ENGLISH BOOK CENTRE
The
Summer Catalogue 2018
The English Book Centre 12 rue Alexis Julien 06560 Valbonne 04 93 12 21 42 englishbooks@wanadoo.fr Opening Hours Tuesday to Saturday 9:30 to 1:00 3:00 to 6:30
Lin fell in love w soon as she disc couldn’t resist a she’s loved ever but she’s read e edge of books f each of the shop and left the run Helen and Debb
www.englishbookcentre.com
Providing books in English for over 35 years.
Catalogue designed, edited and published by Alice Barker Creative Online Media www.alicebarker.com
Deborah Frost i enterprises (SM numbers and sle has rescued man accounting skills and the English and savvy ability read, the Englis
Meet The Team! L IN W OL F F
with this amazing independent bookshop as covered it. Hearing it was up for sale, she and bought it. That was 18 years ago and ry moment. Her French was never perfected every book in the shop. Her superior knowlfacilitates sensible advice and guidance to p’s visitors. She recently returned to the US nning of the shop in the capable hands of bie.
HELEN MEEHAN Helen Meehan is an English teacher, editor and manager at the English Book Centre. She claims overcoming adversity and perseverance as her greatest strengths. Raised in the perilous streets of Brooklyn in the 1970’s, she is the second oldest of 11 children. She worked her way through the State University of New York and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English literature. Then it was 13 years in Germany as a technical writer. Helen has now worked in France for 15 years and is an incurable bibliophile. DEBBIE FROST
is a successful advisor to small to medium ME.) As an accountant, she is a genius with eeps with a spread sheet next to her. She ny SMEs from ruin and now puts her s to use at the Cancer Support Group 06 Book Centre. Due to her financial acumen y to select the books our customers will sh Book Centre is a success today.
It’s Summer, Let’s Read! Summer’s arrived and, you’ve guessed it, holidays are just around the corner. Which means . . . more me to finally lose yourself in a great book. If you’re dying for some new adventures we’ve put together a fab catalogue full of specially hand-picked tempng summer tles. These are just a selecon om the hundreds of books we have in the shop. So, kick off your shoes, sit back and have fun flipping through it to find your next little piece of magic. The bookshop’s open right through summer so you can either email or phone us to reserve your book (or books) or, if you’re out and about pop by to say hello and pick them up om us in Valbonne. If you don’t see a tle you’re looking for or your chosen tle is no longer in stock, don’t panic! We pride ourselves on offering speedy, personal service, oen rivalling the online retailers. We don’t ask for a deposit (or very rarely), and you’re alerted as soon as your book arrives. Make your summer extra special this year with the English Book Centre and let summer thrills begin! Lin, Helen & Debs ps. Do share the catalogue if you know someone would love it too and (nudge, nudge) give us a ‘like’ on Facebook!
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CONTENTS
BiogrAphY ChilDreN’s CoFFee tABle CriMe & thriller FiCtioN FooD & DriNK heleN’s reviews historY hoMe & gArDeN loCAl Authors
40 42 44 48 45
spotlight MeMoirs our suMMer reADs roMANCe YA
Biography
BESTSELLER
ary Lemist Titcomb (1852–1932) was always looking for ways to improve her library. As librarian at the Washington County Free Library in Maryland, Titcomb was concerned that the library was not reaching all the people it could. She was determined that everyone should have access to the library—not just adults and those who lived in town. Realizing its limitations and inability to reach the county’s 25,000 rural residents, including farmers and their families, Titcomb set about to change the library system forever with the introduction of book-deposit stations throughout the country, a children’s room in the library, and her most revolutionary idea of all—a horse-drawn Book Wagon. Soon book wagons were appearing in other parts of the country, and by 1922, the book wagon idea had received widespread support. The bookmobile was born!
M
Children’s
When Tom gets hit cricket ball, he ďŹ nd Funt Hospital, and terrifying-looking from bad to wors the wicked matron children's ward... to embark on the m ney of a lifetime Gang tells an extr warming and, of co of ďŹ ve children on and on a quest for story of friendship of making dreams ers are set to be u by this heartfelt st magic to everyone Sparrow doesn't have many friends. Some kids believe her house near the swamp is haunted. Others think there's something "unusual" about her. But Sparrow's not lonely -- she has a best friend who's always with her. He sits with Sparrow on her porch swing. He makes her smile by playing pranks in church. Yet Sparrow is the only one who can see him . . . because the Boy is a ghost. So when her mama passes away, Sparrow doesn't give up hope. But the Boy has a secret of his own, one that Sparrow will need to uncover before the ghost will lead her to Mama. To solve the mystery, Sparrow joins forces with some unlikely allies.
t on the head by a ds himself at Lord d is greeted by a porter. Things go se when he meets n in charge of the But Tom is about most thrilling joure! The Midnight raordinarily heartourse, funny story n a hospital ward r adventure! It is a p and magic - and come true. Readutterly spellbound tory that will bring e.
