Joseph-Beth Booksellers

This Week's Top 8

2010-10-19T17:10:00.000-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk, by David Sedaris
2.) Room, by Emma Donoghue
3.) Dexter is Delicious, by Jeff Lindsay
4.) The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson
5.) Fall of Giants, by Ken Follett
6.) Wicked Appetite, by Janet Evanovich
7.) Postcard Killers, by James Patterson & Liza Marklund
8.) Freedom, by Jonathan Franzen

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) A$$holes Finish First, by Tucker Max
2.) Extraordinary, Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family, by Condoleezza Rice
3.) Trickle Up Poverty: Stopping Obama's Attack on Our Borders, Economy, and Security, by Michael Savage
4.) The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents Earth (the book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race, by Jon Stewart
5.) Sh*t My Dad Says, by Justin Halpern
6.) Grand Design, by Stephen Hawking
7.) At Home, by Bill Bryson
8.) Travels in Siberia, by Ian Frazier

Kids Top 8

1.) The Lost Hero, The Heroes of Olympus,Book 1, by Rick Riordan
2.) The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
3.) Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins
4.) Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins
5.) The Band Book: How Many Silly, Funky, Crazy Bands Do You Own?
6.) Pittsburgh A-Z, by Martha Vandalay
7.) Fallout, by Ellen Hopkins
8.) Lego Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary

Woah! It's Fall Sale Day Already!

2010-10-09T19:14:00.002-04:00

The year has whizzed right by us! It's time for the onslaught of fantastic sales and coupons for our Gives Back members, in preparation for the holiday season.

If you're a member of our Gives Back program you'll receive 20% off all your purchases on Friday, October 15th from 10am until 10pm. This discount will cover everything except magazines, newspapers, gift cards, previously purchased items and items that are already discounted.

If you are not a member of the program yet, here are some of the highlights:

* $10 in store credit for every $200 you spend in the store
* a percentage of each dollar you spend donated to a non-profit partner based in Pittsburgh
* access to special sales, coupons and exclusive offers
* discounts on Vera Bradley party tickets
* extra discounts on bestsellers and staff picks
* VIP line tickets to all our biggest signing events

And we keep adding new benefits to the program, all for an annual fee of $10.

If you are a member we're looking forward to seeing you on Friday. If you're not a member yet, what a great time to join! You can even come in on the 15th and join right at the counter to get your first discount. For more information about sale day or the Gives Back program call the store at (412) 381-3600 and talk to of of our booksellers.

Upcoming events at Joseph-Beth Booksellers

2010-10-09T19:05:00.002-04:00

Last week we talked about arson, vegetarianism, personal finances, Pittsburgh history and revolutionary surgeries. You'd think we'd be worn out, but look what's coming this week!

Tuesday, 10/12 at 7pm
Allison Hoover Bartlett signs The Man Who Loved Books Too Much

Wednesday, 10/13 at 7pm
the Chick Lit book Club discusses Flirting With Forever

Thursday, 10/14 at 7pm
Jessica Warman signs Where the Truth Lies

Saturday, 10/16 at 11am
Tom White signs Ghosts of Southwestern Pennsylvania

Saturday 10/16 from Noon - 2pm
Prime Stage Theatre reads from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Saturday, 10/16 at 2pm
Carla Mooney hosts a special storytime featuring a reading from her book Owen & the Dragon and a craft from Amazing Africa.

For more details on these events head over to www.josephbeth.com

This week's events

2010-10-05T18:03:00.005-04:00

We have great events in the bookstore this week!

Wednesday, 10/6 at 7pm
Jay Varner signs Nothing Left To Burn
“Nothing Left to Burn” is a remarkable book that looks into the life of a family that has spent years harboring dark, volatile secrets. It eloquently tells the story of a son’s relationship with his father, the fire chief and a local hero, and his grandfather, a serial arsonist.

Thursday, 10/7 at 7pm
Kim O'Donnel signs the Meat-Lover's Meatless Cookbook
Written by a fellow meat lover who can relate to the challenges of dietary change, this book dishes up fifty-two tasty and satisfying meatless menus-one per week-that mirror the do-able, incremental approach recommended by environmental and medical communities.

Friday, 10/8 at 10:30am
Edward Jones advisor Deborah Hughes hosts a special workshop
How would you like a little peace of mind to kick off your weekend? Join Edward Jones advisor Deborah Hughes for a late morning chat about financial planning and today’s economic outlook. Coffee and light snacks will be provided and attendance is free.

Saturday, 10/9 at 11am
Len Barcousky signs Remembering Pittsburgh
Barcousky is a reporter for the Post-Gazette and his collection of “eyewitness: columns draws on events and next-day stories of the Whiskey Rebellion, the Great Fire is 1845 and Lincoln’s speech urging residents to shun talk of secession.

Saturday, 10/9 at 2pm
Dr. David Cooper signs Open Heart
Open Heart: The Radical Surgeons Who Revolutionized Medicine
Open Heart is the story behind the amazing advances in cardiovascular medicine as performed by the maverick doctors who strive to perfect them.

See you at the bookstore!

This Week's Top 8

2010-09-28T17:21:00.000-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) Room, by Emma Donoghue
2.) Freedom, by Jonathan Franzen
3.) Safe Haven, by Nicholas Sparks
4.) The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson
5.) Wicked Appetite, by Janet Evanovich
6.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
7.) Ape House, by Sara Gruen
8.) The Violin of Auschwitz, by Maria Angels Anglada

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) Pinheads and Patriots, by Bill O'Reilly
2.) Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It's So Hard to Think Straight About Animals, by Hal Herzog
3.) True Prep: It's a Whole New Old World, by Lisa Birnbach and Chip Kidd
4.) The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents Earth (the book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race, by Jon Stewart
5.) Sh*t My Dad Says, by Justin Halpern
6.) Grand Design, by Stephen Hawking
7.) Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, by Chelsea Handler
8.) Poker Face: The Rise and Rise of Lady Gaga, by Maureen Callahan

Kids Top 8

1.) Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins
2.) The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
3.) Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins
4.) I Am Number Four, by Pittacus Lore
5.) The Band Book: How Many Silly, Funky, Crazy Bands Do You Own?
6.) Pittsburgh A-Z, by Martha Vandalay
7.) Fallout, by Ellen Hopkins
8.) Lego Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary

Upcoming events!

2010-09-24T19:52:00.003-04:00

We had a great week with Karl Marlantes, Jill & Jim Kelly, Ernessa T Carter and Thomas Scott McKenzie!

Join us for these events over the next 7 days:

Saturday, 9/25 - from 2 - 4pm you can purchase Vera Bradley for 20% off, get a free massage, a $10 gift card and a chance to win free Vera items all for the price of a $15 ticket (and it's only $10 if you are a Gives Back member!). The fun begins at 2 and ends at 4 sharp so don't miss your chance to get great deals on the brand new Fall line.

Tuesday, 9/28 at 5:30 pm. Heinz Field plays host to bunches of supporters of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk and Fundraiser. Joseph-Beth is going to be there selling copies of Merril Hoge's book "Find A Way" and Merril himself will be on hand to sign copies. 20% of our proceeds after the event will be donated to the LLS. There will be food and games and lots of people to meet starting at 5:30pm. We'll see you at Heinz Field!

Wednesday, 9/29 3 - 5pm. Members of the Military Writers' Society of America sign their works as part of the MWSA's annual convention. Join six military writers signing books about their experiences defending our country!

Wednesday, 9/29 at 7pm. Susan Henderson signs her book "Up From the Blue" a novel about a young woman with difficult parents and a free spirit.

Thursday, 9/30 at 7pm. Dr. Lawrence Pettit signs his book "If You Live by the Sword" about the intersection of politics and education and the art of educational administration.

Friday, 10/1 3 - 5pm. Members of the Military Writers' Society of America sign their works as part of the MWSA's annual convention. Join six military writers signing books about their experiences defending our country!

Saturday, 10/2 1 - 3pm. Members of the Military Writers' Society of America sign their works as part of the MWSA's annual convention. Join six military writers signing books about their experiences defending our country!

Sunday, 10/3 3 - 5pm. Members of the Military Writers' Society of America sign their works as part of the MWSA's annual convention. Join six military writers signing books about their experiences defending our country!

This Week's Top 8

2010-09-22T14:19:00.000-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) Room, by Emma Donoghue
2.) Freedom, by Jonathan Franzen
3.) Safe Haven, by Nicholas Sparks
4.) The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson
5.) Wicked Appetite, by Janet Evanovich
6.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
7.) Hundred-Foot Journey, by Richard C. Morais
8.) Our Lady of Immaculate Deception, by Nancy Martin

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) Pinheads and Patriots, by Bill O'Reilly
2.) Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It's So Hard to Think Straight About Animals, by Hal Herzog
3.) True Prep: It's a Whole New Old World, by Lisa Birnbach and Chip Kidd
4.) Women Food & God, by Geneen Roth
5.) Sh*t My Dad Says, by Justin Halpern
6.) Grand Design, by Stephen Hawking
7.) Hitch 22, by Christopher Hitchens
8.) Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jethá

Kids Top 8

1.) Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins
2.) The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
3.) Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins
4.) I Am Number Four, by Pittacus Lore
5.) It's a Book, by Lane Smith
6.) Pittsburgh A-Z, by Martha Vandalay
7.) Clockwork Angel, by Cassandra Clare
8.) Lego Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary

Jim & Jill Kelly sign in support of Hunter's Hope

2010-09-17T21:42:00.003-04:00

We are honored to be hosting a very special event on Thursday, September 23rd at 7pm.

Many of our customers have already heard that Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly will be in out store signing his book next week. What you may not know is the powerful story behind the book he co-wrote with his wife, Jill Kelly, titled Without A Word.

Jim and Jill Kelly were blessed with a very special child, Hunter, who was severely disabled and terminally ill. In the time that Hunter was alive his family learned a great deal about Leukodystrophies, inherited, progressive disorders that affect the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. They struggled with caring for their son and relied heavily on their faith to bring them through. The Kelly's decided to turn their own trials into something that could benefit other families and created Hunter's Hope, and organization that provides support to affected families and works to educate the public about Leukodystrophies.

If you'd like more information about how you can get involved in the fight against these severe disorders, or if you'd like more information about Hunter's Hope or the Kelly family we hope you'll stop by the store on Thursday night and visit this wonderful group of people. Members from Hunter's Hope will also be on hand with information about how you can get involved.

September's Staff Picks

2010-09-12T15:47:00.004-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this months's staff picks for 10% off! Gives Back Members receive a 20% discount on staff picks! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Allison recommends The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly and We're Going On a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen

Kat recommends Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett

Benji recommends How Did You Get This Number by Sloan Crosley and Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late by Mo Willems

Kara recommends Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett and Grimm's Fairy Tales by Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm

Heather recommends The Myterious Flame of Queen Loana by Umberto Eco and Polazzo Inverso by D B Johnson

Fred recommends The Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell and Flanimals! by Ricky Gervais

Suzi recommends Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk and Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

Jay recommends Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz and Fat Kid Rules the World by KL Going

Chris recommmends Finn by Jon Clinch and City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

Judy recommends Signature Wound by GB Trudeau

Krista recommends This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitsgerald

Sheila recommends The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and Joshua Files: Invisible City by MG Harris

This Week's Top 8

2010-09-07T16:15:00.000-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) No Mercy, by Sherrilyn Kenyon
2.) Freedom, by Jonathan Franzen
3.) The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson
4.) Kings of the Earth, by Jon Clinch
5.) Super Sad True Love Story, by Gary Shteyngart
6.) The Postcard Killers, by James Patterson & Liza Marklund
7.) Last Night at Chateau Marmont, by Lauren Weisberger
8.) Our Lady of Immaculate Deception, by Nancy Martin

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) Grand Design, by Stephen Hawking
2.) With Love & Laughter, John Ritter, by Amy Yasbeck
3.) The Mentor Leader, by Tony Dungy
4.) Women Food & God, by Geneen Roth
5.) Sh*t My Dad Says, by Justin Halpern
6.) The Power, by Rhonda Byrne
7.) Medium Raw, by Anthony Bourdain
8.) The Disappointing Spoon, by Sam Kean

Kids Top 8

1.) Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins
2.) The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
3.) Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins
4.) I Am Number Four, by Pittacus Lore
5.) Lego Star Wars Dictionary
6.) Pittsburgh A-Z, by Martha Vandalay
7.) Beezus & Ramona, by Beverly Cleary
8.) The Band Book: How Many Silly, Funny Crazy Bands Do You Own?

This Week's Top 8

2010-08-31T08:48:00.000-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) Freedom, by Jonathan Franzen
2.) The Way of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson
3.) The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson
4.) Super Sad True Love Story, by Gary Shteyngart
5.) Babylon Nights, by Daniel Depp
6.) The Postcard Killers, by James Patterson & Liza Marklund
7.) The Osiris Ritual, by George Mann
8.) Our Lady of Immaculate Deception, by Nancy Martin

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) Dirty Sexy Politics, by Meghan McCain
2.) The Power, by Rhonda Byrne
3.) The Mentor Leader, by Tony Dungy
4.) Women Food & God, by Geneen Roth
5.) Sh*t My Dad Says, by Justin Halpern
6.) Sex At Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality, by Christopher Ryan
7.) The Subtle Body: The Story of Yoga in America, by Stefanie Syman
8.) Angelina, by Andrew Morton

Kids Top 8

1.) Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins
2.) The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
3.) Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins
4.) I Am Number Four, by Pittacus Lore
5.) Lego Star Wars Dictionary
6.) Pittsburgh A-Z, by Martha Vandalay
7.) The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen From the Future, by Dav Pilkey
8.) Breaking Dawn, by Stephenie Meyer

This Week's Top 8

2010-08-17T11:40:00.001-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) The Postcard Killers, by James Patterson & Liza Marklund
2.) Super Sad True Love Story, by Gary Shteyngart
3.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
4.) The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson
5.) Star Island, by Carl Hiaasen
6.) Fly Away Home, by Jennifer Weiner
7.) Faithful PLace, by Tana French
8.) A Dog's Purpose, by W.Bruce Cameron

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) Committed, by Elizabeth Gilbert
2.) Medium Raw, by Anthony Bourdain
3.) Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, by Chelsea Handler
4.) Women Food & God, by Geneen Roth
5.) Sh*t My Dad Says, by Justin Halpern
6.) Sex At Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality, by Christopher Ryan
7.) Sliding Into Home, by Kendra Wilkinson
8.) Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman, by Sam Wasson

Kids Top 8

1.) The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
2.) Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins
3.) Fat Vampire, by Adam Rex
4.) I Am Number Four, by Pittacus Lore
5.) Star Wars Lego Dictionary
6.) Pittsburgh A-Z, by Martha Vandalay
7.) Pretty Little Liars, by Sara Shepard
8.) Breaking Dawn, by Stephenie Meyer

2010-08-09T14:00:00.001-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) Super Sad True Love Story, by Gary Shteyngart
2.) Star Island, by Carl Hiaasen
3.) Insatiable, by Meg Cabot
4.) The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson
5.) The Passage, by Justin Cronin
6.) Fly Away Home, by Jennifer Weiner
7.) Faithful PLace, by Tana French
8.) A Dog's Purpose, by W.Bruce Cameron

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) Talking To Girls About Duran Duran, by Rob Sheffield
2.) You Say More Than You Think, by Janine Driver
3.) Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, by Chelsea Handler
4.) Women Food & God, by Geneen Roth
5.) Sh*t My Dad Says, by Justin Halpern
6.) Sex At Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality, by Christopher Ryan
7.) Sliding Into Home, by Kendra Wilkinson
8.) Role Models, by John Waters

Kids Top 8

1.) The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
2.) Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins
3.) Fat Vampire, by Adam Rex
4.) I Am Number Four, by Pittacus Lore
5.) Star Wars Lego Dictionary
6.) Pittsburgh A-Z, by Martha Vandalay
7.) Pretty Little Liars, by Sara Shepard
8.) Breaking Dawn, by Stephenie Meyer

August Staff Picks

2010-08-07T16:27:00.002-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this months's staff picks for 10% off! Gives Back Members receive a 20% discount on staff picks! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Allison recommends Nazi Literature in the Americas, by Roberto Bolano and Catherine, Called Birdy, by Karen Cushman.

Kat recommends Julie & Julia, by Julie Powell and Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery, by Deborah & James Howe

Benji recommends The Invisible Gorilla, by Christopher Chabris and Where the Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein

Kara recommends Bucolic Plague: How Two Manhattanites Became Gentlemen Farmers: An Unconventional Memoir, by Josh Kilmer-Purcell and The Black Stallion, by Walter Farley

Heather recommends Food Rules, by Michael Pollan and Pickles to Pittsburgh, by Judi & Ron Barrett

Katie recommends Secrets of a Shoe Addict, by Beth Harbison and Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?, by Audrey Vernick

Fred recommends Yippie-Ki-Yay Moviegoer, by Vern and Little Oink, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Suzi recommends Grendel, by John Gardner and Shiloh, by Phyllis Naylor

Jay recommends Fun Home, by Allison Bechdel and Feed by M.T. Anderson

Chris recommmends Special Topics in Calamity Physics, by Marisha Pessl and The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish, by Neil Gaiman & Dave McKean

Judy recommends 1776, by David McCullough

Krista recommends East of Eden, by John Steinbeck and Blueberry Girl, by Neil Gaiman

Lynne recommends In a Sunburned Country, by Bill Bryson and Angelina Ballerina, by Katherine Holabird

Sheila recommends Forbidden Rose, by Joanna Bourne and My Life As a Book, by Janet Tashjian

This Week's Top 8

2010-08-03T12:25:00.000-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) Super Sad True Love Story, by Gary Shteyngart
2.) Star Island, by Carl Hiaasen
3.) Insatiable, by Meg Cabot
4.) The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson
5.) The Passage, by Justin Cronin
6.) Fly Away Home, by Jennifer Weiner
7.) Faithful PLace, by Tana French
8.) A Dog's Purpose, by W.Bruce Cameron

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) Washington Rules, by Andrew Bacevich
2.) Churchhill's Empire, by Richard Toy
3.) Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, by Chelsea Handler
4.) Women Food & God, by Geneen Roth
5.) Sh*t My Dad Says, by Justin Halpern
6.) Sex At Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality, by Christopher Ryan
7.) Sliding Into Home, by Kendra Wilkinson
8.) Role Models, by John Waters

Kids Top 8

1.) The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
2.) Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins
3.) Fat Vampire, by Adam Rex
4.) I Am Number Four, by Pittacus Lore
5.) Star Wars Lego Dictionary
6.) Pittsburgh A-Z, by Martha Vandalay
7.) Pretty Little Liars, by Sara Shepard
8.) The Care and Keeping of You, by American Girl

This Week's Top 8

2010-07-07T16:05:00.000-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) Sizzling Sixteen, by Janet Evanovich
2.) The Passage, by Justin Cronin
3.) The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson
4.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
5.) Heart of the Matter, by Emily Giffin
6.) Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, by Aimee Bender
7.) Insatiable, by Meg Cabot
8.) Pray for Silence, by Linda Castillo

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) Women Food & God, by Geneen Roth
2.) Sh*t My Dad Says, by Justin Halpern
3.) Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, by Chelsea Handler
4.) Big Short, by Michael Lewis
5.) Medium Raw, by Anthony Bourdain
6.) 97 Orchard: An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement, by Jane Ziegelman
7.) How Did You Get This Number, by Sloane Crosley
8.) Rooney: A Sporting Life by Robert L. Ruck, Maggie Jones Patterson, and Michael P. Weber

Kids Top 8

1.) Kane Chronicle: Red Pyramid, by Rick Riordan
2.) Star Wars Lego Dictionary
3.) The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, by Stephenie Meyer
4.) When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead
5.) Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer, by John Grisham
6.) The Last Olympian, by Rick Riordan
7.) Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
8.) Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins

This Week's Top 8

2010-06-29T15:31:00.000-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) The Passage, by Justin Cronin
2.) The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson
3.) Overton Window, by Glenn Beck
4.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
5.) Dead in the Family, by Charlaine Harris
6.) The Lion, by Nelson DeMille
7.) Innocent, by Scott Turow
8.) Sizzling Sixteen, by Janet Evanovich

