Love is in the air!

Love is in the air with some of our store's favorite Valentines Day staff picks! It's a day you can share with everyone in your life, no matter how close or far away they may be! Happy heart day!

I LIKE YOU by Sandol Stoddard Warburg

"A small book with a single message amplified and illustrated with cartoon-style drawings."

A perfect little gift for anyone you like! Captures the wonder of the relationship! A classic must read!

-Katie




WAG by Patrick McDonnell

"It seems that everything gets Earl's tail wagging--a bowl of food, a field of flowers, long walks, and belly rubs. But Mooch, Earl's best friend, knows what all of these things have in common: love is what makes Earl's tail wag. Patrick McDonnell, creator of the nationally syndicated comic strip, Mutts, pays an incredibly sweet tribute to his dog in a tale of wiggling and waggling, fwipping and fwapping...and every dog's secret to the joy of life."

One of my favorite books by Patrick mcDonnell!

-Colleen



VALENTINE SURPRISE by Corrine Demas

"It’s only a week until Valentine’s Day, and Lily wants to make the perfect heart-shaped valentine for Mommy. But every time she cuts out a heart, it’s either too pointy, too round, or too skinny. As the days go by, Lily tries again and again, and when Valentine’s Day finally arrives, she has a heart for each day of the week! Which one will be the perfect valentine surprise for Mommy?"

The cutest, most endearing book of family love for the season!

-Colleen

MONDAY HEARTS for Madalene by Page Hodil

"When a person falls in love, the universe—and everything in it—come vividly alive. It happened to San Francisco artist Page Hodel when she found the love of her life, Madalene Rodriguez. She expressed her devotion in an unusual way: Early every Monday morning, Page would create a heart for Madalene and leave it for her to discover somewhere near her front door. Here are photographs of one hundred of Page’s hearts for Madalene, fashioned from a magical, surprising diversity of materials: acorns and asparagus; berries, buttons, and bungee cord; cardboard, clothespins, corks, and candy corn. True love embraces the world, and Page’s art is testimony to its enduring faith."


MY MISTRESS SPARROW IS DEAD by Jeffery Eugenides

I love anthologies because they are the bite-sized bits of literature that invariably leads me to an author I've not discovered. true, many of these authors are well known, but there are more to explore. The Checkov is excellent, yet the crwoning glory is Alice Munro's beautiful, tender tear-jerker of an ode to lasting love. Share it with someone special!

-Angela




VALENTINES POEMS by Ted Kooser

A beautiful, stunning collection of love letters & poems! Taking the seemingly most ordinary everyday things, the author shares the wonder of this provocative celebration with simple yet brilliant contemplation! Something to share with everyone of significance in your life!

"Pocket Poem" on page 1 is my favorite!

-Colleen



Hope you all have a wonderful Valentines Day!

February is FULL of beautiful creatures!

Calling all teens! Need a pick me up from those after holiday blues? Then check out these two upcoming YA author events in February!



On Monday, February 8th, come meet YA author, Erin Dionne as she regals us with her newest delightful teen novel, "The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet."

"In a novel every bit as funny as her debut, "Models Don't Eat Cookies," Dionne has created another eighth grader whose situation is utterly unique--but whose foibles and farces are sure to resound with every girl currently suffering through middle school."

Cookies included!



Not Your Mothers Book Club is pleased to present a SPECTACULAR YA author event with widely bestselling authors, Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl!

Last December, this dynamic team of two hit the ground running with their first smash hit, "Beautiful Creatures," and haven't stopped yet!

"Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever--and one secret could change everything."

Bring yourself & all your fantasy loving friends too! This is going to be a FANTASTIC evening of NYMBC magic!

For more event information, please go to www.notyourmothersbookclub.com

-Colleen

The BEST of 2009!

2010 has just begun & we're celebrating it's beginning by reminiscing on some of our favorite staff picks of 2009! Just because it's the new year doesn't mean you still can't go back through some of these fantastic titles...


Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon

Await Your Reply is a literary masterwork with the momentum of a thriller, an unforgettable novel in which pasts are invented and reinvented and the future is both seductively uncharted and perilously unmoored.

