| A few of the outside events where we'll be selling books -- join us! |
May 2 & 3 at the Getty: Selected Shorts:
Produced by New York's Symphony Space, a weekend of readings of classic and new short fiction read by esteemed actors, including Alec Baldwin and Kate Burton. Tickets $20; $15 students/seniors. (Note: Sat night event sold out). ticket info... Fri, May 15 at 9:00p.m.
Operation Bombshell! Burlesque Benefit at . Hosted by Diablo Cody and celebrating the release of Lily Burana's memoir, I Love A Man In Uniform. Featuring Performances by Masuimi Max, La Cholita, and Ms. Redd. All door proceeds ($25) to benefit Operation Bombshell! For more info...
Friday May 15-Sunday May 17
American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre:
The Wizard of MGM: Victor Fleming
Join author/film critic Michael Sragow, who'll be signing his biography Victor Fleming: An American Movie Master and introducing screenings of some of director Fleming's finest films
For more info...
Thursday, May 21 at 6:45 p.m.
Los Feliz Branch Library. Author Romy Wyllie discusses her biography, "Bertram Goodhue: His Lfe and Residential Architecture", about the architect of the Los Angeles Central Library. Free. 1874 Hillhurst Ave.
For more information, call (323) 913-4710. |
| Services |
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We Accept AmEx, MasterCard, Visa and Discover
Special Orders Welcome!
10% off all book purchases on your birthday
Senior Discount Tues before 4pm
Frequent Buyer Program--ask us for details
Free Gift Wrapping
National Gift Cards ____________________
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Skylight Books April 2009 Bestsellers
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1. Standing Up to the Madness, by Amy Goodman
2. How the World Makes Love, by Franz Wisner
3. Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger (copies purchased and donated by our customers to a high school class!)
4. Red, ed. Amy Goldwasser
5. No One Belongs Here More than You, by Miranda July
6. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
7. Los Feliz: An Illustrated Early History, by Donald Seligman
8. Walking L.A., by Erin Mahoney Harris
9. Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery
10. This is Water, by David Foster Wallace
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Kerry's View from the Skylight
Dear Friends of Skylight Books,
Mothers in our neighborhood must all be great readers, because Mother's Day is always one of our bestselling holidays of the  year! By the way, if you're a Mom - or Dad - of a very young'un, the Los Feliz MOMS Club meets at the store (usually the 2nd Friday morning of the month), with chatting, refreshments, kids' stories, a few songs, and more. If you see strollers everywhere and blankets on the floor, you'll know it's the right day. For info on this lively nonprofit group's other activities, email losfelizmomsclub@gmail.com
... and did you know about the "Mommy and Me" screenings of the regular film schedule on Wednesday mornings at 10:30am next door at the Los Feliz Cinema? (Kids under 4 are free)
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 Next door on our other side, a new production of Tom Stoppard's "The Real Thing" opens May 2 at the Skylight Theatre and plays throught May 31, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. I saw it in previews and think it's a terrific production. For info and reservations....
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It has come to my attention that not everyone understands that you can order from our website -- we can usually get any book that's currently in print -- you can order it online and request store pickup or have it sent. You can also buy and redeem gift cards online.
As always, I really appreciate hearing about your suggestions of ways to serve you better.
Kerry Slattery, General Manager
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| May Events at Skylight Books |
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JEFFREY MCDANIEL
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| Friday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m.
The Endarkenment (Univ. of Pittsburgh Press)
 "Even if you count yourself among the unredeemed who claim they don't like poetry, buy this book anyway. It will convert you and install a skylight in your brain." -Amy Gerstler
Jeffrey McDaniel is the author of Alibi School, The Forgiveness Parade, and The Splinter Factory. His work has appeared in a number of anthologies, including Best American Poetry 1994, The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry, and New (American) Poets. He has won several awards, including an NEA Fellowship. He teaches creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College.
More info...
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SUSAN PATRON |
Saturday, May 2 at 5:00 p.m.
