Owl’s Nest Books is proud to be hosting this event.  Come down to meet Gary, enjoy a glass of wine and check out a new mystery.

From Tate Publishing:

‘I’m beginning to think seniors are tough old birds, with their wits intact and a head on their shoulders that still works with amazing results.’

So says Ben Boyd, 66, who has recently moved into an apartment block exclusive to seniors. A widower, Ben still feels resentment and anger at the loss of his wife and emotionally adrift in a world which seems to always outrun him. Ben meets fellow residents Martha, Lin, and Jack and friendship, trust, and admiration grow between the four elders. Each has their various talents, skills, and experiences which makes them unique in their own way.

But there are troubles in the neighborhood. Reports of theft spread across the block and rumors of a smiling stranger begin to surface. Could these things happen in such a great community? Does every Eden have its serpent? Ben must come to grips with the hand he’s been dealt, but also hold onto the life he has left.

Fortunately, he has the assistance of his new-found friends who are intelligent, caring individuals, willing and able to reach out a helping hand. What happens when a new age intrudes into the lives of an older few is yet to be told. Gary A. Hickling’s Mature Retribution: A Smile is just one story about the always present and ever-subtle work between life and death, one which readers won’t put down.

Date: Thursday, February 23rd
Time: 7:00pm
Our address: 815A 49th Avenue SW (Elbow Drive at 49th Ave)

From the book’s description:

Yoga in the West has gone from being esoteric and on the  fringe to now being mainstream as a physical work out. The  physical practice of yoga is merely a means to the end.  What is yoga really all about? What do all the centuries of  practice and insight reveal?

For those who want to go  deeper into the experience of Birth – Death and  Enlightenment here is a book written in simple poetic form  giving an overview of the big picture of infinity,  manifestation and our place in it with an introduction to  the pose of Savasana, corpse pose, as the beginning point  for inner work and transformation.

Please join us to hear Angela read from and answer questions about her book.

At this workshop, you’ll hear inspiring storing about kids using words and art to change the world as well as make your own art and writing.

The workshop is on Thursday, March 29th 2012 from 10am to noon.

Please register early, as space in this workshop is limited.  Participants should bring a notebook or some paper, a pen and their wild imagination!

Carolyn Pogue’s novel Gwen was a finalist for the W.O. Mitchell Book Prize.  The author of 12 books for children, teens and adults, Carolyn presents workshops at schools and writing camps.

Lucas is obsessed with dinosaurs.  He knows everything about them.  When he gets dinosaur model making kit, he is not impressed.  It’s just a test tube of clear liquid and a few instructions.  Lucas is not prepared for what happens when he mixes that liquid into the papier-mache.  And what is he going to do about his ‘new’ friends?

- For a younger audience
- Liked the characters.
- Liked how the problem was resolved.
- Some found it a little simple.
- Cliffhanger
- Really liked description of making models.
- Good conflict.
- Kept you guessing to the end.
- Characters were very believable
- Very funny
- Liked conflict between Lucas and Kyle.
- Very well written.
- Stopped the book at the right point.
- Liked the dinosaurs.
- Well written.
- A little short.
- Liked how the parents were uninvolved and he had to sort out his own problems.
- YEAH, DINOSAURS!

Final score: 8.439995 out of 10

Next month, the Junior Owlets will be reading The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo.  The meeting will be on Sat March 3rd at 9:00 am.

From the Hardcover edition:

What if? Why not? Could it be?

When a fortuneteller’s tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions that he needs to ask: Does his sister still live? And if so, how can he find her? The fortuneteller’s mysterious answer (an elephant! An elephant will lead him there!) sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that you will hardly dare to believe it’s true.

If you’re a kid in grades 3 to 6 and are interested in joining Junior Owlet’s, we’d love to have you.  Membership is free and open all year.  Just give us a call at 403-287-9557, email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca or just drop in to one of the meetings.

Starting on February 24th, Owl’s Nest Books & Gifts will be hosting a pre-school storytime for kids aged 2 through 5 every Friday morning at 10:30.

Storytime will be hosted by Cynthia, who also runs our kids and teen book clubs and works as a professional storyteller.  And if you’ve every been in our store during one of the book club meetings, you can tell how much fun the kids have with Cynthia.

Storytime is free but registration is recommended.  Call 403-287-9557 or email owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca to reserve your spot.

The world is changing, but we’re still here. And we promise to be for a few more years.

