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The Independent Voices
of Northshire Bookstore
Fall/Winter 2013/14
Northshire Bookstore
Manchester Center, Vermont
4869 Main St.
802.362.2200 ▶800.437.3700
Fax 802-362-1233
Saratoga Springs, New York
424 Broadway
518.682.4200 ▶855.339.5990
The Independent is produced by
the Northshire Bookstore Press
Corps. All prices are based on
current publishers' information
and are subject to change. We
apologize for any inconvenience
this might cause.
Co-Owners:
Chris, Barbara & Ed Morrow
Co-Editors: Louise Jones,
Kim Potter, Heather Bellanca
Children's Book Editor:
Jessica Wood
Design: Heather Bellanca
Photos: Heather Bellanca
Contributors: Jennifer Armstrong,
Martha Cornwell, Sarah Donner,
Alden Graves, Stan Hynds, Louise
Jones, Whitney Kaaz, Sarah Knight,
Chris Linendoll, Marika McCoola,
Paige Mushaw, Bonnie Naumann,
Maeve Noonan, Amy Palmer,
Ben Parker, Krysta Piccoli, Nancy
Scheemaker, Jeanette Sessions,
Tara Swahlan, Frances Tobia, Jessica
Wood, Debbi Wraga
= autographed books
The letters "pb" indicate
a title is in paperback; all
others are hardcover.
Printed on 100% Recycled Paper |
Happy Holidays! from the Morrow family and all the staff of
Northshire Bookstore.
As you probably know, we have expanded our fold this year
with the addition of a new store in Saratoga Springs, NY. We feel
fortunate to have joined such a caring, interesting and arts oriented
community.
The Saratoga store has also helped us re-appreciate the "mothership"
in Manchester, as it has come to be known. We are
confident the two stores will enrich and complement each
other and that there will be a good balance of author events
between them.
Opening a second store in this day and age is risky on many
levels, but we are more committed than ever to the value of the
printed word, to helping foster the love of reading in children
and to creating uplifting environments for people to discover
ideas, information and entertainment. If you share these goals,
please support us as you shop for gifts this holiday season. Books
make great presents! And, of course, we offer many unique gifts
and a whole world of fun goodies for kids as well.
Also, we hope you will participate in our Book Angel Program,
which gets books into the hands of youngsters who are not
fortunate enough to get them for the holidays. Just ask a bookseller
about this when you are in the store – it is easy, fun and
much appreciated.
Wishing you the best for the holidays,
Chris Morrow, Co-owner
CMorrow@northshire.com
Publish Independently with the Shires Press
You've written a book, now what? Shires Press at Northshire
Bookstore is here to help you independently
publish your book. We offer a variety of publishing
packages depending on your distribution goals. We
can provide perfect bound or hardcover books with
color covers and either color or black and white interior
pages. Just as our focus in the bookstore is on customer service, we bring the same dedication to our
printing services.
To learn more about the Shires Press
visit www.northshire.com or email
dwraga@northshire.com
• Debbi Wraga
|
Cover Illustration
My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Days of Christmas by Scott McKowen (all
ages). The illustrations that grace our cover and adorn the page numbers are from this
lovely clothbound book. The inspiration for this volume comes from the illustrator's
mother who silkscreened her own cards every holiday season. While a few liberties have
been taken this fresh approach is at once thoughtful and humorous. • Jessica Wood |
 |
How to Hide a Lion by Helen Stephens
(ages 4-8). An adorable, tender story
about friendship and loyalty that will soon
become a favorite picture book among
young readers. • Fran Tobia |
Walk This World by Jenny Broom, illustrated by Lotta Nieminen (ages 4-7). This composite of global cultures celebrates the similarities and
differences between people around the world. Travel to a new country
on every page, each with new surprises: peek through windows, open
doors and delve underground by opening the many flaps on every
spread. • Jessica Wood |
Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown
(ages 4-7). Mr. Tiger is bored with being
so proper all the time, so he decides to
let his wild side out. Will his overly proper
friends accept him? A fun story about
the joys of marching to the beat of your
own drum and maybe setting a few trends
along the way. • Krysta Piccoli |
Sophie Scott Goes South by Alison Lester (ages 6-9). Sophie Scott
is headed to Antarctica with her captain father. Along the way, she records
the sights, sounds and events in her diary, mixing narrative with illustrations
and photographs. A detailed record of a life-changing journey,
this picture book will transport readers of all ages.
