LemuriaBooks

Host

2008-08-08T13:41:00.000-06:00

Age 14↑ Young Adult Fantasy The Host by Stephenie Meyer--author of Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and the new release, Breaking Dawn “A fascinating, passionate, and unique psychological thriller. In The Host, Stephenie Meyer gives a new and surprising meaning to the phrase ‘being of two minds’!” --Review by Katherine Neville, author of The Eight Those of you

Reviews for several titles by Alley Fortner

2008-08-05T10:37:00.000-06:00

From time-to-time I give some galleys to young people I know to get their thoughts on new titles soon to be releasedAlley is a high school student in Phoenix, Arizona having moved there several years ago from Jacksonshe is an avid reader, and is providing for you some thoughts on books either just published or to be released this fall:Eon by Alison Goodman"I absolutely loved it! The story line

Tom Piazza's Novel, The City of Refuge, Relishes in the Spirit of Rebirth

2008-07-30T11:26:00.005-06:00

City of Refuge: A Novel Tom Piazza Harper: August 19, 2008 Three years ago, so many lives in Deep Dixie were affected by Katrina. Many nonfiction books of essay, memoir, photo-essay, history and commentary have been published about this life-changing hurricane. Refuge, I believe, is the first piece of serious fiction to come out about this time. Ambitious and successful, I celebrate this

America, America

2008-07-30T11:25:00.000-06:00

Until Liam Metarey takes Corey Sifter under his wing, Corey's life is like that of any typical boy growing up in small town America during the Nixon Administration, unremarkable. Liam Metarey's life, however, is anything but typical. As Ethan Canin's new novel, America America, unfolds, so, also, do the layers upon layers of people, places and beliefs that make America the unique and beloved

Light Comes Through, Dzigar Kongtrul

2008-07-30T11:24:00.004-06:00

Light Comes Through Buddhist Teachings on Awakening to Our Natural Intelligence By Dzigar Kongtrul Shambala (July 2008) Last year, or so, I enjoyed DK’s other book Its Up To You in a large scale way. Excited about his 2nd book, I dived in ASAP. Learning how to work on our emotional selves is so interesting and it seems as constant as breathing, eating, sleeping and

The Selected Poems, Li Po

2008-07-30T11:22:00.002-06:00

The Selected Poems By Li Po (701-762) Translated by David Hinton New Directions (1996) About 4 years ago, I read this collection and last month I decided to reread Li Po, one of my favorite Chinese poets. Li Po was called the “Banished Immortal,” an exiled spirit moving through this world with an unearthly ease and freedom from attachment. He is free from the

Michael Burkes

2008-07-30T11:14:00.000-06:00

Michael "Iron Man" Burks' earned his moniker by his hours-long, intensely physical performances, fearsome guitar attack, and tough, smoky vocals. The Chicago Sun-Times recently said Burks is "poised on the brink of major stardom." And now is your chance to see this incredible performer! Burks is on tour to promote his brand new release, Iron Man, and will perform on Friday,

My Mercedes Is Not for Sale

2008-07-28T15:13:00.002-06:00

I admit that my reason for picking up this book was completely superficial -- I used to drive the same Mercedes that's shown on the cover. The concept immediately hooked me. The author bought a used Mercedes 190D in Holland and drove it across Europe and through North Africa before selling it in Ghana. Cars that are considered near the end of their useful life in Europe often find their way into

Carolyn Meyer, In Mozart's Shadow

2008-07-17T15:27:00.002-06:00

Hi, I’m back!! Historical Fiction: 12↑ If you like historical fiction you will enjoy the next three books by Carolyn Meyer Marie Dancing, a story written about two sisters who pose for the painter Degas. Marie is the younger sister who poses for the famous bronze statue of the young girl wearing the tutu This one has been out for about two years and is in paperback. A very good read! ___

Dirty Joe the Pirate

2008-07-17T12:17:00.001-06:00

Summer is almost over!!Children Picture Book Ages 5-8 Dirty Joe the Pirate: A True Story by Bill Harley Dirty Joe and his crew sail the high seas in search of smelly treasure—dirty socks. They pillaged their way across the seas until they met another band of pirates who are led by the notorious Stinky Annie who is in search of underwear. Perhaps Dirty Joe has met his match????? Later!!!!

Growing Up In Mississippi edited by Judy H. Tucker and Charlene McCord

2008-07-10T11:02:00.001-06:00

A friend brought me a copy of Growing Up In Mississippi and I have now read all of the selections included in this volume of essays---poignant memories and thoughts written by some of our most beloved and distinguished Mississippians.Elizabeth ( Libby ) Aydelott was my friend and mentor years ago when I was a Girl Scout leader. So, reading her selection as she recounts her growing-up years in

The Truro Bear and Other Adventures--poems by Mary Oliver

2008-07-07T12:37:00.000-06:00

On the Writers Almanac Garrison Keillor has, over the last few weeks, included two selections from The Truro Bear And Other Adventures in his daily newsletter and radio program. This volume of poetry written by Mary Oliver is due to be released this fall. I am, however, lucky to have been given an Advance Reader copy and have over the last week savored the selections----ten new poems, thirty-five

If You Can't Ride the Jitney to the Hamptons, Ride on Over to Lemuria to get a Copy of the J.J. Salem's Summer Novel, Tan Lines!

