Queen Anne Books

2009 Great Summer Reads

The months fly by and once again it's time to share books we’ve chosen for your summertime reading pleasure. The lists are eclectic; filled with mystery, thrills and a lot of heart. Not all of them are light and breezy but they are all books that will make captivating reading on the beach or the patio. Take a look - I hope you find just the right book for just the right setting.
Check out our "For Younger Readers" section which is filled with summer reading for the younger set!

Child 44
by Smith, Tom Rob
A relentless page-turner.
A terrifying evocation of a paranoid world where no one can be trusted.
A surprising, unexpected story of love and family, of hope and resilience.
CHILD 44 is a thriller unlike any you have ever read.
"There is no crime."
Stalin's Soviet Union strives to be a paradise for its workers, providing for all of their needs. One of its fundamental pillars is that its citizens live free from the fear of ordinary crime and criminals.
But in this society, millions do live in fear . . . of the State. Death is a whisper away. The mere suspicion of ideological disloyalty-owning a book from the decadent West, the wrong word at the wrong time-sends millions of innocents into the Gulags or to their executions. Defending the system from its citizens is the MGB, the State Security Force. And no MGB officer is more courageous, conscientious, or idealistic than Leo Demidov.
A war hero with a beautiful wife, Leo lives in relative luxury in Moscow, even providing a decent apartment for his parents. His only ambition has been to serve his country. For this greater good, he has arrested and interrogated.
Then the impossible happens. A different kind of criminal-a murderer-is on the loose, killing at will. At the same time, Leo finds himself demoted and denounced by his enemies, his world turned upside down, and every belief he's ever held shattered. The only way to save his life and the lives of his family is to uncover this criminal. But in a society that is officially paradise, it's a crime against the State to suggest that a murderer-much less a serial killer-is in their midst. Exiled from his home, with only his wife, Raisa, remaining at his side, Leo must confront the vast resources and reach of the MBG to find and stop a criminal that the State won't admit even exists.

New Reviews for June & July

Wow, what a way to start June - with a mini heatwave. It's certainly good timing for a special Favorite Summer Reads edition of our in-store Flyer(either click, or find it on our left-hand bar).
Of course, we still have the usual reviews of new books, too. Click on Read More to see our new reviews.

The Angel's Game
by Ruiz Zafon, Carlos
If I had a dollar for every customer who asked me for a great book, “like The Shadow of the Wind,” I definitely would have a few more bookshelves in my house (and even more books to fill them). This summer, Americans’ long wait for Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s follow-up is over: The Angel’s Game goes on sale June 16th. While I don’t want anyone to be disappointed because of the build-up, I have to let you know: it was worth the wait.

Ever since we had the opportunity to read advance copies of The Shadow of the Wind, the booksellers of Queen Anne Books have been huge fans. You can imagine the excitement when we got our galley of The Angel’s Game. Thank goodness I work with patient, honest, generous people— I got my chance to bring it home. As soon as I opened its covers and started reading, I resigned myself to lunches of cereal, leftovers for dinner, and dark circles under my eyes. Zafon grabbed me again, and wouldn’t let me go until I read all the way through. While The Shadow of the Wind was very much a reader's book, this is certainly a reader's AND a writer's book. It also takes place in Barcelona, but a generation before Daniel’s story. The narrator of this novel is another young man obsessed by books: David Martín. Mentored by a bookseller with a heart of gold and a popular crime author who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Martín grows from a boy who takes a beating for Dickens to an author himself. The story is complex and thrilling, but I don’t want to give much away because part of the pleasure comes from all the twists and turns. (Another big heap of pleasure comes from the evocative language in Lucinda Graves’ translation.) The book is filled with spine-tingling gothic touches, a tender and talented narrator, spirited women to capture the heart... and possibly a Faustian deal with a mysterious publisher.

Turn off the phone, turn on all the lights, and treat yourself to this absorbing novel. Like its predecessor, it will transport you to Barcelona, sweep you up in its characters, dazzle you with atmosphere, and keep you gasping as the mysteries (and bodies) pile up— evidence of the power of the written word. ~Tegan

Book Clubs

We offer two monthly book clubs. Both are "drop-in, no-guilt" groups which means that you don't have to sign up, nor are you expected to read every book. The current books for both groups are always 15% off an there are always cookies or snacks offered! How can you pass that up?
To learn more about our book clubs, what we're reading, or what we've read in the past, click on "read more".

The Indian Clerk
by Leavitt, David
To be discussed on Monday July 13th and Wednesday July 15th, 2009:
"Richly imagined and impressive" (New York Times Book Review), this critically acclaimed and emotionally charged novel about the strange and ultimately tragic relationship between an esteemed British mathematician and an unknown--and unschooled--mathematical genius is historical fiction at its best: ambitious, profound, and absorbing. Based on the remarkable true story of G. H. Hardy and Srinivasa Ramanujan, and populated with such luminaries such as D. H. Lawrence, Bertrand Russell, and Ludwig Wittgenstein, "The Indian Clerk" takes this extraordinary slice of history and transforms it into an emotional and spellbinding story about the fragility of human connection and our need to find order in the world. A literary masterpiece, it appeared on four bestseller lists, including the "Los Angeles Times," and received dazzling reviews from every major publication in the country.

For Younger Readers

Welcome to our new a section devoted to books for ages 1 to, well, whenever you outgrown reading kids books (100?) where we'll post the reviews from our bi-monthly Kid's Flyer. Not only are we happy to have a lot of kids, teens, and families who come into the store we, the staff here, are huge fans of books for younger readers.

Nathan Fox: Dangerous Times
by Brittney, Lynn
14-year-old Nathan is an actor in Elizabethan England, friends with actor and budding author William Shakespeare. Nathan’s skills for disguise, combat, memorization, and improvisation catch the eye of England’s spymaster general, and soon Nathan is training with elite spies and embarking on an adventure that may inspire Shakespeare’s Othello. Great historical fiction, a clever reinvention of Shakespeare, and action and intrigue aplenty!

Welcome, Directions, Information, and more!

Welcome to Queen Anne Books Online where you can find information about our two monthly book clubs, store events, and our recent favorite books.

You can also search our National Distributor for books that we may have on the shelf or can order for you (usually with a 3 or 4 day turnaround).

For hours, location and directions, information about our free ordering online, or to learn about our educator discount click on "read more" below.