The Christmas Window Display!

Rainy Day Books has a lovely traditional Christmas tree and display this month. Lots of Christmas titles and plenty of new books for gifts. All the old favourites like Dickens – Christmas story and several Thomas Kincaid picture books.

Gift vouchers are also available for those “hard to buy for” people and Meryll is always at hand to help you with choices.

Have a very Happy and Holy Christmas and we hope you have plenty to read over the holidays.

There's always something new and different!

Following the HUGE success of the Mountains of Books Fair at Ferny Creek, one would have thought that things would settle down in the bookshop.

But we should never "assume" things.   Because the bookshop has been filled with lots of exciting window displays and lots of exciting and dare we say it, unusual visitors?

The present window display is attracting the eye of both Mums and Dads as well as youngsters.  Hidden within the greenery in the window are dinosaurs - all sorts of dinosaurs.  And there are plenty of picture books to delight any discerning young person.   An ideal time to buy a book or two and put away for the Christmas stocking.

But if you look carefully you'll also see some wonderful rocks.   A great way to introduce children to the wonders of nature around about us.   Some of these rocks even contain fossils!   Are they dinosaur fossils?  Who knows?

PUT THIS DATE IN YOUR DIARY

MOUNTAINS OF BOOKS 

Used, rare & out-of-print book fair 

Ferny Creek in the Yarra Ranges

Melbourne Cup Weekend – November 3rd and 4th, 2012

The 5th annual Mountains of Books, organised by second-hand and specialist booksellers from the Yarra Ranges and beyond, will be held on Melbourne Cup weekend, November 3rd and 4th, 2012.

This special weekend has proved popular with booklovers – locals, Melburnians and visitors to the State – escaping the city’s frenetic activity to enjoy the cool tranquility of spring in “The Dandenongs”.

The fair will have over a dozen knowledgeable and friendly booksellers offering thousands of used and out-of-print titles, including an eclectic range of fiction and non-fiction titles plus collectible genres such as vintage children’s books, cookery, art, fashion, gardening and militaria.

Local identity Donna Williams, autism counsellor, cancer survivor and all-round hilarious person will be in attendance.   

Mountains of Books will be held in Ferny Creek, less than an hour east of the CBD, in a picturesque setting opposite Sherbrooke Forest, with ample parking, playground and picnic facilities on site. The tourist meccas of Sassafras and Olinda are a short drive away.Further information: Meryll Williams Rainy Day Book:  (03) 9762 0862 www.rangesbooktrail.com.au 

MOUNTAINS OF BOOKS 2012 5th annual used, rare & out-of-print book fair Saturday November 3rd 10am – 5pm, Sunday November 4th 10am – 4pm Ferny Creek Recreational Reserve Hall, Hilton Rd, Ferny Creek, 3786 (Melways map 45E1).

SPRINGTIME in the "DANDENONGS"

Suddenly it's Spring.   People have been flocking to the many Open Gardens - the Rhododendron Gardens at Olinda, the Daffodil Farm at Menzies Creek, Tesselaar's Tulip Farm at Silvan.  And it's not only to the gardens that people have been trekking to the Dandenong Ranges - hundreds have been making for the "best little bookshop in the hills" - Rainy Day Books at the Basin.

Regular window displays always bring compliments and encouraging comments.   The books selected for each window display are chosen with care, and highlight the theme of the moment.

The latest theme is Spring - of course!   Books of all kinds complimenting Springtime are available at Rainy Day Books, and Meryll is always eager to find a rare or out-of-print book for her customers.

Take time to visit the Dandenongs, and more importantly take time to browse around Meryll's bookshop - Rainy Day Books.

Health & Wellness

The planned Health & Wellness Day is fast approaching, and already people are asking lots of questions about it.   As mentioned in our previous post, we have three professional people who will be in attendance, ready and willing to speak about their specific expertise.

So the Rainy Day Books window has taken on a new look today as well.   Health and wellness is the name of the game.   Don't forget there'll be lots of books relating to health and wellness all at half price on the day (not necessarily those that appear in the following photos) - which is:   Saturday September 22nd, between the hours of 11.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m. at the roundabout, corner Mountain Highway and Forest Road, The Basin.

HEALTH and WELLNESS DAY

HIGH TEA

It’s HIGH TEA time at RAINY DAY BOOKS.

This week the window is an elegant afternoon tea display with lots of cupcake recipe books.

The lace cloth, the gleaming silver, the delicate cups and saucers are a picture. 

We also have for sale some quirky tiered plate stands $25 (see photo) that make a wonderful centrepiece for your own afternoon tea.

TIME TO SNUGGLE UP WITH A GOOD BOOK

Winter time seems to be having a great time in staying around.  While it means having to rug up in order to keep warm, it's also an opportunity to find a big, comfortable chair, wrap yourself up in a throw rug, and settle down with a good book or two, or even three.  Don't bother even turning on the television - there's too much to enjoy in the simple fact of reading.

The bookshop has a great selection of "cosy reads", as these photos from the new window display show.  A great variety of authors, with many different styles, but all assured to meet your expectations and hopes.  Mysteries and more general styles.   Don't miss out on buying a gift or two, especially if you know an author that your loved one or friends really enjoys.