• Marika McCoola |
Come Back Moon by David Kherdian,
illustrated by Nonny Hogrogrian (ages 3-7). A lovely tale of a very bright moon
and the bear who decides to steal it because
he cannot sleep in its fullness and
brightness. However, the other animals
miss the moon and the lovely glow that
helps them navigate the night.
• Jessica Wood |
The Silver Button by Bob Graham (ages 4-7). This entire book takes
place in a single moment as a child adds a silver button to a drawing, her
brother takes his first step, their mother plays a note from a penny whistle.
Graham illustrates the magic of a moment with
grace, kindness and an element of simplicity.
• Jessica Wood |
Mouse House Tales by Susan Pearson illustrated by
Amanda Shepherd (ages 5-8). The perfect introduction to
chapter books for young readers, with the perfect mix of text and
lovely illustrations for those who want to graduate from picture
books but still enjoy illustrations to help the story along. Mouse is
a most charming and welcoming character. • Jessica Wood |
The Fort that Jack Built by Boni Ashburn,
illustrated by Brett Helquist (ages 3 & up).
An exuberant tale of young Jack and his trials
maintaining the fort built with borrowed items.
With his trusty dog, Jack forges a castle that
is disassembled by his family - all but grandma who is more
than willing to share. • Jessica Wood |
 |
Maps by Aleksandra Mizielinska illustrated by Daniel
Mizielinska (ages 5 & up). A lavish, visual feast for
everyone! Places of historical and cultural interest,
eminent personalities, iconic animals and plants, borders,
cities, rivers and peaks from every region on
the planet. I highly recommend this absorbing volume;
you'll spend many hours discovering the world
we live in. • Jessica Wood |
The Animal Book by Steve Jenkins (ages 8
& up). This visual encyclopedia of life on Earth is a
wonder of a volume, starting with a comprehensive
Tree of Life, then launching into each classification
with exquisite photographs and simple text. The
perfect book for a child to get lost in on a snowy
day. • Jessica Wood |
The Greatest Dinosaur Ever by Brenda Z. Guiberson,
illustrated by Gennady Spirin (ages 3 & up). This is
an excellent first dinosaur book filled with fascinating
facts and spectacular illustrations that will inspire young
readers to choose their own favorite dinosaurs! • Jessica Wood |
How to Speak Dog: A Guide to Decoding
Dog Language by Aline Alexander Newman
and Gary Weitzman, DVM. (ages 8-12).
This easy-to-read guide fits in any dog-lover's
stocking. Learn about the "Scared Wag" - tail
high and stiff, just the end wagging - and more.
National Geographic's format has lovely color photos to
accompany each quick narrative. • Bonnie Winchester |
Lifetime: The Amazing Numbers in Animal Lives
by Lola M. Schaefer, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
(ages 5-8). Follow the lifespan of some amazing
animals and learn what makes them unique. Packed with
facts about the incredible feats that animals accomplish
in their lifetimes - in one lifetime a rattlesnake will add
40 beads to its rattle! • Whitney Kaaz |
Locomotive by Brian Floca (ages 6-9). Like the rails that
cut across the country, Locomotive transcends audiences.
Elementary learners love looking at the pictures. Sixth graders
will flip for the historical details. Science and history
teachers will scoop up the accurate and readable details.
Artists adore watercolor illustrations for perspective and
period lettering. Parents like the proven entertainment.
• Bonnie Winchester |
 |
Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell
(ages 8-12). Sophie's guardian,
who finds her floating in a cello case,
tells her never to ignore a possibility.
When the welfare agency threatens
to take her, Sophie ventures to
Paris to find her birth mother. She
befriends the Rooftoppers and
wild escapades ensue while she
evades the French police.
