Diana's Picks
Diana is the store manager. While the locals seem to think that Diana is always at Forever Books, she can also often be found biking the roads of southwest Michigan. She enjoys reading anything of substance (no chick-lit, please), cookbooks, and she has a private book collection rivaling the store. She has three daughters who have inherited her love of books.
At the age of 6 Kaya Clark is abandoned by her mother and much older siblings, and eventually by her abusive father, leaving her to fend for herself in the marshes off the South Carolina coast. After many years of being alone, she becomes involved with two young men: one who educates her, and the other found dead. Kaya, the quiet marsh girl, is the prime suspect. I fell in love with this strong, intelligent little girl, as she stoically becomes a woman!
Three-year-old Susan witnesses her father murder her mother in a fit of jealousy. Decades later her father wishes to reconnect with his estranged daughter, now a woman in her forties. They confront each other at her maternal grandmother’s home to find some answers. A suspenseful climactic ending to a beautiful, empathic novel.
Jonas Hancock, a ship merchant, is shocked to find that his trusted captain has sold his ship and goods, and bought a small, shriveled, horrifying-looking mermaid. In order to recoup his losses, he makes the decision to display it, involving him with a high-end brothel keeper, and a romping affair with its beautiful courtesan.
Virgil is still alive and out of the hospital after a snowy crash which left his car at the bottom of Lake Superior. While convalescing, he meets a Norwegian kite flyer who is seeking information about his son who has been missing for 10 years. Virgil Wonder is a joy, and reminds us why we love to read about small towns and their quirky citizens.
Two British couples are entering the early stages of midlife: Damian and Stephanie, married with three children, living in the country; and Michael and Melissa, with two children, engaged but not married; each telling their point of view of trying relationships. A remarkable and entertaining read.
After the death and destruction of Lyrnessus by Achilles and his troops, the women are given away as slaves to high ranking men. Briseis, the Queen, is saved as the grand prize, and awarded to the undefeated Achilles. Queen Briseis sadly tells the hardships of the captured women, and what must be endured, in order to survive in a horrifying war camp. Powerful!
James Mc Bride, one of my favorite writers, has mesmerized me once again, with his new collection of seven short stories. Filled with wise, humorous, and endearing characters, each story reveals the life lesson that things are not always what we perceive them to be. I laughed and I cried—so entertaining.
When 19-year old Paul, home from college, is paired with 48-year-old Susan at the tennis club, there is an attraction. The attraction leads to an affair, and eventually, they are living together, much to their family’s dismay. Paul is now past his prime, Susan has died, and he tells his dysfunctional story of love, still attempting to make some sense of it. A compelling tale!
White Houses is a beautiful, fictional romance of the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok, “Hick”. We follow Hick from her humble beginnings to becoming a respected prominent reporter. In 1932 she is assigned to cover Eleanor during FDR’s first presidential run. Offered a job in the Roosevelt’s administration, she is given a room in the White House, and dubbed “first friend”. This is the beginning of a life-long, fascinating relationship.
Booker Prize winner John Banville has bravely written a sequel to Henry James’ A Portrait of a Lady, with wonderful results. We find Isabel fleeing Florence to be at her dying cousin’s bedside, who leaves all his riches to her in hopes she will leave her oppressive husband and make a life for herself. A great standalone read with a powerful climactic ending! -Diana
Booker Prize winner John Banville has bravely written a sequel to Henry James’ A Portrait of a Lady, with wonderful results. We find Isabel fleeing Florence to be at her dying cousin’s bedside, who leaves all his riches to her in hopes she will leave her oppressive husband and make a life for herself. A great standalone read with a powerful climactic ending! -Diana
A wonderful adventure full of humor and many surprises, told through the eyes of two totally different narrators. Expert driver Irene Bobs is pulled into the 1950s car race, the Redex Trial, by her fast-talking, mesmerizing husband. Their shy, intelligent neighbor is convinced to be their navigator, as automobiles circle around the entire continent, with more emphasis on endurance then speed.
Bear Bavinsky is a famous painter with multiple wives and an abundance of estranged children. The exception is his favorite, Pinch. Pinch has aspirations of also being a painter until his father tramps them down; he settles into life as a language teacher and the protector of his father’s legacy. This enchanting novel deals with the turmoil between famous parents and their children, and the struggle of creating a life for themselves. Loved it!
Lydia, a clerk at the Bright Ideas Bookstore, is in shock when she discovers a young man who has hung himself on the store’s third floor. More shocking, sticking out of his pocket is a picture of her ten-year-old self. Lydia’s life becomes unhinged, as she must now solve a present day mystery, which is connected to her past. A very satisfying mystery, with plenty of twists, and turns.
At the age of 46, Christina Olsen meets 22 year-old painter Andrew Wyeth and they see in each other kindred spirits, which moves him to paint his famous masterpiece, Christina’s World. Kline has written a gripping, beautiful novel of a brave woman with a progressive bone disease, who against numerous obstacles refuses to give up on her day to day life, struggling to keep up her work on the family farm.
Ava Antipova flees to Paris, escaping her alcoholic family’s failing vineyard in upstate New York. Upon receiving her mother’s email that her twin Zelda has died, allegedly by passing out with a lit cigarette, causing the fatal barn fire. Ava is skeptical of the official explanation. Finding a cell phone Zelda left behind, Ava starts to receive messages from Zelda and the games begin. A compulsive, suspenseful read!
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Light up the Bluff and Live From St. Joseph
Friday, December 7th
Community Tree Lighting at the corner of Broad Street & Lake Boulevard
St. Joseph High School Choir at 6:00PM
Tree lighting at 6:30PM
Afterwards, stroll downtown to admire the decorated store fronts from 7:00PM - 8:30PM. Forever Books will have children reading in the window!
Saturday, December 8th
Meet Troy Cummings, author of Can I Be Your Dog?and the Notebook of Doom series.
Book signing beginning at 3:00 PM and continuing after the Reindog Parade at 4:00 PM. Click here for more info on this author and event!
The 2018 Holiday Catalog is here!
Book suggestions for all ages
Click on the picture to preview the catalog or order. Or pick up your copy at Forever Books today!
Give the gift of reading to a child in need with our Giving Tree!
Pick a tag from the tree, purchase a book (we can help you select one!), and
we will wrap it and deliver it to the Readiness Center in Benton Harbor in
time for Christmas.