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Skylight Around Town:
Join us for these offsite events! |
These are just a few of the events where we'll be selling books this month:
April 9
- May 16 (Fridays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.)
Theatre West presents Beau Bridges
and Emily Bridges in the play Acting: The First Six Lessons
(adapted from the book by Richard Boleslavsky, which will be on sale
in the lobby); Reservations/Info: http://www.theatrewest.org/actingsixlessons.html
Monday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Writers Bloc presents iconic cartoonist
and playwright Jules Feiffer in conversation with Carl
Reiner, discussing Feiffer's
new memoir, Backing into Forward (Random House) at Temple Emanuel
in Beverly Hills, $20; reservations/info: http://www.writersblocpresents.com/events/events.htm
Thursday, April 15 at 6:45 p.m.
Los Feliz Branch Library Architecture
& Beyond Series presents author/photographer Harry
Brant Chandler discussing his
book Dreamers in Dream City (Angel City Press) Free!
1874 Hillhurst Ave; (323) 913-4710.
Thursday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Writers Bloc presents the Editor of
The New Yorker, David Remnick discussing his book The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama, (Knopf) with political consultant and
West Wing writer/producer Lawrence
O'Donnell; at the Writers Guild
Theatre in Beverly Hills; $20; reservations/info: http://www.writersblocpresents.com/events/events.htm
Thursday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Zócalo Public Square presents Simon Johnson
discussing his book, 13 Bankers: The Wall Street Takeover and the Next Financial Meltdown
(Pantheon); at NPR West in Culver City; Free! Reservations/Info: http://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/upcoming.php?event_id=370
Saturday, April 17 at 4:00 p.m.
The Progressive Caucus of the Calif.
Democratic Party's Annual Convention presents Jim Hightower; L.A. Convention Center
- West Hall B.
Sunday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m.
The Rhapsodomancy Reading Series presents
authors James Morrison, Sarah
Maclay, Antoinette Brim, and Hazel Kight Witham
at The Good Luck Bar., 1514
Hillhurst, Los Feliz; $3 suggested donation. RSVP & Info: http://www.rhapsodomancy.org
Tuesday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Zócalo Public Square presents tech journalist Joseph Menn,
discussing his book Fatal System Error: The Hunt for the New Crime Lords Who Are Taking Down the Internet (Public Affairs); at the
National Ctr for the Preservation of Democracy downtown; Free; Reservations/Info: http://zocalopublicsquare.org/upcoming.php?event_id=375
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At the Autry Museum in Griffith Park!
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Sunday, April 18 at 2:00 p.m.
Lisa See: Hearing Women in the West
At the Autry Museum in Griffith Park:
 This year's Caughey Foundation Lecture at the Autry features bestselling author Lisa See. In her lecture, See will reflect on her own writings and on her ongoing search to uncover the voices of women who came to West and who made the West. This lecture is free, but reservations are required. RSVP to Belinda Nakasato-Suarez at bnakasato@theautry.org.
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Hot Production at Skylight Theatre next door |
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Special Offer: When you make a purchase at Skylight Books, be sure to ask for a '2 for 1' coupon for the production of "Influence"(buy 1 ticket and get 1 free)!!
