Holiday 2016/Winter 2017 314 Heights Road, Darien barrettbookstore.com

Dear Customers

In a recent article titled ‘Advice for Living,’ Ruth BaderGinsberg remarked that she is often asked how she navi-gated the road that led her to the Supreme Court, a positionfrom which she could advocate the equal-citizenship statureof women and men as a fundamental constitutional princi-ple. She said, “What enabled me to take part in the effort tofree our daughters and sons to achieve whatever their tal-ents equipped them to accomplish, with no artificial barri-ers blocking their way? First, a mother who, by her example,made reading a delight and counseled me constantly to ‘beindependent,’ able to fend for myself, whatever fortunemight have in store for me.”

This message has special meaning for me. Until the age oftwelve, I was an indifferent reader. During a family vacation(I was one of nine), when it rained every day, my ownmother handed me an Agatha Christie novel into which Iblissfully escaped! She went on to introduce me to a host ofwonderful authors and a love of reading that has enrichedmy life. No matter what you hope for your child, there's nobetter thing you can impart than a love of reading. It's truly

a passport to explore the world, to reach beyond boundariesof race or religion, and to imagine lives different from one’sown—the essential key to empathy and compassion.

There are many great books out this season, a sampling ofwhich are noted in the following pages. Our knowledgablestaff look forward to seeing you and helping you select theperfect gift for everyone on your list.

Besides books, we have a huge selection of Christmas cards,wrapping paper, calendars of every kind, datebooks, includ-ing the popular Mom Agenda, beautiful Artifact wooden jig-saw puzzles, handcrafted Tegu magnetic blocks, and lots ofstocking stuffers. Also, Santa has left his special mailbox forchildren to send their letters!

As always, we are so grateful for your support and kindwords during the year. All of us at Barrett Bookstore wishyou and your families peace and joy for the holidays andthroughout the coming year.

From left to right, back row: Robin Harvey, Yvette Morgan, Tatum Fichthorn, Suzanne Martella, Rosanna Nissen, Libby Stowell,Cheryl Bailey; front row: Brianna Schneider, Riley, Sheila Daley, Sally Lovegrove

‘Tis the SeasonChristmas in the Barn, Margaret Wise Brown& Anna Dewdney (Illustrator)

First published in 1952, thisreissued edition tells the Na-tivity story in lovely rhymingtext interpersed with snippetsof familiar carols. Set in a rurallandscape, the farm animalsare brought to life by the won-derfully expressive art work ofAnna Dewdney, creator of thebeloved Llama, Llama series.

This gentle tale is a delightful way to introduce young chil-dren to the true meaning of Christmas.

The Nutcracker, The New York City Ballet, Valeria Docampo (Illustrator)

For the first time, this beloved hol-iday story is told based on GeorgeBalanchine’s famous production.The storyline of this gorgeous pic-ture book mimics the choreogra-phy of the famous ballet and theillustrations are inspired by thebackdrops and scenery from theactual production. A holiday tradi-tion for many families, now read-ers who can’t travel to New Yorkwill be able to experience this col-orful celebratory story.

The Great Spruce, John Duvall& Rebecca Gibbon (Illustrator)

Alec loves to climb trees. His fa-vorite is the great spruce, with itssturdy trunk and branches thatstretch up to the sky. Alec’sgrandpa planted it as a saplingyears before Alec was born, andevery Christmas, they decorate thetree together. One day, some mencome by and asked if they could cutit down to take to the city where itwill be enjoyed by thousands ofpeople who come to celebrate.

Though it’s a huge honor, Alec’s heartbroken and comes upwith a plan to save his favorite tree in this joyful holiday tale.

A Night of Great Joy, Mary EngelbreitIn her signature style, the authorcelebrates the joyful season ofChristmas. This book tells the storyof the nativity through the per-formance of a children’s Christmaspageant. With adorable illustra-tions and simple storytelling, En-gelbreit paints a wonderful pictureof the night that Jesus was born.

Gingerbread Christmas, Jan BrettBrett’s Gingerbread Baby re-turns in a fun-filled Christ-mas caper! Gingerbread Babyand his friend, Matti, take hisgingerbread band to theChristmas Festival wherethey are a hit until the aromaof gingerbread reaches thechildren, signaling that it istime to run away. Clever

Matti uses snow to disguise the gingerbread instrumentswhile Gingerbread Baby leads the audience on a merry chaseto the smartest hiding place ever--a giant Christmas tree.

Stick Man, Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheppler“Stick Man lives in the family treeWith his Stick Lady Love and theirstick children three.”

But one day, Stick Man is carried offby a mischievous dog who wants toplay fetch! Things go from bad toworse as Stick Man is carried fartherand farther away from home. Lonelyand lost, Stick Man wants nothingmore than to be home with his family

for Christmas. And when he helps Santa Claus out of a bind,he finds the perfect ticket home!

The Christmas Boot, Lisa Wheeler, Jerry Pinkney (Illustrator)

Lonely Hannah is delighted to dis-cover a warm black boot as shegathers wood in the forest. Poorwoman, she doesn't have propershoes on her cold feet. "Glory be! Ionly wish I had your mate," shesays, and the next morning, to hergreat surprise, there is not just oneboot but two sitting by her bed!More wishes bring even bettergifts—but the best is still to come: A

visitor arrives at her door—a man with a big white beard,wearing a red suit and only one boot. Who could this magicalvisitor be? Santa Claus, of course! And he has one more sur-prise in store for Hannah: She wakes up the next morning tofind a new puppy waiting for her!

The Biggest Smallest Christmas Present,Harriet Muncaster

Every year, Clementine tries totell Santa she’s small. But thecookies she ices with a messageto Santa are eaten, and thewords she stamps out on theroof are covered by fresh snow.It’ll take a whole lot of Christ-mas spirit for Clementine tofind the right way to reachSanta—and when she does, she

just might get the toy of her dreams!

Children’s PictureBefore Morning, Joyce Sidman & Beth Krommes

In a bustling city, busy people come andgo during a day. But, a child wishes for adifferent sort day and uses the power ofwords, in the form of an invocation, topersuade fate to bring her family a ‘snowday’—a day slow and unhurried enoughto spend at home together. The simpletext and the beautiful scratchboard artperfectly capture the magic of a worldturned soft and white and inside-out. Ages 4-7

Teacup, Rebecca Young & Matt DudleyA boy must leave his home and findanother. He brings with him ateacup full of earth from the placewhere he grew up, and sets off tosea. At last, the boy finds land, butit doesn't feel complete—until an-other traveler joins him, bearingthe seed to build a new home. Withlyrical text and gorgeous artwork,this poignant picture book offersthe perfect framework for dis-cussing life’s toughest challenges—

a big move, long-distance separation, or even the current refugeecrisis—in a reassuring way. Ages 4-8

A Child of Books, Oliver Jeffers & Sam WinstonA little girl sets sail on her raftacross a sea of words, arriving at thehouse of a small boy. She invites himto join her on an adventure into theworld of stories. And, as they charttheir way through a fantasticallandscape ingeniously composed ofexerpts from childrens’s literature,they discover the power of imagina-tion to enrich life. This clever and vi-sually stunning book, is a reminder

to all readers of how richly books can enlarge the world andallow us to share the lives of others. Ages 4 and up

The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles, Michelle Cuevas & Erin Stead

A man lives alone atop a hill. Itis his task to open any bottlesfound at sea and make sure thatthe messages are delivered tothe right person. He loves hisjob, but wishes one bottle mightbe just for him! One day heopens a party invitation with noname attached. Searching highand low for the recipient, heends up finding something even

more special—the possibility of new friends! Ages 4-8

These irresistible, cuddly plush animals from Jellycat make a wonderful add-on to three of our

favorite pictures books of the season.

