It's probably not possible to overdose on Fisher scones, but we might have had one or two more than we should have during last weekend's Rhubarb Days. What? We were excited. The streets were full of people. Everyone was having such a good time. But now, that post-event malaise is . . . well, we're going to power through it. Yes. Yes, we are, because there are more good things happening.
Firstly, this weekend kicks off our annual Find Waldo in Sumner event. That's right. Waldo is back, and he's hiding in all of the downtown stores. Come on down throughout July and see if you can spot him in each of the twenty-five stores that are participating. Naturally, there will be prizes.
However, please note that July 4th falls on a Tuesday this year. We don't know about the rest of downtown, but we are taking Monday AND Tuesday off. It's been awhile since we've had a break, and we're going to recharge a bit. We'll be here as normal on Saturday and Sunday (the 1st and 2nd), so plan accordingly.
Okay, now let's get to the books that are waiting for you.
First up is a new book by Brandon Sanderson. The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England is another book that he wrote during his pandemic write-a-thon (and which was part of his ginormously successful Kickstarter). This one is a stand-along book about a guy who wakes up in the wrong time, and must navigate the strange world he's found himself in before other folks from his time find him. It's Mark Twain (A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court) meets Michael Crichton (Timeline), but with funny illustrations.
And speaking of funny, Connie Willis is back this week with The Road to Roswell, a book from the Hugo Award-winning SF Grandmaster that blends a fervor for old westerns, rom-com hijinks, and conspiracy theories into a dizzyingly delightful road trip book. It's a first contact story, but it's also a human interest story. It's also got Men in Black, Elvis impersonators, bridesmaids, and rattlesnakes. A little something for everyone.
And speaking of the personal security provided by crispy tinfoil, here is Dan Schreiber's The Theory of Everything Else: A Voyage into the World of the Weird. Schrieber is part of the team that produces No Such Thing as a Fish, a wacky podcast that focuses on last week's curious facts, and which has been running for longer than we knew. The Theory of Everything Else asks questions you never dreamed of asking, and then proceeds to answer them, which is quite a feat, really. This one is as bonkers as the cover suggests.
And speaking of strange stories, here is Michael Finkel's The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession. This is the story of one of the world's most prolific art thieves, Stéphane Breitwieser, who had an uncanny ability to circumvent practically any security system. Breitwieser, however, didn't steal for fame or money; no, he stole the art because it was a challenge, and he kept it all in a couple of secret rooms where he could drop by and admire his handiwork.
Well, as you can imagine—and as that subtitle suggests—the heists became more audacious and daring, as his addiction to the thrill of the job increased. And, of course, this led to . . . well, you'll have to read the book to find out.
And speaking of books you need to read to find out what happens, here is Caroline O'Donoghue's The Rachel Incident, which is the story of Rachel and James, a pair who are platonic besties, and who move to London together to start their lives. Naturally, things get complicated when love shows up, and O'Donoghue's got a few tricks up her sleeve, but it's the delightful characters that make this book really sing. Recommended.
And this week's giant robot book is Emma Mieko Candon's The Archive Undying, which is the story of a survivor, who finds themselves drawn back to the world they left behind, a world full of strange AI machines, brutal police states, and dying gods. Think Tamsyn Muir doing Neon Genesis Evangelion.
And Colleen Hoover has a not-new but totally new book out this week. Too Late was a novel she wrote piecemeal back in the day. This print edition has been tweaked and jiggered and rewritten, enough so that it is now labeled as the "Definitive Edition." It is, in her own foreword, much darker than her usual romances, so you should definitely plan accordingly.
And here is Thao Thai's Banyon Moon, the story of a mother, a daughter, a grandmother, and a big old house in Florida. When grandma Minh dies, Ann comes home to face her estranged mother, Huong. These two haven't had much of a relationship over the years, and when they discover that Minh left them the Banyon House, the old Gothic mansion that Ann grew up in, they must attempt to rebuild their relationship. Haunting, heartbreaking, and intimately complex, Banyon Moon is a novel that celebrates familial love.
And here is Beatriz Williams's The Beach at Summerly, one of those beach reads that combines a sun-drenched Gatsby-esque setting with a spicy dose of post-War espionage, along with a dollop of swoon-worthy romance. Delectable!
There are also a bunch of books coming out in paperback this week. A little something for everyone. We've tacked a bunch of them on to this week's bookshop.org list. Check 'em out.
And finally, here is RJ Baker's Gods of the Wyrd Wood, the beginning of a new fantasy series about a forester, who once belonged to the god of fire. And when he is tasked with guiding a woman into the Deepforest to find a lost child, he is confronted with a choice that will have consequences for the entire world. Barker's previous fantasy novels have been outstanding, and we're looking forward to seeing where he takes us on this journey.
That's the list for this week. Get yourself something for the holiday weekend. Mix up some lemonade. Wear sunscreen if you wander about. Wave to the local fauna. Stop and chat with your neighbors. Remember that Find Waldo starts this weekend, and we'll be closed on Monday and Tuesday.
