The Curiosity House Knitters recently gave some assistance to the NCPS Knitting, Corking and Crocheting Club. When NCPS teacher Kathy Whitley asked the knitters to help students start their corking projects, they were happy to help. Left to right in back are Deidre Pringle, Eileen Hazelaar, Darlene Broomfield and Norah Mills. In front are Gail Caswell, Lana Bryant, Ea Timms, Tracey Kolowska, Marg Purkis, Linda Coulter and Cheryl Cockburn.

The Curiosity House Knitters meet Wednesday afternoons at the bookstore.  (Photo courtesy of Brad Holden, Creemore Echo)

 

 

FEBRUARY BOOKMARKS

 All You Need Is Love….

February is a month when we make a special effort to tell the people we love just how much we care for them.  If we have been reminded of anything over the past month, perhaps the most important thing is that the power of love and caring is vital to our survival as human beings.  No matter what challenges we face, we must always keep that fact top of mind. 

 At Curiosity House, February is a time when we celebrate the community of artists who live in our area or have shown in the gallery in past years.  Our annual Group Art Show invites artists to submit one picture which interprets a theme which is close to the heart.  Our theme this year is “My heart sings when….”and more than 30 artists will be participating.  An opening reception will be  held on Friday February 5th, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.  Whether you are a participant in this show, or an art lover who wants to see some great art by local artists, please set aside some time to join us.

 This month we also have a very special event for those whose hearts are captivated by great food.   Lunch with Lucy Waverman is an opportunity to celebrate the joy of eating well with one of Canada’s culinary luminaries.  For those who missed the opportunity to purchase tickets for this special lunch, there will be an opportunity to visit with Lucy at the store after the event.

 This February, please join us as we celebrate our community connections and our love of the wonderful things life has to offer. 

 What’s On in February

 Friday, February 5th,  5:30 to 7:30 pm     
Artist’s Opening Reception  

In The Gallery:      Our February Group Art Show

 Our theme this year is “My Heart Sings When….”  

 More than 30 artists will be participating in this show, entering one piece of artwork which reflects their interpretation of the theme. The public is invited to vote for their favourite piece and a winner will be announced on February 14th. At our opening reception, you will have a chance to meet the artists, enjoy some refreshments and cast your ballot. Please join us!

 This Month’s Featured Event

 Sunday February 7th   At Noon    

Lunch with Lucy Waverman at Chez Michel      SOLD OUT

We are very happy to announce that this exciting literary and culinary event  has sold out.   If you missed the opportunity to purchase tickets for the lunch, you can meet Lucy between  2:30 and 4:00 pm at Curiosity House, where she will be signing copies of A Year in Lucy’s Kitchen.  This is an opportunity to have a book personalized for yourself or a friend. Can’t make the event?  We are happy to arrange for pre-purchased orders to be personalized and signed.

Sunday February 7th ,  2:30 to 4:00 pm

Book Signing at Curiosity House

 After our Lunch With Lucy event at Chez Michel, Lucy Waverman will be signing copies of  A Year in Lucy’s Kitchen  and visiting with customers at the store.  Please take the time to drop by and meet this fascinating Canadian cooking personality.

Saturday, Feb. 13th, 10:30 to 11:15 am 

Monthly Story Hour

Miriam will be leading our monthly Story Hour from 10:30 to 11:15 am. Children from 18 months to 6 years of age will have the opportunity to listen to captivating stories, share the love of reading and complete a small craft activity with a Valentines theme.

What’s Happening  with the Book Club?

Wednesday, February 3rd  2:00 to 3:00 pm

 Our Book Club will meet on Wed., Feb. 3rd from 2 to 3 pm, to discuss 
The Open Road  by Pico Iyer.  The selection for March is Kate Pullinger’s Governor General’s Award winning novel, The Mistress of Nothing.  In April, we will be discussing Jeanette Walls’ heart-rending autobiography, The Glass Castle.

Curiosity House Knitting Group

Our Knitting Group meets every Wednesday, from 2 to 4 pm to create knitted works of art, from beginner to expert.  We share tips and give each other inspiration.  There is always room for one more person at the table.  For more information, please call us at 705-466-3400.

Curiosity House Supports the Ontario Library Association’s Forest of Reading Initiative

The Ontario Library Association offers 8 reading programs which encourage people of all ages in their love of reading.  This initiative celebrates Canadian books and authors and  the titles selected must be written by a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant. 