2008-07-03T08:55:00.004-06:00

St. Martin's Press is releasing the latest novel by Mississippi's own, J.J. Salem, today. Salem's new novel is called TAN LINES. The USA TODAY quoted Lisa Senz from St. Martin's yesterday saying, "Summer is the only time of year when even the smart girl has permission to indulge in the guilty pleasure of a really sexy, commercial novel." The USA TODAY also said, "This weekend, copies of J.J.

Work as a Spiritual Practice

2008-07-02T10:33:00.001-06:00

Work as a Spiritual Practice:A Practical Buddhist Approach to Inner Growthand Satisfaction on the JobBy Lewis RichmondBroadway (1999)Around twenty years ago, I studied Paul Hawken’s book, Growing a Business.Billy Neville, a clothing pal and fellow retailer told me about it, andhe was right. Hawken’s book still remains a must read for small businesspeople.Lewis Richmond, ex-Vice President for

Pelican Road: Novel

2008-07-02T10:30:00.002-06:00

Pelican Road: NovelBy Howard BahrMacadam Cage: May 9, 2008Howard Bahr is a train man. Pelican Road, Howard’s first non-Civil Warfiction, is a literary train novel. This is the only serious railroadfiction that I know of.Pelican Road is the train route from Meridian, MS to New Orleans. Setaround 1940, Howard captures the personalities; the way folks lived; theirmeanness and their cares; their

The Blue Zone: Lessons for Living Longer

2008-07-02T10:28:00.003-06:00

The Blue Zone:Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longestby Dan BuettnerNational Geographic (2008)As I’ve gotten older, I’ve enjoyed reading health books more and more. Blue Zone is one that’s a little different than the typical “how to”suggestion books. This one is much more fun.Remarkable groups of people manage to achieve longevity, naturally,enjoying longer life spans

The God of War

2008-07-01T09:04:00.001-06:00

The God of War by Marisa Silver, 2008, Simon & Schuster, $23.00.My new friend at Simon & Schuster, Wendy, emailed me about this book and told me it was a "Must Read". Well folks, she did not steer me wrong - it was a great story that will stay with me for a long while. It is a coming of age book about a 12 year boy, Ares, and his flighty mother and half brother, Malcolm, who is mentally

Summer Reading II

2008-06-25T14:53:00.002-06:00

Ok Folks, Here are some more books that I think that you will enjoy on your summer vacations or if on a "staycation" these books will transport you to another time and place!!Murder of a Medici Princess by Caroline P. Murphy "Like the Kennedys or Windsors, the Medicis are a dynasty brimming with biographical gold, and this supple, smart account of a lesser-known daughter will

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

2008-06-23T21:28:00.002-06:00

The Story of Edgar SawtelleDavid Wroblewski Everytime I go to the dentist or doctor's office and pick through the magazines lately, I have seen rave reviews about this newly distributed, remarkable book. Of course, we at Lemuria have been hearing about it for quite a while. Harper Collins said it is one of the finest books they have published in 10 years. Tom Watson, former Lemuria employee who

The Art of Racing in the Rain

2008-06-23T20:49:00.002-06:00

The Art of Racing in the RainGarth Stein The narrator of this book is Enzo, an old lab mix (as in labrador retriever), who has a very fine tale to tell with a very wise, old soul-like point of view. Enzo lives with a young family whose pack leader is Denny, a race car driver, and his wife Eve and their daughter Zoe. At first glance, this is a perfect family if such an animal exists. All is not

Summer Reading is Everywhere

2008-06-22T12:13:00.000-06:00

For many elementary, middle and high school students, now is the time to start digging into summer reading books (if you haven't already). Here in Oz we have several different titles to choose from and for many of the upper level readers, we already have the books sectioned off in a summer reading area. For those of you who have the option of choosing books from lists, I would like to recommend

A Fun Way to Share

2008-06-22T12:09:00.001-06:00

Mike Reiss' The Boy Who Wouldn't Share is one of our newest picture books in Oz and is a wonderful way for children (and possibly even adults) to learn about the importance of sharing. Edward, the book's main character, has some tough issues with sharing his items, whether his teddy bear or his slinky, in his opinion everything belongs to him. But as readers learn more about Edward they have the

In the meantime....

2008-06-20T16:37:00.001-06:00

Our friend Ron Rash has a new novel coming out in October -- so that gives you 3 months to pick up his last book, Chemistry and Other Stories. Ron has full mastery of the short story format in this great little paperback, and the brevity of each story lends greater weight to each word and phrase. There's 13 stories, so it'll last you a week if you read one or two every day. Pick one up on your

quote du jour...