Panda Pants, Jacqueline Davies& Sydney Hanson

A hilarious battle of wills ensueswhen a young panda tries to con-vince his father why pants makeperfect sense. (Even though, as Dadpoints out, Pandas DON’T wearpants). After all, pants are soft,pants keep you warm. Some pantseven have POCKETS! In spare textand deliciously droll illustrations,this gentle funny tale is a delight!Ages 3 - 5

Henry & Leo, Pamela ZagarenskiLeo isn’t just a stuffed toy, he isHenry’s best friend and brother. Heis as real as a tree, a cloud, the sun,the moon, the stars, and the wind.But when the two are accidentallyseparated, no one in Henry’s familybelieves Leo is real enough to findhis way home. With beautifulmixed-media paintings, the Calde-cott Honor–winning artist PamelaZagarenski explores the transcen-dent nature of friendship and love.Hooray! Another gorgeous book

from this amazing artist and author. Ages 4-7

Penguin Problems, Jory John & Lane SmithEveryone has bad days when prob-lems seem overwhelming—evenMortimer the penguin whose life inAntartica is no picnic. For starters,it is FREEZING. Also, penguinshave a ton of natural predators.Plus, can you imagine trying to findyour mom in a big ol’ crowd of iden-tical penguins? But a wise walruspoints out that in spite of chal-lenges, there is much to be thankfulfor and penguin finally realizes,“This is my only home, and this is

my only life. Maybe things will work out after all.” A lighthearted reminder to appreciate your world. Ages 3 - 5

PPERFECTERFECT PPAIRSAIRS

Nanette’s Baguette, Mo WillemsMo Willems' hilarious new pic-ture book follows our pluckyheroine on her first big solo tripto the bakery. But . . . willNanette get the baguette frombaker Juliette? Or will Nanettesoon be beset with regret? Set ina meticulously handcrafted-paper-modeled French village,

the uniquely vibrant laugh-out-loud world of Nanette'sBaguette may be Mo's best creation yet. Get set to ‘krack’ intoan irresistible tale you won't soon forget! Ages 4-8

Ada Twist, Scientist,Andrea Beaty & David Roberts

In catchy, rhyming text and comical,expressive illustrations, the creatorsof Rosie Revere, Engineer and IggyPeck, Architect introduce Ada Twist,a young girl whose head is explodingwith questions about everything inher world. Her quest to exploreleads her into some tricky situa-tions, but with a supportive familyand the space to figure it out, she’llbe able to feed her curiosity in theways a young scientist should.

Touching on themes of perseverance and problem solving, Adacomes to learn that her questions might not always lead toanswers, but rather to more questions—and maybe somebreakthrough discoveries! Ages 5-7

Illuminature, Carnovsky & Rachael WilliamsThe WOW book of the sea-son! Ingeniously designedby the Carnovsky designfirm, this amazing book is awork of graphic art as wellas a treasure trove of fasci-nating information on ten ofthe earth’s most diverseecosystems. From theCongo rain forest to theAndes mountains, each two-page spread hides the ani-mals and plants native tothat region. Using the col-ored lenses in the pocket ofthe cover, the flora andfauna are magicaly revealed. Discover the mysterious creaturesof the night, whose super-sensory powers allow them to survivein the dark .Then, switch the lens to step into daylight, wherethe heat of the sun supercharges creatures big and small. Fi-nally, use the third lens to see the luscious plant life of everyhabitat as you travel through jungle, reef, grasslands, andwoodland. Interspersed with the images is text that places allthe elements in a rich factual context. Ages 7 & up

Children’s Picture The 50 States Fun Facts, Gabrielle Balkan & Sol Linero

Each page of this colorful, over-sized interactive board book fea-tures 50 things unique to eachstate. From food to celebrations,there’s lots to discover! Add amake-your-own puzzle on thefinal spread, and you have agreat way for young readers tolearn about the USA. Ages 4-7

The Ultimate Book of Space,Anne-Sophie Baumann & Olivier Latyck

Bursting with 40 flaps, pop-ups, pulltabs, and movable parts, The Ulti-mate Book of Space provides a richlyillustrated, hands-on exploration ofspace travel, the Earth's place in ourgalaxy, the solar system, and somuch more! Sure to encourage curi-ous young readers to venture deeperinto space, this is a must-have bookfor any budding scientist's library.

Ages 5-8

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, (Illustrated Edition, Book 2)J.K. RowlingThe second book in the beloved se-ries joins the first in a beautiful il-lustrated edition. The original textis presented in a larger format andis adorned with Jim Kay’s colorfulartwork on almost every page. Thestory of Harry Potter’s second yearat Hogwarts will delight both thededicated fan and a child being in-troduced to the series for the first time. Ages 8-12

Harry Potter PuzzlesAvailable both in large 1,000piece and mini 100 piece ver-sions, perfect for the Christmasstocking, these puzzles featur-ing the cover art of the original-books will provide hours of fun for any fan.

The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,(Original Screenplay) J.K. RowlingWhen Magizoologist Newt Scamander ar-rives in New York, he intends his stay to bejust a brief stopover. However, when his mag-ical case is misplaced and some of Newt'sfantastic beasts escape, it spells trouble foreveryone! Featuring a cast of remarkablecharacters, this is epic, adventure-packedstorytelling at its very best! Ages 8-15

TTHEHE LLEGENDEGEND GGOESOES OONN

Older Kids by Brianna SchneiderFull of Beans, Jennifer L. Holm

This delightful historical fiction novel takesplace in Key West during the Great Depres-sion when the New Deal was working tomake this down-on-its luck Florida town awinter vacation destination. The goal was toencourage the community to clean up theirneighborhood and paint their homes brightcolors to bring the rich and famous to theirtown. The story is told through the eyes of apack of kids that remind you of the innocenceof the Little Rascals and would make a won-

derful ‘read aloud’ for adults and children to enjoy together. Ages 8-12

Gertie’s Leap to Greatness, Kate BeasleyThe reader immediately falls in love withGertie and her spunky personality. She hasa daddy who works on an oilrig, a great-auntwho always finds the lowest prices at the Pig-gly Wiggly, and two loyal best friends. Sowhen her mother decides to move away fromtheir small town, Gertie sets out on hergreatest mission yet: becoming the best fifthgrader in the universe to show her motherexactly what she'll be leaving behind. Chal-lenged by a new girl with the same goal, this

book is a tale of hope and homecoming that will make you wantmore from this first time author. Ages 8-12

When the Sea Turned to Silver, Grace LinThis breathtaking, full-color illustrated fantasy is inspired by

Chinese folklore and is a companion to theNewbery Honor winner Where the MountainMeets the Moon. In this new novel, Pinmei'sloving grandmother, Amah, always has themost exciting tales for her granddaughterand the other villagers. However, the peaceis shattered one night when soldiers of theemperor kidnap the storyteller. Learning theemperor wants The Luminous Stone, Pinmeiand her friend Yishan set out on a dangerous

quest to find it in order to barter for Amah’s release. A stunningaddition to a deservedly beloved set of novels. Ages 8-12

The Secret Keepers, Trenton Lee StewartFans of Stewart’s Mysterious Benedict Soci-ety series will be delighted in his new stand-alone novel. Reuben, an 11-year-old boydiscovers an extraordinary antique watchwith a secret power. It allows him to be tem-porarily invisible. At first thrilled, as one se-cret leads to another, Reuben finds himselftorn between his honest nature and the lureto be a hero. Now, on a dangerous adventurefull of curious characters and treacheroustraps, he races to solve the mystery before

it is too late. A heart pounding adventure, laced with mysteryand magic. Ages 10 - 13