More info on production: www.katselastheatre.org
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| Skylight Books March 2010 Bestsellers |
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(As of March 30)
Store Bestsellers
1. Just Kids by Patti Smith
2. McSweeney's Issue 33 (The Panorama)
3. Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
4. The Ask by Sam Lipsyte
5. The Baffler Volume 2 #1
6. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
7. Book of Genesis by R. Crumb
8. A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn
9. The Big Short by Michael Lewis
10. The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
Event Bestsellers
1. A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg
2. My Footprint by Jeff Garlin
3. The Traitor in Us All by Robert Levinson
4. Los Angeles Noir 2, ed. Denise Hamilton
5. The Spellmans Strike Again by Lisa Lutz
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| 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
Gift Cards
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| Kerry's View from the Skylight |
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If you haven't seen our TV commercial on the air (on Time Warner Cable in our surrounding neighborhoods), here it is (click on the image) - let us know what you think:
Skylight Books TV Commercial
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April means National Poetry Month and The L.A. Times Festival of Books at UCLA
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To kick off Poetry Month, the inimitable S.A. Griffin will launch his cross-country Poetry
Festival of Books - Sat & Sun, April 24 & 25 - Booth 315 C
At this year's Festival, we're in the same booth as the last few years-- just facing Powell Library, so drop in to visit us while you're at the Festival. We are again partnering with The University of California Press and Ash Grove Music. We expect to hear a few political folk songs from the Ash Grove folks, we'll display a number of terrific UC Press titles and, of course, bring many titles representative of our store.
 On Sat 4/24 at 1pm, we will host an in-booth author signing at the Festival with Bill Sharpsteen for UC Press' new book, Dirty Water: One Man's Fight to Clean Up One of the World's Most Polluted Bays, the riveting true story of how a Los Angeles schoolteacher with a gift for outrageous rhetoric fought pollution in Santa Monica Bay--and won.
Donate a copy of "Their Eyes Were Watching God" to Manual Arts High School
We are helping an English teacher from Manual Arts High School get donated copies of this book for discussion in her 10th Grade English class: "Typically, I do it with my 12th graders, but it is so useful for teaching literary devices and reflecting on a strong female character." If you would like to contribute, the books are at our front counter (books you are donating get a 10% discount), or contact Monica at our store for more information ( monica@skylightbooks.com)
 As always, I appreciate hearing from you -- and your thoughts about how to serve you better.
Kerry Slattery, General Manager and Co-Owner
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| April Events at Skylight Books | |
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THE POETRY BOMB
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Thursday, April 1 at 7:00 p.m.
 We're not going to give you all the
details, because what's the fun in that? But if you're a poetry lover,
you're going to want to see this. No, it's not an April Fool's Day
prank.
We'll have a mic set up, so
bring a poem for the bomb and read it (one poem! no longer than one 8.5
x 11" sheet of paper!) as part of the celebration. S.A. Griffin will MC.
This is the kickoff to National Poetry Month at Skylight Books, and we hope to see you all there!
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KIM NORIEGA
and CECILIA WOLOCH
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Saturday, April 3 at 5:00 p.m.
Name Me (Fortunate Daughter) by Noriega
 
Join us for the launch of a new poetry chapbook by Kim Noriega and a party celebrating the recently established poetry press Fortunate Daughter,
whose publisher and editor is Cecilia Woloch! This event will features
readings by both Noriega and Woloch. Both chapbooks currently
available from Fortunate Daughter (Noriega's just-published Name Me, as well as last year's An Urgent Request, by Sarah Luczaj) will be available for purchase.
more info... |
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LIT THING BOOK BASH
featuring CYLIN BUSBY,
CAROLYN KELLOGG,
LIZA PALMER, ANTOINE WILSON,
and CECIL CASTELLUCCI |
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| Tuesday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Lit Thing Book Bash -- a time for writers to rant or rave about the book they love or the book they love to hate!
We'll have Cylin Busby talking about Flowers in the Attic, Carolyn Kellogg discussing Girl Power: The Nineties Revolution in Music, Liza Palmer presenting Hope for the Flowers, Antoine Wilson covering A Spell for Chameleon, and the evening's host Cecil Castellucci talking about Tintin. Which will be rants and which will be raves? You'll have to come to find out! more info...
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JERRY STAHL
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Saturday, April 10 at 5:00 p.m.
Pain Killers (Harper Perennial)
 L.A. writer and perennial Skylight favorite Jerry Stahl will read from and sign his novel Pain Killers, now out in paperback!
