| Forthcoming | New Releases |
The unpretentious atmosphere of Blue Heron Books with its comfy chairs, wood shelving and creaky floors lends itself to a long slow, browsing session, but under that sleepy atmosphere vibrates a strong pulse. The store has a quaint, old-fashioned look with an up tempo vibe, because there is always something happening. The store is a hub for the community and a bastion of calm chaos where everyone is welcome, even the local dogs that drop by with their owners for a treat from the tin kept under the front counter.
62 Brock St. W., Uxbridge, Ontario. 905-852-4282You Think You Know Me, But You Have No Idea
May 2nd, 7:00 pm
Most readers will confess to mining the details of their favourite novels for evidence of the writer’s life. Switch out one gender for another, add ten years and relocate a character to another province or territory and we’re all but certain that the writer is talking about his or her first love, a parent, an old boss, maybe a child.
What, though, of the non-fiction writer and the memoirist? What of the people we’ve come to know only through a very focused view of their world? Do we take for granted that we know something about them? Do we as readers fictionalize non-fiction writers?
Presented by Blue Heron Books and the Book Madam, join Sue Reynolds in a fascinating conversation featuring:
• James FitzGerald, author of What Disturbs Our Blood: A Son’s Quest to Redeem the Past (winner of the Writers’ Trust Non-Fiction Prize), an astounding memoir about multiple generations of successful physicians gripped by mental illness.
• Andrew Westoll, author of The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary (winner of The Charles Taylor Prize for Non-Fiction), which has garnered praise and media attention in large part due to Westoll’s first-hand experience as a volunteer caregiver
• Julie Wilson, founder of SeenReading.com, the addictive online literary voyeurism movement that tracks the reading habits of Torontonians, now a book of microfictions (Freehand Books, print; HarperCollins Canada, ebook)
Your $40 ticket will include wine and cheese from the Passionate Cook’s Essentials and a $20 voucher towards book of your choice and wine and cheese.
Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo
A young boy emerges from life-saving surgery with remarkable stories of his visit to heaven.
Heaven Is for Real is the true story of the four-year old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven. He survives and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room. The family didn’t know what to believe but soon the evidence was clear.
Colton said he met his miscarried sister, whom no one had told him about, and his great grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was born, then shared impossible-to-know details about each. He describes the horse that only Jesus could ride, about how “reaaally big” God and his chair are, and how the Holy Spirit “shoots down power” from heaven to help us.
Told by the father, but often in Colton’s own words, the disarmingly simple message is heaven is a real place, Jesus really loves children, and be ready, there is a coming last battle.
We recommend…Bounce by Matthew Syed
In this bold new look at human behavior, award-winning journalist and Olympian Matthew Syed explores the truth about our competitive nature—why we win, why we don’t, and how we really play the game of life. Bounce reveals how competition—the most vivid, primal, and dramatic of human pursuits—provides vital insight into many of the most controversial issues of our time, from biology and economics, to psychology and culture, to genetics and race, to sports and politics.
Backed by cutting-edge scientific research and case studies, Syed shatters long-held myths about meritocracy, talent, performance, and the mind. He explains why some people thrive under pressure and others choke, and weighs the value of innate ability against that of practice, hard work, and will. From sex to math, from the motivation of children to the culture of big business, Bounce shows how competition provides a master key with which to unlock the mysteries of the world.
Father’s Day Picks for Hockey Dads
Official Guide to the Players of the Hockey Hall of Fame by Andy Bathgate, Pat LaFontaine, Bryan Trottier
Don Cherry’s Hockey Stories, Part 2 by Don Cherry
Hockey Superstitions: From Playoff Beards to Crossed Sticks and Lucky Socks by Andrew Podnieks
We recommend…Beyond Belfast by Will Ferguson
Offbeat and charming, and filled with humour, insight, and a wide array of eccentric characters, Beyond Belfast tells the story of one man’s misguided attempt to walk the entire Ulster Way: a 560-mile path that circles Northern Ireland, from the city walls of Derry to the moorland heights of the Sperrins, and from the green glens of Antrim to the Mountains of Mourne. Along the way, Will Ferguson, grandson of a Belfast orphan, uncovers his own hidden family history—clues about a lost inheritance, a mysterious photograph, rumours of a vast estate. The truth, when it comes, is both surprising and funny …
Experience Steak with Jeremy Buckingham and Marko Gotowiec
Ah, here is one event for all the men in your life! But we know the grill is no longer just the man’s domain, so ladies you are most welcome too!
Join us on Thursday June 30th at Passionate Cooks Essentials for our Experience Steak event.
Your ticket entitles you to try 4 different steak cuts and wine pairings prepared to perfection by Chefs Jeremy Buckingham and Marko Gotowiec, a copy of STEAK by Mark Schatzker and a BBQ baster.
7:00 pm, at Passionate Cooks Essentials, 66 Brock Street W.
Tickets are $95 per person and are available at Blue Heron Books.
Hot Non-Fiction…Why Catholics are Right by Michael Coren
A bestselling author and prominent Catholic defends his faith.
Columnist, television host, author, and practicing Catholic Michael Coren examines four main aspects of Catholicism as they are encountered, understood, and more importantly, misunderstood, today. For some Catholicism is the only permanent, absolute body of truth, while for others it is the last permanent, absolute body that has to be opposed and stopped. Why Catholics Are Right opens with a discussion of the abuse scandal and the reality of what happened. Coren then traces Catholic history, with a discussion of the Crusades, Inquisition, Holocaust, and Galileo. He looks at Catholics and theology, explaining what and why Catholics believe what they do — Papal infallibility, immaculate conception, the Church rather than Bible alone. Finally, Coren outlines the pro-life position and why it is so important to Catholicism. In this challenging, provocative, and personal book, Michael Coren draws on history, politics, and theology to present the arguments for the truth of Roman Catholicism.
We recommend…Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer
Foer’s unlikely journey from chronically forgetful science journalist to U.S. Memory Champion frames a revelatory exploration of the vast, hidden impact of memory on every aspect of our lives.
On average, people squander forty days annually compensating for things they’ve forgotten. Joshua Foer used to be one of those people. But after a year of memory training, he found himself in the finals of the U.S. Memory Championship. Even more important, Foer found a vital truth we too often forget: In every way that matters, we are the sum of our memories.
Moonwalking with Einstein draws on cutting-edge research, a surprising cultural history of memory, and venerable tricks of the mentalist’s trade to transform our understanding of human remembering. Under the tutelage of top “mental athletes,” he learns ancient techniques once employed by Cicero to memorize Continue reading
Knit Your Own Royal Wedding
The most unique tribute to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton–instructions for a handknit wedding scene complete with adorable dolls and a foldout illustration of Westminster Abbey so you can display your creations.
Knit Your Own Royal Wedding features projects for Prince William, Kate Middleton, the Queen, Prince Harry, other members of the royal family, and even a cute little corgi. The background scene, which fits into a pocket in the back cover, is an illustrated foldout of Westminster Abbey. Also included are instructions for a few wedding accessories.
Each project comes complete with knitting instructions and full-color photos of the finished doll, all on cleverly illustrated pages. For knitters and non-knitters alike, this will be a beautiful and fun souvenir of what is sure to be the wedding of the century!
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