Through the Pages Bookstore

2011-05-18T15:44:00.000-07:00

Oh my, it's been a while since we updated. So sorry. Check us out on Facebook! We post there quit regularly. Don't forget we are doing the edible bouquets now. You need to order ahead of time so that we can make it fresh for you. We start with a small bouquet of $20 and go up from there. Just come in or call.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-17T09:32:00.000-08:00

We gave this gingerbread house away at the Christmas Extravaganza, just one of several door prizes we had.

Our store front all decked out fro Christmas!

Book Lover's Reading Group

2010-08-11T14:06:00.000-07:00

Haven't been keeping up lately. We had our August book club last night with The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas by John Boyne. Wonderful book. I highly recommend it. Everyone said it was one they wouldn't soon forget and made them really think about what happened in Germany and how it might have been seen through a child's eyes.
Next month our book selection is The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard.
3-year-old Ben Cappadora is kidnapped from a hotel lobby where his mother is checking into her 15th high school reunion. His disappearance tears the family apart and invokes separate experiences of anguish, denial, and self-blame. Marital problems and delinquency in Ben's older brother (in charge of him the day of his kidnapping) ensue. Mitchard depicts the family's friction and torment--along with many gritty realities of family life--with the candor of a journalist and compassion of someone who has seemingly been there.
I think this book will cause you to think out how you would react, how you would cope and if you could survive something this tragic. I felt the ending was wonderful. It left you to make some of your own conclusions about how their lives end up and it was a good feeling for me. Hope you'll join us. We meet at the bookstore at 6:30 in the evening on Sept. 14th.

Booklover's Reading group

2010-05-02T05:52:00.000-07:00

Yep we even have a puppy now and again, actually she had just gotten this puppy and didn't want to eave it at home. It was so cute!

This is our back room. We have duplicate books back here and a nice little area to just relax and read and have our meetings once a month.
Everyone comes when they can, sometimes it's a large group and sometimes a small one.

Story time at the tree house

2010-04-29T08:38:00.000-07:00

This way to the tree house...

Everyone into the big swimming pool for a story!
We love our Story Teller Bitsy!

Book Club

2010-04-14T08:23:00.001-07:00

We had a wonderful meeting last night. Everyone loved the book, there was a lot to talk about and we've decided that Adriana Trigiani is one of our new favorite authors. If you didn't get a chance to read the book, you should. It's a delightful story. Next month we are reading Little Altars Everywhere: A Novel by Rebecca Wells We are reading this before its sequel, "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood." With the background on the life of Siddalee Walker and her siblings offered in this fecund tapestry of family dysfunction, will bring a better understanding to our July reading. We hope you will join us on May the 11th at 6:30 pm at Through The Pages Bookstore in our reading room.

Our Books

2010-04-07T06:01:00.000-07:00

This book is from one of our many local artists, Jeremiah Nichols. If you are a published author, we would love to carry your book. We have several local authors in our store. Jeremiah's book is a Christian Science Fiction. We also have western books and childrens stories all written by folks that live here or in the surrounding communities.

We are constantly adding new books and having to change things around in the store. We have added a wedding section, a new baby section, and a children's fiction fantasy section. We hope you'll drop in and check us out. If you don't live close just visit our on-line stores at Amazon and Alibris, you'll find all our inventory there.

Easter Drawing

2010-03-27T05:57:00.000-07:00

Don't forget our Easter Drawing. No purchase nessecary, just add your name to the drawing. We will draw the winner Friday April 2nd and you get to take home our big yellow baby chick. He's adorable and fluffy. You'll love him!

2010-03-27T05:11:00.000-07:00

Apri 13th is the night of our next Book Lover's Reading Group meeting. The book is Lucia, Lucia by Adriana Trigiani
In 1950 Greenwich Village, 25-year-old Lucia has it all: a warm and loving Italian family, a papa with a successful grocery business, an engagement ring from her childhood sweetheart, and best of all, a career she loves as a seamstress and apprentice to a talented dress designer at B. Altman's department store. When Lucia meets a rich, handsome businessman whose ambitions for a luxurious uptown lifestyle match her own, her goals for her future soar even higher. Over the next two years, however, her dreams gradually unravel. Sorvino is well-cast as the narrator of Trigiani's (Milk Glass Moon) first-person tale. She ably conveys the confidence, eagerness, and romantic yearnings of youth, as well as the guilt Lucia suffers when she disappoints her loved ones. Sorvino is also adept at providing voices for a large cast of characters: the rich Italian accent of Lucia's father, the scolding tone of her mother, the shy voice of her sister-in-law and the smooth, movie-star tones of the rich stranger Lucia pins her hopes on. This is an engaging, well-told tale about life's unexpected twists and turns, the ways that even small choices have large repercussions and the hopeful notion that sometimes, when you least expect it, you can find happiness.
Hope you'll join us at 6:30 pm at the bookstore!

