Even though the holidays were great…there is nothing like spending a little concentrated time with family plus an analysis of the year past to send a normally sane person running and screaming for a little help.  Believe me, we at East Side Books understand, and that is why we have a plentiful Self-Help section that will assist in sorting out any type of problem or issue that may pop up in your otherwise normal life.

If the holidays caused a little stress and strain on your relationship, check out some of the titles in our Relationship section to help get you and your partner back on track.  Harville Hendrix was a marriage counselor who ended up getting a divorce.  He used this experience to explore what makes a marriage work and ended up penning the classic relationship self-help book Getting the Love You Want. John Gray followed after Hendrix with his bestselling Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.  Gray’s book outlines the common conflicts in relationships, and how men and women differ in expression of their needs.  To go a step further, pick up sociolinguist Deborah Tannen’s book You Just Don’t Understand that focuses on how differently men and women communicate and common misunderstandings because of those differences.  If you are looking for a more spiritual slant, read Soul Mates by therapist Thomas Moore.  He is also author of the well-loved book Care of the Soul.

You can find lots of helpful titles in our General Self-Help section.  A good way to start the new year is to got on a joy diet with Martha Beck, popular life coach.  Her book The Joy Diet outlines ten steps for a happier life.  Byron Katie has gained a lot of popularity in the last couple years with her book Loving What Is.  Her book is based on a four question exercise that challenges your fundamental, and often false, beliefs about yourself.  Life Strategies by Phillip McGraw revolves around his ten “life laws”.  McGraw’s no-nonsense, in-your-face approach is amazingly popular, and he is best at identifying self-defeating behaviors.  If you want a self-help book you can sink your teeth into and slowly incorporate into your life over several months, pick up one of Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.  Popular in the business world, Covey emphasizes the importance of balance of personal and professional effectiveness.  Iyanla VanZant writes that  hardship can teach us to grow, heal, and learn to love better in her self-help memoir entitled Yesterday I Cried. Her plain spoken wisdom will appeal to many readers.  If you are more interested in a New Age slant check out books by Dan Millman and Deepak Chopra.  Millman is the author of the popular Way of the Peaceful Warrior.  This creative nonfictional account is the story of Millman’s journey of self-discovery.  He is also penned Everyday Enlightenment, No Ordinary Moments, and The Life You Were Born to Live among other titles. Deepak Chopra writes prolifically about quantum physics and how the mind, body, and spiritual connection can create infinite possibilities.  Some of his most popular books are Ageless Body, Timeless Mind, Quantum Healing, Perfect Health, and The Seven Laws of Spiritual Success.

If you are feeling a little low after the holidays or know someone that is, look to our section with titles dealing with depression.  Potatoes Not Prozac by Kathleen Desmaison is a popular do-it-yourself, seven-step dietary plan that can help you get back on track without the use of drugs.  Brooke Shields wrote an honest and controversial memoir about her experience with postpartum depression called Down Came the Rain. Shields was lauded for bringing awareness to this very real issue that effects a number of new mothers.

Our Death/Grief section has several books by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, the most-respected authority on the subject of death and dying.  Her book On Death and Dying famously outlines the five stages of grief as denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.  John West wrote a very controversial book called The Last Goodnights that tells his experience assisting his parents’ suicides.  We also have sections on Abuse and Recovery/Addiction.

Everyone needs a helping hand now and then.  Come on down to East Side Books and find the help you need in our Self-Help section.  If you need assistance finding a title, be sure to ask one of our staff.

January is here again.  Time to dust off those resolutions of last year and make a new plan.  Whether you are wanting to drop a few pounds, tone up, or learn a new sport, here at East Side Books we have just the right title to help you get started or to firm up your already waning resolve.

Is it just me or were there an extraordinary number of Christmas goodies to sample this year? If you, like me, sugared up over the holiday season and are feeling like you need to find a better eating program, check out our Diet section for advice on healthy eating as well as weight loss.  We carry the most popular weigh loss titles such as Oprah Winfrey and Bob Greene’s sensible Make the Connection, the successful South Beach Diet by Arthur Agatson based on a modified carbohydrate plan, and Eat More, Weigh Less by cardiologist Deal Ornish which lays out a eating program to prevent and even reverse heart disease.  We have several books by Three’s Company star Suzanne Somers.  She has her own system of food combining that seems to work miracles for her if her cover photo is any evidence.  Phillip McGraw offers down-to-earth weight loss strategies in his book Ultimate Weight Loss Solution. We also carry numerous Atkins related diet books as well as lesser known titles such as Idiot’s Guide to Losing Weight, The Sonoma Diet, and Flip the Switch.

