke. Samuel L. Jackson’s deep, calming voice is perfect for the
audio version too.


Another recent parody type book I can safely rate G is "Goodnight iPad" is humorous and thought
provoking. The illustrations and style could be mistaken for "Goodnight Moon."
It takes many pages to unplug all of the family’s electronic devices.


If I’m going to mention people being offended, I have to confess to not
finding another book funny: "When Parents Text." Not funny because I probably could have many texts in that book. OK fine, it is funny. Go ahead Gen Y, laugh at all the baby boomers trying to stay connected in this hyper tech’d out world. Ha ha. Spoiler alert: parents text long rambling messages that defeat the purpose of a text.


One more with a crude title that is admittedly funny is "Crap At My Parent’s House." People stand around
at the store and laugh at all the pictures of strange old stuff your parents
refuse to throw away. Crocheted doll covers for spare toilet paper rolls. My mom
kept Avon in business in the 70s and refused to throw any of it away well into
the 90s. I suppose "crap" is a bit subjective. (Never thought I’d ever write
that sentence.)


I have always been a fan of humorous memoirs. Tina Fey’s "Bossypants." Fey has funny stories about her
childhood in addition to behind the scenes tales of Saturday Night Live. Mindy
Kaling who plays Kelly Kapoor on The Office has a new book "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?" To give
credit where credit is due she also produces and writes for "The Office." Next
time you’re waiting for a table at San Pedro, come in and look at the adorable,
hilarious childhood photos in her book.

Of course there is always "The Far Side," "Calvin and Hobbes" and "Bloom County." Gary Trudeau has a complete retrospective of "Doonesbury" out right now. "The Onion" has a holiday book out this year that we have along with their other books. It would be hard to go wrong giving someone an Onion book unless they have a serious sense of humor deficit.


There is a trend in humor lately where blogs get published as a compilation
in book form. I think they both have their place. I would argue for the book
over blog because at some point everyone has to stop surfing, right? Cake
Wrecks, Awkward Family Photos and some of the ones mentioned above are harmless
opportunities for a laugh while opening presents with your crazy wacky
family.

My Imaginary Wish List






It may not surprise you that I give and receive a
lot of books as gifts. I think books make wonderful, thoughtful gifts; but
that's just me! I'm not sure yet what will happen at our house this year. My in
laws  will get books but Matt, Brian and I have our own library in the form of a
store. We just have to be really, really careful with them.






  I have a list  as long as any other year. There
are a few cookbooks I “want”.  Ree Drummond's The Pioneer Woman Cooks is
full of humor and clear directions for yummy recipes. Beth Dooley's Northern
Heartland Kitchen, in part because she's local author. I also like the idea
of eating local and in season and its a great book. Beth has so much good
information and inspiration included with the recipes. I've made the Hot and
Sour vegetable Soup and it was great.






I have always liked cookbooks with lots of
pictures and lots to read. Jamie Oliver's Jaime's America: Easy Twists On
Great American Classics and More. This book covers one of my other loves,
travel writing.






As I'm writing this I realize I have to cut
myself off. I could go on and on with cookbooks. (All About Roasting,
Splendid Table: How To Eat Weekends.......)Note to self: cookbook blog.






David McCollough's The Greater Journey
would be on my list and my father in laws as well. (Don't tell him, he really
will unwrap it.) I've always loved non-fiction and memoirs. I haven't had a
chance to read this yet, its his latest about Americans like Mark Twain and
Samuel Morse who in the 19thcentury lived as
expats.






Off the top of my head and sitting on my bed (not
at the store) I know another I want to get to soon is Irene Caro's Paris To
The Past: Traveling Through French History By Rail. From the publisher's
blurb:


















In one of the most inventive travel books
in years, Ina Caro invites readers on twenty-five one-day train trips that
depart from Paris and transport us back through seven hundred years of French
history. Whether taking us to Orléans to evoke the miraculous visions of Joan
of Arc, to Versailles to experience the flamboyant achievements of Louis
XIV, or to the Place de la Concorde to witness the beheading of Marie
Antoinette, Caro animates history with her lush descriptions of architectural
splendors and tales of court intrigue. Organizing her destinations
chronologically from twelfth-century Saint-Denis to the nineteenth-century
Restoration at Chantilly, Caro appeals not only to the casual tourist aboard
the Metro or the TGV but also to the armchair reader of Peter Mayle's
A Year in Provence. Caro's passion for and knowledge
of France—its soaring cathedrals, enthralling history, and sumptuous
cuisine—are so impressive that Paris to the Past
promises to become one of the classic guidebooks of our time. 6
maps
















