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Thanks for visiting the Magers & Quinn Booksellers store blog. We've recently moved over to a new URL: magersandquinn.wordpress.com.

Don't forget to visit our store website as well, where you can browse and shop our inventory, find out about in-store events, and more. If you'd like to get in touch with us, feel free to call the store at 612-822-4611 (toll-free: 866-912-6657) or send us an email.

Elizabeth Ries' favorite food related memoirs

Twin Cities Live Co-Host, Elizabeth Ries is a lover of books. In addition to the many books she reads for her own pleasure, she hosts a monthly book club, often featuring books from Midwest authors. Cooking is Elizabeth's passion, and she's growing as much of her own food as possible in her backyard garden. As part of our Notable Community Reader Series, she shared some favorite food and farming related memoirs -- just in time for June in Minnesota. 

Dr. Bernadeia Johnson on some favorite reads

This May, we were fortunate enough to receive reading recommendations from Dr. Bernadeia H. Johnson. Since 2010, Dr. Johnson has been the superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools, where she is directly responsible for overseeing academic achievement for all students, as well as the school district’s business functions. She's also a passionate reader, and kindly shared some of her favorite books with us:

Jeff Kamin recommends...

Books and Bars producer and emcee Jeff Kamin has been our partner in reading for nearly 10 years. We asked Jeff to recommend a few of his favorite reads--it was a cruel request to limit him to a few--which are now on display in the store. Jeff's picks are smart, funny, and colorful, just like the man himself. And if your spidey-sense is tingling, that's because Jeff also tapped into his love for comics and graphic novels as part of his recommendations.

R.T. Rybak and Megan O'Hara, Notable Community Readers

You know them as the Mayor and First Lady of Minneapolis, managing the many facets of running our fair city. R.T. Rybak and Megan O'Hara are also book lovers and fans of things local to Minneapolis. They are often out and about, frequenting neighborhood businesses, such as Magers and Quinn.  The Mayor and Ms. O'Hara graciously shared recommendations with us of some of their recent reads. 

10 Most Romantic Books

 

Most people think of chocolate and flowers for Valentine's Day but how about those great romantic stories? Why not share that with the one you love?

I stumbled across this list some time ago of the 10 Most Romantic Books. Do you agree?

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh


Perhaps this list is a bit too classic? too traditional?

How about some Contemporary Romance Books?

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L James
The Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Whether it's crazy obsessive love, Lifetime movie love or prim and proper love, giving the gift of books for Valentine's Day is a pretty cool idea. And we won't judge if you choose the sparkly vampire kind of love story.  

Awards season

During these ice cold months it's always nice to have something fun to think about. For me it is the book award season. Not only were the Caldecott and Newbery winners announced recently the Minnesota Book Award nominees were as well.

Get your pad and paper or your iPhone ready. Your lists will be long when you see all of these amazing books being honored.

List of Minnesota Book Award nominees here.

Caldecott and Newbery award winners here.

We are working on getting our stock up to speed to make sure we have all of these fine books on our shelves.

Recommendations from Lucia Watson

Lucia Watson, Chef and avid reader shares with Magers and Quinn cookbook recommendations and some recent favorite non- cookbook reads: 

Momofuku, by David Chang and Peter Meehan. Sometimes Asian flavors can be tricky at home. This book translates nicely into thehome kitchen. Recipes are simple and work, and the book gives a great glimpse into the workings of a young industrious chef.   

The Cooking of Southwest France, by Paula Wolfert.  A reliable classic that is really a doctrine on the cooking of the southwest of France. Anyone who loves authentic, detailed, thoroughly researched recipes that you can settle in with for a day should have this timeless book.

The Northern Heartland Kitchen, by Beth Dooley.  This is the book that not only makes everyone tell you what an amazing cook you are, but also teaches you how to eat more local food, and why that is a good thing (and a fun thing!). Uncomplicated ingredients, clear cooking instructions and interesting sidebars about cooking in the heartland make this book a must for any cook.

Lucia says "For baking, I turn to these books..." 

Baked: New Frontiers in Baking. by Matt Lewis.  Quickly becoming my favorite turn-to book for sweets and desserts. Even for a new baker, the recipes are clear and easy to understand and complete, and include important steps for achieving a good end result. They don't leave out important steps that make the end result not work and you  don't know why feeling. A great confidence builder for the home baker.

Tartine, by Elisabeth Prueitt et. al.  Another favorite baking book. Great pictures that inspire and good solid recipes.

Chicken and Egg: A Memoir of Suburban Homesteading with 125 Recipes, by Janice Cole. Why this book isn't on the bestseller list I don't know. This book never fails to provide me with a recipe I can use right now that turns out every time and is delicious. Not only that, but I need to allow extra time for reading the copy about raising chickens in an urban setting. If you know someone who had their own chickens, someone who loves to cook or someone who just likes to read cookbooks this is my recommendation.

For some non-food recommendations... 

Dersu the Trapper, by V.K. Arsen'ev and Malcolm Burr and The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival, with by John Vaillant, my best read of the year COMBO.  What a fun and amazing combination! 

Sea of Poppies, by Amitav Ghosh, A great and rollicking read!

Lucia is co-author of Savoring the Seasons or the Northern Heartland with Beth Dooley, and Cooking Freshwater Fish.  In 2004, 2005 and 2006 she was nominated for Best Midwest Chef by the James Beard Foundation, and in 2009 she was knighted by the French Government as a Chevalier du merit Agricole for her work in farming issues and food. Lucia lectures and teaches nationally and locally, often in support of sustainable food.

Stop by the store to check out her display and take a peak at these fabulous recommendations.

Successful Author Events: Tips from a Twin Cities Author

In May of 2012, Twin Cities author Colin Nelson held a launch party for his book, Fallout (nominated for a Minnesota Book Award), at Magers and Quinn. The number of attendees and book sales at this event made it one of the most successful events we have had at Magers and Quinn. The ongoing commitment Colin makes to the marketing and promotion of his books, and himself as an author, are part of what made this event so successful. 

After talking with him about his marketing techniques, we asked if he would be willing to share them, and he graciously obliged.  His recipe for successful book launch events follows. We feel it includes tips and an approach that also apply to events held after the launch, to selling books in stores and online, and to successful marketing, promoting and selling of books in general, for both self-published authors and those that work with publishers.