Your little neighbourhood bookstore is endeavouring to ‘keep up’ by making a few changes ourselves.

We’ve completely revamped our website, which now includes this blog. You can also get news from us via our Facebook page. If you’re looking for even more, we’ve started the task of uploading several years’ worth of commentary from our kids’ and teen book club into our brand new Goodreads account.

Our webstore has been upgraded to securely accept payment by MasterCard and Visa. You can check what’s in stock, reserve copies and place special orders. But the biggest news is that you can now have your e-book purchases support your local bookstore. When you buy your Google e-books via the link in the sidebar, the e-CampusBookstore sends a small commission back to us, keeping more of your hard-earned dollars in the community.

Inside the store, things are changing too. With the departure of Livres Lacoste, we are expanding our selection of French language books for both children and adults and we are happy to place special orders.

The Mysterious Affair at Styles…

Good Independent Bookstores will survive because they are more than just a place to buy books. They have become meeting places, or cultural centers that book lovers navigate to. At Owl’s Nest, we’re becoming a centre of culture and creativity for not just Britannia, but the larger Calgary community. We host interesting and informative author events. We host a monthly open-mic night for local writers, which is a great place to hear new writing voices in our community — and later you can say you knew about them “when”.

Once Upon a Time…

We also help parents foster a new generation of book-lovers with our kids and teen book clubs. Starting February 24th, we’re also introducing weekly storytime with Cynthia, our resident children’s book expert and professional storyteller. Kids aged 2 through 5 are invited to join her on Friday mornings at 10:30 for some storytime fun.

The Help…

We know you have opportunities to purchase books elsewhere and we thank you for your continued support of a local business. We’ll continue to try to pay you back with exceptional customer service. We really do want to get the right books into your hands. The books you’ll really love. So come on down for another session of what the staff like to call “20 Questions”: What have you read recently? What do you love to read? What kind of book are you in the mood for? We’ll send you back out the door with something great.

And if you’re just not in the mood to read, you can always come down and have a look at our new selection of hand-made jewellery by local artisans, or the unusual home décor such as bookends, vases and original watercolor paintings.

You have so many choices about where to spend your time and money. Thank you for being a friend of the Owl’s Nest Bookstore. If you have a new product idea or any thoughts at all pertaining to how we may serve you better, please call 403-287-9557 or e-mail owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca .

With best wishes for a happy 2012,

Mike, Susan, Judith and the Owl’s Nest Staff

Andi Alpers’ life is falling apart.  She is haunted by the tragic death of her younger brother.  Her guilt has sent her into a spiral of drugs and self-loathing.  In a parallel story, Alexandrine Paradis survives during the French Revolution dependent upon her skills as an actress and spy.  She becomes a servant to the royal family and a companion to the young dauphin, Louis-Charles.  Andi finds Alex’s diary, and is drawn into France during the 1790s.

- Really like the parallels between the stories
- Description really draws you in
- Book freaked out some readers.
- Loved the musical interconnections and the historical aspect.
- Beautiful and raw.
- Historical aspect was fascinating
- Unsure that Andi really needed to do the time slip as journal provided that.
- Characters were well developed, both primary and secondary.
- Setting was very much a character.

Final scores averaged to 8.8 out of 10.

The next Fledglings meeting will be Tuesday, February 21st at 4:30pm.  The book up for discussion is Sister Wife by Shelley Hrdlitschka.

From the book’s description:

In the isolated rural community of Unity, the people of The Movement live a simple life guided by a set of religious principles and laws that are unique to them. Polygamy is the norm, strict obedience is expected and it is customary for young girls to be assigned to much older husbands.

Celeste was born and raised in Unity, yet she struggles to fit in. Perhaps it’s because of Taviana, the girl who has come to live with them and entertains Celeste with forbidden stories, or Jon, the young man she has clandestine meetings with, or maybe it’s the influence of Craig, the outsider she meets on the beach. Whatever it is, she struggles to accept her ordained life. At fifteen she is repulsed at the thought of being assigned to an older man and becoming a sister wife, and she knows for certain she is not cut out to raise children. She wants something more for herself, yet feels powerless to change her destiny because rebelling would bring shame upon her family.

Celeste watches as Taviana leaves Unity, followed by Jon, and finally Craig, the boy who has taught her to think “outside the box.” Although she is assigned to a caring man, his sixth wife, she is desperately unhappy. How will Celeste find her way out of Unity?