2010-02-23T13:48:00.000-08:00

Book Lover's Reading Group for March

2010-02-23T13:43:00.001-08:00

We are reading Triptych by Karin Slaughter for our Book Lover's Reading group in March.
From Georgia's bestselling author comes a riveting stand-alone thriller. Slaughter weaves together the threads of a complex, multi-layered story with the skill of a master craftsman. Packed with body-bending switchbacks, searing psychological suspense, and human emotions, Triptych ratchets up the tension one revelation at a time, as it races to a shattering and unforgettable climax.
I won't recommend this book because the language was so bad and there was a lot of detail that I could have done without but I have to say, I really couldn't put it down. It was riveting once I got my skipping down pat. I won't read her again but she is and excellent mystery weaver. The problem is I have read other mysteries just as riveting that I did not have to skip through so much so I believe I will stick with them.

Dinner Book Club

2010-02-10T08:35:00.000-08:00

The Dinner Book Club will be meeting next week Tuesday Feb. 16th at 7 pm at Maebeth's house to discuss Private Justice. We hope you can join us.
It is the week of Mardi Gras in the Louisiana town of Newpointe, and the whole town is celebrating. Then horrible news arrives: Martha Dwyer, the wife of a firefighter, has been found murdered, shot through the head, her body set on fire. The townspeople's shock soon turns to horror when yet another firefighter's wife is found murdered in a similar fashion. By the time a third wife is attacked, it has become clear that a serial killer is at work. Firefighter Mark Branning is terrified, especially since he and his wife are estranged. Realizing that Allie may be the next victim, Mark convinces his reluctant wife to leave town with him. Unfortunately, this action does not stop the killer. This tense and exciting thriller is more than a fabulous read; it has an underlying message about the place of religion within a marriage. Highly recommended.

2010-01-22T07:52:00.000-08:00

Pineapple Delight

Veggie Surprise
My Heart Belongs To You ( Chocolate Dipped Strawberries and Bananas with sprinkles on top)
A Toast To You (filled with any of our wonderful homemade candies)
These are some of our newest additions to The Candy Shop. We are doing Edible Bouquets, either with fruit, veggies or our wonderful homemade candies. These will be great for Valentine's Day or any special occasion. The Veiggie Bouquets are a nice center piece for that special party. Anybody would love the fruit Bouquets but if your watching your weight they are a prefect replacement for that candy we so often get at Valentine's Day. We can make them up to your order, just come by or call.

2010-01-15T14:10:00.000-08:00

We are doing edible fruit bouquets. They start at $45.00.

2010-01-15T11:12:00.000-08:00

Our next book for the Book Lovers Reading Group is Tara Road by Maeve Binchy
Against all odds, two newlyweds manage to buy the house of their dreams. In 1982, property speculation is beginning to be a big, big thing in Dublin--and their street is very much in an up-and-coming part of town. "They laughed and hugged each other. Danny Lynch from the broken-down cottage in the back of beyond and Ria Johnson from the corner house in the big, shabby estate were not only living like gentry in a big Tara Road mansion, they were actually debating what style of dining table to buy." But for its various inhabitants, the street is to become a boulevard of dreams--some broken, others created anew. Maeve Binchy has long proved herself a secure hand at multiple story lines, and over the course of 500 satisfying pages she focuses on Ria; her best friend, Rosemary Ryan, a beautiful, endlessly selfish career woman; Gertie, the battered wife of a drunkard; and several other intriguing women, each of whom has secrets not to be shared. There is even an all-knowing fortune teller who early on hints that Ria will travel and start a successful business--two things she knows are definitely not in the offing. Yet after our supposedly happy housewife and mother of two is confronted by some inexorable home truths, a chance phone call from America will change her life, forcing her to discard her illusions about men, women, and marriage and start all over again. At the same time, the Connecticut caller, Marilyn Vine, has her own lessons to learn when she and Ria swap houses for the summer. Yet there's nothing remotely preachy about this novel--even the bad guys (and yes, they're usually guys) and beautiful mistresses get to maintain some appeal. Instead, Tara Road is a stirring look at the reality behind our consuming fantasies, and a page-turner to boot.
I hope you will join us at Through The Pages Bookstore 121 1/2 E. Sealy Monahans February the 9th at 6:30pm.

2010-01-06T08:57:00.000-08:00

For Valentines Day we will be offering something new for us, Long Stemmed Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, $15.00 a dozen, $8.00 1/2 dozen. They will be in a cute little Valentines vase, just right for your sweetheart. We will also have our famous Chocolate Dipped Strawberries in the gift box for $12.00 a dozen. Be sure and order early as we will have limited supplies.

