Wellesley Books Newsletter March 20th, 2024 | |
They don't say March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb for nothing: these warmer days have brought a touch of spring with them, allowing for more outdoor activities (including reading!). March is Women's History Month and we have featured literature from artists, creatives, businesswomen, and activists who have shaped history, society, and culture. Snag something inspiring to read in the sunshine! | | |
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TOMORROW
Thursday, March 21st at 7 PM (in-person)
Casey Sherman, author of Helltown: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer on Cape Cod, presents his new book, A Murder in Hollywood: The Untold Story of Tinseltown's Most Shocking Crime.
New York Times bestselling true crime author Casey Sherman pulls back Tinseltown’s velvet curtain to reveal its dark underbelly through the shocking murder of Hollywood darling, Lana Turner.
Hollywood starlet Lana Turner was one of Tinseltown’s most recognizable faces in the 1940s and 50s. But, when the Academy Award-winning actress began dating mobster Johnny Stompanato—a thug for west-coast mob boss Mickey Cohen—all the lights and glamour of Hollywood couldn't brighten the darkness of her personal life.
"A must-read for fans of true crime and Hollywood history, A Murder in Hollywood never disappoints! Casey Sherman deftly serves just the right mix of glamour, glitz, and grit to keep the reader turning pages. It’s a stunner from start to finish." —Kristin Dilley, co-host, Mind over Murder podcast
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Wednesday, March 27th at 7 PM (in-person)
Claire Bidwell Smith, one of the nation's leading grief therapists, joins us to discuss her new book, Conscious Grieving: A Transformative Approach to Healing from Loss.
From one of the leading grief therapists, this compassionate and accessible guide to grieving offers a new framework for understanding and navigating loss.
Conscious Grieving is a book for anyone seeking guidance and support after loss. Renowned grief therapist Claire Bidwell Smith combines her deeply personal experience of loss with her long career spent working with thousands of people to introduce a new approach to grief, one that promotes hope and even transformation.
An intimate guide to grieving that offers hope and healing within loss from one of the nation’s top grief therapists.
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Monday, April 1st at 7 PM (in-person)
Marta McDowell presents All the Presidents' Gardens, the rich history of the White House grounds, revealing how the story of the garden is also the story of America.
The 18 acres surrounding the White House have been an unwitting witness to history—kings and queens have dined there, bills and treaties have been signed, and presidents have landed and retreated. Throughout it all, the grounds have remained not only beautiful, but also a powerful reflection of American trends. In All the Presidents' Gardens, bestselling author Marta McDowell recounts the untold history of the White House grounds with historical and contemporary photographs, vintage seed catalogs, and rare glimpses into Presidential pastimes.
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Thursday, April 4th at 6:30 PM (in-person)
Ruth Behar, the Pura Belpré Award-winning author of Lucky Broken Girl and Letters from Cuba, joins us to discuss her new book, Across So Many Seas. Ruth will be in conversation with Susan Lynn Meyer, author of A Sky Full of Song.
Spanning over 500 years, Ruth Behar's epic novel tells the stories of four girls from different generations of a Jewish family, many of them forced to leave their country to start a new life.
Though many years and many seas separate these girls, they are united by a love of music and poetry, a desire to belong and to matter, a passion for learning, and their longing for a home where all are welcome. And each is lucky to stand on the shoulders of their courageous ancestors.
"As lyrical as it is epic, Across So Many Seas reminds us that while the past may be another country, it's also a living, breathing song of sadness and joy that helps define who we are." –Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee
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Bookseller Recommendations | |
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Ashleigh recommends: Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun
Pub date April 2nd
Get ready to laugh your socks off and ugly cry, because this book has it all. Childhood friends to rivals to lovers, a cross country road trip, a favorite teacher dying of cancer, a dog named Odysseus, lost love rekindled, brilliant Neurodivergence and Queer rep, and so much more. I hesitated to dive in because it is, per the author, a “rom com about a death road-trip” but it is also a profound exploration of the human experience. Alison Cochrun always writes romance with depth, sincerity, and perfectly timed humor (or tears), and her character arcs are absolutely marvelous. I can’t recommend this enough – just be ready for the journey.
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Jerry recommends: Wild Houses by Colin Barrett
A kidnapping in a small town in County Mayo, Ireland, uncovers secrets, petty crime and a group of people who come together despite their issues and differences. This debut novel is masterful in using descriptive language that makes you feel the conditions at-hand. The main characters are flawed-- sometimes criminally--and yet so believable that you really care about them as they try to understand their places in society, while struggling with personal issues such as grief and anxiety. A page turner with fantastic, unique characters.
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Gillian recommends: The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard
Identical towns exist twenty years in the past and the future on either side of an isolated valley. Visits are restricted lest observers interfere with the course of history, but when a young woman stumbles upon information about a loved one’s destiny, her instinct to prevent a tragedy is at odds with her responsibility for protecting the timeline. The Other Valley is a brilliantly devised and beautifully written exploration of memory and time, fate and free will. It’s no surprise that the author is a philosophy professor!
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It's the perfect time of the year to add to your audio library for gardening, long car rides, and lounging on the beach. (We promise, that warmth is coming!) Our friends at Libro.fm are offering new members a free audiobook credit with the unique code found above. Libro.fm supports local independent bookstores, so it's like shopping at our store, but for your ears!
Click here to learn more.
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Bookseller Recommendations for Young Readers | |
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Poor Eddy lives alone in a glass bowl and wishes he had a playmate. When an unusual friend comes along, Eddy is happy. A tale of friendship in the most unlikely place that is sure to make you smile.
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New Books for Young Adults | | |
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A Child's Library and Middle-Grade Monthly are our two book subscriptions for children aged 0-5 and 8-12, respectively. Each month, Lauren and Kali select a newly-published picture book or middle-grade novel. Subscriptions can be purchased on a month-to-month basis, or for a year, and may be shipped to the child's home or picked up in-store. There's still time to grab our March selections: No Cats in the Library by Lauren Emmons and Paper Dragons by Siobhan McDermott. Please click on the covers for more information. | |
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Brighten up any water bottle, laptop case, or notebook with these fun, personable stickers from Pixigems and Pipsticks! | | |
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Boomer, age 8, is a mini golden doodle who immigrated to the United States from Canada. He immediately fell in love with his adoptive home of Dover, MA and quickly assumed a leadership role over his home and neighborhood. When he is not policing his younger dog brother, Mac, he spends his days keeping track of all the chipmunks and squirrels in his yard.
Boomer lives with Wellesley Books gift-seller, Lisa!
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Thank you for supporting your community independent bookstore!
Sincerely,
Sarah Cyr
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