Programs, which begin in November, are designed for various age ranges and participants are encouraged to read all or a selection of the books, and then vote on their favourite in April.  This literacy project  includes the well-known Blue Spruce, Silver Birch, Red Maple and White Pine reading programs.  More than 250,000 readers across Ontario take part in these programs each year and all Ontarians are invited to participate through their local public or school library.

Many of the titles featured in the Forest of Reading programs are available for purchase at Curiosity House.

A Great Winter Read                           (Reviewed by Catherine Randall)

 I have just finished reading The Day The Falls Stood Still, PB, a first novel by author Cathy Marie Buchanan. This is a fascinating story taking place in Niagara Falls, Ontario beginning in 1915 and ending, quite tragically but heroically, in October 1923. Bess, the headstrong daughter of an important local family, now down on their financial luck, meets and falls in love with Tom Cole, the grandson of a local legend river man, Fergus Cole. He is not the match her parents want. Their lives proceed full of love, adventure and hard times. Tom is extremely knowledgeable about the Niagara River and is called on many times to rescue people or animals. He ends up, reluctantly, working for the new power project digging canals to capture the power of the river water for hydro-electric use. Tom keeps a record of the water levels and other aspects of the river as the generators in the powerhouse are completed and switched on. Filled with such interesting information about the river there are also reprints of actual newspaper stories about tragedies and miracles on the river. I am intrigued to re-visit Niagara Falls seeing them with the eyes of Tom Cole.

 Get Cooking With Kids!            (Reviewed by Miriam Vince)

Spending time in the kitchen together is one of the best ways to interact with children.  Cooking with kids can be a wonderful adventure which involves using reading skills to follow a recipe, listening skills to follow instructions and taking care to stay safe.  Most important, cooking with kids is just plain fun and sometimes, the results even taste good! 

 The DK Children’s Cookbook  (Katherine Ibbs, $16.99) is set up for beginner cooks.  With fantastic photographs this flexibound book clearly identifies ingredients and  kitchen tools.  Step-by-step methods are very easy to understand and recreate.  This book is also great because it has an emphasis on healthy eating.   Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipes:  A Cookbook for Preschoolers and Up  (Mollie Katzen and Ann Henderson, $22.00 )  is a children’s cookbook classic.  This book is formatted for adults, with clear instructions and suggestions for how best to approach a recipe with kids.  It emphasizes kitchen safety while stressing that cooking should be fun. Most important, the recipes are delicious. The Usborne First Cookbook by Angela Wilkes, Stephen Cartwright and Rebecca Gilpin ($24.95) is filled with colourful illustrations.  This ’kid friendly’ compilation of recipes is intended to introduce children to the sense of accomplishment they will feel as they create simple but elegant dishes which are tasty and satisfying.  The Good Housekeeping Illustrated Children’s Cookbook  ($14.95)  features clear and logical directions for approximately 50 recipes.  Once again, this cookbook places an emphasis on safety and correct cooking methods.  

All four of these titles are excellent general beginning cookbooks for kids who want to make a first attempt at cooking and for parents who want to help their children enjoy the experience while staying safe and learning proper technique.  Bon appetit!

Quips, Quotes & Trivia  

“Only in books has mankind known perfect truth, love and beauty.” 

 George Bernard Shaw 

 

 

JANUARY BOOKMARKS

Looking Back on a Fantastic Year…

• ”In The Bleak Mid-winter _________”.     Last February, to coincide with the Creemore “Big Heart Festival”, we held our second themed group art show – over 30 artists participated! This February’s theme is “My heart sings when________.”

• Our very successful “Emerging Artist” show, spotlighting an artist who has never had a solo show before, featured Bruce Ley.
• A visit from Peter Rabbit at the Creemore Farmers’ Market on Labour Day weekend.   Stories were told and crafts and coloring sheets were enjoyed by more than 100 children.
• Well-attended book signings featuring Terry O’Reilly, Hugh Brewster, Ted Barris, Catherine Gildiner, Margaret Wente, Cecily Ross, Damien Tarnopolsky, Sheree-Lee Olson and numerous local authors. We also held a very successful local author’s day at the Creemore Farmers’ Market.
• A special appearance and author signing with Canadian cooking personality Rose Murray, at the Strawberry Festival held by Creemore Farmers’ Market in June.

 

SAVE THE DATE!

Brunch With Lucy Waverman at Chez Michel

Sunday February 7th 

An exciting event is planned for Sunday, February 7th. Enjoy a sumptuous seasonal  brunch with Canadian cookbook author and culinary personality, Lucy Waverman, and go home with a signed copy of Lucy’s new book, A Year in Lucy’s Kitchen.  This entertaining brunch will be held at Chez Michel at 12:00 noon.  Tickets will go on sale in early January.  Reservations are necessary as space is limited. This is sure to be the culinary event of the year. We hope you will join us.