Life is quiet and ordinary in Amal's Pakistani village, but she had no complaints, and besides, she's busy pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher one day. Her dreams are temporarily dashed when—as the eldest daughter—she must stay home from school to take care of her siblings. Amal is upset, but she doesn't lose hope and finds ways to continue learning. Then the unimaginable happens—after an accidental run-in with the son of her village's corrupt landlord, Amal must work as his family's servant to pay off her own family's debt.
Coffee Table
BESTSELLER
The ďŹ fty-third Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition returns to the Natural History Museum later this year with another selection of beautiful, diverse and dramatic representations of the natural world. This portfolio features all 100 winning photos, selected by an international jury from more than almost 50,000 entries from 92 countries. Chosen for their artistic merit and originality as well as their adherence to the competition's rigorous ethical standards, these images are accompanied by the story behind each picture.
Crime & Thriller
If the idea of a crazily suspenseful roller coaster rid comfort of an armchair appeals to you, it is time to Terry Hayes. It’s highly unlikely you’ll be disappo characters: an American secret agent doing his be an infamous jihadi terrorist bent on c You won’t stop to breathe much during t because everything is thrown in gruesome murder, beheading in the middl Hindu Kush, and the manda Mr. Hayes pulls it off with non-stop suspen
de experienced from the o read I AM PILGRIM by ointed with the two main est to save the world vs. creating the apocalypse. this globe trotting thriller n except the kitchen sink: le East, the mountainous atory Nazi death camp. nse and lightning speed.
From Michael Crichton, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Jurassic Park, comes a thrilling adventure set in the Wild West that will keep you on the edge of your seat from the first page to the last! 1876. In the lawless territories of the Wild West, two teams of explorers are pitted against one another. Their quarry? Dinosaur bones. But in a land filled with hostile Indian tribes and towns where pistol fights are a daily occurrence, every exploit puts their lives in danger… William Johnson, a student with more privilege than sense, finds himself plunged into this deadly environment after making a brash wager. Alongside Edwin Drinker Cope, the famed adventurer, he stumbles upon a momentous discovery – dragon teeth of a fantastic size!
Fiction
Here is a dysfu parents, spouse perception, Ms family. Althoug story reads like sentence. The n one generation not to do so. T create a true lit author’s extrao
unctional family portrait for everyone: siblings, ses, friends and children. With astute psychological s. Ng tells the story of a mixed race American gh the denouement is revealed on page one, the e a thriller and keeps the reader glued until the last novel proves enlightening on the ancient theme of n repeating the mistakes of the past while vowing The adroit writing and masterful storytelling terary mystery; the book is a testament of the ordinary skill.
Food & Drink
A one-of-a-kind collection of recipes, the-scenes stories from legendary pitm Peace, Love, & Barbecue - a unique c memoir, and travelogue - Mike Mills, barbecue, shares his passion for Ame intense smoky flavors, its lore and tra of characters. Through conversationa and-white photographs, readers mee leagues and friends and join Mills in of the barbecue contest circuit, with s “shrines, shacks, joints, and right-resp
photographs, and behindmaster Mike Mills. In combination of cookbook, , the unrivalled king of erica's favorite cuisine--its aditions, and its wild cast al anecdotes and blacket a diverse circle of cola behind-the-scenes tour stops at some of the best pectable restaurants.�
An eential “companion and an exciting treat.
Helen’s Reviews
Our book club meets once a month, normally on a Friday evening. New members are always welcomed and, if you’d like to join, please contact Helen Meehan who will happily fill you in on details.