• Martha Cornwell |
Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated
Adventures by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated
by KG Campbell (ages 8-12). A run-in with a vacuum
cleaner grants Ulysses the squirrel
powers of super-strength, flight and
poetry. Flora witnesses Ulysses'
transformation and vows to help
him fight evil. DiCamillo shows the
value inherent in all people, and all
genres, with one quirky book.
• Marika McCoola |
Mister Max: The Book of Lost
Things: Mister Max 1 by Cynthia
Voigt (ages 8-12). Until Max can
discover what happened to his
missing parents he decides to become
Mister Max the Solutioneer,
helping people solve the trickiest
of problems. Raised by actors, he
easily fits into any disguise. Book
One of what promises to be an
exciting series. • Krysta Piccoli |
Fortunately, The Milk by Neil Gaiman, illustrated
by Skottie Young (ages 8-12). Who
knew running out of milk could be so adventurous???
What took you so long? asked the children.
In the time it takes father to run to the
corner store for some milk, aliens invade, pirates
swashbuckle and volcanoes erupt!
• Whitney Kaaz |
The Abominables by Eva Ibbotson (ages
8-12). Transporting five not-at-all-abominable
snowmen to a stately home in England is classic
Ibbotson. In this, her last novel (she died in
2010) the beloved author gives us a family of
gentle Yetis with Mt. Everest-sized personalities. If Ibbotson is new
to you, think Roald Dahl - but sweeter. • Jennifer Armstrong |

Zubel Saucy Girls ($37.99). We think
these sassy gals will appeal even to girls moving
beyond dolls.100% organic, beautifully
hand-crafted, knit figures. Made in the USA. |
Animation Studio. Punch-out
props, fold-out stage
sets & animation devices
– everything you need
to create stop-motion
pictures with your cell
phone or digital camera. |
Pom Pom Maker (ages 8 & up).
A fun craft kit with form & colorful, fluffy yarn
provided to learn to make pom poms. |
 |
Man Made Boy by Jon Skovron (ages
13 & up). Boy isn't your typical teen; his parents,
The Monster and Bride, want him to live with
those Frankensteins. He runs away and meets
the granddaughters of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,
who teach him what it means to be a human
and a monster. Hilarious, but some mature
themes and language. • Jeanette Sessions |
Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund
(ages 13 & up). This companion to
Darkness Shows the Stars explores a different
part of Peterfreund's masterfully created
world. Persis Blake has two identities: Albian
socialite and Wild Poppy - a mysterious figure who rescues Galatean
victims of genetic manipulation. Scarlet Pimpernel-inspired, this
unputdownable novel is equal parts sci-fi, dystopia and sweeping
epic.• Paige Mushaw |
Tandem: The Many-Worlds Trilogy, Book 1 by Anna Jarzab (ages 12 & up). Sasha Lawson wants to go on an epic adventure, like
those in her favorite books - until her longtime crush takes her to the
prom, and Sasha wakes up in a parallel world. An entirely original
concept, this will surely hook fans of dazzling science fiction stories.
• Paige Mushaw |
Jane, the Fox & Me by Fanny Britt,
illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
(ages 10-14). Bullied at school,
Helene escapes into Jane Eyre. On
a camping trip, as things seem to
be getting worse, Helene spots a
fox - and a friend. A beautifully illustrated
graphic novel of bullying
and how to find a way through it.
• Marika McCoola |
 |
Fifty Places to Ski and Snowboard
Before You Die: Downhill
Experts Share the World's Greatest
Destinations by Chris Santella. East coast, Rockies,
Alps, Andes and then some. This
book provides expert tips to the
best trails and backcountry to be
skied and ridden. Spectacular
photos.• Stan Hynds |
 Caffe Lena: Inside America's
Legendary Folk Music Coffeehouse by Jocelyn Arem. An
important historical and visual
record of the legendary Saratoga
coffeehouse and musical stage.
From its 1960 inception to the
present, Caffe Lena has hosted
most of the great folk musicians of
our time. Amazing photos galore.
