Tag: book club

Knopf presents: A Conversation with Susan Conley, author of ELSEY COME HOME

January 28, 2019

Publishing company Alfred A. Knopf put together an excellent Q & A with Susan Conley, author of ELSEY COME HOME to get you ready to meet her in store on January 31 at 6pm.

Q: How would you describe Elsey to readers meeting her for the first time?
A: Elsey is someone you want to talk to at the dinner party, because she’s self-deprecating and also bitingly funny. She can read a room and has a warm smile, and what might really attract you to her is that she’s curious about you and asks good questions. But she doesn’t want you to ask questions about her, because she doesn’t want to give her secrets away. She’s known great success as an acclaimed painter, so she moves through the world with a certain level of confidence on the outside. In this way she seems self-possessed, but by the time we meet her she’s struggling, and her life is unraveling, and she’s trying hard to hide it.

Along with her reading and book signing on Jan. 31, Susan Conley’s ELSEY COME HOME is our current Virtual Book Club pick. Read the book along with us and interact with us on social media by posting and following the hashtag #bbkwbookclub. Share your thoughts and photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We’re @booksandbookskw.

Read the full Q & A from Alfred A. Knopf at: Conley Q&A

Virtual Book Club Pick: Elsey Come Home

January 4, 2019

by Robin Wood

Every other month or so, we chose a new book for our virtual book club, giving us the chance to share a book we love with other readers far and near. Read along with us. Share your thoughts and photos with our virtual book club on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by following and using the hashtag: #bbkwbookclub.

ELSEY COME HOME by Susan Conley is a staff favorite, and we’ve asked bookseller Camila Duke to introduce the book to all of you.

“I was about to head across the country without my family for the very first time since my eldest son Phineas was born. He’s 8 and my youngest is almost 5. So, it’s been a while since I could read uninterrupted on a trip. I needed a book for the plane and ELSEY COME HOME was recommended by our manager Emily and our co-founder Judy Blume. I had no idea what the content was, but based on who suggested it… it was the winner.

As I started to read it on the first of two flights that day, I realized that this was the PERFECT book for my trip. Elsey and I were both heading to wellness retreats away from our families. We were both moms of two, and we shared the loves and frustrations that go along with family life. Sometimes we feel a little lost or alone. At times we have a glass of wine at the end of a very long day, or in Elsey’s case a bottle of wine and a couple of six packs. Maybe our similarities ended there.

Elsey had to go on a week-long mountain retreat in order to save her marriage, herself, and her connection with her young daughters. She was given an ultimatum. If she didn’t go, sober up and take care of herself, she would lose everything. Elsey and her family were comfortably settled in China. She used to be a well-known painter, but when she became a mother her identity shifted, and she lost herself.

This novel takes us on her journey to find herself again. We go along with Elsey and meet fascinating characters that help her along on her path away from home and back again. I finished this book en route and continued to think about this novel while I was away. I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I did. Susan Conley created a very real character with relatable problems.

You don’t have to be a mother, an artist, or an alcoholic to relate to this character and story. There is a connection for everyone in ELSEY COME HOME.”

Our Current Virtual Bookclub Read — Little Failure by Gary Shteyngart

August 20, 2018

by Robin Wood

Hi all,

Hope you’re having a good summer. I’ve had some long flights in the last few months, allowing me to read a great group of new books.

But now it’s my pleasure to introduce you to our latest Books & Books at The Studios Virtual Bookclub pick for August/September — a book I could read over and over without ever tiring of it. Little Failure by Gary Shteyngart is a dazzling memoir of a boy who emigrates from the Soviet Union in 1979. It’s funny, tender, deeply affecting and has been a favorite book of mine since I first read it in 2014. When it came out in paperback I read it again. And now, I’ll get to read it with you. If you’ve read Gary’s novels you already know he’s an incredible writer. You’ve probably laughed aloud at his humor. And for those who don’t yet know him, this will be a real treat.

Becoming an American speaks to all of us today as we wait and wonder what will happen to the children separated from their families at our borders. Gary is lucky. He comes to America with his parents where they make a new home. But, oh, the hilarious details! No spoilers here but best of all, when you finish this book, you will feel you know him. And that’s a good thing because….

Gary has a new novel coming out in September, one I’ve already read and couldn’t put down. It’s called Lake Success. He’ll have you in stitches while you shake your head in disbelief, asking yourself, what is success anyway? Another funny, irreverent page turner, filled with characters you will love and hate, often at the same time. But more about that next time.

I know a lot of you are getting the kids ready to go back to school. It can be a stressful time, so we hope you’ll find a book like Little Failure a real pick-me-up at the end of the day. Maybe it will ease your worries about the kids, maybe even the world? Right now we all need that.

Thanks, as always,

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How the B&BKW Virtual Book Club works

The Books & Books @ The Studios virtual book club is an opportunity for us to share reading experiences, even if we’re not all together in the same place.

