December 2012 eNewsletter

"Wear the old coat and buy the new book." —Austin Phelps

A little over a year ago we added this newsletter to our online presence. It was a way to reach out to all customers but especially those who had sunken into their screens and weren't visiting the store on a regular basis. Since then we have also developed our store journal into a widely read and respected blog, made nearly a thousand Facebook friends (I went viral last week!), joined the Google+ network, tweeted incessantly, and added a Kobo ebook store.

We truly have an unusually rich selection of online offerings for you to explore and I invite you to visit our website, its various doorways and its archives.

That said, it just doesn't hold a candle to an afternoon in the store in December. The time to come is NOW. The place is packed with treasures and variety. The staff is caffeinated and jolly. You'll see your friends. We wrap. We ship. We jump when called. We will make you forget your worries, your job, your self discipline, and what day it is.

It's rich, it's wonder-full, and it's real. Unplug. Walk in. We will be here for you.

Warmly,
Roger Page
Owner and Bookseller

GIFTS GALORE

More Than a Bookstore

It's not too late to buy your holiday gifts at Island Books. We have a surprising number of treasures tucked into the nooks and crannies of the store. Everything you need for holiday gift giving (or for yourself) is right here on our shelves.

This Year's Best

Every year we create a list of the best fiction of the last twelve months, and every year we learn again that there's no such thing as a definitive list. There are so many good books to choose from, and so many of us with different tastes, that the task is an impossible one. Nonetheless, we persevere. For your amusement and enjoyment, we present the Top Ten Works of Fiction for 2012, as seen through our eyes.

This Year's Best

We've read the reviews, listened to our customers, and racked our brains to come up with a list of the Top Ten Works of Nonfiction for 2012. It was hard work, what with all the excellent choices, but the process was rewarding and so are the results. True story.

Thoughts About Books & Such

We've been up to all manner of things on our blog, recapping the National Book Awards, surveying the African literary landscape, and trying to see Thanksgiving through the eyes of child. We may have even launched a new online book club--you tell us.

By the way, did you know you can get our Store Journal by email?

Lori's December Pick:

Elsewhere

We read a lot, and despite ourselves, we're guilty of playing favorites. For example, this month Lori's excited about Richard Russo's first foray into memoir. The bard of the small towns of upstate New York, Russo's portrait of his own youth, his parents, and his community has the same blend of charm and reality that his award-winning fiction does.

Here, our booksellers share their December recommendations.

See More Staff Picks