Day 159: The New Catholic Picture Bible

Chatting Books Online Day 159. Today's recommended book is The New Catholic Picture Bible. The book on the left was given to me by my Grandparents on the occasion of my first holy communion in the 1970s . As you can see it was a favorite book for much of my young life. I carried it everywhere, particularly to church each sunday where I would pull it out and read silently as my young mind would start to wander during mass. I reasoned , and my parents agreed, that reading the bible silently was acceptable to keep me quiet and well behaved for that hour. For the past nearly 50 years this book has made every move with me and still resides on a bookshelf in my home today. One day looking through the shelves I saw the book and knew it was one we should carry at our bookshop, and we have ever since.

With beautiful full- color illustrations , more than 100 popular bible stories are told in a simple style that young readers will enjoy. This hardcover (padded) , 232 page book sells for just $10.95 a copy.

To purchase a copy of this book come see us Mondays - Saturdays between 10:30am and 4pm at the shop, or you can message me and we can ship a copy directly to you. Take Care, Mask Up, and May God Bless You.

Day 158: The Football Man

Chatting Books Online Day 158 . Today’s recommendation comes to you from our guest reviewer : my husband Rob . In addition to not only being my lovely husband, and a brilliant attorney , as you probably know Rob also owns a British Football so he probably knows what he is talking about here . Do without further ado :

Rob : I strongly recommend : The Football Man by Arthur Hopcraft.

For over fifty years, The Football Man has deserved it’s title as the best book ever written on English Football (soccer). It brilliantly explains the game’s relationship to British culture and economics through insightful descriptions of the players, managers, referees, directors, fans, and press. Because of its timeless observations, it is as current a guide to the game today as when it was first published.

We offer the book as a paperback Of 244 pages . It sells for $17.99 a copy.

To purchase a copy of this book come see us Mondays - Saturdays between 10:30am and 4pm at the shop, or you can message me and we can ship a copy directly to you. Take Care, Mask Up, and Come on You Blues !

Day 157 : As You Wish

Chatting Books Online Day 157 . Today’s recommended book is : As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes .

As many of you know I am a huge fan of both the book and the movie The Princess Bride . That being said back in 2014 when my husband gave me a copy of this book as a gift (a year before the bookstore opened so he still gave me books back then) I was hesitant to read it . What if it was awful , what is Cary Elwes can’t write at all , what if it is some kind of sappy fan nonsense . So many possibilities, but it was a well intentioned gift so I read it . And as you have probably guessed I learned so much about the behind the scenes making of my favorite movie that I truly enjoyed it - and it was actually well written too !

There are so many tidbits to learn when reading this book . Things like injuries (that after you know about it you can clearly see in the movie ), drinking with giants , jokesters on set , the intense training in fencing Mandy Patinkin and Cary Elwes went through and so much more . And you wouldn’t think this is information you would use again but this book and movie both have such cult-like followings that you may be surprised how often you can work this info into a conversation . (Or maybe that’s just me and I am an annoying super-fan or something but either way I’m ok with it ).

We stock this book in paperback , it has 242 pages and sells for $16.99 a copy .

To purchase a copy of this book come see us Mondays - Saturdays between 10:30am and 4pm at the shop, or you can message me and we can ship a copy directly to you. Take Care, Mask Up, and Have Fun Storming the Castle !

Day 156 : Andy Alligator

Chatting Books Online Day 156. Today’s recommended book is a snappishly good pick! A favorite children’s board book is Andy Alligator tells the story of a typical day in the life of snappy-jawed Andy Alligator, and the best part of it is that Andy is right there on the top of the book with a hinged jaw that makes a great snapping and creaking sound as you work the lever to snap his jaw. Every kid who sees (and hears ) this book at the bookstore can’t stop snapping it , great fun !

Board book with hinged snappy jawed top . 10 pages . Sells for $7.99 a copy.

To purchase a copy of this book come see us Mondays - Saturdays between 10:30am and 4pm at the shop, or you can message me and we can ship a copy directly to you. Take Care, Mask Up, and Have a Snappy Day !