Scythe, Neal ShustermanWhat would happen if scientists all buteradicated death in human beings, creat-ing a world with no hunger, disease or warand where no one ever dies? National BookAward winner Neal Shusterman takes onthis issue in the first novel of a thrillingnew dystopian series. The answer is thecreation of scythes who exist with the solepurpose of ending life to maintain popula-tion controls. Two teenagers are unexpect-edly pulled into this world as they are

chosen to become scythe apprentices. They must learn the“art” of taking a life knowing that the consequence of failurecould mean losing their own. The story is well written andcarries the right balance of action, young romance and unan-swerable ethical questions to keep the reader engaged, pagesturning and looking forward to the next book. Ages 12-17

The Sun is Also a Star, Nicola YoonNominated for the National Book Awardfor Young People’s literature, this novel isa New York City love story that debates thevalue of fate and science. Natasha and herfamily are being deported to Jamaica afterher father is arrested for drunk driving.She is spending her last day in the city try-ing to find a way to stay in this country.Daniel is on his way to an interview forYale where he doesn’t want to go. But, hisSouth Korean parents have big plans for

their first generation America son. On the way to his inter-view, he runs into Natasha and believes that he can make herfall in love with him in one day. Little does he know, one dayis all Natasha has left in this country. The story is told in al-ternating short chapters by the main characters, and peopleand objects that they meet throughout the day. Its unortho-dox style and modern love story make it a must read. Ages 12-17

Our Chemical Hearts, Krystal SutherlandThis brilliant debut novel is equal partswit and heartbreak. It is the story of twopeople who aren’t meant to be together.Henry has focused hard on his grades, get-ting into a semi-decent college and finallybecoming editor of his school newspaper.Everything changes when Grace, the newgirl in town, is also named editor of thepaper. There is something unusual andbroken about Grace. She walks with acane, wears oversized boy’s clothes and

rarely seams to shower. But, her mysteriousness, seems tomake her more appealing to Henry. He wants nothing morethan to help her put the pieces back together again. But, thatmight be more complicated then it seems. For fans of JohnGreen and Rainbow Rowell this irresistible story of first love,broken hearts, and the golden seams that put them back to-gether again is not to be missed. Ages 12-17

Staff PicksThe Unseen World, Liz Moore

The Unseen World by Liz Moore is oneof my recent favorite books. It is a comingof age story set primarily in Boston in the1980s. Its protagonist is a twelve-year-old girl named Ada who is the daughterof single parent David. Although he is de-voted to her, his parenting style is a bitunorthodox, and home schooled Adaspends much of her time in David’s com-puter lab at his university. This arrange-ment is fine with both of them untilDavid’s mind begins to falter and a mys-

terious past begins to be revealed. Told from present day andflashbacks from both Ada and David, this is a heartbreakingstory about a daughter’s love for her father and her quest tofind out the truth about him. — Sally Lovegrove

Another Brooklyn, Jacqueline WoodsonJacqeline Woodson’s short, poignantnovel Another Brooklyn is about a younggirl leaving her rural farm in Tennesseeand moving to Brooklyn with her fatherand brother. It is set in the 1970s and toldin short, almost journal like entries byAugust, named for the long, hot month inTennessee. After arriving in Brooklyn,motherless August quickly becomes in-separable from three tough yet vulnera-ble girls. The story follows these girls andtheir coming of age but also incorporates

the stories of August’s mother and August’s Uncle who hasbeen drafted into the Vietnam War. Another Brooklyn is apowerful and beautiful read. — Sally Lovegrove

News of the World, Paulette Jiles In 1870 Texas, 70-year-old Captain Jeffer-son Kyle Kidd is a war veteran and anitinerant “news reader.” He travels fromtown to town with a stack of newspapersto read the news of the world to assem-bled audiences. When in Wichita Falls, afederal agent requests that he return Jo-hanna, a 10-year-old girl who has beenheld captive for four years by the KiowaIndians, to her only living relatives resid-ing four hundred miles away in San An-tonio. The wild, terrified girl, who has

forgotten all the language and manners of her pre-Kiowa life,is entrusted to Captain Kidd. The journey that follows ispunctuated by encounters with vicious highwaymen, unpre-dictable weather and incredible resourcefulness in obtainingfood, weapons and shelter. In poetic prose, Jiles paints an un-forgettable portrait of a deepening bond of love, trust and re-spect between Kidd and Johanna. Their story is filled withhumor and, in the end, achingly beautiful poignancy. Histor-ical fiction at its best. — Robin Harvey

Cruel Beautiful World, Caroline LeavittSet in 1969, Lewitt’s haunting novel beginswith 16-year-old Lucy who has fallen inlove with her much older teacher, William,the coolest teacher in the high school andobject of many classmates romantic obses-sions. Lucy ultimately runs away from herfamily to live in rural PA with her lover. Atfirst, she enjoys living with William in theirlittle house where she writes, cooks andpractices for the day she turns 18, and theycan marry. Soon however, Lucy begins toget bored and want more, but William re-

fuses to let her leave to further herself or her education for fearof being caught and arrested.

Lucy’s adoptive mother, Iris, and sister, Charlotte, are devas-tated by Lucy's disappearance and try to figure out where shecould have gone, and what could have happened to her. Char-lotte, in particular, finds herself unable to focus on her school-work or meeting people, because all she can do is wonder whathappened to her sister, for whom she has always served as pro-tector.

Ultimately, Lucy begins to come of age in the time of “free love”but realizes quickly that it is not so free after all. The love, friend-ship, devotion and family ties of all of these characters is extraor-dinary. The hints of what is coming next is both shocking anddevastating.

There are many different storylines that weave each of thesebeautiful (and cruel) people together. I particularly enjoyed Irisas the elder woman who takes on two young girls and raisesthem as her own, right when she is about to begin her new lifeafter her husband dies. I cheered for Lucy, wanting her to live,laugh and love like she so desperately desired and also hopeddo-gooder Charlotte would bust out of her shell and live life tothe fullest. I really loved this book and each character in theirown way. One of the best books I’ve read this year!

— Tatum Fichthorn

The Nix, Nathan HillNathan Hill’s behemoth of a debut novelhas received much well deserved positivepublicity. It is a many-layered tale of ayoung professor/writer named Samuel try-ing to track down his mother, Faye, whoabandoned the family when he was 11. Hehas not seen her since, when a video of herthrowing rocks at a conservative presiden-tial candidate becomes the most watchedvideo on YouTube. Suffering from writersblock, Samuel uses her new fame as a start-ing point for a book—and an excuse to come

looking for her. What follows is a journey back in time to Faye’scollege years, the Chicago protests of 1968, Samuel’s fraughtchildhood, and ultimately to the answers he searches for.

Nathan Hill has been compared to such authors as David FosterWallace, Donna Tartt and John Irving. Lots to discuss in this bil-dungsroman, The Nix is a great book club selection!

—Sally Lovegrove

Staff PicksMr. Monkey, Francine Prose

The title of this wildly imaginative novel refers to a third-rate children’s musicalabout an orphaned monkey who isadopted by a family in New York City.But, at its heart the narrative consists ofthe stories of a disparate group of charac-ters connected to the production. We meetRay Ortiz, a Vietnam vet “with a tinytouch of PTSD” whose breakdown on avisit to the monkey cage at the zoo in-spired the play; Adam, the 12-year-old

gymnast, “poisoned with testosterone” who dons a brown che-nille costume each night to act the lead role; Edward, the in-nocent, beautiful child who during a moment of silence in theplay turns to his grandsfather and says, “very loud and clear,Grandpa, are you interested in this?” Because of the author’sprodigious talent, we are indeed interested in each of thelives portrayed in this quirky, engaging novel. As the charac-ters reveal their fears and regrets—how they have missedout, messed up, and still improbably hope for a better fu-ture—the reader roots for each of them.