My favorite novel of fall 2009, this is a masterful tale of identity, deception & betrayal as seen through the eyes of three seemingly unconnected pairs of people. I could not put this book down!

-Lori


A Gate At The Stairs by Lorrie Moore

In this dazzling new novel—Lorrie Moore's first in more than a decade—Moore turns her eye on the anxiety and disconnection of post-9/11 America, on the insidiousness of racism, the blind-sidedness of war, and the recklessness thrust on others in the name of love.

One of the best writers around! Don't miss this coming of age novel by this bestselling author!

-Linda R


Stitches by David Small

An ideal starting point for anyone curious about graphic novels & a superb treasure for those who already appreciate the genre!

Though Small has crafted a most compelling biographical tale, the true beauty and skill lies in his resounding artwork!

-Angela




The Financial Lives of Poets by Jess Walter

In the winning and utterly original novels Citizen Vince and The Zero, Jess Walter ("a ridiculously talented writer"—New York Times) painted an America all his own: a land of real, flawed, and deeply human characters coping with the anxieties of their times. Now, in his warmest, funniest, and best novel yet, Walter offers a story as real as our own lives: a tale of overstretched accounts, misbegotten schemes, and domestic dreams deferred.

This book is laugh-out-loud-when-your-alone-in-a-public-place funny! It's also a sweet, heartfelt story, terribly sad & not a little outraged! -Eric


The Good Soldiers by David Finkel

I can't say enough good things about this book! It's moving! It's enlightening! It's tragic! Finkel has captured this tale of the men & women who volunteers their lives for a war none of us believed in, in a way that I will remember for quite some time!

-Anthony





The Evolution Of God by Robert Wright

In this sweeping narrative that takes us from the Stone Age to the Information Age, Robert Wright unveils an astonishing discovery: there is a hidden pattern that the great monotheistic faiths have followed as they have evolved.

Though the idea of God seems, of late, so thoroughly refuted by minds like Hitchens & Dawkins amongst others, Wright here lays the foundation for a hopeful theory of religions cultural evolution.

-Derek



Cake Wrecks: When Professional Cakes Go Hilariously Wrong by Jen Yates

This may be the funniest little book of baking mishaps you will ever read! Trust me! We laughed until we literally cried!

-Colleen & Eric


A Shadow Falls by Nick Brandt

From the opening images in A Shadow Falls, of a verdant world filled with multitudes of animals, to the closing images of small bands of creatures moving across a parched, dusty earth, Brandt portrays a mythic Africa struggling against tragic forces.

Nick Brandt is to me the Ansel Adams of African wildlife! A genius far outranking most others in his field! A brilliant feat of photographic artistry! -Colleen

Stay tuned for forthcoming reviews on new 2010 book titles! Happy Reading!
-Colleen

Who wants to party? We did with chef guru, Yvonne Tally!

Last week everyone here at Books Inc. Palo Alto witnessed a fantastic party! With delicious food, overflowing bottles of wine, and a lot of social interaction, chef Yvonne Tally regaled us with her wit, charm, and the phenomenal story of how she became the chef she is today. In dedication to her mother, Yvonne presented her highly acclaimed first cook book, Your Fit Gourmet: Cooking Secrets for the Overscheduled Woman to a full house of family & friends. Taking inspiration from her experience traveling and working in France, Yvonne has dedicated her chef's career to cooking simple, delicious & healthy meals for women & families always busy and on the go. From smoothie recipes to breakfast options to lunch box kid's meals, this small gem of a cook book is the perfect gift for anyone wanting to go organic or simply in need of changing the way they eat for a healthier, more productive lifestyle. On behalf of the staff at Books Inc, I would like to thank Yvonne for making her first author appearance at our store such a spectacular one! We can't wait to see what she's cooking up next! Check out a few of the event photos that her daughter, Juliette took!

Yvonne Tally and her daughter, Juliette (also her photographer)


Yvonne, Jill Plant & I


Yvonne at the signing table!


Family & Friends! What a party it was!

For more information on Yvonne Tally and her culinary organization, go to www.poisedfit.com

Happy Holidays & Good Eating!
-Colleen

Trick or Treat!

