Dear Readers,
While we may be staring down the unofficial start of summer, fact is we aren’t diving into the long weekend entirely footloose and fancy free. To that end, I thought I’d share something that brought me a bit of comfort and light this week, a gentle reminder that sometimes taking solace in the written word, art, or nature is a statement in itself. These words come from Ezra Klein:
Here’s something I believe — in a way, it’s a quiet thesis of the show. In dark times, when so much in the news is so unrelentingly horrible, it is a political act — it is a political act to open yourself to the awe and joy and beauty the world still provides. To sit with a poem or take a walk in the woods isn’t an abdication or a kind of quietism. It’s a reminder of what this is all for. It’s an opportunity to muster the strength to continue, and to see just a little bit more clearly, and maybe respond just a little more compassionately.
These words were spoken in the introduction Klein's recent conversation with poet Ada Limón whose new collection The Hurting Kind has just been released into the world and is a wonder to behold. Maybe just the thing to get you through these uncertain days? It’s luminous hour plus of meditations on what it means to choose joy and beauty, how to get what we need out of life, and how to step back and make a change when necessary. Limón also hosts a lovely daily podcast called The Slowdown that might provide a welcome daily pause.
Wishing you a peaceful Memorial Day weekend filled with time to recharge and be together with the ones you love,
Page
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Friday Five: Blue Table Worthy |
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It's that time of year again, the blue table is back front and center (courtesy of bookseller Robin!) greeting you with a visual breath of fresh air. It's a signal that despite the fact you might be hurrying about, trying to catch your breath in the hustle and bustle of May, we are on the brink of summer. Of course not all summer reads make the cut; it's a brutal business this blue table set-up. For your beach bag pleasure, here's a multi-colored assortment no less worthy of a close look.
Out in June from New York Times bestselling author Sloane Crosley, CULT CLASSIC tops my list of hot summer books. But don't take my word for it; seems to me anyone worth their literary salt is anxiously awaiting this release: “Did the comic romantic thriller exist before Sloane Crosley, or has she invented it? Either way, Cult Classic is a classic. Funny, suspenseful, unputdownable, here is one of America’s wittiest writers at her best. A pleasure on every page.” —Andrew Sean Greer, author of Less.
Next up, a non-fiction pick due to release on June 14, poet Jack Parlett's has written a detailed history told through multiple lenses about the storied summer enclave, Fire Island. FIRE ISLAND: LOVE, LOSS, AND LIBERATION IN AN AMERICAN PARADISE uses the voices of Oscar Wilde, James Baldwin, Carson McCullers, Frank O'Hara, Patricia Highsmith, and Jeremy O. Harris to tell the highs and lows of life and culture set on the shore.
I KISSED SHARA WHEELER is the first YA novel from the wildly popular Casey McQuiston and a surefire bet for anyone who enjoyed Red, White & Royal Blue or One Last Stop, bestsellers for Barrett and the rest of the book world as well. McQuiston's latest romance follows two driven, smart, high-achieving queer girls who become caught up in an unexpected disappearance. Reviews call this one a joy to read, the perfect book for the romance fan.
Our next pick might just have enough blue on it to make Robin's cut for the blue table but I'm not taking any chances. We received an advance copy of COUNTERFEIT when skies were grey and snow was falling. As the days inch towards endless sunlight, Kristin Chen's book about two women caught up in an international counterfeit handbag operation is popping up on just about every single best of summer 2022 list. Releases on June 7.
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What We're Reading + Recommending |
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LET'S NOT DO THAT AGAIN: I loved this roller coaster ride of politics, family drama and biting wit. Hilarious fast read. -Tatum
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NOTES ON YOUR SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE: Echoing rave reviews from the critics, I'm recommending this "courageously funny (Sam Sacks, WSJ)" book about the aftermath of a tragedy in a small Connecticut town. - Tatum |
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OLGA DIES DREAMING: This book tells the tale of Olga and Pedro, a sister and brother with Puerto Rican roots, who are seemingly living the American dream. She is a successful event planner for the New York elite and he is a popular congressman whose star is rising in Brooklyn. Certain events, however, force them to face family secrets and confront their connection to Puerto Rico and their radical mother, who has spent her life fighting for the independence of the struggling island. An enlightening look at family ties, political corruption, and cultural heritage. - Libby
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COOK THIS BOOK: The recipes are all delicious but what makes it truly special is the format of the cookbook. It includes QR codes that let the reader access short videos on cooking techniques and footnotes that give chefs extra information that will only improve their cooking skills. The recipes are great for advanced cooks but the design of the book keeps a new chef from feeling intimidated. It makes a great gift for a recent graduate who wants to step up their cooking game. - Brianna
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YOU MADE A FOOL OF DEATH WITH YOUR BEAUTY: I am only a few chapters into this book which I picked up based on: 1) the fact that Akwaeke Emezi churns out incredibly interesting work that defies definition and 2) a bookseller friend in North Carolina raved; a steamy romance begot of tragedy, I can't wait to see where this goes. - Page |
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THE FAVOR: I just f inished this suspenseful debut thriller and highly recommend this ride of a book. Two women stuck in dangerous marriages living parallel lives that end up crossing, and boy what a thriller it is! -Yvette
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FOUR TREASURES OF THE SKY: A thought provoking story of a young Chinese girl kidnapped in the 1800s and sent to America to be a prostitute. Escaping, she disguises herself as a boy and so begins her story of survival in the American west. This was a great page-turner but also shows how the Chinese were treated in this country when they first arrived. - Sally
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THE CANDY HOUSE: I really loved it. I loved the interconnection of the characters and the skipping to different time periods, and the similarities to The Goon Squad. It also reminded me of The Circle and The Every with it’s take on social media and technology. -Dorothy
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Barrett Bookstore is thrilled to welcome Jasmine Guillory, Jean Hanff Korelitz, and Emma Straub to Darien for Ladies of Summer 2022! We hope you can join us on Wednesday, June 8 at 6PM for a lively celebration of this summer's hottest reads! |
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Please join Barrett Bookstore in welcoming Christine Kandic Torres to Darien for a celebratory event! Christine will join us at Barrett on Thursday, June 23 at 6:30PM to launch her new book The Girls in Queens, appearing in conversation with Yvette Morgan. Following the conversation, Christine will sign copies of The Girls in Queens. Wine and light bites will be served.
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Barrett Bookstore is thrilled to support Darien's Inaugural Pride Celebration in Tilley Pond Park on Sunday, June 12. The afternoon will feature live music, speakers, vendors, and lots of family fun. We'll be there with a selection of titles for young and old alike. See you there! |
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