2008-06-20T10:05:00.003-06:00

Leif Enger reminded me of a great quote from Huck Finn when he was here signing So Brave, Young and Handsome, "Life is mighty free and easy when you're riding on a raft."

IS JOHN EVANS GOING CRAZY!!!

2008-06-18T10:38:00.001-06:00

This has been a common question since we had the first DotCom Sales last month and guess what you all have another opportunity to ask because we are doing it again! Come by the DotCom building Saturday, June 21, 2008 starting around 9:30. All the First Editions, signed and unsigned, are 10% off. This is a perfect time to finish up any collections that you are lacking a few titles or to start

Mugged by Reality

2008-06-17T15:50:00.001-06:00

I passed by this book several times before I finally picked it up and started reading through it. The market is saturated with personal memoirs and political critiques of the Bush Administration's handling of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, and unfortunately a lot of those books aren't terribly unique, well-written, or interesting. I don't think John Agresto's Mugged by Reality is going to be THE

A Horse of Her Own

2008-06-13T14:21:00.001-06:00

Young Adult: Ages 10↑ A Horse of Her Own by Annie Wedekind already in Oz For those of you who love horses or horse stories!! Fourteen-year old Jane Ryan has always dreamed of owning a horse of her own. This summer at the Sunny Acres riding camp, Jane faces 6-weeks filled with rocky relationships, heartache, and a painful, but joyous road to self-discovery—all lead to an exciting

Waggit's Tale

2008-06-12T12:47:00.000-06:00

Hello, summer is here and a lot of you have started on your summer reading. We look forward to seeing you and supplying your book needs. Young Adult Middle Reader: Ages 9 ↑Waggit’s Tale by Peter Howe coming end of June or 1st of July A young dog (Waggit) is abandoned by his owner in a city park, he meets a team of scruffy dogs who befriend him and teach him to survive in the real world.

The Backyard Birdsong Guide--Eastern and Central North America

2008-06-12T12:18:00.000-06:00

tlAnother wonderful bird guide from Chronicle books and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology! This book follows the very popular Bird Songs and Bird Songs From Around The World focusing this time on birds you see every day in your back yard. The audio guide offers several sounds for each bird from male and female calls to even daytime song and dawn/aggressive song ( Black-Throated Green Warbler)What

Murder Of A Medici Princess by Caroline Murphy

2008-06-12T11:55:00.000-06:00

This is a fascinating book about Isabella de Medici and her life as the daughter of Duke Cosimo, 1 ---one of intellectual and romantic freedom as long as her father was alive. Given in marriage to Paolo Orsini, she completely ignored her husband living apart from him, refusing to leave Florence, and eventually taking a lover.Cosimo doted on his daughter permitting her opulant, extravagant and

Indie Bookstores, "Gaurdians of the Culture"

2008-06-09T11:17:00.001-06:00

Leif Enger, the author of Peace Like a River, visited Lemuria Friday evening while touring his second novel, So Brave, Young and Handsome (the title of the novel came from an old cowboy song "The Streets of Laredo"). So Brave, Young and Handsome has had a warm reception so far from my friends and Lemuria's readers. The Event Friday evening was casual. We had

Summer Reading One

2008-06-02T11:47:00.001-06:00

This summer I am going to compile a list of the books that I am reading and suggest that you read for “Summer Reading”. I think that all books are “Beach Books” so there will something on the list for everyone. These are the books that I read in May…I will update the list at least twice a month from now on.Oh, these books are in no particular order…. A Dangerous Age--Ellen Gilchrist“The winner

The House at Riverton

2008-05-30T12:50:00.001-06:00

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton, 2008, Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, $24.95I loved this book! In fact after the first four pages, I was totally in love with the main character, Grace. In the present day(1999) Grace is ninety-eight years old and living in a nursing home. Grace once worked as a servant at the great English country manor, Riverton. In the summer of 1924 the

Killing Rommel

2008-05-28T14:27:00.002-06:00

After reading and enjoying Steven Pressfield's Gates of Fire on the recommendation of a friend, I was looking forward to the arrival of Pressfield's latest novel. Killing Rommel follows the British Long Range Desert Group, which was tasked with tracking the German desert units and finding Rommel, the brilliant German tank commander. The British group had only limited support and had to act

Crescent City Cookin'

2008-05-22T14:24:00.001-06:00

I am not a great cook, so I rarely try out new recipes, but a few nights ago I finally got around to testing a recipe from Susan Spicer's cookbook, Crescent City Cooking, and really enjoyed it. When Susan was in the store signing the book several months back she suggested I try the Turkey Picatta first, I did and it was delicious. Not only was the recipes delicious, but it was also pretty easy

