Book Ends
March Book Notes 2004

Marilyn (who writes from both the children’s and the adult sections) writes about THE AMATEUR MARRIAGE, Anne Tyler’s latest book . In it the author looks beneath the surface of the marriage of Michael and Pauline, who seem to be the perfect couple. With warmth and sympathy for their human flaws, she tracks the course of their relationship and its eventual dissolution. This is played out against the background of American life from World War Two to the present.

Jen writes: NEW SPRING by Robert Jordan is a new prequel to Jordan’s EYE OF THE WORLD SERIES. For those who have read the series, this is a refreshing look into the past of some of his more important characters. The book would also be a great way to start the New Yorker bring us – with humor, love and respect – the traditions and characters that make his adopted hometown a community.

Gretchen writes: At 65, foreign correspondent Christopher Wren decided to celebrate retirement by hiking from Times Square to his home in Vermont along the Appalachian and Long trails. His journal of that trip, WALKING TO VERMONT, chronicles memories of past dangerous journalistic assignments and present adventures with fellow trekkers. Wren writes forcefully of mastering his aches and pains to attain a rhythm each hiking day and concludes that, for him, chronological age is utterly irrelevant.

Discouraged by soggy pie crusts and sagging cakes? Christopher Kimball and the staff at America’s Test Kitchen have come to your rescue with a practical companion for home bakers. BAKING ILLUSTRATED covers all the bases from ingredients and equipment to high-altitude baking tips, guiding cooks with easy-to-follow, tempting illustrations. Meringue pies: here we come!

Mystery series aficionados take note: spring has arrived with new books by several old favorites. Laurie King ‘s new title, The Game, takes Mary Russell and husband Sherlock Holmes on a rather dusty but exotic trip to 1920’s India where they save the life of one of literature’s fabled heroes: Rudyard Kipling’s Kim.

In HIGH COUNTRY , Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon investigates the ominous disappearance of other park rangers in Pat writes: Celebrating the joys of reading for young and old, the National Education Association is once again kicking off Read Across America on the 100th anniversary of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, March 2. We all have our favorites from THE CAT IN THE HAT to OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO. Read one to your favorite person, no matter what their age.

A 30th anniversary edition of the perennial bestseller, WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS, was recently made available. This edition, which will be available for one year, includes never-before published poems and drawings by the popular Shel Silverstein. This is a wonderfully funny book of poetry that should be on every child’s bookshelf. Great to read aloud , or to oneself again and again.

RAISING THE GRIFFIN,by Melissa Wyatt, was recently released and reviewed by one of our student reviewers. Nicole, age nine, grade 4, tells us that this was one of her favorite books. It was about a boy named Alexi, an ordinary boy, until he was forced to move to Rovenia and lose everything he loves to be a prince. The book was full of surprises that we didn’t anticipate.
Marilyn writes from the children’s room that she is beginning to re-read TOLKIEN’S trilogy for the fifth or sixth time. “I do this every seven years or so and am always surprised at how easily I am drawn once more into this wonderful story and the doings of hobbits and all the rest. I should not be surprised – the trilogy is one of the most, if not the most, popular books of the last century. Anyone who enjoys myth and legend would appreciate the story, not only for the quality of the writing, but also for the scholarship behind it.”

series. In the past, Jordan has excelled at the coming-of- age story. and this book is no exception. The tale is fast-paced and full of fantasy and intrigue. When I was reading, I was saddened to remember I was not part of Jordan’s world each time I put the book down. If you are interested in adventure, magic and mystery, I suggest you pick up NEW SPRING .

From The Children’s Room:

Coming Events

March 9th brings Maureen Meister to the Parish of the Epiphany to discuss her latest book Arch. and the Arts and Crafts Movement in Boston .

On Wednesday, March 10 the Book Ends team will be on hand from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. to sell books at our neighbor’s shop, Teresa’s Fashions. Needham author and fashion consultant Marylou Andre will present her new book READY TO WEAR. This should be just the advice we need on how to present ourselves without all the winter woolies! Please join us at Teresa’s!

On Thursday, March 25 at 7:00 p.m., we are particularly delighted to welcome Cambridge author, Mary Sullivan to read from her new novel SHIP SOONER here at Book Ends. Jodi Picoult comments: “SHIP SOONER is that rare novel with perfect pitch.” Andre Dubus III(HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG) says: “ this is a lovely and redemptive novel.” Please join us!

On Saturday, March 27 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., we welcome Greg Tang to our children’s room at Book Ends. Greg Tang’s books, GRAPES OF MATH and MATH-TERPIECES, are favorites here for older children. His new book MATH FABLES is directed to the three to six year old child and encourages them to see that math can be fun. Please join us!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from all your Irish friends at Book Ends (We are all Irish during the month of March.)

