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Jody

 jodywebpic.jpg picture by inkhearted

This is Jody with the 'other' love of her life - President Barack Obama. Aren't you jealous?

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Stories I Only Tell My Friends: An Autobiography (Paperback)

By Rob Lowe
$14.99
ISBN-13: 9781250008855
Availability: Readily available. If this title is not currently in-stock in the store, it is available to ship from the warehouse.
Published: St. Martin's Griffin, 1/2012
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Rob Lowe has lead a pretty interesting life, which is, I guess, advantageous for someone writing an autobiography that they want to turn up on the New York Times Bestseller list.  And, this one has.  Despite a rather normal childhood in Dayton, Ohio (interestingly, also home to two more of my favorite celebs:  Allison Janney and Katrina Kittle), he started his acting career early.  As a former member of the 'Brat Pack' he 'dated' darn near everyone in Hollywood. The need for rehab (he was, after all, a young adult in the eighties – this is hardly surprising) gave him several more good stories.  His political activism gave him access to political rock stars (JFK, Jr!  Be still my heart!) and presidents. Lowe seems to kind of like himself – a lot (again, hardly a surprise – he is after all, Rob Lowe.) – but really does tell these stories like he's sitting around with his buddies, and escaping Gaylord's winter with a trip to Tinsel Town with Rob (who is a very, very handsome man) was a great little weekend vacation.

Now Eat This!: 150 of America's Favorite Comfort Foods, All Under 350 Calories (Paperback)

By Rocco Dispirito
$22.00
ISBN-13: 9780345520906
Availability: Readily available. If this title is not currently in-stock in the store, it is available to ship from the warehouse.
Published: Ballantine Books, 3/2010
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I think it's much easier to cook in a healthy fashion in the summertime – grilling is easier, and the farmer's market has an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables to inspire.  Heartier (read 'heavier' and 'more caloric') fare just seems to dominate my menus all winter long – until I found this cookbook.  Evidently, Rocco himself put on quite a bit of weight and then lost it again by revamping many of his favorite recipes, and this new cookbook is the result.  Described as '150 of America's Favorite Comfort Foods All Under 350 Calories,' Rocco lightens up dishes like Shrimp Pad Thai and Tuna Melts but manages to retain their taste. I've never been a fan of fat-free anything – too much salt and too many chemicals – but these dishes use natural foods like Greek yogurt in innovative ways.  Most recipes are quite quick and easy, and I'll find myself returning to this cookbook over and over.  I have a lot of dog-eared pages already...

Affairs of Steak (Mass Market Paperback)

By Julie Hyzy
$7.99
ISBN-13: 9780425245835
Availability: Readily available. If this title is not currently in-stock in the store, it is available to ship from the warehouse.
Published: Berkley, 1/2012
Hyzy's fifth book in her White House Chef series was a perfect read for my still-befuddled January brain.  White House executive chef Ollie Paras is teamed with her nemesis Peter Everett Sargeant, the White House sensitivity director (who is really anything BUT sensitive), to plan a very important birthday party for the Secretary of State.  Although he is a member of the opposing political party, the Secretary is popular, and his party is meant to draw Republicans and Democrats together.  The festivities may come to a crashing halt, however, when Ollie and Peter discover two bodies in the party venue's kitchen equipment – that of the Chief of Staff and the First Lady's assistant.  While it sometimes seems as though Ollie spends more time hunting down bad guys than actually cooking, this is a really fun series.  I enjoy the White House protocol, the series' progression – Ollie has a new president AND a new love interest – and the backdrop of Washington D.C. (arguably my very favorite city).  This book was a great way to spend a little post-holiday season free time.

Bossypants (Paperback)

By Tina Fey
$15.99
ISBN-13: 9780316056878
Availability: Readily available. If this title is not currently in-stock in the store, it is available to ship from the warehouse.
Published: Reagan Arthur / Back Bay Books, 1/2012
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Reading this book was very much like hanging out with your smartest, funniest group of girlfriends – the stories start to roll, and then the giggles turn into the tears-running-down-the-face uncontrollable laughter (or if you are me, the 'Snorty Laugh'). Tina Fey tackles many subjects – the scar on her face, the awkward youth-through-adulthood years, being the boss, Sarah Palin, SNL, her daughter's birthday party, Alec Baldwin – all with a charmingly self-deprecating humor.  It's kind of difficult to distinguish the memoir from the embellishment, but it doesn't matter, either – Fey is not just funny, but thoughtful and irreverent (often at the same time) and really, really smart. Bossypants is new to paperback, and you might want to read it with both tissues and a dictionary... 

