Wellesley Books Newsletter | November 9th, 2022
Welcome, November...a complicated, maybe even contradictory month, in many ways. We celebrate Thanksgiving alongside Native American Heritage Month. Advent calendars and boxed holiday cards have made their quiet debut in the middle of the bookstore, even as the thermometer tops 70 and jackets come off in the afternoon sun. It's also the last big hurrah for our autumn events season--we have an exciting new event with Royal Family biographer Andrew Morton and several more in the works. So, lean into those contradictions, browse before things become crazy-busy here--and, in the spirit of the season, pick up a Weber grill or avocado toast Christmas ornament before they're gone for good!
Upcoming Events
Please note that we are now featuring a mixture of online and-in-person events.
For further details about each event, please click the author photos below.
Saturday, November 12th at 2 PM (in-person)
Education journalist, parent educator, and the author of the “All the Time" picture book series, Deborah Farmer Kris, joins us to read her brand new book You Are Growing All the Time. This is a free event, but we ask that you RSVP with the link below--thank you!
Tuesday, November 15th at noon (online)
Anthony Horowitz presents The Twist of a Knife, his fourth literary whodunit following The Word is Murder, The Sentence Is Death, and A Line to Kill. This time around, Horowitz becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation—and only one man can prove his innocence: his newly estranged partner in solving crime, Detective Hawthorne.

Anthony will be in conversation with Shari Lapena, author of The Couple Next Door and Not a Happy Family.
Thursday, November 17th at 6 PM (in-person)
Legendary record producer-turned-brain scientist, Susan Rogers, explains why you fall in love with music in her new book, This Is What It Sounds Like.

You've probably already heard Susan's work: she was Prince’s chief engineer for Purple Rain, and she's been behind such hits as "One Week" by Barenaked Ladies. Now an award-winning professor of cognitive neuroscience, Susan's fascinating book will deepen your connection to your favorite artists and change the way you listen to music.
Friday, November 18th at 6 PM (in-person)
CNBC’s Julia Boorstin presents When Women Lead, her groundbreaking, deeply reported work that reveals the key commonalities and characteristics that help top female leaders thrive as they innovate, grow businesses, and navigate crises. An essential resource for anyone in the workplace.

Featuring new interviews with Katrina Lake, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jenn Hyman, Whitney Wolfe Herd, Lena Waithe, Shivani Siroya, Julia Collins, and more, When Women Lead is a radical blueprint for the future of business, and our world at large.
Sunday, November 20th at 2 PM (in-person)
Andrew Morton, celebrity and Royal Family biographer, joins us to discuss his new book, The Queen: Her Life, which promises to be the definitive, most comprehensive account of Elizabeth II's historic reign.

From leading a nation struggling to restore itself after the devastation of the second World War to navigating the divisive political landscape of the present day, Queen Elizabeth was a reluctant but resolute queen. This is the story of a woman of unflagging self-discipline who will long be remembered as mother and grandmother to Great Britain, and one of the greatest sovereigns of the modern era.
Bookseller Recommendations
Jerry recommends:
The Last Chairlift by John Irving
This story of a man searching for his origins is truly epic in scope, characters and social commentary. Familiar Irving themes--wrestling, ghosts, tragedy, sexual/gender identity, and politics--appear in this novel, but in a fresh, new perspective. Large portions of the book are in screenplay form, which is cleverly incorporated into the plot. There are many laugh-out-loud moments.
Tracy A. recommends:
We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman
I devoured We All Want Impossible Things over the course of one day. It's beautifully written and filled with small gems and observations about life that I found myself underlining and reading aloud to anyone who was nearby. It's funny and sad in the best possible funny-sad way as it explores the intricacies and unfathomable nature of grief.
Meghan recommends:
The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean
Dean’s debut novel is an anti-fairytale perfect for fans of The Brothers Grimm, with allusions to neurodiversity and the generational trauma and everyday difficulties that arise from existing in a world not designed for you. It brings to light that the only life you can live is the life you can imagine, and the importance and the power of creativity in the process of change.
New In Hardcover
Bono


Claire Saffitz
Matthew Quick
Katherine Dunn
Haruki Murakami
N.K. Jemisin
Louise Kennedy
Lynn Steger Strong
Michael Connelly
Madeline Miller
Russell Banks
Lee Child & Andrew Child
Paul Fischer
New In Paperback
Shehan Karunatilaka
Ann Patchett
Kate Baer
Richard Powers
Neal Stephenson
Ben Mezrich
Alison Cochrun
Erica Ferencik
Bookseller Recommendations for Young Readers
Ashleigh recommends:
Rust in the Root by Justina Ireland
What a mesmerizing, wildly creative, and fantastically original adventure! It feels a little N.K. Jemisin, a little H.G. Parry, a little steampunk, quite magic, a lot of nature vs. the machine, and a compelling twist on major historical trends and events. I loved every second of it. Jordan Cobb's narration was exceptional; she had a lot of characters to imbue, and it was a marvelous interpretation. I couldn't stop listening.
Colleen L. recommends:
Wildoak by C.C. Harrington
This novel intertwines animals and the natural world with the story of Maggie, who struggles to fit in because of her stutter. Your heart will ache for Maggie. There are important messages about conservation and preservation as the tale unfolds, while she spends time with her grandfather in rural England. Fans of Pax, The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, The One and Only Ivan, and Charlotte and Wilbur--to name a few--will love this book! A favorite of 2022 for me.
Middle-Grade Monthly: A Subscription Club
Middle-Grade Monthly is our subscription service for kids ages 8-12! Each month our children's book buyer Lauren selects a newly-released chapter book. Get your hands on the newest and soon-to-be coveted books of the year. We offer monthly and yearly subscriptions, and you can pick up your book at the store or have it mailed to you. Click on the link below for FAQs about the program.

The November 2022 pick is Superworld: Save Noah by Yarrow & Carrie Cheney. To find out more about our subscription service, click here.
Picture Book Subscription Club: A Perfect Gift!
A Child's Library is our subscription service for children ages 0-5! Lauren selects one newly-released picture book each month to be sent or picked-up from the store. The goal of A Child's Library is to help foster a love for books within the child's home. It makes a great baby shower gift!

The November 2022 pick is Too Early by Nora Ericson and Elly MacKay. To find out more about our subscription service, click here.
New Books for Kids
Yeva Skalietska
Ying Chang Compestine
Tae Keller & Geraldine Rodriguez
Christiane M. Andrews
New Books For Teens
Marissa Meyer
Rainbow Rowell
Neal Shusterman
Kristin Cashore
Tracy Denon
Omar Epps & Clarence A. Haynes
In the Gift Department
Thanksgiving dinner is, traditionally, about familiarity, comfort and homey-ness. Strike all of these notes with our autumnal dishes, bowls and platters--and a cheery apron for the hard-working cook.
What We're Reading Now...
publishes Nov. 15th
Colleen L.
Betty
publishes Jan. 17th, 2023
Jerry
Ashleigh
Catherine
Tracy A.
Dog of the Week
Poppy
Poppy is an energetic and delightful long-haired Dachshund who is all of six months old, as of last week. Her humans thought she might have been a mini, but she seems to have already outgrown that category. She loves blueberries and romping on the beach, and dislikes cars and water (except to drink). She is very opinionated for a small dog--but the size of the opinions is often in inverse proportion to the size of the dog, don't you think?
Thank you for supporting your community independent bookstore!
Sincerely,
Rebecca Stimpson
82 Central Street
Wellesley, MA 02482
781-431-1160