Reading that description puts Caro's book back on
the top of my list! The list is full of plenty of fantastic fiction. I've
squeezed in a lot of reading lately but some biggies are still waiting. The
Art Of Fielding, The Night Circus, The Art of Civility and from last
summer, Maine.






I should probably mention books I've actually
been given in the past. Matt and Meg are great at picking out books. The
Roosevelt Women, A Dog's History Of America, Lindbergh.....I love my kids
(and Brian of course). Mark Derr's book about dogs truly satisfies dog lovers
and historians. Of course, Saemus, Lewis and Clarks Newfoundland is honored,
Derr tells wonderful stories of dogs working side by side with Americans both at
  home and at war. The Roosevelt Women was a good choice for me because I
was teaching US History at the time. I would still like it today because it
tells some Roosevelts who are lesser known than Eleanor (Eleanor is included).
Alice, and Franklin's mother, Sara Delano R. Betty Boyd Caroli did solid
research but I can't help but mention the Roosevelt women's story is a bit like
The Real Housewives!






Gotta go read.

In Which Sue Decides What To Do With 9/11
Books






A few months ago I started putting together a
list of holidays and dates to use for displays. That was the first time I
thought of 9/11 as a retailer. I knew right away that we wouldn't have
promotions related to this horrible date and I was sure we wouldn't display 9/11
books. But.....






There are really interesting books out
  commemorating 9/11. Some had already been published, some reissued etc but they
got me thinking. A bookstore is a place of ideas. The books are no different
than any history book. Displaying them is not the same as marketing or
exploiting them.






Like everyone else I will pay my respects to
those who lost loved ones that day. Brian and I were fortunate not to have a
close connection. His sister lives there but we heard she was ok early on. My
brother lost a close friend but I never knew the firned.I was an American who
counted my blessings and was sad for the victims and the nation as a whole.






Matt was in 6th
and Meg was a 4th grader. We talked about it as
much as any families may have but I avoided any and all news coverage after the
first few days. I had lost my mom and dad and grandma in '98 so to be honest I
  was not looking for anything else to grieve.






I knew there were countless incredibly sad
stories being told but I chose not to face them. At about the 5 year mark I made
a point to watch anniversary coverage and prayed for the victim's families that
were depicted so sadly.






After the deaths  I experienced I vowed never to
judge how anyone grieves. That said, I personally found some of these books an
interesting way to pay my respects. Not exactly the same as knowing history so
as not to repeat it but close to that.






Please feel free to come in and take a look at
these books over the next week or so. Or not... (well, I mean come in anyway,
you know what I mean!)






1.Angel In The Rubble The Miraculous Rescue of
9/11's Last Survivor





Genelle Guzman-McMillan










The title is self explanatory. This book has been
described as impossible to put down and inspiring. It chronicles Genelle's life
fulfilling the promises she made to God if she were to survive as she lay
trapped for hours.






2.Faces Of Hope, Babies Born On 9/11  (2002)


    There is also an updated version showing cute
pictures of these now 10 year olds. Christina Naman Pesera compiled this book as
a way of expressing her grief and looking for hope which anyone can find in the
faces of newborns.






She also concludes a sad but fitting tribute to
Christina Taylor Green who was shot and killed on 1/8/2011 in Tucson.






3.The Legacy Letters: Messages Of Life and Hope
From The Families Of 9/11






Ten years after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the family members
of one hundred of the individuals lost on that terrible day look back-and
forward-in this inspiring collection of letters.







The letters are written by brothers, mothers,sisters, any and all family
members in the hope of honoring their loved one's memories and add to the
purpose of their lives taken away so tragically.