 

What’s On in January? 

 

Saturday, January 2^nd

2:00 to 4:00 pm                   

Artist’s Opening Reception

 

In The Gallery: Donna Tranquada

 

Two years ago, CBC Radio personality, Donna Tranquada, was our Emerging Artist for 2007.   With luminous watercolours, she captures the beauty of the landscape in and around Creemore. An opening reception will be held on Saturday January 2^nd from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Come and meet Donna, see her delightful paintings and enjoy some refreshments.

 

 

Saturday, January 16^th                              

10:30 to 11:15 am   

Monthly Story Hour

Please join Miriam for our monthly Story Hour from 10:30 to 11:15 am. Children from 18 months to 6 years of age will have the opportunity to listen to captivating stories, share the love of reading and complete a small craft activity.

 

 

Curiosity House Knitting Group 

Every Wednesday, 2 to 4 pm

Monthly Book Club Meeting

Wednesday, Jan. 6th
2:00 to 3:00 pm
Monthly Book Club Meeting 

Our Book Club will meet on Wed. January 6th from 2 to 3 pm, to discuss The Cellist of Sarajevo (by Steven Galloway).  The selection for February is The Open Road (by Pico Iyer).  In March, we will be discussing The Mistress of Nothing (by Kate Pullinger) and our April selection will be The Glass Castle  (by Jeanette Walls). 

 

Spotlight on Healthy Eating    
Reviewed by Catherine Randall)
                                                           

January’s arrival always makes me want to escape to the kitchen to create soups, stews and other warming fare; but, after the excesses of Christmas I also am mindful of eating healthy. I will share with you some of the recent arrivals that have caught my attention. 

Clean Food: A Seasonal Guide To Eating Close To The Source, by Terry Walters, HC, $35.00 encourages eating fresh and local foods. Not only are there seasonal, easy to follow, delicious sounding recipes but at the beginning of the book the author takes time to discuss organic versus conventional, define many of the ingredients and ways to make eating a mindful and satisfying daily experience. There are no pictures so this is a book for those with imagination!

Sunday Soup: A Year’s Worth of Mouthwatering, Easy-to-Make Recipes, by Betty Rosbottom, PB, $23.95 has lots of photos and wonderful, inspiring recipes for soups, chilies and chowder. In the “Winter” section we find “Cold weather potato chowder with caraway cheese” and “Spicy pork chili with cumin polenta”…yum.

Mark Bittman, the brilliant food writer, talks about “conscious eating” in his book Food Matters, PB, $19.99. Along with chapters such as “Rethinking Consumption”, “Overconsumption” and “Sane Eating”, the second half of the book contains recipes, meal plans and suggestions for meals from breakfast through dinner and dessert. No pictures in this book either but lots of helpful information and, again, inspiration to eat and cook sensibly.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy new year filled with lots of good reading experiences.

 

Books to Tap into Kids’ Creativity    
(Reviewed by Miriam Vince)

What’s a parent to do when the kids are home on a snow day?  There are some great books available to help kids tap into their creativity! 

 For older children, two great choices from the Editors of Klutz Press are The Most Amazing Thumb Doodles Book in the History of the Civilized World and How to Draw Funny.  Each of these books gives young readers step-by-step instruction about how to have fun while creating art. Funny drawings and friendly instructions share the pages with plenty of white space reserved for self expression. The Most Amazing Thumb Doodles Book in the History of the Civilized World ($16.99) comes with 4 ink pads in different colours and How to Draw Funny ($19.99) comes with a mechanical pencil, a white eraser, and three markers in various tones of gray and black.   These are everything-included, draw-right-in-it, how-to books which promise not only to teach you how to draw but also how to find your inner funny person.

 

Special Orders Are Our Specialty

 Looking for a book that we don’t presently have in stock?

  Books are ordered from a number of publishers, distributors and other sources every week, usually on Mondays. We are able to order any book currently in print and available and while we don’t regularly stock talking books or other specialized materials like large print, we can order those as well. Some books we receive the following day, some by the end of the week, and some take a little longer. We will advise you of the estimated time when you place the order and call you when the book arrives.    We’d like to help you find that book you are looking for….. 

 

Looking Forward To 2010 …

 The theme for this year’s February group art show is “My heart sings when_____.” Please call if you are an artist and would like to participate.  

We are preparing to order our new Spring selections and working on some exciting author events.

 

Quips, Quotes & Trivia

 How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book. 