At once, a laugh-out-loud comedy and a deeply felt explo-ration into how each individual experiences the relentlesspassage of time and the inexorable march towards extinction,this novel is a bravura performance that deserves a standingovation. I loved it! — Sheila Daley

Moonglow, Michael ChabonMichael Chabon is a masterful story teller.In his newest book, Moonglow, which hasbeen called “an autobiography wrapped ina novel disguised as a memoir,” Chabonpresents his own family’s story told withlove, respect, and acceptance.

Soon after the publication of his firstnovel, Chabon went to spend time with hismother and her terminally ill father. Histongue and memory loosened and released

by medication, Chabon’s grandfather journeys back throughtime, revealing and clarifying family secrets and stories. Usu-ally taciturn and guarded, he proves to be an illuminatingtour guide. To “Mike”, his grandfather’s’ life has always beena source of curiosity. His grandfather, an army engineer whohad spent time in prison, was a spy recruited by Wild BillDonovan to kidnap Wernher von Braun. His grandmother wasa Holocaust survivor with demons of her own. Yet througheverything, they stayed together, persevering and managinguntil her early death from cancer.

Chabon’s grandparents’ complicated lives and relationshipmake us examine what it means to be devoted to and respon-sible for one another. His rich and lyrical prose takes a some-what somber narrative and brings it to life with vivid detailsand descriptions. It invites the reader to sit back, pay atten-tion, and experience the journey. — Libby Stowell

A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor TowlesMoscow, 1922. Count Alexander IllyrichRostov, aristocrat, member of the JockeyClub, Master of the Hunt, and a formerhero of the Russian Revolution based on apoem he produced, is found by the Bolshe-viks to have succumbed irrevocably to“the corruptions of his class” and is sen-tenced to a lifetime of house arrest. Al-ready living in a luxurious suite in thefamed Metropol Hotel, he is now confinedto living there in a tiny attic room, and if

he ventures outside the hotel, he will be shot.

Rostov, a wry optimist, makes the most of his new circum-stances by following as many of his old rituals and routinesas possible and seeking out whatever intellectual and per-sonal interactions he can. When he befriends the inquisitivenine-year-old Nina, another hotel resident, he begins a rela-tionship that will have ramifications far beyond the eightyears she spends in the hotel. As class distinctions fall away,Rostov forms deep friendships with the hotel staff (he evenbecomes a waiter in the fancy restaurant). This is a group offully developed characters definitely out of a different timeand place when chivalry, genteel manners, intellectual curios-ity, moral discipline and wit were commonplace. Although thehistorical events of the thirty years Rostov spends in theMetropol are introduced into the plot, the deprivations, warand terrorism in Russia during this time are secondary toRostov’s musings about literature, philosophy and love. Plus,there is a page-turning ending whose events are inspired, inpart, by a viewing of the movie “Casablanca”! This is a charm-ing, old-fashioned novel about human connections featuringa fascinating protagonist you won’t soon forget.

— Robin Harvey

I’ll Take You There, Wally LambI’ll Take You There is based around FelixFunicello, a character from one of WallyLamb’s earlier books, Wishin’ and Hopin’.Felix is now a divorced father and filmscholar who runs a movie club at a formervaudeville theater. While preparing formovie night one evening, Lois Weber, asilent film director, visits Felix. The onlyproblem is that Lois died many, manyyears ago. While Felix begins to wonder ifhe’s losing his mind, Lois “directs” Felix to

revisit his past on the big screen.

The book feels like an updated version of A Christmas Caroland each encounter teaches Felix more about the prejudiceswomen of all eras have faced in all aspects of their lives.Watching these films, Felix beings to understand the womenin his life in a different way and comprehend why he hasmade the choices he has made.

Wally Lamb takes an unexpected detour into magical realismin his latest book and while the book takes a more light-hearted tone, it doesn’t take away from the book’s powerfulmessage. Lamb delivers another incredible story.

— Tatum Fichthorn

MemoirBorn to Run, Bruce Springsteen

Growing up Catholic in Freehold, NewJersey, Springsteen had his ‘ahah’ mo-ment when he saw Elvis Presley’on TheEd Sullivan Show. In Born to Run, he re-counts his relentless drive to become amusician, his early days as a bar bandking in Asbury Park, and the rise of the EStreet Band. With disarming candor, healso tells the story of the personal strug-gles that inspired his best work. Writtenwith the lyricism of a singular songwriter

and the wisdom of a man who has thought deeply about hisexperiences, this memoir is winner.

Spaceman, Mike MassiminoTaking us through the surreal wonderand beauty of his first spacewalk, thetragedy of losing friends in the Columbiashuttle accident, and the development ofhis enduring love for the Hubble Tele-scope—which he and his fellow astro-nauts were tasked with saving on hisfinal mission—Massimino has written anode to never giving up and the power ofteamwork to make anything possible.Spaceman invites us into a rare, wonder-

ful world where science meets the most thrilling adventure,revealing just what having “the right stuff” really means.

Hungry Heart, Jennifer WeinerNo subject is off-limits in this intimate, hi-larious and moving collection of personalessays. Born in Louisiana, raised in Con-necticut, educated at Princeton, Jenniferspent years feeling like an outsider (“aLane Bryant outtake in an Abercrombie &Fitch world”) before finding her people innewsrooms, and her voice as a novelist, ac-tivist, and New York Times columnist. InHungry Heart, she dives deep into theheart of female experience with the wit and

candor that have endeared her to readers all over the world.

A Life in Parts, Bryan CranstonIn his riveting memoir, Cranston recallsthe many odd parts he has played in reallife as well as his evolution on camera,from soap opera player to one of the mostmemorable performances ever capturedon screen: Walter White, chemistryteacher turned drug kingpin. Describinghis art as few actors can, he has much tosay about creativity, devotion, and craft,as well as innate talent and its chal-lenges. But ultimately A Life in Parts is a

story about the joy, the necessity, and the transformativepower of simple hard work.

The Mothers, Brit BennettIn an African-American beach communityin Southern California, 17-year-old NadiaTurner is spinning out of control. Devas-tated by the recent suicide of her mother,the beautiful Nadia falls into a recklessrelationship with 21-year-old Luke, thelocal pastor’s son. The resulting preg-nancy and its termination will have con-sequences that will affect Nadia, Lukeand Nadia’s God-fearing best friend,Aubrey, for years to come. Although Nadia

escapes the small town gossip of the local church’s “Mothers”by attending college and law school in Michigan, she is forcedto confront her past when her father’s illness brings her backhome. This coming-of-age novel tackles tough questions aboutrace, friendship, motherhood and religion. Most importantly,it asks if the mistakes we make in our youth have to shapeour lives forever. — Robin Harvey

Miss Jane, Brad WatsonThis beautifully written story of MissJane Chisolm, from birth to old age, wasinspired by the life of the author’s greataunt. Born in rural Mississippi in theearly 20th century with a genital birth de-fect that stands in the way of ever gettingmarried and having children, she facesher challenges with the love and supportof her parents and the doctor who deliv-ered her, and who dedicates himself totrying to find a medical solution for hercondition. Alone at times, but never

lonely, she is blessed with intellect, common sense and a re-fusal to feel sorry for herself. At once witty, strange, andlovely, this is truly a wonderful novel. — Yvette Morgan

Faithful, Alice HoffmanAs a teenager, Shelby Richmond is in-volved in a horrific car accident thatleaves her best friend comatose. She isliving her life as an observer rather thanactive participant. This story followsShelby’s journey as she takes small stepscoming to terms with her survival. Allthis with encouragement from a mysteri-ous source in the form of short notes --“Say Something”, “Feel Something”, ” DoSomething”. A tale of heartbreak and re-demption told in the author’s unique style

will stay with you. I am a huge Alice Hoffman fan and as isthe case with most of her novels, this one was hard to putdown. — Suzanne Martell

Staff Picks

Biographyby Bob WellsThe General vs. The President , H.W. Brands

After VJ and VE days in 1945, the worldwas tossed into uneasy peace. Japan wasin ruins, ripe for picking by either theRussians or the Chinese. And in Europe,once again, the carcases of losers werebeing picked over by various allies. FDRhad died, launching a reluctant HarryTruman to a front row seat. Yes, victorywas in the air, but perilous pitfalls laidahead.

