It's Still Cold Out There--Book Suggestions

We took down our Christmasy decor but decided to leave up our hanging snowflakes for a while. And that got us to thinking, "When do folks get sick of winter?" We've decided the answer is February 1st.

We also have two displays of winter books, one in kids and one in the adult area. It will be interesting to see if we can sell any of the latter.

Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survial, by Bernd Heinrich.

Heinrich, a professor of biology at the University of Vermont, has over the years become one of our most prominent nature writers. Here he explores the "largely undiscovered mysteries by which nature sustains herself through winter';s harsh cruel exigencies."

The Snow Tourist: A Search for the World's Purest Deepest Snowfall, by Charlie English.

From interviews with scientists and skiers, building igloos and interviewing avalanche survivors, this editor at the Guardian who is also an active sker and snowboarder offers the ultimate snowjob.

Cold: Adventures in the World's Frozen Places, by Bill Streever.

Another natural history with side trips, Streever is up for cold places without snow. Alan Weisman, author of The World Without Us, calls Cold "Unexpectedly beautiful and ever-intriguing."

And one other suggestion that offers sustenance against said weather:

Hot Chocolate: 50 Heavenly Cups of Comfort, by Fred Thompson.

This book's been sitting around for a while, but I can't bear to let it go. These recipes include marshmallows and brandy, vanilla, extra heavy cream, cinnamon and curry.

In February, it's time to start talking about spring. Book list to follow.

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Another nice piece for Jeannette Walls in today's Journal Sentinel. I can't find today's link but here's yesterday's. We can't say we didn't get press to promote this event! Thanks to everyone at the Cue section. Meanwhile, you can see me at the gang (TODAY, Saturday 1/9) at Alverno College's Alphonsa Hall at 2 PM, listening to Walls discuss Half Broke Horses. I wouldn't say no if you brought me a hot chocolate.

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My apologies to folks for some typos in the email newsletter.

1. Jim Harrison's recurring character who appears in The Farmer's Daughter novella is "Brown Dog."

2. Elmer Gantry is a production of the Florentine Opera. We have two book club discussions on Monday, February 1st, one at 2 PM and one at 7. Our preview is on Wednesday, February 24th at 7 PM.

3. Surely there's another!