Here we are at the end of summer.  In a few weeks my grandson, Brecken, is going to start kindergarten in New York City’s public schools.  Here’s my son, Gabe’s description of Brecken’s new school:
We had Kindergarten Orientation yesterday, which was fun.  You should see the school building; it’s in oldTammany Hall, which has been recently restored and is gorgeous.  Original chandeliers, columns, brick mosaic work.  The original elevators are in but with glass exteriors so you can see all the counter weights and wire systems.  And in a middle atrium there’s a three-story tall modern sculpture…incredible. 
I’ve decided that Brecken must be going to the N.Y. Kindergarten School of Art and Design. What an interesting use for an historical building.

As you can see, Bunter is cramming before school starts. He’s reading a new kid’s book IT’S A BOOK, by Lane Smith, a real charmer about the uniqueness of an entertainment that doesn’t text, blog, scroll, tweet, and doesn’t need wi-fi.  (As I type this, my computer just told me there is no such word as “blog.” There! It did it again!  It needs to have a little talk with itself about nomenclature.)

For a light hearted read that will make you the envy of all your fellow readers when they overhear you chuckling and sometimes laughing out loud, consider THE TOWER, THE ZOO, AND THE TORTOISE, by Julia Stuart.  “The tower” is the Tower of London, which houses many of the Beefeater (you know, the expressionless guys in the funny tall wooly hats) families.  “The zoo” is the Queen’s menagerie,the animal gifts to her from foreign heads of state, which she decides should be housed at the Tower rather than the London Zoo.  “The tortoise” is Mrs. Cook who, at 181, is the oldest living tortoise in the world (How do they know that, I wonder?).  I’m only half way through the book, but watch out!  If you come into the bookstore, I’m likely to pull you aside and insist on reading funny passages to you, out of context, of course, so I will be the only one laughing.

According to the commercials I can find the love of my life at eHarmony, increase my bust size at Victoria’s Secret, lengthen my eyelashes with Maybelline, freshen my breath with Scope, but what am I to do with those chin hairs? You may also know them as “cheap hairs”. Women of a certain age know exactly what I am talking about. Younger women and men may just be disgusted. There are several methods available for removing chin hair:
1. Using tweezers – finding a really good pair of tweezers and finding good lighting are the only problems. If your vision is impaired, there is an increased danger of tweezer injury. Try explaining that in the Emergency Room!

2. Shaving – it is rumored that dermatologists recommend this method. Slap on the shaving cream, have a good laugh, and try not to cut yourself. Anyone remember styptic pencils?

3. Nair makes a hair removal product that is designed to be extra gentle for use on the face. If you follow
the instructions and you are younger than thirty you’ll probably be all right. Even if you do not have sensitive skin, this product may burn your skin, requiring you to stay at home for several days to avoid scaring small children…or so I’ve been told!

4. Electrolysis is another method of hair removal and all I know about it is that it is permanent, I think, and pricey, perhaps. Surely someone out there has a funny electrolysis story

5. Waxing removes hair and causes pain similar to that of childbirth. The only story I have about waxing is not printable. Waxing is best for eyebrows.
Well I certainly feel better having this subject out in the open. I fully expect to wake up one morning and have a full beard. Also I think I am just one wart away from being the next Nanny McPhee. Till then, in the immortal words of The Police, don’t stand so close to me.
One more beauty tip: If you have cats who sleep on your bed it is best not to apply lip moisturizer before pulling up the covers. The cat hair takes to the air, is magnetically attracted to the moisturizer, and leaves one with furry lips. Isn’t that a picture?!  
Lest you think, even for a moment, that chin hair or cat hair is a big concern, IT IS NOT! It is only one of those things that provide comic relief and a temporary distraction from real concerns and worries. In the words of Mark Twain, “The human race has only one really effective weapon,  and that is laughter.”

I spend about fours hours a week looking at book-related emails that I receive automatically, some on a daily basis. I do this because I am crazy about books and I do it because I want to find books for you that you might love. I am always hoping to find that hidden treasure, that book that will change your life. While you may not always find books from the “best-sellers” lists in our newsletter, I do hope you will find a treasure or two.
Judy Cummings

Storm Warning by Linda Sue Park is Book Nine in the 39 Clues series. From the back cover: “The shadow of a man in black has followed fourteen-year-old Amy Cahill and her younger brother, Dan, on their worldwide search for 39 Clues that lead to a great power. Amy and Dan know the man in black has tried to kill them. They know he is a Madrigal, a member of the most secretive and terrifying group hunting for the Clues. And they know something else, a secret they would rather forget – their parents were Madrigals, too. Amy and Dan have run hard and fast, but they can’t escape the man following them. And now, in the wake of a terrible tragedy, he’s ready to step out of the darkness for their final confrontation.”

On Thursday, July 1, from 12:00 Noon until 2:00 PM, author and photographer, Mike Barton will be signing The Mushroom Houses of Charlevoix and his latest book, Harbor Springs,Petoskey and Bay View. Stop in after lunch and shopping and meet Mike . You can have him sign a book for you or personalize a gift for a friend. His photographs are a lovely reminder of the beauty of this area.

