It is the season of weddings.  Churches and parks are booked solid for the ceremonies and local caterers are scrambling to keep up with the demand. Whether you are needing some last minute wedding advice or the wedding season has inspired your significant other to pop the question and you want to get a jump on next year, we have the books to help you plan all aspects of your big day.

Your first stop should be our Wedding Section located in the nonfiction room on the low bookshelves across from Self Help.  Titles such as Signature Wedding by Michelle Rago and The Portable Wedding Consultant by Leah Ingram give a good overview of how to plan the details of your own special day from start to finish.  If you are interested in something a little different and over the top, check out Southern Weddings by Tara Guerard.  For those nervous grooms out there, The Everything Groom Book by Shelly Hagen will give some much appreciated guidance.  And especially helpful for us living in a remote setting, is Cyber Bride by Denise and Alan Fields.  Great advice on how to plan your wedding to start to finish with just a click of a mouse.

At the wedding, without a doubt, all eyes are going to be focused on the bride, and although we think you are FINE just the way you are, here are some great books to help you look and feel your best on the big day.  Pick up a copy of 911 Beauty Secrets by Diane Irons for a quick fix or check out Ageless Beauty by Steven Victor.  For slightly older bride, you might want to peruse Age Erasers for Women from the editors of Prevention Magazine. The Beauty Section is conveniently located adjacent to the Wedding Section.

Some brides (and grooms and mothers-of-the-brides and bride maids) like to shed a few pounds before the big day.  Again, we think you look GREAT, but if interested, diet books are located directly above the Beauty Section.  You can find a range of weight loss tomes including the sensible Eat More, Weigh Less by Dr. Dean Ornish, 30 day Revitalization Plan edited by Miriam Atkins, Make the Connection by Bob Greene and Oprah Winfred, and for a quick fix the Carbohydrate Addict 7-Day Plan by Drs. Rachel and Richard Hellers.

Speaking of eating, don’t forget to plan some goodies for your hordes of hungry guests after you have tied the knot.  Whether you are looking for some simple finger food to serve with champagne, an afternoon buffet, or a full sit down dinner, we have a whole Entertaining Cooking Section that is bursting with fresh and innovative ideas.  Even if you aren’t planning on creating the dishes yourself, books like the excellent The Minimalist Entertains by Mark Bittman or Great Good Food by Julie Rosso are a great resource for recipes to present to a caterer.  We also have books by Martha Stewart, the queen of entertaining and presentation.

After the hustle and bustle of putting on a wedding, how wonderful to escape on your honeymoon to get some much needed time with your new spouse.  In our Travel section you will fine travel books on far flung destination such as West Africa, Bolivia, Yugoslavia, London, and the Caribbean.  If you are planning a more local trip, we have guides on all parts of California as well as the rest of the United States.

But marriage isn’t really all about the wedding.  After the bouquets have dried, thank you notes written, and the souvenirs have been handed out, the real work begins.  If you are finding you need a little help with your relationship or just want to be prepared, stop by our Self-Help Section and look for titles in the Relationship subcategory.  Some excellent titles to begin with are The First Year by Monia Parker and 10 Things I wish I knew When I Got Married by Linda and Charlie Bloom.  Also helpful are the classics of relationships self-help Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus by John Gray and Keeping the Love You Find by Harville Hendrix.   Next to our Relationship section we even have a books on S-E-X.  Hard to pass up a book entitled 101 Nights of Great Sex by Laura Corn.

As always, please don’t hesitate to ask one of our friendly staff members for help if you need assistance.  We’d love to help you plan your big day!

If you turn on the news lately, you would seriously think our country is falling apart.  Between the economy and the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the immigration issues and government infighting, things are discouraging.  But perhaps the upcoming Fourth of July holiday is an important reminder of what our country is really about, and time to reflect, between bites of potato salad and watermelon, just how very lucky we are.  When you are out picking up last minute sparklers and hot dog buns, swing by East Side Books to browse through some of the following titles to help get you into a patriotic mood.

