Closing Announcement

After over 30 years of business, Partners Book Distributing and Partners/West will be closing their doors.  As much as we love what we do, the numbers are no longer working.

Shipping of orders will end as of the close of business on April 1, 2016. 

We would like to thank all of the customers we have had over the years for keeping us going this long.

B. TRAVEN JR.

Ye Olde Partners Page

*A Collection of Antiquarian Curios & Relics*

"A whale ship was my Yale College and my Harvard . . ."

                                                                                     --Herman Melville

B. TRAVEN JR. -- CONSPIRACY THEORIST AT LARGE

 

  B. Traven here.  Welcome to my new Animal Planet show, Great Lakes Alien Lawman, and do we have some fun in store for you this week.  My team went in search of the mermaid Tallulah, a legend which is recounted in Denise Brennan-Nelson's book, Tallulah: Mermaid of the Great Lakes (9781585369096) 16.99.  We outfitted our ship, The S.S. Minnow, with state of the art technology including sonar, deep sea diving equipment, and of course, the indispensable new edition of Roger Lelievre's book, Know Your Ships 2016 (9781891849213) 18.95.  I never leave home without it.  Ha, ha!

  While aboard the S.S. Minnow, I was reading my new copy of William Rapai's Lake Invaders:  Invasive Species and the Battle for the Future of the Great Lakes (9780814341247) 27.99, when we heard a few weird sonar blips in Lake Superior.  Holy cow, this could be a monster-sized sea lamprey, which would explain why several divers have recently gone missing.  We'll be right back after these commercial messages:

 

 

*************************Advertisement*************************

Legendary romance writer Danielle Steel has returned with her 732nd novel, Property of a Noblewoman (9780345531063) 28.95.  'In her thrilling new novel, a woman's legacy -- shaped by tragedy, fortitude, and undying devotion -- transforms lives and hearts long after she is gone, and fulfills at last her most precious request.'  It is now available at most fine bookstores!

*************************Advertisement*************************

  Welcome back!  It turns out that the sonar had malfunctioned and what we were really seeing was merely a long underwater moraine on the lake floor.  Ha, ha!

  Several days later, we were chugging through some rough seas on Lake Michigan.  I was reading the ironically titled new Harlan Coben book, Fool Me Once (9780525955092) 28.00, when suddenly it was flung from my hands by the shock of a large object striking the side of the S.S. Minnow.  There was also the sickening sound of shattered wood, which was followed quickly by the gush of water streaming into the hold.  I picked myself up from the deck and looked aft.  Creasing the water like a torpedo, I gazed upon the largest albino sturgeon I have ever seen.  I was agape.  It was circling back around again on the surface of the water in a wide, lazy circle.

  I half shuffled and half crabwalked towards the prow of our ship, and I called over my shoulder to Manny, my first mate, "Grab the harpoon!"

  Tune in next week for the quixotic conclusion of Great Lakes Alien Lawman!        

Odds & Sods

Most Americans are unfamiliar with the finely-crafted pop tunes of Andy Partridge and his former band XTC.  If so, it is your loss.  I have been waiting weeks for his new book about songwriting, Complicated Game: Inside the Songs of XTC (9781908279781) 19.95 from Jawbone Press.  If you can, buy five or six of their albums, listen to them 15 to 20 times each, and then, you'll understand my passion for this band . . .

Easter is nearly upon us, and I can't wait to dig into Grandma Mary's succulent ham this Sunday.  The crew at Partners would like to wish everyone a safe and Happy Easter!

Ye Olde Partners Page

Ye Olde Partners Page

*A Collection of Antiquarian Curios & Relics*

"I still remember the time you said goodbye . . ."

                                                                                     --Jon Anderson

1)  LONG DISTANCE RUNAROUND . . .  Once Harper Lee passed away, it was only a matter of time until the publisher shenanigans would begin in earnest. For many years, Grand Central had licensed the mass market edition of To Kill A Mockingbird (9780446310789) 7.99 from Harper Collins.  On Monday, we learned that the license will not be renewed, so there will be no mass market edition available. Much like Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 (9781451673319) 15.99, as soon as the author dies, the major corporation who holds the copyright will remove the consumer friendly mass market and saddle readers with the tradepaper edition, which in many cases is much more expensive.  In Mr. Bradbury's case, ironically, the author prevented the mass market edition from being removed by the publisher while he was still alive. So today, after a round  of negative publicity, Harper Collins has announced that it will only be charging $8.99 for To Kill A Mockingbird (9780060935467) 14.99 in the tradepaper edition to direct school accounts for a limited time.  How limited? The publisher is saying that like any sales promotion they 'will evaluate it on a ongoing basis.' Or in other words, they will wait until no one is paying attention and then jack the price back up again . . .