FROM SLEEPING BEAR PRESS TO BETWEEN THE COVERS…

On Friday, July 2, “Nick” (Gijsbert) van Frankenhuyzen and Robbyn van Frankenhuyzen will be signing their books from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM. Nick is the illustrator and Robbyn is the author of this famous duo.

Their titles are too numerous to show them all, so here is a sneak peek:

These delightful children’s books make exceptional gifts, especially when signed by the author and illustrator. Remember – it’s never too early to start on that Christmas list!

Now, on to the randomness! Sometimes mornings are not a good way to start the day. If you are familiar with cats you know that they occasionally have hair balls. That distinctive sound will tell you to be on the alert for said hair ball. If you don’t hear the sound you are at a distinct disadvantage. I missed the warning sound and stepped in it. Since it was in the shadow of my desk, I didn’t even see it until it was too late. Stuck to the bottom of my shoes, I tracked it all over. Finally, realizing this, I stopped, cleaned the soles of my shoes and cleaned the carpet. But wait, there’s more! Not only did I step in it, I also rolled my desk chair through it. Cleaning the carpet is easy. Cleaning the rolling wheels of a desk chair is not something I would recommend. I am thankful I had shoes on, even though they had DEEP grooves. There surely are better ways to spend a perfectly good morning…

A parting shot: I saw a commercial that said ” Are you bothered by underarm stubble?” The pitch was for a new and improved antiperspirant. If underarm stubble is the biggest problem you have, please contact me immediately. The moral of the story: read more, watch fewer commercials.

And then there is the matter of the Snuggie, advertised as a blanket with arms, or to paraphrase Larry the Cable Guy, for people who don’t know how to use a blanket. Need I say more?

Happy New Year!

Judy Cummings

BOOK THOUGHTS:

• I am reading THE SWAN THIEVES, by Elizabeth Kostova. I’m just at the beginning, so this isn’t a book review, but I wanted to share a lovely observance she makes about books: 
  “…what will we someday do, I always wonder, without the pleasures of turning through books and stumbling on things we never meant to find?”
• This, from Gilbert Highet, showed up on my New Yorker calendar:
  “These are not books, lumps of lifeless paper, but minds alive on the shelves.”

BOOK REVIEW:

THE WAL-MART EFFECT: How the Worlds Most Powerful Company Really Works – and How It’s Transforming the American Economy, by Charles Fishman I am a confirmed Wal-Mart hater or, rather, I thought I was. THE WAL-MART EFFECT has not turned me into an enthusiastic advocate of the world’s largest retailer but it has left me with a much clearerunderstanding, and in some cases (dare I say it?) admiration for the changes Wal-Mart has brought us, whether or not we shop there. Remember when deodorants came in a box? We pulled the deodorant out, pitched the box, and heaped boxes into landfills. No more, thanks to Wal-Mart’s penny-pinching. On the other hand, Wal-Mart is in a position to change workers’ working environments in the entire world. Really. That’s how much power Wal-Mart has. But, at least by the time the book was completed and updated, Wal-Mart had chosen not to take on that task in any serious way.

This book was completed in its updated form in 2006. When it was first released Wal-Mart’s leadership was outraged. This is an organization that could teach George W. Bush’s administration much about secrecy. Neither had they been willing to talk to Mr. Fishman or any other reporter nor had they cooperated in any way with scholars trying to understand Wal-Mart’s unprecedented success. Their suppliers are expected to be silent about their relationships with Wal-Mart. But in 2006 Wal-Mart invited Mr. Fishman to its headquarters in Bentonville, AK. The last chapter of THE WAL-MART EFFECT is a description of this visit. It was a time when Wal-Mart rather suddenly appeared to be taking its role as a world leader more seriously. In October, 2005, CEO Lee Scott began making a series of announcements about alterations in the way Wal-Mart would be doing business, beginning with environmental goals of having Wal-Mart use 100% renewable energy and create “zero waste” and the promise to share (share!) the technology that allowed them to do it! This chapter left me guardedly hopeful that Wal-Mart may eventually understand that not every penny “saved” is actually, ultimately, saved.

Wal-Mart has within its grasp strategies to save money while doing the right thing. Wal-Mart with a moral compass could be a thing of beauty. Thanks to THE WAL-MART EFFECT I have become a Wal-Mart junkie. I still don’t shop there, but I now understand that it matters little where I shop; Wal-Mart has changed my life, your life, and the lives of everyone we know. I am vigilant in my search for more recent “takes” on the State of Wal-Mart. They’re still secretive, so every article I read about them ultimately mentions this book and/or includes an interview with its author as the most informed source for understanding Wal-Mart. I am under a certain kind of Wal-Mart spell, thanks to this excellent, balanced, fascinating, exhaustively researched book.

