Friday, June 29, 2012

Ye Olde Partners Page

*A Collection of Antiquarian Curios & Relics*

"Publishing a volume of verse is like dropping a rose-petal
down the Grand Canyon and waiting for the echo . . ."
--Don Marquis
1) MY LATEST BOOK PURCHASE . . . I'd finally picked up a copy of The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (9781442457027) 17.99 by William Joyce, which was the story that inspired the Academy Award winner for best short film, and it made me realize that I have become a huge sentimental sap. Thanks a lot Bill! I once spoke with Bill years ago when he used to frequent a Waldenbooks. He jumped on the phone one day to tell me about some kid's book about leaf people. He sent me a signed copy, (which was destroyed by my children) and I thought that was a nice gesture. And now I find that his latest book is also a kind gesture and thank you to booksellers and librarians everywhere. This little ditty is written to the tune of William Joyce's latest book:

THE FANTASTIC FLYING BESTSELLERS OF JAMES PATTERSON

James Patterson loved suspense. He loved money. He loved tennis.

His life was a book of ghostwriting, one mercenary page after another. He would play tennis every morning, and when he took a break, he would go over the outlines his writers had submitted.

But one day he became upset. How could his ghostwriters write bestsellers if E.L James and her trilogy of titles: Fifty Shades of Grey (9780345803481) 15.95, Fifty Shades Darker (9780345803498) 15.95, and Fifty Shades Freed (9780345803504) 15.95 dominated the charts?

He didn't know what to do or which way to go. So he went back to playing tennis. But then Mr. Patterson hit a ball so high into the air that he looked up and saw a lovely lady. It was Hilary Mantel, who had written Bring Up the Bodies (9780805090031) 28.00, and she was being pulled along by a festive squadron of flying bestsellers.

The flying lady knew that James had become complacent, and I, Michael Bennett (9780316097468) 27.99, which is one of thirteen titles he would release under his name this year, had been written by Michael Ledwidge. She said, "James, you can still have bestsellers, but you can also write something literary that will make a difference. I will show you how. Just follow me!" And her book flaps flapped like wings and she flew onward towards the Land of Literature.

Inspired, James Patterson picked up his racquet and went back to playing tennis.

Odds & Sods

We are saddened to learn that essayist, novelist, humorist, journalist, playwright, OscarTM nominated screenwriter, movie director, world class spelunker, professional poker player, acclaimed chef, Croatian tour guide, and reknowned alligator wrestler Nora Ephron has passed away. She was a friend of booksellers, and she will be missed . . .

Our good friend Steve Hamilton popped by today and signed copies of his new title, Die a Stranger (9780312640217) 25.99. It goes on-sale next Tuesday (7/3). He will be doing his usual Michigan tour, so look for him at a local bookstore near you. His signed copies are come first, first served . . .

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Ye Olde Partners Page

*A Collection of Antiquarian Curios & Relics*

"Republicans and Democrats can't give you the facts,
Your parents won't tell you 'til you're grown
That every star that shines in the back of your mind
Is just waiting for its cover to be blown . . ."
--We've Been Had, Uncle Tupelo
1) CITIZENS UNITED . . . I see that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has stated emphatically that Marco Rubio is part of the vice-presidential vetting process. Unfortunately, I believe this means that I'm out of the running once again. Humph. So in response I wrote this little ditty, which is sung to the tune of David Bowie's Young Americans . . .

YOUNG REPUBLICANS
Do you remember your President Nixon?
Do you remember, the Cowards (9781451693478) 28.00 of today
Or even yesterday

Have you been an un-American?
Just Obama and The Communist (9781451698091) 27.00 are about
Amateur (9781596987852) 27.95, amateurs everywhere, and
Not The Brief Against Obama (9781455516308) 14.99
Well, well, well, he is The Great Destroyer (9781596987777) 29.95
In case, just in case of recession
Sit in your bunker and be the lone survivor
What the Bleep Just Happened? (9780062131157) 27.99
Ain't that close enough?
Well, it ain't that Barbie Doll?
Fox News' been broken just like you have

And all night
You want the young Republican
Young Republican, young Republican, you want the young Republican
All right, you want the young Republican . . .



2) DA YOOPER BOOKS . . . Partners is proud to announce that we are stocking the entire Jim 'Hoolie' Decaire book collection, including: You Know You're a Yooper When (9780965864503) 6.99, Hoolie's True Yooper Tales (9780965864534) 8.99, and of course, his award-winning Da Yooper Party Cookbook (9780965864541) 8.99, which is brimming with dishes appropriate for any potluck dinner. Also, if you need something to keep you busy on your long drive to the UP, Mary Kinnunen's Peninsula Crosswords (9780615469270) 9.95 would be the perfect prescription for hours of good clean Yooper fun. . .

Odds & Sods

On Friday, we had a gaggle of young adult authors stop in to sign their latest books. We have signed copies of Anna Banks' Of Poseidon (9781250003324) 17.99, Leigh Bardugo's Shadow & Bone (9780805094596) 17.99, Jennifer Bosworth's Struck (9780374372835) 17.99, and Emmy Laybourne's Monument 14 (9780312569037) 16.99. As usual, it is first come, first served . . .

Knopf has announced that Christopher Paolini's tradepaper edition of Inheritance (9780375846311) 15.99 will come with a whole passle of bonus materials, including: a dragon's egg, a suit of mithral, several greedy dwarves, and a partridge in a pear tree . . .

