December 2021... News, Events and What We are Reading

Tis The Season...

For comfort and joy… all of which we need a lot of these days. Despite all the turmoil in the past year, all the uncertainty and all the perils of a pandemic, I’m hoping we can all take a deep breath and let the joys of the season envelop us. That we can embrace the many messages of hope, love, peace and the spirit of this special season – whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza or any other celebration. What do I want for Christmas? Peace on earth, goodwill towards all. Of course, I’m also partial to books. They can teach us a lot about the world, other people, what works and what doesn’t. They can also provide great comfort and joy on a wintery night. You’re never alone if you have a good book for company. Thanks to all of you who have chosen to shop with us this holiday season. There’s still time to find that perfect gift and we’d be happy to help at our little bookshop on the bay.

Happy Holidays and may the spirit of the season surround you.
Cheryl

Past Events Photo Gallery

Upcoming Events

Unless otherwise noted, all events are live, in person at 100 Bay Street, Sausalito.

December 24th

Christmas Eve

We will be closing early at 3pm.

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thru' the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there...

December 25th

Merry Christmas!

Closed for the day.

We are at home with family & friends sipping eggnog.

December 31st

New Years Eve

We will be closing early at 3pm.

Happy New Year!

January 1st

Happy 2022!

Closed for the day.

We are at home recovering from New Year's Eve!

January 13th, 6pm

Bonny Meyer – Silver Oak Winery Founder

Bonny will share her favorite wines & her memoir Perfectly Paired.

January 15th, 11am

Children’s book author Jacquie Faber reading from SuperGoldfish

January 27th, 6pm

Reading and Conversation with authors Molly Giles and Rosaleen Bertolino

January 30th, 4pm

Author Event with Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell

Her Honor: My Life on the Bench…

What Works, What’s Broken, and How to Change It

In partnership with Marin City Library.

Conversational Spanish Class
With Catalina Perez

Starting in January... it's the perfect stocking stuffer gift that will keep on giving!

This 6-week immersion class is designed for beginning to intermediate Spanish students. An unintimidating, small group experience that will include interesting & relevant topics, presented through audio, games, and pictures to encourage conversation.

Catalina Perez is a certified Spanish language coach, originally from Medellín Colombia, currently living in Sausalito. She studied International Business at EAFIT University in Colombia and received an M.B.A. from McKendree University in the U.S.A

$180 per person 
for the six-week course

Register in the store, email staff@sausalitobooksbythebay.com
or call 415.887.996

Wines of The Month

Don’t forget we have a fabulous range of fine wines
for your holiday table!

Wines also make for great host / hostess gifts… and it does seem as if there are more holiday gatherings this year as we emerge a wee bit from our isolation… so be prepared!

We also have Great Tabletop Décor!

January 11th, 5:30pm

We’re reading a provocative classic – Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Much more than what you see in the many movies based on the book. Much more!

Book club participants receive a 10% discount if you buy the book from us.

If you are interested in joining our book club, please email me  cheryl@sausalitobooksbythebay.com or sign up at the bookshop on your next visit.

Or call 415.887.9967

Our book club is almost always the SECOND TUESDAY of every month. 

SAVE THE DATE –
Book Club February 15, 2022
We'll be reading something romantic!

What's New

Cookies from Pastry Chef Tera Ancona of Angelinos Restaurant

Holiday Gift Guide

The Twelve Days Of Christmas
Gift Giving Ideas

Most people don’t know the origins of this popular holiday classic and yet everyone knows that on the first day of Christmas “my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree”.

The song doesn’t make much sense. Isn’t there only ONE day of Christmas (not 12). Why so many gifts? What’s a “calling bird”? And really, who wants 8 maids a milking and what do you do with them? I suppose the dancing ladies, leaping lords, pipers and drummers might be okay if you happen to be entertaining that day. And finally, can you imagine how expensive it would be to buy all this stuff? A small fortune.

Not surprisingly, the origins date back to early Christianity but to the 12 days following Christmas not before Christmas. Twelvetide, as this period was known, referenced the 12 days from the birth of Christ on December 25th to Epiphany or Three Kings Day, January 6th. That’s  when the three wise men arrive on the manager scene. (“Three wise men? Are you kidding? I had a hard time finding one”, as my elderly aunt likes to quip.)

Scholars don’t agree on whether the origins of the Christmas carol were French or English, but it first appeared in print in 1780 in an English children’s book. In 1909, British composer Frederic Austin penned the lyrics we know today.

Following are our ideas on 12 days of gift giving, but you don’t need to do multiples!

While we offer free gift wrapping, if you like to do it yourself, we have a great selection of holiday wrapping, ribbon and gift cards.

What We're Reading

Still Life

Sarah Winman

After the war, Ulysses returns to his London home and friends, only to receive a mysterious letter from Italy which changes his life forever. Returning to Italy with friends in tow, we follow them as they settle into their new country and routines in post war Italy through the 1970s This novel will leave you smiling with a whole new community to love. Angela K.