Book Lover's Reading Group

2009-12-26T06:02:00.000-08:00

Our January meeting will be on the 12th at 6:30 pm and our book is Federico Villalba's Texas, A Mexican Pioneer's Life in the Big Bend by Juan Manuel. If you have traveled to the Big Bend area, you will find this book fascinating, with the details of early life in a hard frontier. This is the story of Federico Villalba who, as a young man, moved with his family from Chihuahua in the 1880s to begin ranching near Lajitas, Texas. He prospered and eventually crossed over the Rio Grande to settle and ranch. There, Villalba married, built his herd of cattle and angora goats, discovered cinnebar and opened a store at Cerro Villalba and a leather goods store. Federico Villalba's life was filled with excitement, challenge, and victory; nevertheless, tragedy also played a hand. The Big Bend country was a dangerous place in those days, especially for those of Mexican descent. Men carried guns and were not reluctant to use them. In a lively and engaging style, Juan Manuel Casas gives us this narrative history of his great-grandfather, Federico Villalba and his family. This is a significant contribution to the literature of the Big Bend and the first to represent the Mexican point of view in its early settlement.

January Dinner Book Club

2009-12-19T05:24:00.000-08:00

Our January selection for our dinner book club is A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck
A rollicking celebration of an eccentric grandmother and childhood memories. Set in the 1930s, the book follows Joe and Mary Alice Dowdel as they make their annual August trek to visit their grandmother who lives in a sleepy Illinois town somewhere between Chicago and St. Louis. A woman with plenty of moxie, she keeps to herself, a difficult task in this small community. However, Grandma Dowdel uses her wit and ability to tell whoppers to get the best of manipulative people or those who put on airs. She takes matters into her own hands to intimidate a father who won't control his unruly sons, and forces the bank to rescind a foreclosure on an elderly woman's house. Whether it's scaring a pretentious newspaper man back to the city or stealing the sheriff's boat and sailing right past him as he drunkenly dances with his buddies at the Rod & Gun Club, she never ceases to amaze her grandchildren with her gall and cunning behavior. Each chapter resembles a concise short story. Peck's conversational style has a true storyteller's wit, humor, and rhythm. Joe, the narrator, is an adult looking back on his childhood memories; in the prologue, readers are reminded that while these tales may seem unbelievable, "all memories are true."
Our meeting is January 19th at 7:00pm. Call the bookstore for details on where it will be held. We hope you will join us for a great night of discussion and just plain talking.

2009-12-19T05:20:00.000-08:00

When I read a book I seem to read it with my eyes only, but now and then I come across a passage, perhaps only a phrase, which has a meaning for me, and it becomes part of me.-W. Somerset Maugham
I saw this on Leanne's blog and couldn't help but swipe it. I love this quote, it describe so perfectly those who love to read.

Reading Group

2009-12-14T16:18:00.001-08:00

We won't have a meeting in December but will start back up in January on the 12th with Federico Villalba's Texas: A Mexican Pioneer's Life in the Big Bend by Juan Manuel Casas.
The Dinner Club Book Club is also taking a break in December but will be meeting on Jan the 19th and reading A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck.
Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas. Don't forget to come by and sample our homemade candies. And remember if you don't like wrapping or don't have time to wrap we can take care of that for you also!!

Dinner Book Club

2009-10-21T13:15:00.000-07:00

It was so good last night. Everyone loved The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. What an awesome book, so uplifting. I just kept thinking what an example these women are to the world of how to react in tribulation. Very very moving and well worth the read. Everyone loved the dinner also. I made a creamy chicken noodle soup served in a bread bowl, with a green salad and for desert we had sugar free warm chocolate melting cake. It was a good evening filled with good friends, good food and excellent conversation.

Monahans made The Texas Highways Magazine

2009-09-22T13:35:00.000-07:00

We're so excited. Our little town of Monahans was featured in The Texas Highways Magazine and Through The Pages was mentioned and had a picture of the old typewriter up on top of the bookshelf. We were very excited to find out and even more excited when we got the magazine. We hope you will all look for a copy. The write up about Monahans was excellent and very well done. The mention of Through The Pages was small but we don't care because how often do you get mentioned in a magazine anyway and they were able to get a plug in for our candy and books so it was great!!

Texas Highwasy

2009-09-17T13:26:00.001-07:00

We are in the newest issue of Texas Highways!! Look for us.

