Ye Olde Partners Page

*A Collection of Antiquarian Curios & Relics*

"Aomame loved history as much as she loved sports. She rarely read fiction, but history books could keep her occupied for hours . . . "
--Haruki Murakami, 1Q84 (9780307593313) 30.50

ARTHUR C. CLARKE'S
AWESOMELY EXTREME QUIZ

Take this Extreme Quiz to a Ph.D Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level and 2 points on the Graduate Level.

Subject: Books

[e.g., Who won the 2011 Man Booker Prize? Answer: Julian Barnes for The Sense of an Ending (9780307957122) 23.95, which is in stock at Partners.]

FRESHMAN LEVEL

1) The title destined to be the bestselling non-fiction book of 2011? Steve Jobs (9781451648539) 35.00 by Walter Isaacson. We will have more stock today.

2) How many hardcover books will be released by James Patterson for this holiday season? Three. The Christmas Wedding (9780316097390) 25.99, Witch & Wizard: Fire (9780316101905) 17.99, and Kill Alex Cross (9780316198738) 28.99 will all be available at fine bookstore near you.

3) Which title by a faux historian will sell the best in 2011? Fox commentator Bill O'Reilly's new book Killing Lincoln (9780805093070) 28.00 is selling in droves.

GRADUATE LEVEL

4) Which title has been compared to Harry Potter^TM, most recently? Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus (9780385534635) 26.95 has been favorably compared to J.K. Rowling's series.

5) What is the title of the newest American Chiller? Johnathan Rand's American Chiller #31: Nevada Nightmare Novel (9781893699120) 5.99 arrived here last Friday.

6) When will Stephen King's Dark Tower series be released as a movie? Never.

Scoring: 9 points -- Congrats, you need to get a life; 7 to 8 points -- You're a book nerd, 4 to 6 points -- You're a book dork; 1 to 3 points -- Leave the book industry immediately; 0 points -- Who reads the questions to you?

Odds & Sods

I had read the ARC of John U. Bacon's Three and Out: Rich Rodriguez and the Michigan Wolverines in the Crucible of College Football (9780809094660) 28.00 and I thought to myself, 'This is gonna be huge in Michigan, and especially in the Detroit area.' I was right. Partners is sold out and we're already taking backorders . . .

I was excited to see that August O'Phwinn's Farts Around the World (9781452102818) 15.95 has finally arrived. Most of my co-workers were not so excited. This one is very similar to the now classic Farts: A Spotters Guide. Order yours today, before we squeeze them all out . . .

Ye Olde Partners Page

*A Collection of Antiquarian Curios & Relics*

"If you're in trouble, or hurt or need -- go the the poor people.
They're the only ones that'll help -- the only ones . . . "
--John Steinbeck

Dearest Mick--

I would like to thank you again for the wonderful time in Dearborn last weekend. Chip, my beloved manservant, and I have just arrived back at my Italian villa in Napoli yesterday. In fact, Chip is down at the quay to unload my Rascal^TM scooter from the freighter. I am not positive that I would have had the energy to canvass such a large show floor without it. I really did enjoy GLiBA (glee-ba), although I half expected to see a gaggle of teenagers turn the event into a song and dance number. I understand that GLiBA may be combining with MiBA (mee-ba) soon. I believe it was your boss Sam who added the witty rejoiner, "And then they can call it AMOEBA (e-mee-ba)."

As an alum of Big Green, I was both impressed with the decor of your booth and the dedication of your employees. I noticed a lot of people handling your copy of Devin Scillian's Memoirs of a Goldfish (9781585365074) 15.95, which is the Michigan Reads: One State, One Children's Book choice, and Walter Wicks' Can You See What I See: Toyland Express (9780545244831) 13.99. The cover was quite eye-catching.

Speaking of eye-catching, I was impressed with the slip-covered edition of Erich Lessing's Louvre: All the Paintings (9781579128869) 75.00, which also includes a CD. They certainly did a smashing job in their presentation.

I, too, was saddened to learn of Steve Jobs' death. Unfortunately, when you are as old as I am, you go to more than your fair share of funerals. I remember when Steve asked me for some capital to start his venture with Apple^TM. Funnily, I thought it had something to do with fruits and vegetables. I understand that Walter Isaacson's bio Steve Jobs (9781451648539) 35.00 will be out on October 24, and, What Would Steve Jobs Do (9780071792745) 22.00 should be available on December 9. I'll miss visiting Steve at the ashram.