REVOLVING BOOKCASE complete with ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA (1877)

Pre-loved books have a wonderful history.   Sometimes it's the history that appeals to the book-lover, as much as the author and the date of publication.  Sometimes it's the actual feel of the book, the wonderful smell of the book.  How often have we seen someone - or even done it ourselves - actually hug a book to our chest in appreciation and joy at finding a book that we know we will love or have been looking for over many decades?


And so it goes with where these books live!  Not only in our homes on our favourite bookshelves, but special areas or "containers".


So it is with the beautiful Revolving Bookcase with the Encyclopædia Britannica 1877 ninth edition of This is the final English edition before it transferred to the USA, which is at present available from Rainy Day Books.


Firstly here's a photograph of a revolving bookcase with encyclopædia taken back in the 1800s (permission from the photographer (Ken Lloyd - Great Britain).  Beside it is the photograph of the Rrevolving Bookcase complete with Encyclopædia now available. 


You can "feel" and "sense" the history!

 

Mountains of Books

MOUNTAINS OF BOOKS

Used, rare & out-of-print book fair

Ferny Creek in the Yarra Ranges

November 3rd and 4th 2012 
Add this to your diary now!

Mountains of Books, the annual bookfest organised by second-hand and specialist booksellers from the Yarra Ranges and beyond, will be held on the weekend of November 3rd and 4th, 2012.

Since Mountains of Books was first held five years ago the book trade has undergone huge changes, with Kindles and iPads now a large component of the new book market. However the thrill of a secondhand find is not part of the ebook revolution. Because of the paperless reading revolution, regional bookfairs continue to attract crowds of booklovers, enthused by the adventure of chasing an elusive title, reclaiming childhood favourites, or simply picking up holiday reading at a good price – books you don’t have to stop reading when the aircraft starts its descent.

With this in mind, Mountains of Books will continue to champion traditional bookselling by bringing together a dozen knowledgeable and friendly booksellers offering thousands of used and out-of-print titles, including an eclectic range of fiction and non-fiction titles including collectibles in genres such as children’s books, cookery, art, fashion, Australiana, gardening and militaria.

Mountains of Books will held in Ferny Creek, less than an hour east of the CBD, in a picturesque setting opposite Sherbrooke Forest, with ample parking, playground and picnic facilities on site. The tourist meccas of Sassafras and Olinda are a short drive away.

Special Note:  Donna Williams, Performer, Poet and Motivator will be attending. 

Further information: 

Meryll Williams         Rainy Day Books     03 9762 0862 

www.rangesbooktrail.com.au

In brief:

MOUNTAINS OF BOOKS 2012

5th annual used, rare & out-of-print book fair

Saturday October 28           10am – 4pm

Sunday October 29             10am – 4pm

Ferny Creek Recreational Reserve Hall, 

Cnr Hilton and Clarkmont Roads, Ferny Creek, 3786

(Melways map 75 D1).

10 THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH A BOOK THAT YOU CAN'T WITH A KINDLE!

1.   You can fall asleep reading a book and not get concussion.

2.   You can write “Happy Birthday” on the sleeve of the book. Write on a Kindle and you void the warranty.

3.   You experience a book.  A Kindle is merely functional.

4.   Uncovering lost books is like finding old friends.  There are no surprises with Kindles.

5.   Books get better with age and use.  Kindles need new batteries and updates.

6.   Read a book in the bath and you could damage one book.  Read a Kindle in the bath and your collection of 500 books is gone.

7.   Your favourite author can sign your book. They can’t sign a Kindle.

8.   A house full of books has soul.  A house with one Kindle is only a house with one Kindle.

9.   Second-hand books are found in treasure troves called Bookshops. Second-hand Kindles will be found in salvage yards.

10.      A book means commitment.  Kindles are a one-night stand.

Text:    Heather Zubek

C’mon AUSSIE, C’mon

The “GAMES” have arrived - London is abuzz with visitors, spectators, atheles.  The Opening Ceremony was breathtaking, and even here in Australia, conversations focus on the who’s who in the Australian team.

The green and gold colour scheme is everywhere, and no where less than in the Rainy Day Books window display.   

If you’re into sports (any kind), and love reading, then contact Rainy Day Books to add to your collection of books that focus on your particular favourite sport.

PIETER BRUEGEL (Brueghel) the Elder

The current window display shows a poster of the artist Pieter Bruegel (Brueghel) the Elder; c. 1525 – 9 September 1569) was a Fleming Renaissance painter known for his landscapes and peasant scenes. He is sometimes referred to as the "Peasant Bruegel" to distinguish him from other members of the Brueghel dynasty, but he is also the one generally meant when the context does not make clear which Brueghel is being referred to. From 1559 he dropped the 'h' from his name and signed his paintings as Bruegel.

Children playing poster

The children, who range in age from toddlers to adolescents, roll hoops, walk on stilts, spin hops, ride hobby-horses, stage mock tournaments, play leap-frog and blind man's bluff, perform handstands, inflate pigs' bladders and play with dolls and other toys. They have also taken over the large building that dominates the square. 

This crowded scene is to some extent relieved by the landscape in the top left-hand corner; but even here children are bathing in the river and playing on its banks.

The artist's intention for this work is more serious than simply to compile an illustrated encyclopaedia of children's games, though some eighty particular games have been identified.

Books about the artist are available and some interesting old toys are on display.