Button Holed (Mass Market Paperback)

By Kylie Logan
$7.99
ISBN-13: 9780425243763
Availability: Readily available. If this title is not currently in-stock in the store, it is available to ship from the warehouse.
Published: Berkley, 9/2011
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This is the first book in the new 'Button Box Mystery' series, featuring Josie Giancola, button expert, button collector and owner of the newly-opened Chicago store The Button Box.  Kate Franciscus was the most glamorous actress in the world – she was also planning her royal wedding to Prince Roland of Ruritania, leaving no detail of her designer gown to chance.  Her appointment with Josie was well-documented by the paparazzi – as was her death by silver button hook at Josie's store.  There are the usual cast of suspects – long-suffering assistants, a spurned lover, two thugs intent on trailing Josie – and a little twist at the end.  This first book wasn't perfect – Logan overused (in my humble opinion) certain turns of phrase (the nerdiness of button enthusiasts, royal body parts, and fear as it relates to the stomach, for example), and I found her relationship with her ne'er do well ex-husband slightly trite, but this was definitely funny and imaginative, and Logan did a nice job of relating the theme of her book to the mystery's solution.  I look forward to picking up the next book!

A Christmas Blizzard (Paperback)

By Garrison Keillor
$13.00
ISBN-13: 9780143119883
Availability: Readily available. If this title is not currently in-stock in the store, it is available to ship from the warehouse.
Published: Penguin (Non-Classics), 10/2011
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Keillor's new holiday book kind of reminds me of a cross between Dickens' A Christmas Carol and Grisham's Skipping Christmas.  James Sparrow has too much current angst – the potential loss of his job, an over-mortgaged condo – to enjoy the holidays.  In great contrast to his Christmas-enthusiast wife, he yearns to escape it all for a vacation in Hawaii. But, a phone call from one of his crazy relatives in his home town of Looseleaf, North Dakota, takes him home.  As he seeks refuge from a blizzard in an old icehouse, he is visited by characters that force him to reconsider his Scrooge-ness –and just in time for a surprise from Mrs. Sparrow. This isn't, perhaps, an original plot, but Garrison Keillor always brings the funny and it was a very enjoyable story.

Explosive Eighteen: A Stephanie Plum Novel (Hardcover)

By Janet Evanovich
$28.00
ISBN-13: 9780345527714
Availability: Readily available. If this title is not currently in-stock in the store, it is available to ship from the warehouse.
Published: Bantam, 11/2011
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When we last left Stephanie Plum in Smokin' Seventeen, she was headed to Hawaii for a vacation with – we don't know.  And, at the start of Evanovich's latest installment, Stephanie is on a flight home to Trenton without – well, we still don't know.  What we do know is that Morelli is sporting a broken nose, Ranger has seven stitches under his eye, and the guy sitting next to Stephanie on the plane never made it back to New Jersey alive.  But before he died, he had  time to drop a photo into Stephanie's bag, and now two fake FBI agents, two real FBI agents, the dead guy's chain-smoking fiancée', and a crazed hit man named Razzle Dazzle need that photo back.  As always, sidekicks Lula and Grandma Mazur steal the show – and the caper – with their antics. Included in the back of this edition is a fun calendar with birthdays and important holidays such as National Doughnut Day, and yes – we eventually do hear the Hawaiian vacation story, which went bad in a way only a Stephanie Plum vacation can.  This is pure fun.

Martha Stewart's Handmade Holiday Crafts: 225 Inspired Projects for Year-Round Celebrations (Hardcover)

By Martha Stewart Living Magazine
$24.99
ISBN-13: 9780307586902
Availability: Readily available. If this title is not currently in-stock in the store, it is available to ship from the warehouse.
Published: Potter Craft, 9/2011
I've always rather liked Martha – some of her projects are definitely over the top, but they're always beautiful.  Her newest craft book, though, has lots of very easy ideas for adding a festive touch to the holidays.  It is divided into sections, beginning (of course) with New Year's and ending (naturally) with Hanukkah and Christmas, and has great ideas for decorations, gifts, and table accessories.  I especially like the ideas for Mother's Day and Father's Day, which are harder to come by in the average craft book.  Martha never does anything 'average'!  But, those ideas will have to wait, because I am off to make Autumnal Clip-Art Leaf Napkin Rings for my Thanksgiving table – and I'm sure they'll be stunning.

The Wedding Quilt: An Elm Creek Quilts Novel (Hardcover)

By Jennifer Chiaverini
$25.95
ISBN-13: 9780525952428
Availability: Readily available. If this title is not currently in-stock in the store, it is available to ship from the warehouse.
Published: Dutton Adult, 11/2011
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Chiaverini's latest installment in her popular Elm Creek Quilts series is a little like meeting up with old friends after about 25 years. Sarah is one of the founding members of the Elm Creek quilt camps, and was pregnant with twins when we last left her. I confess that it was a little disconcerting to start this book with her daughter Caroline's wedding, because I really wanted to know what happened during those missing years, but I should have known to remain patient.  Chiaverini catches her readers up beautifully, and through other births, deaths, weddings, and even more mundane life events she catches us up and fills in the blanks of the friends and their families.  This series is a little sweet, but not overly so as the author forces her characters to face pain and difficulty as well as success and joy – always with knowledge that they have each other's backs. I also enjoy the series' (and this book's) seamless leap from current to future to historical stories – Chiaverini has mastered this technique without leaving anything out, and even if this book is the last of her series – and I certainly hope not – I could let it go with satisfaction.