Truth be told, Truman was obsessed with Europe. The Mar-shall Plan there was playing a part to preserve democracy inthe region. The Kremlin was eyeballing Iran. Greece andTurkey were in play. China fell to the communists. Mean-while, a lone ranger, General Douglas MacArthur, took up res-idence in Tokyo to craft parameters for peace in Japan --without instructions from anyone.

Yes, MacArthur was brilliant. And a military leader par none.But as put by a compatriot, General Omar Bradley,"MacArthur was a megalomaniac." Bradley would say, "heheld an obsession for self-glorification and a contempt for thejudgment of his superiors".

So, here's Truman, trying to juggle the global and domesticpieces on a chess board where the squares are in constant mo-tion. While MacArthur, wildly popular as a great Americanhero, began careening like a loose canon across the Pacific. Ina matter of time, dominoes looked like they were falling, assome said. Kim Il Sung (Un's grandfather) decided to attackSouth Korea, probably with Stalin’s approval. One thing ledto another and Field Commander MacArthur had himself an-other opportunity to shun peace and bloody some bastards.

On one hand, Truman, working with the fledgling United Na-tions, wanted to avoid WWIII. MacArthur wanted to take itto the Reds -- once and for all. He'd teach those commies. Andhe'd ram his way right down their throats -- with a touch oftheatrics that would put Shakespeare to shame.

So an unfortunate Korean War waged on. Truman, the Stateand Defense Departments, not to mention the Chiefs of Staffvoiced contrary directives. MacArthur basically did whateverhe wanted to. Disagreements stayed sub rosa, until Trumanfinally pulled the plug -- to a firestorm from an adoring public.Politics were only about 1/2 inch below the surface of actionsby a partisan Congress. Truman survived, but decided not torun for another term. And the world bumped along into theCold War and all the inanity we see today as the West fraysfrom the East.

Could we have descended into redeployment of our potent nu-clear weapons? How close to triggering WWIII were we?Were we simply dancing with appeasement while the commu-nists were eating our lunch? Say hello Joseph McCarthy!The author, H.W. Brands, does a fine job of driving us throughthe dark days that should have been nothing but rosy as ourtroops returned from the horrors of war. And here we are.Quite a bit different. But quite a bit the same.

American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant,Ronald C. White, Jr.

November 8th. Election Day. No, not2016 but 1864. If there ever was a needof a hero to help Abraham Lincoln gain a2nd term, Ulysses S. Grant was it. Arather uncivil war was raging. The coun-try was torn apart at the seams -- with itsfate hanging in the balance.

Grant was living proof that heroism canspring from the most unlikely places.Born next to nowhere in the American

western frontier, Grant—the little "tanner boy”—lucked intoan appointment to West Point where he graduated 21st in aclass of 39 students. His personal invisibility as "a quiet man"and dislike for self-promotion, unlike so many others aroundhim, molded him a man of uncommon character. The MexicanWar and defensive stints in Panama taught him leadership...and off he rode into life.

At every turn, Grant proved a talent for bringing people to-gether in the most complicated situations. He was a brilliantand selfless strategist. He could erase shortcomings, lookthrough walls, imagine all scenarios on the fly, deal with dilet-tantes and smash adversaries -- simultaneously. Rivalssought to paint him as a sot. (While he was assuredly not.)Where other generals proved inept, Grant bulldozed his forcesthrough enemies who scattered around him. He knew how tofight. And if one could use the word "decency" in the samesentence as "war", Grant was in the room.

U.S. Grant was an unlikely candidate to become a hero. Hewas only 5'8" in height. Quiet, even pensive. His normal attirewas scruffy at best. His somewhat plain wife for life was evena bit cross-eyed, but Grant never saw her in a bad light. Com-ing from homes with slaves, he matured to be passionatelyagainst slavery and unjust treatment of Native Americans.The oppressed became his cause throughout life although hewas surrounded by so many others who cared less.

If Grant had a fault, he trusted his loyal friends too much.After the Civil War and when he was President, temptationsof wealth ate away at morals of men close to him -- and re-sulted in tarring Grant himself. He dabbled with shysterswho lured him into what turned out to be "get poor quick" in-vestments. And he spent his waning days perilously close topoverty. Fortunately, one devoted friend was Mark Twain,who saw greatness in Grant and convinced him to write amemoir which was finished on Grant's death bed in 1885.

When he died, a column of mourners accompanied his bodythrough New York City— stretching seven miles long. Today,he doesn't get "his due,” particularly in these times when weneed legitimate heroes. So, be a hero, read this book -- eventhough it’s over 650 pages. Hey, it's apt to be a long winter.

Hero of The Empire, Candice MillardAlexander, Hitler and countless othersprobably were once snotty-nosed littlekids. Many were impulsive. Impudent.Even indolent. And so was adolescentWinston Churchill. Judging by his lore -- not to mention his extraordinary writinglegacy -- one skips the "young whipper-snapper" in Churchill. But Candice Mil-lard dials back Big Ben to beget the"braggart" of Winston's early days.

From the beginning, Winston was consumed by war. Hisgrandfather, John Churchill, was seen by friend and foe asEngland's greatest general. As an apple falling from this tree,young Winston staged mock battles by the hours with his1,500-plus toy soldiers. Privilege surrounded him. Yet heheld an itch to "break out".

And so, off to war. Way before Gallipoli, there was India, theSudan, and the Boer War in Southern Africa. Young Winstonjust had to get in the thick of things. Maybe part of this yenwas to shed his precious and delicate upbringing. But evenin the hellish places he would land, he would drag along hisaristocratic tastes and somehow achieve special treatment.

Winston thrust himself into Africa, traveling with the BritishArmy and signed on as a correspondent with a newspaper.The imbed turned heroic, even a daring leader of men. Hetackled dramatically dangerous situations. Saved lives. Be-came a valuable aristocratic prisoner. Managed a miraculousescape. And lived to mature and begin his next life -- one oftchronicled by others.

Millard is an accomplished story teller. And, as with TheRiver of Doubt, focusing on a troubled time in Teddy Roo-sevelt's life, she picks an obscure period in WinstonChurchill's past and brings it to lively light. — Bob Wells

Rogue Heroes, Ben MacintyreBringing his keen eye for psychologicaldetail to a riveting wartime narrative,Ben Macintyre uses his unprecedentedaccess to SAS archives to shine a light in-side a legendary unit long shrouded in se-crecy. The result is not just a tremendouswar story, but a fascinating group por-trait of men of whom history and countryasked the most.

David Stirling, a young, gadabout aristo-crat looked at the stalemate in the African theare and saw anopportunity, given a small number of elite, well-trained men,to upend Rommel’s strategy. With the help of Jock Lewes, heassembled a revolutionary fighting force that would changenot just the balance of the war, but the nature of combat it-self—and would become the model for all special forces unitsthat would follow.

City of Dreams: The 400-Year Epic History ofImmigrant New York, Tyler Anbinder

A defining American story, never beforetold with such breadth of scope and re-sounding spirit, City of Dreams is peopledwith memorable characters—all of whomat one time called New York City theirhome. Some left to become famous on theworld stage; many others remained to en-rich the city with hundreds of differentlanguages and distinct cultures whichover generations spread throughout thecontinent. Anbinder’s story is one of inno-

vators and artists, revolutionaries and rioters, staggering dep-rivation and soaring triumphs, all playing out against thepowerful backdrop of New York City, at once ever-changingand profoundly, permanently itself.

