Best of the Year: Best Books to Give to Kids...

Recommending great books to give to kids is challenging for me. I don't have kids, I don't know a lot of kids, and I don't really read too many kids books. A picture book will often catch my eye, but if a customer is looking for a book for an 11-year-old who reads above their grade level, I might have a problem. Fortunately, we have a GREAT children's book buyer who makes sure we have a wonderful variety to choose from. Then there are lists like this on the internet that really help me narrow it down:

Best Books to Give to Kids...Even Those You Don't Know Very Well
From the EarlyWord blog.

Best of the Year: Best Film Books for 2010

Sadly, not everybody is a reader and a book lover. I know, I know--how can that BE? It is true, however. That's when those of us who are book lovers need to find ways to present our friends and family with gifts that promote reading through their other interests. Sure, you could just buy that movie lover a boxed set of their favorite movies, but why not a book about their favorite director or actor? Aha... Here's a great list from the Huffington Post to give you some ideas in that direction:

Best Film Books for 2010

You're going have to supply the popcorn yourself, though.

Best of the Year: The Daily Beast Holiday Book Guide

I like this list from the Daily Beast because it is not the usual cast of characters. If you're looking for a really nice book for someone who would like something a little different, one of these titles may just hit the spot. I am especially enamored of the hardcover, annotated edition of Pride and Prejudice. It's sort of like pop-up video for literature, but when the book is so well-loved I don't mind the side trips.

The Daily Beast Holiday Book Guide

Best of the Year: O Magazine's Top 10 Books of 2010

I'll say this for Oprah: she has done great work to promote reading and books, and has certainly helped bookstores survive. For this reason, I present to you the list of the Top 10 Books of 2010 from O Magazine. Read on, Oprah.

O Magazine's Top 10 Books of 2010

Best of the Year: NYT 100 Notable Books of the Year

There is no shortage of good books in the world to present as gifts. The New York Times has narrowed it down to their 100 Notable Books of the Year. I guess it's not the "best" or their "faviorites" or event "bestselling"--but you should at least take note.

The NYT Notable 100

Book Brahmin: Christian Wiman

I always love Shelf Awareness's "Book Brahmin" interviews with authors. This week S.A. spoke with Christian Wiman, the editor of "Poetry" magazine. He has a new book of poetry out, "Every Riven Thing." He also offers some great recommendations for poetry-lovers.

Book Brahmin: Christian Wiman

Enjoy!

--Mica

November 2010 Poetry Magazine

Christian Wiman

Trending: #FridayReads

I love a good resource for book recommendations, and I just saw this in Shelf Awareness this morning. I don't Tweet on Twitter (and Grass Roots doesn't...yet), but they have a Facebook page now, too. Check it out!

Trending: #FridayReads

Cookie Cravings

In case you don't know us very well, we are VERY fond of food at Grass Roots. We are fond of cooking and baking and eating and sharing and reading about food. Most of us come from small households, so any baking tends to yield shareable amounts, because really--who can eat that many cookies??? Well, as a team we manage quite well, thank you. And cookies continue to tempt, especially with such a fantastic selection of cookbooks focused on cookies out this fall. Get comfortable with a glass of milk while I tell you about my favorites.

Hardcover, $18.00

Gourmet magazine is heartbreakingly missed, but at least the publisher still collects the best recipes from its pages and compiles them in a book. Recently they published The Gourmet Cookie Book, and I have to say: I WANT IT. I can assure you that the Polish Apricot-Filled Cookies are labor-intensive, but completely delicious and worth it. (Grandma used to make Kolacky, which I suspect are the same thing. Gourmet's are better than Grandma used to make. Don't tell her I said that.) And there are the Scandinavian Rosettes that my Honey would like...and Glittering Lemon Sandwich Cookies...and Chocolate Peppermint Bar Cookies... Beyond all this goodness, the photography is FANTASTIC. I hope you don't have to wait until Christmas to lay your hands on this one...

Paperback, $25.95

Sometimes when you're craving a cookie, you're not exactly certain what it is you're craving, but you might be able to describe it as crunchy, crispy, chewy or gooey. That's where Alice Medrich's book Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunchy Melt-in-Your-Mouth Cookies comes in. Do not fear, since she also explores Chunky and Flakey, insuring there's something for everyone. The book is short on photography (I really love to see what I'm baking) but long on creativity. Some of her recipes delve into dietary restrictions, and some explore unique flavors. When I say there's something for everybody, I really mean it!

Paperback, $19.95

Now that we've baked all of these cookies, what are we going to do with them? Bestowing them on our co-workers and customers is an obvious option that we delight in. If we ever decide to get organized and plan a holiday cookie exchange, Very Merry Cookie Party: How to plan and Host a Christmas Cookie Exchange, by Barbara Grunes and Virgina Van Vynckt. Now then, right on the front cover this book are some spritz cookies. I LOVE me some spritz cookies! I even have an electric cookie press just like Grandma used to use. It's like a gun that shoots cookie dough, and it makes a very satisfying "WHIRRRRR" sound when I use it. That is neither here nor there, but I like the sentimental factor of finding spritz cookies in this book. AND there's a recipe for Toffee Squares. It's like another little shout out to Grandma Kelm from this book! This book also helps you plan your Cookie Party, offering themes and ideas for appropriate accoutrements.