• Stan Hynds |
Lonely Planet's Beautiful World. Travel to the world's most
majestic places with beautiful photographs
of wind-sculptured icebergs
in Antarctica, wildlife on the
move, volcanic eruptions, icecapped
mountains and other
natural wonders of the world. A
great gift for everyone from adventurers
to armchair travelers
and even yourself. • Sarah Knight |
 A Lifetime of Vermont People by Peter Miller. Miller's
exquisite photos are well known
from his previous books about
rural Vermonters. His latest includes
more than 200 photographs shot
during his 60 years as a photographer
profiling 60 residents of the
Green Mountain State.
• Stan Hynds |
All the Time in the World: A Book
of Hours by Jessica Kerwin Jenkins. In the Middle Ages readings
were done at certain times of day. With
more than 75 eclectic entries, here is
a modern version, describing such
practices as incense sniffing in 15th
century Japan to our interest in flaming
desserts. Entertaining and delightful.
• Sarah Knight |
802 Baseball Cap (Green &
pink, $16.99, available in Manchester
store only). Can you
imagine a hipper area code?!
Really make a statement &
choose the pink version. |
 |
One Good Dish by David Tanis. James
Beard nominee and Alice Waters associate, Tanis
makes beautiful cookbooks. His latest offers 100
recipes showcasing his unique version of comfort
food. From a chapter called "Bread Makes a Meal"
(ham and Gruyere bread pudding) to a chapter
on cast iron skillet cooking, this is a book that stirs
cravings. • Stan Hynds |
Elizabeth David on Vegetables by Elizabeth David. Elizabeth
David revolutionized British cooking
with her writings on Mediterranean
food. Collected here, for
the first time, are all of her vegetable
recipes. Includes essays, anecdotes
and full color photography.
• Stan Hynds |
The Art of Simple Food II: Recipes,
Flavor, and Inspiration from
the New Kitchen Garden by Alice
Waters. Chez Panisse
founder Alice Waters follows up
her now-classic The Art of Simple
Food with a new cookbook centering
on her "plant-forward way of
cooking." Seasonality, sourcing and
good ingredients are highlighted
in this new collection of flavorful,
nourishing recipes. • Stan Hynds |
Pasta Modern: New and Inspired
Recipes from Italy by
Francine Segan. The newest,
hippest pasta dishes from Italian
food bloggers, home cooks and
fancy pasta makers. The 100 recipes
have easy to follow directions, ranging
from simple and elegant to
complex, with recipes for vegans
and vegetarians too. Beautifully
photographed. • Sarah Knight |
The Essential Scratch and Sniff Guide to
Becoming a Wine Expert by Richard Betts. It is, in fact, what it is. Be brave. Get it. (Get
two - one for yourself, one to give.) Be braver.
Take it into the wine aisle. A master sommelier,
Betts (not the guitarist), is legit. • Stan Hynds |
Books as Art T-Shirts ($38.99). Litographs creates art
from the books you've read & loved. Posters, t-shirts &
tote bags are all created entirely from the text of classic
books by artists from all over the world. From a distance,
the artwork illustrates a theme, character or setting from
each book. Move closer & the text becomes fully legible. |
Fieldstone Food Slab (various sizes $50-$65). Impressive serving platters do justice to wonderful artisanal cheeses. Harvested from the earth's surface on small New England farms. |
Round or Square Boiled Wool Coasters ($5.99). Ecofriendly and superabsorbent besides bringing splashes of intense color to the party. Mix & match colors & shapes for more fun. |
Bobo's Mountain Sugar (1/2 pt–qt. $9.99–$25.98). AKA Vermont maple syrup (Grade A, dark amber) collected & bottled in the mountains of Vermont with labels signed & dated by the bottlers, including Northshire's own Chris Morrow & family. |
 |
Superman: A Celebration of 75
Years. The perfect gift to
help celebrate Superman's 75th
Anniversary. A collection of stories
spanning 1938 to 2012 from a
variety of authors and artists -
Jerry Siegel, Joe
Shuster, Grant
Morrison to
Alex Ross.
• Ben Parker |
Pogo Vol. 3: Evidence to the
Contrary by Walt Kelly.
Fantagraphics continues
their beautiful collections
of Walt Kelly's Pogo.
