Wellesley Books Newsletter  
September 25th, 2019
   Events      Book Clubs       Bookseller Picks      New Releases      For Kids      Gifts 
While we booksellers may not agree on everything--it might not surprise you to hear that, as bookish people, we tend to hold onto our opinions tightly, and argue for them forcefully--the talk at every bookstore and recent bookish gathering has invariably turned to what a great year it's been for new releases. There was hardly a pause all summer, and, in September alone, we've seen new books from Margaret Atwood, Rick Riordan, Raina Telgemeier, Ann Patchett, Patti Smith, Ta-Nehisi Coates and many, many more. Routine visitors to the bookstore may know that we often receive signed first editions, but, if you can't make it in on a Tuesday morning (traditionally the on-sale day for most new titles) you can visit our website to view and order from our stock of signed books for both kids and adults. Make some room on your shelves, because, chances are, you'll find plenty of reasons to fill them up again.
Upcoming Eventsevents

 
All events are free to the public, unless otherwise noted.
 Purchase the lead title  from Wellesley Books to enter the signing line .
 
 
 
 
TONIGHT! Wednesday, September 25th, 7:00 PM
In Burn The Ice, James Beard Award-winning food journalist Kevin Alexander traces an exhilarating golden age in American dining beginning in the mid-2000s. To tell this story, Alexander journeys through the travails and triumphs of a number of key chefs, bartenders, and activists, as well as restaurants and neighborhoods whose fortunes were made during this veritable gold rush .

 
 
 
 
Saturday, September 28th, 10:00 AM
Lisa Rogers, local elementary school librarian extraordinaire, presents 16 Words: William Carlos Williams and "The Red Wheelbarrow". This simple nonfiction picture book about a beloved American poet is also about how being mindful can result in the creation of a great poem. Young listeners will see how paying attention to the simplest everyday objects can inspire the greatest art.

 
 
 
 
Tuesday, October 1st, 7:00 PM
Maureen Stanton presents her debut memoir Body Leaping Backward. Distinctly New England in setting, this straight-shooting and astutely observed memoir is spot-on with social and cultural references that will resonate with anyone who grew up in 1970s America.  This is a free event; however, we ask that you RSVP.  

 
 
 
 
 
Wednesday, October 2nd, 7:00 PM
In his debut book, A Great Party, acclaimed event designer Bryan Rafanelli shares his secrets for creating unforgettable parties. He shares his decades of expertise in designing artful celebrations that convey beauty and elegance while telling stories unique to their hosts. This is a ticketed event. The cost of your ticket can be applied to the purchase of A Great Party.  

 
 
  
 
Thursday, October 3rd, 7:00 PM 
Join local poets Sarah Dickenson Snyder and Eileen Cleary in celebration of their recently published collections, With A Polaroid Camera and Child Ward of the Commonwealth. Eileen co-founded the Lily Poetry Salon of Needham, Massachusetts and edits The Lily Poetry Review; Sarah is an alumna of the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference. Both poets will read from their collections.

 
 
 
Friday, October 4th, 7:00 PM
Bestselling YA author Veronica Roth, author of the Divergent series, returns with The End and Other Beginnings, a collection of futuristic, novella-length stories. With tales of friendship and revenge, plus two new stories from the Carve the Mark universe, this collection has something for new and old fans alike. This ticketed event will be moderated by fellow YA star Sara Farizan.
 

 
 
 
Monday, October 7th, 7:00 PM
Robert Glazer, podcast host and CEO of Acceleration Partners, presents his newest book Elevate. Learn four life-changing principles, or "capacities," that will allow you to overcome self-limiting beliefs, establish positive habits, and find your "why." Crush your accomplishments with this groundbreaking guide to success!




 
Thursday, October 17th, 7:00 PM
Alex Speier tells the captivating story of the 2018 Red Sox in Homegrown. The culmination of nearly a decade of reporting from a rising star at the Boston Globe, Homegrown is a fascinating inside account and a meditation on how to build a winning team. This is a free event; however, we ask that you RSVP.
 