2008 Blues Camp Open House Extravaganza on May 23

2008-05-22T09:29:00.001-06:00

Check out the Alabama Blues Project's Website

The Wise Heart

2008-05-22T08:43:00.003-06:00

The Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology By Jack Kornfield Bantam Dell (April 29, 2008) Jack Kornfield is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist practice in the west. Graduation from Dartmouth in 1967, Kornfield has been institutional in bringing Buddhist psychology into western day by day mainstream living. An understanding of both mindsets that

Breach of Peace: May 30 @ 5:00

2008-05-20T14:40:00.000-06:00

Mississippi native Eric Etheridge has recently published a coffee table book of photography called Breach of Peace: Portraits of the 1961 Mississippi Freedom Riders that portrays the historic summer of 1961 through interviews of the former freedom riders, and their current portraits alongside their mugshots from the time. Having grown up in Jackson, I can't remember the first time I was

Seeing Redd

2008-05-19T17:08:00.002-06:00

In the first book of The Looking Glass Wars Trilogy, The Looking Glass Wars, Frank Beddor brings in a new take of the love able stories of Alice In Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass by saying, Wonderland is real, the Mad Hatter is actual Alyss' personal bodyguard, and Alice is really spelled, "Alyss." Now, in Seeing Redd, Alyss tries her best to meet the non- stop demands of her being the

The Prince of Frogtown

2008-05-19T17:00:00.001-06:00

"If he'd had one of those pencil thin mustaches, there's no telling how far he coulda' gone."-The Prince of FrogtownWe had a fantastic evening with Rick Bragg last Wednesday night! As usual, Rick charmed us all with his charisma and hilarious anecdotes while he signed his latest book, The Prince of Frogtown. Bragg wrote The Prince of Frogtown about his father, saying he didn't want to die without

Dot.com Sale

2008-05-19T15:27:00.000-06:00

Success! The book sale last week at Lemuria's "Dot.com" building was a great success. The back porch at dot.com was warm and welcoming due to the beautiful weather for Lemuria's first ever sale day. Can you believe that after thirty-three years John has agreed to have the first big sale in the store's history? Don't forget that there are still two more spring sale days left: this Saturday, May 24

No Country for Young Widows

2008-05-18T11:02:00.001-06:00

The Outlander by Gil Adamson, 2008, Ecco, a division of HarperCollins, $25.95. (First Edition Club pick for May)I have struggled coming up with a review of Gil Adamson's debut novel, The Outlander for over two months now, and this morning I read the latest edition of BookPage, and lucky me, my new favorite book reviewer, Kristy Kiernan, has a fantastic review...so let me give her the honors...No

Get Rich, Stay Rich; Pass It On

2008-05-16T11:41:00.002-06:00

Get Rich, Stay Rich, Pass It On: The Wealth- accumulation Secrets of America’s Richest Families Catherine S. Mebreen and George H. Walper, Jr. Portfolio (December 2007) I just finished reading, and found Pass It On to be the perfect fit for the title of this timely book. I will pass this read on to my children. This book is a perfect follow up for families who have studied Schwab’s It Pays

Pelican Road

2008-05-10T16:26:00.000-06:00

Today is May 10th, the day everyone has been waiting for, National Train Day! Are you looking for a way to "get your choo choo on?" If so, come by the store and get a copy of Howard Bahr's new novel, hot off the presses, Pelican Road. Howard's fourth novel chronicles the lives of characters working on the rail road in the early forties and has been a hit with all those who have read it so far. I

Goodreads

2008-05-10T16:20:00.000-06:00

Have you checked out Goodreads.com yet? If not, you should at least get updated on JOE's PICKs...

Honeyboy Performs at Blues Jam, by Carey Miller

2008-05-10T12:22:00.001-06:00

Robert Johnson Blues JamCarey Miller, The Clarion LedgerMay 8, 2008 "The gist: The Robert Johnson Blues Foundation celebrates the legacy of the pioneering Hazlehurst blues legend with a hall of fame awards banquet Friday followed by a blues jam Saturday. "Hall of Famers: Friday's banquet will honor this year's two inductees into the Robert Johnson Blues Foundation Hall of Fame. "There's

Seetha Srinivasan

2008-05-10T09:25:00.001-06:00

A good friend of the bookstore, Seetha Srinivasan, recently announced her retirement from the University Press of Mississippi. The Clarion Ledger honored her with a nice article yesterday in the paper: "University Press of Mississippi director Seetha Srinivasan announced her retirement this week from the helm of the state's scholarly press, an arm of Mississippi's eight state universities. "

Southern Herb Growing

2008-05-07T13:00:00.004-06:00

Southern Herb Growing by Madalene Hill and Jean Hardy is a comprehensive book on everything from herb selection for our tough southern climate to designing an herb garden to preserving and cooking with herbs. In the introduction, Madalene Hill tells the story of beginning her restaurant in Cleveland, Texas despite the fact that she had retired and had just planned to enjoy cooking. The restaurant

Oldies But Goodies

2008-05-06T21:03:00.000-06:00

One day a customer came into Oz and told me that she was looking for a book for her nine-year-old daughter. When I think back to my days of third and fourth grade the first author that always comes to mind is Judy Blume. I practically grew up on Peter and Farley Drexel "Fudge" Hatcher. I cannot count the number of times my parents had to shush my laughter while I read about the trouble that Fudge

For All of You Fancy Fans...