A perfect starting place is the Colonial America and Revolution shelves of our extensive history section.  Check out Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow for an extensive biography of this important American figure.  Chernow writes that Hamilton was the “prophet of capitalist” and the most “impactful and influential American to never gained the presidency.”  Also in this section is A Few Bloody Noses by Robert Harvey, a controversial, myth busting tome that turns many American Revolution myths on their heads.

We have a great Presidents section.  Some popular titles are John Adams by David McCullough, The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris, and My Life by Bill Clinton.  If you haven’t read All the President’s Men by reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, pick up a copy of the story responsible for unleashing the Nixon Watergate scandal and toppling a president.  Eastside Books also has a whole section devoted to books about John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln.  Let these great men inspire your own greatness.

But America wasn’t built just on the backs of men.  In our General America section you will find America’s Women: 400 years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines by Gail Collins.  This lively, enjoyable, and highly readable book traces the history of American women, highlights some important female figures, and is rich with inspirational quotes.  Also in this section you can find The Story of American Freedom by Eric Foner.  Foner gives an interesting historical perspective of what it means to be free to seek the American dream from the Colonial days to the Reagan era.

If browsing these sections on early American history get you fired up, be sure to check out our wide variety of books in the Slavery, Immigrants, 1900’s, Depression, and Civil Rights sections.

Regardless of your position on the use of military force, there is no denying that the freedoms gained and preserved in our country were achieved on the lives of our women and men in armed service.  We have an extensive War section covering WWI and WWII, Vietnam, the Korean War, and the Middle East conflict–because sometimes we need to read to remember and to learn.  In this section you can find Black Hawk Down by journalist Mark Bowden.  This “nonfiction novel” is his account of the U.S. mission to Somelia that went terribly wrong.  This book has been dubbed a modern military classic and was made into a movie.  (Read the book first!!)  Another book of war that you do not want to miss is The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien.  Vietnam veteran O’Brien writes a gripping part memoir, part novel, part short story collection about his military experience.  This book is truly unforgettable and can be found in our Fiction section.

Sometimes the most helpful reminder of the tremendous freedoms we do enjoy here in the United States is to read the stories of those from other countries who don’t have the same liberties.  Nowhere seems more oppressed right now than the country of Afghanistan.  Check out Greg Mortenson’s book Three Cups of Tea about his mission to build schools in neighboring Pakistan.  Although they are novels, The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini give a gripping account of life in Afghanistan.  Both are beautifully written as well as powerful and memorable—not to be missed.  In our memoir section pick up the very readable Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of Cultural Revolution by Ji-Li Jiang and A Long Way to Go: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah.  If you want a book that will truly change how you see your life, read Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza.

If you have any questions or need help locating any of the above titles, please don’t hesitate to ask one of our staff members.  We are also happy to place special orders.

From all of us at East Side Books, have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

School is out for the summer.  Nine weeks of freedom for the kids.  Reading is an excellent antidote for busy summer activities.  Encourage your children to grab a book during the quiet morning hours before the day is in full swing or to take a much needed late afternoon break with a novel in a backyard blanket fort.  Summer reading helps prevent the dreaded summer vacation brain drain.  The Bishop Library is sponsoring a summer reading program for kids (ages preschool to twelve).  Drop by the library to register and get a reading log.  Stickers are rewarded along the way when children present their reading lists to the librarians.  Program end July 31 with a party and prizes.  Call 760-873-5115 for more information.

Below are some excellent book choices for children of all ages.  (Adults might even enjoy rereading some old favorite.)  Titles available at East Side Books. And remember, if you ever need help finding something, ask our staff for assistance.  We also can place special orders if you don’t find what you are seeking.

IF YOU LIKE…

For young readers who have zipped through the Junie B. Jones series and are yearning for another fictional character to be their alter ego of naughty behavior, check out the Ramona series by Beverly Cleary.  Ramona is the original early elementary school rascal.  Ramona the Pest and Ramona the Brave are an excellent place to start.  Look for all of Cleary’s book on the Middle Reader bookshelves in the Children’s Room.

