From scripture, the word Gilead refers to “hill of testimony” or “mound of witness” a mountainous region east of the river of Jordan, in the present day Kingdom of Jordan.  Gilead is also the name of the second novel by acclaimed author, Marilynne Robinson.  The novel was the 2005 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, the 2004 National Book Critics Circle Awards for Fiction, as well as the 2005 Ambassador Book Award.  This book tells the story of John Ames, who imparts memories and stories of his father and grandfather to his seven year old son. The elderly Ames, a preacher who has lived almost all his life in Gilead, Iowa, writes a letter bearing witness of his family history to his only child.  The novel serves as a summation and testimonial of the trials of his life.  By using theological sermons, and religious symbolism, the book becomes a magnificent story about the relationships of fathers and sons, faith, and fragile human nature.

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The final installment of the Duane Moore series of books, Rhino Ranch by Larry McMurtry, was released yesterday August, 11th.  This series, which was started back in 1966 with The Last Picture Show, revisits all his beloved characters back in the fictitious town of Thalia, Texas.  In this supposed final book from McMurtry, Duane Moore returns home after suffering a near fatal heart attack to discover a nature preserve for rhinoceros has moved in next door.  Duane reflects back to his early days in Thalia, and looks to what he and his hometown have now become.  What looks to be a fitting final chapter to this All-American saga, the book promises to be an emotional ending to the series that has entertained readers for decades.

Order your copy here: Rhino Ranch: A Novel or direct from our Trading Post.

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“I’ve got a man in England who buys me clothes. He sends over a selection of things at the beginning of each season, spring and fall.”

He took out a pile of shirts and began throwing them, one by one, before us, shirts of sheer linen and thick silk and fine flannel, which lost their folds as they fell and covered the table in many-colored disarray. While we admired he brought more and the soft rich heap mounted higher—shirts with stripes and scrolls and plaids in coral and apple-green and lavender and faint orange, and monograms of Indian blue. Suddenly, with a strained sound, Daisy bent her head into the shirts and began to cry stormily.

“They’re such beautiful shirts,” she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds. “It makes me sad because I’ve never seen such—such beautiful shirts before.”

-F.Scott Fitzgerald

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Sometimes it takes getting out of your old neighborhood and shaking up life to see things in a new and different way.  Last week my wife and I escaped the Houston heat for a few days to the cooler climate of San Francisco.  While visiting Sausalito, we happened upon a small bookstore called Habitat Books.  The owner, Sharon, chatted with us for a bit and then was able to suggest books that she had personally read and purchased for the store.  It was a welcome departure from the impersonal experience of buying a book online or at a big box retailer, and inspired me to learn more about what’s available in Houston.  Upon returning home , I discovered IndieBound, a website that directs you to  independent bookstores in your area.  I visited all of them and am pleased to say that we have incredible local resources.  I hope that you will check them out too.  – D.H.

Hamilton Shirts would like to personally recommend the following bookstores here in Houston:

• Domy Books
• Murder by the Book
• Blue Willow Bookshop
• Brazos Bookstore

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Since we are on the subject of books this week,  I’d like to bring your attention to another volume coming this winter (Feb. 2010) that looks to be great addition to your library.  Yale University Press along with the Menil Collection are publishing “Art and Activism, Projects of John and Dominique de Menil” edited by Laureen Schipsi.  This lavishly illustrated book will take a look at their interest in art collecting, architecture, and their contributions to the civil and human rights movements.

The book will include the commissioning of many works of art and and their establishment of the Rothko Chapel, the Menil Collection, the Cy Twombly Gallery, the Dan Flavin Installation, and the Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum. Vintage photographs, many taken by Henri Cartier Bresson, previously unpublished letters, and an illustrated time-line will all add to this definitive tribute to the de Menils’ achievements here in Houston and around the world.

Pre-order the book from Amazon here: Art and Activism: Projects of John and Dominique de Menil (Menil Collection)

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The Council of Fashion Designers of America and the publisher Assouline are coming out with a new book this September called “American Fashion Menswear“.  The book will feature sections devoted to work clothes, prep style, sportswear, rock n roll and even the American dandy.  Quoted from WWD the author (and friend) Robert Bryan says about the book “American men’s fashion has had a greater influence on the world than American women’s wear,” citing cowboys and workwear as a starting point. “Jeans, coming out of workwear, are probably the single most important influence to come out of America. And Brooks Brothers at the beginning of the [20th] century, and the Ivy League — there’s nothing comparable in women’s wear to their influence. People all over the world look to the authenticity and integrity of that style, and just the more casual way of dressing that grew and grew after World War II.” We are really looking forward to this book and can’t wait to get our hands on a copy!

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Larry McMurtry, the author of such novels as ‘Lonesome Dove’ and ‘Streets of Laredo’ has created an incredible town of books named Booked Up two hours north of Dallas in Archer, Texas.  Slowly purchasing the old storefronts of Archer as they closed one by one, McMurtry has built a large depository of over 100,000 volumes.  Four buildings, including a reclaimed car dealership make up the different parts of his business.  One building houses rare books, biographies, and Western Americana- others house such subjects as history, poetry, fiction, and even books about other books.  Keeping the town that inspired him going, these stores helps maintain the history of Archer and also creates a new legacy for this small towns future.

Booked Up, 216 S.Center, Archer, TX 76351 (940)574-2511

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