Books On Beechwood

June Bestsellers

1. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
2. Everyone in this Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin
3. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
4. 111 Places in Ottawa That You Must Not Miss by by Jennifer Bain
5. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
6. The Wager by David Grann
7. Pageboy by Elliot Page
8. Best Hikes: Ottawa-Gatineau by Vickie Lanthier
9. Carson Crosses Canada by Linda Bailey
10. Standing in the Shadows by Peter Robinson

Spring Bestsellers

1. Best Hikes: Ottawa-Gatineau by Vickie Lanthier
2. Snow Road Station by Elizabeth Hay
3. Old Babes in the Wood by Margaret Atwood
4. Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton
5. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
6. Homecoming by Kate Morton
7. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
8. The Wager by David Grann
9. When Last Seen by Brenda Chapman
10. When We Lost Our Heads by Heather O’Neill

Greetings Book Lovers!

So it took a little while, but summer finally arrived and is now going strong!! The days have been nice and warm (but not too hot), the sun has been shining more than not, and our shelves here at the store are absolutely filled to the brim with great summer reads! Do you like solving thrilling mysteries? Spending time exploring the shades of the past? Escaping to exotic locales? However you like to spend your warm, sunny days, we know we’ve got the book for you!

While we get great enjoyment out of curling up with a good book and a toasty drink during the dark, winter months, there’s just something extra special about the prospect of summer reading. The dream of spending those long, lazy summer days lounging in a hammock in a sun-dappled grove with a pile of great books and a mojito close at hand lives on from year to year, even if it never quite becomes a reality (not yet, anyway). Regardless of where you find yourself reading though, as long as the book is good, not much else matters. And with so many new books hitting our shelves every day, you have lots of great ones to choose from! One of our favourite places to travel by book these days is Ancient Greece and the Mediterranean, and there’s certainly no shortage of books eager and able to take us there! We’ve read and enjoyed the works of Madeline Miller (Circe and The Song of Achilles), Elodie Harper (The Wolf Den and The House With the Golden Door), Marie Phillips (Gods Behaving Badly), Claire North (Ithaca), and Natalie Haynes (A Thousand Ships and Pandora’s Jar), and now Jennifer Saint has gifted us with another retelling of an ancient myth, Atalanta. As in her previous two books, Ariadne and Elektra, in this new novel, Saint focuses her creative lens on yet another strong, underestimated woman. After being abandoned by her parents for not being the son they longed for, Princess Atalanta is taken into the protective orbit of the Goddess Artemis. Raised by a mother bear in the wilds of the forest, Atalanta grows into a strong, free-spirited young woman with a taste for adventure. In an effort to fulfill Atalanta’s longing to explore the world, Artemis grants her charge the opportunity to fight alongside the famed Argonauts in their quest for The Golden Fleece. In true Greek deity form, her parting gift is an ominous warning – marriage will be Atalanta’s undoing. Torn between the joy she feels at proving herself in a world dominated by men and her protector’s warnings, Atalanta sets out to blaze her own trail and achieve her dreams while avoiding dire divine consequences.

