R.J. Julia Booksellers


Click on any event below for more information or to order an autographed copy...

Fri, 5/16 4 PM		Jerry Spinelli - Kids Smiles to Go

Wed, 5/21 7 PM		Carl Hiaasen - Golf The Downhill Lie

Tue, 5/27 7 PM		Robert H. Patton Patriot Pirates

STORE INFORMATION

RJ Julia Booksellers
768 Boston Post Road
Madison, CT 06443
203.245.3959
800.74.READS
books@rjjulia.com

Mon-Sat: 9am – 9pm
Sun 10am – 6pm

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RJ CAFÉ

Serving Lunch, Dinner, Homemade Pastries, Coffee and Tea
Mon-Sat: 9am - 9pm
Sun: 10am - 6pm

Managed by La Rosticceria, Carry Out Caterers

The RJ Café is proud to display unique art exhibits from the ALVA Gallery in New London, CT

NEWS FROM RJ JULIA

FEATURES

Faith Middleton Show

Our History

R.J. JULIA AWARDS


	Thank you for voting us # 1.

THE FAITH MIDDLETON SHOW ON WNPR

Show Date: October 12, 2004

Roxanne's Picks:

Human Capital
by Stephen Amidon

I would describe this as "Bonfire of the Vanities" for the millennium. Set in Connecticut, it is a tale that makes you think about 3 important questions: A) Does money buy you happiness? B) What would you do for that money? And C) How far would you go to get that money?

The Kite Runner
by Khaled Hosseini

One of the most compelling books I have ever read, but I am shocked that it's a bestseller. This is a story of a young Afghanistan boy who comes from a wealthy family. His mother has died and his best friend is a servant's son and a servant himself. The young boy is endeared to his friend and wicked to him in the way that kid's can be, culminating in a very ugly betrayal. It follows the boy's family when the Taliban takes over Afghanistan. They wind up traveling to Pakistan, then ultimately San Francisco where his father works at a gas station. Several themes are mentioned in this book: 1) about the master/servant relationship 2) the way life in Afghanistan was 3) the immigrant experience for people who come from wealthy families and struggle to survive in another country and 4) how we end up paying for our past sins.

The Plot Against America
by Philip Roth

I mentioned it last time before this book was out in stores - it's out now. A cautionary tale for today! This is a revisionist, historical tale where Lindbergh wins the election over Roosevelt. This novel reveals America's false sense of safety, not in terrorist terms, but in our beliefs of how our government won't fail us - it's bone chilling.

How To Say It To Girls
by Nancy Gruver

This book is written in a smart way. The author has taken topics like "How to deal with cliques" and divided the conversation you might have with your daughter by different age groups. It tells you what to say, and what not to say. This is a very useful parenting book and is addressed towards both moms and dads.

America (the Book)
by Jon Stewart, The Writers of The Daily Show

This book is utterly irreverent, utterly hilarious, and utterly politically correct.

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Faith's Picks:

An Artful Affair
by Corinna Clendenen

Written by a local author from Madison, CT. This is the book about the inner workings of the art world: auction houses, critics, and galleries. A young painter becomes involved with 2 different men. How far will someone go for his or her talent? What makes it so good is that the author has spent much of her real professional life in the art world. One of my favorite books this year.

The Birth of Venus
by Sarah Dunant

A magnificent story of a noble family headed by a father who is a merchant that sells fabrics to extremely wealthy people during the 1500's in Florence. The daughter of the merchant decides to become a painter, which is unheard of at that time. This book explores the power of the church, how the church is involved in politics, and how this affected everybody. The most fabulous novel!

The Best American Recipes for 2004-2005
by Fran McCullough, Molly Stevens and Bobby Flay

The authors spent an enormous amount of time going through every cookbooks and came up with, what they believe, are the best recipes. A great idea with fabulous recipes.

Joan Nathan's Jewish Holiday Cookbook
by Joan Nathan

This has just come out and is filled with amazing recipes for every Jewish holiday.

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Rose's Picks:

The Complete Stories
by Flannery O'Connor

You can't read Flannery O'Connor too many times! There isn't a false note in her prose. My favorite is "Everything That Rises Must Converge". It's a tale about a wonderful relationship between a mother and son. She wrote this in her 20's and died at 39. I can't figure out how she knew so much at such a young age.

The Great Gatsby
by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I read it in high school, then I read it in grad school and I just picked it up again. Do I really want to read it again? Every time I read it, it's as if I'm reading a different book. Fitzgerald was so clever in giving us a hero we can identify with. Gatsby - a quirky, outsider - is allowed to be a hero and have hope. It's fresh and alive - such a great story.

The Four Agreements
by Don Miguel Ruiz

These 4 agreements are simple to articulate, but not so simple to internalize and are written right on the book jacket.

1) Be impeccable with your word
2) Don't take anything personally
3) Don't make assumptions
4) Always do your best

They seem so cliché, but they make great sense when you read them.

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Sally's's Picks:

Among the Bohemians: Experiments in Living 1900-1939
by Virginia Nicholson

A very fresh and complete picture of this time in England. This book explores the lives of the artistic and flamboyant people that were involved in a true rebellion against the Victorian values. They were remarkable people due to the social change they were part of. They were talented and able to break through the rules of that time - innovative, creative thinking. The author reports on all the aspects of their total exploration - sexual exploration, gender exploration, child rearing. And she also gives us a glimpse of their day to day living which sometimes conflicts with their overall goals.

Beauty Before Comfort
by Allison Glock

This book is a memoir about the writer's grandmother. If you enjoy family stories about vibrant, colorful personalities, you will enjoy this book. Set in West Virginia (also described as hillbilly country) during the 1930's and 1940's. The central character is a very unconventional grandmother - she's very funny, attractive and was probably more meant for Hollywood than West Virginia. A very entertaining story which also brings in some historical points. The most interesting historical part is it talks about the pottery factories which started back in the 1850's. It's also the family's business and the conditions the factory workers had to put up with were horrifying.

Jerome Robbins: His Life, His Theatre, His Dance
by Deborah Jowitt

The author was sought out by the executors of Robbins' estate and given access to all his personal papers - she had the greatest source of information allowed to anybody. I mention this because this book has been criticized for not having the depth of personal information - not gossipy enough. I think this is a book for people who love the theatre and love dance. Robbins was a very complex, conflicted and talented man and this book gives the full picture of him.

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And From Our Listeners:

A Million Little Pieces
by James Frey

This is a must-read for any teenager. Frey takes you through his own experience in rehab when he was 20 years old. It is frightening, eye-opening, and downright honest.

SHOW ARCHIVES