“An endlessly fascinating kaleidoscope of American history.A fantastic historical resource." (Kirkus, starred reviiew)

HistoryThe Earth Is Weeping: The Epic Story of the In-dian Wars for the American West,Peter Cozzens

With the end of the Civil War, the nationrecommenced its expansion onto tradi-tional Indian tribal lands, setting off awide-ranging conflict that would lastmore than three decades. In an explo-ration of the wars and negotiations thatdestroyed tribal ways of life even as theymade possible the emergence of the mod-ern United States, Peter Cozzens givesus both sides in comprehensive and sin-gularly intimate detail. He illuminates

the encroachment experienced by the tribes and the tribalconflicts over whether to fight or make peace, and exploresthe squalid lives of soldiers posted to the frontier and the eth-ical quandaries faced by generals who often sympathized withtheir native enemies.

The Man Who Knew: The Life and Times ofAlan Greenspan, Sebastian Mallaby

Sebastian Mallaby's magisterial biographyof Alan Greenspan brings into vivid focusthe mysterious point where the govern-ment and the economy meet.

Greenspan's life is a quintessential Amer-ican success story, Raised by a singlemother in the Jewish émigré communityof Washington Heights, he was a mathprodigy who found a niche explaining theeconomic weather to captains of industry.

A libertarian in his youth, he once called the Fed's creation ahistoric mistake. But once in power, he became a pragmatistwho realized his core mission was to keep inflation in check. Athis retirement in 2006, he was lauded as the age's necessaryman, the veritable God in the machine, the global economy'savatar. The story of Greenspan is also the story of the makingof modern finance, for good and for ill.

Biography

MusicThe Lyrics: 1961–2012, Bob Dylan

Originally published last fall with ahefty price tag and limited avail-ablility, this beautiful coffee tablevolume is a fitting tribute to the re-cipient of the 2016 Nobel Prize forLiterature. The Lyrics contains thecomplete Dylan canon, accompaniedby in-depth annotations from Dylanexpert Christopher Ricks. This per-fect gift for generations of fans is astunnung record of Dylan’s uniquetalent as the songwriter whose

words chronicle the heartbeat of our changing world.

Jazz: The Iconic Images of Ted Williams, Ted Williams

From the smoky backstage dress-ing rooms of New York andChicago's pioneering jazz clubs tothe acclaimed Jazz festivals thatenthralled legions of fans, TedWilliams' camera captured the in-timacy and the wizardry of Jazz'sgreats as they perfected their artfrom the 1940s-1970s. Throughoutthe book, the photographs are cap-tioned with William’s own memo-ries and with commentary fromsome of the leading jazz historians

and journalists working today. A must-have for any afficiando.

Taylor Swift: This Is Our Song, Tyler ConroyTen years ago, an unknown 16-year-old released a self-titled debut countryalbum. Now, a ten-time Grammy win-ner, Swift has been hailed for her song-writing talent that has crossedeffortlessly from country to pop andwho continues to surprise and delighther audience. This book collects thebest writing and images from the pastten years in one gorgeous volume, agreat gift for every ‘Swiftie’ or anyone

interested in the contemporary music scene.

The Rolling Stones: All The Songs, PhilippeMargotin & Jean-Michel Guesdon

Since 1963, The Rolling Stones have beenrecording and touring, selling 200 millionrecords worldwide. While much is knownabout this iconic group, few books providethe back story of their time in the studio.Now, fans can learn the origin of their 340released songs, details from the recordingstudio, what instruments were used, andbehind-the-scenes stories of the greatartists who contributed to their tracks.

Non FictionThe Undoing Project, Michael Lewis

In his bestselling books, Lewis has decon-structed the pitfalls in the worlds of financeand sports by delving into the personalitiesof its key players. Now, he focuses on thefield of Cognitive Science and two Irsraelipsychologists whose breakthrough studiesrevolutionized our understanding of how wethink. By positing that algorithims aremore reliable than intuition in reachingtruth, these men have had a profound im-pact on the way we perceive reality, a theory

that is especially relevant as technology puts us on the brink ofa new world. Lewis once again transfoms his subject into an ab-sorbing human story through the idiosyncracies of the characters.

Wild Things, Wild Places, Jane AlexanderJane Alexander presents a moving and per-sonal look at the vastly changing world ofwildlife on planet earth as a result of humanincursion, and the crucial work of animaland bird preservation being done by scien-tists, field biologists, zoologists, and conser-vationists. She writes eloquently of hertravels with them—and on her own—to themost remote and forbidding areas of theworld pursuing their goal to save the manyendangered species—including ourselves.

A Truck Full of Money, Tracy KidderFortune, mania, genius, philanthropy—thebestselling author of Mountains BeyondMountains gives us the inspiring story ofPaul English. A genius with computers, healso has extrordinary talent for buildingteams that can develop his ideas into reality.And when he does make “a truck full ofmoney” selling his travel website Kayak.comfor almost two billion dollars—the first thinghe thinks about is how to give the moneyaway—and then, “ What’s next?” A mesmer-

izing portrait of an irresistibly endearing man who is indefatiga-ble, original, and as unpredictable as America itself.

The 60’s: The Story of A Decade, The New YorkerThe third volume in this decade-by-decadeseries collects historic New Yorker piecesfrom the most tumultuous years of thetwentieth century. On the political scene, E. B. White and John Updike wrestle withthe enormity of the Kennedy assassination,and Jonathan Schell travels with Americantroops into the jungles of Vietnam. Cultur-ally, voices such as Pauline Kael offer pro-files of the rising stars in the world of artand music. With commentary by DavidRemick and others, the book presents a por-

trait of a truly galvanizing era.

SportThe Complete Book of Soccer, Clive Gifford &John MalamThe Complete Book of Soccer capturesall of the exciting action, color andpassion of the world's most popularsport, comprehensively telling thestory of the game and its greatest ex-ponents. It is packed with informationabout clubs and players around theworld, statistics galore, and hundredsof fascinating archival images, and ex-citing color action photographs.

The Perfect Pass, S.C. GwynneIn the tradition of Michael Lewis’s Money-ball, award-winning historian S.C.Gwynne tells the incredible story of howtwo unknown coaches from a tiny mid-western college revolutionized Americanfootball at every level, from high school tothe NFL. With genius and guts, HalMumme and Mike Leach from Iowa We-leyan, without even a playbook, changedthe game from a run-dominated sport to apass-dominated one. Whether you’re a ca-

sual or ravenous football fan, this is a truly compelling storyof American ingenuity.

Planet Golf Modern Masterpieces: The World’sGreatest Modern Golf Courses, Darius OliverGet an amazing, insider’sview of the 100 greatest golfcourses built in the modernera and the spectacularholes that make each courseunique. This gorgeous bookoffers comments by theworld’s leading golf archi-tects and Oliver’s exclusivereviews of modern master-pieces such as Cabot Cliffsin Canada, Ardfin in Scotland, Cape Wickham in Australia, andTara Iti in New Zealand. A treasure trove of ideas, images, andinsights for all golf lovers.

Arnold Palmer: A Life Well Played,Arnold Palmer

This book is Palmer’s parting gift to theworld—a treasure trove of entertaininganecdotes and timeless wisdom thatreaders, golfers and non-golfers alike,will celebrate and cherish. No one haswon more fans around the world and noplayer has had a bigger impact on thesport of golf than Arnold Palmer. In fact,Palmer is considered by many to be themost important professional golfer in his-tory, an American icon.

Nautor's Swan, Matthew SheahanThe value of a Swan is de-rived from the company’sstrong heritage, skilledcraftsmen, and pursuit ofexcellence in every aspect ofthe build. Celebrating thecompany’s 50th anniver-sary, this beautiful bookshowcases some of theworld’s finest yachts andprovides an inside look atthe process of creating the ‘dream boat’ for many sailors.