Pure Michigan: Eating Fresh and Local in the Great Lakes State

Pure Michigan: Eating Fresh and Local in the Great Lakes State

$29.95
Model: 9780696300608
I'm all for anything that promotes the beauty, diversity, and general fabulousness of Michigan, including the 'Pure Michigan' advertising campaign.  This brand-new cookbook is no exception.  I say 'cookbook,' but it really is much more.  It contains many recipes from famous eateries and Michigan chefs, but it also has sidebars about fun places to eat, the state's many festivals and food traditions – think Frankenmuth, the Cherry Festival and pasties – and the many vineyards, orchards, and crops that are such a large part of Michigan's economy. Scattered throughout are gorgeous photos of Michigan's natural beauty spots.  This is a wonderful gift idea for anyone who loves our unique state – and you'll want to be sure to look for Gaylord's four featured businesses.

It's a Little Book (Board Books)

By Lane Smith
$7.99
ISBN-13: 9781596437586
Availability: Readily available. If this title is not currently in-stock in the store, it is available to ship from the warehouse.
Published: Roaring Brook Press, 8/2011
I fell in love with Lane Smith's original hardcover picture book titled It's a Book – its illustrations are simple but expressive, and the (slightly irreverent) straightforward message of the importance of books is timely.  He recently altered his original story slightly, and published it in board book form to share the joy of books with our littlest 'readers.'  They'll enjoy the conversation between the diaper-wearing Monkey and Jackass as Jackass tries to figure out what books are for, and adults will love the message that books will never be obsolete. I'm a long-time fan of Lane Smith, and am delighted that he's sharing his talents and message with even younger book lovers.

You Don't Sweat Much for a Fat Girl: Observations on Life from the Shallow End of the Pool (Paperback)

By Celia Rivenbark
$14.99
ISBN-13: 9780312614201
Availability: Readily available. If this title is not currently in-stock in the store, it is available to ship from the warehouse.
Published: St. Martin's Griffin, 8/2011
Humorist Celia Rivenbark is off on another roll – several, really – in her newest collection of anecdotes subtitled, Observations From the Shallow End of the Pool.  Not many topics are off-limits in her writing, and she tackles many with her characteristic combination of Southern charm, self-deprecation, snark and humor.  She vividly imagines a presidential ticket pairing Sarah Palin and LaToya Jackson, writes an imaginary 50th birthday letter from Midge to Barbie, and tackles the trials of social networking.  Rivenbark is the author of five previous books and a newspaper feature column.  I enjoy the humor of many writers, but few make me actually do an out-loud snorty laugh; Celia Rivenbark is one of them.

A Bad Day for Scandal: A Crime Novel (Hardcover)

By Sophie Littlefield
$24.99
ISBN-13: 9780312648374
Availability: Readily available. If this title is not currently in-stock in the store, it is available to ship from the warehouse.
Published: Minotaur Books, 6/2011
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Stella Hardesty is a woman with a past. Her husband was, shall we say, unpleasant, and Stella dealt with him in an effective, yet unorthodox, way. She now helps other women out of difficult situations, and her reputation is good enough to bring former resident-turned-very-successful businesswoman Priscilla Porter to her doorstep with a problem. A bad problem. A dead body in the trunk of her car kind of problem. That body happens to be just the first of several, and Stella and her partner Chrissy must solve the mystery before Stella herself is arrested by her 'crush,' Sheriff Goat Jones. I came late to author Littlefield's party – A Bad Day For Scandal is the first of her series that I've read, and while she certainly gave enough back story to be coherent, I can't wait to read about Stella's beginnings. This series is original, fast-paced, irreverent, and just plain fun. 

Here Comes Trouble: Stories from My Life (Hardcover)

By Michael Moore
$26.99
ISBN-13: 9780446532242
Availability: Readily available. If this title is not currently in-stock in the store, it is available to ship from the warehouse.
Published: Grand Central Publishing, 9/2011
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By now you've all heard the buzz about this latest offering from filmmaker and bestselling author Michael Moore - Saturn Booksellers was one of three Northern Michigan independent bookstores to receive signed first edition copies, and we've been crazy busy shipping them all over the world.  But, I managed to sneak a copy for myself, and – love him or hate him – the man can write.  He offers twenty-four autobiographical vignettes from his early years, in no particular order, and all pretty bizarre.  Almost Forrest Gump-like in his ability to find himself in the middle of historical events, he chronicles his story of being rescued by Bobby Kennedy, starting his own underground newspaper in fourth grade, and meeting a befuddled Ronald Reagan in a cemetery, and many others. Still controversial, usually surprising, and always funny, Michael Moore shares a new side of himself.  LOVED this...