 Henry David Thoreau, 
Walden

 

Local Author Bruce Brigham Signing Copies of Abandoned Ontario At Curiosity House Saturday, December 19th

Curiosity House is pleased to welcome  Bruce Brigham for an author signing on Saturday, December 19th.

Abandoned Ontario is a collection of 3000 images of abandoned houses which was compiled over seven years.  Driven by a passion for history and an intrigue of the unknown, the collection of photographs has inspired a 200 page book containing more than 500 photographs of abandoned houses in Ontario, including houses in Grey County, Simcoe County, Dufferin County and Peel Region.

Bruce Brigham will be signing copies of Abandoned Ontario at Curiosity House on Saturday, December 19th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.  Please join us.

 

Just a reminder that CBC advertising guru, Terry O’Reilly, will be signing books and meeting with fans at Curiosity House, on Saturday December 12, from 2 to 4 pm.

Witty, erudite and irrepressibly irreverent, his new book, The Age of Persuasion, provides a hugely entertaining — and eye-opening — insider’s look at the ever-expanding world of marketing.  For more information about Terry and his book follow this link www.terryoreilly.ca. 

Please join us for an author signing which is sure to be both informative and entertaining!

The Canada Reads 2010 shortlist has been announced!  We’ve made sure to order up lots of stock of each of the titles on the list.  To view the five contenders, follow go to www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads.

DECEMBER BOOKMARKS

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas….

As the snow drifts quietly past the window and the scent of pine, spices and fresh home baking drift through the house, we prepare for another season of giving and receiving….

This is the season when we share the greatest gift of all – the gift of community and generosity. Most important, we have the opportunity to experience the warmth and excitement of reconnecting with family and friends during the holiday rush. At Curiosity House, we have planned a wonderful group art show for December, as well as a very special author signing and a Story Hour with a Christmas theme. We have lots of books in the store which are sure to appeal to everybody on your Christmas list.

We’d like to take this opportunity to send along wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year to all of our customers and friends.

Catherine, Miriam, Rowland, Mary, Deirdre and Cheryl

Have you noticed our new look?

You might have noticed that our email newsletter has a different look this month. In an effort to assist our customers who do not have access to high-speed internet service, we have streamlined our delivery system. No more need to click on attachments. Just open our monthly email and everything you need to know is on your screen. We’ll be rolling out other improvements over the next few months.

Curiosity House Knitters Make Donations to Clearview Public Library

The members of our knitting group don’t just spend their Wednesday afternoons crafting fantastic knitted confections. They also take the time to give back to the local community. Over the past year they have made weekly contributions to a fund which has been used to purchase new books for the Creemore branch of the Clearview Public Library. Just recently, they have received a new list from the CEO of the library and they are hoping to fulfill many of the requests on this new wish list over the next year.

What’s On in December

THIS MONTH’S FEATURED EVENT:

Author Signing

Saturday, December 12th,
2:00 am to 4:00 pm
Terry O’Reilly and the Age of Persuasion

The ad men behind CBC Radio’s The Age of Persuasion combine lively social history and years of industry experience to show how the art of persuasion shapes our culture.

Witty, erudite and irrepressibly irreverent, The Age of Persuasion provides a hugely entertaining — and eye-opening — insider’s look at the ever-expanding world of marketing.

The Age of Persuasion is for those who say “advertising doesn’t work on me” as well as those who want to understand how this industry has become inseparable from modern culture. Using their popular CBC Radio series as a starting point, Terry O’Reilly and Mike Tennant tell the fascinating story of how modern marketing came of age — from the early players to the Mad Men of the 1960s and beyond. With insider anecdotes and examples drawn from pop culture, they also probe deeply into the day-to-day workings and ethics of a business that is rapidly evolving in the age of Facebook and YouTube.

Monthly Book Club Meeting

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2:00 to 3:00 pm

The Curiosity House Book Club will hold its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday December 2nd from 2 to 3 pm. This month, we will be discussing James Orbinski’s An Imperfect Offering. Our selection for January will be Steven Galloway’s The Cellist of Sarajevo. Remember all book club books, any book club, receive a 10% discount.

Artists’ Opening Reception

Saturday, December 5th, 2:00 to 4:00 pm

In the Gallery: Featuring Martha and Cathy Bull, Frith Bail and Brigitte Huebner

Martha and Cathy Bull will be in the gallery for the month of December, with paintings in watercolour and acrylic on the theme of Meditations From a Canoe. We will also have wonderful pottery from local artist Frith Bail, and fibre works from knitter and weaver, Brigitte Huebner. Come to our opening reception to find that special something for the people on your Christmas list.

