By Elaine Mattson

The book is always better! We are smack in the middle of the summer movie season, and it seems that Hollywood is, once again, using books as a great source of material. While this is definitely not a new phenomenon, it certainly seems more common these days, or maybe we are just paying better attention. And while some of the movies have certainly done the books justice, (To Kill a Mockingbird, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Harry Potter!) it’s just not possible for all of the author’s blood, sweat and words to make it to the screen.

Here is a brief list of upcoming movies, based on books, some are coming this summer, some are slated for next year: “Mr. Popper’s Penguins,” “One For the Money,” “Snowflower and the Secret Fan,” “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows [#7]  Part 2,” “Sarah’s Key,” “The Help.” And of course, “Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn” is coming in November, and “The Hunger Games” is coming March of 2012. Still plenty of time to read the book first!

July Events at the Edmonds Bookshop.
Our Book Club book for July 7 and 20, 2011 is “Long Long Way” by Sebastian Barry.

Irish author and playwright Sebastian Barry has created a powerful novel about divided loyalties and the realities of war.

Third Thursday Art Walk. July 21. 5-8 p.m. Our Third Thursday artist will be photographer Colin Johnson. Lovely photos of lovely places (Paris, Egypt!) on canvas.

July 9. Saturday, noon-1 p.m. Jesse Freels, author of “Murder at Foxbluff Lake,” is a middle-school teacher in Spokane. His mystery, centered on a 15-year-old resident of a small fishing community, appeals to adults as well as teens. Freels will be here to chat and sign his books for us.

July 12. Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Join us at Arista Wine Cellars for a delicious evening of food and wine! Chef Becky Selengut will be preparing recipes from her amazing new cookbook, “Good Fish: Sustainable Seafood Recipes from the Pacific Coast.” There will be wine tasting, and we will have copies of the book for her to sign! Only $25 per person, which includes a $10 coupon good toward wine or the book! Visit the Arista website for more details and to save your seat.

July 16. Saturday, noon-1 p.m. Gordon Stewart will be here to talk with us and sign his debut novel, “Rooms for Rent.”

July 23. Saturday 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Amy Snyder, author of “Hell on Two Wheels: An Astonishing Story of Suffering, Triumph and the Most Extreme Endurance Race in the World,” will be here to sign her book. Snyder is a three-time Ironman finisher, and she takes the wraps off the best kept secret in the sports world, the Race Across America. Snyder follows a group of athletes before, during and after the 2009 RAAM, the closest and most controversial race in the event’s 30-year history.

Recent paperback releases:
“Faithful Place: A Novel” by Tana French.

“I Still Dream About You” by Fannie Flagg.

Recent hardcover releases:
“Bright’s Passage” by Josh Ritter. One of our favorite troubadours, from Moscow, Idaho has turned his hand to fiction! This first novel is on David’s recommended shelf.

“Robopocalypse: A Novel” by Daniel H. Wilson. Great first novel from a Northwest author with a PhD in robotics. Yikes! He apparently knows something the rest of us don’t! (or are afraid to think about…) Movie currently in pre-production, with director Steven Spielberg, scheduled for release summer of 2013.

“State of Wonder” by Ann Patchett. Review in IndieBound.

“Joy for Beginners” by Erica Bauermeister. New novel from the local author of the lovely “The School of Essential Ingredients.” Review in IndieBound. And a great review in The Seattle Times.

“Smokin’ Seventeen: A Stephanie Plum Novel” by Janet Evanovich

Coming in July:

“One Dog Night: An Andy Carpenter Novel” by David Rosenfelt. July 5.

“The Silent Girl: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel” by Tess Gerritsen. Just in time for the new season of the TNT summer series. July 5.

“The Rembrandt Affair: A Gabriel Allon Novel” by Daniel Silva. July 5. In paperback!

“Forever (Wolves of Mercy Falls, Book 3)” by Maggie Stiefvater. July 12.

“A Dance with Dragons: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Five” by George R.R. Martin. July 12. All we can say is: FINALLY!!

“Iron House” by John Hart. The best novel Edgar Award winner’s new novel! July 12.

“The Last Werewolf” by Glen Duncan. A completely different kind of werewolf story! [which will have a recommended tag on it as soon as we get it in!] July 12.

“Portrait of a Spy” by Daniel Silva. July 19. The newest Gabriel Allon novel!

“Ghost Story (Dresden Files, No. 13)” by Jim Butcher. July 26.

“Betrayal of Trust: A J. P. Beaumont Novel” by J. A. Jance. July 26.

“Dragon’s Time” by Todd and Anne McCaffrey. A new Pern novel that ties up a series! July 28.

As always, check our website for all the latest in book news.

Happy reading!

Edmonds native Elaine Mattson has worked at The Edmonds Bookshop off and on since she was 12 years old, and has also worked at a book wholesaler, a book publisher, and for the book publishing division of a large local software company (yes, that one). “I was raised a book lover [thanks, Mom!],” Mattson says. “We got book lights by our beds as soon as we were old enough to read. And then I probably got in trouble for reading too late the very next night. And I still read too late!”