The Postmistress of Paris

Meg Waite Clayton

From the author of The Last Train to London, a haunting new novel set during the early days of the German occupation in France. A love story about the incomparable courage of a young American heiress who joins the French Resistance in WWII. Naneé (code name: “the postmistress” because she delivers important messages) helps artists and intellectuals escape from the Nazis in the South of France. A harrowing tale of a war torn Europe, based on a real-life story. Cheryl P.

The Cat Who Saved Books

Sosuke Natsukawa

I am always a sucker for any book about books. Add an animal to that mix and it’s a slam dunk. This is a heartwarming celebration of books, cats and the people who love them from one of Japan’s bestselling authors. And yes, there is a talking feline who helps set books free. Cheryl P.

True Story: A Novel

Kate Reed Petty

A novel about the consequences of rumors and abuse. The book contains two connected storylines that examine trauma from different perspectives. A central theme is that there is a power in finding one's voice and telling one's story; to reflect this, the novel makes use of a number of different storytelling forms, including chapters told through email threads and pages of screenplays. True Story is also a love letter to the horror genre, with masterfully written scenes of suspense. Matthew K. 

Anansi Boys

Neil Gaiman

Slated to be adapted for TV in the near future, Anansi Boys is set in a world where gods and spirits live in disguise among ordinary people. Upon the death of his parents, Fat Charlie Nancy learns that his father was, in fact, a legendary trickster of West-African mythology. This knowledge leads to bungled wedding plans, a reunion with his magical brother, and a run-in with sinister forces bent on destroying Anansi's bloodline. An enthralling novel about storytelling and family, half romantic comedy and half supernatural thriller. Matthew K.

Monsignor Quixote

Graham Greene

Playing against reputation one more time, I'm recommending a novel, and one a mere forty years old! Greene coopts Cervantes' Don Quixote, placing a priest and a communist in the roles of Quixote and Sancho as they set out across post-Franco Spain. This is one of Greene's last works, and accordingly contemplative, though not without its humor, including the most elegant description of a fart since Shakespeare. Jeff B.

The House in the Cerulean Sea

TJ Klune

A government caseworker is sent to evaluate the Marsyas Island Orphanage and assess the dangerous magical children living there. As he grows closer to the children and develops feelings for the mysterious director, he begins to question his job and the safe life that has come to define him. I greatly enjoyed the memorable dialogue and characters. This is a story about the idea of home, and it strikes a neat balance between bitingly sardonic humor and pure, lighthearted positivity. Matthew K.

Her Honor: My Life on the Bench... What Works, What's Broken, and How to Change it

LaDoris Hazzard Cordell

An insightful memoir from the first African American woman to sit on the Superior Court of Northern California, Judge Cordell knows first-hand how prejudice has permeated our legal system and yet still believed in the system. A provocative look into the hearts and minds of those sitting on the bench. Judge Cordell will be with us to speak and sign books on January 30th. 

Cheryl P.

The Boys

Ron Howard and Clint Howard

Anyone who is nostalgic for a store of the “golden era” of television will love this memoir of the Howard boys and their early life in Hollywood. What is in essence a love letter to their parents, both actors saw the promise of their young children and dedicated their lives to teaching them how to be good people and great actors. With all of the backstories you might imagine, this is a great gift for the television buff in your life. Angela K.

Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village

Maureen Johnson & Jay Cooper

The title of this humorous book says it all. For any fan, even a causal one, of British mystery books or television, this book is full spot on observations with lovely illustrations. Not to be missed. Angela K.

Bourbon: The Story of Kentucky Whiskey

Clay Risen

One of my favorite gift books of the season. A luxuriously boxed edition, this handsome, beautifully illustrated tome, is perfect for the bourbon aficionados on your list. The author, one of the country’s leaving experts of whiskey, shares the history and evolution of America’s distilling craft and culture. You’ll learn how Bourbon is made, but also how to best enjoy it! Cheryl P.

Where Snow Angels Go

Maggie O'Farrell

The author of the critically acclaimed novel Hamnet, now brings us a delightful children’s picture book perfect for the season. Ever make a “snow angel” in freshly fallen snow? What happens to that snow angel after you leave it behind? A little girl discovers she has an unusual protector in a modern fairy tale with gorgeously detailed illustrations. Cheryl P.

Community Supported
Bookstore Program

By opening a CSB account with us – or adding money to an existing account – you provide us with valuable working capital to help make ends meet during this dramatic economic downturn.

For more information CSB program

Hours of Operation

10am – 6pm Seven Days A Week

Fulfilling special orders via phone 415.887.9967
or email staff@sausalitobooksbythebay.com

FREE Home Delivery – right to your doorstep in Southern Marin

FREE Shipping Anywhere in the U.S

TAKE-OUT with CONTACT FREE PICK UP CURBSIDE;
Pick Up Curbside with Free Downtown Parking

Masks will be required for all individuals in all indoor public settings, regardless of vaccination status from December 15, 2021 through January 15, 2022.

The Best Little Bookshop On The Bay!

sausalitobooksbythebay.com
100 Bay Street, Sausalito, CA 94965, 415.887.9967
FREE PARKING in front of the store in the Sausalito Yacht Harbor lot.
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