I am ready for my hot cocoa now!  Really. NOW. Time to explore these recipes some more and create a little treat for the store. I'll let you know how it goes...

See you at the bookstore, brushing crumbs off the counter!

Pamela.

Something for those cozy, rainy evenings ahead...

The last week has been full of abolutely golden autumn days, with just a touch of crispness in the air. All afternoon I've heard customers waxing poetic about the weather. It comes with extra poignancy as I peek ahead into the future on Yahoo Weather and see that which we dread: THE RAINY SEASON. Sigh...

Typically I'm able to embrace our damp winters with a warm heart and some enthusiasm. This year is more of a challenge, since summer seems to have barely set foot in the Willamette Valley. The rain is coming, though, so I'll remind myself of the bright side of the dim: fuzzy wool yarn, bamboo knitting needles, and delicious cookies. Now that's my idea of a cozy way to greet the weather.

Two books have arrived that I am rather eager to get my mitts on.  The first is Stitch 'n Bitch Superstar Knitting: Go Beyond the Basics by Debbie Stoller. I have long admired Stoller's work, since it was while having her first book awkwardly cracked open on a coffee shop table that I learned to knit. No, I haven't made it far beyond scarves and dish rags (plus two cup cozies and ONE lonely sock), but I like to aspire to greatness. Stoller's newest work goes far beyond the basics, and includes 41 patterns for garments and accessories. There are even some sassy new scarves that I might try.

The other knitting book with allure that is within my reach (and the abilities of my stash) is Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders: 101 Patterns That Go Way Beyond Socks by Judith Durant. See that? Beyond socks! Perhaps I could knit my lone sock a friend that is not a sock, yet conveniently color coordinates! I would be knitting beyond the sock... There are some really really really adorable scarves in here at any rate. Ah, the Loveliness! Oh, the yarn! Sigh, the happiness!

These things should keep my hands busy for a little while. Well, that and the flutter of my fingers over the keyboard in November for NaNoWriMo. Perhaps I will be more successful with that than with my regular blog posts here. Sorry, but the stack of books waiting at home for me is just so distracting...

In between my distractions, I'll see you at the bookstore!
Pamela.

A Very Literary Halloween

Halloween is fast approaching, and that means costume time!!! (I'm very excited.)  Here are a few tips for those of you who want to make Halloween a book-appreciative event and could use some ideas.

1.  Do you want your costume to translate immediately?  It helps to dress as a character that has a visual trademark.

Think: Alice in Wonderland, Frankenstein's monster, Sherlock Holmes, Hester Prynne, Hamlet, or even Edward from the Twilight series (hmmm...that may not qualify as literary...).  These are usually easy costumes because they require one or two signature props (Alice wears a puffy blue dress and white pinafore; Holmes has his hat and pipe; Frankenstein's neck plugs; Prynne's scarlet A;  Hamlet carries Yorick's skull; Edward has that dreamy glittery complexion).

Example:

Hamlet--a costume you can whip up at home

2.  Supporting characters are a fun option that may make fellow partygoers pause for thought.  Rooster Cogburn of "True Grit," The Queen of Hearts, Zaphod Beeblebrox from "A Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy," a Siren from "The Odyssey," Miss Havisham from "Great Expectations," and Ophelia covered in seaweed are just a few ideas.

Zaphod Beeblebrox

Dickens' Miss Havisham

Add some seaweed and a frown for a more sinister Ophelia.

 3.  Some costumes are destined to be misinterpreted, and others are simply too obscure for accurate translation.  Embrace it!  Go as your favorite character, even if that means your Laura Ingalls is thought to be a random prairie girl until you correct people.  If it really drives you nuts, carry around a copy of the book that your character stars in.  Fun ideas:  Leonard Maltin of movie review fame; the guy that stole Jonathan Franzen's glasses (I've been trying to persuade our receiver, Michael, to do this!); Mikael Blomkvist or Lisbeth Salander from "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" (make sure to carry a faux-MacBook and a cup of coffee); Sookie Stackhouse from "True Blood;" and Penelope from "The Odyssey"

Who?...OH, that movie guy...What's-his-na--that's right, Leonard Maltin!

  4.  On a related note, there are a few authors that have enough of a look to hold up to imitation.  My favorites are Anne Rice (somebody please do this!), Edgar Allen Poe, Hunter S. Thompson, and Sylvia Plath.

Guess who!  Hunter S. Thompson's a bit batty.

5.  For readers who will be spending Halloween surrounded by adorably costumed children, here are some kid-friendly costume ideas: Mrs. Frisby from "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" (white mouse with a cape);  a Hogwarts instructor; the Man in the Yellow Hat (perhaps with a little stuffed monkey wrapped around an arm, or, um, see below); Waldo of "Where" fame; you can even get the whole family involved for an Alice in Wonderland or Wizard of Oz theme.

The Man in the Yellow Hat and Curious George.

Fun for the whole family

Have a great Halloween, everyone!