1. 
   The People Speak
   
   
   I love this one. It is short but very moving. It is a compilation of messages
   that have been left at  the Trade Center site.  Below is the description of the
   author, Lee Ielpi:
   
   
   
   
   
   

Lee Ielpi is a
native of Great Neck, New York. Lee is a father of two girls, Anne Marie and
Melissa, and two boys, Jonathan and Brendan, and grandfather of seven
grandchildren. Lee volunteered with his local Great Neck Vigilant Fire
Department and spent his career as a firefighter with the New York City Fire
Department serving as a member of Rescue 2. Since losing his son Jonathan Lee
Ielpi, Squad 288, FDNY, at the World Trade Center, Lee has dedicated himself to
responding to the attacks on the World Trade Center with an eye towards
making tomorrow a better day. He joined with the September 11th Families'
Association in November 2001 to represent the interests of the 9/11 community.
Lee has served on the Board of Directors since 2002 and has served as the Board
President since 2007. In 2004, Lee along with Jennifer Adams co-founded the
Tribute WTC Visitor Center.

There is also the official 9/11 Report and books on Al Qaeda and The Patriot
Act, every subject related to the last 10 years.







Lastly, there are even a few children's books. One of them will have me
thinking for a long time. I would love to know what people think of it when they
come in the store.

1. 
   America Is Under Attack: September 11th,
   2001   by Don Brown
   
   
   Don Brown is apparently known for writing non-fiction really well for
   children. He has written military stories and about the Titanic etc. I have read
   his 9/11 book a few times now. It is written really well. I think the
   illustrations are fantastic too and that's my problem. Even as a mom who
   discussed anything and everything with our kids at a level they could
   understand, i.e. teachable moments I can't imagine reading this to them! That is
   not a judgment in any way about anyone who would. I also know there is already
   discussion about making sure future generations understand what happened that
   day. Well make no mistake about it, if you read this to them at bedtime,
   they'll know!
   
   

The other children's book we have I highly recommend.







Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J Harvey. Written by Maira Kalman
in 2002 it does a great job of explaining what the fireboats did and do and how
they were called into action that day.







So, yes, I will admit that I like that book much better because of its
“happy” ending. I'm not giving too much away if I tell you the John J Harvey was
retired, a hero, after 9/11. (They depict the tragedy that the boat is
responding to but the beginning and end are about the boat.)







Maybe some of you will think its obvious to want the “happy”ending book,
maybe not. That's what makes parenting such a challenge.







No matter what I hope you stop in and take a look. We'll still have most of
the titles later but they'll be mixed back in on the shelves. One last note:
please ask about the books related to Hurricane Katrina. Just as fascinating and
poignant.

  In Which Sue Goes Over Her List Of Things To Do







Do you have a huge to do list? Are you so busy that you don't even have time to list all those to dos? Some to dos are just in the back of your mind, some to dos never make it to the top of the list.




My to do list is long. Very long. I'm not complaining because I love the store but boy do I think about those things that don't even make it onto the list.




I hadn't heard the term shelf talker before the store but I'd seen them. They are pieces of paper attached to the shelf for staff to recommend books. Brian and Meg have written some. Me: nada. One of these days I will, hopefully.




My to do list of shelf talkers includes: Culinaria books, English royalty biographies by Allison Weir, any David Sedaris, Sarah Vowell, Tony Horwitz, The Best American.... (an annual series, best American short stories, sci-fi, science,magazine, poetry) Steve Jobs (which I'm loving) etc etc etc.




One of my first planned shelf talker was supposed to be about Sheila Weller's Girls Like Us. I loved this book, really loved it. The girls like us are Carly Simon, Carole King and Joni Mitchell. Weller uses a simple structure, a chapter on Carole's childhood years, then Carly's, then Joni's and goes on like that until chapters which blend the three women's lives, because obviously that is what happened. Their rock and roll and artistic lives blended, even to the point of having loved the same men. (Can you guess one? J.T.?)