2008-05-06T20:41:00.001-06:00

Fancy Nancy is back but this time she doesn't have a story for all of you readers, she's provided a glossary of all of her favorite words from Accessories to Zany. So now readers will be able to enhance their vocabularies with a "fancier" style! When you go to school, or while at dinner or even if you're talking with a clerk at the shopping mall, you can show off all of the new words that Fancy

The Seer of Shadows

2008-05-01T14:31:00.005-06:00

The Seer of Shadows by Avi, HarperCollins, 2008, $16.99 (Young Adult Fiction - Ages 8 to 12)I like to work in Oz (our children's book room) and check out all the books I didn't read growing up and all the new books now available. I picked up this book because the picture on the dust jacket caught my eye. I know, I know, don't judge a book by it's cover. But hey, don't shoot me, if a cover is

Three Cups of Tea on MPB

2008-05-01T11:16:00.006-06:00

Atlantis Book Club book, Three Cups of Tea, was featured this morning on Karen Brown's radio program, Mississippi Edition. This Mississippi Public Broadcasting show airs each morning from 8:30-9 o'clock and features Mississippi news. Don't forget Atlantis will be meeting this afternoon at 5 to discuss Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.

What's New in the Biography Section

2008-04-29T17:56:00.016-06:00

There are some wonderful new biographies that have arrived in the store recently. Sidney Poitier's latest book entitled: Life Beyond Measure: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter, is a perfect example. Poitier draws upon perspective and wisdom gained from memories of growing up poor in the Bahamas; experiences of racism upon coming to the United States; raising a family; breaking the racial barrier

The Vegetables Dishes I Can't Live Without

2008-04-29T12:18:00.019-06:00

The Vegetables DIshes I Can’t Live Without by Mollie Katzen is a great cookbook for anyone looking for fresh and healthy ways to jazz up vegetables on the dinner table. Growing up my parents had a large garden and I enjoyed the flavor and texture of a variety of vegetables and fruits. My mom is a great cook and I learned a lot from her about canning and cooking vegetables. However, since our

Recent reviews of Oz Books

2008-04-29T08:03:00.008-06:00

The school year is almost over and summer is fast approaching. It is time for the summer reading list and perhaps a few books for fun. This page will offer you a selection of reads that should be educational, fun, and entertaining. Young Adult (YA) Ages 12 ↑ Disguised: a Wartime Memoir by Rita la Fontaine de Clercy Zubli Ages 10 ↑

The Road

2008-04-28T23:53:00.021-06:00

The Road Cormac McCarthy Vintage International (2006) “A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although

Three Cups of Tea

2008-04-28T15:54:00.004-06:00

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, Peguin Books, 2006, $15.00The store's book club, appropriately named The Lost Book Club of Atlantis, meets the first Thursday of each month at 5:30 pm, and this upcoming Thursday, we will be discussing one of my favorite reads, Three Cups of Tea.I first read this book when it was released in 2006 and LOVED IT! I am re-reading it now,

2008-04-28T12:21:00.017-06:00

"Every culture needs beauty," American expatriate photographer Miguel Gavin says. "And every culture defines what ‘beauty’ is."Jazz Age Beauties: The Lost Collection of Ziegfeld Photographer Alfred Cheney Johnston by Robert Hudovernik is a truly stunning photographic assemblage of the Ziegfeld girls. Indeed, Johnston bewitches, fascinates and enchants the viewer with his subjects- dancers and

Patrick McGrath on Reading and Writing

2008-04-28T11:25:00.004-06:00

We had an enjoyable evening with Patrick McGrath a few weeks ago when he came to the store to sign his latest mystery, Trauma. Mr. McGrath charmed us all. He shared some of his favorite writers with us, including: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Philip Roth, Joseph Conrad, Patrick White, Anne Ehnreit, and Philip Johnson. I also loved the way he described the mystery of writing, "You go down a lot of blind

Southern Herb Growing

2008-04-28T09:00:00.002-06:00

Southern Herb Growing by Madalene Hill and Jean Hardy is a comprehensive book on everything from herb selection for our tough southern climate to designing an herb garden to preserving and cooking with herbs.In the introduction, Madalene Hill tells the story of beginning her restaurant in Houston, Texas despite the fact that she had retired and just planned to enjoy cooking. The restaurant and

2008-04-28T08:29:00.008-06:00

Coleus: Rainbow Foliage for Container and Gardens by Ray Rogers is a great book for anyone who loves the vibrant colors of coleus. This books contains hundreds of beautiful photos showing the diversity of this easy-to-grow southern favorite. One thing I learned was that you can make topiaries out of coleus much faster in comparison to many other plants. What continued to feed my revived love

Davis Coen

2008-04-26T16:39:00.003-06:00

Davis Coen will be playing music at tonight at Old Venice (in the Burgundy Room) at 9 o'clock... go by if you want to hear some good blues!

