Hello!
We have two great events coming up in March. Next week Daniel from Boswell and I will be in conversation with author Nancy Johnson for her novel, The Kindest Lie, which is now out in paperback and perfect for book clubs. In fact, Ken is featuring The Kindest Lie in his book group newsletter (sign-up here for his newsletter). Bookseller Judy is also a fan! It is a great reading kinship when several booksellers champion the same book! There is so much to talk about after reading The Kindest Lie, but it is the love and family, the tensions and heartbreak, the community and struggles, that you feel so deeply while reading the story that makes this one shine.
We are partnering with two Chicago area bookstore friends The Book Stall and The Wine Cellar to present author Stewart O'Nan for his new novel Ocean State in conversation with Wisconsin's own Nickolas Butler, author of Godspeed. Publisher Weekly gave Ocean State a starred review calling it a "beautifully rendered and heartbreaking story...This isn't a crime novel; it's a Shakespearean tragedy told in spare, poetic, insightful prose."
Author Andre Dubus III has this to say: "One of Stewart O'Nan's many gifts is a keen and unflinching eye lit with an abiding compassion for his characters, all of which is on display in his mesmerizing new novel, Ocean State. Set in the forgotten streets of post-industrial, blue collar Rhode Island, this timely and gritty tale takes us deeply into the lives of girls and women who must navigate the kind of loss that can either break or strengthen the ties that bind us all. Ocean State is a gem glittering in the darkness."
I hope you can join us for one or both of these virtual events!
We have a few signed copies of Charlie Berens' The Midwest Survival Guide available. Give us a call or place an order here. Be sure to request a signed copy while supplies last. We have a healthy stack of The Midwest Survival Guide, so don't you worry about missing out on a copy! They are back in stock!
Cheers and Happy Reading!
Lisa with Katrina, Ken, Chloe, Genavieve, Toni, Kristen, Elisabeth, Beth, Lynn, Judy, Emma, Lizzy, Connie, and Grace
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Current Store Hours
Monday - Friday 9:00 - 7:00 Saturday- Sunday 9:00 - 5:00
Masks are optional if you are vaccinated,
required if you are not.
Curbside pick up and shipping still available.
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Readings from Oconomowaukee
NANCY JOHNSON
Tuesday, March 8th
7:00 p.m.
Via Zoom
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Join us for our March installment of Readings from Oconomowaukee. This month, Daniel Goldin and Lisa Baudoin will be in conversation with author Nancy Johnson for her debut novel The Kindest Lie- a powerful and unforgettable story of an American family that reveals the secrets, lies, and promises we make to protect one another.
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Virtual Author Event
STEWART O'NAN
In Conversation with
NICKOLAS BUTLER
Tuesday, March 21st
7:00 p.m.
Registration required
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Books & Company is excited to partner with two other Midwest indie bookstores, The Book Stall and The Book Cellar to bring you author Stewart O'Nan in conversation with author Nickolas Butler for O'Nan's new novel Ocean State- a crushing, beautifully written, and profoundly compelling novel about sisters, mothers, and daughters, and the terrible things love makes us do.
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Readings from Oconomowaukee
KIM FAY
Wednesday, April 6th
7:00 p.m.
Via Zoom
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Join us for a lovely April edition of Readings From Oconomowaukee. This month, Daniel Goldin and Lisa Baudoin will be in conversation with Kim Fay, author of Love & Saffron: a Novel of Friendship, Food, and Love. This witty and tender novel follows two women in 1960s America as they discover that food really does connect us all, and that friendship and laughter are the best medicine.
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ANGELA TRUDELL VASQUEZ &
MEG MUTHUPANDIYAN
Friday, April 22
7:00 p.m.
Via Zoom
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Books & Company and the Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books present a virtual poetry reading with poets Meg Muthupandiyan and Angela Trudell Vasquez to celebrate both Earth Day and poetry. They will be in conversation about poetry, writing, and the importance of the natural world to their creative lives. Each will read a selection of poems from their respective books.