But being slim and trim doesn’t guarantee health.  Just as important as a healthy eating plan is incorporating a bit of fitness into your daily or weekly routine.  Our Fitness section is brimming with helpful guides to lead you through short or lengthy exercise programs depending on your individual need. Bill Phillips has outlined a 12-week fitness program in his popular and successful book entitled Body for Life.  He promises great mental and physical strength through intense 20 minute routines 3x a week.  Karen Andes blends spiritual and physical empowerment for women in her book A Woman’s Book of Strength. Andes is a body builder and co-owner of the famous Gold’s Gym. We have a number of other books on weighlifting and bodybuilding including Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Modern Bodybuilding written well before he served as governor of California.

If you are looking beyond just a quick exercise routine, and are wanting to incorporate a sport into your life, look for information under our individual sections labeled Walking, Yoga, Backpacking, Hiking, and Bicycling.  Casey Meyers in his book Walking explains that walking is the best method for weight loss and cardiovascular fitness.  He offers technical advice about how to get the most out of your daily walk.  If you are interested in backpacking, you must pick up a copy of Backpacking One Step at a Time by Harvey Manning.  This still popular classic will give you all the necessary ins and outs of the sport plus teach you how to minimize your impact on the environment while tromping through the woods.  For some local flavor, check out Self-Propelled in the Southern Sierra by J.C. Jenkins.  This titles describes 150 adventure trips throughout the Southern Sierra Nevada mountain: car tours, day hikes, peak climbs, backpacking trips, bike routes, and equestrian outings.  If you are interested in getting your adrenaline pumping, give mountain biking a whirl.  Past world mountain bike champion Ned Overend gives all kinds of tips and advice in his book Mountain Bike Like a Champion. He explains how to improve your performance off road, help you carve through turns, attack steep climbs, and glide over rocks, logs, and ledges.  (LEDGES???)

No matter what your New Year’s resolutions are, we at East Side Books are ready to help and support you in any way.  Please ask for assistance from one of our staff members if you have trouble locating what you are looking for.

If you are one of those people who just can’t get enough of Christmas, come on down to East Side Books and check out our large selection of Adult Holiday Fiction by some of your favorite authors.

Because Santa is checking who is naught and nice, I will admit that I did not even know there WAS such a thing as Adult Holiday Fiction until I stopped by East Side Books yesterday and witnessed owner Diane Doonan surrounded by a sea of books with mostly green and red covers. The only Christmas book I had heard of was Skipping Christmas by John Grisham the well known author of numerous legal thrillers (and author of the excellent novel The Painted House which I recommend highly). Skipping Christmas is described as a fun take on the craziness of Christmas.  I think Christmas is crazy so I added a copy to my pile (leaving a few others for you all), and browsed through the growing stacks surrounding Diane.  What I found was that many well known authors, especially in the genres of Romance and Mystery, have written a Christmas themed book or two or three.

Leading the way is romance writer Debbie Macomber with her many holiday titles including A Gift to Last, Home for the Holidays, On a Snowy Night, and Glad Tidings. Macomber is dyslexic and has only a high school diploma, but was determined to be a writer.  A mother of four, she worked for five years at her kitchen table on a rented typewriter before finally publishing Heartsong. She now has over 150 romance novels to her credit.  Another popular romance novel writer who likes to dip her pen into holiday fun is Janet Dailey.  Christmas favorites by her are Eve’s Christmas, Scrooge Wore Spurs, Let’s Be Jolly, and A Capital Holiday. If you are a fan of popular mystery and romance writer Sandra Brown, she has a Christmas read out called Tidings of Great Joy.  This title is described as a “sexy, holiday read to curl up with”.  (Oh my.)