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

2008-04-24T13:48:00.007-06:00

Just a heads-up to anyone who might be interested: there's a good chance that this summer we will be offering the novel The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski as part of our First Editions Club. I managed to get my hands on an Advanced Reader Copy, so I thought I would share some thoughts on the novel.First of all, this novel was a very well written story based on Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Alton Brown in Mississippi

2008-04-24T13:46:00.002-06:00

The store is abuzz with excitement as we anticipate the arrival of Alton Brown for his signing this afternoon. Raymond Reeves has a great article about Brown in the Clarion Ledger today that includes an interview in which Alton raves about his experiences in Misssissippi. When Reeves asks the chef about his general take on our state he responded, "Mississippi was actually my favorite, I think.

Chicken Spaghetti

2008-04-24T13:03:00.003-06:00

Lemuria was recently showered with flattery by the writer Susan Thomsen, on her acclaimed blog, Chicken Spaghetti, books for children and the rest of us, too. Susan has written pieces for The New Yorker and Global City Review to name a few publications. If any of you parents out there are searching for book suggestions for your children or on parenting, Susan has peppered Chicken Spaghetti with

Gil Adamson will be signing her novel, The Outlander, on May 19

2008-04-24T12:31:00.001-06:00

Living on the Black

2008-04-23T16:34:00.004-06:00

I'm a sucker for a good baseball book, so when I saw that John Feinstein had a new book out, I couldn't resist. Feinstein spent a season covering Mike Mussina and Tom Glavine. I'm only a couple chapters in, but so far it's as good an inside look at baseball as I've read in a long time. It reminds me a lot of George Will's "Men at Work".Go Tigers! (Sorry Jake.)

An Old Story With A New Twist

2008-04-21T09:51:00.004-06:00

Parents, many of you can remember the classic folktale of the boy who cried wolf. If so, then you and your children will love reading Julia Donaldson's The Fish Who Cried Wolf. Meet Tiddler, a gray scaled fish who loves to tell tall tales. Whether he's late for class or missing in action for something else, Tiddler always has an outlandish story to explain his mishaps. But sooner or later these

Girls in Trucks

2008-04-19T11:50:00.005-06:00

Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch, Little Brown, 2008, $21.95.This is one of my new favorite books I have read this year. I am a sucker for a Southern girl who can hold her own. I ran across a great review in BookPage (below) that I thought was so much better than what I would have written. Respecting your roots REVIEW BY KRISTY KIERNAN Listen up, y'all: Katie Crouch might be new on the

Earth Day Selection

2008-04-19T11:00:00.003-06:00

So with Earth Day coming up, I thought I would take the time to write a short review of a book I read some months ago that really impressed me. The book is The World Without Us by Alan Weisman, and it discusses exactly what the title implies: what would happen to the physical trappings of civilization if every human being were to quickly disappear. Mr. Weisman does an excellent job of

The Canon

2008-04-19T09:43:00.002-06:00

The CanonMy new section at Lemuria Bookstore is the one with science, nature,sports, ecology, hunting and fishing, adventure, sailing. We are allbecoming one with our newly assigned sections. We are getting to know eachand every book by studying its history in the bookstore and the message,plot or puzzle inside. We might even go so far as to read the ones thatcatch our eye. In this new trove of

Have You Ever Really Listened To Yourself?

2008-04-17T16:09:00.004-06:00

Annabel Greene, the youngest of the 3 beautiful modeling sisters, is not exactly the perfect role model image of herself filmed on commercials. Annabel's life is far from perfect. The abrupt end of her and Sophie's friendship ended bitterly and her sister's eating disorder is bringing her entire family down. But then, Annabel meets Owen- music-obsessed and determined to always be honest. Owen

To All Those Reading this Blog

2008-04-17T12:13:00.002-06:00

This whole blog thing is really new to all of us that work at Lemuria. We have all written staff picks of books that we have read and put them on our website but this is the first time that our customers or people that just stumble on us can comment on what we have written. It is a little daunting because I don't consider myself a writer at all but I am willing to give this a try. I am

Campaigning for President

2008-04-17T11:44:00.006-06:00

I really have enjoyed looking through this book, Campaigning for President. This book is full of Jordan M. Wright's personal collection of presidential election memorabilia, from posters, paper dresses, dolls, and buttons dating back to George Washington. This book really lets us know that money has always been important in campaigns and how candidates really came up with some creative ways to

Check 'em out y'all

2008-04-16T15:51:00.007-06:00

These two books almost made me want to go back to school to finish my art degree (which is saying something). If you opt to take my recommendation, you must read them in order; The Cheese Monkeys followed closely by The Learners. Chip Kidd, the author, is a dust jacket designer turned author...thank heavens. Not only are they damn fine books, they are a couple of beauts.

