Open Monday–Saturday 9 am–9 pm
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Sundays 10 am–6 pm
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From Mamie:
Our
Take Ten
Staffer for April is Erin Yourstone. Erin is the manager of the Children’s Department but likes everything from board books to murder mysteries to nonfiction on obscure topics. Though she always has a large to-be-read pile, she has re-read all the fiction on this list—some three or four times—and each time discovered something new to enjoy. (She could’ve filled this list up several times over with pictures books, so if you’re in the mood for a picture book, head over to the Children’s Department.) Here are her top ten books:
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If Leif Enger were to rewrite the phone book, I’d read it; but his first novel
Peace Like a River
(Atlantic Monthly $16) is my favorite. Ruben Land is an asthmatic kid with a father who performs miracles, an outlaw brother, and a little sister who writes epic cowboy poetry. When the Land family takes a borrowed Airstream westward in search of Ruben’s fugitive brother, the trip becomes a journey for understanding, justice, and redemption.
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Interpreter of Maladies
by Jhumpa Lahiri (Mariner $14.95). No blurb could adequately describe Lahiri’s exquisite writing or memorable characters. Her debut short story collection proves she is a master of the form. After all, who wins the Pulitzer with the first book?
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Crossing to Safety
by Wallace Stenger (Modern Library $17Stegner’s intimate portrait of the lifelong friendship between two couples never dips into the sensational. Instead, it provides a thoughtful meditation on love and friendship.
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The Great Gatsby
by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Scribner $17). If you haven’t read this classic since high school, take another look. This one has it all: dramatic plot twists, exquisite writing, layers of imagery, and unforgettable characters.
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Speak
by Laurie Halse Anderson (Square Fish $10.99)Unfortunately, this YA classic about a rape survivor finding the courage to speak out is still timely. Well-crafted and thoughtful, this novel also features one of the wittiest protagonists in YA literature.
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The Rabbit Listened
by Cori Doerrfeld (Dial $17.99). We all react differently in moments of crisis, but this simple picture book is a powerful reminder of the importance of listening with empathy. A must read for kids and adults.
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The Age of Radiance: The Epic Rise and Dramatic Fall of the Atomic Era
by Craig Nelson (Scribner $18). This very readable crash course in nuclear history from the Curies to Fukushima is a great introduction to the conversation about nuclear power. Nelson’s sweeping overview provides context to historical events and policies and offers more in-depth information about some of history’s tragic nuclear catastrophes.
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Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World
by Tim Marshall (Scribner $18). Accessible armchair geopolitics for anyone who even occasionally follows international news stories. In each chapter, Marshall tackles a continent or major region and theorizes how its physical geography influenced centuries of global politics.
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Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood
(Spiegal and Grau $18). Trevor Noah’s memoir of his childhood in South Africa is alternately humorous and harrowing. Noah’s ability to use humor to analyze and reframe fraught racial, social, and economic issues make this a book you’ll want to discuss.
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The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness
by Sy Montgomery (Atria $16). Montgomery strikes the perfect balance of memoir and nature writing. The octopuses are fascinating creatures with distinct personalities, but for me it was the supporting cast of quirky octopus-loving humans that made this such an enjoyable read.
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NEW IN PAPERBACK - See all of this week's new arrivals
here
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Belle Boggs will discusss this new novel at QRB on April 17.
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From the author of
The English Patient
: a mesmerizing novel set in the decade after WWII
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An epic, award-winning novel about trees and people.
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The Best Cook in the World: Tales from My Momma's Table by Rick Bragg
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"[A] portrait of golf’s most scrutinized figure…brimming with revealing details”
(Golf Digest)
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News, Information and Links
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We welcome short story master Amy Hempel on Monday, April 8 at 7:00 p.m. with her first collection in over 10 years,
Sing to It
. The multiple award winner has built a reputation on spare, but rich writing.
QRB sponsored the championship match of the Tournament of Books, and the winning book is
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
. Kudos to our staffer Ginger who recommended the novel early on! See the scoring breakdown and read about all of the contenders
here
.
Registration is now open for our summer bookclubs and writing camps for kids and teens.
Visit our website
for more info and to sign up.
The North Carolina Writers' Network Spring Conference is Saturday, April 27 at UNC Greensboro. Advance registration is open until April 21. Find out more at
NCWriters.org
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Bad Kitty
author Nick Bruel on
Bookin'
This week on
Bookin'
, host Jason Jefferies talks to Nick Bruel, author of the wildly popular
Bad Kitty
series for children. Bruel shares what led to becoming a children's author, and he discusses how the most recent
Bad Kitty
book (
Kitten Trouble
) is an allegory for the global immigration crisis, and how he is personally connected to the topic.
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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 Graham Allison with
Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides's Trap?
Find
NC Bookwatch
episodes online at
UNC-TV.org
.
