BookEnds’ Book Group
Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 07:00 PM

Former members of the store’s book group are resurrecting the hottest club in town. Join the group, back from a brief recess, as they discuss The Garden of the Finzi-Continis by Giorgio Bassani. This love story was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film and is a moving portrait about the plight of Jews in prewar Italy....More

Children’s Author Valarie Giogas
Sunday, November 18, 2007 at 01:30 PM- 2:30 pm

The Burlington, MA author is coming to BookEnds for a reading and a book signing. A number and concept picture book for young children, In My Backyard is about creatures that creep and crawl, run and hide, and might very well be in your own back yard. After the reading, there will also be an activity for children that relates to Ms. Giogas’ delightful book....More

Author Frank Delaney
Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at 07:00 PM

The author of Ireland, a well-reviewed historical novel, has just written a new book, Tipperary. Delaney himself is a native of Tipperary, and this story again enlivens Irish history with a much less sprawling plot. Set at the turn of the century, readers will fall in love with the main character and the lore that accompanied the emergence of a nation.

Some might say that October is the best month in New England the muggy days of summer are replaced with the crisp and colorful days of autumn, and the blistering cold days of winter are not even imaginable. We at BookEnds value this season for its literary excitement: the best of the best are debuting their novels as the holidays slowly creep closer. Russo and Patchett, Tavares and Willems these are just a few of the great authors who have just published new books. Below are some of our featured favorites, but come in soon to find a book that complements this wonderful season of glorious weather....More

Beverly writes: A Monk Jumped Over a Wall by Jay Nussbaum is a fun read in the Grisham category of writing with some humorous overtones. A paperback original, it takes place in both Boston and New York. A young lawyer climbing up the corporate ladder finds himself sympathetic to a young couple being forced out of their home by his firm. He reveals to them ways to avoid this loss but, in doing so, compromises his job and his future as a lawyer. The characters are well drawn and the ethical dilemmas they face are both amusing and thought-provoking. I especially enjoyed the insights into Eastern philosophy and martial arts.

Dede writes: Breakfast with Buddha (1565125525) is the latest novel from one of our favorite writers, Roland Merullo. Those of you who heard him speak last fall in connection with the Winchester Reads project know that he is a deeply thoughtful and serious person. I found his new novel to be both funny and profound—a neat trick if you can do it. The reader follows Otto, a middle-aged, successful and happy editor in New York on a road trip to North Dakota with an unlikely passenger, Volya Rinpoche, who wants to start a Buddhist retreat in the middle of farm country. Initially resisiting the charm and simple magnetism of the guru, Otto finds that many of his unspoken qualms and questions about life and spirituality are answered by the end of the journey. Along the way, they have what Rinpoche calls "American fun"—including miniature golf and bowling. Otto is introduced to meditation, and there is a hilarious yoga session which actually helps him. This is a must-read.
...More

Frank Delaney’s new novel is Tipperary (1400065232). Delaney is a native of Tipperary, knows the area intimately and brings it to life in this compelling story. The narrator finds a memoir of a man named Charles O’Brien in an old trunk and leads the reader through his life. Can we believe his stories of meeting Oscar Wilde on his deathbed, of being helped by Yeats and of his part in destroying the reputation of Parnell? And what of the long love story between O’Brien and Alice Burke, the enigmatic Englishwoman who inherits a vast estate in Tipperary? Not least, who is the narrator? Irish secrets and tales carry the day as told in Delaney’s rich and resonant Irish voice.

Author Frank Delaney
Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at 07:00 PM

The author of Ireland, a well-reviewed historical novel, has just written a new book, Tipperary. Delaney himself is a native of Tipperary, and this story again enlivens Irish history with a much less sprawling plot. Set at the turn of the century, readers will fall in love with the main character and the lore that accompanied the emergence of a nation.