Children’s Story Hour

Saturday, December 12th, 10:30 am to 11:15 am

Please join Miriam for our monthly Story Hour from 10:30 to 11:15 am. Children from 18 months to 6 years of age will have the opportunity to listen to captivating stories and complete a small craft activity with a seasonal theme.

Great Selections for Holiday Gift-Giving

There is nothing better than giving the gift of reading to those special people on your Christmas list. Our Books For Everybody Gift Guide has suggestions for your holiday gift buying. We have so many new and beautiful books arriving daily, that it is hard for us to choose a select few to recommend. However here are some you might want to consider…

A wonderful present for anyone on your list would be one, or more, of the recent book prize winners. The surprise Giller prize winner this year was Linden MacIntyre for his novel The Bishop’s Man, and another surprise winner of the Governor General’s Award for fiction was Kate Pullinger’s book The Mistress of Nothing , TP, an historical tale of a journey down the Nile in Victorian times exploring the subtleties of race, class, love and power. Nominated for the three top fiction prizes Annabel Lyon won the Rogers’ Writers Trust for her stunning novel The Golden Mean, HC. This is a story of Aristotle and his time tutoring the young Alexander (soon to be called “The Great”). Lyons weaves a fascinating tale of the times which seems to be so immediate and real. Another historical novel everyone seems to find very absorbing is the Booker Prize winner Wolf Hall, TP, by British writer Hilary Mantel. There are some beautiful coffee table books to choose from, among which a new art book, A.Y. Jackson: The Life of a Landscape Painter, HC, will please any art lover or artist on your list. Cookbooks, wine books and beer histories – who wouldn’t be pleased to receive one of these?

For children and young adults we have a wonderful selection of books to entertain and delight. For young children, The Usborne Fairytale Treasury is an enchanting selection of fairytales, handsomely illustrated in a wonderful hardcover volume. Another delightful book is A Pop-Up Book of Nursery Rhymes: A Classic Collectible Pop-Up. In this fantastic keepsake, Matthew Reinhart’s phenomenal paper engineering, brings an added dimension to the classic telling of Mother Goose’s most treasured nursery rhymes,. We also have wonderful hardcover re-issues of the Winnie the Pooh series, including the newly authorized companion volume from author David Benedictus, Return to the Hundred Acre Wood. This wonderful sequel truly captures the style of A.A. Milne and brings back all of our favourite characters for some fantastic new adventures. Be sure to check out our Scanimation and Animotion books including, Waddle! by Rufus Butler Seder, Lights Out Night’s Out, by William Boniface and Bee and Me and Baby Turtle’s Tale by Elle McGuinness. These are books where the pictures on the pages literally move before your eyes. A great selection for kids of all ages is The Children’s Book of Art, by Dorling Kindersley. This engaging guide takes children on a tour through the world of art, from the earliest days to the present. We also have newly released graphic novelizations of the Artemis Fowl, Alex Rider and Sam and Friends Mysteries in our graphic novels for tweens and young adults. For older kids (and some adults), the must-haves this year are books from the engrossing House of Night series, by P.C and Kristin Cast, as well as movie companions to tie in with Twilight and the newly released New Moon movie.

Looking for books with a holiday theme? Why not pick up a copy of The Christmas Story from the Metropolitan Museum of Art? The timeless story of Christmas is beautifully retold through paintings by some of the world’s greatest artists. This is a book which is sure to become a family heirloom. Drop by the store and take a look at the selection we have to offer. Can’t decide? We are happy to help you with suggestions and we also have a “gift registry” if you want to note the books you would like to receive from Santa this year! Give one of our new gift cards and give the gift of choice!

Christmas Hours 2009

For your shopping convenience, Curiosity House will be OPEN until 8:00 pm, every Friday until Christmas. Our hours for the Christmas season will be:

Wednesday December 23                                             10 am to 5 pm

Thursday December 24                                                   9 am to 5 pm

Friday December 25                                                           CLOSED

Saturday December 26                                                      9 am to 5 pm

Sunday December 27                                                       10 am to 5 pm

Monday December 28 to Wed. December 30                10 am to 5 pm

Thursday December 31                                                   10 am to 4 pm

Friday January 1                                                                  CLOSED

We will resume our regular hours on Saturday January 2, 2010 at 9:00 am

Quips, Quotes & Trivia

A book is a gift you can open again and again.

