As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, one thing we are thankful for is the support you readers, members and customers have continued to provide to the Center and our bookstore. So, thank you, we so appreciate you and could not do without you.
This book selection reminds us to be grateful for large and small acts of kindness, to be attentive to the preservation of our environment and to take good care of others and ourselves. Thanksgiving is also a holiday of exceptional food so I call out my favorite cookbook to help make it a tasty one, too. Feed the body and the mind.
Happy reading,
Melanie Fleishman
Buyer, Center for Fiction Bookstore
Featured Books
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The Archer
By Paulo Coelho
Published by Knopf
Translated from the Portuguese by Margaret Jull Costa
Coelho’s The Alchemist made this Brazilian-born writer a global phenomenon. His new novel follows a young boy’s search for an old man known for his proficiency with a bow and arrow and his innate wisdom. The book’s message—that actions speak at least as loud as words—reinforces the essential qualities of living a good life: generosity of spirit and the courage to try and fail.
Published simultaneously in Spanish.
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Earth Keeper
By N. Scott Momaday
Published by Harper
A member of the Southwestern Kiowa tribe, Momaday has graced us with his lovely prose in fiction, essays and poetry. You may already know his work but if you haven’t yet encountered it, I highly recommend you do. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1969 for his novel, A House Made of Dawn. Here, for his many fans and new readers, Momaday reflects upon his (and our) connection to the American landscape, and all that it can teach us. It is both inspiring and timely, reiterating the essential bond we have with nature, calling for the respect and attention it must be paid.
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The Lost Spells
By Robert Macfarlane
Published by House of Anansi Press
Macfarlane is the author of last year’s enthralling, award-winning book about the world beneath us, Underland. He also published the hugely successful The Lost Words in 2017, to which this new volume is a companion. The Lost Spells, a simply beautiful volume, is a mix of poetry and watercolor illustrations (by Jackie Morris) revealing the magic and mystery of the natural world, and celebrating the names of nature in incantatory verse. Macfarlane is also the guest editor of The Best American Travel Writing 2020, now in stock.
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Wintering
By Katherine May
Published by Riverhead
Last winter seems eons ago, so much has happened to all of us personally, professionally and to the world. In a heartfelt memoir, May brings her own stories of the difficult conditions she faced and how she found strength and endurance. With lyrical storytelling, she expounds upon the value of retreat and reflection in times of hardship. As we approach the winter season, her invaluable lessons can be applied universally and provide much comfort.
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How to Give
By Seneca
Published by Princeton University Press
Edited and Translated from the Latin by James S. Romm
Princeton’s wonderful series, “Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers,” continues to expand. Previous titles range from Plutarch to Thucydides to Suetonius to Cicero (How to Win an Election). This edition by Seneca includes the enduringly significant Roman Stoic philosopher’s excellent essay, “On Benefits,” and even prints the original Latin on facing pages. Romm’s new translation is particularly rich.
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Channel Kindness
By Lady Gaga
Published by Fiewel & Friends
Geared toward a middle grade audience, Gaga’s book is an extension of the nonprofit foundation she formed with her mother. Born This Way was created to foster kindness, to counteract bullying, to provide resources for LGBTQ youth and support the mental health of young people who have been victims of intolerance. Here young storytellers reveal the irrepressible spirit and bravery of selfless acts that have made a difference in others’ lives and their communities.
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Thanksgiving: How to Cook It Well
By Sam Sifton
Published by Random House
An instant classic from 2012, this is a primer, a pep talk, a basic guide and a recipe book all in one. As Sifton, who founded the New York Times Cooking column, says in his intro, “This book is going to make it possible for you to cook Thanksgiving and not lose your mind.” Sounds good to me.