The Honk and Holler Opening Soon

2009-09-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

For October we are reading The Honk and Holler Opening Soon by Billie Letts. We read her first book Where The Heart Is an Oprah Book Club book and truly enjoyed her way of telling a story about ordinary folks in an ordinary town. The Honk and Holler Opening Soon will not let you down. It has the same feel and is set in an out of the way place and filled with unforgetable characters whose lives touch each other in unique ways. For 12 years, wheelchair-bound restaurateur and Vietnam vet Caney Paxton hasn't left his Sequoyah, Okla., cafe, known (thanks to a sign-maker's error) as the Honk and Holler Opening Soon. Now it's Christmas time, 1985, and for Caney and four-times married waitress Molly O, who helped raise him, the holiday looks bleak: business is slumping, overdue bills are piling up and the roof is leaking. Worried about her teenage daughter, Brenda, a country musician seeking her fortune in Nashville, Molly O is too preoccupied to recognize the romantic interest of cafe regular Life Halstead; Caney, ashamed of his part in the war, feels trapped by his wound and his painful past. But that changes when luck brings the Honk and Holler two new employees: beautiful young Crow Indian drifter Vena Takes Horse, who signs on as a carhop, and Vietnamese refugee Bui Khanh, a cook and handyman running from a guilty secret of his own. Initially skeptical of the two outsiders, Honk and Holler habitue come to value Vena and Bui, especially after an act of violence threatens Bui's life. Even a few unresolved loose ends can't diminish the cumulative effect of this warm, sentimental tale, abundant with quirky detail and homespun wisdom, which emphasizes not only the power of romantic love but the healing powers of community as well.
I think you will enjoy Billie Letts second book and find her an author you will look for in the future.

2009-08-13T04:52:00.001-07:00

Hopefull we can all get back on track after a very busy summer. We had a wonderful time at our last group meeting, discussed Deep in the Heart of Trouble, a delightful book by Deanne Gist. We learned a lot about the history of the bicycle and bicycle clubs. Deanne Gist always manages to capture your imagination with the historic facts she places so discreetly into her stories of young women in a long ago time. We all love hre books and can't wait to read her latest.

Our next meeting will be Sept. 8th and we will be discussing Bill Neal's 1st book Getting Away With Murder on the Texas Frontier. We had a wonderful time visiting with him during the Butterfield Overland Stagecoach and Wagon Festival. He had a lot of great stories to share about his adventures in the law office and we can't wait to get into his book and read the stories of the unusual cases he ran across during his time practicing law. We hope you will join us.

2009-07-01T13:18:00.000-07:00

For our reading group in July we picked a different book. The Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan is about a young boy who dreamed of being chosen to become an apprentice knight only to find himself rejected and chosen by the strange Ranger, Halt. What he doesn't know is that the Ranger's are also the protectors of the kingdom, who will fight the battles before the battles reach the people. There is a battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces...
This is a wonderful book that you will want to read with your kids or grandkids. It has a good storyline that catches your attention with great appeal for both young and old alike.
We hope you will come join us and this time we have invited our kids to come and participate. See you July 14th at 6:30 pm at the bookstore.

Bill Neal book signing

2009-06-17T13:13:00.000-07:00

We just received the two books for Bill Neal, our author for the Butterfield Stagecoach and Wagon Festival. He will be signing copies at the Bar-B-Que so if you would like to make sure you have one or both of his books, please come by, the titles are From Guns to Gavels and Getting Away With Murder on the Texas Frontier. I think you will find Mr. Neal an interesting author. As a practicing criminal lawyer he spent more than 40 years in the county courthouses of West Texas and heard the tales of sensational crimes and celebrated trials of bygone years that started his journey into authorship. He lives in Abilene, Texas with his wife Gayla. His first book, Getting Away with Murder on the Texas Frontier was named Book of the Year by the National Association for Outlaw and Lawmen History, received the Rupert N. Richardson Award for best book on West Texas history from the West Texas Historical Association and was a finalist for both the Violet Crown Award from the Writer's League of Texas and Spur Award from the Western Writers of America. Western Historical Quarterly said it was a vivid portrait of nineteenth-century western legal systems that included shameless attorney "high jinks", massive subornation of perjury, and questionable pardons real and forged. The Historical Novels Review said of his second book From Guns to Gavels, that this work reminds us that the real story was often better than any legend...combining a scholarly attention to detail with the earthy feel of old saddle leather.

Father's Day

2009-06-16T09:27:00.000-07:00

Don't forget about dear old Dad. We have lot's of cards to give to your special Father and we have some interesting books on golfing, fishing or just humor about being a dad. Don't forget the candy. Dad loves our candy. We can put together a real nice basket or just a box full if you like.