In the wake of television shows like Bridgerton and the recent adaptations of two of Jane Austen‘s novels, Sanditon and Persuasion, interest in all things Regency has been renewed! Our own interest may be deeply rooted in original works, but we are definitely still able to appreciate all the new stories out there that take their inspiration from the likes of Jane Austen, Susan Ferrier, and Sir Walter Scott. In fact, we were so delighted by last year’s release of The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray, that we couldn’t contain our excitement when the sequel, The Late Mrs. Willoughby, showed up not long ago. While Jonathan Darcy (son of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam of Pride and Prejudice fame) is not overjoyed about visiting his old schoolmate John Willoughby, things become decidedly less bleak when he finds himself once again in the company of his crime-solving companion, Juliet Tilney (daughter of Catherine and Henry Tilney of Northanger Abbey), who happens to be in Devonshire visiting her new friend, Marianne Brandon (known as Marianne Dashwood prior to marrying Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility). When Mr. Willoughby’s new, young wife is poisoned at a party meant to welcome her to town, rumours begin to fly immediately, and Jonathan and Juliet join forces once more to try to solve the case! Full of twists and turns, fresh scandal, and some very messy romantic history, this Regency mystery will keep you guessing to the bitter end! Even more murder and mayhem await in Melodie Campbell‘s new mystery novel The Merry Widow Murders. If you enjoy the incredible sleuthing of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, and the quirkiness of television shows like Frankie Drake Mysteries and Murdoch Mysteries, then you will love this 1920s ocean liner murder mystery! Lady Lucy Revelstoke is a widow with deep roots in the Canadian mob scene, who, thanks to her late husband’s position in society, is now an accepted member of the British aristocracy. When an unknown dead man is suddenly discovered in her first class cabin, it’s up to Lucy, Elf (a pick-pocket turned maid), and her dashing friend, Lord Tony, to solve the mystery before the authorities can dig too deeply into Lucy’s colourful past.

The end of the school year has come and gone, which means it’s time to start thinking about what books the young people in your life will want to read over the coming weeks. Whether they’re off to camp for the summer or planning on sticking closer to home, they will never be bored with a handy literary companion by their side! For kids who love adventure and devoured books like Gary Paulsen‘s Hatchet, the newest Dusti Bowling book might be just the ticket! Across the Desert tells the story of 12-year aviation-obsessed Jolene, who spends as much of her free time as possible at the local library watching her favourite livestream, The Desert Aviator. A 12-year-old herself, aviator Addie Earhart loves sharing her adventures through her online platform, even if she only has a single fan. As each girl deals with troubles at home, they both find a kind of freedom and solace through Addie’s ultralight plane trips over the Arizona desert. So when Addie has an accident during her livestream and the picture goes black, Jolene knows she has to find a way to help her friend! What follows is a tale of true bravery, selflessness, and devotion. Jolene is a clever, loving, beautifully crafted character who will capture readers’ hearts despite some of her more questionable decision-making! Described as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them crossed with the fiction of Neil Gaiman, Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef would make for a truly enchanting summer read for the magically-inclined! Part thriller, part mystery, part fantasy, this debut novel follows the story of Marjan, a young woman cast adrift in the world after her father’s mysterious death. Left with a struggling veterinary practice on top of her already busy school life and her mixed up feelings about her dad, the last thing Marjan needs is more surprises. So when she gets a strange phone call about a gryphon who needs medical attention, she can barely believe her ears! Thus begins a wondrous (and often dangerous) journey of discovery as Marjan learns more about herself, her father, and the magical creatures she thought only existed in fairy tales! Surrounded by a cast of lovely, quirky characters, this young heroine is one you can’t help but root for!

Given how many books we’ve been receiving lately (and how long it’s taken us to actually write this newsletter), there are so many more titles we wish we had space to tell you about. Here are just some of the other recently released and forthcoming books we think are worth a closer look: The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece by Tom Hanks, When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill, In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune, A Shadow Crown by Melissa Blair, The Postcard by Anne Berest, Everything She Feared by Rick Mofina, The Midnight News by Jo Baker, The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane, The World by Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Merry Widow Murders by Melodie Campbell, Standing in the Shadows by Peter Robinson, The Malevolent Seven by Sebastien De Castell, The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel, Outside by Ragnar Jonasson, The Poisoner’s Ring by Kelley Armstrong, The Lock-Up by John Banville, Truth Telling by Michelle Good, Killing Moon by Jo Nesbo, Pebble & Dove by Amy Jones, Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood, The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman, Lady Sapiens by Thomas Cirotteau, Nothing Good Happens in Wazirabad on Wednesday by Jamaluddin Amal, The Little Italian Hotel by Phaedra Patrick, Imagining England’s Past by Susan Owens, Lady Caroline Lamb by Antonia Fraser, The Ghost Ship by Kate Mosse, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See, Girlfriend on Mars by Deborah Willis, A Lady’s Guide to Scandal by Sophie Irwin, Morgan is My Name by Sophie Keetch, 100 Places to See After You Die by Ken Jennings, How to Survive History by Cody Cassidy, Loot by Tania James, The Skull by Jon Klassen, The Collector by Daniel Silva, Silver Nitrate by Silvia Morena-Garcia, Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong, One of Us is Back by Karen M. McManus, The Little Village of Book Lovers by Nina George, How to Be Eaten by Maria Adelmann, The Paris Mystery by Kirsty Manning, The Weaver and the Witch Queen by Genevieve Gornichec, Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (August 1), Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo (August 1), Hopscotch by Marie-Louise Gay (August 1), Paper Trails by Roy MacGregor (August 1), The Bone Hacker by Kathy Reichs (August 1), The Night Ship by Jess Kidd (August 8), The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman (August 15), The Romantic by William Boyd (August 15), The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang (August 22), Storyland by Amy Jeffs (August 22), A Chateau Under Siege by Martin Walker (August 29), Dead of Night by Simon Scarrow (August 29).