What do we do now that the Harry Potter series is finished???  Although there is no real replacement for the Hogswarts crowd, fans might be interested in checking out the excellent Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis.  Lewis’s popular seven book series appeals to readers of all ages.  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe to begins the adventure.  Equally appealing is the five book series by Madeline L’Engle that begins with the wonderful A Wrinkle In Time.  (By the way, L’Engle was the mother of four children and often could only find time to write late at night where she would fall asleep draped over her typewriter.)  Complete sets and individual books of both of these series can be found in the Children’s Series section.  More advanced readers might enjoy The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkiens.  Well written and wildly imaginative, Tolkiens has almost a cult following. Ask for assistance finding Tolkiens’ novels.

SERIES THAT ARE CLASSICS…

Boys especially can’t help but be drawn into the “Brian” series by Gary Paulsen.  Starting with Hatchet and continuing on with Brian’s Winter, Brian’s Return, and Brian’s Hunt, Paulsen writes in clear, simple language about a young boy’s attempt to survive in the wilderness after a plane crash.  A consistently good writer that appeals to boys, check out Paulsen’s other titles outside the series as well.  Look for him in East Side’s Middle Reader and Young Adult sections.

Girls (and boys) alike will love Laura Ingalls Wilder‘s stories of her childhood as her family struggles as homesteaders.  We offer complete series and individual copies of the Little House on the Prairie nine book series.  For slightly older readers, the L.M. Montgomery eight book series are a must read. The title book is the much loved Anne of Green Gables. It is impossible to stop once you start this series so you might as well just buy the whole set at once.

FOR MIDDLE READERS…(ages 7 to 14)

Judy Blume No other children’s writer can write about coming-of-age issues with as much grace, humor, and style as Judy Blume.  She is most famous for Are you there, God? It’s me, Margaret, but other excellent reads are Freckle Juice, Blubber, and the Fudge series that include Superfudge, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, and Sheila the Great among other titles.  Blume’s books can be located in the Middle Reader section as well as the Young Adult section.

E.L. Konsigsburg An excellent children’s writer who is often overlooked, Konsigsburg’s books are wonderfully clever with unpredictable plot twists and characters you wish were your kids’ best friends.  Appealing to both boys and girls, check out From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and The View from Saturday.

Louise Fitzhugh It is easy to love Harriet the Spy by Fitzhugh, the tale of a young girl who records her thoughts and observations in a notebook. Notebook entries are noted in bold capital letters giving the book great reading appeal and breaking up the text for new readers. Equally as good, but often skipped is Fitzhugh’s follow up book The Long Secret.

Andrew Clement A strong writer who appeals to boys, Clement is the author of Frinde, A Week in the Woods, and Lunch Money.  Clement writes in an easy manner, has themes that appeal to all ages, and his books tend to be short–a great choice for reluctant older readers.  His books can be found in the Middle Reader section and the Young Adult section.

Last, but not least, the master Roald Dahl It is hard to resist Dahl.  Slightly naughty, slightly gross, wildly imaginative, and always unpredictable, Dahl is like no other.  You can’t go wrong with the classics James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but for a complete Dahl experience, enjoy his lesser known works such as Danny Champion of the World, The Witches, and The BFG. (Adults and young adult readers should check out Dahl’s short story collections.  Twisted and clever, they will linger in your memory.)

East Side Books has an extensive Middle Reader selection in the Children’s Room.  We are happy to give recommendations depending on your reader’s interest and ability. (In fact, we LOVE giving recommendations!)

Also, check out our section of Newbery Medal winners for children’s fiction located at the beginning of the Children’s Series section.  There is a reason these books have won an award.  Some titles not to miss are: The Giver and Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, Missing May by Cynthia Rylant, Manic Magee by Jerry Spinelli, Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George, The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare, and  Johnny Tremain by Ester Forbes.

FOR THE TEENAGER IN YOUR HOUSE…

Teenagers may not always be receptive to suggestions, but if you give your favorite teen one of these titles, you have a chance of avoiding scorn and maybe even invoking a “thank you.”  Find the below suggestions in our Young Adult section.

Louis Sachar Author of the award winning book Holes and the sequel Small Steps, Sachar is a good choice for reluctant readers.  His characters have a knack for making mistakes with big consequences, and Sachar has a knack for teaching through his stories her that mistakes and people are redeemable.