If mysteries and Christmas are your thing then you are in luck because we have a number of books that fit that bill.  Superstar suspense writer Mary Higgins Clark weaves a Christmas tale in her two novels Silent Night and All Through the Night.  If that doesn’t fill you to the brim with holiday Mary Higgins Clark, then check out Deck the Halls and The Christmas Thief, two titles that she co-authored with her writer daughter Carol Higgins Clark. Popular Victorian mystery novelist Anne Perry has about half a dozen Christmas titles to her credit.  Perry really walks the talk: as a young girl she was convicted, along with her friend Pauline Parker, of murdering Parker’s mother.  Both girls served five years in prison and were banned from ever seeing each other again. Perry’s life was made into the movie Heavenly Creatures staring Kate Winslet. Mystery writer Margaret Maron has a brand new Deborah Knott mystery coming out this month called Christmas Morning, but I am a big fan of her earlier work, Corpus Christmas, featuring Lieutenant Sigrid Harald.  If you haven’t read either of these excellent series by Margaret Maron, now is a great time to start.

Jan Karon, the author of the popular Mitford series, has penned several Christmas books, including Shepherds Abiding (The Mitford Series Book #8), Mitford Snowmen, and Ester’s Gift. Since Santa is watching, I should also mention The Christmas Jars by Jason R. Wright.  There are very few things that make me cry–our yearly family Thanksgiving prayer circle, when my children awe me, and sappy T.V. commercials–but this book, embarrassingly enough, made me bawl like a baby.  The only other book that has done that to me is Tuesday’s With Morrie by Mitch Albom.  I know, I know, I KNOW, but there is something about a simple, heartwarming story that kills me.  I just picked up a copy of another of Wright’s books, The Wednesday Letters. I’ll let you know if I breakdown, or better yet, run on down to East Side Books and purchase your own copy and let me know if you turn into a blubbering mess.

Regardless of your genre preference, stop by East Side Books today for your reading dose of holiday cheer!  And whether you have been naughty or nice this year, we are always happy to help you locate a title.  Have a Merry Merry Christmas from all of us at East Side Books.

If I had to find the positive upswing in the economic downturn, I would have to say that squeezing my pennies has lead me to counting my blessings and getting back to what’s important.  This is especially true this holiday season.  This year at our house we are creating a whole new kind of Christmas holiday. I have found that not having to dive into the gift buying frenzy has simplified our celebration to a level that feels…well…almost sane, and is allowing us to embrace a Christmas spirit that is festive, merry, and filled with good cheer.

To feel my way through this new spirit of Christmas (because, in all honestly, my usual Christmas demeanor resembles that of a grumpy old troll), I stopped by East Side Books to peruse the Christmas books.  Christmas angel and owner Diane Doonan suggested I look at The Frugal Gourmet Celebrates Christmas by Jeff Smith and The Winter Solstice by John Matthews as a holiday overview.  Both books are filled to the brim with holiday stories, prayers, craft making, and recipes. The lovely photos and illustrations alone are well worth the price of the books.  I learned to cook from Jeff Smith cookbooks and know his recipes to be simple and satisfying.  (Check out our other Jeff Smith cookbooks in the Cooking Section of East Side Books.)

This year my youngest daughter has turned crafty, and I am excited to steer her talent toward holiday decorations and ornament making.  I discovered that our Craft Section holds a goldmine of Christmas crafting books.  Kim, my fellow employee, swears by the Martha Stewart’s Christmas manuals and I have to say that her pages are bursting with fresh ideas and tempting recipes.  I was also drawn to the Christmas crafting and recipe compilations of Carol Field Dahlstrom.  Her books are a delightful discovery of simple decorating and gift ideas, as well as pages of mouthwatering recipes with large gorgeous photos and clear instructions.  I also recommend you check out Gooseberry Patch Christmas, Quick & Easy Christmas Crafts, The Los Angeles Times Book of Christmas Enertaining, and The Spirit of Christmas for an amazing array of quick and beautiful gift ideas and holiday recipes. We also carry a number of the Better Homes and Garden’s holiday crafting books that specialize in cross stitch patterns and needlepoint projects.

