Blog

A novel you have to read!

By michele on September 25, 2010 | Add a Comment

I had never read any book by David Grossman before.  But I HAD to read his latest novel, TO THE END OF THE LAND, when I got an advanced reader's copy in the mail with a glowing blurb from one of my favorite writers, Nicole Krauss. I'm really glad I picked the book up. I found myself in an immense, sprawling novel that beautifully addresses issues of love and war.  Here's an excerpt from my review for The Book Studio: 

"To the End of the Land" is about the darkest moments in life; torture and heartbreak and despair. Yet it’s also about reconciliation and recognition.  It’s a powerful and important novel that expertly shows the all-too-human side of war.

You can read more of my short review here. 

 The Time Traveler's Wife was an amazing book filled with sadness and happiness. I would consider it one of my favorite books. After I read The Time Traveler's Wife, I read the classic book, Catcher in the Rye. The book is about a boy named Holden who spends three days in New York City. It talks about all of his adventures and memorial experiences. The Catcher in the Rye is a fast read, and definitely a book worth reading!

Charlie St. Cloud is the book I am currently reading. It has an amazing plot and right away you fall in love with the book, and the wonderful relationship between two brothers. My next book is another classic, Lord of the Flies! I’ll tell you how I liked it next week!

Keep on reading!

Dzanc Books Independent Bookstore Program: RiverRun Bookstore is the first featured store!

By michele on August 21, 2010 | Add a Comment

We're thrilled that Dzanc Books, a fantastic publisher of literary fiction, has started a wonderful new program for both readers and independent bookstores. RiverRun Bookstore is the first bookstore to be featured!

From August 15th to September 15th, if you purchase a book of literary fiction at our bookstore and then mail your receipt and flier we give you to Dzanc, they will donate one of their books to a library of your choice. 

Additionally, if you decide to sign up for one of their fabulous Dzanc Creative Writing Sessions, $5 of the registration fee will go to Seacoast Local.

Yesterday afternoon, I read a new favorite book of mine called Sarah’s Key. This wonderful book is about a ten-year-old Jewish girl named Sarah who lives in France. When the police come banging on the door to take Sarah and her family to the Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup, Sarah locks her little brother in their secret hiding place to keep him safe. She promises to come back for him, and takes the key with her to the roundup. Sixty years later, a woman named Julia Jarmond is a journalist writing an article on this horrific event. She soon finds out about Sarah, and is instantly drawn to her. Julia makes surprising discoveries on Sarah’s life that link them together, and will change Julia’s life forever! 

Sarah’s Key is an amazing book and I would rate it 5+ stars! My next book is The Time Travelers Wife. 

Keep on reading!

I Heart Lily King’s FATHER OF THE RAIN: or, How A Bookseller in Colorado Almost Inadvertently Killed Me

By liberty on July 28, 2010 | Add a Comment

As I mentioned in my last blog post, I am a HUGE fan of Twitter. It was on Twitter last year that I met Joe B. Foster, my personal book guru. A super-smart, fantastically sardonic bookseller in Colorado, Joe has never let me down with a book recommendation. I blindly follow all of his suggestions. But, a few months ago, I balked at one of his picks.

“Father of the Rain, by Lily King,” he told me. Now, I had heard good things about King’s first two books, but had not read her myself.

So I looked the book up. It’s the story of Daley and her alcoholic father, and the affect their relationship has on her, both as a child, and an adult. While I was sure Joe was right about it being good, admittedly, this did not sound like the usual kind of book I read. I like dark and twisted.

“Hmmmm,” I thought, “No murder. No anthropomorphic animals. No pictures. I’m not sure.”