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Independent since 1974 · Phone: 413-645-3256 · CURBSIDE HOURS: Mon-Fri 10-6 · Sat 10-5 · Closed Sun · Contact Us
63 State Rd. Great Barrington, MA 01230
Cheri loves books, books, books and more books. She reads pretty much all genres and is always delighted to have an enthusiastic chat about her most recent read. She also loves movies, music and cats.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: AnotherComments:
How ADORABLE is the artwork in this picture book?! I love the little girl, the sweet black cat and the fact that this story is told without words. I also really dig the concept of perspective and think it's never too early (or late!) to learn to explore different viewpoints and to do so without fear.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Almost Everything: Notes on HopeComments:
The cover isn't the only thing that's awesome about this book - Anne Lamott's personality comes through loud and clear and she's at once wise and funny, too. Ultimately, her message really is hopeful and I felt I spent time with an older aunt imparting life advice reading this.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: CirceComments: "The thought was this: that all my life had been murk and depths, but I was not a part of that dark water. I was a creature within it."
"Until that moment I had not known how many things I feared."
"But there was no wound she could give me that I had not already given myself."
There are SO many things I could say about this book... I identified with Circe and LOVED being in her world. It's a journey that does take you on adventures that involve Gods, Odysseus, mythical beings and some evil doings ~ yet feels quite real and deep in ways more contemporary than expected. Circe is unforgettable for sure.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: A Winter's PromiseComments:
If you liked Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series, this may be for you. I was immediately intrigued by the World of the Arks and the main character Ophelia's ability to travel through mirrors. The story that unfolds is similar to what you find in fairy tales, however it's so unique in its environment and the characters all very well-developed. I am so pleased to know that this is just Book 1 and that there is some more of Ophelia and Thorn to look forward to.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Places That Scare YouComments:
You do not have to be a practicing Buddhist to glean something from this book -- In fact, I think it contains wisdom and tools for living that all beings could benefit from. I certainly wish I was taught this way of looking at the world when I was a child! If you are feeling disenchanted with life or have trouble getting out of your own way, this is a fresh perspective for consideration. It has been an invaluable resource to me for many years.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Wee Hee HeeComments:
This book is SO cute. It makes me laugh. I couldn't stop reading it aloud to my coworkers! Such great puns! And the artwork is colorful and friendly.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: MoonComments:
What a charming, sweet story about what it means to step outside of your routine and the gifts of new experiences. Very simply told, this is an encouragement of imagination, play, as well as staying true to oneself. And the illustration is just darling. I have this one on my personal bookshelf as an adult :)
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Overheard: The Art of EavesdroppingComments:
After living in NYC for over 20 years you'd think nothing would surprise me - but the conversations/eavesdropping that is depicted in this book makes me howl with laughter. The artwork also has a personality of its own as well, definitely not taking itself too seriously and jives perfectly with the quotes. I hope there will be a part II!
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Bone PeopleComments:
Have you ever read something that sticks with you for years and years? Keri Hulme's The Bone People is one of those stories for me. I still think about the characters and the landscape to this day. If you are interested in learning about different cultures and also like a mix of mystery, love, and family, this might be a good choice for you. Be prepared for an experimental, yet beautiful reading experience that at times is akin to poetry and tells the tale from varying points of view.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Dress and the Girl
Comments:
I am a HUGE fan of Julie Morstad's illustrations. She creates worlds that, to me, are so beautiful and endearing, and always draw me in. The story that the pictures tell is also beautifully done, and is a reminder of how precious each day is, and all the moments that fill them.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Mary Wears What She Wants
Comments:
This book is awesome. Hooray for Mary Edwards Walker for bringing pants into my life acceptably because although dresses are nice, I can't imagine not having the option. This story could have been made complicated by the theme, however it's quite straightforward and makes the point nicely. The artwork is VERY FUN! I especially enjoy the eyebrows on the unhappy faces! The notion of not being able to wear what you want is such a foreign one to me and it's nice to read/be reminded of how one person helped bring this freedom of clothing choice to reality.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Hollow Kingdom
Comments:
Three stars for a really original story and downright HILARIOUS moments. However, once I got towards the end of the book I found it too devastating and heavy for my heart to handle. Beware - this is not light reading despite how funny a lot of it is written. As much as I laughed at parts I made up for it in tears later.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Arrowood
Comments:
This was a fun and quick read. Mick Finlay does a great job with the location and time period. The dirtiness and grit of London at that time was palpable and reminded me of The Suspicions of Mr Whicher and Oliver Twist. Arrowood is such a character - his ridiculousness and bombast at times made me laugh and at other times I found him as annoying and exhausting as everyone around him did. The actual crime tale itself wasn’t very sophisticated, but enjoyable enough to keep me turning the page to see what came next. I will definitely be interested in reading the next installment.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Poison Thread