Herreshoff: American Masterpieces, MaynardBray, Benjamin Mendlowitz, et al

Elegant by design and spec-tacular in performance,thirty-six iconic Herreshoffboats are highlighted inmagnificent photographsand original drawings.Each entry incorporates ahistory of the boat (or class),its owners, race results, andfate, celebrating the manythat still grace our waters.

today. The book includes 200 color photographs and 38 plans.

ESPECIALLY FOR SAILORS

The NHL: 100 Years in Pictures and Stories,Bob Duff & Ryan DixonOn the centential celebration the au-thors recount the events that haveshaped the league from its madcapearly years all the way to the 30-teamelite professional sport that it is today.From game changing decisions likeallowing goalies to wear masks, tojaw-dropping performances like Mau-rice Richard's 50 goals in 50 games,there is no stone left unturned. Withmore than 200 images, hundreds ofstar players and dozens of artifacts from the Hockey Hall ofFame, here is the definitive guide for every fan.

99 Stories of the Game, Wayne GretskyFrom minor-hockey phenomenon to Hallof Fame sensation, Wayne Gretzkyrewrote the record books. Now weaving to-gether the lives and moments from an ex-traordinary career, he reflects on playerswho insipred him when he was a kid, andhe takes us onto the ice and into the dress-ing rooms to meet the friends who stood byhim and the rivals who spurred him togreater heights. Warm, direct, and revela-tory, it is a book that gives us number 99,the man and the player, like never before.

Picture & GiftJohn Derian Picture Book, John Derian

Starting 25 years ago with a lineof unique ceramics decoupagedwith 19th century artwork, JohnDerain has used his unerringeye to create a brand that is bothfashionble and eclectic. Now ex-panded to include gifts and homefurnishings, his products are fea-tured in the most elegant shopsat home and abroad. This gor-geouly produced, oversized vol-ume presents more than 400full-bleed images that have in-spired Derain’s work—an enter-prise that brilliantly walks theline between commerce and art.

The ultimate eye candy, it’s likely you’ll see framed pagesfrom this book on many walls!

The Metropolian Museum of Art: MasterpiecePaintings, Kathryn Calley Galitz

No matter how often one visits‘The Met’ the experience inspiresboth awe and a sense that therewould never be enough time toexplore its magnificent collec-tions. This monumental newbook offers hope. High resolutioncolor illustrations of 500 master-pieces, created over 5,000 yearsin cultures across the globe bringthe art brilliantly to life. In-cluded in this grand tour are il-luminating texts about eachartwork written by Kathryn Cal-ley Galitz, whose experience as

both a curator and an educator at the museum makes her theperfect guide to givie the reader a unique frame of referencefor each piece. Here is a wonderful resource and a visual treatfor any art lover.

Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to theWorld's Hidden Wonders, Joshua Foer, et al

It's time to get off the beaten path! Oneof our favorite books of the season, AtalsOsbcura revels in the weird, the unex-pected, the overlooked, the hidden andthe mysterious. Every page expands oursense of how strange and marvelous theworld really is. And with its compellingdescriptions, hundreds of photographs,surprising charts, maps for every regionof the world, it is a book to enter any-where, and will be as appealing to thearmchair traveler as the die-hard ad-venturer. The perfect gift for anyone on

your list, this is a fun, interesting book that is sure to be a hit.

Epic Bike Rides of the World, Lonely PlanetDiscover 200 of the best places to ridea bike in this beautiful book. From fam-ily-friendly, sightseeing urban rides toepic adventures off the beaten track,each ride is illustrated with stunningphotography and a map. A toolkit ofpractical details helps riders plan theirown trips and shows how cycling is afantastic way to get to know a place, apeople and their culture. Whether youare an experienced cyclist or just get-ting started, this book will inspire you

to plan your next adventure!

The Travel Book: A Journey Through EveryCountry in the World, Lonely Planet

This oversized, comprehenive vol-ume is the perfect gift for anyonewith itchy feet and a curious mind.230 countries are expertly profiled,giving details of when to visit, whatto see and do, and the cultural andculinary scene unique to each place.New, incredible photography illus-trates the people, the landscapeand even the street life of eachcountry. See the world from yourarmchair—or pick the next destina-tion to put on your ‘bucket list.’

TRAVEL WITH THE EXPERTS

Surf Odyssey: The Culture of Wave Riding,Andrew Groves,

There’s much more to surfing thanpalm trees and beach boy clichés.People surf not only in Hawaii, butalso in Norway, South Korea, andIndia. Surf Odyssey is a book aboutthe world of surfing today, and thosethat live in it. Surfing embraces anattitude toward life, a lust for adven-ture, and a love of nature that onecan best find far away from estab-lished spots. Stunning photographypresents this scene’s places, people,

and stories of some of these exotic places.

Horses: Portraits by Derry MooreDerry Moore, Clare Countess of Euston

Derry Moore’s photographs cele-brate the extraordinary beauty inthe trappings and traditions of theequestrian world. Offering a privi-leged glimpse into the lives of jock-eys and cavalrymen, Spanish ridingschools, and Midwestern rodeos,these pictures take the reader topaddocks, courses, and stables theworld over and reveal the customsand passions of equestrian culture.

Food & Wine Special Event

Mark Oldmanat Barrett BookstoreThursday, December 8

at 7:00 pm

In partnership with Nicholas Roberts Fine Wines,we welcome Mark Oldmanto speak and sign copies of

his new book

HOW TO DRINK LIKE A BILLIONAIRE:MASTERING WINE WITH JOIE DE VIVRE

With wit and charm, Oldman tellsus how to imbibe like an insiderwhile cutting through the preten-sions that still surround wine.From finding the best value bottlesto purchasing wine in restaurantsand shops, his new book will haveyou enjoy wine with the unapolo-getic joy of the 1%! Pair a signedcopy of the book with a bottle ofwine for the perfect holiday gift.

Mark Olman is the wine expert for Pottery Barn, and winecolumnist for the Food Network. His approach is describedas "wine speak without the geek" by Bon Appétit and hehas twice won the Georges Duboeuf Best Wine Book of theYear Award.

Samplings of recommended vintages will be supplied byNicholas Roberts Fine Wines accompanied by hor d’oeu-

vres. RSVP to Barrett Bookstore. 203-655-2712

The Art of the Cheese Plate, Tia Keenan & Noah Fecks

Master delicious, sophisticated enter-taining with acclaimed chef-fromagerTia Keenan’s foolproof pairings andquick recipes for elegant cheeseplates and inspired accompaniments.A perfect gift for any host or cheeselover, this lovely book showcasesgreat European and Americancheeses for every occasion. Fullprovenance information and tastingnotes that enable the reader to findor substitute the cheeses according toavailability, season, and taste. Using

a few key techniques and simple recipes, you will delight yourguest with these unexpected and delicious combinations.

Dorie ‘s Cookies, Dorie GreenspanDorie Greenspan’s mantra is “Give acookie. Get joy.” In her latest book, sheshares 170 recipes each of which merither “three purple stars of approval.” Ihave made her famous World PeaceCookies and the Cocoa-Almond Uglies(known in Italy as Brutti ma Buoni –Ugly but Good) and the jury at thebookstore is still out as to which is thewinner! Ina Garten, of Barefoot Con-

tessa fame, says, “Dorie has written the perfect book to satisfythe Cookie Monster in all of us.” Pair a copy of her book with asampling of your favorite cookie for a gift that will be remem-bered throughout the year. — Rosanna Nissen

Cooking for Jeffrey, Ina GartenIna’s most personal cookbook yet is filledwith the recipes Jeffrey and their friendsrequest most often as well as charmingstories from Ina and Jeffrey’s manyyears together. There are traditionaldishes that she’s updated, as well aswonderful new salads. Desserts rangefrom simple Apple Pie Bars to showstop-pers like Vanilla Rum Panna Cotta withSalted Caramel. And, for the first time,Ina has included a chapter devoted tobread and cheese, with recipes and tips

for creating the perfect cheese course.