This volume contains all the
daily strips for 1953-1954,
includes all 104 Sunday
strips in color and introduces
Simple J. Malarkey.
• Ben Parker |
RASL by Jeff Smith. After
waking up in a world that's notquite-
right, RASL takes readers on
a thrill-ride art heist through multiple
dimensions. Although an almost
complete departure from
Smith's previous series, and not
quite as family friendly as earlier
books, RASL cements Smith's place
among the top of the list in independent
comics. • Chris Linendoll |
 |
The Prince of Risk by Christopher Reich. New York hedge fund
manager Bobby Astor discovers a sinister plot to attack the United
States from two directions. Our financial system is about to be demolished
while New York is attacked by a group of mercenaries. Astor investigates
and what he finds makes an entertaining read. • Sarah Knight |
Just One Evil Act by Elizabeth George. This long, complex novel
of passion and betrayal sends Scotland Yard's DI Thomas Lynley and
later, DS Barbara Havers to Italy searching for a kidnapped child, daughter
of Havers' neighbor Taymullah Azhar. Naturally, Havers disregards
all protocol. George creates some vivd new characters, British and Italian,
in a thoroughly enjoyable mystery. • Louise Jones |
 Three Can Keep a Secret by Archer
Mayor. Tropical Storm Irene tears
through Mayor's 24th mystery, as Joe Gunther's
team chases after an escaped mental patient,
investigates a retirement home murder and
discovers an empty coffin excavated by the
storm – the solutions complicated by old
family secrets and past crimes. Another winner
from Mayor. • Louise Jones |
Critical Mass by Sara Paretsky. V. I.
Warshawski, the intrepid Chicago private
detective, traces a missing woman for a friend but encounters danger
when the case resurrects old animosities from the early development
of atomic weapons in the US and Nazi Germany. Intriguing characters
populate a complex story and threaten V. I. and those she loves.
• Louise Jones |
Tatiana: An Arkady Renko Novel by Martin
Cruz Smith. Renko sees a connection
between the death of investigative reporter
Tatiana Petrovna and the death of a rich mob
figure. Did Tatiana jump or was she thrown
off of her balcony? As he investigates, Renko
finds the new Russia is just as corrupt as the
old Russia. • Sarah Knight |
POETRY
Aimless Love: New and Selected Poems by Billy Collins.
Dip into this marvelous collection and, no matter what your
frame of mind, you'll find a poem to revive, amuse, challenge,
delight – written plainly, thoughtfully, with stunning imagination.
Fifty new poems and favorites from four previous collections
by our two-time Poet Laureate. • Louise Jones |
 |
Confronting the Classics: Traditions, Adventures and Innovations by
Mary Beard. An enlightening and entertaining look at the sacred,
sanctified and often sanctimonious Halls Of The Classics. I truly enjoyed the
research and the readability of this book, but what was wonderful was the
wry humor. Yes! The Classics and their study are still valid. • Maeve Noonan |
Princesses Behaving
Badly: Real Stories
from History without
the Fairy-Tale Endings by Linda Rodriguez
McRobbie. It's
not all fairytales when
you're a princess.
You've heard some of
their stories, some
you've not, but you'll
be amused, shocked
and enlightened by
them. These women,
who history mostly or
conveniently forgot,
rocked the boat, and
therefore, they rock!
• Sarah Donner |
Heretics and Heroes:
How Renaissance Artists
and Reformation
Priests Created Our
World by Thomas Cahill. The sixth volume
in Cahill's Hinges of
History series shows
how remarkable changes
in art, religion, science
and politics transformed
Western Europe. Erudite
yet eminently readable,
witty yet thoroughly
researched. By the
author of How the Irish
Saved Civilization.
• Louise Jones |
 The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard
Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism by Doris Kearns
Goodwin. Roosevelt used his "bully pulpit" to initiate
the Progressive Era with the help of the "muckraking" press.
But his friend Taft compromised it all when he succeeded
Teddy. Another outstanding examination of a critical time
in US history by a superior historian.