Because I love to bake, I couldn’t resist moseying on over to the Holiday/Entertaining shelf in our Cooking Section.  There I found a number of must have holiday cookbooks beginning with Christmas 101 by Rick Rodgers.  Besides the clever title, Rodgers’ book is filled with holiday recipes that can take you from appetizer through dessert with ease.  He has lots of helpful hints throughout that will make holiday entertaining and cooking a snap.  When it comes to cookbooks, I am like a child, I want lots of pictures, that is why I was drawn to An Edible Christmas by Irena Chalmers.  In this lovely cookbook every recipe is accompanied by a photo that looks good enough to eat.  I can’t imagine the time that must have gone into creating this book, but I want to tell Ms. Chalmers, wherever she may be,  that I truly appreciate it. The recipe for Raspberry Crisp Cake on page 151 looks simply irresistible.  This cookbook won’t stay on our shelves long.  Lastly, I had to sit and leaf through the Better Homes and Garden Cookies for Christmas cookbook.  There is nothing more I like make (or eat) than cookies.  The Scandinavian Almond Bars on page 63 are something I really must try.

If you are looking to swing into the holiday mood, drive your sleigh over to East Side Books and check out our wide selection of holiday books for yourself.  If you need any help locating a title, please ask one of our friendly elves for assistance.  And above all, have a very merry and happy holiday season.

I don’t think it will surprise anyone if I state that when it comes to gift giving, I give books.  Specifically, used books.  (See the blog on Top Five Reasons to Shop East Side Books for further explanation.)  Occasionally, I throw in a batch of baked goods and a handmade craft or two, but the book is a given.  Although I always try to match the perfect book to the right person, there are some favorite titles that I find myself giving again and again.  Curious, I asked owner Diane Doonan and well-read, fellow employee Kim, if they too had favorite books that they found themselves giving over and over again.  To my delight, they did, titles different from mine and some I haven’t even read yet. (Hint…Hint…)

Diane quickly rattled off a list of favorites children’s books starting with The Children’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson.  Stevenson, also the author of Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, wrote these beautiful and whimsical poems for his own children. In continuous print since 1885 when it was originally published, The Children’s Garden of Verses is considered a classic.  Diane has lost count of how many sets of the Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie books she has given as gifts.  A childhood favorite, she thinks the pioneer period is an important cultural aspect of our history that should be appreciated.  She also loves the picture book Mama, Do You Love Me?, a story set in Alaska with beautiful illustrations and a timeless message of the limitless love a parent has for a child.  For the teenagers on her list, Diane gives them a copy of Douglas Adams’ series The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, described as one of the funniest spoof on science fiction ever written.  Diane says this is a book that teens don’t tend to find on their own, but love the ironic humor once they read it.

Kim’s list consisted of a little bit of everything–thoughtful nonfiction as well as quality literature and even some light escapism.  First on her list was Gifts from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh.  Kim describes this slim volume, a classic first published in 1955, as “a great reminder to slow down and care for one’s soul.  I read it every year on vacation.”  From Lindbergh’s nonfiction introspection, Kim dives right into a fictional journey of self-discovery with the recommendation of The River Why by David James Duncan.  A tale of fishing and much more, this book is frequently a top ten book favorite for male readers.  The title Ahab’s Wife by Sena Jeter Naslund is a book Kim recommended me and that I have shared with many others.  Kim describes it as “a beautiful, lyrical story that is one to be savored.”  If you need a gift of well-written, intelligent historical fiction, Kim recommends the bestselling, award-winning Outlander series by Diane Gabaldon. A combination of history, romance, and time travel, this series is escapism at its best.  On the lighter side, Kim recommends the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich which starts with One for the Money.  She says she has “given this book again and again” and that it is “absolutely the funniest series I have ever read.”

I have a few recommendations of my own.  The first are a trio of books that I call Coming-of-Age stories.  These titles are Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons, Joy School by Elizabeth Berg, and Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli.  Although these are three very different books, what they have in common is a strong young female protagonist who uses the bumps in the road to learn about who she is.  I’d love for any of these girls to be a daughter of mine.  Next, I recommend anything by Willa Cather and Edna Ferber, both Pultizer Prize winning authors, who write of the midwest with a sharp eye and beautiful language.  My Antonia and O Pioneers! are the most well known work of Cather although I loved The Song of a Lark. Not as beautifully written as the other two, the storyline has stayed with me for over 20 years. I just discovered Ferber in the last few years and it is like discovering a gold mine.  So Big is my favorite so far.  For a modern take on the themes of Cather and Ferber, check out the work of Kent Haruf.  Plainsong is one of the most beautiful, heartbreaking novels I have ever read from the first line to the last.  For a unique exploration of landscape, mother-daughter relationships, and breast cancer, I give the perfectly rendered Refuge by Terry Tempest Williams. Williams is one of the most articulate non-fiction writers working today.  Another is Gretel Ehrlich, the author of the amazing collections of essays Solace of Open Spaces and Islands, the Universe, and Home. Her keen eye and lovely imagery makes Ehrlich an author to savor.  Also excellent is her book A Match to the Heart, her experience of being struck by lightening.  Lastly, I have given away a number of copies of The Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman.  I read this book in my twenties and it began a journey of shifting my whole way of seeing things.

