It's Beginning to Feel Like Christmas!

December has come around so quickly.

Christmas gift buying is suddenly becoming the main focus in people's thoughts.   This is the time for choosing something really special for those we love.  And what is more special than a book.

It may be a special author, it may be a book on a subject that you know will fascinate someone special. Perhaps a set of collectible Dickens?     What about Enid Blyton's Noddy?    Stephanie Alexanders "The Cook's Companion"?   Gardening Books?   Fiction?  Non-fiction?   There's a book for everybody!

When you visit the bookshop, do take time to have a look at the beautiful hand-folded Christmas Tree in the Window with a small angel sitting on top.   This hand-folded Christmas Tree is the work of Meryll in her spare time!   It's amazing just what you can make from old books!

TAKE TIME TO VISIT THE BOOKSHOP AND BROWSE.

YOU'LL BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED AT WHAT YOU FIND

IN THE BOOKSHELVES AT RAINY DAY BOOKS.

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).

The attack on Darwin, February 1942

On February 19th, 1942 the same carrier-borne force that attacked Pearl Harbour turned it’s guns on Darwin. They dropped more bombs, killed more people and sunk more ships than they had at Pearl Harbour. They had made many mistakes in the Pearl Harbour attack that they did not repeat in Darwin.

The town was left devastated and it still remains the worst death toll of any disaster ever in Australia.

The window of Rainy Day Books pays homage to those brave men of the Australian forces and the terrified civilians who rallied to help.

There are copies of “An awkward truth" by Peter Grose and some other interesting military books about the Australian forces.

Keep on eye out for the announcement of a huge sale in March at Rainy Day Books.

THIS WEEK!

Another busy week here, the recent Wildlife Rescue Centre day was a great success with lots of funds being raised for the local Possum Lady and her centre. The window display of stuffed Australian wildlife looked wonderful, the shop was full of local wildlife artwork and wild artists and plenty of kids (old and young) to pet Mordred the tawny frogmouth. Not an owl but a nightjar, so I can’t use that beautiful term “A parliament of owls”. I learnt this on the day along with more information than I needed about regurgitation, etc.

The window has now changed to a Graham Base book display with posters from Animalia and most of his other children’s titles for sale, but they won’t be there for long. Looking forward to an very early spring display it will be changed to bees and beekeeping as soon as I get the bees trained to sit still and look interesting.

I have added lots of new militaria to the shelves this week and also have received on consignment a very old family Holy Bible. It is a beautiful brass bound with brass catches, 1850s volume. It was published in Melbourne and is in excellent condition.  

Yesterday the shop was abuzz with a “stack of librarians” and we had a very D&M about the state of the reading world and it’s future.

Hope to see you soon at the Best Little Bookshop in the Hills.