 

 
 
Friday, October 18th, 7:00 PM
Local children's author Elly Swartz launches Give And Take, a touching middle-grade novel about family, friendship, and learning when to let go. Twelve year-old Maggie struggles with an impulse to hoard after a series of changes in her life. Ultimately, with some help from family, friends, and experts, Maggie learns that sometimes love means letting go. 
 
   
Book Clubs & Workshopsbookgroups
 
Rachael's Book Club for Kids

Ellen Oh

Rachael Conrad carefully curates choices for children ages 8-12 who love to read. Join her for a lively discussion about a new book every month. Parents, if your child would like to attend, please contact Rachael to reserve your spot!


Teen Writers' Workshop

Join writing instructor (and children's book expert) Cassie Duncanson for a 90-minute workshop aimed at writers age 14 to 18. Classes began in September and will run monthly through June. To sign up, please contact Cassie.


 
Highly Educated: A Book Club for Teachers & Librarians

Raina Telgemeier

Highly Educated, a new book club for teachers and librarians, will meet once a month to discuss a middle-grade or Young Adult book. Please contact our School Liaison Rachael Conrad to join!


 
Bill's Book Group for Guys

Julian Barnes
 
 Barnes' philosophical novella, winner of the 2011 Booker Prize, is, in the words of The Guardian, "a highly wrought meditation on ageing, memory and regret."

Join Bill's Book Group for Guys for a relaxed evening in the store discussing a specially-chosen book while enjoying a beer, glass of wine, or select single-malt whiskey.  $25 buys the book and a ticket to the event.


 
Betty's Lunchtime Book Group

Toni Morrison
 
 
Betty Sudarsky, unparalleled bookseller emerita and experienced book club leader, chooses each book carefully and leads the discussion. Bring your own lunch if you like; Betty supplies snacks, drinks, and insight. No need to sign up; drop-ins are welcome.  
Bookseller Recommendationsrecs
Jess recommends:
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
An evil headmistress, four orphans, and an escape of a lifetime. It's the last summer of prohibition and the beginning of the Great Depression and Odie, his brother, their best friend, and a small girl flee the Lincoln School, a place to assimilate Native American children, on a canoe headed for the Mississippi River. Those they meet--a one-eyed man, a faith healer, a tugboat captain--shape their travels to find the places they can call home, all while being hunted by Mrs. Brickman, the headmistress. It was hard to put this one down and when it was over I only wanted to know the next chapters of their lives.
Gillian recommends:
Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
This little book packs a powerful punch! The story of Melody, her young and confused parents, and her formidable grandparents is touchingly rendered in gorgeous poetic language. Jacqueline Woodson has created a treasure.

Peter recommends:
Night Boat to Tangier by Kevin Barry
Old pals Maurice Hearne and Charlie Redmond reminisce while waiting at the Algeciras ferry terminal, hoping to track down Maurice's estranged daughter Dilly on her way to, or maybe from, Morocco. With a style light as air but sharp as a knife, Kevin Barry explores love, family, friendship, and the gravitational pull of memory. Night Boat to Tangier is a soft-spoken masterpiece.


Barry recommends:
The Crucible of Islam by G.W. Bowersock
This is not a book for beginners, but if you already know something about the life of Muhammad and the emergence of Islam, the freshness of Bowersock's interpretations--and the exceptionally broad scope of his research--will be a revelation. By establishing a firmer context for the seventh-century CE rise of Islam, he is able to make persuasive sense out of the ocean of often conflicting data that confronts historians who devote themselves to this controversial subject. Has Bowersock succeeded in telling us exactly what happened? No, no one can do that. But I think this book likely brings us a little closer to the truth than we have ever been before.
New In Hardcovernewreleases


Takes One to Know One
Susan Isaacs

The Water Dancer
Ta-Nehisi Coates
(signed copies available)

