The BookReport

Louis Begley at BookHampton

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon that was perfect for the beach, but nothing could daunt the fans of Louis Begley, who turned out at our East Hampton store in droves to hear him read from his new book, Schmidt Steps Back (Knopf).

Readers have been treated to two previous installments in the life of Schmidt, an amiable widower who spends his summers in the Hamptons. Mr. Begley spoke about his affection for "Schmidtie" and what draws him back to his tale again and again. He was unabashed towards his critics who accused him of dwelling on sex, and he said that a writer must first of all write for his own amusement and need make no apologies.

Questions from the audience also turned his attention to the works of Kafka, the subject of one of his non-fiction books, as well as Proust and Balzac.

BookHampton has more exciting events coming up, all summer long. Visit BookHampton.com for our complete calendar!

Congressman Tim Bishop at BookHampton

Congressman Tim Bishop at BookHampton

Love Lane gave Congressman Tim Bishop a warm welcome on Saturday afternoon. With more than 65 supporters in attendance and more stopping to listen off the street, BookHampton’s first town hall on the porch in Mattituck was a grand success. Later in the afternoon, he met another large group of constituents at BookHampton in Sag Harbor.

Congressman Bishop answered the moderator’s questions about environmental issues, education spending, gun control legislation and immigration laws, as well as taking numerous intelligent and thought-provoking questions from the crowd.

 

Tim Bishop answers questions from the audience.

When asked what he’s reading, Congressman Bishop said he’s on a Kennedy kick: he just finished Chris Matthews' Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero (Simon & Schuster) and is currently reading After Camelot: A Personal Portrait of the Kennedy Family 1968 to the Present by J. Randy Taraborrelli (Grand Central Publishing). As a young man, one of the books most influential to him was Jacob Riis' How the Other Half Lives (Penguin Classics), a portrait of urban squalor in New York City tenements at the turn of the Twentieth Century.

After the meeting in Mattituck, two representatives from the Southold Democratic Convention made a few remarks, and then the crowd filtered into the store for an hour or so of shopping and mingling. One of Bishop's campaign managers, who professed how excited he was to see a bookstore on the North Fork, even bought a book for himself.

Moderator Amy Katz Introduces Mr. Bishop

The audience at BookHampton in Mattituck

Chris is Reading: Summer Cookbooks

This is a great summer for foodies. Ricky Lauren has a gorgeous new book, The Hamptons: Food, Family and History (John Wiley), a picture perfect collection of recipes, history, and memories. The Laurens have lived all over the East End, and Mrs. Lauren invites us into their homes and gives us over 100 recipes for delicious food that’s been shared with her family and friends. East End Tuna Croquettes, Beer-Batter Fish and Chips, Saffron Risotto with Shrimp and Clams, Potato Cheese and Fruit Blintzes… there’s something scrumptious for every palate.

Sure to be one of the hottest gift books this summer, The Hamptons is perfect for visitors and year-rounders alike. Lauren has perfectly captured all that is special about the East End.

Martha Stewart is back with Martha’s American Food (Clarkson Potter), a delicious compendium of our country’s best dishes from coast to coast. Full of wonderful, mouth-watering photos, Martha breaks up the recipes by territory: All American (mmm... Meatloaf), Northeast (whoa… New England Clam Chowder), South (Buttermilk Fried Chicken), Midwest (that’s right… Pigs in a Blanket),  Southwest (seven Layer Dip), and West (oh, god… Cioppino!).

Full of dishes you thought you knew how to make, and the drinks and cocktails togo with them, Martha’s American Food is an instant classic, a must for every kitchen.

— Chris Avena

Andy Cohen at BookHampton

A glittering line of BRAVO TV fans and readers snaked down Main Street in East Hampton on Saturday June 9th,  in anticipation of meeting TV host and author Andy Cohen for a signing of his memoir, Most Talkative.

Cohen, responsible for most of the 21st Century's 15-minutes-of-fame TV is the man behind The Real Housewives (all of 'em), Top Chef, Flipping Out, Work of Art and many more Bravo TV shows.

Questions ranged from which Housewife is his favorite ("They're all my kids! I can't choose.") to the possibility of a Real Housewives of the Hamptons (not really, but "'Watch this space!")

Cohen was surprised and touched by the huge turnout. What makes Cohen fans different was the amount of gift-giving taking place: bottles of fine old Scotch, Lily Pulitzer neckties, hats, t-shirts and of course, show ideas were all in hand as attendees awaited their moment with the new king of Late-Night TV.

Chris is Reading: Restaurant Man

Joe Bastianich is one of my favorite restauranteurs, knowledgable about all things food and wine. Whether side by side with his mom Lidia, or having an espresso at his wonderful Eataly market, Joe always has something interesting to say. I‘m thrilled that he’s finally given us a fantastic memoir, Restaurant Man (Viking).

Funny, revealing and frank, Bastianich tells how he learned about the food life at the aprons of his mother and father, and how that jump-started the culinary journey that led to his life in some of the greatest eateries in the country.

Restaurant Man is brutally honest, and one of the best memoirs of its kind since  Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential.

— Chris Avena