  

2)  SOUTH SIDE OF THE SKY . . .  With the popularity of comic books, er, graphic novels, I guess it was just a matter of time until the Baby Boomers resurrected their childhood love of coloring books, too.  From Hachette, we have received their version of the Colored Pencils Set (9780735346994) 13.99.  It has 24 colored pencils in a nice box.  We have also received a couple of new, inexpensive coloring books from Rebecca Jones; The Coloring Book of Cards and Envelopes: Flowers and Butterflies (9780763692445) 10.99 and The Coloring Book of Cards and Envelopes: Nature (9780763692452) 10.99.  As a bonus, you can color the cards as well as the envelopes.  I guess I can cross that one off my bucket list . . .

  

3)  5 PERCENT FOR NOTHING . . .  Finally, Bob Mehr has told the real story behind one of the most underrated bands of all time (and that is not hyperbole) in his new book, Trouble Boys (9780306818790) 27.50.  My friend Dennis turned me on to The Replacements many moons ago and they have become one of my favourites.  Over the years, I have heard second hand about their legendary drinking habits.  For example, one of my friends saw them perform live twice; she said the first concert was one of the best shows she'd ever seen, but they were so drunk the second time she saw them that she wanted her money back.  I always thought they should have been bigger than they were, but between their alcoholism and their total lack of business acumen -- which is shown in this book with warts and all -- they really never had a chance.  Long Live The 'Mats!   

Odds & Sods 

"Come out and see the Tigers, everybody!"  Baseball season is right around the corner and what better way to celebrate than purchasing a copy of William Anderson's The Detroit Tigers:  A Pictorial Celebration of the Greatest Players and Moments, 5th Edition (9780814341575) 39.99.  With their acquisitions and if everyone stays healthy, it looks like the Tigers can make one more run at the World Series this upcoming season. Also, at this price, it truly is a bargain . . .

We would like to wish everyone a Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Stay safe and be careful out there on the roads tonight . . .

Book Stalkers

Ye Olde Partners Page

*A Collection of Antiquarian Curios & Relics*

"There are no such things as book hoarders, only aspiring librarians . . ."

                                                                                     --Inafetse Santos

Channel 13 Community Access TV Presents: Book Stalkers

(Camera pans Double D's basement.  Stoner Bill and Double D are seated behind a large newscaster's console in giant duck-billed platypus outfits.)

Stoner Bill:  Hey Dudes and Dudettes!  Welcome to Book Stalkers! Boy, do we have a treat in store for you. Today's guest is Tony McCracken, AKA The Book Whisperer and he has flown all the way from Homer, Alaska. Duuuuuude!

Book Whisperer:  Thanks, Bill. It's a privilege to be here. The long flight from Alaska gave me an opportunity to finish Jane Mayer's latest book, Dark Money (9780385535595) 29.95.  Scary stuff  . . .

Double D:  Hey, Tony. So let me get this straight -- you can hold any book in your hands and tell me what the title of it is.

Book Whisperer:  Oh, I can do more than that. I can tell you the author, a brief synopsis of the plot, and sometimes, and I can't even stress this enough, sometimes I can tell if the book will be a bestseller.

Stoner Bill:  Really? Well,  the good Doctor and I have taken the liberty of removing the book jackets on some of the new releases, and we're going to put your ability to the test. (He tosses him a Star Wars bandana.) Here's your blindfold.

Book Whisperer:  (Bill hands him a book.)  Hmmm, I believe this is Locally Laid  (9781594634222) 26.00 by Lucie Amundsen . . .

Stoner Bill:  Heh, heh!

Book Whisperer:  Sorry, Bill.  It's not what you think. On a night out with her husband, he confessed that he wanted to quit his office job and start an egg farm in Duluth. They bought 2,000 chickens and now they have a thriving business.  Next!

Stoner Bill:  (He hands him another book.) Good Luck!

Book Whisperer:  This one is definitely a Clive Cussler title.  Maybe Gangsta . . .  no, wait . . .  The Gangster (9780399175954) 29.00.  Detective Isaac Bell, in early 20th century New York City, is trying to take down an Italian crime family.

