Next Week in the Bookstore: Grateful Dead, Juveniles from Celebs, and Wheel of Time #11

Topping the list this week is the breathlessly-awaited Robert Jordan Wheel of Time volume, number 11 in the series. Readers waited nearly two years for Knife of Dreams, but will still have to wait until next Tuesday.

Monday, October 10
A Wedding in December by Anita Shreve chronicles a reunion of seven prep-school classmates who regard each other's lives with a mixture of envy and anxiety. "Uncertainties bred in the wake of 9/11 also play a role here, although they are summoned indirectly through a story that Agnes is writing about a ship collision in Halifax Harbor in 1917... The skillful, prolific Shreve, who seems to turn out one best-seller per year, seamlessly moves her story between the horrific events of Halifax Harbor and the nearly as horrific reunion, underscoring the fleeting nature of happiness and the painful trade-offs it often requires." —Joanne Wilkinson, Booklist

A juvenile by Paul McCartney, High in the Clouds is a lavishly-illustrated book designed for children of all ages. "Forced to leave his woodland home, destroyed by the expansion plans of the evil Gretsch, Wirral the squirrel vows to find the fabled land of Animalia, where all the animals are said to live in freedom and without fear. Aided and abetted by Froggo the hot-air-ballooning frog, Wilhamina the plucky red squirrel, and Ratsy the streetwise rodent, Wirral's personal quest turns into a full-blown plan to save enslaved animals Everywhere—a plan that is fraught with danger." (Publisher's release notes)

Wizardology : The Book of the Secrets of Merlin was supposedly written by Merlin himself and originally discovered in 1588. This instructional guide features a map of the world's wizards, samples of a "fairy flag," a 48-page mini-book on divination, and hidden symbols throughout the book that reveal a secret code. Recommended for ages 9-12. "For any apprentice determined to learn the arcane arts of wizardry, could there be a better teacher than... Merlin himself? Originally discovered in 1588, this remarkable text by history's most respected wizard is revealed to the world for the very first time. Lavishly illustrated by four delicate artists, its intricate design even conceals a series of hidden symbols that spell out a secret message when their code is deciphered—if the reader is clever enough to find them." (Publisher's release notes)

Gloria Estefan penned The Magically Mysterious Adventures of Noelle the Bulldog, and Michael Garland illustrated it. "For a young bulldog named Noelle, the joy of being adopted by her very own little girl is overshadowed by the worry that she won't fit in to her wonderful new home. What can an odd-looking brown pup possibly have to offer in a world where shimmering fish, glittering fireflies, and beautiful Dalmatians play games that Noelle's short legs can barely keep up with? ...it captures all the worry of an outsider trying to fit in—and all the joy of discovering that everyone has a talent that matters, and that true beauty comes from inside." (Publisher's release notes)

Article Author: DrPat

DrPat is the blog signature used by an old coot who hoards books, dances Argentine Tango, cooks a mean venison chili, and is happy to be along for the sag while my spouse does a marathon bicycle ride. …

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