Although the summer months always seem to fly by faster than they should, there’s still lots of time in which to enjoy the sunshine and a few great reads! So, wherever this summer takes you, be sure to pay us a visit before you go. Our staff will be here, ready and willing to help you find the perfect book (or books) to keep you company on all your summer adventures!

Happy Reading!
– The Staff at Books on Beechwood

Holiday Hours

We will be CLOSED on Monday, August 7 for the civic holiday and Monday, September 4 for Labour Day.

Hilary’s Bookshelf

What I’m Reading: The Firefly Summer by Morgan Matson

“I don’t know about you, but I definitely have a few choice ‘drop everything and read’ authors in my life and Morgan Matson is one of them! I’ve read and loved all six of her teen books and couldn’t wait to dive into this newest book, her first for middle grade readers! Ryanna is a charming protagonist and you will love following along on her adventures at Camp Van Camp. This is a wonderfully sweet, enchanting treat of a book that will leave you just as satisfied (if not more) as the most delicious fireside s’mores!”

Greetings Book Lovers!

We’re steadily approaching the end of April here which means we are right on the doorstep of one of our favourite days of the year! That’s right, Saturday, April 29 is Canadian Independent Bookstore Day, “the annual day when readers, writers, illustrators, publishers, and other industry supporters come together to celebrate indie bookstores across Canada.”

Though our numbers have dwindled over the decades, we’re lucky enough now to have a handful of wonderful independent bookstores here in town and we’re so proud and happy to call them our extended bookstore family! As a special treat for Canadian Independent Bookstore Day this year, we’ve joined forces with our fellow indies, Octopus Books, Perfect Books, The Spaniel’s Tale Bookstore, Singing Pebble Books, and World of Maps to bring you the first ever Ottawa Indie Bookstore Crawl! From Friday, April 28 to Sunday, April 30, book lovers from in and around Ottawa can collect stamps from each of our city’s six participating independent bookstores for their chance to win a $150 bookstore shopping spree! You can pick up your stamp card at any of the six stores, collect your stamps from the 28th to the 30th, and then hand in your card at your last bookstore stop! And the cherry on top? There’s no purchase necessary to participate! Entries (only one per person) must be submitted at a participating store before closing time on Sunday, April 30. Since each store is run slightly differently, be sure to check individual stores’ hours of operation before mapping out your book crawl route! Please note that here at Books on Beechwood, we will be CLOSED on Sunday, April 30 so will only be able to give out stamps and collect completed entries on Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29. When you do stop by, be sure to tag our social media accounts to add to the fun!