• Louise Jones |
Dallas 1963 by Bill Minutaglio and Steven L. Davis. A devastating portrait of the city where JFK
was murdered - bastion of right wing extremism
and paranoia nurtured and enflamed by the richest
man in America; an unstable, vengeful former
general; and the publisher of the city's largest
newspaper. A traumatic, tragic event recreated in
harrowing detail. • Alden Graves |
Book of Ages: The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin by Jill Lepore.
A woman only known through her correspondence with brother Benjamin,
Jane Franklin was poorly educated but smart and opinionated. Her letters
and memorabilia, some newly discovered, show a rich side of 18th century
America little documented, in this fascinating book by a masterful historian.
• Louise Jones |
The War that Ended
Peace: The Road to
1914 by Margaret
MacMillan. A rich,
engrossing narrative
portrayal of Europe
1900-1914: the tangled
relationships, both
familial and ideological,
among those who
sought peace and the
warmongers, the
changing alliances and
the slow-moving inevitability
of WWI. Magnificent.
• Louise Jones |
The Girl Who Sang to
the Buffalo: A Child,
an Elder, and a Light
from the Ancient Sky by Kent Nerburn. This compelling
mystery reveals the fate
of a Lakota girl with mystical
connection to animals
who disappeared
from an Indian boarding
school. A gentle, profound,
insightful exposure
to the magical lifeways
and spiritual world
of the Lakota.
• Nancy Scheemaker |
CALENDARS Just
a sampling of the variety of
inspired calendars for every
taste & interest. Functional
art in the form of wall, desk,
page-a-day, Vermont Life &
engagement calendars. |
Lonely Planet A Fork In the Road by James Oseland. A celebration of food by 34 writers and chefs recalling favorite meals and the people they dined with. Featuring such authors as Madhur Jaffrey and Frances Mayes, this book is about eating everything - from a feast at an Indian wedding to a Twinkie. • Sarah Knight |
 This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann
Patchett. The accomplished novelist and
memoirist offers glimpses into her life and the circuitous
route by which she became a writer. Patchett
examines her commitments, from childhood to
the present: to the hard work and joy of her craft,
family, friendships and books. An emotionally resonant
portrait. • Amy Palmer |
Buddha Snow Globe. Contemplate
the snow-like sparkles settling
around a peaceful
gold or crystal Buddha
encased in an orb of glass. |
Qing Gardens Vase
3D Puzzle. The
Metropolitan Museum
of Art has created this
160 piece jigsaw puzzle
that includes a stand & inner
cup for use as a vase
once assembled. Plastic. 9
7/8'' high when assembled. |
Little Birds ($18.99 ea.,
available in Manchester store
only). Henrietta Glass
hand sculpts these sweet
treasures from molten glass. |
 |
The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan. This epic novel, set
during the end of the Ching dynasty and the early 20th century, traverses
the powerful, often devastating relationship between Violet
Minturn, half Chinese and half American, and her American mother. Tan
evokes 40 years of Chinese and American culture and history with vital
characters, colorful locales. • Louise Jones |
The Rosie Project by
Graeme Simsion.
A brilliant debut novel.
When a genetics professor
on the Asperger's
spectrum launches
the Wife Project, he
creates a test to find
the perfect mate. But
what he finds is not
what he expected. This
is a quirky, sweet and
utterly enjoyable novel of a truly contemporary
romance. • Marika McCoola |
We Are Water by
Wally Lamb.
Artist Annie Oh
astounds her family
when she leaves
her psychologist
husband and three
children after a 27-
year marriage for
another woman, a
wealthy, influential
New York art dealer. Their impending wedding
is the catalyst for revealing layers of
generational trauma and for the family to
move toward hope and healing.
• Amy Palmer |
Quiet Dell by Jayne
Anne Phillips. Phillips'
astonishing imagination
and lyrical writing
infuse this novel
with an other-worldliness,
despite its subject:
the facts surrounding
the 1931
trial of a serial killer
who preyed on widows.
The singular fictional characters, lovely and
independent in life and death, will haunt you
well after the last page. • Louise Jones |
The Goldfinch by
Donna Tartt.