Playing with the Grown-Ups

2008-04-16T14:43:00.005-06:00

I don't know a single person from around my generation who did not read Roald Dahl as a child...or even as an adult. Because seriously, do you really ever grow out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or the BFG? Well Roald's writing gene has thankfully passed through the generations to his very beautiful granddaughter named Sophie. Sophie Dahl is famous for many reasons, first being that she is

Thomas Sowell

2008-04-16T08:59:00.009-06:00

It's hard not to pay attention to politics during an election year. Yesterday morning John and I were talking about Thomas Sowell's column and how we both appreciated his ability to cut through the nonsense and hammer away at the central issue. His books don't have the most brightly-colored covers, or the most attention-grabbing titles, but I think his approach to the material is entertaining to

Have you ever been told that you were too little???

2008-04-15T11:00:00.004-06:00

That's what happens to Lulu in this adventurous story. Ladybug Girl is the perfect example of how all individuals, no matter their age, can create their own fun - all you need is a little imagination. Ladybug Girl is able to help a colony of ants and make her way through puddles with sharks and other dangerous creatures.Though her brother and friends say that she is too little to hang out with

What Now? by Ann Patchett

2008-04-15T09:57:00.004-06:00

Ann Patchett has written wonderful novels for which she has received critical acclaim. She has also written essays for such publications as the Atlantic, the New York Times Magazine, and Preservation Magazine. Now she has published a stirring essay, What Now?, based on the commencement address she gave at her Alma Mater, Sarah Lawrence College. This gem is not only for graduates but also for

Kevin Brockmeier

2008-04-15T08:20:00.005-06:00

The View from the Seventh Layer by Kevin Brockmeier, Pantheon Books, a division of Random House, Inc., 2008, $21.95.You may remember Kevin Brockmeier's 2006 novel, The Brief History of the Dead...about a futuristic City of the Dead. We all here at the bookstore enjoyed it, and we are looking forward to his visit this Thursday. He will be here to sign and read from his short story collection The

Don't Forget to Come See Benjy and Heather Tuesday Night!

2008-04-14T11:56:00.004-06:00

Reminder... Shantala is playing tomorrow night at 7:00. If you haven't been following our posts check out the archives for more on Benjy and Heather.

Sunday night's Masterpiece presentation

2008-04-13T10:23:00.006-06:00

So who watched The Memory Keeper's Daughter on Lifetime last night? Were you a little disappointed like me? My biggest gripe was that Nora (played by Gretchen Mol) did not ever age, like her husband and the nurse did. I still love the book, and I will just chalk the adaptation to the old cliche - the book is always better than the movie!Even though Desperate Housewives starts back up tonight,

What's on the TV tonight?

2008-04-12T09:12:00.004-06:00

Tonight (Saturday, April 12th starting at 8 am CST) on the Lifetime channel will be an adaptation of Kim Edwards' The Memory Keeper's Daughter. This is a fantastic story, and all of us here at the bookstore loved this book. I don't know how well Lifetime will stay true to the book, but I like the actors they have selected (Dermot Mulroney, Gretchen Mol and Emily Watson). I have to admit

At Home with Miss Eudora

2008-04-09T16:47:00.004-06:00

Well things are really coming along at Miss Eudora Welty's house. The staff members have moved their offices to the Education and Visitors Center next door to the Welty House. The Visitors Center will be used to show the orientation film (which is currently being showed in the garage) and many interpretive exhibits are being planned also. Miss Welty was always a great friend to Lemuria and we

Congratulations!!!!!

2008-04-09T14:44:00.006-06:00

The Mississippi Historical Society gives the McLemore Prize every year to the best book on a subject related to Mississippi History. The 2007 McLemore Prize was awarded to Joseph Crespino for his book, In Search of Another Country: Mississippi and the Conservative Counterrevolution. The book examines how American politics has been shaped by white Mississippians' reaction to modern

The Blizzard Voices: Poems by Ted Kooser

2008-04-09T13:27:00.008-06:00

The Blizzard Voices: Poems Ted Kooser University of Nebraska Press: 2006 Last weekend, I flew to Boston to surprise my bookselling pal, Tim (an ex-Lemurian) for his 40th birthday. Tim founded Newtonville Books* and recently sold his fine bookstore to Mary. Mary is carrying on Tim’s tradition with a First Editions Club and weekly email newsletter (which is a great source for keeping up with New

Spring Essence

2008-04-09T13:21:00.004-06:00

Spring EssenceThe Poetry of Ho Xuan Huong(1175 – 1825)Translated by John BalabanCooper Canyon Press: 2000 Ho (whose name means “Spring Essence”) was an 18th century Vietnamese concubine. Writing as a male, she followed this Confucian tradition. Many of her poems are double entendres: each has hidden within another poem, with sexual meaning revealing itself as a pun. No other poet dared this as

