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Grass Roots Books and Music
— 227 SW 2nd Street, Corvallis OR 97339 — 541-754-7668 |
| December 05, 2013 |
| Contents |
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Dear Grass Roots Readers,
We would like to take a moment simply to thank you! Grass Roots is warmly appreciative of people at this time of year: we get to have our friends visit us at the store, and help them find the perfect gifts for those who matter most. For that, we feel flattered and honored.
In addition, we are almost finished with moving the store around. We hope that it's making browsing easier for you! Positive responses regarding the renovation have come our way, and they're exciting to hear.
Before we forget, a reminder that Winter's Eve is tomorrow evening! Friday will be a downtown flurried frenzy of food sampling at restaurants, stores open late for cozy shopping (including us!,) and live music! You can read more about it below. If you come see us, you can check out our new line of jigsaw puzzles!
Also, if you have young readers in your midst, please bring them to Grass Roots this Saturday for Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day (more information below) with a special reading of How the Grinch Stole Christmas at 11:00am, followed by fun activities.
Once again, thank you for choosing us! We hope to see you soon.
Maddy |
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| Newest Books |
The Mythical Zoo: Animals in Myth, Legend, and Literature
Boria Sax
In this fun and thought-provoking book, historian and animal enthusiast Boria Sax argues for a classification of animals that goes beyond the biological to encompass a more meaningful distinction: tradition. From ants and elephants to tigers and tortoises, "The Mythical Zoo" weaves together a crosscultural tapestry encompassing mythology, history, art, science, philosophy, and literature. The result is a beautifully illustrated, masterfully composed love letter to the animal kingdom.
“Boria Sax teaches in the college program of Sing Sing Prison in upstate New York and online for the University of Illinois Springfield. He is the author of many books, including The Mythical Zoo: An Encyclopedia of Animals in World Myth, Legend, and Literature and Crow. . . He lives in White Plains, New York.” –Ingram
Hardcover, $29.95
Publisher: Overlook Press; ISBN: 9781468307207 |
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Jamie Oliver's Food Escapes: Over 100 Recipes from the Great Food Regions
Jamie Oliver
“This collection. . . explores the cuisines of Spain, Italy, Sweden, Morocco, Greece and France. There is a broad mix of classic dishes and new creations in the more than 100 recipes. So, grilled sardines appear side-by-side with shrimp-stuffed spicy fish with vermicelli, as do steak tartare and radish salad with cured duck, as do souvlaki and mighty meaty stifado (a variation of a classic Greek beef stew which here adds pork). A nicely designed 15-page section on tapas employs a blend of full-page and one-third page color photos, with most of the instructions kept short and sweet.” –Publishers Weekly
Hardcover, $35.00
Publisher: Hyperion Books; ISBN: 9781401324414 |
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Strings Attached: One Tough Teacher and the Gift of Great Expectations
Joanne Lipman
"This book makes me believe that one man can make a difference. The life and teachings of Jerry Kupchynsky, affectionately known as Mr. K, certainly did for his daughter Melanie and her friend Joanne Lipman, and for legions of students whose lives were affected and changed by the powerful vision of this passionate, complex man. Even more importantly, this book reveals how music can become an anchor, a binding element for creating friendship and support during times of grief, illness and tragedy. By being inspired, the authors themselves become inspirational. Mr. K's work lives on, and we are all the richer for it." —Yo-Yo Ma
Hardcover, $24.99
Publisher: Hyperion Books; ISBN: 9781401324667 |
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The Gods of Guilt (Lincoln Lawyer Novels)
Michael Connelly
“When we last saw Mickey Haller (The Fifth Witness,) the hot-shot maverick attorney who works out of his Lincoln Town Car was fed up with defending bad guys and had decided to run for district attorney. Well, that didn't work out. Too much politics. Now Mickey's back with the bad guys, defending a high-tech pimp accused of killing one of his girls, who happens to be a former friend of Mickey's. Naturally, the case has multiple levels, involving a bent DEA agent and requiring an unholy coalition with a drug lord. . . There is tragedy along the way to a verdict this time, and Mickey must confront his personal gods of guilt just as he does the jury in the courtroom.” –Booklist (Starred Review)
Hardcover, $28.00
Publisher: Little Brown and Company; ISBN: 9780316069519 |
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Free Spirit: Growing Up on the Road and Off the Grid
Joshua Safran
“Safran [the author] spent the 1970s and 1980s in communes, cabins, and the occasional bus. [He] didn't regularly attend school until he was 11, when his bucolic upbringing made him a target for bullies. Adding to the misery was Claudia’s [his mother’s] big heart and idealism. . . culminating in a tumultuous marriage to an alcoholic ex-Salvadoran revolutionary. . . Young Safran can only sit helplessly as this sporadically employed thug regularly beats Claudia, apologizes, and starts the cycle anew. . . Safran recognizes that education is his way out and that he can confront [his stepfather]. Safran, an attorney. . . recalls events without condemnation or condescension. This assured debut is reminiscent of David Sedaris's and Augusten Burroughs's best work.” –Publishers Weekly