Some might say that October is the best month in New England the muggy days of summer are replaced with the crisp and colorful days of autumn, and the blistering cold days of winter are not even imaginable. We at BookEnds value this season for its literary excitement: the best of the best are debuting their novels as the holidays slowly creep closer. Russo and Patchett, Tavares and Willems these are just a few of the great authors who have just published new books. Below are some of our featured favorites, but come in soon to find a book that complements this wonderful season of glorious weather....More

Hank Phillippi Ryan, the Emmy-winning investigative reporter for Boston’s Channel 7, has written a fast-moving and tense mystery with Face Time (0373881436), just out in paperback. Charlie (Charlotte McNally) has the same kind of job as our Hank, and the setting is Boston. This reporter is in her mid-forties and fears for her job as “the camera adds ten pounds and ten years.” (We should all look so good). She finds herself in the middle of an investigation involving a woman unjustly jailed for murder, and there are bad guys galore. There is much fascinating background information about television news, and Ryan tells the tale with high-powered energy....More

Alice writes: My father, over the last decade, has taken to alternating his reading between nonfiction and John Grisham’s books. I rarely read Grisham, so I decided to try out his newest, Playing for Pizza (0385525001). In the same vein as Skipping Christmas, Grisham tells a humorous story not focused on lawyers but instead a third-string quarterback. Rick Dockery, disgraced after his play in the AFC Championships for the Cleveland Browns, takes off to Italy where he plays for the Parma Panthers. There he becomes immersed in the Italian culture, wooed by the food, the people and the customs. A sweet and charming tale, it’s not stunningly artful but a gentle novel that will appeal to fans of Mitch Albom....More

I have discovered, in Jeffrey Lent, an author whose writing has inspired me to seek out his other novels. Visiting The Harvard Bookstore recently, I was drawn to his newest story, A Peculiar Grace (0871139650), and raced over to BookEnds to get myself a copy. His style mimics the characters he describes in a tale about a hermetic blacksmith who takes in a vagrant, psychologically-troubled girl named Jessica. Hewitt, a middle-aged Vermonter, has spent more than two decades recovering from a broken heart as he spends his days molding prized pieces of art. Moving back and forth in time, the novel unleashes a tale about the healing power of love and art as Hewitt wrestles with the demons of his past and subconsciously tries to make Jessica whole....More

Marilyn writes: I suppose I ought to admit to a bit of bias. I’ve been a fan of Eric Clapton’s music for many years and was very excited about the publication of Clapton: The Autobiography (038551851X), written, of course, by Eric Clapton. I wasn’t disappointed. Longtime fans of Clapton will be familiar with the outline of his life—growing up with his grandparents, his musical influences, his affair with Patti Boyd Harrison, his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction and the tragic death of his five-year old son, Connor. What makes this book so wonderful, even to someone who knows much of the story, is Clapton’s voice telling the tales, the detail and depth, and the happy ending. He seems to have beaten his demons, passed his trials, and be living his happily-ever-after. I’ve heard the book referred to as a story of redemption, and I’d agree. Clapton’s story is fascinating, hopeful and inspiring....More

Judy H. writes: Henry the Dog With No Tail (1416916148) is a picture book written by Kate Feiffer and illustrated by her father, Jules Feiffer, the famous editorial cartoonist. The star of this book, Henry, is based on the author’s real life dog of the same name—an Australian Shepherd, a tail-less breed of dog. Henry is quite sad because all his canine friends have wonderful tails, tails that can do tricks, that can twist and curl. The book chronicles Henry’s exploits in getting a tail and his ultimate realization that he doesn’t need a tail. By the end of the book, Henry is satisfied with no tail and thinks, “My days of having a tail are behind me.” This is a delightful book to read to your child....More