The Dutch House
Ann Patchett
(signed copies available)


The Shadow King
Maaza Mengiste

The World That We Knew
Alice Hoffman

Make It Scream, Make It Burn
Leslie Jamison

Toil & Trouble
Augusten Burroughs

We Are the Weather
Jonathan Safran Foer

The Undying
Anne Boyer

Permanent Record
Edward Snowden

Year of the Monkey
Patti Smith

Know My Name
Chanel Miller
New In Paperback

The Great Alone
Kristin Hannah

The Winter Soldier
Daniel Mason

Winter in Paradise
Elin Hilderbrand

In A House of Lies
Ian Rankin

A Spark of Light
Jodi Picoult

Bright Young Dead
Jessica Fellowes

Ninth Street Women
 Mary Gabriel

The Good Neighbor
Maxwell King

The Big Fella
Jane Leavy
Bookseller Recommendations For Young Readerskids
Rachael recommends:
Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
Part Star Wars and part Thor: Ragnarok, Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl is an extremely satisfying (and heartwarming) conclusion to Hatke's extended universe. In this intergalactic showdown, Hatke brings together Jack, Zita, and their friends for one final adventure. This time around Jack and Zita will have to join forces to contend with an army of bloodthirsty giants determined to invade our planet and bring the age of man to an end. And while they're no strangers to heroics, saving the world is far from a walk in the park. 

New Books For Kids



New Books For Young Adults

The (Other) F Word
ed. Angie Manfredi

Wayward Son
Rainbow Rowell

Who Put This Song On?
Morgan Parker

SLAY
Brittney Morris

The Tenth Girl
Sara Faring

Exile From Eden
Andrew Smith

Juliet Takes A Breath
Gabby Rivera

The Stars and the Blackness Between Them
Junauda Petrus

It's A Whole Spiel
ed. by Katherine Locke and Laura Silverman
Bookseller Recommendations For Young Adults 
Rachael recommends:
The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones
Half fairy tale and half horror story, The Bone Houses is an atmospheric and magical adventure that transports readers to a remote village where the dead don't always stay that way. While Aderyn verch Gwyn's job as an amateur grave digger has kept her family afloat, a decades-old curse on the land where they live has made life less than easy. When Ellis, an apprentice map maker with a secret, arrives in town the undead Ryn has been keeping at bay begin to attack with newfound ferocity. Eliis and Ryn soon embark on a hunt for the truth and an ancient and long forgotten magic.
New in the Gift Department gifts

Get a handle on your 2020 (!) schedule; we have calendars galore.

Available for Pre-Order Now

Call Down the Hawk
Maggie Stiefvater
(signed copies available)

The Body
Bill Bryson

The Book of Dust: The Secret Commonwealth
Philip Pullman
What We're Reading Now...
Gillian
Pete
Rachael
Sally
Lauren
Lorna
Colleen L.
Cassie
Alissa
Prison Book Program
 
Over the past three months, we've been collecting books for the Prison Book Program. So far you've donated more than two full boxes of books and we want to thank you for your generosity! Our book drive is still going strong so visit the store or click below to learn more!

The Prison Book Program believes in the life-changing power of literature. Books give people the chance to learn, grow, and explore the worlds of their choosing. Since 1972, the Prison Book Program has been sending free books to individuals in prisons. Along with each hand-selected package, volunteers send personalized notes to each reader because everyone deserves the freedom to read.

Click here for the Prison Book Program wishlist.

Dog of the Week
Thomson
 
Thomson is a rescue dog who was adopted at age 10 and is now a spry 14. He's an excellent med school study buddy for his mom--who wouldn't feel encouraged and supported, looking at that face?--and is his grandmother's companion on rotation days. Come back soon for more treats, Thomson!  
 

Thank you for supporting your community
independent bookstore!
Sincerely,
Rebecca Stimpson

Contact us:
newsletter @wellesleybooks.com
82 Central Street,
Wellesley, Ma. 02482
781-431-1160

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