If you are looking for that perfect gift for each person on your list, stop by East Side Books and let us help you.  Nothing makes us happier than helping match the right book with the right person.  The above books are the titles we tend to give over and over again, but we each have lengthy lists of books that we would love to recommend and help you find.

Holiday season is here, so let the gift giving begin!  If your list is as long as mine, I suggest you head to East Side Books for a stress-free shopping experience that will solve all your gift buying needs and leave you plenty of time for other holiday pursuits such as untangling the outdoor colored lights from the moving reindeer antlers.

In case you have yet to become a used bookstore convert, let me give you the top five reasons to shop East Side Books:

1. Buying gifts at East Side Books will save you money. That’s right.  Our low prices, an average of $8 for Adult Fiction, $6 for Young Adult Fiction, and as little as $1 for Children’s Books, are a bargain when compared to what you would pay for cheaply made knick knacks or plastic toys.  Our NonFiction prices vary depending on the book, and are remarkably inexpensive.  And I’ll let you in on a little secret, if you spend a few minutes perusing our shelves you are sure to find some gems for just a dollar or two hidden here and there. Even our Rare and Vintage Books are a steal.  You could spend $20.00 on a first edition cherished childhood favorite or on an acrylic scarf/hat set from Kmart.  You decide which would be more meaningful.

2. Buying used books is recycling. Used books are an easy way to participate in recycling.  Besides, there is something interesting about reading a used book and coming across a line that has been underlined or a grocery list that has been tucked between the pages.  Don’t even get me started on how cool handwritten flyleaf inscriptions are.  A used book has a history that makes it just a little bit more special.  The younger generation is leading the way in recycling awareness and participation.  Give your favorite kid a gently used book in an effort to do your part to recycle and watch your coolness meter climb.

3. Shopping at East Side Books is supporting a local business and local people. Shopping locally is more than a campaign of bumper stickers and logos. Let’s face it, when the economy starts to slip, small towns start to die.  Shopping locally, which puts money in the pockets of local people who in turn can spend that money locally, is essential to keeping our little oasis in the high desert afloat.  Yes, it is convenient to shop online in your p.j.s, but I encourage you to get dressed and come on down to East Side Books.  For the same price or less, you will find the perfect gift AND actually interact with friendly, interesting people.  Not only is shopping at East Side Books shopping locally, you are buying a USA product and supporting the publishing industry.  No products Made In China on our shelves.

4. East Side Books offers unique, one-of-a-kind gifts. Even though gift hunting can be time consuming–and it is tempting to drive to a mall and buy 14 back scratchers for all the males on your list and 10 bottles of fleur de stinky perfume for all the females–we all know that there is something special about opening a gift someone picked out just for you.  Eastside Books offers a wide variety of titles on all imaginable subjects.  We have an extensive vintage and rare book selection as well as first editions and books signed by the author. We carry sets of classic literature, and our poetry and play sections are well-stocked.  We have cookbooks, art books, biographies, and memoirs.  We carry nature books, Western and local history books, Christian books, and books to improve your mental and physical health.  We have books on hunting and fishing, rock climbing, and rock art.  We have travel guides, wedding guides, and guides on how to train your dog, horse, or garden.  Our books can teach how to quilt, sail, organize, raise rabbits, or identify shells, birds, and edible plants. You get the picture–the categories go on and on.  And that’s just the books.  We have CDs, DVDs, videos, and books on tape.  We have sheet music and comics.  We even sell cards, bookmarks, and bags.  And if you talk to Diane, you can buy some outstanding grassfed beef.  Who needs the mall when you have the diversity of East Side Books?