Lucky Breaks (Ginee Seo Books)
 We're thrilled to have local author Susan Patron back to the store to read from and sign copies of the follow-up to her 2007 Newbery Medal-winning middle readers novel The Higher Power of Lucky. "Eleven is much more intrepid than only ten." On the eve of her eleventh birthday, Lucky wants to let loose and become intrepid; she's ready for life to change.  Enter Paloma, tagging along on a visit to Hard Pan with a pack of hungry geologists. She's smart and pretty and fun -- definitely best-friend material. But will Lucky be able to cope with tomato worms, Short Sammy's mysterious box, the potential for disaster when Paloma's parents visit Hard Pan, and Lincoln's fame among knot tyers of the world? Susan Patron specialized in Children's Services for 35 years at the Los Angeles Public Library before retiring in 2007, the same year her novel The Higher Power of Lucky was awarded the John Newbery Medal. As the library's Juvenile Materials Collection Development Manager, she trained and mentored children's librarians in 72 branches. More info... |
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RUSSELL HOWZE |
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Sunday, May 3 at 7:00 p.m.
Stencil Nation: Graffiti, Community, and Art (Manic D Press)
 Without a doubt, stencils are the fastest, easiest, and cheapest method for painting an image on a wall, a sidewalk, or practically anywhere. Stencil Nation focuses on the unexpected mix of this lively, accessible medium--from famous artists including Banksy to international street stencils and gallery shows--to reveal engaging aspects of an intentionally secretive creative community.
 Stencil Nation also represents the art of lesser-known urban scenes, including Poland, Romania, and Israel. Additionally, Stencil Nation builds upon previous published works to give the most extensive and up-to-date history of stencil art, as well as how-to tips from the artists themselves.
Russell Howze is the curator of StencilArchive.org. He lives in San Francisco.
More info...
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Noir and Politics event:
SUMMER BRENNER, GARY PHILLIPS, DENISE HAMILTON, and LARRY FONDATION |
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Thursday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m.
 I-5: A Novel of Crime, Transport and Sex, by Brenner (PM Press)
The Jook, by Phillips (PM Press)
Los Angeles Noir, edited by Hamilton (Akashic Books) and The Last Embrace (Scribner)
Fish, Soap and Bonds, by Fondation (Raw Dog Screaming Press)
Join us for a Noir and Politics event, featuring two of PM Press's latest titles, by Phillips and Bremmer, who are joined by fellow Noir authors Fondation and Hamilton.
More info...
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| JON GINOLI |
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Friday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Deflowered: My Life in Pansy Division (Cleis Press)
Guitarist, singer, songwriter Ginoli will perform as well as discuss and read from his new book -- the inside story of the first openly gay pop-punk band.
Deflowered is Ginoli's journey of self-discovery, musical passion, and drive to become the founding member of Pansy Division, the first out and proud queer core punk rock band to hit the  semi-big time. We see the highs--touring with Green Day--and the lows--homophobic fans--of striving for acceptance and success in the world of rock.
Pansy Division is a punk rock band whose CDs include Undressed, Deflowered, Wish I'd Taken Pictures, and more. Ginoli has played both dive bars and arenas, and his favorite color is purple. When not on tour with the band he lives and works in San Francisco.
More info... |
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JAMES FLANIGAN
and ABRAHAM LOWENTHAL |
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Saturday, May 9 at 5:00 p.m.
Smile Southern California, You're the Center of the Universe: The Economy and People of a Global Region, by Flanigan (Stanford University Press)
Global California: Rising to the Cosmopolitan Challenge, by Lowenthal (Stanford University Press)
 Thirty-five years ago, a billboard announced to the world: "Smile Los Angeles You're the Center of the Universe." Hyperbolic at the time, today, this exaggeration comes close to reality. For half a century, James Flanigan has been a journalist, columnist, editor, storyteller for Forbes, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times and the Herald Tribune in Paris and New York. He has covered economies of countries stretching from Europe to Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. He currently writes a periodic column that appears in the New York Times.