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) Women Food & God, by Geneen Roth
2.) Sh*t My Dad Says, by Justin Halpern
3.) Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, by Chelsea Handler
4.) Big Short, by Michael Lewis
5.) Medium Raw, by Anthony Bourdain
6.) Mike & Mike's Rules for Sports and Life, by Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic
7.) The Upside of Irrationality, by Dan Ariely
8.) Rooney: A Sporting Life by Robert L. Ruck, Maggie Jones Patterson, and Michael P. Weber

Kids Top 8

1.) Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney
2.) Star Wars Lego Dictionary
3.) The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, by Stephenie Meyer
4.) When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead
5.) Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer, by John Grisham
6.) Pittsburgh A-Z, by Martha Vandalay
7.) Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
8.) Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins

This Week's Top 8

2010-06-22T16:33:00.001-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) The Passage, by Justin Cronin
2.) The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson
3.) Overton Window, by Glenn Beck
4.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
5.) Dead in the Family, by Charlaine Harris
6.) The Lion, by Nelson DeMille
7.) Innocent, by Scott Turow
8.) Imperial Bedrooms, by Bret Easton Ellis

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) Women Food & God, by Geneen Roth
2.) Spoken from the Heart, by Laura Bush
3.) Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, by Chelsea Handler
4.) Big Short, by Michael Lewis
5.) Medium Raw, by Anthony Bourdain
6.) I'll Mature When I'm Dead, by Dave Barry
7.) Hitch 22, by Christopher Hitchens
8.) Rooney: A Sporting Life by Robert L. Ruck, Maggie Jones Patterson, and Michael P. Weber

Kids Top 8

1.) Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney
2.) Star Wars Lego Dictionary
3.) The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, by Stephenie Meyer
4.) Red Pyramid, by Rick Riordan
5.) Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer, by John Grisham
6.) Pittsburgh A-Z, by Martha Vandalay
7.) Pretty Little Liars #8: Wanted, by Sara Shepard
8.) Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian, by Rick Riordan

This Week's Top 8

2010-06-15T17:26:00.000-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) The Passage, by Justin Cronin
2.) The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson
3.) Seven Year Switch, by Claire Cook
4.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
5.) Dead in the Family, by Charlaine Harris
6.) Island Beneath the Sea, by Isabel Allende
7.) The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, by Philip Pullman
8.) Our Lady of Immaculate Deception, by Nancy Martin

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) Women Food & God, by Geneen Roth
2.) Spoken from the Heart, by Laura Bush
3.) Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, by Chelsea Handler
4.) Big Short, by Michael Lewis
5.) Medium Raw, by Anthony Bourdain
6.) I'll Mature When I'm Dead, by Dave Barry
7.) Hitch 22, by Christopher Hitchens
8.) Rooney: A Sporting Life by Robert L. Ruck, Maggie Jones Patterson, and Michael P. Weber

Kids Top 8

1.) Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney
2.) Star Wars Lego Dictionary
3.) The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, by Stephenie Meyer
4.) Red Pyramid, by Rick Riordan
5.) Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer, by John Grisham
6.) Pittsburgh A-Z, by Martha Vandalay
7.) Pinkalicious: Pinkalicious and the Pink Drink by Victoria Kann
8.) Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian, by Rick Riordan

This Week's Top 8

2010-06-08T13:40:00.000-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson
2.) Heart of the Matter, by Emily Giffin
3.) Tell-All, by Chuck Palahniuk
4.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
5.) Dead in the Family, by Charlaine Harris
6.) Fever Dream, by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
7.) Matterhorn, by Karl Marlantes
8.) Our Lady of Immaculate Deception, by Nancy Martin

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) Women Food & God, by Geneen Roth
2.) Spoken from the Heart, by Laura Bush
3.) Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, by Chelsea Handler
4.) Big Short, by Michael Lewis
5.) Steinbrenner, by Bill Maddon
6.) I'll Mature When I'm Dead, by Dave Barry
7.) Bedwetter, by Sarah Silverman
8.) War, by Sebastian Junger

Kids Top 8

1.) Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney
2.) Star Wars Lego Dictionary
3.) The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, by Stephenie Meyer
4.) Red Pyramid, by Rick Riordan
5.) Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer, by John Grisham
6.) Pittsburgh A-Z, by Martha Vandalay
7.) How To Train Your Dragon, by Cressida Cowell
8.) Thirteenth Child, by Patricia Wrede

Mark Your Calendars

2010-06-06T17:06:00.001-04:00

Our book clubs are free and open to anyone. Just read the book and show up!

Chick Lit Book Club discusses Jennifer Weiner's "Good In Bed"
Wednesday, June 9 at 7 pm

Mother/Daughter Book Club discusses Lewis Carroll's "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland"
Thursday, June 10 at 6 pm

Mother/Daughter Book Club discusses Yoli's "Crusin’ Sarah"
Thursday, July 8 at 6 pm
Yoli will join in the discussion and sign copies of the book.

Vegan Cookbook Potluck Club discusses and samples recipes from Terry Hope Romero's "Viva Vegan"
Sunday July 11 at 2 pm
Vegans, vegetarians, flexitarians, or any omnivore who loves trying new recipes welcome. You must email Heather at hburns@josephbeth.com to sign up for a recipe.

Chick Lit Book Club discusses Karen Fowler's "The Jane Austen Book Club"
July 14 at 7 pm

We also have a Yarn Crafters' Night scheduled for Thursday, June 24 at 7 pm and Thursday July 29 at 7 pm. Bring your project and spend time with fellow yarn crafters.

This Week's Top 8 Lists

2010-06-01T11:38:00.002-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson
2.) Heart of the Matter, by Emily Giffin
3.) Tell-All, by Chuck Palahniuk
4.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
5.) Dead in the Family, by Charlaine Harris
6.) Fever Dream, by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
7.) Matterhorn, by Karl Marlantes
8.) Our Lady of Immaculate Deception, by Nancy Martin

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) Women Food & God, by Geneen Roth
2.) Spoken from the Heart, by Laura Bush
3.) Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, by Chelsea Handler
4.) Big Short, by Michael Lewis
5.) Steinbrenner, by Bill Maddon
6.) I'll Mature When I'm Dead, by Dave Barry
7.) Bedwetter, by Sarah Silverman
8.) War, by Sebastian Junger

Kids Top 8

1.) Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney
2.) Star Wars Lego Dictionary
3.) Spirit Bound, by Richelle Mead
4.) Red Pyramid, by Rick Riordan
5.) Justin Case, by Rachel Vail
6.) The Lightening Thief, by Rick Riordan
7.) How To Train Your Dragon, by Cressida Cowell
8.) Wimpy Kid Movie Diary, by Jeff Kinney

This Week's Top 8

2010-05-25T14:54:00.001-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) Dead in the Family, by Charlaine Harris
2.) Heart of the Matter, by Emily Giffin
3.) Tell-All, by Chuck Palahniuk
4.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
5.) Girl in Translation, by Jean Kwok
6.) 9th Judgement, by James Patterson
7.) Horns, by Joe Hill
8.) Our Lady of Immaculate Deception, by Nancy Martin

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) Women Food & God, by Geneen Roth
2.) Spoken from the Heart, by Laura Bush
3.) Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, by Chelsea Handler
4.) Big Short, by Michael Lewis
5.) The Last Stand, by Nathaniel Philbrick
6.) I'll Mature When I'm Dead, by Dave Barry
7.) Bedwetter, by Sarah Silverman
8.) The Pacific, by Hugh Ambrose

Kids Top 8

1.) Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney
2.) Star Wars Lego Dictionary
3.) The Last Olympian, by Rick Riordan
4.) Red Pyramid, by Rick Riordan
5.) Justin Case, by Rachel Vail
6.) The Lightening Thief, by Rick Riordan
7.) How To Train Your Dragon, by Cressida Cowell
8.) Wimpy Kid Movie Diary, by Jeff Kinney

Gives Back Member Appreciation Day!

2010-05-22T20:10:00.001-04:00

Join us on Sunday, May 23 for Gives Back Member Appreciation Day. Gives Back members can take advantage of many awesome deals. Not a member yet? That's okay, sign up is easy and a portion of every purchase you make goes to one of our community non-profit partners. You earn perks while benefitting your community. It's a store membership that truly gives back.

This Week's Top 8

2010-05-18T15:14:00.001-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) Dead in the Family, by Charlaine Harris
2.) Innocent, by Scott Turow
3.) Tell-All, by Chuck Palahniuk
4.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
5.) Girl in Translation, by Jean Kwok
6.) 9th Judgement, by James Patterson
7.) Horns, by Joe Hill
8.) Our Lady of Immaculate Deception, by Nancy Martin

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) War, by Sebastian Junger
2.) Spoken from the Heart, by Laura Bush
3.) Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, by Chelsea Handler
4.) Big Short, by Michael Lewis
5.) The Last Stand, by Nathaniel Philbrick
6.) I'll Mature When I'm Dead, by Dave Barry
7.) Bedwetter, by Sarah Silverman
8.) The Pacific, by Hugh Ambrose

Kids Top 8

1.) Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney
2.) Star Wars Lego Dictionary
3.) The Last Olympian, by Rick Riordan
4.) Red Pyramid, by Rick Riordan
5.) The Carrie Diaries, by Candace Bushnell
6.) The Lightening Thief, by Rick Riordan
7.) How To Train Your Dragon, by Cressida Cowell
8.) Wimpy Kid Movie Diary, by Jeff Kinney

Kids earn discounts when they attend story time!

2010-05-13T10:26:00.004-04:00

Join us for story time and earn discounts on kids books. Each story time attended earns you $1 off a $10 kids purchase. You can use your discounts immediately or save them up and earn more each time you attend.

Story times are great for children ages 2-6.

We have 3 weekly story times.

Thursdays at 11:30
Fridays at 11:30
Saturdays at 2:00

Please see a bookseller for details.

This Week's Top 8

2010-05-11T12:51:00.001-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) Heart of the Matter, by Emily Giffin
2.) Fever Dream, by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
3.) Dead in the Family, by Charlaine Harris
4.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
5.) Deliver Us From Evil, by David Baldacci
6.) 9th Judgement, by James Patterson
7.) Horns, by Joe Hill
8.) Our Lady of Immaculate Deception, by Nancy Martin

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) War, by Sebastian Junger
2.) Spoken from the Heart, by Laura Bush
3.) Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, by Chelsea Handler
4.) Big Short, by Michael Lewis
5.) The Last Stand, by Nathaniel Philbrick
6.) I'll Mature When I'm Dead, by Dave Barry
7.) Bedwetter, by Sarah Silverman
8.) The Pacific, by Hugh Ambrose

Kids Top 8

1.) Boom, by Mark Haddon
2.) Moon Bear, by Brenda Guiberson & Ed Young
3.) Happy Birthday, Bad Kitty, by Nick Bruel
4.) Red Pyramid, by Rick Riordan
5.) The Carrie Diaries, by Candace Bushnell
6.) The Lightening Thief, by Rick Riordan
7.) How To Train Your Dragon, by Cressida Cowell
8.) Wimpy Kid Movie Diary, by Jeff Kinney

This Week's Top 8

2010-05-04T07:21:00.000-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's bestsellers for 20%
off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a
Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) Dead in the Family, by Charlaine Harris
2.) Tell-All, by Chuck Palahniuk
3.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
4.) Horns, by Joe Hill
5.) Every Last One, by Anna Quindlen
6.) Deliver Us From Evil, by David Baldacci
7.) 9th Judgement, by James Patterson
8.) Our Lady of Immaculate Deception, by Nancy Martin

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) The Last Stand, by Nathaniel Philbrick
2.) I'll Mature When I'm Dead, by Dave Barry
3.) Bedwetter, by Sarah Silverman
4.) Chelsea, Chelsea, Bang, Bang, by Chelsea Handler
5.) The Pacific, by Hugh Ambrose
6.) Big Short, by Michael Lewis
7.) The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama, by David Remnick
8.) Born to Run, by Chris McDougall

Kids Top 8

1.) Red Pyramid, by Rick Riordan
2.) Something Like Fate, by Susane Colasanti
3.) The Carrie Diaries, by Candace Bushnell
4.) The Omnivore's Dilemma (Kids Edition), by Michael Pollan
5.) The Lightening Thief, by Rick Riordan
6.) The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn
7.) Love You Forever, by Robert Munsch
8.) Wimpy Kid Movie Diary, by Jeff Kinney

We want to hear from you!

2010-05-03T15:52:00.004-04:00

Email our book club leader at hburns@josephbeth.com with your book club ideas and be entered in a drawing to win 2 books by bestselling Pittsburgh author Nancy Martin. Winners will be drawn on May 17.

May is Gives Back Appreciation Month!!

2010-04-27T13:42:00.002-04:00

This month we are celebrating everything we love about our Gives Back program. If you're not a member, this month is a great time to join!

Here's how the program works:

You spend $10 for a 12 month membership.
We track the amount of money you spend in the store as a member and every time you hit $200 spent, we give you a gift voucher worth $10. We also give you a coupon good for 20% off one item when you join the program!
We also offer extra discounts on bestselling titles, staff picks and new release CDs and DVDs.
Through out the year we have special sales for our members, special promotions and discounts and coupon days.
And the best part of all: a percentage of every dollar you spend in our store is donated to one of our three partner organizations: The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Big Brother Big Sisters or Beginning With Books.

Each of our partners will host a week of fun events in the store to help us celebrate the program. Keep checking our blog and our website for details on what each partner will be offering. And remember that all our Gives Back members are invited to stop in on Sunday, May 23rd to take advantage of our special member's sale. If you don't get a coupon sheet in your email soon you can stop by the store to pick up a copy starting next week!

This Week's Top 8

2010-04-27T07:17:00.001-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's hardcover bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) The Carrie Diaries, by Candice Bushnell
2.) Island Beneath the Sea, by Isabel Allende
3.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
4.) Horns, by Joe Hill
5.) Bite Me, by Christopher Moore
6.) Deliver Us From Evil, by David Baldacci
7.) Solitude of Prime Numbers, by Paolo Giordano
8.) Our Lady of Immaculate Deception, by Nancy Martin

Fiction Top 8

1.) The French Women Don't Get Fat Cookbook, by Mireille Guiliano
2.) Chelsea, Chelsea, Bang, Bang, by Chelsea Handler
3.) The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama, by David Remnick
4.) The Pacific, by Hugh Ambrose
5.) If You Have to Cry, Go Outside, by Kelly Cutrone
6.) Big Short, by Michael Lewis
7.) This Time Together, by Carol Burnett
8.) Born to Run, by Chris McDougall

Kids Top 8

1.) Abby Carnelia's One and Only Magical Power, by David Pogue
2.) Burned, by PC Cast
3.) Gimme a Call, by Sarah Mlynowski
4.) Scat, by Carl Hiaasen
5.) Love You Forever, by Robert Munsch
6.) How To Train YOur Dragon, by Cressida Cowell
7.) Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney
8.) Wimpy Kid Movie Diary, by Jeff Kinney

This Week's Top 8

2010-04-19T16:30:00.000-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's hardcover bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) House Rules, by Jodi Picoult
2.) Bite Me, by Christopher Moore
3.) Horns, by Joe Hill
4.) Our Lady of Immaculate Deception, by Nancy Martin
5.) Changes (Dresden Files, Book 12), by Jim Butcher
6.) Solitude of Prime Numbers, by Paolo Giordano
7.) Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War, Karl Marlantes
8.) Girl Who Chased the Moon, by Sarah Addison AllenNon

Fiction Top 8

1.) Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, by Chelsea Handler
2.) This Time Together, by Carol Burnett
3.) If You Have to Cry, Go Outside, by Kelly Cutrone
4.) Everyday in Tuscany, by Frances Mayes
5.) The Pacific, by Hugh Ambrose
6.) The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama by David Remnick
7.) Born to Run, by Chris McDougall
8.) The Day I Shot Cupid: Hello, My Name Is Jennifer Love Hewitt and I'm a Love-aholic, by Jennifer Love Hewitt

Kids Top 8

1.) Wimpy Kid Movie Diary, by Jeff Kinney
2.) How To Train Your Dragon, by Cressida Cowell
3.) Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, by Rick Riordan
4.) Miles To Go, by Miley Cyrus
5.) The Lion & the Mouse, by Jerry Pinkney
6.) Percy Jackson: Last Olympian, by Rick Riordan
7.) Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney
8.) Alice in Wonderland, Little Golden Book Edition

This Week's Top 8

2010-04-13T17:32:00.000-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's hardcover bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) House Rules, by Jodi Picoult
2.) Our Lady of Immaculate Deception, by Nancy Martin
3.) Bite Me, by Christopher Moore
4.) Horns, by Joe Hill
5.) Changes (Dresden Files, Book 12), by Jim Butcher
6.) Solitude of Prime Numbers, by Paolo Giordano
7.) Girl Who Chased the Moon, by Sarah Addison Allen
8.) Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War, Karl Marlantes

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, by Chelsea Handler
2.) This Time Together, by Carol Burnett
3.) The Day I Shot Cupid: Hello, My Name Is Jennifer Love Hewitt and I'm a Love-aholic, by Jennifer Love Hewitt
4.) If You Have to Cry, Go Outside, by Kelly Cutrone
5.) Everyday in Tuscany, by Frances Mayes
6.) The Pacific, by Hugh Ambrose
7.) The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama by David Remnick
8.) Born to Run, by Chris McDougall

Kids Top 8

1.) Wimpy Kid Movie Diary, by Jeff Kinney
2.) How To Train Your Dragon, by Cressida Cowell
3.) Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, by Rick Riordan
4.) Miles To Go, by Miley Cyrus
5.) The Lion & the Mouse, by Jerry Pinkney
6.) Percy Jackson: Last Olympian, by Rick Riordan
7.) Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney
8.) Alice in Wonderland, Little Golden Book Edition

This Week's Top 8

2010-04-06T16:15:00.000-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's hardcover bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) House Rules, by Jodi Picoult
2.) Our Lady of Immaculate Deception, by Nancy Martin
3.) Bite Me, by Christopher Moore
4.) Horns, by Joe Hill
5.) Lost Symbol, by Dan Brown
6.) Swan Thieves, by Elizabeth Kostova
7.) Girl Who Chased the Moon, by Sarah Addison Allen
8.) Under the Dome, by Stephen King

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, by Chelsea Handler
2.) The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin
3.) Big Short, by Michael Lewis
4.) If You Have to Cry, Go Outside, by Kelly Cutrone
5.) Everyday in Tuscany, by Frances Mayes
6.) The Pacific, by Hugh Ambrose
7.) Nine Rooms of Happiness, by Lucy Danziger
8.) Born to Run, by Chris McDougall

Kids Top 8

1.) Wimpy Kid Movie Diary, by Jeff Kinney
2.) Fang: A Maximum Ride Novel, by James Patterson
3.) Hunted, by PC Cast
4.) Miles To Go, by Miley Cyrus
5.) The Lion & the Mouse, by Jerry Pinkney
6.) The Battle of the Labyrinth, by Rick Riordan
7.) Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney
8.) Alice in Wonderland, Little Golden Book Edition

This just in! The Hugo Award Nominees announced!

2010-04-04T20:07:00.000-04:00

2010 Hugo Award Nominees – Details
Published on 4 Apr 2010 at 3:54 pm. No Comments.
Filed under Results.

Aussiecon 4, the 68th World Science Fiction Convention, has announced the ballot for the 2010 Hugo Awards.