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Pre-Order these signed copies at 20% off! |
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Wednesday, March 23rd
1:00 p.m.
Zoom Meeting
by Freya Sampson
Wednesday, April 27th
1:00 p.m.
Zoom Meeting
by Louise Penny
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Wednesday, March 16th
6:30 p.m.
Zoom Meeting
by Stacey Lee
Wednesday, April 20
6:30 p.m.
Zoom Meeting
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
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Wednesday, March 1st**
6:00 p.m.
Zoom Meeting
by Stephen Spotswood
**date changed due to weather!
Wednesday, March 23rd
6:00 p.m.
Zoom Meeting
by Terry Roberts
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Sunday, March 27th
3:00 p.m.
Zoom Meeting
Sunday, May 29th
3:00 p.m.
Zoom Meeting
Registration coming soon
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BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS - hardcover |
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FICTION
New and Favorites in Hardcover!
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by Kim Fay
A brief respite from our chaotic world, Love & Saffron is a gem of a novel, a reminder that food and friendship are the antidote to most any heartache, and that human connection will always be worth creating. Bookseller Lynn says loved this novel and says "I devoured this book whole in two hours. Yes, it's a short book, but that isn't why. It is a book of friendship between two women and food, two of my favorite subjects. Please don't let this gem pass you by!"
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by Danya Kukafka
Ansel Packer is scheduled to die in twelve hours. He knows what he’s done, and now awaits execution, the same chilling fate he forced on those girls, years ago. Through a kaleidoscope of women we learn the story of Ansel’s life. Bookseller Katrina calls this "A dark novel about a serial killer, told more through the eyes of three women in his life: his mother, his wife's twin sister, and the homicide detective who hunted him down. A fascinating and well written view of good vs evil and nurture vs nature."
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by Lan Samantha Chang
The residents of Haven, Wisconsin, have dined on the Fine Chao restaurant’s delicious Americanized Chinese food for thirty-five years, content to ignore any unsavory whispers about the family owners. Whether or not Big Leo Chao is honest, or his wife, Winnie, is happy, their food tastes good and their three sons earned scholarships to respectable colleges. But when the brothers reunite in Haven, the Chao family’s secrets and simmering resentments erupt at last.
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NONFICTION
New and Favorites in Hardcover!
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by Rachel Rear
Bookseller Katrina says "Rachel Rear has a unique connection to the story of Stephanie Kupchynsky. Rachel's mother married Stephanie's father, so the two are stepsisters; however Rachel never actually knew Stephanie. Before the families united Stephanie disappeared, her body was found years later, and it took several decades to solve her murder. This fascinating blend of memoir and true crime tells the story of how Stephanie's murder affected her family, friends, and students. We get an inside look at how Rachel was haunted by the stepsister she never knew, and how this led to her overwhelming desire to tell the story of what happened. A great read for fans of memoir and true crime alike."
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by Dana K. White
Traditional organizing advice never worked for Dana K. White. Is it possible, she wondered, to get organized without color coding my sock drawer? As Dana let go of the need for perfection, she discovered the joy of having an organized house in the midst of everyday life. Bookseller Genavieve says "Winter always makes me want to declutter and organize but it can be a huge, daunting task! White's new book has 100 easily digestible suggestions to reframe that process into a series of manageable lifestyle shifts. The container theory is absolutely life-changing!"
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by Dennis Duncan
Most of us give little thought to the back of the book—it’s just where you go to look things up. But as Dennis Duncan reveals in this delightful and witty history, hiding in plain sight is an unlikely realm of ambition and obsession, sparring and politicking, pleasure and play. Here, for the first time, is the secret world of the index: an unsung but extraordinary everyday tool, with an illustrious but little-known past. Charting its curious path from the monasteries and universities of thirteenth-century Europe to Silicon Valley in the twenty-first, Duncan uncovers how it has saved heretics from the stake, kept politicians from high office, and made us all into the readers we are today.