In Global California, Lowenthal deals with numerous thorny issues--from globalization, trade, and infrastructure to immigration, environmental pollution, climate change, and California's ties with neighboring Mexico and the dynamic Asian economies. Professor of International Relations at USC and president emeritus of the Pacific Council on International Policy, he has combined two different but intersecting careers: as a scholar with a dozen well-regarded books on Latin America and inter-American affairs and U.S. foreign policy, and as a founder of think tanks at the nexus between the worlds of ideas and actions, including the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington and the Pacific Council, a West Coast leadership forum.
More info... |
Finalists for the Lambda Literary Awards:
DAVID FRANCIS, CHRIS FREEMAN,
JOHN MORGAN WILSON, and more |
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Tuesday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m.
 The Lambda Literary Awards seek to recognize excellence in the field of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender literature. Each year, over 80 judges--writers, booksellers, librarians, journalists--assess the entries in more than 20 categories.Lambda Executive Director Charles Flowers will introduce authors David Francis, Chris Freeman, John Morgan Wilson, and others, who will read from their work.
More info... |
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Wednesday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m.
The American Painter Emma Dial (W. W. Norton) In Peale's debut novel, Emma Dial is a virtuoso painter who executes the works of Michael Freiburg, a preeminent figure in the New York art world.
 Into this landscape walks Philip Cleary, Emma's longtime painting hero and a colleague and rival of her boss. Philip Cleary represents the ideal artistic existence, a respected painter, fearless and undeterred by fashion. He is unmatched by anyone from Emma's generation. Except, just possibly, Emma herself. Emma Dial must choose between the security of being a studio assistant to a renowned painter and the unknown future as an artist in her own right.
More info... |
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LAILA LALAMI |
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Thursday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Secret Son (Algonquin Books)
 In the spirit of The Inheritance of Loss and The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Laila Lalami's powerful first novel, set in both the slums and penthouses of Casablanca, explores the struggle for identity, the need for family, and the desperation that overtakes ordinary lives in a country divided by class, politics, and religion.
 Lalami was born and raised in Morocco. Her work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Nation, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and elsewhere. Her blog MoorishGirl.com (now LailaLalami.com) has a large following. She is the recipient of a Fulbright fellowship and was short-listed for the Caine Prize for African Writing in 2006. She lives in Los Angeles and is currently Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at the University of California Riverside..
More info... |
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Friday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m.Love or Something Like It (Random House)
 "Bright and promising.... Shaw's first novel unfolds easily, with well-crafted prose and vivid detail... a great young-in-L.A. novel." --Publishers Weekly
A clear-eyed, emotionally honest debut about a thirtysomething woman forced to redefine her entire world after her  young marriage falters, Love or Something Like It proves we can grow up at any age.
Shaw grew up in New York and was a newspaper journalist for several years at The Keene (N.H.) Sentinel and The Philadelphia Inquirer before moving to Los Angeles, where she has written for television. She teaches fiction at the UCLA Extension Writers' Program.
More info...
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Saturday, May 16 at 4:00 p.m.
Yearning for witty repartee and intellectual stimulation? How about wine and hors d'oeuvres? Come join us for our new monthly series, Skylight Salon, where our staff shares their faves from small presses and independent publishers. A modern-day mixer for the literary minded.
 Monica celebrates Pushkin Press, the 10-year-old publisher of translated European classic and contemporary literature. The Pushkin website says of their philosophy, "Against all commercial odds, we choose to
publish translations of young contemporary writers who we believe
reflect the extraordinary qualities of the classic writers we translate
and publish."
 Emily will give us a taste of Calamari Press, which was founded in 2003 by Derek White and which publishes the literary journal Sleepingfish, along with books, chapbooks, and miscellaneous other printed collections or words and art.
Plus, a third staffer will introduce one of their favorite indie publishers: details TBA!