Best Novel
(699 Ballots)

•Boneshaker, Cherie Priest (Tor)
•The City & The City, China Miéville (Del Rey; Macmillan UK)
•Julian Comstock: A Story of 22nd-Century America, Robert Charles Wilson (Tor)
•Palimpsest, Catherynne M. Valente (Bantam Spectra)
•Wake, Robert J. Sawyer (Ace; Penguin; Gollancz; Analog)
•The Windup Girl, Paolo Bacigalupi (Night Shade)
Best Novella
(375 Ballots)

•“Act One”, Nancy Kress (Asimov’s 3/09)
•The God Engines, John Scalzi (Subterranean)
•“Palimpsest”, Charles Stross (Wireless)
•Shambling Towards Hiroshima, James Morrow (Tachyon)
•“Vishnu at the Cat Circus”, Ian McDonald (Cyberabad Days)
•The Women of Nell Gwynne’s, Kage Baker (Subterranean)
Best Novelette
(402 Ballots)

•“Eros, Philia, Agape”, Rachel Swirsky (Tor.com 3/09)
•The Island”, Peter Watts (The New Space Opera 2)
•“It Takes Two”, Nicola Griffith (Eclipse Three)
•“One of Our Bastards is Missing”, Paul Cornell (The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction: Volume Three)
•“Overtime”, Charles Stross (Tor.com 12/09)
•“Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast”, Eugie Foster (Interzone 2/09)
Best Short Story
(432 Ballots)

•“The Bride of Frankenstein”, Mike Resnick (Asimov’s 12/09)
•“Bridesicle”, Will McIntosh (Asimov’s 1/09)
•“The Moment”, Lawrence M. Schoen (Footprints)
•“Non-Zero Probabilities”, N.K. Jemisin (Clarkesworld 9/09)
•“Spar”, Kij Johnson (Clarkesworld 10/09)
Best Related Book
(259 Ballots)

•Canary Fever: Reviews, John Clute (Beccon)
•Hope-In-The-Mist: The Extraordinary Career and Mysterious Life of Hope Mirrlees, Michael Swanwick (Temporary Culture)
•The Inter-Galactic Playground: A Critical Study of Children’s and Teens’ Science Fiction, Farah Mendlesohn (McFarland)
•On Joanna Russ, Farah Mendlesohn (ed.) (Wesleyan)
•The Secret Feminist Cabal: A Cultural History of SF Feminisms, Helen Merrick (Aqueduct)
•This is Me, Jack Vance! (Or, More Properly, This is “I”), Jack Vance (Subterranean)
Best Graphic Story
(221 Ballots)

•Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? Written by Neil Gaiman; Pencilled by Andy Kubert; Inked by Scott Williams (DC Comics)
•Captain Britain And MI13. Volume 3: Vampire State Written by Paul Cornell; Pencilled by Leonard Kirk with Mike Collins, Adrian Alphona and Ardian Syaf (Marvel Comics)
•Fables Vol 12: The Dark Ages Written by Bill Willingham; Pencilled by Mark Buckingham; Art by Peter Gross & Andrew Pepoy, Michael Allred, David Hahn; Colour by Lee Loughridge & Laura Allred; Letters by Todd Klein (Vertigo Comics)
•Girl Genius, Volume 9: Agatha Heterodyne and the Heirs of the Storm Written by Kaja and Phil Foglio; Art by Phil Foglio; Colours by Cheyenne Wright (Airship Entertainment)
•Schlock Mercenary: The Longshoreman of the Apocalypse Written and Illustrated by Howard Tayler
Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form
(541 Ballots)

•Avatar Screenplay and Directed by James Cameron (Twentieth Century Fox)
•District 9 Screenplay by Neill Blomkamp & Terri Tatchell; Directed by Neill Blomkamp (TriStar Pictures)
•Moon Screenplay by Nathan Parker; Story by Duncan Jones; Directed by Duncan Jones (Liberty Films)
•Star Trek Screenplay by Robert Orci & Alex Kurtzman; Directed by J.J. Abrams (Paramount)
•Up Screenplay by Bob Peterson & Pete Docter; Story by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, & Thomas McCarthy; Directed by Bob Peterson & Pete Docter (Disney/Pixar)
Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form
(282 Ballots)

•Doctor Who: “The Next Doctor” Written by Russell T Davies; Directed by Andy Goddard (BBC Wales)
•Doctor Who: “Planet of the Dead” Written by Russell T Davies & Gareth Roberts; Directed by James Strong (BBC Wales)
•Doctor Who: “The Waters of Mars” Written by Russell T Davies & Phil Ford; Directed by Graeme Harper (BBC Wales)
•Dollhouse: “Epitaph 1″ Story by Joss Whedon; Written by Maurissa Tancharoen & Jed Whedon; Directed by David Solomon (Mutant Enemy)
•FlashForward: “No More Good Days” Written by Brannon Braga & David S. Goyer; Directed by David S. Goyer; based on the novel by Robert J. Sawyer (ABC)
Best Editor, Long Form
(289 Ballots)

•Lou Anders
•Ginjer Buchanan
•Liz Gorinsky
•Patrick Nielsen Hayden
•Juliet Ulman
Best Editor, Short Form
(419 Ballots)

•Ellen Datlow
•Stanley Schmidt
•Jonathan Strahan
•Gordon Van Gelder
•Sheila Williams
Best Professional Artist
(327 Ballots)

•Bob Eggleton
•Stephan Martiniere
•John Picacio
•Daniel Dos Santos
•Shaun Tan
Best Semiprozine
(377 Ballots)

•Ansible edited by David Langford
•Clarkesworld edited by Neil Clarke, Sean Wallace, & Cheryl Morgan
•Interzone edited by Andy Cox
•Locus edited by Charles N. Brown, Kirsten Gong-Wong, & Liza Groen Trombi
•Weird Tales edited by Ann VanderMeer & Stephen H. Segal
Best Fan Writer
(319 Ballots)

•Claire Brialey
•Christopher J Garcia
•James Nicoll
•Lloyd Penney
•Frederik Pohl
Best Fanzine
(298 Ballots)

•Argentus edited by Steven H Silver
•Banana Wings edited by Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer
•CHALLENGER edited by Guy H. Lillian III
•Drink Tank edited by Christopher J Garcia, with guest editor James Bacon
•File 770 edited by Mike Glyer
•StarShipSofa edited by Tony C. Smith
Best Fan Artist
(199 Ballots)

•Brad W. Foster
•Dave Howell
•Sue Mason
•Steve Stiles
•Taral Wayne
The John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer
(356 Ballots)

•Saladin Ahmed
•Gail Carriger
•Felix Gilman *
•Seanan McGuire
•Lezli Robyn *
*(Second year of eligibility)

A total of 864 nomination ballots were cast.

This Week's Top 8 Lists

2010-03-23T08:18:00.001-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) House Rules, by Jodi Picoult
2.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
3.) Poor Little Bitch Girl, by Jackie Collins
4.) Alice I Have Been, by Melanie Benjamin
5.) Devil's Star, by Jo Nesbo
6.) House of Tomorrow, by Peter Boganni
7.) Our Lady of Immaculate Deception, by Nancy Martin
8.) Letter to My Daughter, by George Bishop

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, by Chelsea Handler
2.) The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin
3.) Big Short, by Michael Lewis
4.) Superfreakonomics, by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner
5.) The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot
6.) Making the Rounds With Oscar, by David Dosa
7.) Eating Animals, by Jonathan Safran Foer
8.) Born to Run, by Chris McDougall

Kids Top 8

1.) Wimpy Kid Movie Diary, by Jeff Kinney
2.) Sea of Monsters, by Rick Riordan
3.) Max & Ruby: Max's Easter Surprise, by Rosemary Wells
4.) Out of My Mind, by Sharon Draper
5.) Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney
6.) The Lightening Thief, by Rick Riordan
7.) Fang, by James Patterson
8.) Twilight: The Graphic Novel, by Stephenie Meyer

This Week's Top 8

2010-03-16T11:30:00.000-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's hardcover bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) House Rules, by Jodi Picoult
2.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
3.) Poor Little Bitch Girl, by Jackie Collins
4.) Alice I Have Been, by Melanie Benjamin
5.) The Magicians, by Lev Grossman
6.) Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel
7.) The Girl Who Played With Fire, by Steig Larsson
8.) Angelology, by Danielle Trussoni

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, by Chelsea Handler
2.) The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin
3.) The Kind Diet, by Alicia Silverstone
4.) Superfreakonomics, by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner
5.) The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot
6.) Making the Rounds With Oscar, by David Dosa
7.) Eating Animals, by Jonathan Safran Foer
8.) Nine Rooms of Happiness, by Lucy Danziger & Catherine Birndorf

Kids Top 8

1.) Fang, by James Patterson
2.) Twilight: The Graphic Novel, by Stephenie Meyer
3.) Alice In Wonderland, Little Golden Book edition
4.) Out of My Mind, by Sharon Draper
5.) The Lion & the Mouse, by Jerry Pinkney
6.) Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney
7.) Max & Ruby: Max's Easter Surprise, by Rosemary Wells
8.) The Lightening Thief, by Rick Riordan

This Week's Top 8

2010-03-09T08:01:00.000-05:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's hardcover bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8

1.) Angelology, by Danielle Trussoni
2.) House Rules, by Jodi Picoult
3.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
4.) Alice I Have Been, by Melanie Benjamin
5.) Lost Symbol, by Dan Brown
6.) Poor LIttle Bitch Girl, by Jackie Collins
7.) The Girl Who Played With Fire, by Steig Larsson
8.) Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, by Chelsea Handler
2.) Mojo: How to Get It, How to Keep It, How to Get It Back if You Lose It, by Marshall Goldsmith
3.) The Kind Diet, by Alicia Silverstone
4.) Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot
5.) The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin
6.) The Politician, by Andrew Young
7.) Game Change, by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin
8.) Courage & Consequence, by Karl Rove

Kids Top 8

1.) Out of My Mind, by Sharon Draper
2.) Batboy, by Mike Lupica
3.) Alice In Wonderland, Little Golden Book edition
4.) Pittsburgh A to Z, by Martha Vandalay
5.) The Lion & the Mouse, by Jerry Pinkney
6.) Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney
7.) Nobunny's Perfect, by Andrea Dewdney
8.) The Lightening Thief, by Rick Riordan

This Week's Top 8 Lists

2010-03-01T11:30:00.002-05:00

Stop by our new store location on the corner of Sidney St. and S. 27th St. in the SouthSide works, and pick up one of this week's bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Top 8
1.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
2.) Poor Little Bitch Girl, by Jackie Collins
3.) Lost Symbol, by Dan Brown
4.) Alice I Have Been, by Melanie Benjamin
5.) Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel
6.) Under the Dome, by Stephen King
7.) Last Train From Paris, by Stacy Cohen
8.) Remarkable Creatures, by Tracy Chevalier

Non-Fiction Top 8

1.) Game Change, by John Heilemann
2.) Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot
3.) Kind Diet, by Alicia Silverstone
4.) The Conscious Cook, by Tal Ronnen
5.) Too Big to Fail, by Andrew Sorkin
6.) Mojo: How to Get It, How to Keep It, How to Get It Back if You Lose It, by Marshall Goldsmith
7.) The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin
8.) Politician, by Andrew Young

Kids Top 8
1.) The Lightening Thief, by Rick Riordan
2.) Pittsburgh A to Z, by Martha Vandalay
3.) The Sea of Monsters, by Rick Riordan
4.) Battle of the Labyrinth, by Rick Riordan
5.) Breaking Dawn, by Stephenie Meyer
6.) Incarceron, by Catherine Fisher
7.) The Titan's Curse, by Rick Riordan
8.) Alice In Wonderland, Little Golden Book edition

New Storytime Schedule

2010-02-22T12:32:00.002-05:00

When we re-open in March we will be changing our story time schedule to better suit our customer requests. Story times will be as follows:

Thursday and Friday at 11:30 am, open to families with children ages 2 - 6
Saturdays at 2pm, open to families with children ages 2 - 6

As always, we offer age ranges as a guideline to help you decide whether or not your children will be interested in the event. Younger children who can sit still for a story or older children who would like to be read to are always welcome at our storytime events. We ask that parents supervise their children at all times.

We have some very special story times lined up for this year including costumed characters and animals for families to play with! See you at the bookstore!!!

Joe Hill comes to Pittsburgh!

2010-02-16T16:42:00.003-05:00

In what we can only describe as a booksellers dream come true, author Joe Hill will be joining us to sign his work as the inaugural event in our new location!!

You may not know Joe Hill yet, but you certainly should take this opportunity to pick up one of his books and hear him speak! We've put together this handy guide to Hill's works to help you pick the right book to get started.

Heart Shaped Box - an aging rocker with a penchant for collecting gruesome objects sees an ad for a ghost online. He purchases the ghost (supposedly tied to an old suit) and promptly forgets about the transaction. When the suit shows up on his doorstep it turns out that there really is a ghost and that ghost is after him and anyone who he knows. It sounds like horror-lite but it's the real deal. Creepy enough to keep you up all night, this book is a must-read for fans of classic Stephen King titles like Carrie and Christine, and is guaranteed to scare the hell out of you!

20th Century Ghosts - This is Hill's first collection of short stories. Running the gamut from grisly horror (like the slasher story writer who finds himself trapped in a cliched horror scenario) to dreamy fantasy (a child befriends a classmate who is actually an inflatable boy-shaped balloon) Hill's short stories are crafted tightly with each word carefully selected and placed for maximum impact. It's rare to find a novelist who can write a strong short story, or a short story writer who can craft a full length novel, but Hill is a writer who can do both exceptionally well.

Locke & Key - Hill's foray into graphic novels proves that he is endlessly versatile in his writing. This series (currently with two available volumes) focuses on a family, a creepy house and a well with something lurking inside. Hill's story is paired with exceptional illustrations. This series is recommended for readers of Lovecraft and Ellison and readers of darker graphic novels like Sandman.

Horns - The most recent book from Hill is definitely a sign of amazing things to come! Ig Parrish wakes up after a night "drunk and doing terrible things" to find that not only are tiny horns sprouting out of his head, his family, friends and complete strangers are giving him power over their darkest desires. It's a Kafka-esque novel with a "hellish" twist and like Hill's previous work it proves his ability to genre-bend with the best of them. This one will appeal to both horror and dark fantasy readers.

It's entirely possible that this will be one of our only chances to meet this amazing author in a relatively low-key setting. not only will Hill be reading and signing, you'll have a chance to ask him about his work and the writing process. Don't be the reader who picks up a book after the event and regrets a missed opportunity! Join us at 7 pm on Monday, March 1st for a book signing you'll never forget.

This Week's Bestsellers

2010-02-16T08:04:00.001-05:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's hardcover bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Bestsellers

1.) Alice I Have Been, by Melanie Benjamin
2.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
3.) Swan Thieves, by Elizabeth Kostova
4.) Under the Dome, by Stephen King
5.) Poor Little Bitch Girl, by Jackie Collins
6.) Worst Case, by James Patterson
7.) Flirt, by Laurell K. Hamilton
8.) Remarkable Creatures, by Tracy Chevalier
9.) Last Song, by Nicholas Sparks
10.)Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel

Non-Fiction Bestsellers

1.) Game Change, by John Heilemann
2.) Stones Into Schools, by Greg Mortenson
3.) Open, by Andre Agassi
4.) Superfreakonomics, by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner
5.) Committed, by Elizabeth Gilbert
6.) The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
7.) Politician, by Andrew Young
8.) Eating Animals, by Jonathan Safran Foer
9.) I Am Ozzy, by Ozzy Osbourne & Chris Ayres
10.)Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin

Kids Bestsellers

1.) Lightening Thief, by Rick Riordan
2.) The Vampire Diaries, by L.J. Smith
3.) Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, by Mo Willems
4.) Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak
5.) The Battle of the Labyrinth, by Rick Riordan
6.) Lion and the Mouse, by Jerry Pinkney
7.) Coraline, by Neil Gaiman
8.) When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead
9.) Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney
10.)Incarceron, by Catherine Fisher

This Week's Bestsellers

2010-02-09T08:22:00.002-05:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's hardcover bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Bestsellers

1.) Alice I Have Been, by Melanie Benjamin
2.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
3.) Swan Thieves, by Elizabeth Kostova
4.) Impact, by Douglas Preston
5.) Unnamed, by Joshua Ferris
6.) Worst Case, by James Patterson
7.) Doors Open, by Ian Rankin
8.) Remarkable Creatures, by Tracy Chevalier
9.) Last Song, by Nicholas Sparks
10.)Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel

Non-Fiction Bestsellers

1.) Game Change, by John Heilemann
2.) Committed, by Elizabeth Gilbert
3.) Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall
4.) Superfreakonomics, by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner
5.) Have A Little Faith, by Mitch Albom
6.) The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
7.) Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
8.) The Conscious Cook, by Tal Ronnen
9.) I Am Ozzy, by Ozzy Osbourne & Chris Ayres
10.)Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin

Kids Bestsellers

1.) Lightening Thief, by Rick Riordan
2.) Eclipse, by Stephenie Meyer
3.) Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, by Mo Willems
4.) Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak
5.) Peekaboo: I Love You, by Sandra Magsamen
6.) Lion and the Mouse, by Jerry Pinkney
7.) Elmo Loves You, by Sarah Albee
8.) By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead, by Julie Anne Peters
9.) Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney
10.)Incarceron, by Catherine Fisher

Our bestselling titles

2010-02-01T12:04:00.002-05:00

Hardcover Fiction - Discounted 30% for Gives Back members, 20% for everyone else

1) Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin

2) The Help by Katherine Stockett

3) Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova

4) The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson

5) The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris

6) The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

7) Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde

8) Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier

9) The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
10) Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Hardcover Non-Fiction
1) Game Change by John Heilemann
2) Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert
3) Born To Run by Christopher McDougall
4) Superfreakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner
5) Have A Little Faith by Mitch Albom
6) The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
7) Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
8) The Conscious Cook by Tal Ronnen
9) I Am Ozzy by Ozzy Osbourne & Chris Ayres
10) The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Kids and Young Adult Titles

1) Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan
2) Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
3) Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
4) Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
5) Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
6) Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
7) The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
8) Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
9) Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
10) Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

It's true, we're moving!!!

2010-01-30T15:27:00.002-05:00

You may have heard some information about our upcoming move in the papers recently. We're very excited and now we can share some of the details with everyone!

On February 22nd we will close a little early to conduct a full inventory. We will re-open on February 27th in our new location, formerly the Z Gallery store across the street from our current building. We will continue to feature a wide selection of books and gifts, comfortable seating, exceptional customer service and the best kids department in town.

So why the change? When we cut back our music department (in line with the decline of CD and DVD purchasing country-wide) we were left with some extra space. This new location is not only more visible from the heart of the South Side Works it is a better size for our stock and the parking garage is right next door to us. This move will give us the chance to focus our resources even more on you, our friends and customers.

If you have any questions for us, we're happy to answer them! Stop by the store and chat with our booksellers or email our General Manager, Chris (crickert@josephbeth.com) and let us know what we can do for you!

And like all good friends, we could use your help moving (and we're offering store credit as compensation) so if you have time during our move dates email Chris right away so she can schedule you in for a shift. There will be work of all kinds, so don't be shy! Not only will you earn Joseph-Beth Bucks to spend on any products we sell, you'll have the opportunity to hang out with a great bunch of booksellers and the owner of the company!

Announcing Winter Hours

2010-01-30T15:24:00.004-05:00

Starting on Monday, February 1st we will begin our winter hours schedule.

Monday - Thursday, 10am - 8pm
Friday - Saturday, 10am - 9pm
Sunday, 11am - 7pm

We'll see you at the book store!

Help us help the Carnegie Library System!

2009-11-12T09:41:00.002-05:00

You've probably seen the stories in the papers and on the news about the budget situation facing our local library system. As you can imagine, we're all big library supporters here at JB, and we've partnered with the Carnegie Libraries to bring you some great events in the past so we're hosting a fundraiser here this Saturday and Sunday (the 14th and 15th) to help out!

Join us on Saturday for three special storytimes for kids: at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. At 4:30 the CLP will host a teen book related event here as well (details are being decided, call the store for more information). There will be representatives on hand from the libraries to talk to you and if you turn in the donation voucher we'll have in the store that weekend, we'll donate 20% of what you are spending here to the library!

We hope to see you in our store this weekend to support a very worthy cause. Long live the Carnegie Library System!

Limited time for Mike Huckabee signing!!

2009-11-09T15:12:00.003-05:00

Mike Huckabee's schedule will only allow him to sign books for one hour when he visits us on the 19th. We want to make sure that as many people as possible get to shake his hand and get an autographed book, so this will be a ticketed event. Here's how it works:

- You call or stop by and purchase a copy of his new book from us. (we have plenty of copies in the store!) Along with your receipt the bookseller will give you a free line ticket with a letter on the top. Letters are assigned in alphabetical order based on the order in which books are purchased. The first 30 or so people will get an "A" ticket, the next 30 will get "B" and so on.