Comments:
What if it were possible for every bad feeling you ever had of jealousy, hatred, want for revenge to take form from your hand supernaturally to a needle and thread? To kill/punish those that you felt deserved it? Two young women are the lead figures in this story - Ruth is committed to a prison for crimes that appear to come from a magical “gift” she has and the torment she has endured - and pretty, educated Dorothea driven by a moral code to save inmates by using phrenology as a technique and a belief that good triumphs over evil. I grew very attached quite quickly to the idea of this supernatural sewing ability and was taken in by the atrocities Ruth experienced and was moved right along with Dorothea as all unfolded. A traditional gothic gem of a story from start to finish - I very much appreciated where it ended up and the questions that were raised about justice, friendship, women, class and the choices we make in judgment of others and ourselves.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: There Are No Bears in this Bakery
Comments:
This book makes me happy for so many reasons: 1) the cat as main character is so cute and funny 2) the artwork pops the characters to life in their eyes and expressions and 3) the last page is a great last minute funny wink to parents. A great choice for cat (and bear!) lovers and those that appreciate a good chuckle.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Language of Fire
Comments:
You may or may not be familiar with Joan of Arc's story ~ and either way, this book is very enjoyable. Written in verse, it really draws you in and at times the language is quite beautiful and poignant. As I was reading it, I almost wanted to alter history as I knew what was coming, but felt so connected to Jehanne I hated to see the end. I think it was extremely brave and creative for Stephanie Hemphill to take on this subject and to produce it in verse form.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: My Best Friend's Exorcism
Comments:
I don't even know what to say about this book. Taking place in the 1980's (if you couldn't tell by the cover!) this is a story about teenage girls and friendship - the good and the very bad (including demonic possession!). Grady Hendrix really nails it with the time period with hilarious references (including song titles for each chapter), and it brought me back to my own teenage years in the 80s with my big hair and makeup and personal struggles with girlfriends and boys. This book doesn't take itself too seriously and I really enjoyed the ride.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Bookish Life of Nina Hill
Comments:
This is such a sweet feel-good book. If you are looking for an old-fashioned love story that isn't too romancey, this is a good pick. I found Nina Hill's character to be very endearing, similar to Meg Ryan in a Nina Ephron film, or Bridget Jones. An easy, breezy read that left me smiling.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe
Comments:
What a lovely heartwarming story about family, friendship and forgiveness mixed in with some magic and southern charm. If you are looking for a sweet escape, this is a perfect choice. And it also made me hungry for pie!
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Saturday Night Ghost Club
Comments:
It’s so great when a book surprises you with how beautifully it is written. This coming of age story filled me with nostalgia for the pre-internet days of riding bikes and exploring the woods — where one could be scared,excited and thrilled all at the same moment. Craig Davidson does a stellar job of transporting the reader into Jake’s world and bringing into sharp focus the power memory holds.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Fact of a Body
Comments:
AMAZING! I haven’t the appropriate words to express how great this book is. I could not put it down and am in awe of the author’s courage and writing skills. Highly recommend for anyone interested in true crime and also memoir as this is a hybrid. This is one I definitely will never forget.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Unthinkable: An Extraordinary Journey Through the World's Strangest Brains
Comments:
I've always thought the brain was fascinating - and now I'm even more convinced that it's mysterious and intriguing how it works. These true stories exemplify the strange range of disorders that are out there and I'm sure it's just scratching the surface. An accessible, interesting and sometimes jaw-dropping account of the wild, sad and mystifying brain and how it baffles us all.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: In the Dream House
Comments:
Wow... Carmen Maria Machado blew me away with this book. If anyone has been in love with the "wrong" person, her story is/will be relatable in so many ways. Definitely not a traditional memoir - her story unfolds in a heartachingly truthful way and at times reads like poetry. While the seriousness of the topics (abuse, heartbreak, self-harm) cannot be denied, Carmen does have a clever and quirky wit that also made the harshness of her experience fun at moments. I especially appreciated her footnotes.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Pop Science (Serious Answers to Deep Questions Posed in Songs)
Comments:
Should I Stay or Should I Go? by the Clash -- Did you know that this song can be translated into a simple algebra equation to solve the question? I didn't either, but it's pretty brilliantly done and hilarious (see page 35). Also, the book finally answers the question posed by Peter, Paul & Mary of where all the flowers went. Ha! If you are a big music fan you'll be entertained by this fun book.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Little Weirds
Comments:
It's challenging to describe this book. If you are looking for a laugh out loud slap-your-leg romp of a read, this isn't it. Instead, this is a collection of vignettes that I'd say are much more literary than I anticipated, infused with Jenny Slate's totally original, quirky view of herself and the world. I really loved it. Here is a line that particularly resonated for me: "As the image of myself becomes sharper in my brain and more precious, I feel less afraid that someone else will erase me by denying me love."