Appetites, Anthony BourdainFor many years, first as a chef, later as aworld-traveling chronicler of food andculture, Bourdain has made a professionof understanding the appetites of others.These days, however, if he’s cooking, it’sfor family and friends. Appetites is ahome-cooking, home-entertaining cook-book like no other, with personal fa-vorites from his own kitchen and fromhis travels, translated into an effectivebattle plan that will help you terrify

your guests with your breathtaking efficiency.

Food52: A New Way to Dinner, Amanda Hesser& Merrill StubsImagine having all your meals planned for the whole week! In

their new cookcook. Amanda and Mer-rill give you everything you need tomake this happen,. Complete with gro-cery lists and cooking timelines, theyshow how elements can work acrossmenus and seasons to fit your mood ormarket, and how to be scrappy withwhatever’s left in the fridge. Here is thekey to smarter, happier cooking thatleaves you with endless possibilitiesfor the week ahead.

Home & GardenInterior Design Master Class, Carl Dellatore

Poised to become the essential bookon design, Interior Design MasterClass collects the expertise andknowledge of the best interior de-signers working today. Opening thisbook is like sitting down to the bestdinner party you’ve ever attended!Featuring one hundred essays byAmerica’s top designers, each pieceis paired with images of the de-signer’s work to illustrate the prin-ciples being discussed and

annotated with informative captions.Unique in the quality ofits contributors, this is a book that readers will refer to againand again for advice and inspiration.

A House in the Country, Peter Pennoyer &Katie Ridder

The collaborative effort of architectPeter Pennoyer and his wife, inte-rior designer Katie Ridder, is thesubject of this beautiful book—astunning home that incorporatesboth classical and contemporary el-ements. The design followed Pen-noyer’s conviction that historicalexamples are a springboard for theimagination, and while many char-acteristics of the house are GreekRevival, it is also thoroughly con-

temporary and environmentally friendly, with an exuberantlycolorful interior. Enhanced by a lush landscape that was in-spired by an English cottage garden,the book also features agatefold pullout of the garden plan, complete with a compre-hensive key to flowers and plantings.

Great Houses, Modern Aristocrats, James Reginato

Any fan of Downton Abby, will lovethis delicious look into some ofBritain’s stateliest houses—and themodern day inhabnitants who livein them and keep them going. As thecurrent owners speak of the criticalroles their ancestors have played inthe nation, they bring history alive.All of these houses have survivedgreat wars, economic upheavals, and,at times, scandal. Filled with stun-ning photography, this book offers aremarkably intimate and lively tour

of some of England’s finest residences, with many of the inte-riors shown here for the first time.

Gardenista: The Definitive Guide to StylishOutdoor Spaces, Michelle Slatalla

With lots of beautiful photographsof 12 enviable gardens and pages ofpractical text, this is the perfect giftfor any gardener. This treasure in-cludes planting guides for a varietyof climates and color palettes; in-depth case studies on more than adozen outdoor structures (from yogastudios to chicken coops); do-it-your-self projects, plus advice from land-scape professionals. Equal partsinspiration and expert intel, Gar-denista is both a perfect starting

point and an all-in-one manual when questions arise.

Amelia Handegan: Rooms, Amelia HandeganInterior designer Amelia Handeganis known for her sophisticated eclec-tic interiors and for her restorationof nationally recognized historichouses. Embracing a mix of OldWorld elements, such as antiques,wall murals, luxurious fabrics, withmodern furnishings, she createsrooms of quiet drama. Some of theprojects profiled are a colorful beachcottage, a rustic cabin in the BlueRidge Mountains, an apartment in a1920s neoclassical revivalist style in

Charleston, and a refurbished 18th century Virginian planta-tion house. A must-have for interior design and historic ar-chitecture enthusiasts.

A House by the Sea, Bunny WilliamsAuthor and renowned designerBunny Williams has been at thetop of the interior design worldfor more than 40 years. Her newbook invites readers to exploreLa Colina, Williams’s lovelyCaribbean retreat tucked intolush, tropical gardens by the sea.The book explores every facet ofthe property—from outdoorrooms and garden plantings and

design to the delightful, island-living luxury of the villa’s in-teriors, furnishings, and collections. Woven into each chapterare essays written by friends who have visited the property:Gil Schafer details the villa’s architecture; Page Dickey toursthe gardens; Roxana Robinson offers a peek at a weekendstay; Angus Wilkie discusses the delights of collecting; andJane Garmey revels in the pleasures of cooking, food, andfriends.

Mystery & ThrillersHis Bloody Project, Graeme Macrae Burnet

A brutal triple murder in a remote Scottishfarming community in 1869 leads to the ar-rest of seventeen-year-old Roderick Macrae.There is no question that Macrae commit-ted this terrible act. What would lead sucha shy and intelligent boy down this bloodypath? And will he hang for his crime? Bur-net’s multilayered narrative centeredaround an unreliable narrator will keep thereader guessing to the very end. A Man

Booker finalist, this inriguing crime novel from an exceptionalnew voice, is hard to put down.

The Whistler, John GrishamAt the heart of Grisham’s riveting newnovel is an investigation into a judicialbribery scam—an elaborate conspiracy in-volving an Indian reservation, an organizedcrime syndicate and a crooked judge skim-ming a small fortune from the tribalcasino’s monthly haul. When Lucy Stoltz,an investigator for Florida’s judicial con-duct board gets wind of it from an insiderlooking to collect millions as a whistle-blower, she suspects that this case could be

deadly. Vintage Grisham - great characters, intricate plotline.

Night School, Lee ChildIt’s 1996, and Reacher is still in the army. Inthe morning they give him a medal, and inthe afternoon they send him back to school.His assignment—to find an American at theheart of a terrorist plot before it’s too late.From Langley to Hamburg, Jalalabad toKiev, Night School moves like a bulletthrough a treacherous landscape of doublecrosses, faked identities, and new and terri-ble enemies, as Reacher maneuvers inside

the game and outside the law.

The Twilight Wife, A.J. BannerKyra Winthrop is a marine biologist sufferingfrom amnesia after a diving accident. She hasno recollection of the circumstance surroundingher accident or her life a few years before the ac-cident. After discharge from the hospital, herhusband Jacob moves with her to Mystic Islandoff the coast of Seattle in the Pacific Northwestto recover. As images and memories start to sur-face, Kyra becomes confused and paranoid. Theisland setting is described beautifully…you can

feel the chill and misty rain. This is a psychological thriller with asurprise ending. — Suzanne Martella

The Wrong Side of Goodbye, Michael ConnellyHarry Bosch is California's newest private investigator. He doesn't

advertise, but it doesn't matter. His thirty yearswith the LAPD speak for themselves.Soon hegets his first client, a reclusive billionaire whonearing the end of his life wants to find out if hehas a heir. In his youth, he was in love with aMexican girl. But soon after becoming pregnant,she disappeared. Harry realizes that his missioncould be risky with so much money involved.But as he uncovers the haunting story with un-canny links to his own past, Bosch knows hecannot rest until he finds the truth.

The Fall Guy, James LasdunIt is summer, 2012. Charlie invites his troubledcousin Matthew to visit him and his wife intheir idyllic mountaintop house. As the daysgrow hotter, the friendship between the threebegins to unravel, and with the arrival of afourth character, the household finds itself sud-denly in the grip of uncontrollable passions.The Fall Guy is a complex moral tale as wellas a gripping suspense story, probingquestions of guilt and betrayal with ruth-less incisiveness.

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