Weekly Bestsellers June 30th - July 6th

Hardcover Bestsellers

1) The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith - J.K. Rowling may have just released a short story about Harry Potter and the crew at age 34, but readers are really digging her alter-ego's crime novels. Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott plunge into literary London as they try to solve the mystery surrounding the disappearance of novelist Owen Quine.

2) Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty - For two weeks during the spring this tome published by Harvard University Press was completely out of stock, awaiting the next printing. When we received boxes of it later we all had the same fear: was this one of those flash in the pan crazes or the real thing? We've had it in stock for months now and it's the book that just keeps on selling.

3) The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt - Now with brand a brand new Pulitzer Prize gold seal, The Goldfinch has an engrossing plot and crazy characters and an opening that will have you totally hooked.

4) The Keillor Reader by Garrison Keillor - A not-so-big secret: We love Garrison Keillor. No really, we do.  And apparently so do our customers. This book of poems, stories, essays and anecdotes offer a great collection of Mr. Keillor's work.

5) My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel by Ari Shavit - In hardcover since November, My Promised Land keeps popping up on our bestseller list. The only thing that keeps a book going this long after initial publication is word of mouth. And this book has received some fantastic endorsements - like this New York Time's Columnist suggesting that both President Obama and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu read it. 

6) The Arsonist by Sue Miller - A New England summer, houses ablaze, and passionate affairs. This book is hot all around, and debuts on our weekly best hot off the presses.

Paperback Bestsellers

1) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - Pick your reasons for wanting to read it: a) for a deeply moving story of teenage love. b) to read the book that everyone is talking about. c) because you like to weep on the beach.

2) The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert - Turns out the author of Eat, Pray, Love is a damn good fiction writer too. And if you need convincing, come hear her read from her novel at the Coolidge Corner Theatre this Sunday.

3) Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie  - If you ask me for a recommendation, I will hand you this book. Smart and relevant and funny and AND a love story. I adore Americanah.

4) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou - This pocket sized paperback is a memoir of the early years of one our most beloved writers. Shockingly, she is also one of the most banned authors in the USA. I think I know what I'm reading next.

5) The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith - The mystery by an author who no one had heard of turned out to be a book by an author who most people have heard of. This book will be nothing like Harry Potter but, arguably, just as engrossing.

6) My Struggle: Book One by Karl Ove Knausgaard - Norwegian literary sensation writes about his life in six books. Three have been translated, and as he's recently become the talk of the literary world. The first book has been flying off our shelves. This is Jamie's beach read of choice.

7) The Circle by Dave Eggers  - Dave Eggers does have a new novel out but everyone has been into this dystopian novel set in a faux Silicon Valley.  

Ridiculously, Ridiculously Good

Each person here is ridiculously, ridiculously good at something. We each have our own speciality, possessing an encyclopedic knowledge about nearly every topic or format in the store including but not limited to: small press releases, penguins, math, Finnish authors, travel, dramatic YA books, elephants, French flaps.  Because of this knowledge, we can make some really, really good recommendations.

This is really all an excuse for me to tell you about my specialty, which is events.  Straight-up events.  If you're interested in something, anything! I can conjure up an event you might like.

Do you work during the weekday and wish you could go to a weekend story time with your kids? 
On Saturday, January 19th at 10:30, the vocally brilliant and vibrant Tess will be hosting our monthly children's story time right underneath the tree in our kids section.  If you want more stories (who doesn't want more stories?), come back on Sunday, January 20th at 2pm when local publisher Pinwheel Books brings by a few of their picture book authors for their 2nd annual story showcase.

Do you wish you could go to a Saturday night séance held by Ian Svenonius while a DJ is playing?
Yes. 
Follow-up question, are you free January 26?
Your answer has to be yes, otherwise I'm going to have to do the Charlie Brown walk across Coolidge Corner traffic.  Please say yes. 

Do you like books, history, and alcohol, in addition to being old enough to legally enter a bar?
We're having a Prohibition-themed party the night of January 20th at the Regal Beagle for Stephanie Schorow's book, Drinking Boston.  For a $35 ticket, you'll get a signed copy of the book, hors d'oeuvres, and two complimentary beverages.  It's in conjunction with Union Park Press and Bully Boy Distillery, so you know it'll be a good time.

Are you a teen who likes John Green?
No, he's not coming to sign books (YET.  It's one of my life missions to get him to read here, which would be an interesting sight due to my slightly feverish fangirl crush on him which would probably lead to an episode involving hyperventilating, no biggie, I'M COOL).  I am, however, starting a Young Adult Book Club for teens ages 12-18.  Instead of choosing just one book, we're going to talk about any of John Green's works.  Love Looking for Alaska?  Did you cry at The Fault in Our Stars? Come by, we'll talk about our favorite John Green books and choose what we'll read for next month. This starts Monday, January 14 at 5pm.

I could go on for hours about upcoming events, but I'll pause here.  We have so many great authors coming in this month, so take a look at our calendar or ask me for a recommendation in the comments field.