Keep writing, Jenny!!!
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Cloud
Comments:
The Cloud is such a sweet story that I think we can all relate to, children and adults alike. I love that it shows the beauty of cooperation, the reward in making the effort even when it's hard, and the power we all have inside us to connect. The illustrations are also adorably fun - especially if you look closely at what the children draw :)
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Wake, Siren: Oving Resung
Comments:
This was absolutely fantastic. A retelling of many of the tales from Ovid’s Metamorphoses in a very original and powerful way. I love how some of the stories have a contemporary setting. Not for the squeamish, these tales are brutal in their honesty and I was moved to tears by how beautifully they are told. Highly recommend!
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Follow Me to Ground
Comments:
Wow. I loved this. It’s creepy and thrilling and provocative and sometimes gross. It left me feeling strange in the best possible way.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Travel Light, Move Fast
Comments:
Reading this book was an experience. Alexandra Fuller paints the most wonderful and vivid picture of her parents and their life in Zambia. What zany people with many endearing personality traits. Overall, it is a beautiful portrait of her father and the acceptance of his death. On this journey I laughed, I got teary and was made to pause a few times to reread some intensely beautiful lines. *The ending really took me by surprise.*
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Caspian Finds a Friend
Comments:
I love stories about friendship. And animals! The artwork in this really intrigued me - I love how fuzzy his sweater is and the texture of the ocean and fish. It's a story that left me feeling warmhearted and smiley.
"What you seek is seeking you." - Rumi
(perfect quote shown at the front of the book)
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Verge: Stories
Comments:
Breathtakingly beautiful, brutal, gritty, deep — some of the very best writing I have ever seen. I can’t say enough about these stories but I can’t quite get it exactly right. Visceral, tough to swallow, sometimes dangerously erotic while also nauseating. Her voice so clear like a whisper in my ear revealing secret places. This one will be hard to beat.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse
Comments:
This story makes my heart happy. Poor Alexander, like everyone else at some point in time, looks at Willy the Wind-Up mouse and wishes to be him. I've definitely envied another person and wished my life could be like theirs -- And yet... Leo Lionni perfectly demonstrates how being yourself is always the best - and even being selfless and generous to another brings with it the best gift of joy. Heart = Happy :) Also, let's not forget the artwork. LOVE the textures and printwork. C'est bon!
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Things in Jars
Comments:
What a story!!! Where to begin?! This is a Victorian London (but also Irish) mystery but it has all these different elements that make it SO delicious - a ghost, early medical procedures and some gore, circus life with its criminals and innocents, Celtic mythology of mermaids and sea creatures (selkies came to mind), a badass woman protagonist and her loyal 7ft tall woman sidekick, and of course, murder, ruthlessness and a young street boy that brought to mind Dickens characters. Once I started this I couldn’t put it down. Really quite refreshing, twisty and also has great humor.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: A Year with Mama Earth
Comments:
I love this stroll through the seasons with Mama Earth. Written with such sweet rhyme and artwork that couldn't be more friendly, I easily was taken in. I imagine this will be a wonderful book to share with a little one and the adults will appreciate its message, too. I sure did!
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: You Were There Too
Comments:
I was drawn into this immediately. I couldn’t stop thinking about it and spent the past 48 hours really just waiting until I could get back to reading it. It’s heartbreaking and mysterious and also just a beautiful love story. Someone should make a movie of this pronto. Made me cry.
