 |
Wellesley Books Newsletter
September 11th, 2019
|
As the days grow cooler and our fall events season begins in earnest, some great news is putting a bit of pep in our collective step. Wellesley Books is thrilled to receive the 2019 Independent Spirit Award, given by the Book Publishers Representatives of New England to honor the independent bookstore of the year. "What is a Book Publisher Representative?" you may ask. Reps are vitally important to the functioning of an independent bookstore. They are to us what we strive to be to our customers: extremely well-read, well-informed individuals who keep us up-to-date on all of the newest books. Their visits to the store are always a source of great joy, since they're able to remember the personal tastes of dozens of booksellers and will often bring choice pre-publication copies with them to place in our eager hands. The Independent Spirit Award is presented in conjunction with the New England Independent Booksellers Association (NEIBA for short), our local trade association--source of both education and community. These folks know books and bookstores. To be singled out for their recognition is a huge honor, for which we thank them. And, as always, we would also like to thank you, our devoted supporters. You're the reason we're able to do what we love every day.
|
|
Upcoming Events
|
|
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 11th, 7:00 PM
In his new book
The Dog Went Over the Mountain, Massachusetts writer Peter Zheutlin and his beloved rescue dog take a poignant, often bemusing, and keenly observed journey across America and discover a new-found appreciation for the life they temporarily left behind, as well as a determination to live more fully in the moment as old age looms. This is a free event; however, we ask that you
RSVP.
Thursday, September 12th, 7:00 PM
Local writer Diane Stelfox Cook presents So Many Angels, her memoir of community support in the face of adversity. When two devastating events upend her life, her friends and community come together to help Diane and her sons every step of the way. Ultimately, So Many Angels is an uplifting story of resilience and strength--and a tribute to the many friends and strangers who helped Diane and her sons survive the greatest trial of their lives.
Friday, September 13th, 7:00 PM
In
The Only Plane in the Sky, a comprehensive oral history of September 11th, award-winning journalist and bestselling historian Garrett M. Graff tells the story of the day as it was lived--in the words of those who lived it. More than simply a collection of eyewitness testimonies,
The Only Plane in the Sky is the historic narrative of how ordinary people grappled with extraordinary events in real time.
Saturd
ay, September 14th, 2:00 PM
Join local author (and Wellesley Books alumna) Nandini Bajpai to celebrate A Match Made In Mehendi, a lighthearted young adult novel about tradition, high school social hierarchy, matchmaking, and swiping right (or left!). This sweet and quirky story stars a fifteen year-old girl from a long line of Indian matchmakers who upends the high school hierarchy when her matchmaking app pairs a wallflower with a star soccer player.
Tuesday, September 17th, 7:00 PM
Shannon Watts was a stay-at-home mom, until news of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting led her to found Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America, a national movement with millions of supporters.
Her new book Fight Like a Mother is the incredible account how one mother's cry for change became the driving force behind gun safety progress. This is a free event; however, we ask that you RSVP.
Saturday, September 21st, 4:00 PM
Massachusetts writer Joan Cohen presents her first novel, Land of Last Chances. Jeanne Bridgeton, an unmarried executive in her late forties, discovers life doesn't begin and end on a spreadsheet when her expected menopause instead becomes an unexpected pregnancy. Though accomplished at managing risk professionally, Jeanne realizes her skills don't extend to her personal life. Land of Last Chances takes readers on an intensely emotional journey.
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.
And later in the month...
|
Book Clubs & Workshops
|
|
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 begin on Wednesday, September 11th and will run through June. To sign up, please
contact Cassie.
|
|
Highly Educated: A Book Club for Teachers & Librarians
Kelly Yang
|
|
Bill's Book Group for Guys
This semi-autobiographical Vietnam War thriller is rife in detailed battle scenes with the North Vietnamese Army and the complex politics and race relations of the late 1960s. Written over the course of 30 years by a highly decorated veteran, this reads like an early Tom Clancy novel.
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
by Richard Powers
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.
|
|
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!
|
|
Bookseller Recommendations
|
|
|
While the questions in
Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? were written by kids, Caitlin Doughty's new collection isn't exclusively for younger readers. These enlightening and informative essays are for anyone who might be curious to find out what happens to our bodies (both inside and out) after we die. Doughty answers each question using her personal experiences as a mortician and vast knowledge in a way that is both affable and highly informative, proving that your "morbid" curiosity might not be so strange after all.
|
|
Geoff recommends:
The Chain by Adrian McKinty
The main tension in this thriller comes from normal people being forced to become kidnappers. Yes, there's the typical unseen evil mastermind puppeteering it all, but the fact that the kidnappers are logistically and emotionally unprepared is what keeps the reader constantly on edge, waiting for things to go wrong.
|
|
New In Hardcover
|
|
Bookseller Recommendations For Young Readers
|
|
|
Rachael recommends:
Strange Birds by Cecilia C. Pérez
Celia C. Pérez is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to stories about friendship, personal hardship, and sticking it to the man. When three very different girls all receive an invitation to meet with the granddaughter of a local well-to-do, the lure of adventure and an opportunity to get their local Scout troop to give an outdated tradition the boot is too exciting to pass up. Strange Birds is a touching coming of age story that readers of all ages will find themselves relating to.
|
|
|
New Books For Young Adults
|
|
|
Bookseller Recommendations For Young Adults
|
|
|
Lauren recommends:
A Match Made In Mehendi by Nandini Bajpai
Absolutely delightful! If you're looking for a fun romantic comedy about tech, relationships, matchmaking, and dogs--and really, who isn't?--this is the story for you! Simi seems to have the gift of facilitating love connections, much to her family's delight. The Sanghas have been matchmakers for generations and would love for Simi to join the family business. But art is where her heart lies, and she has no interest in being a vichole--or maybe she does. With her tech-savvy older brother and best friend, Simi designs a matchmaking app that turns the high school hierarchy on its head. This is a lovely story about family and balancing traditions of the past with the demands of the future. Bonus point for creating a large extended family that I'd love to be a part of!
|
|
New in the Gift Department
|
|
|
Some days, we all could use a snuggle and a puzzle.
|
|
|
Available for Pre-Order Now
|
|
|
What We're Reading Now...
|
|
|
|
Rebecca
(comes out on September 24th)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Over the past two months, we've been collecting books for the Prison Book Program. So far you've donated two 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.
|
Wolfie
Wolfie is the canine companion of bookseller Barry. At only eight months old, he's remarkably laid-back for a Norwich terrier. One of his great joys in life is play-fighting with his young kitty sister Arrow. (It's as adorable as it sounds.) Thanks for being a ray of sunshine on a rainy day, Wolfie!
|
|
Thank you for supporting your community
independent bookstore!
Sincerely,
Rebecca Stimpson
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