Hardcover, $24.99
Publisher: Hyperion Books; ISBN: 9781401324605 |
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| New in Paperback |
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Farewell, Dorothy Parker
Ellen Meister
“Violet is in a custody battle for her 13-year-old niece, Delaney. . . but Violet has recently failed to stand up for herself in front of the judge. She's also finding it difficult to break up with a boyfriend she actively dislikes. Then, she visits the Algonquin Hotel . . . walking out with a guest book signed by all the literary luminaries. When she opens the books, she releases the spirit of Dorothy Parker, who has chosen not to follow "the white light," preferring to hang around drinking and making clever witticisms. . . Dorothy befriends Violet, giving her advice and occasionally literally taking over her body, causing Violet to behave uncharacteristically to say the least.”–Kirkus Reviews
Paperback, $15.00
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group; ISBN: 9780425264713 |
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Between Man and Beast: An Unlikely Explorer and the African Adventure That Took the Victorian World by Storm
Monte Reel
Before the publication of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, evolution was already a hotly debated topic, setting the stage for one of the Victorian era’s most famous explorers. Paul du Chaillu set out for the equatorial wilderness of West Africa in 1856 determined to return with proof of the existence of a mysterious and still mythical beast: the gorilla. Returning with an astonishing collection of zoological specimens, Du Chaillu was thrust into the middle of the biggest issues of the time: the evolution debate, racial discourse, and the growth of Christian fundamentalism. He experienced instant celebrity, but with that fame came whispers—about his past, his credibility, and his very identity.
Paperback, $15.95
Publisher: Anchor Books; ISBN: 9780307742438 |
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Best Food Writing 2013
Holly Hughes
“Twenty-first-century Americans are obsessed with food. . . This latest annual anthology of short writings reveals a nation sorely conflicted about food's nutritional benefits versus the sheer sensual pleasures of the table. Americans . . . support a vast impersonal, international food-service industry while simultaneously lionizing chefs who work only with local meats, cheeses, and produce. Distressed with the gastronomic mediocrity of the McRib, Katherine Shilcutt acknowledges its evident allure to a vast swath of citizens. Those determined to live off land closer to home should consider squirrel as meat of choice, writes Mike Sula. Many essays cite Copenhagen's Noma, reputed to be the world's greatest restaurant, so Matt Goulding meticulously guides readers through its dinner's 20-plus courses.” —Booklist
Paperback, $15.99
Publisher: Da Capo Lifelong Books; ISBN: 9780738217161 |
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| Featured Books for Young Readers |
Olivia Helps with Christmas (Now in board book!)
Ian Falconer
Ages 2 to 4
It’s Christmas Eve, and it’s time for Olivia and her brothers to decorate the house. Their mom has to force them to give up watching for Santa for a few minutes! Olivia is told to set the table – she decorates it with a little Christmas tree. Her mother tells her it’s beautiful, and asks where it came from – before she sees that the family’s tree has been decapitated. The little pig burns some gingerbread men, too, and gets mad when her dad wants to build a fire: what if Santa gets roasted? The book’s illustrations feature not only Olivia red, but a festive green, too!
Board Book, $7.99
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers; ISBN: 9781442494466 |
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The Christmas Wish
Lori Evert
Ages 4 to 8
“Anja longs to be one of Santa's elves. Dressed in full Nordic regalia complete with red gnomic hat, she certainly looks the part. A thoughtful and helpful child, she acts the part as well. When she skis off in her quest to find Santa, a bird, horse, musk ox, polar bear, and reindeer show her the way. The full-page photographs look like they could be movie stills, so sharp and seamless are the figures that Anja and the animals cut against the winter landscape of Northern lights, glaciers, and snowy pine trees...the striking winter visuals and the adorable heroine carry the day.”—School Library Journal
Hardcover, $17.99
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers; ISBN: 9780449816813 |
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Santa!: A Scanimation Picture Book
Rufus Butler Seder
All Ages
Scanimation + Santa = the most playful, jolly St. Nick you’ve seen: he cartwheels! He juggles! He can do the hula hoop! And, he’s really moving! A wonderful illusion is at work. . . or, is it just a little Christmas magic? For everyone that grown up with a Santa who’s usually pictured holding sleigh reigns or sitting in a chair surrounded by elves, this Santa who can’t stop moving will be a lot of fun. Seder has also created Scanimation versions of The Wizard of Oz, Star Wars, and the books Gallop!, Swing!, and Waddle! in the A Scanimation Picture Book series.
