Mr. Paperback

Join the iconic folk musician for a Christmas concert not to be missed! Noel Paul Stookey, of the legendary group Peter, Paul, and Mary, will perform and sign The Night Before Christmas, a new hardcover joyously illustrated by Eric Puybaret containing the last recording ever made by Mary Travers—a rendering of the classic poem. Join us at the Hutchinson Center, 80 Belmont Ave in Belfast, Friday, December 16 from 4 to 6 PM. Books will be available for sale at the concert, or obtain your copy at the Belfast Mr. Paperback store today.

Peter, Paul, and Mary's music has been an iconic part of American culture for decades. Their many hits include “Blowing In The Wind,” “Leaving On A Jet Plane,” “Lemon Tree,” and “Puff, the Magic Dragon.” Their second single, "If I Had a Hammer," became an anthem of the Civil Rights Movement and was performed by the trio at the 1963 March on Washington where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his legendary "I Have a Dream" speech. The group has won five Grammy Awards, produced thirteen Top 40 hits, and earned eight gold and five platinum albums. Their music has echoed for five decades as a call to freedom, justice, and humanity, and continues to be handed down by parents, grandparents, and now great-grandparents to the next generations.

The Night Before Christmas is a joyous and fun-filled rendition of Clement C. Moore's beloved Christmas poem, a holiday classic since 1823. Acclaimed painter Eric Puybaret, whose version of Puff, the Magic Dragon stayed a number one children's bestseller on the Publisher's Weekly list for 16 consecutive weeks, is renowned in his native France, and his illustrations have been called "elegantly rendered" (The New York Times), "graceful and whimsical" (Publisher's Weekly), and "lovely...and indeed magical" (Kirkus Reviews). His version of the classic poem enchantingly captures the story’s magic and wide-eyed wonder: a cozy home with stockings hung by a mantel, visions of sugarplums dancing in the dreams of sleeping children, and, of course, jolly Santa, with his merry dimples and twinkling eyes, coming down the chimney with a bagful of toys.

The book contains a three track CD which includes three very special songs. "A' Soalin" has been a Peter, Paul, and Mary holiday favorite since its release in 1963 on their second album. "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" is Stookey's performance version, brilliantly set to a rollicking melody composed by Stookey and Matthew Quinn. And "Christmas Eve with Mary" is Mary Travers' final recording, the poem read with a clear smile in her voice at an improvised studio in her Connecticut home, completed shortly before her death in 2009. She narrates over special background music written by Noel Paul Stookey and Peter Yarrow as a tribute to their longtime collaborator.

For every family who loves to read "The Night Before Christmas" as a yuletide tradition and for every child or adult who has been inspired by Peter, Paul, and Mary, this free concert at the Hutchinson Center is a holiday event not to be missed.

For questions or more information, call Mr. Paperback in Belfast at 338-2735.

The Way Of Kings
By Brandon Sanderson
TOR 2010

Fantasy readers may be familiar with Brandon Sanderson as the author of the acclaimed Mistborn series chosen to finish Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series after Jordan's death. His new novel 'The Way of Kings - Book One of the Stormlight Archive' is a masterpiece of epic high-fantasy.  
The novel's prologue draws readers in to the world of Roshar, establishing a well thought out historical context for the events that follow. The death of the King of Alethkar at the hands of a mysterious and formidable assassin in white sets the plot in motion. The reader is then introduced to complex and believable characters whose parallel tales are woven together across across diverse and detailed landscapes of a storm-swept and war-ravaged world.

At over a thousand pages and the first of a projected 10 book series, Sanderson explores themes common to classics of the fantasy genre without cliche, and the story moves along at a pace that makes the pages fly by.

The Poacher’s Son

   by Paul Doiron

Paul Doiron’s debut novel ‘The Poacher’s Son’ introduces us to Mike Bowditch, a twenty-four-year-old with less than a year on the job with the Maine Warden Service.

The plot ramps up rapidly after a spokesman for an unpopular north woods land developer and the Sheriff’s Deputy escorting him are ambushed and killed following a contentious public hearing. Mike’s ne’er-do-well father, Jack Bowditch, a troubled vet with a history of run-ins with the law is arrested in connection with the killings. After Jack escapes and goes to ground, Mike, unable to believe his father capable of murder, brashly risks his fledgling career and his frayed relationship with the woman he loves in order to clear his father’s name.

Doiron serves as editor in chief of Down East magazine, and ‘The Poacher’s Son’ richly evokes the natural beauty of Maine. The novel is populated by characters that will resonate with natives of the Pine Tree State as well as those ‘from away’. As the first of three (and hopefully more) novels featuring Mike Bowditch, fans of mysteries and thrillers should find‘The Poacher’s Son’ to be a compelling read, perfect for a day spent escaping the humidity and the black flies.

As a member of the renowned trio, Peter, Paul, & Mary, Peter Yarrow has earned many gold and platinum awards and numerous Grammys, as well as an Emmy nomination for his animated TV specials based on Puff the Magic Dragon. Among the many honors bestowed upon him, Yarrow is most proud of the Allard K. Lowenstein Award, which he received in 1982 for advancing the causes of human rights, peace, and freedom.  In an effort to combat school violence, Yarrow started Operation Respect, a program that teaches tolerance and respect to children in schools and camps.  He is the author of two  #1 best-selling picture books, Day is Done and Puff, the Magic Dragon as well as the critically acclaimed books: Favorite Folk Songs,  Sleepytime Songs, Let’s Sing Together! and Songs for Little Folks. All Peter's books will be on hand to purchase and have personalized by him.

Also appearing with Peter will be Melissa Sweet, illustrator of Day is Done. She has illustrated many children's books  and wrote and illustrated Tupelo Rides the Rails and Carmine: A Little More Red, the latter a New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book. Melissa lives on the coast of Maine and will sign Day is Done with Peter.

Join us at the Hutchinson Conference Center on Friday, June 18th from 6-8pm.