-When you show up for the event we will line you up according to the letter on the top of your ticket. So the sooner you purchase your book, the better your place in line.

We will be lining people up a little before 8pm, and showing up early will not get you a better place in line, we will go strictly by ticket letter. But here's the best part: If you are a Gives Back member, you'll get a special VIP ticket when you purchase your book. The VIP tickets are reserved exclusively for Gives Back members (and we'll be happy to sign you up when you buy the book) and will admit these special ticket holders to the beginning of the line. We will have to shut the line down precisely at nine, and while Mike Huckabee is pretty awesome, there is a limit to the number of books he can sign so please buy your book now (and a membership too!) and don't miss your chance to get an autographed copy of the new book!

Questions and phone purchases (with any major credit card)? Call (412) 381-3600

Special Parking Deals at the SSW!

2009-11-06T18:13:00.002-05:00

The South Side Works is offering some very special holiday promotions to help you get all your shopping done with a minimum of fuss!

First of all, log on to 961kiss.com and register as a SSW VIP shopper for special deals and coupons that will cover many of the fantastic retail shops here in the Works!

Then, when you're ready to plan your shopping trip you can time it to take advantage of one of these special parking deals: (please note that in all cases your receipts must be redeemed through the kiosk in the center of the plaza, not at the Joseph-Beth counter)

1) Tuesday Lunch Times: from 11am until 1pm every Tuesday through Christmas you'll receive one free parking pass you can redeem in the first three months of 2010 if you spend $25 or more in the Works.

2) FREE PARKING: Spend $50 or more in the Works on November 27, 28 or 29th and you'll get free parking for the day, plus a free pass for a visit in 2010 and two free movie passes...WOW!!

3) Spend $50 between Nov 13 and December 31st for a free parking pass good for one visit between Jan - Mar of 2010.

4) Special Sundays - Beginning November 29th, spend $50 in the Works on a Sunday and get two free passes to a South Side Works Cinema show.

So there are four great ways to save money on parking while having access to a huge array of gifts, specialty stores and food (but we know you just want to shop at Jo-Beth, and that's okay too) and with Carson Street widened to four lanes and all streets between Carson and the river re-opened it's easier than ever to come visit us.

See you soon!

De-Construction!!

2009-10-06T11:18:00.002-04:00

We are thrilled to report that our side of 27th street has been reopened to traffic. There are plenty of parking spaces and you can once again reach us simply by turning off of Carson Street in front of the store. Please come help us celebrate our renewed accessibility!

For those of you concerned about traffic flow through the area, there is one lane open in either direction (which is what we had originally) and traffic is flowing normally. Now we can start looking forward to an extra lane on either side of Carson street, which should be completed in the coming months.

This Week's Bestsellers

2009-09-28T10:08:00.001-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's hardcover bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Bestsellers

1.) Lost Symbol, by Dan Brown
2.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
3.) Gate At the Stairs, by Lorrie Moore
4.) Magicians, by Lev Grossman
5.) Last Song, by Nicholas Sparks
6.) The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, by Katherine Howe
7.) This Is Where I Leave You, by Jonathan Tropper
8.) The Alchemaster's Apprentice, by Walter Moers
9.) Homer & Langley, by E.L. Doctorow
10.)South of Broad, by Pat Conroy

Non-Fiction Bestsellers

1.) True Compass: A Memoir, by Edward M. Kennedy
2.) The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
3.) Are You There Vodka, It's Me, Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler
4.) Born To Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen, by Christopher McDougall
5.) Arguing With Idiots, by Glenn Beck
6.) Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin, by Kathy Griffin
7.) Where Men Win Glory, by Jon Krakauer
8.) In the President's Secret Service, by Ronald Kessler
9.) Mastering the Art of French Cooking, by Julia Child
10.)Act Like a Lady, But Think Like a Man, by Steve Harvey

New Vera Bradley patterns for winter

2009-09-25T14:29:00.004-04:00

Dear Vera Bradley-toting customer,

Judging from your enthusiasm in our store, the release of Vera Bradley's three patterns for fall - Carnaby, Blue Rhapsody, and Pirouette - was a success!

I'm happy to announce that we now have the three latest patterns - Imperial Toile, Paprika, and Symphony In Hue - available in our store. Take a look at the pictures below, then stop by the store and let us know what you think. I hope you're as pleased as I am with this latest round of designs from the creative team at Vera Bradley.

When you're in the store, be sure to look at the all new Reversible Tote. You'll also find the new Mini Laptop case, the perfect way to carry one of those little netbooks everyone is getting. Check out the new jewelry case, too!

Imperial Toile is our new favorite pattern. Here it is, featured on many familiar bag styles.

The wonderful Let's Do Lunch bag in all-new Paprika and Symphony In Hue.

The beautiful interior fabrics of Vera Bradley bags are featured in the new Reversible Tote. Here, next to a Carnaby tote, a tote in Imperial Toile has been reversed to reveal the accent fabric.

Stop in and see us soon!
Your Gift Specialist,
Brian

A Fantastic Followup to Pride & Prejudice & Zombies

2009-09-20T13:43:00.002-04:00

One of the only things more delicious than smart satire is parody of smart satire. When Jane Austen satirized the society of her time, who knew 200 years later a parody of that satire would come in the form of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters? It seems quite appropriate that the Dashwood sisters had to survive the money and status hungry sharks of Austen's world and now they must survive a different sort of aquatic villain in Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. As if Regency England wasn't frightening enough for young ladies of modest means, this hilarious tongue-in-cheek take of the beloved classic puts Barton Cottage on an island infested with terrifying sea creatures, finds the repulsive but respectable Colonel Brandon with tentacles, and left me laughing out loud. I don’t think I’ll ever look at Sense and Sensibility in quite the same way again.

--Heather

This Week's Bestsellers

2009-09-15T13:05:00.001-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's hardcover bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Bestsellers

1.) Lost Symbol, by Dan Brown
2.) The Magicians, by Lev Grossman
3.) Gate At the Stairs, by Lorrie Moore
4.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
5.) Alex Cross's Trial, by James Patterson & Richard DiLallo
6.) Last Song, by Nicholas Sparks
7.) South of Broad, by Pat Conroy
8.) This Is Where I Leave You, by Jonathan Tropper
9.) Homer & Langley, by E.L. Doctorow
10.)White Queen, by Phillipa Gregory

Non-Fiction Bestsellers

1.) True Compass: A Memoir, by Edward M. Kennedy
2.) The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
3.) Are You There Vodka, It's Me, Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler
4.) Born To Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen, by Christopher McDougall
5.) Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
6.) Culture of Corruption, by Michelle Malkin
7.) Bobby & Jackie, C. David Heymann
8.) Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin, by Kathy Griffin
9.) Act Like a Lady, But Think Like a Man, by Steve Harvey
10.)Zeitoun, by Dave Eggers

Lev Grossman's The Magicians

2009-09-05T18:29:00.003-04:00

The Magicians by Lev Grossman: a review

I tend to get excited about books...surprise, surprise. I get excited about books because when I was very young I found Lloyd Alexander's The Book of Three and had my first experience wishing I could leap into another world where I would immediately discover my own latent magical powers and end up married to some handsome price or at least a magician's assistant. And since I never found the right portal, I continue to read feverishly, hoping to find more and more worlds to dream myself into.

Grossman explores the darker sides of two of the archetypal story lines of our times: The youth enters adolescence and discovers magical powers (Harry Potter, The Wheel of Time, The Book of Three) usually introduced by a mysterious figure who whisks the child away to a place where their powers are the norm and they are the pivotal character in a struggle against evil. And the other: the main character leaves the humdrum world of adults to journey through a magical land (where they often find out they posses magical powers and are pivotal in a battle against evil). The Chronicles of Narnia is the best example of this, but if you look though both children's literature and adult Fantasy you'll find this theme echoed over and over.

Which brings us to The Magicians. Quentin Coldwater is a passionate reader of a series of children's fantasy novels set in a place called Fillory (which is clearly analogous with Narnia) and even as a high school student he ponders the stories and longs to find the odd piece of furniture that will transport him there. When a chance encounter leads to Quentin holding the purported manuscript for a never-published Fillory adventure he believes he has hit the fanboy jackpot. Instead he is almost instantly approached by representatives of a school for "special" students and asked to enroll as a student of...you guessed it...magic. (And I'm not telling you what happens to the manuscript, but it comes back around, I promise)

But Brakebills, is certainly no Hogwarts, it's mostly really hard studying and boring exercises. The one brush with what could be considered true evil ends not is a showy, epic battle with students wielding magic like hardened combatants; it ends in a tragic death from which no one really learns any kind of important lesson. And this is just the beginning of a long line of standing beliefs anyone in Quentin's position might hold that comes crashing down. Magic isn't fun and it's not the "real" world. Magicians who don't go into a few specialized fields generally end up going quietly crazy spinning their little spells in their own little discipline. As Quentin's girlfriend explains about her own mother and father (fairy music composition and architectural magic are their specialties) most magical practitioners have enough power to not need to work and so they just go off in their own obscure direction, contributing nothing to the world. Not exactly the magical world any of us have imagined, and certainly not what Quentin had in mind either.

And that's just the first quarter of the novel, because when Quentin graduates and goes off into the world the story really takes off.

It's impossible to explain much of what makes this book so stunning without explaining some very key plot points, so I have to implore you to read this book and find out for yourself. When I finished it I had a very visceral urge to run outside and start forcing copies of the book into strangers hands. Instead I am telling everyone reading this review to please, please, please pick up this book and read it and marvel at Grossman's skill and his troubling and brilliant insight. You'll never read another piece of fantasy fiction the same way again.

Bridgewater BookFest!

2009-09-03T12:22:00.004-04:00

We here at Joseph-Beth recently became aware of a Pennsylvania non-profit that puts on a fantastic book festival every fall: The Bridgewater BookFest which takes place September 11th-12th in Bridgewater, PA, which is about an hour north of Pittsburgh.

They have secured three incredible featured authors for the event: Larry Watson (www.larry-watson.com), Scott Russell Sanders (www.scottrussellsanders.com) and Jonis Agee (www.jonisagee.com). AND there are over 50 authors that will be in attendance, traveling from all over the country!

This year's festival will feature a Friday night (Sept 11, 6:30pm), ticketed "Meet the Authors" dinner, where attendees can enjoy a hors d'oeuvres, wine & dessert while listening to Larry, Scott and Jonis, as they share stories about the craft of writing.

This is definitely something not to be missed! Visit www.bridgewaterbookfest.com for more details!

Great Staff Pick Recommendations for the Month of September

2009-09-02T16:22:00.002-04:00

Here are our picks for the books we love that you've probably never heard of. These books are all discounted 20% for Gives Back Members and 10% for everyone else.

Idiot Americans

by Charlie Pierce

NPR’s Charlie Pierce sounds off on the cultural shift from facts and logic to truthiness and following the “gut” in American politics and society at large. Pierce is an engaging, scathing, genius of a writer who challenges his readers to reject what just feels right and demand facts from their leaders and journalists.

--Chris

The Happiness Equation: 100 Factors That Can Add to or Subtract from Your Happiness

by Bridget Grenville

The Happiness Equation rates 100 factors that impact our ability to be happy. The book examines why lifestyle choices affect our happiness and what we can do to improve our happiness "score." Simple, convenient, and easier to use than traditional life coaching and self help books, The Happiness Equation will provide you with a daily focus for taking control of your psychological health.

--Heather

Letters to a Young Poet

by Rainer Maria Rilke

This book is perfect for anyone looking to live a life of creativity. In the span of five years, a young student wrote to his favorite poet and idol, Rainer Maria Rilke, asking advice on writing, on love, on life, on art… and throughout the course of about ten letters or so, Rilke guides this young man and helps shape the poet and person he will become. His advice is timeless and always relevant, no matter what form your art may take. I’ve read Rilke’s words over and over again and I always go through with a pencil because I undoubtedly find something new every time. Letters to a Young Poet is a treasured book in my collection.

--Maureen

Preludes & Nocturnes

by Neil Gaiman

The mid to late 80’s saw something of a revolution in comic books as series like Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns and Alan Moore’s Watchmen started to stretch what had for so long been a medium geared towards young boys into something decidedly more mature. Around the same time Neil Gaiman’s Sandman injected a lyrical and literary tone into the field, and this first collection of the series is as brilliant as it was when it was first published.

--Fred

Home

by Julie Andrews

The Sound of Music star’s childhood was no fairy tale, full of shocking twists and terrific scandals. Forced to change her name to match her stepfather’s, after being torn from her beloved father, who turned out not to have been her father at all, Julia Wells grew up in a topsy-turvy world, but that was only the beginning for the star who would later find fame on stage and screen as Julie Andrews. You won’t read about this in any of her previous biographies – read it here, in Julie Andrews’ own words, in her touching and entertaining memoir.

--Brian

Grand Theft Jesus: The Hijacking of Religion in America

by Robert S. McElvaine

Americans who practice Christianity are not all poltically conservative, as a quick trip to my parish or The Thomas Merton Center would confirm. Robert McElvaine calls out the religious right with passion and humor, faulting individual leaders (Jesus thieves) and movements for leaving behind the Sermon on the Mount and embracing self-serving ideas and theologically dubious policies. He ends with a call to re-embrace Jesus’ teachings of peace, love, and forgiveness.
ining memoir.

--Judy

How I Became a Famous Novelist

by Steve Hely

“Rule 5: Must include a club, secrets/mysterious missions, shy characters, characters whose live are changed suddenly, surprising love affairs, women who’ve given up on love but turn out to be beautiful.”

Pete Tarslaw becomes a famous novelist in order to make an impression on his ex-girlfriend at her wedding. Hely’s thin premise is the foundation for an excellent work of contemporary literary skewering, including a fake New York Times Bestsellers list that is such good parody, one might mistake these titles as real. It is this fake bestsellers list that Tarslaw uses as a foundation document to the creation of his own literary Frankenstein, The Tornado Ashes Club, where a man on the run is offered protection by his grandmother, but only if he will help her deposit the ashes of her former lover into a tornado. The ascent to fame allows him to cross paths with all varieties of notable fake authors, sleazy publishing types, and the naive, but sincere reading audience. Hely’s satire hits uncomfortably close to home, painfully true as it is painfully funny.

--Emily

Frankenstein

by Mary Shelly

Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein is the classic horror story of a man and his desire to create life which ends up going terribly wrong. Many consider Frankenstein to be one of the first science fiction novels ever written, but despite the subject’s popularity, very few people have actually read Frankenstein. Most people tend to be familiar with movie adaptations of the novel which all vary greatly from Mary Shelly’s original story. So do yourself a favor and read the classic work of a man and his creation that just wants to belong.

--Matt

We Thought You Would Be Prettier: True Tales of The Dorikest Girl Alive

by Laurie Notaro

Think of an every day experience- driving a car, hailing a cab, visiting a bookstore, surfing the internet. Now imagine that situation goes horribly and hilariously wrong. This is Laurie Notaro’s life. In this edition of “The Idiot Girl’s Action Adventure Club” Notaro once again entertains readers with her ridiculous narration of her day-to-day experiences that prove again and again she is going crazy. Or maybe she is just surrounded by crazy people and she is the normal one…

--Steph

Angry Candy

by Harlan Ellison

Harlan Ellison, an original writer for Star Trek and several other TV shows, is famed for his skewed take on the Sci-Fi genre – that and his notoriously cranky temperament. In a career spanning six decades, Ellison his written hundreds of stories, novels and essays and has won numerous awards and accolades for his work. Originally published in 1988 Angry Candy is one of Ellison’s best and best-known collections of stories. In them he delves into a kind of magical realism – conjuring scenes that could be attributed to Updike or Cheever were it not for a hidden superpower or magic locket. If you’ve not yet read Ellison, one of genre fiction’s true geniuses, this is a good place to start.

--Adam

The Book of Lost Things

by John Connolly

Recommended by
--Brandon

The Power of Myth

by Joseph Campbell

The perfect introduction to the subject of Mythology and its impact on modern life! This transcribed conversation brings together two men at the top of their fields. Bill Moyers, the respected journalist and the late Joseph Campbell, the world’s greatest expert on comparative mythology. From the creation myths of the Native Americans to the Classic Myths of Greece, Campbell explores for us the stories and mindsets that inform our thoughts and our lives. Anyone with even a passing interest in the subject of Mythology will benefit greatly from this book.

--Benji

Gravity and Grace

by Simone Weil

Simone Weil (pronounced ‘VAY’) was a early 20th century French laborer who dabbled in both socioeconomics and theology. Kept as a loose manuscript in the attic of small-town priest during World War II, Gravity and Grace was introduced to the world post mortem, and quickly gained acclaim among intellectuals—most notably T.S. Eliot. Weil observes the nature of God in relation to humanity, and questions the nature of light, justice, work, and “the Beast” in relation to God’s will. A Platonic view of transcendental spirituality.

--Jon

Radical Acceptance

by Tara Brach

In Radical Acceptance, Tara Brach invokes the Buddhist concept of the two Wings of Acceptance, wisdom and compassion, as a way of practice that can help one to look for the awakened being in others and in ourselves. Ironically, finding it in ourselves can sometimes be more difficult, if only because we can see our own faults so clearly (if we’re looking). Through anecdotes, Buddhist teachings and meditation techniques, Brach offers a way of looking honestly and unflinchingly at those aspects of ourselves or others we would like to change, while at the same time bringing a loving compassion to the search.

--Tom

Merle’s Door: Lessons From a Freethinking Dog

by Ted Kerosote

“You need a dog, and I’m it.” Merle’s Door is a story about a stray dog and his master, Ted Kerasote. In addition to their many adventures, Kerasote examines the science behind the evolution of the relationship between dogs and humans. Merle, a Labrador mix, teaches Kerasote that dogs have emotions and can make their own decisions, if given the freedom to do so. Merle’s Door is a moving, must read book for anyone who has ever loved a dog.