Also, I do not know if you were aware that my good friend Julian Barnes won the Man Booker Prize for his latest title, The Sense of an Ending (9780307957122) 23.95. When I established the Booker Prize in 1968, I had hoped that such worthy authors as Mr. Barnes would be rewarded for their literature. Mr. Barnes, who is a bit of a Francophile himself, would surely like to have a copy of the Louvre book. I will have to make a note for Chip to send him one for the holidays.

I hope to see you at AMOEBA next year . . .

Warmest Regards,

Charles Edmund Wilson III

Odds & Sods

Lisa McMann stopped by last week and signed copies of her new one, The Unwanteds (9781442407688) 16.99. It's been compared to Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy but without all the gore. First come, first served . . .

You can never have too many books about the Christmas tree ship. The latest children oriented version is from Sleeping Bear Press and it's called, unsuprisingly, The Christmas Tree Ship (9781585362851) 15.95 by Carol Crane. Chris Ellison's illustrations are one part magic and one part realism, which makes for a wonderful combination that will enchant children for years to come . . .

Ye Olde Partners Page

*A Collection of Antiquarian Curios & Relics*

"It doesn't matter if we never meet again,
What we have said will always remain,
If we get through for two minutes only,
It will be a start!"
--The Jam

1) PINING FOR THE FJORDS . . . Finally, after much speculation, the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature was announced last Thursday. According to the bookies, Bob Dylan had the best odds, but instead, perennial favourite Tomas Transtromer walked away with the award. The Nobel committee said that the Swedish poet won 'because, through his condensed, translucent images, he gives us a fresh access to reality.' Mr. Transtromer, who is also a dentist, was responsible for such books as The Hot Hands of a Swedish Dentist, Fillings of Passion, and The Huge Molars of Horst Nordfink. Wait a second. I apologize for the confusion on these titles. Those responsible have been sacked. First of all, Tomas has never been a dentist, and at his age (80), never will be one. The actual titles of his books that we have on order are Tomas Transtromer: Selected Poems, 1954-1986 (9780880014038) 14.99 and The Great Enigma (9780811216722) 17.95. Personally, I have been so inspired by Tomas' win that I have penned a celebratory ditty (sung to the Transformer cartoon theme song):

Prepare to write

Under the midnight sun

When you're caught in the grip

of Olaf Olafsson

Transtromer

His poems make me cry

Transtromer

Poet in disguise . . .

2) GENERALISSIMO FRANCISCO FRANCO IS STILL DEAD . . . Apparently, the doctors' attempt to implant an alien Goa'uld in Steve Jobs was unsuccessful, and tragically, he passed away on October 5. Unbeknownst to me, Steve Jobs was the most beloved man in America. Yeah, I know. Who knew? Consequently, the publisher has changed the on sale date to October 24 for Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs (9781451648539) 35.00. Mr. Isaacson, who is a darn good writer (for a historian), conducted more than 40 interviews, including Steve's final one. This title should be the biggest non-fiction book of the holiday season. To a lesser degree, i, Steve: Steve Jobs in His Own Words (9781932841664) 10.95 should sell well and our stock will be in shortly . . .

And thanks to Carl Lennertz and Monty Python!

Odds & Sods

I feel bad that the Lions throttled the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. Well, not really. However, to assauge my guilt, I would like to tell you about two new Chicago sports titles that should sell like crazy. Jeff Pearlman's new bio on Walter Payton is called Sweetness (9781592406531) 30.00. It's been getting a little press because of some of the allegations Mr. Pearlman has made. But he is still one of the greatest ever running backs ever . . .

Finally, legendary hockey player Stan Mikita has a new autobiography called Forever a Blackhawk (9781600786143) 26.95. However, he's no Gordie Howe . . .

Ye Olde Partners Page

*The Detroit Tigers Beat The Yankees Edition*

"But it's been no bed of roses,

No pleasure cruise

I consider a challenge before the whole human race

And I ain't gonna lose . . ."

