Open Monday–Saturday 9 am–9 pm
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Sundays 10 am–6 pm
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In Juliet Grames debut novel
The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna
(Ecco $27.99), Stella is born in a small village in Italy in the early 20th century. She is a quick-witted, beautiful girl who escapes many bizarre near-death experiences throughout her lifetime. Her brute of a father, who has immigrated to America, forces the family to join him. In America Stella struggles to defy the social expectations and violence placed on Italian women, and to find her place in the world. Grames weaves a richly layered, fictionalized history of her own Italian immigrant family that is poetic, empathetic, heart-wrenching, and crucial for understanding the multifaceted people who comprise our country today.
(Juliet Grames will be here with the book on Monday, May 20th at 7:00 p.m.)
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From Sarah: Harper Lee hoped the Reverend Willie Maxwell's story, involving multiple mysterious deaths in Alabama in the 70’s, would be her own
In Cold Blood
. Perhaps, if she had managed to finish it, it would have been. Casey Cep has done her research, and in
Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee
(Knopf $26.95) she's crafted a page turner that's half true-crime thriller and half an insightful and surprising look at what Harper Lee's life was like after her early catapult into literary stardom.
(We have a limited number of signed copies on hand.)
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From Tony:
Lights All Night Long
by Lydia Fitzpatrick (Penguin $27). Ilya is the smart one, the one with a gift. His older brother Vladimir is the bad one, destined for trouble. In the bleak refinery town of Berlozhniki, Russia there isn’t much else for them to get into. But just when Ilya is about to go to America for a once in a lifetime chance to make the most of his gift, Vladimir finds himself in the deepest trouble imaginable. This sad, beautiful novel touched me more than I thought possible. I haven’t rooted for a character this much in a long time.
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It's a great week for paperback releases, including award winners and QRB staff picks. Click below to browse them all.
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Our Indie Press of the Month:
Two Dollar Radio
Founded in 2005 with the mission to reaffirm the cultural and artistic spirit of the publishing industry, Two Dollar Radio has published authors such as Scott McClanahan and Hanif Abdurraqib. Browse more of their titles over at the
QRB Blog
.
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On Sunday, June 2, at 1:00 p.m. at Chatham Station in Cary,
Walter Magazine
hosts the editors and contributors of
Mothers and Strangers
, an insightful collection of essays about notions of motherhood in the South. QRB will provide books for sale. Hors d'oeuvres and lunch will be served during author readings, followed by Q&A and book signing. Tickets are $80
at Eventbrite
.
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NC Bookwatch
on UNC-TV, with host D.G. Martin, airs on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. and Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m. This week D.G.'s guest is
Julian Pleasants with
Home Front: North Carolina During World War II
. Find
Bookwatch
episodes online at
UNC-TV.org
.
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Saturday, May 11, 2:00 PM
MICHAEL MATROS,
Slipstone Rill: A Gothic Mystery
Down from Slipstone Village's old chapel, across the rill and deep in the woods, live the remnants of a reclusive family of carpenters and violin makers. Two generations earlier, their treasured ring of spruce trees, whose wood is necessary for the distinctive tone of their violins, was poisoned by a girl who had been raped by one of the family. Now, with threats and violence, the last of those craftsmen looks to regain the secret of the trees' regeneration. Michael Matros was born in Asheville.
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Monday, May 13, 7:00 PM
SARAH SHABER,
Louise's Crossing
A new Louise Pearlie mystery
In February 1944, Washington, D.C. government girl Louise Pearlie is thrilled to be reassigned to the London office of the OSS. On a perilous Atlantic crossing in a Liberty ship, Louise is accompanied by an eclectic group of passengers. When one is found murdered, it's clear that German subs and raging storms aren't the only threats to their safety. Can she expose a brutal killer before the ship docks in Liverpool?