                            ~ Garrison Keillor

NOVEMBER BOOKMARKS

Relax and stay warm……

It’s time to slow down. Light a fire in the fireplace. Pick up a book and read. The snow hasn’t arrived, with skiing and snowshoeing to keep us active, but the winds outside are blowing colder and the leaves left on the ground are painted with frost. November is a month to enjoy the luxury of relaxation. With so many great new fiction and non-fiction releases at this time of year, there is a wealth of enjoyment to experience.

At Curiosity House we are working hard to prepare for the Holiday season. A very special gift for anyone is an author signed book and we have several excellent choices in the store from past book signing events we have hosted this fall. You may also pre-order personalized copies for our upcoming events with Hugh Brewster, Ted Barris and Terry O’Reilly. We are stocking up to provide you with plenty of gift-giving choices for everybody on your shopping list. Soon we will be rolling out our Christmas Gift Registry file. Please pick up a Books for Everybody catalogue the next time you are in the store. This excellent resource is a co-operative effort between publishers and independent booksellers, which features valuable gift-giving suggestions suitable for every member of the family. Don’t forget to take advantage of the $5.00 coupon inside your catalogue, as well!

November Dates to Remember

• Sunday, November 1st , 2:00 to 4:00 pm

Artist’s Opening Reception

In The Gallery: Roslyn Levin

Roslyn Levin is an award winning sumi-e painter who refers to her work as Ki Painting. Ki is the Japanese word for Universal Energy, also known as qi or chi. She has been painting professionally since 1981. Her work has appeared in both national and international exhibits in Canada as well as in group exhibits in both China and Japan. She has received various corporate commissions and has illustrated various books. Her work has appeared in In the Hills magazine and other local media. Join us for an opportunity to meet Roslyn, see her exciting brushstroke paintings and enjoy some refreshments.

• Saturday, November 14th, 10:30 to 11:15 am

Monthly Story Hour

Please join Miriam for our monthly Story Hour, from 10:30 to 11:15 am. Children will have the chance to listen to captivating stories, share the love of reading and complete a small craft activity.

• Sunday, November 29th, 1:00 to 3:00pm -

Author Event - Hugh Brewster and Ted Barris

(Creemore Legion)

Hugh Brewster has just released the third book in his war trilogy. Dieppe, Canada’s Darkest Day of World War II. This book, as in On Juno Beach and At Vimy Ridge, brings the subject vividly to life with text, many illustrations and photographs. Although classified for young adults, we find these books of great interest to readers of any age.

Ted Barris’s new book is Breaking The Silence: Untold Veterans’ Stories From The Great War To Afghanistan. Ted is the author of many books including Juno and Victory At Vimy. Both Hugh and Ted are wonderful story tellers and will each have visuals and artifacts to enrich their presentation. Join us at the Creemore Legion for an entertaining and educational afternoon. As a bonus there will be delicious refreshments provided by the Legion Auxillary.

Book Club and Knitters Share Ideas, Opinions and Good Company

The Curiosity House Book Club will hold its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday November 4^th, from 2 to 3 pm. This month, we will be discussing Lloyd Jones’, Mister Pip. Our selection for December will be James Orbinski’s An Imperfect Offering. Meanwhile, our Knitting Group continues every Wednesday, from 2 to 4 pm to trade knitting tips, and enjoy lively conversations and good company. Please call us for more information.

Remembering ….

(Reviewed by Catherine Randall)

The latest book in the more than 15 non-fiction books written by accomplished author Ted Barris is Breaking the Silence: Untold Veterans’ Stories from the Great War to Afghanistan, HC, $32.95. In his telling of these, as yet untold stories, the author captures the war experience of nearly 3,000 veterans. Ted is a wonderful story teller and I am eagerly awaiting his presentation, with Hugh Brewster, on Nov. 29^th at the Creemore Legion.

Other new books to do with war experiences are A Soldier First, Bullets, Bureaucrats and the Politics of War, by General Rick Hillier, HC, $34.99 and by author David Bercuson The Fighting Canadians, Our Regimental History from New France to Afghanistan, PB, $22.99. This last book is a moving account of Canadians on the frontlines from the 17^th century to today. A beautiful coffee table book is The Naval Service of Canada 1910 – 2010: The Centennial Story, HC, $39.95. This multi-author volume, with detailed chapters on a century of service, celebrates the contributions of many through written history, drawings, paintings and photographs. Very topical is What The Thunder Said: Reflections of a Canadian Officer in Kandahar, PB, $29.95, by Lieutenant-Colonel John Conrad, both a soldier and a poet. In the foreward by Christie Blachford, she comments that the book is about the unsung men and women who maintain supply lines and the tools of warfighting according to the ancient motto of soldiers “Arte et Marte”, Latin for “by skill and by fighting”.