On top of The Ottawa Indie Bookstore Crawl and in the tradition of CIBDs past, on Saturday, April 29 only, everything here in the store will be 20% off! The discount will be available in-store and online, but it will not include CDs, magazines, newspapers, or customer special orders. We will also have a number of special door prizes on hand for which a single purchase will get you one entry. Each door prize has a retail value of around $100 and winners will be drawn and contacted once all the festivities are over. There will also be some special CIBD exclusives, including an Indie Bookish Canvas Tote Bag, a special Bibliophile Banned Books Puzzle, and an Ann Cleeves novella called Too Good to Be True featuring Shetland‘s Jimmy Perez! These items are available in limited quantities and will go on sale first thing Saturday morning. While we may be able to get extra tote bags and puzzles once CIBD is over, once the Ann Cleeves book is gone, it’s gone, so be sure to pop by early to secure your copy! We’ll also have lots of freebies up for grabs throughout the day – stickers and pins and tote bags, oh my – so there’s absolutely no chance of you walking away empty-handed!

As if that wasn’t enough, there’s one more contest we need to tell you about. Put on by the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association (CIBA) especially for Canadian Independent Bookstore Day and open to book lovers from coast to coast, you can enter to win one of three gift certificates to the independent bookstore of your choice! Every book purchased at an independent bookstore on Saturday, April 29 is worth a single entry and if any of your purchases happen to be written or illustrated by Canadians, you get a bonus entry! Purchases made in-person, by phone, or online are all valid, but you need your proof of purchase to enter the contest. The entry form will only become available as of midnight Pacific Time on Saturday and you’ll have until midnight on Sunday, April 30 to submit your entries. Check out the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association online for more details.

We really can’t tell you how excited we are about celebrating Canadian Independent Bookstore Day with you all this year!! Even if The Ottawa Indie Bookstore Crawl isn’t something you think you can swing, we hope you’ll still able to make the trek out to your local indie to show them some love and partake in the celebrations!

As booksellers, we all dearly love what we do and we know that none of it would be possible without all of you and your deep and abiding love of books! Thank you so, so much for continuing to support “the little bookshop that could!” Independent businesses are special places born of dreams and determination, and we feel so lucky to be one that’s grown and flourished in this very special community.

So, here’s to you, dearest Book Lovers! Wishing you all a very Happy Canadian Independent Bookstore Day! We look forward to seeing you on Saturday! And for those of you who can’t be with us, we know you’ll be here in spirit!

With love,
The Staff at Books on Beechwood

From Friday, April 28 to Sunday, April 30, collect stamps from each of our city’s six independent bookstores and enter for your chance to win a $150 bookstore shopping spree! Pick up your stamp card at any of the six stores, collect your stamps from the 28th to the 30th, and then hand in your card at your last bookstore stop! Entries must be submitted before closing time on Sunday, April 30.

Please note that we will be CLOSED on Sunday, April 30 so will only be able to give out stamps and collect completed entries on Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29.

March Bestsellers

1. Old Babes in the Wood by Margaret Atwood
2. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
3. Speak for the Dead by Amy Tector
4. Greenwood by Michael Christie
5. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
6. Private Power, Public Purpose by Thomas D’Aquino
7. Run Towards the Danger by Sarah Polley
8. Women Talking by Miriam Toews
9. Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
10. True North Rising by His Excellency Whit Fraser

Greetings Book Lovers!

Happy spring! Or maybe pseudo-spring is a better term – it’s still pretty wintry out there! Though it may be a while before we see the first flowers poke their heads out of the ground, everything’s coming up books here at the store these days! The spring books are just pouring in and there are so many we want to read that it’s hard to know where to start! Thankfully, there are no real rules when it comes to reading, so we can all just jump right in with both feet! Just make sure you keep your warm socks and cozy blankets close at hand because it looks like winter may not be quite finished with us yet!