5. Shopping at East Side Books makes the world a better place. I agree with Christopher Morley:  “When you sell a man a book you don’t sell just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue – you sell him a whole new life.  Love and friendship and humour and ships at sea by night – there’s all heaven and earth in a book, a real book.” When you give someone a book you give them a new adventure, an opportunity to discover a whole new way of looking at the world.  Books can open up your soul for examination, squeeze your heart, and set your on your way.  I don’t believe there are people who don’t like to read, I believe there are people who just haven’t found the right book.  Come into East Side Books and let us help you find the right book, the perfect gift for the people on your holiday list.  Buy a book, change a life.

Happy Holidays to you all!  May your season be bright, happy, and carefree.

Every reader has a guilty pleasure when it comes to books. Some sneak in bodice ripping romances when no one is looking; some won’t board an airplane without a mystery about a cat detective or a cook who solves mysteries or better yet, a cooking cat sleuth; and some buys stacks of cheap sci-fi for those days when an escape from reality is needed.  My guilty reading pleasure is young adult fiction–novels written for junior high and high school students.  Strange choice for me since I tend to think of 13 through 18 as “the dark years” and have yet to attend a high school reunion.  During those years all I wanted to do was grow up, but now I find myself in an empty parking lot trading a popular teenage series covered with brown paper so no one can see with a well-read friend.

While I admit to being completely sucked into the Twilight series despite the never ending teenage angst and the disgustingly co-dependent relationship of the main characters, much of the new teen lit out there today is highly readable and amazingly sophisticated, taking on issues of environmental armageddon, power struggles between good and evil, and Robin Hood themes of the poor triumphing over the rich.  The main characters are unlikely heros and heroines who fight their battles with integrity, intelligence, and sheer grit.  To see what I mean, check out The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay, a powerful trilogy by Suzanne Collins.

Books written for teens are receiving a lot of attention lately.  The New York Times Book Review and other publications are printing article after article citing this new popularity of adults reading young adult lit. There is even a new term out there to describe these popular books: Crossover Young Adult Fiction. The exploding interest in teen novels can be traced back to J.K. Rowling and her Harry Potter series.   She was responsible for igniting the reading fire in several generations of new readers as well as stirring a forgotten longing in adults for the magical world of imagination.  When Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was published, the seventh and last in the Potter series, there was speculation that the end of the series would create a vacuum in the publishing world.  Fortunately for all of us, this wasn’t the case as a whole new crew of talented authors stepped up to satiate the growing appetite for literature that is immediate, high energy, and often fanciful.

Our shelves at East Side Books are teeming with quality young adult novels just waiting for you to crossover and give them a read.  A wonderful place to start is The Looking Glass Wars series by Frank Beddor.  This series puts a whole new clever spin on Lewis Caroll’s famous work Alice in Wonderland. I also suggest you check out Christopher Paolini’s Eragon adventure series, which he self-published and promoted until it was picked up three years later by Alfred A. Knolf.  Cornelia Funke (now isn’t that a great writing name) has gained popularity lately with her breakout bestsellers Inkheart, Inkspell, and The Thief Lord. Although written for the 10 to 15 year old age group, Funkes books are enjoyed by all and described as “magical, with characters who literally leap from the page.”  If you are looking for something a little lighter, search out the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares, the story of four friends and a pair of…well…magical pants.  Despite the silly sounding premise, Brashares work is surprisingly fresh and absorbing. So much so that movies have been made from the first two books.

Even established authors of adult fiction are jumping aboard the Young Adult ship.  Alice Hoffman, best known for her Oprah Book Selection Here on Earth and Practical Magic which was made into a movie, is also the author of several teen novels including Green Angel, The Foretelling, and Incantation.  Hoot by well known journalist and novelist Carl Hiaasen is a Newbery Honor Book and spent 2 years on the New York Times Bestseller List.  Terry Pratchett, Clive Cussler, and James Patterson all have young adult novels on their list of credits.  Another successful crossover author is British novelist Neil Gaimen.  You may not recognize his name, but you have probably hear of his creepy and slightly off kilter young adult novels Neverwhere, The Graveyard, and Coraline, which was made into a popular movie.