Hugh Brewster’s Books for Aren’t Just for Kids…

(Reviewed by Miriam Vince)

Hugh Brewster has certainly earned his reputation as ”a master craftsman of history”. His award-nominated titles include books about John Singer Sargent, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Princess Anastasia, and the RMS Titanic.

His newest book, DIEPPE: Canada’s Darkest Day of World War II ($19.99, HC), was released in August to critical acclaim. It tells the story of “the bloodiest nine hours in Canadian military history” in words and pictures. Meticulously researched, this book tells the story of a disastrous raid and its tragic aftermath. Brewster maintains that “interviewing veterans of that fateful day and the subsequent POW camps was one of the most rewarding aspects of working on this book.” Most young people have not heard of Dieppe, but when they hear the stories of endurance and courage they will have a greater understanding of the sacrifices made by these remarkable men who are now in their late ‘80s or early ‘90s.

Along with DIEPPE, Brewster’s previously released award-winning books, At Vimy Ridge: Canada’s World War I Heroes ($10.99, PB) and On Juno Beach: Canada’s D-Day Heroes ($10.99, PB), detail the fateful battles which shaped our nation on the international stage. Where possible he has used unpublished accounts of eyewitnesses and participants. Captivating photographs and memorabilia bring these stories to life. Hugh’s research is deep and precise, and his storytelling is engaging. His books are a favourite with audiences of all ages.

I am looking forward to our author signing with Hugh Brewster and Ted Barris on Sunday, November 29^th. I will take the opportunity to purchase a copy of his new book for my father-in-law, a 91-year-old veteran of WWII. Two years ago, I bought him copies of Hugh’s earlier books about Vimy Ridge and Juno Beach, for Father’s Day. He thoroughly enjoyed them, just as I am sure he will enjoy Hugh’s newest offering.

Mark Your Calendars!

On Saturday, December 12^th, author and CBC radio personality, Terry O’Reilly, will be signing copies of his new book The Age of Persuasion at the store, from 2 to 4 pm. Mark your calendars and join us for this special event!

Quips, Quotes and Unnecessary Trivia

“To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.”

~ Victor Hugo

The first David Suzuki Foundation Book Club selection is The Sacred Balance by Dr. David Suzuki. To wrap up this month and celebrate this book club title, the the Foundation has invited Curiosity House and our customers to join them for a live webcast on Tuesday, November 10th at 4:30 PST (url will be sent to us next week). During this event, they will be showing never-before-seen in public footage of David Suzuki talking about his personal journey and the book that transformed him from scientist to environmentalist.

Everyone is urged to join the DSF Book Club to gain access to the exclusive webcast link.

Here are the David Suzuki Foundation Book Club titles for the next 3 months:

November: Less is More, Embracing Simplicity for a Healthy Planet, a Caring Economy and Lasting Happiness by by Cecile Andrews and Wanda Urbanska

December: Climate Cover-up, The Crusade to Deny Global Warming by Jim Hoggan

January: Not Just a Pretty Face, The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry by Stacy Malkan

For more information regarding the David Suzuki Foundation Book Club go to http://www.davidsuzuki.org/bookclub.

OCTOBER BOOKMARKS

Let us share the richness of our lives…..

At this time of the year we acknowledge the good fortune we have. The beauty of the landscape which surrounds us is inspiring. We want for little. Our country is blessed to be prosperous, with a wealth of natural resources. May we all take the opportunity, as we sit down to our Thanksgiving meals, to recognize our good fortune. Let us all give thanks!

October Dates to Remember

 Saturday, October 3rd, 9:30 to 11:30 am, Creemore Farmers’ Market

Author Signing - Margaret Wente

Margaret Wente, a columnist for the Globe & Mail and author, will be signing copies of her new book, You Can’t Say That in Canada (HarperCollins, $29.99). The book is a collection of some of her columns, readers’ comments and lots of new material. This is your chance to pick up a copy and have it personalized before it is in wide release. If you can’t make it to the market just phone the store to reserve your signed copy.

 Saturday, October 3rd, 2:00 to 4:00 pm

Artist’s Opening Reception

In The Gallery: Rosemary Hasner

Curiosity House is pleased to welcome artist Rosemary Hasner to the gallery for September. Rosemary’s artwork is born from photography. Her photos form the foundation for evocative and emotive constructed images, mostly of rural and environmentally-inspired scenes. Each piece she creates tells a story, one of icons, landmarks, symbols and metaphors. Join us at our opening reception and take the opportunity to meet this talented artist and enjoy some refreshments.