Stoner Bill:  Holy crap! Are you some kind of alien-human hybrid?

Book Whisperer:  No, I see dead people. 

Odds & Sods

Whether you love him or you hate him, everyone has an opinion about presidential candidate Donald Trump.  George Beahm has assembled an unauthorized collection of Trump quotes in his new title, Trump Talk (9781440595592) 12.99. Now you can get his bold insight straight from the horse's mouth . . .

Loren D. Estleman is back with a new collection of short stories called Desperate Detroit (9781440596230) 16.99.  Oddly, the city of Flint is probably in more desperate straits than Detroit, but just barely . . .

Our condolences to the family of George Martin, who will always be the fifth Beatle to me . . .

Book Stalkers: Oscar Edition

Ye Olde Partners Page
*A Collection of Antiquarian Curios & Relics*

"People don't read anymore.  It's a sad state of affairs.  Reading's the only thing

that allows you to use your imagination.  When you watch films it's someone else's vision, isn't it?"

                                                  --Lemmy Kilmister from Motorhead

Channel 13 Community Access TV Presents: Book Stalkers: Oscar Edition

(Camera pans Double D's basement.  Stoner Bill and Double D are seated behind a large newscaster's console in red panda outfits.)

Stoner Bill:  Hey Dudes and Dudettes!  It was Oscar week and you know what Double D and me were up to on Sunday . . .

Double D:  Reliving the diversity issue at the Academy Awards?

Stoner Bill: Well, yeah.  I thought Tracy Morgan was HI-larious in the movie skits from the Danish Girl (9780143108399) 16.00 by David Ebershoff and as the black astronaut from Andy Weir's The Martian (9781101903582) 15.00.

 

Double D:  Those were a few of the laugh out loud moments.  What I found interesting is that Alicia Vikander, the Best Supporting Actress Award winner will be starring in The Light Between Oceans (9781501106484) 16.00 by M.L. Stedman with her boyfriend Michael Fassbender, who was nominated for Best Actor for his role in Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs (9781501127625) 20.00.

 

 Stoner Bill:  I would pay good money to watch Fassbender read his grocery list.  However, I was not that outraged by the lack of diversity in the Oscar nominations.  I was more cheesed off because Rocky didn't win the Best Supporting Actor . . .

Double D:  Sylvester Stallone.

Stoner Bill:  What is this?  Random word association?

Double D:  (Laughs uneasily)  No, Dude, Rocky is played by Sly  Stallone.  And actually, there was movie news today that may overshadow the Oscars entirely.  Stephen King's The Dark Tower series is in pre-production.  It has been announced that Idris Elba will play Roland and Matthew McConaughey will play his mystical nemesis, The Man in Black.  There will be so much coolness with both of them on screen that I don't think any celluloid can safely contain them.  I mean, look at McConaughey in that new Lincoln commercial where he's talking to his dogs.  The man is so cool that he's a &%$#$ Doctor Doolittle!

Stoner Bill:  Rocky Balboa.  He was played by Rocky Balboa.

Double D:  (Facepalm)

Odds & Sods

I have read the board book, A is for Activist (9781609805395) 9.99 by Innosanto Nagara to my daughter countless times, so you can imagine how tickled I am to see that he has written and illustrated  a new board book, Counting on Community (9781609806323) 8.99.  It's never too early to learn about the importance of community in our lives . . .

 

Mark Hyman, the author who wrote the bestselling diet book, The Blood Sugar Solution (9780316127363) 17.00, has a new diet book called Eat Fat, Get Thin (9780316338837) 28.00

and it's doing well.  It's time to get ready for summer.  Well, alright, alright alright!

 

SNOWPOCALYPSE 2016

Ye Olde Partners Page

*A Collection of Antiquarian Curios & Relics*

"I love the smell of book ink in the morning . . ."

                                                       --Umberto Eco

SYFY CHANNEL PRESENTS:  SNOWPOCALYPSE 2016:

THE RECKONING

  B. Traven Jr. here.  You may recall me from the Ancient Aliens episode:  Ancient Aliens & Global Warming.  I've hunkered down in the bunker with the rest of the folks at the Partners Weather Center, and we are preparing for this year's version of  . . . SNOWMAGEDDON!  Round up the kids and bury the fine china, we are bracing for a snowfall that could be anywhere from 6 inches to 10 FEET OF SNOW!  (The 6 inches number is much more likely.)  It's harrowing times like these that make us reassess our priorities and wish we could harken back to a warmer, simpler day.