Since Halloween fell on a Saturday this year, I was very excited to host a huge Halloween story time event, filled with stories, costumes, prizes and best yet, face painting! This year we had 5 kids who came in dressed up as some of their favorite childhood characters, including Robin Hood, Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, Little Red Riding Hood, Carmen Miranda (the fruit lady!) & a cute little Polar Bear! Everyone who came dressed in a costume won a prize and the whole story time group got to have their faces painted by the lovely & talented Miss Kate the Good Witch! Here are just a few of the event's costumed photos! Thank you everyone who stopped by!

Face Painting Fun! Pink Glitter Flowers!

Face Painting Fun! A Vampire!

Kate the Good Witch Face Painting a Flower!

Kate the Good Witch Face Painting a Rainbow!

Little Red Riding Hood, Dorothy & the little Polar Bear!

Robin Hood of the Forest with his dad, Spiderman!

I host story times for children ages 3-6 every Saturday morning at 11am so stay tuned for upcoming special holiday story time events!

Happy Reading!
-Colleen

Don't Miss Ken Reed on October 22nd

On Thursday, October 22nd we'll welcome Ken Reed, author of He Flew Too High, a novel of suspense set in Pennsyvenia's Dutch country. I'll be interviewing Ken. We'll also have a special guest, Dobro guitarist Jeff Hahn, performing some Blue Grass and Gospel tunes; plus Amish Moon Pies. The event will start at 7pm. While you wait, check out Ken's book trailer too.

Eric

Peter Yarrow sings Puff the Magic Dragon

On Friday, October 9th, Peter Yarrow stopped by the store to sing some songs. Day is Done is his latest. We all had a great time! It was a truly special and inspiring night. Here's a little video of this final number, Puff the Magic Dragon.

Eric

The Best of the Best!

Believe it or not, but the holiday season is fast approaching & no matter what age you might be shopping for, we're proud to be introducing you to some of our favorite new reading picks of the season! Since we all know how how finicky Middle & Young Adult readers can be, I'd like to throw a few appropriate suggestions your way.

For Middle Readers (ages 9-11)



Flawed Dogs by bestselling author Berkeley Breathed!

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of "Bloom County" comes his first illustrated novel--a heartwarming and humorous ode to the unconditional and lasting love we and our pets share.

Think the movie "All Dogs Go To Heaven" except retold in a stylish, charming new way!





The Mysterious Benedict Society & the Prisoners Dilemma by Trenton Stewart

When an unexplained blackout engulfs Stonetown, Reynis, Kate, Sticky, and Constance must unravel clues relating to a nefarious new plot, while their search for answers brings them closer to danger than ever before. Filled with page-turning action and mind-bending brain teasers, this wildly inventive journey is sure to delight.

Book 3 in this bestselling mystery series!

* A personal favorite of Eric's!


Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman

Newbery Medalist Neil Gaiman and illustrator Helquist team up for a new fantasy novella in which a young boy must free Asgard--the city of the gods--from the evil Frost Giants.

Percy Jackson fans, look out for this one! You've never seen Norse mythology told in quite this way before!

* A personal favorite of Lori's!



The Spiderwick Chronicles; The Completely Fantastical Edition by Tony Diterlizzi & Holly Black

All five books in The Spiderwick Chronicles are now available in one exquisitely produced volume that includes "The Field Guide, The Seeing Stone, Lucinda's Secret, The Ironwood Tree," and "The Wrath of Mulgarath," and bonus features such as an exclusive making-of section and an all-star gallery where other artists put their spin on the characters and creatures.

If you haven't had the chance to read this series yet, then here it is!



The Doom Machine by Mark Teague

With surprises around every corner, Teague takes readers on a funny, outrageous adventure when the small, sleepy town of Vern Hollow is invaded by a flying saucer filled with ridiculously inept aliens.







For Young Adults (ages 11-15)



Ash by Malinda Lo

In the wake of her father's death, Ash is left to the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes from reading the fairy tales her mother once told her. Fairy tales that lead her to a fateful encounter with the dark & dangerous fairy Sidhean, who she believes has the the power to bring to life her deepest wish. A wish that will either save or destroy her. Spell binding and romantic, "Ash" is a riveting and empowering retelling of the Cinderella story--a novel about choosing life and love over solitude and death.