--Lynne

This Week's Bestsellers

2009-08-31T15:38:00.001-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's hardcover bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Bestsellers

1.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
2.) South of Broad, by Pat Conroy
3.) Inherent Vice, by Thomas Pynchon
4.) Smash Cut, by Sandra Brown
5.) White Queen, by Phillipa Gregory
6.) Eleventh Victim, by Nancy Grace
7.) Pygmy, by Chuck Palahniuk
8.) Hope In a Jar, by Beth Harbison
9.) This Is Where I Leave You, by Jonathan Tropper
10.)Dead & Gone, by charlaine Harris

Non-Fiction Bestsellers

1.) Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity, by Bill O'Reilly
2.) Are You There Vodka, It's Me, chelsea, by Chelsea Handler
3.) The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
4.) Act Like a Lady, But Think Like a Man, by Steve Harvey
5.) Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
6.) Born To Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen, by Christopher McDougall
7.) What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20: A Crash Course on Making Your Place in the World, by Tina Seelig
8.) Mastering the Art of French Cooking, by Julia Child
9.) The Noticer: Sometimes, All a Person Needs Is a Little Perspective, by Andy Andrews
10.)Accidental Billionaires, by Ben Mezrich

This Week's Bestsellers

2009-08-24T09:59:00.000-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's hardcover bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Bestsellers

1.) Inherent Vice, by Thomas Pynchon
2.) That Old Cape Magic, by Richard Russo
3.) Twenties Girl, by Sophie Kinsella
4.) Pygmy, by Chuck Palahniuk
5.) South of Broad, by Pat Conroy
6.) This Is Where I Leave You, by Jonathan Tropper
7.) Dead & Gone, by Charlaine Harris
8.) Hope In a Jar, by Beth Harbison
9.) The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
10.)The Strain, by Chuck Hogan & Guillermo Del Toro

Non-Fiction Bestsellers

1.) Mastering the Art of French Cooking, by Julia Child
2.) Strength Finder 2.0, by Tom Rath
3.) Are you There Vodka, It's Me, Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler
4.) Act Like a Lady, But Think Like a Man, by Steve Harvey
5.) Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
6.) The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
7.) Zeitoun, by Dave Eggers
8.) Accidental Billionaires, by Ben Mezrich
9.) The Vixen Manual: How to Find, Seduce, and Keep the Man You Want, by Karrine Steffans
10.)Culture of Corruption, by Michelle Malkin

This Week's Bestsellers

2009-08-17T09:13:00.001-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's hardcover bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Bestsellers

1.) Inherent Vice, by Thomas Pynchon
2.) That Old Cape Magic, by Richard Russo
3.) Twenties Girl, by Sophie Kinsella
4.) Pygmy, by Chuck Palahniuk
5.) South of Broad, by Pat Conroy
6.) This Is Where I Leave You, by Jonathan Tropper
7.) Eleventh Victim, by Nancy Grace
8.) Finger Lickin' Fifteen, by Janet Evanovich
9.) Dead & Gone, by Charlaine Harris
10.)Mistress of the Game, by Sidney Sheldon

Non-Fiction Bestsellers

1.) Mastering the Art of French Cooking, by Julia Child
2.) Strength Finder 2.0, by Tom Rath
3.) Are you There Vodka, It's Me, Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler
4.) Act Like a Lady, But Think Like a Man, by Steve Harvey
5.) Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
6.) What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20: A Crash Course on Making Your Place in the World by Tina Seelig
7.) The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
8.) Zeitoun, by Dave Eggers
9.) The Vixen Manual: How to Find, Seduce, and Keep the Man You Want, by Karrine Steffans
10.)The Battle for America 2008: The Story of an Extraordinary Election by Haynes Johnson and Dan Balz

This Week's Bestsellers

2009-08-10T10:41:00.001-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's hardcover bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Bestsellers
1.) Twenties Girl, by Sophie Kinsella
2.) The Defector, by Daniel Silva
3.) Dead & Gone, by Charlaine Harris
4.) That Old Cape Magic, by Richard Russo
5.) Inherent Vice, by Thomas Pynchon
6.) Sandman Slim, by Richard Kadrey
7.) Finger Lickin' Fifteen, by Janet Evanovich
8.) The Girl Who Played With Fire, by Stieg Larsson
9.) Best Friends Forever, by Jennifer Weiner
10.) The Strain, by Chuck Hogan and Guillermo Del Toro

Non-Fiction Bestsellers
1.) Act Like a Lady, But Think Like a Man, by Steve Harvey
2.) The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
3.) Strength Finder 2.0, by Tom Rath
4.) Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
5.) Are you There Vodka, It's Me, Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler
6.) Culture of Corruption: Obama and His Team, by Michelle Malkin
7.) Accidental Billionaires, by Ben Mezrich
8.) Eat This Not That! The Best (& Worst!) Foods in America!: The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution by David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding
9.) The Vixen Manual: How to Find, Seduce, and Keep the Man You Want, by Karrine Steffans
10.)Mastering the Art of French Cooking, by Julia Child

This Week's Pittsburgh Bestsellers

2009-08-03T10:26:00.000-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's hardcover bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

Fiction Bestsellers
1.) Twenties Girl, by Sophie Kinsella
2.) The Defector, by Daniel Silva
3.) Sandman Slim, by Richard Kadrey
4.) The Girl Who Played With Fire, by Stieg Larsson
5.) Dead & Gone, by Charlaine Harris
6.) Best Friends Forever, by Jennifer Weiner
7.) The Strain, by Chuck Hogan and Guillermo Del Toro
8.) Finger Lickin'Fifteen, by Janet Evanovich
9.) Swimsuit, by James Patterson
10.)The Wedding Girl, by Madeleine Wickham

Non-Fiction Bestsellers
1.) Act Like a Lady, But Think Like a Man, by Steve Harvey
2.) The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
3.) Strength Finder 2.0, by Tom Rath
4.) Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
5.) Are you There Vodka, It's Me, Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler
6.) What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20: A Crash Course on Making Your Place in the World, by Tina Seelig
7.) Culture of Corruption: Obama and His Team, by Michelle Malkin
8.) Accidental Billionairs, by Ben Mezrich
9.) Eat This Not That! The Best (& Worst!) Foods in America!: The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution by David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding
10.)Liberty and TYranny: A Conservative Manifesto, by Mark R. Levin

August Staff Picks

2009-08-02T17:49:00.002-04:00

Here are our picks for the books we love that you've probably never heard of. These books are all discounted 20% for Gives Back Members and 10% for everyone else.

Little Red Book of Selling
Jeffrey Gitomer

There are a lot of sales books out there, and most of them have lots of big fonts, funny comics that illustrate various points and an over-enthusiastic author who wants to help you make millions in your sales job, just like they did. Gitomer’s book is different in that he has the guts to identify all the ways you are sabotaging your own success, to call you out on it and to help you change your ways and head toward success.

Chris

The Naturally Clean Home
Karyn Siegel-Maier

A convenient and easy to use manual The Naturally Clean Home offers practical tips to keep your home clean without the use of harmful chemicals that can be toxic to the environment and to your family. This is an absolute must for any earth conscious family. I keep it right on my kitchen shelf and have used it countless times.

Heather

Foucault’s Pendulum
Umberto Eco

Italian novelist and professor of semiotics Umberto Eco weaves Jewish mysticism, the history of the Knights Templar, and the search for the Holy Grail into this tale of three book editors who start a game that none of them can control. Thrilling, philosophical, and dense with detail, Foucault’s Pendulum has been described as “the thinking person’s Da Vinci Code”, if you’re up to the challenge, you may find it richly rewarding. And if you follow the television show Lost, it may lend some insight into The Lamp Post!

Fred

Gods in Alabama
Joshilyn Jackson

I could not put this book down! Joshilyn Jackson weaves a tale so intricate and involved; you can’t help but get sucked into it. This is a story of family, of murder, of love, and of the bonds that all women share. The characters are so perfectly flawed that you, as the reader, can relate to each and every one of them in so many ways. And the details around each relationship in this book are so simple, so diminutive, yet they make the story come alive with a rich texture that is often difficult to find in contemporary fiction. Joshilyn Jackson has a voice all her own and this book is a perfect summertime read.

Maureen

Netherland
Joseph O’Neill

I can give you any number of good reasons to read this book. You could read it because it’s a beautiful story of immigration, identity, family, enterprise, sport, and post 9/11 New York City. You could read it because O’Neill’s writing is breathtaking in its plaintive simplicity. You could read it because you have an avid interest in cricket. You could read it because it should have won the Man Booker prize. But really, you should read it because then you’ll have the same taste in books as President Obama, and if you happen to get stuck in an elevator with him, you’ll have lots to discuss.

Emily

A Room With A View
E.M. Forster

Grab your Baedeker and head for Italy in this fun frolic through the manners and social restraints of a century ago. Lucy Honeychurch thinks marrying her incompatible fiancé will keep her in good standing with polite society – but is it right for her heart? Forster examines the impact of following the expectations of family and community through Lucy, who will deny a love she deeply feels, or, at last, accept it.

Brian

Bad Monkeys
Matt Ruff

This off-the-wall, insanely clever sci-fi thriller is just the right kind of book for those looking for a story as stylish as its cover. Being held on murder charges at the Las Vegas County Jail, Jane Charlotte's mental instability leads her to the jail's loony wing and to a series of sessions with a pschyotherapist. It is through these sessions that Jane narrates her bizarre tale, starting out with her young life in San Franscisco and continuing on to her membership with the Bad Monkeys, a secret organization committed to fighting the forces of evil. But is Jane truly sane or has she offically gone off the deep end? With a dizzying amount of twists and turns, try as you might you will not be able to stop your head from spinning wildly out-of-control... nor would you want to. This one is about as much fun as, well, a barrel of monkeys.

Brandon

The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death
Laurie Notaro

WARNING! Do not read this book in public! You will not be able to stop yourself from uncontrollable laughter and others will stare out of curiosity.
Notaro has assembled some of her best stories of her seemingly fictional life. A self proclaimed “Idiot Girl,” Laurie is capable of taking an everyday situation and making it ridiculous and embarrassing.
Some of Notaro’s other works include: “Autobiography of a Fat Bride”, “I Love Everybody (And Other Atrocious Lies)” and “We Thought You Would Be Prettier.”

Stephanie

Cheap
Ellen Ruppel Shell

Everybody likes a great deal. Ellen Ruppel Shell explains some of the unintended consequences of our pursuit of the cheapest possible merchandise. Sometimes we experience the downside personally when the deals at the outlet center really aren’t such a deal or when families can afford fast food but not quality produce. In other cases our culture has to deal with a loss of craftsmanship and items that are so inexpensive that it does not pay to repair them. Food problems are serious, including both the environmental degradation in Thailand from shrimp farming and the undercutting of Haiti’s rice farmers contributing to their hunger problem. Cheap is a fascinating look at the history and economics of low prices that can prompt more thoughtful purchases.

Judy

Shamans of the World
Nancy Connor

This is a fascinating book. I myself have seen a faith healing by one of the shamans featured in this book. Using an unsanitized scalpel, he cut into a patient, removed the disease and patched him up with the touch of his hand. No scars much less a mark! The shamans share their insights and revelations from their lifetimes of extraordinary experiences.

Jon

Conversations with God, Book 1
Neil Donald Walsch

What if you could talk to God? What if God answered? What if you could have a back and forth conversation with God and have all your questions answered, even ones you didn’t think to ask? Neil Donald Walsch claims to have communicated with “The Source of All Things” while taking dictation. Whether you believe Walsch’s claim or not, the insights and suggested view of “All That Is” in this “religion-neutral” text makes for intriguing and thought provoking reading. I can say it expanded my concept of existence. Might it do the same for you? I trust that it will.

Benji

The Left Hand of Darkness
Ursula Le Guin.

Imagine a world of winter—not a bad idea in summer heat—a world where the inhabitants have developed a moderately sophisticated technology. But since there are no birds on their planet, they have never developed the urge either to fly or to create machines that can fly. Hence, this planet has remained outside the intergalactic community; and it falls upon the main narrator, an ambassador representing a confederation of planets, to learn about this entirely new race of beings. It turns out they have at least one fundamental difference from all others, including us. What makes this novel a science fiction classic is Le Guin’s incredibly imaginative invention of a people that is at once different from us, but that offers us new ways to see ourselves.

Tom

THR3E
Ted Dekker

Ted Dekker's bestseller THR3E is well on its way to become a modern classic of psychological terror, with mind-blowing plot changes that will keep you on the edge of the settee this summer.
Kevin Parson, a seminary student, suddenly finds himself pursued by a shadowy character from his childhood with murder on his mind, and obsessed with the number 3The final scene will rock your world, and how you think about the mind.

Kathy

Vera Bradley Tea Party

2009-07-30T10:45:00.001-04:00

In celebration of Vera Bradley's birthday, we will be hosting a delightful tea party for all ages. With your $10 ticket, you will enjoy tea and goodies provided by Coco's Cupcakes, Vera Bradley giveaways, and a $10 gift card to Joseph Beth!!

When: Sunday, August 9, 2009

Time: 2pm

Come and check out the new Fall 2009 patterns and styles---- great for back to school!

Wear your Sunday best and join us for a lovely afternoon!

Purchase your ticket in-store today, call 412.381.3600 or email Emily at pghintern@josephbeth.com to RSVP prior to the event!

This Week's Bestsellers

2009-07-27T09:59:00.001-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's hardcover bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

NON-FICTION BESTSELLERS
1.) Act Like a Lady, But Think Like a Man, by Steve Harvey
2.) The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
3.) Strength Finder 2.0, by Tom Rath
4.) When Everything Changes, Change Everything, by Neale Donald Walsch
5.) Bobby and Jackie: A Love Story, by C. David Heymann
6.) What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20, by Tina Seelig
7.) Fordlandia, by Greg Grandin
8.) Are You There Vodka, It's Me, Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler
9.) Accidental Billionaires, by Ben Mezrich
10.) Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell

FICTION BESTSELLERS
1.) Finger Lickin'Fifteen, by Janet Evanovich
2.) Best Friends Forever, by Jennifer Weiner
3.) The Defector, by Daniel Silva
4.) Dead & Gone, by Charlaine Harris
5.) Swimsuit, by James Patterson
6.) The Wedding Girl, by Madeleine Wickham
7.) Twenties Girl, by Sophie Kinsella
8.) Skin Trade, by Laurell K. Hamilton
9.) Little Bee, by Chris Cleave
10.) The Strain, by Chuck Hogan and Guillermo Del Toro

This Week's Hardcover Bestsellers

2009-07-20T09:35:00.001-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's hardcover bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

FICTION BESTSELLERS
1.) Finger Lickin'Fifteen, by Janet Evanovich
2.) The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, by Katherine Howe
3.) Swimsuit, by James Patterson
4.) Skin Trade, by Laurell K. Hamilton
5.) Best Friends Forver, by Jennifer Weiner
6.) Return to Sullivans Island, Dorothea Benton Frank
7.) Dead & Gone, by Charlaine Harris
8.) Help, by Kathryn Stockett
9.) Black Hills, by Nora Roberts
10.) The Strain, by Chuck Hogan and Guillermo Del Toro

NON FICTION BESTSELLERS
1.) Act Like a Lady, But Think Like a Man, by Steve Harvey
2.) Catastrophe, by Dick Morris and Eileen McGann
3.) When Everything Changes, Change Everything, by Neale Donald Walsch
4.) Fordlandia, by Greg Grandin
5.) What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20: A Crash Course on Making Your Place in the World, by Tina Seelig
6.) Einstein's Riddle, by Jeremy Stangroom
7.) Excuses Begone!, by Wayne Dyer
8.) Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
9.) Are You There Vodka, It's Me, Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler
10.)The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch

This Week's Hardcover Bestsellers!

2009-07-14T15:38:00.002-04:00

Stop by the store and pick up one of this week's hardcover bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive a 30% discount on bestsellers! Not a Joseph-Beth Gives Back member yet? Sign up in the store today!

FICTION BESTSELLERS
1.) Finger Lickin' Fifteen, by Janet Evanovich
2.) The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, by Katherine Howe
3.) The Strain, by Chuck Hogan and Guillermo Del Toro
4.) Swimsuit, by James Patterson
5.) Return To Sullivans Island, Dorothea Benton Frank
6.) Black Hills, by Nora Roberts
7.) Doomsday Key, by James Rollins
8.) Skin Trade, by Laurell K. Hamilton
9.) Help, by Kathryn Stockett
10.)Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, by Alan Bradley

NON FICTION BESTSELLERS
1.) Catastrophe, by Dick Morris & Eileen McGann
2.) Einstein's Riddle, by Jeremy Stangroom
3.) What Would Keith Richards Do?, by Jessica Pallington West & Keith Richards
4.) Act Like a Lady But Think Like a Man, by Steve Harvey
5.) Freakonomics, by Steven D. Levitt
6.) Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
7.) What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20, by Tina Seelig
8.) Liberty & Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto, by Mark R. Levin
9.) Are You There Vodka, It's Me, Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler
10.)The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch

FAMILY FUN DAY!!!

2009-07-10T15:40:00.002-04:00

Joseph-Beth Family Fun Day!
Saturday, July 18
12:00-3:00PM
In our store event space

Join us for our second Family Fun Day at Joseph-Beth! We’ll be joined by some of our favorite Pittsburgh organizations to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Eric Carle's classic children's book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, with crafts & activities, music, games, performances, storytime, and face painting. Also, we’ve invited some of the best local bakeries around to create some book-themed cakes for our event… and YOU get to judge which cake reigns supreme! You definitely don’t want to miss this whole day of fun for the entire family! Questions? E-Mail Bethany at pghintern@josephbeth.com!

This week's hardcover bestsellers!

2009-07-06T09:41:00.002-04:00

Stop in today to pick up one of our fabulous hardcover bestsellers for 20% off! Gives Back Members receive an extra 10% discount! Not a Gives Back Member? Stop by the store and sign up today!

Fiction Bestsellers
1.) The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, by Katherine Howe
2.) The Strain, by Chuck Hogan and Guillermo Del Toro
3.) The Angel's Game, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
4.) Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, by Alan Bradley
5.) Dead & Gone, by Charlaine Harris
6.) Finger Lickin' Fifteen, by Janet Evanovich
7.) Pygmy, by Chuck Palahniuk
8.) A Rogue of My Own, by Johanna Lindsey
9.) Doomsday Key, by James Rollins
10.)Roadside Crosses, by Jeffery Deaver

Non-Fiction Bestsellers
1.) Are You Kidding Me?, by Rocco Mediate
2.) Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
3.) What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20: A Crash Course on Making Your Place in the World, by Tina Seelig
4.) Einstein's Riddle, by Jeremy Stangroom
5.) Liberty & Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto, by Mark R. Levin
6.) A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity, by Bill O'Reilly
7.) Are You There Vodka, It's Me, Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler
8.) Excuses Begone, By Wayne Dyer
9.) Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes, by Tamim Ansary
10.)The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch

July Staff Picks!

2009-07-01T15:01:00.002-04:00

The Spanish Bow
by Andromeda Romano-Lax

Romano-Lax’s descriptions of Feliu’s passion for his music and his relationship with his instrument are so accurate it’s hard to believe the first time she picked up a cello was during the writing of this book. Feliu’s story is set against the backdrop of turn-of-the-century Spain in all it’s political upheaval. Like many great artists, Feliu’s talent is sought after by people who want to use it for their own ends, while Feliu believes that he can remain completely free of influences and be a “pure” artist. This tragic and beautiful tale is rumored to be based on similar struggles in the life of famous cellist Pablo Casals and is one of the only books I’ve read as an adult that actually brought me to tears.
-Chris

Feeding the Whole Family
By Cynthia Lair

I have to admit, I’m pretty new to the “whole foods” way of life. But this comprehensive, easy-to-use cookbook explains in detail why what we put into our bodies is so important and how altering what we eat and how we eat it can affect so many different aspects of our lives: mood, sleep, weight, etc. While the title (and the cover!) suggests that you have to have kids in order to get the most use out of this book, Feeding the Whole Family is full of delicious recipes that are perfect for people of all ages. So if you’re looking for a “starter cookbook” for the organic lifestyle, this is the book for you!
-Maureen

Good In Bed
By Jennifer Weiner

Cannie Shapiro is mortified when she discovers her loser pot-head boyfriend, Bruce, has written an article about "loving a larger woman." While the book's pink cover and food and man obsessed protagonist may lead the reader to think of this as a fluff novel, "Good In Bed" addresses the deep and frustrating challenges woman face as they try to make their way in the world. "Certain Girls", Weiner's follow up to "Good In Bed," features an older and wiser but still very relatable Cannie, as well.
-Heather

The Elegant Universe
By Brian Greene

Ever wonder what E=MC2 really means? Want to know the nature of the Universe without the confusing mathematics? Follow Brian Greene as he tracks the scientific world's search for the "Theory of Everything." In plain and often amusing language, physicist Brian Greene explains the concepts underlying our understanding of the Universe. Colorful analogies and superb storytelling are the well-wielded tools of this scientist/author as he makes "the Mind of God" clear for every person.
-Benji

The Book of Bright Ideas
by Sandra Kring

A great summer read! Evelyn “Buttton” is an only child in a small town in Wisconsin the summer of 1961. Button’s life becomes exponentially more interesting when Winnalee and her older sister Freeda come to town. Winnalee is unpredictable and adventurous compared to shy and quiet Button, but the two become best friends. While the young girls document their fun in Winnalee’s “Book of Bright Ideas,” Freeda’s adventures become more public and more scandalous. When an unexpected visitor comes to town, the reasons why Winnalee and Freeda’s arrival are finally exposed and the other townspeople begin to question their own family relationships.
-Stephanie

The Long Emergency
by James Howard Kunstler

James Howard Kunstler describes a world of catastrophe in a not so distant future. As light sweet crude oil becomes harder too extract from the good earth, a series of unexpected consequences unfolds. Higher oil refining costs cause higher fertilizer prices which cause skyrocketing food prices. The problem isn’t just prices at the pump, and you will be surprised just what those problems are. My father read much of this book recently, and his reaction to it inspired me to make it my staff pick this month. If you care about what happens to your family in the next 10 years, you will want to read this book. If you have never heard of “peak oil,” you need to read this book.
-Jon

Solar Storms
By Linda Hogan

Named after the driving force behind the beauty of the Northern Lights, Solar Storms is the story of a young and troubled Native American girl’s homecoming. Under the guidance of aunt- and grandmother-mentors she gradually learns to make her place not just in the family, but in the mystery of the natural world itself. What I like best about this novel, though, is Hogan’s use of language. It’s a perfect read for people who admire the writer’s craft.
-Tom

Bonk
By Mary Roach

Mary Roach, in her enthusiastic, gawky style, writes about the storied and often secretive history of sex research. Not sold? Okay, here’s an excerpt!