CourtingTrouble by Deanne Gist

2009-06-02T13:35:00.000-07:00

Next week on June the 9th will be the Book Lover's Reading Group Meeting and the book is Courting Trouble by Deanne Gist. We have read Deanne Gist before and fell in love with her writing style. She mixes a lot of historical fact into her stories which are usually set in the late 1800's or early 1900's. This stories gives a wonderful view of the early beginnings of women's rights and the coming of the bicycle. The main character Essie Spreckelmeyer has endured thirty years, and has, in many of the townspeople’s minds, failed to catch a husband. Impatience leads her to try and give God a helping hand with the project. Listing the attributes and drawbacks of the eligible men in her small home town of Corsicana, Texas, she randomly picks the first one her finger lands on and sets out on the mission of seizing herself a man. Her antics will bring you quiet delight and may leave you wondering a little about the end. She is a wonderful thought out character, filled with charm and a personality that will bring joy to all women still demanding their rights to do what they enjoy.
I hope you'll come to the meeting. It will be at 6:30pm at the store.
The next meeting for the Dinner Bookclub will be June the 16th. The book is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. This is a wonderful book of historical fiction.
January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways. You will enjoy this delightful book,and the unforgettable characters. Come join us at Pappy's Barbeque for dinner and review.

Mother's Day

2009-04-24T13:32:00.000-07:00

Don't forget Mother's Day. We have specialty books, homemade candies, chocolate dipped strawberries, lotions, gift sets, cards, gift baskets, come by and see us. Order Chocolate Dipped Strawberries early to assure availability.

Book Club Reading

2009-04-24T12:31:00.000-07:00

Debbie, William (I know, he's little but he joined us that night) and Robin

Paula reading over discussion questions.

Terese checking out duplicates in back

We had great discussions at both book clubs this last two weeks. First it was Middlesex with the Book Lovers Reading Group. Everyone agreed it was very thought provoking. Terese said she really did read much of the back overview when she suggested it, so was surprised when it turned out to be more than just a story about a Greek imigrant family. Despite that it was well worth the read and I don't hesitate to suggest it as a good book club discussion book to read. Lots of talk. In fact so many times we get off into other subjects during the evening and we pretty much stayed on track with this one. Paula brought hot dogs for all. If you read the book, you'll know why.

Then this week the Dinner Book Club discussed The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands. Well that brought a lot of discussion also. Everyone basically took offense in one way or another by the way the subject matter was presented. It's kind of like Billy says, the ice cream might be really good except for that big ole' bug in the middle of it. But it still was a great discussion. It was Alathea's last time to host our book club. She and Jim are moving back to Midland. She will be sorely missed. She belongs to both clubs and has added alot to our discussions and has become a very good friend. She promises to come again a visit and we hope she does. We had a lot of fun. If you didn't get to go you missed out because she was giving away her book collection. They don't have room in the new apartment.

May's books are:

Book Lover's Reading Group May 12th - Whispers of the Bayou by Mindy Starns. Miranda Miller is a woman without a past, filled with questions about the tragedy that cut her off from family, causing her to be sent away and about the first five years of her life that she has no memory. She is called to the death bed of the old caretaker from her grandparents antebellum estate hoping to find the truth. Willy's premature death plunges her into a nightmare of buried secrets, priceless treasure and unknown enemies.

Dinner Book Club May 19th - Courting Trouble by Deanne Gist. Essie Sprecklmeyer reaching the age of 30 in 1894 has decided that God must have more important things to do than to find her a husband so she takes on the task herself. This won't be easy considering that Essie marches to the beat of a different drummer. You will be delighted with her antics and will find yourself wishing it hadn't ended when it does. Essie captures the heart immediately and holds it until the end.

Hope you'll join us at either book club. We're just a bunch of people who love to read and talk about what we read. You'll enjoy it. Can't make it to one, come to the other.

Middlesex

2009-03-25T15:40:00.000-07:00

I finished this book on the way home from having a new granddaughter and I have to say I really did love it. Thank you Terese for suggesting it. I was left with lots of questions, had moments of self examination regarding my attitudes and my own trials and a feeling of appreciation for the trials that so many must endure in this life that we are competely unaware of. I will never forget Calliope nor her family. Can't wait to discuss it at the Booklovers Reading group April 14th. Hope to see you there. I have a new and a used copy of the book in the store, if you are interested in reading it.
I missed the Dinner Bookclub which made me really sad because I loved The Persian Pickle Club and thought it was going to be a lot of fun discussing. I understand that everyone loved it so I am glad. Thank you Stephanie for suggesting it. I can't even tell you who my favorite character was but I can tell you that I loved them each and could picture them in my head. I hope they make a movie of this book. I think it could be done justice by a director. It reminds of The Secret Life of Bees, not the story line but the cast of characters and the wonderful feeling of love and support from woman to woman. The next book for the Dinner Bookclub is The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands by Laura Schlessinger on April 21st. This should a great discussion. I have already finished this book and hmmmmm.........not sure exactly what to say. If you are a true feminist (which I am not)then it may really upset you. I have to say though there were things said that were a little hard for me to take and I don't think it was what was said but the way it was said. I can't wait. I think it will be another late night group considering the material. Read it, you'll see what I mean!