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Today, April 3, 3:00 PM
ANN B. ROSS,
Miss Julia Takes the Wheel
Seats may be reserved
We welcome Ann B. Ross with the next installment in this beloved and bestselling series set in small-town North Carolina. Never one to miss an opportunity to entertain--or size up--a newcomer, Miss Julia invites the charming new doctor and his painfully shy wife to dinner. But there is just something she can't place about the Crawfords, and she won't rest until she gets to the bottom of it.
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Tonight, April 3, 7:00 PM
RUTH REICHL
Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir
In conversation with Linda Watson
Seats may be reserved
Trailblazing food writer and beloved restaurant critic Ruth Reichl took the job (and the risk) of a lifetime when she entered the glamorous, high-stakes world of magazine publishing. For the first time, she chronicles her groundbreaking tenure as editor-in-chief of
Gourmet
. Reichl will be in conversation with local food writer and creator of the Cook For Good website,
Linda Watson
.
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SOLD OUT:
Thursday, April 4, 1:00 PM
An extended Q&A with AMOR TOWLES
A Gentleman in Moscow
(paperback release)
The waitlist for this event is full. If you already have tickets, but will not be attending, please let us know so that we can offer your seats to those on the waitlist.
In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, and is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin.
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Thursday, April 4, 7:00 PM
Divergent
author VERONICA ROTH
The Fates Divide
(paperback release)
In conversation with Brendan Reichs
Ticket sales through
Eventbrite
through 6 PM today
In the conclusion to the
Carve the Mark
duology, globally bestselling
Divergent
author Veronica Roth reveals how Cyra and Akos fulfill their fates.
The Fates Divide
is a richly imagined tale of hope and resilience told in four stunning perspectives. There's more about the event and a link to buy tickets
on our website
. Tickets are required to join the signing line, however there may be some general, unreserved seating for Veronica's presentation with no purchase required.
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Sunday, April 7, 2:00 PM
BARBARA BROWN TAYLOR
Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others
In conversation with J. Dana Trent
Seats may be reserved
The renowned and beloved author of
An Altar in the World
and
Learning to Walk in the Dark
recounts her moving discoveries of finding the sacred in unexpected places while teaching the world’s religions to undergraduates in rural Georgia. Taylor will be in conversation with J. Dana Trent, Raleigh author of
One Breath at a Time: A Skeptic's Guide to Christian Meditation
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Monday, April 8, 7:00 PM
AMY HEMPEL,
Sing to It: New Stories
Hempel, one of the most celebrated and original voices in American short fiction, joins us to share a ravishing, sometimes heartbreaking new collection—her first in over a decade. These fifteen stories reveal the author at her most compassionate and spirited, as she introduces characters, lonely and adrift, searching for connection. "
Sing to It
fascinates. It pulses with absurdist glee, but has enough humanity to ground its characters in the hard work of looking forward."—Scott Neuffer
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Wednesday, April 10, 7:00 PM
The Open Discussion Project Book Club
Meeting monthly on second Wednesdays, the goal of this book club is to foster dialog and better understanding between people with differing political viewpoints. Book selections will range across the political spectrum and meetings will have dedicated facilitators. April's book is
The Future of Capitalism
by Paul Collier. Receive a 21% discount when purchasing the book for club attendance.
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Thursday, April 11, 7:00 PM
GLENN MORRIS
The New Guide to North Carolina Beaches: All You Need to Know to Explore and Enjoy Currituck, Calabash, and Everywhere Between
This descriptive guide to our coastal counties showcases all that the seaside has to offer, from beach access points and camping options to aquariums, museums, and other attractions. With informative and entertaining histories of each county, insights into the maritime environment and its wildlife, and useful tips on subjects like the dos and don'ts of beach driving. Includes detailed maps, contact information, hours of operation, and much more.
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Saturday, April 13, 2:00 PM
KELLY STARLING LYONS,
Going Down Home with Daddy
A picture book for ages 5+. "On reunion morning, we rise before the sun. Daddy hums as he packs our car with suitcases and a cooler full of snacks. He says there's nothing like going down home." Lyons' eloquent text explores the power of family traditions in this rich and moving celebration of history, culture, and ritual. Stunning illustrations by Coretta Scott King Award honoree, Daniel Minter, reveal the emotion and connections in a large, multigenerational family.
Kirkus Reviews
says, "Imagery is presented in marvelous metaphors… Minter's acrylic-wash prints soar… A warm, loving, necessary reminder of the power in families coming together." As with all of Kelly's book launches there will be fun and refreshments. She will serve mini-biscuits, with a jelly-tasting station including mayhaw jelly.
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Book Clubs and Groups - Everyone Welcome!
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Not For
Men Only
Monday, Apr. 8
7:00 PM
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OLLI
Tuesday, Apr. 9
2:30 PM
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The Open Discussion Project
Wedneday, Apr. 10
7:00 PM
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Literary Horror
Thursday, Apr. 11
7:00 PM
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Writers Coffeehouse
Sunday, Apr. 14
2:00 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
“
No one can read with profit that which he cannot learn to read with pleasure.
”~~Noah Porter
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