“…Male pandas in general are bumbling lovers. ‘The male giant pandas do not know where to put it,’ a zoologist named Chen is quoted as saying in Inside China Today. ‘Sometimes they climb on the females’ heads and start pushing.’ Seeking to enlighten clueless male pandas, Wolong staff set about making an instructional video, which the media gleefully dubbed ‘panda porn.’ The BBC even referred to the footage as ‘explicit,’ though given the animals thick fur and diminutive penis – erect, about as big as a man’s thumb – it’s hard to imagine that the pandas were able to glean much detail from the tapes… The staff tersely reported ‘improvement.’”
-Emily

Arthur and George
by Julian Barnes

Set in Victorian times, this novel is based on a real-life encounter between Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and solicitor George Edalji, defendant in a sensational trial. Already famous for his character Sherlock Holmes, Doyle conducts an investigation in the style of his ultimate creation. Did Edalji kill his neighbors’ horses, and send threatening, psychotic letters to his own family? You have a front seat to an exciting moment in history as Doyle uncovers clues the police never found, and closes in on the truth.
-Brian

Take the Cannoli
by Sarah Vowell

Take the Cannoli is a compact, one-stop tour of the American cultural landscape. In personal essays dealing with everything from the Trail of Tears to high school music lessons, Vowell mixes insight and humor and autobiographical detail to
create a sweeping, yet very personal, overview of American-ness. Anyone and everyone will enjoy this.
-Adam

In a Sunburned Country
by Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson opens up Australia in series of visits in this great travel narrative. Here he discovers a wide range of things that could kill him – many more than those bears in A Walk in the Woods, as well as friendly people and great beauty. He’s a wonderful traveling companion and has really sharpened my desire to travel down under.
-Judy

A Clockwork Orange
By Anthony Burgess
-Brandon

The Stand
by Stephen King

Over thirty years after its original publication (in a truncated form) Stephen King’s The Stand remains just as relevant, chilling and gripping as ever. Following a global super-flu pandemic (sound familiar?) that wipes out nearly 99% of the world’s population the stage is set for an epic battle between good and evil. If you’ve never read this masterwork of King’s early career, now’s your chance to dig in.
-Fred

Snow Crash
By Neal Stephenson

With SNOW CRASH, NY Times Bestselling author Neal Stephenson presents a breathtaking super-surrealistic thrill-ride for the internet gaming generation.

Ninja techno-geek Hiro Protagonist survives and prospers in a future USA that has broken up into lawless corporate city entities, service franchises (legal and criminal), and an intranet pseudo-world as real and lethal as downtown LA. Irresistable fun from page One!
-Kathy

Attack of the Theater People
By Marc Acito

This sequel (but it can stand alone) to “How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship and Musical Theater” joins Edward Zanni and the gang following Edward’s first (and only) year at Julliard. He’s been kicked out for being “too jazz hands for Julliard” and he finds himself homeless and unemployed in New York City. Instead of facing defeat and returning home to New Jersey, Edward picks up a job as a paid-party-guest whose sole purpose is to be the life of the party, to get the teenagers to dance, and to schmooze the elderly and businessmen. Unfortunately, a devilishly handsome businessman charms Edward and he soon finds himself in the middle of an insider trading debacle. So Edward recruits his friends to pull off an elaborate scheme that only theatre kids are capable of.
-Joel

This week's hardcover bestsellers!

2009-06-29T09:22:00.001-04:00

These books are 30% off all week for our Gives Back members, and 20% off for everyone else!

1.) The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, by Katherine Howe
2.) The Strain, by Chuck Hogan and Guillermo Del Toro
3.) Scarecrow, by Michael Connelly
4.) Warbreaker, by Brandon Sanderson
5.) Dead & Gone, by Charlaine Harris
6.) Finger Lickin' Fifteen, by Janet Evanovich
7.) Pygmy, by Chuck Palahniuk
8.) A Rogue of My Own, by Johanna Lindsey
9.) Doomsday Key, by James Rollins
10.)Roadside Crosses, by Jeffery Deaver

1.) Are You Kidding Me?, by Rocco Mediate
2.) Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
3.) What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20: A Crash Course on Making Your Place in the World, by Tina Seelig
4.) What Would Keith Richards Do?, by Keith Richards
5.) Destiny Disrupted, by Tamin Ansary
6.) A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity, by Bill O'Reilly
7.) Are You There Vodka, It's Me, Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler
8.) Renegade: The Making of a President, by Richard Wolffe
9.) Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer, by Novella Carpenter
10.)The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch

Come visit Joseph-Beth on the South Side and see what we have for YOU!

This Week's Hardcover Bestsellers!

2009-06-23T11:17:00.002-04:00

These books are 30% off all week for our Gives Back members, and 20% off for everyone else!

Fiction
1.) The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, by Katherine Howe
2.) The Strain, by Chuck Hogan and Guillermo Del Toro
3.) Scarecrow, by Michael Connelly
4.) Warbreaker, by Brandon Sanderson
5.) Dead & Gone, by Charlaine Harris
6.) The Angel's Game, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
7.) Pygmy, by Chuck Palahniuk
8.) Relentless, by Dean Koontz
9.) Undead & Unwelcome, by MaryJanice Davidson
10.)Roadside Crosses, by Jeffery Deaver

Non Fiction

1.) Are You Kidding Me?, by Rocco Mediate
2.) Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
3.) What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20: A Crash Course on Making Your Place in the World, by Tina Seelig
4.) What Would Keith Richards Do?, by Keith Richards
5.) Destiny Disrupted, by Tamin Ansary
6.) Columbine, by Dave Cullen
7.) Are You There Vodka, It's Me, Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler
8.) Renegade: The Making of a President, by Richard Wolffe
9.) Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer, by Novella Carpenter
10.)The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch

Vamps: 1, Romance: 0

2009-06-15T11:04:00.000-04:00

The Strain by Guillermo DelToro and Chuck Hogan

Guillermo DelToro is known in America as the director of the Hellboy franchise, The Orphanage and the Academy Award-winning Pan's Labyrinth. Chuck Hogan is the author of several thrillers including the Hammett-Award winning Prince of Theives. Together they've teamed up to write a well-paced and innovative vampire thriller called The Strain.

Imagine that vampires exist, but not in any way humans have conceived of them in the past. When they infect humans with a virus that mimics many of the behaviors of vampirism, only one man at the CDC is willing to recognize and fight the infection sweeping the globe, and the only person willing to help him is an honest-to-goodness vampire hunter straight out of a Dracula novel. These two men with a tiny team of fellow believers begins the fight to take back their homes, take down the true vampires and save humanity (or what's left of it).

This is the first book of a three part trilogy. If you love horror, but can't take another "I'm a human, he's a vampire but I love him anyway" type novel, rejoice! This book has horror, gore, explosions, doomed rock stars and a really excellent medical explaination for the whole "disease" that will keep you interested right up to the end. (Full disclosure: I love some of those vampire romances too)

As one of our bestsellers, this book is discounted 30% for our Gives Back Members and 20% for everyone else, but it won't be forever! Stop in and grab a copy today!

This week's top-selling hardcover books

2009-06-15T10:53:00.000-04:00

These books are 30% off all week for our Gives Back members, and 20% off for everyone else.

Fiction titles:

1.) The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, by Katherine Howe
2.) The Strain, by Chuck Hogan and Guillermo Del Toro
3.) Scarecrow, by Michael Connelly
4.) Warbreaker, by Brandon Sanderson
5.) Pygmy, by Chuck Palahniuk
6.) Plum Spooky, by Janet Evanovich
7.) Brooklyn, by Tolm Coibin
8.) Shanghai Girls, by Lisa See
9.) Dead & Gone, by Charlaine Harris
10.)Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, by Alan Bradley

Non-Fiction Titles:

1.) Renegade: The Making of a President, by Richard Wolffe
2.) The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne
3.) What I Wish I Knew When I was 20: A Crash Course on Making Your Place in the World, by Tina Seelig
4.) A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez
5.) Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer, by Novella Carpenter
6.) I'm Down: A Memoir, by Mishna Wolff
7.) Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, by Steve Harvey
8.) Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
9.) The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
10.)Mommywood, by Tori Spelling

Children's and Young Adult's bestselling titles (select titles may be discounted)
This week's list includes our bestselling titles both inside the store and at the Three Rivers Arts Festival.

1) Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
2) New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
3) Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book 1 by Jeff Kinney
4) The Charlie Harper Coloring Book by Charlie Harper
5) Gallop by Rufus Seder
6) Pickles To Pittsburgh by Judi Barrett
7) Love Your World by DK Press
8) Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
9) Coraline by Neil Gaimen
10) Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book 2 by Jeff Kinney

The Next Step for Local Authors

2009-06-12T13:46:00.003-04:00

So you've written a book and you're ready to publish, or you've published your book and now you want to sell it in stores, what next? Join us for our local author information night on Thursday, June 18th at 7pm and find out!

We have books to help you craft the perfect book and books to help you sell the book you've crafted ad our local buyer will be on hand to answer all your questions. Also joining us will be our kids manager to talk about what makes the best kids book and what doesn't sell so well. And on top of all that we are featuring a very special guest.

Paul Kelly (one of our favorite people here at Joseph-Beth) will be joining us from St. Lynn's Press, a small, independent publisher. Paul has been in publishing for over 30 years and held senior marketing positions in a number of publishing houses including Harper One in San Francisco. He's an engaging speaker with an open mind and tons of great ideas and he'll be able to talk to you about everything from format to content with plenty of insider tips in-between. We're thrilled to bring him in to talk to you and we hope you'll take advantage of this great opportunity.

No registration is needed, just show up at 7pm on the 18th. If you are planning to submit a book for the Local Submission Committee to review bring all your publisher information and an advance-reader copy to submit and we'll get you set up with the paperwork.

See you soon!

This week's top-selling hardcover books

2009-06-08T11:43:00.003-04:00

Fiction Hardcovers (Discounted 30% for members and 20% for everyone else!)

1.) Pygmy, by Chuck Palahniuk
2.) The Strain, by Chuck Hogan and Guillermo Del Toro
3.) Plum Spooky, by Janet Evanovich
4.) Brooklyn, by Colm Toibin
5.) Dead & Gone, by Charlaine Harris
6.) Scarecrow, by Michael Connelly
7.) Tea Time for the Traditionally Built, by Alexander McCall Smith
8.) Shanghai Girls, by Lisa See
9.) Selected Works OF T.S. Spivet, by Reif Larsen
10.)Cemetery Dance, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Non-Fiction Hardcovers (Discounted 30% for members and 20% for everyone else!)

1.) Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, by Steve Harvey
2.) Renegade: The Making of a President, by Richard Wolffe
3.) Are You There, Vodka? It’s me, Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler
4.) Her Story: A Timeline of the Women Who Changed America, by Charlotte Waisman
5.) Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
6.) The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
7.) A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez
8.) The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne
9.) What I Wish I Knew When I was 20: A Crash Course on Making Your Place in the World
by Tina Seelig
10.) Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes, by Tamim Ansary

Best-selling Young Adult and Children's Titles (select titles may be discounted)

1) Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
2) New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
3) Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
4) Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
5) Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
6) Just Mom and Me by Mercer Meyer
7) Wolverine: Awesome Powers by DK PRess
8)Curious George's Dinosaur Disco by Margarey and H.A.Rey
9) The 39 Clues Book 1 by Rick Riordan
10) Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Do you volunteer with a non-profit?

2009-06-06T19:21:00.003-04:00

Just a reminder, summer is a great time to bring your organization into the store for a fundraising day! We offer in-store and off-site fundraising options for any non-profit organization along with tons of other partnership opportunities! Contact Maureen (mwhite@josephbeth.com) and Chris (crickert@josephbeth.com) at the store and set up a meeting. We have lots of great ways to work with your organization and we want to hear your ideas too!

If you are interested in finding out how to donate to any of the wonderful Pittsburgh organizations we support keep an eye on www.josephbeth.com for a complete fundraiser schedule each month as part of our events calendar. When you shop in the store during a fundraiser and remember to tell us you want to donate to the organization being featured that day, we'll donate a percentage of your purchase dollars back to that group. What a great way to feed your reading habit by helping others!

Where the Books Bite Back...

2009-06-06T19:18:00.002-04:00

With the current popularity of the Twilight movies and the HBO series True Blood, vampires, shape shifters, and other creatures of the night are hotter than ever. If you prefer your undead grotesque and terrifying, The Strain, the first in a trilogy of books by Chuck Hogan and Oscar winning creator of Pan’s Labyrinth, Guillermo Del Toro is a must read for you this summer. However, if you like your supernatural beings served with a side of sexy, we have some new release recommendations for you.

The Sookie Stackhouse Novels (The Southern Vampire Mysteries), by Charlaine Harris

The HBO show True Blood is going into its second season, so now is a great time to meet Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic barmaid from Louisiana with a knack for attracting the supernatural. Dead & Gone, the 9th in the series was released in May.

Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series, by Laurell K. Hamilton

Anita Blake is a feisty, hard-nosed necromancer and licensed vampire executioner in a parallel world where vampires and werewolves co-exist with humans. Skin Trade is the latest installment in this erotic fantasy series.

The Undead Series, by Mary Janice Davidson

Undead and Unwelcome is the brand new book in the series about vampire queen, Betsy Taylor, the paranormal version of Carrie Bradshaw, Bridget Jones and Becky Bloomwood.

Black Dagger Brotherhood series, by J.R. Ward

If you like brooding bad boys, this is the series for you. A group of vampire warriors must defend their kind from the Lessening Society. This award winning series has a large fan following, and many loyal fans love to discuss their favorite brother. Which brother will be your favorite? Lover Avenged, the newest from Ms. Ward, was released in April.

The Rachel Morgan Novels (The Hollows Series), by Kim Harrison

While containing elements of horror and romance, Kim Harrison’s Cincinnati based books are often described as “Urban Fantasy” and are rich with characters of all sorts of fantastical races such as pixies, witches, elves, weres, leprechauns, fairies, vampires, and demons. White Witch, Black Curse was released in February.

The Women of the Otherworld, by Kelley Armstrong

Kelley Armstrong’s writes about supernatural women trying to make it in the contemporary world. Each books features a different woman, but the plots and characters throughout the series overlap. Men of the Otherworld was recently published in response to Armstrong’s fans’ request for more stories about the men from the series. A new Women of the Otherworld novel is expected early this fall. Kelley Armstrong also writes the Darkest Powers young adult series, which includes The Summoning and The Awakening.

The House of Night series, by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Written by a mother/daughter team, The House of Night series is popular among Twilight fans and is written for young adults. The highly anticipated Hunted was recently released and is available upstairs in our Young Adult section.

Summer is the perfect time to start a series, and there are many to choose from, so stop in Joseph-Beth Booksellers and pick up your paranormal pick. Book Manager, Heather & Kids Manager, Emily can provide assistance in choosing the series that’s right for you.

Hey parents! This is the summer to get your kids reading!

2009-06-06T19:16:00.000-04:00

Why? Cause this summer, JB Kids’ is offering our best summer reading deal yet.

Buy one book from either our kids or young adult summer reading titles and receive a free JB Kids backpack! Best of all, bring that backpack in each time you shop, and you’ll receive an added 10% off any of our summer reading titles.

What, you may ask, is featured on our kids summer reading tables? Our favorite 2009 releases, thus far, and a few much anticipated new releases.

Titles include:
Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
Goldilicious by Victoria Kann
If I Stay by Gayle Forman (now being made into a motion picture by Catherine Hardwicke, director of Twilight)
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carmen
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
Spoon & Little Oink & Yes Day! & Duck! Rabbit! – all by Anna Krouse Rosenthal
And many, many, MANY more titles!

Stop in today to pick up a book, get your backpack, and start reading!

Our booksellers would like to suggest...

2009-06-02T15:03:00.004-04:00

Here are our picks for the books we love that you've probably never heard of. These books are all discounted 20% for Gives Back Members and 10% for everyone else.

Monsters of Templeton
by Lauren Groff
On the day a giant sea monster’s body is found floating in the Templeton Lake a young woman returns home to excavate the secrets of her family, and the town itself. The is a great summer read for those who like a little mystery in their fiction. An exceptional first novel from Groff, who based Templeton on Cooperstown, the birthplace of James Fennimore Cooper.
-Chris

Feeding the Whole Family
By Cynthia Lair
I have to admit, I’m pretty new to the “whole foods” way of life. But this comprehensive, easy-to-use cookbook explains in detail why what we put into our bodies is so important and how altering what we eat and how we eat it can affect so many different aspects of our lives: mood, sleep, weight, etc. While the title (and the cover!) suggests that you have to have kids in order to get the most use out of this book, Feeding the Whole Family is full of delicious recipes that are perfect for people of all ages. So if you’re looking for a “starter cookbook” for the organic lifestyle, this is the book for you!
-Maureen

The Atlantis Prophecy
by Thomas Greanias
Highly recommended for fans of Dan Brown or John Grisham, The Atlantis Prophecy is a real page turner. Major monuments in the Washington D.C. area hold secrets as old as the nation itself, and it’s up to Conrad Yeats, an archaelologist, and Serena Serghetti, a Vatican linguist, to uncover those secrets.
-Heather

Attack of the Theater People
Marc Acito
This sequel (but it can stand alone) to “How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship and Musical Theater” joins Edward Zanni and the gang following Edward’s first (and only) year at Julliard. He’s been kicked out for being “too jazz hands for Julliard” and he finds himself homeless and unemployed in New York City. Instead of facing defeat and returning home to New Jersey, Edward picks up a job as a paid-party-guest whose sole purpose is to be the life of the party, to get the teenagers to dance, and to schmooze the elderly and businessmen. Unfortunately, a devilishly handsome businessman charms Edward and he soon finds himself in the middle of an insider trading debacle. So Edward recruits his friends to pull off an elaborate scheme that only theatre kids are capable of.
-Joel

The Spirit of Disobedience
By Curtis White
In his last book, The Middle Mind, Curtis White made many enemies with his biting criticism of NPR’s Terri Gross. In stark contrast to his sometimes snarky tone, Mr. White finds his voice and tackels religion, reason, law, and Western civilization in this tour de force. After I finished the book, I was thirsting to read Simone Weil, John Ralston Saul, Allen Ginsberg, William Blake and H. D. Thoreau. Word for word, this is one of the best books I have ever read.
-Jon

Odd Thomas
by Dean Koontz
Odd Thomas, who should have been named Todd, except they accidentally dropped the T on his birth certificate, is a non-descript, average fry cook in a small Californian town. Average, except Odd can see dead people, mostly those who died under circumstances like murder or accident, who aren’t ready to move on to the next life. Odd Thomas becomes the town’s best undercover investigator, helping the local sheriff solve crimes, helping spirits move on, and even providing a listening ear to Elvis’s ghost.
-Kathy

Three Hundred T’ang Poems
by Peter Harris
Around the Seventh Century AD, while Europe was descending into what we now call The Dark Ages, China was entering upon one of the greatest periods of its history: the T’ang Dynasty, during which several hundred years of tyranny, strife and disunity came to an end. It was not only a time of territorial expansion, but also a time of flowering culture, expressed largely in the poetry of the period. Under the influence of Taoism and Buddhism, the style of poetry coalesced around spare, clear, evocative imagery, usually themed around nature and natural processes. In some ways the poetry of this period anticipates the visual art of the next, the Sung Period which produced those ink-on-silk landscape masterpieces you might think of when you think of Chinese art—and beyond that haiku, and even some of the work of Modernists like Ezra Pound. In this collection of T’ang poetry you’ll see a style of poetry which seems much more modern than one might expect for seventh-century literature.
-Tom