SPIDER KISS

2008-04-08T10:27:00.007-06:00

Spider KissbyHarlan EllisonSo, Spider Kiss is the only writing by Ellison that I have ever read, but after the pleasure that I got from this one I will be reading more. Although I feel like I've heard so many versions of this same story before, only with actual musicians rather than the fictional Stag Preston featured here, not for a second did I feel bored or anxious to simply finish with the

Patrick McGrath's reading Tues. nite , April 8th

2008-04-07T19:53:00.003-06:00

Patrick McGrath is coming tomorrow night to sign and read from his new book, TRAUMA, and I can hardly wait to hear him read and ask him some questions about his work in general--Soon after I started working for Lemuria I picked up his book ASYLUM--It may have been his first book or one of his first--And 10 years later I remember it as one of the creepiest books I ever read--but also one of the

Nobody's Princess

2008-04-06T10:11:00.004-06:00

In this thrilling story of adventures, Nobody's Princess by Esther Friesner, the great Helen of Sparta ventures out of the normal range of princess. Helen, in her early ages, wasn't always the perfect princess; she trained with her 2 brothers to be apart of the many hunts they went on, was clumsy at her needle point, and had a short temper, so unlike her twin sister. Helen, with a sassy aditude

Randy Wayne White with Carl Hiaasen and friends... On Writing and Fishing

2008-04-05T17:20:00.001-06:00

Randy Wayne White with Carl Hiaasen and friends... On Writing and Fishing

2008-04-05T17:09:00.007-06:00

We had an entertaining evening with Randy Wayne White last Wednesday. Randy stopped by Lemuria to sign books for the First Editions Club, hang out and read as he tours to promote his latest novel, "Black Widow." He told some hysterical stories that had everybody cracking up (it's never good when you open your freezer to give your cop friend some fish and instead, the freezer is full of bags of

Doc Ford Country: Ft. Randy Wayne White, Spaceman Bill Lee and Jon Warden

2008-04-05T17:08:00.000-06:00

More on Shantala

2008-04-05T15:41:00.003-06:00

An Evening of Kirtan (Sacred Chanting) with Shantala (Benjy and Heather Wertheimer)Tuesday, April 15 at 7 PM at LemuriaBooks.com Building Benjy and Heather are gifted vocalists and their unique expression and understanding of kirtan is evident not only in their talent, but also in the deep reverence they both share for this beautiful traditional music and ancient form of devotion. Benjy

crawfish and music FEST!

2008-04-05T12:16:00.008-06:00

the 6th annual crawfish and music festival at the Crawdad HolePurchase a Copy of the CD

2008-04-05T11:24:00.002-06:00

It's been about a week since I last reminded everyone that Crossroads Film Festival is this weekend in Jackson. So far, I hear that Crossroads has gotten off to a successful start in spite of the Katrina-like weather that hit Jackson and the surrounding areas yesterday. Luckily, the shows have gone on so don't forget to look over the schedule and pick a few quality films to take in instead of

Percy Jackson and the Olympians

2008-04-03T16:40:00.005-06:00

The mysterious series book of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Percy and his friends must travel to the Labyrinth, a complicated underground world filled with monsters and surprises at every corner. along the way, Percy will confront old enemies, find out the truth about the lost god, Pan, whom all fauns have the desire to find, and face Zeus' powerful, Titan father, Cronos' most terrible secret.

Help Save the Mount, Edith Wharton's Estate

2008-04-03T14:51:00.008-06:00

Fans of the Pulitzer Prize winning author, Edith Wharton, take note: her newly renovated estate, The Mount, is facing imminent foreclosure. Though I have never been there myself, several blogs (Book Club Girl and the personal blog of author Josh Kilmer-Purcell) are trying to spread the word in order to save this historic landmark. If you're interested in taking a "virtual tour" of The Mount check

This weekend on Book TV: Why Women Should Rule the World, Features Cynthia Cooper

2008-04-02T09:49:00.013-06:00

Cynthia Cooper and her book, Extraordinary Circumstances: The Journey of a Corporate Whistle-blower" will be featured this weekend on Book TV's special, "Why Women Should Rule the World." Cooper's program will air this Saturday evening, April 5, at 7:00. If you have yet to see an interview with Cooper try to catch the program on Saturday. I was very impressed when she spoke at Lemuria for her

Poetry Month

2008-04-02T06:31:00.006-06:00

How appropriate that on the first day of Poetry Month Red Bird, Mary Oliver's twelfth book of poetry, arrived at Lemuria. For those of us who love her work, it is another gift from her to us---one she has been giving for over forty years.There are sixty-one new poems in this collection, the most ever in a single volume of her work, and each one is a gem---a feast for the soul. She speaks, as