More info... |
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ERIC BOGOSIAN |
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Saturday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Perforated Heart (Simon & Schuster)
 A mainstay of the theater and art communities for more than two decades now, Eric Bogosian's work continues to draw new fans and longtime followers. His Pulitzer-nominated play Talk Radio recently received rave reviews and two Tony nomination on its Broadway revival (starring Liev Schreiber) and Bogosian himself can currently be seen in a starring role on NBC's Law & Order: Criminal Intent. His previous novels, Wasted Beauty and Mall also garnered enthusiasm from critics and readers alike.
Perforated Heart explores two wholly different characters--a young, ambitious artist and his older self, jaded by both success and failure--and creates an unforgettable portrait of the two men who inhabit one individual. By turns meditative, deftly observant, and scathingly analytical, Eric Bogosian recreates the landscape and atmosphere of 1970s New York City with fresh, vivid imagery and reveals a powerful commentary on the dynamic between creativity and commerce in the artistic world.
More info... |
TOM WALDMEN
and DAVID REYES
with performance by
LYSA FLORES |
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Sunday, May 17 at 5:00 p.m.
Land of a Thousand Dances: Chicano Rock and Roll from Southern California (University of New Mexico Press)
 A NIGHT OF CHICANO ROCK!
Come hear David Reyes and Tom Waldman, authors of the book and associate producers of the 2008 PBS documentary Chicano Rock! The Sounds of East Los Angeles share stories about the musicians and songs that have made this unique sound. They will be joined by the extraordinary Lysa Flores, one of the artists prominently featured in the new edition, who will perform her music. In 2008, Lysa released Bring your Love an EP featuring a duet with John Doe. Her new album, Immigrant Daughter, will be released this year.
 "It's fascinating to read this alternative history of pop music, as Land of a Thousand Dances offers a wealth of anecdotes, interviews, and facts that have never been so meticulously documented. The book helps fill one of the biggest gaps in the rock timeline, ensuring that rock 'n' roll's Chicano roots will not be forgotten."--A. V. Club
More info... |
| JENNIFER MATHEWS |
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Sunday, May 17 at 7:00 p.m.
Chicle: The Chewing Gum of the Americas, from the Ancient Maya to William Wrigley (University of Arizona Press)
Although Juicy Fruit gum was introduced to North Americans in 1893, Native Americans in Mesoamerica were chewing gum thousands of years earlier. And although in the last decade "biographies" have been devoted to salt, spices, chocolate, coffee, and other staples of modern life, until now  there has never been a full history of chewing gum. Before Dentyne and Chiclets, before bubble gum comic strips and the Doublemint twins, there was gum, oozing from jungle trees like melting candle wax under the slash of a machete. Chicle tells us everything that happened next. It is a spellbinding story.
Mathews is a third generation Angeleno who is currently associate professor at Trinity University in San Antonio. She realized there was a fascinating story behind the chicle industry in the Yucatan Peninsula when she began studying the ancient Maya roads used by the industry in the late 1800s, as routes for their railroads.
More info... |
DAVID PABIAN
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Wednesday, May 20 at 7:30
Leatherstone
 In 1960s America, a twelve-year-old boy resurrects from
near-death a man with no remembered past, until that past resurfaces and the boy
realizes the devastating reality of the being he almost came to believe he
created. Dark and edgy, Leatherstone is a crossover novel for older young adult readers and adults.
"David Pabian's
richly dark reimagining of the Frankenstein story is a haunting,
sometimes disturbing, and altogether unforgettable reading experience."
--Michael Cart, critic, columnist, and founding editor of the literary journal Rush Hour
Pabian
is a film writer, story consultant, and book editor, published in U.S.
journals and internationally. He lives in Los Angeles and Bagni di
Lucca, Italy.
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CANDACE WALSH,
LAURA ANDRE,
H. K. BROWN,
and ELAINE SOLOWAY |
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Thursday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m.
Ask Me About My Divorce: Women Open Up About Moving On (Seal Press)
Editor Candace Walsh and contributors will discuss and read from a spicy, fun, riveting collection of essays by women from all walks of life. With the unifying thread "I got divorced, and the world came into view," the words within will make readers laugh, cry, nod their heads, and feel inspired to do what they need to for themselves. These aren't stories from women tiptoeing around a difficult subject--they're about the ways divorce can be, in fact, a new lease on life.