Day 155 : Watch Me Die

Chatting Books Online Day 155. This weekend I returned to a sure thing and read an Erica Spindler book I had not come across before and "Watch Me Die" did not disappoint. Filled with fast paced, chilling thrills and suspense this one is set in New Orleans (and I am almost hesitant to say this part) 6 years post-Katrina. I say that I am hesitant about that because I for one, am not a fan of "Katrina Books". I feel like I lived through it once I don't need to wallow in it. This book does not. Yes, it refers to the fact that it is 6 years Post-Katrina but more as background information for the characters and their motivations, what makes them tick. It does not dwell on the storm but I guess is more like we will always refer to 2020 as the year of the Covid-Lockdowns and things that happen this year will forever have that stamp so things that happened in 2005 in New Orleans will always be associated with Katrina.

With an engaging cast of characters lead by Mira Gallier, a stain glass artist you will be swallowed up by this book. It ties in the police force, the arts world, the world of New Orleans and Mardi Gras royalty and the Catholic church with a prominent part given to Mary Magdalene and her story. It was one of those books that kept me guessing until the end and I did not want to put the book down until I got there.

We carry this book in paperback . 372 pages, selling for $22.99 a copy.

To purchase a copy of this book . or any of the others we have recommended in the past, come see us Mondays - Saturdays between 10:30am and 4pm at the shop, or you can message me and we can ship a copy directly to you. Take Care, Mask Up, keep on Reading!

Day 154 : The Week in Review August 10 - August 16, 2020.

Chatting Books Online Day 154. The Week in Review August 10 - August 16, 2020.

We started this week asking the question : Are you a Coffee Bean , a Carrot , or An Egg in the motivational book : The Coffee Bean .

We introduced you to a series of children’s book that are “Indestructible”. We visited the Delta and Got some recipes and stories from Martha Foose Hall in “Screen Doors and Sweet Tea” , then we revisited our favorite genre “books set in bookstores “ in : The Words Between Us. And finally we took a rhyming trip with Shel Silverstein to : Where the Sidewalk Ends . I would say it has been a good week in book recommending world , wonder what next week will bring ?

If you missed any of these reviews and want to read what I had to say about them you can see all of our Chatting Books Online picks by visiting our website at: http://www.conundrumbooks.com/chatting-books-online .

We still (and always will going forward) offer shipping if you cannot make it to the store. Or just stop by the shop Monday - Saturday between 10:30am and 4pm

Day 153: Where the Sidewalk Ends

Chatting Books Online Day 153. Today's recommended book is a classic. Where the Sidewalk Ends is a book of poems and drawings by Shel Silverstein and it is sure to delight, to entertain , and to produce giggles from all who read it. The opening poem says it all when it starts:

"If you are a Dreamer, Come In" , and since we are all dreamers at least some of the time I hope you will all "Come In" and join me in delighting in the rhymes Mr. Silverstein has to share. You will go on to read poems about Pancakes ( and from where in the stack one should pull one), and Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me Too , and plungers worn as hats, and Melinda who ate an entire whale, and what would happen "if the world was crazy" (I would be King!).

A delight from start to finish; where the Sidewalk Ends.

To purchase a copy of this book . or any of the others we have recommended in the past, come see us Mondays - Saturdays between 10:30am and 4pm at the shop, or you can message me and we can ship a copy directly to you. Take Care, Mask Up, keep on Dreaming!

Day 152: How to Grown a School Garden

Chatting Books Online Day 152. Since it's Back To School Week I thought it only appropriate that today's recommended book should be : How to Grow a School Garden: A Complete Guide for Parents and Teachers.

With all the concerns about confined spaces what better way to social distance than by including a school garden in your curriculumn - and what a fantastic addition for new homeschooling moms!

This book covers it all, From planning and fundraising (even has a sample letter!), to tricks of the trade, planting, harvesting , and cooking , and even a year-round guide to lessons and activities .

This paperback book is written by folks from the San Francisco Green Schoolyard Alliance so they know what they are talking about. The book is 224 pages and sells for $24.95 a copy.

To purchase a copy of this book . or any of the others we have recommended in the past, come see us Mondays - Saturdays between 10:30am and 4pm at the shop, or you can message me and we can ship a copy directly to you. Take Care, Mask Up, and Keep on Growing!