Now through the end of September, purchase a paperback copy of Little Failure and get 20% off Lake Success. Online, put both books in your cart and use the code BC20. If you order now, we’ll send both books to you when Lake Success comes out September 4, or you can pick up in store. And, if that wasn’t quite enough, the first 10 purchasers of Lake Success will get a signed copy.

Read along with us and share your reactions on social media. Make a comment, share a picture, ask a question. Don’t forget to include the hashtag: #bbkwbookclub on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Follow us on social media and look for the #bbkwbookclub hashtag. Every week, we’ll post new book club content.

Buy Little Failure, Get 20% off Lake Success

August 20, 2018

by Robin Wood

If you’ve read any of Gary Shteyngart’s books, you know you can count on funny, but his new novel Lake Success is also being touted as a sharp reflection of our current times. A starred review in Kirkus calls it: “smart, relevant, fundamentally warm-hearted, hilarious of course.”

This month’s virtual book club pick is Shteyngart’s memoir Little Failure, but we’re also recommending Lake Success. Now through the end of September, purchase a paperback copy of Little Failure and get 20% off Lake Success. Online, put both books in your cart and use the code BC20. If you order now, we’ll send both books to you when Lake Success comes out September 4, or you can pick up in store. And, the first 10 purchasers of Lake Success will get a signed copy.

Read what Judy has to say about Little Failure in the newest edition of our newsletter.

A Q & A with Cork Dork Author, Bianca Bosker

August 20, 2018

by Robin Wood

Courtesy of: NapaFilms.net

We had a great time reading Cork Dork by Bianca Bosker. In addition to taking the time to answer some questions below and interacting with us on social media, Bianca was kind enough to work with us on custom book plates, available only at Books & Books at The Studios. You can still get one when you buy Cork Dork from us, online or in-store, while supplies last.

Did you always know you were going to write a book about your quest to pass the sommeliers’ test?

I have the disease that afflicts a lot of journalists, which is that I’m virtually incapable of doing anything without thinking that it could become a story. Vacation in a new place? Story. Dinner out? Story. And so when I first got fixated by the world of cork dorks, I thought there could maybe be a story there–but I had no inkling of all the places that journey would eventually take me.

What do you feel is the key thing you took away from your year-long journey of learning about wine tasting and the world of sommeliers?

Most of us pretty much ignore two of the five senses—taste and smell—that we’ve been given to take in the world. Sommeliers live for them. Through these somms, I’ve learned to embrace a new mindset: what I call “sensefulness,” the idea that it is by tuning into our senses that we can better make sense of the world. Even beyond the table, sharpening my senses means I can pick up on information and nuance that I never knew existed. Tuning in to them bestows us with new intelligence with which to make sense of our lives. While those revelations can begin with a glass of wine, they certainly don’t end there.

Which part of the research did you enjoy the most?

How could I possibly choose between dissecting cadaver brains with sensory scientists, guzzling Burgundy at the world’s most extravagant wine orgy, and getting hazed by aspiring Master Sommeliers? I had the time of my life, even if I was hungover for lots of it.

What advice would you give someone who is thinking about making a radical life change of the kind that this book chronicles?

Knowing very little can actually be an asset, as long as you’re open, curious, and fearless about asking questions. I found that coming into the world of wine without any preconceptions made me open to all kinds of information, even from unorthodox sources, that helped me progress faster than I otherwise might have.

Are you working on a new writing project? What’s next for you?

I am! I am just starting work on a new non-fiction book, while also contributing stories about wine and culture to outlets such as The Atlantic. I have a story on mass extinction coming out soon…

What’s on your nightstand? What are you reading and recommending currently?

Next to my nightstand is a tower of books as tall as my nightstand. I recently devoured Lauren Hilgers’ fabulous book Patriot Number One — a riveting and revealing story that doubles as one of the most fascinating portraits of New York City.

What are your favorite wine recommendations these days?

I’ve been going wild for the white wines of Sicily and Slovenia. They’re interesting, odd, soulful, and a bargain, and I just cant get enough of them.

~ Robin Wood, Associate Manager

Reading Cork Dork with Uva’s Mark

June 22, 2018

by Robin Wood

We’re reading Cork Dork by Bianca Bosker this month for our virtual book club pick, a book that’s providing a whirlwind education on wine tasting and the heady world of sommeliers. Store manager Emily sat down for a chat with one of our local “cork dorks” to see what he thinks of the book.

Mark Gambuzza opened wine bar Uva, on Fleming about 5 and half years ago. Uva specializes in helping people discover wines they’ll love, sourcing “limited production, estate-grown” wines that you won’t find just anywhere. Like author Bianca Bosker, he says much of his wine education came via wine distributors as he worked in the restaurant industry.

Mark says he’s always loved wine, right back to when his family used to experiment with making their own in the basement. He’s a big reader and enjoyed Cork Dork. He liked Bosker’s down-to-earth writing. “She isn’t snooty,” the way wine is often approached. Outside of work, though, he prefers a wide range of reading topics. Mark is currently reading An Incomplete Education by Judy Jones and William Wilson and recently finished Ann Beattie’s The New Yorker Stories and The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson.