--Freddie Mercury

I don't want to jinx the Detroit Tigers chances of winning the World Series like Dan from Allen Park did a couple of years ago when he ordered Detroit Red Wings books before Game 7 against the Pitsburgh Penguins, but here we are:

The Detroit Tigers by Frederick Lieb (9780873389587) 18.00

Detroit Tigers ABC by Brad M. Epstein (9781607300137) 11.95

Detroit Tigers 101 by Brad M. Epstein (9781932530964) 10.95

Detroit Tigers: A Pictorial History by William Anderson (9780814334140) 39.95

The Detroit Tigers Reader by Tom Stanton (9780472030170) 18.95

Detroit Tigers Yesterday & Today by George Cantor (9781412775151) 24.95

Few & Chosen by Lance 'The Big Wheel' Parrish (9781600782862) 24.95

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly Detroit Tigers by George Cantor (9781600780523) 19.95

Tigers Confidential by Andy Van Slyke (9781600781681) 19.95

Ernie Harwell: Stories by Ernie Harwell (9780937247358) 14.95

Life After Baseball by Ernie Harwell (9780937247457) 14.95

Breaking 90 by Ernie Harwell (9780937247778) 14.95

Extra Innings by Ernie Harwell (9780937247785) 14.95

Ernie Harwell's Audio Scrapbook (9780979212000) 19.84

Tigers Essential by George Cantor (9781572439412) 19.95

100 Things Tigers Fans . . . by Terry Foster (9781600781773) 14.95

101 Reasons To Love The Tigers by David Green (9781584797562) 15.95

Final Season by Tom Stanton (9780312291563) 14.99

Tales From The Detroit Tigers by Jack Ebling (9781596701939) 19.95

Hank Greenberg by Hank Greenberg (9781892049230) 22.95

Al Kaline by Jim Hawkins (9781600783142) 24.95

All You Can Be Detroit Tigers by Curtis Granderson (9781600782473) 16.95

'WE'RE WORKING HARDER TO SERVE YOU BETTER!'

Ye Olde Partners Page

*A Collection of Antiquarian Curios & Relics*

"It is absurd to divide people into good and bad.
People are either charming or tedious . . ."
--Oscar Wilde

B. TRAVEN JR. -- CONSPIRACY THEORIST AT LARGE

B. Traven Jr. here. In my continuing search for the great explorer Percy Fawcett,who is chronicled in David Grann's book, The Lost City of Z (9781400078455) 15.95, I have returned early from the Amazonian rainforest in anticipation of being named as this year's winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. Robert Zimmerman ain't got nothing on me. Ha, ha! I have been working all day on my acceptance speech. So here's a preview:

"Thank you, thank you. Oh, you're all too kind. Thank you. Please be seated. Thank you. First of all, I would like to thank my fellow authors who were just as deserving of this award as I am. Haruki Murakami, author of IQ84 (9780307593313) 30.00, which releases on October 25, has been highlighted on several of the Nobel Prize shortlists and certainly will be in the running for this award in the future. Goo, goo, g'joob . . .

Of course there's always Nicholas Sparks. His new title The Best Of Me (9780446547659) 25.99 will be available on October 11. Nicholas, who has been compared to Ernest Hemingway, mostly by himself, would have been just as deserving of this award, too.

Bill O'Reilly, who I have always admired, has recently released a new blockbuster called Killing Lincoln (9780805093070) 28.00. Mr. O'Reilly has been a longtime conspiracy theorist and his eye opening take on Lincoln's assassination has been long overdue. Et tu, Mary Todd?

And how about Neal Stephenson? He could write a thousand-page book on what he had for dinner last night. Reamde (9780061977961) 35.00, his latest doorstop, has been getting the kind of reviews that would make Jonathan Franzen envious. Neal, I'm still working on it, so don't 'ream me.' Ha, ha!

And, I would be remiss if I didn't mention Thomas Pynchon. Sorry Tom, you've become the Susan Lucci of the Nobel Prize. (I'm trying to make this sound like I'm speaking off the cuff.) Oh, and I almost forgot my fellow Michigander Jeffrey Eugenides, who should have won this award a long time ago. His new one The Marriage Plot (9780374203054) 28.00 is on-sale next Tuesday. He is the writer's writer. (I try to start the Brown chant from Lisa Simpson's nightmare.) Brown! Brown! Brown!

Secondly, I would like to thank the Swedish Academy. You have great taste. If I hadn't won this year, I would have thought that there was some kind of conspiracy against me. Ha, ha!

Odds & Sods

Hey, hey, hey . . . heeey, Halloween is right around the corner and Partners is offering the deal of a lifetime. We are featuring a selection of our Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana titles for our '2011 Halloween Special.' If you order a minimum of 25 assorted books from this flyer, you will receive free freight and a 43% discount. You should be getting this in the mail, if not, we can e-mail or fax you the list. Ooooo, dat's scary . . .
I am officially a member of the 'Boring Book Club.' I attended my first meeting this past Sunday. I never realized that there were at least four other people in the world who enjoyed dry-as-kindling non-fiction like Charles Morris' The Tycoons (9780805081343) 18.00. I am giddy . . .