Before we get into the “what’s new” section of our newsletter, we have a few in-store book signings on the horizon that we wanted to tell you about. On Saturday, April 15, Susan Taylor Meehan will be in the store from 1:00pm to 3:00pm to sign copies of her new novel, Loyalty. Full of spies, secrets, and just a hint of romance, this Cold War era tale takes readers from wartime Ottawa to the unstable shores of Europe as a young woman tries to find her place in a changing world. Be sure to pop the store between 12:00pm to 2:30pm on Saturday, April 22 to see local author Elie Nasrallah. He will be here signing copies of his newest book, Gates and Walls, a fascinating volume of “stories of migration in modern times.” Taking a quick peek into May, local mystery author (and store favourite) Brenda Chapman will be here on Saturday, May 6 from 11:00am to 1:00pm. She will be signing copies of When Last Seen, the highly anticipated follow-up to Blind Date, the first book in her new Hunter and Tate Mystery series. Set right here in Ottawa, this new series sees a true crime podcaster and a determined detective join forces to solve the mysteries and murders that crop up in our Nation’s Capital. Since we’re so early on in the month, be sure to keep your eyes on our website and social media pages for up-to-the-minute event information so you’re sure to not miss anything new that crops up!

While the two messiest seasons continue their battle for supremacy outside, we’ve found that there’s nothing more comforting to do inside than disappear into another time and place via a great history book! The first to enrapture us in recent weeks (which should come as no surprise to those who know us well) has been Flora Macdonald: “Pretty Young Rebel” by Flora Fraser. This book takes readers back to a very tumultuous period in Scottish history during which the descendants of King James II (VII of Scotland) made several attempts to reclaim the British throne after being deposed by their Protestant cousins. Perhaps the most famous of these attempted reclamations was the Jacobite Uprising of 1745 lead by “Bonnie” Prince Charlie which culminated in the devastating Battle of Culloden in 1746. Following the Scots’ loss at Culloden, Prince Charles Edward Stuart fled the battlefield and found refuge with a young Stuart supporter named Flora Macdonald. Determined to help the prince evade capture, Flora disguised him as an Irish maid and ferried him over to the Isle of Skye to lodge with her family until safe passage could be found for him back to the Continent. Hailed as a Scottish heroine for her part in saving the man that many Scots felt was their rightful King, Flora’s brave act of patriotism inspired poems, songs, novels, and captured the heart of a nation in turmoil. Told with unparalleled skill, Flora’s intriguing story is a testament to the valuable roles women have always played throughout history, despite often being overlooked or forgotten. Empowering, fascinating, and riveting, readers are guaranteed to enjoy every minute of this journey into the Highlands along with one of Scotland’s most beloved heroines!

As we just finished celebrating Women’s History Month, it seemed only fitting that we highlight another book about a strong woman who forged her own path in a time when men held all the positions of power. Jennifer Wright‘s new book,  Madame Restell, is a fascinating look at the life and times of a truly remarkable woman. In pre-Gilded Age New York, when most women were expected to concern themselves solely with finding a potential husband and dealing with the running of a household, Madame Restell was breaking barriers, carving her own path, and helping countless women access birth control, abortions, and other essential medical care. As her fame grew and her “boarding houses” became more and more sought after, she also gained notoriety in the press and garnered the enmity of her male counterparts, most of whom wanted nothing more than the see medicine become a male-only practice. Despite the wealth she collected and the indispensable services she provided, Madame Restell sadly became a victim of a male-dominated world – torn down by fellow doctors who gave into fear and distrust instead of turning to collaboration and teamwork. Now one step closer to being restored to her proper place in history, we can only hope that Madame Restell is just the first of many strong, fascinating women whose stories resurface after years of being buried.

