As a buyer, there are two times a year that I turn into a kid on my favorite holiday, giddy with excitement for all of the new lines, collections, catalogs as well as searching for the newest things that I will be carrying. I can’t count the times I’ve gotten excited during the new buying season and pestered (tortured) my colleagues with images and pictures from catalogs. The next best part is opening the boxes that have come in and seeing what we have ordered.
We strongly believe in uplifting voices that need to be heard. This month, we're highlighting literary works by immigrants and refugees. These books defy national boundaries and provide a lens through which we can examine power, empathy, and community.
In conjunction with today's release of Exit West, we interviewed author Mohsin Hamid.
Mohsin Hamid’s new book, EXIT WEST, comes out 3/6. From the bestselling author of THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST comes a new story of love, civil unrest, and the perilous, fantastical possibility of leaving home behind.
There is one chef whose cookbooks are among the highest percentage in my home library. Her name is Alice Waters, owner of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California. Opened in 1971, it has been recognized as the Best Restaurant in America by Gourmet, and Waters herself was named Best Chef in America by the James Beard Foundation. She was the first woman to achieve this recognition.
One of the best things (and there are many best things!) about working at Brazos Bookstore is introducing our customers to all the phenomenal small presses whose authors and books we are delighted to champion. Finding those hidden gems, those smaller books with small publicity budgets, that might get lost in a larger publishing house, or might not be there at all--well, it’s our honor, and as an indie bookstore with no huge corporate Big Brother, it’s basically our wheelhouse!
February is the month of flowers, candy, gifts, and cards. Outside of a few friends’ birthdays, I have always associated February with Valentine’s Day. This month, I am compiling my five favorite gift items—gifts that are not only great throughout the year, but would also make wonderful gifts during this month.
Anyone who knows me knows that I have a collection of fountain pens from Lamy. At the beginning of each year I eagerly await the release of the new collection. I am still obsessed with the gold Lamy LX with a matching anodized aluminium case. This takes owning a Lamy to a new level. As with all Lamy pens, the German craftsmanship is impeccable. The Lamy LX has an aluminium anodized finish with a metal clip feature that is the same color as the fountain pen.
Simply Curated is a new vendor for us; what first caught my attention was the beautifully designed glass 22 karat gold screen printed glass as well as how they packed it. To my surprise the glass used for the candle is an actual cocktail glass that you can reuse after your candle is finished burning. The scents they use are amazing and burn cleanly. Each candle comes with a wood wick and has a burn time of 74 hours. They are handmade and poured in Grand Rapids, MI, made with 100% American soy. In the cocktail collection we also carry Vanilla & Lavender.
Christian Lacroix style has been unique, luxe, colorful, dramatic and always with a hand in the baroque. This is the same for the stationery collection. The Scarlet Paseo series of notebooks are just as wonderful; the outside has a Paseo design over the entire journal along with a great print on the inside covers. This is one of the reasons I’m excited to bring this 152-rule-on-ivory, flat lying notebook into the store. If you are going to keep notes, journal your ideas, or make lists, why not add a bit of fashion?
I always love things with a weight to them, I don’t like to use a pen that doesn’t have a cap, etc. This is one of the many great features that Obvious State mugs have along with a large handle which makes holding the mug so much easier. "That voice of unpretending harmony" is the quote by William Wordsworth featured on this beautiful designed 15 oz mug. The blooming floral pattern will surely make a statement for your coffee or tea. Printed in the United States, this mug is also dishwasher safe.
Ten or so chapbooks, laid out across a conference-style table: this is what I see when I walk into the Inprint bungalow on Thursday afternoon to speak with Rich Levy (Executive Director) and Krupa Parikh (Marketing and Outreach Director). I like catching up with our partners at Inprint because it always feels like visiting an interesting friend who has something new to show you.
