Jennifer's Picks
Jennifer is six years deep on the crew. She's an avowed news junkie and lover of the sixteenth century and all things France.
Plotline pet peeves?
When an author takes advantage of the reader by going into too much detail about something or someone that ends up not being relevant.
Monogamist or polygamist reader?
Monogamist. It's the only way.
Are you a morning reader or a night owl?
Night only. Ever. Helps me empty the day out of my head.
First book that made a big impression on you?
On The Road--Kerouac. I read it in 11th grade and wanted to quit school. My dad told me no and wouldn't let me use the car for two weeks.
Most terrifying book experience?
Easy--8th grade--Salem's Lot (King). I literally did not go down into a basement for years.
Your mission as a bookseller?
To help people find their perfect book.
Anything else of note??
Yes. I love you and your recommendations, but please refrain from lending me books as I already have piles waiting to be read.
This is an extraordinary book. I loved it. In his author acknowledgements Mr. Howard explains the genesis of the book. He relates a conversation he had with his editor while pitching his idea for the story of the august Henry Hobson Richardson-- whom he says, "Dominated his era, inspired the next generation of designers and exerted an influence on American building rivaled only by that of Frank Lloyd Wright and Thomas Jefferson. Having written about both Wright and Jefferson, my desire was to help bring Richardson back into the mainstream conversation." To which his editor replies, "If so few know him, who will buy your book?" Thus began the process of integrating Frederick Law Olmsted as a co-protagonist and enlarging the subject matter. The breadth of the content is esoteric and extensive while at the same time highly organized and fluid. To imagine Olmsted seeing (what is now) Yellowstone for that very first time, to picture Richardson's atelier with him scratching pencil drawings of Trinity Church and the Hay-Adams Hotel on scrap paper. And to walk what is now Central Park with Olmsted as he imagined the future park (and many other parks across the country) for ALL people to enjoy. Captivating, enlightening, engaging-- 'Architects of an American Landscape' -- introduces readers to the burgeoning professional architectural era as it moves from Europe to the newly forming United States. And, interestingly, I looked up many of the buildings and parks as I read along; most, if not all, are still in existence today.
Mid 1980's Ireland, a small coastal town, Bill Furlong-- husband, father, coal merchant -- makes a big decision. "The thing not done, which could have been-- which he would have had to live with for the rest of his life." A tiny, little book that will test your moral rectitude in 114 pages.
A heartwarming family story; a retired widower in current day London, missing his book-loving wife, contending with three bossy adult daughters. Mukesh sensing his relationship with one of his young grandaughters waning -- starts reading to connect with her. A sweet, heartwarming read with depth and substance. A debut novel from Sara Nisha Adams with jump-from-the-page characters including a disenfranchised teen he befriends at his neighborhood library. And - finally a secretly discovered list of books the author uses as a literary nexus to life and self-reflection. 'Reading List' is a positive, uplifting force with characters you will be anxious to get back to.