Hardcover, $14.95
Publisher: Workman Publishing; ISBN: 9780761177258 |
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| Music |
Although we specialize in
new releases, Grass Roots can usually get you any album that's still available.
Ask at the the store! |
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| Events |
Friday, Nov. 29th - Tuesday, Dec. 31st
Grass Roots Books and Music
227 SW 2nd Street, Corvallis |
SMART Book Drive
Donate a Book to the SMART Program It's your chance to donate books to the SMART program—Share the gift of reading!
From Nov. 29 through Dec. 31, you can purchase books that will be donated to young, beginning readers in our community! We are pleased to announce that Grass Roots is partnering with SMART—Start Making A Reader Today—in Linn and Benton Counties for our fourth annual book drive. Early-reader soft cover books will be given to children to help them learn to read at home, and hardcover books will be donated to permanent book collections at participating schools. Customers will receive 20% off the purchase of titles in stock to be donated to the program. We will collect books at our store through December 31, 2013. Books will be distributed to children in 2014.
Participating schools include Mountain View and Lincoln Elementary Schools in Corvallis, Kings Valley Charter School outside of Philomath, and Albany’s LaFayette, Central, and Clover Ridge Elementary Schools. We'll be happy to recommend titles and favorite authors; books should be appropriate for readers in kindergarten through 3rd grade, and a good variety of Spanish books is appreciated. For more information about the SMART program and how to volunteer, visit their website. |
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Saturday, Dec. 7, 11 am
Grass Roots Books and Music
227 SW 2nd Street, Corvallis |
Children's Event: Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day!
and:
The Grinch Community Cares Project!
December 7th is Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day! This year, we'll celebrate by participating in The Grinch Community Cares Project. Come join Jill at 11:00 a.m. for a reading of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas, followed by fun children's activities to foster community spirit and giving from the heart. What a heartwarming way to celebrate the season! |
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Friday, Nov. 29 - Sunday, Nov. 22
Grass Roots Books and Music
227 SW 2nd Street, Corvallis
And throughout Corvallis |
Holiday Trolley: The Holiday Trolley Returns!
The Corvallis Transit System again offers the Holiday Trolley on Black Friday (Nov. 29), and Saturdays and Sundays through December 22, to make holiday shopping (and parking!) easier. It runs a special CTS route designed to take holiday shoppers to some of Corvallis' favorite shopping destinations around town, especially where there are lots of stores to choose from. There's even a stop across the street from Grass Roots Books & Music! Schedule and route information is available here on the CTS website. |
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Upcoming Events
We have many more events coming up in the next few months! For a complete list of all of our upcoming events, please visit our website. |
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| Community Events |
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Community Events
Darkside Cinema: Movies showing Dec. 6 to Dec. 12, showtimes daily, Darkside Cinema, Corvallis. Visit their website for showtimes.
BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR –NC-17: Raw, honest, powerfully acted, and deliciously intense, offers some of modern cinema's most elegantly composed, emotionally absorbing drama. French And English.
KILL YOUR DARLINGS –R: A true-crime murder mystery and a love letter to the wild-living artists of the Beat Generation.
WALKING THE CAMINO: SIX WAYS TO SANTIAGO –NR: A documentary that follows six strangers from incredibly diverse walks of life as they attempt The Camino de Santiago.
ENOUGH SAID –PG-13: James Gandolfini, Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Literary Events: Visit our Community Calendar for details on events in the area.
Opportunities:
- Call for Submissions:
The Bard Deluxe Awards presented by The Bear Deluxe Magazine
Attn: Emerging Oregon poets focused on a “sense of place”
Deadline: Jan. 13 (email or postmark)
Not a famous poet yet? You can be declared a Bard Deluxe by submitting up to 3 unpublished, place-based poems to The Bear Deluxe Magazine (bear@orlo.org or 810 SE Belmont Studio 5, Portland OR 97214). To enter this free contest, judged by Oregon Poet Laureate Paulann Petersen, you must be a current or former Oregonian. Winners will receive publication, reach our 44,000 readers and be invited to perform their work. Visit www.orlo.org for complete submission guidelines and further details.
