One Perk Of Owning a Bookstore: Advanced Reader Copies

As Brian and I come up on our first anniversary of owning Chapter2Books I know there are many perks (blessings) to having our store.  One is receiving Advanced Reader's Copies. We definitely don't have time to read all of them but I have absolutely loved some of them. I plan on recommending them often when they're released.

Last month marked the first World Book Night in the U.S. I hope there will be more involvement next year because it was so fun to be given 20 copies of my favorite book, The Kite Runner. When I read it I had had the wind knocked out of me a couple times. It is a fantastic book. I didn't know if I'd ever have such a strong emotional reaction to a book again until I read The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry. Keeping  in mind everyone takes their own experiences and situations with them while reading a book. I'm not saying people will have as strong a reaction as I did but I am confident people will love it.

Harold Fry is married and retired living a dull life in England. One day he receives a letter from a former co-worker who simply wants to say goodbye and thank you to Harold as she lays dying. Harold feels compelled to write back for many reasons which leads to  walking to the post office to mail his response. After a spiritual conversation with the mail lady, he sets out on foot to hand deliver his letter to Queenie. He has great experiences along the way and many situations in his life are resolved by the end. Even his nagging wife becomes a very sympathetic character in the end.

Release date: July 24

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This will make a fantastic book club pic and will lead to good discussions.

Another ARC I read recently falls into an ever increasing category: Young Adult novels that make great reads for adults. The Age Of Miracles freaked me out. Absolutely freaked me out.

From Goodreads:

On a seemingly ordinary Saturday morning, Julia and her family wake to discover, along with the rest of the world, that the rotation of the earth has suddenly begun to slow. Set against this threat to normal life, The Age of Miracles maps the effects of catastrophes big and small on the lives of ordinary people, and in particular, one young girl. Extraordinary for its original concept, unforgettable characters, and the grace, elegance and beauty of Karen Thompson Walker's prose, The Age of Miracles is a mesmerizing story of family turmoil, young love, and coming-of-age set against an upending of life as we know it.

OK, they say mesmerizing, I say freaked me out! Karen Thompson Walker does an excellent job of setting up this situation that seems like it could really happen. This is not a disaster movie, it is real life being played out against a dangerous change little by little.

One fair warning on my part: do NOT read this on the first Wednesday of the month at noon. I'm not ashamed to admit I freaked out when the civil service sirens started wailing.

Release date: June 26

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On a lighter note (and a book that's actually available now) is the lovely Faith Bass Darling's Last Garage Sale.

Please keep in mind I mentioned having emotional reactions to books due to your own life experiences. I suspect that people who are dealing with family members with Alzheimer's may not consider this light and delightful but still an excellent book.

Faith Bass Darling is the town matriarch; also a recluse in her mansion stuffed with priceless antiques. That is until 12/31/99. Faith has been instructed by God to get rid of her worldly possessions which leads to a dream garage sale on her massive front lawn.

Faith spends the day saying “make an offer” and selling off Tiffany lamps for $1 while Bobbi Jo Campbell, antique store owner, tries to intervene for her own good. Family tragedies and mysteries play out throughout this wonderful day for the reader.

Some other books I highly recommend include the following:

• In Caddis Wood, is a family drama set both in the Twin Cities and a cabin in Wisconsin. Mary Rockcastle, a professor at Hamline, wrote a lovely novel where nature is just as important a character as the humans.
• Sister, by Rosamund Lupton involves tracking down a sister who has gone missing in London. Great mystery along with two sister's drama.
• The Year We Left Home is a true family saga, although saga probably isn't the best word! Jean Thompson tells wonderful tales of family members throughout the 70's to present day. From Iowa to Chicago and to each coast, everyone can relate to family relationships playing out far beyond the family hometown.

I hope you read these books. I hope I've done them justice here. By the way, one perk of being a Chapter2Books customer: we give these arc's away with a purchase!