Walsh has been a freelance writer for almost fifteen years. She is the articles editor at Mothering, co-founded Mamalicious magazine, and has written three books: Moving to New York, American Atelier and Stone Design for the Home.
Laura Andre received her Ph.D. in art history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She currently works for an independent bookseller specializing in rare and contemporary photography books.
H.K. Brown won honorable mention in the WOW-Women-on-Writing Flash Fiction Contest. She has completed the manuscript for a divorce recovery memoir entitled Even Good Girls Get Divorced.
Elaine Soloway is the author of The Division Street Princess: A Memoir (Syren Book Company, 2006), a Chicago Tribune Best Book of 2006. Currently, she is putting the finishing touches on her second book, She's Not The Type, a coming-of-middle-age novel also set in Chicago. More info... |
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ALVARO URIBE and
CRISTINA RIVERA-GARZA |
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Saturday, May 23 at 5:00 p.m.
Best of Contemporary Mexican Fiction (Dalkey Archive)
 Celebrating the publication of this new bilingual anthology, editor Alvaro Uribe will be joined by Southern California contributor Cristina Rivera-Garza and others.
Sixteen of Mexico's finest fiction writers born after 1945 are collected in this compelling bilingual anthology, offering a glimpse of the rich tapestry of Mexican fiction, from small-town dramas to tales of urban savagery. Many of these writers, and most of these stories, have never before appeared in English.
More info... |
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JEFF YANG, BERNARD CHANG, MICHAEL KANG |
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Friday, May 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Secret Identities: The Asian American Superhero Anthology (New Press)
 Jeff Yang (editor-in-chief of the anthology) will be joined by contributors Bernard Chang (Wonder Woman artist) and director Michael Kang (West 32nd, The Motel) for a discussion and signing of this new anthology of Asian American superhero comics.
Appealing to both comics' fans and Asian Americans seeking to claim their place in American culture, Secret Identities is the first ever anthology of its kind and makes brilliant use of the conventions of the superhero comic book to expose the real face of the Asian American experience.
More info... |
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SIMON MAJUMDAR |
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Saturday, May 30 at 5:00 p.m.
Eat My Globe: One Year to Go Everywhere and Do Everything (Free Press)
 Passionate, knowledgeable, and hilarious, Simon Majumdar tours the cultures and dining experiences-dishes hot and haute-of thirty countries: from the glamour of Europe to the street stalls of Beijing and Mumbai; from making whisky in Scotland to tasting the infamous rotten shark meat of Iceland; from the delectable beef of Argentina to the world's largest barbeque cook-off in Kansas City. Along the way, Majumdar meets and dines with famous gourmands, master chefs, and hundreds of enthusiasts who share his zest for food and generously invite him to be part of their lives and meals. A captivating look at one man's passion for food, family, and unique life experiences, Eat My Globe will make readers laugh-as it makes them hungry.
 "The dangerously obsessive, staggeringly knowledgeable, provocative and opinionated Simon Majumdar knows his shit. No question about it. I don't always agree with him but he's always worth listening to. Many would kill to have eaten the meals in their lifetimes that Majumdar has consumed in a single year--and he has an endearingly soft spot for the grimiest of lowlife pubs. Plus--the bastard can write."
-- Anthony Bourdain, author of Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
More info...
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CHRISTOPHER CARLSON
and MARK JEAN |
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Sunday, May 31 at 5:00 p.m.
Puddlejumpers (Hyperion Books)
 Ernie Banks, named for the legendary Chicago Cubs shortstop, is a troubled, thirteen-year-old juvenile delinquent in this middle reader (ages 9-12) mystery.