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BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS - paperback |
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FICTION
New and Favorites in Paperback!
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by Anita Kelly
Recently divorced and on the verge of bankruptcy, Dahlia Woodson is ready to reinvent herself on the popular reality competition show Chef’s Special. Too bad the first memorable move she makes is falling flat on her face, sending fish tacos flying—not quite the fresh start she was hoping for. Still, she's focused on winning, until she meets someone she might want a future with more than she needs the prize money. Bookseller Genavieve says "All the drama of a cooking show with the absolute sweetest love story. Yes please!"
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by Juneau Black
Bookseller Katrina says "The little town of Shady Hollow is a lovely place for all of the creatures living there, until a murder upends the quiet nature of those lives. Vera Vixen, star reporter, is determined to find out what happened, exposing some dark town secrets. Murder has never been more charming than in this story of the animals of Shady Hollow banding together to solve a crime. Truly delightful! "
is available now!
comes out 4/26/22
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by Joseph O'Connor
Set during the golden age of West End theater in a lamp-lit London shaken by the crimes of Jack the Ripper, Shadowplay is a gripping novel of love, celebrity, and ambition by New York Times best-selling author, Joseph O'Connor. Bookseller Ken says "Henry Irving's Lyceum Theatre in London circa 1870s is the setting for this fine novel. Perfect for "theatre geeks" like me. Bram Stoker (Dracula) turns up as the manager of the theatre. And famous actress Ellen Terry is part of the company."
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NONFICTION
New and Favorites in Paperback!
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by Erik Larson
On Winston Churchill’s first day as prime minister, Adolf Hitler invaded Holland and Belgium. Poland and Czechoslovakia had already fallen, and the Dunkirk evacuation was just two weeks away. It was up to Churchill to hold his country together and persuade President Franklin Roosevelt that Britain was a worthy ally—and willing to fight to the end. Erik Larson shows, in cinematic detail, how Churchill taught the British people “the art of being fearless.”
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by Matthew Gavin Frank
For nearly eighty years, a huge portion of coastal South Africa was closed off to the public. With many of its pits now deemed “overmined” and abandoned, American journalist Matthew Gavin Frank sets out across the infamous Diamond Coast to investigate an illicit trade that supplies a global market. Immediately, he became intrigued by the ingenious methods used in facilitating smuggling particularly, the illegal act of sneaking carrier pigeons onto mine property, affixing diamonds to their feet, and sending them into the air.
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by Kate Moore
1860: As the clash between the states rolls slowly to a boil, Elizabeth Packard, housewife and mother of six, is facing her own battle. The enemy sits across the table and sleeps in the next room. Her husband of twenty-one years is plotting against her because he feels increasingly threatened—by Elizabeth's intellect, independence, and unwillingness to stifle her own thoughts. So Theophilus makes a plan to put his wife back in her place. One summer morning, he has her committed to an insane asylum.
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BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS - kids/teen |
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by Deborah Marcero
This highly anticipated follow-up to the critically acclaimed and bestselling picture book In a Jar stars one little bunny dealing with some very big feelings. In this richly illustrated and universally relatable picture book, Llewellyn soon discovers that life is more colorful when he sets his emotions free. And only then, by facing and embracing each of his feelings, is he finally able to let them go.
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by Pam Fong
After a fire leaves the forest smoldering, a determined marmot and her resourceful bird friend set off on a rescue mission in this beautifully illustrated, wordless story. Perfect for teaching children to practice kindness while developing an appreciation for animals and the earth. With a little time, care, and hope we all can help the earth. Bookseller Toni loves this lovely picture book!
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by Alice B. McGinty
It's cleaning day, but the family cat will do anything to avoid getting a bath. So instead of mopping the floor or feeding the fish, the family is soon busy rocking the rug, vacuuming the lawn, and sweeping the dishes. Bouncy rhyme carries the story headlong into the growing hilarity, until finally Dad restores some kind of order—but will the cat avoid getting his whiskers wet?