Annie’s War (0802853250) by Jacqueline Sullivan tells the story of 11-year old Annie Howard. World War II ended over a year ago, but the war still has an enormous impact on Annie and her family. Annie’s dad, Captain Eddie Howard, was missing in action and has still not been found. Her father’s brother, Uncle Billy, has been profoundly affected by his war experience and returns home an embittered, bigoted, confused young man. Annie recuperates from an appendix operation at her grandmother’s and sees for the first time the ugly face of prejudice when her grandmother rents a room in her house to a young black woman. Through her imaginary chats with President Harry Truman, Annie is able to help her uncle, and she and her family are eventually reunited. This is an excellent historical fiction book which shows the older elementary reader the impact of war and prejudice....More

Click (0439411386) is a very unusual novel for the middle and high school reader. It is one novel written by ten famous authors including David Almond, Eoin Colfer, Roddy Doyle and Greg Maguire. Each author writes a chapter centering around the life and family of the noted photo-journalist, George Keane. When Keane dies, he leaves his granddaughter, Maggie, a box; inside are 7 other boxes, each containing a seashell. He leaves his grandson, Jason, autographed photos of celebrities. Each author writes about this family, delving into Keane’s adventures as a photo-journalist or his grandchildren dealing with his death and legacy. I found this book fascinating, for it allows the reader to easily see the difference in writing styles and the impact that style has on the narrative. An extra bonus to this book is that all the proceeds from it go to Amnesty International. ...More

Pat writes: Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner, and BookEnds has many children’s titles from which to choose. Gail Gibbons’ Thanksgiving is… (0823419797) is perfect for the preschool and kindergarten aged child, giving the history and background for this American holiday. Simple and clear with clean and colorful illustrations, it is a nice read-aloud story that is great to share before and during the Thanksgiving celebration....More

It’s Thanksgiving (0688004423) by Jack Prelutsky is a Level 3 Beginning Reader with Thanksgiving poems that cover everything from the Thanksgiving Day parade to Daddy’s Football Game and leftovers. This collection is fun to read with the whole family as they recover from the Thanksgiving feast....More

Eileen Spinelli’s The Perfect Thanksgiving (0312375050) is about two different families celebrating Thanksgiving. At Abigail Archer’s house, “Their turkey is plump and golden. Their napkins are made of lace.” In the narrator’s house, “Our smoke alarm is wailing. Our turkey is burnt as toast.” Despite the differences in the holiday celebrations, “we’re alike in one way, the nicest way by far—alike in just how loving our different families are.” This book has a great Thanksgiving message....More

Marilyn writes: For elementary school readers, Alia M. tells us that Igraine the Brave (0439903793) by Cornelia Funke “is a magical story about Igraine, who lives in a family of magicians, but wishes to be a knight. Then Osmund the Greedy comes and attempts to destroy Igraine’s home and steal her parent’s books of magic. When Igraine’s parents are transformed, she must go on a quest to change her parents back to normal. Igraine the Brave is a fantasy/adventure book for boys and girls ages 9 and up. The story by best-selling author Cornelia Funke is sure not to disappoint!”...More

Elsa D. recommends, for middle school readers, Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry’s Peter and the Secret of Rundoon (0786837888). She writes that the authors, “…will delight all who read this final action-packed installment in the Starcatchers trilogy…[R]eaders can expect to be stuck on the edge of their seats as they ‘fly’ through this unrelenting action and adventure novel with unexpected twists and turns along the way. Fans of the series will not be let down; neither will newcomers: all will be enchanted by this amazing explanation to Peter’s existence, his mysterious past and his legendary future. Definitely a five-star book!!!”

For older middle school and high school readers, Stephanie S. reviewed 13 Reasons Why (1595141715) by Jay Asher. She writes, “Hannah Baker was the apple of Clay Jensen’s eye. He loved her even though they barely even spoke. But then she did the unthinkable; she committed suicide. He is confused and lost until he receives a set of tapes in an unmarked package. Through these tapes, she explains the thirteen reasons why she committed suicide and the thirteen people who influenced that…I loved this book. It was so sad and riveting that I couldn’t put it down. This author is an incredible storyteller.”...More