a sad note to share

2009-03-23T08:27:00.000-07:00

Well, this morning I came into the store and found that we had had a break in sometime over the weekend. It makes me sad. They didn't tear up anything but the back door and they only took the cash we had on hand which by all accounts was not much. What makes me sad is that someone would waist such effort for so little. Billy, being who he is, is at this moment working on a back door that no one will be able to come through without a blow torch. So unless they are willing to break out the front glass door I guess I won't have anyone breaking in for a while anyway. It's not a big deal, sad for the person responsible because of what that means about them and for them and sad that I have to cover up the art work of my daughter on the original door, it is sad to loose the money lost because we don't make that much but thank goodness that it wasn't worse than this.

Book Lover's Reading Group: next book 'Middlesex'

2009-03-12T08:15:00.000-07:00

Lot's of good discussion on 'Rain of Gold' last Tuesday night. We made some comparision to the drug trafficing of today and the prohition and bootlegging of yesterday and how some use that to change their circumstances in life. There was a lot discussion about what forces come togather to cause people to leave the country they love and move to a foreign land. We see it happening all the time here and abroad even today. We each loved the mothers for different reasons. They were such strong women to bring their families through the terrible conditions they found themselves in. And we discussed the things they had to eat sometimes on their road to America. It was a truly enlightening experience to travel with them through their lives.
Next month our meeting is April 14th, the book we are reading is Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. We like to read a variety of books and I believe this is classified as being something none of us would ordinarily read. When I told my daughter what we were reading she was surprised. "Middlesex tells the breathtaking story of Calliope Stephanides and three gereations of the Greek-American Stephanides family, who travel from a tiny village overlooking Mount Olympus in Asia Minor to Prohibition-era Detroit, witnessing its glory days as the Motor City, and the race riots of 1967, before they move out to the tree-lined streets of suburban Grosse Pointe, Michigan. To understand why Calliope is not like other girls, she has to uncover a guilty family secret, and the astonishing genetic history that turns Callie into Cal, one of the most audacious and wondrous narrators in contemporary fiction. Lyrical and thrilling, Middlesex is an exhilarating reinvention of the American epic."
We sometimes get on themes without meaning too and this is another family adventure and migration to America but with a different look and an outcome that is astonishing. I believe we will have a lot of discussion regarding the characters and the events in the book. It is completely fictional where as our last book was based on the history of an actual family. It certainly won't be boring. I hope you will join us. I do have one copy of the book in the store if you are interested.

Dinner Book Club

2009-03-10T13:09:00.000-07:00

The next meeting for the Dinner Book Club is March 17th at 7p.m. Cinda Bryer is our host for the evening. If you would like to attend and need directions to her house, just call the book store and ask for Debbie.
The book this month is 'The Persian Pickle Club' by Sandra Dallas
It is the 1930s, and hard times have hit Harveyville, Kansas, where the crops are burning up and there’s not a job to be found. For Queenie Bean, a young farm wife, a highlight of each week is the gathering of the Persian Pickle Club, a group of local ladies dedicated to improving their minds, exchanging gossip, and putting their quilting skills to good use. When a new member of the club stirs up a dark secret, the women must band together to support and protect one another. In her magical, memorable novel, Sandra Dallas explores the ties that unite women through good times and bad.
I found this book delightful, with a small hint of intrigue that kept my interest high. I was amused at the characters described. I always enjoy books that give such a unique look at the relationships between women. They cause me to reflect on my own relationships and what they mean to me. I know you will love this book. I hope you will join us.

Book Lover's Reading Group

2009-03-04T14:26:00.000-08:00

Our book for this month was Rain of Gold by Victor Villasenor. This book is describes by the New York Rimes Book Reveiw as "A grand and vivid history...the characters are keenly drawn...often I felt like a family member watching from a corner stool."
I loved this book. There were times when I was so drawn into the story that I felt overwhelmed with sorrow over the circumstances I felt a part of. I will never forget this family and their migration to America. It's truly a story with reading.
I hope you will join us for our discussion on Tuesday March 10th at 6:30pm at the bookstore. I still have one book available at the store if you need one.