It’s at this time of year, when the weather is iffy and the ground sports more muddy puddles than we thought possible, that a holiday retreat to foreign shores sounds most appealing. If you do find yourself with itchy feet but you don’t like the idea of actually leaving home, why not travel by book instead? Deborah Hemming‘s new novel, Goddess, takes readers to a beautiful, warm, sunny, Greek Island for a relaxing, rejuvenating wellness retreat. Or that’s how things seem at first when up-and-coming writer Agnes Oliver first signs on. It soon becomes evident that, despite her enchanting nature, the retreat’s organizer is far from what she seems. The more strange happenings Agnes witnesses, the more she realizes that it might just fall to her to protect the other women on the retreat from their celebrity-turned-wellness-guru host. Will Agnes succeed or will the retreat attendees never make it out of paradise? No spoilers here – you’ll have to pick up a copy of the book to find out! Since spending time seaside doesn’t appeal to everyone, you might try escaping to a remote country estate instead with The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz. Alex had given up hope of every becoming a published writer when she receives a surprising invitation to a month-long writing retreat at the home of feminist horror novelist, Roza Vallo. Things become even more unbelievable when retreat attendees arrive to discover that not only is their month-long getaway an opportunity to commune with other writers and put pencil to paper, but it’s also a contest – whoever can write the best novel in the month they’re there, will win a seven figure publishing deal! Despite the strangeness of their host, the slightly haunted feeling in the house, and the presence of her biggest rival, Alex is determined to give the contest her all! It’s not until a winter storm rolls in and one of her fellow writers disappears, that Alex begins to accept that something more sinister may be afoot. Full of unexpected twists and turns, this debut psychological thriller is an ideal read for fans of Shari Lapena, Megan Miranda, and Ruth Ware.

Not to be left out, there are also a huge number of wonderful new books for kids and teens arriving every day, each one just waiting to sweep young readers away like their very own tiny Tardis! If you have a teen in your life who’s graduated from the world of Rick Riordan and Percy Jackson, but isn’t ready to dive into Circe, Ariadne, or A Thousand Ships quite yet, why not get them to test the ancient Greek waters with Sarah Underwood‘s The Lies We Sing to the Sea? Appeasing the gods is never easy, especially when they decide to be extra vindictive. So, when Leto is chosen as one of the twelve maidens to be sacrificed to the sea god Poseidon, she’s determined to face her fate with bravery and acceptance. But instead of being transported to the Underworld after her death, Leto is surprised to wake up on a mysterious island with another young women who claims she can end Ithaca’s annual sacrifices, but only if Leto agrees to help. Expertly woven and epic in scale, this novel is a riveting tale of magic, myth, and the undeniable power of the gods! Although the roles of Hollywood movie screenwriter and YA novelist don’t seem to necessarily go hand-in-hand, debut author Anthony Peckham has found a way to achieve greatness in both! A true high fantasy adventure story, Peckham‘s Children of the Black Glass is as stunning a book on the outside as it is on the inside! In a small mountain village in an alternate past, Tell and Wren live a life ruled by harsh laws in an unforgiving landscape. When a mining accident results in their father losing his sight, he’s given thirty days to heal from his injuries and return to the mines or be put to death. Determined to save their father, their livelihood, and their family, Tell and Wren set out on a perilous journey to the city of Halfway in search of medicine. What they don’t expect to learn upon arrival is that they’ve landed right in the middle of a power struggle between five female sorcerers fighting for control of the city. Surrounded by ambition, danger, magic, and violence, Tell and Wren struggle to save themselves, their friends, and their quest as Halfway teeters on the edge of chaos. This incredible story, perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman and Susan Cooper, will keep readers hooked from beginning to end!

In an effort to entice spring to finally come (and maybe also entrance your little ones at bedtime), be sure to pick up a copy of Amberlea Williams‘ beautiful debut picture book, The Bee Without Wings. When Sasha and her cat Molly find a wingless bee in the garden, they’re determined to take care of her and help her fly. As spring changes to summer, an unexpected friendship blooms and soon Sasha, Molly, and Bea are inseparable. They have picnics, they read, and they play together all summer long, even finding a way to let Bea experience the joy of flight despite her lack of wings. But when the seasons change again, the time comes to say goodbye, and Bea’s short life comes to an end. Sasha and Molly grieve for their tiny friend and, when spring comes again, decide on the perfect way to commemorate her short but happy life. Complete with a how-to guide for creating a pollinator-friendly garden, this lovely book about grief, loss, and friendship is a true gem that’s sure to become a family favourite!