I used to dance around endlessly to Tapestry when I was young. I loved reading about Carole King's life from innocent early years in the 50's to Montana ranching and on.Carole King has a huge behind the scenes roll in early rock and roll, producing and writing etc) I never listened to Joni Mitchell much but Weller really brought her tough bohemian life into focus. (Speaking of tough bohemian lives, check out Patti Smith's award winning memoir, Just Kids. Talk about your starving artists. She is a wonderful writer.The kids she writes about are her and Robert Mapplethorpe. They met on a stoop in NYC. She was just sitting around because she had no money and nowhere to go. They end up going together through the early years of their artistic careers.)




Carly Simon. Wow, I have to laugh as I write this because I was actually too young to have lived any of the lyrics to any of their songs. Just like my gang singing “Voulez Vous Couchee Avec Moi, Ce Soir” having NO clue what that meant! I knew Carly had a privileged upbringing. Ironically I may have known that because I was living a privileged upbringing! Lake Forest, Wayzata, Grosse Point, Greenwich, they're all the same. Carly Simon's father was Simon of Simon and Schuster publishing. I loved reading about how her mother promoted art and performing arts in her children's lives. They lived a very WASP-y but unstructured life.




I won't be able to write all this on the shelf talker but please check out Girl's Like Us. It wonderfully tells the story of their lives as the story of women's lives in their time. A great cultural history.




One to do that got done was our display of Rock and Roll Reads. Its replaced by a basic but effective New In Paperback now. It was a fun display that included autobiographies by Sammy Hagar, Steven Tyler, Roseanne Cash etc. We have a heavy metal cookbook and many children's books written by musicians. I like anthologies of any kind so I recommend Rolling Stone magazine anthologies once in a while. There's a great book about the meaning behind Neil Young's lyrics. A few books on Dylan and new to the list: Blue Guitar Highway.




When Erik from the U of MN Press told me Paul Metsa had a new memoir coming and would we like him to do a book signing, I said YES. Paul talks about his life playing guitar in the Twin Cities and beyond and the wild life that ensues. It will be interesting to see if he recognizes Brian. But Brian has assured me he won't. Its kind of a “if you remember the Twin Cities music scene in the late 80's, you weren't really there” kind of deal!




Paul Metsa will be signing books and playing some songs at 6pm Thursday, 11/3. We really hope for a good turnout. Please come down to Chapter2.




And please consider rock and roll biographies as Christmas presents. They are interesting cultural histories of our time.

  In Which Sue Apologizes To You (and Michael)

Wow, its now been a month and a half since my last blog. Not sure anyone noticed because I didn't have many (any) comments on my other blogs but I hope to in the future! We have been really busy at the store. Its a fun kind of busy. What's been taking me away from blogging has been lining up events, publicizing events etc.

Which leads me to Friday night. One of the first people to come in to the store and welcome us was Michael Norman. Michael is well known in Hudson, lives in River Falls, and has written many books on haunted places in the Midwest. His book, Haunted Wisconsin, is now in its third edition.

The book description tells you to grab a warm blanket, turn down the lights and enjoy these unnerving tales of terror, which is exactly what I did. Well, not the light part, I need lots of light to read. This is not typically the genre I read but I loved it. I love all things Wisconsin right now and Micheal's stories about true hauntings are a great way to learn more about the state.

Michael's first edition was written with the late Beth Scott. They both did interviews, on site research, dug through historic documents etc to cover Wisconsin's abundant paranormal activity. I look forward to hearing the stories in person Friday night, 10/28 at 7 pm at Chapter2Books. Feel free to bring your blankie, teddy bear, whatever.....its cool.

There have been a lot of people who have done nice things for us while opening the store. I have to give a shout out to one of my closest friends, Marcia Anderson, historical curator extraordinaire; and soon to be published author of a meticulously researched book on Parfleche Bags. (google it) Marcia connected us with a friend of hers, Lyda Morehouse, who in turn introduced us to Tate Hallaway. And Tate will be in the store signing copies of her Vampire series: Garnet Lacy, Tall Dark and Dead etc Saturday night.

I'm on book 2 and love it. Maybe its the time of year but I know there are plenty of people who love all things vampire year round.

Part of why I love reading about Garnet Lacy is because she's a bookstore manager but Tate is a wonderful writer. I love a little humor and sarcastic tone with my scary reading. I should note Chapter2books is not an occult store (we sell NEW and USED, unfortunately our name has been confusing people) BUT Brian has detected a ghost in the store. Unexplained noises, doors opening and closing.

