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Looking for some reading or gift suggestions?
Check out these
Bay Book Company
Staff Favorites
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| Random House $26.00 |
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| Mary Doria Russell's Doc is an exquisitely written and meticulously researched historical fiction novel exploring the life of Doc Holliday. Forget the dime-novel cliches and preconceptions you have about this iconic character. Forget Tombstone and the OK Corral. Russell explores, with her trademark ability to effortlessly and vividly transport you into another era, the youth and early days of Holliday as a sickly young man heading West in an attempt to circumvent his tubercular destiny and simply... survive.
Brilliantly paced and elegantly written, Doc quite literally has something for every reader. Russell brings Doc Holliday to life in a masterful reimagining of his life and times. Doc has it all: gambling and saloons, whores and dandies, a mysterious death, tragedy, comedy, moments of the sublime, note-perfect dialogue, and a sly, wry wit that will keep you turning the pages. We absolutely love this book!
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How do you bring a character
created in 1953 into the modern world without disappointing that character’s
millions of followers in the process? This was the challenge faced by Jeffery
Deaver when Ian Fleming Publications handed him the responsibility of writing
the next official James Bond novel, Carte Blanche. And Deaver has
responded with his characteristic ingenuity and flair.
This is not your father’s James
Bond – this is James Bond redux, Bond for a new millennium, James Bond 2.0.
And it works! Deaver has taken the essence of what makes Bond Bond and melded
it with an adrenaline-fueled plot chock-full of surprise twists, the end result
being a breathless thrill-ride with a character we’ve all grown to know and
love. Check it out – James Bond is fun
again!
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| Simon & Schuster $26.99 |
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| Doubleday $25.00 |
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| Robopocalypse
is reminiscent of Michael Crichton at his best, when he was writing in a
somewhat futuristic setting, flirting with fascinating social issues and yet
propelling the plot forward at a pace that slowed only enough to provide
startling insight into humanity through his characters.
A science-based thriller set in the near
future, Robopocalypse is a story of
technology gone awry; a chronicle of an all-too-conceivable reality in which
mankind succeeds in creating Artificial Intelligence, too late realizing that we
have unwittingly devised our own potential replacement. Robopocalypse is the ultimate survival story, brilliantly
conceived, beautifully written, and, at its heart, a novel about the best of
what makes us tick – hope, fear, courage, determination, love. This is a novel
about what it means to be human, and why it is worth fighting for.
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Ken Follett
is easily one of the best historical fiction writers working today. His Pillars of the Earth, and its eventual follow-up
World Without End, raised the bar and
set the standard against which popular historical fiction is judged. He manages
to somehow seamlessly combine a broad, sweeping saga with more focused,
individual, engrossing stories, all within the same canvas. The end result is
an immensely satisfying read which both broadens your historical perspective and involves you in a personal way with
the characters who populate his work.
Fall of Giants takes us back to the early years of the 20th Century.
Beginning in 1911, it follows British, German, Austrian, Russian and American
characters through the turbulent times leading up to the beginning of the Great
War, through the war itself, and culminates shortly after the end of the War to
End All Wars, or what we now know as World War I. This is, quite simply, a
great read. How often do you come to the end of a 1,000-page epic and find
yourself wanting more?
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| Dutton $36.00 |
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| Daw $29.95 |
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We have
sold hundreds and hundreds of copies of Patrick
Rothfuss’ first fantasy book, The Name of
the Wind. It is, quite literally, the single best first fantasy novel from
a new author that we have ever had the pleasure to read. That said, his new
novel, The Wise Man’s Fear, picks up
the narrative tale begun in The Name of
the Wind and runs with it, in what is surely one of the most anticipated
sequels of the year.
Three years
in the making, Rothfuss’ second novel in his trilogy continues The Kingkiller
Chronicle in a book which is every bit as strong as The Name of the Wind (and that is, indeed, saying something). If
you are a fantasy fan, or simply someone who appreciates a truly well-written
and epic work of fiction, do yourself a favor and pick up this book (but you do want to have read The Name of the Wind first).
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| HarperCollins $14.99 |
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Description and content
to follow -
Please check back!
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Past staff favorites:
Quite possibly the biggest word-of-mouth hit of the year! For a thoroughly memorable reading experience, pick up The Elegance of the Hedgehog. Beautifully translated from the original French, this gem of a novel has become an international sensation. From the brilliance of the prose to the wonderfully developed characters, the story is both funny and heartbreakingly bittersweet, and always completely enthralling. The odd friendship among the three main characters stays with you long after you turn the final page. Stop in and see what everyone is talking about!
Looking for something fresh in the fantasy field? Try The Blade Itself, the first book in Joe Abercrombie's The First Law trilogy. Primarily a character-driven fantasy, there is still enough action here to satisfy most everyone. This is fantasy for the discerning reader, with characters that constantly surprise you, and stay with you long after you've closed the book. Surprises abound, both in the plot and the characterizations -- you'll find Abercrombie shattering your expectations as you read, as characters you thought you had figured out suddenly morph into something more (or less!) than you were expecting. And the best part? All three books in this fantasy trilogy are already out and available at Bay Book! (And a new stand-alone in the same world follows this summer...)
Seldom have the words "delightful" and "treat" been applied to a novel so many times and from so many different sources! The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society immediately transcended its quirky title and stole a warm place in the hearts of readers nationwide. And deservedly so! This (dare we say it?) delightful novel is told in letter-style, and so brilliantly done that we are immediately transported in time and place, and instantly welcome each new missive as though from an old friend. Indeed, Guernsey evokes the kinds of feelings only truly great novels can -- like warm, comfortable clothes on a cold, brisk night and an overdue visit with old and dear friends. Check it out!
One of the favorites of the year of independent bookstores nationwide (and one of ours, too!). The Art of Racing in the Rain is a story of a sundered family in conflict, and of a man reaching for his dreams, all as recounted to us in first person by the family dog, Enzo. And what a voice author Garth Stein has found for Enzo! Although Enzo is in his twilight years, he is very much a philosopher, and is eager to move on and see what's next for him. This book is a must-read, especially for anyone who loves dogs! Check it out, and see what we're all talking about. You won't regret it!
And one new hardbound for good measure...
Looking for a good suspense novel recommendation? Well, look no further! Gregg Hurwitz is a Bay Area product, having grown up largely in the East Bay. He's been a staff favorite here for a number of years. With his new suspense novel, Gregg has jumped into the ring with the superstar authors. Trust No One is a roller coaster of a read, with characters that will resonate with you, conspiracies that will seem all too real, and action scenes that will scoop you up and carry you right along with them. And Gregg will be stopping by the store in early July, so signed copies will be available for as long as they last! Come by and grab a great summer read!
Not what you're looking for?
Well, we've got plenty more recommendations for you, in every genre imaginable,
and we'll be happy to share them with you.
Come on in and see if we can't pair you up with just the kind of read you're looking for!
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