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Weekly Words about New Books in
Independent Bookstores
June 14, 2015
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A Trio of New Paperbacks To Add to Summer Reading Mix
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The Vacationers by Emma Straub. For the Posts, a two-week trip to the island of Mallorca w ith their extended family and friends should be a celebration: Franny and Jim are observing their 35th wedding anniversary, and their daughter, Sylvia, has graduated from high school. But, of course, the dream vacation is not to be, thanks to family secrets and long-held longings. The story could easily be little more than a soap opera, but Straub writes too well to let that happen. The characters are flawed but human, and the depiction of an idyllic small town paradise with cobblestone streets and inviting beaches transports the reader nicely. This is a story about a family that you care about - both funny and insightful.
The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton. This atmospheric piece of historical fiction, set in 17th century Amsterdam, features a plucky young heroine, a good  dose of intrigue and suspense, and a magical miniature rendering of the house she lives in. In 1686, 18-year-old Nella Oortman arrives in Amsterdam to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt. But her new home, while splendorous, is not welcoming. Johannes is kind yet distant, always locked in his study or at his warehouse office, and life in a society ruled by wealth and oppressive religion is not easy. But Nella's life changes when Johannes presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. To furnish her gift, Nella engages the services of a miniaturist - an elusive and enigmatic artist whose tiny creations mirror their real-life counterparts in eerie and unexpected ways.
The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness. Fans of the All Souls trilogy will welcome the news that the final installment is now in paperback. The story, which began  in A Discovery of Witches and continued in Shadow of Night, wraps up with historian and witch Diana Bishop and vampire scien tist Matthew Clairmont returning to the present to face new crises and old enemies. From the beginning, the two have been on a quest to discover their origins and confront the threats to their star-crossed union, and Harkness wraps up the story neatly and more than satisfactorily. One caution for those unfamiliar with the series - don't start here. Find a copy of A Discovery of Witches and start at the beginning.
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No Shock - Follow-Up to Award-Winning
Mr. Mercedes Is Another Great Ride From King
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Finders Keepers by Stephen King. The latest from King harkens back to two of his previous books. In last year's Mr. Mercedes (winner of  the 2015 Edgar award for Best Novel), we met retired detective Bill Hodges. Now he and his unlikely pair of cohorts are back to help protect a teenage boy named Pete who discovers a dangerous buried treasure of sorts. Thirty-five years earlier, an obsessed fan killed an author who wasn't writing enough to suit him - shades of King's famous Misery - and stole his victim's writing notebooks. The bad guy eventually was sent to prison for another crime and, years later, Pete stumbles upon the killer's hidden cache. When he tries to sell the notebooks, the newly released but still deranged psycho takes note and wants them back. And we're off on a blood-spilling, suspense-fueled ride from a master.
Note: This is the second in a planned trilogy  featuring King's motley but appealing detective crew, but you don't have to read the first book to enjoy this one. If you're interested, however, Mr. Mercedes is now available in paperback.
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WHERE TO FIND
AN INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE
Many of you already have a favorite local bookstore, but for those of you without such a relationship,
this link
will take you to a list of Northern California
indie bookstores
by region.
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A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME
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My name is Hut Landon. I'm a former bookstore owner who now runs the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association (NCIBA) in San Francisco.
My goal with this newsletter is to keep readers up to date about new books hitting the shelves, share what booksellers are recommending in their stores, and pass on occasional news about the book world.
I'm not into long, wordy reviews or literary criticism; I'd like HUT'S PLACE to be a quick, fun read for book buyers. If you have any friends who you think might like receiving this column each week, simply click on "Forward this email" below and enter their email address. There is also a box in which to add a short message.
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COMMENTS, FEEDBACK
I always love hearing from folks, so please feel free to let me know what you're reading, make a comment, or ask a question.
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