Please stop by and check out any and all of the forementioned titles.  Just pretend you are buying them for your favorite teenager.  If you need any assistance in your search, please don’t hesitate to ask one of our staff members and we’ll be happy to help you.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good party as much as the next person, especially when it’s potluck.  Nothing is better than an evening of shared food, stories, and laughter with close friends and new friends-to-be.  And since I love to cook, I am happy to contribute my dish to the mix.  But after receiving an invitation, I have learned to dread the simple phrase: “Oh, can you just bring an appetizer?”  An appetizer.  Always the appetizer.  I have even tried heading off the appetizer request with the preemptive: “Can I bring dessert?  A salad? A vegetable dish?  A main course?”  Anything BUT the appetizer.  And usually the reply is: “Oh, no, just an appetizer.”

The problem is that although I have five three-ring binders stuffed with instructions for my favorite dishes, I don’t really have any good appetizer recipes up my sleeve.  As far as I am concerned, there are about three options: cheese and crackers, vegetables and hummus, and if you are really running behind schedule, chips and salsa (bought in the refrigerator section not the canned goods shelf).  If you don’t coordinate with the others appetizer assignees, you are apt to have a whole lot of hummus on your hands.

I decided that this November, as we head into holiday party season, I was going to tackle this appetizer angst head on.  To do so, I headed to East Side Books, my place to solve all problems big and small.  I was happy to discover that the cookbook section entitled Entertaining has a number of resources to help you and me get out of the appetizer rut.

I started by perusing Good Housekeeping’s Perfect Parties from 1971.  It was $1.00 then and is still $1.00 now.  Although it is heavy on the dessert side of entertaining, the long, handwritten inscription on the flyleaf–complete with recommended recipes and pages numbers–is well worth the money.  If you are looking for a new take on spreads and dips, look not further.  This cookbook features seven different recipes for cheese spreads and thirteen dip recipes including “Lusty Italian Dip”.  I mean, really, how can a party not be exciting when serving “Lusty Italian Dip” alongside your carrot sticks, celery, and radishes.

But, if you, like me, wanted to broaden your appetizer horizons past cheese balls and dips, then delve into the next three titles for a creative take on the hors d’oeuvre world.

Appetizers by Mabel Hoffman is divided into categories that help make selecting a recipe a snap.  If you are looking to bring a “Poultry Pickup” then you might want to turn to page 52 and consider the “Chicken Dijon Tidbits” or to page 56 for the “Turkey Rounds” recipe.  Hoffman includes a whole chapter on easy (and inexpensive) Pates, Molds, and Spreads for those of you who want a dish you can prepare in advance.  I was interested in the “Cheese Cookie” recipe on page 131, her version of refrigerator log sliced cheese crackers, and her slightly appalling but terribly irresistable recipe for “Corkscrew Noodle Chips”.  (Fried and seasoned cooked noodles.  I guess everyone is digging deep when it comes to appetizers.)

Mastercook has put out a book called Appetizers & Aperitifs which devotes half of the volume to recipes for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.  The food recipes seem simple yet unique.  I would consider making “Tiny Cream Puffs” from page 114, only 5 ingredients and 30 minutes cooking time.  I was also drawn to “Mustard Bread” which is described as “French bread slathered in a mustard, poppy seed, onion, and bacon spread, topped with Swiss cheese and baked or grilled in foil.”

The most serious of the appetizer cookbooks appeared to be The Hors D’Oeuvre Book by Coralie Castle.  This thick volume has everything from “Crab Melba” to “Terrine of Salmon” to “Potted Brie with Cognac and Almonds”.  If you want to get really serious about your appetizers and are aiming to impress, this is the book for you.  I have to admit that the “Gorgonzola Canapes” on page 7 were calling my name.

Of course, you can find an appetizer chapter in many general or regional cookbooks.  I picked up a copy of The Deaf Smith Country Cookbook by Marjorie Winn Ford, Susan Hillyard, and Mary Faulk Koock from our Vegetarian section and was immediately interested in the recipe for “Parmesan Crowns” on page 30.  Our shelves are loaded with cookbooks of amazing variety.  If you are eating low carb, check out our many low carb cookbooks for appetizers that work within your diet.  We have a number of Italian and Chinese cookbooks that have excellent appetizer sections.  And as always, we are happy to help if you need assistance finding what you are looking for.

I don’t know about you, but I am feeling hungry and inspired.  I think I just might throw a party and all of you are invited.  All you need to bring is…just an appetizer.