If your a teen in grades 10 through 12 and are interested in joining Fledglings, please email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca, call us at 403-287-9557 or just drop into one of the meetings.

MinLi and her parents live in the shadow of the Fruitless Mountain, a bare mountain where nothing seems to flourish.  They work hard, but have barely enough to eat.  Every night, MinLi listens eagerly to the stories her father tells about the Jade Dragon, the evil Magistrate Tiger, and the Old Man in the Moon.  MinLi’s mother hates the stories.  She says they are useless, and only make MinLi a dreamer.  MinLi decides she will find the Old Man in the Moon to try and change her family’s fortune.

- Really liked how the legends tied into the story.
- Liked the characters, particularly Minli.
- Really kept your interest.
- Liked mystical creatures & magic.
- Liked how the characters evolved and came to udnerstand the true meaning of happiness.
- Very thought provoking.
- Lots of adventure.
- Ended way too soon.
- Good book for all ages.
- Loved the illustrations.
- Liked the multiple storylines and how they tied up. Stories within stories.
- Loved the language.
- Feel good book
- Some parts were slower.
- Liked everything tied up together.

Final score: 9.166661 out of 10.

The next meeting of Junior Owlets will be on Saturday the 4th of Feburary 2012 at 9:00am.   The book up for discussion is Feather Brain and we we have a special guest, the book’s author, Maureen Bush!

From the book’s description:

Lucas has dinosaurs on the brain, but he’s a little short on friends. When he gets a new book on how to make model dinosaurs, he’s inspired to make one immediately. He’s not so inspired by his new dinosaur-making kit: all the box contains is a test tube of clear liquid and a few instructions. But when he mixes the liquid into his papier-maché goop, he gets much more than he bargained for, including the most unlikely friend.

If you’re a kid in grades 3 to 6 and are interested in joining Junior Owlet’s, we’d love to have you.  Membership is free and open all year.  Just give us a call at 403-287-9557, email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca or just drop in to one of the meetings.

Todd Hewitt has never seen a woman. His mother was the last to die. He doesn’t remember her. When his people came to the planet to colonize it, everyone was infected with the Noise germ. The infection caused men’s thoughts to become audible. The infection also killed all women. Todd is the youngest, counting down the days until his 13th birthday. The he will be considered a man, and let into the secrets. But the, Todd from the girl in The Swamp.

Comments from the Senior Owlets:
Believable characters.
Really liked the dog, Manchee
Author did incredible job with all characters.
Characters were all very distinct and believable.
Really liked the portrayal of The Noise. The different fonts helped.
Some parts dragged.
Possibly more for a male audience with some of the violence.
Very deep themes.
Very symbolic.
Great discussion.
Made reader think.

Final score: 8.025

For the next meeting (on Tuesday, February 7th, 2012) the book up for discussion is Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli.

From the book’s description:

Stargirl. From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of “Stargirl, Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’s heart with just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. At first.

Then they turn on her. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and Leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her: normal. In this celebration of nonconformity, Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the perils of popularity and the thrill and inspiration of first love.

If you’re a kid in grades 6 to 9 and are interested in joining Senior Owlets, we’d love to have you. Membership is free and you can join any time. If you’d like more information, call us at 403-287-9557, email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca or just pop into one of the meetings.

The December selection for Fledglings was I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak.

Ed Kennedy admits he is a screw up.  He drifted in school, didn’t go to university, and now drives a cab because it’s easy.  But all that changes when Ed is hailed a hero after stopping a bank robber.  And now he has received a card in the mail.  It lists times and addresses.  Should he follow them?  Ed is not sure what to do, or what it all means.

Comments from the Fledglings:

Liked the characters.
Characters had depth and reasoning.
Liked interchange between characters.
Found them believeable.
Ending was a bit confusing.
Opening chapters sucked the reader in.
The whole idea was intriguing.
Really liked the characters, the plot, the seting.
Believeable dialogue.
Very funny in places, poignant in others.
Even secondary characters were well done.
Kept interest to very end.
Even the stinky dog was great.
Very deep book, multi-leveled.
Really like the author’s self insertion.

Final score: 8.8928571 out of 10.

The next meeting for Fledglings will be on Tuesday, January 24, 2012.  The book up for discussion is Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly.

From the book’s description:

BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

If your a teen in grades 10 through 12 and are interested in joining Fledglings, please email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca, call us at 403-287-9557 or just drop into one of the meetings.