  In the past week, sadly, two legendary authors were laid to rest.  Harper Lee, the author of probably the most impactful book on race relations in America, To Kill a Mockingbird (9780446310789) 8.99 and Umberto Eco, author of  The Name of the Rose (9780544176560) 15.95 and specialist in semiotics, are both headed to that giant library in the sky.  Both writers will be sorely missed by their fans and the book industry alike.

 

  AND THEN ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE (9781451635119) 27.00 is the new memoir by NBC Middle East correspondent, Richard Engel.  For over two decades he has been under fire, blown out of hotel beds, kidnapped, and forced at gunpoint to rearrange his sock drawer.  Ha, ha!  Sounds like a typical Friday night for me.  Ha, ha!  And, of course, who can forget the ferocious attack by a pack of red pandas that he barely survived?  His book is doing well, but the endangered firefoxes not so much.  IT'S A RED PANDAPOCALYPSE!

  Meanwhile, the publisher of Fiona Barton's The Widow (9781101990261) 26.00 is comparing her debut novel to Girl on the Train (9781594633669) 26.95 by Paula Hawkins and Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl (9780307588371) 15.00.  Unfortunately, the reviews I've been reading have said it's not like either of those titles; but this is what publishers do.  "That's not how this works.  That's not how any of this works."

  

  FEEL THE BERN!  I think most political observers were expecting Bernie Sanders to have conceded to Ms. Clinton by this point.  He hasn't.  In fact, depending on the polls you follow, it looks like Bernie might even be winning, so I decided to read up on this senator from Vermont.   However, I didn't want to be overwhelmed with detail; I found the perfect book.  It's a graphic novel called Bernie (9781609806989) 16.95 by Ted Rall.  I like this guy . . .

ADDENDUM

B. Traven Jr. again.  It really was the SNOWPOCALYPSE.  I haven't seen this much snow since my 2006 Himalayan expedition to find the YETI!  Ha, ha!

    

Odds & Sods

So why should Gwyneth Paltrow have all the fun?  Kate Hudson has written her own book on healthy living and it's called Pretty Happy  (9780062434234) 26.99.  This is a quick how-to, so you can immediately get to work on looking just as gorgeous as Kate Hudson.  Also, Cravings (9781101903919) by Chrissy Teigen has picked up, too . . .

 

The mother of one of the Columbine killers, Sue Kebold, has written a new title, A Mother's Reckoning (9781101902752) 28.00.  I've heard from other stores that this is not a ghost-written book, and she appears to be a talented writer.  As a parent, I cannot imagine what she has gone through over the years . . .

Ye Olde Partners Page

Ye Olde Partners Page

*A Collection of Antiquarian Curios & Relics*

"If you have any young friends who aspire to be writers, the second greatest favor

you can do them is to present them with copies of the Elements of Style. 

The first greatest favor, of course, is to shoot them now, while they're happy . . ."

                                                 --Dorothy Parker

THE DIVORCE BOOK

(Sung to the tune of the Love Boat theme song)

The Divorce Book soon will be making another print run,

The Divorce Book promises a new start for everyone,

Set a course for divestiture, your mind on a new romance.

And love won't hurt anymore,

It's the final act in your bookstore,

It's divorce!  Now I'm poor.  It's divorce!

Hi, I'm Gavin MacLeod.  You may remember me as the fun loving Captain Merrill Stubing from the The Love Boat.  I'm here to tell you about the upcoming new 10th editions of The Michigan Divorce Book with Children (9781933272573) 34.95 and The Michigan Divorce Book without Children (9781933272580) 28.95 by Alan Bloomfield with Michael Maran are both at the bindery and will be available at Partners in late February or early March.  In the meantime, if you get requests for these titles, tell those crazy kids to give it one more try, and if not, we will have the new editions available soon.  And then hopefully, for everyone, there will be plenty of smooth sailing ahead . . .

 

I also would like to tell you about Hollywood Power Couple DeVon Franklin and Meagan Good's new title, The Wait (9781501105296) 24.00.  Back in the 70s, when I was captain of the Love Boat, promiscuous sex on a sea cruise was as common as owning a Pet Rock.  Those days are over.  In their new book, DeVon and Meagan explain how they decided to strengthen their relationship by abstaining from sex until after they were married.  They have been married for four years now and they couldn't be happier.  Who says premarital celibacy can't be fun?