A brilliant memoir about Europe in the first half of the 20th century; it’s the story of the birth of the modern system of international justice. Philippe Sands sustains intrigue that is comparable to a first rate thriller. The Winner of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature This poignant novel captures love and, by extension, all of the woes and glories found in humanity. Ishiguro’s masterful narration fuels the reader’s curiosity propelling her quickly forward. The story captivates in an odd yet brilliant manner; it gives us lifeblood by demonstrating just how elusive and fragile life can be. The topical subject of cloning found in this story is made relevant by our extreme empathy for the main characters. Both the story and writing reach to genius heights in Ishiguro’s hands.
author’s success as a leading human rights lawyer no doubt contributes to his masterly forensic probing into the legal figures behind the prosecution of the Nazis in Nuremburg.
Winner of the 2017 Man Booker Prize Based on the real-life death of Abraham Lincoln’s beloved 11 year old son, this unique and brilliant novel captures the enormity of grief. One man’s personal agony is echoed by the universal sorrows encountered in the Civil War. The reader hears from a bizarre mix of ghosts and spirits, who reveal their own painful life versions. The novel becomes more poignant as it moves from the heartache of one to the contemplation of the human condition as seen through the unspeakable horrors of war. All this told by a masterful scribe.
Eleanor Oliphant leads a simple life. She wears the same clothes to work every day, eats the same meal deal for lunch every day and buys the same two bottles of vodka to drink every weekend. Eleanor Oliphant is happy. Nothing is missing from her carefully timetabled life. Except, sometimes, everything. One simple act of kindness is about to shatter the walls Eleanor has built around herself. Now she must learn how to navigate the world that everyone else seems to take for granted - while searching for the courage to face the dark corners she's avoided all her life. Change can be good. Change can be bad. But surely any change is better than... ďŹ ne?
Richard & Judy Book Club 2017 Pick Sunday Times Best Seller New York Times Best Seller
Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than twenty years’ experience. During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she’s been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don’t want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child. The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery. Does she obey orders or does she intervene? Ruth hesitates before performing CPR and, as a result, is charged with a serious crime. Kennedy McQuarrie, a white public defender, takes her case.
History
Operation Market Garden, the plan to end the war by capturing the bridges leading to the Lower Rhine and beyond, was a bold concept: the Americans thought it unusually bold for Field Marshal Montgomery. But could it ever have worked? The cost of failure was horrendous, above all for the Dutch, who risked everything to help. German reprisals were pitiless and cruel, and lasted until the end of the war. Yet this book, written in Beevor's inimitable and gripping narrative style, is about much more than a single, dramatic battle. It looks into the very heart of war.
Home & Garden
Gardening is widely regarded a if you pay too much attentio relentlessly publishes hectoring week or this month, to the poin wasted energy. Rather than add to relieving you of pointless and ways to look after your little pa
as one of life's great joys. However, you might not feel that way on to the experts: every garden magazine and newspaper g instructions telling you what you must do in your garden this nt where your garden can become a source of constant stress or d to the pile of suggested drudgery, this book is instead dedicated d unnecessary garden work, and suggesting easy and pleasant atch of paradise.
BESTSELLER
Cassandra Aarssen is a Professional Organizer and creator of the successful blog and YouTube channel, ClutterBug. After struggling for years with chaos and clutter, Cassandra transformed her home and her life through organization. She now shares her favorite organizing tips, tricks and secrets in order to help others declutter their way to happiness.
LOCAL AUTHORS
C
arol Drinkwater is a multi-award winning actress, writer and film-maker. She was best known for her portrayal of Helen Herriot in the BBC television series, All Creatures Great and Small.
Carol is the author of twenty-four books, both fiction and nonfiction, and has achieved bestselling status - over a million copies sold worldwide - with her quartet of memoirs set on her Olive Farm in the south of France. Carol's fascination with the olive tree extended to a solo Mediterranean journey in search of the tree's mythical secrets. The resulting, bestselling travel books, The Olive Route and The Olive Tree, have also inspired a five-part documentary film series. Carol’s four Kindle Singles, novella-length stories commissioned by Amazon, are The Girl in Room Fourteen, Hotel Paradise, A Simple Act of Kindness, The Love of a Stranger have reached the top of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic. Her latest two novels are: THE FORGOTTEN SUMMER, set in present time on a vineyard in the south of France and against the backdrop of the FrenchAlgerian war. Published in hardback 2016. THE LOST GIRL takes place during the weekend of the terrorist attacks in Paris in November 2013. It is also set amongst the Provençal perfume fields after WWII. Published in hardback 2017. The Lost Girl was one of LoveReading’s Books of the Year 2017. Carol writes for both adults and the adolescent market. She has just delivered a new novel and is now about to spend a few weeks pottering in the garden before setting to work on the next one. Website
Other books by local authors ...