"Stahl is no stranger to smashing social taboos, and his trademark blend of
ballsy, blacker-than-black humor and wry social commentary lets him find humor
in the third Reich." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Jerry Stahl is the author of Permanent Midnight; I, Fatty; Perv--a Love
Story; and Plainclothes Naked. He has written extensively for film and
television, and his work has appeared in Esquire, Details, Playboy, and
other publications. He lives in Los Angeles.
more info...
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HOW DO POEMS DO WHAT THEY DO?
A free poetry workshop with TERRY WOLVERTON |
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Sunday, April 11 at 2:00 p.m.
 In honor of National Poetry Month, author and educator Terry Wolverton offers a free two-hour workshop exploring the anatomy of a poem. Using poems drawn from Best American Poetry 2009, participants will discuss not only their meaning, but how their construction contributes to their meaning. Participants may want to get a copy of the anthology prior to the workshop, but it is not required. Please pre-register by Friday, April 9 by calling (323) 661-5954.
Terry Wolverton is the author of seven books: The Labrys Reunion, a novel; Embers, a novel in poems; Insurgent Muse, a memoir about the Woman's Building; Bailey's Beads, a novel; and two collections of poetry, Black Slip, Mystery Bruise and Shadow and Praise. She has also edited fourteen compilations of literary work.
more info... |
A reading from members of
WRITERS AT WORK |
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| Sunday, April 11 at 5:00 p.m.
 Join Kim Dower, Yvonne M. Estrada, Dylan Gailey, Brett Guitar Hofer, Eric Howard, Ronna Perrin, Sharon Venezio, and Terry Wolverton for an explosion of forms and styles the demonstrate the variety and vitality of poetry in Los Angeles.
Writers at Work was founded by author, editor, and long-time writing instructor Terry Wolverton to provide a space for writers to stretch the imagination, strengthen their craft, produce new work, fulfill their goals, and create a community for their work. more info... |
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JOYCE MAYNARD and
DANA GOODYEAR will read
from CANTEEN MAGAZINE, plus, A CONTEST! |
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Monday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Canteen Magazine
 Joyce Maynard and Dana Goodyear will read from their pieces in Canteen Magazine. While the reading takes place, aspiring writers will get to compete with an established writer as Dana Goodyear will face off against two audience members in a flash fiction writing contest, using an assigned topic. When the readings from Canteen are over, all three short pieces will be read out anonymously, and the audience will pick the winner. Prizes for all!
more info...
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MARISA SILVER
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Wednesday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Alone with You: Stories (Simon & Schuster)
 The acclaimed author of The God of War will be here to read from her new short story collection, Alone with You.
Marisa Silver made
her fiction debut in The New
Yorker when she appeared in
the inaugural "Debut Fiction" issue. Her collection of stories, Babes in Paradise, was a New York Times Notable Book and a Los Angeles Times Best Book of the Year. She is also the
author of the novels No
Direction Home and The God of War, which was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the fiction category. She is the winner of the
O. Henry Prize, and her work has been included in The Best American Short
Stories as well as other
anthologies. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two sons.
more info...
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K.M. SOEHNLEIN
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Thursday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Robin and Ruby (Kensington Publishing)
 The award-winning author of The World of Normal Boys and You Can Say You Knew Me When will read from and sign his new novel.
"A fiercely gripping story... a brother
and sister, bonded and haunted, smart and intense, sharing overlapping
roads to romance or tragedy or hard-won self-understanding." --Michelle
Tea, author of Rose of No Man's Land and Valencia
more info...
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USC Master of Professional Writing Students |
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Friday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Students in University of Southern California's Master of Professional Writing program will read from their work.
more info... |
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JOANNA SMITH RAKOFF
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Monday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m.
A Fortunate Age (Scribner)
 Joanna Smith Rakoff will be here to read from and sign the new-in-paperback edition of her acclaimed debut novel, A Fortunate Age.