Some themes:
- marriage issues/love
- psychic ability
- pregnancy & miscarriages
- dreams
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Floret Farm's A Year in Flowers
Comments:
WHOA. If you have even the smallest interest in flowers, or you are like me and just go gaga when you see amazing arrangements, this book is a real delight. I want to rush out to my closest local flower farm right now and just buy armfuls! It's also VERY cool that she takes us behind the curtain and shows how to actually make those out-of-this-world arrangements, complete with lists of tools, tips and flower instruction. Do yourself a favor and take a moment to stop and smell the FLOWERS(ha ha!) in this gorgeous book!
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The King's Highway
Comments:
I stood and read this book and laughed, laughed, laughed and LAUGHED. These are simple comics but hilariously executed. For a good laugh open this book!
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: A Way with Wild Things
Comments:
Ohhhh Poppy Ann Fields stole my heart from page 1. With her adorable glasses and groovy ways of blending into the scenery when people are around - she is SO cute! I love the differentiation of wallflower and wildflower and all that implies. A cute story for those interested in what's found in the backyard, too. The COOL glossary in the back of Poppy's Bug Friends is informative as well as fun.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Catherine House
Comments:
This was awesome! Creepy, gothic college steeped in mystery. An antihero young woman protagonist with a dark past. I highly recommend this to anyone that likes suspenseful coming of age stories with a satisfying reveal. I am impressed this is a debut novel for Elisabeth Thomas and look forward to reading more from her.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Death in Her Hands
Comments:
Wow. I don't even know what to say. This story was different than anything else I've ever read. Very original and creative, but also depressing, nightmarish, and at times poignant. Beautifully written and also hauntingly urgent. I was compelled to keep turning pages because I was as obsessed as the main character was with figuring out the mystery. I surely won't forget this character.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: I Hold a Wolf by the Ears
Comments:
I loved this! Each of the stories in this collection feature women with very real, very human (imperfect) natures that I felt deeply connected with. These are not light stories or for anyone who wants a happy ending or a mystery wrapped up with a tidy bow explanation. Instead, Laura van den Berg takes you down curvy roads that are dimly lit with loneliness, regret, fear and death.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Fairest: A Memoir
Comments:
What a beautifully written, deep-diving, soulful memoir.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: The Girl and the Ghost
Comments:
This is not your typical young person’s tale. It features a spirit/ghost that has attached itself to a young girl and is not always good. There is an evil man, a not nice witch grandmother and a cold emotionally detached mother. There are bullies and monstrous creatures and there is loneliness, sadness and loss. And yet, despite all of these dark and sometimes outright scary things, there is a beautiful lesson about real friendship, being true to oneself, having courage in the face of fear, the importance of family, and letting go in order to move on. I was deeply moved.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Home Before Dark
Comments:
Well I spent my whole day reading this book so that tells you something about it. Ha. An easy to read, suspenseful page turner about a creepy perhaps haunted house and the family that last lived in it. It brought back childhood memories of watching Amityville Horror and the super creepiness of Burnt Offerings. There was a point where I was aware of what the ultimate reveal was but I didn’t care that I figured it out - the story was too fun to be let down. This is a great creepy read for a weekend at a lake or the beach.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type
Comments:
This book is so much fun! I love that the duck is the "neutral party". It's also very easy to read for beginners and has such a great sense of silly -- kids and adults will chuckle. Every time I read it I guffaw!
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Temporary
Comments:
This book was so creative, quirky and profound. I basked in the beauty of the writing, giggled and got teary too!
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: A Deadly Inside Scoop (An Ice Cream Parlor Mystery #1)
Comments:
A fresh and fun start to a new cozy mystery series that made me soooo crave ice cream! Great characters and I loved the Cleveland small town setting. Sometimes cozy mysteries are exactly what I need and this one was a delight. I am excited to see what the next installment brings.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: Things That Go Away
Comments:
This is a beautiful book for both children and adults.
Bookseller: Cheri
Title: We Keep the Dead Close
Comments:
A very thoroughly researched true crime story that sucked me in from the first page. There are so many elements to this story that are fascinating: a mysterious death of a young woman - violent murder! Harvard in 1969 at the height of counterculture. Archeological digs and Indiana Jones-like professors as possible suspects. Police corruption. Misogyny. A curious undergrad that decides to dive into the research and tell the story. Any true crime fans should check this out. Highly recommend!
Independent since 1974 · Phone 413-645-3256 · Mon-Fri 10-6 · Sat 10-5 · Closed Sun · hello@thebookloft.com