As usual, with so many great new books arriving in the store everyday, we can’t possibly highlight everything we’d like to in this small newsletter space. So, here are some other exciting recent and forthcoming releases we think you should keep an eye out for when you’re next in the shop: The Thieving Collectors of Fine Children’s Books by Adam Perry, The Ghost by Robert Harris, The Sanctuary by Katrine Engberg, The Last Saxon King: A Jump in Time Novel by Andrew Varga, The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner, Weyward by Emilia Hart, The Darkness Manifesto by Johan Eklof, My Thali: A Simple Indian Kitchen by Joe Thottungal, The Tudors in Love by Sarah Gristwood, VenCo by Cherie Dimaline, Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes, The Porcelain Moon by Janie Chang, I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai, Bookworm by Robin Yeatman, On Writing and Failure by Stephen Marche, Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson, Your Driver is Waiting by Priya Guns, Empress of the Nile by Lynne Olson, The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood, The City Between the Bridges by Niklas Natt och Dag, Old Babes in the Wood by Margaret Atwood, Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton, Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls, The Candy House by Jennifer Egan, The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell, The White Lady by Jacqueline Winspear, Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati, Speak for the Dead by Amy Tector, Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash, Wild Light by Angela Harding, The Cook by Ajay Chowdhury, Homecoming by Kate Morton (April 4), Love Marriage by Monica Ali (April 4), Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson (April 4), Aven Green Soccer Machine by Dusti Bowling (April 4), The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox (April 4), Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld (April 4), Punk Rock Unicorn by Dana Simpson (April 4), Snow Road Station by Elizabeth Hay (April 11), The Earth Transformed by Peter Frankopan (April 18), End of the World House by Adrienne Celt (April 18), Into Iraq by Michael Palin (April 25), The Shadows of London by Andrew Taylor (April 25), The Power of Trees by Peter Wohlleben (May 2), Elektra by Jennifer Saint (May 2), Across the Desert by Dusti Bowling (May 2).

After the last couple of months of grey, dreary, wintry weather, we have to say that we’re very ready for spring to actually arrive. We’re ready for the grass to emerge from beneath its icy, white blanket, for the buds on the trees to burgeon and bloom, and for the flowers to start poking their heads out of the ground. Mother Nature always has her own plans though, and they say that good things come to those who wait. So we’ll just have to enjoy the few small rays of sun when they appear, and maybe keep ourselves busy with some wonderful new books while we wait for the great outdoors to catch up with us. After all, extra reading is never a hardship!

May the eventual arrival of spring bring you all bouquets of books as well as flowers!
Happy Reading!

Take care,
The Staff at Books on Beechwood

Holiday Hours

Easter is just around the corner and we’ll be observing some special hours over that weekend.

Friday, April 7: CLOSED
Saturday, April 8 : OPEN from 10:00am to 5:00pm
Sunday, April 9: CLOSED
Monday, April 10: OPEN from 10:00am to 5:00pm

Wishing you all a safe and happy long weekend!
Happy Easter!

Upcoming Events

Saturday, April 15 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Susan Taylor Meehan signing copies of her new novel, Loyalty.

Saturday, April 22 from 12:00pm to 2:30pm
Elie Nasrallah signing copies of Gates and Walls: Stories of Migration in Modern Times.

Saturday, May 6 from 11:00am to 1:00pm
Brenda Chapman signing copies of her new mystery, When Last Seen.

Hilary’s Bookshelf

What I’m Reading: The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten

“In a city with poison in its veins, a young woman with a strange, dark power finds herself plucked from her life and thrown to the wolves in the drama-filled court of King August.
Lore is sharp-tongued and quick-witted, and I’m so enjoying getting to know her. The first in a planned trilogy, this dark, Gothic fantasy is a riveting story full of mystery, intrigue, glamour, and forbidden romance.
I’ve been meaning to pick up a Hannah Whitten book for ages now, but am so glad I waited for this one!”