Meet Carol Drinkwater Saturday, 21st July 2018 Carol Drinkwater will be signing copies of
The Lost Girl on Saturday, 21st July at the English Book Centre from 3.30pm to 6.30pm. We will also have The Forgotten Summer and a selection of Carol’s Olive Books plus 5 sets of her Olive Route films (in English)
The Olive Route Films Written by Carol Drinkwater, directed by Albert Knechtel and produced by Michel Noll. Portfolio of 5 compelling documentaries inspired by Carol’s bestselling books.
l’Olivier en Terre Sainte (Cinquième partie) 8.30pm - Friday, 20th July at Le Cannet, Admission €5 Cinéma Cannet Toiles, 1 rue Victorien Sardou, Le Cannet With the participation of Carol Drinkwater & Michel Noll
TAGINES - COUSCOUS - PASTILLA - MEAT - FISH Quality Food - Quality Service
Sponsors of Carol Drinkwater’s Book Signing Saturday, 21st July 2018 Set in the beautiful surroundings of Valbonne village, La Pigeot invites you to discover the delicious flavours and convivial ambience of Northern Africa. All our salads and produce are fresh and carefully selected for their aromatic scents, quality and taste. 16, rue Alexis Julien, 06560 VALBONNE + 33 (0)4 93 12 17 53 Email Website
ENGLISH BOOK CENTRE
The
Hate knowing winter’s just around the corner? Need something to cheer you up? Guess what? Our Autumn catalogue is the perfect tonic! Treat yourself to another great selection of brilliant books and find the perfect book to lose yourself again with our online Autumn catalogue. As you read this, we’re already beavering away, carefully hand-picking some great titles just for you, planning our own list of good reads while Helen is working overtime to write more unique reviews. Published online October 2018.
“You are n alone. Cancer Support Group 06 Help Line voice mail 07 68 38 74 70
M E M OIR S
The true story of a fiery young woman heartwarming and hilarious journey that take her from near-death in California to a tri around the world in search of he ultimate salvation. Along the way, sh discovers a world of cultural mayhem radical medical treatment, an unexpecte romance, and, most importantly, a piece o her life she never even knew she was missing
n's es ip er he m, ed of g.
Our Summer Reads
For fans of Gone Girl and Girl on the Train, i.e. roller coaster thriller.
Easy but captivating Whodunnit, perfect for by the pool.
A tale of murder and moms in wealthy beach town.
BUCKET LIST ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ®
Go berry picking Buy books at the English Book Centre Drink ice cold lemonade Go to the movies on a rainy day Make a cucumber salad Breakfast for dinner Take photos & post on Facebook Go rollerblading Play POOL Run through a sprinkler Look at old family pictures Take a DANCE class Skinny dip Watch fireworks Browse a local market Return to the English BOOK Centre Lake SWIM at dusk Make Sangria for the neighbours Make Sangria for ME Check out a summer concert Play minigolf Fly a KITE Eat watermelon Send holiday post cards
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Buy a tourist T-shirt Blow dandelion seeds Look at the stars Go Kayaking Pig out on cherries! Make camp crafts Go on a nature walk Dance in the RAIN UNPLUG for a day Watch the SUNSET Have a go with watercolours Eat a pizza (or two) Stop using plastic straws Jump off the Pontoon boat Drink from a coconut Go on a family bike ride Help a charity Take a bubble bath Go to an ART museum Rent a Segway GIVE SOMEONE A HUG Have a picnic Nap in a hammock
A baby is kidnapped and the shocking investigation that ensues.
Literary novel about the refugee crisis in Berlin today, impeccably told.
For American history buffs: award winning biography for civil war era general.
Romance Megan Harper is the girl before. All her exes find their one true love right after dating her. It’s not a curse or anything, it’s just the way things are, and Megan refuses to waste time feeling sorry for herself. Instead, she focuses on pursuing her next fling, directing theatre, and fulfilling her dream school’s acting requirement in the smallest role possible.
YA
The #1 bestselling Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard. In the epic conclusion to her stunning series, Mare must embrace her fate and summon all her power . . . For all will be tested, but not all will survive.
Have a Great Suer!
The English Book Centre 12 rue Alexis Julien 06560 Valbonne 04 93 12 21 42 Email Website