We haven’t spoken in a while! Lilibet took a long vacation to do some research – she’s working on her thesis, “When a Pig Isn’t a Pig: Shadow Puppets and the Myth of Object Permanence.” With her research trip now over, we are back in your inbox!

You may have received our events newsletter earlier this month; thank you to all who have come to meet our authors. We have no other store-specific events this month, but we are a stop for Halloween on the Hill this Sunday, October 26th – come show us your costumes!

In the spirit of the season, we’ve happily (and spookily) decorated the window for Halloween, and we have our favorite Halloween books and cards out for purchase now.

And – our fall literary journals are in! Slightly Foxed and The Paris Review are both on sale and located right next to the register. We are still happy to provide your daily newspapers and weekend editions, and we have expanded our magazine selection! The Atlantic, Frederic, and Garden & Gun are now available along with our old reliables The New Yorker, The Economist, and Cook’s Magazine.

Lilibet will now pass the mic to our lovely staff – here’s what they’re reading this month!

October Staff Picks!

Áine is reading The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman. : I am waiting (im)patiently to read the newest from Richard Osman, The Impossible Fortune, but we keep selling out! Obviously, I am not the only one excited for the final installment of The Thursday Murder Club, but it is hard for me to overstate just how much I love these books. As we continue to get copies of this book into your hands, I am rereading the whole series. It’s a perfect comfort as the weather starts to turn (I think – it’s actually unclear to me what the weather is doing), and like a big hug from old friends.

Debbie (the big boss!) just read Fledging by Rose Diell, Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst, and Heart the Lover by Lily King. A few weeks ago, I had the rare gift of a little bit of time to READ – and did I ever. I was able to devour three books, and I would recommend them all.

I started with Fledging by Rose Diell. While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it is truly worth a try. I found it to be moving and hopeful. It does start out in quite a graphic manner, but if anyone has been through childbirth, it definitely registers. The story begins with a woman laying an egg. The ordeal is excruciating, but the story that follows is meaningful and thought-provoking. We had the great honor of hosting Ms. Diell at the shop, and meeting her did not disappoint. It is always such an honor to have an author share their process and their stories.

Next up: Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst. Well, let me just say, WOW. This memoir reads like a novel — and what a “novel” it is. It begins with a whale and a boat — two things that should never come into contact with one another — but in this story, they do. In fact, they collide, leaving us with a harrowing account of a couple’s unbelievable struggle to survive at sea. Not an easy feat. This one will also leave you pondering: could I do that?

Finally, Heart the Lover by Lily King. Now, if you are a fan of Ms. King, this book will not disappoint—also, full disclosure, I recommend you keep a box of tissues nearby. I truly loved this story. It had all the levels one needs to be hooked and continue on. It’s a story about life’s many ups and downs and how the decisions we make at one stage in life will inevitably have repercussions later. Also, when you finish, if you want to try and play their card game, I’m all in!

To close…

Amanda Montell did an episode of Crash Course last month and presented research from her book Cultish. The book, and the video, are fascinating – and, as an added bonus, this book is one of Áine’s most recommended of all time.

NPR has a great interview with Samin Nosrat to discuss her new cookbook Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love: A Cookbook (available for you in our store!). Her new book is just as engaging as Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking and a good reminder to seek community – today is a great day to reach out to your friends and tell them you love them!

As always, you can find us in the store 7 days a week (not quite 24 hours a day), working away for the joy of reading.

Cheers and Go Birds,

Lilibet and the booked. team