 Saturday, October 10th, 10:30 to 11:15 am

Monthly Story Hour

Please join Miriam for our monthly Story Hour from 10:30 to 11:15 am. Children from 18 months to 6 years of age will have the opportunity to listen to captivating stories and complete a small craft activity.

 Saturday, October 10th, 4:00 to 6:00 pm, Station on the Green

Book Launch - Catherine Gildiner

On October 10th, Catherine Gildiner and Curiosity House are pleased to host the official Creemore book launch of After the Falls the long awaited sequel to Too Close To The Falls. It will be a party with a 60’s theme – music, refreshments, an interview, a reading and time for signing. Join us at the Station on the Green. This is sure to be the event of the year! To have more time to enjoy the event we encourage you to pre-purchase the book and pick it up at the Station or the store.

 Saturday, October 17th

Independents’ Day - Local authors

We celebrate, with other independent bookstores across the country, the importance of independently owned bookstores. Visit us today to meet some of our local authors whom we support and feature in our store.

Knitting and Reading on Wednesday Afternoons – A Winning Combination

Wednesday afternoons provide an opportunity for stimulating discussions and creative expression. The Curiosity House Book Club will meet on Wednesday Oct 7th to discuss Margaret Atwood’s Massey Lecture, Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth. Our selection for November will be Mr. Pip by Lloyd Jones. Our Knitting Group also meets every Wednesday, from 2 to 4 pm. There’s always a place at the table for one more person.

New Books…..

(Reviewed by Catherine Randall)

I was privileged to be able to read, from an advanced copy, Catherine Gildiner’s new book After The Falls, HC, $32.95. What a book! This is her sequel to Too Close To The Falls, one of our all time favorite books. In this memoir Cathy recounts her teenage years in high school in Buffalo and college days in Ohio in her very humorous, frank and exhilarating style. Her personal story unfolds against the backdrop of the decade of the 60’s and its turbulent history of the Kennedys, civil rights, assassinations, the Black Panthers and Chicago. And Cathy is there! Alternately laughing at her hi-jinks, her wry wit and keen observations of herself and those around her and then being wrung emotionally by some of her other experiences, this book is an amazing story. I predict lots of attention for this book on both sides of the border. It is a must read! Copies will be available in the store by Thursday, Oct. 8th.

Yes, I have read Dan Brown’s new book, The Lost Symbol, HC, $36.95. It is a page turner, like The Da Vinci Code, and similarly, takes place over the course of 24 hours. One doesn’t read Dan Brown for the writing but for the action and intriguing story and this book sweeps you along. Set in Washington, D.C., fascinating descriptions and information about the Capitol building, The Smithsonian and the Washington Monument will have you wanting to visit Washington as soon as possible. The Masons and their secrets and symbols and how these are woven into the architecture of the city form the basis of the book…recommended if you like a good adventure.

Great Interactive Books for Kids…

(Reviewed by Miriam Vince)

Looking for some informative and entertaining books kids aged 7 and up? Each of these wonderful books has interactive features, including flaps, tabs, fold-outs and pop-ups:

Imagine You’re a Knight, by Peter Chrisp ($22.99 HC) takes children on an imaginary journey to medieval Europe, at a time when knights lived according to the rules of chivalry. Every page shows and describes the typical knight, as well as how knights were trained for battle and tournaments including armor, weapons and horses.

In Extreme Animals, by Steve Parker ($27.50 HC) children can learn which animals are the fastest, the deadliest, the largest, and the most intelligent. Filled with fascinating illustrations and photos along with astonishing facts this book explores the animals which inhabit the earth’s most distant realms, from tiny poisonous insects to the deadly giant king cobra. Of special note is a pocket on the inside cover, which contains a giant animal poster that displays the world’s most venomous animals.

Ice Age, by Stewart Ross ($23.99 HC) takes young readers on an exciting pictorial journey back to the time when a third of the Earth’s surface was covered in ice and snow. An illustrated time chart guides young readers back 1.7 million years to the Great Ice Age where the Neanderthals and early modern humans struggled to survive while in a world of extremes, including fearsome, now-extinct creatures.

In Creatures of the Deep, John Woodward ($22.99 HC) provides readers with an enjoyable and engaging introduction to life at the bottom of the ocean. The book’s main focus is on the deep ocean, detailing dramatic deep-sea landscapes and the fascinating species which inhabit them.

Quips, Quotes and Unnecessary Trivia

“Lord! When you sell a man a book you don’t sell just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue - you sell him a whole new life. Love and friendship and humour and ships at sea by night - there’s all heaven and earth in a book, a real book.”

~Christopher Morley~