Publishers Weekly
says of
Louise's Crossing
, "[Its] pleasure lies in the authentic details that depict Louise’s cultural, social, and physical world." Sarah Shaber lives in Raleigh.
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Tuesday, May 14, 7:00
NC Symphony Director GRANT LLEWELLYN
On upcoming performances
NC Symphony Music Director and Conductor, Grant Llewellyn, joins us to discuss the
May 17-18 performances
of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 featuring pianist Jonathan Biss. The concerto will be performed back-to-back with a brand new work it inspired,
Watermark
, composed by Pulitzer Prize winner and NC native Caroline Shaw. Our event is co-sponsored with WCPE 89.7 FM, The Classical Station.
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Wednesday, May 15, 7:00 PM
ROB CHRISTENSEN
The Rise and Fall of the Branchhead Boys: North Carolina's Scott Family and the Era of Progressive Politics
Seats may be reserved
Louisiana had the Longs, Virginia had the Byrds, Georgia had the Talmadges, and North Carolina had the Scotts. In this history of our state’s most influential political family, Christensen offers an engaging and definitive historical account of not only the Scott family’s legacy but also how race and populism informed NC politics during the 20th century. Rob Christensen is the author of
The Paradox of Tar Heel Politics
, and has been covering NC politics for 45 years as chief political writer and columnist for
The News and Observer
.
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Friday, May 17, 7:00 PM
JEFFERY DEAVER
, The Never Game
The first in an exciting new mystery series featuring enigmatic investigator Colter Shaw, the son of a survivalist family, and an expert tracker. When a young woman goes missing in Silicon Valley, Colter is hired by her father to find her. But what seems a simple investigation quickly thrusts Colter into the dark heart of America's tech hub and the cutthroat billion-dollar video-gaming industry. "
The Never Game
is the very definition of a page-turner."—
Ian Rankin
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Saturday, May 18, 2:00 PM
CHRIS PERONDI
The Big Book of Tricks for the Best Dog Ever
An indispensable, step-by-step guide featuring 118 tricks and stunts that strengthen the bond between owner and dog—and impress all who watch! Chris and his dog Vinny will go through a tutorial on how they trained to do one of the simpler tricks, so audience members can see the book’s approach at work.
**
Though we always welcome dogs at QRB, for this event we ask that everyone's canine friends remain at home so that Chris and Vinny can concentrate on performing. Underdog Ranch Pet Adoption will be here with information about adopting dogs (but will not bring any dogs).
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Saturday, May 18, 6:00 PM
MASON DEAVER,
I Wish You All the Best
A novel for Young Adults
When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as non-binary, they're thrown out of their house and forced to move in with their estranged older sister, Hannah, and her husband. Struggling with an anxiety disorder compounded by their parents' rejection, Ben tries to keep a low profile in a new school. At turns heartbreaking and joyous,
I Wish You All the Best
is a celebration of life, friendship, and first love, and an example of hope in the face of adversity. Mason Deaver is a non-binary author and librarian from a small town in North Carolina.
"Heartfelt, romantic, and quietly groundbreaking. This book will save lives."—Becky Albertalli,
New York Times-
bestselling author of
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
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Book Clubs and Groups - Everyone Welcome!
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Literary Horror
Tonight, May 9
7:00 PM
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Not For Men Only
Monday, May 13
7:00 PM
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OLLI
Tuesday, May 14
2:30 PM
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Forever Young:
YA for Adults
Thursday, May 16
7:00 PM
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Triangle Tolkienists
Friday, May 17
5:00 PM
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Find the schedule for all of our groups
here
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Mondays -Saturdays - Sundays
10:30 AM
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For Young Adults with
developmental disabilities.
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QRB Teen Writers Collective
for info.
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Quail Ridge Books
34 Years of Independent Bookselling
919-828-1588
“
If you can tell stories, create characters, devise incidents, and have sincerity and passion, it doesn’t matter a damn how you write.
”~~
Somerset Maugham
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