Wellesley Books Newsletter  
April 11th, 2018


On the last Saturday of this month, along with hundreds of other bookstores across the country, we will be celebrating Independent Bookstore Day.  Join us Saturday, April 28th for a day full of fun events!  From 11:00 AM until 12:00 PM, the one-and-only Dog Man -- from Dav Pilkey's great graphic novels -- will be here to meet the kids and paw-tograph their books.  At 11:30 AM, we will host our popular Dr. Seuss Brunch, complete with green eggs and ham.  At 2:00 PM, we will announce the winners of our very first Kids Poetry Contest, awarding prizes and reading the winning poems aloud.  At 4:00 PM, we channel our inner anglophile and raise a toast to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at our Royal Wedding Reception.   For more details, click below.


We will also have trivia and book giveaways throughout the day, and free audiobooks from our friends at Libro.fm, so join us in our celebration of Independent Bookstore Day!

Upcoming Events
 
All events are free to the public, unless otherwise noted.
 Purchase the lead title  from Wellesley Books to enter the signing line
 



 
TONIGHT! Wednesday, April 11th, 7:00 PM.
Every day, Boston Globe advice columnist Meredith Goldstein takes on the relationship problems of thousands of dedicated readers.  In her column, she has it all figured out, but in her real life she is a lot less certain.  Meredith will be in conversation with author Joani Geltman about her new book, Can't Help Myself, the extraordinary (and often hilarious) story of a single woman navigating her mercurial love life as well as a moving portrait of a community of love-seeking allies. 


 
Wednesday, April 25th, 7:00 PM. 
We bring together two great New England writers -- Vermont native and Pen/New England winner Robin MacArthur (Half Wild) and Wellesley-based poet Dan Chiasson (Bicentennial).  Join them for an evening of discussion at the intersection of poetry and prose.



 
Friday, April 27th, 7:00 PM.
We adored Madeline Miller's great take on the Trojan War, Song Of Achilles, and we are delighted to bring her to our store to introduce her new novel, Circe.  With unforgettably vivid characters, mesmerizing language, and page-turning suspense, this is a triumph of storytelling, an intoxicating epic of family rivalry, palace intrigue, and love and loss, as well as a celebration of indomitable female strength in a man's world.  William, Jane, and Gillian already love this new book!  Please note that this is a ticketed event. Your $5 ticket can be used as a coupon off the price of Circe.


Monday, May 7th, 7:00 PM. 
Our National Poetry Month series ends with Sarah Snyder, author of the poetry collections The Human Contract and Notes from a Nomad.  Selected to be part of the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, Sarah has been a mother and an English teacher for several years, both of which have influenced her writing.  Join us for an evening of beautiful poetry.


 
Monday, May 21st, 7:00 PM.
Paula McLain  expands upon her novel The Paris Wife in her new book Love And Ruin, exposing the hidden story of Ernest Hemingway's third wife.  An award-winning war journalist in her own right, Martha Gellhorn found herself making a choice: surrender to the confining demands of being a famous man's wife or risk losing Ernest by forging a path as her own woman and writer. This event will take place at the Wellesley Community Center. Please note that this is a ticketed event. Your $5 ticket can be used as a coupon off the price of Love And Ruin.

Bill's Book Group For Guys
 
by Moshin Hamid


In the Middle East, a desperate young couple abandons home and family, escaping a war-torn city by way of hidden doors in hopes of a better life.

Join Bill's Book Group for Guys for a relaxed evening in the store discussing a specially-chosen book while enjoying a beer, glass of wine, or select single-malt whiskey.  $25 buys the book and a ticket to the event.
Betty's Lunchtime Book Group
 
by Madeline Miller



Betty Sudarsky, unparalleled bookseller and experienced book club leader, chooses each book carefully and leads the discussion.  Bring your own lunch if you like; Betty supplies snacks, drinks, and insight.  No need to sign up; drop-ins are welcome.  
Bookseller Recommendations

Lorna Recommends:
Look Alive Out There by Sloane Crosley
Every time I sit down to read Sloane Crosley's brilliant, funny essays I realize how much I enjoy how she thinks, what she pays attention to, and what she remembers. Sharp-witted, laugh out loud funny, Sedaris-esque -- my words fail me, but my feelings are very strong.  Wherever she goes and whatever she has to say about it, I want to be there.