Tate has also written a vampire series set in St Paul. Anastaija Ramses is sort of the opposite of Harry Potter. (in my opinion) She lives with her witch parents but is not so great at casting spells. Probably in part because she has a crush on a vampire. (Who doesn't these days? If Ryan Gosling or Jon Hamm were vampires I'd have their poster over our bed)


Tate is just as nice as Marcia because Tate offered to bring along her friend, Barbara Moore. True confession time: Tate told me Barbara had written about Tarot or knew a lot about them (not sure her exact words). So of course I said, “yes, bring her along”. Cut to a few weeks later when I actually looked into who Barbara is. Wow, she is truly an expert on Tarot Cards and very well published on the subject. We now have a few of her books in the store but true confession, part 2. I personally know nothing about Tarot. I know what they are, I've read through her intro book but have never had a reading or really known much at all about Tarot.


I am really looking forward to learning more from Barbara. There won't be time for personal readings but she will talk with anyone about scheduling one. Who knows, maybe I will. I'm not sure if I have the guts to do it so that's something I know I'll understand more Saturday night.


Tate and Barbara will be signing their books, answering questions on all things occult and doing their best to set the tone for your Halloween Saturday night. Join us from 6-8 pm, if you dare......

No seriously, join us.....we'll still have the lights on in the children's area both nights. You can hang out there if you need to. We'll never tell.

**By the way, we also have Lyda Morehouse's books in the store. Who is she? Come find out......if you dare..... (Too many “if you dares? Yeah, I think so too. But seriously.....come in Saturday, Maybe Lyda will be there too.)

  

I LOL'd last night while reading The Family Fang. I may blow off some things I have to do today to keep reading this bizarre novel by Kevin Smith.










Mr. and Mrs. Fang called it art.

Their children called it mischief.

Performance artists Caleb and Camille Fang dedicated themselves to making great art. But when an artist’s work lies in subverting normality, it can be difficult to raise well-adjusted children. Just ask Buster and Annie Fang. For as long as they can remember, they starred (unwillingly) in their parents’ madcap pieces. But now that they are grown up, the chaos of their childhood has made it difficult to cope with life outside the fishbowl of their parents’ strange world.

When the lives they’ve built come crashing down, brother and sister have nowhere to go but home, where they discover that Caleb and Camille are planning one last performance–their magnum opus–whether the kids agree to participate or not. Soon, ambition breeds conflict, bringing the Fangs to face the difficult decision about what’s ultimately more important: their family or their art.







That is an official “blurb” for the book but what I really like is how well written and humorous it is. In my opinion, a perfect combination. Who knew I could enjoy reading whole chapters about a potato gun?




In the weeks that Chapter2Books has been open I've found myself trying to figure out how to recommend a book without giving too much away. I don't know if that will get easier with time. It was difficult explaining both Sarah's Key and The Borrower.




The Borrower, by Rebecca Makkai is about a children's librarian who goes on a road trip with a nine year old boy. How do you explain it without it sounding like a story about child abduction? Its a great read and I recommend anyone finding out why there is much more to it than that.




On a completely different note, Sarah's Key contains horrible, historical events that are difficult to “sell”. Tatiana de Rosnay has done a wonderful job of weaving together a modern day mystery related to a true historical event along with regular family dynamics.




I assume this will get easier and yet I find describing This Beautiful Life challenging as well! Helen Schulman wrote a very straightforward novel about a contemporary family whose lives screech to a halt while they deal with their son's suspension from school. The offense he committed is very timely in the age of You-Tube, Twitter, Face book etc.




My problem with describing it is that I found it terrifying. It reminded me of Judith Guest's Ordinary People even though they have nothing in common. The terrifying element that binds the two in my mind is what is unspoken in the lives of busy families. Can busy families who seem happy have everything fall apart so easily? What is under the surface that blows everything apart when it is finally spoken out loud?




This Beautiful Life would make an excellent book club read for groups who like to discuss families and marriage and real life.




The Family Fang? Not so much! But I look forward to finishing it soon to read about all their exploits and then recommended enthusiastically.