Dinner Book Club

2009-02-18T06:03:00.001-08:00

Last night was the Dinner Book Club meeting. We met at Robin's home and had a wonderful time. She served spaghetti, bread sticks, salad and fresh fruit dipped in a fondue of chocolate. The book we read for this month was 'The Five Love Languages' by Gary Chapman. What a great book and what a great discussion. If you have not read this book, do. I believe it can help anyone in recognizing how to reach out better to others and recognizing what we need in our own lives. I don't think there was one person in attendance that didn't talk about the things they discovered about themselves and about their spouse or significant other.
The book for next month for the Dinner Book Club is 'The Persian Pickle Club' by Sandra Dallas.
The following is just a small describtion to help peek your interest:
"It is the 1930s, and hard times have hit Harveyville, Kansas, where the crops are burning up and there’s not a job to be found. For Queenie Bean, a young farm wife, a highlight of each week is the gathering of the Persian Pickle Club, a group of local ladies dedicated to improving their minds, exchanging gossip, and putting their quilting skills to good use. When a new member of the club stirs up a dark secret, the women must band together to support and protect one another. In her magical, memorable novel, Sandra Dallas explores the ties that unite women through good times and bad."
I think you will love this delightful story. The title intrigued me. About halfway through the book I found out just what Pesian Pickles are and why these ladies called their club the Persian Pickle Club. I won't tell you though, you'll have to find out for yourself.

Reading Group last night

2009-02-11T12:31:00.000-08:00

Well, naturally I forgot my camera so no pictures but we had a great time. Terese brought Monte Cristo Sandwiches, which I had never even heard of, let alone eaten and they were to 'die for', literally, they are so rich they'll probably clog all of our arteries, thus the name Monte Cristo. Everyone loved the book. There were two still reading but determined to finish. It is a long story, full of sub-plots within the main plot so it takes some time to actually read and be able to follow all the different characters. Well worth the time invested. We will be reading 'Rain of Gold' by Victor Villasenor for our March meeting on the 17th. I love this book. I hope you will, too.

From Wikipedia:
Rain of Gold is Victor Villaseñor's 1991 New York Times bestseller which tells the story of his own parents who were undocumented immigrants from Mexico. Two families escaping from Revolution torn Mexico to the relative safety of the United States have parallel experiences centered around their mothers' strength.
Plot
The story starts out with a short prologue that explains the title Rain of Gold. In Mexico, there is a box canyon where a tribe of Indians finds a spring with the sweetest water on earth. One harsh winter the tribe starts to starve, so the man who first found the spring goes into town to try to trade some of the sweet water for food and other provisions. The store keeper refuses his offer and asks if there is anything else he could trade for. The Indian takes out some shiny rocks he found near the spring. The store owner immediately recognizes the stones as gold and offers to buy the rights to gather the gold from the spring in return for a constant supply of goods. The tribe agrees as long as the store owner does not disturb the sweet water spring. The term "Rain of Gold" is a metaphor that is used throughout the book that would describe a good turn of events or a miracle. Soon the secret of the gold is out and within a generation a small town is built at the bottom of the little box canyon. The major company and source of income for the village is a mining company owned and operated by Americans. The revolution which is raging around the countryside has invaded the canyon a few times. Soldiers on both sides have proven to be something to be feared. Every morning at sunrise Lupe, the youngest daughter of Guadalupe and Victor Gomez, would wake up next to her mother in a small lean-to. Her brother Victoranio slept outside under the stars while her three older sisters Carlotta, Maria and Sophia slept inside. Her father whom she barely knew had left them in the box canyon in order to find work elsewhere. They would all start doing chores, thanking god for the new day and the ability to work. They made their money by feeding the Americanos in their little lean-to each morning and every evening, restaurant style. One day the war enters into the little canyon with soldiers invading the town. Dońa Gaudalupe takes her three eldest daughters and starts to move manure in order to bury them beneath the sludge to hide them from the soldiers.The story demonstrates how vivid the escape from the Mexican revolution was and how difficult it was back then.

Need agood book to read?

2009-01-31T06:00:00.000-08:00

The Dinner Book Club is scheduled to read 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows in June. I decided I would get started on it. What a delightful book. I am totally in love. It is another uniquely written book much like a book we read last year, whose title escapes me at the moment, but written as letters back and forth between various people. The setting is immediately after World War II in 1946 on the Guernsey Island that was occupied by the Germans during the war. It's just filled with information that I had no idea about regarding the war, intertwined in the lives of what have become real people to me. The main character is an author whose is looking for ideas for a new book. Through a letter she receives from a native of the Guernsey Island, she becomes caught up in the lives of the people who lived on there and survived the circumstances of the Nazi occupation. It is a beautifully written book, filled with warmth and humor, captures you're attention immediately, is easy to follow and has a wonderful storyline. I loved it, couldn't put it down and can't wait for our club meeting in June to discuss Juliet Ashton and the delightful characters of the Guernsey Island.

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries for Valentines Day

2009-01-27T13:59:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder, we are taking orders now for our famous Chocolate Dipped Strawberries for Valentines Day. We also have valentine's cookies, homemade candies, strawberry bread, and cheesecakes. We can put together a lovely basket of sweets for you or you might be interested in our Beauti-control spa products, the brown sugar lotions and bath sets, Herbal serenity, Save Your Sole, Sugar Body, just a to name a few of the many lotions and bath sets we stock. Come by and take a look and place an order today.

