READ LOCAL

I love seeing local authors do well. Even more I love connecting with books that have been written by local authors. At the BYU Bookstore when I say "local read," I am laying claim to:

• Utah authors and illustrators
• LDS authors and illustrators as well as
• BYU alumni that are authors and illustrators

They are all of particular interest here.

Two locals who qualify in more than one of those areas are both Brandons – Brandon Mull and Brandon Sanderson. Both men have the loyalty of the BYU Bookstore. We recommend their books highly and with good success. The success I claim is more important than money; it is customer satisfaction. I theorize that writers who write first because they love to, and then to earn their way, tell a better story. Brandon Mull and Brandon Sanderson are authors who write because they love to. The stories they tell are loved in turn by their readers. They both have multiple new titles worth looking at.

Brandon Mull's Sky Raiders launched March 11. Sixth grader, Cole goes into what he thinks is a haunted house and ends up in the "Outskirts" involved with the Sky Raiders and the problem of how to get himself and his friends home. Don't let the sixth grade age limit your interest. I was thoroughly entertained by this book. It is book 1 of the new Five Kingdoms series. Spirit Animals is a new multiple author series and book 1 is written by Brandon Mull. Wild Born debuted September 2013. Brandon has done a great job of launching the story and the line-up of authors for the rest of the series is stellar. Brandon Mull creates worlds that we jump to believe in.

Brandon Sanderson writes books for young and old with ease. His fans love the books without regard to the target age. He loves to write and he loves his readers. It is a wonderful formula for success. Words of Radiance, book 2 of his Stormlight series launched at a midnight party hosted by BYU Bookstore this month, selling well over 700 books. His recent Young Adult books, Rithmatist and Steelheart are big favorites. I have confessed to a case of fantasy fatigue before I started Rithmatist. I picked it up out of loyalty to Brandon but admittedly in the mood for realism not fantasy. Even with that negative start, he had me enthralled before page 5. A sure cure for fantasy fatigue is well-written fantasy. Steelheart delivers intense action and fast-paced super-hero plotting.

These authors aren't just running with best sellers. They lead the pack.

- Anita

Anita is the Children's Book buyer for the BYU Bookstore and has worked at the BYU Bookstore for over ten years! Anita spreads her love of reading within our Children's Books department and with many local events.

My Name is Asher Lev - Chaim Potok

I have to say that My Name is Asher Lev, by Chaim Potok, is one of the best contemporary novels I have ever read. I don't know what I can say to encourage you to read this one other than the fact that I am normally really picky with my novels and very few of them make it onto my "great" list.

I was required to read this novel for my creative writing class in my first year here at BYU. I had never heard of the book before, nor the author, and my professor was an interesting character so I was a little hesitant to dive straight into reading this one at first.

However, after purchasing My Name is Asher Lev, I had left it on my desk and my roommate saw it. She quickly exclaimed that it was one of the best books she had ever read. So, a little curious, I began to read it.

My Name is Asher Lev is about a young Jewish boy who grows up to become an artist. In this beautifully written novel the author, Chaim Potok, illustrates the internal struggle Asher Lev faces in trying to balance his love for his religion and his love for art. Eventually his obsession with the creative world distances him from his home, his culture, and his family.

Since I am a huge nerd for all things literature and art, I fell in love with Potok's novel quickly. He beautifully explains the clash between cultures, and the struggle of doing what you love versus becoming who your parents expect you to be.

I rarely make this claim but Chaim Potok has woven in a love of writing and a love of stories so incredibly well that My Name is Asher Lev is definitely well worth your time.

Author Signing - Brandon Sanderson

March 3 @ 10.00pm
We have the man himself coming to the BYU Bookstore next Monday. Brandon Sanderson will be visiting the BYU Bookstore for the release of his new novel, Words of Radiance, book two in The Stormlight Archive.

Prepayment is required to reserve a signed copy of the book so please order your copy online at www.byubookstore.com and select "Service Desk Pick-Up, 3rd Floor" in order to get it at the midnight release party.

The schedule is as follows; but please feel free to go to his personal website for more details.

7:00am
Instead of waiting in the cold, this year the BYU Bookstore will be handing out numbered wristbands which will be distributed according to the order in which fans show up to wait in line outside the North West entrance to the BYU Bookstore. You must show proof of payment to receive a wristband. Then you are free to leave until the store reopens for the book release party.

10:00pm
The BYU Bookstore will reopen at 10:00pm to host the book release party. Even if you forgot to pre-order a signed book, come anyway. It's a great way to spend family home evening. Bring your friends/roommates/family/pet rock. In addition, there will be prizes to be won throughout the evening.


10:45pm
Around 10.45pm Brandon Sanderson will hold a reading and Q&A

11.45pm
At 11.45pm guests will be asked to begin lining up in numerical order, according to their pre-received wristbands, in preparation for the distribution of books at midnight. Once guests have picked up their book they are free to leave or get into a separate line to have their books personalized by Brandon Sanderson.

12.00am
People will begin to receive their signed copies of Words of Radiance.

If you received a numbered wristband and do not pick up your book by 1.00am your numbered book will be given to someone else. If you show up after this point to pick up your book you will be given a different number or a refund.

1.00am
Cash registers will close at 1.00am. All purchases must be made by this time.

Is there any better way to spend your Monday evening than this? It's going to be a late night but it's definitely going to be worth it. So, come, get your book, party with us for a little bit and then go home to stay up all night reading.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - John Boyne

If you're anything like me and must guiltily admit that you watched the film before you read the book then you will probably be surprised at how thin this book is when you initially pick it up.

Having seen the film and heard much about the book I was eager to read it. However, I didn't realise that it was intended for younger audiences until I actually opened it and began reading. This being said, do not be deterred by the size of the book nor the reading level it was written for.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne, is written from the perspective of a young German boy growing up in Nazi Germany. This young boy, Bruno, is taken from his family home and moved because of his father's job. Bruno hates his new home and tries desperately to convince his father to take the family back to Berlin. After this fails he resigns to exploring the nearby woods to entertain himself. In this exploring he stumbles across a tall fence with a little boy in striped pajamas sitting on the other side. The two boys soon become great friends.

Although it is written for and intended to be read by younger audiences, I daresay that an older reader would understand the depth it's written at and consequently get much more out of the novel. It is well worth taking the time to read.