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Ye Olde Partners Page

*A Collection of Antiquarian Curios & Relics*

"I think that my vampires in general were influenced by my being allowed to watch the Hammer films. Vampire Circus, also shown as Circus of Fear, was one of those movies . . ."
--Laurell K. Hamilton
1) COUNTESS DRACULA . . . Richelle Mead, our favourite vampiress stopped by yesterday to sign copies of her latest bloody offering, The Golden Lily (9781595143181) 18.99. This is the second installment in her Bloodlines series, which was spun off from her popular Vampire Academy sextet. And thankfully, her vampires are not even a bit sparkly. Unbeknownst to me, Ms. Mead was originally a Michigander. She was born and raised on the east side of Kalamazoo. As per usual, it is first come, first served on signed copies . . .

2) THESE ARE THE DAMNED . . . Now here's something you can really sink your teeth into: Frank Langella's autobiography Dropped Names (9780062094476) 25.99. Hollywood and Broadway actor Frank Langella is probably best known for portraying Dracula in the eponymously named 1977 Broadway play (which featured production and stage sets designed by Edward Gorey) and the 1979 film of the same name. He was cast as Richard Nixon in the movie Nixon/Frost and was nominated for a best actor Academy Award for his portrayal of the former President. He also won a Tony Award for his role in the stage play. In his book, he is not afraid to deal out the dirt . . .

3) THE BRIDES OF DRACULA . . . "Dina din din din da din din ding . . ." Now I have Arthur 'Guitar Boogie' Smith's 'Dueling Banjos' stuck in my head. This month we have two new entries in two venerable dueling vampire series. True Blood maven Charlaine Harris' Deadlocked (9781937007447) 27.95 has hit the bestseller lists with a vengeance. Sookie Stackhouse and crew are back in this twelfth volume of her series and all is not right in the sleepy town of Bon Temps. Oddly enough, her good friend Laurell K Hamilton has also released Kiss The Dead (9780425247549) 27.95, which is a continuation of her Anita Blake Vampire Hunter cycle. A fifteen year old girl has been abducted by vampires and Anita Blake is on the case. Fun for the whole family . . .

4) CAPTAIN KRONOS -- VAMPIRE HUNTER . . . Speaking of vampire hunters, the movie Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter opens on June 22. I know a movie trailer can make just about anything look good, but this one may live up to the hype. Seth Grahame-Smith's original book is available in mass market (9781455510184) 7.99 and tradepaper (9781455510177) 14.99 . . .

On this day in Byznatine Empire History (June 15)
Emperor Andronikos III died in Constantinople at the age of 44 in 1341.

Odds & Sods

I still believe the Detroit Tigers will win the Central Division by the end of the season. If you are a fan like me, William Anderson's The Glory Years of the Detroit Tigers 1920-1950 (9780814335895) 39.95 should be added to your collection. I remember talking about Schoolboy Rowe, King Hal, and other Tigers with my grandfather many years ago. It brought back some good memories and it reminded me that baseball players used to have cool nicknames, too . . .

I saw that Thomas Pynchon finally succumbed to the e-book phenomenon today. I kinda wonder if Gravity's Rainbow (9780143039945) 21.00 reads the same on an e-reader . . .

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Ye Olde Partners Page

*A Collection of Antiquarian Curios & Relics*


"War is a cowardly escape from the problems of peace . . ."
--Thomas Mann
Channel 13 Community Access TV Presents: BOOK TALKERS
(Camera pans Double D's basement and settles on Stoner Bill and Double D ditting in comfortable chairs.)

Stoner Bill: Hey Dudes and Dudettes! Welcome to Book Talkers with your hosts, Me and Double D. You might be wondering why me and Double D are sporting black armbands today; it's because one of our favorite writers, Ray Bradbury, passed away at the age of 91. His death brought back a lot of memories for yours truly. Who can forget Rock Hudson's performance in the Martian Chronicles (9781451678192) 7.99 miniseries? Or Vincent Price as the creepy dude in Something Wicked This Way Comes (9780380729401) 7.99?

Double D: That was Jonathan Pryce.

Stoner Bill: Well, who can forget Fellini's classic adaptation of Fahrenheit 451 (9781451673319) 11.99?

Double D: Dude, obviously you have forgotten because the movie was directed by Truffaut, not Fellini. What's wrong with you? Don't answer! I'll take it from here. We almost had future Hall of Famer John Smoltz with us today, but unfortunately, he already had prior committments. However, Partners has signed copies of his new book, Starting and Closing (9780062120540) 26.99. And these would look great as part of your Father's Day display.

Stoner Bill: Well, you don't have to be such a jerk about it.

Double D: (Shoots a dirty look at Stoner Bill) Also, someone near and dear to my heart has announced the resurrection of her amazing book club. Yup, Oprah is back! The Oprah Book Club is featuring Wild (9780307592736) 25.99 by Cheryl Strayed for her first selection. I can not wait to dig into this one. Without Oprah, I had no idea what to read, so this is great news for readers everywhere.

Stoner Bill: Speaking of former First Ladies, Jill Biden's children title Don't Forget, God Bless Our Troops (978144247355) 16.99 has been selling well. Dude, it has a great message for kids whose fathers are fighting in Syria, Iran, and other Middle Eastern places . . .

Double D: Dude, we're not fighting in any of those places. Nevermind. I give up. (Shakes head) Well, that's it for this week. And we still love you Oprah!

Odds & Sods

It's shipping season on the Great Lakes and what better time than now to have a copy of Hudson Keenan's Arrived On This Ship (9781933272306) 19.95 on your shelf? It is an instant classic . . .

Speaking of regional books, Jaye Beeler's Tasting and Touring Michigan's Home Grown Food: A Culinary Roadtrip (9781933926312) 29.95 is beautiful book that covers the state from the Upper Peninsula to the Detroit area. And it combines two of my favourite things -- books and food . . .

Finally, Bryan Gruley's new one The Skeleton Box (9781416563662) 25.00 is available in hardcover. Mystery readers are lovin' this guy . . .