2009-01-22T10:58:00.000-08:00

We didn't have our usual group for Lisa See's 'The Interior' but it was an interesting discussion. Alathea and Jim Bliskche had just come back from China so Alathea was able to share a lot about China that related to the book. We all agreed, we love the way Lisa See teaches the intricate culture of China through mystery and romance. It was a great read and kept us guessing until the very end.

Book for February

2009-01-20T08:13:00.000-08:00

Our read for February is 'The Count of Monte Cristo' by Alexandre Dumas.
I don't think you'll want to put the book down, or if you do, you'll wonder all the time what is going on with Edmund Dantes and the people who are involved in his world.
The Count of Monte Cristo is a delicious book, full of intrigue, plots of revenge, great fight scenes, love, passion, and witty social satire. Dumas has a wonderful grasp of human nature and a talent for rendering all the follies of man into a captivating plot so well laid that it was a joy to uncover. I am grateful I took the time to read the unabridged version, which is quite daunting, but worth the length. A great book club read, as there are so many layers to discuss. A tragedy, a love story, an adventure, a tale of interest through all ages. Some might be put off by the size of the book and be tempted to purchase the abridged version. I hope you won't. I understand from those who have read both versions that the abridged version is a pathetic, washed out shadow of the full novel. You will ultimately be captivated by the story of Edmund Dantes, I am sure as I have been. Thank you, Terese A. for suggesting this great read!!!

Book Lover's Reading Group

2009-01-07T07:20:00.000-08:00

Our discussion this month is on 'The Interior' by Lisa See. We will meet next Tuesday at 6:30 pm at the store. Hope you enjoyed it and we'll see you there.

2009-01-06T15:12:00.001-08:00

Of all the diversions of life, there is none so proper to
fill up its empty spaces as the reading of useful and entertaining authors.
~ Joseph Addison ~
Our next Book Lover's meeting is Tuesday Jan. 13th at 6:30pm. Hope you've enjoyed Lisa See's delightful Red Princess mystery 'The Interior'. Can't wait to discuss the intimate details with you.

The Candy Shop

2008-12-31T06:06:00.000-08:00

The Candy Shop is a delightful addition to our store, carrying homemade fudge, chocolate covered cherries, pecan brittle, pralines, chocolate dipped caramels, caramel pecan chocolates, divinity, toffee and other wonderful treats.

We also take orders for chocolate dipped strawberries. Our Strawberries are always a hit for Valentines Day. Order now to assure availibility.

We take orders for cheesecakes, cookies, strawberry bread, and pumpkin rolls. They are made fresh just for you.

Story Time for our Kids

2008-12-31T05:52:00.000-08:00

Our Story Time is every Wednesday at 10:30am. We have a wonderful story teller and great activities for your children. Come join us, there is no cost or obligation.

Book Lover's Reading Group

2008-12-29T14:26:00.000-08:00

Tuesday

January 13th

6:30pm

Everyone invited!!! If you need a copy, let us order it for you.

“See paints a fascinating portrait of a complex and enigmatic society, in which nothing is ever quite as it appears, and of the people, peasant and aristocrat alike, who are bound by its subtle strictures.”–San Diego Union-Tribune

While David Stark is asked to open a law office in Beijing, his lover, detective Liu Hulan, receives an urgent message from an old friend imploring her to investigate the suspicious death of her daughter, who worked for a toy company about to be sold to David’s new client, Tartan Enterprises.Despite David’s protests, Hulan goes undercover at the toy factory in the rural village of Da Shui, deep in the heart of China. It is a place that forces Hulan to face a past she has long been running from. Once there, rather than finding answers to the girl’s death, Hulan unearths more questions, all of which point to possible crimes committed by David’s client. Suddenly Hulan and David find themselves on opposing sides: One of them is trying to expose a company and unearth a killer, while the other is ethically bound to protect his client. As pressures mount and danger increases, Hulan and David uncover universal truths about good and evil, right and wrong–and the sometimes subtle lines that distinguish them.“[See] illuminates tradition and change, Western and Eastern cultural differences. . . . All this in the middle of her thriller which is also about greed, corruption, abuse of the disadvantaged, the desperation of those on the bottom of the food chain, and love.”–The Tennessean

“Sophisticated . . . graceful . . . See’s picture of contemporary China’s relationship with the United States is aptly played out through her characters.”–Los Angeles Times

“Immediate, haunting and exquisitely rendered.”–San Francisco Chronicle

Our Opening Day, June 2005

2008-12-29T13:53:00.000-08:00