Abandoned on the doorstep of the Lakeside Home for Boys when he was three years old, he's now considered a "lifer," a permanent ward of the state. As a last reprieve before being sent to a juvenile detention facility, Ernie is allowed to spend three weeks on a working farm. When Ernie arrives at the home of Russ Frazier, he learns that the widower's baby was kidnapped years before, leaving behind a red quilt as the single piece of evidence. Fascinated by the town's famous "Quilt Baby" kidnapping, Ernie is determined to solve the case. He teams up with Joey, a local tomboy, to investigate clues that lead them on a dangerous journey into a forbidden world of dark secrets, magic puddles, and the cavernous underground kingdom of the Puddlejumpers--eleven-inch tall water creatures with whom Ernie has a mysterious connection.
Los Feliz/Silver Lake residents Jean and Carlson have collaborated on several projects, including the screenplay for Cynthia Voigt's Homecoming. This is their first middle-grade novel.
Jean is an award-winning director, writer, and producer of film and television. Carlson writes, teaches, and rambles the Griffith and Elysian hills with his good dog, Mole.
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SKYLIGHT'S BLOG:
NOW WITH MORE VLOGS! |
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Find us at www.skylightbooks.blogspot.com
What's a vlog, you ask? Why, it's a video blog! We added two new vlogs to our blog page in April: one from Monica introducing her translated and world literature section, and one from Edan outlining the new books she is most looking forward to reading.
 In other blogging news, Dan gave us a rundown of Shelf Life: A Big Day for Small Presses at USC, which he attended with fellow staffer Kevin. It was Dan's inagural blog post, so let's encourage him to contribute again by adding comments!
To round out this month's recap, here's an excerpt from Justin's blog post on the future of big-box book retailers:
Friday, April 17, 2009
EEEN-tay-resting
 Well, now. Some random website about Wall Street that I've never heard of has compiled a list of 12 brands they are predicting won't live to see the end of 2010. On the list? Borders Books. Now, I am not posting this out of some anti-corporate schadenfreude. After all I used to work at a Borders in Torrance on the thankless night shift cleaning up the store after it was trashed daily by people who came in to read magazines and spill iced coffee on books. It was fun. Really, I wish them nothing but the best. It's just interesting is all, the way things are going.
To see where Justin is going with that thought, read the rest of his post here. (By the way, it's worth checking out Justin's posts in general, because he always adds a topically unrelated but hilarious link to a You Tube video at the end of them. Value added!)
To see all our recent posts, visit our blog homepage here.
Plus, you can follow Skylight on Twitter by adding skylightbooks to your feed. We're on Facebook as skylightbooks, too.
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BOOK GROUPS and
BUDGET-FRIENDLY READS!
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Has your book group run out of ideas AND money? Well, you're in luck. This is about the time of year that a lot of great books that were in hardcover through the holidays are finally released in paperback. A few book groupish titles out in paperback now:  Snoop by Sam Gosling
According to psychologist Gosling, when it comes to the most essential components of our personality, the things we own and the way we arrange them can say more about us than even our most intimate conversations. What does your stuff say about you?  Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa LahiriThis story collection made a lot of "Best Book of the Year" lists at the end of 2008, including the New York Times Book Review's. Lahiri ( The Namesake) is "the kind of writer who makes you want to grab the next person you see and say, 'Read this!'" according to Amy Tan.  The God of War by Marisa SilverA "dark and nearly flawless novel" ( Chicago Tribune) that explores fragile family bonds. Setting her tale in 1978 near the Salton Sea, Silver uses spare language to evoke the tough locale and the difficult coming-of-age of a 12-year-old boy. Remember: Book groups that register with the store get 15% off their pick each month, so e-mail Emily at emily@skylightbooks.com now to find out how to register your book group. You can check out our registered book groups here. |
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Skylight Books
1818 N Vermont Ave (between Hollywood Blvd and Franklin)
Los Angeles, CA 90027
323 660-1175
Next door to the Los Feliz Cinema and across the street from the Post Office (where you can park after 6pm)
 We are about 4 blocks north of the Vermont/Sunset subway stop and directly on many bus routes, including the Hollywood DASH. Bicycle racks in front of the store. | |
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