There's been a lot of YA buzz going on about this new fantasy/fable so don't miss out on this one!





Girl In The Arena by Lisa Haines

Lyn is a modern gladiator's daughter, and the rules of the sport are second nature to her family. However, the rules turn against the family after a gifted young fighter kills Lyn's father and captures Lyn's dowry bracelet--which means Lyn must marry him. To win her freedom, she must face her father's killer in mortal combat.







Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Partnered in biology with new student Patch, 16-year-old Nora Gray starts seeing things she cannot explain. At first she's both drawn and repelled by her lab partner, but when she sees V-shaped scars on his back, Nora learns Patch is fighting an ancient battle between the fallen and the immortal.

Fans of "Twilight" & "Shiver" will LOVE this edgy, new fantasy!




Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

On the eve of World War I, the machine-loving Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their big steam-powered Clankers. Inspired by Darwin, the British have fabricated animals into warships. Their mothership is called "Leviathan," and she is a whale-dirigible. The first book in a brand-new trilogy by the author of the "New York Times"-bestselling Uglies series.


Steam punk at it's best!



The Maze Runner by James Dashner

When Thomas wakes up, he's surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade--a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls, stone walls that hold a dark & deadly secret. Just like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they got there. The next day, a girl arrives with the surprising message that Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. A message that might mean the difference between life or death for everyone involved! Can he find the way out of the ever shifting maze surrounding him or will his fate be sealed within it for all eternity?

An innovative, chilling tale perfect for fans of "The Hunger Games!"

If you need any assistance in choosing the best of our fall releases for your middle reader or young adult, come see me at the store! Happy reading mates!
-Colleen

A Fabulous Fall of New Events!

Fall is in the air & we're happy to be celebrating this highly anticipated pre-holiday season with a WIDE assortment of upcoming author events! There's an author event in here for everyone to enjoy!

Local, bestselling author Meg Clayton is finally coming to our store! Benefiting the Silicon Valley Alumni Club, we're thrilled that Meg is coming here this Tuesday, October 6th at 7pm to speak to us about her wildly acclaimed first novel, "The Wednesday Sisters."

Humorous and moving, this novel--set in California during the tumultuous 1960s--is a literary feast for book lovers that earns a place among those popular works that honor the joyful, mysterious, unbreakable bonds between friends.

As loyal fans of her writing, we all have a feeling that this is going to be one of those very special, memorable author events! Bring your friends too!





NOT YOUR MOTHERS BOOK CLUB is thrilled to present Kristin Cashore, bestselling author of "Graceling", who will discuss her latest book, "Fire."

Exquisitely romantic, this companion to the acclaimed "Graceling" has an entirely new cast of characters, save for one person who plays a pivotal role in the previous book. This story features a girl named Fire, whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her.

On Wednesday, October 7th at 7pm, come meet the amazing Kristin Cashore herself for what is sure to be a wonderful evening for fantasy book lovers! Adult book fans welcome too!







Peter Yarrow is coming! Yes, I DID say the one & only, Peter Yarrow! Join us for a mini concert and book signing with the legendary singer, songwriter, & best-selling children's author Peter Yarrow when he visits to celebrate the release of his latest book "Day is Done"!

**Due to space limitations the purchase of any book by Peter Yarrow will admit two people to this event.

This is going to the event of the century, so stop by and pick up one of his 5 bestselling books before everyone else does!












On Thursday, October 22nd at 7pm, local author, Ken Reed will present his first suspense novel, "He Flew Too High."

"He Flew Too High" tells the story of one's man's quest to bring an awakening to a reluctant people. If you like suspense stories with a strong spiritual undercurrent, such as The Shack or This present Darkness, this is the book & author event for you!











After huge success with his first novel, "Dot.Dead," local author, Keith Raffel will be presenting the 2nd book within his catchy mystery series!

