The 2011 season was one of the best ever for the Star Island Book Store. And the books that Shoalers most chose were — surprise! — about Star Island.

Our top three sellers for 2011 included two books recently reprinted by the Isles of Shoals Association, and a book written by shoalers Donald Cann, Gayle Kadlik and John Galluzzo for the Images of America Series called The Isles of Shoals. The ISA-UU reprints are Moonlight Murder on Smuttynose and The Isles of Shoals in Lore and Legend, both by Lyman Rutledge.

The best-selling children’s book is a new book by Nancy Donovan called Oscar the Herring Gull, with great illustrations of the story of a Star Island gull by Susan Spellman. This book is fun for readers of any age.

The new Shops on Star website has these and other books about the Isles of Shoals, including a just-published reprint of a cookbook from the ’40s called The Isles of Shoals Cookbook, and One Woman’s Work: The Visual Art of Celia Laighton Thaxter.

For the first time, you can buy these books off-season by checking out the new Shops on Star website at www.shopsonstar.com.

Other best-sellers included books by conference speakers, such as The Laws of Simplicity and Redesigning propecia online la Leadership by John Maeda (All Star II), American Grace by Robert Putnam, (Life on a Star I), and The Fabric of Friendship by Joy Carol (Conference of the Laity).

And high on the list of summer favorites:
Unlikely Friendships: 47 remarkable stories from the Animal Kingdom, by Jennifer Holland
Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom, by John O’Donohue
Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in our Busy Lives, by Wayne Miller
A Dog’s Purpose, by W. Bruce Cameron
Soul of Rumi, edited by Coleman Barks
Listening Below the Noise: The Transformative Power of Silence, by Annie D. LeClaire
Eating Animals, by Jonathan Safran
Cutting For Stone, by Abraham Verghese
Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating, by Mark Bittman
The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
Animal Vegetable Miracle: A Year of Food Life, by Barbara Kingsolver
This is Your Brain on Music, by Daniel Levitin

The many people who came into the Star Island Book Store over the summer made eclectic choices from our selection, and most often their choices included a book about the Isles of Shoals — a book to carry the magic home.

Thanks to all who contribute to Star Island through purchasing books at the Star Island Book Store and online at shopsonstar.com.

— Linda Leehman, Manager
Star Island Book Store