Dear Readers,
First off, hello. How are you? Here's to hoping you are hanging in.
There's a lot going on so we'll get straight to the point: events are back in a big way. Notably, check out our superstar culinary panel (in partnership with our dear friends over at Darien Library) featuring Melissa Clark, Jacques Pepin, and Deb Perelman; they'll talk family food, pandemic cooking, holiday prep, and answer any burning questions you may have. We're also prepping for two fan favorites: our annual rep night, Publishers Present and Battle of the Books, round three. Yes, it will all be virtual and yes, it will all be fabulously fun. Scroll down for details.
Back soon with holiday gift recommendations and for the next Friday Five, a set of comfort reads might be in order. In the meantime, if you want to connect, we'll see you on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Take care.
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Publishers Present
Thursday, November 12
7:30 PM
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We are thrilled to bring back our much-beloved annual Rep Night! Representatives from Hachette and Penguin Random House will share holiday gift ideas, book club picks, and reading recommendations galore. Grab a drink, cozy up to your computer and get ready to be inspired.
All titles recommended during the event will be available for purchase at Barrett Bookstore and on our website.
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Feeding the Family: A Culinary Conversation
Wednesday, November 18
7:00PM
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Talk about culinary legends! Get out your pens and mark your calendars to join not one, not two, but three legendary chefs in conversation. Melissa Clark, Jacques Pepin, and Deb Perelman will discuss their current books, feeding your family, pandemic cooking strategies, and more. As these masters impart their culinary wisdom they will also take questions from the audience. This is is a NOT-TO-BE-MISSED event. Signed copies of new release cookbooks will be available for purchase, just in time for holiday cooking and gifting.
This program is being presented in partnership with our friends over at Darien Library.
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Battle of the Books, Round Three!
Thursday, December 3
7:00PM
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Gregory Cowles
Senior Editor, Books
New York Times
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Henri Helander
Founder and Owner
To and From Nails
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Tiere Hessert
Founder and Owner
Mama Collective
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Kiera Parrott
Director
Darien Library
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Holly Russell
Teacher and Writer
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Five Darien community leaders will battle it out as they work to convince the virtual audience that their book deserves to be in Jim Mustich’s wildly popular book, 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die.
Each panelist will have a few minutes to convince the audience, through whatever means they like (talk, sing, dance!), that their book is the worthiest of the bunch. After hearing from each participant, the audience will vote and crown a winner. Our last two events have packed the house (both in-person and virtual) and we’ve no doubt the enthusiasm will be just as high as we gather together virtually to celebrate our wonderful community and our shared love of books.
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About 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die and Jim Mustich
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Our emcee for the event will be author, editor, and publishing executive Jim Mustich. Jim began his career in bookselling; in 1986, he co-founded the acclaimed book catalog, A Common Reader, and was for two decades its guiding force. He subsequently has worked as an editorial and product development executive in the publishing industry. His book, 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die, was published to great acclaim in October 2018. The Washington Post called it “the ultimate literary bucket list,” and O, The Oprah Magazine, said, “If there’s a heaven just for readers, this is it.”
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Tessa Wegert in conversation with
Wendy Walker
Tuesday, December 8
7PM
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Darien's own Tessa Wegert will join Wendy Walker for a conversation about her new book The Dead Season.
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Tessa Wegert is a Canadian expat, journalist, and former digital media strategist. Her business and marketing articles have appeared in such publications as Forbes, The Huffington Post, Adweek, and The Economist. She attended Concordia University in Montreal, where she studied Communications.
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Wendy Walker is the author of the psychological suspense novels All Is Not Forgotten, Emma In the Night, The Night Before and Don’t Look For Me. Her novels have been translated into 23 foreign languages and topped bestseller lists both nationally and abroad. They have been selected by the Reese Witherspoon Book Club, The Today Show and The Book of the Month Club, and have been optioned for both television and film.
Wendy holds degrees from Brown University and Georgetown Law School, and has worked in finance and several areas of the law. As a former family law attorney with training in child advocacy, Wendy draws from her knowledge of trauma and psychology to write compelling and complex characters and stories.
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Diane Weeks
Saturday, December 5
3-5PM
Darien artist Diane Weeks will join us for an in-person, socially distanced book signing just in time for holiday gifting! Her beautiful new book, Darien Days, is the perfect gift for any current or former Darien resident. As the town of Darien celebrates its 200th anniversary, the book commemorates the bicentennial with 84 pages of watercolor and pen illsutrations in a joyous depiction of daily life.
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Jeff Benedict
Saturday, December 12
3-5PM
New York Times bestselling author of sixteen nonfiction books Jeff Benedict will return to Barrett Bookstore for a special holiday book signing with copies of his hugely popular books about The New England Patriots, The Dynasty, and Tiger Woods.
Benedict has been a special-features writer for Sports Illustrated and the Los Angeles Times, and his essays have appeared in the New York Times. He is also a television and film producer.
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