Theo is tragically left
an orphan when his
mother dies in an
accident. The reader
is consumed by
his choices as he attempts
to live his life
without a reliable
role model and
forced to evaluate
the consequences of that fateful day. Riveting
with exquisite detail, this is a different kind
of page-turner. • Tara Swahlan |
Longbourn by Jo
Baker. A vivid
reimagining of Pride
and Prejudice with
brilliant characters that
complement the original
and dramatic descriptions
of life during
the Regency. Mrs.
Bennet focuses on
marriages for her
daughters while Mrs. Hill keeps Longbourn
running. When a new manservant
arrives, a love story
begins; the servants' quarters
will never be the
same. • Martha Cornwell |
The Last Man
Standing by Davide
Longo.
With Italy torn by
violence, a writer
attempts to reach
safety in France
with his daughter
and her half-brother,
but they fall victim
to a vicious cult
and its psychopathic
leader. Interludes of emotional potency
alternate with nightmarish visions of the future
in this remarkably powerful work by a noted
Italian author. • Alden Graves |
 |
Wonder of Wonders:
A Cultural History of
Fiddler on the Roof by
Alisa Solomon. The origins,
evolution and triumph of the musical play, this is a
fascinating chronicle of the long metamorphosis
from Sholem Aleichem's endearing stories to a work
of uplifting theatrical art, both born out of suffering
and continual displacement. • Alden Graves |
The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room,
the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made by Greg
Sestero and Tom Bissell. It was a shameless
exercise in self indulgence by a man whose incompetence
was boundless. Of course, it became a cult
movie favorite. Sestero, one of the actors, offers a
unique perspective on the film's wacky evolution.
• Alden Graves |
Making Masterpiece: 25 Years Behind the
Scenes at Masterpiece Theatre and Mystery!
on PBS by Rebecca Eaton. Eaton, who has
been head of Masterpiece Theater for more than
25 years, reveals personal and behind-the-scenes
anecdotes and interviews many of the writers, directors,
producers and other contributors to the classic
program. A must for PBS fans. • Stan Hynds |
Eminent Hipsters by Donald Fagen. The
enigmatic co-founder of the band Steely Dan writes
about childhood influences (science fiction books,
late-night radio), college, jazz and R&B. Part memoir,
part criticism and, somehow not surprisingly, not
much Steely Dan. A trippy read. • Stan Hynds |
 |
Quartet ($29.98 dvd). Dustin Hoffman directed
this irresistible (the only word for it) film about
the residents of a retirement home for musicians and
singers. Another priceless performance by Maggie Smith,
matched by Tom Courtenay, Pauline
Collins, Billy Connelly and Michael Gambon. Testimony to the
catharsis of forgiveness and the refusal to surrender to the years. • Alden Graves |
What Maisie Knew ($29.98 combo pack blu ray & dvd). A six year-old
becomes the ping-pong ball in a bitterly fought match between her self-absorbed
parents. A beautifully acted contemporary adaptation of the Henry James novel, with
never a false or mawkishly sentimental note; the powerful emotion it evokes in the
viewer is honestly earned. • Alden Graves |
100% Cashmere Scarves ($32.99). Made
in Scotland where there's a long tradition for
finding warmth. A wonderfully indulgent gift
for yourself or another ~ in a varied collection
of warm colorways.
NOTE Stop in the Manchester
store to browse through scarves in
all kinds of fabrics, colors & weights. |
‛Tis the Season! Check off all your holiday decoration
needs ~ from candles to Christmas crackers,
greeting cards to gift cards, ribbon, wrap, bags &
tags & a tree decked with a myriad of festive
& fun ornaments ~ at both stores. |
BOOK ANGEL PROGRAM Give the gift of reading to hundreds of Manchester area children.
Each year local schools provide the Bookstore with a list of first
names, ages and interests of children who might benefit from
the gift of a new book. We hang paper angels on our Book Angel
Tree in the Vermont store relaying this information. You may select
one or more angels and purchase a book, or books, suited to each
child. Or simply make a monetary Book Angel donation. We wrap
and deliver the books to the schools before the holidays. Northshire
Bookstore donates one book for every five given by customers. |
Gift Cards are perfect for hard-to-shop-for people on your list. There's no expiration date & the card can be used online, too. |
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