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by Amanda Foody
The last thing Barclay Thorne ever wanted was an adventure. Thankfully, as an apprentice to the town’s mushroom farmer, Barclay need only work hard and follow the rules to one day become the head mushroom farmer himself. No danger required. But then Barclay accidentally breaks his town’s most sacred rule: never ever EVER stray into the Woods, for within the Woods lurk vicious magical Beasts. Bookseller Lizzy says "This book is such a fun adventure and included great characters and even better creatures!"
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by Onjali Q. Rauf
Getting in trouble is what Hector does best. He knows that not much is expected of him. In fact, he gets some of his most brilliant prank ideas while sitting in detention. But how far is too far? When Hector plays a prank on a homeless man and is seen and shamed by a schoolmate, he reaches a turning point. He wants to be viewed differently and decides to do something that will change his fate for the better. But will anyone take him seriously?
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by Avi
When his father is killed by rebel vigilantes, Noah flees with his family to Boston. Intent on avenging his father, Noah becomes a spy for the British and firsthand witness to the power of partisan rumor to distort facts, the hypocrisy of men who demand freedom while enslaving others, and the human connections that bind people together regardless of stated allegiances. Noah must forge his own understanding of right and wrong and determine for himself where his loyalty truly lies.
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by Brigid Kemmerer
In a lush, contemporary fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Brigid Kemmerer gives readers another compulsively readable romance perfect for fans of Marissa Meyer.
Fall in love, break the curse.
Break the curse, save the kingdom.
Bookseller Grace says "Recommended to me by a friend- enemies to lovers, fantasy, a super quick read. One of my favorite books!"
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by Mariko Tamaki
Todd Mayer is dead. Now a ghost, hovering over his body, recently discovered in a snow covered park, naked and frozen. As detectives investigate Todd's homicide, talking to the very people linked to the events leading to his death, Todd replays the choice that led him to his end. Georgia didn't know Todd. But ever since she heard about his death, she can’t stop thinking about him. Told through the voices of Todd in his afterlife and Georgia as she uncovers the truth behind his death, Cold is an immersive, emotional, and provocative read.
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by Blue Delliquanti
When they were kids, Fassen’s fighter spaceship crash-landed on a planet that Lu’s survey force was exploring. It was a forbidden meeting between a kid from a war-focused resistance movement and a kid whose community and planet are dedicated to peace and secrecy. Lu and Fassen are from different worlds and separate solar systems. But their friendship keeps them in each other’s orbit as they grow up. They stay in contact in secret as their communities are increasingly threatened by the omnipresent, ever-expanding empire.
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Upcoming events from our friends at Boswell Book Company! |
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In-Person at Boswell Book Company
Kelly Barnhill
Wednesday, March 9
6:30 pm
Join us for a very special in-person event when we host an evening with Newbery medalist Kelly Barnhill for her new novel, a fantasy that’s sure to be an instant classic about the power of generosity and love - and how a community suffers when they disappear. Best for readers age 10+.
Please note: masks are required for all attendees, of all ages, at all times. No food or drink allowed at Boswell during events. Speakers may be unmasked during presentations. You can order your copy of The Ogress and the Orphans right now, and personalization requests are available, too through Boswell Book Company.
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Emily St. John Mandel
Friends of the Milwaukee Public Library Spring Literary Luncheon
Thursday, April 14
12:00 pm
at the Wisconsin Club
900 West Wisconsin Ave
The Friends of the Milwaukee Public Library welcome Emily St John Mandel, author of bestselling novels such as Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel, for the 2022 Library Spring Literary Luncheon. Mandel will present her newest novel, Sea of Tranquility, a novel of art, time, love, and plague that takes the reader from Vancouver Island in 1912 to a dark colony on the moon five hundred years later, unfurling a story of humanity across centuries and space.
Ticket information coming soon.
Check back at www.boswellbooks.com/upcoming-events
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