Ian Michaels, CEO of Accelenet, and his wife Rowena, a deputy D.A., are out for a run one winter morning when a mysterious black car runs them down, leaving Ian with a broken leg and Rowena unconscious. Someone wants Ian or Rowena dead, but who? Once again, Ian must use his brains and business acumen to navigate a deadly trail of hostility, greed, and revenge, while investigating a cold case in the physics department of Stanford University and battling the richest, most ruthless man in California for control of his company.

If you're into high tec mysteries, stop by the store on Saturday, October 24th from 10-1pm to meet this fascinating local author.




On Monday, October 26th at 7pm, we're all thrilled to welcome author, Henry Pollack, co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, as he gives an engrossing talk about his latest non-fiction novel," A World Without Ice. "

"A World Without Ice" answers the most urgent questions about this pending environmental crisis, laying out the necessary steps for managing the unavoidable and avoiding the unmanageable.

This event has all the workings to become a vastly intriguing author chat so don't miss out on this one!


Hope to see you soon!

Meet Your Booksellers! Meet Anthony!

Hello readers! A few months ago, our store created a new wall display featuring each of our store's bookselling staff! Meet Anthony! For the month of September, his "Bookseller Wall" displays a large smattering of his favorite reading titles! Want to get to know him a bit more? You should!

" As the youngest of four children being raised by a single parent, I spent many days of my childhood alone, but I was never lonely. I had books, and books had me.

It began as a shallow flirtation with Garfield the Cat and Charlie Brown but grew into a passionate affair with Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer and the Hardy Boys. They were with me in my backyard behind the tall grass where no one would find us, and I traveled with them on every adventure I could get my hands on.

Reading opened the world to me. When you read a book, you can go places you've never gone, see things you've never seen, meet people you would otherwise never get the chance to meet. Books can connect with people in a way no other form of media can. They take us into the hearts and souls of characters whom we both love and hate.

These days, I have been spotted reading "boring" non-fiction and, on occasion, an engrossing work of fiction.

-Anthony "

Here are some of his favorite reading titles...


Walden by Henry David Thoreau

One of the great books of American letters and a masterpiece of reflective philosophizing. Accounts of Thoreau's daily life on the shores of Walden Pond outside Concord, Massachusetts, are interwoven with musings on the virtues of self-reliance and individual freedom, on society, government, and other topics.












Black Boy by Richard Wright

Richard Wright grew up in the woods of Mississippi amid poverty, hunger, fear, and hatred. He lied, stole, and raged at those around him; at six he was a "drunkard," hanging about in taverns. Surly, brutal, cold, suspicious, and self-pitying, he was surrounded on one side by whites who were either indifferent to him, pitying, or cruel, and on the other by blacks who resented anyone trying to rise above the common lot. "Black Boy" is Richard Wright's powerful account of his journey from innocence to experience in the Jim Crow South. It is at once an unashamed confession and a profound indictment--a poignant and disturbing record of social injustice and human suffering.






The Star Rover by Jack London

"The Star Rover is the story of San Quentin death-row inmate Darrell Standing, who escapes the horror of prison life--and long stretches in a straitjacket--by withdrawing into vivid dreams of past lives, including incarnations as a French nobleman and an Englishman in medieval Korea. Based on the life and imprisonment of Jack London's friend Ed Morrell, this is one of the author's most complex and original works. As Lorenzo Carcaterra argues in his Introduction, "The Star Rover is "written with energy and force, brilliantly marching between the netherworlds of brutality and beauty." This Modern Library Paperback Classic is set from the text of the first American edition, published in 1915.






The Road by Cormac McCarthy

A searing, postapocalyptic novel destined to become Cormac McCarthy's masterpiece. A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food--and each other. "The Road" is the profoundly moving story of a journey. It boldly imagines a future in which no hope remains, but in which the father and his son, "each the other's world entire," are sustained by love. Awesome in the totality of its vision, it is an unflinching meditation on the worst and the best that we are capable of: ultimate destructiveness, desperate tenacity, and the tenderness that keeps two people alive in the face of total devastation.

The titles listed above are just a tiny glimpse into the type of literature that Anthony has fallen in love with as a dedicated book connoisseur! Want to see more? Drop by the store anytime to browse though his featured wall of personal picks! You'll love what you see!

Stay tuned every month for a bio on each of our featured booksellers!