Jerry Spinelli If know a teenager who hasn’t yet read Stargirl, you should run down to East Side Books right now and pick up a copy.  But before you give it away, you should read it yourself.  Spinelli’s story of a girl who isn’t afraid to be herself will make you want to go back to high school and do it all over again.  Spinelli is a prolific writer who has many excellent titles in both the Middle Reader and Young Adult sections.

Alice Hoffman Hoffman is know primarily as an adult author, but she is quite prolific as a Young Adult author.  Her books tend to mix up fantasy, reality, and mysticism in an appealing brew that truly transports readers to a new place.  Some of her Young Adult titles are Green Angel, The Foretelling, and Indigo.

Carl Hiaasen Hiassen is also known for his adult novels, but his recent foray into Young Adult fiction netted him a Newbery Honor Book award for Hoot. He has also written Scat and Flush. All his work carries an environmental theme that appeals to kids who care for the natural world.

Lois Duncan If your teen is looking for a little something to give him or her shivers on a hot summer day, give them a copy of I Know What You Did Last Summer. Scary, without being graphic or gory, Duncan’s classic is sure to please.  Some of her other titles are Down a Dark Hole, Ransom, and Summer of Fear.

Laurie Hasle Anderson This is an author who isn’t afraid to tackle tough issues, and she does it with great skill and success.  Parents and teens alike would benefit from reading her award winning book Speak about the fall out of date rape as well as Wintergirls which deals with the issue of eating disorders. Her historical fiction novel Fever 1793 is excellent also.

Cynthia Voigt Although Voigt’s series about Dicey Tillerman can be a bit heavy emotionally, these books tend to appeal to those wrapped up in their own teenage angst. Voigt doesn’t spare any punches that life can be hard and not always work out as planned.  The series starts with Homecoming, but each book stands on its own so the series does not need to be read in order.  Dicey’s Song and A Solitary Blue are award winners.

We would love to know if you have read any great children’s literature lately.  And remember, we are always happy to assist if you need help finding a title or would like to place a special order.

The mules are heading home and the forecast is for soaring temperatures later this week.  By this weekend the local hardware stores will be sold out of swamp cooler pads and Bishop Creek will be running fast. Summer is finally on its way!  Time to slow down the pace and slide into relaxation mode.  There is no better way to do that then with a fat stack of books by your side.   Below are some summer reading recommendations, a little something for everyone, that at East Side Books’ prices won’t break the bank.

1. Bloodless British Mysteries

With many crime novels becoming more and more graphic, there is something refreshing about escaping into a British mystery where the Inspectors don’t carry guns and the witnesses are questioned over tea and biscuits.  The predictable setting of dreary fog and rain can be a nice antidote to the relentless summer heat. Here are some of the best old and new British mystery writers.

Agatha Christie–If you have never read a mystery by the Queen of Crime, you are in for a treat.  She is still the bestselling author of all time, and her play The Mousetrap is the longest running stage show in history.  Her mystery series feature either Hercule Poirot or Miss Jane Marple, both equally endearing and engaging.  Although you can’t go wrong with any of Christie’s novels, some titles not to miss are Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Murder on the Orient Express, and the play Ten Little Indians.

Ngaio Marsh–Not as well known or as prolific as Christie, Marsh, a New Zealand transplant, is not a writer to be overlooked.  A contemporary of Christie, her series featured CID detective Roderick Alleyn and were often set in theatrical settings reflecting Marsh’s love of the stage.  If you read the series in order, starting with A Man Lay Dead, you can follow Alleyn’s relationship with painter Agatha Troy.

Kate Atkinson–After the success of her novel Behind the Scenes of the Museum, Atkinson began writing a mystery series featuring the burnt out Inspector Jackson Brodie.  Brodie often finds himself embroiled in odd situations with quirky characters that gives the mysteries a slightly off-kilter feel that is addictive.  The first in the series is Case Histories followed by One Good Turn and When Will There Be Good News?.  These books are shelved in the Fiction section of East Side Books.