Winter treasures for all ages:

New books by local authors:

E.Ashley Rooney and D.Peter Lund wish to thank all those who took time to stop by their book signing. It was a warm and successful event. We still have available signed copies of these two wonderful books. & Waterfront Homes from Castles to Cottages AND Garden Ornaments Pots, Pergolas, Pedestals and More

E. Ashley Rooney, former Winchester Youth Coor- dinator, has joined with her photographer husband D. Peter Lund to publish a series of architecture/art books for SchifferPublishing. Waterfront Homes offers an insider’s tour of over 60 homes showcased in 400 color photos. Garden Ornaments is a feast for the eyes as we look forward to springtime!

Can’t come? Contact us for an autographed copy ($34.95) – a truly beautiful gift! (781) 721-5933 Visit us on-line @www.bookendswinchester.com

Thank you for joining us at our recent book signing with Kate Clifford Larson as she celebrated her new book just published by the Ballentine Books a division of Random House

Bound for the Promised Land Harriet Tubman Portrait of an american Hero, by Kate Clifford Larson, a Winchester resident, with a Ph.D. in American History and an M.B.A., has won numberous awards, fellowships, & grants in support of her extraordinary work on Harriet Tubman. In this book she rescues Tubman from the "underground" of knowlege, from unused and unseen primary documents, shedding new light on this American icon of freedom. A truly glorious book! If unable to make the signing, contact us for an autographed copy ($26.95) a wonderful gift! Sunday, January 18th, from 2-4 pm.

Thank you for joining Maureen Meister as she celebrated her latest book just published by the University Press of New England

Architecture & the Arts & Crafts Movement in Boston: Harvard's H. Langford Warren, by Maureen Meister, who will be appearing here, Saturday, December 6th, from 2-4 pm.

Maureen Meister, an architectural historian and Winchester resident, is vice chairman of the Winchester Planning Board, a Town Meeting member, and active with the Historical Commission. In recent years, she has lectured on American architecture at Tufts, taught at the Art Institute of Boston, Northeaster University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

In researching Winchester's architecture, Meister learned that many of the men who designed the town's buildings at the turn of the 20th century were associated with one person, H. Langford Warren, a Boston architect and educator. We will see the Church of the Epiphany, Winchester Country Club, and the Chadwick house on Everett Ave. to name a few buildings represented in Meister's book.

celebrating with John Conway and his family was a delight. the publishing party connected with his new book Catboat Summers was a great success, , John appeared Sunday, December 14th between 2-4 pm.

John Conway , his wife Chris and family, are Winchester residents. This book, a series of short tales, which chronicles 10 year's worth of Conway family adventures - and misadventures - with their 1908-vintage Cape Cod Catboat, Buckrammer. It all started when John began writing some articles for the Magazine - Messing About in Boats. With the family purchase in 1993 of an almost 100 year old, leak and rust-plagued repair-hungry wooden boat, the adventure began as they attempted to turn this old bucket into the family "yacht!"

More recommended book for the winter doldrums

Everyone has a friend or family member who dotes on Monty Python and/or Gary Larson. You can delight them this season with these big new books: The Pythons,, by the Pythons(contributors, John Cleese and Graham Chapman) and the Complete Far Side 1930-1994,, Gary Larson's definitive collection (over 4000 cartoons) in two volumes.

Nathaniel Philbrick has followed his immensely popular In the Heart of the Sea with Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery: the U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842,. His new book combines meticulous historical detail and drama.

Young William Landay, former assistant D.A. in Boston has just won the prestigious John Cressy Memorial Dagger Award for his locally set thriller (Boston & Maine setting) Mission Flats,. All staff mystery lovers here are very enthusiastic about this first novel and the reviews have been splendid.

We recommend two wonderful works of fiction: William Martin's Harvard Yard, and Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake,. Both are fine novels sure to please the book lovers on your list.

Rabbi Harold Kushner's new book The Lord is my Shepherds: Healing wisdom of the Twenty-third Psalm,, is good spiritual reading for the Holiday or for any time.

Another book to touch the spirit is the World According to Mr. Rogers, by the late, beloved P.B.S. friend and neighbor.

In her new book famed dancer Twyla Tharp says "…the best creativity is a result of good work habits…the nuts and bolts of dreaming." The Creative Habit-Learn it and Use It for Life,, has been an instant best seller here and we predict it will be a favorite gift to give and receive all season.

Inspire the chef in your house with a new cookbook. Bistro Cook at home by famed author Gordon Hammersley,, after training with Wolfgang Puck and spending a year in Nice, Gordon and his wife Fiona open one of Boston's top restaurants "Hamersley". This book is a result of all his experience with an emphasis on French bistro cooking, modified for the home cook. We know you will love cooking from this wonderful book. The King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion,, is a treasure for those who love baking. King Arthur Flour, with more than one million bakers having participated in its workshops, seminars, and classes, is the largest educator of bakers in the world. High-spirited ideas and recipes for holiday parties fill Sheila Lukin's newest, Celebrate! .

Small, thoughtful gifts can warm the hearts of friends, teachers, and family: Book Ends offers Winchester logo Key Chains and magnets with a picture of Winchester's Town Hall; hand-embroidered lavender sachets, imported from France; porcelain-like decorative boxes of light, complete with tea lights; and whimsical socks for man and women…and you thought we were just a great bookstore!