Life Sucks
by Jessica Abel
Do you love the movie Clerks, but always thought it could use more vampires? Life Sucks follows the personal and romantic trials of Dave, the night shift clerk at the local vampire-owned convenience store. His object of desire, Rosa, is a Latino glamour goth smitten with vampire fiction, a life Dave knows all too well in the real world. Competing for Rosa's affections is Wes, a sadistic surfer vampire who is more than happy to fulfill Rosa's vampiric fantasies. Perfectly rendered by Jessica Abel, Gabriel Soria, and Warren Pleece, and containing just the right mix of romance, violence, and dark humor, Life Sucks is a perfect hour's read.
-Emily

Arthur and George
by Julian Barnes
Set in Victorian times, this novel is based on a real-life encounter between Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and solicitor George Edalji, defendant in a sensational trial. Already famous for his character Sherlock Holmes, Doyle conducts an investigation in the style of his ultimate creation. Did Edalji kill his neighbors’ horses, and send threatening, psychotic letters to his own family? You have a front seat to an exciting moment in history as Doyle uncovers clues the police never found, and closes in on the truth.
-Brian

Take the Cannoli
by Sarah Vowell
Take the Cannoli is a compact, one-stop tour of the American cultural landscape. In personal essays dealing with everything from the Trail of Tears to high school music lessons, Vowell mixes insight and humor and autobiographical detail to create a sweeping, yet very personal, overview of American-ness. Anyone and everyone will enjoy this.
-Adam

In a Sunburned Country
by Bill Bryson
Bill Bryson opens up Australia in series of visits in this great travel narrative. Here he discovers a wide range of things that could kill him – many more than those bears in A Walk in the Woods, as well as friendly people and great beauty. He’s a wonderful traveling companion and has really sharpened my desire to travel down under.
-Judy

Hitchcock
by Francois Truffaut
Good Evening. Do you have trouble taking showers in the middle of the night at creepy motels in the middle of nowhere? Has a recent accident left you confined to a wheelchair and to thoughts of murderous suspicion involving your neighbors? While on casual strolls atop the faces of Mt. Rushmore do you begin to suffer from cases of vertigo? If any or all of these apply to you, don’t be afraid. You’re not going mad but rather experiencing the thrills and chills of the one and only Alfred Hitchcock. One of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Hitchcock made a living out of death and scaring the pants off of us. But what do we really know about him? Famed French Director Francois Truffaut (“The 400 Blows”) was ready to get answers and shed light on the man whose silhouette is legendary. What comes of their discussions is one of the most candid, interesting, and downright enjoyable interviews you will ever read. Don’t believe me? Just look inside… unless, of course, you are too scared.
-Brandon

The Stand
by Stephen King
Over thirty years after its original publication (in a truncated form) Stephen King’s The Stand remains just as relevant, chilling and gripping as ever. Following a global super-flu pandemic (sound familiar?) that wipes out nearly 99% of the world’s population the stage is set for an epic battle between good and evil. If you’ve never read this masterwork of King’s early career, now’s your chance to dig in.
-Fred

This week's bestselling hardcover titles

2009-06-01T10:11:00.002-04:00

As always, our adult hardcover bestsellers and select kids bestsellers are discounted 30% for our Gives Back members and 20% for everyone else.

Fiction:

1.) Pygmy, by Chuck Palahniuk
2.) Brooklyn, By Colm Toibin
3.) B Is For Beer, by Tom Robbins
4.) 8th confession, by James Patterson
5.) Dead & Gone, by Charlaine Harris
6.) Wicked Prey, by John Sandford
7.) The Sign, by Raymond Khoury
8.) Gone Tomorrow, by Lee Child
9.) Selected Works OF T.S. Spivet, by Reif Larsen
10.) Prayers for Sale, by Sandra Dallas

Non-Fiction:

1.) Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, by Steve Harvey
2.) Good To Great, by Jim Collins
3.) Are You There, Vodka? It’s me, Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler
4.) Swish, by Joel Derfner
5.) Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
6.) The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
7.) Always Looking Up, by Michael J. Fox
8.) Losing Mum & Pup, By Christopher Buckley
9.) Peaks & Valleys, by Spencer Johnson
10.) A Little Bit Wicked, by Kristin Chenoweth

Children's and Young Adults:

1) Eclipse, by Stephenie Meyer
2) New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
3) Percy Jackson #1 by Rick Riordan
4) Percy Jackson #4 by Rick Riordan
5) The Cat In the Hat by Dr. Seuss
6) The 39 Clues #3 by Peter Lerangis
7) Seussisms byDr. Seuss
8) Twilight - The Director's Handbook by Catherine Hardwick
9) The Mysterious Benedict Society #2 by Trenton Stewart
10) Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Happy reading!

Gives Back Member Appreciation Day

2009-05-28T17:18:00.003-04:00

This Saturday, May 30 is our Gives Back Member Appreciation Day. Members will receive discounts on books, movies, and music all day. Not a member?? Sign up on Saturday and receive all of the benefits!!

This week's bestselling books at Joseph-Beth Booksellers

2009-05-24T13:09:00.002-04:00

Hardcover Adult Fiction (these titles are discounted 30% for Gives Back members, 20% for everyone else)

1.) Pygmy, by Chuck Palahniuk
2.) Dead & Gone, by Charlaine Harris
3.) Wicked Prey, by John Sandford
4.) 8th Confession, James Patterson
5.) B Is For Beer, By Tom Robbins
6.) Selected Works OF T.S. Spivet, by Reif Larsen
7.) The Sign, by Raymond Khoury
8.) Gone Tomorrow, by Lee Child
9.) Brooklyn: A Novel, by Colm Toibin
10.) Prayers for Sale, by Sandra Dallas

Hardcover Adult Non-Fiction (These titles are discounted 30% for Gives Back members and 20% for everyone else)

1.) Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, by Steve Harvey
2.) Good To Great, by Jim Collins
3.) Are You There, Vodka? It’s me, Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler
4.) A Little Bit Wicked, by Kristin Chenoweth
5.) Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
6.) The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
7.) Always Looking Up, by Michael J. Fox
8.) Columbine, by Dave Cullen
9.) The Whuffie Factor: Using Social Networks to Build Your Business, by Tara Hunt
10.) Body At Home, by Jorge Cruise

Children's and Young Adult's bestselling hardcovers (select titles may be discounted)

1) Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
2) From Caterpillar To Butterfly by Gerald Legg
3) Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
4) Butterflies by DK Press
5) Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
6) New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
7) Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
8) Don't Let The Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
9) The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog by Mo Willems
10) Olivia by Ian Falconer

Last week's bestselling titles at Joseph-Beth Booksellers

2009-05-18T10:40:00.002-04:00

Adult Hardcover Fiction bestsellers (discounted 30% for members, 20% for non-members)

1.) Dead & Gone, by Charlaine Harris
2.) 8th Confession, by James Patterson
3.) Selected Works Of T.S. Spivet, by Reif Larsen
4.) The Reliable Wife, by Robert Goolrick
5.) Pygmy, by Chuck Palahniuk
6.) Brimstone, By Robert B. Parker
7.) B Is For Beer, By Tom Robbins
8.) Turn Coat, by Jim Butcher
9.) Lover Avenged, by J.R. Ward
10.) Sweetness At the Bottom of the Pie, by Alan Bradley

Adult Non-Fiction Hardcover Bestsellers (discounted 30% for members and 20% for non-members)

1.) Act like a Lady, Think Like a Man, by Steve Harvey
2.) Always Looking Up, by Michael J. Fox
3.) The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
4.) Are You There, Vodka? It’s me, Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler
5.) Liberty & Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto, by Mark R. Levin
6.) Columbine, by Dave Cullen
7.) Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
8.) Pretty in Plaid, by Jen Lancaster
9.) Master Your Metabolism, by Jillian Michaels
10.)The Whuffie Factor: Using Social networks to Build Your Business, by Tara Hunt

Kids Bestsellers (select titles may be discounted)

1) Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
2) Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
3) Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
4) New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
5) Magic Tree House Volume 41 by Mary Pope Osborne
6) 5 Children and IT by Edith Nesbit
7) The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
8) Pendragon 10 by DJ MacHale
9) What the Rat Told Me by Catherine Louise
10) Three Cups of Tea (Young Adult edition) by Greg Mortenson

Happy Reading!

2009-05-16T19:36:00.000-04:00

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
by Jacqueline Kelly
[Henry Holt – Hardcover, $16.99]

Reading and reading through the latest kids titles, I've come to realize that while there are plenty of entertaining, quality works of contemporary children's literature, it's still very rare to find a book that feels instantly classic. A book that if you were to read it aloud, chapter-by-chapter, to a class of fourth graders, it would stick around in the literary memories of those students for a long, long time. A book that can be just as useful to a English literature major as it can be to an adolescent. The kind of book that people will own multiple editions of, and will keep with them from childhood to adulthood, sharing it with family, friends, and eventually their own children.

New classics are rare to come by, but Jacqueline Kelly may just have made the mark with her debut novel, The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. Its time period, family dynamic, and episodic structure link almost directly to previous children's classics, such as Little House on the Prairie, but even more akin to Carol Ryrie Brink's 1935 novel Caddie Woodlawn.

In fact, Calpurnia Tate shares much in common with Caddie Woodlawn. Both are adolescent girls being raised in a household filled with brothers. Both are willful, intelligent, and independently-minded girls, living in respective frontiers (for Caddie, the actual frontier of wild Wisconsin in 1864; for Calpurnia, the frontier of a new century amidst her heat-exhausted, unkempt rural Texas). Neither of them expert cooks or seamstresses, they would prefer to fill their time with scientific (Calpurnia) or mechanical (Caddie) pursuits, and both girls find a paternal guide for their interests.

Calpurnia receives guidance from her grandfather, an intellectual and scientist hidden in the farm landscape. The family's agricultural empire is entirely owed to Grandfather's ingenious design, but in his retirement, Grandfather prefers to exist solely in his library and workshop, keeping scientific journals and experimenting with turning pecans (the family crop) into whiskey.

Calpurnia's question regarding two different kinds of grasshoppers sparks off a unique and enduring alliance. Her grandfather takes her on trips to the river to collect specimens, instructs her on the use of a microscope ("The brass cylinder felt cool and heavy in my hands. I knew I was being trusted with something precious."), and, most importantly, lends her a copy of The Origin of Species, written by his real-life mentor, Charles Darwin.

As Calpurnia becomes absorbed in her scientific exploits, her mother struggles to pull her back into a world of appropriate female diversions, like cooking and needlework and playing the piano. As the only daughter of a wealthy, land-owning family, her mother's plans for are more in the mind of debutante than scientist. She restricts Calpurnia's time to learning feminine crafts, a succession of tedious lessons that interrupt precious time with the natural world and her grandfather.

"My cooking lesson had taken all afternoon, the results were downed in four minutes flat. None of them could flatter me enough to make up for the fact that I had lost hours with my Notebook, my river, my specimens, and my grandfather."

Kelly structures Calpurnia's confusion and rebellion throughout a series of family- and community-related goings on, including the budding crushes of three of Calpurnia's brothers for her best friend, Lula Banks, the tenuous first courtship of her oldest brother, Harry, the installation of the first phone line in the community, and even the first appearance of an automobile in the town. Kelly gives Calpurnia a wry, observant voice, but doesn't overly intellectualize the character. Instead, you get the writings and musings of a brilliant mind in the making, but the reader never loses sight of the eleven year old.

The conflict between expectation and personal fulfillment is universal and will appeal to vast audience, but especially to young students who find themselves at odds with the expectations of their family and school authority figures. Calpurnia is fortunate to come from a wealthy, well-regarded family, but the safe options for her future are also the most stifling. What's more, there doesn't seem to be an easy relief from the situation. Her grandfather, intelligent and capable as he is, cannot spare her from her mother's expectations, a realization both he and his granddaughter struggle with.

But Kelly doesn't allow her character to be a victim of social expectation. She fills Calpurnia with a ceaseless wonder and intellectual observation that sets her apart from not just her peers, but most of the adult women around her as well. Calpurnia spends much of time immersed in the wonders of natural selection and survival, and it is clear that she has the intellect and abilities to survive even the most stringent of social constraints.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is beautifully written, wonderfully absorbing, and sparkles with wit and thorough research. It is the rare work of children's fiction that offers something new to say on scientific pursuits as well as gender roles, but Jacqueline Kelly has produced that work. It is not hard to imagine the decades of girls that this book will inspire.

Book Review: "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate"

2009-05-15T15:21:00.003-04:00

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
by Jacqueline Kelly
[Henry Holt, hardcover, $16.99]

Reading and reading through the latest kids titles, I've come to realize that while there are plenty of entertaining, quality works of contemporary children's literature, it's still very rare to find a book that feels instantly classic. A book that if you were to read it aloud, chapter-by-chapter, to a class of fourth graders, it would stick around in the literary memories of those students for a long, long time. A book that can be just as useful to a English literature major as it can be to an adolescent. The kind of book that people will own multiple editions of, and will keep with them from childhood to adulthood, sharing it with family, friends, and eventually their own children.

New classics are rare to come by, but Jacqueline Kelly may just have made the mark with her debut novel, The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. Its time period, family dynamic, and episodic structure link almost directly to previous children's classics, such as Little House on the Prairie, but even more akin to Carol Ryrie Brink's 1935 novel Caddie Woodlawn.

In fact, Calpurnia Tate shares much in common with Caddie Woodlawn. Both are adolescent girls being raised in a household filled with brothers. Both are willful, intelligent, and independently-minded girls, living in respective frontiers (for Caddie, the actual frontier of wild Wisconsin in 1864; for Calpurnia, the frontier of a new century amidst her heat-exhausted, unkempt rural Texas). Neither of them expert cooks or seamstresses, they would prefer to fill their time with scientific (Calpurnia) or mechanical (Caddie) pursuits, and both girls find a paternal guide for their interests.

Calpurnia receives guidance from her grandfather, an intellectual and scientist hidden in the farm landscape. The family's agricultural empire is entirely owed to Grandfather's ingenious design, but in his retirement, Grandfather prefers to exist solely in his library and workshop, keeping scientific journals and experimenting with turning pecans (the family crop) into whiskey.

Calpurnia's question regarding two different kinds of grasshoppers sparks off a unique and enduring alliance. Her grandfather takes her on trips to the river to collect specimens, instructs her on the use of a microscope ("The brass cylinder felt cool and heavy in my hands. I knew I was being trusted with something precious."), and, most importantly, lends her a copy of The Origin of Species, written by his real-life mentor, Charles Darwin.

As Calpurnia becomes absorbed in her scientific exploits, her mother struggles to pull her back into a world of appropriate female diversions, like cooking and needlework and playing the piano. As the only daughter of a wealthy, land-owning family, her mother's plans for are more in the mind of debutante than scientist. She restricts Calpurnia's time to learning feminine crafts, a succession of tedious lessons that interrupt precious time with the natural world and her grandfather.

"My cooking lesson had taken all afternoon, the results were downed in four minutes flat. None of them could flatter me enough to make up for the fact that I had lost hours with my Notebook, my river, my specimens, and my grandfather."

Kelly structures Calpurnia's confusion and rebellion throughout a series of family- and community-related goings on, including the budding crushes of three of Calpurnia's brothers for her best friend, Lula Banks, the tenuous first courtship of her oldest brother, Harry, the installation of the first phone line in the community, and even the first appearance of an automobile in the town. Kelly gives Calpurnia a wry, observant voice, but doesn't overly intellectualize the character. Instead, you get the writings and musings of a brilliant mind in the making, but the reader never loses sight of the eleven year old.

The conflict between expectation and personal fulfillment is universal and will appeal to vast audience, but especially to young students who find themselves at odds with the expectations of their family and school authority figures. Calpurnia is fortunate to come from a wealthy, well-regarded family, but the safe options for her future are also the most stifling. What's more, there doesn't seem to be an easy relief from the situation. Her grandfather, intelligent and capable as he is, cannot spare her from her mother's expectations, a realization both he and his granddaughter struggle with.

But Kelly doesn't allow her character to be a victim of social expectation. She fills Calpurnia with a ceaseless wonder and intellectual observation that sets her apart from not just her peers, but most of the adult women around her as well. Calpurnia spends much of time immersed in the wonders of natural selection and survival, and it is clear that she has the intellect and abilities to survive even the most stringent of social constraints.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is beautifully written, wonderfully absorbing, and sparkles with wit and thorough research. It is the rare work of children's fiction that offers something new to say on scientific pursuits as well as gender roles, but Jacqueline Kelly has produced that work. It is not hard to imagine the decades of girls that this book will inspire.

Reviewed by Emily Fear

This week's top-selling hardcover books

2009-05-11T09:29:00.004-04:00

This week's discounted hardcover bestsellers:

Fiction:

1.) Dead & Gone, by Charlaine Harris
2.) 8TH Confession, by James Patterson
3.) Perfect Fifths, by Megan McCafferty
4.) Selected Works of T.S. Spivet, by Reif Larsen
5.) Lover Avenged, by J.R. Ward
6.) Loitering with Intent, by Stuart Woods
7.) American Rust, by Philipp Meyer
8.) Handle With Care, by Jodi Picoult
9.) Pygmy, by Chuck Palahniuk
10.) The Reliable Wife, by Robert Goolrick

Non-Fiction:

1.) Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, by Steve Harvey
2.) Liberty & Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto, by Mark R. Levin
3.) The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
4.) Always Looking Up, by Michael J. Fox
5.) Reclaiming Virtue, by John Bradshaw
6.) Columbine, by Dave Cullen
7.) Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
8.) Pretty in Plaid, by Jen Lancaster
9.) Mommywood, by Tori Spelling
10.)Are You There, Vodka? It’s me, Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler

Three more reasons to become a Gives Back Member

2009-05-07T14:09:00.003-04:00

You probably remember the basics from your last visit to the store: donate part of every dollar to a non-profit, get discounts and special coupons, get money back when you spend. But May is member appreciation month and combined with a few special events and a new coupon we're offering this is the best time ever to become a member!

1) Sign up for a new membership and we'll give you a coupon good fo 20% off one item in the store on your next visit. (What a great time to pick up a Vera Bradley suitcase or a play kitchen set and save a bunch of money!)

2) May is Gives Back Appreciation month. If you join or renew (or if you'r already a member and ask us at the counter) we'll give you a coupon sheet to redeem on May 30th with discounts in allmost all our departments (and another coupon good for 20% off any individual item)

3) The Kids Bargain Book Blowout is only a week away and the first night (Thursday, May 14th) we will be offering a 20% discount off Kids Bargain Book Blowout merchandise (already less than half price in most cases) for Gives Back Members.

And as always we invite you to visit us, learn about our Non-Profit partners and check out the sales before you pick up a membership. You can get one at the counter and start enjoying the benefits right away. See you Thursday night!

It's graduation time!

2009-05-05T10:09:00.001-04:00

It’s graduation season, and whether you’re a proud parent, aunt/uncle, or family friend, you’re going to need a special something for that graduating someone in your life. While Oh the Places You’ll Go is a fine, classic graduation pick, we here at Joseph-Beth like to think beyond the obvious. After all, do you really want to be the third person to hand over a copy of that book to the graduate in question? No way! If you’re looking for meaningful and significant book to give a graduate, we have a few suggestions:

The Blue Stone: A Journey Through Life by Jimmy Liao - A blue stone begins its journey after lying in a forest for thousands of years. When people see it, they marvel at its beauty, split it into two, and take half away. It is carved into a large elephant, and even though people love the sculpture, the stone remembers its home, its heart breaks, and it crumbles into many pieces. Throughout the rest of the book, the stone is continually rediscovered and re-created into different, smaller artworks, its beauty hidden by coats of paint. Each time, its heart breaks, until it is nothing but specks of dust that float away, finally settling back in the original forest next to its other half. When shared with students, this sophisticated work could lead to discussions about creativity, the heroic quest to find one's way back home, the changes that occur on the journey of self-discovery, and the need to find one's place in the world.