Happy reading,

Jeanne

Publishers must be feeling nostalgic. Not only are two of Nevil Shute’s books, A TOWN LIKE ALICE and ON THE BEACH (both great reads) being re-released this spring, but The Bloomsbury Group’s Ex Libris is reissuing a set of gems written in the 1920’s and 1930’s, each selection meant to captivate and charm. MISS HARGREAVES, by Frank Baker is the “January” release, but also coming this spring are:

• THE BRONTES WENT TO WOOLWORTHS, by Rachel Ferguson;
• HENRIETTA’S WAR, by Joyce Dennys
• LOVE’S SHADOW, by Ada Leverson
• A KID FOR TWO FARTHINGS, by Wolf Mankowitz
• MRS. TIM OF THE REGIMENT, by D. E. Stevenson

In addition, MAJOR PETTIGREW’S LAST STAND, by Helen Simonson, is also coming out this spring. It is a modern book set in modern times, but with the same feel as these 90 year old treasures.

MISS HARGREAVES is an utterly hilarious and imaginative (in many ways!) story. Norman Huntley and his pal Henry, as a lark, invent an elderly lady. They give her a goofy dog, a parrot, a cane, a profession (poet), an avocation (music), and in their heads they send her off to travel to music festivals and poetry readings with piles of luggage, a harp, and a hip-bath she never goes anywhere without. They imagine her at a music festival and imagine her staying at a certain hotel in the festival’s city. In a mad moment, Norman writes to her, inviting her to visit him and his parents. Imagine his surprise when she not only responds, she accepts.

Miss Hargreaves arrives and is everything Norman imagined and more. He is unable to explain to himself, much less to family and friends, how this situation came about. Only his father, who had a similar experience, seems to “get” it. But then Norman’s father is at least as odd, in an amusing way, as Miss Hargreaves.

Norman’s formerly peaceful life crumbles in the wake of Miss Hargreaves, leaving us, his readers, laughing, thoroughly entertained and enchanted.

The publisher describes this and the other books mentioned earlier as “a new library of books from the early twentieth century chosen by readers for readers.” Those readers are off to a wonderful start. Miss Hargreave’s last words to Norman are, “I have – enjoyed it all, so much.” So did I.

Happy reading,

Jeanne

Now, on to the randomness! Sometimes mornings are not a good way to start the day. If you are familiar with cats you know that they occasionally have hair balls. That distinctive sound will tell you to be on the alert for said hair ball. If you don’t hear the sound you are at a distinct disadvantage. I missed the warning sound and stepped in it. Since it was in the shadow of my desk, I didn’t even see it until it was too late. Stuck to the bottom of my shoes, I tracked it all over. Finally, realizing this, I stopped, cleaned the soles of my shoes and cleaned the carpet. But wait, there’s more! Not only did I step in it, I also rolled my desk chair through it. Cleaning the carpet is easy. Cleaning the rolling wheels of a desk chair is not something I would recommend. I am thankful I had shoes on, even though they had DEEP grooves. There surely are better ways to spend a perfectly good morning…

A parting shot: I saw a commercial that said ” Are you bothered by underarm stubble?” The pitch was for a new and improved antiperspirant. If underarm stubble is the biggest problem you have, please contact me immediately. The moral of the story: read more, watch fewer commercials.

And then there is the matter of the Snuggie, advertised as a blanket with arms, or to paraphrase Larry the Cable Guy, for people who don’t know how to use a blanket. Need I say more?

Happy New Year!

Judy Cummings

Remarkable Creatures

This story is the fictionalized account of the life of Mary Anning. Mary was the daughter of a cabinetmaker and amateur fossil collector. She was born in 1799 in Lyme Regis on the south coast of England. It was Mary who discovered the first documented dinosaur skeleton, a plesiosaur fossil. “Chevalier’s skillful storytelling takes the reader back in history to walk in the footprints of this remarkable woman.”

~Carol Hicks

Thereby Hangs A Tail

“In fighting crime, Chet is the kind of dog you want on your side: straightforward, ready to hold onto the bad guy (using teeth if necessary), and optimistic, even in difficult situations. Once again, he and his human detective partner, Bernie, dig for clues, battle the bad guys, and never turn down treats. I’m already eager for the third installment!”

~Jennifer Sorensen, Literary Life Bookstore & More, Inc.,
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Committed

Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love was a most enjoyable read for me and so was Committed. Committed does take a more serious look at marriage and specifically how it applies to Elizabeth and her future husband. I thought there were too many references to her previous marriage, but it did provide insight into why she was reluctant to marry again.

~Judy Cummings

The Unnamed

“Tim Farnsworth, a respected litigation attorney for a high-powered Manhattan law firm, is seized by a bizarre illness: he cannot stop walking. Whether taken as a form of mental or physical illness or read as an allegorical tale, The Unnamed is an absolutely heartbreaking story of love, marriage, family, and what it means to be successful in today’s society.”

~Joni Montover

The Swan Theives

I LOVED The Historian and am eager to start Kostova’s new work. The premise of the story is that of an artist attacking a canvas in the National Gallery of Art. Psychiatrist Andrew Marlow tries to determine why the artist, Robert Oliver has done this. From the flyleaf: “Richly told, beautifully imagined, The Swan Thievestakes us across centuries, from American cities to the coast of Normandy, from young love to last love.”

~Judy Cummings ]]> http://hsbetweenthecovers.com/?feed=rss2&p=1 4