Speaking of love (and divorce), Juan Martinez, the prosecuting attorney in the Jodi Arias' trial has written a new book that covers the behind the scenes action in both trials.  The title is Conviction: The Untold Story of Putting Jodi Arias Behind Bars (9780062444288) 26.99.  Ms. Arias, you may recall, allegedly stabbed her ex-boyfriend to death and the initial trial ended in a hung jury.  Mr. Martinez had also asked for the death penalty, but instead, she was sentenced to life in prison.  She was convicted of murder in the retrial.  It almost sounds like the plot to any number of CSI-like crime shows.  Love can be tough.  Captain Stubing signing off.

Odds & Sods

For those of you who missed out on the first batch, we have more signed copies of Victoria Aveyard's The Glass Sword (9780062310668) 19.99 in stock.  And yes, they have the 'signed' stickaroos on them, too.

Apparently, the trailer for the new movie based on Jojo Moyes' Me Before You (9780143124542) 16.00 has been airing at the cinema, and there has been quite the uptick in sales.  We have a few copies left from the batch yesterday, but we should see another shipment next week.  Get back, Jojo!

And a Happy Belated President's Day!  And a Happy Birthday to George & Abe!

Sir Charles Edmund Wilson III

Ye Olde Partners Page

*A Collection of Antiquarian Curios & Relics*

"I went to the bookstore and asked the saleswoman, 'Where's the self-help section?' She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose . . ."

                                            --George Carlin

Dearest Mick--

  Chip, my loyal manservant, and I had just returned to Napoli from our philanthropic visit to the campus of my alma mater, Dartmouth College, when we stumbled upon your package at the front gate of my palatial estate.  (Actually, Chip stumbled over it.  I, of course, was on my hover round.)  The unofficial mascot of Dartmouth, Keggy the Keg, had been stolen once again, so I had contributed the money to make a new costume.  Keggy the Keg Mark III will be a cyborg with artificial intelligence comparable to most college students, and he will cost almost as much as a student's tuition to construct.

  As for your book package, the first book Chip plucked from your box was Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend (9781609450786) 17.00.  I could almost see the gears in your brain whirling as you connected my current place of residence with this title.  If I had a nickel for every time someone recommended her book to me, I would be a millionaire.  Oh wait, I already am!

  I see you also sent a copy of Breakdown (9780345541406) 28.95 by Jonathan Kellerman.  As you well know, Chip is more the action / suspense maven than I.  However, you may not be aware that I played the maracas on the Alan Parsons Project song 'Breakdown.'  Interesting story, I had stopped by Abbey  Road to visit the members of Pink Floyd while they were recording 'Wish You Were Here.'  In the adjacent studio, I ran into Alan's band mate Eric Woolfson who asked if I would sit in on the 'I Robot' sessions since he knew I was a world-renown maracas player.  The rest, as they say, is history.

  When Chip pulled Nicholas Sparks' The Choice (9781455588992) 15.99 from your box, we both tittered.  I know there is a new cinematic feature based on this book, but I assumed it was an attempt at humor on your part.  Well played.  Of course, we then argued whether it was Ryan Gosling or Ryan Reynolds who had their big break in the movie based on Sparks' The Notebook (9781455582877) 8.00.  (I was right -- it was Gosling.)  I have met both of these young lads, mind you not at the same time, and they do have an uncanny resemblance to each other.  Chip called them doppelgangers.

 

  Lastly, I see you slipped in a copy of Quotations from Chairman Trump (9780795348211) 14.99.  It was nice to relive those days of mirth once again.  I'm sure I've already regaled you with all my Donald interactions over the years, so I will not repeat them here.  As always, thanks for the gift package; I imagine it will be better than the one I will receive at the Oscars this year.

                                                                                   

                                                                                                                        Warmest Regards,

                                                                                                            Sir Charles Edmund Wilson III   

Odds & Sods

I'm sure you've heard the news by now:  Harry Potter is back!   Well, sort of.  The eighth book in the series will be the script from the stage play, Harry Potter & The Cursed Child (9781338099133) 29.99.  It will release at 12:01 a.m. on July 31st.  It's 19 years later.  Harry is a father of three and he's working a dead-end job at the Ministry of Magic.  Father and son band together to stop evil from the unlikeliest of places.  Most likely we will have to sell it in case quantities to prevent early exposure, but a store in New York will sell a copy to the New York Times about three days before it's released.  There will be much hand wringing and gnashing of teeth at Scholastic, but ultimately, nothing will happen.  Yea!