Jacqueline Winspear–Winspear has created a fabulous series set in London during the period between the World Wars featuring private detective Maisie Dobbs.  Her mystery novels are wonderfully educational, entertaining, and well-written.  Her series as grown to seven books.  The first three are Maisie Dobbs, Birds of a Feather, and Pardonable Lies.

2. Women Writing About Women

Sometimes it is great just to dive into a book about friendship, family, and the little bits of every day living that make up life.  These authors were writing great women’s fiction before the genre “chick lit” was even created.

Sandra Dallas–Dallas is the master of weaving stories friendship and pieces of history together into well-written novels that stay in your mind long after you have turned the last page.  You really can’t go wrong with any of her titles but some of the best are Alice’s Tulips, The Persian Pickle Club, and The Diary of Mattie Spencer.

Kaye Gibbons–Gibbons started her writing career with the powerful coming-of-age tale Ellen Foster and continued to wow with her follow up books A Cure for Dreams, A Virtuous Woman, and Charms for an Easy Life. Each is beautifully written with characters that reach in and twist your heart.  These slim volumes are perfect to tuck into your bag for the plane or the beach.

Beth Gutcheon–Over the years Gutcheon has produced a steady stream of well-written, intelligent books without a lot of recognition, but to not read her is to miss out.  Her more recent work is Leeway Cottage the story of the Moss family, but don’t overlook Five Fortunes, Saving Grace, and the slightly chilling More Than You Know.

Ann Patchett–The most incredible thing about Patchett’s novels is that no two are alike.  In fact, you would have trouble determining that her books were written by the same author.  This would be her downfall if she weren’t such a good writer with such a wide repertoire of ideas.  She is best known for Bel Canto, a memorable read, but be sure to also grab The Magician’s Assistant, The Patron Saints of Liars, and Run.

3. Gotta Have Some Nonfiction

Men and women cannot live on fiction alone.  Thank goodness for some intriguing and informative nonfiction to bring our feet back to the ground, although a warning:  Many of the books listed below are a greater escape than any vacation could hope to be.

Whether you are into hiking or not, you can’t help but fall in love with the book A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, the true account of his trek along the Appalachian trail with his woefully unprepared companion Katz. Their adventures on the trail are so painfully funny and endearing that you find yourself urging them forward for just one more mile. (Look for A Walk in the Woods in the Travel Memoir section of East Side Books.)

Winterdance by Gary Paulson is another example of a tale about an ordinary person stretching himself to complete an extraordinary feat.  Paulson writes of his experience running the Iditarod, a 17 day, 1150 mile winter dogsled race held in Alaska.  A gifted writer, his tale is sure to entertain as well as cool you down during the hottest days of summer.  (Look for Winterdance in our Alaska section.)

If you are looking for adventure on the high seas, check out Linda Greenlaw’s book The Hungry Ocean an account of her experience as the only female swordboat captain in the world.  Gritty and tough, Greenlaw is a force to be reckoned with on the page and on her boat.  Interestingly, she was first thrust into the spotlight when her boat the Hannah Boden was referenced in the book A Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger.  (If interested in either of these titles, check our Boating/Ocean section in the nonfiction room.)

Norman Maclean writes of another kind of tragedy in his book Young Men and Fire, the account of the Mann Gulch, Montana fire of 1949 that took the lives of 13 paratrooper-firefighters.  Maclean, also the author of the beautiful novel A River Runs Through It, spent 14 years studying the Mann Gulch fire and then distilled that information into a thorough and thoughtful book.

When you start feeling your brain softening from too much relaxation, check out a few titles by Malcolm Gladwell to recharge your mind.  One part psychology, one part sociology, one part journalism, it is hard to pin down exactly what Gladwell’s books (Blink, The Tipping Point, and Outlier) are really about–we even have trouble knowing where to shelve them.  (Look for them on the New Arrivals nonfiction table in the nonfiction room.) Despite his elusiveness regarding a label, Gladwell’s book are sure to get you thinking and to spark conversation.

If you have problems finding any of these titles, please let one of us know and we would be happy to assist you.  Remember, we can also place special orders if you can not find what you are looking for.