Peep! A Little Book About Taking a Leap by Maria van Lieshout - Peep is out for a walk with his mother and sisters. When they hop off a steep curb, Peep freezes. It's too high! He just can't do it! Will peep overcome his fear and take a leap? With perfect minimalist illustration and coloration, this gentle tale is perfect for anyone facing a challenge big or small.

Yay, You!: Moving Out, Moving Up, Moving On by Sandra Boynton - Boynton's classic hippos, cows, cats and bears are among the animals that present the reader with a wide variety of options for life—"Should you live where it's cold? Should you live where it's hot? Do you want to be terribly busy? Or not?" This is a short and eminently readable book of cheer for recent graduates, no matter what their ages, that is affirming and humorous at the same time. "Whatever you do, whether near or so far, I know you'll be great. You already are."

How to Win Friends and Influence Creatures by Deborah Zemke – A jungle take on How to Win Friends and Influence People, this is the perfect tongue-in-cheek guide to getting ahead in life. With its colorful, pencil and watercolor illustrations and its short, snappy bits of advice, this guide is sure to delight graduates of any age. If nothing else, it will teach the graduate to “walk softly and carry a big banana… big enough to share.”

I Will Make Miracles by Julie Morgenstern, illustrated by Jiang Hong Chien - "Everyone keeps asking me,/When you get older, what will you be?" laments the young protagonist in this story. At first he has no idea, but as he gives it thought, his plans become more and more grandiose. He will wake the sun, conduct concerts on the ocean floor, aid the police, stop all wars, feed the hungry, and "stamp out" natural disasters. His world will be populated only by kind, caring people. In short, he will perform such miracles that he will become like God - that is, when he learns to read and write. The illustrations in this generously oversize book are almost all spreads and executed in Chinese ink on rice paper. The flat figures, boldly outlined, appear on dark grounds. Big black blots cover the endpapers and reemerge throughout the story to depict uncertainty, chaos, or world evils.

So Few of Me by Peter H. Reynolds - A lighthearted yet insightful fable about the repercussions of overscheduled lives. "Leo was a busy lad." No matter how hard he works, there is always more to do, so he decides to make a to-do list. Alas that list grows and grows, leading Leo to utter, "So few of me and so much to do. If only there were two of me." Immediately, there is a knock on the door, which Leo opens to find an identical replica of himself. The two find even more to do as do the subsequent Leos until there are 10 in all, "each one busier than the next." Exhausted Leo slips away to take a nap. Still savoring his naptime dream, Leo wonders, "What if I did less but did my best?" Rendered in watercolor, ink and tea, Reynolds's art provides a deft balance of spare pages and comically cluttered compositions, and gives the various Leos an entertaining array of facial expressions. An engaging and eye-opening tale reminding even the busiest of graduates to slow down.

Joseph-Beth's Staff would like to recommend...

2009-05-04T11:33:00.003-04:00

Here are our staff's picks for the book you need to read next! Remember, these titles will be discounted 20% for Gives Back members all month (and 10% for everyone else).

Rip It Up & Start Again by Simon Reynolds
In Rip It Up and Start Again, British rock writer Simon Reynolds mines a little-celebrated time in English and American music and ends up with a portrait of an era that, judging from the current rock climate, may have been the most important of all time. In the late 70’s many underground musicians, enamored with punk’s energy and spirit but disenchanted by its limitations, set out to invigorate the genre with a hugely eclectic set of musical influences. Reynolds chronicles the musical trajectories of all the major lights in the movement, from the afrobeat robotics of Talking Heads to the disco –inflected angularity of Wire and Gang of Four to the post-apocalyptic wailings of Devo and Mark E. Smith. Strongly recommended for fans of exciting, innovative music.
--Adam

City of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers
This is by far one of the quirkiest books I’ve read in the past year, but also one of the best. Moers’s sense of imagination is one of the most refreshing I’ve encountered in a while. This book is an absolute pleasure to read and is relaxing for the brain. It is an even mixture of Shel Silverstein’s zaniness and oddball anthropomorphism à la Terry Pratchett's Discworld. Optimus Yarnspinner, a young saurian novelist, embarks on a quest to track down the anonymous author of the most magnificent piece of writing in the whole of Zamonian literature. Traveling to Bookholm, the legendary City of Dreaming Books, he finds that possession of the manuscript holds great peril and that many parties both good and evil desire his treasure and will stop at nothing to obtain it.
--Cory

Dog On It By Spencer Quinn
OK…it might be a stretch, but put yourself in the mind of a dog. Go ahead, I’ll wait. You’ve probably just had the following thoughts: “Food! What’s that smell? Food! Is that my tail? Food! Going for a walk?! Food!” If you’ve successfully had these thoughts, then congrats! You’re on your way to embracing your inner pup! If you haven’t, then pick up, Dog On It in order to get into Chet’s head! Chet is the canine companion of Bernie, a local Private Eye. They’ve been together ever since the unfortunate incident at the K-9 Academy (Chet was the best leaper in his class) and make a crack team when it comes to solving cases. In their first mystery, Chet and Bernie are tracking down a missing girl, but not without encountering some problems along the way, such as: bikers, greedy ex-spouses, mountain lions and the Russian Mob. All the while, Chet provides insightful, funny, and sometimes repetitive narration which only adds to the charm of this book.
--Joel

Amigurumi by Elizabeth Doherty
The results are spectacular, but the projects are so easy! Learn to make stuffed animals using basic yarn crafting tools and skills. Elizabeth D is a master at designing these fun friends so you’ll learn enough by completing her projects to start designing your own. This book also teaches you the basic techniques you’ll need to get started making it perfect for all skill levels.
--Chris

Walden and Other Readings By Henry David Thoreau
This is an unparalleled American essay that should be placed in the back of every Bible—at least in America. “What demon has possessed me that I should behave so well?” Walden is a spiritual work that everyone who wrestles with contradictions and hypocrisy of our modern world can relate. Included in this book, the essay “Life Without Principle” should not go unread.
--Jon

The Purpose Driven Life By Rick Warren
This perennial inspirational favorite is perfect for honing your own spiritual life this spring, if you haven’t already read it, and perfect for sharing with a friend. Rick Warren, California pastor of Saddleback Church, hosted the first PresidentialDebate in 2008.
--Kathy

Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography by David Michaelis
Schulz and Peanuts offers an engaging and thoroughly researched biography of the most successful cartoonist of the 20th century and his iconic comic creation, from his childhood insecurities that he carried with him throughout his life to the height of his success as he was making (adjusted for inflation) tens of millions of dollars a year. With dozens of Peanuts comic strips accompanying the text this is required reading for any fan or student of popular culture! Good Grief!
--Fred

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
One of the best Young Adult titles I’ve ever read, The Book Thief tells the store of Liesel Meminger, a young German girl growing up during World War II. Abandoned by her mother, she is taken in by a man and a woman who love her (though the woman has an odd way of showing it!) and she develops an obsession for books. Of course, this novel really takes off when a young Jewish man named Max comes to live in their basement. Perhaps the most unique aspect of this book is the fact that it is narrated by Death. This may sound morbid, but the voice in which this book is written is omniscient, yet relatable. With such vivid images and stunning language, The Book Thief is one title not to be missed.
--Maureen

Bitter Is The New Black by Jen Lancaster
Jen Lancaster had the kind of job that allowed her to live the good life. She wasn’t the nicest person, but of course, she could afford to be condescending and rude. Money buys you permission to be self-centered, right? Well, then life happened and she went from being the boss who earned six figures to being unemployed. The first in a series of hilarious memoirs, Bitter is the New Black tells the story of how Lancaster’s privileged life changes as her bank account dwindles. A humorous book to read during these tough economic times. Pretty in Plaid, the prequel to Bitter is the New Black, is available beginning May 5, 2009
--Heather

The Translator by Daoud Hari
In this intense and haunting memoir, you, the reader, will be exposed to the horrific realities of the Darfur region. Don't let this fact cloud your judgment! We've all heard of the inhuman acts taking place in that part of the world and it is hard to take. Having said that, we can't just sit back anymore and pretend it doesn't exist. Not only is this book a violent and - more often than not - disturbing experience, but it is also real and full of courage. It's both brutal and brutally honest, thus creating an approach that is guaranteed to captivate you from page to page. So please, don't sit back and pretend this book doesn't exist. It's right here. All you have to do is reach out and grab it. Please allow me to translate: it's worth your time.
- Brandon

Pathways to Bliss by Joseph Campbell
“Your bliss,” says Joseph Campbell, “is the welling up of the energy of the transcendent wisdom within you.” If you learn to follow it—and it’s not as easy as it might sound—maybe you can find out what you’re doing here. And since it’s the job of our mythologies to tell us how to live, the study of mythology can help us in this task. Pathways to Bliss is a collection of lectures given by Joseph Campbell between 1962 and 1983. Taken together, they work to create a kind of psychological map to the territories of Myth and Archetype—but they leave the mystery intact.
--Tom

Uranium by Tom Zoellner
Who would have ever thought that an element that was once considered a waste material would end up having such a large impact on politics, energy, and war? Zoellner reveals the spectacular nature of this unusual element and the scientists who unlocked its secrets. Uranium is one of those books that once you begin reading you won’t be able to put it down.
--Matt

But Wait...There’s More!!! by Remy Stern
Long ago I remember teasing a college friend of mine because his mother had picked up his wedding present for mutual friends from a home shopping channel. This book surprised me with what a huge business shopping channels, informercials, and other tv buying opportunities have become. QVC has a giant campus in eastern Pennsylvania and is a bigger operation than many regular retailers – and broadcasters. One entrepreneur specializes in knock-offs of others’ products. Stern gives you the history of the business and a look at the scope of the field today, including some satisfying smackdowns of the bad guys who prey on the needy, gullible, and sick. I’m usually not one for business books but this one is definitely a lot of fun.
--Judy

The Hour I First Believed by: Wally Lamb
Even though this is a fictional account, Lamb writes with such intensity that makes this story very believable. Caleum Quirk and his third wife Maureen are both employed at Columbine High School during the time of the 1999 shootings. Although Caleum was away for a funeral, Maureen was in the library while the two teenagers went on their rampage killings throughout the school. This traumatic event had a tremendous impact on Maureen and her sanity. During this period of mental turmoil, Caleum uncovers old family letters and diaries, learning about his family’s past and discovering more about himself through these historical momentos.
--Rebecca

Tunneling to the Center of the Earth by: Kevin Wilson
A stellar short story collection, such as Tunneling to the Center of the Earth, is like the perfect mix tape. While plotlines, characters, and settings may diverge, a general theme and enduring feeling run throughout the collected works. Individually notable stories converge as a remarkable whole. Wilson’s characters are disillusioned romantics, pessimists at odds with their circumstances, their fates, their own perspectives. While the extraordinary happens, the beauty of each story is in how Wilson naturally weaves in the surreal amidst the mundane. A few select tracks: The title story, concerning three recent college graduates who decide to dig a hole. In Birds in the House, a quarrelsome group of brothers gather to honor their dead mother’s last wish and determine who will inherit the family land. The Shooting Man is an Auster-esque yarn of the unexpected consequences of going to a carnival sideshow. In Mortal Kombat, two boys, rejects among their peers, use the titular video game as both bonding agent and weapon. Stop saying, “I’m not really into short stories,” and read this book.
--Emily

Last week's bestselling titles at Joseph-Beth Booksellers

2009-05-04T11:20:00.002-04:00

Hardcover Fiction:

1.) Perfect Fifths, by Megan McCafferty
2.) Handle With Care, by Jodi Picoult
3.) The Host, by Stephenie Meyer
4.) Turncoat, by Jim Butcher
5.) Just Take My Heart, by Mary Higgins Clark
6.) Borderline, by Nevada Barr
7.) The Forgotten Garden, by Kate Morton
8.) The Lost Quilter, by Jennifer Chiaverini
9.) Secrets To Happiness, by Sarah Dunn
10.) Promises In Death, by J.D. Robb

Hardcover Non-Fiction:

1.) Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, by Steve Harvey
2.) Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
3.) The Next 100 Years, by George Friedman
4.) Closing Time, by Joe Queenan
5.) Columbine, by Dave Cullen
6.) Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Crafts, by Martha Stewart
7.) It Sucked and Then I Cried, by Heather Armstrong
8.) Liberty & Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto, by Mark R. Levin
9.) Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
10.) Mommywood, by Tori Spelling

Our adult bestsellers are 30% off for Gives Back members all the time (20% for everyone else)

And our top ten sellers in the Kids Department:

1) Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
2) New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
3) Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
4) Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
5) The Grandma Book by Todd Parr
6) Betrayed by PC Cast
7) Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
8) Chosen by PC Cast
9) The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
10) Nature, Can You See What I See? by Walter Wick

Attention Teachers!

2009-05-01T18:44:00.003-04:00

If you are a teacher or librarian in grades k-12 we have a very special event coming up just for you!

On Thursday, May 14th we'll be kicking off our semi-annual Kids Bargain Book Sale. We'll be bringing in thousands of kids titles from board books to DK Readers and selling them dirt cheap for the whole weekend. But because we want to say a special thank you to our educators we throw a little party the night before the big sale. We will have goodie bags and refreshments and we'll be offering an additional 20% off to everyone who shows their educators' card at the register.

If you don't have a Golden Apple Membership you can come in and sign up for the free program the night of the event. Make sure you bring a pay stub or a school ID (photocopies are fine) to verify your status. We'll also have people on hand to answer questions about our fantastic school fundraisers, great deals on texbooks and books for your classroom, summer reading and special programs we can provide for your students inside and outside of the book store.

This is one of our favorite events, we hope you'll join us!

For specific details or directions please feel free to call the store at (412) 381-3600. If you'd like to know more about the programs we offer educators and students or if you'd like to find out how to get your entire school signed up for the discount program at once please email Chris at crickert@josephbeth.com.

The Inside Scoop from Joseph-Beth Booksellers

2009-04-27T12:02:00.003-04:00

Your mother probably taught you that it's never nice to take the last of something. While we hate to contradict your mother, especially this close to Mother's Day, we want you to know that when you are in our store and you see just one copy of a really neat book on a display it's okay to take it.

Really. We insist!

So the next time you see a lone copy of a great book sitting by itself on a shelf or a table, grab it before someone else does!

Joseph-Beth Bestsellers last week

2009-04-27T11:57:00.002-04:00

Adult Fiction Hardcovers

1.) Handle With Care, by Jodi Picoult
2.) Just Take My Heart, by Mary Higgins Clark
3.) Perfect Fifths, by Megan McCafferty
4.) Turncoat, by Jim Butcher
5.) Borderline, by Nevada Barr
6.) The Forgotten Garden, by Kate Morton
7.) The Host, by Stephenie Meyer
8.) The Lost Quilter, by Jennifer Chiaverini
9.) Secrets To Happiness, by Sarah Dunn
10.) Promises In Death, by J.D. Robb

Adult Non-Fiction Hardcovers

1.) Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, by Steve Harvey
2.) Liberty & Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto, by Mark R. Levin
3.) Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
4.) Always Looking Up, By Michael J. Fox
5.) Mommywood, by Tori Spelling
6.) Closing Time, by Joe Queenan
7.) Strengths Finder 2.0, by Tom Rath
8.) We Are Our Mothers’ Daughters, by Cokie Roberts
9.) My Booky Wook, by Russell Brand
10.) Master Your Metabolism, by Jillian Michaels

And as always, out hardcover bestselling titles are 30% off for Gives Back members (20% off for everyone else)

Happy Reading!

New title for fans of The Last Lecture

2009-04-25T10:51:00.000-04:00

The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women & a Forty-Year Friendship, Jeffrey Zaslow

Jeffrey Zaslow, coauthor of Randy Pausch’s bestseller The Last Lecture, has another inspiring true story just in time for Mother’s Day. The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women & a Forty-Year Friendship is the record of Karla, Kelly, Marilyn, Jane, Jenny, Karen, Cathy, Angela, Sally, Diana, and Sheila, 11 friends whose extraordinary friendship has endured several decades of distance, careers, marriage and children, and life’s challenges. A great gift for your best friend, mom, or any woman who’s ever experience the special bond of friendship.

Construction blues

2009-04-20T15:14:00.002-04:00

Hello loyal blog readers, today we have a plea for help from our staff.

What could possibly be amis in the enchanted land of bookselling you ask? Well, if you've been by our store in the last week or so you will have noticed that we are caged in on two sides by fencing and concrete barricades. While our store is still accessible from all entrances and there is still parking available on the surrounding streets we're getting very lonely in our store! Don't be afraid of the construction- we're here waiting to help you find the perfect gift or book, hosting story time events for kids and bringing in fantastic authors to discuss their works.

There are upsides to our situation too: obviously, the whole area is getting some much-needed infrastructure work done in tandem with the widening of Carson Street. But have you thought about how easy it is to park here with the less adventureous drivers staying away? Or about the joy on your toddlers face when they can look at all the cool construction vehicles from the kids department window? How can you pass up opportunities like that?

So come visit us, and remember that you can park for free off Carson street and walk into the works all the time!

Dan Brown's new book announced

2009-04-20T15:07:00.003-04:00

Finally! We are happy to tell you that Dan Brown's latest thrillier finally has a firm release date.

The Lost Symbol (yes, this is a title change) will be released on Tuesday, September 15th across the country. The book will have a first print run of 5 million copies, by far the largest first print run in Random House history.

The Lost Symbol will again feature the popular Robert Langdon character and take place over a single, twelve hour period. Brown says "This novel has been a strange and wonderful journey. Weaving five years research into the story's twelve-hour timeframe was an exhillerating challenge. Robert Langdon's life clearly moves a lot faster than mine."

While we don't have firm details yet we will be offering some kind of pre-sale for those of you who are already eager to reserve your copy. Look for more information right here on our blog or feel free to call or email the store!

Featured author: Marjane Satrapi

2009-04-20T10:47:00.004-04:00

Looking for something new to read? We'd like to suggest you stop by and ask for something by Marjane Satrapi.

Satrapi's latest graphic novel, Chicken With Plums was just released in a paperback format a few weeks ago. Satrapi is also the author of Embroideries about the bonds between the women in her family, and is best known for her series Persepolis.

Persepolis tells the story of Satrapi's childhood in Iran during the Islamic revolution. Her family was directly related to a deposed Shah, and before the revolution already had seen several family members jailed. Satrapi focuses on how the cultural changes such as laws governing female dress and behavior affected her and her family and friends directly, offering American readers a deeply personal look at this misunderstood part of the world from the inside. While the subject matter and artistic styles are very far apart, Persepolis is often compared to Maus because of the painfully honest first-person account of an important piece of history. This is the perfect book for anyone looking for a non-Western account of Middle Eastern affairs in the seventies and eighties, and is appropriate for ages 16 and up.

Persepolis was made into a movie recently and is finally available in a subtitled version in America.

(-submitted by Chris R.)

a quick note about a great title!

2009-04-16T15:41:00.003-04:00

Our resident new release expert Heather had this to say about a new release that you might not have heard about yet:

A Reliable Wife
by Robert Goolrick

Set during the early 20th century winter, A Reliable Wife is a haunting and emotionally raw story of a businessman with a secret past and his mail-order bride with some secrets of her own. Reminiscent of classics like Rebecca, Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre but with a subtly erotic feel and a psychologically detailed writing style.

A Reliable Wife is currently available at 30% off for Gives Back members (20% standard discount)

Book Review: Certain Girls by Jennifer Wenner

2009-04-09T13:38:00.001-04:00

Certain Girls, Jennifer Weiner

Readers who already know Jennifer Weiner’s funny and relatable “Good In Bed” protagonist, Cannie Shapiro, will love “Certain Girls” which takes place 13 years later and alternates between the point of view of Cannie and her pubescent daughter, Joy.

“Certain Girls” does for grown up 30 somethings with careers, kids, and husbands what “Good In Bed” did for young singletons still trying to find their way in the world. Jennifer Weiner has given today’s women a character and a story we can find a little of ourselves in. Weiner tackles tough issues but offers up a dose of humor, too. Job stress, marriage struggles, weight problems, Daddy issues, and a moody teenage daughter. Jennifer Weiner’s newest paperback, “Certain Girls”, has it all.

If you like Jennifer Weiner, you may also like Emily Giffin, Cecilia Ahern, and Jane Green.