"A wonderful, funny and spot-on portrait of my clumsy generation that brings to
mind such hallmarks as Mary McCarthy's The Group, Jay McInerney's Brightness
Falls, and Claire Messud's The Emperor's Children." -- Gary Shteyngart,
author of Absurdistan and The Russian Debutante's Handbook
Joanna Smith Rakoff has written for The New York Times, Time Out New York, the Los Angeles Times, Newsday, Vogue, O, The Oprah Magazine,
and other publications. She lives in New York with her husband, son and daughter.
more info...
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DAVID VANN
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Friday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Legend of a Suicide (Harper Perennial)
 David Vann, whose short story collection Legend of a Suicide earned rave reviews in hardcover, will be here to read and sign the new paperback edition.
"The reportorial relentlessness of Vann's imagination often makes his
fiction seem less written than chiseled. A small, lovely book has been
written out of his large and evident pain. 'A father, after all,' Vann
writes, 'is a lot for a thing to be.' A son is also a lot for a thing
to be; so is an artist. With Legend of a Suicide, David Vann proves himself a fine example of both." -Tom Bissell, New York Times Book Review
"Brilliant . . . . Vann's prose follows the sinews of Cormac McCarthy and Hemingway, yet has its own nimble flex." -The Times (London)
more info...
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Skylight's Blog:
LISTS!
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Find us at www.skylightbooks.blogspot.com
Two of our staffers put together some book-and/or-pop-culture-related lists for our blog this month. Emily posted her Infinite Playlist, a tribute to Infinite Jest. Not only does each and every song relate to David Foster Wallace's tome, it also makes for good listening! (In fact, you may have already heard it -- we play it in the store pretty often.) And Kevin dedicated a post to the books of Lost. Not to fear, no spoilers, just some interesting reads:
 Monday, March 15, 2010
Books Featured on Lost
Let me begin by saying that if you are not a fan of "Lost" then this
posting will most likely bore you to tears, or as my co-worker likes to
say when he hears me and Darren talking about the latest episode, "Nerd
Alert!" I know that a lot of people have found the show to be too
indecipherable, as there is no good entry point for a person who has
not been following the show from the beginning to figure out who is who
and what is what. Even my wife, who has watched all six seasons turned
to me after seeing the last episode and said, "This show is stupid."
But
I love it. I love all of the weird mysteries (the numbers, the Smoke
Monster, the Dharma Initiative, Jacob, the Black Rock ship) and I also
like how any of the items on the show can be a subtle yet powerful clue
to a mystery.
Read the rest of this post here, check on our blog regularly here, and join the discussion on Twitter by following skylightbooks! We're on Facebook as skylightbooks, too.
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BOOK GROUPS:
ANIMALS!
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It finally feels like spring, and if we lived in the kind of place that had a harsh winter, this would be the time when we'd all notice the earth coming back to life, with flowers blooming and animals hopping around. With that in mind, we're going to feature some books with animal protagonists (yes, books for adults) for our April book club suggestions!
 The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
This one goes out to the dog lovers. Stein's canine narrator tells a bittersweet story about family, loyalty, and hope. "Joyful in its language, creative in its narration, and affecting in its story, this is a terrific book." -- Seattle Times
 Watership Down by Richard Adams
This modern classic about a group of rabbits and their trials and adventures as they search for a new warren has become a hugely popular bestseller worldwide. "Quite marvelous. . . A powerful new vision o the great chain of being." -- The New York Times Book Review
 You're an Animal Viskovitz! by Alessandro BoffaA charming tale in which the title character, perpetually seeking his true love, Ljuba, transforms from one animal to another. The mating rituals of various insects and other creatures are told as you've never seen them before--the first person perspective. "Funny and entertaining. . . . Never wears out its welcome." --Salon.com If you have a book group but you're not registered with the store, remember that book groups that do register get 15% off their pick each month. 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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Bomb tour right here on April 1. Yes, it is a real bomb - and why not link it to poetry?!! (see info below) 