In terms of wine, right now, and always, he’s recommending Burgundy and Pinot Noirs from the Eola-Amity Hills in Oregon. “The soil there is very similar to the soil in Burgundy. These wines are super easy drinking, nice and light reds with a lower alcohol content then most pinots.”

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How the B&BKW Virtual Book Club works

The Books & Books @ The Studios virtual book club is an opportunity for us to share reading experiences, even if we’re not all together in the same place. Read the book (you can get it online here.)

And share your reactions on social media. Make a comment, share a picture, ask a question. Don’t forget to include the hashtag: #bbkwbookclub on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Follow us on social media and look for the #bbkwbookclub hashtag. Every week, we’ll post new book club content.

A Note from Judy Blume

March 5, 2018

by Robin Wood

Hi Bookfriends,

You know me – I get really excited when I read a first novel that grabs me on the first page and won’t let go. That’s the way it was with Gabe Habash’s Stephen Florida and with our new virtual book club pick Marlena, by Julie Buntin. One of the best parts of running a bookstore is being surrounded by books and authors you may not have heard about yet and knowing that you can share these amazing books with readers before word gets out. Imagine my surprise and delight when I found out that Gabe and Julie are a couple! We all agreed, we had to get them to Books & Books @ The Studios.

These novels could not be more different yet, in each, the writing sings and the characters are unforgettable. Each deals in its own way with obsession – in Marlena, a friendship – in Stephen Florida, college wrestling. But the take is so original you feel you’ve never read this story before.

For more on Marlena, read store manager Mia Clement’s review.

If you’re in Key West, join us at 6pm on March 13, when we’ll be hosting Gabe and Julie in conversation (and you can get your books signed.) It makes a huge difference to our visiting writers, their publishers, and to us, when we bring in a good audience. You’ve been great so far.

And while we’re on the subject of events: Save Wednesday, March 21 for a special event with Tayari Jones (author of the #1 bestseller, An American Marriage) in conversation with her publisher Elisabeth Scharlatt. (Spoiler alert – they met in Key West.)

If you’re not in town, read Marlena along with us via our virtual book club and share your pictures, thoughts and questions. We love seeing where you’re reading and hearing what you think.

Once again, thanks for your support.

Reading Stephen Florida

March 5, 2018

by Robin Wood

Stephen Florida by Gabe Habash, our first virtual book club pick generated engaged and interesting discussion. A dark and conflicted character, college wrestler Stephen Florida is a fascinating study in idiosyncrasy and obsession.

As part of our online book discussion, author Gabe Habash joined us for a live Twitter chat. Here are some of the questions and answers from that conversation.

Q: It can’t be true that you never wrestled. I mean the scenes are so vivid. Tell me how you knew….

A: I never wrestled before. In addition to reading, I researched mainly with countless hours of YouTube videos of wrestling matches. I’d first visualize the progression of a match, then translate it through Stephen’s warped POV.

Q: Did you also talk to wrestlers and coaches. Or just YouTube?

A: My friend Ian McCutcheon, who’s been involved in the wrestling world his whole life, was also instrumental in making the wrestling aspects of the novel accurate. He’s thanked in the acknowledgements for a reason!

I reworked the wrestling scenes as much as possible through a personal (i.e. Stephen’s) lens, so that a reader with no familiarity with the sport would hopefully be able to identify with them. There are a lot of personal details Stephen divulges during matches.

Q: The choice to highlight a character with such interiority as Stephen at book length is an interesting one. What motivated such a bold narrative choice?

A: I always knew it’d be narrated in first person. In a way it’s like the iceberg idea: so much of Stephen is interior; if the novel wasn’t close to his POV (or if you imagined the story as a movie just seeing Stephen from afar), he’d be nearly silent.

Q: What do I think of Stephen as a character? I want to know every detail. I want to know how his mind works. I can’t stop reading because I have to know.

A: Calibrating Stephen’s “likability” was something I worked on from the first draft. He only once did something I thought went too far. I initially took it out in an early draft, but then it ultimately went back in. I’ve heard a wide range of reactions to his behavior.

Q: Why does Stephen give up his original name over an admin error?

A: Stephen creates his own mythology throughout the story, right down to his name. In part, it’s a way for him to dissociate from the things in his past he’s had trouble with. He severs himself from the outside world at college & becomes someone new.

Q: The names of the classes Stephen took were hilarious. Was it fun to come up with the names and was the random nature of the classes Stephen chose a reflection of him not seeing a future beyond that last meet or something else?

A: It was fun to come up with them. It was fun to take passages from, say, Wittgenstein, and have Stephen try to figure them out, because I certainly will never figure them out! Stephen does seek out “easy” classes but still gets into trouble!

Q: ‏[Can I] ask about the ending?

A: I’ve been asked about the ending more than anything, and I will say that what you think is just as valid as what I think!

Thanks, again to Gabe Habash for headlining our first-ever live Twitter chat. And thanks to everyone who joined us for our first virtual book club pick.