 
William Recommends:
The Overstory by Richard Powers
This novel begins with eight short stories, each featuring a person in a crisis and their relationship, in some way, to trees.  Then, these disparate characters begin to find their way to each other, like roots joining together, to form an environmental terrorist organization.  Powers examines our role in the universe as well as our place in nature through powerful writing and vividly drawn scenes.  You'll never look at a redwood the same way again.



Rachael Recommends:
The Oracle Year by Charles Soule
Every good nerd knows that with great power comes great responsibilities.  And lots of enemies!  Will Dando wakes up one morning with over a hundred predictions of the future in his head -- some seem insignificant, but others have the "powers that be" scrambling to find him. Told through alternating voices and interweaving narration, this is fun, action-packed, and a surprisingly touching look at human nature.


 
Marilyn Recommends:
Paris By The Book by Liam Callanan
This novel is all about books, writers, marriage, parenting, and, especially, about "finding a life that completes us."  A mother and her two daughters create a new life for themselves in Paris when their husband/father disappears.  There are fabulous details about the French, Paris, The Red Balloon, Madeleine, and so much more.  Magnifique!   
 



 
Maggie Recommends:
The Female Persausion by Meg Wolitzer
There could be no better time for this quick-witted and absorbing story of feminism, friendship, and love.  The novel follows the ambitious but shy Greer Kadetsky, her boyfriend, her best friend, and the feminist icon who launches her into the world.  Wolitzer delivers a novel of great empathy and the utmost realism that is already among my favorites of this year!

 
New In Hardcover

Varina
 by
Charles Frazier

North
 by
Scott Jurek

Fascism
 by
Madeleine Albright

Macbeth
 by
Jo Nesbo

First Person
 by
Richard Flanagan

Circe
by
Madeline Miller
New In Paperback

Chemistry
 by
Weike Wang

Killers Of The Flower Moon
 by
David Grann

Trajectory
 by
Richard Russo

The Tea Girl Of Hummingbird Lane
 by
Lisa See

Lillian Boxfish Takes A Walk
 by
Kathleen Rooney

The Baker's Secret
 by
 Stephen P. Kiernan

The American Spirit
 by
David McCullough

The Forever Summer
 by
Jamie Brenner

The Lowells Of Massachusetts
by
Nina Sankovitch
Bookseller Recommendations For Young Adults
 
Clarissa Recommends:
Dread Nation
by Justina Ireland
This is not just a zombie story; you could have weeks of book group meetings and still be talking about it.  In Ireland's tale, the world is crumbling, racism is making a fierce comeback (if it every really left), and you won't be able to help drawing connections to recent current events.  Ireland writes with meaning, intention, and spark -- her characters leap off the page and demand attention.   
 

New Books For Kids


Rebound
 by
Kwame Alexander

Team Players
 by
Mike Lupica




Rescue & Jessica
  by
Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes
New Books For Young Adults

Defy The Worlds
 by
Claudia Gray

The Fates Divide
 by
Veronica Roth

As She Fades
 by
Abbi Glines
Spring Gifts

It is time for April showers, but we have you covered!  We have umbrellas galore, featuring bold new prints and even some that open upside down.  If you need a lovely scarf to cover your head or to keep your throat warm (let's face it, it isn't very warm yet), then our Echo brand scarves are both functional and beautiful.  Stay warm and rain-free with great gifts, and let's all hope to see those May flowers soon.
 
What We're Reading Now...

Clarissa

William

Peter

Sally

Geoff

Betty

Lauren

Maggie

Gillian
Dog of the Week
Dunkin

  Dunkin (like the doughnuts) visited us recently and received a treat for being a very good boy.  He is a five year old Basset Hound/Golden Retriever mix, and he hails from Tennessee.  His favorite activities are running, running, and running some more. Welcome to Wellesley Books, Dunkin!
Libro.fm Celebrates Indie Bookstores

Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day with free audiobooks from our partners at Libro.fm! What better way to discover a new favorite than through a great audiobook? Get Christine Mangan's Tangerine - a current staff favorite - plus an assortment of other great new titles as our thanks to you for supporting your local indie bookstore and our indie audiobook partners. If you don't already have your Libro.fm account, we'll be glad to help get you started -- just visit us at the store, or click the image below for more details.


 

Thank you for supporting your community
independent bookstore!
Sincerely,
William D. Carl

Contact us:
store @wellesleybooks.com
82 Central Street,
Wellesley, Ma. 02482
781-431-1160

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