Ticket Sales: Grass Roots sells tickets for local music events. Check our Community Calendar for upcoming events that we have available.
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Friday, Dec. 6th, 5 to 10 p.m.
Downtown Corvallis
Tents will be on Madison Ave., Between 2nd and 3rd Streets |
Winter's Eve Corvallis
This greatly anticipated annual event is the traditional kick-off to the Corvallis holiday season. The 10th Annual Winter’s Eve Corvallis, sponsored by Assistance League in cooperation with downtown merchants, benefits AL’s six philanthropic programs, including Operation School Bell®, SAT Review, CARES, Dental Care, Hygiene Help, and Hug-A-Bear. Shops will stay open late and offer exclusive discounts to ticket holders, who will enjoy an evening of fine food samplings from over 30 local restaurants and caterers. There will also be desserts, wine, champagne, beer, soft drinks, and Starbucks coffee available to attendees. Live musical performances in several downtown locations will add to the atmosphere throughout the evening. For more information, visit the Assistance League website. |
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| News |
World Book Night 2014
World Book Night Registration: World Book Night (WBN) spreads the love of reading, person to person. Each year 30 titles are chosen, the authors waive their royalties, and the publishers produce special WBN editions of the books to be donated. This means you get 20 FREE paperback copies of your chosen WBN title to handout to light- or non-readers in your community on April 23, 2014. Applications to become a WBN Book Giver open today, October 24, and can be filled out online at the WBN website. Deadline to apply is January 5th, 2014. |
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| This Week's Puzzle |
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| Reading Group Selection |
Tuesday, Jan, 7 at 6:30 p.m.
Dear Life: Stories
Alice Munro
Adam leads his first book group.
Ontario-born author Munro won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature. Munro, who "In a really short space of time. . . can provide a fully realized story that provides remarkable insight into human beings, their shortcomings, their complexities, their loves, their lives,' (Lynn Neary, NPR) is the first Canadian born-and-raised author to win the prize.
"It's no surprise that every story in the latest collection by Canada's Munro is rewarding and that the best are stunning. They leave the reader wondering how the writer manages to invoke the deepest, most difficult truths of human existence in the most plainspoken language. . . The author knows what matters, and the stories pay attention to it."—Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review) |
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Publisher: Vintage Books
ISBN: 9780307743725
Paperback
Regular price: $15.95
On sale for $13.56 until Jan 7.
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On Our Nightstands |
 Jill
The Keyboard Kitten: An Oregon Children’s Story
Bob Welch
Written by Oregon’s very own Bob Welch, this engaging children’s book is about a spirited kitten named Comma. Because of the story’s lively rhyme and abundance of Oregon references, it’s super fun to read aloud, and the unexpected partnership between the main character and his creative kitten makes this book a winner with kids. As explained by Bob Welch, ‘. . . although this tale ends with a period, it all begins with a Comma!’
Hardcover, $19.95
Publisher: penwaxdesign; ISBN: 9780988332928 |
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Erika
Jingle All the Way
Béla Fleck
Jingle All the Way isn’t your typical holiday music. I love this album so much that I listen to it not around the holidays too. ‘What Child Is This – Dyngyldai’ is beyond fantastic with it’s combination of Tuvan throat singing and a stellar saxophone solo. The album is funky, fun and extremely enjoyable! There is even a Charlie Brown rendition and a version of ‘River’ for all the Joni Mitchell lovers like myself. If you are looking for something delightfully different, this is just the ticket to get you in the holiday spirit!
Audio CD, $11.95 |
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Tiffany
Seeing Flowers: Discover the Hidden Life of Flowers
Teri Dunn Chace
This gorgeous book pairs astonishing close-up botanical photographs with delightful and insightful essays about each flower’s special qualities and history, reminding us why we love them. View flowers and their myriad details in a new way through this floral feast for the eyes.
Hardcover, $29.95
Publisher: Timber Press (OR); ISBN: 9781604694222 |
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Kendall
Big Ideas in Brief: 200 World-Changing Concepts Explained In An Instant
Ian Crofton
If there is one book you should definitely have on your shelf, it's this one. It's a space and time saver. This tiny but mighty book covers almost anything you could want to learn about, from The Big Bang, Space, and Time all the way to Utopianism, Psychoanalysis and Freudianism, Federalism vs. Centralism, and even Arguments for the Existence of God! Each subject is covered in one to two pages with an accompanying picture. Big ideas made small and easy!
Paperback, $12.95
Publisher: Quercus; ISBN: 9781623650100 |
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| Grass Roots Online — Contact Us |
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